Skip to main content

SUBEB: Plateau Govt. recovers looted N2.7bn

Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor

Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau says he has recovered N2.7 billion looted through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the past administration in the State.

Lalong made the disclosure in an interactive session with Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists as part of activities to mark his 53rd birthday in Jos on Thursday.

The governor said N4.7 billion was still outstanding in the same SUBEB and assured that he will make sure that the money was recovered completely.

He stated that his administration would do everything possible to recover all the funds looted from the state treasury by the previous administration.

“We have done a lot of investigations and a lot of arrests have been made, some past government officials have been invited by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to make some clarifications.

“As I speak, a former commissioner in the state is in the custody of the EFCC because of looted funds.

“Over N2 billion which was meant for Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs), was diverted in the past administration and the case has been reported to the EFCC.

“Because to this , the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has refused to give the state additional funds for SMEs; because the state is yet to account for N2 billion and this has caused a setback in empowering the youths”, he said.

Lalong assured the people of the state that his administration would complete all critical projects initiated by his predecessor Jonah Jang in spite of dwindling resources.

“These projects are for the benefit of the people of Plateau and not the previous administration and we will not abandon them.

“This is in line with the directive of Mr President that critical projects inherited must be completed”, he explained.

On his recent trip to China, the governor said it would soon bring fruitful benefits to the people of the state.

“Investors are already coming to invest in our tourism, solid minerals and agricultural sectors.

“We are really working on increasing the tourism potentials of the state; especially the Wild Life Park , the Pandam Wild life Park , the Wase Rock and others.

“Our state is one of the richest states in the country in terms of solid minerals and we are working on how to take advantage of the policies concerning revenue generation with respect to solid minerals”, he stated.

Lalong commended the people for the peace being enjoyed in the state, saying it wouldn’t have been possible if the people had not cooperated with government.

According to him, peace and security are number one on the state government’s Five Pillar Policy Thrust; adding without peace investors would not be able to visit our state.”

He also said he would continue to unite the different ethnic groups and to ensure that peace continues to reign in the state.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...