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FCT Minister Wike waives C of O fees for Nigerian Law School Abuja campus, declares emergency on infrastructure
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has waived all Certificate of Occupancy fees for the Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari and declared an emergency regarding staff housing and infrastructure at the institution. This announcement was made during a meeting with the school's management in Abuja, where the Director-General, Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote, raised concerns. Minister Wike expressed surprise that the school had operated without formal land documentation since relocating to Bwari in 1997. He directed the Director of Lands to waive all processing fees and ensure the Certificate of Occupancy is delivered within one week. Beyond documentation, Wike outlined measures to address infrastructure deficits and overcrowding, including the completion of 10 staff housing units for commissioning as part of President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary activities, with an additional 10 units planned. Work is also ongoing on two new hostels, one for male and one for female students, to alleviate congestion. The minister also approved funding for a new auditorium. These interventions align with the Tinubu administration's agenda to strengthen legal education and the judiciary. Odusote commended the minister for his efforts and highlighted the school's challenges, including deteriorating facilities. The Abuja campus serves as the headquarters for the mandatory vocational training for law graduates.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Former Ivory Coast international footballer Aboulaye Traore has been sentenced to three years in jail for rape, as reported by an Ivorian women’s rights group. Traore, known as Ben Badi, was a member of the Elephants team that won the 1992 African Cup of Nations. The Ivorian League for Women’s Rights stated that the Bouake court issued the three-year sentence on Wednesday, calling it a "significant advance in the fight against impunity for sexual and sexist violence." In addition to the jail term, the court mandated a payment of 15 million CFA francs $26,700 to the victim and imposed a five-year ban from the central region. A judicial source confirmed that the footballer was found guilty of non-consensual sexual relations in March 2021 with a 21-year-old woman. Traore played for Abidjan’s ASEC Mimosas and European clubs like FC Metz and Braga before his retirement.
President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a meeting with state governors elected under the All Progressives Congress APC at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, which started around 5 p.m., includes governors such as Prof. Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, among others. Some states are represented by their deputy governors. The agenda of the meeting has not yet been disclosed. This gathering follows an emergency closed-door session held on Wednesday evening between President Tinubu and the extended leadership of the Senate, where "far-reaching decisions were taken" on "matters of urgent national importance," according to Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Must ReadNigeria's Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC has announced that the review of the nation's revenue allocation formula is in an advanced stage. The commission has initiated a nationwide data verification exercise to update the indices used for revenue sharing across the federation. Maryam Yusuf, Head of Information and Public Relations Unit, stated that Chairman Mohammed Shehu emphasized the commission's commitment to ensuring the framework reflects current realities, highlighting accurate data as crucial for fairness, equity, and national cohesion. The exercise aims to align allocations with present socio-economic conditions by reviewing factors and proxies used for states and local governments. This process is expected to strengthen fiscal federalism and improve national development planning. The verification will involve collecting, validating, and reconciling socio-economic and infrastructural data across all states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on indicators like education, healthcare, internally generated revenue, and infrastructure. Stakeholder engagement sessions will be held in each state to foster transparency and collaboration. Shehu noted that Nigeria's revenue allocation framework relies on indices such as population, landmass, and infrastructure, which require periodic review due to transformations like population growth, urbanisation, and widening development gaps. The data verification is critical for safeguarding the inte
Must ReadFirst Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched the Energise Commercialisation Now ECoN initiative in Kano, aiming to transform research and innovation into economic growth. The initiative seeks to mobilize innovation, attract investment, and accelerate industrial production across Nigeria's six geo-political zones. Mrs. Tinubu noted that many ideas from universities and innovation hubs fail to reach the market due to systemic challenges, and ECoN will address these by supporting talent and facilitating the transition of ideas into viable enterprises. She stated that the program aligns with President Bola Tinubu's agenda for industrialization, digitalization, and economic diversification, promoting job creation and contributing to Nigeria's goal of a one trillion-dollar economy. Mrs. Tinubu also called for greater participation of women and youth in the innovation ecosystem. Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf described the launch as historic, highlighting Kano's role in leading innovation-driven development in northern Nigeria and connecting research outputs with market application. He noted the program aligns with the Federal Government's "Renewed Hope" agenda. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Kingsley Tochukwu stated that ECoN is designed to convert Nigeria's research into economic value, having already attracted over 1,000 innovation entries and initial investment commitments.