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Enugu gov’t, Indonesia to deepen trade and investment relations – Amb Usra

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Governor Peter Mbah and Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Harahap
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The Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Harahap, has expressed the Asian country’s interest in deepening relations with the Government of Enugu State in the areas of trade, investment, and other socio-economic spaces that would be of mutual benefits to both entities.

Dr. Usra stated this when he led a team of senior delegates from the Republic of Indonesia to the state on a business and working visit to Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday.

While exploring the areas of interest that could lead to a productive partnership between Enugu State and Indonesia, the ambassador noted that investments in the state and frequent exchange of contacts would not only cement the bilateral ties, but equally create more opportunities for mutual growth and prospects of further investments in the future.

“The potential for collaboration between Indonesia and Enugu State is immensely spanning across Enugu State in many sectors. Firstly, in the area of trade and investment, we see great opportunities for future growth. Our country can benefit from increased trade, the exchange of knowledge, and collaborative investment venture.

“We look at how our trade will further improve. In this regard, I will extend my invitation to Governor Peter Mbah and the Enugu business community to participate in the Trade Expo, which will be held from 18th to 22nd October 2023 in the city of Indonesia.

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“This Expo will provide the unique platform for you to meet the Indonesia businessmen, and also be exposed to our services and business opportunities that can be mutually beneficial,” he said.

Ambassador Usra, who expressed Indonesia’s desire to invest in the energy and mining sectors in the state, said that Enugu was rich in mineral resources, agriculture as well as tourism, which would serve as additional sources of revenue, adding that the “trade value between Indonesia and Nigeria is about $4.5 billion of which the total import amount to $4.3 billion with export at only $5 million”.

“Indonesia has many interests in broadening the collaboration in energy, agriculture, health sector, as well as creative economy. In line with this, the Government of Indonesia has sought investment opportunities in Africa. Currently the Indonesia government has established 35 companies in Africa with values worth of $5 billion. The areas of investment are mining industry, food and beverages, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, construction, textile, agriculture.

“We recognise the potential of the agro-sector in your region and we envisage collaboration between Enugu State and Indonesia business within areas such as food processing, agriculture machinery and irrigation. Indonesia expertise can help significantly to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security in your state,” he added.

He also revealed that the Indonesian government was making plans to collaborate with the state in area of education through scholarship programme to enable bright students from the state to do their doctoral, master and undergraduate degrees in the Asian country.

Responding to the visit, the state governor, Dr. Mbah, commended the ambassador and his team for picking special economic interest in the state, saying his administration was not only ready to partner with Indonesian investors, but had equally provided the enabling environment to welcome them to the state.

The governor maintained that the state had an array of investment opportunities such as the sector-based productivity belt, minerals and energy sector, including coal and oil and gas with large deposits in different locations in the state.

Mbah enjoined the ambassador to see Enugu as the best state to invest as his government had already activated the mechanisms that would derisk investment flow and enable ease of doing business,.

He added that “Enugu State is blessed with minerals such as limestone, gypsum, clay mineral, glass sand, and one of the cleanest coal deposit in the world”.

He reiterated the government’s resolve to make the state an investment destination, grow the gross domestic product from its present $4.4 billion to $30 billion, eradicate poverty and make it a tourism hub through deliberate policies already being executed.

The governor, while disclosing that Enugu State, under his leadership, had been adjudged one of the safest states to do business in terms of security, called on investors to seize the opportunity provided by the government to invest in agriculture and agro-allied industrialisation.

He maintained that over 300,000 hectares of land had been designated as a special economic zone for agro-allied processing industry and other investment prospects.

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2027: Excluding NDC from ballot could trigger revolution, anarchy — Dickson Iroegbu warns

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Human rights activist, Dickson Iroegbu, has said that there would be a revolution if anybody stops the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, from being on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.

Iroegbu made this statement in an interview on Mic-On podcast with a media personality, Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday night.

This comes amid confusion over the status of the NDC following the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had earlier denied the NDC access to its portal for the upload of candidates.

It, however, later rescinded that decision.

But, Iroegbu, who spoke in an interview on Mic-On podcast with a media personality, Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday night, charged the INEC to be careful if it thinks there would be a glitch in 2027.

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He noted that the electoral body will be shocked because the Nigerian people will keep eternal vigilance this time around because they have had enough.

According to him, the fear of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is a challenge for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Tinubu.

“There will be revolution and anarchy in the land if anybody thinks he can stop the NDC from being on the ballot.

