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Senate passes ₦288bn supplementary budget for FCTA

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2024

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

Senate passes ₦288bn supplementary budget for FCTA

The Nigerian Senate has passed the second reading of a ₦288 billion supplementary budget for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The House of Representatives’ Committee on FCT has also adopted the bill, moving it closer to full approval.

During the Senate plenary session, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele presented the bill, highlighting the importance of passing the appropriation.

Bamidele emphasized that the supplementary budget was necessary to account for additional inflows from Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) and other revenue sources, ensuring the FCTA has the funds required to address ongoing and emerging needs within the capital territory.

He said, “The Bill for an Act to issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Account the total sum of N288,000,000,000.00 only arising from a need to accommodate additional inflows from Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) and other revenues in the sums of N8,000,000,000.00 only and N280,000,000,000.00 only respectively; and for other related matters, 2024.”

The passage of the budget followed a correspondence from President Bola Tinubu dated September 19, 2024, which was addressed to the National Assembly.

Tinubu in the letter had stated that the supplementary budget for the FCTA was pursuant to the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The letter read, “I write in accordance with the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to forward herewith an additional supplementary budget proposal for the FCTA for consideration and passage by the House of the Representatives.

“This supplementary budget proposal has been prepared based on the FCTA’s reviewed revenue and expenditure forecasts and is aligned with the fiscal and developmental policies of the federal government and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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“With it, the FCTA continues to prioritise the improvement of human capital and infrastructure within the Federal Capital Territory.”

This fresh supplementary budget comes after the Senate had passed the sum of N98.5 billion Supplementary budget for the FCT in June.

In the same vein, the House of Representatives Committee on FCT also adopted the bill seeking the approval of a N288 billion Supplementary budget for FCTA.

Chairman of House Committee on FCT, Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betara, who spoke during the budget defence meeting with members, explained that the need for accelerated consideration and passage of the Appropriation bill was for the implementation of critical developmental projects across the nation’s capital city.

Betara, while noting most of the projects captured in the Statutory budget observed that the Senate Committee on FCT was also working on the proposed Supplementary budget.

The lawmaker further explained that the Committee was mandated to lay the report on the Supplementary budget at today’s plenary because there are critical projects that needed to start by next week because of the timeframe.

“The consultation affirmed that most of the augmentation requested for in the proposed supplementary budget were captured in the 2024 statutory budget passed by the National Assembly. There are no new projects, the only new projects are just two line items,” he added.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said his administration would renovate the abandoned Ministry of Agriculture building near the Bank of Industry in the Central Business District, for the use of the Ministry Livestock, created recently by President Bola Tinubu.

Wike disclosed this yesterday after an inspection of the building.

He said the directive to inspect and immediately refurbish the building for the new Ministry of Livestock was issued by Tinubu.

Wike, described the creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a welcome development, adding the FCTA would invite companies willing to renovate the building to look at the building and quote for it.

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“That is why we went there to see things for ourselves. We are going to get some companies to come and look at it and quote for it, as it is an emergency work. The creation of the Ministry of Livestock is a welcomed development you can see people are happy, waiting for it to start.

“And so now that that particular place has been identified, the President has ordered the FCT Administration, through the FCDA, to look at it and we have seen the integrity test, which is okay, and we will also rehabilitate and furnish it and then you would see the Ministry of Livestock take over,” Wike said.

Speaking on when the ministry would be relocated, Wike said at the end of ongoing emergency work, some companies would be invited to inspect the building, after which they will take the best and most responsive bidder that government can handle.

Also, the minister decried the encroachment of Kugbo International Market land.

He issued the outcry yesterday after inspecting the facility regarded as the biggest in West Africa.

Wike directed the Development Control to immediately demolish any structure that could constitute an impediment to the project particularly the road project.

The minister also asked the market investor, the Managing Director of Mesotho Group Limited, Jerry Joseph Damara, to ensure the funding of the market to enable its completion by January 2025.

“The first phase has been completed, we would therefore see what we can do, to see that we open, the first phase and some of these traders on the road have to come in here, and give the free traffic that we desire,” he added.

He expressed satisfaction with what he saw at the market, saying the FCTA would ensure that people move into the market, as quickly as possible, as the Kugbo Market will create employment for many people and decongest roads.

Senate passes ₦288bn supplementary budget for FCTA

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MURIC Condemns Rape of 11-Year-Old Hijab Girl in Ogun, Warns Against Cover-Up

Published

6 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Trends Admin

Commissioner of Police (CP) for Ogun State is Bode Ojajuni

MURIC Condemns Rape of 11-Year-Old Hijab Girl in Ogun, Warns Against Cover-Up

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ogun State Chapter, has demanded full justice for an 11-year-old Muslim girl who was allegedly raped by a man identified as Mr. Michael while returning from Arabic classes in Mowe, Ogun State.

The incident, which occurred on April 21, 2026, along Peace Lane, off Emerald School Road, Homeland CDA, Mowe, has been described by the human rights group as “a catastrophic act of depravity.”

According to a statement issued on Monday by the State Chairman, Ustaadh Tajudeen Jimoh Alao, and the State Secretary, Ambassador Olaleye Rasheed Damilare, the victim was wearing her hijab when she was waylaid on a deserted street, grabbed from behind, gagged, and dragged into an uncompleted building where she was brutally raped.

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MURIC said it is deeply disturbed by reports that influential individuals have been visiting the victim’s family in an attempt to bury the case, questioning whether the family has the financial means to pursue legal redress.

