Home Blog Page 2338

Senate commends Buhari for assenting to Banks, Financial Institutions Act 2020

0

The Senate on Saturday praised President Buhari for endorsing the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020.

Media Committee Chairman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the assent has effectively repealed the 1991 edition.

He expressed hope that the Act will rejuvenate the financial system and enhance the development of the economy.

“The work which has gone into the passage of this bill, like some previously assented to by Mr President, underscores the determination of the 9th Assembly to focus on the path of economic growth and development of our country.

“By this law, banks and financial institutions will be able to offer productive sectors of the economy, quality banking and financial services as well as ensure recovery of non performing loans”, he said.

Basiru noted that enactment of the BOFI Act followed other Bills passed by the Senate to boost critical areas for the economy.

He listed some as the Petroleum Profit Tax Act CAMA Act, Finance Act, Police Act, Deep Offshore and Profit Sharing Contract Act.

Obaseki re-appoints Osarodion Ogie as SSG, defers other appointments until 2021

0

Edi State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has reappointed Osarodion Ogie as the Secretary to the State Government.

The governor announced the appointment on Saturday via his Twitter handle.

“I have approved the appointment of Osarodion Ogie Esq., as Secretary to the State Government,” the governor tweeted.

While noting that the SSG’s selection is the only appointments to be made, for now, Obaseki said he would announce his other aides to make up his cabinet on February 2021.

“This is the only political appointment to be made for now. All other appointments are deferred to the first week of February 2021.

All other appointments are deferred to the first week of February 2021,” he added.

Obaseki, who was sworn in on Wednesday for a second time in office, dissolved the cabinet that served with him in his first tenure hours before his swearing in.

Until his first appointment as SSG in 2016, Ogie was the Director-General of Obaseki’s campaign organisation.

He also served as the Commissioner for Works in the state under the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Why we approved ‘slight increase’ in petrol price — NNPC

0

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed the reason for what it described as “slight increase” in the ex-coastal price and ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

The corporation made the disclosure on Friday in a statement issued by its spokesman, Kennie Obateru.

According to Obateru, the “slight increase” in the price of petrol is due to the fluctuating realities of demand and supply.

He noted that the correct prices, as seen on the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company’s online portal for procurement of petroleum products are: N128 for Ex-Coastal Price and N153.17 and Ex-Depot Price (with collection).

Obateru advised petrol marketers to make their purchases through “the online PPMC platform at the recommended prices.”
He added that ex-coastal and ex-depot prices are expected to impact on pump prices nationwide.

The increase in petrol rice to 170/litre has attracted backlash from groups and prominent individuals in the country.

The main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has described the decision as “wicked and unbearable” adding that there is no justification for the increase by the Buhari administration, which PDP said, is “bent on fleecing Nigerians.”

Musa, Iwobi apologise to Nigerians over Sierra Leone draw

0

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has apologised to fans following their shock 4-4 draw with Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Benin.

The Eagles were shocked on Friday evening when the visiting Leone Stars fought from four goals down to draw 4-4 and pick a point from the encounter.

A brace from Alex Iwobi and goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen saw the Gernot Rohr side cruising in the first half before Quee Kwame, Mustapha Bundu and Alhadji Kamara (brace) scored to equalise.

Musa, who played for most part of the game, has expressed his sympathy for Nigerian fans, assuring of a better performance when the teams go head to head again next Tuesday.

“Dear Nigerians on behalf of myself and my teammates we are really sorry for the disappointment,” Musa said in a video published on the Super Eagles verified Twitter handle.

“We know we made a very big mistake in the game but there’s nothing we can do, that’s football, sometimes we win sometimes we lose. But we are going to correct our mistake in the next game Insha Allah.

“We are going there and do our best to see that we qualify for the AFCON and we know we can do it.

“On behalf of myself and my teammates we are very sorry for the game, we will make it up,” the captain said.

Reacting also after the game, brace-scorer Iwobi tweeted: “Deeply Disappointed , We’ll Work To Put Things Right.”

