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CBN By Babajide Komolafe & Elizabeth Adegbesan In an apparent move to boost dollar supply into the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday introduced new rules that allow beneficiaries of diaspora remittance and transfers into domiciliary accounts to receive their money in foreign currency. Previously, beneficiaries of diaspora remittance can only receive in cash the naira equivalent of the amount transferred. Also foreign currency cash withdrawal from domiciliary accounts was restricted to money paid into such accounts by cash lodgements. READ ALSO: Cross River monarchs to invoke ‘native sanctions’ against criminals from Dec 1 Announcing the policy change yesterday, CBN’s Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. O Nnaji, said the new rules were to liberalize, simplify and improve the receipt and administration of diaspora remittances into Nigeria, as well as  to ensure the stability of the foreign exchange market. He said the removal was also conseque...

President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in Arizona was finalized Monday, further cementing his win even as Donald Trump continues to make claims of vote fraud. “This election was conducted with transparency, accuracy and fairness in accordance with Arizona’s laws and elections procedures, despite numerous unfounded claims to the contrary,” Arizona secretary of state Katie Hobbs said during the vote’s final, official certification. The last Democrat to carry the southwestern state in the race for the White House was Bill Clinton in 1996, marking a significant shift of the US electoral map this year. Biden beat Trump by just over 10,400 ballots in a state where turnout was high, and shifting demographics saw a growing population of young Hispanic voters. The ex-vice president’s win in the former reliably Republican bastion could also be attributed to suburban women attracted to his centrist approach, experts have said. Trump has refused to concede to Biden, which delayed the start of ...

The British government on Monday confirmed that a new farming policy would replace the current EU subsidies when the Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31 this year. The new system, named Environmental Land Management (ELM), will pay farmers if they protect “heritage’’ farm buildings and stone walls, expand hedges, capture carbon in soils and cutting pesticides, among others. According to the new policy, farmers will also get grant if they could manage national flood by such measures as restoring river bends, help landscape recovery by such means as restoring peatland and planting new woods. Others are reduction of antibiotics and improve animal health and welfare. The British authorities said the new measures will lead to a “renewed” agricultural sector producing healthy food at home and abroad, and improve the environment in the country, the BBC reported. Under the current EU system, farmers get the subsidies based on the amount of land they farm, which some said is unfair b...

  …appeal for funds to rebuild the institution By Ike Uchechukwu The Pro -Chancellor and Chairman of the University of Calabar Governing Council, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu has disclosed that the institution lost 1.3 billion naira following the devastating destruction unleashed by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSars protest. Sen. Nwaogu who made the disclosure on Monday while briefing newsmen at the Institution Senate Chambers said the mayhem unleashed by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest was premeditated and well coordinated. Her words :”While it is no longer news that the peaceful and well-intended #Endsars protests across the country were hijacked by hoodlums and other criminal elements to unleash mayhem on individuals, private and public property, it is sad that the scale of destruction in our institution of learning, the University of Calabar, has not been given the due attention it deserves in the public domain. “It is agonizing to report that the untow...

Says COVID-19 did not affect treatment in Lagos By Chioma Obinna Decades after the emergence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, the federal and state governments have been charged to take responsibility for treating Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS. The call came as Nigeria marks this year’s World AIDS Day with the theme: “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact”. Meanwhile, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, NEPHWAN, Lagos State branch has said that despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across all sectors, people living with HIV/AIDS in the state had access to treatment courtesy of the Consortium formed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In a chat with Healthy Living, the State Coordinator of NEPHWAN, Mr Patrick Akpan, said the Nigerian government should prioritise the treatment of Nigerians living with the disease as they are citizens of the country and responsibility of the government. READ ALSO:  HIV/AIDS: Commercial sex...

By Patrick Dele Cole •This piece which was first published last week, today continues the argument that women are better managers as they focus more on what is important in the performance of their job. BUT choosing to focus in on these benefits only risks extenuating existing stereotypes into our interpretation of the role of women in politics. Let us be clear that is not what I mean. I believe enhanced female leadership will also translate into better national security, a better performing economy and lower crime rates. Contrary to stereotyped perception, women are great financial managers. Go to many households across our country and it will be the women who take the lead managing the family finances, and earning the money that the family needs. Women are great communicators. There is none of the ambiguity about the point that they want to make. Women are extremely patriotic and fierce, passionate defenders of what they see as important, and they teach their children this sam...

