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PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.

Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.

As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

Ajuri Ngelale, media aide to Tinubu, in a release said that “Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.”

Also, Tinubu commended the Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries, he said

Doyen of accounting, Pa Akintola Williams, has died at the age of 104.

Pa Williams died in his sleep in the early hours of today, Monday, September 11, 2023.

Akintola was the country’s first indigenous chartered accountant, who pioneered Nigeria’s accounting profession.

Born in 1919, he was instrumental in developing the country’s financial sector.

The renowned accountant studied accounting at the University of London and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1947.

He returned to Nigeria and later set up his accounting firm, Akintola Williams & Co., now Deloitte & Touche, in 1952.

Williams was also a strong advocate for developing the accounting profession in Nigeria.

He was a founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and was president from 1963 to 1965. He was also a member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors.

Williams received many awards and honours, including the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

A Social media post trended recently about alleged illegal variations and inflation of some contracts of the FCTA/FCDA.

Our correspondent took time out to investigate the allegations contained in the Social media post. Credible sources in the FCTA/FCDA provided useful information which proved that the allegations were false and misleading.

Our correspondent gives a point by point explanation on each of the allegations below:

1. The Project referred to in Gaduwa is presumed to be the contract for the Emergency Rehabilitation/Improvement of Access Road to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Laboratory in Gaduwa District. The contract was awarded to M/s CBC Global Civil & Building Construction Company Nigeria Limited at the sum of N2,493,389,942.88.

As the name implies it was an emergency contract due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the need to quickly access the facilities for testing and treatment of infected persons. The scope of work comprises, Roadworks, Surface Water Drainage, Culverts and River Training. It is 2.4km long asphaltic concrete road. The project was completed on schedule and payment made in full.

The assertions of the author is therefore false.

2. On the issues of the contracts awarded at 10 Billion naira and later jacked up to N119 billion, no such contract exists in FCDA.

3. “Awarded Contract of N50 Billion later jacked up to N200 Billion” – FCTA/FCDA sources say this is strange to them and believed to be the figment of imagination of the writer.

4. “Award of contract of N6 Billion and later jacked up toN70 Billion”, Our sources in the FCTA/FCDA also revealed that they do not have such contract.

5. “Awarded Emergency Maintenance of Usman Dam at the cost of N9 Billion and paid in full without any BOQ and so many procurement infractions”.

Our credible sources revealed categorically that it is not true.

According to them, currently, the nature of works at the site demands emergency attention due to the fact that it can result to disruption of water supply to the city.

More so some of the Eletro-mechanical components required will have to be imported, so the procurement process is ongoing.

“But as we speak there is no payment yet on the works”, the source said.

6. “Left debt of over N1.2 Trillion to FCT without anything to show” – Our sources revealed that debts owed contractors working for the FCT Administration were debts accruing over a period of more than 20 years, spanning through several administrations and not wholly incurred during the last administration.

6. “Approval of green areas to residential houses and Converting Residential Houses in Wuse 2, Maitama Gana Street, Garki into Commercial in contrary to the Abuja Master Plan”. It was confirmed that the FCT / FCDA at no time condoled the abuse of the Master Plan. “However, if there is any infringement known to the Authority, necessary actions are always taken to correct such violations

Two suspected cultists have been gunned down in a clash by members of a suspected rival gang in Osun State.

DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred in Ilesa town on Sunday evening.

According to information, the rival gang members stormed the beer parlour at Onimo junction, where the victims, identified as Machine and SK, were drinking.

The traditional ruler in the area, Onimo of Imo, Oba Olaniyi Agunbiade, said he was watching a football match around 8 p.m. when he heard gunshots.

He said he immediately alerted the Ijamo Police Divisional Officer, who swiftly responded to the distress call.

“The deed has been done before the arrival of his men.

“Corpses of the victims were removed by the police for investigation,” he said.

Yemisi Opalola, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident in a conversation with DAILY POST.

“It was a clash between two suspected rival cult groups.

“It was a case of a suspected cult gang gunning down two members of another suspected rival cult group,” she said.

Opalola said an investigation has opened on it, and the culprits would be brought to book.