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Shettima: FG Reforms Could Lift 50 Million Nigerians Out Of Poverty Within A Decade

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Shettima: FG Reforms Could Lift 50 Million Nigerians Out Of Poverty Within A Decade

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms and development initiatives are aimed at lifting between 40 and 50 million Nigerians out of multidimensional poverty within the next decade.

Speaking at the Nextier Development Solutions Festival (DevFest2025) in Abuja — themed “Ending Poverty in Nigeria” — Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka, said the government’s “Poverty Exit Plan” rests on three pillars: investing in infrastructure, driving economic and financial inclusion, and transforming agriculture from subsistence to mechanised, value-driven production.

He cited positive indicators already taking shape, including:

  • External reserves rising to $42 billion.
  • Six consecutive months of inflation decline.
  • Naira stabilisation under Central Bank policies.
  • A 44.3% trade surplus increase in H1 2025, amounting to over N10 trillion.

Shettima disclosed that:

  • Over N330 billion has been disbursed to 8.1 million households through Conditional Cash Transfers.
  • The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided over N80 billion in loans to 400,000 students.
  • The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has attracted over $1 billion to boost mechanisation and value addition in agriculture.

He emphasised early reforms like petrol subsidy removal and forex unification as bold but necessary steps to create fiscal space for investments. “The removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market were bold acts of economic surgery, essential to stabilise our nation and set it on a path of sustainable growth,” he said.

The Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, noted that poverty reduction must be driven primarily by sound domestic policies, adding that the EU has committed over €87 million to strengthen Nigeria’s social safety nets and resilience programmes alongside €150 million in humanitarian support to address food insecurity affecting 33 million Nigerians.

From the state level, Enugu’s Secretary to the Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, shared lessons from the state’s interventions in education, agriculture, and health aimed at moving from poverty reduction to eradication.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Ndubuisi Nwokolo, Partner at Nextier Development Foundation, urged stakeholders to move beyond short-term fixes and embrace sustainable, evidence-based solutions. Patrick Okigbo III, Founding Partner of Nextier, echoed this call, stressing the need for partnerships, policies, and political will to end poverty.

With 40% of Nigerians — over 82 million people — still below the poverty line, stakeholders agreed that consistent policies, grassroots innovations, and international cooperation could set the country on a path to shared prosperity.

Trump Slams UN, Says Body Not Working For Peace

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Trump Slams UN, Says Body Not Working For Peace

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday mocked the United Nations during an address to the General Assembly in New York, accusing the world body of failing to fulfill its core mission of maintaining global peace.

“The UN has such tremendous potential. I’ve always said it — it has such tremendous, tremendous potential. But it’s not even coming close to living up to it,” Trump said.

The president, known for his combative rhetoric at multilateral forums, also ridiculed the state of the UN headquarters, complaining about a broken escalator at the New York building during his speech.

Trump’s remarks come as he prepares to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the General Assembly and outline what aides have described as a “dark vision” of the UN’s future role.

Trump’s Autism Remarks Spark Backlash Over Unproven Claims

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Trump’s Autism Remarks Spark Backlash Over Unproven Claims

US President Donald Trump’s latest comments on autism and vaccines are drawing intense criticism from public health experts, evoking comparisons to his controversial COVID-19 briefings during his first term.

During an hour-long press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump linked autism rates to the painkiller Tylenol, urging pregnant women to “tough it out” rather than use the drug, and suggested delaying childhood vaccines — remarks widely rejected by scientists.

“There’s a rumor — and I don’t know if it’s so or not — that Cuba… they have virtually no autism,” Trump said, also claiming the Amish “essentially have no autism.”
“I’m not a doctor but I’m giving my opinion,” he added.

Trump’s Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for vaccine skepticism, was present as the president repeated long-debunked fears about the MMR vaccine and recommended spacing out childhood immunizations.

The 79-year-old president also questioned the early administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine, arguing there’s “no reason to give a baby” the shot soon after birth, and criticized the volume of vaccines given to infants:

“They pump so much stuff into those beautiful little babies… it’s a disgrace.”

Public health officials warn Trump’s claims could endanger pregnant women and children, undermining decades of vaccine-based disease prevention.

The remarks recall Trump’s infamous 2020 COVID-19 briefing, where he speculated about “injecting disinfectant” as a potential treatment — comments that drew widespread ridicule and alarm.

