President Bola Tinubu on Thursday administered the oath of office to Dr Bernard Doro and Dr Kingsley Udeh, officially inducting both men into the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Ashenews reports that the ceremony was held at 1:52 p.m. inside the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, shortly before the commencement of the first FEC meeting since July 2025. With their swearing-in, Plateau and Enugu, two states that had been without ministerial representation for weeks, now have their seats restored in the federal cabinet. Doro, a UK-trained clinical practitioner and public health administrator, was nominated on October 21 to replace Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda,…
Author: Newsdesk
The Senate has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other regulatory bodies to enforce, without compromise, the ban on high-strength alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets beginning December 2025. The lawmakers insisted that no further extension beyond the current moratorium would be permitted, saying the industry must comply with the agreed deadline. Sources reports that the resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who urged the upper chamber to halt fresh attempts by some manufacturers to seek another extension. Leading the debate, Senator Ekpeyong reminded the Senate that NAFDAC had…
Dr Kingsley Udeh, until recently the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Enugu State, was sworn in to replace Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who resigned on October 7 amid controversies surrounding his academic records. Udeh, who was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) shortly before his nomination, was put forward by the President on November 4 and promptly confirmed by the Senate. Their induction brings Tinubu’s cabinet strength to 48 ministers. Following the formalities, President Tinubu presided over the FEC meeting. Before the session went behind closed doors, the Coordinating…
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal Universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Ashenews learnt that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated that the decision was made during the FEC meeting on Thursday, chaired by President Bola Tinubu. Alausa said the latest development followed concerns over under-utilised institutions, poor infrastructure, and declining academic quality. He clarified that while the suspension applies to both public and private tertiary institutions, nine pending private universities were approved after meeting the stringent requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC). While describing the reform as a “reset button” for…
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says he is committed to revolutionising the state’s hospitality sector as part of a broader plan to drive state-wide economic development. Otti disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with the Hotel Proprietors Association in Abia at the Government House, Umuahia. The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Caleb Ajagba, said that technology remains central to the Rebuild Agenda of the present administration. He urged the hoteliers to modernise their operations and service delivery in order to attract more customers. He said that the State Government seeks a productive partnership with the private…
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Southwest and Lagos Chapter, is seeking increased private sector investment in the agriculture sector to boost food security. The AFAN Southwest and Lagos State chapter, Mr Femi Oke, made the call following a recent intervention by the African US Trade Connect to the association on Thursday in Lagos. Oke said aside from the provision of agricultural equipment, the group provided financial grants to members. “The empowerment of which we are enjoying today is from the private sector, we met the company in the United States during a conference we attended. “The African US…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for the modernisation of traditional Islamic schools to tackle the surging scourge of terrorism and violent extremism across the sub-region. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at the West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was themed: The Role of Islamic Organisations in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in West Africa and the Sahel. According to him, modernising and protecting the schools, students and teachers will end street begging phenomenon, child…
The Federal Government says it will sustain the recent drop in prices of staple foods across the country through continuous interventions along agricultural value chains. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known on Thursday at the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna. The 2025 NCAFS has “Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope”, as its theme. Kyari said operations at the National Strategic Grain Reserve Silos in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States were being enhanced for greater efficiency…
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $300 million World Bank credit to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities across several Northern states. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Edun said the council also approved two additional credit facilities — $50 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and $46 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the Sokoto Health Infrastructure Project. He added that the Sokoto…
The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has concluded its 2025 Agrithon, with 36 finalists reaching the grand finale on Thursday. The Lagos Agrithon, launched in 2023 by the Ministry in collaboration with the Lagos Agrinnovation Club, targets young agripreneurs who are not connected to government programs or feel government support has been limited. The 2025 edition of the competition began in June with 1,000 applicants, which was later narrowed to 36 following rigorous screening, mentorship, written examinations, oral interviews, and on-site farm or business assessments. Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola…