News
Lagos, Rivers Lead Others In IGR Collection
Lagos State collected the highest Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of N753.46billion in 2021 followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which collected N131.92billion.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated, yesterday in Abuja that in 2020, Lagos State also led other states in IGR collection when it got N660billion, followed by Rivers State at N117.19billion.
In 2019, Lagos State also took the lead when it collected N646.61billion again, followed by Rivers State, which collected N169.6billion.
The NBS stated in its Internally Generated Revenue at States Level (2019 – 2021) report that the 36 states of the federation combined collected N1.64trillion as IGR in 2019.
It stated that 64.65percent of the revenue collected by the states was from taxes.
The NBS added that the N1.64trillion collected in 2019 declined by 4.65percent in 2020 when the states collected N1.56trillion internally.
“The proportion of tax revenue in 2020 rose to 66.16percent, however,’’ it stated.
The NBS stated also that in 2021, the 36 states collected N1.9trillion internally, representing a growth rate of 21.54percent over the 2020 revenue collections.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that 206,449,125 active voice subscribers were recorded in the second quarter (Q2).
This is contained in the NBS Telecoms Data: Active Voice and Internet per State, Porting and Tariff Information report for Q2, released in Abuja, yesterday.
According to NBS, this is an increase compared to 187,611,501 recorded in Q2 2021, representing a 10.4per cent rise on a year-on-year basis.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the report showed that growth stood at 3.45per cent, an increase from the 199,558,540 subscribers recorded in Q1.
Also, the report revealed a total of 151,332,090 active internet subscribers were recorded in Q2 compared to 140,175,169 reported in Q2 2021.
“This indicates a growth rate of 7.96per cent on a year-on-year basis. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, growth stood at 3.76per cent,” said the report.
On state analysis, the report also showed Lagos had the highest number of active voice subscribers in Q2 with 25,002,808, followed by Kano with 12,499,401 and Ogun with 12,288,042.
The report showed that Bayelsa recorded the least with 1,530,739, followed by Ekiti with 1,775,647, and Ebonyi with 1,840,443.
The report showed that Lagos State stood top with active internet subscribers recorded at 18,441,791, followed by Kano with 9,255,299 and Ogun with 9,151,148.
“Also, Bayelsa had the least with 1,126,076, followed by Ebonyi and Ekiti with 1,319,005 and 1,380,154, respectively,” the report stated.
It showed that MTN had the highest share of subscriptions in Q2.
News
Fubara Attends PDPGF Meeting In Asaba …..Back Court Verdict On National Secretary Position
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last Friday, attended the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Rivers State Governor, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, attended the meeting, alongside 10 other Governors of the party’s controlled states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The first PDPGF meeting in 2025, was held at the Government House in Asaba, at the end of which a seven-point resolution was reached.
Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum, and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to put every machinery in place to ensure a hitch-free NEC meeting on March 13, 2025.
The communique stated:
“The Forum, having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC, advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13Th) of March 2025.”
The Forum further noted the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the party, saying that as a party that believes in the rule of law, it will respect the position of the Appellate Court on the matter.
“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.
“While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It, therefore, calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.”
Governors in attendance include: H.E Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Bauchi State); H.E Sir Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State) – Vice Chairman; H.E Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State) – Host; H.E Dr. Agbu Kefas (Taraba State); H.E Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State); and H.E Dr. Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State).
Others are H.E Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun State); H.E Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa State); H.E Pastor Umo Eno Ph.D (Akwa Ibom State); H.E Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu State); H.E Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State);
and H.E Bayo Lawal (Deputy Governor, Oyo State), who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
News
NGO Implants Free Pacemakers Into 22 Cardiac Patients In PH
A United States based Non Governmental Organisation, Cardiovascular Education Forum, in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), has successfully implanted free pacemakers into 22 patients with different cardiac cases in Port Harcourt.
This is in a bid to save lives and encourage patients with low heartbeats to live longer.
The implantable device, which costs $20,000 each, was inserted free of charge on the selected patients.
Speaking during a Special Hospital Ground Rounds at the UPTH with its Theme, “Recent Advances in Cardiac Pacing,” a cardiac Physiologist, Dr Neil Grub, said the NGO was in Nigeria to improve training and learning on cardiac issues and help patients with cardiac problems.
Accompanied by a team of experts comprising a cardiologist and cardiac device implanter, Dr Jagdeep Siagh, and UPTH interventional cardiologist, Dr Edafe Emmanuel, Dr Grubb said pacemakers were inserted on patients with low heartbeats to boost their heart rates.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma, said each of the implantable devices cost over $20,000.
Ugboma, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UPTH, Prof Datonye Alasia, said the partnership between UPTH and the foreign NGO was to build networks, and improve services in terms of healthcare delivery, training and learning.
According to him, there is now a ray of hope in terms of treatment of patients with cardiovascular cases in the hospital.
He said the UPTH started the collaboration with Cardiovascular Education Forum in 2018 to boost health, training and learning on cardiac health.
He assured that, “in coming years, the scale of our collaboration with the mission will be higher.”
Chinedu Wosu
News
FG Unveils National Broadband Alliance To Drive Internet Access
The Federal Government has unveiled the National Broadband Alliance, a new initiative aimed at transforming the nation’s digital infrastructure and boosting connectivity across the country.
The initiative was unveiled yesterday in Lagos by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida.
In his address, Tijani stated that NBAN would significantly enhance broadband penetration, which has grown from just six per cent in 2015 to approximately 42 per cent as of October 2024.
To support this agenda, he said the government was leveraging a Special Purpose Vehicle to deploy 90,000 km of fibre backbone across the nation, connecting underserved and rural communities to high-speed internet.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, technology, and collaboration as key drivers of national prosperity.
Tijani stated that the expansion would not only improve access to reliable broadband but also empower Nigerians, particularly in rural areas.
“While the progress made in broadband penetration is commendable, we recognise that much more needs to be done to ensure every Nigerian can enjoy the benefits of reliable, high-speed internet,” Tijani said.
The minister also emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in achieving the goals set out in the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
He said these collaborations would be essential in overcoming infrastructure development challenges and making broadband affordable and accessible for all Nigerians.
“These targets reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that broadband is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all Nigerians. However, we are also aware of the challenges ahead,” he added.
Tijani stressed that achieving the government’s targets—70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps in urban areas, and broadband access for 80 per cent of the population by 2027—will require sustained efforts.
“Achieving these goals will require more than just the efforts of the private sector. It will require a holistic approach that includes strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in accelerating the rollout of critical infrastructure,” he said.
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