Author: Mary Ugwuanyi - Page 9 - African News Today

<strong>Nigeria To Spend 60% of Revenue On Debt Servicing In 2023 – Finance Minister</strong>

19Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

Nigeria To Spend 60% of Revenue On Debt Servicing In 2023 – Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said that the country intends to reduce its debt service-to-revenue ratio to 60 percent this year. Ahmed stated this during an interview with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Recall that Nigeria recorded a debt service-to-revenue ratio of 80.6 percent in 2022 -a figure much higher than World Bank’s suggested 22.5 percent for low-income countries such as Nigeria. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, had predicted that Nigeria may spend almost 100 percent of its revenue on debt servicing by 2026. Commenting on the development, Ahmed while agreeing that the current ratio isn’t sustainable, said that the country is making effort to reduce its revenue spendi...

<strong>Gov Soludo Suspends Taxes on Heavy-duty Loading in Anambra</strong>

19Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

Gov Soludo Suspends Taxes on Heavy-duty Loading in Anambra

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has announced the suspension of tax payment for heavy-duty loading and off-loading in the transport sector. The governor also reduced the expected weekly payments of tricycles (Keke), shuttle buses, and other transport operators. Soludo disclosed this on Wednesday when he met transport operators and other key holders at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka, to deliberate and agree on the new modalities. Prior to the meeting, there had been a public outcry against heavy taxation by his administration, especially among transport workers. However, Soludo on Wednesday approved a 30 percent reduction in the weekly taxes payable by commercial Keke and shuttle bus operators in the state. The reviewed rate will see ...

Three Men In Nigeria Richer Than 83m Citizens – Oxfam

18Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

Three Men In Nigeria Richer Than 83m Citizens – Oxfam

The latest report released by an international confederation against poverty, Oxfam, has shown that the three most rich men in Nigeria have more wealth than 83 million citizens. The global inequality report was released at the start of the annual World Economic Forum, WEF, meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday. According to the report titled, ‘survival of the richest’, Oxfam said the wealth of billionaires in Nigeria has grown by a third since the start of COVID-19 pandemic without a corresponding increase in health budgets. It also stated that the richest 0.003 percent of Nigerians (6,355 individuals worth $5 million and above) have 1.4 times more wealth than 107 million of the country’s citizens. Oxfam said a wealth tax of 2 percent on the millionaires, 3 perce...

Ngige, CONUA Blast ASUU Over Highhandedness, Lack of Transparency

18Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Education, Labour, News, Niger

Ngige, CONUA Blast ASUU Over Highhandedness, Lack of Transparency

Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, has blamed lack of transparency by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, for the decision of the Federal Government to register rival trade unions in the university system. Ngige disclosed this while speaking in his office in Abuja during the presentation of certificates of registration to the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA. The Minister stated that the unions have been officially gazette and are therefore entitled to all labour rights as contained in the International Trade Unions’ constitution. He said, “Before 2020, CONUA had approached the ministry complaining of a lack of democracy and transparency ...

Vulcaniser to be Hung for Stealing N57,000

17Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, Judiciary, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Vulcaniser to be Hung for Stealing N57,000

A Justice Mojisola Dada Ikeja Special Offence Court on Tuesday condemned a 32-year-old vulcaniser, Chidozie Onyinchiz, to death by hanging for stealing N57,000 from a nurse. Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution had proved the charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and membership of an unlawful society against the accused. The Justice also held that that the convict’s attempt to wriggle out of the charges was futile. Dada based this on the fact that Onyinchiz had earlier confirmed to the police at Igando, Lagos, that his victim, Veronica Uwayzor, sighted him and they both recognized each other at the time of the offence. Dada said, “The defendant had stated that the complainant pointed at him as one of the boys armed with a pair of scissors and forcefully snatched her bag...

<strong>Religion Used For Political Agenda By Some Nigerians – Buhari</strong>

17Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion

Religion Used For Political Agenda By Some Nigerians – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that some Nigerians are using religion as a tool to advance their economic and political agenda. Buhari identified continuous education of a more significant population of citizens as a solution to exposing such individuals. He said this in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday titled ‘The place of education in addressing religious intolerance by President Buhari.’ The statement stated that the President spoke at Nouakchott, Mauritania, while meeting with the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain. Buhari said, “It’s a problem Nigeria has been struggling with for a long time, and it is completely unnecessary. Some people use relig...

<strong>Wike Lauds Buhari For Defeating Boko Haram</strong>

16Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Wike Lauds Buhari For Defeating Boko Haram

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s strides at “defeating insurgency in parts of the country.” Wike stated this on Sunday while speaking at a ceremony to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Government House, Port Harcourt. The governor who described Buhari’s efforts as extraordinary said the armed forces have played a key role at eliminating Boko Haram and other insurgents in the North-East and North-West, including the “unknown gunmen” in the South-East of the country. The Peoples Democratic Party governor stated that Buhari’s actions at coordinating a successful military intervention would be a legacy for sustaining free and fair elections. He said, “I commend our President, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his sustained...

<strong>Raheem: Court To Commence Killer Cop’s Trial Monday</strong>

16Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Raheem: Court To Commence Killer Cop’s Trial Monday

A Lagos State High Court has scheduled Monday (today) to commence the trial of ASP Drambi Vandi, who allegedly killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Vandi who was attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah area of Lagos State, allegedly shot and killed Raheem while she was returning from church service with her family on Christmas Day. The lawyer was killed at Ajah, Lagos State. A statement issued by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Morosore Onigbanjo, SAN, stated that the trial would be before Justice I.O Harrison at the Tafawa Balewa Square. He said, “The trial of ASP Vandi who allegedly killed Raheem on December 25, 2022, along Ajah Expressway will commence before Justice I.O. H...

<strong>Bandits Burn Catholic Priest To Death In Niger</strong>

15Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Bandits Burn Catholic Priest To Death In Niger

Suspected bandits have killed a Catholic Priest of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church identified as Isaac Achi, in Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area, LGA, of Niger State. The priest was torched to death at his residence in the early house of Sunday. The attack was confirmed by the Niger State police command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, noting that the bandits burnt the building after failing to gain access into the priest’s residence. According to Abiodun, another priest was equally shot while trying to escape from the attackers. The statement read, “On 15/01/2023 at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church, along Daza road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro LGA. “Unfortunately, the bandits...

<strong>Kwara Poly Denies Student Who Scammed US Lady</strong>

15Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, Education, News, Nigeria

Kwara Poly Denies Student Who Scammed US Lady

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has distanced itself from Awoleye Joshua, a student of the institution suspected to have defrauded a United States of America lady, Volapolonius Moss, after he tricked her to come to Nigeria. Joshua, aged 23, alleged that he was a Higher National Diploma student of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the institution. Reacting, Kwarapoly in a statement issued on Saturday signed by Halimat Garba, the Public Relations Officer for the institution on behalf of the Registrar said, “the Management wishes to disclaim this malicious news about the polytechnic with the fact that Awoleye Joshua Oluwatofunmi is not a student of the institution. “Please, note that the said Awoleye was once a student of the institution, and had gradua...