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NEPZA, foreign medical coys fast-tracking Lekki medical zone’s take-off

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NEPZA Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja
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The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) says scores of prospective anchor tenants seeking to establish world class hospitals and pharmaceutical industries in the new Special Medical Free Zone in Lekki area of Lagos signal gradual end to unnecessary medical tourism abroad.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, NEPZA Managing Director made the remark while playing host to officials of two foreign Hospital Management Companies, Citizens Health Limited and Brown Brommel Medicals in Abuja.

The two health management companies are to invest in world class hospitals for cancer and kidney respectively.

The NEPZA boss described the development as a realisation of a joint dream, adding that the Authority was working toward using the special medical zones to end decades of medical tourism by Nigerians abroad.

According to him, the frequent and sustained medical trips abroad by citizens continues to hurt the economy badly.

Adesugba explained that the newly approved special medical zone located in Lekki was attracting expected attention.

He further said that the huge area overlooking large body of water and isolated swamps clustered by the Lekki Quadrant of Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Free Zone, Dangote Free Zone Enterprises as well as Alaro City Free Zone made it a hot-spot for investment chains.

Adesugba promised that the Authority was prepared to relax perceived stringent rules to ensure the comfort of anchor tenants, adding that the future gains that could accrued to investors who dared to first explore the zone usually would out-weigh the initial challenges.

“The Special Medical Zone in Lekki will be competitive as we are working toward the concentration of world class hospitals there. We are searching for anchor tenants to drive this revolution. Already, scores of prospective investors have come knocking on our door, so you are welcome to collaborate with us.

“I hope you are aware that the location is one of the best sites in the country with great opportunity for other business chains ranging from transport/logistics, electricity, estate development, tourism/hospitality among others.

“We are also opened to bringing into the zone world class pharmaceutical companies to serve Africa and the rest of the world from Lekki. The prospect of the zone is unimaginable.’’ Adesugba said.

The NEPZA chief executive officer also explained that investors should prospect similar zones in Katsina and Ilorin, saying that the Federal Government was committed to using the special medical/pharmaceutical free zones to drastically reduce medical tourism abroad.

Mr Brain Barnes, Vice President of Brown Brommel Medicals said the company had come to explore the possibility of setting up of an advanced Modern Integrated Diagnostic and Dialysis Center at the zone, adding that the center proposed to sit on 10 hectares of land would also provide sundry medical services.

Barnes, who was represented by Mr Chris Obuekwe, Group Managing Director, said the company was delighted to take advantage of the country’s free trade zone scheme, adding that citizens deserved to enjoy the best of medical services the world could provide.

On her part, Ms Cynthia Okirie, a Director with the Citizen Health Limited said the company aimed at tapping into the free zone incentives to transfer the required health technology and services into the country.

She explained that Citizen Heath Limited UK was known for its proficiency in the treatment and management of cancer, adding that the Lekki special medical free zone would serve as the ideal lunch pad for the improvement of the health sector in Nigeria.

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NASS Passes ₦54.99trn 2025 Budget

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National Assembly Complex Abuja.
National Assembly Complex Abuja.
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The National Assembly on Thursday passed the ₦54.99trn 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The bill was passed separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A breakdown of the budget showed N3.645trn for statutory transfers, N14.317trn for debt servicing, N13.64trn for recurrent expenditure and N23.963trn capital expenditure (development fund), with fiscal deficit put at N13.08trn.

The Deficit-to-Gross domestic product (GDP) Ratio was put at 1.52%.

Last Week, President Bola Tinubu increased the 2025 fiscal year budget from an initial N49.7trn to N54.2trn, seeking approval from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Bichi, while presenting the bill for consideration, stated that the committee met with the Presidential Economic Planning team to further discuss revenue projections and expenditure for the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

According to him, the 2025 Appropriation Bill was presented late, compared to that of 2024.

He urged the executive to present subsequent budgets to the National Assembly not later than three months before the next financial year, to maintain the January to December budget cycle.

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Court Sacks APC Governorship Candidate In Bayelsa

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Timipre Sylva
Timipre Sylva
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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 11 Guber election in Bayelsa state.

The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023, by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.

Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor

Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.

He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope, stressing that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, a person could compete as many times as he wanted.

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Senate stops El-Rufai, 2 Others Confirms Wike, Keyamo, Oyetola, Others As Ministers 

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Cross Section of Ministerial Designates
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The Senate has put the confirmation of former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai on hold and confirmed 45 ministerial nominees presented to it for screening and confirmation by President Bola Tinubu.

Two others affected are Stella Okotete (Delta State), and Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State). The Senate said the trio were still undergoing security clearance.

The Senate had spent a week in screening all the ministerial nominees presented to it by the president.

Those confirmed are:

Abubakar Kyari (Borno)

Abubakar Momoh (Edo)

Nyesom Wike – Rivers

Engr Joseph Utserv (Benue)

Senator John Owan Enoh (Cross River)

Hon Bello Mohammad (Sokoto)

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa)

Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi)

Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra)

Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo)

Nkieruka Onyejeocha (Abia)

Dr Betta Edu (Cross River State)

imaan Sulieman Ibrahim (Nasarawa)

David Umahi (Ebonyi)

Adebayo Olawale Edun (Ogun)

Arch. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (Katsina)

Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji (Enugu)

Mr Dele Alake (Ekiti)

Waheed Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo)

Mohammed Idris (Niger)

Prof Ali Pate (Bauchi)

Dr Doris Anite Uzoka (Imo)

Lateef Fabemi SAN (Kwara)

Rt Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom)

Hannatu Musawa (Katsina)

Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe)

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger)

Hieneken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)

Alkali Ahmed Saidu (Gombe)

Dr Tanko Sununu (Kebbi)

Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi)

Bello Matawalle (Zamfara)

Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun)

Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau)

Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo (Kano)

Bosun Tijani (Ogun)

Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure (Kano)

Dr Iziaq Salako (Ogun)

Dr Tunji Alausa (Lagos)

Lola Ade-John (Lagos)

Prof Tahir Mamman SAN (Adamawa)

Zephaniah Jisalo (FCT)

Uba Maigari Ahmadu (Taraba)

Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi)

Festus Keyamo SAN (Delta)

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