Metro
Lalong Presents 2021 Budget Of N133.4bn To Plateau Assembly
Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Wednesday presented the 2021 budget of N133.4 billion to the State Plateau Assembly for its consideration and passage.
Lalong said that the budget tagged: “Budget of Economic Recovery, Inclusive Growth and Infrastructural Consolidation” had embedded in it a COVID-19 component of N11 billion.
“This consists of N83.9 billion only as recurrent expenditure and N49.5 billion as capital expenditure. This indicates an increase of N10.6 billion only representing 8.6 per cent difference above the 2020 revised budget of N122.8 billion only.
“This increase is as a result of an increase in both recurrent and capital expenditure estimates,” he said.
The governor said that the 2021 estimates presented were intended to pursue programmes and projects with a view to achieving an inclusive and high-income strategy, while securing an increasingly better life for all.
He, however, stressed that the implementation of the programmes would require significant resources to close a deficit gap of N22.6 billion.
Lalong told the lawmakers that the underlying assumptions in terms of macro-economic targets of the 2021 budget were premised on some factors.
He listed the factors to include oil price of US$ 40 per barrel oil production (national) of 1.86 million barrels per day, and exchange rate of N378.00 to a dollar.
“It is also based on Gross Domestic Product (National, Per cent Annual Exchange rate of 3.00 and Inflation (National Per cent Annual Average of 11.95),’’ he said.
He said that the budget was prepared based on current economic realities, orchestrated by COVID-19.
The Speaker of the assembly, Mr Abok Ayuba, assured the governor that the legislature would immediately commence work on the bill.
Ayuba said that the lawmakers would ensure that the budget was passed for quick implementation for the good of the people.
“This, we believe will help in providing the needed infrastructure to add to the existing ones,” he said. (NAN)
Metro
Chief Asaga commissions house for staff in Abakaliki
As the 2024, yuletide approaches, popular Abuja-based hotelier, philanthropist and CEO/MD of C-Sagas Group, Architect Chief Christian Asaga Nwali, PhD, has once again commissioned a house for one of his staff in Ebonyi State, in appreciation of his contributions to the successes of the company over the years.
Chief, who holds the chieftaincy title of Ide Ji Ulo 1 of Izzi Nnodo, Uzochukwuwara 1 of Ekpelu Kingdom, Odozie-Obodo 1 of Ameka, Ikwo, gifted the building, a 4-bedroom bungalow with boy’s quarters, properly fenced with gate, to Engr Donatus Azunku, aka MTN who hails from Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Speaking to our reporter on what prompted the magnanimity, Architect Asaga said, for over a decade, Engr. Donatus Azunku served as the dedicated Project Engineer of C-Sagas Group, “exemplifying unwavering commitment, humility and a willingness to learn.”
He said: “For me, the purpose of living is to make a profound and lasting impact on the people and environment surrounding me. Therefore, I strive to ensure that this impact is decidedly positive, transformative and continuous, leaving a ripple effect of goodness that resonates beyond my lifetime and creating a legacy of goodness that endures.
“To the glory, on behalf of C. Sagas Group, today being Tuesday, November 19, 2024, I am honoured to dedicate this magnificent home to Engr. & Mrs. Donatus Azunku and family. The truth is that, for over a decade, Engr. Donatus Azunku has served as our dedicated Project Engineer, exemplifying unwavering commitment, humility and a willingness to learn.
“Therefore, as I officially commission this beautiful house today, I pray that Almighty God will continue to bless his family abundantly. May this home be filled with love, joy, and prosperity and may your family be blessed beyond measure in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Architect Chief Christian Asaga Nwali is particularly popular for having the interest of his staff, family and those around him at heart, whether in Enugu, Abakaliki or Abuja, apart from also lifting numerous people from poverty by establishing businesses for them or building houses for them.
Following his philanthropic activities and humanitarian interventions, Dr. Christian Asaga Nwali, has in his employment over 1000 Nigerians in his establishments like Cirenes Hotels in Kpiri-Kpiri, Abakaliki, Exclusive Serene Hotel and Suites in New Haven, Enugu and Exclusive Serene Hotel and Suites in Wuye, Abuja, C.Sagas Luxury Homes Ltd, taking in his stride scholarship programs and marriage sponsorship of his employees, among others.
It is an annual culture for the hotelier to distribute cars to his staff and those around him. In 2019, be bought and distributed 8 cars to members of his staff.
Again, in December, 2023, Architect Asaga Nwali also distributed exotic cars to his staff in Ebonyi State, in appreciation of their contributions to the successes of the C-Sagas Group.
In March, this year, the C-Sagas Group built and donated a church building to Deeper Life Bible Church (DLBC), Ameka, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
Many beneficiaries of his magnanimity are presently thanking the hotelier for lifting them from poverty in different ways.
Metro
Man attempts crippling wife with pestle in Anambra
Delight Chinedum
A middle-aged man identified as Tochukwu Obumneme from Obosi has allegedly attempted crippling the wife Chizoba Obumneme with a pestle over a minor misunderstanding.
Our Correspondent gathered that the incident which took place in their house in Asaba, Delta State reportedly escalated after the suspect abandoned the victim at her parent’s house in Onitsha for delaying him without remorse.
According to Chizoba, “It initially started as a threat before he dashed to the kitchen, brought the pestle and hit me on my leg.
“This is not the first time he has raised his hands on me.”
The suspect who was invited for a peaceful mediation at the office of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare was said to have turned down the invitation.
He was said to have rather threatened his wife and the Social Welfare Officer for inviting him.
Reacting, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo promised to get justice for the victim.
Metro
NDLEA arraigns man for illegal hemp transaction
Adesokan Olalekan, 56, has been charged with drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The defendant faces a single count of illegally dealing in cannabis sativa, commonly referred to as hemp, and is currently on trial before Justice Ayokunle Faji.
He entered a guilty plea to the revised accusation.
Following his plea, Mr. Peter Ereche, an NDLEA agent, testified for the prosecutor, Mr. Aondofa Korinjo, who went over the case’s facts.
The witness told the court how a group of NDLEA agents brought the defendant in while hiding packaged cannabis sativa in a black nylon bag.
He informed the judge that once samples were extracted from the drug, an analysis revealed that it contained cannabis sativa.
The prosecutor then used the witness to present some evidence, including the drug analysis report, a request for scientific assistance form, and the certificate of test analysis.
The bulk of the material, the substance package form, the defendant’s confessional statement dated September 28, and the remaining material that was analyzed were among the additional pieces of evidence that were presented.
Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, the defense attorney, raised no objections to the evidence being presented.
As a result, the court acknowledged them and noted them as exhibits.
Considering the defendant’s plea and the facts presented to the court, the prosecution then urged the court to convict him appropriately.
As a result, Justice Faji found the defendant guilty of the charges.
Defense attorney Ekwegh pleaded with the court to give the convicted person pity in order to temper justice.
According to her, the convicted individual was a first-time offender who promptly entered a guilty plea to the charge, saving the court’s time.
She claimed that the 56-year-old defendant had five dependent children and that the convicted felon was now regretting his actions after realizing his mistake.
The court postponed sentencing until November 18 after hearing the allocutus.
The offender was remanded to the detention facility for sentencing, the court ordered.
The accusation states that the act was committed on September 28 at the Ajara axis of Badagry, Lagos State.
He allegedly dealt in 120g of cannabis without the required legal license.
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