The former military governor of Ondo State, Bode George has lamented the security situation in the country, saying it’s worse under President Muhammadu Buhari‘s watch.

In an interview with Theniche cited by Newsrand, George insisted that he doesn’t believe those that say security is now better compared to how Nigeria was during former President Goodluck Jonathan‘s government.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/24/bode-george-nigerias-security-is-worse-under-buharis-watch/

The Federal Government has outlined plans to lay off Federal Civil Servants, to reduce the size of its workforce.

This was disclosed at a Public Presentation and Breakdown of Highlights of the 2022 Appropriation Act on Wednesday in Abuja by Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/06/fg-plan-to-lay-off-civil-servants/

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday appointed Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the Super Eagles team.

NEWSRAND highlights five things you should know about Jose Peseiro and his appointment.
1. José Vítor dos Santos Peseiro is a Portuguese national, born on the 4th of April 1960, Six months before Nigeria got her independence.
2. In 2003/04 Peseiro assisted Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid, and he has also coached other top clubs like FC Porto, Sporting CP and others.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/30/jose-peseiro-5-things-to-know-about-the-new-super-eagles-gaffer/

Only three reasons could make me follow Nigeria’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and his former victim, Chief Adebisi Abdulkareem Akande, into the jungle; not the President’s false claims on security, not the news that 3,125 persons were killed and 2,703 others were abducted in the North alone, in the last 11 months.

As a Lagos-born son of Osun parentage, I would rather say amen to the prayer of former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, who, in his sweaty moment at the Capitol, uttered this crucial prayer, ‘May our loyalties never be tested’, than embark on a test for friendship inside the jungle.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/21/ill-follow-buhari-and-akande-into-the-jungle-by-tunde-odesola/

Guarantee Trust Company (GTCO) is currently enmeshed in a N1 billion defamation suit over an alleged libellous publication against Corporate Forwarders Limited.

Solicitors to Corporate Forwarders, in a letter addressed to GTCO, demanded a retraction, an apology and a compensation for the injurious libellious falsehood’ against its client.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/10/gtco-to-be-dragged-to-court-over-n1bn-defamation-lawsuit/

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to deliver additional 2,028 homes before the close of the year 2021.

Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing made the remark in a statement issued by Mr. Adesile Rufai, Chief Public Affairs Officer of the ministry in Alausa, Ikeja on Monday.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/09/sanwo-olu-to-provide-2028-homes-to-lagosians-before-end-of-year/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to fulfill their promise of $100 billion to developing countries towards achieving Net-Zero Emissions.

Net -Zero Emission entails removing all man-made greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere through reduction measures by 2050.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/27/osinbajo-calls-for-redemption-of-pledges-from-oecd-countries-towards-net-zero-emission/

Delta’s Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa has sent a N66 billion 2021 supplementary budget to the House of Assembly for approval.

His request was read at the plenary in Asaba on Tuesday by the Speaker, Chief Sherriff Oborevwori.

According to the governor’s request, N15.72 billion will be for Recurrent Expenditure, while N50.65 billion will be spent on Capital Expenditure.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/06/delta-state-presents-n66bn-supplementary-budget-to-assembly/

The World Bank has declared as “effective“ Nigeria’s 750-million-dollars COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.

Mr Aso Vakporaye, the Chairman of the Federal CARES Technical Committee, made this known in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/29/ng-cares-world-bank-gives-nod-to-fgs-750m-economic-programme/

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) said on Monday that it was waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court before taking any decision on the vexed issue of Valued Added Tax (VAT).

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, also the Chairman of the forum, disclosed this, stating that the forum believed that the controversy over VAT required both political and legal measures to be settled.

“But, our take on this is that the Supreme Court should accelerate its decision so that we have clarity over who should be in charge of Value Added Tax (VAT), whether it is the Federal Inland Revenue Service or States.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/28/vat-we-await-supreme-court-verdict-before-final-decision-fayemi/

President Muhammadu Buhari has held a bilateral meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly holding in New York, USA, with Her Majesty, Maxima Zorreguieta, Queen of The Netherlands.

A statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman in Abuja, said the Nigerian leader, during the closed-door meeting, stressed the importance of infrastructural development for the advancement of any nation.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/23/buhari-meets-queen-of-netherlands-seek-financial-intervention-for-nigeria-development/

The Lagos State Government has said that it would divert traffic at Iyana-Era road for rehabilitation and construction of a 20metre bridge from Sept. 24 for a one-year period.

The state Ministry of Transportation said in a statement that the road work would commence midnight Friday, Sept. 24, for a duration of 12 months.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/22/iyana-era-road-to-undergo-rehabilitation-for-1-year-lasg/

The Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government Landed Property has stated that it has the power to sell or lease out any property of the Federal Government without prior knowledge of the ministry, department, or agency using it.

The PIC made this known to an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives, which is investigating the abandonment of Federal Government property across the country.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/21/presidential-panel-sells-6-storey-frcn-building-in-lagos-for-n100m/

Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has cautioned Nigerians against believing politicians, saying the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are birds of a feather.

The monarch made this known at his Ile-Oodua palace, Ile-Ife, before heading into seven days of seclusion to commune with the gods ahead of the Olojo Festival.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/20/ooni-of-ife-apc-and-pdp-are-same/

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have urged the financial sector to invest more in housing and rural electricity projects for the benefit of Nigerians.

The president and his vice gave the advice on Tuesday, at the 14th Annual Banking and Finance Conference, which was held simultaneously in Abuja and Lagos and streamed online from both locations.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, ”Economic recovery inclusion: The role of banking and finance”, they challenged the banking sector to do more for the country, in order to further boost the economy.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/15/buhari-addresses-banks-ask-for-investment-in-housing-others/

The anti open grazing law, on Monday, September 6, 2021, passed its second reading at the state House of Assembly in Lagos.

Following the Monday event, Lagos lawmakers held a public hearing of the controversial bill on Wednesday, September 8, during which the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), said cows would be unaffordable in the state, such that their price may go up as much as N2 million for each should the state government passes the proposed anti open grazing law.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/09/anti-open-grazing-law-heres-what-lagos-lawmakers-are-seeking/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has thrown his weight behind his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, for stopping the Federal Government from collecting Value Added Tax (VAT).

It would be recalled that in August 2021, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, in a suit marked FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, held that the Rivers State government had the powers to collect VAT within its territory.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Monday, September 7, prayed the court to stay execution on the judgment.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/08/vat-collection-sanwo-olu-backs-wike-after-triumph-in-court/

Troops of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states, have arrested two suspects with cannabis Sativa worth N9.5 million, according to the Media Officer of the task force, Maj. Ishaku Takwa.

In a statement he issued on Saturday in Jos, Takwa added that the suspects, Patrick Kalu, 60, a retired Police Sergeant, and Friday Kalu, 40, were arrested along Manchok – Vom road on Saturday.

“This afternoon, our troops arrested two suspected drug dealers and recovered 320 blocks of Indian hemp worth N9.5 million concealed in a Toyota Camry car with registration number Abuja ABC 214 HV.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/05/troops-intercepts-2-drug-dealers-with-n9-5m-worth-of-hemp/

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has cancelled the national cut-off marks for admissions into tertiary institutions.

Newsrand learnt that the JAMB board made this resolvent at the 2021 virtual policy meeting that was held yesterday (Tuesday, August 31, 2021), and was chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

While JAMB could unanimously agree to cancel general the cut-off marks, the board could not agree on the admission deadline for all public and private institutions.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/01/explainer-jamb-cancels-national-cut-off-marks-what-this-means/

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has announced that an enhanced version of its mobile app, X-Mobile would be released on Sept. 1.

The Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/01/x-mobile-ngx-launches-app-to-improve-market-access/

Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) as appointed Fidelity Bank Plc Chairman, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi as President.

Chike-Obi is to take over from Osaretin Demuren after the completion of a successful tenure.

