Below are the headlines found on The Punch Online Newspaper for today, Thusday, 7th September, 2017.
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's reputation fell further on Tuesday when he shelved the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting for the flimsiest of reasons. According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, the meeting was called off because government functionaries were apparently enjoying an extended Sallah holiday. This is as ridiculous as the one his []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Eniola Akinkuotu, Leke Baiyewu and Olaleye Aluko The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, has declared her readiness to support former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's bid for the Presidency against President Muhammadu Buhari if the former decides to contest in 2019. Alhassan, in an interview with the BBC []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has emerged as the consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2018 governorship election. Olusola emerged from the list of strong contenders for the governorship ticket as the 'most preferred candidate' at a meeting held on Wednesday by party bigwigs in []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Oyetunji Abioye A professor of Political Economics, Pat Utomi, has advised the Federal Government to come up with specific and deliberate policies that will enhance the growth of the non-oil sector in order to enable the country to sustain its exit from recession. In its second quarter Gross Domestic Product report released on Tuesday, the []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has faulted the claim by the National Bureau of Statistics that the country has climbed out of economic recession. The governor said the reality on ground showed that Nigerians were suffering and dying, with foods and drugs out of their reach, adding that no statistics would []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, said on Wednesday that with the exit from recession, the task ahead was to grow the Nigerian economy in a rapid manner. Udoma, who stated this while reacting to the Gross Domestic Product growth rate report released on Tuesday by the National Bureau []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Rasheed Bisiriyu and Anna Okon Some Nigerians are optimistic that the nation will reap bountifully from the plans by many countries in Europe and other continents including the United Kingdom, France and India to stop the use of petrol/diesel-powered vehicles from 2030. The Scottish government on Tuesday said it would phase out petrol and diesel []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Oil futures extended a rise on fears of potential damage to the United States oil production from Hurricane Irma, as well as renewed demand for crude from restarted refineries in the Gulf Coast, according to MarketWatch. West Texas Intermediate the US crude oil for October rose by 47 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $49.13 []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Everest Amaefule, Abuja The Federal Government will today (Thursday) commence activities preparatory to the issuance of N100bn non-interest bearing Islamic bond, better known as sukuk. A statement issued by the Debt Management Office in Abuja on Wednesday said a national roadshow to be led by the Director-General of the DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, would begin []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Choosing the right bank can be tricky, especially if you aren't quite sure what to look for and haven't had to make any big purchases that involve big loans like a mortgage or a car loan. With so many options out there these days, it can be easy to just stick with the big mega []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale, on Wednesday explained why Nigerians were not feeling the real impact of the positive economic growth rate on their lives. Kale attributed the non-impact of the exit from recession on the citizens to the structure of the []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Everest Amaefule, Abuja The Federal Government has offered tax holidays and duty waivers on imported mining equipment to foreign investors in the nation's mining industry. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, conveyed the offer while speaking on 'Mining for Shared Prosperity: Why Nigeria, Why Now'' at the opening session of the []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Anna Okon The Nigeria Customs Service has directed that any consignment duly released at the terminals should no longer be subjected to Customs cross examination at the exit gate. A circular issued by the Officer in Charge, Customs Intelligence Unit, Tin Can Island command, Suleiman Bomoi, confirmed this. The Customs regularly cross examines goods at []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, International Freight Forwarders Association, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned what he called incessant probe of companies by the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, saying that the development is chasing away foreign investors doing business at the nation's port. Speaking during the National Executive Committee meeting of the association, []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Oyetunji Abioye The naira closed at 365 per United States dollar at the parallel market on Wednesday, the same rate it closed on Tuesday. This was despite the Central Bank of Nigeria's injection of $250m in the foreign exchange market on Tuesday. The naira had traded flat at 365/dollar on Monday, having closed at 365/dollar []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Fidelity Bank Plc says it is touching lives and impacting positively on communities, with its Fidelity Helping Hands Project, an initiative that enables the bank and its staff to carry out corporate social responsibility interventions. The lender in a statement on Wednesday said a community in the North-East benefitted from the bank's corporate philanthropy initiative. []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Advanced hackers have targeted the United States and European energy companies in a cyber espionage campaign that has in some cases successfully broken into the core systems that control the companies' operations, according to researchers at the security firm, Symantec. Malicious email campaigns have been used to gain entry into organisations in the United States, []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
