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  • Presidency debunks report on extension of President Buhari’s vacation

    Presidency debunks report on extension of President Buhari’s vacation

    The Presidency has described the social media report that President Muhammadu Buhari, extended his ongoing 10 working days vacation in London as fake.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purported fake news indicates that the President had already transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to this effect.

    The official twitter handle of the presidency @NGRPresident, late Tuesday night, dismissed the report, saying it is an old story which was first circulated during the president’s vacation in Feb. 2017.

    The presidency, therefore, enjoined all peace-loving citizens to ignore the fake news, saying that President Buhari had not extended his vacation.

    It stated: “This story from Feb. 2017 is currently being mischievously circulated on social media platforms, to create the impression that it’s related to the president’s current vacation.

    “Kindly take note of the date, 2017. The President has not extended his ongoing 10-working-day vacation.’’

    The fake news alert read: “Breaking: Buhari extends vacation, writes National Assembly’’

    President Buhari had on Aug. 3 commenced a 10 working days holiday.

    The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement on Aug. 1, in Abuja.

    He said: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

    “While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.”

    Adesina said the President would be in London for the holiday.(NAN)

  • Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.14% in July — NBS

    Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.14% in July — NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measured inflation for July dropped to 11.14 per cent (year-on-year) from 11. 23 per cent recorded in June.

    The NBS disclosed this in its “CPI and Inflation Report’’ for July released on Wednesday inAbuja.

    According to the bureau, the figure is 0.09 per cent points less than the rate recorded in June. The bureau said the figure showed 18 consecutive reductions in inflation rate since January 2017.

    The report showed that increases were recorded in all the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index.

    On a month-on-month basis, NBS said the Headline Index increased by 1.13 per cent in July, down by 0.11per cent points from the rate recorded in June.

    According to the bureau, the drop was the first month-on-month headline inflation decline since Feb. 2018.

    It said the percentage changed in the average composite CPI for 12 months period ended July over the average of CPI for the previous 12 months period.

    It, however, measured the CPI at 13.95 per cent in the period under review, showing 0.42 per cent point lower from 14.37 per cent recorded in June. (NAN)

     

     

     

  • Bread shortages hit Sudan – Report

    Bread shortages hit Sudan – Report

    Bread shortages have hit Sudan, with wheat traders blaming
    a foreign currency crisis for shortages of the staple that have left people queuing for
    hours outside bakeries.

    Sudan’s economy has been struggling since the south seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of its
    oil output and depriving it of a crucial source of foreign currency.

    The crisis has deepened over the past year as a black market for U.S. dollars has effectively replaced
    the formal banking system after the Sudanese pound was devalued, making it more difficult to import
    essential supplies such as wheat.

    A doubling of the price of bread in January triggered demonstrations after the government eliminated
    subsidies, although so far there was no sign of protests this time.

    At Banet neighbourhood in the town of Omdurman, in Khartoum, dozens of people stood in a long line outside
    the Modern Bakery.

    “This is unbearable,” said 53-year-old Abdullah Mahmoud, a day labourer, who said he had been queuing
    for two hours for bread.

    “I had been here since the morning and I still don’t have any bread.”

    Fatima Yassin, 36, in a queue for women, said: “Everything is expensive and bread is not available.

    “We have a difficult life and the government doesn’t care about us.”

    Similar queues were seen in other cities near the capital.

    Sudan imported 2 million tonnes of wheat in 2017, the government said in December, compared with 445,000
    tonnes produced locally.

    One Khartoum bakery owner, Ahmed Saleh, said he had had no flour since Monday.

    “We stopped working since yesterday because we did not get our share of flour,” he told Reuters.
    BLACK MARKET

    Any flare-up over shortages could prove tricky for the government. In January, authorities arrested a
    prominent opposition leader and confiscated newspapers to try to stop unrest from spreading.

    On Aug. 3, Sudan’s ruling party announced that it would back any new bid by President Omar al-Bashir,
    to run again in the 2020 election, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.

    Government officials were not immediately available to comment on the crisis.

    But the Khartoum state governor, Abdel-Rahim Mohammed Hussein, said in remarks carried by state news
    agency SUNA on Monday that the state would receive its share of wheat supplies in the “next couple
    of days”, without elaborating.

    Private sector wheat traders, who were given responsibility for imports by the government at the start
    of this year, blamed the flour shortages on the foreign currency shortages.

    One trader said that businessmen were increasingly being forced to buy foreign currency at a higher rate
    on the black market to finance imports.

    “At the same time, the government sets the sale price for flour at an unreal dollar rate,” one trader
    told Reuters.

    “We cannot sell flour at a loss,” he added.

    The price of the Sudanese pound had been declining since the beginning of the year after the government
    devalued the currency to 18 per U.S. dollar, more than double its peg of 6.7 pounds to the dollar.

