News
Zulum Says Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
Zulum Says Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has stated that the Maiduguri dry inland port will begin operations in six months.
Zulum made this known on Wednesday in Lagos while addressing journalists after a courtesy call to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Pius Akutah.
The Governor expressed confidence that the establishment of the NSC, while providing job opportunities to young people, would also boost the state’s economy.
He said: “Establishing the inland dry port in Maiduguri will bring many opportunities to the government and people of Borno state. It will generate employment, taking thousands of young children off the street. This is very important.
Zulum added that: “Borno State shares border with three countries, namely Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The inland dry port will enhance trans-border trade. This is what we are looking for. The relationship between our border countries will improve, the economy of the nation will grow very well, and our GDP will increase.
He also said: “We are trying to divert our attention from mono-economy, which is oil, by investing in other opportunities. I think Nigeria will be great soon.”
The Governor stated that: “The Federal Government is working to ensure rail lines are rehabilitated under President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives. They are in the process of rehabilitating all the roads, and thousands of trucks are entering Maiduguri daily.”
He however noted that: “Establishing a good road system will fast track the process. Even in the absence of rail, the efficiency and effectiveness of the road transportation system are okay for now for the inland dry port. “We expect the project to be ready in six months.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Pius Akutah, noted that if established, the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port would boost transborder trade, considering that Borno is neighbouring three countries of Cameroon, Char and Niger Republics.
The NSC CEO said: “Like the Governor has said, it is important for Borno State as a border town to these three countries, to have an Inland Dry Port. The benefits that will accompany such cannot be overemphasised.
“With the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in place, you cannot overemphasize the need to have this kind of critical infrastructure in a place like Maiduguri, Borno State that has boundary with three countries within the area.
“I have been to Borno and I have seen the consistency of his Excellency in terms of his words and his passion for development of Borno State.
“When he said six months, I believe him and I know the work will be done. For instance, the transit park area the Excellency has developed has one of the critical infrastructure to even service the proposed IDP.
“Now, what needs to be done is for those involved to look at the political will of His Excellency to see how they can quickly agree among themselves for the project to become a reality
“This is business and the initiative is not for government to drive the day to day running of the inland dry port. It is a public private dimension and therefore, private sector driven. So the two entities involved should come together and fast track the process of harmosing and agreeing among themselves.”
Zulum Sqys Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
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
Defense Minister: Soldiers, citizens applaud General Musa’s renewed vigor in combat strategies.
The Voice of Dan Balki: An Attempt to Derail the Gains of Building a Stronger North with VP Kashim Shettima as “Jagoran Arewa”
UN Women Calls for Strengthening of Mechanism and Policies Towards Ending Gender Violence
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
