Tag: Akpabio

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Friday, reiterated the commitment of the red chamber, under his leadership to progressive governance, economic empowerment, and national development.

Akpabio stated this in his acceptance speech following his investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom in Abuja.

Akpabio said: “The Senate’s commitment to progressive governance, economic empowerment, and national development remains unwavering.

“I assure you that this honour will not be taken lightly. If anything, it will only spur me to work harder, to push further, and to serve better.

“I stand before you today deeply honoured, profoundly humbled, and immensely grateful to receive the Honorary Fellowship of this distinguished institution is not just a privilege.

“It is a testament that there are values we hold dear – the values of service, excellence, and unwavering dedication to building a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.”

Akpabio further noted that “for over five decades, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has stood as a beacon of professionalism, integrity, and nation-building.

“You are the silent architects of Nigeria’s urban transformation, the custodians of our nation’s physical wealth, and the guardians of the principles that sustain our economy—accountability, due process, and strategic planning.

“Your work ensures that our cities are well-planned, our investments are secured, and our future is built on a solid foundation.

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“Without you, the skylines of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt would remain concepts, not realities.

“Without you, businesses would struggle to find the confidence to invest, and without you, the dream of homeownership for many Nigerians would remain just that—a dream.

“So today, as I receive this honour, I do so not as an individual, but as a representative of the Nigerian Senate, as a servant of the Nigerian people, and as a voice of the Nigerian people.

“I also know that leadership is about legacy. Therefore, I dedicate this award to the 10th National Assembly and the great people of Nigeria, who have entrusted us with the sacred duty of representing them in the governance of this country.

“This recognition is not just a celebration of what has been done, but a call to action for what must be done. It is a charge to lead with renewed vigour, to continue to fight for policies that will make housing more affordable, land administration more transparent, and infrastructure more sustainable.

“It is a call to ensure that Nigeria’s land and property assets are managed with the efficiency, integrity, and foresight that will secure our economic future.

“To my brothers and sisters in the real estate and valuation profession, I say—your work is critical to Nigeria’s development. And we, in government, are listening.

“The policies we craft, the laws we enact, the reforms we champion—all must align with the vision of a Nigeria where economic growth is not just a statistic, but a reality that uplifts every citizen.

“To the leadership of NIESV, I thank you again for this recognition. To the distinguished guests here today, I thank you for your presence. And to the Nigerian people, I reaffirm my commitment to you—because in the end, governance is about service, and service is about people.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured the Senate will participate fully in the burial of Pa Edwin Clark who died on Monday.

Akpabio gave the assurance on Wednesday when a delegation of the Pan Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF) led by its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali visited him to formally inform him of the demise of the elder statesman.

The Senate President told his guests that the Senate had earlier in the day observed a minute silence in honour of Pa Edwin Clark who was himself a Senator.

“We couldn’t even wait for you to let us know that he was gone. We agreed to send a strong delegation to come and condole with you, condole with the immediate family and the good people of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta as a whole and other Nigerians  and for the Senate to take part in all the burial activities. So we intend to be there.

“So on this note, I welcome you. We have received the news now formally and I want to thank you for the honour that you have done to the National Assembly by coming as a delegation to let us know that yes indeed, our father is gone. The father of Nigeria. One of those who have made Nigeria what it is.

“I assure you of our total readiness to cooperate with you and all well meaning Nigerians and because this is a great loss to Nigeria, not just to the Niger Delta region,” Akpabio said.

Speaking further, the Senate President said “Pa Edwin Clark was not just any Nigerian. He was a Pan Africanist. We describe him as an iconic leader. We describe him also as a detrabilised Nigerian who fought particularly for the welfare of the minorities across Nigeria, not just in the Niger Delta.

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“He wanted a better country. He wanted an inclusive country. He wanted a country where every minority could have a sense of belonging and say yes, this is my country. I am proud of my country.

“And today to hear that at the age of 97, almost 98, he lived with his principles intact and on his passage, all he could mutter was ‘I love Nigeria,’ ‘I am a Nigerian.’ I think one can write PhD thesis out of that. That was the summary of his life. From the time he was born, until the time he left.

