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Niger State Governor Umaru Bago presents 1.5 trillion naira as 2025 budget

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Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has presented an appropriation bill exceeding N1.5 trillion for the year 2025 to the State Assembly.

The Governor unveiled the budget titled “Budget of Hope for Sustainability and Food Security” at the State Assembly complex in Minna.

The governor said, “Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, you will recall that last year, I presented a budget proposal of 613 billion naira and a supplementary budget of N191,603,304,622.00 billion naira, totalling N805,598,186,519.45 billion naira, which the house graciously approved.

As of November 2024, the budget performance was 68.88%, amounting to N554,914,730,777.21 billion naira of the entire budget.“In 2024, the state witnessed tremendous improvement in increasing our internally generated revenue (IGR).

Between January and September, it grew from N18,073,583,079.90 billion in 2023 to N30,041,847,295.83 billion, representing a 39.84% increase.

“To bridge the infrastructural gap in the state, we made significant investments in road infrastructure. To this end, we are currently constructing 1,030 km of roads, including 556km of roads across the 25 LGAs in the state.

“Mr. Speaker, we recruited over 1000 health workers, flagged off the construction and equipping of 100 Level 2 PHCs; renovated the IBB Specialist Hospital, procured state-of-the-art equipment and enrolled over 104,000 beneficiaries with health insurance to ensure people’s affordability to health care services.

“We are repositioning the educational landscape to be accessible to the people. To this end, we established the Abdulkadir Kure University (AKUM) in Minna.

We supported the students with Scholarships and bursaries totalling N450,000,000.00, awarded to 8,418 beneficiaries.

The state government also secured a 1 million US dollar scholarship for the study of medicine abroad by the children of the less privileged; and we started a process which will see us renovate and construct about 600 secondary schools in the state.

“Mr. Speaker, to improve public transportation and ensure the safety of our roads and waterways. Thus, we procured 200 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. We have constructed 5No 56-seater engine boats for Kokoli, Gbara Tako, Guzan, Malale and Old Awuru Communities in Agwara, Edati, Mokwa and Borgu Local Government Areas.

In addition, 10 No. 20-seater wooden boats with 75 horsepower engines and provided a water ambulance and two rescue boats through a partnership with NIWA, upgraded the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport and signed a strategic partnership with an Airline for weekly commercial flights in and out of minna.

“Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members, building on the successes of 2024, the proposed 2025 budget aims to solidify rapid socio-economic development of the State and to strengthen the already laid foundation to achieve the New Niger Agenda.

The 2025 Budget, tagged “Budget of Hope for Sustainability and Food Security,” reflects our deliberate focus on addressing state development challenges and economic opportunities.

“This budget will focus on the key economic sectors: Security of lives and properties, Agriculture and Food Security, Health, Education, Water and Sanitation, Infrastructure Development, Social Security, and Environmental Sustainability.

“The 2025 budget preparation followed a participatory, people-centred approach through Citizen Engagement (Town Hall Meetings).

This process, which we hold in high esteem, prioritises citizen involvement, ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.”

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Multiple Accident on Karu Bridge Abuja (Video)

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Reports are coming in of multiple accidents which occurred on Thursday evening, November 13th on the Karu Bridge in Abuja.

Details of the accident are still emerging, but a video posted on X, shows cars in flames while eyewitnesses calls for fire fighters to put out the engulfing inferno.

Authorities are likely on the scene, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution when approaching the area and to consider alternative routes if possible.

Video ccredit.

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Crime

Robert Mugabe Jr. Convicted of Drug Offense, Says He’s a Single Father

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Robert Mugabe Junior, 33, the son of late former president Robert Mugabe, has been found guilty of illegal possession of drugs by the Harare Magistrates Court. Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki delivered the ruling on Thursday, 13 November 2025.

Mugabe pleaded guilty to possessing two grams of dagga, admitting the offence in open court. During proceedings, he appealed to the court for leniency, revealing that he is a single father of two.

“I am a single father raising two children. I ask the court to be lenient with me,” he said.

Sentencing is scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.

Found With Dagga During Traffic Stop

The case stems from a traffic stop on 1 October 2025, when police intercepted Mugabe’s silver Honda Fit in central Harare. Officers discovered a small quantity of dagga in his bag.

Prosecutor Mandirasa Chigumira told the court the search uncovered:

  • Two sachets of dagga
  • One pack of Rizla rolling papers
  • A white dagga crusher

The total haul weighed two grams, with an estimated street value of US$30 (R550). Chigumira also noted that Mugabe had initially refused to sign the seizure receipt issued by police.

Previous Court Appearance and Bail

Mugabe first appeared in court on 2 October 2025 and spent two nights in custody before being granted bail of US$300 (R5,500). Magistrate Mutendereki ordered him to report weekly to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and remain at his registered address until the case concluded.

The trial has attracted widespread attention on social media, with public reactions divided over his conviction.

Police Allegations of Wider Syndicate

Earlier, the Zimbabwe Republic Police suggested Mugabe might be connected to a larger drug network. Commissioner Paul Nyathi told reporters on 2 October 2025 that authorities had recovered 25 sachets of Indo hybrid dagga and six ecstasy pills linked to a syndicate allegedly involving Phillip Munetsi Chiyangwa, Mitchel Jackson, Simbarashe Kaseke, Wellington Icube, and Tanaka Kashamba.

However, prosecutors focused solely on Mugabe’s personal possession charge in court, leaving the wider syndicate allegations unaddressed.

History of Legal Trouble

This is not Mugabe Junior’s first legal issue. In February 2023, he was arrested for allegedly damaging property at a party in Harare. That case was later dropped following compensation. His lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, who represented him in 2023, again defended him in this case, saying:

“He accepts responsibility for what happened and has cooperated with the authorities.”

Mugabe is expected back in court Thursday afternoon for sentencing, when Magistrate Mutendereki will determine his punishment.

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Business

Nigerian govt suspends implementation of 15% petrol import duty

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The Nigerian government has suspended the planned 15 per cent import duty on premium motor spirit (PMS) and automotive gas oil (diesel). The announcement was made by George Ene-Ita, spokesperson for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in a statement on Thursday.

The regulator urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying, assuring that there is adequate supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15 percent ad valorem import duty on imported premium motor spirit and diesel is no longer in view,” NMDPRA stated.

The statement added that both domestic and imported supplies of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products are sufficient to meet demand, especially during the peak period. The authority warned against hoarding, panic buying, or unwarranted price increases, and affirmed that it would continue to monitor supply and distribution closely.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the 15 per cent import duty last month to encourage the use of products from Dangote Refinery. While some stakeholders supported the move as a boost for local refining, critics argued it could increase fuel prices and worsen economic hardship for Nigerians.

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