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Ogun, Three Others To Benefit From N500bn Afreximbank Fund

Published

2 years ago

November 18, 2023

Ogun State is to benefit from N500 billion in financial support being packaged by the African Export-Import Bank in conjunction with Access Bank.

The state is to benefit from the fund along with three other states in the country.

This was disclosed in Cairo, Egypt by Governor Dapo Abiodun, while speaking at the end of the Intra-African Trade Fair, put together by Afreximbank.

Abiodun, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Lekan Adeniran on Saturday, said the fund would be helpful in financing and accelerating infrastructural development in the state, noting that the state government had already signed the agreement.

He said, “The highlight of our participation at the IATF was the signing of a significant framework agreement with Afreximbank and Access Bank Limited.

“This agreement grants us access to a substantial amount of N500 billion in conjunction with three other Nigerian states.

“This financial support will play a pivotal role in financing the creation of trade and trade-enabling infrastructure.

“Its purpose is to accelerate economic diversification through infrastructure development, in line with the Africa Sub-Sovereign Network Initiative.”

Abiodun also disclosed that the state team met with the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, during which issues of mutual benefits were discussed with the two leaders.

The governor noted that discussions with the Zimbabwean President centred around collaboration in the agricultural sector, adding that the groundwork for the establishment of a partnership between the two governments was laid.

According to the governor, discussions with President Chakwera focused on fostering a mutually beneficial socio-economic relationship.

“We firmly believe that this collaboration will contribute significantly to the growth and development of our state, paving the way for a brighter economic future.

“By harnessing the potential of the agricultural sector and fostering strategic partnerships, we are confident that we can make significant advancements towards achieving our goals,” he added.

News

Trump’s Airstrikes: Halt Military Cooperation With US Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu Govt

Published

9 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

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

Published

9 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

“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.”