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Bandits Abduct Travellers On Abuja -Kaduna Highway

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Bandits have abducted unspecified numbers of travellers at Dogo -Fili near Kateri, along the Kaduna- Abuja highway.

Kateri is under Kachia LGA of Kaduna state. 

A resident of Kateri, Suleiman Dan Baba, said the incident happened around 7:33 pm when the bandits wielding AK-47 rifles emerged from the bush and blocked the two the lanes.

He said the bandits opened fire and defeated tyres of some vehicles, which he said forced drivers including commercial vehicles to stop.

He said the bandits forced travellers to alight from their vehicles at point, before moving them into the bush.

Another resident of Jere, Samaila Shehu, said the incident, which happened a distance of one kilometer away from Jere, in which he said over 30 travellers and abducted at the scene.

“I was at Mai Shayi joint to drink when I started hearing sporadic gun shot which is just one kilometer from Kateri to Dogon -Fili, when it was later discovered bandits were the ones that blocked the road,” he said.

Shehu, said it was quite unfortunate that despite the presence of soldiers and police men along the highway, bandits still blocked both lanes and whisked scores of travellers unchallenged.

A former senator from Kaduna, Senator Shehu Sani, in his twitter handle also confirmed the abduction of scores of travellers on Sunday, at Kateri along the Kaduna -Abuja highway.

Sani, said two of his honorable friends from both opposition and ruling parties who were retuning to Abuja, from Kaduna narrowly escaped during the bandits attack.

“Just when we felt safer, yesternight kidnappers returned to the Kaduna Abuja road.They blocked the road abducted some scores of persons around 9pm near Kateri village.Two of my  Honorable friends from both the ruling and opposition parties had to run through the bush like Usain Bolt.But despite this incidence,there is stronger security presence along the route than it used to be in the past, Sani said in his twitter handle.

The bandits, who divided themselves into two groups, invaded Bishini and Kokore communities located along Abuja -Kaduna highway and also whisked away 23 villagers.

There was no official response from the spokesman of the Kaduna state police command over the latest kidnap incident as at the time of filling the report.

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Official Disclaimer Notice  From The Honourable  Minister  Of State For  Finance , DR. Doris Uzoka -Anite

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It has come to our attention that a fraudulent website — lankantamil.com — is falsely using the name, image, and identity of Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Honourable Minister of State for Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in an attempt to mislead the public.

We state categorically that Dr. Uzoka-Anite has no affiliation whatsoever with the aforementioned website or any content being circulated in her name through that channel. The materials therein are entirely unauthorised, deceptive, and intended to misinform the public.

This is a case of digital impersonation and fraud, and the matter has already been reported to the appropriate law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities for investigation and takedown action.

Members of the public are strongly advised to:

Disregard any information, videos, or links associated with this website;

Avoid clicking on or sharing the fraudulent content;

Report such activity immediately to digital platforms or relevant agencies.

The Honourable Minister remains committed to transparent public service and official communication through verifiable and authorised channels only.

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NIgeria’s External  Borrowing Plan For 2024 -2026

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On May 27, 2025, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, formally requested the approval of the 2024 – 2026 External Borrowing Rolling Plan from the National Assembly. This press release 

provides context and clarification on the purpose and significance of the request.

The proposed Borrowing Rolling Plan is an essential component of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in accordance with both the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the DMO Act 2003. The Plan outlines the external borrowing framework for both the federal and sub-national governments over a three-year period, accompanied by five detailed appendices on the projects, terms and conditions, implementation period, etc. By adopting a structured, forward-looking approach, the plan facilitates comprehensive financial planning and avoids the inefficiencies of ad hoc or reactive borrowing practices. This strategic method enhances Nigeria’s ability to implement effective fiscal policies and mobilize development resources. 

The borrowing plan does not equate to actual borrowing for the period. The actual borrowing for each year is contained in the annual budget. In 2025, the external borrowing component is US $1.23 billion, and it has not yet been drawn. This is planned for H2 2025. Also, the plan is for both federal and several state governments across numerous geopolitical zones, including Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Yobe States.

Importantly, it should be noted that the Borrowing Rolling Plan does not equate to an automatic increase in the nation’s debt burden. The nature of the rolling plan means that borrowings are split over the period of the projects. For example, a large proportion of projects in the 2024. – 2026 rolling plan have multi-year draw downs of between 5 – 7 years, which are project-tied loans. These projects cut across critical sectors of the economy, including power grids and transmission lines, irrigation for improving food security, fibre optics network across the country, fighter jets for security, and rail and road infrastructure. 

The majority of the proposed borrowing will be sourced from Nigeria’s development partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, JICA, China EximBank, and the Islamic Development Bank. These institutions offer concessional financing with favourable terms and long repayment periods, thereby supporting Nigeria’s development objectives sustainably.

The government seeks to reiterate that the debt service to revenue ratio has started decreasing from its peak of over 90% in 2023. The government has ended the distortionary and inflationary ways and means. There are significant revenue expectations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and technology-enabled monitoring and collection of surpluses from Government Owned Enterprises and revenue-generating ministries, departments, and agencies, including legacy outstanding dues. 

Having achieved a fair degree of macroeconomic stabilization, the overarching goal of the Federal Government is to pivot the economy onto a path of rapid, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. Achieving this vision requires substantial investment in critical sectors such as transportation, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. These investments will lay the groundwork for long-term economic diversification and encourage private sector participation. Our debt strategy is therefore guided not solely by the size of our obligations but by the utility, sustainability, and economic returns of the borrowing. Ensuring that all borrowed funds are efficiently utilized and directed toward growth-enhancing projects remains a top priority.

In conclusion, the government remains committed to keeping borrowing within manageable and sustainable limits in accordance with the DMO Debt Sustainability Framework. The ongoing tax reform agenda and other revenue initiatives will further improve revenue generation and prudent financial management. We reaffirm our dedication to fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability. Constructive public engagement and legislative oversight are vital components of our journey toward long-term economic stability and inclusive national prosperity.

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Jafiya Pledges Support  For  Unity Schools’ Renewal 

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The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, has assured the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) of her commitment to collaborating with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of  the Federal 

 Government to address the current challenges plaguing the Schools in the country

The Permanent Secretary gave this assurance during a courtesy visit by the USOSA delegation led by its President General, Mr Michael Ibrahim Magaji, to her office in Abuja today. 

Mrs Jafiya emphasized the priority accorded to Education under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration and assured the delegation of her commitment to collaborating with relevant MDAs to find solutions.

Led by Mr Magaji, the delegation comprising representatives of EXCOs from various Unity Schools, including Sokoto, Yola, Warri, Jos, Kano, Ibillo, Bwari, and Ogbomosho, stated that their visit was to solicit the Permanent Secretary’s kind intervention towards addressing the challenges facing Unity Schools in the country 

The delegation highlighted pressing issues affecting students and teachers, including inadequate electricity, lack of digitization, health concerns, dilapidated hostel accommodations, as  well as security threats, and appealed to the Permanent Secretary to leverage her position to engage relevant MDAs, including Education, Communication and Digital Economy, Health, and Lands, to address these issues.

Notably, as an old student of Unity Schools herself, Mrs Jafiya expressed her resolve to support the renewal of Unity Schools,  underscoring her commitment to the alma mater.

The Permanent Secretary’s commitment marks not only a significant step towards revitalizing these institutions but more importantly enhancing the learning experience for Nigerian students, paving the way for collaborative efforts to restore Unity Schools to their former glory

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