News

FCT’s 2025 budget of N1.783 trillion passes second reading in Senate

Published

2 months ago

May 14, 2025

The Federal Capital Territory 2025 budget of N1.783 trillion passed through first and secondary reading in the Senate on Wednesday.

The budget, which was presented by the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele sought for the legislative debate to enable appropriation of the amount proposed, given that the Senate serves as the State House of Assembly with powers to legislate for the FCT.

The lawmaker said the figure covered capital and recurrent expenditure proposals with details of sectoral allocation.

Bamidele laid the FCT budget proposal for first reading after which the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio called for the second reading against the observation raised by Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, citing relevant provisions.

Ningi observed that copies of the FCT budget have just been distributed against the provision that Senators must have prior notice of the bill which copies must have been distributed early enough for their study before bringing the proposal for legislative debate.

He, however, was overruled by the Senate President for “urgency of time”.

Speaking on the proposal, Senator Adamu Aliero representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District drew the attention of the Red Chamber to the fact that the influx of people posed a serious challenge to the infrastructure.

“He said the original master plan of the FCT was supposed to be 750,000 people, but unfortunately every citizen has the right to live and work in the FCT and nobody can oppose their living in the FCT,” he said.

Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike for the massive infrastructural development in FCT.

On a lighter note, he said: “Mr Senate President, our party, PDP is a development driven party and you can see that Nyesom Wike who is a PDP man is doing well in terms of infrastructure.

“Remember that you were a product of PDP and since APC took over, development has slowed down.”

Having supported the proposal, Ningi urged Senators to support the bill to enable the continued development of FCT.

Other speakers on the budget supported the proposed and commended the Minister for his commitment to the development of the Federal Capital Territory.

In his remark, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed his belief that the approval of the budget will strengthen the effort of the Minister and passed it for second reading after a voice vote.

The proposal was referred to the Senate Committee on FCT to revert in a week’s time.

Business

Fuel price reduction: ‘Joy’s coming’ – Manufacturers

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, sees the price of fuel coming down to N800.

Ekwutosblog reported recently that Dangote Petroleum Refinery slashed its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to N840 per litre.

The reduction represents a N40 decrease from the previous rate of N880 per litre.

This happened a few days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, increased the pump price of petrolto N925 per litre in Lagos.

This decrease is also coming a week after Dangote Refinery increased the ex-depot petrol price to N880 per litre

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Ajayi-Kadiri said that it was a welcome development, adding that price of the product would further decrease to N800 with the modalities being put in place by Dangote Refineries.

“You cannot blame anyone for producing and ensuring effective delivery,” he said.

When asked to share his thoughts from a manufacturer’s point of view on what he sees about the long term effect, he added, “So if I may use what the Gen Z is called ‘Joy is coming’, that’s what I see.

“The long term is going to be better. I see the price coming down to 800 and that’s what manufacturers want.

“I just told you now that last year, we spent as much as 1.1 trillion in terms of providing alternatives, apart from the fact that even the quality of the products is not guaranteed.

“So in the near future, I continue to see continued reduction in the price of diesel.

“I also see a situation where other players will be encouraged to come into the field, because that is what it takes. I don’t think that we should use sentiment to dissuade any investor from improving the life and well being of the people.

News

FCT ground rent: I have no apology for revoking Rochas Okorocha’s land – Wike

Published

3 days ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he revoked the land of former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Wike warned that the FCT Administration under his leadership will repossess any land where the owners fail to pay their land rent.

He disclosed this during the 60th birthday of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, in Abuja over the weekend.

Anyanwu had celebrated his birthday at the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister assured property owners of getting the best services if they pay their ground rent.

He said: “Rochas Okorocha is here, he is my boss, even though I revoked his land because the right thing must be done, he is my man.

“Senators are here, Ikpeazu, my colleagues are here, yes, if you don’t pay, I will take back our property.

“Look at what Julius Berger did here, is it by empty hand? It is not by money?

“Pay and you will get the best services, and you are getting the best services under the leadership of Tinubu. I have no apologies because I’m the one here.”

News

Suspected herdsmen kill three policemen, seize rifles in Benue

Published

4 days ago

June 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Udei community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State was thrown into panic on Sunday following an attempted attack by suspected herdsmen, which reportedly left three police officers feared dead.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen ambushed the officers during the attack and allegedly made away with their rifles.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command and other relevant authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the attack.

More to come…