…Presides over first FEC in 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, signed the Federal University of Environment and Technology, (Ogoniland) Establishment bill into law, at the Council Chambers of the presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is as the President also presided over the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council FEC, in 2025.
The council meeting was preceded by the signing of the Ogoni University Bill and the swearing in of eight new permanent secretaries, on Monday
Those who took their oath of office include, Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia State), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa State), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi State) and Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu State).
Others are Usman Aminu (Kebbi State), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers State), Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna State) and Kalba Usman (Gombe State).
The President also swore in 18 Federal Comissioners of the Revenue Mobilsation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
President had last August, appointed 21 federal commissioners to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, pending their confirmation by the Senate.
The new commissioners were Linda Oti (Abia), Akpan Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Enefe Ekene (Anambra), Steve Ugba (Benue), David Eyonsa (Cross-River), Aruviere Egharhevwe (Delta), Nduka Awuregu (Ebonyi), Victor Eboigbe (Edo), Wumi Ogunlola (Ekiti), Ozo Obodougo (Enugu) and Kabir Mashi (Katsina).
Others are Adamu Fanda (Kano), Kunle Wright (Lagos), Aliyu Abdulkadir (Nasarawa), Bako Shetima (Niger), Samuel Durojaye (Ogun), Nathaniel Adejutelegan (Ondo), Saad Ibrahim (Plateau), Modu-Aji Juluri (Yobe), Bello Garba (Zamfara) and Mohammed Usman (Gombe).
Commissioner for the Federal Character Commission, Kayode Oladele, and a member of the National Population Commission, Victoria Iyatan, also took their oath of office
Prior to the FEC meeting, the Council also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT who passed away on January 23, 2025.
Read also: Renewed hope for Ogoni as Tinubu makes fresh moves
Mpigi Barinada, Senator representing Ogoniland, and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, as well as Minister of Education and other top Government officials, were present at the signing of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoniland.
At a recent meeting with the elders of Ogoniland, President Tinubu had assured that his administration will do everything necessary to restore peace to the troubled community.
Tinubu had appointed Nuhu Ribadu as head of the presidential peace committee to broker peace amongst the waring groups that had made oil production impossible for several years, following the killing of Ken Sarowiwa, a prominent Ogoni activist and freedom fighter.
The oil bearing land had over the years suffered environmental problems resulting from the several years of oil spillage.
While speaking after the signing, Tinubu said the event ” marked a significant milestone in the nation’s “journey towards environment justice , Education and sustainable development”.
“I have signed into law the bill establishing the Federal University of environmental technology.
He noted that “Ogoni has been in the forefront of our development and agitation, and has suffered environmental degradation True enough to bring knowledge into that environment.
“In that area, to me, is most significant thing, as you have heard from the Ministry of Education,” he said.
“it’s more than the creation of a university. It is reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the people of Ogoni, the Niger Delta and the entire nation as a whole. For decades, the Ogoni people have been at the forefront of fight for environmental restoration and sustainable development, shaping both national and global conversation of these critical issues”.
He noted that by signing this bill into law, the government is taking a decisive step towards addressing historical grievances and creating
new opportunities for learning, growth and prosperity.
The President said the university will serve as a center of excellence, equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge and skill to tackle present environmental challenges, drive clean energy solutions and contribute to our national sustainable Economic Development.
The President thanked the National Assembly, for passing the bill into law.
“Let me also commend the Ogoni delegation . Your stedfast advocacy for justice and building the confidence of our people in a peaceful manner is encouraging and it will be rewarding. I assure you
“As we look ahead, I urge all the stakeholders, traditional institutions, the academic community, private sector, and partners and all other youth to embrace this University as a beckon of knowledge, Unity and progress.
“Together, we will ensure that it not only fulfill its mandate, but also stand as a catalyst for transformational development across the country”.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
