Blog - Abia ThinkTank News

Dec

2024

Dr. Obasi David Ukoha Pays Solidarity Visit To The Deputy Speaker Of House Of Reps On His Appointment As Federal Permanent Secretary

I want to share some exciting news with you. The newest Federal Permanent Secretary in charge of the National Assembly's Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning. Dr. Obasi David Ukoha, has visited the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, H.E. Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CON. He also paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker to present his appointment letter and show solidarity. This is a welcome development, and we encourage our newest Permanent Secretary to continue making us proud. By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Dec

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Tears Flow As 2 Female Students Crushed To Death By Accident

News Flash, Education, Obituary

Tears Flow As Two Female Students Crushed To Death By Accident Two female students of the Federal University, Lokoja and Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja on Friday lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident which occurred at the Felele area, Lokoja. The two female students are Covenant Omolola Isaac, a 200-level Geology student of the Federal University , Lokoja and Abu Taiwo Abimbola, ND11 student of Science Laboratory and Technology student of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja. The students lost their lives when a truck ran over the commercial tricycle in which they were travelling to their different destinations. The…

Dec

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Hope For Nigeria As Petrol Landing Cost Crashes Further

Economy, FGN, News Flash, Oil & Gas

Hope For Nigeria As Petrol Landing Cost Crashes Further The estimated landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in Nigeria has seen a decline of ₦36, dropping to ₦900.28 per litre as of Thursday. This marks a 3.62% decrease from the previous week’s landing cost of ₦936.75 per litre, according to data released by the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN). Interestingly, earlier this week, costs had even dipped further, reaching ₦890.43 per litre. This reduction in landing cost reflects some relief from fluctuations in global oil prices and improvements in supply chain dynamics. Despite…

Dec

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

FAAC: FG, States, LGs Share N1.727 Trillion

Abuja, Economy, FGN, News Flash, Politics

FG, States, LGs Share ₦1.727 Trillion A total sum of ₦1.727 trillion, being November 2024 Federation Accounts Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils. The revenue was shared at the December 2024 meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) held in ABUJA. This was disclosed in a statement signed by FAAC Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, on Friday. He noted that the N1.727 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N455.354 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N585.700 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue…

Dec

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Court Grants Yahaya Bello N500m Bail, Fixes Date For Trial

Judiciary, Crime, News Flash, Politics

Court Grants Yahaya Bello N500m Bail, Fixes Trial Date The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, granted bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to the tune of N500 million with two sureties in the like sum. The court, in the ruling that was delivered by trial Justice Emeka Nwite, held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in Abuja. Aside from directing the sureties to tender the title documents of the properties, which must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, Justice Nwite equally ordered them to…

Dec

2024

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Would Otti’s Pro Business Programs Expand ABIA State’s Economy In 2025/2026? – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Business, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance

Would Otti's Pro Business Programs Expand Abia State's Economy in 2025/2026? Last month, Abia's Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, declared in a private meeting that he has laid out and implemented a series of programs and projects in the three senatorial zones of the state, drawing immediate appreciation from business leaders of those zones. “Most of the programs rolled out would likely prompt pro-poor growth, leading to expanded opportunities for enterprises,” a business man Chidi Umeh in Isiukwuato said. An importer of used fabrics in Aba, Kalu Nwojo, said he’s expanding more patronage come 2025/2026 as he's expecting higher purchasing…

Dec

2024

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Tampering With LGA Funds Impeachable Offense – AGF Fagbemi Tells Governors

Judiciary, LGA, News Flash, Politics

Tampering With LGA Funds Impeachable Offense – AGF Fagbemi Tells Governors Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN on Thursday, said any state governor who tampers with funds belonging to their Local Government Areas will be guilty of gross misconduct, which is an impeachable offense. The AGF, while addressing the 2024 annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Abuja chapter warned the chairmen of the 774 LGAs across Nigeria against mismanaging local government funds. Fagbemi, in his paper titled, “Aftermath of Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Financial Autonomy: What…

Dec

2024

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SEDC Chair Appointment: Round Peg In Round Hole – By Pius Nzewuihe

Columns/Opinions/Letters, FGN, Politics, South East

SEDC Chair Appointment: Round Peg in Round Hole The wisdom of the sponsors of the bill for the establishment of South East Development Commission at the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu’s commitment for an overall equitable national developmental agenda cannot be over-emphasized. To drive home his Renewed Hope Agenda, the President has in no mistakable terms demonstrated his vision to place the country on a fresh developmental map among comity of developing nations through regional development commissions Aside South East Development Commission (SEDC) charged with the responsibility of “reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damages suffered…

Dec

2024

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PDP ABIA Crying Wolf Where Non Exist – By Dr. Engr. Odo Ijere (Okpotemba)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Politics

PDP ABIA CRYING WOLF WHERE NON EXIST. We have read with interest the release by the Abia PDP signed by its publicity secretary Mr. Erik Ikwuagwu accusing the government of Abia state of suppression of dissent and opposition voices. Nothing can be far from the truth as this amounts to crying wolf to attract undue sympathy. When the newly appointed Abia PDP exco were inaugurated, they went overboard in their bid to play to the gallery and impress their paymasters that they had arrived by forming what they called a 'Shadow Government'. They were immediately cautioned and warned not to…

Dec

2024

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2024 Tax Reforms, Nigeria’s Fiscal Landscape And ABIA State: Matters Arising – By Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, IGR

2024 Tax Reforms, Nigeria's Fiscal Landscape and Abia State: Matters Arising Nigeria's 2024 tax reforms aim to transform the country's fiscal landscape, and Abia State is no exception. The Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, established in 2023, is driving these changes. Here are key aspects of the reforms: Harmonization of Taxes: The committee proposes streamlining over 60 taxes and levies to a single-digit number, reducing the burden on citizens and businesses ¹ ². Digitization of Revenue Collection: The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has introduced a USSD code for tax payment, making it easier and more convenient…