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The Federal Government on Sunday began the disbursement of the Rural Women Cash Grant Programme to elderly and indigent women in Anambra. Hajiya Sadiya-Umar Farouk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development inaugurated the programme in Awka on Sunday. A total of 2,800 rural poor women were targeted to receive N20, 000 each under the programme. Farouk, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Bashir-Nuru Alkali, said the Cash Grant to rural women was addition to other social investment programme of the Federal Government. The minister listed the other programme to include the Conditional Cash Transfer, N-Power, and Government Enterprise Enhancement Programme (GEEP). He said the programme was geared toward ameliorating the suffering of women by empowering them with cash that they could use to expand their businesses. “Poverty reduction has become a major objective of governments all over the world; this informed the dec...

Nigerian Stock Exchange By Peter Egwuatu The Chattered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has commenced moves to review its code of ethics and standard of professional conduct to strengthen the members’ professional practice, enhance their relationship with investors and restore confidence in the market. As a prelude, a Committee, which comprises eight people, has been inaugurated to review the existing code of Ethics which has been operational for ten years. The Committee members will also update the code of ethics in line with the present realities in the global financial market. READ ALSO: Herdsmen: Why are we reducing Nigeria to nation of cows, Dele Momodu queries The Committee’s Chairman, Vanguard learnt is Mr. Ariyo Olushekun,   Mr. Jude Chiemeka, Vice Chairman while Mr. Adedeji Ajadi is the Secretary. Other members are Alhaji Isayku Tilde, Prof. Helen Andow,   Dr. Tayo Bello,   Mr. Mai Moustapha Muhammed   and Mr. Olasunkanmi Iranloye. ...

By Nkiruka Nnorom   Chemical and Allied Product (CAP) Plc   has recorded N8.7 billion revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020, representing a 3.9 percent increase over N8.4 billion posted in 2019 financial year end. This is even as the company said it hopes to conclude its planned merger with its sister company – Portland Paint and Products Plc – before the end of the first quarter (Q1) 2021 if both regulatory and shareholders’ approval are secured to that effect. Meanwhile, the company said in a statement that the growth in its revenue for the year was driven by strong volume growth despite “the disruptions in April, May and October 2020.” READ ALSO: Herdsmen: Why are we reducing Nigeria to nation of cows, Dele Momodu queries The Profit Before Tax (PBT), however, declined by 25.5 percent to N1.9 billion from N2.55 billion following a  41.1 percent decline in net finance income on account of lower investment income yields coupled with decline in EBIT....

By Owei Lakemfa FELIX Aondaver Kura was a unique Nigerian. At 36 he had neither drank alcohol nor smoked in his life. He was a calm, unassuming and courageous Nigerian youth who had read Linguistics at the Benue State University. After graduating in 2009, he served in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps Scheme in Ibadan. He joined the Nigerian Army in 2012 where his sterling qualities shone. With the terrorist Boko Haram in full swing, he was deployed to that blazing battle field where the insurgents took no prisoners. For five years he was at the battle front serving under the Boko Haram Counterinsurgency Operation Lafiya Dole. He earned praise for his brilliance and bravery in battle. In 2016, he married his heartthrob, Susan and two years later, was redeployed to the 177 Guards Battalion, Shitu Alao Barracks, Keffi, Nasarawa State. This is near Abuja and the corps is part of the elite guards charged with protecting the Presidency and the seat of power. Despite this, an a...

Gbemisola Saraki Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, says the National Maritime Transport Policy being developed by Nigeria would lead to improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow and enhance the ability of the Nigerian maritime sector to compete internationally. Saraki said this in Lagos at the opening of a stakeholders’ validation forum on the draft policy. The minister said the transport policy would give Nigeria pride of place in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The free trade area, the world’s largest, was founded in 2018, and scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2021. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Comply with mandatory mask-wearing to avert lockdown — Presidency The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to get stakeholders’ buy-in and input, as the policy document was being fine-tuned. The transport policy is expected to usher in a regime of robust maritime transport system in the count...

Naira By Babajide Komolafe & Elizabeth Adegbesan The Naira appreciated in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window by 3.9 percent in January as  the nation’s external reserves recorded the first monthly increase of   $1.11 billion during the month, courtesy of   the steady upward trend in crude oil price since December. Data from the CBN showed that the external reserves rose to $36.395 billion Wednesday January 27th from $35.373 on December 31st last year. This translates to 3.1 or $1.11 billion monthly increase. The monthly increase, the first since May last year, follows an upward trend in the reserves since December 18th, when it recorded the first daily gain to $34.841 billion, after a nine week decline which commenced   from $35.672 billion in October. READ ALSO COVID-19: Comply with mandatory mask-wearing to avert lockdown — Presidency The steady increase in reserves since December 18th is driven by the rally in the price of cru...

