The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken decisive action in Port Harcourt, shutting down three substandard bakeries and a sachet water factory. The closures come as a response to concerns over public health and safety, with the affected facilities found to be operating in makeshift structures made of wood and failing to meet hygienic standards. The bakeries, situated in Rumuparali and Mgbuoba within the Obio/Akpor local government area, were not only unregistered but also failed to comply with essential safety regulations, according to Cyril Monye, the South South Zonal Public Relations Officer for NAFDAC.…
Author: Editor Francis
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its forex management policies, permitting International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country to inject up to 50% of their oil and gas export proceeds into the Nigerian foreign exchange (forex) market. This move aims to address liquidity concerns and promote transparency in the forex market. According to a circular issued by the CBN’s Director of Trade & Exchange Department, Hassan Mahmud, IOCs are now allowed to utilise 50% of their repatriated export proceeds to settle specified local transactions and for sale to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). The revised directive…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a stern advisory to residents of flood-prone areas, urging them to commence relocation as a precautionary measure. In light of forecasts from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which predict severe flooding in 33 states this year, NEMA underscores the urgency of proactive action. According to the agencies’ projections, 25 states and 72 local government areas are currently at heightened risk of flooding, with vulnerability expected to persist from July through September. Subsequently, between October and November, 19 states and 44 council areas are likely to be…
In response to the escalating threat of terrorism in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the formation of a standby force to provide support to countries grappling with terrorist activities. The regional economic bloc expressed deep concerns over the worsening terrorism situation in the Sahel region and unveiled plans to raise $2.4 billion for the establishment of this force. Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, made the announcement during a gathering in Abuja. Musah highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that Burkina Faso has now…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the recent directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a 0.5 (0.005) per cent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers. Joe Ajaero, NLC president, stated the congress’ position in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja. “This levy stands as another tax too much for Nigerians, burdening them with additional financial responsibilities,” said Mr Ajaero. “We see in this levy as another gang up by the ruling elite to continue its extortion and exploitation of hapless and helpless workers and the masses.” The CBN had mandated banks and payment…
President Bola Tinubu’s return to Nigeria is anticipated for tomorrow, announced Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, on Tuesday. Speculations arose about Tinubu’s whereabouts following his trip to Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, as he has yet to return from the Netherlands. Onanuga confirmed via his official X handle that Tinubu, accompanied by his aides, is scheduled to land in the country on Wednesday. Amid concerns, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, clarified on Channels Television’s Morning Brief that Tinubu’s absence is unrelated to health issues, affirming his good…
Governor Abba Yusuf on Wednesday assented to the Kano State Premarital Health Screening Bill into law. The new law mandates premarital health screening for all prospective couples in the state. While signing the law in Kano, Mr Yusuf urged its faithful implementation to uphold the sanctity of marriages in Kano and ensure the birth of healthy offspring free from preventable illnesses. According to the law, no wedding would be permitted in Kano without the presentation of a health screening certificate for genotype, hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other related conditions. The law is meant to reduce the likelihood of…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a directive mandating all Point-of-Sale (PoS) operators across the nation to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) within a two-month period. This announcement emerged subsequent to a meeting held between Fintech representatives and the Registrar-General/Chief Executive Officer of CAC, Hussaini Magaji (SAN), in Abuja on Monday, May 7. During the meeting, Magaji clarified that the specified two-month timeframe for registration, set to conclude on July 7, was not specifically aimed at any particular entities or individuals. Rather, it was established “in line with legal requirements and the directives of…
The administration of President Bola Tinubu is exploring the possibility of reinstating previously suspended telecom taxes and fiscal policies as part of ongoing discussions with the World Bank to secure a substantial loan of $750 million. These deliberations come in the wake of a document published by the World Bank, shedding light on the potential reintroduction of measures aimed at bolstering revenue generation within Nigeria. Initially suspended in July 2023, the proposed revival includes the Electronic Money Transfer (EMT) levy on electronic transfers through the Nigerian banking system, along with excise duties on telecommunications services. These measures form a crucial…
NNPC Ltd has reiterated its call for motorists to refrain from panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as nationwide supply and distribution continue to improve. In a press release issued by the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, the company noted a significant decrease in queues at filling stations across various states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with expectations of further improvements in other states. The release highlighted NNPC’s current PMS stock of over 1.5 billion litres, ensuring over 30 days of sufficiency. The company emphasised its collaboration with relevant downstream…
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra chapter, says it has suspended the indefinite strike it embarked upon on March 28. The Chairman of the association, Mr Abraham Okoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka that the decision was reached after the government had set in measures to address their demands. Okoye said that part of the measures was to address issues of unpaid peculiar allowances of staff of the state House Assembly. “The executive of Anambra PASAN and south east zonal leadership of PASAN met with the leadership of the state Assembly, Chief…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released additional 531 results of the recently conducted Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), taking the total number of results released to 1,842,897. This is contained in a statement by the Public Communication Advisor of the Board, Dr Fabian Benjamin on Tuesday in Abuja. Benjamin said the Board had proceeded with the screening of over 64,000 withheld results due to cases of examination misconduct. “In the course of the exercise, other cases of examination misconduct were also established to make a tally of 92 from the 81 initially discovered,“he said. He said the…