Tag: Nigeria - Page 335 - African News Today

CBN Urges Nigerian Banks to Increase Agric Sector Lending to 10%

16Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Agriculture, Covid-19, Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN Urges Nigerian Banks to Increase Agric Sector Lending to 10%

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has asked banks in Nigeria to consider increasing the percentage of loans available to the agriculture sector to 10 percent by 2024. Emefiele advocated for a spike in the current four per cent. This comes on the heels of optimism by Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed that the Nigeria economy will bounce back strongly within the near term with the right policy responses to the multidimensional crises occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CBN governor while delivering an address at the opening ceremony of the 13th Annual Banking and Finance Conference said the sum of N69 billion had so far been disbursed to over N140,000 beneficiaries from the N100 billion CBN COVID-19 support...

CAN Extols Gov. Ugwuanyi for Good Governance, Peace, Security

15Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion

CAN Extols Gov. Ugwuanyi for Good Governance, Peace, Security

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State, has praised Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for the respect he has continued to accord the Church in the state as well as his untiring efforts at entrenching peace, good governance and security of lives and property. The religious group also lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for promoting love and unity “among adherents of different religious beliefs in Enugu State without discrimination”. The new CAN Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, in his speech during the maiden courtesy visit to Governor Ugwuanyi, by the newly elected and appointed leaders of CAN in Enugu State, said the governor’s resolve in demonstrating that Enugu State is in the hands of God is unrivaled. The five bloc leaders and youth and women leaders were part of the vi...

15Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion

Emir of Biu, Umar Aliyu Passes on

The Emir of Biu, Umar Mustapha Aliyu, is dead. He passed on in the late hours of Monday at the Federal Medical Center Gombe. The emir who was born on 9th of November in 1940 survived by four wives and over 70 children with close to 200 grandchildren, a family source said. Reacting to his death, Former senator, Shehu Sani tweeted, “My condolences to the Government and people of Borno State over the demise of the Emir of Biu His Royal Highness Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu. May Allah in his infinite mercy grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin.”

US Slams Visa Ban on Election Riggers in Nigeria

15Sep

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

News, Nigeria, United States of America

US Slams Visa Ban on Election Riggers in Nigeria

The United States government says it has imposed visa ban on some persons for their actions during the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa state gubernatorial elections and in the run-up to the Edo and Ondo state polls. This was disclosed on Monday in a statement signed by Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the Department of State. The statement read in part, “In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections. “These individuals have so far operated with impunity a...

14Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria

Ekiti Set to Reopen Schools, Fixes Date

The governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has ratified September 21 for the resumption of primary and secondary schools in the South West state. This comes after the recent approval by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the reopening of schools which have been shut since March in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Fayemi made the announcement in a state-wide broadcast on Sunday evening. He approved October 2 as resumption date for tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, subject to each institution’s governing council decision. According to the governor, students in students in SSS II, JSS III and Primary 6 are to resume on September 21, while students in SSS I, JSS II and Primary 5 and 4 are to resume from September 28. He added that Students in JSS I and Primary 1-...

Nigerian Police Vows to Vehemently Resist Students Planning Protest Against Fuel, Electricity Tariff Hike

13Sep

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Petroleum, Youths

Nigerian Police Vows to Vehemently Resist Students Planning Protest Against Fuel, Electricity Tariff Hike

The Nigerian Police force has vowed to “vehemently resist” students planning a massive protest in Ogun State over the recent spike in petrol price and electricity tariffs. This was made known by spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi in a communique on Saturday. This comes as the five days ultimatum issued to the federal government by members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West Zone D, to reverse the hike of petrol and electricity tariff is set to expire on Sunday. The students promised to take to the streets across South-West states if government retained the increment. In his reaction, Oyeyemi cautioned the students to shun such action, noting the force would not tolerate any group to hold the entire good people of Ogun state...

Daddy Freeze Apologises to Living Faith Founder, David Oyedepo

13Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion

Daddy Freeze Apologises to Living Faith Founder, David Oyedepo

On air personality, Ifedayo Olarinde popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has tendered an apology to Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel. The broadcaster said the viral video of him insulting the clergy took place two years ago but only gained attention recently. Daddy Freeze disclosed this in a video on Saturday. Several personalities such as Pastor Paul Enenche and founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie have criticized Daddy Freeze who is the convener of Free the Sheeple Movement and Leader of the Free Nation in Christ for insulting Oyedepo. “My attention has been drawn to a video I released circa two years, seven months ago while addressing some pertinent issues that arose back then. I apologise for the delivery of my message...

(Exclusive) Women in Abuja Community Take on Repair of Abandoned Road, Pledge Readiness to Partner With Government

12Sep

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu3 Comments

Environment, News, Nigeria, Photos, Transportation

(Exclusive) Women in Abuja Community Take on Repair of Abandoned Road, Pledge Readiness to Partner With Government

Residents of Byazhin Across, Kubwa a suburb in the Bwari Area Council of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja who have long clamored government’s intervention to fix their deplorable road have been rescued from their misery by “Able women.” The group which is made up of 10 women has taken it upon themselves to fix the road which has long been abandoned in an unmotorable manner causing untold hardship on motorists. In an exclusive interview with African News Today, the group said their action was inspired by the desire to uplift their community in the face of utter neglect by successive governments in the Bwari Area Council of FCT. The leader of the group who simply identified herself as Mrs. Shita said, “The road has been causing mishap and avoidable accidents to motorists, pregnancie...

Sports Minister Lauds Kwara Governor for Naming Stadium After Veteran Footballer, Yekini

12Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Sports Minister Lauds Kwara Governor for Naming Stadium After Veteran Footballer, Yekini

The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare has lauded the kind gesture of the Kwara State governor who renamed the state’s Sports Complex Stadium after Super Eagles player, late Rashidi Yekini. This was disclosed as the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the Minister in his office in Abuja on Thursday to deliberate prospects of youth and sports development. Dare appreciated the governor for taking a bold step in immortalizing the former African footballer of the year who died on May 4, 2012. Rashidi who hails from Kwara passed on at the age of 48. Governor AbdulRazaq announced at the meeting that progress has been made in immortalizing football icon, Rashidi Yekini by naming the Kwara State Sports Complex Stadium Ilorin after him. The sports minister encouraged the governor t...

INEC Office Fire Outbreak: Ondo Police Launches Investigation

12Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Crime, News, Nigeria, Security

INEC Office Fire Outbreak: Ondo Police Launches Investigation

Following the fire outbreak at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akure, Ondo State, Police has launched an investigation to unravel circumstances leading to the incident. No fewer than 5,000 Smart Card Readers stored in a container inside the INEC office were destroyed during the fire that took place on Thursday. Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Bolaji Salami during his visit to the INEC office for an on-scene assessment said pledged to bring any individual involved in the fire to justice. "We want to promise all law-abiding citizens of the state not to entertain any fear as we have begun our investigation. "Our command is fully prepared to give maximum police protection before, during and even after the election," he said.