By Salif Atojoko

The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has commended the Federal Government on the inauguration of the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a landmark initiative aimed at creating 2.5 million jobs in two years.

Malam Danjuma Muhammad, the Chairman of the group, gave the commendation in Abuja.

The group said LEEP, which was recently unveiled by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, was a critical social intervention designed to provide sustainable employment opportunities while positioning young Nigerians for future workspaces through vocational training and re-skilling.

TSF described the programme as yet another demonstration of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “LEEP stands out not only as a bold response to youth unemployment but also as a policy framework that strengthens the capacity of the private sector to absorb and retain skilled talent.

“So, by investing in up-skilling and vocational empowerment, the administration is addressing both the supply and demand sides of the labour market — equipping citizens with relevant skills while energising the private sector with a more competent and prepared workforce.

“We are enthused by the declaration of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who noted that LEEP will expand access to sustainable employment and enhance productivity through skills development.

“We align fully with this direction and urge Nigerian youths to take full advantage of the opportunities LEEP provides.”

TSF also called on all stakeholders, especially private sector players, to key into LEEP and contribute to building a workforce that would drive national growth. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Zainab Oyekan

The Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum, on Sunday visited internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas (LGAs) and presented them with relief materials.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items were presented by the forum to alleviate the sufferings of the IDPs who were victims of recent attacks on the two LGAs.

The forum was represented by the wife of Plateau governor, Mrs Helen Mutfwang, who was accompanied by top female government officials and wives of other government officials in the state.

Mrs Mutfwang said that the forum was aware of the people’s plight and had come to identify with them, offer encouragement, and pray with them.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Bokkos LGA, Mr Samuel Amalau, said there were initially five different camps for the IDPs that were later collapsed into three housing 2800 persons each.

Amalau thanked the forum and the state government for their proactive response and steadfast support.

Mrs Terfena David, a 51-year-old woman, who said her son was killed during the attack, his motorcycle taken, and her house completely destroyed, however, thanked the forum for its kind gesture.

Another woman, Laraba Yohana, who expressed gratitude to the governors’ wives, said her two children were killed, and her house completely razed down.

Similarly, at Bassa LGA, food items were distributed, and the IDPs received words of encouragement.

Mr Joshua Riti, the Chairman of Bassa LGA, thanked the forum and the governor’s wife for coming to visit them.

Mrs Kende Akpa, an 80- year-old woman, said she lost five of her children and her home also destroyed in the attack, but noted that the forum’s visit would help ease the pain a bit.

On her part, Lami Moses, 25, who lost her brother, and her mother severely injured, said the forum’s visit was a testament to the fact that the victims of these heinous attacks were not alone in their pain.

NAN reports that each of the LGAs received 200 bags of rice, 15 bags of beans, 20 bags of maize, 500 tubers of yams, 10 bags of garri, 5 gallons of palm oil and 5 gallons of vegetable oil which were distributed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

By Martins Abochol

Alhaji Audu Lauya, a member of the House of Representatives, has urged ethnic groups to translate the National Anthem into their mother tongues, to promote patriotism and development in the country.

Lauya (PDP – Lau/Karim Lamido/Ardo Kola Federal Constituency) said this at the First Edition of Sungki Yandang Cultural Carnival in Mayo-Lope, Lau Local Government Area of Taraba.

He said that translating the reintroduced National Anthem into different dialects would promote understanding and foster unity.

Lauya advised other tribes to emulate the Yandang Tribe, who sang the three stanzas of National Anthem in Yandang Language.

He promised to support the youths to secure employment at the federal level, urging those who were qualified to apply in the ongoing Nigerian Army recruitment.

The lawmaker also eulogised the Yandang Community as a peace loving and dependable set of people.

Sen. Shuaibu Lau (PDP- Taraba North), pledged to facilitate connection of the Abbare Mayo-Lope to the national grid.

Lau said the power would serve as a source of employment generation to the Yandang teaming youth population.

The senator, while commending the Yandang people for their support during the 2023 general election, said that their vote ensured development, peace and stability.

He urged the Yandang people to continue to live in peace with one another.

Gov. Agbu Kefas, also promised to rehabilitate, reconcile and reintegrate the Yandang communities displaced by the farmers/herders’ conflict in 2018.

Represented by Timothy Kataps, the Secretary to the State Government, Kefas commended the Yandang community for organising the cultural festival.

He announced plans by his administration to enlist the carnival under the state’s cultural calendar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted the people of Yandang from all walks of life as well as traditional leaders from Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Ginika Okoye

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has begun campaign to sensitise citizens against investing in ponzi schemes.

Speaking during the exercise in Wuse Market, Abuja, Dr Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General of SEC, said the move was to educate people on the dangers of ponzi scheme.

Agama, who regretted that some traders had fallen victims to the schemes, said the sensitisation was to engage the people physically.

He said the commission would take the sensitisation to markets across the country, churches, mosques, hospital and barracks to reach all citizens.

“We decided to do this because we discovered that it is difficult for people to get the information that they require and we sitting in our offices and requiring them to get information from our website, this might be difficult.

“So, we needed to come out physically to let them know the dangers of ponzi scheme.

“The traders were happy and a lot of them have fallen victims of ponzi schemes and they are now being enlightened.

“Ponzi scheme is a global event; we will deal with it.

“The SEC of today is coming out to reach out to the people, this has never happened before,” he said.

Agama appealed to the media to help the commission disseminate the information on the dangers of ponzi schemes.

Some of the traders who had fallen victim of ponzi schemes advised citizens to be careful of investments which promised double returns.

Mr Abraham Onoja, a victim and a trader at Wuse Market, said he lost his seven million naira to the scheme.

“I invested N2 million and after one week, I was paid N2.45 million.

“I felt like it is the real one and my neighbour invested N20 million and after seven days, they paid him N27 million.

“I now invested N7 million and the next day, I heard that the people are no where to be found.

“I don’t so much believe in money doubling until someone convinced me to do it,” he said.

Mr Chijioke Nnodim, also a trader at Wuse Market, advised citizens to verify and watch well before investing in any company. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Aminu Garko

Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has signed into law the Kano State Infrastructure Management Agency Bill 2025 (1446 A.H) passed by the State House of Assembly.

The Act establishes the Kano State Infrastructure Management Agency (KASIMA) tasked with controlling the erection and installation of utility infrastructure in all public spaces across the state.

The law aims at addressing the growing concern over haphazard and unsafe installation of utility facilities such as electricity poles, underground cables, fibre optics, water and gas pipelines, and telecom masts.

Yusuf described the establishment of the new agency as a timely intervention to restore order, improve safety and promote better coordination in infrastructure development across the state.

“KASIMA will bring the long-awaited sanity to the way utilities are installed in Kano.

“The current practice of indiscriminate placement of poles, masts, and cables without regulation has created safety hazards, destroys environmental standard, and disrupted urban planning,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new agency is empowered to regulate and supervise all utility infrastructure in public spaces.

It will also issue permits and approvals for any installation and inspect and certify safety compliance of projects.

It will also monitor Radio Frequency emissions from telecom towers, promote infrastructure sharing to reduce duplication and keep a centralised record of all utility infrastructure across the state.

The agency is also mandated to recommend removal of illegal, abandoned, or substandard structures and advise the government on infrastructure planning and standards.

“We welcome development and investment, but it must be structured. This agency will ensure that every utility installed in Kano is done with proper planning, safety, and the public interest in mind,” the governor said.  (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne