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NRC to spend N8.5b on train procurement this year

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The Federal Government earmarked N8.52 billion to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in this year’s budget to buy trains (locomotives, coaches and wagons), The Nation has learnt.

The allocation is in this year’s budget current before the National Assembly.

This is part of the N39.18 billion appropriated by the Federal Government to the nation’s oldest public corporation in the Bill sent to the National Assembly for approval.

A breakdown of the budget indicated that the NRC intends to spend N2.79 billion on rehabilitation/repairs of old narrow gauge railway tracks this year.

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It has budgeted N2.7 billion on the rehabilitation/repair of its headquarters and other office buildings across the country in the course of the year.

According to the budget proposal, the NRC is also projected to spend N2 billion on diesel for the rail power cars and locomotives and N1 billion to buy spare parts, including lubricants for its locomotives, coaches and wagons in the year.

It will spend another N1.68 billion on the procurement and rehabilitation of locomotives and rolling stocks for its trains. The project was marked as “ongoing” in the budget proposal forwarded to the National Assembly.

The document shows the NRC will expend N1.19 billion on rehabilitation of the narrow-gauge track from Minna to Baro with a spur (extension) to the Baro River port.

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Trump summons Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House

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US President Donald Trump has invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a meeting at the White House on February 4, the Israeli premier’s office said on Tuesday.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House during US President Trump’s second term,” the statement said.

A White House official confirmed an invitation had been extended to the Israeli prime minister to meet at the White House “early next week”.

“Details on the date and time will follow when finalised,” the official added.

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The Trump-Netanyahu meeting comes after the US president repeatedly claimed credit for sealing an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which came after months of fruitless negotiations.

After the ceasefire took effect, Trump touted a plan to “clean out” the Gaza Strip, calling for Palestinians to relocate to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan.

The idea has faced strong backlash from Egypt and Jordan as well as from European governments.

During his first term, Trump frequently claimed that Israel “never had a better friend in the White House”, a sentiment often echoed by Netanyahu.

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However, the Trump-Netanyahu relationship soured briefly after the Israeli leader congratulated Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory.

Trump, who falsely claimed to have won the 2020 election, accused Netanyahu of disloyalty, according to multiple media reports at the time.

Nonetheless, soon after taking office for his second term, Trump reportedly approved a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which the Biden administration had previously halted.

Netanyahu praised Trump for providing Israel with the “tools” to defend itself.

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FG deports 828 illegal immigrants from Nigeria

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….and revamped the country’s border security

The federal government has deported 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and enhance national security.

On Tuesday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja.

Highlighting the government’s achievements, the minister stated, “In the last year, 137 victims of trafficking were intercepted, and in 2024 alone, 828 foreigners were repatriated by the Nigerian Immigration Service.”

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As part of broader reforms, the government implemented measures to modernise border operations and immigration systems.

These include integrating Nigerian passports into the International Civil Aviation Organisation Public Key Directory, allowing seamless verification worldwide, and establishing a centralised Visa Approval Centre in Abuja to streamline visa processing.

To support these initiatives, an 8.3-petabyte data centre—the largest in Nigeria—has been constructed, and solar-powered infrastructure has been introduced to ensure uninterrupted operations.

A command and control centre monitors all land and air entry points, boosting surveillance capabilities.

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According to the minister, at least 97 cases of persons of international security interest have been recorded through the API/PNR as of Sunday, 26th January 2025. These persons would have entered the country under the manual passenger processing and profiling system.

The minister noted that the NIS cleared a backlog of „ Over 200,000 passport applications within three weeks in 2023 and issued 1,836,533 passports in 2024.”

He also said the centralised passport personalisation process will begin with 21 African Countries on February 3, 2025.

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How 16 women became mothers after I opened up on fertility struggles in Delay interview – Oheneni Adazoa

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Ghanaian media personality Genevieve Abrefa Yeboah, popularly known as Oheneni Adazoa, has shared how her interview with Delay has positively impacted people’s lives.
One would recall that in an earlier interview with Delay, Oheneni Adazoa opened up on her struggles with infertility after 20 years of marriage.

However, in a recent development, while reflecting on the aftermath of the Delay interview, she explained how several women facing the same issue reached out to her for help.

In response, Oheneni said she created a WhatsApp group for them and occasionally invited doctors to the platform to offer guidance.

She also mentioned that the group usually prayed together for an hour almost every day, and by the special grace of God, 16 out of 540 women have been able to give birth.

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“That interview with Delay opened a big platform for me. After the interview, a prophetess called and told me that God will open a bigger platform for me because I was brave enough to share my story. Afterward, Delay mentioned that some women facing the same issue reached out to her, asking for help. She suggested I create a WhatsApp group for them, and I did just that.

“I occasionally invited doctors to the platform to offer advice, and we also prayed together for an hour almost every day. By the special grace of God, 16 out of 540 women have been able to give birth,” she stated.

She also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support her husband has shown over the years.

“If you don’t have a man who can stand by you during your hardest times, you will easily give up. We have faced so much. I thank my husband (Mr. Abrefa) because he is truly one in a million. I can’t imagine a young man deciding to stand by me through all of this. I believe that one day, God will answer my prayers too,” she emphasised.

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