Members of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress are on a one million-man match for President Bola Tinubu.

The rally led by the State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, said the event is to show that the party is firmly on the ground in the state.

The rally under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has members of the party from all 23 local government areas of the state started at the GRA junction along Aba Road through to the stretch of the Aba Express Road and terminated at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has approved the appointment of Special Assistants to help in the running of the administration.

In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, said those appointed were: Diana Beatrice Gayus, Ahijo Hammaadama, Barr. Mahmud Gurumpawro Abubakar, Mohammed A. Hamma, Mohammed Hayatu Umar among others

It added that the appointments are with immediate effect.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has hinted at the possibility of supporting his Labour Party counterpart in the last election, Peter Obi in 2027.

The former Vice President, who is currently on a merger talk with stakeholders of some opposition political parties, said he will not hesitate to support Obi in the next election if the party picks the former Anambra governor.

According to The Sun, Atiku gave the hint in an interview with BBC Hausa Service.

Obi and Atiku recently met behind closed doors, sparking speculations about a merger of some opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Confirming the move by opposition parties to align in a bid to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2027 election, Atiku said, “We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that.

Atiku said if the new “party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.

“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.

“As long as it is the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party”.

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, appreciated President Bola Tinubu for honouring the paramount ruler and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, with the second highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger during the royal father’s 90th birthday celebrations held last week.

Abiodun equally appreciated President Tinubu for directing the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos, to take over the management of the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

The governor, according to a post on his verified Facebook page, gave this commendation during his visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

Abiodun said, “I had the honour of meeting with our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to express my deepest appreciation on behalf of Kabiyesi, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, and the government and good people of Ogun State.

“I conveyed our gratitude for the honour accorded to His Royal Majesty by the high-powered Federal delegation that attended the commissioning ceremony of the Sikiru Adetona School of Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, in celebration of the 90th birthday and 64th coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Alayeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON, Ogbagba II, the Awujale, and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

“During the meeting, I thanked His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the presence of His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, at the event, which added grandeur and importance to the occasion.

“Of particular significance was the announcement made by His Excellency regarding the conferment of the National Honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Kabiyesi, the Awujale of Ijebuland, and the directive for the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, to take over the operations and management of the Sikiru Adetona School of Governance.

He declared, “As Governor of Ogun State, I reaffirmed our commitment to aligning with His Excellency’s Renewed Hope vision for a better Nigeria, as evidenced in his socio-economic transformative initiatives and policies aimed at putting our nation on a sound footing.”

Abiodun also told the President that the residents of the state are grateful for the high-powered delegation sent to represent him at the occasion.

The delegation was led by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, among others, saying that all of this made the event very grandeur and a very rich experience.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved part payment of all power sector debts, estimated at N3.3 trillion.

Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, disclosed this at Thursday’s 8th Africa Energy Marketplace in Abuja.

He noted that the federal government’s N1.3 trillion debt to power-generating companies would be paid via cash injections and promissory notes, while about $1.3 billion (N1.994 trillion using the current official closing rate) owed to gas companies will be paid via cash and future royalties.

Adelabu stressed that the federal government had commenced payment of the cash part of the N1.3 trillion debt owed Gencos and concluded plans to settle the second part via promissory notes within two to five years.

“The debt for the power-generating companies is N1.3tn. I can also tell you that Mr. President has consented to pay on the condition of reconciling these debts between the government and the power-generating companies.

“It is true that I mentioned that Mr President has approved the submission of the Hon. Minister of State Petroleum (Gas) to defray the outstanding debts owed to the gas supplying companies to the power sector operators.

“The payments will be in parts. We have the legacy debt and the current debt. For the current debt, approval has been given for a cash payment of about N130bn from the Gas Stabilisation Fund, which the Federal Ministry of Finance will pay if it hasn’t already,” he said.

In March, the government paid $120 million out of the $1.3bn indebtedness to gas companies.

On different occasions, Adelabu has blamed indebtedness to gencos for the epileptic power supply in the country.

Recall that on April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a 230 per cent electricity tariff hike for band A customers, who receive a 20-24 power supply.

A month later, the government slashed the hike by N18.2 to N206.8 per kilowatt-hour from 225kwh.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and other Nigerians have kicked against the hike, calling for its complete reversal.

The bill to address wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction passed second reading in the House of Representatives at Thursday’s plenary.

Sponsor of the bill and member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, while explaining the general principles of the bill, said the wildlife trade and trafficking was assuming a very dangerous dimension, hence, there was need to halt the menace through a legislative framework.

