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“Sit In Your Office And Work For Nigerians” – Oshiomhole Knocks Minister Over N1bn Switzerland Trip Budget

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A member of the Senate Committee on Trade, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised the Minister for Trade, Industry and Investments, Doris Uzoka, for proposing N1 billion in the 2024 budget for a foreign trip to Geneva, Switzerland.

Uzoka appeared before the Senate Committee on Trade on Tuesday, December 12, to defend her budget.

According to PUNCH, It reports that the minister told the joint committee that N905 million was earmarked for overhead costs while N8.1 billion was allocated to capital expenditure.

Reacting to her presentation, Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, urged the minister to utilise in-country expertise to cut costs, emphasising the need for homegrown products and questioning the lack of data on Nigeria’s Balance of Trade.

He said, “I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over N1bn for that.

“We can’t keep going on with over-bloated teams on foreign trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in the country to save costs.

“Madam sit in your office and work for Nigerians. I have gone there twice. You are always in the Bank of Industry. If you preferred BoI, you should have declined the President’s nomination to be a minister.

“Let’s practise what we preach. We can’t talk about industrialization and keep importing toothpicks and tyres. We must ensure that we have homegrown products.

“What is our balance of trade, especially with China? Those countries exporting things to Nigeria are expected to build factories in Nigeria. We have to take advantage of our population to grow our industries?”

In her response, the minister defending her budget stated that she could work from anywhere, and revealed plans to establish a Trade Intelligence Unit for generating and storing trade data.

She said, “I assure you that I can work from anywhere and give Nigerians results. My office is currently under renovation.

“Sir, I regret to say that we seem to have no record of our balance of trade. Or at least, it doesn’t exist in the ministry and that is why we initiated a new unit called Trade Intelligence Unit to ensure that such data is generated and stored.”

However, Oshiomhole disputing the claim, asserted that relevant data already exists with agencies like the CBN and

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“Fuel Subsidy Removal Was A Necessary Action To Prevent Nigeria From Going Bankrupt” – President Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that fuel subsidy was removed to save Nigeria from going bankrupt.
In as much as the hardship in the country has taken a toll on both the rich and the poor, Especially the poor, President Tinubu has justification for the decision he took on fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking as one of the panelists at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, April 28, Tinubu said he was convinced it was in the best interest of the people.

He said;

“For Nigeria, we are immensely consistent with belief that the economic collaboration and inclusiveness are necessary to engender stability in the rest of the world.

“Concerning the question of the subsidy removal, there is no doubt that it was a necessary action for my country not to go bankrupt, to reset the economy and pathway to growth.

“It is going to be difficult, but the hallmark of leadership is taking difficult decisions at the time it ought to be taken decisively. That was necessary for the country.

“Yes, there will be blowback, there is expectation that the difficulty in it will be felt by greater number of the people, but once I believe it is their interest that is the focus of the government, it is easier to manage and explain the difficulties.

“Along the line, there is a parallel arrangement to really cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on the vulnerable population of the country. We share the pain across board, we cannot but include those who are vulnerable.

“Luckily, we have a very vibrant youthful population interested in discoveries by themselves and they are highly ready for technology, good education committed to growth.

“We are able to manage that and partition the economic drawback and the fallout of subsidy removal.”

As a Nigerian citizen, what do you think about the Government’s decision to avert bankruptcy by removing fuel subsidy?

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Enugu State Government Flag Off Palliative Distribution In The State

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The Governor Of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has pioneered the distribution of food to the people of the state who are in dire need. He said this is in collaboration with the Federal Government to reduce the economic hardship in the country.

Via his social media platform, He wrote;

“Earlier today, we flagged off another round of palliative distribution in our state.

This is a collaborative effort between our administration and the federal government to cushion the effects of the economic hardship in the country.

I have directed the committee in charge of the palliative distribution to ensure that the items get to those in dire need of them.”

Here are pictures from the palliative distribution flag off.

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Governor Of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori Visits Fled Community Of Okuama, Calls Indigenes To Return Home

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Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has visited Okuama with an assurance for the safe return of the indigenes who fled the community in the wake of the crisis that ensued in the month of March.

The Governor who was accompanied by some government officials, reiterated that innocent citizens would not be made to suffer for what they know nothing about.

Recall that seventeen officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in Okuama community on the 14th of March, 2024, a development which made the people of the community to flee for fear of being attacked.

Recall we once reported how the stranded people of Okuama have been hiding and dwelling in the forest after the attack carried out the Nigerian soldiers who came for a peace call.
The Governor has now assured Indigenes to return as the community is safe for them.

The visit of the governor is coming one month after the killing of the military personnel.

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