ValidNewsNG

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says farmers killed in Borno state did not get military clearance before visiting their farms. Shehu told the BBC on Monday that though the military is in “full control” of all parts of Borno, the farmers and residents ought to get clearance before visiting certain areas. Suspected Boko Haram members attacked Zabarmari, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, at the weekend, killing at least 43 farmers.  The attack was described by the United Nations as “the most violent attack” targeted at civilians in 2020. Shehu, however, blamed the farmers whom he said failed to do due diligence by first obtaining clearance before visiting their farms. “People need to understand what it is like in the Lake Chad area. Much of those areas have been liberated by Boko Haram terrorists but there are a number of spaces that have not been cleared for the return of villagers who have been displaced,” he said. “Ideally, all of these places ought to probably be allowed to...

 . National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has proposed a seven-point agenda, which he said, would revive the country’s troubled economy and drastically reduce her dependence on Petro-Dollars. Tinubu explained that the development of a national infrastructure plan; the return of commodity exchange boards and the promotion of government-backed housing programmes were important measures that could help to reposition the national economy. The proposals are contained in a recent lecture the APC leader delivered in Lagos, where he said the decline in oil prices had revealed the travesty of the country’s extant economic model. He proposed a national industrial policy fostering the development of strategic industries, which he said, could create jobs as well as spur sustainable economic growth. He said: “We must realise that no populous nation has ever attained broadly-shared prosperity without first creating an industrial capacity that employs l...

  Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has appealed for understanding of civil servants and political appointees over a reduction in their November salary, as a result of the shortfall from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FACC). In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mary Noel Berje, Bello described the situation as unfortunate, especially now that the economy is hitting hard on people due to recession.  The governor added that the government’s decision is temporary, and hopefully soonest, the situation will improve. Bello, who attributed the shortfall to the present poor economy, pointed out that the situation is not peculiar to Niger State alone and promised that his administration will expedite action towards improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to complement whatever is coming from FACC.  He disclosed that he and his deputy are also affected by the salary cut. Nigerians must be ready for this type of adjustmen...

  South Korea has decided to withdraw its candidate from the World Trade Organisation, WTO, director-generalship race, according to Washington Trade Daily.  Yoo Myung-hee is South Korea’s Trade Minister and its candidate for the top job at the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the WTO race, had secured the popular vote by a wide margin on October 28 but was not named DG because the US opposed her candidacy.   The two women are the last candidates standing and the eventual winner will set a record as being the first female WTO DG. However, ther e are speculations that the US might change its stance following Donald Trump’s failure to get re-elected as president.  After the October 28 meeting, WTO also said Okonjo-Iweala had the best chance of getting a consensus. Washington Trade Daily quotes sources as saying South Korea has notified the US of its decision and is expected to make it public “in the coming da...

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has warned that there could be anarchy if the Senate is scrapped as being clamoured by some Nigerians. The Senate President also faulted the argument of the Senate perceived jumbo pay being earned by the senators.  He said the annual budget of the National Assembly is less than one per cent of the nation’s 2021 budget.  Lawan stated this on Friday while declaring open, a retreat for top management staff of the National Assembly and National Assembly Service Commission in Abuja. He described the Senate as a leveler which ensured that all parts of the country are equally represented unlike the House of Representatives where states with higher populations produce the highest number of lawmakers. Conversely, when you compare Nigerian Senators and Representatives pay with other countries, you will be shocked to see the difference. Comparisons with USA, UK, Tanzania and Kenya are illustrated below.  The difference between when this researc...

Fredrick Nwabufo No government is short of opposition. In a democracy, the residence of an animated opposition signals the buoyancy of the system. Where there is democracy, there is opposition. In fact, opposition is the mitochondria of a republican system – it keeps the government on the mill working according to purpose. Why is the Buhari administration after the only opposition platform of all citizens? Really, the principal task of the administration from its conception was dismantling instruments and institutions of check. The Buhari executive thwacked the judiciary and effectively broke its back when agents of the state attacked judges in their homes and when the administration contrived the removal of Walter Onnoghen as chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), asphalting the path for a CJN to emerge from the region where the president comes from. The national assembly was not spared from the bludgeoning of the Buhari government. So, effectively the two institutions which naturally pro...

