News
Trump signs $900bn Covid relief bill
After delaying for nearly a week and under pressure from all sides, US President Donald Trump finally signed a massive $900 billion stimulus bill Sunday, in a long-sought boost for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
The package “providing coronavirus emergency response and relief” is part of a larger spending bill that, with Trump’s signature, will avoid a government shutdown on Tuesday.
“I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP (Paycheck Protection Programmes), return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more,” the president said in a statement from his Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The turnaround came after a day marked by calls from all sides of the political spectrum for action to avert an economic and social disaster, especially for America’s vulnerable populations.
Two federal unemployment benefit programs approved in March as part of an initial Covid-19 relief plan expired at midnight on Saturday, cutting off an estimated 12 million Americans, according to The Century Foundation think tank.
The relief package, which was first passed by Congress on December 21, extends those benefits as well as others set to expire in the days ahead.

But for days, Trump had refused to put his signature on it, calling the bill a “disgrace” and catching both Democrats and Republicans off guard with his complaints, which came after months of negotiations.
Influential Republican senator Mitt Romney said he was “relieved” at the signing. “Help is now on the way to workers, families, and small businesses across the country who are desperately in need,” he tweeted.
Earlier Sunday, he had urged Trump to “immediately sign or veto the COVID-19 relief package so Congress can act before it’s too late.”

In his statement Sunday, the president continued to push for the $600 direct payments to US taxpayers spelled out in the bill to be more than tripled, and argued the legislation included too much excess spending on unrelated programs.
He has not said why he waited until the bill was already approved to make his views known.
The new stimulus package extends federal aid to the unemployed until mid-March, and provides guaranteed loans and billions of dollars in aid to small businesses, restaurants, hotels, airlines and other companies.
It extends the moratorium on evictions of people unable to pay their rent, suspends foreclosures and provides funds for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.
The aid is essential to the world’s largest economy, hit hard by restrictions put in place to halt the spread of Covid-19.
“I applaud the President’s decision to get billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the hands of American families,” tweeted Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called the bill “a down payment on what is needed to crush the virus, put money in Americans’ pockets & honor our heroes.”
“We must quickly take further action,” she added in a tweet.
Romney was not the only politician to have urged the president to change course Sunday.
“I understand he wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire,” Republican Senator Pat Toomey told Fox News on Sunday.
Senator Bernie Sanders said that “what the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel.”
“Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits,” he said on ABC.
“They’re going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending.”
Sanders said increased direct payments could be approved in the coming days.
Democrats in Congress sought Thursday to approve a measure to increase the direct payments in line with what Trump wants, but Republicans blocked it.
It was seen largely as a theatrical move with little hope of passage designed to expose the rift between Republicans and the outgoing president.
(AFP)
……says this will promote Nigeria value system
Former First Lady of Lagos State, Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro as an ambassador designate, saying the move will promote Nigeria value system.
Expressing her joy, Sen. Raji-Rasaki said President Tinubu, is branded of appointing reputable individuals to serve in his administration, adding that the crops of the newly screened Ambassadors is a testament of putting a round peg, in a round hole.
Speaking further, she pointed out that Pedro has never shy away from building serious interest of all Lagosians, this she stressed, “Pedro is a technocratic to the core. President Tinubu could not be mistaken in the choice of Femi Pedro as an Ambassador from Lagos State. Born in Lagos, he becomes a voice to reckon with in the politics of Lagos State within a short stint of time.
“His wealth of experience in the banking sector as a leader, entrepreneur and investor came to fruition as he humbly served in the transformation of Lagos State. Pedro was also part of Governor Tinubu’s unprecedented revenue drive which saw Lagos State restructured the entire revenue generating mechanism, the results is the ongoing economic evolution being witnessed in Lagos today.
Raji-Rasaki urged Mr. Pedro and other newly appointed ambassadors, when screened by the Senate and resume duties, to support and as well identify with all Nigerians residing in their various places of assignment to ensure they succeed in their legitimate works and businesses and by extension, contribute to the nation building., “I can only urge you never to relent in creating a conducive environment from Nigeria government for developmental drive of the nation from the Diaspora. Congratulation, I wish you a successful tenure in office.”. Sen. Raji Rasaki prayed.
The Senate Committee on Works has declared its excitement at the progress of work on the signature Bodo-Bonny Road even as it urged the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to intensify efforts to meet the project deadline.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Barinada Mpigi, led members on an oversight visit to the site weekend, where they inspected ongoing works on the vital 35.7km linking mainland communities to Bonny Island.
