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Ododo vows justice for slain farmers
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has directed an immediate crackdown on those responsible for the killings of two farmers in the Odo-Ape community of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state, on Friday.
The governor gave the directive in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, and made available to journalists on Saturday in Lokoja.
He said he had directed the State Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, to collaborate with security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice.
Two farmers were killed on Friday when gunmen attacked the Odo-Ape community in the Kogi West Senatorial District of the state.
“The government is putting all hands on deck to ensure the attackers do not escape justice,” Ododo said.
The governor urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals and warned that such could lead to further losses.
Ododo expressed his condolences to the affected families and reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents.
He added: “We sympathise with the communities affected by this unfortunate incident.
“Be assured that Ododo’s administration is fully committed to your security and will stop at nothing to guarantee your safety.
“The victims of this heinous act will not die in vain. We remain resolute in our fight against the enemies of peace and security in Kogi State.”
The statement also urged the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in apprehending the culprits.
The governor noted that every life in Kogi remained important, and called for cooperation to end criminal activities.
Already, security operatives had been deployed in Odo-Ape and other flashpoints in the area to restore peace and ensure the protection of lives and properties.
The government assured residents that normalcy would be restored within hours.
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has assured investors that the government will stay the course on economic reforms, declaring that policy reversals will not define the current phase of the country’s economic management.
The Minister stated this while speaking at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group Private Sector Outlook 2026 in Lagos on Thursday.
Oyedele said the administration is shifting from stabilisation to measurable growth, where reforms will be judged by outcomes rather than intent.
His comments came barely 48 hours after he assumed office, following the exit of Wale Edun from the Federal Executive Council.
“We are not looking back,” Oyedele said, stressing that consistency in policy direction remains critical to investor confidence.
He warned that mixed signals or abrupt reversals could stall progress, noting that “businesses need to know that today’s decisions will still hold tomorrow.”
While pointing to early signs of macroeconomic stabilisation, including a more aligned exchange rate and improved revenue performance, the minister said these gains must translate into tangible outcomes such as job creation, productivity growth and better living standards.
He identified four priorities for driving investment in the next phase which includes, policy consistency, predictability across fiscal and regulatory frameworks, reduction in the cost of doing business, and improved access to capital.
On financing, Oyedele said the government is working to expand credit across the economy, from consumer lending to industrial financing, with support from institutions such as the Bank of Industry, to stimulate growth and unlock private sector participation.
He added that Nigeria must target stronger real GDP per capita growth to make a meaningful impact on poverty, noting that modest growth figures would not be sufficient given the country’s population dynamics.
The minister further described the current stage of reforms as decisive, where success will depend on execution. “Reforms on their own do not create growth. We need investment at scale,” he said, adding that investors respond to stable and predictable environments, not policy announcements.
On the area of productivity, Oyedele said Nigeria must move beyond consumption-driven expansion and focus on improving output and competitiveness in key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy and the digital economy.
He also called for deeper collaboration between government and the private sector, maintaining that economic growth cannot be delivered by public policy alone.
As the country enters what he termed a consolidation phase, Oyedele said the government would continue to deepen reforms, strengthen public financial management and improve coordination across all tiers of government.
He, however, acknowledged risks, including reform fatigue, inflationary pressures from global uncertainties, and political tensions ahead of the election cycle, but maintained that these challenges are surmountable with discipline and cooperation.
“Our task now is execution,” Oyedele said.
“This phase demands focus, consistency and accountability. That is the direction we are pursuing he added
The Federal Capital Territory FCT minister Nyesom Wike is presently holding a meeting with primary school teachers in the Territory over ongoing strike.
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DSS arraigns El-Rufai for ‘invading’ NSA Ribadu’s phone conversation, now to face 5 count charge
The Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday arraigned ex- Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for allegedly accessing the telephone conversation of Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, NSA.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted on a five-count amended charge before the Abuja Federal High Court.
The prosecution informed the court at the commencement of proceedings that the charge has been amended from three to five counts.
Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, struck out the previous count.
El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge.
Recall that the former FCT Minister had in February, during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time said “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, allowing him to listen to the NSA instructing security operatives to effect his arrest.
We’re not going to reverse reforms, Finance Minister, Oyedele tells investors
FCT minister Wike engages teachers over strike(Video)
DSS arraigns El-Rufai for ‘invading’ NSA Ribadu’s phone conversation, now to face 5 count charge
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