By: Fabian Apechihin

Governor Hyacinth Alia has appointed Miss Linda Ene Agada as the Special Adviser on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Microfinance, in a move aimed at boosting economic growth and empowering small businesses across Benue State.

Agada, a seasoned entrepreneur and passionate advocate for women’s economic inclusion, brings years of experience in business development, financial management, and entrepreneurship training. Her appointment reflects the Alia administration’s commitment to deepening financial inclusion, supporting local enterprises, and driving sustainable economic growth at the grassroots level.

Renowned for her dedication to youth and women empowerment, Agada has played a key role in numerous capacity-building and business mentorship programs across the North Central region. Her appointment has drawn praise from stakeholders in the MSME sector, who describe her as a visionary with a clear understanding of the challenges confronting small-scale businesses.

In her reaction, Agada expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for the opportunity to serve, pledging to advance the administration’s vision of building an inclusive, self-sustaining economy.

“This appointment is a call to service. I am deeply committed to ensuring that MSMEs in Benue State have access to finance, mentorship, and markets to thrive. We will strengthen microfinance systems and promote entrepreneurship as a key driver of our state’s development,” she said.

The Benue State government is expected to unveil new initiatives under her leadership to support local entrepreneurs, improve access to microcredit, and strengthen partnerships with financial institutions to enhance productivity and create jobs.

Agada’s inclusion in the governor’s team underscores the administration’s ongoing efforts to harness the potential of small and medium enterprises as engines of inclusive growth and social transformation.

By: Fabian Apechihin

Landlords in Delta State may soon be barred from raising rents by more than 50 per cent within a three-year period if a new Landlord and Tenant Bill before the State House of Assembly is enacted into law.

The proposed legislation, which scaled its second reading on Friday, was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing Aniocha North Constituency, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi.

The bill seeks to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability in rent administration, while protecting the rights of both tenants and landlords.

During the plenary session presided over by Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, lawmakers commended the bill as timely and people-oriented, noting that it aligns with current economic realities and addresses the urgent need for stability in the housing sector.

Among its key provisions, the bill proposes:

• A limit of 50% rent increase within three years,
• A cap of 5% on agency fees, and
• The establishment of rent tribunals across all local government areas to resolve tenancy disputes.

Following unanimous support from members, the Speaker referred the bill to the Joint Committees on Housing, Urban Renewal, and Women Affairs & Humanitarian Support Services for further legislative scrutiny.

In a related development, the Speaker announced the formation of a seven-member ad hoc committee, chaired by Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, to investigate the reported dispute between the Rector and Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.

Hassan Taiye

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has tasked the board and management of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) on carrying out developmental projects that will impact on the living standard of the people of the region while furthering the renewed hope agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Senator Akpabio gave the charge when the board of the new Commission paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja. He said the Commission is saddled with a lot of responsibilities to develop the South South and contribute to the economic development of the six States of the region.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio to have said: “The ball is now in your court to add value to the South South region through this development Commission.

“You have a lot of responsibilities to develop the region. I want you to know that it is not a bonanza. It is a call to service. It is a call to put on your thinking cap to add value to the economy of the nation, to add value to the renewed hope agenda of the President who set up this Commission.

“I congratulate the President and I thank him for finding it necessary to give us the South South Development Commission. They say, one good turn deserves another.

“The Niger Delta has been good to Nigeria. We have kept the economy of the nation going and so giving us this opportunity to further develop other resources in the Niger Delta is also evidence that Nigeria also cares about us ” he said.

Akpabio thanked members of the two chambers of the National Assembly for passing the bill of the SSDC into law despite the initial hesitation because the region already had the Niger Delta Development Commission but assured that the mandate of the SSDC goes beyond the oil producing areas to cover every nook and cranny of the South South region.

He pledged the support of the National Assembly towards adequate funding of the development commissions across the six geo-political zones.

According to Akpabio, “We shall continue to support you to fully take off and execute big projects that we shall come and commission. We will support you to make sure you are adequately funded. You can count on me, my office and my colleagues. We will supoort you to succeed.”

The Chairman of the board of the Commission, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, thanked President Tinubu, the Senate President and the National Assembly for their efforts in passing the SSDC bill into law despite the challenges and difficulties. He said with the caliber of persons appointed into the management and board the SSDC will add value to the nation.

“Under my leadership as Chairman, I assure you that we shall keep faith in executing the core mandate of this Commission. We will work closely with you and the Senate and listen to guidance from our stakeholders. We will avoid the mistakes of the past and make sure our people feel the impact of governance,” he said.

The pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission Ms Usoro Akpabio praised the visionary leadership of Senator Akpabio and the Senate in birthing the Commission and promised that the interventionist agency will carry out regional economic drive across the entire six States of the region.

According to Ms Akpabio the vision of the Commission cuts across human capital development and infrastructural renewal in the region. “This Commission will align with other sister development agencies, and work with the states while we carry out our own independent mandate. We will unlock the potentials and the stranded wealth of the South South people.

“Ours is to be a role model for other developmental agencies in Nigeria because we will carry out sustainable development for the people. We will unlock the potentials of the South South people and at the same time we will use the opportunity bring out a lot of talents in the region across all sectors,” she assured.