“That exclamation was to remind you and all of us alive that we must continue to exhibit the best virtues. We must not lose faith no matter what is happening. No matter the travails that we are passing through today. We must love Nigeria. We must believe in Nigeria.”

The PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Igali said the delegation was at the National Assembly to inform Akpabio as the most senior politician from the South-South, from Niger Delta that his father Chief Edwin Clark had passed on.

“We thought it is only proper and fit that having been a Senator himself, a senior politician, an elderstatesman of this country, it is right that we come to inform you.

“Besides the fact that he was from your part of the country, he was very close to you. When he was ill, we informed you. Papa was not sick for  a long time.

“Up to two months ago, Papa was hale and hearty but we observed there was a gradual wind down…But two weeks ago, the wind down continued. Last Sunday, I was there, sitted with his nurse and he exclaimed: ‘I love Nigeria,’ ‘I’m a Nigerian.’ He said ‘I’m a Nigerian’ twice. He said ‘I love Nigeria’ twice and the next thing he stopped talking. We took him to the hospital and after some hours, the Doctor said he has gone.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday said the red chamber would pass the N54.2trillion 2025 Appropriations Bill on or before Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Akpabio disclosed this during plenary while calling for swift action from relevant committees.

He said: “We need to finish quickly to go and brush up the budget for possible presentation tomorrow or next.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had originally presented a ₦49.7 trillion budget to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024.

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However, on February 5, 2025, he revised the budget upwards to ₦54.2 trillion, citing additional revenue to be generated by key government agencies.

According to Tinubu, the increase was backed by ₦1.4 trillion in additional revenue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, ₦1.2 trillion from the Nigeria Customs Service, and ₦1.8 trillion from other government-owned agencies.

…to attend 50th Anniversary of UNICAL

The visit by the management and alumni of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday in Abuja evoked nostalgic feelings about his activism and humble beginnings.

The visit was primarily to invite him to the 50th Anniversary of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) scheduled for March 17th to 22nd, 2025, which he promised to honour.

Akpabio took the opportunity to reflect on his undergraduate days at UNICAL, marked by deprivations and student activism.

According to a statement by his media office, Akpabio reminisced about his time at the university and described the upcoming 50th Anniversary event as remarkable and worth celebrating.

“We will be there in full force to support you. We will also take the catalogue of things you intend to do. We can tick the ones we can also assist you to do,” Akpabio, an alumnus of the school, said.

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Akpabio who was a Speaker of the Student Parliament said: “I was one of those who fought for the interest of the students.

“I was one of those who never had the privilege of sojourning in the main campus where you could have constant electricity. Instead, I chose to be in Malabo with all the mosquitoes.

“It is really a thing of joy to be alive to see the University at 50. It is also a great thing of joy to see a delegation coming to invite me to join you.

“This visit today is a very uncommon visit which will result in an uncommon transformation of the University beyond 50.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Banku Obi, who led the delegation, said their mission was to invite the Senate President to the historic event and inform him of the line-up of activities for UNICAL at 50.

Professor Obi who announced that the Senate President was penciled down as an Ambassador of UNICAL at 50, said Akpabio did so much for the University when he was Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“We have come here today to tell you we have come of age as a University…We want to let the world know that we have actually come of age as a second generation University in Nigeria,” Professor Obi said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said he is against National Assembly management workers who seek service extension after retirement to enable them remain in office.

He said such a practice breaches public service rules.

The Senate President directed the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to urgently get rid of such management workers from service without delay.

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Akpabio said this when he hosted the outgoing chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission in his office in Abuja.

“Mr. Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission, your visit to me today for a notification of end of your tenure is one of mixed feelings.

“It’s mixed feelings in the sense that it is sad to miss a very experience hand like you, but at the same time happy that you ended well after five years in office.

“However, since you are handing over to the Secretary of the commission, pending the time myself and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives will make recommendations for a new chairman and members, the lapses observed within the last few years must be mentioned.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Monday, said the nation’s economy is undergoing transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akpabio made this assertion in his speech while receiving a Swiss European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Delegation in Abuja, that paid him a courtesy visit.

The EFTA is an intergovernmental organization that brings together four member states, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, dedicated to promoting free trade, and fostering economic cooperation with countries outside the European Union.