    The pound, which has since been devalued further and is now officially set at 29 pounds to the dollar,
    was trading at 40 pounds to the dollar on the black market on Tuesday. (Reuters/NAN)

  • 2019: JIBWIS urges Kano residents to obtain PVCs

    The Jama’tu Izalatul Bidi’a Waikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), an Islamic group, in Kano has called on eligible voters, irrespective of religious background, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The state Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdallah Pakistan, made the appeal on Saturday in Kano during a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

    Pakistan said that PVCs would enable them elect leaders of their choice in the 2019 general elections.

    He said possession of PVC was only the means through which the electorate could choose leaders of their choice.

    “As the national general election draws closer, I appeal to all Kano residents irrespective of their religious background who are eligible to vote to register and get their voter cards.

    “The objective of the PVC is that every registered voter gets his or her card on time so as to allow him or her exercise his or her franchise during the elections.

    “This will also enable you to vote God-fearing and credible leaders in the interest of national development,” he said.

    Pakistan also called for continuous prayers for peace, unity and development in the country.

    He said that the body had set up a committee to sensitise residents of the state on the importance of PVC and peaceful conduct of election.

    The cleric added that the committee would go round the 44 local government areas of the state to enlighten voters on peace and unity before and after election.

    The Islamic scholar also called on politicians to play the game according to rules, saying “politics is not a do or die affair”.

    Responding, Ganduje thanked JIBWIS for the visit and commended the group for embarking on the political sensitisation and mobilisation of the electorate in the state.

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Malam Ali Fagge, the governor stressed the role of religious leaders in nation building.

    He presented JIBWIS with a 14 -seater bus to scale up the campaign and advocacy towards promoting peace and unity in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Aug. 17 as deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration in the country. (NAN)

  • A’Ibom Govt rehabilitates 400 public schools in 3 years- Commissioner

    A’Ibom Govt rehabilitates 400 public schools in 3 years- Commissioner

    The Akwa Ibom Government says it has renovated about 400 public schools in the last three years in spite of the economic situation in the country.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Sunday.

    Udoh said that the state government had compiled the list of all public schools, both primary and secondary, to know what each school required to function effectively.

    He assured Akwa Ibom people that Gov. Udom Emmanuel attached great premium to education of their children, saying that was why the state government continued to provide free education.

    The commissioner added that the government also paid the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees of some students to encourage children to go to school.

    “”The ongoing transformation in public schools across the state will include as many schools as the state’s resources can carry.

    “”The decay in education infrastructure dates back to independence. This administration has so far renovated 400 out of the 2,000 schools in the state,’’ Udoh said.

    He explained that it was not possible for government to rehabilitate all the 2,000 public schools in three years.

    Udoh said, ““It is practically impossible to fix 2,000 schools in three years.’’

    The commissioner said that the government had also provided enabling environment for investors to create employment for its qualified youths.

    According to him, this is to completely change the public service setting of the state.

    He said that some industries attracted to the state included the syringe industry, the fertilizer blending factory, the metering plant and the flour blending factory.

    Udoh noted that private investors were ahead of the government in business management, saying that many sophisticated government-owned industries had folded up in the past due to administrative bottlenecks.

    He explained that the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre initiated by the immediate past administration had not been abandoned, saying that government was taking its time to source for investors to take over the business.

    “”What Gov. Udom Emmanuel is doing is not to build political projects.

    “He is embarking on sustainable development beyond vote seeking; he is trying to sustain the economy of Akwa Ibom State through industrialisation.

    “”He wants to change the state from a public service state to an “industrialised state.

    “”That is why industries brought in by government are not government- owned; they are attracted to create employment for our people.

    “”They will in turn boost our internally-generated revenue and sustainability is assured,’’ Udoh said.

    The commissioner assured people that the governor would not mortgage the future of the state, but would channel the state’s resources to productive ventures for its development. (NAN)

  • FMBN begins ‘Rent to Own’ pilot scheme with 3000 houses nationwide

    FMBN begins ‘Rent to Own’ pilot scheme with 3000 houses nationwide

    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Board has approved the implementation of the ‘Rent-To-Own’ pilot housing scheme to begin with 3000 houses nationwide.

    A statement signed by Mrs Zubaida Umar, FMBN Corporate Communications Group Head, on Sunday in Abuja, stated that the scheme was a strategic move designed to make home ownership more accessible and affordable for Nigerian workers.

    The FMBN ‘Rent-to-Own’ scheme is an innovative affordable housing product, which provides an easy and convenient payment plan towards home ownership for Nigerian’s workers.

    The scheme is designed for workers to move into FMBN homes as tenants, pay for and own the properties through monthly or yearly rent payments spread over periods of up to 30 years.

    Umar noted that the properties would also attract a single digit interest rate of nine per cent on the price of the property on an annuity basis to increase affordability.

    “The product will cover properties with the maximum value of N15million.

    “The rent-to-own housing product targets Nigerian workers who are contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and will be implemented in phases. About 3000 houses are planned for the pilot phase with 3000 beneficiaries.

