Politics
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO SUE 16 STATE GOVERNORS OVER REFUSAL TO DISTRIBUTE EMPOWERMENT EQUIPMENTS.
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has threatened to take legal action against states that have refused to distribute empowerment sewing machines donated by the Federal Government to women nationwide.
She added that her ministry would retrieve such machines from the states since they were yet to put them to use.
The minister made the threat on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing Commissioners for Women Affairs in the 36 states at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop.
The workshop aimed to enhance leadership and management competencies to enable effective team leadership and strategic decision-making.
The workshop was organised by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in collaboration with UN Women and the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.
Kennedy-Ohanenye said that the machines were distributed by the Federal Government to promote entrepreneurship and socio-economic development of women in the country.
At a media conference in April, Kennedy-Ohanenye listed some of the equipment distributed, including industrial sewing machines and accessories, sets of rice milling machines, garri processing machines, and fish grilling equipment and their accessories.
Other items were industrial button hole holding machines, heavy industrial irons, tapping machines, Steam Pressing machines, sewing machines for stretches and stitches, Cloth cutting machines, fish smoking machines as well as fish rearing buckets.
“It is unfortunate that, to date, I have not received videos of these machines being used, which is the main reason they were given to Nigerians.
“We don’t want to maintain them and we don’t want them to work.
“I want to officially announce today that the following states have received empowerment sewing machines: Anambra, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue, Jigawa, and the FCT.
She warned that if the machines are not operational within a month, by September 13, she would take legal action against the states.
“I will retrieve the machines and take them to people who need them.
“It is unacceptable to leave equipment idle while people suffer. This has been holding women back, and we won’t set a bad example,” she said.
The minister noted that commissioners for women affairs in the listed states have yet to identify operational co-operative societies to receive the machines.
However, she commended Benue for promptly distributing the machines, citing video evidence of people using them within 48 hours of receipt.
Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasised that procuring equipment to empower women was a better use of the ministry’s funds than spending on ineffective programmes.
She urged them to immediately begin the use of the machines, assuring them that there were already markets for the items to be produced.
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
Politics
PRESIDENT TINUBU FORWARDS NEW AMBASSADORIAL LIST TO SENATE, NOMINATES DAMBAZAU, IBAS, CHIOMA OHAKIM AND OTHERS
By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
4-DEC- 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh set of ambassadorial nominations to the Senate, featuring a mix of distinguished public figures and seasoned professionals drawn from across the country.
Among the notable nominees are former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former senator Ita Enang; and Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State.
The President formally transmitted two comprehensive lists containing 34 career and 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees, bringing the total number of nominees awaiting Senate confirmation to 68.
The newly submitted lists mark another significant step in the administration’s ongoing diplomatic restructuring, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s representation and presence across global missions.
The Senate is expected to commence screening and confirmation proceedings in the coming days.
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