ACFTA: Onofiok, Ors Eulogise Presidency, Advocate Infrastructural Provision

House of Representatives has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

This followed an adoption of a motion by Rep. Odebunmi Dokun (APC-Oyo) at plenary on Tuesday.

Earlier, Dokun recalled that Buhari, at the extra-ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of States and Governments in Niamey, Niger Republic, signed the AFCFTA on behalf of the counrty.

He said Buhari, while signing the agreement, stated that the Nigerian government would seek to include terms that would engender the development of policies that would promote African production.

The legislator said that the President deserve commendation for signing the agreement which is of great significant for the country.

He said Buhari had taken steps to place Nigeria in the right place in the continent through the signing of the pact.

Dokun said Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, should in line with the agreement, define various ways to optimise benefits accruable from the pact.

He said the country must ensure that its exports to other African markets surpassed its imports in order to have positive effects on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, if that is not done, the nation could be turned into a dumping ground for products from other African countries.

Dokun said that failure to do so would result in a development that would be adverse to the nation’s macroeconomic objectives.

Rep. Luke Onofiok (PDP-Akwa Ibom) said that to take the advantage of the African market, Nigeria must put some infrastructure in place.

He said that the Federal Government must invest in infrastructure such as power, rail among others as well as provide support for industries.

The house urged the federal government to set machinery in motion to ensure that Nigeria optimise the expected benefits from the agreement.

Comments

Breaking: A’Ibom Governor Removes Two Aides Amid Restructuring, Alleged PDP Links

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has relieved two aides of their duties with immediate effect, the state government announced on Monday. The affected officials are: Joseph Jacob Ikpak, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Services Felix Ekuri, Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch Their disengagement was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, who described the action as part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to realign the machinery of government with the Renewed Hope and ARISE Agenda. The statement did not provide further details on the circumstances leading to their removal. However, it was gathered from multiple political sources that the decision may be linked to the aides’ alleged association with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The claim has not been officially confirmed, and the government has not commented on the speculation. Political analysts no...

Tragedy at Ikot Ekpene General Hospital: Akwa Ibom Governor Orders Probe Into Maternal Death

By Asuquo Edem UYO – A tragic incident at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, has sparked public outrage after a young mother and her newborn reportedly died following a caesarean section, prompting Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to order an immediate high-powered investigation. A disturbing video of the grieving family began circulating on social media over the weekend, drawing widespread condemnation and raising fresh concerns over maternal mortality in the state. Moved by the incident, Governor Eno expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, to convene a commission of inquiry comprising medical and legal experts. The panel is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and recommend preventive measures. In a dramatic move, Dr. John led a midnight team of officials from the Ministry of Health to the hospital for an on-the-spot preliminary investigation, gathering firsthand testimonies f...

AKIRS secures N1.2b judgement against Ardent Energy Services LTD ....warns against tax evasion

The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) has secured a landmark judgement against Ardent Energy Services Ltd, an oil servicing company operating in Akwa Ibom State. In a judgement delivered on July 3, 2025 at the Revenue Court of Akwa Ibom State, Uyo, by the Presiding Revenue Judge, Maureen-Idongesit M. Udoka, the court ordered the defendant to pay to the Akwa Ibom State Government, the sum of N1.2bilion, including penalty and interest on the principal sum. The judgement was in consequence to Suit No. Rue/77C/2022, filed by AKIRS. With this judgement, which is a major milestone in AKIRS tax compliance drive, the agency warns taxpayers to willingly comply to their civic obligations of always paying their taxes as and when due as there was no hiding place for defaulters.

The Empire Naija

Search This Blog