Tag: Nigeria - Page 337 - African News Today

Government Cannot Afford to Subsidise Petrol in the Face of Revenue Drop, Says Buhari

8Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Economy, News, Nigeria, Petroleum

Government Cannot Afford to Subsidise Petrol in the Face of Revenue Drop, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration cannot afford to subsidise Premium Motor Spirit, widely known as petrol, as Nigeria’s revenue has remarkably dropped. The President disclosed this during the opening of the First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Buhari said a return to the era of subsidy would lead to ‘several negative consequences,’ among which is the long queues at filling stations for hours before petrol could be bought. His view has been countered by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria (ASUU), who called on President Buhari to fulfil his promise to rehabilitate the country’s refineries. The Buhari administration had in March deregulated the petroleum sector allowing petrol p...

Sack Service Chiefs Now, Norther Elders ask Buhari

8Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Sack Service Chiefs Now, Norther Elders ask Buhari

The Coalition of North-central Elders (CNCE), has told President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his security architecture by immediately sacking service chiefs. The group made the call in the wake of the security alert raised by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), alleging Boko Haham had laid siege on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, describing it as the first of kind in the history of the country. Mr. Usman Bida, National Chairman of the group and Mr. Moses Okudu, its National Secretary in a communique on Monday, expressed disbelief in the assurances by President Buhari to arrest the challenge, claiming that sacking the service chiefs was the only way to bolster the country’s security, This Day reports. The said the alert by NCS was testament to ‘intelligence failure’ o...

ASUU Kicks Against Resumption of Tertiary Institutions, See Reason

7Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety

ASUU Kicks Against Resumption of Tertiary Institutions, See Reason

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned against reopening of universities at the moment as it could lead to second wave of COVID-19 in the country. This was disclosed by the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Igbana Ajir in Mukurdi, Benue State at the weekend. Ajir cautioned that reopening of tertiary institutions now without proper arrangement to contain the spread of COVID-19 such as hostel accommodation, availability of facilities to enable social distancing in large and overcrowded classrooms among others would be counterproductive, Guardian reports. Speaking on establishment of illegal universities, he wondered how government have allegedly turned establishment of universities into constituency projects. Ajir said, “The visitors of these new institutions are...

Money Rain at Wedding of President Buhari’s Daughter, Hanan (See Video)

6Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Celebration, Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Money Rain at Wedding of President Buhari’s Daughter, Hanan (See Video)

There was no shortage of spectacular scenes as President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan and her groom, Mohammed Turad wedded on Friday. The lavish wedding which had its planners flown in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to reports by Sahara Reporters saw the rain of naira as guests sprayed money on the couple during their dance. The extravagant ceremony comes on the heels of increment of the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol by President Buhari’s administration from N145 to N160, causing attendant hardship on many households in the country. In a video of the lavish ceremony tagged 'The First Wedding' for being the first of its kind to hold inside Aso Villa, Nigeria's seat of power, and seen by AfricaNewsTodays, guests were seen gathered c...

Osinbajo Advocates Accessible, Affordable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine

5Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

African Development, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety

Osinbajo Advocates Accessible, Affordable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine should not be based on the highest bidder but rather be provided at an affordable and accessible manner. Osinbajo made the call while speaking at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum themed, “Towards a Realistic Euro-African Partnership During and Beyond the COVID-19 Era,” said his media aide, Laolu Akande. He said the approach would ensure contain the spread of the virus. Dignitaries such as UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterre and the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr Ulisses Correia Silva among others made presentations at the summit which aims to promote collaboration between Europe and Africa. Osinbajo said, “Europe should work closely with Africa to ensure that when a vaccine is finally deployed, i...

5Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Nigeria

Sanusi Reveals 2023 Political Ambitions

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mallam Muhammed Sanusi has said he has no interest in seeking elective position in the country, even in the forthcoming 2023 general election. Revealing his next course of action, the former Emir of Kano said he will be proceeding to the Oxfprd University in the United Kingdom next month where he will function as a visiting fellow at the university’s African Studies Department. Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Sanusi said, “People have been talking to me about politics when I was in the CBN. I have never had an interest in partisan politics.” On his political ambition, he said, “The nature of my family is that we consider ourselves the leaders of the poorer people and you know politics can be very divisive. “All I can say is that ...

Presidency Lauds UK Court Judgement on P&ID Feud

5Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Judiciary, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Presidency Lauds UK Court Judgement on P&ID Feud

The Presidency has lauded the judgment by the United Kingdom court granting Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions in a $10bn suit with Process and Industrious Development Limited (P&ID) has provided sufficient grounds for the Nigerian Government to proceed and challenge the frauds perpetrated by the company and overturn the arbitration award. This was disclosed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity on Friday in a communique titled, ‘Presidency welcomes judgment by UK court on P&ID.’ Shehu expressed the Presidents delight at the judgment, describing it as “right, just and provides a strong prima facie case that the fraudulent gas deal with P&ID and the subsequent judgment debt of $10bn against Ni...

Two Nigerian Refineries Produce Zero Crude Despite ₦85.9 Billion Investment

4Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Petroleum

Two Nigerian Refineries Produce Zero Crude Despite ₦85.9 Billion Investment

A June report published by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed that three refineries in Nigeria gulped ₦148 billion in 13 months but produced below 40,000 metric tonnes of crude oil. The low output according to NNPC is occasioned by ongoing rehabilitation of the oil refineries. Statistics show that when put together, both refineries have a production capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Port Harcourt refinery has the capacity of 210,000 bpd, the Kaduna refinery, 10,000 bdp and Warri refinery has 125,000 bpd. However, the refineries managed to produce 38,977 metric tonnes of crude from June this year. The Kaduna refinery produced the crude in July 2019 resulting to a ₦62 billion shortfall in 13 months, Premium Times reports. The report shows...

Nigerian Government Approves Phased reopening of Schools

4Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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...

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

3Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified the concession of the automation project of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed said the automation project will cost $3.1 billion. She noted the project will be concessioned for 20 years. The council also approved N13.122 billion for automation of airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and consequent transformation of the airports from their current analogue to full digital operations Ahmed said, “The main objective of this project is to completely automate every aspect of the customs business and to institutionalize the use of smart and emerging technologies that will enhance the statutory function of the Nigerian Customs Service in the areas of revenue gener...