The chief US telecom regulator said Monday he will leave his post the same day President-elect Joe Biden takes office, clearing the way for a shift in oversight of the internet. Ajit Pai’s tenure as chair of the Federal Communications Commission has been defined by a pro-industry stance, particularly in regard to “net neutrality,” leaving telecommunications firms free to block or throttle traffic. Pai’s decision to step down on January 20, Biden’s inauguration day, clears the way for the creation of an FCC board dominated by Democrats who may elevate the interests of users and entrepreneurs above those of telecom titans. His departure also comes amid intense debate in Washington over internet regulations including social media liability and online privacy. One key area of contention is “Section 230” of a 1996 law which protects online services from liability related to content posted by others. The provision has been a target of both the left and right, even as digital rights...

Mr Benjamin Kalu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, says Nigeria must strengthen its laws to ensure politics is practised without ethnic, religious or tribal considerations. Kalu (APC-Abia), who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said Nigeria must strengthen its electoral institutions to reduce the influence of those in power. “We saw in the recent U.S. election that the ‘power of incumbency’ had no influence over electoral institutions unlike in most African democracies. He stressed that the U.S elections had also shown that “the independence of institutions and unbiased electoral umpire cannot be questioned; the credibility of the institutions cannot be easily influenced even by a sitting president or governor”. Kalu also said that there must be equal opportunities for all to participate in politics, adding that women should be supported by family and friends. The lawmaker commended the...

By Chioma Obinna The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Monday issued a public health advisory ahead of this year’s Christmas, warning Nigerians to limit all non-essential domestic and international travel. In the advisory released on Monday, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu explained that the advisory was important particularly, for intending travellers from countries recording a high number of COVID-19 cases. Ihekweazu said as an alternative to travel, the public should consider limiting festivities to members of their immediate household and remain socially connected with friends and loved ones using mobile or video conferencing technology. “Across the world, Christmas is a time for celebration and festive cheer, as well as an increase in religious and social gatherings. During the Christmas and New Year celebrations, we recognise that people want to travel and be with family and friends. However, this has been a difficult year and the COVID-19 pande...

By Bashir Bello Not fewer than seven farmers including a nursing mother have been killed by bandits who attacked three communities of Tashar Bama, Dogun Muazu, and Unguwar Maigayya villages of Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State. The lawmaker representing the area at the statehouse of Assembly, Ibrahim Danjuma Machika, confirmed the killing during the plenary session on Monday while sponsoring a motion on the need to reinforce security in some of the villages in his constituency. Machika who said the incident happened on the weekend in a broad daylight also noted that about 30 other villagers were abducted during the attack. “Our people now live in fear as the bandits now carry out attacks in our villages in broad daylight.  READ ALSO: Cross River monarchs to invoke ‘native sanctions’ against criminals from Dec 1 “They kill the people, cart away their property, and kidnap as many people as they can. “There is no day, bandits don’t attack one community or another ...

IN Nigeria, probe panels have become the classic means of covering up crimes and corruption in government, rather than the means of exposing them and punishing culprits. Even the military panels for the recovery of government funds and property set up by the Muhammadu Buhari military regime in 1984 turned out a mere witch hunt of targeted political foes. The panels set up by the Senate and House of Representatives to probe allegations of massive misappropriation of funds in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in July this year appear to have gone the way of the others even after a cloud of thespian displays on live television. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a “forensic audit” of the Commission in October 2019 when a delegation led by former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, visited him in Aso Villa. Till date, there are no indications as to what the audit has uncovered. The nation remains in the dark about the affairs of the interventionist body that has l...

Oil-bearing communities, under the aegis of Host Communities of Nigeria, Producing Oil and Gas, HOSCON, has called for the termination of all existing oil pipeline surveillance contracts across the country, accusing the current contracts of fuelling crisis in the Niger Delta. Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, National Chairman of HOSCON, Dr Mike Emuh, also accused the government of violating the provisions of the local content initiative by awarding Nigeria’s waterways’ surveillance contract to an Israeli firm. He said: “Some of the existing contractors have constituted themselves into cabal and principalities; they are the problems of the Niger Delta. They rank among the most corrupt entities. How can you pay over $20 million to a contractor every month in the name of pipeline surveillance, along numerous oil mining leases as far as to the Trans Forcados Pipeline, TFP. “This is just only one or two individuals making this huge amount of money every month, while the masses, especiall...

Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to end fighting, voicing concern as a military offensive pursued the Tigray region’s dissident leaders. Pompeo in a phone call with Abiy “called for a complete end to the fighting and constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis,” a State Department statement said. The top US diplomat noted Abiy’s declaration that major operations were finished but “reiterated the United States’ grave concern regarding ongoing hostilities and the risks the conflict pose,” it said. ALSO READ:  Biden taps Nigerian-born Wally Adeyemo as deputy Treasury secretary Pompeo called for the protection of civilians from harm and “urged the government of Ethiopia to ensure respect for human rights of Tigrayans and all ethnic groups.” The phone call came after Abiy said that Tigray’s leaders had fled west of the regional capital after a weeks-long military operation that the Ethiopian...

Yoweri Museveni Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the government would compensate victims of the violent protests that left several people dead following the arrest of an opposition presidential candidate. In a televised address, Museveni said the government would compensate the families of the victims, the injured, and those who lost property during what he called “senseless riots” over the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi. “The government will compensate all those who lost their lives but were not rioters. “The government will also compensate those who lost their properties if it can be verified,” said Museveni. He said the death toll from the Nov. 18 -19 sporadic protests in some parts across the country has risen to 54, as more people succumbed to the injuries sustained. READ ALSO: 3.5m children of nomads are out of school, says Nomadic Education Commission “Unfortunately, 54 people died in this confusion, 32 of them were rioters according to the report I got. “The 32 ri...

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Monday made good his promise to provide quality roads for the people, flagging off the reconstruction of 37 kilometres Owerri to Orlu dual carriageway and 55 kilometres Owerri to Okigwe single carriageway respectively. The reconstruction work by a reputable foreign Company, Craneburg Construction Engineering, will be going on at the same time on both corridors. Addressing a excited mammoth crowd at the flag-off posts at Banana junction for Orlu and Okatankwu in Ikeduru for Okigwe road, the Governor described the day as a special one as the signature projects by his shared Prosperity Government will shore up the economy of the State. He said when the roads are made motorable and people travel on them without stress, they will definitely impact on the overall economy of Imo State. ALSO READ:  Pompeo calls on Ethiopian PM for ‘complete end’ to fighting The Governor observed that when he assumed office in January 2020 almost all the roads i...

By Chioma Obinna The World Medical Association has raised the alarm over Iran’s Supreme Court’s decision on the amputation sentences passed on four men, saying, they will fully support physicians who refuse to participate in the inhuman actions. The four prisoners, convicted for robbery, are to have four fingers on their right hands completely cut off as stipulated by Iranian law. The sentences, which the WMA denounced in September, are believed to be carried out imminently. In a letter to the Iranian authorities, WMA President Dr. David Barbe, reiterated that the WMA’s firm opposition to these sentences, which purposely inflict extreme pain, irreversible disability and obliterate human dignity. READ ALSO:  FG raises number of beneficiaries of N-power,school feeding, others He stated that such abhorrent practices are simply unworthy of a state governed by the rule of law. Amputation constitutes a grave cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment that the WMA denounces in the str...

Mr Stephen Jiyason, the Commandant, Plateau Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), has pledged adequate security for farmers in the state. Jiyason said this on Saturday at a meeting with traditional rulers and critical stakeholders in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau The commandant, who emphasised the need to protect farmers and their farms from attacks and destruction by hoodlums, said such move would ensure food security in the state and country at large. He said the command would deploy its Agro Rangers to various locations to enable farmers go to their farms without fear of being attacked. “Plateau people are largely farmers, so one of the things we shall do is to provide adequate security for them to farm without fear. “We shall deploy our Agro Rangers, who are specially trained in that aspect; to protect farmers and their farms. ALSO READ:  World Toilet Day: Faeces and your health “By doing so, farmers will ensure bumper harvest and f...

By Eric Teniola The intelligence community must be totally reinvented and it can be done; the first step is to fund it and the second is to train effectively its personnel E STABLISHMENT of advisory councils : (1) There shall, in the interest of national security, be established two advisory councils, that is to say – (a) the National Defence Council; (b) the National Security Council. (2) The National Security Council shall be charged with responsibility for matters relating – (a) to public security; and (b) generally to the structure, staff and other matters concerning the agencies set up under this Act.(3) The National Defence Council shall advise the President on all matters concerning the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria. Instruments relating to the advisory councils, the structure, etc., of the agencies. The President may, by an instrument under his hand make provisions with respect to the following matters, that is to say – (a) the compositi...