Akpabio told the delegation that Nigeria envisions partnerships that would ignite innovation, diversify its economy, and create opportunities for generations to come.

He noted that Nigeria and Switzerland, already had shared moments of profound partnership.

“One such moment was the historic agreement in 2017, when Switzerland returned $321 million in recovered funds to Nigeria—a gesture that not only strengthened the bonds of trust between our countries but also set a global example of accountability and mutual respect.

“It was proof that when nations act with integrity and in the spirit of justice, the world becomes a better place.”

He added: “Picture, if you will, a Nigeria where Swiss expertise in precision engineering enhances our manufacturing sector, where our agricultural wealth finds new markets in EFTA nations, and where our shared commitment to sustainability drives forward-thinking solutions for energy and the environment.

“These are not dreams—they can be the fruits of our bold action if we plant the seeds here, today.

“Nigeria’s economy is on a transformative journey under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR. With bold reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the naira exchange rate, the government has taken decisive steps to stabilize the economy and attract foreign investment.

“These measures are laying the foundation for sustainable growth, with projections indicating a promising GDP growth rate of 4.17% in 2025.

“In addition, President Tinubu’s administration is prioritizing credit access and entrepreneurship to drive economic expansion. The forthcoming establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company aims to empower businesses and individuals, fostering innovation and job creation.

“These initiatives reflect Nigeria’s commitment to building a resilient economy that thrives on opportunity and partnership. Let us speak plainly: the world is changing. The tides of global trade are shifting, and those who rise to meet the moment with courage and vision will shape the future.

“Let it be said of Nigeria and EFTA that we did not falter, that we rose together to seize the opportunity of our time. The National Assembly is poised to take the tide when it serves and provide the legal environment for our fortunes to thrive.

“As we embark on these ventures, let us keep our gaze fixed firmly on the horizon, where the mountains of our challenges can indeed be moved—not by one nation alone, but by the unity of many.”

The leader of the Swiss EFTA Delegation, who doubles as the Chair, National Councillor,vSwiss People’s Party, Zurich, Mr Thomas Aeschi, described the EFTA is a vital instrument for Switzerland to diversify its trade relations and expand economic partnerships worldwide, ensuring opportunities for Swiss businesses and their partners abroad.

On the purpose of the visit, he said: “Our delegation is here with a clear purpose to explore ways to deepen our economic partnership with Nigeria and to identify new areas of collaboration.

“The potential of this country is huge, just looking at its population size. I am convinced that parliamentary diplomacy can help to strengthen ties and re-launch processes for our governments.

“While EFTA, the European Free Trade Association, does not yet have a formal trade negotiation process with Nigeria in place, we are here to lay the groundwork for future possibilities.”

He noted: “Switzerland and Nigeria enjoy good, diverse, and in various specific areas, very productive relations.

“This is also reflected in the number of high-level meetings and visits between our two respective countries. since 2016 political consultations between our governments the migration dialogue and the human rights dialogue have been taking place together in the framework of the so-called Switzerland-Nigeria days.

“These dialogues are essential to further deepening our cooperation between our governments bilateral relations between Switzerland and Nigeria are very good.

“In 2023, Nigeria was Switzerland’s seventh largest trading partner in Africa with $850million worth of goods traded.

 “Nigeria remains Switzerland’s biggest supplier of crude oil. Swiss exports are largely based on chemicals and pharmaceuticals and machinery.

“Switzerland is also a very large investor in Nigeria. The stock of foreign direct investment was $280million in 2003.

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“Some 60 Swiss companies are active in the country, including subsidiaries of major groups such as Nestle, Lafarge Holcim and Novartis, the pharmaceutical company.

“Swiss companies are interested in the Nigerian market and can be seen from their considerable presence in Nigeria. Our companies are very sensitive to good framework conditions for further expanding their business activities.

“The role of parliamentarians in shaping trade policy cannot be overstated. This is why this dialogue with you as representatives of the Nigerian people is so important for us.

“We hope that this will further strengthen mutual understanding, of our democratic and also very federalist political systems.

“We are eager to learn from you your priorities, your challenges and your vision for Nigeria’s economic future.”