TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA SATURDAY
1. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared Margaret Emefiele, wife of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and three others, wanted for money laundering. Mrs Emefiele, Mr Eric Odoh, Anita Omoile and her husband, Jonathan Omoile, were declared wanted Friday night for allegedly conspiring with the former CBN Governor “to convert huge sums of money belonging to the Federal Government.
2. The Federal Road Safety Corps has arrested a total of 614,051 traffic offenders across the country in 2023. The figures were in a document made available to journalists on Friday. According to the document, Lagos State topped the list with 61,882 arrested traffic offenders. The Federal Capital Territory and Kano follow with 43,682 and 38,154 arrested traffic offenders respectively.
3. Men of the Nigerian Navy Jubilee in the Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have arrested 10 suspects and impounded a vessel containing petroleum products suspected to be crude oil in the state. The Commander of NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Commodore Madumom Ide, disclosed this to journalists on Friday.
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4. The Federal Government on Friday told the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC that it remained committed to the full implementation of all agreements reached with them. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the government had no intention of reneging on the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU signed with the two labour organisations.
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5. The Federal Government is considering a fresh closure of the nation’s borders to stem the tide of undocumented exports and smuggling of food. The objective is to make food available for Nigerians. Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Abubakar Kyari dropped this hint while fielding questions from a Senate Joint Committee.
6. The hopes of crude oil refining at the Port Harcourt refinery received a boost on Friday as Shell announced it has resumed supply of crude oil from its Bonny export terminal to the Port Harcourt refinery. The facility is expected to start operations in the first quarter of this year.
7. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, on Friday, paid a visit to Kano State, amid the rising cost of essential commodities. The industrialist and President of Dangote Group, who landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA at 11am, was received by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Shehu Sagagi, and other top government functionaries.
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8. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN says it has discontinued granting loans through its Ways and Means advances to the federal government. The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the decision was because of the government’s failure to settle its outstanding debts.
9. The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON on Friday raised alarm over the high cost of operation even as aviation fuel hit over N1,300. The operators said the situation poses an existential threat to their businesses, noting that aircraft that are due for maintenance have been grounded and cannot be ferried overseas because of the scarcity of forex.
10. Armed bandits have targeted Kogo village in Faskari Local Government Area, LGA of Katsina State, kidnapping 16 residents, including children, women and men. According to a resident who confided in newsmen, the attack which was carried out at about 8:20pm yesterday, caught the villagers off guard as the assailants executed their plan with meticulous precision.