Ugbo, who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Environment, insisted that the 10th National Assembly lawmakers must rise to the occasion of pressing challenges such as illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and the decline of Nigeria’s unique wildlife populations and reposition it in accordance with the global best practices.

He said the legal framework of wildlife in Nigeria must be reviewed to enable effective handling of poachers and traffickers who pose a major challenge in the industry.

He said: “The Bill seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, give investigators more powers to look into financial matters and conduct operations guided by intelligence, and enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets.

“Additionally, it aligns with international treaties, encourages global cooperation and introduces strict penalties for poachers and traffickers.

“Today, we take a bold stand against all illegal activities targeting our wildlife and forests by protecting our wildlife, we protect our own future and this bill signifies our collective commitment to turn the tide against the use of our borders to traffic illegal wildlife products such as pangolin scales and elephant ivory.

“A combination of lack of public awareness, weak legislation and minimal enforcement has hindered efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and biodiversity loss in Nigeria.

“As a result, Nigeria’s wildlife has declined massively, with species like lions, elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees driven to the verge of extinction”, he said.

After members contributed to the bill, saying that the protection of endangered species was in consonance with the international treaties, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu passed it for a second reading after putting it to vote.

He referred it to the House Committee on Environment and tasked them to turn in their report in two weeks’ time.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gboyega Soyannwo.

Soyannwo, 55, was said to have died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, announced the passing of Soyannwo in a statement titled “Transition.”

The statement read, “With deep sorrow, the Lagos State Government announces the passing of the Deputy Chief of Staff to Mr Governor, Mr Gboyega Soyannwo. Soyannwo died today after a brief illness. He was 55.”

Soyannwo is survived by a wife and two children.

In a statement on X, the governor said he was devastated by Soyannwo’s sudden departure and was deeply affected by the news.

“Soyannwo was not only my Deputy Chief of Staff by title; he was a brother to me, an armour-bearer, a confidante and a faithful believer in our collective dream of a greater Lagos.

“His total dedication and service to Lagos State will never be forgotten. My prayers are with his beloved wife, Yewande and their children during this difficult time. I trust that God Almighty will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for this present mourning and a garment of praise for this present spirit of heaviness,” Sanwo-Olu wrote.

President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will now pay airport access toll and parking fees at any of the nation’s airports.

This was as the Federal Executive Council chaired by Tinubu approved a memorandum from the Ministry of Aviation scrapping toll exemptions for all Very Important Persons and government officials using the airports.

The Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who announced this to journalists, after Tuesday’s FEC meeting, argued that the government was losing over 82 per cent of the revenue it should have earned from the e-tags that provide access to the airports.

He explained that the memoranda had initially recommended an exemption for the president and the vice president. However, Tinubu overruled the recommendation, insisting that he and the VP alongside their aides must pay tolls.

“Our memo says ‘with the exception of the President and the Vice President’. But the President overruled me and said he and the Vice President will pay, he said everybody will pay,” Keyamo revealed.

The Minister lamented that VIPs who have the money to pay tolls are evading payment, leaving the authorities to rely on charges gotten from the poor.

“They don’t pay the access fees. They don’t pay for parking, they don’t pay for essential services at airports, and they are VIPs.

“And I told myself on my team, I said not under my watch. It will not happen,” he said.

Keyamo vowed to end episodes where uniform officers harass airport staff at the gates, assuring citizens that more cameras will be “planted” in strategic positions to capture those culpable.

He said the FG stands to generate N10bn annually from tolls, even as it considers a rebate for military veterans.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in two more commissioners of the National Population Commission.

Mr. Fasuwa Johnson and Dr. Amid Tadese Raheem from Ogun and Osun States respectively took the oath of office at 12:15 pm at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, after their abridged citations were read.

Monday’s ceremony comes three months after Tinubu, on February 13, asked the senate to confirm Raheem as a commissioner of the NPC. The Senate also confirmed Johnson on March 6.

On November 8, 2023, Tinubu had appointed 20 federal commissioners in the NPC with nine of them reappointed for a second term in office. He swore 17 of them into office on March 14.

Johnson was born in 1973 in Ododeyo, in the Ijebu North East area of Ogun State, where he had his primary and secondary education.

He holds a Master of Science in Geography in 2004 and a Master in Business Administration in 2009 from the University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, respectively.

He was elected as a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2019 representing Ijebu North East till June 2023 during which he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure among other positions.

Raheem was born on December 12, 1964, in Iwo, Osun State.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Public Administration from the same university.

He had served as Commissioner for Water Resources & Energy in Osun State and was elected member of the Osun State House of Assembly, becoming its first Chief Whip in 1992.