Despite the draw, the Super Eagles remain top spot in Group L with seven points, and will face Sierra Leone in matchday four at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown on Tuesday.

Scores of secret service agents down with COVID-19 after campaign trips with Trump

0

 

The US Secret Service, which guards President Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and the White House, has been struck by an outbreak of COVID-19, US media reported Friday.

The Washington Post said that more than 130 Secret Service agents were infected by coronavirus or in quarantine due to contact with infected people.

The outbreak came after numerous agents traveled to campaign rallies with Trump where many officials and most of the attendees went maskless.

It also follows several White House events in the past three weeks led by Trump, including an election night party November 3, where most of those present also did not wear masks.

Afterward a number of officials reported positive COVID-19 tests, including Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows.

The New York Times said at least 30 uniformed Secret Service officers had tested positive in recent weeks in a “sustained” outbreak, and some 60 have been told to quarantine.

It was the latest of several waves of infection to hit the service since the pandemic struck the United States.

Several Secret Service agents were forced to self-quarantine after a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma in June.

The same happened again after a July speech to sheriffs in Tampa, Florida led to positive COVID-19 tests.

The service also had an outbreak at its training academy in Maryland.

Secret service has around 7,000 employees, including the uniformed agents who guard the White House and presidential events, and the storied civilian suit-wearing bodyguards who stay close

to the president, vice president, president-elect and others, pledging to “take a bullet” for their charge.

Asked about the reports, Secret Service spokesperson Julie McMurray said they will not release any details on COVID-19 infections “for privacy and operational security reasons.”

“The health and safety of our workforce is paramount,” she added.

“We continuously assess the requirements necessary to operate during the pandemic and ensure we remain prepared and fully staffed to carry out our critical integrated protective and investigative missions, neither of which has been degraded by the pandemic,” she said.

10-year-old comedian Emmanuella builds house for mum

0

Young comedian Emmanuella Samuel has built a house for her mother.

The 10-year-old shared pictures of the new structure and the dedication on Instagram.

“I built this for you mom. For all the prayers, all the encouragement and support. Mummy I know you said you want a portable house and this is it,” she wrote on Saturday.

“But forgive me because I must complete your mansion for you next year. Don’t worry it won’t make us go to hell.”

Emmanuella began comedy at the age of five in 2015.

She became well known after the comedy skit ‘This is Not My Real Face Oh’.

Emmanuella was born in Port Harcourt.

Scores of Secret Service Agents Infected with COVID-19 After Campaign Trips with Trump

0

The US Secret Service, which guards President Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and the White House, has been struck by an outbreak of COVID-19, US media reported Friday.

The Washington Post said that more than 130 Secret Service agents were infected by coronavirus or in quarantine due to contact with infected people.

The outbreak came after numerous agents traveled to campaign rallies with Trump where many officials and most of the attendees went maskless.

It also follows several White House events in the past three weeks led by Trump, including an election night party November 3, where most of those present also did not wear masks.

Afterward a number of officials reported positive COVID-19 tests, including Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows.

The New York Times said at least 30 uniformed Secret Service officers had tested positive in recent weeks in a “sustained” outbreak, and some 60 have been told to quarantine.

It was the latest of several waves of infection to hit the service since the pandemic struck the United States.

Several Secret Service agents were forced to self-quarantine after a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma in June.

The same happened again after a July speech to sheriffs in Tampa, Florida led to positive COVID-19 tests.

The service also had an outbreak at its training academy in Maryland.

Secret service has around 7,000 employees, including the uniformed agents who guard the White House and presidential events, and the storied civilian suit-wearing bodyguards who stay close

to the president, vice president, president-elect and others, pledging to “take a bullet” for their charge.

Asked about the reports, Secret Service spokesperson Julie McMurray said they will not release any details on COVID-19 infections “for privacy and operational security reasons.”

“The health and safety of our workforce is paramount,” she added.

“We continuously assess the requirements necessary to operate during the pandemic and ensure we remain prepared and fully staffed to carry out our critical integrated protective and investigative missions, neither of which has been degraded by the pandemic,” she said.