“If this were your daughter, your sister, or your niece, would you be seeking just ‘dialogue’?” the statement queried. “Justice is not a commodity for sale. Defending the rapist is a crime against humanity.”

The group commended the Nigeria Police, Mowe Division, for initial investigations and the transfer of the case to the Gender-Based Violence Unit at the Police Area Command, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, noting that the unit is led by a female officer whose maternal instincts and professionalism are trusted.

MURIC also appealed to the Ogun State Government to establish special courts for rape and child abuse cases, arguing that the current system allows oppressors to walk free while victims live in a prison of fear.

“Every rapist is an enemy of humanity,” the statement added, urging the Muslim community and all stakeholders to remain calm but vigilant.

The organization reaffirmed its motto: “Dialogue, Not Violence,” but insisted that rape is neither a mistake nor an oversight, but a deliberate act of violence that must attract the full weight of the law.

MURIC Condemns Rape of 11-Year-Old Hijab Girl in Ogun, Warns Against Cover-Up

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BREAKING: Lagos Politics Heats Up as Sanwo-Olu Endorses Deputy Governor Hamzat ( VIDEO)

Published

23 hours ago

April 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos State deputy governor Obafemi Hamzat

BREAKING: Lagos Politics Heats Up as Sanwo-Olu Endorses Deputy Governor Hamzat ( VIDEO)

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially endorsed his Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat

BNXN X SARZ | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Victor Osimhen | #BurgerKingSmallChopzzz | Friction | Best International Act | Nathan Ake | Shehu Sani pic.twitter.com/A4bRwBXauM

— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 27, 2026

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially endorsed his Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.

The endorsement was made on Monday at the Lagos House, Marina, during a meeting that brought together key political stakeholders and members of the state executive council.

The development signals an early alignment within Lagos political leadership as preparations gradually build toward the 2027 general elections, particularly within the ruling party structure in the state.

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Although full details of the meeting were not immediately disclosed, sources indicate that the governor’s endorsement reflects continuity in governance and ongoing confidence in his deputy’s role in the current administration.

In recent weeks, Hamzat has reportedly been engaging in consultative visits with political leaders, party stakeholders, and community representatives across Lagos State, strengthening his visibility within the state’s political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.

Political analysts say the endorsement could significantly shape internal party dynamics, given Lagos State’s history of structured succession planning and strong influence within national politics.

Observers also note that such early positioning often plays a key role in consolidating support within party ranks, particularly in a politically strategic state like Lagos.

The ruling party has yet to issue a formal statewide statement detailing the broader implications of the endorsement, but political discussions around the 2027 governorship race have already begun gaining momentum.

Further developments are expected as political consultations continue across various levels of government and party structures in the state.

Sanwo-Olu Endorses Deputy Hamzat for 2027 Lagos Governorship Race at Lagos House

BNXN X SARZ | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Victor Osimhen | #BurgerKingSmallChopzzz | Friction | Best International Act | Nathan Ake | Shehu Sani pic.twitter.com/FCv8SZqqTn

— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 27, 2026

BREAKING: Lagos Politics Heats Up as Sanwo-Olu Endorses Deputy Governor Hamzat ( VIDEO)

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Sowore Confronts Malami in Court, Says ‘We Warned You Under Buhari…’

Published

24 hours ago

April 27, 2026

Trends Admin

former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN

Sowore Confronts Malami in Abuja Court, Says ‘We Warned You Under Buhari, Now System Is Dealing With You’

A dramatic moment unfolded on Monday at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja when former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, confronted former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, during ongoing proceedings involving multiple legal disputes.

The encounter, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, showed Sowore directly addressing Malami inside the court premises, linking his current legal challenges to actions taken during his tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami is currently facing charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), including allegations of money laundering, unlawful possession of firearms, and alleged unlawful acquisition of assets. He is also challenging interim forfeiture orders placed on some of his properties.

During the encounter, Sowore told the former minister:
“You see how it feels now to be persecuted. When you were with Buhari, you were bragging. We warned you then that there was failure in the justice system, but you didn’t listen, and now the system is dealing with you.”

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The exchange drew the attention of lawyers, court officials, and observers present in the courtroom, with some reportedly reacting with subdued laughter as the tense but brief interaction unfolded.

Sowore also attempted to further engage Malami politically, offering him a symbolic orange beret associated with his “Revolution Now” movement, which calls for systemic political and governance reforms in Nigeria.

“I want to give you my cap. This is a revolutionary cap,” he said.

Despite the confrontation, Sowore acknowledged Malami’s composure during the moment, while reiterating his broader criticism of Nigeria’s political and justice system.

“At least I’m glad that you are strong. We are not all on the same side. Even the oppressors are oppressing you now… no matter how powerful you people are, we will never support you,” he added.

In response, Malami maintained a calm posture and reaffirmed his confidence in the judicial process, stating that he remains committed to attending court proceedings and defending himself against the allegations.

“I can never be down. I have been attending all my court sittings. I will keep attending. And I remain strong,” he said.

The incident has since triggered widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians debating both the propriety of the courtroom exchange and the broader political tensions surrounding Malami’s ongoing legal battles.

Observers say the episode highlights the increasingly public intersection between courtroom proceedings, political activism, and social media-driven political commentary in Nigeria.

Sowore Confronts Malami in Abuja Court, Says ‘We Warned You Under Buhari, Now System Is Dealing With You’