The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it understands the pains Nigerians are going through as the Naira continues to depreciate in value at the interbank and parallel markets. Nigerians are grappling with an economic recession following a plunge in the global price of oil. Many businesses have closed shop and commodity prices have since hit the roof. Nigeria runs an import dependent economy. At a Forex policy dialogue in Lagos put together by the British High Commission, Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje said “the CBN doesn’t take selfish decisions. We are all…
Author: David Folami
A total of $7 billion (N2.1 trillion) is said to have been lost to the activities of militants and vandals in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This revelation was made known by The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, on Friday, October 28, 2016. At the 2016 Fiscal Liquidity Assessment Committee Retreat in Abuja, Baru said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian Government lost the sum to the activities of militancy groups and oil pipeline vandals. Baru also said that apart from security challenges in the region, politics, judiciary, oil prices and production cost continued to impact…
President Buhari met elders from the Niger Delta region on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. This is in a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis and alleged degradation of the environment in the oil rich region. Speaking to newsmen on the meeting, the Minister of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu said negotiations will continue to ensure that militancy in the region stops. According to Punch, Kachikwu said “The threat to the nation’s gas supply from militants and insurgency in the Niger Delta were critical and thought-provoking, stressing that the government was trying to address the situation and…
Niger Delta stakeholders on Tuesday, November 1, presented 16 requests to President Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to bring lasting peace to the violence-ridden region. The stakeholders made the presentation at a closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to Punch, the Niger Delta leaders demanded the allocation of oil blocks and awards of contracts to indigenes of the region. They also want a review of the amnesty programme, de-militarisation of communities in the region and relocation of operational headquarters of oil companies to the region, among others. The requests were presented by the Amanyanabo…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his commitment to making life better for Nigerians, noting that any Nigerian who has another country to relocate to is free to leave. The President said this on Tuesday, November 1 while addressing Niger Delta stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “We are determined to make life comfortable and affordable to all Nigerians. If anybody has a country to go to, let him go, we will stay here and salvage our country,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu. It said the President told the Niger Delta…
The Nigeria Police Force has expressed readiness to work with the Ministry of Information to enforce the ‘Change Begins With Me’ initiative of the Federal Government. Speaking at a meeting with the Ministry in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said the police has all it takes to help achieve the campaign objectives. He urged Officers to be committed and loyal in carrying out their duties with regards to the initiative. Idris said: “We have decided, as the top management, to invite the minister to pass this message to the top officers of the Nigeria Police Force because…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos State Council, on Wednesday condemned the dismissal of Ogun State chairman of NLC and 15 others by the state government. Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the Lagos State Council Chairman of NLC, made the condemnation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Monday approved the dismissal of the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Akeem Ambali, his deputy, Comrade Dare Ilekoya, and 14 others. The dismissal of the labour leaders was contained in a report of a panel of inquiry set up…
150 students of the Command Science School, Lafia, will get automatic admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) upon graduation, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has said. According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, Buratai made this known on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 in Lafia during commissioning of the school. Buratai stated that the project, Command Science School will further enhance military/civilian relationship. Represented by the head of administration in his office, Major General Bello Abubakar, Buratai, Buratai explained that the project which started in July 2014 is a collaborative effort between the Army and the…
Former Governor of Akwa-Ibom state and serving Senator, Godswill Akpabio has denied sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Akpabio said “It is a fabrication from the pit of hell from those who are profiteering from the crisis in the Niger Delta and would wish no end to it.” The former Governor described the allegation as a politically motivated propaganda by those who seek to profit from the crisis in the Niger Delta. Akpabio also warned that the issues in the oil rich region should not be politicised by anybody. The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) named Akpabio, former President Goodluck…
There are allegations that Ibanga Akpabio, the younger brother of ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio, has been arrested for defrauding a member of the House of Reps. According to a report by SaharaReporters, Ibanga, the current Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom state, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It was further reported that EFCC sources said Ibanga was detained at the Zonal office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt for defrauding Honourable Robinson Uwak. Operatives are also said to be investigating Ibanga for allegations of fraud and money laundering. Senator Godswill Akapabio has also…
Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, on Wednesday brokered peace between contending forces over the leadership of the famous Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna. The mosque, named after the first Sultan of Sokoto, was the hub of the puritanical Izala movement anchored by late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi. It had been enmeshed in leadership crisis since August 12, and the situation led to the expulsion of the Chief Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Balele Wali. The appointment of Dr Khalid Abubakar as acting Chief Imam was staunchly opposed by some members of the mosque, led by Dr Ahmad Gumi. A statement…
The Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tunde Fowler, has disclosed that over 700,000 people applied for the job vacancy at the organization. The Service had invited applications for various positions in series of adverts placed in some national dailies. Fowler said this in Abuja on Wednesday, November 2, when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition. His appearance at the lower chamber followed a petition from some applicants, who claimed to have been excluded from the employment processes. Fowler said that out of the 700,000 applicants, more than 2,000 had first class degrees in…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed that President Buhari will present another letter asking the Senate to approve the request for a $29.9b loan. The Senate, on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, voted against the approval request because it was not detailed, reports say. Mohammed said this during a press briefing after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, November 3, 2016. The minister also explained that the Senate rejected the request which the Federal Government sent earlier, because it was not well detailed. He said “It is not unusual for the…
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has condemned reports of rape and diversion of food items in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Human Rights Watch recently revealed that 43 women and girls were raped, abused and sexually exploited by security operatives in seven IDP camps in Maiduguri in July 2016. The Senate President also promised to ensure that bills which will help solve the crisis in various IDP camps are passed. Saraki said this while meeting with a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) delegation led by Angele Dikongue-Atangana. He said the Senate would work with the House of Representatives…
Organised labour in Ogun on Wednesday suspended its two-week strike, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The suspension of the strike was announced in Abeokuta by the state Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Abiodun Olakanmi. Olakanmi, who addressed civil servants in the state at the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat, directed them to return to work on Thursday. NAN reports that the development followed a tripartite meeting held on Wednesday in Abeokuta between officials of the state government and representatives of labour at the state and national level. The meeting, which commenced at 10.am. at…
ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to focus more on recovering looted funds from indicted public officials rather than taking fresh loans. Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ms Ojobo Atuluku said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that external borrowing would put the nation under further constraint in future. Atuluku recalled that the Senate had rejected the Executive’s request for an approval of 29.96 billion dollars loan for infrastructural development. The ActionAid boss, however, commended the Federal Government for its focus on infrastructural development being the main reason for request to take series of loans. She noted…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended President Buhari for reportedly saying that anyone who has another country should leave Nigeria. Buhari, on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, while addressing Niger Delta stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said “We are determined to make life comfortable and affordable to all Nigerians. If anybody has a country to go to, let him go, we will stay here and salvage our country.” IPOB also expressed hope that Buhari will soon release their leader, Nnamdi Kanu and other members who were arrested for agitating for a Biafra nation. A statement jointly signed by…
The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari on Wednesday condoled with the family of Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai over the death of his father-in-law, Alhaji Mohammad Aliyu Baba. Aliyu Baba died in Jalingo at the age of 70. Mrs Buhari who visited the family at Niger Barracks, Abuja, the official residence of the Chief of Army Staff prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased. She also prayed for the family to have the fortitude to bear the loss. The wife of the president also commended Gen. Buratai for the successes recorded in the fight…
The South-East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the Senate to approve President Buhari’s request for an approval to collect a $29.9b loan for infrastructural development. The Senate had on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, rejected Buhari’s request for approval to borrow $29.9b. According to Punch, the South-East APC said the funds will help bring Nigeria out of recession. The Publicity Secretary, Hyancinth Ngwu also reportedly criticised the Senate for rejecting the President’s request. The party also said “The All Progressives Congress in the South-East geopolitical zone has appealed to the members of the Senate of the…
The Middle Belt Youth Leaders Forum (MBYLF) has called on Niger Delta militants to stop bombing crude oil pipelines and embrace peace. The group warned that if the bombing of pipelines does not stop, the Federal Government will deploy the military to the region. According to Punch, the Secretary-General of the group, Kuanum Terrence, praised President Buhari for meeting with elders from the Niger Delta region. He also said “The Middle Belt Youth Leaders Forum has followed with satisfaction the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with leaders and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta to discuss how to end the…