Until his nomination, Raheem was the Head of the Department of Public Administration at Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the council observed a minute of silence in honour of two deceased former cabinet members, Prof. Fabian Osuji and Prof. Ogbonnaya Onu.

Osuji, 82, who died on February 28, 2024, served as Minister of Education from July 2003 to March 2005 in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State (Jan. 1992 – Nov. 1993), served as minister of science, technology, and innovation in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He died on April 11, 2024, at 72 years.

Afterwards, the Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council moved into a closed session; it’s 11th meeting since its inauguration on August 28, 2023,On October 16, 2023, the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, explained that the council will meet only when it has memoranda to consider.

“The President has approved that Federal Executive Council meetings will now be happening on Mondays, as opposed to the traditional Wednesdays that we are used to.

“So FEC meetings have been moved to Mondays. Of course that does not mean that it has to happen every week.

“If there are no issues to discuss, it will be skipped to next week,” Idris explained.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as the co-chairman of the NCDMB governing council.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is charged with increasing local content for job creation, boosting the domestic private sector, facilitating technology transfer, and building a competitive local workforce.

The new appointment is in line with Mr Tinubu’s commitment to establish a more efficient, targeted, and consistent approval process for unique oil and gas projects in the country.

A statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said this was also to ensure further effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation’s assets.

Mr Ngelale said the president remains committed to unlocking Nigeria’s immense gas potential to stimulate industrial development, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Chukwuemeka Woke as the managing director and chief executive officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.

This is contained in a statement by presidential aide Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Ngelale said the appointee is a seasoned engineer and politician.

He said Mr Woke had served as the chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers and was the chief of staff to former Governor Nyesom Wike for many years.

The presidential aide said the president expected the new appointee to discharge his duties with integrity and in conformity with the highest standards of transparency.

Mr Ngelale added that Mr Tinubu directed Mr Woke to harness and develop the water resource potential of the area and ensure that the authority becomes a channel for holistic and integrated industrial, agricultural, and community development.

Elder Statesman and Dean of Borno Elders Forum, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa, had said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was blackmailed into approving the cybersecurity levy policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Dikwa made this statement in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, saying: “These forces can’t be seen and rely on intimidation to get their bidding done while saying the Tinubu administration is blackmailed into making these policies.

“It is the wrong time to impose the cybersecurity levy. I’m not surprised by the directive because Nigeria is seemingly controlled remotely by external forces.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has stepped down a motion seeking the suspension of the cybersecurity levy which has brought about negative reactions from Nigerians.

Honourable Manu Soro, who moved the motion on the floor of the house on Wednesday, noted that the levy was coming at the wrong time, considering the current living conditions of Nigerians. He had argued that the National Security Adviser is a political office and has no mandate to manage accruals.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, however, urged the lawmaker to step down the motion to allow the leadership of the House to deliberate on how best to tackle the situation.

Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had described the planned cybersecurity levy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on all electronic transactions as another burden on Nigerians.

The levy’s introduction has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians and civil society organisations.

Rejecting the policy, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said such deductions directly affect the disposable income of workers and further diminish the purchasing power of common citizens.

He said the directive is another gang-up by the ruling elite to continue its extortion and exploitation of helpless workers and the masses.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress recognises the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age,” the statement reads.

The Federal Government on Wednesday presented 1,437 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to the Niger State Government for distribution to vulnerable persons in the state.

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, stated this during the presentation of the items to Governor Umaru Bago, at the Government House, Minna.

Ms Umar said that the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to cushion the effects of the high cost of food items in the country.

She said, “In fulfilment of his promise to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn being experienced in the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President approved the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve.

“The assorted food commodities include maize, millet, sorghum and garri. After sharing the commodities and successfully transporting the quantity allocated to Niger State, today we are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the identified deserving beneficiaries in the communities, through the constituted committees in each local government area.

“It is worthy of note that based on the allocation table, Niger State has been allocated; 550 metric tonnes of maize (11,000 bags of 50kg), 650 metric tonnes of sorghum (13,000 bags of 50 kg) and 237 metric tonnes of millet (4,750 bags of 50kg).”

The DG explained that based on the directive of the Federal Government, 20 per cent of the food items due for each LGA would be given to religious organisations and three per cent to be handed over to boarding schools in the area.

The NEMA boss used the opportunity to alert the state governor on the 2024 seasonal climate prediction and the annual flood outlook and urged the state to be prepared.

She said that the predictions indicated that in April, May and June, 25 states and 72 LGAs were flood high-risk areas, indicating heightened vulnerability to flooding.

