Interior Minister Seeks Stronger Federal-State Partnership on Security, Governance

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with state legislatures to drive reforms in internal security, governance and public service delivery across the country.

Tunji-Ojo gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving members of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, led by its Chairman and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior headquarters in Abuja.

The minister commended the Conference for seeking closer institutional cooperation, describing state legislatures as indispensable partners in the country’s governance architecture. He said stronger collaboration between federal and sub-national institutions was essential to achieving lasting reforms in internal security and civic administration.

According to him, the ministry remains committed to building productive relationships with state legislatures and will give due consideration to proposals presented by the Conference within the framework of existing government policies and national priorities.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the Ministry of Interior would continue to implement people-focused reforms aimed at improving national security, enhancing border management and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s internal governance systems.

Earlier, Guwor congratulated the minister on what he described as his reform-driven leadership, saying the initiatives introduced under his stewardship reflected the confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that the Conference of Speakers, as representatives of state legislatures closest to the grassroots, occupies a strategic position in supporting policies and reforms that directly affect citizens.

Guwor called for deeper collaboration between the Conference and the Ministry of Interior in areas that would promote national unity, reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the delivery of public services.

He also pledged the readiness of State Houses of Assembly across the country to provide the legislative backing required to advance the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and strategic cooperation, expressing confidence that stronger federal-state partnerships would contribute to improved governance, enhanced internal security and better service delivery for Nigerians.

Interior Minister Seeks Stronger Federal-State Partnership on Security, Governance

VP Shettima Commisions Nigeria’s Largest Lithium Processing Plant InU Nasarawa

Says Solid Minerals Sector Strategic To Nation’s Economic Agenda

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has affirmed Nigeria’s readiness to create jobs, build skills, and expand its productive base through active participation in the global minerals economy.

He underscored the importance of solid minerals in a tech-driven era, saying they are the enduring backbone of every economy since no technology rises without them.

Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday whiile commissioning Diamond New Energy Projects, one of Africa’s lithium processig plant and mining company in Nasarawa State, on behalf of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He identified what he described as the stark choices confronting Nigeria, noting that the nation must either maximise its industrial advantage and turn its endowments into engines of prosperity, or spend years manufacturing excuses for the nation’s lack of innovation.

VP Shettima observed that while the soil does not apologise for the failures of its occupants or congratulate them for their potential, it instead waits for a people serious enough to redeem it.

“That is why this occasion matters. The commissioning of Diamond New Energy Projects here in Nasarawa State represents confidence in Nigeria, in Nasarawa State, and in the revolutionary reforms set in place by this administration.

“It represents confidence that Nigeria is ready to participate in the global minerals economy on terms that create jobs, build skills, strengthen local enterprises and expand our productive base,” he declared.

Acknowledging that the national conversation in Nigeria had been “dominated by what lies beneath our soil,” including gold, lithium, tin, iron ore, bitumen, coal and other rare earth elements, Senator Shettima said discussing them with justifiable pride without deploying them to transform the lives of young Nigerians is futile.

“What changes a nation is the deliberate movement from extraction to processing, from potential to production, from raw materials to value-added goods, and from isolated investments to integrated industrial ecosystems,” he added.

The Vice President maintained that no nation can correct deep economic distortions without courage, just as “no economy has moved from dependency to productivity without building lasting ground for investment, productivity and growth, so that serious investors can plan for the long term, local entrepreneurs can compete, young people can find work, and the wealth of the nation begins to serve the people of the nation.

“This is why the solid minerals sector occupies a strategic place in our economic agenda,” the VP noted, pointing out that evolving technology is not only disrupting the world “but has restated the inevitability of solid minerals development.”

He attributed the success of building the mining firm to the resolve and vision of Governor Abdullahi Sule “to make Nasarawa a template for the promise of extractive industry development.”

VP Shettima commended the management of Diamond New Energy, describing the mining investment as timely, strategic and important “at the very moment Nigeria is repositioning itself.”

Earlier, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Sule, commended investors for choosing the state as the destination for one of Africa’s largest lithiumu processing plants.

He urged both local and foreign investors to take advantage of the state’s abundant solid mineral deposits and strategic proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.

Governor Sule said the state remains one of Nigeria’s most resource-rich investment destinations, with vast untapped mineral resources capable of driving industrialisation and economic growth.

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said Nigeria has successfully redirected global investment attention to its solid minerals sector through deliberate reforms initiated by the Federal Government.

He described the establishment of the lithium processing plant as a product of the Nasarawa State Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its people through industrial development and value addition.

He expressed optimism that the mining sector would soon emerge as one of the key drivers of Nigeria’s economic transformation and poverty reduction efforts.

For his part, the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Wadada, commended the Federal Government, the Nasarawa State Government and all stakeholders for their roles in attracting the investment.

