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Half of Nigerians live in extreme poverty – AMEN President

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By Ifeoma Ikem Comrade Saviour Ichie, the National President of the Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN) says half of Nigeria's populations live in extreme poverty, according to estimates from the World Data Labs Poverty Clock. Ichie said this during his community sensitization programme at Ikotun area of Lagos state. He asked the federal government to intervene and find a lasting solution to solve the high cost of food commodities across the nations. "The government should also remove the import duty on raw materials, adding that this would allow small businesses to produce more at cheaper rates, create more employment and reduce poverty and crime in the country’’. He noted that the populace can no longer tolerate the high cost of food stuff and building materials saying, it needs urgent attention. "The report on inflation rate did not reflect what is obtained in the marketplace, adding that the prices of goods and services have gone up by more than 100 percent’’. Ichie said that Civil Society groups have been quiet on the issues bothering the nation on increase in essential commodities because their leaders have been compromised. Reacting to the National Identity Management Commissio’s ongoing registration exercise, he expressed dissatisfaction over the continuous extortion of Nigerians by some licensed partners and the horrible experience majority of them are having during the enrollment. Comrade Chuks Nwajei, Mainland coordinator of Ambassadors for Peace and Enlightenment Foundation also appealed to the federal government to intervene over the rising insecurity across the nation. He described the situation of continuous attacks by herdsmen, bandits, ritualists and kidnappings by criminal groups as very worrisome. "We are calling on our leaders to end bad governance and make Nigeria a safe place,’’ he said. Another speaker, Miss Peculiar ChiChi, said the statistic rate of poverty in Nigeria is alarming and needs urgent attention. "I am a young graduate with a business mind but I cannot access soft loan or bailout funds to set up a business that will enable over thousands of youths have jobs. "How would the youth be happy with the leaders who do not care about them, many acquired skills after graduation, yet no funds to establish the businesses? "Government should remember the youth, provide grants and stop playing lip services’’, she said Comrade Muritala Kazeem said security and peace are important because economic and social development come only in a peaceful and secure nation. "We need peace, the government must provide protection to the citizenry,’’ he noted

Half of Nigerians live in extreme poverty – AMEN President

 

By Ifeoma Ikem
Comrade Saviour Ichie, the National President of the Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN) says half of Nigeria’s populations live in extreme poverty, according to estimates from the World Data Labs Poverty Clock.
Ichie said this during his community sensitization programme at the Ikotun area of Lagos state.
He asked the federal government to intervene and find a lasting solution to solve the high cost of food commodities across the nations.
“The government should also remove the import duty on raw materials, adding that this would allow small businesses to produce more at cheaper rates, create more employment and reduce poverty and crime in the country’’.
He noted that the populace can no longer tolerate the high cost of foodstuff and building materials saying, it needs urgent attention.
“The report on inflation rate did not reflect what is obtained in the marketplace, adding that the prices of goods and services have gone up by more than 100 percent’’.
Ichie said that Civil Society groups have been quiet on the issues bothering the nation on increase in essential commodities because their leaders have been compromised.
Reacting to the National Identity Management Commission’s ongoing registration exercise, he expressed dissatisfaction over the continuous extortion of Nigerians by some licensed partners and the horrible experience majority of them are having during the enrollment.
Comrade Chuks Nwajei, Mainland coordinator of Ambassadors for Peace and Enlightenment Foundation also appealed to the federal government to intervene over the rising insecurity across the nation.
He described the situation of continuous attacks by herdsmen, bandits, ritualists, and kidnappings by criminal groups as very worrisome.
“We are calling on our leaders to end bad governance and make Nigeria a safe place,’’ he said.
Another speaker, Miss Peculiar ChiChi, said the statistical rate of poverty in Nigeria is alarming and needs urgent attention.
“I am a young graduate with a business mind but I cannot access soft loan or bailout funds to set up a business that will enable thousands of youths to have jobs.
“How would the youth be happy with the leaders who do not care about them, many acquired skills after graduation, yet no funds to establish the businesses?
“Government should remember the youth, provide grants and stop playing lip services’’, she said
Comrade Muritala Kazeem said security and peace are important because economic and social development come only in a peaceful and secure nation.
“We need peace, the government must provide protection to the citizenry,’’ he noted

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.

In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.

According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.

“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.

The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.

Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.

It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak.

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”

Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.

The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.

Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.

Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”

The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.

Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”

While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.

In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.

As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

 

Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.

Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.

From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.

A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.

Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.

As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.

Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)

May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.

May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.

May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.

May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.

May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.

Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).

More years.

More anointing.

More impact.

If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.

Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrated as She Marks Her Birthday

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