• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• September 3, 2025
• 6 views

Nigeria can’t be important actor without ambassadors – Don

A Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Chris Kwaja, has said that for Nigeria to be an important actor diplomatically, it must have ambassadors. Prof Kwaja stated this on Tuesday, while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television. According to him, without the ambassadors,
Nigeria can’t be important actor without ambassadors – Don

A Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Chris Kwaja, has said that for Nigeria to be an important actor diplomatically, it must have ambassadors.

Prof Kwaja stated this on Tuesday, while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television.

According to him, without the ambassadors, Nigeria is shut out of conversations in the international community.

He said, “It has huge implications for a country like Nigeria diplomatically. For you to be an important actor in the international system, you must have functional missions. You must have ambassadors that are representatives of the president of this country.

“Right now, we don’t have at the level of the United Nations, we don’t have a permanent representative at the level of the United Nations, we don’t have ambassadors in what they call Grade A countries, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and all that. You don’t have that.”

“It means you are totally shut out of the conversation when it comes to discussions around trade, security or military and other issues that should border on Nigeria.

“And that is why Nigeria is not saying anything when it comes to the whole issue we see around Russia, the US and other countries,” he lamented.

Nigeria can’t be important actor without ambassadors – Don

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• September 3, 2025
• 7 views

Illegal land use conversion: Abuja land allottees to get new C-of-O, pay N5m penalty

Property owners within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who illegally convert their residential buildings to commercial use will be made to pay a fine of N5 million by the FCT Administration. The affected areas include Gana, Gimbiya, Aminu Kano crescent, Ademola Adetokunbo, and other streets in the city centre. This decision was contained in a
Illegal land use conversion: Abuja land allottees to get new C-of-O, pay N5m penalty

Property owners within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who illegally convert their residential buildings to commercial use will be made to pay a fine of N5 million by the FCT Administration.

The affected areas include Gana, Gimbiya, Aminu Kano crescent, Ademola Adetokunbo, and other streets in the city centre.

This decision was contained in a recommendation by an Adhoc Committee on the Review of Land Use/Purpose Clauses of Land and Properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike had on August 8, inaugurated two ad-hoc committees to review the controversies over River Park Estate and the other committee was on the review of Land use/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

But the committee while presenting its report on Tuesday, informed the Minister that most of the structures on Gimbiya Street in Garki, Gana Street in Maitama, and Ademola Adetokumbo Street in Wuse II had been converted to offices, hotels and other businesses without approval from the FCTA.

The committee headed by the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said who illegally converted their properties are expected to pay a conversion fee of 7.5percent of the assessed Capital Value of their properties.

Part of the report reads; “That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet (VRS) at pages 54-70 and the Valuation Report annexed herein as Annexure E;

“That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District.”

The committee warned that a situation where there is illegal or unapproved extensions, mergers or subdivisions, the title holders would in addition pay “extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval.”

Speaking after he received the report, Wike warned those engaging in illegal conversion of their properties.

He said defaulters would be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to those.

The minister also threatened to revoke the land titles of those involved in illegal conversion of the properties.

Illegal land use conversion: Abuja land allottees to get new C-of-O, pay N5m penalty

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• September 3, 2025
• 7 views

‘We used TSA to discover, close fraudulent accounts in MDAs’ – Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has disclosed that fraudulent bank accounts previously maintained by Ministries, Departments and Agencies were closed down by his administration. He said that the discovery of such accounts at inception of his administration were made possible through the Treasury Single Account, TSA, he introduced, adding that it led to removal of
‘We used TSA to discover, close fraudulent accounts in MDAs’ – Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has disclosed that fraudulent bank accounts previously maintained by Ministries, Departments and Agencies were closed down by his administration.

He said that the discovery of such accounts at inception of his administration were made possible through the Treasury Single Account, TSA, he introduced, adding that it led to removal of ghost workers from payroll.

Governor Otti made the disclosure while delivering his speech at the 2025 Ngwa Convention, held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, said that the gains of the financial policy contributed immensely to the regular payment of workers and pensioners, adding that health, education, security and infrastructure have received much attention.