  Again, FG sets to shut Third Mainland Bridge The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Sunday, said that the total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge would be lifted at midnight of Jan. 31, 24 hours ahead of schedule. Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone that the contractor was able to complete the repair works on the bridge on Saturday, hence the lifting of the total closure at midnight. “The casting of the expansion joints was completed on Saturday. Therefore, the Third Mainland Bridge will be opened by 12 midnight of Jan. 31. “Motorists can start plying the bridge as from 12 midnight,” he said. While thanking road users for their understanding, Popoola said that the reopening had been communicated to the Lagos State government and all relevant agencies to ensure seamless traffic on the highway. NAN recalls that Popoola had, on Jan. 27, announced a three-day total shutdown of the bridge from the midnight of Friday to...

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says the deal it signed with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) will deepen gas utilisation in the country. IPMAN President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. Okoronkwo said the deal which was signed recently in Abuja by PEF and the oil marketers was in line with the vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to increase domestic gas utilisation. According to him, the government through the National Gas Expansion Programme is working toward increasing utilisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, as well as Compressed Natural Gas for vehicles. READ ALSO:  Nigeria badly damaged, broken, needs urgent rescue, Atiku says He said: “We (IPMAN) have a collaboration pact with PEF on how to help marketers distribute gas to the nooks and crannies of th...

…As Oyo govt harps on economic diversification through the agricultural value chain By Adeola Badru NO fewer than 30,000 women in Oyo State will, within the next three years, benefit from an empowerment scheme of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Shea Empowerment Foundation (SEF) in partnership with Global players in the Shea industry with a view of optimising the potentials derivable from the local Shea value chain. The initiative is aimed at promoting a sustainable business model for the women and youths in the Shea and agricultural sector of Oyo State. To actualise the goal, SEF in partnership with Danida Market Development Partnerships (DMDP), AAK, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Global Shea Alliance (GSA) and National Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) with the support of the Oyo State government facilitated a stakeholder engagement meeting to enlist the support of the relevant stakeholders with a view to highlighting the operational challenges mi...

Mmofra, the animation program launched by Ghanaian based multimedia studio Animaxfyb in partnership with American content Distribution outlet, Aflik TV hits global streaming platforms. The program which was first unveiled on selected streaming platforms in Usa including Amazon Prime has now been made available for more countries around the world. Launched amidst the Covid-19 hit year, 2020, the animation teaches children how to read alphabets, numbers, shapes, colors, and more age-appropriate topics to help in preparing them for school in a fun way. The founder AnimaxFYB Studios, Francis Y. Brown in a statement made available for press, expressed his delightness with the positive reviews and impacts created by the animation program. ALSO READ:  Why I prefer Davido to Wizkid — Jim Iyke Francis added that the major aim of the program is to connect interesting African stories to the global film industry. “I am super glad the program has been a huge success since its launch. As...

  Arthur Okorie Okowa …condoles Delta Assembly, Isoko North people over Owhefere’s demise By Festus Ahon, ASABA THE League of Professionals for Strategic Advocacy, LEPSA has commiserated with the Governor of Delta State,  Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa over the death of his father. The group also commiserated with the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly and the people of Isoko North Constituency over the demise of Hon Tim Kome Owhefere. Sir Arthur Okorie Okowa passed on peacefully in the early hours of last week Thursday while Hon Tim Kome Owhefere who took his last breath at about 11:30 pm last week Wednesday night was representing Isoko North Constituency in the State House of Assembly and Majority Leader of the House. Also read: Obaseki visits Anenih family, declares three days mourning, flags to fly at half-mast The group in two separate statements signed by its convener, Prince Obaro Unsafe, its Chairman, Pius Mordi, and Fred Akpewe, secretary, extolled...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos says some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others have indicated interest to join the party in the ongoing membership registration and revalidation. Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Lagos APC Caretaker Chairman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Balogun said the APC was prepared to register all members of opposition parties who had shown willingness to join it. READ ALSO:  Herdsmen: Why are we reducing Nigeria to nation of cows, Dele Momodu queries “Our doors are open to all members of political parties who want to join us. We expect some PDP members, who really are willing to join us in developing Lagos to do so. “Many of them have been showing interest and we are prepared to register them from the PDP to the AA and others. We are happy to accept them into the progressives,” Balogun said. The caretaker chairman urged all APC members across the length and breadth of the state to t...

