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Export: Afreximbank begins development of quality assurance centre in Imo

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10 months ago

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The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has begun the development of its African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) in Imo to ensure quality of export products.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of the bank’s board of directors, said this at the official launch of the AQAC, in the Ngor Okpala council area of Imo, on Monday.
Oramah, represented by the bank’s Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Mrs Kanayo Awani, said that the centre was the second of its kind in Nigeria.
The president explained that the AQAC would promote African trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
According to him, although Africa’s export products represent only 30 per cent of exports in Europe and America, the products can hardly meet global standards, and have, therefore, suffered inhibited access to the global market.
“With a cargo airport and abundant export products such as agricultural, textile, pharmaceutical and automotive, among others, Imo has the potential to become a major international export hub in Nigeria,” he said.
He thanked the bank’s technical partners, the Bureau Veritas; the African Organisation for Standardisation, and the Imo government for their support and collaboration which saw the project to fruition.
“Africa loses an estimated $700m yearly at the export market due to inability to meet global standards, but the Afreximbank is working on accredited facilities for quality assurance and promotion of export trade.
“This gathering is a testament that our strong political will backed by capital from Africa, represent a powerful force and our best chance as a people to achieve economic emancipation.
“We are, therefore, pleased at the Afreximbank to announce the commencement of the AQAC project development in Imo to serve the people of Imo, Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.
Also, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, thanked the bank for choosing Imo as a ground for “providing home grown solutions to the challenges of export business confronting the African continent “.
He added that the project aligned with the Nigerian National Development Plan, and pledged his commitment to job creation through stimulation of the economy for a more productive life for Imo people.
“We thank you for including Imo in the global map.
“We assure you that with 64 nautical miles to the high sea, your decision to site this project in Imo will be justified through a viable Return on Investment (ROI), and our necessary support for your seamless operation“, he said.
Earlier, the bank’s Director of Export Development, Mrs Dorothy Oluwaji, restated the bank’s commitment to the strategic initiative, and thanked Uzodinma for his tenacity, drive, support and vision to make Imo an international export hub.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the project module. (NAN)
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Jubilation in Edo APC as Leaked Tribunal Judgement Shows 2-1 Majority in Favour of Gov. Monday Okpebholo

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2 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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A storm of excitement swept through Edo APC circles late Sunday evening after what appeared to be a draft copy of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment surfaced in a WhatsApp group populated by senior party stakeholders.

The document, which seems to mirror an official format, complete with judicial language, cited authorities, and even a breakdown of the votes in contention indicates a 2-1 majority ruling affirming the declaration of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.

After a rocky weekend where Gov. Okpebholo had his hands full managing a national crisis caused by the killings in Uromi, this must come as sweet music to his ears.

The draft judgment appears to have dismissed the petition filed by PDP’s Asue Ighodalo and his party on grounds of insufficient proof that non-compliance substantially affected the outcome of the election. Citing cases like Oyetola v. Adeleke and Atiku v. INEC, the judgment stated that while there was some evidence of irregularities, it wasn’t enough to overturn the INEC-declared result.

However, the leaked document also includes a fiery dissenting judgment by one of the Justices who found in favour of the PDP candidate, stating that substantial non-compliance had indeed occurred across over 500 polling units and that the recalculated votes clearly put Ighodalo ahead. His minority verdict called for INEC to nullify the current certificate of return and issue a new one to Ighodalo.

This tantalising peek behind the judicial curtain comes after the Tribunal Secretary had, on March 31st, formally notified all parties that judgment would be delivered on Tuesday, April 2nd. While it is uncommon, though not unprecedented, for judgments to leak, the ubiquity of social media apps like WhatsApp and Telegram has made such “accidental” document sharing nearly impossible to police.

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For the APC, however, the mood is nothing short of triumphant. Sources say the party has already issued quiet directives to its acting Local Government Chairmen to mobilize five loyalists each from the state’s 18 LGAs to Abuja ostensibly for a “solidarity visit” but widely believed to be preparation for a full-blown celebration once the judgment is officially read in open court.

Meanwhile, within the PDP camp, the mood is said to be somber, with key figures choosing not to respond to inquiries about the upcoming judgment. One aide to the PDP State Chairman Aziegbemin privately expressed concern over “judicial mathsmagic,” adding cryptically, “We’ll wait for what is read in court, not what is forwarded on WhatsApp. APC are masters of propaganda. We will wait for the court to rule on Wednesday, then take it from there.”

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Eid-el-fitr: PDP governors call for peaceful coexistence

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2 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has called on Nigerians to continue to live together in peace and harmony.

The forum Chairman, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, made the call in his Sallah message, issued by the forum’s Director-General, Emmanuel Agbo, on Monday in Abuja.

Mohammed urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and support for the leaders.

He also urged them to continue to pray for the peace, security and unity of the country.

He congratulated the Muslim faithful on the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, which signified the completion of a month-long Ramadan fast.

The governor advised them to continue to reflect on the lessons of tolerance, love and sacrifice that the period represented.

“The forum felicitates with Muslims from across the world on the dawn of another Eid-el-fitr.

“We pray that the Almighty Allah would accept our worship and keep us all alive and healthy to witness many more.

“Though the Ramadan season is over, we urge all Muslim faithful to continue to practice the lessons taught in the Holy Month.

“We must remain pious and close to Allah and deny ourselves in total submission to His will,” he said

Mohammed said that as one of the key pillars of Islam, the Ramadan was important for developing the virtues of self-renunciation in every true Muslim.

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Katsina State, beacon of hope, opportunities, says Radda

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2 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda has said his administration remains dedicated to fostering security, economic prosperity and infrastructure development to make the state beacon of hope and opportunity for all.

Radda stated this while addressing dignitaries at the “2025 Hawan Bariki” durbar, at the Government House, on Monday in Katsina.

He said that opportunities abound in the state in the area of agriculture, commerce and tourism among others.

“My administration remains dedicated to fostering an environment of security, economic prosperity, and infrastructural development.

“This is to ensure that Katsina State remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for all.

“We are investing in education to empower our youth, strengthening our healthcare system to ensure the well-being of our people, and enhancing security to protect lives and property,” he said.

The governor described this year’s traditional homage, as a historic occasion, marking the first time the state hosted 10 international ambassadors and their families.

“The iconic Sallah Durbar is not merely a festival; it is a testament to our deep-rooted culture, resilience, and unwavering commitment to peace and harmony.

“The magnificent display of horsemanship, the vibrancy of our traditional attire, and the melodies of our folk music all reflect the beauty of our identity and the pride we take in preserving our heritage,” he said

Radda, therefore, urged the guests and investors to explore numerous opportunities that the state offer in agriculture, commerce and tourism among others.

“Our fertile land presents vast opportunities for agribusiness, while our markets serve as hubs of trade and cultural heritage,” he said

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In his remarks, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman, commended the governor for the numerous development projects executed across the state.

The Emir also cautioned the people against taking laws into their hands following the unfortunate killing of some travellers in Edo state recently.

He urged them to exercise patience and allow the government to handle the matter.(NAN)

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