FG Approves ₦25m Each for 18 Businesses Hit by Calabar Mall Fire

The Federal Government has announced financial assistance for 18 business owners affected by the recent fire at the Calabar Mall in Cross River State.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu unveiled the intervention during a visit to Calabar, where she launched the South-South phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme.

Under the arrangement, each affected business owner will receive ₦25 million, bringing the direct support for the fire victims to ₦450 million.

An additional ₦50 million will be provided to women’s groups in Cross River State, taking the total package announced by the First Lady to ₦500 million.

The intervention is expected to help the affected entrepreneurs rebuild their businesses and recover from the losses caused by the mall fire.

During the visit, Tinubu also inaugurated three food banks intended to provide nutritional assistance to vulnerable residents, particularly children below six years, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Busola Kukoyi, 1,179 people had been enrolled in the food-support programme, while 2,089 packages had already been distributed.

The First Lady urged state governments to support and expand the initiative to reach more vulnerable households.

She also inaugurated a TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative ICT Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State. The facility includes technology and innovation laboratories as well as an engineering workshop.

Sources: PUNCH and Leadership.

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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has commissioned the Muhammadu Buhari Estate and Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The housing estate has 108 units. It sits along the Oke-Mosan-Kobape Express Road. Senior government officials and housing sector stakeholders attended the commissioning.

Ogun Expands Housing Supply

Speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said the projects would support better living conditions for residents.

The governor said the state must keep working to address its housing needs. He added that his administration would continue to provide affordable homes until the end of its tenure.

According to Abiodun, government projects should improve the lives of citizens. He said people need safe homes, basic services and an environment that allows them to build better lives.

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The governor also linked the new estate to the state’s wider housing programme. He said the project shows the government’s commitment to providing decent and affordable homes.

Housing remains a major issue for Nigeria’s growing urban centres. As more people move to cities, the demand for homes, roads, water, power and other services also increases. Therefore, housing projects must go alongside wider infrastructure planning.

Estate Targets Different Income Groups

Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi, thanked the First Lady for her support during the development of the estate.

Omoniyi said the first phase of the project would serve low-, medium- and high-income earners. He also said the estate would help the state increase its housing supply.

In addition, the commissioner said the Ministry of Housing would continue to support projects that promote decent and sustainable housing.

The location of the estate also adds to the wider development of Abeokuta. Housing projects along major transport routes can support access to jobs, schools, health facilities and other services when authorities plan them alongside urban infrastructure.

Medical Centre Commissioned

Abiodun also highlighted the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence during the event.

He said Ogun had invested in strengthening primary healthcare centres across the state. The governor added that the new medical facility would improve access to quality healthcare.

According to him, healthcare should remain available to all citizens, regardless of their income.

He also said the centre could help reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment.

First Lady Launches Food Bank Programme

During her visit, Tinubu also launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-West.

The programme covers Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states. It will provide food support to vulnerable households and people facing hardship.

Tinubu said the programme aims to improve access to nutritious food. It will focus on children below six years, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

The initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope Initiative and supports the Federal Government’s efforts on food security and nutrition.

The programme also included the distribution of food items to vulnerable and indigent residents across the South-West.

Bank of Agriculture to Support Programme

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, praised Tinubu’s work on nutrition and food security.

Pate said good nutrition plays an important role in the health of mothers, newborns and children. He also called for stronger partnerships to support the food bank programme.

The minister further praised Ogun State for developing the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence. He said the facility shows how state governments can improve health infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Bank of Agriculture Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin said the bank would support the food bank’s financial and supply chains.

The bank will manage programme funds and buy food from approved local farmers and aggregators. It will also provide agricultural financing where needed and support accountability.

Sotinrin urged businesses, governments, institutions and individuals to support the programme.

Wider Housing and Infrastructure Impact

The commissioning brings housing, healthcare and social support into the same development conversation.

For Ogun State, increasing the supply of decent homes remains important as urban areas expand. At the same time, residents need access to healthcare, food and other basic services.

The Muhammadu Buhari Estate therefore adds to the state’s ongoing housing efforts. Its impact will depend not only on the number of homes delivered but also on how well residents can access the infrastructure and services around them.

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In her goodwill message delivered Friday, the First Lady underscored the deeper meaning of the celebration, highlighting themes of faith, compassion, and selflessness. She encouraged Nigerians to embody these values beyond the festivities.

“This period is not just a celebration; it’s a moment for reflection, compassion, and renewed commitment to unity and service,” she noted.

She also urged citizens, particularly Muslims, to reach out to those facing hardship, emphasizing the importance of sharing and empathy during this sacred time.

“Let’s use this opportunity to care for one another, especially the vulnerable among us,” she added.

Mrs. Tinubu concluded by extending warm Eid wishes and a call to collective prayer. “May this season bring renewed hope. Let us all, regardless of our faith, continue to pray for lasting peace and progress in our country. Eid Mubarak,” she said.

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The club was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady said the club, a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Renewed Hope initiative (RHI), was designed to catch the youth early in the area of farming.

“The aim of the Young Farmers Club, Nigeria is to “catch them young” by making farming more appealing to our pupils and students. We are not just teaching them how to farm; we are also nurturing a generation that will transform our agricultural landscape, imbibe modern farming techniques, and ensure that Nigeria remains self-sufficient in food production, in line with the food security drive of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” she said.

She said with the club spread across various schools in Nigeria, it would create the understanding that farming is not just an occupation but a way of life which can create employment opportunities for the teeming youth population and help diversify the economy.

“Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States of America and one of America’s Founding Fathers once said, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness. Agriculture has always been the backbone of our nation.

“From time past, we have tilled the land with our hands and hearts, to the present, where agriculture continues to be a crucial part of our daily lives and economy.

“The Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI is launching the Young Farmers Club, Nigeria with some pilot schools in the Federal Capital Territory to kick-start the club nationwide. We have chosen twelve (12) schools today, comprising pupils in upper primary schools and students in junior secondary schools.

“Therefore, interested schools nationwide should register with the First Ladies of their respective States. This registration will then be channeled to the Young Farmers Club desk Office at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in their various State for necessary provisions and support.

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“The club activities are to be further supported by the respective States once the allotted resources are expended,” she said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative would enhance the interest of the young in agriculture as a career.

He urged the newly inducted members to take pride in their choice of being members of the club as they represent an important group of people responsible for feeding Nigerians.

The Inductees, kitted in their club uniform, were administered the ledge by the minister, and presented with their membership cards and farming tools by the First lady.

The wife of the Governor of Kwara state, Dr Olufolake Abdulrazaq, received samples of the items on behalf of governors’ wives as the club is to be replicated in the 36 states of the federation.

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