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Sanwo-Olu’s development agenda for Lagos

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The sprawling megacity of Lagos, with over 20 million residents, is the cultural and economic heart of Nigeria. For over two decades, the state has embarked on audacious infrastructure renewal projects that are capital intensive. The execution of ongoing projects alone, let alone the challenges of urban sustainability in the context of Lagos make governing the state a herculean task. In this article, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat unfolds the agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

At the outset, the perception of many Lagosians about the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration was not entirely a positive one. Based on the performance of his predecessors in office since 1999, Lagosians were not convinced that he could step onto their shoes.

Given the mountain of work in all sectors in Lagos somehow Governor Sanwo-Olu’s gentle mien did not fit into the mold of a performer in the eyes of some residents.

But, almost one year after, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has once again proved critics wrong.

Since the inception of the administration, Governor Sanwo-Olu has been working quietly in several sectors; to continue from where his immediate processor in office, Akinwinmi Ambode stopped, and also to initiate new policies to up the ante in the development of Lagos.

Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat recently unfolded some of the blueprints of the administration, sector by sector, in an interview with the editorial team of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

In the education sector, for instance, Dr. Hamzat said the administration has embarked on a policy reform, which is dubbed ‘Eko Excel’, the state is re-engineering its teaching methods and also adopting a holistic approach to tackling challenges in the sector, to bring out the best in the pupils.

He said: “We started with 300 schools. What that means is that all the primary school teachers will have a tablet that allows them to concentrate on teaching so that they do not need to do all the teachers note that needs to be done and schedule of work.

We have trained them in knowing the essence of teaching. Just changing the essence of teaching and even how they talk to the children/address them. Even if a child does something wrong, there are ways of correcting them.

“Around the world, the focus has always been on the provision of equipment for the classrooms and to have a great classroom for learning but those things don’t teach children as it does not mean the children will come out well. You might have a great classroom but it does not make anything.

So over time, what the state government has done is to focus on the teachers as they are the common denominators. It means we must concentrate on the teachers. They are the common denominator.

“After six years the children will go but the teachers remain over and over again. So we realise that the best thing to do is to concentrate on the teachers, their welfare, skills, their training and the way they approach it. That is what Eko Excel is doing.”

The deputy governor said it is too early to assess the impact of the scheme. He added: “In two to three years’ time, we would see how the teaching method has changed. We would see how it has affected the culture of our education, the children and everything.

We would also be able to gather information better through the equipment that will help us to geo-reference. So, we can know, for instance, in class 4A in Agidingbi Primary School, 20 students came to class or 21 children came at 9 am. – so why are they coming to school late? Is it that they are living far from school?

“All this information will help us to plan well. Also, it has helped us in monitoring the time the teachers resume work.

Also, if a teacher is coming late to school, why is it so? For example, a teacher teaching in Ikorodu and living in Oworonshoki, so why can’t we just move the teacher to around the place he or she lives for convenience and good delivery on the job.

“We are also finding out that some schools have only seven children while in some schools they have up to 60. So it tells us that in some cases, maybe we are building in the wrong places.

So, maybe we need to build more classes in such areas because, in some local governments, the number of children in school is extremely small compared to some others.”

Another component of Eko Excel, the deputy governor said, would address malnutrition among school children. He said primary education is the foundation of development and that it is important to fix it.

He said studies show that 52 per cent of children under five years of age in the northern part of the country are malnourished. He said in the south the percentage is about 20.

Hamzat said while it is necessary to build roads, provide amenities and other things that it is equally important to take care of the younger population by addressing malnutrition among children between the ages of zero to five because, as doctors have told us, this is the time the brain develops.

He said: “So we have a committee on nutrition and also a department on nutrition but what is surprising is that study shows that it is not the children of the poor that are mostly malnourished. The children of the rich and middle class can actually be malnourished as well if they are not eating right because as children they like to eat anything.

“If we can reduce that number, it would be a fantastic achievement even though it is not something that people like to talk about but the impact will be good because we would now build children that are healthy and intelligent thereby the future of our country will be secured.”

On the health, he said the Lagos State Government has increased the budget to the sector by almost 70 per cent and are planning to build new hospitals across the state.

He said: “We want to make sure that every part of Lagos is covered in terms of healthcare delivery services. For instance, we are planning to build a General Hospital in Ojo; that axis doesn’t seem to have any at the moment. We are also planning to build a spinal injury hospital somewhere in Gbagada.