By Providence AAdeyinka   An entrepreneur and four of her staff have benefited from federal government Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME, survival fund which is part of effort geared toward protecting businesses from effect of COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Government MSME Survival Fund Program is a part of the Economic Sustainability Plan, which aims to support and protect businesses from the potential vulnerabilities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The beneficiary, Lola Petra Ventures, specializes in trading, bakery, food and beverages and is based in Ogun states. READ ALSO; COVID-19: Comply with mandatory mask-wearing to avert lockdown — Presidency A statement from SME100 Africa, said that the proprietor, Ms. Lola Petra Allen, giving hint of how she benefitted from the fund, said she got the registration link through a school group and once she had confirmed the legitimacy she went on to apply just like everyone else and decided to keep following up for cha...

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has pledged the support of his administration to the new Service Chiefs in their fight against insurgency. Zulum made the pledge while receiving the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor and other service chiefs, who paid him a courtesy visit on Sunday in Maiduguri. Zulum lauded the new security chiefs for their concern for Borno by making their first trip to the state. He said that the military and other security organisations should count on his administration at all time in their effort to contain insurgency. The governor called for more collaboration with armed forces in neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic. He added that there was a need to enhanced ties between the military and civilian population to build trust and increase the military’s access to credible intelligence gathering needed in the fight against insurgency. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Lagos Govt approves N200m to support FG´s Treatment Centres Th...

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State has advised residents of the state to always adhere strictly to COVID-19 guidelines to contain its spread. Oyetola gave the advice during a COVID-19 sensitisation programme held at motor parks and markets in Iwo town, Osun, on Sunday. He said that non-compliance with the prescribed COVID-19 protocols would make the disease spread faster. Gov. Oyetola was represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Tunbosun Oyintiloye. The governor urged residents to take responsibility in the containment of COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the entire world. READ ALSO:  COVID-19: Comply with mandatory mask-wearing to avert lockdown — Presidency “We must wake up to the reality that COVID-19 is real; unlike what we witnessed in the first wave, the second wave we are witnessing now is more deadly. “The rate at which people are contracting the virus coupled with the number of recorded deaths on a daily basis calls...

Real estate company, Zylus Group International in response to the yearnings of its prospective clients has launched a new project called Zylus Court at Shapati along Lekki/Epe expressway. The project which is still under construction has a completion date of twelve weeks. It will be crafted with the finest architecture and built with quality materials, state of the art equipment and finishing. Zylus Court consists of 3 Bedroom semi-detached duplex and BQ (semi-finished) It features a game and gym centre, solar street light, CCTV surveillance camera, electricity supply, facility management building, drainage system, interlock pavers road and goes for N29million. ALSO READ:  MTN partners with African Union on COVID-19 vaccinations For Oluwatosin Oladunjoye, Group Managing Director, Zylus Group International, the drive behind Zylus Court is to make quality and affordable shelter available with the recruitment of screened contractors and also an avenue for realtors to make money f...

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu The Lagos State Government says it has approved the sum of N200 million to support the Federal Government Treatment Centres in treating COVID-19 cases in the state. The State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made this known on Sunday, in a statement highlighting the update on the management of COVID-19 in the state. “I have approved the sum of N200 million to support the ongoing patient management and treatment efforts of two Federal Government Treatment Centers in our state. “This is in view of the rising profile of the coronavirus disease due to the mutating variants now being discovered globally; and to shore up our containment and management capacity. “To this end, LUTH will be receiving N150 million and the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, will be receiving N50 million. These sums will be disbursed on Monday, February 1,´´ Sanwo-Olu said. He said that Lagos State continued to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria and as at...

By Obadiah Mailafia I have always been an admirer of German culture and civilisation. I have visited Deutschland more times than I can recall. I have studied German history with assiduity from Leopold von Ranke to Friedrich Meinecke and Golo Mann. German history, for the most part, has been dark, harsh, slippery, bloody and icy-cold. But I find the Germans of today to be warm, moderate, civilised and cosmopolitan. No leader embodies the New Germany more than German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She has been the occupant of the high magistracy of the German state for 18 years, having been first elected as far back as 2005. Not too long ago, she announced that she would no longer be seeking a fifth term as Chancellor, thereby clearing the way for a new Chairman for the ruling Christian Democratic Union, CDU. The greatest actors have always marshalled the wisdom to quit the stage when the ovation is loudest. Angela Dorothea Merkel was born in the old German port city of Hamburg on J...