This was disclosed in a statement made by Adebukola Orenuga, the Executive Secretary of the Association as the appointment was endorsed by the Forum for Banks’ Chairmen organized by the Association in June 2021.

https://newsrand.com/2021/09/01/bdan-appoints-fidelity-banks-boss-as-president/

The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has started the rehabilitation of its coconut belt aimed at producing 10 million coconut trees by 2024.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Olusanya said that the collaboration would also ensure the rehabilitation of coconut grooves, create over 500,000 job opportunities and wealth through training, capacity building, and empowerment of youths and women.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/16/lasg-commences-refurbishing-of-coconut-belt-partners-fao/

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that another total lockdown is not part of its strategy to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Recall, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director-General confirmed earlier last month that a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 known as the Delta variant is in the country, as he labeled it ‘deadly’.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, during the weekly ministerial briefing by the Presidential Communication Team in Abuja, disclosed that total lockdown is the government’s last plan of action.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/12/delta-variant-what-fg-plans-to-do/

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of an oxygen plant in Yobe, to meet the demands for medical oxygen in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by Gov. Mai Mala-Buni’s Director-General Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu on Thursday.

Mala-Buni said the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, made the pledge at a stakeholders’ meeting for the 2021 mid-year review of routine immunization and Primary Healthcare Programme in Abuja.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/12/buhari-approves-creation-of-oxygen-plant-in-yobe/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), especially technology-based ones with 500 million dollars in Nigeria.

Osinbajo disclosed this on Sunday at the 33rd Inaugural Lecture of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun.

The institution’s 33rd Inaugural Lecture was delivered by Oluseyi Oduyoye, Professor of Business Administration.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/09/afdb-pledges-500mn-support-to-msmes-osinbajo/

The first time I heard the word, continuum, was when the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, used it in one of his statements. Known for being very cerebral, frank and never afraid to confront the truth and face reality, Awo in that particular statement said “government is a continuum.”

The word struck home, perhaps also because of the context in which that statement was made but which I can’t remember now. How I missed out that word which became a troubling vocabulary still beats my imagination. I wasn’t totally dumb. I had read books upon books, lots of them and still missed that particular word. So, when it came in those days that politicians craft their words and paint them on marble, not these days that most of the politicians are failed comedians, the word remained glued to my system, never to depart for any reason.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/09/dso-the-more-you-write-the-more-things-remain-the-same-okoh-aihe/

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the acquisition of 20 percent minority stakes by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) in the Dangote Petroleum and Petro-Chemical Refinery.

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa.

Sylva said the acquisition was in the sum of 2.76 billion dollars.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/05/dangote-refinery-fec-approves-nnpc-20-percent-stake/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government has, over the years, prioritized employment generation by integrating job creation in all its major policies, projects, and programs.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the vice president spoke at the formal presentation of the Research Report of Course 29 of the National Defence College (NDC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The report is titled “Creating Jobs and Opportunities for Africa’s Largest Youth Population”.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/03/job-creation-is-our-major-priority-fg/

Africa’s largest cement producer, Dangote Cement has announced resilient results for the six months ended 30th June 2021 as Group sales volumes hit 15.3Mt. According to the company’s unaudited results for the period under review, Nigerian operations accounted for a sales volume of 9.87 Mt while pan African operations contributed the balance of 5.5Mt. The increase in sales volume was supported by an increase in housing infrastructure and commercial construction.

In the period, the cement giants posted a profit after tax of ₦191.6 billion after a tax charge of N89.6 billion. The company recommenced clinker exports from Nigeria in second quarter, with two clinker shipments, one each from Apapa and Onne terminals.

https://newsrand.com/2021/08/01/dangote-cement-posts-resilient-performance-in-first-half-2021/

Some charges levelled against infamous cybercriminal, Hushpuppi, may be dismissed. This is according to the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for Central District of California, who made this known in a mail chat with Newsrand.

The charges, which are likely to be dropped, are -wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud.

Newsrand understands that federal authorities in the United States, have been probing Hushpuppi since his arrest last year (2020).

https://newsrand.com/2021/07/30/revealed-why-hushpuppis-wire-fraud-other-charges-may-be-dismissed/

Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says the corps has arrested 110 traffic violators on Wednesday under its Operation Thunderstorm.

Ogungbemide disclosed this in a statement by the FRSC Route Commander and Public Education Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Sonusi, in Lagos.

He explained that the command had begun a special operation, tagged “Operation Thunderstorm”, to clamp down on Very Important Personalities (VIPs) for flagrant disobedience to the National Road Traffic Regulations.

https://newsrand.com/2021/07/29/operation-thunderstorm-clampdown-110-vehicles-in-lagos-frsc/