BoI Gets $200m AfDB Support to Expand Financing for SMEs, Women, Youth Enterprises Olasupo Olusi: intervention will strengthen local manufacturing, support country's transition towards more resilient, sustainable economy Signs agreement with IFC to assess development of major conference, exhibition hub in Abuja
James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos
Bank of Industry (BoI) has
secured a $200 million sovereignguaranteed financing facility
from African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to boost
long-term funding for businesses operating in strategic sectors of
the Nigerian economy. Continued on page 5
Fresh Ebola Outbreak: WHO Declares Health Emergency, to Activate Response Mechanism... Page 36
Monday, Monday, January May 18, 6, 2026 2025 Vol Vol29. 31.No No10865. 11362. Price: N400
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Senate Moves to Fast-track State Police After Fresh Borno, Oyo Schools’ Abductions
Bamidele says constitutional amendment nearing completion Afenifere horrified by terrorists’invasions IGPorders deployment of additional tactical, intelligence assets to Oyo US advises citizens on safety after killing of terrorist commander in northern Nigeria
Michael Olugbode, Emmanuel Addeh, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade and Linus Aleke in Abuja
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday, condemned the abduction of 87 students and
teachers in Borno and Oyo States, declaring that the incidents had further strengthened the resolve of the National Assembly to
fast-track the establishment of state police across the country. Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate
Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, described the attacks on schools as a direct assault on Nigeria’s future and
warned that the country could no longer tolerate the growing Continued on page 5
Uneasy Calm at APC After First Phase of Primaries Across Nigeria Party issues guidelines, procedure for collating, announcing results Winners' list on page 29 Segun Awofadeji in Gombe, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, James Sowole in Abeokuta, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Okon Bassey in Uyo, Fidelis David in Akure, Sylvester Idowu in Warri, Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki, Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti, Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt, Yemi Kosoko in Jos, Boniface Okoro in Umuahia and Felix OmohAsun in Benin A tense quiet settled over the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC) at the weekend after the first leg of its nationwide primaries produced winners but failed to produce consensus in many states. While reports indicated a peaceful ending to the House of Representatives primary elections in some states, where, in most cases, previously endorsed consensus candidates were simply ratified, in many other states, there was stiff opposition to the consensus arrangement, amid alleged Continued on page 5
LAUNCH OF VISA SIGNATURE AND NAIRA VISA DEBIT CARD...
L-R: Andrew Uaboi Vice President & Cluster Head, West Africa, Visa with Seyi Oyefeso Executive Director, Retail Banking South Directorate, FirstBank, at the launch of the Visa Signature and Naira Visa Debit Card held in Lagos.. recently
PDP Screens Goodluck Jonathan Tomorrow Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election Aspiration... Page 34