First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Friday empowered 500 women in Ekiti State with ₦50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme.

Represented by the wife of the Ekiti State governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, Mrs Tinubu said the Women Economic Empowerment Programme was organised in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. She explained that the funds were grants, not loans, aimed at recapitalising beneficiaries’ existing businesses.

She disclosed that the foundation donated ₦1 billion to the RHI to directly support 18,500 women nationwide, with 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT receiving ₦50,000 each.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye said the gesture would significantly assist women, especially in the current economic climate.

A representative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Moyosade Fakunle, assured that the programme would be continuous, and those not selected in this round would benefit in future phases.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude and called for more initiatives to ease the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), has donated four 50-seater hybrid buses to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enhance public transportation in Abuja.

The buses, which can operate on both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and diesel, are designed to ensure uninterrupted service even when CNG is unavailable.

Presenting the vehicles to the FCT Minister in Abuja, PCNGi Chief Executive Officer and Programme Director, Michael Oluwagbemi, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to providing cheaper, safer, and more reliable transport for Nigerians. He described the FCT Minister as one of the strongest supporters of the CNG initiative and said the buses would serve as “foundation assets” for new city terminals.

Oluwagbemi stated that the FCTA would oversee the operation and maintenance of the buses, while PCNGi would monitor their use and impact to ensure optimal service delivery. He expressed optimism that within the next two to three years, Abuja residents, including private car owners, would prefer public buses, similar to practices in developed countries.

Receiving the buses on behalf of the Minister, FCT Mandate Secretary for Transport, Chinedu Elechi, thanked President Tinubu and PCNGi for the gesture, describing it as a boost to the capital’s transport network.

Elechi noted that public transport remains vital for residents without private vehicles and for those who opt for public options despite owning cars. He highlighted the administration’s recent commissioning of modern bus terminals at Mabushi and Kugbo, stating that more buses would be deployed soon.

The donation is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at strengthening public transportation in the FCT.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for what it described as excessive foreign trips and wasteful spending, accusing him of neglecting pressing domestic challenges.

In a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Bola Abdullahi, the party faulted the President’s latest foreign trip, claiming that he has embarked on 40 foreign visits since assuming office, spending a total of about 181 days — nearly six months — outside the country.

“By public records, this means that in the 26 months he has been President, almost 25 per cent of his time has been spent abroad,” the ADC said.

The party argued that despite billions of naira reportedly spent on these trips, there have been “no real economic gains,” while insecurity and poverty continue to worsen.

“Set against the growing insecurity that claims the lives of an average of 30 Nigerians daily, and widespread poverty that has left the majority of citizens in misery, this frequent flier presidency stands in stark contrast to the realities on the ground,” the statement read.

The ADC cited reports of bandit-imposed taxes in states such as Benue and Zamfara, rampant killings, worsening economic hardship, and a growing population of malnourished children.

The party also questioned the rationale behind Tinubu’s latest trip amid speculation about his health. “Nigeria deserves a President who is present. While millions suffer, our leaders cannot afford to treat governance like a part-time job,” it stated.

The ADC warned that speculation over the President’s health could harm the economy, discourage investors, and embolden the country’s adversaries.