First Lady Remi Tinubu distributes food items to vulnerable groups in Ekiti

By Our Reporter

The Food Distribution program of the Renewed Hope Initiative under its Social Investment program is a monthly intervention strategy targeting the vulnerable groups in society. 

The program, supported by a well-meaning industrialist, has provided assorted food items in a number of states across the nation. 

Making the distribution at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu informed the public that the RHI, in line with the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, is working towards meeting the needs of the people. 

Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, told the gathering the program was launched in FCT Abuja and has covered some states already, impacting on the lives of people with disabilities, women, and the youth. 

Hajiya Nana Shettima implores the beneficiaries not to divert the items to the market but to use them in their household. 
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, while appreciating Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s support to the state in the areas of agriculture where farmers received farming implements, women empowerment, and scholarships for the youths, said the food intervention is timely. It will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries, considering their vulnerable nature. 

There was a symbolic presentation and a traditional dance as the high point of the event.

First Lady Remi Tinubu distributes food items to vulnerable groups in Ekiti

Buni Proposes N320.8 billion Budget for 2025 in Yobe

By: Michael Mike

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni
has presented a proposed budget of N320.8 billion to the State House of Assembly for 2025 fiscal year.

The governor, while presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged: “Budget of Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction,” to the members of the assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio at the Yobe State House of Assembly complex in Damaturu on Thursday, said the sum of N144.04 billion representing 44.9% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N176.8 billionrepresenting 55.1% is allocated for capital expenditure.

Buni while highlighting the breakdown, said government would concentrate on four sectors, namely; Economic, Social, Administration, Law, Peace and Justice.

He said: “The economic sector would continue to play its pivotal role in our speedy growth and socio-economic development agenda for the state. A total sum of One Hundred and Fifty-six Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-one Million, Eight Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira (N156,931,818,000) is allocated to cover capital and recurrent expenditure, while the social sector has been earmarked with a total sum of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand Naira (N108,469,366,000) for the funding of both its capital and recurrent expenditure.

“Likewise, the administrative sector which consists of the Government House, House of Assembly, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Home Affairs Information and Culture, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ethical Re-orientation, State Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, State and Local Government Auditors-General’s Offices, among others are to receive a proposed Fifty Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-one Thousand Naira (N50,644,971,000), while Law, Peace and Justice will have a total sum of Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-four million, Eight Hundred and Forty-five Thousand Naira (N4,764,845,000) respectively.”

The Governor noted that the unfavourable exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar, and the unabated inflation rate have continued to negatively impact on execution levels of projects and programmes.

He however said: “In keeping with the well established tradition of linking our past and present with the future, l wish to give account of the major achievements recorded during the outgoing fiscal year before presenting the 2025 budget proposal.

“This Honourable House may recall that a total sum of Two-Hundred and Sixteen Billion, Nine-Hundred and Fifty Million Naira N216,950,000,000 was approved to finance both capital and recurrent expenditure for 2024 fiscal year.

” However, the actual revenue receipts from the Federation Account Allocation, Internally Generated Revenue and other sources including the State opening balance of accounts from January-September, 2024 stood at Two Hundred and Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-three Naira (N206,996,593,833) implying 95.4% of the approved budget.

“Out of the sum of One-Hundred and Seven Billion, Four-Hundred and Thirteen Million, Forty-two Thousand Naira (N107,413,042,000) earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the 2024 Budget, the actual amount expended was Eighty-five Billion, Six-Hundred and Ninety-two Million, Nine-Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Naira (N85,692,902,380) representing 79.8% success as at 30th September, 2024.

“The sum of One-Hundred and Nine Billion, Five-Hundred and Thirty-six Million, Nine-Hundred and Fifty-eight Thousand Naira (N109,536,958,000) was allocated for capital expenditure. However, the sum of Seventy-Nine Billion, Two-Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Four-Hundred and sixty-Two Thousand, Five-Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira (N79,256,462,554) was the actual expenditure indicating 72.4% success.

” The overall performance of the 2024 budget for both recurrent and capital expenditure was One-Hundred and Sixty-four Billion, Nine-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Three-Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-four Naira (N164,949,364,934) indicating 76% success as of 30th September 2024. The volume of both the revenue and expenditure is expected to rise before the end of the year.”

He promised that: “Government would next year award contract for the remaining part of the Trans-Sahara road to complete linkage of the entire northern part of the state from Nguru-Kanamma. Similarly, Government would construct access roads to link all the political wards in the respective local government areas.

“Others are the construction of Garin Bingel-Danchuwa road which has been completed, the ongoing Bukarti-Toshiya, Fika-Maluri, and Danchuwa-Jajere, Kanamma Junction-Yusufari, Gujba-Ngalda, as well as the rehabilitation of Geidam-Bukarti, and Damaturu-Gujba roads. The amount also covers expenditure for the construction of the four Damaturu City Gates, township roads and drainages in Ten Local Government Council Headquarters across the state, as well as erosion control along Gadaka road, among others.”

Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio promised to carefully study the budget for further legislative action with a view to give speedy passage into law.

He commended the governor for prudent management of the 2024 budget in completing ongoing projects such as roads and other critical infrastructures.

Buni Proposes N320.8 billion Budget for 2025 in Yobe

Israel-Palestine: Saudi Arabia Hosts First Global Alliance Meeting to Advance Two-State Solution

By: Michael Mike

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted the first Global Alliance Meeting to advance the two-state solution aimed at tackling ending the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict .

A statement by the embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria said Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the first meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on Wednesday, noting that this underscored Saudi Arabia’s leadership in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

The coalition was announced last month in partnership with international allies, and it is aimed at mobilizing global support for a viable, sustainable two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Opening the meeting, Prince Faisal welcomed Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), alongside international delegations dedicated to peace-building efforts.

Addressing the escalating violence in Palestine and Lebanon, Prince Faisal condemned the mounting Israeli violations, emphasising the urgent need for the international community’s intervention to halt such actions that threaten regional stability and the potential for a peaceful two-state outcome.

Faisal called for an immediate ceasefire, advocating for the release of hostages and detainees and the establishment of accountability mechanisms to address ongoing violations. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for UNRWA’s crucial role in delivering humanitarian aid amid the ongoing challenges in the Palestinian territories.

He equally urged the global community to bolster efforts toward preserving the two-state solution as the foundation for long-term peace in the region. He outlined Saudi Arabia and its regional partners’ commitment to practical, time-bound steps to resolve the conflict, emphasising the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state and ending the occupation.

According to the statement, Saudi Arabia’s concerns extend to Lebanon, “where ongoing Israeli aggression threatens sovereignty and regional peace. In line with the joint Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, and under the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia reiterated its condemnation of actions undermining Palestinian and Lebanese security.”

The statement added that: “As a follow-up to these developments, the Kingdom announced its intention to convene a joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, to discuss the continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian territories and the Republic of Lebanon, and the ongoing developments in the region.”

Israel-Palestine: Saudi Arabia Hosts First Global Alliance Meeting to Advance Two-State Solution