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 27 Per Cent

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CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 27 Per Cent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the benchmark interest rate to 27 per cent, down from 27.5 per cent in July 2025.

The Committee also cut the cash reserve requirement to 45 per cent for commercial banks and 16 per cent for merchant banks, while introducing a 75 per cent cash reserve requirement on non-TSA public sector deposits.

However, the liquidity ratio was left unchanged at 30 per cent.

UNGA 80: Tinubu Calls For African Investment In Minerals, Stronger Global Role

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UNGA 80: Tinubu Calls For African Investment In Minerals, Stronger Global Role

President Bola Tinubu has urged African nations to finance their mineral sector and assert stronger influence in global supply chains to protect their sovereignty

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Second Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the margins of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Tinubu called for a “total rephase” of Africa’s global financial architecture.

“We must take the bull by the horns in financing our future. Never again shall we wait for capital to trickle in. With sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and innovation tools like the Africa Mineral Token, Africa shall finance Africa. To safeguard this sovereignty, we must guard our cobalt, lithium, graphite, gold, and rare earths not as fragmented states but as one continental bloc, wielding collective power in global supply chains,” he said.

Tinubu outlined four imperatives for unlocking Africa’s mineral economic future:

  1. Climbing the value chain: “We must end the ignoble cycle of exporting rocks and importing finished goods. From beneficiation to green manufacturing, Africa must build industries on African soil.”
  2. Owning Africa’s geological data: With the African Minerals and Energy Resource Classification (AMREC) and the Pan-African Resource Reporting Code (PARC), “Africa’s data will be mapped, standardized, and owned by Africans.”
  3. Accelerating mineral exploration and mapping: “Without exploration, there is no sovereignty. Without mapping, there is no value.”
  4. Financing Africa’s future: Using sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and tools like the Africa Mineral Token.

He also highlighted examples of African nations enforcing bans on raw mineral exports to promote domestic beneficiation — such as Zimbabwe’s ban on raw lithium in 2022, Gabon’s plan to end manganese exports by 2029, and Kenya’s planned restriction on raw gold exports — adding that Nigeria is accelerating similar reforms.

Tinubu commended Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who chaired the event, and AMSG Secretary-General Moses Michael Engadu of Uganda for “guiding Africa towards a path of productivity and pride.”

“As Chair of this Roundtable, I pledge Nigeria’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that AMSG fulfils its promise of catalyzing a mineral-led renaissance. Let us rise from this dialogue with a communiqué of clarity, a framework for action, and a spirit of unity,” Tinubu said.

UN’s Assistant Secretary General Ahunna Eziakonwa urged African leaders to guard against exploitation and ensure technology transfer, beneficiation, and job creation. European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Stkela noted that the EU has signed 14 strategic partnerships on raw materials value chains — four of them in Africa — under its Critical Raw Materials Act adopted in 2024.

DR Congo Accuses Rwanda Of Delaying Peace

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DR Congo Accuses Rwanda Of Delaying Peace

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has accused Rwanda of delaying the implementation of a peace deal signed by both countries in Washington in June.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday, Tshisekedi alleged that Kigali is using the peace process to “gain time for the crisis to worsen.”

“Rwanda pretends to have withdrawn its troops but in reality, Rwanda troops continue to be present on Congolese soil and to support the M23,” he said, referring to the Rwandan-backed armed group that has made rapid gains in eastern DRC this year.

“We, from our side, are ready to make peace,” Tshisekedi added.

He also hinted that his country is seeking greater security cooperation from Washington in exchange for a stable supply of critical metals such as cobalt, which are used in electronic devices and batteries.

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Rwanda and rich in natural resources, has suffered extreme violence for more than three decades, with non-state armed groups controlling vast areas.

Since resuming hostilities at the end of 2021, the M23 armed group has seized swathes of land, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, and set up its own administrations, triggering a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The Congolese government and the M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19 in Qatar that included a “permanent ceasefire” aimed at halting the conflict. This followed a separate peace deal between Kinshasa and Kigali signed in Washington in June.

Earlier this month, Rwanda condemned a Human Rights Watch report that used satellite data to show the apparent expansion of a military graveyard during months of conflict in DR Congo.

‘Wake-Up Call For Leaders’, Peter Obi Decries Killing Of Security Operatives

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‘Wake-Up Call For Leaders’, Peter Obi Decries Killing Of Security Operatives

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the rising wave of attacks and killings targeting security personnel across the country.

