Headline

FG Spends N14.8Bn On NG-CARES In Six Northern States – Official

Published

3 years ago

May 24, 2023

The National Coordinator, Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Abdulkarim Obaje, said that the Federal Government, through its Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, spent the sum of N14.8bn on 160,572 beneficiaries in six northern states.

The fund, he said, was part of the $750million loan from the World Bank in 2021 which spans through 2023, adding that each of the states was allocated $20million while Federal Capital Territory and the NG-CARES got $15million each.

He stated this in Bauchi on Wednesday at the end of a one-day Ministerial Town Hall Meeting organised for Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano and Plateau states beneficiaries of the programme.

Obaje added that hundreds of thousands of SMEs have benefited from the programme in order to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, Bauchi State got N4.2bn, Gombe state got N3.3bn, katsana N3.040bn, Kano N1.6bn, Jagawa N1.4bn and Plateau state got N N1.081bn

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Clem Agba, said that the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged many economies in the world with devastating consequences on the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable individuals as well as micro and small businesses and peasant farmers who rely on daily subsistence income to survive.

He was represented by Rev. Aso Vakporaye, Chairman, Federal Care Technical Committee of N-G CARES.

He said, in order to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic and lay a solid foundation for a robust economic recovery, the Federal Government enunciated several policy measures under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) which was launched by President Muhammad Buhari.

“In July, the ESP laid out policy measures to mobilise funds and other resources to maintain macroeconomic stability, stimulate oil and non-oil government revenues and reduce non-essential spending.

“In furtherance of government effort to scale up its programme under the social protection agenda and to respond swiftly and appropriately to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal government accessed a World Bank concessional loan.

“This loan which was US$ 750 million was accessed on behalf of the 36 States and FCT to stimulate the local economy and increase household consumption among the poor and vulnerable segment of the society,” said the Minister.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.