Why we imposed tax on every loaf of bread – Kogi govt

0

The Kogi State Government has said it imposed a tax on every loaf of bread and confectionery sold in the state to encourage local producers.

The reason for the action, which has generated so much public outcry, was given on Friday, November 13, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.

According to Fanwo, the government did so in efforts to protect indigenous bakers from people that bring bread to the state without paying any form of levy.

The state Ministry of Commerce and Industry had announced the levy

on November 9. The ministry failed to give any reason for the action.

Many people in the state and outside the state kicked against the imposition of levy on bread by the government.

However, Fanwo said in a statement he signed and entitled, ‘The facts about the bakery levies’:

“The recent letter was one of our strategies at protecting our indigenous bakers and also protect our economy from the activities of bakers outside the State who bring their bread to the State without paying any form of levy.

“No responsible government will sit by and watch her indigenous businesses lose the local market. Our indigenous bakers have complained bitterly about the activities of external bakers who packed their bread to the state in trucks and sell without paying anything to the state government.

“Poor sales by our bakers may lead to job losses, a situation we are determined to use legitimate means to avert.

“We assure the Master Bakers of our open-door policy and our readiness to keep listening to them in order to smoothen relationships and factors aiding their production as bread consumers have nothing to fear.”

Biden solidifies U.S. election win, Trump says ‘time will tell’ if he stays in power

0

 

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden solidified his election victory on Friday by winning the state of Georgia, and President Donald Trump said “time will tell” if another administration takes over soon, the closest he has come to acknowledging Biden could succeed him.

Edison Research, which made the Georgia call, also projected that North Carolina, the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count, would go to Trump, finalizing the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump.

The numbers gave Biden, a Democrat, a resounding defeat of Trump in the Electoral College, equal to the 306 votes that Trump, a Republican, won to defeat Hillary Clinton in a 2016 victory Trump called a “landslide.”

At a White House event where he predicted a coronavirus vaccine would be available for the whole population by April, Trump edged closer to acknowledging he might leave the White House in January but stopped short.

“This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully the, uh, whatever happens in the future – who knows which administration it will be? I guess time will tell,” Trump said in his first public remarks since Biden was projected as the election’s winner on Nov. 7.

Trump did not take questions after the event.

Trump, a Republican, has claimed without evidence that he was cheated by widespread election fraud and has refused to concede. State election officials report no serious irregularities, and several of his legal challenges have failed in court.

Although the national popular vote does not determine the election outcome, Biden was ahead by more than 5.3 million votes, or 3.4 percentage points. His share of the popular vote, at 50.8%, was slightly higher than Ronald Reagan’s share of the vote in 1980 when he defeated Jimmy Carter.

To win a second term, Trump would need to overturn Biden’s lead in at least three states, but he has so far failed to produce evidence that he could do so in any of them. States face a Dec. 8 “safe harbor” deadline to certify their elections and choose electors for the Electoral College, which will officially select the new president on Dec. 14.

Biden’s legal team in Georgia said on Friday they do not expect a hand recount of votes in the state to change the results there. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told Fox News the campaign has “great confidence” it can prevail in the Georgia recount.

A Michigan state court rejected on Friday a request by Trump’s supporters to block the certification of votes in Detroit, which went heavily in favor of Biden. [L1N2HZ23E] And lawyers for Trump’s campaign dropped a lawsuit in Arizona after the final vote count rendered it moot.

Federal election security officials have found no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, “or was in any way compromised,” two security groups said in a statement released on Thursday by the lead U.S. cybersecurity agency.

TRANSITION TALK

Biden officials said on Friday they would press forward with the transition, identifying legislative priorities, reviewing federal agency policies and preparing to fill thousands of jobs in the new administration.

“We’re charging ahead with the transition,” Jen Psaki, a senior adviser to Biden’s transition team, said on a conference call while stressing that Biden still needs “real-time information” from the Trump administration to deal with the resurgent pandemic and national security threats.