In a post shared via his official X handle on Tuesday, Obi described the increasing violence against members of the armed forces, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and vigilante groups as both tragic and unacceptable.

He said the recurring killings should serve as a wake-up call to leaders to better equip and motivate security operatives.

“Over the past weeks, the country has been thrown into mourning yet again with the reported tragic killings of our security personnel. The casualty ranges from our gallant soldiers to members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to our brave policemen and even community vigilante members.

“Our men and women in uniform have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, dedicating their lives to the safety and stability of our dear nation.

“These recurring killings should serve as a wake-up call to us leaders to better equip and motivate our security operatives. Security must now become the foundation of governance.

“The memory of our fallen heroes should ignite in us a determination to build a Nigeria where no one’s life is valueless, not our security operatives and definitely not their families,” Obi stated.

He emphasized that the sacrifices made by security operatives in service to the nation must be recognized and not taken for granted.

“Nigeria cannot continue to bury our men in uniform and leave their families abandoned. Our government must rise to the responsibility of ensuring that the wives, children, and parents of these fallen heroes are fairly compensated and supported. That is the least a grateful nation can provide. It is not charity, it is justice for those who laid down their lives so the rest of us can live,” he added.

Obi prayed for the repose of the souls of all fallen heroes and for their sacrifice and patriotism to be remembered always.

“To every fallen hero, may your soul rest in perfect peace. Your sacrifice and patriotism will never be forgotten. And to the families left behind, you are not alone. May God continue to provide you with strength and comfort,” he said.

BREAKING: National Assembly Unseals Senator Natasha’s Office

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BREAKING: National Assembly Unseals Senator Natasha’s Office

The National Assembly has unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing.

The office was reopened on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, potentially paving the way for the Kogi Central Senator to return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes on October 7, 2025.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had, a week earlier, written to the upper chamber notifying them of her intention to resume duties following her six-month suspension.

National Assembly Postpones Plenary Resumption To October 7

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National Assembly Postpones Plenary Resumption To October 7

The National Assembly has postponed the resumption of plenary sessions from September 23 to October 7, 2025.

The shift was disclosed in a memo to all members, signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who requested senators and representatives to adjust their schedules accordingly. He noted that committee activities will continue during the break.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has assured Nigerians of the speedy passage of the constitutional amendment bill. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, speaking at the National Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja on Monday, pledged that the chamber would do everything possible to successfully amend the Constitution after failed attempts by previous assemblies.

Abbas commended citizens for participating in the process, stating that their contributions would be taken seriously. He also promised a transparent and collaborative engagement with state assemblies and the executive to ensure the amendments’ passage.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment, added that the process would be all-inclusive.

CAC To Deploy AI Agent To Clear 7,000 Registration Backlog

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CAC To Deploy AI Agent To Clear 7,000 Registration Backlog

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it is set to deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent to resolve a backlog of 7,000 company registration applications and ease service delays.

Registrar-General/CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a stakeholders’ forum, describing the new AI-powered portal as a complete overhaul of the Commission’s existing Company Registration Portal (CRP).

According to him, the AI agent will handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service functions with speed and accuracy to address challenges that have slowed service delivery.

The portal has been programmed to provide instant name approvals, with a system intelligently designed to suggest alternative names when preferred options are unavailable. Magaji said name reservation under the new system is now as simple as opening an email account.

He acknowledged that the transition to the Commission’s AI-driven portal has been bumpy, with customers experiencing delays in approvals, especially for services not covered in the first phase of the deployment. He attributed the delays to the overwhelming number of applications the system has had to process.

The CAC boss added that the Commission will also use AI to manage the high volume of daily inquiries, noting that the system receives no fewer than 3,000 emails per day. The AI tool being developed can read and comprehend those emails within a minute, detect duplicate requests, and reroute messages to the appropriate departments for faster resolution.

Magaji reassured stakeholders that the Commission is working to stabilise its newly introduced AI portal and improve customer satisfaction, saying: “Problems have been identified, and solutions are already in motion.”

Ousmane Dembele, Aitana Bonmati Win 2025 Ballon d’Or Awards

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Ousmane Dembele, Aitana Bonmati Win 2025 Ballon d’Or Awards

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati have been crowned the best men’s and women’s players in the world at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Dembele clinched the men’s award after leading PSG to a treble-winning season and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. Barcelona’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was also voted best young player, finished runner-up, while PSG’s Vitinha came third.

