Headlines
Jubilation as South East Development Bill Passes Second Reading in House of Reps
A bill for an Act to establish the South East Development Commission to serve as catalyst for the development of commercial potentials of the South-East has passed second reading at the House of Representatives amidst jubilation.
The bill has been passed by the Senate and was sent to the green chambers for concurrence on Thursday in Abuja in accordance with the law.
The commission when established would receive and manage funds from allocation from the federation for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and reparation for lost houses and business of victims of the Nigerian Civil War.
The commission would also address any other environmental or developmental challenge and for related matters in the geo-political zone.
Supporting the bill, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano), said there is need to look at the bigger picture and the historical background of the civil war.
He said there is also need for government to implement what the entire country agreed upon years ago.
Mr Jibrin said the Yakubu Gowon administration has already began implementation before it was interrupted and the project abandoned.
The lawmaker said though a lot has been done, there is lots of underdevelopment in the zone.
According to him, this is the time to show courage and make the South East feel like a part of Nigeria.
Mr Jibrin said members must raise up above sentiments and pass the bill as it may come back to hunt the entire nation.
Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa), urged members to support the bill as there is need for some reconstructions in the zone.
Mr Namdas, whose constituency is a beneficiary of the North East Development Commission, said it would be unfair for him not to support the bill.
Saheed Fijabi (APC-Oyo), however, cautioned the house to be careful in passing the bill saying that instead of establishing South East Development Commission, a Nigeria Development Commission should be established.
He suggested that rather than establish developmental commission for each of the geo-political zones of the country, a bill establishing Nigeria Development Commission should be considered.
After much debate by members, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lassun (APC-Osun), put the matter to vote and majority voted in favour of the bill.
Mr Lassun forwarded the bill to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative actions.
(NAN)
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