Psaki urged Trump’s White House to allow Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to receive daily intelligence briefings on potential threats around the world.

“With every day that passes on, it becomes more concerning that our national security team and the president-elect and the vice president-elect don’t have access to those threat assessments, intelligence briefings, real-time information about our engagements around the world,” Psaki said. “Because, you know, you don’t know what you don’t know.”

Biden will be briefed by his own group of national-security experts next week, she said. He met with transition advisers again on Friday at his Delaware beach house where he is mapping out his approach to the pandemic and prepares to name his top appointees, including Cabinet members.

Trump’s refusal to accept defeat has stalled the official transition. The federal agency that releases funding to an incoming president-elect, the General Services Administration, has yet to recognize Biden’s victory, denying him access to federal office space and resources.

Trump has discussed with advisers media ventures and appearances to keep him in the spotlight ahead of a possible 2024 White House bid. In the near term, he is expected to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidates in Georgia ahead of Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine which party controls the chamber, aides said.

He also is considering starting a new television channel or social media company to compete with those he felt betrayed him and stifled his ability to communicate directly with Americans, according to several advisers.

Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, a Trump confidant, said he had spoken to the president by phone on Friday and Trump gave him the impression he would follow the U.S. Constitution and surrender his office after every vote was counted.

“He told me he’s a realist. He told me he would do the right thing,” Rivera said in an interview with Fox. “I got no impression that he was plotting the overthrow of the elected government. He just wants a fair fight.”

#EndSARS: Conspiracies against Buhari, Nigeria will continue to fail – Bishop Garuba

0

Renowned cleric, Bishop Sunday Garuba, has declared that all the conspiracies against President Muhammadu Buhari and the country through the EndSARS protests will end in futility.

Bishop Garuba made the proclamation on Friday at Day 2 of the ongoing 21 Days Special Prayer and Fasting organised by National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP).

Bishop Garuba, NIFROP’s National Coordinator, noted that demonic forces indeed ganged up against the country using the EndSARS protest to accomplish their evil desires against Nigeria.

But for divine intervention, he said the nation would have been history by now with the destructions and loss of lives from the violent mass action.

Bishop Garuba also revealed that ” forces of evil also succeeded in hijacking a genuine aspiration by Nigerian youths to see to an end to police brutality”.

According to the Christian cleric, the prayers is intended to set the wrath of God against all those that have constituted themselves into principalities to destroy Nigeria.

At the end of the exercise, the preacher assured that “good shall triumph over evil, and Nigeria shall experience peace and tranquillity to the shame of those demonic agents that have ganged up against our country”.

NIFROP’s National Coordinator added that those that hijacked the EndSARS shall be exposed and put to shame.

He, however, called on all citizens to stand-in for Nigeria in this critical point of our existence.

Read full speech below:

I bring Calvary greetings to you all.

It feels great to be in our midst again as we fellowship in worship and prayers to God for our dear country against the forces of evil that haven’t relented in their desire to see that our country disintegrates into chaos.

God indeed kept Nigeria. God indeed proved Himself faithful once again in the light of the EndSARS protest that led to some unpleasant events across the country. Events that were orchestrated from the pit of hell against Gods own country.

My brothers and sisters, one of the strong points of this gathering is our diversity and our unity of purpose. We have indeed proved to the world that religion and ethnicity have no place in our collective desire to ensure that Nigeria experiences sustainable peace, growth and development.

The EndSARS protest has come and gone, and I want to use this medium to tell us that our gathering here is to take the battle to God against all the demonic forces that have conspired against Nigeria.

As children of God, we are duty-bound to intercede for the good of our land. We are also duty-bound to ensure that the evil desires of those that do not want Nigeria to experience peace are truncated.

My brothers and sisters, this 21 days of prayers is intended to set the wrath of God against all those that have constituted themselves into principalities that want to see to the destruction of Nigeria. For the Bible reminds us in the book of Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The Bible also reminds us in the book of Psalms 35:2-4 “Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seeks after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.”

