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Shettima To NEC: Burden Of Nigerians Is On Our Shoulders
Shettima To NEC: Burden Of Nigerians Is On Our Shoulders
*Council sets up committees on Economic Affairs, Crude Oil Theft & Management
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged members of the National Economic Council (NEC) to shelve the idea of vacation in the yuletide and carry on with issues of governance to ease the burden of Nigerians hanging on their shoulders.
He charged the Council members to be alive to the demands of Nigerians noting that , “as the year draws to a close, none of us in this chamber should anticipate a vacation. I tend to think so because upon our shoulders rests the weight of responsibilities from which we cannot escape. We are returning to be judged by the promises we made to be here.”
Speaking on Thursday during the 138th meeting of NEC which held virtually, the VP said his principal, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, has shown that the challenges inherited by his administration are surmountable, and has offered visionary leadership and presented a coherent development plan to assist in the country’s pursuit of order, abundance, and stability.
“Each of us owes their constituents the scorecard of their stewardship in these few months of translating ideas into tangible actions. That’s why we can’t afford to fail, and the new year must be, for us, a timeout to reflect on how we have fared so far and what we must do differently to keep the hope of the nation alive,” the Vice President stated.
Apparently keen about getting results of the government’s ongoing reforms in good time, the VP stressed the need for the citizens to feel the positive impact of fuel subsidy removal and forex unification, noting that high inflation and cost of living are global challenges that have affected the economies of all countries.
Shettima said they should be considered as enough “inspiration for us to come together and tackle ours through realistic interventions”.
Meanwhile, following deliberations on critical economic matters and assessments of potential short-term, medium and long-term strategies for addressing pressing economic issues, NEC set up the committees on Economic Affairs, as well as the committee on Crude Oil Theft And Management.
Both committees are to be headed by Kwara State Governor, Alh AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, and his Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodimma, respectively.
The Economic Matters committee to be chaired by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, is saddled with the task of preparing a clear roadmap for dealing with petroleum subsidy, including a framework for defending wage negotiations, exchange rate management and fiscal consolidation sustainability, liquidity management and inflation, medium term investment and growth, fiscal transparency and accountability, as well as state of emergency on food production for 2024.
Members of the committee include the Gombe State Governor, representing North East; Governor of Lagos (South West); the Governor of Akwa Ibom (South-South); the Governor of Anambra (South East); the Governor of Niger (North Central), and Governor of Kaduna (North West).
Rukaiya El-Rufai, Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change is to serve as Secretary.
The second committee on Crude Oil Theft and Management, an existing NEC committee, has been reconstituted with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as the chairman.
Other members are the Governor of Ogun State representing South West; the Governor of Plateau State (North Central); the Governor of Rivers (South-South) Governor of Borno (North East); Governor of Jigawa State (North West); the Governor of Abia State (South East); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; CBN Governor; GCEO of NNPCL, NDDC Chairman, and Service Chiefs.
The Secretariat will be domiciled at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua will serve on the committee.
Council also received an update on account balances as at 31st October 2023. The Excess Crude Account as at 31st October, 2023 stood at $473,754.57, while the Stabilization Account was N32,063,186,474.96 during the same period. Development Of Natural Resources Account as at 31st October 2023 stood at N156,770,745,529.74.
Shettima To NEC: Burden Of Nigerians Is On Our Shoulders
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected cultists on Sunday night attacked Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, leaving 12 persons dead, in a fresh outbreak of violence that has prompted authorities to impose a 48-hour curfew in the area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:00 p.m. when residents of the community came under sporadic gunfire from unidentified armed men, suspected to be cultists, who stormed the area and shot indiscriminately.
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), were immediately mobilised to the scene following a distress call and moved to restore order and prevent further escalation.
A security report indicated that 12 persons were confirmed dead, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were said to have been evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
The troops subsequently cordoned off major access routes to the community and ordered residents to remain indoors while a coordinated search operation was launched to track down the attackers.
Military sources added that clearance operations were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further breakdown of law and order in the area.
In response to the attack, the Plateau State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, announced the imposition of a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area with immediate effect.
The curfew, which took effect from midnight of March 29 to April 1, 2026, was aimed at restoring calm and enabling security agencies to carry out intensified operations.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked.”
The statement assured residents that security agencies had been directed to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, while urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Security patrols were still ongoing across affected communities as authorities moved to forestall possible reprisal attacks and restore normalcy.
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected kidnapper in Azir community, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Malama that the suspect was apprehended at about 5:00 p.m. on March 28 by troops of 25 Brigade and 19 Battalion (Mechanised) deployed at a Forward Operating Base in Azir.
The source disclosed that the suspect was alleged to have been involved in kidnapping activities within the Damboa and Azir general areas.
“During preliminary investigation, the suspect claimed to be a cattle courier operating within Damboa and its environs,” the source said.
He added that one bicycle was recovered from the suspect at the point of arrest.
The suspect and the recovered item are currently in troops’ custody for further investigation and necessary action.
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation MESA have arrested 58 suspected illegal miners at an illegal gold mining site in Ososo general area, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
A security source disclosed that the suspects were apprehended at about 1:00 p.m. on March 28 during a fighting patrol conducted by troops of 195 Battalion (Rear).
According to the source, the troops stormed the mining site and arrested the suspects without resistance.
“The suspects are currently in troops’ custody for further action,” the source said.
He noted that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining activities and other criminal enterprises within Edo State and its environs.
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
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