He specifically praised Diamond New Energy Company for establishing the processing plant and urged the management to take the next step by manufacturing lithium batteries in Nigeria to ensure greater value addition, increased employment and maximum benefits for the host community and the nation.

For his part, the Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, described the commissioning of the processing plant as the fulfilment of a long-held aspiration for the host community.

He said the facility will create employment opportunities for residents, boost internally generated revenue and stimulate economic activities in the area, assuring investors of the community’s commitment to maintaining peace and protecting the investment.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Princess Margaret Elayo, described the project as a testament to the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Also, the Ambassador of Jiuling and Canmax, Mr. Yu Chongqiang, said the companies selected Nasarawa State because of the investment-friendly policies of the state government.

He noted that the current investment marked only the beginning of the companies’ long-term commitment to Nigeria, revealing plans to further expand operations to meet the growing global demand for lithium products.

On behalf of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, the Emir of Keffi, Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, congratulated the Federal Government for attracting the landmark investment to Nigeria.

He said the processing plant would reposition the country in mineral exploration, processing and value addition, while assuring the investors of the continued support and peaceful coexistence of the host communities

VP Shettima Commisions Nigeria’s Largest Lithium Processing Plant InU Nasarawa

President Tinubu: We’re Fulfilling Our Promise To Uplift Living Standards Of Nigerians

Returns to Karu, commissions roads, 1 week after water supply project, says it’s part of urban decongestion

By: Our Reporter

One week after inaugurating the Karu satellite town water supply network in Karu, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Monday, returned to the Abuja satellite town, where he commissioned the newly rehabilitated and expanded roads from the Karu Interchange to the Customs Clinic Junction, including other vital adjoining roads.

He said the road projects and other infrastructural development are a clear testament to his promise to resolve urban congestion and uplift the living standards of Nigerians..

The Nigerian leader who was represented at the commissioning by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, explained that by expanding and rehabilitating the roads, his administration is not just laying asphalt but injecting life back into the nation’s local economy.

He noted that when he assumed office in 2023, his administration “recognized that true development must reach where the people actually live, work, and commute.

“Indeed, this project stands as a clear testament to our promise to resolve urban congestion and uplift the living standards of our people. It is a direct product of our Renewed Hope Agenda in action,” he stated.

President Tinubu observed that for years, the Karu corridor, which serves as a critical gateway between the FCT and neighboring states, grappled with severe traffic congestion that drained the productivity and energy of residents.

He, however, noted that the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads have dramatically cut down “daily travel times, eliminates frustrating gridlocks, and ensures that businesses in this densely populated area can thrive under the right conditions.

“A premium road network must also prioritize the safety of its users both day and night. To ensure maximum security along this corridor, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has installed modern solar-powered streetlights along the entire road network, illuminating dark stretches, drastically reducing nighttime crime, and improving visibility for motorists,” he added.

The President attributed the rapid physical transformation across Abuja to “the dogged, relentless and focused supervision” of the Minister of FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, noting the aggressive implementation of his administration’s urban renewal master plan is visible for all to see.

“I sincerely commend the Minister and his team. By prioritizing high-density, strategic satellite nodes like Karu alongside the city center, the FCT Administration is validating our governance philosophy: that the wealth of this territory must yield practical, everyday comfort for all socio-economic classes.

“I also commend the contractor Abdul-Val Nigeria Limited for quality work and timely delivery. They have demonstrated that Nigerian firms can match international benchmarks for quality, structural integrity, and project management,” he added.

The Nigerian leader charged traditional rulers, market women, youth leaders, and the entire Karu residents to protect the roads from vandalism, indiscriminate roadside dumping that clogs drainage systems, and ensure the roads serve as a secure foundation for their “commerce, safety, and long-term community pride.”

Earlier, the FCT Minister said the support given to the administration of the FCT by Mr President is unprecedented and a demonstration of his commitment to the wellbeing and welfare of the people.

Wike noted that residents of the territory and environs are overwhelmed with the developmental strides in the FCT and assured them of that the momentum will be sustained.

The Minister commended the steadfastness and commitment of the contractor that handled the infrastructure project in Karu and environs, particularly in aligning with the agenda of the Federal Government to transform the state of infrastructure across the country.

For her part, the FCT Head of Service, Mrs Nancy, on behalf of the management, staff and residents of the territory, thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to national development and infrastructural renewal.

Presenting the project overview, the Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) FCT, Hon. Zulkiflu Abdulkadir, said improving the state of infrastructure in the satellite towns and area councils as well as uplifting the lives and livelihoods of the residents is critical to the development of the FCT.

He said the project which comprises the installation of solar-powered street lights, construction of drainages and walkways, will significantly improve economic and social activities in Karu town which is the most populated satellite town in the FCT.

Also present at the ocassion were legislators, top government officials, traditional rulers and stakeholders in the FCT, among others.

President Tinubu: We’re Fulfilling Our Promise To Uplift Living Standards Of Nigerians