General News
NIGERIA A GREAT PLACE FOR INVESTMENT, SAYS VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA TO IsDB
Nigeria is currently a great time to invest in, thanks to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which has addressed most of the grey areas that previously served as disincentives to investors, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Shettima as saying the Renewed Hope administration has laid a solid foundation for investments in Nigeria through critical reforms in key sectors of the economy. Shettima stated this when he received a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) led by the Head of its Regional Hub, Mr. Hammad Hundal, at the Presidential Villa.
“It is an exciting opportunity to invest in Nigeria. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has created the enabling environment and is still doing so by addressing most of the grey areas that hitherto served as a disincentive. So, this is a great time to invest in Nigeria,” Shettima said.
Shettima pointed out that the administration has demonstrated commitment to addressing challenges in critical sectors, including human capital development, nutrition, agriculture, health, education, and promotion of digital trade. “This administration is poised to address the challenges that we have in key areas of human capital development, financial inclusion, infrastructure, and nutrition. In fact, we have no option but to address most of these issues, and we will continue to act in the right direction,” he maintained.
The Vice President applauded Nigeria’s partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, noting that both entities are based primarily on the country’s national interest. He urged IsDB to continue supporting key government programs, such as the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, the i-DICE project, and other initiatives, including the development of a Halal economy in the country.
Nkwocha noted that Shettima also called for improved support from the bank in areas of agriculture, human capital development, gender inclusion, investment in education and health infrastructure, and nutrition. “Let us cross-pollinate ideas and come up with a design for your Country Engagement Framework (CEF). I want you to record in your Country Engagement Framework, the development of a Halal economy, promotion of digital trade, financial inclusion, and other areas. I urge closer collaboration to enable us to address some of these challenges,” he said.
The IsDB’s head of regional hub in Abuja, Mr. Hundal, said the bank was committed to scaling up its intervention through a holistic review of its Country Engagement Framework (CEF) in Nigeria to prioritize key aspects of President Tinubu’s agenda. The bank’s Country Economist, Dr. Obioma Asuzu, presented the CEF to the Vice President, highlighting key strategic objectives, including boosting recovery, tackling poverty, and driving green economic growth.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.