News
Again, Buhari Orders NNPC to Search for Oil in North
For the second time in three weeks, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has received an express order from President Muhammadu Buhari to explore for oil in the North.
This time, the President directed the national oil firm to commence exploration activities in the Benue Trough. The Benue Trough is a major geological formation underlying a large part of Nigeria, extending about 1,000km North-East from the Bight of Benin to Lake Chad. Punch
Police Seal Off PDP Convention Venue
The Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State venue of today’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sealed off by a combined team of security personnel from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).
The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, said in a telephone call that: “We are obeying court order.”
It was gathered that policemen and other security operatives moved to the shark’s stadium at the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town, as early as 4 a.m. today, to prevent the breakdown of law and order. Vanguard
How Robbers Attacked CBN Bullion Van, Killed Two Policemen
Two policemen were killed on Tuesday at Hawan Kibo along the Jos-Abuja Road after armed robbers attacked a bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Our correspondent gathered that the bullion van and the policemen had left Jos in the early hours of Tuesday en route to Abuja.
It was learnt that after a military checkpoint along Hawan Kibo, the robbers, who were in military uniforms, emerged from a bush and engaged the police team in a shootout. Punch
Group Alleges N11bn Fraud in Kogi, Petitions Buhari, EFCC
A civil society organization, Egalitarian Mission Africa, has petitioned anti-graft agencies, accusing the government of Kogi State of money laundering and misappropriation of over N11 billion state funds.
The petition, by Olatunde Ojeomo on behalf of the group, was submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC, yesterday. Vanguard
$12m Fraud: EFCC Probes Elechi, Arrests Ex-Commissioner
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has intensified its probe of the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, over some alleged fraudulent contracts approved by his government.
Earlier in the year, the EFCC had received a series of petitions against Elechi’s government, causing the commission to invite the ex-governor and his son, Nnanna.
In continuation of the probe, the EFCC arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in the state, Mr. Benjamin Okah, for his alleged role in a $12m contract awarded to a United States-based firm, Califco Group, in 2012. Punch
My Message not For Everybody — Adeboye
Against the background of the criticisms that greeted one of his sermons at the yearly convention of the Redeem Christian Church of God, its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said his messages are not for everybody.
The social media was awash a couple of weeks ago on the sermon of Adeboye to the youth members of the church at the Redemption Camp where the message bordered on the choice of marriage partners. Punch
Trader Arrested For Naming Pet Dog ‘Buhari’
A 30-year-old trader has been arrested by the police in Ogun state for naming his pet dog ‘Buhari.’
The trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, of No 10, Omikunle Street, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, was reportedly arrested last weekend, after one of his neighbours of Northern extraction complained bitterly that he named his dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari. Vanguard
Business News
FX Scarcity: Cargo Dropped 50% in First Half 2016
Checks at the Ports and Cargo Handling Services Ltd.’s terminal at the Tin Can Island Port complex in Lagos revealed that container inflow at the six seaports has dropped by 10 per cent, while general cargo volume dropped by 50 per cent in the first half of the year, as compared to the figures in the corresponding period in 2015.
As a result, terminal operators at the country’s seaports are experiencing low financial returns a Daily Trust investigation has revealed. Daily Trust
BDCs: CBN Increases Dollar Sale to $50,000
The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved an increase in the maximum amount that could be sold to the Bureau De Change operators from $30,000 to $50,000 per week.
The decision was taken at the Bankers’ Committee meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the CBN on Tuesday in Abuja.
The move is part of the measures aimed at making more foreign exchange available to the BDCs as well as assist in bringing down the huge margin between the naira and the dollar. Punch