“Anyone who thinks he can push the NDC aside is calling for anarchy.

“Tinubu is overrated. He may have succeeded in grabbing and running with power in 2023. But in 2027, he will be shocked that we will hold him down and ensure the result is counted.

“If Nigerians do not end the APC, then APC may end Nigeria,” he stated.

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Again, Peter Obi asks Tinubu to resign, cites IMF off-budget spending claim

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Don’t spare anybody involved in alleged N585m fraud involving Betta Edu – Obi tells Tinubu
Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu
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Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, citing an International Monetary Fund, IMF, report which, according to him, showed that about N8.83 trillion spent by the Federal Government in 2025 was not reflected in the national budget.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on Obi’s official page on July 5, 2026.

According to the statement, Obi alleged that the reported expenditure was not captured in the 2025 budget and therefore fell outside legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the amount represents about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and exceeds the combined 2025 budgetary allocations to the education and health sectors.

According to Obi, the funds, if properly utilised, could have improved public education and healthcare, created employment opportunities and supported economic development across the country.

“The IMF now reveals that about N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget.

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“This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny,” he stated.

Obi further alleged that the reported expenditure reflects what he described as a pattern of corruption and disregard for public finance management under the current administration.

He argued that such practices pose risks to national security, deepen poverty and weaken public institutions.

He also described the Tinubu administration as corrupt, incompetent and insensitive, alleging that the government has failed to utilise available resources to address Nigeria’s infrastructure and social welfare challenges.

Obi maintained that the latest IMF report further reinforced his earlier position on the administration, saying, “The only reasonable action is for President Tinubu to resign from office.”

He urged Nigerians to demand greater accountability from the government through lawful means.

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Xenophobia: Two more Nigerians killed in South Africa

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Two more Nigerians have been killed in South Africa as the violent attacks and harassment of black foreigners continue.

The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg announced the deaths in a statement issued on Saturday.

The victims, identified as Emeka Iroegbu and Musa Joe, were both killed last Sunday, 28 June, but under different circumstances.

According to the consulate, Mr Joe was killed by “suspected criminals” in Witbank city, Mpumalanga province, while security operatives murdered Mr Iroegbu in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

Mr Iroegbu was reportedly tortured to death by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in the suburbs of Pretoria. The Nigerian consulate noted that the victim was subjected to gruesome torture techniques at the hands of the Metro police, which led to his death.

The latest deaths raise the total number of Nigerians murdered in South Africa since the latest wave of xenophobic attacks began this year to four. The pattern of the recent deaths mirrors that of the two Nigerians murdered earlier in the country. These are: Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew.

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They were arrested and allegedly beaten to death by personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Port Elizabeth.

Mr Andrew’s corpse was found days after his arrest on 19 April in the Booysens area of Pretoria.

He was arrested due to an alleged altercation with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary afterwards.

Mr Emmanuel died a day afterwards due to injuries he sustained from an attack by the SANDF.

Following the incident, the Nigerian government summoned the South African High Commissioner and demanded a thorough investigation into the deaths of the two Nigerians.

This investigation is still pending, and no arrests have been made in two months. Nigerian officials have repeatedly condemned the attacks in South Africa but have urged Nigerians to avoid retaliatory attacks on South African interests in Nigeria.

South Africa’s anti-foreigner campaign began in April, with footage of citizens attacking African foreigners circulating online. The arbitrary 30 June deadline announced by anti-immigrant South Africans for African foreigners to leave the country has further intensified tension.

Last Tuesday, many South Africans marched out in droves across cities to protest the presence of African migrants in the country, chanting “Abahambe!” This means “They must go!” in Zulu, the most widely spoken language in the country.

The deaths of at least five Mozambicans and five Ethiopians have also been attributed to xenophobic violence in the country.

The latest announcement by the Nigerian consulate now raises the death toll.

Hundreds of African foreigners in the country have also been displaced.

During the protest last week, shops were looted and properties destroyed, as has become customary in xenophobic attacks in the country.

Several African countries have so far repatriated hundreds of their citizens, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

The Nigerian consulate stated that the continuing pattern of “such terrible incidents raises questions over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.”

“The death is coming at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted in South Africa, raising questions about what seems to be a deliberate attempt by some elements to generalise wrongfully and tag well-meaning, hard-working and respectable Nigerians in the country as criminals,” it noted.

The consulate also demanded a thorough and immediate investigation into the murders.

“We expect the authorities to d o the needful and achieve the ultimate prosecution of the perpetrators,” the statement read.

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