STOCK The nation’s bourse closed for the last trading day in November with a growth of 0.45 per cent following price appreciation posted by Airtel Africa and 16 other stocks. Specifically, the All-Share Index on Monday rose by 156.63 points or 0.45 per cent to close at 35,042.14 compared with 34,885.51 achieved on Friday. Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N18.227 trillion inched higher by N82 billion or 0.45 per cent to close at N18.309 trillion. READ ALSO: #EndSARS: Ogun Judicial Panel closes submission of petitions The uptrend was driven by price appreciation in medium and large capitalised stocks, among which are; Airtel Africa, MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN), AIICO Insurance and FCMB Group. AIICO Insurance and Airtel Africa led the gainers’ chart in percentage terms with 10 per cent each to close at N1.10 and N588.50 per share, respectively. Tripple Gee & Company followed with 9.09 per cent to close at 60k per share. Japaul Oil & Maritime Service...

Nigerian Stock Exchange By Nkiruka Nnorom The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, migrated four companies – Chellarams Plc, Living Trust Mortgage Plc, McNichols Plc, and The Initiates Plc to the Growth Board from the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) even as the Exchange launched the associated Growth Board Index to track development in the sector. The migration follows the receipt of applications from these companies requesting to be migrated from ASeM, and consequent screening and approval by the National Council of the Exchange. READ ALSO: #EndSARS: Ogun Judicial Panel closes submission of petitions The NSE Growth Board was launched in January 2020 to encourage Start-Ups, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and growth-oriented companies looking to raise capital and promote liquidity in the trading of their shares. It offers relaxed entry criteria with less stringent listing requirements, making it easier to attract capital flows along with reduced pre and post-listi...

Top virtual currency bitcoin briefly soared to a new high Monday, heading towards $20,000 per unit. The currency soared past its previous high of $19,783 to hit 19,800 with some sector analysts forecasting it will soon breach the 20,000 resistance point. Debate has raged over the status of the digital asset, launched in late 2008, as to whether it should be seen as a form of money, an asset or a commodity. Monday saw it rise some 8 per cent, taking its yearly rise past 150 per cent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, a far cry from the few cents it traded at in its early days which followed on the heels of the global financial crash. In March it stood at just $5,000. The unit, which regularly sees its value suffer wild swings, had slipped back to &19,380 by mid-afternoon, for a day rise of 6.5 per cent, leaving its total market capitalisation at around $360 billion. Since October the ‘digital gold’ has risen some 40 per cent, spurred notably by PayPal online payments ...

Mental health One in seven Libyans needs mental and psychological health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, citing the ongoing political and security crises in the country, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report published Sunday on its latest update of the epidemiological situation in Libya between 12 and 26 November 2020, the WHO stressed that the coronavirus epidemic in Libya is the most serious in the countries in the North African region, with the registration of 161 deaths per 1 million people, “second only to Tunisia in the region”. The report states that in the last two weeks, Libya has recorded a 13 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, compared to the two weeks covered by the epidemiological update. During the reporting period, new deaths increased by 16 percent, bringing the number to 1,125. The WHO pointed out that “the impact of the ongoing political and security crisis in Libya and the coronavirus epidemic have affected the m...

By Gabriel Ewepu – Abuja A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, Transparency Advocacy For Development Initiative, TADI, has faulted alleged job racketeering in Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, Ondo State. This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of the organisation, Yomi David, where the CSO described the allegations as misleading and baseless with intention to misinform Nigerians. According to the statement the CSO conducted a thorough and independent investigation over the allegations leveled against the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Fasakin, but found out that the allegation was not true. The statement reads in part, “Our organisation with the culture of doing diligence at getting to the root of any matter or perceived wrongdoing in any sphere of the society we moved into action to get at the root of the matter in other to establish fact and balance information being released to the public domain through any medium by which such issues were brought to the public d...

US President-elect Joe Biden on Sunday announced an all-female senior White House communications team, in what his office called a first in the country’s history. Among those named was Jen Psaki, who will serve in the highly visible role of White House press secretary. Psaki, 41, has held a number of senior positions, including White House communications director for the Barack Obama-Biden administration. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have sought to emphasize diversity in their appointments and nominations so far ahead of their January 20 swearing-in. “I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women,” Biden said in a statement. “These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.” In addition to Psaki, six other appointments were announced. They include Kate Bedingfield, who was Biden’s deputy campaign manager, a...