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Bill Gates Donates $1m for Food, Farming Aids to Borno

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Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima on Sunday inaugurated the distribution of food items and farm outreach committee targeting 40,000 victims of the Boko Haram insurgency through the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which donated one million dollars to the Borno State Government as a post conflict intervention meant to support victims who are returning to their communities.

Shettima inaugurated the support commitee to begin with the distribution of 25 kilogram bag of rice and 10 kilogram bag of beans to each of 1,100 households at Mainok village in Kaga local government area, 45 kilometres away from Maiduguri.

The governor said officials of the state government working with the Gates Foundation used the $1m to procure the food items and commenced funding of 100 hectares of farm where beans is being cultivated.

He explained that 200 farm-families would be allocated tilled and fertile land measuring half hectare each along with improved seeds, fertilizer, chemicals and technical supervision so that they can start growing food crops. The Governor also announced the release of two trucks of maize grid to add to the food procured with the Gates’ donation.

“We are grateful to God for creating people like Mr Bill Gates and his dear wife, Melinda. These leading lights of philanthropy across the world have shown love to the good people of Borno State at a time we are on the ground and looking for any hand to hold in trying to lift ourselves up.

“Now, with the emerging peace in Borno State, it is only necessary that as Post Insurgency response, focus should be combined in supporting all categories of the victims from those at Internally Displaced Persons, those in communities within Maiduguri, those in our satellite camps outside Maiduguri, those in communities across different local government areas who are returning to their homes and those being resettled.

“It is in this regard, that we are gathered today to Flag off the distribution of a key intervention of one million dollars food and farming aide donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Let me say it for the record, that unlike majority of interventions which happily came to us in kind, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated cash of one million dollars to the Borno State Government. “It is the State Government that is carrying out procurement in the implementation of this particular intervention. The intervention is targeting returning and re-settling communities by giving them food aid and also helping them to return to their familiar ways of producing food for themselves and for commercial purposes.

“The intervention from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is being used for food supplies and to fund farming activities for households. As a preliminary stage, beans is being cultivated in one hundred hectares of land. Half hectare is being allocated to a farm-family with a target of reaching 200 households. Each household may have from 2 to 10 family members.

“Already, farms have been established in Konduga and Damboa. Each household is to be allocated not only tilled and fertile land but also improved variety of seeds, fertilizer, chemicals and most importantly, technical field supervision by extension workers.

“On the food aspect, one thousand, one hundred households, not individuals, will be given a 25 kilogram bag of rice and a 10-kilogram bag for each household here in Mainok, Kaga local government area. The intervention aims at reaching 40,000 victims of the insurgency through households on both food aid and farming activity.

“We are particularly interested in ensuring that citizens begin to produce food crops in safe locations because direct food aid in post conflict situations is never sustainable over a long period of time” Shettima said.

Officials of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ‎(UNOCHA) witnessed the distribution with goodwill presented by them.

The Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement in Borno State, Dr Babagana Umara Zulum explained that two trucks of food items as well as two farms in Damboa and Konduga funded through the Gates donation were ‎ready for immediate access on Sunday while more communities were to benefit in a continuous exercise.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Economic Alliance: Governors Eno and Sanwo-Olu Flag Off Ibom Towers in Victoria Island

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General Economy In Nigeria's Capital

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, and his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have flagged off an 18-storey Ibom Towers project in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State.

Governor Eno announced this via a post on his official X handle on Wednesday, October 30.

Speaking after the Ibom Towers project ceremony in Lagos, Governor Eno stated that the project will drive revenue growth and strengthen economic ties between Akwa Ibom and Lagos States.

Eno commended Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu for leading the ceremony, adding that the project is set for completion in 24 months.

He detailed that the Ibom Towers, located at Plot 868A, Bishop Aboyade Cole, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature luxury apartments, gyms, pools, and smart building technology.

Governor Eno said, “Today, as part of our efforts to diversify Akwa Ibom’s economy, we marked the groundbreaking of the 18-story Ibom Towers in Lagos. This project, expected to be completed in 24 months, will drive substantial revenue growth and economic ties between Akwa Ibom and Lagos States.

