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FG Launches Resettlement Programme In Bauchi

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The Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has launched a resettlement programme in Bauchi state.

The Director General of NDE, Mr Silas Agara stated this in Bauchi on Tuesday during the resettlement of some beneficiaries of its training programme.

Represented by Mr Adebayo Adebowale, the Director of Finance, NDE Headquarters, Agara explained that the programme was taking place in all the 36 states and FCT.

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Agara, who explained that the resettlement programme was under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative of the Federal Government, said that the beneficiaries had undergone a three-month skill acquisition training under different categories.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: FG To Release Rivers Allocation To Administrator

He said that seven people who had undergone a three-month tailoring training would be resettled with sewing machines worth N309,000 each in the state.

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“Over the past three months, the Directorate has successfully trained 33,692 unemployed Nigerian youths, women and Persons Living with Disabilities in-demand skills across Vocational Skills training.

“The Directorate had also provided entrepreneurship and business management training, agricultural skills training and activities within the Public Works sector in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“This initiative has culminated into the launching of resettlement of the trained beneficiaries, the goal of which is to empower participants to become not only self-employed but employers of labour.

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READ ALSO: FG Begins Maintenance Of 32-kilometre Roads In Bauchi

“A total number of 5,532 beneficiaries will be resettled with loans and starter packs nationwide to enable the establishment of their own businesses,” he said.

He assured the beneficiaries that the NDE was committed to supporting their every step and urged them to use the opportunity to establish themselves in their businesses.

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Also speaking, Mr Jamilu Adamu, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NDE, explained that the starter packs were given in form of a loan and not a grant.

He added that the beneficiaries had a six months moratorium before repaying the N309,000 used in purchasing the sewing machines.

READ ALSO: FG Drags Multichoice To Court Over Subscription Fess Hike

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The loan has a single digit of nine per cent which is N27,800 in total and at the end of the day, they will be paying back a sum of N336,800.

“The loan period is two years and this is to ease their repayment of the loan and focus on their sewing business without any distraction and I urge them to make judicious use of the items and maintain them effectively,” he said.

Jemila Bose, one of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, lauded the NDE and the federal government for the kind gesture and promised to make effective use of the machines so as to become employers of labour.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed

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The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

 

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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

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The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum

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By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

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Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements

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“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

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In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws

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He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

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This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.

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