2nd Year Anniversary in Office: President Tinubu Hails NASENI’s Contributions to National Economy

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

A special recognition of excellent performance toward fulfilling Federal Government’s socio-economic agenda has been accorded the management of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu in his nationwide address to mark the May 29-second-year anniversary of his administration, televised live to the nation, hailed NASENI under the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu for the Agency’s numerous achievements of high impact projects and programmes that are steering Nigeria along the critical path of socio-economic development,

According to the President, NASENI has championed youth empowerment, skill acquisition and job creation initiatives for unemployed Nigerian youths, thus supporting the federal government’s plan to empower the next generation, bridge inequality and place young Nigerians at the heart of national development.

President Tinubu in his speech said, “Nowhere is placing young Nigerians at the heart of national development more evident than at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), where the current management is making giant strides. NASENI has embraced a digital-first approach, introduced real-time dashboards, and implemented end-to-end e-procurement through its Unified ERP System—setting a new governance benchmark for public institutions.”

“Through bold, high-impact programmes like Innovate Naija, Irrigate Nigeria, the Asset Restoration Programme, and the Renewable Energy and Innovation Park in Gora, NASENI drives inclusive industrialization at scale”

“From assembling electric vehicles and reviving idle assets to launching Africa’s most advanced Rapid Diagnostic Kit Factory and training female drone engineers through the NASCAV programme, these initiatives are creating jobs, restoring dignity to work, and opening a future of possibilities for our youths. This is the movement we promised—a government of action powered by the energy and innovation of young Nigerians,” he said.

President Tinubu noted that Agriculture and food security are top priorities of his Renewed Hope Agenda of which NASENI is playing a pivotal role through the Irrigate Nigeria Project wherein the Agency has provided its state-of-the art Solar Irrigation Pump system to boost local food production, support farmers, and stabilize food prices through mechanized farming.

Under the leadership of Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, NASENI is building urea and coal-based factories, lithium processing and manufacturing plant, drone assembly plants, expanding eco-friendly cookstoves production lines, rehabilitating abandoned farm tractors, building new Development Institutes and NASENI Skill Acquisition Centres (NSACs) nationwide and many more.

Lagos Assembly Will Continue To Ensure Compliance With Budgetary Provisions-Olumoh

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Chairman of the Lagos the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Economic Planning and Budget,, Hon. Lukmon Olumoh, Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency 1, has said that the assembly would continue to ensure that Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state comply with the budgetary provisions of the state.

These are parts of the activities going on in the assembly at the moment.

Olumoh, who was addressing the media at the Budget Review of the last quarter of 2024 from October to December and first quarter of 2025 from January to March, said that the budget review is a routine of the House to ensure that the MDAs obey the provisions in the Appropriation Laws of the state

“Sometimes last month, the House decided that the committee should do a review of the Appropriation Law,, which is supposed to be done on a quarterly basis.

“So, the exercise is for the last quarter of year 2024 and the first quarter of year.2025. The essence is to ensure that the MDAs comply with the appropriation law of the state for 2024 and 2025.

“You have seen the kind of critical questions we are asking the MDAs on their capital expenditure and recurrent expenditure.

“It is important for our own oversight purposes and to ensure that the people of Lagos State get value for money. That was why the House, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa approved that the exercise should take place,” he said.

On the forthcoming local governments elections in the state, the lawmaker, who said that the committee has been critical with the review, stated that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is fully prepared for the local government elections slated for July 12, 2025.

Olumoh stated that LASIEC was asked about how far they have gone in accessing the funds for the year, saying that they have accessed over 80% of the fund for the commission.

“So we know that they are prepared for the election and we know that they are prepared to give Lagosians the best in the July elections.

“The 2024 budget of the state was over N2 Trillion and this year, we are doing N3.346 Trillion. Lagos State has the potentials to do over N10 Trillion, but it’s a gradual process, we will get there.

“Last year, we scored over 90% for both recurrent and capital expenditures. The evidences are there for you to see.

“There is no part of Lagos State that you won’t see the government doing one thing or the other. You have the physical infrastructure wearing new looks. Go to Maryland, see the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge, go to Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, the Green Line rail is ongoing and so many other sectors.

Go to the health, education sectors and others, so many things are going on there,” he said.

He added that the state’s lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to oversight the agencies as it is their constitutional responsibility, saying that the oversight has helped the Lagos State Government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

He said: “For any erring agency, there is financial regulation law and there are always sanctions for defaulters.

“We read the reports on the floor of the House and any agency that is found culpable, may be the head of the agency or the officers that is responsible, will face the consequences in line with the financial regulations of the state.”

Speaking earlier at the Budget Review, Justice Omobolanle Okikiola-Igbile, the Chairperson of LASIEC, stated that they have visited the 20 Local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) In the state and that they were 90% ready for the July 12 local government elections.

“We have been having stakeholders meeting. We brought out notices, and we have been to Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Badagry for the meeting.

“We have accessed some money for the election, and we have committees on education, media, finance, food that are working for the elections,” she said.

Obasa congratulates President Tinubu on second anniversary, commends economic reforms

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his second anniversary in Office. He also commended the bold and transformative economic reforms implemented under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“It takes ingenuity, courage, and a strong sense of conviction to go through with the reforms initiated by the President, but the whole world can see that these reforms have started yielding manifestly bountiful rewards in the areas of security, infrastructure, and improved investors’ confidence in the economy,” Obasa said.

The Lagos Speaker, in a statement released by his media Office, praised President Tinubu’s steadfast commitment to revamping the Nigerian economy through decisive policy actions like the fuel subsidy removal and liberalisation of the foreign exchange market. He highlighted how these policies have helped to stabilise the naira, increase foreign reserves, and reposition the nation’s economic trajectory.

Obasa recalled that previously, fuel subsidies had cost the Nigerian government approximately $10 billion annually, but the removal has led to a significant increase in the monthly disbursement to the three tiers of government by the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

“Unlike the situation in the past, we no longer hear lamentations about State governors owing civil servants or asking for bailouts from the federal government. We can only implore State and Local government leaders to double up on the execution of vital and viable economic and social infrastructure development projects at the grassroots for the betterment of Nigerians across the social strata,” Obasa said.

He further cited the recent announcement by the World Bank that Nigeria’s economy recorded its fastest growth in about a decade in 2024; and the declaration by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Nigeria is no longer on its debtors’ list having completed the payment of a $3.4 billion loan borrowed during the COVID-19 pandemic as indubitable proofs of President Tinubu’s economic sagacity and the effectiveness of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, he said that every reform comes with responsibility, stating, “Transformative change requires time and collective efforts. The president is not oblivious to the hardships that have trailed these reforms, but he is presiding with a human face.”

“President Tinubu increased the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 and also launched the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) to provide financial support to over 550,000 students, thereby enhancing access to higher education among other socio-economic empowerment programs. I do not doubt that we are on the right path,” Obasa said.

Speaker Obasa lauded Nigerians for their support and perseverance during the crunch that followed and urged all to remain patient, optimistic, and supportive of the president’s initiatives. He concluded by reaffirming the Lagos State House of Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government to ensure the successful implementation of policies that benefit all Nigerians.