Nigeria has slipped into its second recession under four years after the economy posted a second consecutive contraction in the third quarter of this year.  The Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yemi Kale, who disclosed this on his Twitter handle on Saturday, said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slowed by 3.6 percent in the three months to September. He wrote: “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slowed by 3.6 percent in the three months to September, relative to a shrinking of 6.1 percent seen in the quarter before.”  Nigeria recorded its first recession in 2016 shortly after President Buhari took over from former President Jonathan. Oil production, on which the Nigerian economy depended with more than 65 percent contribution to the government’s revenues and 95 percent to foreign exchange earnings, crashed to 1.67 million barrels per day from 1.81 million in the previous three months.  Also, Nigeria  scaled down oil production to m...

A Deputy Executive Director, African Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Leo Atakpu, on Wednesday said the Nigerian government will soon receive £60 million from the United Kingdom, which was looted from Delta State during the administration of James Ibori.  Mr Ibori was governor of the oil-rich Delta State between 1999 and 2007. He was jailed in the UK for fraud in 2012 and had since served his time and returned to Nigeria. According to Mr Atakpu, the two countries have been working on modalities for the repatriation of the fund.  He disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at a two-day workshop organised by ANEEJ for journalists and civil society organisations in Benin City, Edo State. Mr Atakpu, who spoke on the theme, ‘Edo State Integrity and Accountability Strategy’, said the expected fund was allegedly looted when Mr Ibori was the governor of Delta State.  He said the UK government is insisting that the money must be used on some projects tha...

The Federal Government on Thursday said it has no plan to shut down the internet or social media. I t said it would only work with stakeholders to regulate social media. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this at a press conference in Abuja. Mohammed observed that social media was used wrongly to cause mayhem in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest. Your time is appreciated. What's your thoughts about this article? Kindly pen down your thoughts in the comments section.  Do you have stories to share with us or you want to advertise your legitimate business  services or products? You can reach us on WhatsApp +2349097679797.

  The management of Access Bank PlC announced N50 Billion naira free interest Loans for Businesses to thrive some weeks ago.  This is coming at a time when the economy of Nigeria is falling apart due to the covid-19 and the #Endsars protests, which has recked havoc in the country lately. This N50 Billion naira free interest loan will come into effect 2021 which is few weeks from now, with businesses getting huge boast and support, a move which will improve businesses .  Access bank plc has set the stage; many more banks (Commercial Banks) will announce her plans and hit the ground running. “Access Bank Plc will today commence the disbursement of the N50 billion interest-free loans and grant it set aside for Micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) that were destroyed by hoodlums in the wake of the protest against police brutality in the country last week. Commercial banking customers as well as Corporate banking customers affected by the looting and arson in...

The Nigeria’s Super Eagles played out a goalless draw against Sierra Leone in the second leg of the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown. Nigeria went into the match on the back of a disappointing 4-4 draw on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, with a promise of a better performance. Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho blew what was Nigeria’s best chance in the game, blasting over the goal after he was put through by Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute. Nigeria also had a goal disallowed in the 62nd minute after Alex Iwobi was found in an offside position just before Kelechi Iheanacho headed in his cross. Nigeria still tops the group with eight points and will face Benin Republic in March of 2021 Five countries have so far qualified for the 2022 AFCON following the conclusion of matchday four fixtures on Tuesday.  The countries are Cameroon, Senegal, Algeria, Mali and Tunisia. The Confederation of African...

  President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the federal government would meet all agreements with unions in the educational sector.  Buhari gave the assurance while expressing concern over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.  He appealed to the lecturers to return to their duty posts. The President spoke at the 2020 convocation and 72nd founding day celebration of the University of Ibadan, on Tuesday. President  Buhari was represented at the ocassion by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed. He urged all unions in the educational sector to embrace dialogue, rather than confrontation.  “I wish to assure all stakeholders, in the education sector, that the Federal Government will continue to meet its obligations and agreements with all unions . “It is my earnest desire that all unions should shed the toga of confrontation and embrace dialogue, for the sake of our children an...