“We are grateful to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for leading the groundbreaking ceremony and to former Governors Udom Emmanuel, CON, and Obong Victor Attah for their support.

“Ibom Towers represents a bold step toward economic innovation, featuring luxury apartments, gyms, pools, and smart building technology.

“It’s designed to attract urban professionals and generate revenue through property leases and tourism, boosting GDP for both states. Thanks to everyone who joined us today, including the Oba of Oniru, HRM Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, His Eminence Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, Speaker Udeme Otong, AKICORP MD Imo-Abasi Jacob, and numerous traditional rulers for their support in bringing this vision to life. Together, we’re paving the way for a prosperous future!”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who described the project as a symbol of inter-state collaboration, commended Umo Eno for recognizing Lagos as a prime investment opportunity.

The Lagos State Governor expressed his full support for Governor Eno and the Ibom Towers project.

He said, “Today, I joined Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for the groundbreaking ceremony of Ibom Towers in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“I commend Governor Eno for recognizing Lagos as a prime investment opportunity, as this project is a symbol of inter-state collaboration. It represents not only physical growth but also our commitment to strengthening economic ties and fostering new opportunities.

“As Ibom Tower rises, it will serve as a beacon for business and community engagement, reflecting our shared vision for Nigeria’s growth through creativity and collaboration.

“On behalf of Lagos State, I extend our support to Governor Eno and all involved in this endeavor.”

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FG Warns Property Owners: Settle Ground Rent in 60 Days or Lose Certificates of Occupancy

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The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) of property owners who continue to refuse payment of ground rent and other statutory charges owed to the Ministry.

This development was disclosed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dangiwa stated that the Federal Government is giving C of O holders a 60-day ultimatum to clear their outstanding debts.

At the conference, themed “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and Its Impact on Climate Change and Community Rights,” Dangiwa revealed that property owners’ refusal to pay their dues has resulted in a loss of trillions of naira in revenue for the government.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not tolerate non-compliance, as the revenue is critical to delivering on the president’s agenda.

He said, “The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is aware that several owners of titled properties have failed to pay ground rent and other statutory charges to the Ministry for several years.

“This non-compliance has resulted in the loss of trillions of naira in revenue to the Federal Government. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this cannot be tolerated, as this revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

“As such all Federal C of O title owners are hereby given a 60-day notice to settle all outstanding ground rent and statutory charges. Failure to make payment within this period will result in the revocation of their C of Os.”

“Failure to adhere to these requirements will attract the appropriate penalties and sanctions,” Dangiwa warned.

The announcement comes amidst the economic hardship ravaging the country as a result of the fuel subsidy removal of President Bola Tinubu government’s.

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Deji Adeleke Boasts of Generating 15% of Nigeria’s Electricity, to Unveil $2bn Worth of Power Plant Next Year

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A billionaire businessman and father of popular music star David Adeleke, also known as Davido, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke has disclosed that he has a firm that generates about 15 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity.

He disclosed this while speaking at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s General Conference Annual Council 2024.

Adeleke revealed that he is in the process of constructing a 1,250-megawatt power plant worth $2billion, saying that upon completion, is expected to be the largest in the country and that it would be operational in January, 2025.

He said as a businessman in electricity, he owns power plants and generate presently about 15 percent of the electricity needs of Nigeria.

The elder brother of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, said he has Chinese engineering companies that work for him, adding that his tenth new power plant will be the biggest thermal power plant in the country.

Adeleke disclosed that while preparations for the project were underway, an unnamed government official threatened to prevent its completion.

Despite this challenge, Adeleke credited the near-completion of the project to the mercies of God, stating that it is a testament to divine intervention that the venture has progressed this far.

Adeleke noted that his Chinese friend had to travel down to Nigeria to discuss a way out because he never believed that prayer was enough to get the project done.

He affirmed that prayer did as the then Minister of Power granted the approval because he saw that the project was a brilliant one.

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