馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Tinubu's aide responds to Aregbesola's 'Renewed Hope is a scam' claim
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed remarks made by former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Rauf Aregbesola. Aregbesola, speaking at the ADC national convention in Abuja, criticized the ruling party's "Renewed Hope" agenda as a "scam" and accused it of enacting an electoral law that decriminalized forgery. He highlighted the naira's devaluation from approximately N700 to N1,400 against the dollar, rising fuel costs from N185-N238 to about N1,400 per liter, and deteriorating power supply, suggesting that an honest president who failed on such promises should step down. Onanuga countered, stating that Aregbesola lacked the moral authority to criticize, citing his own record as governor of Osun State, which he described as characterized by hardship, unpaid civil servants, and pensioners. He also criticized Aregbesola's tenure as Minister of Interior, noting a high number of jailbreaks, including the 2022 Kuje Prison escape, and difficulties in obtaining Nigerian passports. Onanuga defended the Tinubu administration, mentioning a minimum wage increase, a decline in inflation, and growth in foreign reserves and GDP, while acknowledging that policy reforms have had unintended consequences and that relief measures have been introduced.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
The Nigerian Federal Government is prepared to collaborate with investors to address the nation's housing deficit, offering land nationwide for mass housing projects. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Darma, during a meeting with a Chinese delegation. The delegation, led by Chief Engineer Lewis Chima, proposed a partnership to deliver large-scale affordable housing. Darma noted that this proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes affordable housing through public-private partnerships. The minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to facilitating access to land and providing institutional support for successful project implementation. Chima stated that the company was drawn to Nigeria due to its significant housing demand and economic potential, aiming to complement the Renewed Hope Housing Programme by providing affordable, durable, and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the country鈥檚 six geopolitical zones. The company plans to use advanced prefabricated construction technology under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing model to deliver 10,000 housing units within 30 months, reducing costs and improving quality. Darma has directed a committee to review the proposal. Nigeria faces an estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units, which the Renewed Hope Housing Programme aims to tackle through various initiatives, including Renewed Hope Cities, Estate
The Federal Government has launched an initiative offering free registration for 250,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN and Corporate Affairs Commission CAC formalisation programme. Approved by President Bola Tinubu, this program aims to eliminate business registration costs for eligible nano, micro, and small businesses, thereby integrating more entrepreneurs into Nigeria's formal economy. Successful applicants will receive free Business Name registration, with the Federal Government covering the statutory fees. The initiative, announced during the 8th National MSME Awards in Abuja on June 27, also provides beneficiaries with technical training, business development support, and access to growth opportunities. Interested business owners can apply via the official SMEDAN portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng by creating an account, completing the MSME registration form, and indicating they do not have an existing CAC registration number. Businesses already in the SMEDAN database without CAC registration may automatically qualify. This program follows a Memorandum of Understanding between CAC and SMEDAN to formalise 250,000 enterprises nationwide, with President Tinubu formally approving the free formalisation in 2026 to ease financial burdens for entrepreneurs and integrate them into Nigeria's formal banking and regulatory system.