News
N100bn CNG Buses: Senate Rejects CBN Loans, Warns Tinubu Against Illegal Spending
The Senate, on Tuesday, warned President Bola Tinubu against illegal spending and advised him to seek a supplementary budget for its Compressed Natural Gas initiative.
The Senate through its Committee on Gas, led by Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe, urged the executive arm of government to expeditiously present a 2023 Supplementary Budget to the National Assembly to kick start the Compressed Natural Gas project.
This request came barely 48 hours after President Bola Tinubu announced measures to cushion the pains of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
The lawmakers insisted that the law was against extra-budgetary spending.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Requires $20bn Annually For Gas Expansion Projects – NEITI
The committee’s chairman who commended Tinubu for the CNG initiative, however, warned that it would be illegal to spend taxpayers’ money or the money without approval by the National Assembly, and other projects in the gas value chain.
The senators also advised against extra-budgetary expenditure through Ways and Means,’ saying the legislature was ready to support and bring succour to the people.
Jarigbe commended Tinubu on his CNG revolution to power vehicles.
He said, “The noble initiative would ameliorate the hardship of the citizens. Also, the President needs to come up with a supplementary budget to enable the government to fund the gas value chain, including the provision for CNG infrastructure and CNG vehicles.”
READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy Removal: Delta Mulls Investment In Electric Vehicles
He also stated that the workshops and training for CNG adoption would need to be funded.
“The President should not embark on extra-budgetary expenditure because it would be inconsistent with the provisions of the law.”
Jarigbe stated that the National Assembly, under the leadership of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was poised to support the lofty programmes of Tinubu.
He said a 2023 supplementary budget would be most appropriate, instead of the ‘Ways and Means’ approach of the previous administration, which had remained a major issue of contention in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In his Independence speech, the President explained that he would ensure that the hardship of Nigerians was alleviated.
READ ALSO: Ban On Vehicle Importation Through Seme Border Still In Force – Customs
Tinubu had said, “A Nigeria where hunger, poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever fading past.
“We have opened a new chapter in public transportation through the deployment of cheaper, safer CNG buses across the nation. These buses will operate at a fraction of current fuel prices, positively affecting transport fares.
“New CNG conversion kits will start coming in very soon as all hands are on deck to fast track the usually lengthy procurement process.”
He said his administration was also setting up training facilities and workshops across the nation to train and provide new opportunities for transport operators and entrepreneurs.
News
Trump’s Airstrikes: Halt Military Cooperation With US Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu Govt
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following reported US airstrikes.
Gumi warned that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty.
Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.
He said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record.
READ ALSO:US Dept Of War Shares Video Of Air Strikes In Nigeria
According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in civilian casualties and hidden political motives.
Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country, further destabilising it.
He also cautioned that US involvement, particularly under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise the country along religious lines.
READ ALSO:Trump To Attend FIFA World Cup Finals Draw On Friday
The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, which he said Nigeria has enough personnel to carry out if properly organised.
“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” part of his statement reads.
News
Shehu Sani Reacts To Trump’s Military Strikes In Nigeria
Former lawmaker, senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to reports of United States military strikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria’s North-West, saying foreign powers cannot permanently handle the country’s security challenges.
Sani made the remarks on Friday via his X handle while responding to a post by the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, which indicated that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
According to him, if the reported strikes were indeed a joint operation with Nigerian security agencies, then such action was justifiable, given the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.
READ ALSO:US Dept Of War Shares Video Of Air Strikes In Nigeria
He described terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria as “cancerous cells,” stressing that they survive through violence and should be confronted decisively.
Sani also dismissed narratives suggesting that terrorist attacks target only one religious group, describing such claims as false and misleading.
He said: “If actually, the military strikes against the terrorists targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the ‘Nigerian Authorities’ as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: US Forces Bomb Terrorists Camps In Nigeria
“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country.They live by the sword.The narrative that the evil terrorists only targets one faith, remains absolutely false and misleading.
“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power. They can complimentarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”
News
UKWU! Timaya Falls On Stage While Trying To Lift Plus-sized Woman During Performance [VIDEO]
Nigerian singer, Timaya fell on stage while trying to lift a plus-sized lady during performance.
The incident occurred during his ‘Ukwu’ performance at the Gbaramatu Christmas Carnival in Delta State.
READ ALSO:Saboteurs Against Presidential Amnesty Reforms – General Ndiomu
Timaya in a now trending video on social media collapsed after the plus-sized woman jumped on him midday into his performance.
The singer later got up and continued his performance amid cheers from the crowd.
Watch video here
https://x.com/hypetribeng/status/2004263337572684157?s=20
News4 days agoPHOTOS: New Era In Furupagha-Ebijaw As Okpururu 1 Receives Staff Of Office
- News3 days ago
UBTH CMD Marks 120 Days In Office, Expresses Commitment To Providing Conducive Working Environment
- News4 days ago
OPINION: Gumi And His Terrorists
- News3 days ago
FIRS Confirms NIN As Tax ID
- News4 days ago
FG Declares Public Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebrations
- Metro3 days ago
Fintiri Pardons Man Sentenced To Death For ‘Killing Herdsman In Self-defence’, Others
- News4 days ago
OPINION: Christmas And A Motherless Child
News3 days agoOPINION: My Man Of The Season
- News2 days ago
JUST IN: Kano Lawmaker, Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Dies Hours After Colleague’s Passing
- News3 days ago
KWAM 1 Withdraws From Awujale Race, Ends Court Challenge