We are also getting people to help us design as we have been made to understand that a lot of our General Hospitals needs to be redesigned.

“For example, you go to UCH, Ibadan at night without air conditioner (AC) you feel cold because of the architectural design. It is designed so that air can pass through… that is cross ventilation. We have gotten people that design hospitals for the tropics.”

Hamzat said the government is not just interested in building new structures, but building ones that are easier to maintain and allows for ventilation.

He added: “Part of the challenge in most hospitals is that you go for the treatment of one ailment and later get infected with another thing.

So these are the questions we asked our medical team. We are not medical doctors but we know these things happen. So, we are redesigning our hospitals.”

On the hardship imposed on residents by the ban on commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators, otherwise known as Okada and Keke by the government, Dr. Hamzat said the underlying motive behind the policy is to reduce accidents on the roads and thereby preserve the lives of Lagosians.

He said: “The most important thing for us is that people must be alive before they can do anything. When life is lost, then there is really nothing else. It’s the dead end.

So for us what is important is how do we secure this society? There are details and information that the government sometimes has that you can’t even share with citizens because they won’t be able to sleep if you divulge such information.”

The deputy governor said critics of the policy have been insisting that alternatives ought to have been put in place before the ban came into effect.

He said: “But, I disagree because it will have been too late if we delayed further; if we failed to secure the lives of our children we will be very irresponsible. That is why it was restricted in certain areas where we saw the upsurge.”

On the menace of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Lagos roads, the deputy governor said the challenge is that it is a national union recognised by law.

He said like the Association of Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), there are many things that members of the union do that the state government does not support, “but as a union recognised by law in our country, we will keep engaging them in dialogue.”

He said: “Whether we like it or not, they have some roles that they play in the transportation sector because you know what, the transportation sector is not something that private people go into without subsidy from government all over the world.

But they are doing it without such assistance, so we must find a way to make it better for them and for us as a people. The engagement must continue for us to have a peaceful society.”

The deputy governor spoke extensively on the traffic gridlock in Lagos, attributing it, for the most part, to the breakdown of vehicles, which impede the free flow of traffic.

The Lagos number two citizen also attributed the traffic gridlock to ongoing road constructions in various parts of the city. He said: “For instance, at Ojota, we are replacing the whole stretch of Ikorodu Road with concrete. At Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, we are also doing concrete.

The problem is that on that corridor, we are doing 300 metres every day but it takes 14 days to execute it properly.

So, because it takes 14 days, no vehicle can pass within those number days. It means that for a long time, that corridor would continue to experience traffic while the project is ongoing. a challenge about there.

“In fact, it is one of the reasons that we are talking to the company that maybe we should use reinforced bitumen rather than concrete, particularly as the construction work approaches Oworonshoki.”

Alaka, he added, is also experiencing a similar traffic gridlock because of the expansion project also ongoing there, it is a problem.

Because a lot of these things are happening, there will be (gridlock). “But, I think it is better to do it once and in another six or seven months, everybody will be okay,” he added.

Hamzat said the administration is taking advantage of the body of water that surrounds Lagos, by developing water transport. He said 14 boats were recently purchased and are being used to convey people in a most comfortable way.

He urged many residents along the coastal line to take advantage of the waterways to get to their destinations, and thereby reduce pressure on the roads.

His words: “We need the water not just to farm but also for transportation. The Lagos State Government just procured those 14 new boats. The beauty of it is that all those boats were built in Nigeria. Of course, we brought the engine, but we have been able to build that capacity to build boats.”

Hamzat said Lagos deserves a special status because of the nature of the responsibilities it is shouldering within the Nigerian federation. He said the state is pursuing it through a bill on the floor of the Senate initiated by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

He said: “We are pushing it; maybe we are going about it in a different way. It might not be in the newspapers. It is by talking to everybody that is involved in the process. It is really going on but in a different way. If something is not working in a particular way, you try another approach.”

On the perceived heavy borrowing in Lagos and the debt profile, he said there is no way the government can meet up with the huge infrastructural deficit without borrowing. He said:  “There is a musician in Epe in the 1970s; he is dead now.

His name is Ligali Mukaiva; he was not educated, but he said something profound that has stuck to my memory since. I was in primary school then.

