Nigeria Has Enough Domestic Capital To Bridge Infrastructure Gap, Says Gov Sule

Governor Abdullahi Sule says Nigeria has sufficient domestic liquidity to close its infrastructure deficit if transparent structures are put in place to attract and secure investments.

Mr Sule said this on Thursday in Abuja while delivering his keynote address during the 2026 Infrastructure Dialogue.

Drawing from his experience as former group managing director of Dangote Refinery, Mr Sule said the high level of investor interest in the private sector was evidence that substantial capital was available within Nigeria.

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“Nigeria has so much money. The easiest way to know is to look at the Dangote Refinery. If they decide to sell 30 per cent of a $20 billion enterprise to the capital market, that six billion dollars will be oversubscribed at least three times by PENCOM, banks and hedge funds,” he said.

According to him, investors are primarily concerned about return on investment, transparency and trust, rather than the physical assets themselves.

Mr Sule said his administration had applied this principle in Nasarawa, transforming the state from a predominantly civil service economy into an emerging industrial hub.

He said an executive order mandating solid mineral firms to process raw materials within the state had attracted some of Africa’s largest lithium processing plants.

Nasarawa Government

”Our internally generated revenue rose from N7 billion annually in 2019 to about N36 billion today. We did not take foreign loans because of the associated foreign exchange risks. Instead, we blocked leakages and built roads that opened up mining and agricultural corridors,” he said.

Government Partner UNICEF To Strengthen Maternal, Child Nutrition In Imo

The UNICEF, in collaboration with the Imo government and support from the Gates Foundation, has initiated efforts to strengthen maternal and child nutrition.

The UNICEF, in collaboration with the Imo government and support from the Gates Foundation, has initiated efforts to strengthen maternal and child nutrition.

Its chief of Enugu field office, Juliet Chiluwe, disclosed this during Thursday’s meeting of the health ministry, Imo Primary Healthcare Development Agency and UNICEF in Owerri.

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The meeting was convened to review and validate the nutrition Social Behaviour Change strategy for Imo and the integration of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation for pregnant women.

Ms Chiluwe commended the Imo Government for its commitment to investing in human capital, health and sustainable development. She gave assurance that UNICEF, with support from Gates Foundation, would continue to advance the nutrition agenda.

Ms Chiluwe described MMS as a “cost-effective intervention that helps reduce anemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, and other adverse maternal and child health outcomes”.

Ms Chiluwe called for strong government ownership, coordinated implementation, and increased domestic investment.

“We encourage greater State investment in the Child Nutrition Fund to support the procurement of MMS and other essential nutrition commodities. This will strengthen sustainability, unlock additional partner support, and ensure continued access to life-saving nutrition interventions for women and children,” she said.

The health commissioner, Chioma Egu, said that SBC was designed to help individuals and families make healthier nutrition choices from pregnancy and infancy to childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Ms Egu also said that the strategy promotes good nutrition practices, such as proper maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation, healthy eating habits, hygiene, and timely utilisation of health services.

She commended healthcare workers and community volunteers in the state for their dedication and tireless efforts in driving progress in nutrition programming and service delivery.

She also called for holistic implementation of the meeting’s outcome.

“By integrating MMS into our SBC framework, we are ensuring that pregnant women across Imo, in both rural and urban communities, not only have access to these essential supplements but also understand their importance and are empowered to utilise them appropriately.

UNICEF

“When a pregnant woman in a rural community receives MMS, she is not just taking a supplement – she is taking a step toward a healthier pregnancy, a stronger baby, and a brighter future for her family,” Ms Egu said.

The Imo commissioner for budget and economic planning, Anslem Anyanwu, said the government was committed to sustaining the programme through relevant policies, increased ownership, resource mobilisation, and creation of an enabling environment.

Deputy speaker Kalu Secures APC Ticket For Third Term Bid

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He was elected unopposed during Saturday’s APC primary election in Bende.

Mr Kalu’s third-term bid received a boost when party members from the 13 wards that make up the constituency unanimously affirmed his candidacy.

The wards include Alayi, Bende, Ezeukwu, Igbere, Item, Itumbuzo, Nkpa, Ntalakwu, Ozuitem, Ugwueke, Umu-Imenyi, Umuhu-Ezechi, and Uzuakoli.

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The exercise, which began at the ward level, recorded a large turnout of party members and stakeholders who participated in the affirmation process.

Ward executives, stakeholders and delegates praised the deputy speaker for his quality leadership, effective legislative representation, and commitment to grassroots development since he assumed office.

They said that his emergence without opposition reflected the overwhelming confidence and trust reposed in him by APC members and constituents.

Speaking after the affirmation, Mr Kalu thanked party faithful, community leaders, youth and women groups, and other constituents for their continued support and confidence in his leadership.

He pledged to sustain efforts to deliver democratic dividends to the constituency, promote inclusive governance, and advance policies to improve welfare and expand economic opportunities for the people.

Deputy Speaker

“I will continue to provide quality representation and sustain developmental initiatives aimed at uplifting communities across Bende Federal Constituency,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the APC National Assembly primary election committee for Abia State, Erasmus Cishak, assured party members and aspirants of a peaceful, transparent, and hitch-free process across the state.

Mr Cishak emphasised that the committee would uphold fairness and credibility and urged aspirants, delegates, and stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly and abide by the rules.