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Presidential yacht delivered before public outcry, says Ndume

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The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has clarified the issue bordering on the controversial Presidential yacht said to be worth about N5 billion.

Ndume made this clarification while speaking on the review of the supplementary budget on Arise Television’s Morning show on Friday.

The All Progressives Congress Senator representing Borno South said the presidential yacht had been signed and delivered but not paid for before the public outcry, adding that the Senate has since added the required payment fee to the student loan budget.

Ndume said, “We queried the amount budgeted for the yacht, but it was signed for a dollar rate, and the new rate isn’t favourable. The budget was predicated for about N435, and now it is over N800.

“The Navy also clarified that it is not a new budget. And even the House of Representatives moved the budget to the Student loan. The deal for the yacht has been agreed, signed, and delivered but not paid for.”

Speaking on the N160m for Land Cruiser SUV for each lawmaker in the National Assembly, the Chief Whip stressed that it is not a new thing for government workers to be buying vehicles for official duties.

He maintained that the price of the vehicles was also affected by the volatility of the naira to dollar rate, adding that the vehicles are needed for the lawmakers.

“The reason why we did not choose Nigerian-made cars is because they don’t manufacture their vehicles, but they assemble them.

“I prefer Nigerian-made products, but the Nigerian car companies are only buying the vehicle parts and assembling them here.

He maintained that the reason for the SUVs is because most Nigerian roads are not motorable, adding that these vehicles are the only ones that could help them carry out their oversight functions.

Recall that Ohibaba had earlier reported that Nigerians condemned a part of the expenditures proposed in the 2023 supplementary budget the President submitted to the National Assembly for approval, including a proposal to spend N5.095 billion on a presidential yacht.

Reacting, the Presidency said the item named ‘Presidential Yacht’ as found in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill is not for President Bola Tinubu’s personal use.

This was, as it said, the naval boat bears such classification “because of the high-level security features.”

“What was named as a presidential yacht in the budget is an operational Naval boat with specialised security gadgets suitable for high profile operational inspection and not for the use of the President,” Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained in a statement on Thursday evening.

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Enugu Keys Into FG’s Diaspora Bridge platform, establishing two new varsities – ESUET and ESUAT

Enugu is ready to host and lead diaspora collaboration. When you think of STEMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine – think Enugu State. Come to Enugu State, give Enugu State a chance.

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Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubisi Mbah, lauded today the official launch of the Diaspora BRIDGE Platform, a visionary step toward reconnecting global expertise with local purpose in Nigeria’s education system.

Mbah on his official X , said: ” I commend the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for having convened this timely and strategic initiative.

For years, we have measured the value of the Nigerian diaspora primarily through remittances.

But today, we embrace a more enduring and transformative view; one that taps into their expertise, their innovation, and their collective capacity to help shape a stronger, knowledge-driven nation.

In Enugu State, we are fully aligned with this vision. Education is the single most important sector upon which our socio-economic future depends, and we are investing boldly in it.

Beyond expanding our existing seven public tertiary institutions, we are establishing two new universities: Enugu State University of Education and Technology (ESUET), and Enugu State University of Agriculture and Technology (ESUAT).

Because innovation is the language of the 21st century, we are also building eight Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, one in each federal constituency, to equip our youth with practical, job-ready skills.

Through the Center for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI), we are transforming how we teach and learn, focusing on foundational, digital, life, and job-specific skills.

We are embracing AI, simulation, virtual and augmented reality to drive applied learning that prepares our students to lead in technology, science, medicine, and beyond.

Our Smart Green Schools, 260 of them currently under construction, are designed to commence operation in September.

They are a symbol of our belief that human capital is the true measure of the wealth of a nation.

Enugu is ready to host and lead diaspora collaboration. When you think of STEMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine – think Enugu State. Come to Enugu State, give Enugu State a chance.”

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BREAKING: SDP expels, bans El-Rufai for 30 years

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Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been expelled from the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Announcing his expulsion from the party, SDP also imposed a 30-year ban on El-Rufai.

SDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, said the action was in line with the party’s constitution, ideology, manifesto, principles, and practices, as well as in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership.

A statement by the party’s spokesman, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, warned members against associating with El-Rufai and those who don’t represent its interest.

Parts of the statement read: “El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying for membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark, or any activities, organs, agencies, and institutions of the SDP or donating to, supporting, contributing to, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years effective from today.”

It would be recalled that El-Rufai joined the SDP after quiting the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, El-Rufai is also a key member of the opposition coalition which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its platform ahead of the 2027 election.

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BREAKING: APC members stage Protest at Lagos Assembly demanding chairman’s removal

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Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos on Monday staged a protest at the House of Assembly complex, demanding the immediate removal of the party’s state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.

The demonstrators, reportedly drawn from the 57 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, across the state, converged at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, holding placards with messages like ‘Ojelabi Must Go’ and ‘We Demand New Leadership’.

The protesters voiced dissatisfaction with the current leadership, calling for a shake-up in the state party structure ahead of upcoming political activities.

A heavy presence of police personnel was observed at the Assembly to ensure the protest remained peaceful and to prevent any escalation into violence or disruption of public order.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the leadership of the state Assembly nor the APC state executive had officially responded to the protest.

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