The man sang a song that any businessman that doesn’t use other people’s money will not succeed. So, the reality is, where do you get resources to build for today?

“I remember during Asiwaju Tinubu’s government when they took a bond of 15 billion. The opposition said Oh; he has mortgaged the lives of the young people.

That loan has been paid. During BRF government, we took 375 billion bonds, that bond has been paid. Without that, we cannot build the Lekki Link Bridge.”

He said Lagos gets only N8 billion or N9 billion monthly from federal allocation. “By the time you pay salaries, you only have N1 billion left. What can you do with N1 billion? So, the reality is, how do you source the find for infrastructural development?” he said.

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Fake Agency Scandal Deepens as Ministers, DGs Face Foreign Travel Hurdles

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The Federal Government has barred ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies and other government appointees from embarking on official foreign trips without prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The government also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation a mandatory requirement for processing official travel documents, including official, diplomatic and service visas for government appointees.

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to top government officials and heads of major Federal Government institutions.

The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of government agencies and individuals claiming to represent the Federal Government, following the controversy surrounding the self-styled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The controversy has raised questions about how individuals claiming official status can undertake engagements in the name of Nigeria, including foreign engagements, without clear evidence of government authorisation.

However, the latest directive is broader and applies to Federal Government appointees generally.

The circular, titled “Non-Compliance by Government Appointees with the Requirement for OSGF Approval for Official Foreign Trips and the Mandatory Inclusion of OSGF Approval in the Processing of Official Visas,” said the government had observed that some officials continued to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining the required clearance.

It stated, “It has been observed with concern that some Federal Government Appointees continue to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), contrary to extant government directives and established administrative procedures regulating official travels outside the country.”

The SGF recalled that the government had issued several circulars over the years to regulate official foreign travel by ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, boards, committees and other public officials.

According to the circular, these directives were issued “with a view to promoting accountability, fiscal discipline and effective coordination of Government business.”

The circular listed a September 18, 2023, circular on “Guidelines for Official Travels by Cabinet Members, Heads of Agencies and Public Officials”, a March 31, 2015, circular on “Guidelines for Official Trips by Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, Boards of Corporations and Government-Owned Companies” and a September 27, 2017, circular on “Additional Cost Control Measures to Guide Foreign Trips by Ministers and Senior Government Officials.”

It also referenced a March 8, 2018, circular on “Observed Indifferent Adherence to Extant Regulations Guiding the Conduct of Foreign Trips by Public Officials” and a November 20, 2012, circular on “Further Cost-Cutting Measures and Fiscal Prudence on Travel by Cabinet Members.”

Despite the previous directives, the SGF said cases of non-compliance had persisted.

The circular stated, “Despite these directives, instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded.”

It warned that the development had broader implications for government administration, stating, “This trend undermines Government’s efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, prudent management of public resources and effective monitoring of official foreign engagements undertaken on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

The government consequently reaffirmed the requirement for prior clearance.

The circular stated, “Accordingly, all official foreign trips undertaken by Federal Government appointees shall continue to require prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before such trips are undertaken, except where otherwise expressly provided by law or by specific Presidential directive.”

It added, “This requirement is consistent with the principles of due process, centralised coordination of government business and prudent management of public resources, as reflected in the Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition, the Financial Regulations (Revised Edition, January 2009) and other extant Government directives.”

As part of the immediate measures to strengthen compliance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to ensure that evidence of OSGF approval forms part of the documentation required for official foreign travel.

The circular directed that “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall include evidence of valid OSGF approval, where applicable, as a mandatory requirement in the processing of requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and all applications relating to official foreign travel by Government Appointees.”

The ministry was further directed to communicate the requirement to foreign missions and embassies operating in Nigeria.

It stated, “The ministry is further requested to formally communicate this requirement to all Foreign Missions and Embassies accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, advising that applications for Official, Diplomatic or Service Visas by Government Appointees should, where applicable, be accompanied by duly issued OSGF travel approval as part of the mandatory supporting documentation.”

The new measure therefore gives foreign missions an additional means of verifying whether a Nigerian government official travelling on official business has received the required authorisation.

The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was also assigned responsibility for checking compliance with the directive during audit exercises.

According to the circular, “The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation shall require every government appointee who undertook an official foreign trip at public expense to produce evidence of the requisite OSGF approval during audit exercises.”

