National
Northern Youths Pass Vote of Confidence on President Tinubu ,Akpabio
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Arewa Youth Consultative Movement (AYCM) has passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
At a press briefing, the National President, Comrade Kabiru Yusuf, praised President Tinubu for his significant accomplishments in human capacity development and infrastructural enhancement in Nigeria.
He stated that President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have made monumental achievements geared towards economic recovery and the promotion of unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.
Kabiru highlighted that the Coastal Superhighway Initiative, the South East Development Commission, the NYSC Trust Fund, and the Student Loan Scheme stand as tangible testaments to the forward-thinking leadership of President Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Despite facing economic challenges, his administration has adeptly navigated the country’s affairs without accruing excessive debt, a departure from past administrations’ practices,” he added.
“We boldly declare that President Bola Tinubu remains resolute in forging collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders, including the youth, to realize the vision of a prosperous Nigeria.”
He also pointed out that the ongoing refurbishment of the three refineries underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring efficient domestic petroleum supply and meeting the nation’s energy needs.
Kabiru implored the youth, women, and men to exercise patience and solidarity with the government as they collectively work towards a better Nigeria.
The group maintained that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been commended for his articulate and proactive leadership in the National Assembly. During his tenure in the 10th Assembly, several people-centric bills and initiatives, such as the Student Loan Bill and the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, were passed, significantly impacting youth empowerment.
“In just one month in office (December 2023), Senator Godswill Akpabio passed the budget for 2024 within record time, a feat that none of his predecessors were able to achieve.”
The group also noted that the collaborative efforts and transparency in engaging stakeholders have been particularly noteworthy, alongside the innovative legislative processes introduced to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
They disclosed that under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, 25 bills have been passed into law, and 115 resolutions have been adopted, all aimed at driving Nigeria’s socio-economic development, national cohesion, growth, and security stability.
“The synergy between the Senate and the executive branch has never been this cordial, not even during the tenure of Senator David Mark (2007-2015), the longest-serving Senate President.”
“Senator Akpabio’s crucial role in facilitating governance and promoting national development is vital in seeing Nigeria as one indivisible nation.”
Looking ahead, the group emphasized that leaders must prioritize the welfare of the people and foster unity, peace, and good governance to ensure sustainable progress in Nigeria.
The call by some in the North for Senator Akpabio to resign, despite his impactful legacy, was described as cross-prejudicial and unhealthy for the polity.
“The prevailing indicators suggest that Southern leaders in positions of authority are committed to shaping a brighter future for Nigeria’s youth and the generations to come.”
The group urged solidarity and endorsement of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Senator Akpabio’s leadership in the National Assembly.
The group condemned in strong terms the call by some sections of the North for the resignation of performing leaders simply because they are Southerners, stressing that they do not and will never support such actions.
“We call for the support of one united, indivisible Nigeria, with President Bola Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio working together for executive and legislative synergy, alongside a pragmatic judiciary, to salvage Nigeria and secure a better future for all.”
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further reduced the ex-gantry price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N835 per litre.
According to sources at the refinery, the plant dropped the price of the petrol sold to oil marketers to N835 per litre, six days after the refinery reduced it to N865 per litre.
“The refinery reduced the price of the petrol to N835 per litre,” a source told TheCable.
The reduction in Dangote petrol price followed an announcement by the federal government on April 9, that the naira-for-crude oil deal will continue after the first phase ended on March 31.
“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the finance ministry said.
“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”
On April 15, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the estimated pump price of petrol in Nigeria is less than that of neighbouring countries in West Africa.
Ahmed also said Nigeria’s petrol importation reduced by 29.9 million litres in eight months due to increased contributions from local refineries.
Three suspected herdsmen have been arrested following the attacks that led to the killing of 11 persons at Otobi community in Otupko local government by suspected herdsmen.
Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital.
He expressed worry over the situation and called on security agencies to track down the perpetrators.
According to Alia, National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, has promised to deploy more security assets to the State to arrest the renewed wave of attacks in the state, especially the Otukpo axis.
The governor also announced the deployment of security personnel to the affected area, with three suspected herdsmen arrested in connection with the Otobi killings.
According to the member representing Otukpo-Akpa Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Kennedy Angbo, nine corpses were recovered Tuesday night, followed by one in a hard-to-reach area later that evening.
By dawn Wednesday, other corpses were found, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the state, particularly because the Otobi community—home to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Multipurpose Dam—has now come under assault twice this April.
A security guard was previously killed at the dam site just days before this latest massacre.
Earlier, the governor sent his deputy, Samuel Ode, on an assessment tour to the devastated community.
He offered condolences to the grieving families and reassured residents of the state government’s commitment to tackling the spate of violent attacks across rural areas.
Ode also made some cash donations to carter for some immediate relief while the state emergency management agency has been tasked to move in for needs assessment and provide emergency response to those in need.
The attack on Otobi is the latest in a disturbing string of assaults along the Otukpo-Ado Road, from Okpamaju to Asa One and Asa Two down to the Ebonyi State border.
At least 15 million Nigerians are at risk of flood disasters in 2025, Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed.
He made the disclosure at the commencement of a one-day Validation Workshop on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser Abuja on Wednesday.
The Vice President, however, said the Federal Government is taking a proactive approach as against a reactive approach to forestall the disaster.
He emphasized the need for collaboration among all the agencies of government at the states and Federal Government level to tackle floods and other disasters in the country.
Some of Maiduguri communities submerged in flood following a leak in the Alau Dam in 2024.
VP Shettima decried that Nigeria loses 5 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to floods.
However, he disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the sum of N15 billion to be released for emergency responses.
The Vice President, who also condemned the recent heinous attacks in Plateau state, expressed the sympathy of President Bola Tinubu to the affected families.
He, however, advocated a non-kinetic approach to tackling the security challenges on the Plateau and North-East.
According to him, “There can never be a military solution to the crisis in Plateau, North-East.”
Last week, the Federal Government predicted heavy rains and floods in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The high-flood risk states are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said coastal and riverine flooding would be experienced in some parts of the South-South geopolitical zone of the country due to a rise in sea level.
Among these states are Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers while Akwa-Ibom and Edo fall under the high-flood risk states.