Mr Umar said that the vulnerability would persist into the subsequent months of July to September, with 33 states and 135 LGAs identified as high-risk areas, while the period between October and November had 19 states and 44 LGAs.

She said, “This year, the probable flood risk areas in Niger State are Agwara, Bida, Magama, Muya, Agaie, Shiroro, Bosso, Kontagora, Gurara, Chanchaga, Rafi and Lavun local government areas. In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the state government to kindly take proactive and necessary measures in addressing these issues.’’

Responding, Mr Bago directed the committee in charge of the distribution of the food items and the security agencies to ensure that the identified vulnerable persons got the commodities.

The governor said that no beneficiary was to pay for the food items. He promised that the state government would soon set up a committee to tackle the issue of flooding this year.

Also speaking, the Women Leader, Polio Affected Persons in the state, Habiba Garba, said that members of the group received one bag of maize, millet and sorghum each.

Mrs Garba, who thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, said that the association would ensure that the items get to their members.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after spending two weeks abroad.

Tinubu returned to his official residence at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in the early hours of Wednesday, PUNCH Online confirmed.In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed, “President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe.”

Two weeks ago, on April 23, 2024, the President departed Abuja for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the Netherlands, he participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

He also held separate meetings with His Royal Majesty, King Willem-Alexander, and Queen Maxima of the Kingdom.

As earlier announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu proceeded from The Netherlands to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development scheduled for April 28–29.

He joined over 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia from more than 90 countries to review actions taken since the inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2023.

It was his second visit to the Gulf state in five months.

After the summit, however, the President did not return to the country immediately.

Although no official statement was issued on the President’s further engagements, sources within the Presidency confirmed that he proceeded to London for a private visit and was billed to return last weekend.

Tinubu embarked on a similar private visit to London between June 24–28, 2023, where he met his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. He had attended the Paris Summit for the New Global Financial Pact days earlier.

His return on Wednesday concludes his 20th foreign trip since assuming office last May, logging 96 days abroad.

So far, he has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.

The Plateau State Government has settled a five-year outstanding clothing allowance for solicitors in the state Ministry of Justice.

The state Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Dafi, who made this known in an interview, said the payment covered between 2018 and 2023.

Mr Dafi said the payment was made to motivate state counsel to put in their best and increase productivity.

He said, “The ministry will do all it takes to improve staff welfare and encourage state counsel to dress well. Dressing well can also help you feel empowered and confident to take on new challenges, meet new people and progress in your career.’’

He also said that the government created opportunities for training programmes, workshops, and mentorship opportunities to help employees enhance their skills and grow in their careers.”

The state has trained prosecutors and investigators and also holds continuous legal education for lawyers as well as hosting webinars on topical issues in the ministry”, he stated.

He further said that some state officials had been sponsored on study tour to Lagos State to understudy the workings and operations of the Ministry of Justice, Lands and Bureau and the office of the Surveyor-General.

The House of Representatives has expressed worry over the continual rise in the price of cement, saying it is detrimental to the entire economy.

Deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu said this at an investigative hearing on Arbitrary Increase in Cement Price in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by the House Joint Committee on Solid Minerals, Industry, Commerce and Special Duties in Abuja.

Mr Kalu said that cement remained a fundamental component in constructing vital infrastructure such as bridges, dams, houses, waterworks, and roads.

He said that Nigeria had a housing deficit of 16.9 million, according to statistics.

“According to the World Bank, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, and Abuja have a 20 per cent rise in housing needs yearly,” he stated.

Mr Kalu said the total output in the formal housing sector was estimated at not more than 100,000 units.

The lawmaker added that bridging the gap required affordable and accessible cement prices for both the government and the private sector. He said while factors such as exchange rates had contributed to the rising prices of commodities, it was encouraging to see the value of the naira increasing sharply against the dollar.

“Notably, the naira has shown remarkable strength against the dollar in past weeks, and Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, recently revised Nigeria’s credit outlook to positive from stable. We are also dedicated to enacting laws that prevent a recurrence of the factors that led to the current situation,” Mr Kalu said.

The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Gaza, said the recent hike in the price of cement was worrisome.

“Nigeria has a high deficit of housing and other infrastructure. To close this gap, both government and the private sector must be articulate and deliberate in putting the right policies and parameters in place to encourage development.

“Therefore, should the price of cement which is a major component for infrastructure development continue to soar uncontrollably, the tendency to stifle life out of that sector is high and the consequences very detrimental,” Mr Gaza said.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, has promised to explore avenues of assisting Nigeria to tackle the security challenges in the country.

He said this at a media parley in Abuja.

Mr Pankyu, who had just spent about 50 days in Nigeria, pledged to work towards expanding the partnership between the two countries for mutual benefit.