My brothers and sisters, we shall use the occasion of this 21 days of prayers to draw our spears through prayers to wage war against all the evil forces against the soul of Nigeria. And by the grace of God, they shall all be put to shame.

My brothers and sisters, we must all know that demonic forces indeed ganged up against our dear country using the EndSARS protest as a smokescreen in their evil desires against Nigeria. But for divine intervention, Nigeria would have been history by now with the destructions and loss of lives that occasioned the EndSARS protest.

These forces of evil also succeeded in hijacking a genuine aspiration by Nigerian youths to see to an end to police brutality. But they instead turned it into an avenue to wreak havoc in the polity through the senseless killing of law enforcement officers, as well as the destruction of public and private properties.

As we gather here to pray for Nigeria, let us have it at the back of our minds that indeed this is time to bring to an end all the evil machinations against Nigeria because we shall pray fervently without seizing for 21 days, and the God that we serve shall consume all those that are plotting evil against our country.

We must understand that the battle for the soul of Nigeria has been taken to God in prayers. At the end of the day, good shall triumph over evil, and Nigeria shall experience peace and tranquillity to the shame of those demonic agents that have ganged up against our country.

My brothers and sisters, I am glad that we are have come out in our numbers to join hands and in one voice to seek for divine intervention in addressing the threats posed by some demonic forces against our country.

I tell you all gathered here today that indeed the end of the road has come for those demonic forces in individuals, groups and associations. They shall indeed be put to shame to the glory of God.

My brothers and sisters, we shall be praying and fervently too. We shall commit Nigeria to the throne of heaven, holding our hands and in one voice to pray for divine intervention in the affairs of Nigeria.

The Bible assured us in the book in Psalms 125:2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever.” God is not a man that He should lie for His words are yes and amen.

I tell you all gathered here that all the conspiracies against our dear country shall fail woefully. In the book of Exodus 14:13, “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”

This is indeed the hour of liberation for Nigeria against the forces of darkness that have vowed to destroy our great country. We know that they have held nocturnal meetings plotting the downfall of Nigeria. But our hope and strength are in the book of Psalms 91; 7 “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

My brothers and sisters, I want us to shout in joy because God is on the throne. He has promised us great victory, and we are confident that at the end of the day we shall shout a great Halleluiah to the Host of Heaven for his faithfulness and if God is for us, who can be against us?

My brothers and sisters, I must tell us gathered here that no one can stand against our great country, and no evil machination against the peace and stability of Nigeria shall succeed. Consequently, we shall pray fervently in different languages to God for our membership cuts across religion and ethnicity for we are united in one strong voice and with a passion to intercede on behalf of Nigeria.

I want to especially thank you all for coming out in numbers in our characteristic manner to pray for Nigeria. And the God that we serve shall come to our rescue for we are indeed victorious in Christ Jesus.

My brothers and sisters, these are indeed dangerous times, and we must stand-in for our great country in this critical point of our existence; hence this 21 days fasting programme. As we pray to God, we must also pray for the repose of the souls of all the law enforcement officers that lost their lives during the hijacked EndSARS protest that resulted to the condemnable burning down of police stations and units in parts of the country. Our prayers are with the families that they left behind, and may God grant them eternal rest in Jesus name.

I want to thank you all for your outstanding display of commitment to the Nigerian cause as evident in our previous intercessions in seeking divine intervention for the myriads of security challenges in the country.  God has indeed been faithful, and His mercies endure forever.

My brothers and sisters,  this is indeed another occasion for us to cry to the Host of Heaven to show His mercies upon Nigeria and put to shame all those demonic forces that have ganged up against our peace and stability.

I prophesy that at the end of the 21 days of prayers, all those that hijacked the EndSARS shall be exposed and put to shame. For what a faithful God that we serve. The God of signs and wonders, the God that neither sleeps nor slumber and the ever-faithful God.

My brothers and sisters, as we settle for the task at hand, I pray for God’s grace upon us throughout the duration of this programme. I also charge us  to pray for continued peace, unity and stability of our great country.

God bless us all.

I am yours in the Lord’s vineyard.