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Highlights Of Decisions Taken At Federal Executive Council Meeting On 13th And 14th May
Highlights Of Decisions Taken At Federal Executive Council Meeting On 13th And 14th May
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu, concluded its meeting spanning May 13 and 14, 2024. The Council approved numerous policies and projects aimed at boosting the economy, facilitating investments, and enhancing the ease of doing business in Nigeria. Below are the major highlights from the meeting, as shared by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy:....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
- Infrastructure and Housing Initiatives: The FEC supported initiatives to revolutionize Nigeria’s infrastructure and housing sectors through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), aiming to unlock N2 trillion. The government envisions providing 25-year low-interest mortgages to enable affordable homeownership.
- Airport Tolls: All users of federal airports across Nigeria must now pay tolls at the gates, including the President and Vice President.
- Sand Dredging Ban: Sand dredging is banned within 10 kilometers of all federal bridges nationwide.
- Visa Policy Review: A 4-week deadline was set for reviewing visa policies to facilitate tourism, business, and creativity. The review aims to allow online visa applications with a 48-hour processing time and potential visa waivers for certain countries.
- Disabled Aircraft Recovery System: Approval was granted for the supply, installation, and training for a disabled aircraft recovery system at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, costing N4.2 billion.
- Fibre Optic Cable Development: A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be created on a PPP basis to develop 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable, increasing Nigeria’s internet connectivity by 60-70%.
- NITDA Reconciliation and Expansion: Approval for consultancy services for the reconciliation and expansion of remittances to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
- Digital Technology Exchange Programme Hub: Conversion of the property at 324 Jackson Street, San Francisco, USA, into a Nigerian Digital Technology Exchange Programme Hub, valued at close to $7 million.
- Bus Terminals in Abuja: Contracts worth N51 billion were approved for building bus terminals and other transport facilities in Abuja. The project will be completed by Planet Projects Nigeria Limited within 15 months.
- Kwaita-Yebu Road Upgrade: A contract worth N7.6 billion was awarded to Messrs El & Matt Nigeria Limited to upgrade the Kwaita-Yebu Road in Abuja, to be completed in 18 months.
- Court of Appeal Abuja Division: A contract worth N37.2 billion was awarded for the construction of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, to be executed by Messrs Visible Construction Limited.
- Street Lights on Bill Clinton Drive: A N412 million contract for street lights on Bill Clinton Drive, including the procurement of 8 back-up generators powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Solar.
- Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo V6 for Customs: Nigeria Customs Service will purchase 200 CNG-powered Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo V6 vehicles at a cost of N12.5 billion, with insurance cover provided by NEM at a cost of N522 million.
- Revenue Assurance Platform for Lottery and Gaming Sector: A 15-year concession was granted to Messrs Yuan Resources Limited for deploying a revenue assurance platform under a PPP arrangement in the lottery and gaming sector.
- Road Projects: Several road projects were approved, including the reconstruction of Iseyin-Okeho-Iganna Road in Oyo State and Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway at a cost of N1.6 trillion.
- Koton-Karfe – Abaji Road Reconstruction: An N89 billion contract was awarded for the reconstruction of Koton-Karfe – Abaji Road in Kogi State.
- Lokoja-Benin Road Reconstruction: Approval for the reconstruction of Lokoja-Benin Road, Okpela Section, Lokoja-Benin Dualised Auchi Section – Uromi Link Road, and Lokoja-Benin Road, Ekpoma Section, financed by BUA Cement at a cost of N120 billion under the tax credit scheme.
- Additional Road and Bridge Contracts: Various contracts for roads and bridges in Kwara, Edo, and Kebbi States, totaling N546 billion.
- Kano Bypass: A N230 billion contract to Messrs CCECC for the construction of a 37km Kano Bypass, including bridges and flyovers, to be completed in 36 months.
- Sokoto-Illela-Badagry Superhighway: Procurement approval for the Sokoto-Illela-Badagry superhighway to join the Lagos-Calabar Coastal superhighway, initially awarded in 1976 but abandoned.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has produced a new crop of state executives after holding its congress at the FIFA Stadium Goru in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Delegates from all 21 local government areas participated in the exercise, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ended without any reported incidents or disturbances.
Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru emerged as the State Chairman, elected alongside 29 other members into the State Executive Committee.
Governor Nasir Idris, who was present at the venue, commended the peaceful conduct of the congresses from ward to state level. He called on party faithful to rally behind the newly elected leaders and sustain unity as the party prepares for future elections.
Representatives from the APC national secretariat and members of the local congress committees praised the process, describing it as transparent and well-organised.
Also in attendance was former Kebbi State Governor and current Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who said the hitch-free exercise demonstrated strong collaboration among party stakeholders.
Party members and delegates reportedly gathered at the stadium from early hours to take part in the congress across the state.
A senior aide to the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated that Iran has no plans to engage in negotiations with the United States.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Mohammad Mokhber disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on State TV, emphasizing that Tehran does not trust Washington and sees no grounds for dialogue.
According to Mokhber, Iran is prepared to continue the ongoing conflict in the Middle East for as long as necessary.
“We will not enter into any negotiations with the US. The Americans cannot be trusted. We can sustain the war for as long as we choose,” he said.
He added that previous interactions with the United States have left Iran doubtful about any diplomatic efforts.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions following reports that Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes.
Meanwhile, Iran has announced plans for a three-day state funeral in honour of the late leader. The official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that members of the public will be allowed to pay their respects at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran.
“Starting at 10:00 pm (1830 GMT), the faithful will be able to pay their final respects to the body of the martyred guide of the nation at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque,” the agency quoted a statement from the Islamic Development Coordination Council as saying.
Khamenei, who was 86 at the time of his death, is expected to be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
Indomitable Lionesses head coach Mike Ndoumou has acknowledged that his team lost control of the game after Cameroon suffered a 3–1 defeat to Nigeria’s Super Falcons in Tuesday’s international friendly in Yaoundé.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to reports, Cameroon made a bright start at the Military Stadium, scoring first and hoping to build on their 1–0 victory over Nigeria in last weekend’s earlier encounter. However, the momentum soon shifted.
Christiane opened the scoring to give the Lionesses an early advantage and excite the home fans. Nigeria quickly regrouped, with Chiwendu Ihezuo equalising before Omorinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie sealed the comeback with well-taken goals.
Reflecting on the match, Ndoumou admitted his side struggled after their promising start.
“We allowed Nigeria to dominate and push us back into our half. The goals came in quick succession,” he said after the game.
Nigeria, under head coach Justine Madugu, displayed improved intensity and sharper movement in the second half, applying sustained pressure that forced defensive lapses from the hosts.
Babajide played a key role in the turnaround, scoring once and providing an assist in an impressive performance that underscored her growing importance to the team.
“Great reaction from the team today,” the AS Roma Women forward wrote on .
The Super Falcons will now shift their attention to preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
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