The FG has proposed, in the draft Finance Bill 2020, the exemption of small businesses from payment of tertiary education tax. The Federal Government has proposed the exemption of small businesses from the payment of Tertiary Education Tax (TET), which is being collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the new draft Finance Bill 2020. This disclosure was made by the Chairman, Drafting Sub-committee and member of Fiscal Policy Reforms Committee, Mr Ajibola Olomola, at a virtual consultation and stakeholder engagement on Friday to discuss the economic and fiscal policy drivers underpinning the bill. The Fiscal Policy Reforms Committee which is chaired by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, pointed out that currently, all companies registered in Nigeria are required to pay TET at 2% of assessable profits for each year of assessment.  Mr Ajibola Olomola said the proposal for Finance Bill 2020, “i s to introduce an amendment t...

  Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south senatorial district, says President Muhammadu Buhari is being betrayed by kleptocrats who have formed a major part of his government. Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, the senator said though the president has done his best, there are people in his government undermining his achievements. Asked to score his party, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) after five years in power, he said: “I can’t say I am happy truly. We have done our best but that is not enough. But the most frustrating aspect of it is that there are some gaps there that are not necessary. “Here we are with a president that we have tried three times to get him elected, we didn’t succeed. We tried the fourth time and we succeeded. I know and believe that truly President Muhammadu Buhari is a genuine person that has the interest of the common man at heart. He has the integrity and the competence. But unfortunately, the government as I have ...

Access Bank PLC has been recognized as the ‘Best Digital Bank in Africa’ by Asian Banker for its continued investment in digital innovations.  The announcement was made at the Asian Banker Middle East and Africa Regional 2020 virtual Awards ceremony. Access Bank, over the years, has leveraged on technology including advanced analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics process automation to reform business operations and drive performance. Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank PLC, commented on the award saying, “We are delighted to receive this award, which recognizes our contribution towards revolutionizing the practice of digital banking in Africa. This award serves as an encouragement for us to consolidate our efforts towards becoming a truly digitally-led bank. We always ensure that customers enjoy secure, seamless and convenient services across multiple channels.” Access Bank has invested heavily in leading technologic...

Access Bank  is a financial institution and one of Nigeria banks bound  by the regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The bank was alleged of freezing 8 suspected #EndSARS protesters out of the 50 on the list. Amid an online campaign for customers to boycott Access Bank Plc, the management of the bank has sympathised with #EndSARS protesters for freezing their accounts.  Ask yourself these simple questions before boycotting the bank: *What' are Nigerians doing about a Nigerian youth that sue the 50 Suspected #EndSARS protest sponsors -Kenechukwu Okeke? *What will happen to the FG that engineers their probe? *What will happen to the CBN that got Court order to freeze their accounts? *What will happen to the banks of the remaining 42 others? *Is Access Bank the source of the actions? *What's the difference between Access Bank and other Nigeria banks? *Is Access Bank that is making ATM to be dispensing 10k instead of 20k in Nigeria? *Why only Access Bank if nothing a...

Peru’s President Manuel Merino resigned Sunday because of mass protests and the death of 3 protesters, just five days after taking office, sparking celebrations in the capital Lima following street protests against him and the ousting of his popular predecessor. “I want to let the whole country know that I’m resigning,” Merino said in a televised address, a day after a police crackdown on protesters left at least two people dead. Merino, 59, resigned shortly after a crisis session of Congress called on him to quit power before 6:00 pm (2300 GMT) or face censure. Demonstrators, supporters of Peruvian ousted President Martin Vizcarra, holding a Peruvian flag, clash with riot police during a protest against the government of interim president Manuel Merino in Lima on November 14, 2020.  This led to a violent crackdown on protests against his new government left at least three dead and more than 60 injured. Congress’ ultimatum came after the health ministry said three protesters were k...