By Bashir Bello Chairmen of the 27 local government Council of Jigawa State have resolved to contribute N150,000 monthly from their statutory allocation to fight against malnutrition in the state. The chairmen made the commitment as part of their effort to sustain nutrition funding and fight against malnutrition in the state. The Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Jigawa, Alhaji Aminu Sani-Gumel made this known in Kano at the end of an advocacy meeting organized by Aisha Buhari Foundation in collaboration with the state government and other critical stakeholders with the theme “Uniting to end Childhood Malnutrition in Jigawa State.” Sani-Gumel who doubles as the Chairman of Gumel LGA, said as at January last year they had agreed to commit the sum of N250,000 monthly to the fight against malnutrition but some of the LGAs were not forthcoming hence the need for the renewed pledge of N150,000 to be deducted directly from their LGA statutory allocations. ...

By Henry Umoru—ABUJA THE Senate has taken a swipe at the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project,  SERAP, asking it to direct its grievances to the right Committee. SERAP had written the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to “use their good offices to urgently probe and refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies allegations that N4.4 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen, as documented in three audited reports by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.” In the open letter dated January 30 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly can show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold both itself and the g...

By Femi Fani-Kayode Mr Kolawole Odetola, who I do not know and I have never met, wrote the following contribution and every Yoruba man and woman ought to read it. This was not written by flesh but by the Holy Spirit and it is what I have been saying for the last few years. He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. I commend the author for his courage and I urge him to continue to sound the alarm until it is heard in every nook and cranny of the South West. The Yoruba elites will hate him for speaking this bitter truth just as many of them hate those of us that have been speaking it for many years but the truth is truth. Posterity and history will treat us kindly for having the courage to speak it despite the scorn and insults that are often poured on us on a daily basis and that we are often subjected to by those that cannot see beyond their noses, that lack courage and that have decided that their lot is best served by turning a blind eye to this great...

Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that Nigeria was in a deficit where leadership is concerned, noting that the technocrats to lift the country and the African continent up were not lacking in the country. Obasanjo, who was president between 1999 and 2007, said this in an interview with academic and historian, Toyin Falola, held virtually on Sunday. According to Obasanjo, no matter what anyone wants to do, leadership needs to provide the right environment and incentive. He said: “Nigeria has no scarcity of people to lift the country and Africa up. But Nigeria is deficit in leadership.” He said the lack of understanding and knowledge of leadership has made it impossible for administrations to build on the achievements of their predecessors. As a result, Obasanjo surmised, “after a government had made two steps of progress forward, the successors moved two steps to the side and one step backwards.” READ ALSO: Nigeria badl...

Again, FG sets to shut Third Mainland Bridge The Lagos State Government has confirmed that casting of the Third Mainland Bridge had been completed and would be opened to vehicular movement by 12 midnight Sunday, Jan. 31. The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, disclosed in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. Reports have it that the state government announced on Jan. 28 that the bridge would be closed during the weekend to enable completion of repair works on the double-sized expansion. Oladeinde said that the bridge would, however, be opened ahead of the earlier projected Tuesday, Feb. 2. Also read: Fashola reassures public on speedy completion of Third Mainland Bridge, Feb 15 reopening According to him, the earlier movement arrangements of 12.00 a.m. for Lagos Island-bound motorists and 12.00 noon for Mainland bound motorist to subsist. The commissioner expressed gratitude to Lagos residents, especially those affected by the closure, for thei...

… Says Buhari saw nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket By Idowu Bankole Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun state, and chieftain of the main opposition party in Nigeria, PDP, has said former President Obasanjo impeded Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, and current National leader of the APC from becoming President Muhammadu Buhari’s vice-presidential candidate in 2015. Tinubu and other political party chieftain had formed a mega political merger to wrestle power from the PDP, led by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari who had contested for the presidency three times before 2015 and lost, However, won the presidential ticket to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. Also read: 2023: Buhari should be wary of people trying to market Tinubu ― Bode George Sources believed that the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket might have been Obasanjo’s worry. Recall that Buhari has a head of State, had ruled with a Musli...