Encomium
- FG HANDS FASHOLA N100BN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 25 MAJOR ROADS ACROSS NIGERIA
The Federal Government has released the debut Sovereign Sukuk of N100 billion to the Works ministry for the construction of 25 key economic roads across the six geo-political zones of the country.
The bond, which was issued in September 2017, was successfully completed last week.
Nigeria’s Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun on Thursday handed over the N100 billion proceeds cheque to Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola.
Adeosun, who disclosed that the Offer was oversubscribed to the tune of N105.87 billion, said the milestone was a sign of confidence in the Nigerian economy and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
- INEC RELEASE DATES FOR EKITI AND OSUN STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed dates for the upcoming Osun and Ekiti states governorship elections.
According to INEC national commissioner, Solomon Soyebi, the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on July 14, 2018, while the Osun State Governorship election will hold September 22, 2018, INEC disclosed on Thursday.
He also said commencement date of campaigns for Ekiti Governorship election will start from April 15, 2018, while campaigns for Osun election is scheduled to start on June 24, 2018.
- BUHARI APPOINTS AISHA AHMAD AS NEW CBN DEPUTY GOVERNOR
President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded Aisha Ahmad’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the new Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. She is to replace the former deputy whose tenure expired early this year.
In a letter written to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Buhari urged the Senate to “consider the expeditious confirmation of Mrs Ahmad, who would then resume work immediately.”
In addition to this, he is seeking the Senate’s confirmation of four new names as members of the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.
- ADAMAWA MOB LYNCH POLICEMAN FOR KILLING BUS PASSENGER OVER N50 BRIBE
The Adamawa state police command has confirmed the death of a patrol policeman along the Wuro-Dole-Pariya Road in Girei Local Government area of the state on Thursday.
According to an eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Sadiq, said that the incident followed a disagreement over a N50 bribe. The driver of the bus offered N50 but the policeman wanted N100.
A passenger challenged them and that led to a hot argument and the shooting of the passenger and injuring of another by the inspector.
“An angry mob attacked the inspector who was trying to escape and lynched him,” Sadiq said.
- PDP DEMAND IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF NNPC GMD MAIKANTI BARU
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and other organisations have called for the immediate suspension of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru.
In a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, PDP said it expected the president to have reacted and also prove himself as a corruption fighter by allowing one of his own to be investigated. Meanwhile, President Buhari will today (Friday) hold a crucial meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
- WHY US REJECTED NIGERIA’S YAM – AUDU OGBEH
Nigeria’s Minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh has said that the United States rejected yam exports from Nigeria because of their poor quality.
In June, Nigeria exported yams to China, United Kingdom and US as part of efforts to reduce dependence on oil and increase income from the agricultural sector.
The Minister vowed to investigate both the exporting company and officials of the ministry’s department of quarantine for allowing “such substandard good to leave the shores of the country”.
- WE NEED TO HAVE A N10 TRILLION BUDGET FOR 2018 – SARAKI
Nigeria’s senate president Bukola Saraki has stated that the country’s budget for 2018 could be as high as N10 trillion. According to him, this is because the executive might not be able to implement 50 percent of the 2017 budget.
He made this known during the debate on the report of the implementation of the 2017 budget at plenary on Thursday.
“If the implementation of the 2017 budget is going to be 50 percent, it means we should expect to have a budget of N10 trillion in 2018. I hope the executive takes note of that,” he said.
- TWO PDP REPS DECAMP TO APC
Two members of the House of Representatives, Zephaniah Jisalo who represent AMAC/Bwari federal constituency of the FCT and Yusuf Tijjani representing Okene/Ogori-Magog o federal constituency of Kogi State, have defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The duo informed the House of their defection in separate letters read on the floor by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
In a swift reaction, the minority whip of the house, Umar Barde, cited Section 68 of Nigerian constitution which states that a legislator will automatically vacate his seat if he/she leaves his political party without division.
But the speaker ruled that only the court could decide the fate of the defected members.
- POLICE INVITE DAVIDO, OTHERS OVER TAGBO’S CONTROVERSIAL DEATH
The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death of Tagbo, a friend of the hip-hop musician, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido.
The command said it was awaiting the result of an autopsy conducted on the deceased to ascertain the cause of death, which would guide its investigations.
The Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgar Imohimi, said on Thursday that he had met with Davido and other parties involved in the case.
Tagbo reportedly died on the eve of his birthday on Tuesday at a bar in the Lekki area of the state.
- NIGERIAN ARMY GIVES UPDATE ON NNAMDI KANU
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, has maintained that family of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu knows where Kanu is hiding.
Usman urged Nigerians to ask the younger brother and lawyer to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor of Kanu’s whereabouts.
The Army spokesman also said Kanu was somebody without any means of livelihood but used “propaganda” to attract public sympathy.
Speaking in Abuja, while rounding off a two-day media conference on the military’s enhancement of human rights, Usman said Kanu’s followers were in a “one-chance vehicle.”