Senator Mpigi, speaking to journalists after the inspection, acknowledged the progress made so far but emphasised the need for urgency.
“We are happy with the progress, but we expect more from Julius Berger, a company we have come to know as a giant in the construction industry,” Mpigi said, adding, “The Federal Government has met its obligations, now it is time for delivery.”
The challenging project, which began in 2014, has been slowed by difficult terrain, including swampy soil and tidal movements.
Despite these obstacles, the committee reported that five kilometres of the road have been asphalted and major bridges completed, improving connectivity in the region.
The Senate team directed Julius Berger to step up efforts and complete asphalting work before the end of the year.
A progress review has been scheduled for September, with assurances of regular monitoring visits to keep the project on track. “This is not a one time visit. We will continue to monitor every stage of this project until it is delivered,” the Committee Chairman said.
A member of the committee, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, also emphasised how delicate the project is, citing differences in construction conditions compared to other regions. He quipped: “Construction in this area is not the same as in the South-East.
Ongoing works on the embarkments of the Bodo-Bonny Road during the inspection by the Senate Committee on Works recently
Responding, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Dr. Peer Lubasch who led top management staff of the leading construction company to accompany the lawmakers on the visit, assured the Committee that the company will complete the road project by December
, depending on adequate financing.
According to Lubasch, the pace of construction was slow due to the need to allow the soil to set, considering that the area is low-lying, marshy, muddy and swampy, as well as disturbing tidal movements. He noted that despite these challenges, significant progress has been made. with reasonable kilometres of the road already asphalted, adding that the road is accessible for vehicles to drive into both the Mainland and Island. He added that critical bridges have also been completed, linking the mainland to Bonny Island.
The Bodo-Bonny road project consists of 13 bridges comprising three main bridges, nine mini bridges and one bridge over the pipeline. The length of the Bodo-Bonny road project is 35.7 kilometres. It will be the first road to connect oil-rich Bonny Island to mainland Rivers State; cutting across four local government areas (LGAs) in Rivers State.
The project which is a tripartite agreement between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. comprises the construction of mini bridges with a span of 23 m each as well as two creek bridges, Afa Creek Bridge of about 530 m length and Nanabie Creek Bridge of about 640 m length, in addition to the construction of a major river bridge of about 750 m length over the Opobo Channel.
Completion of the Bodo Bonny Road is expected to open up economic opportunities, ease transport for residents, and strengthen links to critical oil and gas by infrastructure on Bonny Island.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District has filed a N5 billion defamatory suit against her colleague in the 10th Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi who represents Ebonyi North Central Senatorial District.
The suit which has already been lodged at the Federal Capital Territory High Court is seeking a compensation of N5 billion as a result of damage done to her by Senator Nwaebonyi in an interview he granted on Channels Television on March 6, 2025
Natasha thrpigh her lawyer, Michael Numa declared claims by Senator Nwaebonyi as false and malicious which should not have come from him.
In the interview on Channels Television, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that Nwaebonyi described her as a “gold digger, habitual liar, and habitual blackmailer” during the interview.
She said Nwaebonyi’s claims that she is a other of six children from different men was false, defamatory and out rightly malicious.
She noted that such remarks undermine her reputation as a role model for women aspiring to enter politics.
“The defendant’s characterisation of the claimant as a ‘mother of six from different men’ is baseless, malicious, and reckless,” the suit states.
“The claimant is an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring women for speaking truth to power.
“The claimant is not tarnishing the chances of women in politics as falsely alleged. Rather, she is inspiring women to be bold in their pursuit of political aspirations and good governance.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan in the suit contends that Nwaebonyi’s statements have caused significant harm to her reputation and public embarrassment.
The senator from Kogi proceeded to seek a court order restraining Nwaebonyi from making further malicious statements against her.
Additionally, she asked the court to direct Nwaebonyi to pay N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the false, malicious, and injurious statements made against her.
She also requested that the court compel Nwaebonyi to retract the defamatory remarks on the same platform where they were initially made and issue an unreserved apology.
The court filing seeks “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies, or anyone acting on his behalf from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained of, or any other defamatory statements concerning the claimant.”
The document further requests “an order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms used to make the allegations and to tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and online, circulated nationwide, within seven days from the date of judgment.”
It also calls for “an order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of £5 billion as aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the claimant for the false, malicious, and injurious statements that have caused the claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”
She also sought, “an order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully paid.”
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