Headlines

FG commits to ease of doing business, policy stability for investors – Minister

Published

4 months ago

February 3, 2025

Tinubu commiserates with Makinde over brother’s death

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the ease of doing business, ensuring regulatory stability, and fostering strategic alliances to boost Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.

Sen. John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said this at the Renewed Hope Global Virtual Conference 2025.

Enoh said that while significant progress had been made, the government was focused on streamlining business operations, reducing bottlenecks, and enhancing investor confidence.

The minister reiterated the role of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in driving reforms to simplify business processes.

“The PEBEC, previously chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, plays a crucial role in improving the business climate.

“The President has recently appointed a new head to continue this important work.

” Government policies are continuously evolving to ensure Nigeria remains competitive within the sub-region, the continent, and the global economy.

“While we have not achieved everything yet, the goal is clear to create a business environment that supports industrial growth, attracts investment, and enhances job creation,” he said.

The minister said that policy predictability and regulatory transparency were essential for investor confidence.

“Investors need assurance that today’s regulations will remain consistent or, if changes occur, they will be clearly communicated in advance.

” The government is fully aware of this and is working towards ensuring a stable business climate,” he said.

Enoh acknowledged past challenges faced by businesses, but reassured that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, measures are in place to hold agencies accountable and address bureaucratic delays.

“I understand the frustrations caused by procedural delays, but that is precisely why PEBEC and other regulatory agencies exist, to remove obstacles and facilitate smoother business operations,” he said.

The minister also reiterated the government’s push for synergy and collaboration between agencies to eliminate inefficiencies.

“A lot of agencies have operated in silos, but once everyone understands that we are working for the common good of Nigeria, achieving our economic objectives becomes much easier,” he said.

He also revealed an upcoming partnership between the government and FCMB to improve access to finance for small businesses.

“In our meeting yesterday, I emphasised that this collaboration must offer something unique.

” It should not be solely driven by profit motives but must align with the government’s vision to support businesses at reasonable costs,” he said.

The minister assured that the administration was taking concrete steps to address business concerns and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

“This government is intentional about reform. We are committed to making it easier to do business, ensuring transparency in regulations, and fostering partnerships that truly benefit Nigerian entrepreneurs,” he said.

Education

NUC grants ESUT full accreditation for Law, 7 other programmes

Published

1 week ago

May 21, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

The National Universities Commission, (NUC), has given full accreditation to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), for her Law programme.

According to the Public Relations Officer of ESUT, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, this is contained in a letter addressed to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, on Wednesday in Enugu by the NUC.

Ani said that in the letter, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu said the report was contained in the result of the October/November 2024 accreditation of academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

Ani disclosed that other programmes in the institution accredited by the NUC include Master of Science in Business Management; Education Computer Science; Education Physics and Agricultural Engineering.

Other accredited programmes he said were Quantity Surveying; Urban and Regional Planning; and Applied Microbiology.

He said that the letter quoted Section 10 (1) of the Education National Minimum Standard and Establishment of Institutions, Act CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as empowering the NUC to lay down minimum academic standards for all academic programmes taught in Nigerian universities.

He said the session also empowers the NUC to accredit such programmes.

Crime

Court remands 2 over alleged attempted murder

Published

1 week ago

May 21, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Court discharges man accused of burning father’s house in Abuja

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, remanded two persons, Olaitan Fasasi and Kehinde Tobiloba in a correctional facility over alleged attempted murder.

Fasasi, 40, and Tobiloba, 26, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and membership of a secret society.

The Magistrate, Mr L.A Owolabi, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

Owolabi directed the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

He thereafter adjourned the case until May 31 for mention.

The Prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at about 5.02p.m on Feb. 15, at Mushin, Lagos.

She said that Fasasi, Tobiloba and others now at large, attempted to commit murder by shooting at a resident, Alfred Ademola.

“They armed themselves with a locally made gun. They belong to Eiye Confraternity, a group proscribed by law,”, she said.

Ikhayere said that the offences contravened Sections 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2012.

He said that the actions of the defendants also contravened Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the unlawful societies and Cultism Law of Lagos State Law.

Headlines

Plateau Governor Sets Up Committee to Probe Two Decades of Attacks

Published

1 week ago

May 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has inaugurated a 10-member fact-finding committee tasked with uncovering the root causes of the persistent attacks plaguing communities across the state.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday in Jos, Governor Mutfwang charged the committee with conducting a comprehensive review of violent incidents from 2001 to date. “We thought that we should set up this high-powered fact-finding committee to look at the incessant attacks on our communities,” the governor stated.

According to Mutfwang, the committee is expected to perform an in-depth assessment of the recurring security breaches, determine the number of affected communities, and assess the extent of damage done over the years. “We want to understand the root causes and propose actionable recommendations for lasting peace, justice, and stability in the affected communities,” he said.

The committee’s mandate also includes establishing the number of casualties, identifying possible perpetrators and their motives, and uncovering potential routes used by bandits to access Plateau State. “Identify possible routes of bandits into the state and recommend measures to limit their access,” the governor added.

Chairman of the committee, retired Maj.-Gen. Rojas Nicholas, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the members. He pledged that the committee would approach its assignment with fairness and commitment. “We will do our best to produce a report that would befit its assignment,” Nicholas assured.

The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations in due course, with hopes that the report will provide a pathway to durable peace and security in the state.