The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has threatened to make psychiatric tests compulsory for motorists violating the rule on one-lane traffic in Anambra State. The Sector Commander of the Commission in the state, Mr. Sunday Ajayi, who said this, Wednesday, in Awka, the state capital, added that the traffic violators …
Read More »IMF to Nigeria: Allow naira reflect market forces, lift forex curbs
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), Wednesday, called on Nigeria to lift foreign exchange curbs and let the naira reflect “market forces” more closely, also urging more fiscal discipline and structural reform to bolster growth. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari rejected a naira devaluation and backed hefty restrictions …
Read More »Rickey Tarfa withdraws N5bn suit against EFCC, MTN Nigeria, others
Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr. Rickey Tarfa, Wednesday, formerly withdrew the N5bn fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), MTN Nigeria, and three others over an alleged violation of his right to privacy. Following the withdrawal of the suit, Justice Mohammed Idris …
Read More »NCC fine: MTN withdraws suit, pays N50bn ‘in good faith’
The protracted rift between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunications operator, MTN Nigeria, may have been brought to an end with the reported payment of the sum of N50 billion by the telecoms firm to the regulator. It would be recalled that NCC had initially fined MTN Nigeria $5.2 …
Read More »IATA, NCAA set to implement Abuja Declaration
ANTHONY OMOH As part of plans to entrench safety in the continent of Africa, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is collaborating with Nigeria closely to develop and roll out a set of measures intended to enhance the African Union’s 2012 Abuja Declaration on Aviation Safety in Africa. Both aviation …
Read More »Minister urges D-8 members to liberalise visa policy to boost tourism
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the D-8 Organisation for Economic Development to liberalise the issuance of visas as a deliberate policy to boost tourism among member states. The Minister made the call on the heels of the resolve by the D-8 to prioritise …
Read More »Nescafé teams up with Social Media Week in Nigeria
Nestlé coffee brand Nescafé joins forces with Social Media Week in Lagos, Nigeria to boost and share ideas, innovations and insights into how social media and technology are changing business, society and culture worldwide. The fourth West African edition of the annual international conference takes place from February 22-26, 2016, …
Read More »Chocolates alert!: Mars and Snickers Bars recalled from 55 countries
Mars, the chocolate maker, issued a recall of some of its products in 55 countries on Tuesday, according to reports. Mars issued the recall after plastic pieces that could lead to choking were discovered in one of its products. While the recall was initially limited to Germany, it was later …
Read More »Airtel Unveils Smart Number Service … Customers can now get an additional number on their existing Line
Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced the introduction of Smart Number service, an innovative package that allows customers to use an additional line or number on their original Airtel SIM card, yet maintaining a single mobile phone. The new package is designed to empower owners of small businesses, …
Read More »War against Boko Haram: Chief of Army inspects military hardware in Maiduguri
BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI The Chief of Army Staff,(COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai has inspected military hardware recently deployed to the Operation Lafiya Dole theater which will inevitably lead to the final defeat of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of the country. General Buratai, who was highly elated after …
Read More »Mohammed commends media’s role in fight against corruption, terrorism
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has commended the media for its role in the ongoing national campaigns against terrorism and corruption, saying the media has availed itself creditably in keeping the people informed about the campaigns. “So far we have enjoyed tremendous support from the media, especially …
Read More »President Buhari admits ‘padded’ 2016 budget; vows culprits ‘will not go unpunished’
Despite denials by top government functionaries that the 2016 Appropriation Bill was not padded, President Muhammadu Buhari, admitted to an audience, Tuesday, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that all those involved in the ‘padding’ of the document ‘will face the most severe punishment.’ The President’s position is, however, appears to be …
Read More »Remain law-abiding — NSCDC to Edo youths
AGENE GODWIN, Benin The Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Walter Akubuiroh, has charged Nigerian youths to abstain from all forms of violence and engage in acts that will develop their talents. He made this call in Benin City during the maiden meeting with …
Read More »Oil swap deal: You lied against me — Diezani to ex-NNPC GMDs
Following the claims by two former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu and Austen Oniwon, before the ongoing legislative probe, former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has described as ‘fabricated tissues of lies’ that she allegedly unilaterally approved oil swap deals. …
Read More »FG to pay states for verified road projects – Fashola
Following recent calls by state governors for the Federal Government to review its policy towards its own roads rehabilitated by the various states, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Tuesday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had established an inter-ministerial committee to verify claims by state governments …
Read More »CBN restates commitment to strengthening DFIs; launches final operating guidelines
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Tuesday reiterated the bank’s commitment towards making the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in the country more pro-active and better equipped to support the present administration’s economic growth agenda. Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the maiden edition of …
Read More »Leadership tussle: PENGASSAN shuts down PPPRA headquarters
The leadership crisis rocking the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), reached a height, Tuesday, as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) branch of the agency shut down all operations of the office. The union members who locked up the complex urged management of the …
Read More »NSE renews Onyema’s five-year term contract as CEO
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has renewed the contract of agreement of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Oscar Onyema, for another five-year term. This is contained in a statement issued by the exchange, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Onyema assumed office …
Read More »Naira rises to 364 at parallel market
The Naira further gained N6, Tuesday, trading at N364 to the dollar at the parallel market following President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance not to devalue the currency. The Naira exchanged at N370 to one dollar on February 22. Buhari had on Feb. 20 insisted that the government would not devalue the …
Read More »Kogi Election Petition Tribunal commences sitting in Abuja; directs parties to regularise processes before pre-hearing
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Kogi State, Tuesday, directed all the parties involved in the petitions before it to regularise all processes before commencing pre-hearing. Justice Halima Muhammad, Chairman of the tribunal, gave the directive during sitting in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the chairman’s …
Read More »Security, key to solving Niger Delta challenges — Amnesty Programme coordinator
Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh (rtd), has restated the imperative of security in solving the challenges of the Niger Delta region. Boroh said this at a two-day technical workshop on Tuesday in Abuja. The theme of the exercise was, “Niger Delta: Way forward: From stabilisation to …
Read More »Gov. Ugwuanyi moves to revamp state-owned ailing industries … reconstitutes bodies on privatization and commercialization; Investment Summit on the way
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has advanced the move of his administration to reinvigorate the economy of the state and boost her revenue base when he reconstituted two separate bodies on privatization and commercialization to revitalize the state-owned ailing industries. Reconstituted are the Enugu State Council on Commercialization and …
Read More »Senator Ben Bruce takes delivery of made-in-Nigeria Kia Soul
In a move to institutionalise and strengthen the industrialisation of Nigeria by being on the vanguard of the true change in political will amidst the cloudy future of Nigeria’s major export, crude oil which has continued to plummet at an impactful low record, the common sense advocate, Senator Ben Murray …
Read More »Dialogue, education, key to harmonious coexistence – Saraki
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday said for the country to overcome the myriad of unrest and misrepresentations in its socio-religious space, citizens must embrace education and dialogue in crisis management. Senator Saraki said this when he received the Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Prof. …
Read More »98 not 450 children died of malnutrition in IDP camps – Borno government
BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI The Borno State Government has denied reports in some national dailies that 450 children between the ages of one to five living at the 28 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the state died as a result of malnutrition in 2015. It would be recalled that …
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