News

FG Trains 150 NMSMEs On Loan Application In Bauchi

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has begun a one-day capacity building training for Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) operators on skills needed to improve their businesses in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the commencement of the training on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Evelyn Ngige, said that the training was aimed at enhancing the participants’ literacy on how to access loans and credit facilities in the country.

“It is against this backdrop that the federal ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment initiated this capacity building programme to apprise the NMSMEs with the realities of financial services in the country.

“The training is also aimed at providing guidance that would enable the participants access best funding options for the growth of their businesses.

“It may interest you to note that key policy programmes for NMSMEs development are being implemented by the federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as part of its statutory responsibility to better the lives of the citizenry,” she said.

Ngige, who was represented by Mr Enyi Eche, a staff from the ministry, explained that President Bola Tinubu had recently unveiled a plan for disbursement of N75 billion credit facilities to support Micro, Small and Medium business owners in the country.

According to her, similar training was being conducted in other parts of the country.

Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mahmud Ma’aji, described the move as apt and urged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunity provided to them.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Jummai Bala, the commissioner added that the training would complement the efforts of the state government in providing better opportunities aimed at improving commercial activities.

One of the participants who spoke on behalf of others, Barsashari Sambo commended the federal government for the initiative and promised to use the knowledge acquired in a manner that would promote their respective businesses.

The participants were selected across the six Northeast states of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba.

News

EFCC Orders Arrest Of Dismissed Officer On Lege Miami’s Show

Published

5 minutes ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has condemned the actions of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, who was recently spotted participating in a matchmaking programme on social media platforms hosted by popular entertainer Lege Miami.

The agency has ordered his immediate arrest for retaining official EFCC property, including an identity card, following his dismissal for certificate forgery.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement on its official X handle on Monday, said Folarin served as a driver at the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate.

He was, however, dismissed after investigations confirmed he had forged his academic credentials.

It said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, condemned in the strongest terms, the involvement of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, in a matchmaking programme running on Lege Miami social media platforms.”

“Folarin was recently dismissed from the Commission for certificate forgery. He was a driver at the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.”

The statement said EFCC Executive Chairma,n Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered Folarin to be arrested and emphasised that Folarin’s actions should not be associated with the commission.

“The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered his arrest for being in possession of some Commission’s properties, including an identity card, which he should have handed over upon being dismissed from the EFCC.

“The public is advised against associating Folarin’s post-dismissal conduct with the EFCC,” the statement concluded.

News

NERC Transfers Regulation Of Electricity Market To Bayelsa

Published

21 minutes ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State to the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency.

In a notice on its social media handles on Monday, the commission said this was in compliance with the amended 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023.

“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State from the Commission to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency,” the commission said.

Recall that with the Electricity Act 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the interstate/international generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations.

The Act also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the state regulator.

The transfer order by NERC directed Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc to incorporate a subsidiary distribution company to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Bayelsa State from PHED.

PHED was also directed to complete the incorporation of PHED SubCo within 60 days from August 21, 2025.

“The subcompany shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from BYERA, among other directives,” the commission said.

It concluded that all transfers envisaged by the order shall be completed by February 20, 2026.

With this order, Bayelsa has joined states like Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Edo, Oyo and Plateau, which have got the power to regulate electricity markets.

The state can now generate, transmit, and distribute electricity while issuing licences to investors within the value chain.

News

Things To Know As INEC Begins Physical Voter Registration Monday

Published

23 minutes ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the physical, in-person phase of its 2025 Continuous Voter Registration exercise across Nigeria today, Monday, August 25.

This follows the online pre-registration that commenced on August 18, 2025.

In an update on its X handle on Monday, the commission provided details of the schedule, locations, and eligibility of voters.

INEC said in-person registration will run Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and urged eligible Nigerians to complete their registration at INEC state or local government offices in their area.

The commission said those eligible to register or update their details include:

New voters aged 18 and above who have not registered before.

Holders needing to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Voters seeking to transfer their registration to a new location.

People who need to update or correct their voter information (name, address, etc.).

The electoral umpire asked registrants who completed online pre-registration to proceed to their INEC State Head Office or LGA office to finalise the process.

The commission also published a list of registration centres on its official portal.