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President Tinubu Announces Ambitious Reforms and Initiatives

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President Tinubu Announces Ambitious Reforms and Initiatives

In a nationwide address, President Bola Tinubu outlined a series of significant reforms and initiatives aimed at improving Nigeria’s economy, youth empowerment, and infrastructure. He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Nigerian people and fostering a more prosperous and equitable nation.

CNG Initiative and Economic Relief

President Tinubu highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce transportation costs by approximately 60% through the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits and the establishment of conversion centers across the country in collaboration with the private sector. This initiative is expected to help curb inflation and alleviate the financial burden on citizens.

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Support for Youth and Education

The administration has shown its commitment to the youth by setting up a student loan scheme, with 45.6 billion Naira already processed for payment to students and their respective institutions. President Tinubu encouraged more young Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity. Additionally, the government has established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200 billion to assist Nigerians in acquiring essential products without the need for immediate cash payments.

President Tinubu announced the release of an additional N50 billion each for NELFUND, the student loan program, and the Credit Corporation from proceeds recovered by the EFCC.

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Digital and Creative Enterprises Empowerment

The President revealed that $620 million has been secured under the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) program to empower young people and create millions of IT and technical jobs. Despite a setback due to vandalism during protests in Kano, the government remains committed to initiatives like the 3Million Technical Talents scheme, Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).

Economic Support and Job Creation

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Over N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support for citizens, benefiting 600,000 nano-businesses, with an additional 400,000 expected to benefit. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries will receive N1 million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans starting this month. The government has also established 10 MSME hubs, creating 240,000 jobs, with five more hubs to be completed by October.

Large manufacturers are receiving payments of N1 billion each under single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.

Housing and Infrastructure Development

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President Tinubu inaugurated the first phase of the Renewed Hope City and Estate in Karsana, Abuja, as part of an ambitious housing initiative. The project is the first of six planned across the nation, with each city featuring a minimum of 1,000 housing units. Additionally, the Renewed Hope Estates will be launched in every state, each comprising 500 housing units, with a goal of completing 100,000 housing units over the next three years. This initiative aims to provide homes, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.

Agriculture and Food Security

To increase food production and reduce prices, the President announced the removal of tariffs and import duties on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for six months. The government is working closely with governors and key ministers to accelerate food production, distributing fertilizers and aiming to cultivate over 10 million hectares of land. Mechanized farming equipment worth billions of Naira has been ordered from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil to support these efforts.

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In closing, President Tinubu expressed gratitude to God and the Nigerian people, wishing for continued blessings on the nation. “Thank you very much for your attention, and may God continue to bless our great nation,” he concluded.

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.

Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.

US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.

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While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”

When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.

Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.

New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.

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The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.

Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.

Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.

Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.

“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.

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This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.

Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.

In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”

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