    “To deliver on the rent-to-own housing scheme, FMBN will partner with reputable estate developers for the construction of cost-effective housing stock nationwide.

    “Payments for the houses will be domiciled with the CBN through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    “Properties that are planned for the rent-to-own scheme are Existing Estates that are funded by FMBN nationwide and non-funded estates,” She said.

    Speaking on the development, FMBN Managing Director, Mr Dangiwa Ahmed, was quoted as saying that the rent-to-own was another groundbreaking initiative targeted at increasing access to affordable housing by workers in the low-medium income brackets.

    “The rent-to-own housing product is designed to make sure that any worker who collects salary should be able to live in his own home and pay conveniently over periods as long as 30-years.

    “This is a massive relief especially given how little workers earn.

    “I am delighted that we have successfully added this product to the many other initiatives that we have made possible to make homeownership a lot easier for Nigerian workers”.

    Ahmed commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the development of housing and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola for his continual support on the ongoing reforms to re-position FMBN.

    He added that the scheme would eliminate the burden of equity contributions by workers for housing loans, complement its existing products and help the bank to utilise abandoned estates that were to be transferred to the scheme. (NAN)

  • Tragedy: 4 policemen killed in ambush by kidnappers

    By Moses Omorogieva
    Four policemen working with the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have died in the service of their nation, killed on Saturday in Kaduna State by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    Six of the kidnappers were also killed in the exchange of gunfire.

    The leader of the team, Mr Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, confirmed the killings and the deaths of the gallant policemen to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    Kyari said the incident happened when the suspected gunmen ambushed the operatives during a follow up operation on the kidnapping of one Sheikh Ahmad Adam Algarkawy in Rigasa area of Kaduna.

    Inspector Haruna Ibrahim: also killed

    Inspr. Mamman Abubakar

    Sgt. Emmanuel Istifanus: Killed by the kidnappers
    “The incident occurred sequel to the kidnapping of Sheikh Ahmad Adam Algarkawy in Rigasa area of Kaduna State on Aug. 2, 2018 and his subsequent release after ransom was paid.

    “In follow up to the case on Aug. 11, 2018, IRT operatives arrested two of the kidnappers in a remote settlement inside Rigasa Forest in Kaduna State.

    “As the team was coming out of the bush with the arrested kidnappers, other gang-members hiding inside the bush ambushed the IRT team and opened fire which resulted to the death of four IRT operatives.

    “Those killed are three police inspectors – Benard Odibo, Mamman Abubakar, Haruna Ibrahim – and one Sergeant, Emmanuel Istifanis.

    “Bodies of the deceased operatives were deposited at St. Gerald Hospital Mortuary, Kaduna State, for autopsy.

    “Very serious efforts in progress to get the killers to justice,” he said.

    Abba Kyari also disclosed in a post on Facebook that six of the deadly Kidnappers also died during the gun-battle.

    “One Officer was Treated for Bullet Wound and discharged while the remaining officers who survived the ambush are in good health condition.”

  • Man, 35, faces N100,000 accommodation fraud charge

    Man, 35, faces N100,000 accommodation fraud charge

    A 35-year-old man, Olaitan Adekunbi, who allegedly defrauded an apartment seeker of N100,000, on Monday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Adekunbi, who is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, ASP Fidelis Dike, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 12, at 10:00a.m., at Aro Bamigbose Street, Lekki, Lagos.

    Dike said the accused unlawfully obtained the N100,000 from the complainant, Yusuf Ajetomobi, with the pretext of helping him to get a room apartment, which he did not.

    “He said the accused collected the money and absconded to an unknown destination. He could not be reached on his cell phone.

    “The complainant, who was tipped of the accused’s whereabouts, later traced him there and got him arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    Dike said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment while Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for offenders.

    The Magistrate, Mr Omolaja Kazeem, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case until Sept. 26. (NAN)

  • NURTW tasks FRSC on issuance of driver’s licence

    NURTW tasks FRSC on issuance of driver’s licence

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Jigawa, on Monday, called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to be stricter in vetting driver’ licence before issuance to applicants.

    Alhaji Sabo Innani, the NURTW chairman, Hadejia chapter in the state, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia.

    He said that subjecting the applicants to more rigorous trainings in the rudiments of driving would minimise reckless driving, which usually caused accidents.

    “To become a good driver, you need to know the theoretical aspect of driving, even before the practical aspect of it.

    “When I applied for my driver’s license in 1976, I had to go through rigorous lessons on both the practical and theoretical aspects of driving before I got the licence in 1978.

    “At that time, I had to contact some local clerics to pray for me to enable me get it because it was not easy.

    “Today, things have completely changed because someone will apply for licence and within weeks, the licence is ready,” he said.

    On the welfare of commercial drivers, Innani said the union had been giving moral and cash support to its more than 500 members involved in accidents, sickness, marriage, naming ceremony, among others.

    The chairman lauded the state government for releasing 30 commercial vehicles to the union on loan in 2017, adding that the loan would be paid back in 2020. (NAN)