Business

WTO DG: Why We Oppose Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination – US
News, Nigeria, United States of America

WTO DG: Why We Oppose Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination – US

The United States has explained its stance not to back Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General position, noting the position must be held by ‘someone with real, hands-on experience in the field’. The US instead has thrown its weight behind South Korea’s Yoo Myung-Hee to head the WTO. Okonjo-Iweala who is Nigeria’s former Finance Minister is currently in poll position to secure the job after the WTO nominations committee on Wednesday recommended her to its 164 member countries for appointment into the top spot. Explaining its position, office of the US Trade Representative which advises President Donald Trump on trade policy in a statement said Yoo had distinguished herself as a trade expert and has all the necessary skills to be an eff...
Breaking: Nigerian FEC Approves N13.08tn Budget for 2021
Breaking News, Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

Breaking: Nigerian FEC Approves N13.08tn Budget for 2021

  The Nigerian Federal Executive Council (FEC) has projected a N13.08 trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year. Speaking to State House Correspondents after the weekly virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, also said the oil benchmark has been pegged at $40 per barrel. The Minister, who was flanked by Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba; the Minister for Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, also said the projected Capital Expenditure for the year is projected at N2.083 trillion. Other components projected to tune the 2021 Budget include oil production at 1.86 million barrels ...
BREAKING: Buhari to Present 2021 Budget Next Week
Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

BREAKING: Buhari to Present 2021 Budget Next Week

  President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2021 Appropriations Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly next week. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, made the disclosure in his opening remarks to welcome Senators back from their eight- week annual vacation in Abuja.   Details shortly...
Osinbajo Assures Justice for Nigerian Traders in Ghana
Economy, Ghana, News, Nigeria

Osinbajo Assures Justice for Nigerian Traders in Ghana

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that Nigerian traders in Ghana affected by the stringent business regulations by the Ghana government will get justice. Osinbajo who stated this yesterday Tuesday 16, September while meeting with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana added that bureaucracy is part of the reasons there has been a delay in resolving the issue. He however added that the discussions between the two countries was reaching a fruitful point and soon, all parties will be informed of the resolutions. A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice-President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the meeting was held at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana. The statement...
Nigerian Government Approves Phased reopening of Schools
Covid-19, Economy, Education, Finance, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Nigerian Government Approves Phased reopening of Schools

Reviews curfew from 12am to 4am Lifts ban on market, cinema and gym Approves reopening of NYSC orientation camp   The Nigerian government has ratified the phased reopening of educational institutions across all states of the federation after schools were closed in March as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Government tasked state government and stakeholders in the education sector to commence preparations for the full resumption of schools and also approved the extension of curfew from the initial 10 pm to 4 pm to 12 am to 4 am. The extension of the mandate of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF), was extended from September till December 31. Briefing reporters in Abuja, Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the PFT said, “For educational...
Air Peace Reconsiders, Recalls Sacked Pilots as FG intervenes
Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, Employment, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Transportation

Air Peace Reconsiders, Recalls Sacked Pilots as FG intervenes

The management of Air Peace Airlines has reconsidered its earlier decision to sack about 70 pilots following the intervention of the Federal. The recall of some of the sacked pilots was agreed upon after a meeting convened by Sentaor Hadi SIrika, minister of aviation, between the airline’s management and the leadership of the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). James Odaudu, spokesperson of the ministry in a statement said, “In the verbal agreement reached after a dialogue that was held in a very friendly environment, chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema acceded to the minister’s appeal for the recall of the maximum number of pilots that the airline can accommodate without going under. “Onyema expressed his sadness and disappointment over what he cal...
Eased Lockdown: PTF Ratifies Gradual Reopening of International Air Flights in Weeks
Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Eased Lockdown: PTF Ratifies Gradual Reopening of International Air Flights in Weeks

The Boss Mustapha led Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 has signed off on gradual reopening of international air flights and train services across Nigeria in weeks, and not months. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that this formed part of the concessions agreed upon at the end of the second extension of the second phase of eased lockdown. This was announced by Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), while addressing the press at the daily briefing of the PTF on Thursday in Abuja. He said, “It’s important to ensure that restrictions are not completely relaxed in order to control transmission. “It is also important that at this Community Transmission Phase of the pandemic sub-national governments step up to tak...
FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew
Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Finance, News, Nigeria, Transportation, Youths

FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew

President Muhammadu Buhari has ratified the extension of the phase two lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 by another four weeks. This implies that all guidelines introduced to curb the spread of the virus under the second phase of the relaxed lockdown which took effect on June 1 will remain effective with slight modifications to address the economic, socio-political and health concerns as contained in the latest report by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the PTF who is equally the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, boss Mustapha, at the press briefing of the task force in Abuja on Thursday. Mustapha said state governments and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be mandated to enforce non-ph...
Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread
Covid-19, Economy, Finance, News, Safety, Science

Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

Botswana has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places and withdrawn liquor licenses in the country as part of effort to curb the spread of the fatal COVID-19. This was disclosed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi through a gazette notice released on Wednesday by the government. “NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that His Excellency the President, acting in accordance with regulation 30G of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, has with immediate effect suspended all liquor licences issued in terms of the Liquor Act,” the notice read in part. The statement also clarified that “liquor” also included traditional beers, which are brewed by a majority of rural households in Botswana. “The suspension of the sale of alcohol is based on evidence that consumption of alc...
Edo Poll Update: Idiaye Impeached as Edo Assembly Deputy Speaker
Legislature, News, Nigeria

Edo Poll Update: Idiaye Impeached as Edo Assembly Deputy Speaker

Yekini Idiaye, Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly has been impeached. He was relieved of his position on Wednesday during a plenary of the Assembly in the capital city of Benin. Roland Asoro, the member representing Orhionmwon II Constituency, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker of the House. Tension continues to rise in the state as the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 19 draws closer. Some lawmakers on Monday endorsed the candidacy of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ize-Iyamu, while on a private visit to the Benin residence of the APC flag bearer.   Idiaye, a critic of the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration, had said, “There is no reason for me to defect to another party because there is no single project in my...