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  ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to accelerate the delivery of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across Nigeria. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that government investments in basic education translate into fully operational schools that provide quality learning outcomes for Nigerian children. Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa , said the committee's success will be measured by the number of schools that become fully functional and actively educate children. He stressed that education remains a key priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda and that every intervention must produce measurable results. The Minister explained that: Smart Schools will equip students with digital and technological skills needed for the modern economy. Bilingual Schools will promote language inclusion, national integration and im...

         ABUJA, Nigeria  .  The Federal Government has introduced sweeping reductions in import duties on essential goods as part of its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) , aimed at reducing the cost of living, easing inflationary pressures, and stimulating economic growth. The new tariff regime, which took effect in July, reduces import duties on 127 product categories , including staple foods, passenger vehicles, industrial machinery, and electric vehicles. Among the major changes, import duty on bulk rice has been cut from 70% to 47.5% , while broken rice now attracts a 30% tariff . Duties on crude palm oil and raw cane sugar have also been lowered to reduce food production costs and improve affordability. In the transport sector, import duty on passenger vehicles has been reduced from 70% to 40% , while mass transit buses, electric vehicles (EVs), and manufacturing machinery have been granted zero import duty to encourage cleaner transpo...