The government further warned that public funds spent on unauthorised foreign trips would be subject to scrutiny.

It stated, “Any expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without the required approval shall be reported appropriately in accordance with extant Financial Regulations and applicable audit procedures.”

The directive also places a direct responsibility on accounting officers and heads of Federal Government institutions to prevent the processing of public funds for unauthorised trips.

It stated, “Accounting Officers, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers and Heads of Federal Government Agencies shall ensure that no expenditure relating to official foreign travel by government appointees is processed unless the requisite OSGF approval has first been obtained.”

The SGF consequently directed all ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure compliance.

The circular stated, “All Honourable Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Accounting Officers and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this Circular.”

It further stated that the directive was effective immediately, declaring, “This circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions, without prejudice to existing extant regulations governing official foreign travel.”

The circular was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President; all Honourable Ministers and Ministers of State; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; National Security Adviser; Economic Adviser to the President; Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.

It was also addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and Inspector-General of Police; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission; Chairman, Police Service Commission; Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau; Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal; Chairman, Federal Character Commission; Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission; Chairman, National Population Commission; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Other recipients listed in the circular were all permanent secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments; Clerk of the National Assembly; Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Accountant-General of the Federation; Auditor-General for the Federation; and Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Government-Owned Companies.

The breadth of the recipients means the directive covers ministers, senior political appointees, permanent secretaries, security chiefs, heads of regulatory and anti-corruption bodies, electoral institutions, financial institutions, government agencies and government-owned companies.

The development is coming against the backdrop of the controversy over the purported PFIPC, which has drawn attention to the need for stronger verification of individuals and organisations claiming to represent the Federal Government.

The purported PFIPC and its self-styled Director-General, Adeyemi, have been at the centre of investigations into alleged impersonation and the use of questionable government documents.

The matter has also raised concerns about how purported government officials could engage public institutions and foreign entities while claiming to represent Nigeria.

The latest directive, however, does not single out the purported PFIPC or Adeyemi.

Instead, it establishes a general requirement that government appointees must obtain central approval before undertaking official foreign engagements.

By directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand evidence of OSGF approval, the government is also creating a formal verification mechanism for foreign missions processing travel documents for Nigerian officials.

The financial provisions of the circular further link official travel approval to accountability for public expenditure, as accounting officers have been directed not to process expenses relating to foreign trips unless the required approval has been obtained.

The measures are expected to strengthen the Federal Government’s control over official foreign engagements, reduce unauthorised travel and ensure that persons travelling abroad in the name of the government have the necessary approval to represent Nigeria.

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FG Boosts Indigenous Shipping With $25m Funding for Local Shipowners

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has revealed that the Federal Government will provide qualified Nigerian shipowners with up to $25m each, under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, a move he said could strengthen indigenous shipping and create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.

This comes as he also disclosed that disbursement of the long-awaited CVFF to qualified Nigerian shipowners to strengthen indigenous shipping and create thousands of jobs will soon commence.

Oyetola disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday, saying the government was finally moving to unlock the fund more than 20 years after it was established.

He said the initiative would help address one of the major challenges confronting Nigerian shipowners.

“After more than 20 years, we are finally moving to unlock the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) for Nigerian shipowners. This is a major step towards building a stronger Nigerian-owned shipping industry, creating jobs and ensuring that more of the value generated from activities in our maritime space stays in Nigeria.

“Under the CVFF, each successful applicant will be able to access up to $25 million in financing to acquire vessels, subject to the applicable assessment and approval process. This is significant because access to affordable, long-term financing has been one of the major challenges limiting the growth of Nigerian-owned shipping companies”, the minister stated.

On how the fund would improve the competitiveness of indigenous operators, the minister said, “With access to financing at very low interest rates, our shipowners can acquire modern vessels, expand their fleets and compete for coastal and offshore contracts that are currently dominated by foreign operators.

“Our objective is to ensure that more Nigerian-owned vessels operate on Nigerian waters, more Nigerian businesses participate in our maritime economy, and more Nigerians benefit from the wealth our waters generate. Providing Nigerian shipowners with the financial capacity to acquire vessels is a critical step towards reducing foreign dominance in our maritime space.”

Oyetola said he had directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to accelerate the process of disbursing the fund to qualified applicants.

