Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Tuesday presided over the swearing-in of two new commissioners to replace those who died while in active service.

The State Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah, administered the oath of office at the ceremony held at the Government House in Maiduguri.

The new commissioners are Muhammad Lawan-Dalorima for the Ministry of Finance and Isa Haladu for the Ministry of Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (RRR).

In his speech, Zulum expressed gratitude to the Borno House of Assembly for their prompt scrutiny and confirmation of the nominees.

He urged the commissioners to uphold the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability in their new roles, while emphasising the administration’s strategy of periodically rotating commissioners to different ministries to promote fresh ideas and effective governance.

“You have been chosen for your exceptional qualities and expertise. I have no doubt you will make valuable contributions to our administration,” he said.

The governor also paid tribute to the late commissioners who previously held the portfolios, reflecting on their contributions to the development of the state.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Haladu thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointment, and promised him of diligent service delivery.

Edo Government says it has ordered an immediate review of the state’s Electronic Governance (e-governance) Platform initiated by the previous administration for breach of data and control.

The state government disclosed this on Tuesday via a Government Special Announcement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Ikhilor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement was a reaction to an allegation that the new government had suspended the digital innovation initiated by Godwin Obaseki’s administration.

The SSG said the review became necessary following a discovery that the entire e-governance platform was being run and operated from the backend by unknown non-state actors.

According to him, no one within the entire public service of Edo has administrative control of the platform.

Ikhilor urged all officials and staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to continue to work on the e-governance platform, pending the outcome of the review.

“This statement is to also dismiss as untrue, some reports in a section of the social media that the state government has shut down the platform.

“This is considered a serious data security threat as it has placed the entire governance structure of the state at the mercy of non-state actors or so-called consultants.

“This, therefore, calls for an urgent need to review the process.

“In the light of the foregoing and in order to remedy this clear and present danger, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has ordered the immediate review of the entire e-governance platform.

“This is to enable the state government gain total administrative control of the platform and restore institutional memory of government, which the current platform lacks.

“All officials and staff of MDAs are to continue to work on the e-governance platform pending the outcome of ongoing review,” Ikhilor said.

But in a counter-reaction, Obaseki through his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, described the statement as shameless excuses.

According to Crusoe, we read with surprise and deep disappointment the ridiculous statement by SSG, Umar Musa Ikhilor, where he laboriously attempted to justify the illogical shutdown of the platform.

Age said the decision by the current administration to revert the state’s civil service operations back to paper files to run the government was irrational.

“This irrational decision is not only shameful and regressive, but also an insult to the sensibilities of Edo workers and the people of the state.

“It further exposes the government’s cluelessness and lack of the depth and knowledge required for effective governance and administration in the 21st century.

“The platform is operated by the Edo ICT Agency, a parastatal under the Edo State Ministry of Digital Economy, with the support of consultants, to ensure efficient system for government processes and operations,” Osagie said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said that, once he returns to the White House, he will impose high import tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada as well as additional tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump said on Truth Social, the social media platform he co-founded, that he would sign an executive order to that effect on his first day in office.

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump said.

He added that the tariff would remain in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem,” Trump said.

“We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

The president-elect also said that additional tariffs of 10 per cent are to apply to goods from China until drugs stop “pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico.”

“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail,” Trump said.

“Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before.”