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Budget 2024: Buni Presents N217 billion Appropriation Bill for Yobe
Budget 2024: Buni Presents N217 billion Appropriation Bill for Yobe
By: Michael Mike
Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has presented an appropriation bill of N217 billion for 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.
Buni, presented the bill tagged: “Budget of Consolidation and Economic Recovery,” said N217 billion would take care
capital, recurrent, overhead and personnel expenditures.
He noted that out of this amount, the total sum of N94.2 billion representing 43.39% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the total sum of N122.8 billion representing 56.61% is allocated for capital expenditure.
The governor during the presentation, said: “I want to reassure you that the government will remain steadfast in its commitment to the progress and development of our dear state. Our target has always been driven by a strong commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our state.”
He said this budget will focus on the administration sector where it has been allocated the sum N26.7 billion for both its capital and recurrent expenditure, under this are: 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-Generals’ Offices, among others.
He said: “In the upcoming fiscal year, we will focus on providing a conducive working atmosphere for the Civil Servants and public officeholders. In this respect, we would intensify efforts towards completion of the Ministry of Budget Office complex, Multipurpose Hall, NLC Secretariat and additional work at the I.B.B Secretariat. Renovations of various offices and, the provision of office furniture and equipment have also been allocated funds in the 2024 budget proposal. Official and utility vehicles would also be made available to some MDAs including the Judiciary. Government would also support the training of civil servants to build their capacity and enhance productivity.
“The sum of One Hundred and Seven Billion, Two Hundred and Thirteen Million Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira Only (N107,213,280,000) is allocated to this sector to cover the capital and recurrent expenditure for the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Transport and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation, Internal Revenue Service, Rural Electrification Board, Water Cooperation, Housing and Property Development Cooperation, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, among others.”
The governor said in order to stimulate economic growth, government would ensure the completion of Potiskum and Geidam Modern Markets, Potiskum Trailer Park, Damaturu Mega Shopping Mall as well as for the rehabilitation, upgrading and capitalization of all the Government-owned Companies, completion of the Sesame Seeds Processing and Packaging factories in Damaturu, Potiskum, Machina and Nguru towns, renovation of Ministry of Commerce Zonal offices and Gogaram Chalets.
He noted that: “Investing in infrastructure is vital to the development of our state, we will continue to make strategic investments in power supply for industrial and domestic use. In addition, the government will pursue with vigour the completion of the 500KVA relief sub-station in Kannamma. More towns and villages would also be connected to the national grid; the provision of integrated streetlights in Damaturu the state capital and the five major towns of Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru, Geidam and Buni Yadi, as well as the reinstallation of traffic lights in some strategic locations within the Damaturu metropolis. The funds would also cater for the completion of all electrification projects”.
He added that: “I wish to reassure you that, the government would work tirelessly to ensure the completion of all inter-community and township roads, and drainages across the state. In line with the urban renewal drive of our administration, the government will construct a central flyover in Damaturu, and provide infrastructure for the proposed Damaturu Green Economic City and Damaturu Industrial Park.”
Budget 2024: Buni Presents N217 billion Appropriation Bill for Yobe
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
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