He stated, “I have, therefore, directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to work closely with the 12 approved banks, known as Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs), to accelerate the disbursement of the fund to qualified applicants.

“NIMASA has so far received 92 applications. Of these, 20 have been forwarded to the Primary Lending Institutions, while one has so far been reviewed and forwarded for approval. To further speed up access, we have expanded the number of approved banks from five to 12 and launched the CVFF Application Portal to make the process more transparent, structured and accessible.”

Writers urged to promote inclusive maritime sector
The minister added that the expected impact of the fund extended beyond vessel acquisition, as increased indigenous ownership could stimulate several areas of the maritime economy.

He said, “The disbursement of the CVFF could help create a stronger indigenous fleet, which will in turn stimulate activity in shipyards, marine engineering, vessel maintenance, maritime logistics and other supporting industries. It could also create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, while strengthening Nigeria’s ship-owning and shipbuilding ecosystem.

“This initiative is part of the Tinubu Administration’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s Blue Economy, strengthening indigenous capacity and ensuring that Nigerians take a greater share of the opportunities in our maritime sector.”

He also highlighted the government’s efforts to develop the human resources needed to support the maritime industry.

“Financing vessels is only one part of building a stronger indigenous maritime industry. We are equally investing in the people who will power this industry. So far, 222 seafarers have received free professional training, 333 cadets have completed their academic training and obtained degrees, while 135 cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) have obtained their Certificates of Competency. In addition, 7,059 Nigerian seafarers have been placed onboard vessels to gain valuable sea-time experience.”

“We are determined to ensure that Nigerians own, operate and benefit from the economic activities taking place in Nigeria’s maritime space. We are building the capacity to make that happen — through vessel financing, skills development, indigenous enterprise and strategic investment in our maritime sector. The work continues”, the minister concluded.

The CVFF was established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003 to support Nigerian shipping companies in acquiring vessels and developing indigenous capacity. Its disbursement has, however, been delayed for more than two decades.

The Federal Government launched the CVFF application portal in January 2026 and announced that successful applicants could access up to $25m in financing. NIMASA subsequently began receiving applications from interested operators.

NIMASA had disclosed in April that it received more than 60 applications within four months of opening the portal, with the agency promising that the disbursement process would be transparent and strictly monitored.

The latest figure provided by Oyetola represents an increase in applications to 92, although only one application has so far been reviewed and forwarded for approval, according to the minister.

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Falana: Prosecute Those Behind Diversion of N33.75bn Meant for Poor Nigerians

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged failure to account for N33.75 billion in cash transfers meant for vulnerable Nigerians.

Falana, Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), also urged the anti-graft agency to work with the Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF) to recover the funds if investigations establish that they were diverted.

He made the demand in a statement on Sunday following a report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, which raised concerns over the inability of the Federal Government to provide sufficient evidence that N33.75 billion in cash transfers reached genuine beneficiaries.

The disclosure is contained in the AuGF’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

According to Falana, the funds were intended for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households under the National Social Investment Programme.

He said the development was particularly concerning given the safeguards introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen the tracking of beneficiaries and prevent the inclusion of ghost recipients.

The National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) was established as a statutory agency under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022, with responsibility for implementing major social intervention programmes, including N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the National Cash Transfer Programme and the National Social Safety Net Programme.

Falana said the agency had, however, been plagued by allegations of financial impropriety involving some officials.

He recalled that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, had been investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.

He also cited the suspension of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, following a December 2023 memo directing the transfer of N585 million in public intervention funds to a private bank account.

Falana said the then Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, was also suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.

He said the EFCC should conclude its investigations into the various allegations and make its findings public.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion,” Falana said.

He urged the EFCC to immediately investigate what he described as a serious allegation of the criminal diversion of funds earmarked for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

“All the characters involved in the shameful conduct should be arrested and prosecuted without any delay,” he said.

Falana further raised concerns over the implementation of a $3.05 billion package of development programmes unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026.

The package, supported by the World Bank, is aimed at deepening poverty reduction, strengthening human capital and expanding economic opportunities across the country.

Falana urged the Federal Government to ensure that funds meant for poverty reduction reached their intended beneficiaries and suggested the establishment of a body comprising credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the development funds.

He said stronger accountability mechanisms were necessary to prevent public officials from abusing funds intended to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

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