“In the early days of the administration, the Treasury Single Account was introduced and this cleaned up payrolls through verification to remove ghost workers, and moved to digital payment systems.

“The implication is that several fraudulent bank accounts maintained by MDAs across the state that could not be accounted for were closed thus ushering us into better management and use of public funds for public good,” Otti said.

He commended the members of members of Ngwa Clan in diaspora for their contributions to the development of Abia and urged them to do more by partnering his administration in the ongoing development of the State through investing at home.

Otti informed the Ngwa diaspora community that Abia is now one of the safest States following the crime fighting efforts of the Abia joint security team, Operation Crush, he introduced, which he said reduced kidnappings, and other violent crimes in Abia to the minimum.

He also noted that teaching of Igbo language and history have received priority from his administration, emphasizing that the policy would ensure that the young and future generations don’t lose track of their history and culture.

‘We used TSA to discover, close fraudulent accounts in MDAs’ – Otti

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• September 3, 2025
• 6 views

Fear grips Lekki residents as three men found dead in Lagos apartment

Three unidentified men have been discovered dead in their apartment on Olateju Street, Lekki Phase One, Lagos State. The victims, described by residents as casual workers who relied on errands and daily labour for survival, reportedly lived together in a makeshift structure erected within a compound on the street. The killings occurred in the early
Fear grips Lekki residents as three men found dead in Lagos apartment

Three unidentified men have been discovered dead in their apartment on Olateju Street, Lekki Phase One, Lagos State.

The victims, described by residents as casual workers who relied on errands and daily labour for survival, reportedly lived together in a makeshift structure erected within a compound on the street.

The killings occurred in the early hours of Sunday when unknown assailants stormed the apartment, dragged the occupants outside, and hacked them to death with machetes.

A resident who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers struck while the victims were asleep.

He recounted: “The boys were labourers who also helped people around here. On Sunday morning, one of their colleagues raised the alarm after discovering the attack.

“When neighbours rushed there, the three of them were found lying in a pool of blood with deep machete wounds. We learnt that the killers dragged them out of the room before slaughtering them.”

Another resident, a member of the Lekki Estate Residents Association, confirmed that the incident threw the community into shock.

He said: “This has never happened here before. Everyone is unsettled, and security measures are already being stepped up to prevent a recurrence. The police were immediately alerted to the scene.”

As at the time of filling this report, the motive behind the gruesome killing remained unknown, while investigations by law enforcement authorities were said to be ongoing.

Fear grips Lekki residents as three men found dead in Lagos apartment

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• September 3, 2025
• 15 views

Sumner Sambo suggests why Tinubu hasn’t appointed ambassadors

The Director of News, Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, has disclosed the reason president Bola Tinubu has not appointed ambassadors upon assumption of office for over two years. Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Sambo said the president feels that the wage bill is high. “You have a classical example here, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sumner Sambo suggests why Tinubu hasn’t appointed ambassadors

The Director of News, Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, has disclosed the reason president Bola Tinubu has not appointed ambassadors upon assumption of office for over two years.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Sambo said the president feels that the wage bill is high.

“You have a classical example here, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that, look, we do not have money. At the moment, our embassies, our high commissions and other places are actually being challenged with funding issues.

“What I know is that currently, there are special intervention mechanisms being put in place to have an abridged version of funding that will help sustain these budgetary shortfalls by the diplomatic missions.

“But for how long can we continue? Because if you look at it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement was very clear.

“It’s a budgetary constraint, and it’s coming from the National Assembly. Now the basic funding of high commissions are not even being taken care of. Talk more of contracts and all of that.

“And then, of course, that’s the more reason why you’ve seen that President Bola Tinubu has delayed the appointment of ambassadors for two years plus now, because he’s feeling that the wage bill is high, because it’s not just about the embassy staff and all of that.

“When you appoint an ambassador, you are going to appoint someone who will come in with his family and other, you know, appointees and all of that. And then, of course, the issues of vehicles, issues of other things will come into place,” he said.

Sumner Sambo suggests why Tinubu hasn’t appointed ambassadors