He said that Korea had at different times offered capacity building programmes for the Nigerian military and other security agencies towards enhancing their capabilities.

“I intend to expand this kind of opportunity for Nigeria. I believe that counter-terrorism courses and training programmes are useful for Nigerian military officers.

“We will also explore ways to have the Nigerian government provide itself with proper hardware. The Korean Navy has donated a patrol ship that will arrive in Lagos in a few months. I will explore ways to expand this kind of assistance.

“I will also explore ways to deepen security cooperation to help the country address insecurity. I will do that by using my expertise in military and security affairs, which saw me through my 40 years in the Korean Navy.

“On this, I will also like to focus on promoting corporations on maritime security because securing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea will essentially benefit many countries, including Korea. In addition, I will like to expand Korean support for capacity building for Nigerian military and security officers,” Mr Pankyu said.

He said that Nigeria remained a strong Korean partner in Africa, adding that the two countries could do more together.

He lauded the federal government for introducing reforms aimed at improving the business environment in the country.

“I will explain these changes to Korean companies and encourage them to venture into Nigeria and make investments. I will facilitate a people-to-people exchange between Nigeria and Korea because I believe that culture has the power to connect people and improve understanding among them,” he said.

He commended the Korean Culture Centre in Nigeria for playing significant roles in introducing Korean culture to Nigerians, promising to provide opportunities for Nigerians to experience Korean content.

Mr Pankyu also promised to explore avenues for increasing study slots for Nigerians wishing to study in the Republic of Korea.

He said that the Korean government had provided numerous support for food self-sufficiency in Africa through various projects such as the K-Rice Belt Initiative to enhance high yields and food security on the continent.

“We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 10 African countries to promote K-Rice Belt projects. Nigeria’s joining this project is being discussed and when it is realised, it will surely contribute to its agriculture sector,” he said.

The envoy said that the Korea-Africa Summit, slated for June in Seoul, Korea, would help solidify the relationship between Korea and Africa and also between Korea and Nigeria.

“The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit is expected to be the largest international gathering. This reflects Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol’s commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial, sustainable and strategic partnership with Africa.

This also marks significant steps in Korea’s comprehensive strategy to engage deeply with the global South, reflecting our commitment to global inclusiveness and cooperation.

“During the summit, we will host many side events and provide opportunities for Nigeria and Korea to explore ways to expand their bilateral economic and cultural exchange between the government and private sector.

“I’m positive and believe that the coming summit will set a new milestone in the relationship between Korea and Africa,” Mr Pankyu said.

He said that Korean people were largely Super Eagles fans, as they enjoyed their superlative performances in international tournaments.

“The Korean people know Wole Soyinka, the literary icon and they know the role of Nigeria in peacekeeping in Africa,” he said.

The United States of America and Nigeria held the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission meeting in Abuja, deliberating on “a wide range of bilateral and global issues,” including creation of state police in Nigeria.

A “joint statement on the 2024 U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission” released on Monday indicated that salient issues were deliberated during the April 29-30, 2024 meeting between Nigeria and U.S. officials.

U.S. and Nigerian delegates at the meeting “discussed President Tinubu’s creation of a police reform commission, and the United States offered its expertise to the Government of Nigeria,” the statement noted.

It stated, “Both also discussed the potential challenges and needs of state police forces should the Nigerian Assembly pass an act creating such.”

It added that “the United States demonstrated a strong commitment to support Nigeria’s efforts to build the capacity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and strengthen police reforms and accountability in Nigeria.”

This comes amid renewed clamour for state police creation to tackle security challenges in Nigeria.

According to the statement, this year’s Binational Commission built on the strong foundation agreed during the January 23, 2024, meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Abuja, as well as the momentum from the last BNC held in Washington, D.C., in February 2020.

Nigerian minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf M. Tuggar, led the Nigerian interministerial delegation, while Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, headed the U.S. delegation of federal departments and agencies to the meeting.

Chad will hold presidential election on Monday to stop the three years of military administration and usher in democracy.

It was gathered that General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who seized power in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was installed as the president of the Transitional Military Council, is the favourite among the 10 candidates.

The 40-year-old became the central African nation’s leader when his father, who had repressively ruled Chad since 1990, died from wounds suffered on the front line as he visited troops in the north battling rebels.

It was further gathered that the country of around 19 million people has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from its former colonial power France in 1960.

Déby promised that his presidency was only a temporary placeholder until Chad had transitioned to a new democratic government.

But he has crushed opposition demonstrations, voters and observers alike doubt that the election will be fair.