News
Sultan declares tomorrow Eid-el-Fitr
The President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, has declare tomorrow (April 10) the day of Eid-el-Fitr.
It was earlier reported that Saudi Arabia said the crescent of Shawwal was not sighted last night, indicating that the fasting will continue today.
The public holidays declared by the Federal Government – today and tomorrow – remain.
A statement yesterday by the Deputy Secretary General of NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, reads: “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was no positive report of the sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1445 AH on Ramadan 29, 1445 AH.
“Consequently, Ramadan fast will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 as the 30th day of Ramadan. Therefore, Wednesday, April 10, 2024 is hereby declared as the first day of Shawwal 1445 AH and the day of Eid-el-Fitr.
“The council prays that Almighty Allah accept our fasting and other virtuous acts in Ramadan and grant us all peaceful and blissful eid celebrations.
“Wassalamu alaikum wa-Rahmatullah.”
Another statement yesterday in Sokoto by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, said: “His Eminence, the Sultan, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings.
“The Sultan, while urging the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress, and development of the country, also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-el-Fitr.”
News
City Boy Movement: FTSE’s Nigeria frontier market restoration validates Tinubu’s reforms
The City Boy Movement, Nigeria’s premier youth advocacy organisation, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic reforms that paved the way for Nigeria’s return to FTSE Russell’s Frontier Market status, describing the development as an important vote of confidence in the Nigerian economy.
According to verified reports, FTSE Russell is proceeding with Nigeria’s reclassification from “Unclassified” to “Frontier Market” status, effective September 21, 2026. Nigeria was removed from the category in September 2023 following difficulties accessing foreign exchange and repatriating capital.
The Director General of the City Boy Movement, Francis Shoga, described the decision as a significant validation of the progress made under the Tinubu administration.
“When our grand patron, President Bola Tinubu, took office, Nigeria’s foreign exchange market was under severe pressure, with billions of dollars in investor funds trapped in the country.
Three years on, FTSE Russell reports that FX queues have cleared, and international institutional investors no longer face significant delays in repatriating their capital. Nigeria is rejoining the global investment benchmark after being removed.
“That is measurable progress, independently assessed by one of the world’s leading index providers,” Shoga said.
He further commended the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and capital market stakeholders for their role in strengthening market confidence and supporting the reforms.
“There is still work to be done, particularly in ensuring that these gains translate into better living standards for Nigerians but we should still acknowledge progress when independent global institutions recognise it. We therefore urge the subnationals to deepen investments in human capital and social development at the grassroots particularly for the youthful Nigerian population.
“On behalf of the City Boy Movement, we commend President Bola Tinubu for staying the course, appreciate the SEC, CBN and capital market stakeholders for their contributions, and congratulate Nigerians on this important milestone,” Shoga stated.
News
FG commissions 37 electric buses for civil servants
Walson-Jack described the commissioning as her “parting gift” to federal civil servants, coming less than 24 hours before the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service.
•Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack
The Federal Government has commissioned 37 electric buses as the first batch of 100 approved under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme.
Each of the electric buses can carry up to 200 passengers and cover at least 200 kilometres on a full charge.
The full deployment will be completed by December 2026.
The buses were unveiled on Wednesday at Eagle Square, Abuja, with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, describing the initiative as a significant step towards improving working conditions for government employees.
Walson-Jack described the commissioning as her “parting gift” to federal civil servants, coming less than 24 hours before the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service.
“What we have here is 37 buses, being the first instalment of the 100 Electric Buses,” she said.
She noted that transportation costs and challenges directly affect workers’ finances, safety, punctuality and productivity.
“For many Civil Servants, the daily commute shapes their finances, their safety, their punctuality, and ultimately their productivity,” she said.
The buses will initially operate on selected routes under a pilot phase before being expanded nationwide.
They will eventually be deployed to Federal Secretariats across the states to extend the benefits to civil servants outside Abuja.
News
NIGCOMSAT To Procure Two New Communication Satellites
The deployment is expected to extend connectivity to underserved, unserved and hard -to- reach communities, strengthen national communications resilience and increase Nigeria’s capacity to deliver satellite e-enabled services.
The federal government, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has approved the acquisition of two communications satellites, NIGCOMSAT 2A and NIGCOMSAT 2B.
This was contained in a statement released by the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), and signed by the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs Division, Stephen Kwande.
He said that the satellites, to be deployed by Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), are designed to expand Nigeria’s satellite capacity and strengthen broadband, broadcasting, enterprise and critical communications services.
NIGCOMSAT will lead implementation under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The deployment is expected to extend connectivity to underserved, unserved and hard -to- reach communities, strengthen national communications resilience and increase Nigeria’s capacity to deliver satellite e-enabled services.
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