Bonmati made history by winning the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year, becoming the first woman to achieve the feat. Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey finished second and England’s Alessia Russo came third.

England coach Sarina Wiegman was named best women’s coach following the Lionesses’ victory over Spain in Switzerland, while PSG’s Luis Enrique won the Johan Cruyff Award for best men’s coach.

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton received the inaugural Yashin Trophy for best women’s goalkeeper, with Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma taking the men’s award for the seventh time. Arsenal and PSG were named women’s and men’s clubs of the year after their Champions League successes.

Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres won the men’s Gerd Müller Trophy after scoring 63 goals for Sporting and Sweden last season, while Barcelona and Poland’s Ewa Pajor took the women’s prize with 48 goals.

Bonmati, reflecting on her achievement, said: “It’s incredible, this feeling. I never thought when I was a kid that I could achieve this. All of these trophies are because of collective work.”

Final Men’s Ballon d’Or Rankings 2025

  1. Ousmane Dembélé — PSG, France
  2. Lamine Yamal — Barcelona, Spain
  3. Vitinha — PSG, Portugal
  4. Mohamed Salah — Liverpool, Egypt
  5. Raphinha — Barcelona, Brazil
  6. Achraf Hakimi — PSG, Morocco
  7. Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid, France
  8. Cole Palmer — Chelsea, England
  9. Gianluigi Donnarumma — PSG/Manchester City, Italy
  10. Nuno Mendes — PSG, Portugal
  11. Pedri — Barcelona, Spain
  12. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — PSG/Napoli, Georgia
  13. Harry Kane — Bayern Munich, England
  14. Désiré Doué — PSG, France
  15. Viktor Gyökeres — Sporting/Arsenal, Sweden
  16. Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid, Brazil
  17. Robert Lewandowski — Barcelona, Poland
  18. Scott McTominay — Napoli, Scotland
  19. João Neves — PSG, Portugal
  20. Lautaro Martínez — Inter, Argentina
  21. Serhou Guirassy — Borussia Dortmund, Guinea
  22. Alexis Mac Allister — Liverpool, Argentina
  23. Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid, England
  24. Fabián Ruiz — PSG, Spain
  25. Denzel Dumfries — Inter, Netherlands
  26. Erling Haaland — Manchester City, Norway
  27. Declan Rice — Arsenal, England
  28. Virgil van Dijk — Liverpool, Netherlands
  29. Florian Wirtz — Liverpool/Bayer Leverkusen, Germany
  30. Michael Olise — Bayern Munich, France

Final Women’s Ballon d’Or Rankings 2025

  1. Aitana Bonmatí — Barcelona, Spain
  2. Mariona Caldentey — Arsenal, Spain
  3. Alessia Russo — Arsenal, England
  4. Alexia Putellas — Barcelona, Spain
  5. Chloe Kelly — Manchester City/Arsenal, England
  6. Patri Guijarro — Barcelona, Spain
  7. Leah Williamson — Arsenal, England
  8. Ewa Pajor — Barcelona, Poland
  9. Lucy Bronze — Chelsea, England
  10. Hannah Hampton — Chelsea, England
  11. Clàudia Pina — Barcelona, Spain
  12. Marta — Orlando Pride, Brazil
  13. Caroline Graham Hansen — Barcelona, Norway
  14. Barbra Banda — Orlando Pride, Zambia
  15. Sandy Baltimore — Chelsea, France
  16. Cristiana Girelli — Juventus, Italy
  17. Temwa Chawinga — Kansas City Current, Malawi
  18. Melchie Dumornay — Lyon, Haiti
  19. Klara Bühl — Bayern Munich, Germany
  20. Pernille Harder — Bayern Munich, Denmark
  21. Amanda Gutierres — Palmeiras, Brazil
  22. Esther González — Barcelona, Spain
  23. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd — Chelsea, Sweden
  24. Sofia Cantore — Juventus/Washington Spirit, Italy
  25. Emily Fox — Arsenal, USA
  26. Lindsey Heaps — Lyon, USA
  27. Frida Maanum — Arsenal, Norway
  28. Clara Mateo — Paris FC, France
  29. Steph Catley — Arsenal, Australia
  30. Caroline Weir — Real Madrid, Scotland
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