First Bank of Nigeria Limited in partnership with Visa has introduced the Mobile Payments Solution ' mVisa. According to a statement by the bank, the mobile solution allows customers pay for goods and services by scanning a QR code using the FirstMobile App on their smartphones. Payment goes straight from the consumer's First Bank account []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Stanley Opara The Nigerian equities market rebounded from a five-day losing streak on Wednesday as the All-Share Index rose by 0.6 per cent to close at 35,609.07 basis points. The year-to-date return advanced to 32.5 per cent as 281.836 million shares worth N5.424bn exchanged hands in 4,066 deals. Investors gained N70.7bn as the Nigerian Stock []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Stanley Opara PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has posted a full-year group pre-tax profit of N4.81bn. For the full-year period ended May 31, 2017, its group revenue rose to N79.63bn compared to N69.53bn reported a year ago. Its group profit before tax of N4.81bn was an improvement on last year's PBT, which stood at N3.15bn. Meanwhile, []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Stanley Opara Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has pledged its resolve to ensure that its investments and processes give value to its shareholders and other stakeholders. Its shareholders approved the dividend of N1 per ordinary share of 50 kobo. The company said it was further restructuring its operations and streamlining its business operations to focus []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Bank of Industry is seeking collaboration with Development Finance Institutions from about 100 countries to boost lending to Nigerian entrepreneurs. The Managing Director, BoI, Mr. Olukayode Pitan, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with the Secretary General, Association of Africa Development Finance Institutions in Africa and Europe, Mr. []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Switching banks can get tricky depending on how many accounts, cards, automatic payments and other things you have set up. Here are a few steps to take to make the process as easy as possible: Open a new current account If you're switching your primary banking services to a new bank or online bank, first []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Nike Popoola Allianz Group has acquired 98 per cent stake in Ensure Insurance Plc. The stake was acquired from the firm's core shareholder, Greenoaks Global Holdings Limited. Pending regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by end of 2017, when Ensure Insurance will become a member of the Allianz Group. In a statement by []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
The Nigerian Ports Authority has announced that it has secured approval for the movement of cargoes by barges over water as an alternative to road transportation. The Managing Director of the agency, Hadiza Usman, said this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday. In the statement signed by the Principal Manager, Public []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday called for increased patronage of locally-made goods to improve the current rate of economic recovery. The Director-General, ACCI, Mr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, stated this during a chat with journalists on the chamber's preparations to host the 12th Abuja Trade Fair scheduled to commence on []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams became the oldest semi-finalist in US Open history at age 37 on Tuesday by defeating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2). US ninth seed Williams, seeking her third US Open crown, advanced to a Thursday matchup against 83rd-ranked compatriot Sloane Stephens for a spot in Saturday's []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Tana Aiyejina and Idris Adesina Football-loving Nigerians have reacted to the Super Eagles video that went viral after Leicester City's Ahmed Musa and Chelsea star Victor Moses appeared to have deliberately avoided shaking hands with the Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick on Sunday in Yaounde, Cameroon. The video showed the Eagles on arrival in []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Tana Aiyejina The Sodje family has kept mum over accusations of laundering cash from an 80,000 international fraud in 2013. Retired Premier League star Sam Sodje was allegedly involved in channelling proceeds from an email banking scam which targeted companies in Colombia, India, Italy and Abu Dhabi. Sam and brother Efe' both former Super Eagles []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Washington Wizards centre Daniel Ochefu believes Nigeria are the team to beat as they begin their campaign to retain the men's Afrobasket title they won in Tunisia two years ago. The championship, which begins on Friday, is jointly hosted for the first time by Senegal and Tunisia. The men's national basketball team D'Tigers flew out []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Eighteen players, including two Super Eagles' goalkeepers, have been invited to camp by the home-based Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf ahead of the West African Football Union Cup of Nations tournament scheduled for September 9 to 24 in Ghana. Demola Olajire, Head of Communication, Nigeria Football Federation, said Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who was in goal against Cameroon []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
The board of the Nigeria Women Football League has announced a shift in date for the Nigeria Women Premier League Super 4 tournament. The championship, from which the champions of the 2016/17 NWPL would be crowned, was initially billed to hold from September 11 to 16, but has now been rescheduled for October 9 to []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Enyimba chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwus countenance after Rangers forced his boys to a 1-1 draw in Enugu spoke volumes. You would have expected him to be happy after news emerged that Akwa United had lost in Ibadan but he, obviously had other ideas. Shooting Stars beating Akwa United thrust Enyimba into third position, needing a win []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
The Supersport Let's Play programme at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, on Saturday has attracted a lot of excitement in the Edo State capital. Edo FA boss Frank Ilaboya said 300 kids would take part in the event. Ilaboya confirmed that former Super Eagles stars Austin Eguavoen, Victor Ikpeba, ex-Golden Eaglets coach Monday Odigie, Wilson []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
FIFA on Wednesday ordered a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal to be replayed after the referee was banned for match fixing. The November 2016 tie, which will be restaged in November, was won by South Africa 2-1 after Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey awarded them a controversial penalty. Lamptey was initially suspended for []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
World number one Rafael Nadal advanced to the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by defeating Russian teen Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. The Spaniard, a 15-time Grand Slam champion, will have his first US Open match against Roger Federer on Friday if the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam winner can defeat Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregors money-spinning superfight failed to break the record for gate receipts at a Las Vegas boxing bout, figures released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed Wednesday. The controversial August 26 fight raked in $55,414,865.79, well short of the $72,198,500 generated by Mayweathers 2015 Fight of the Century against Manny Pacquiao []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
The hint given on Sunday, by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that Boko Haram might continue to get the best of soft targets for some time to come bears, with it, a lot of anxiety. Osinbajo, while hosting the 2017 Eid-el-Kabir lunch, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, was quoted as telling guests that: '' I []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Nnaemeka Obiaraeri I have read screaming headlines on different platforms, media outlets and forums on Wednesday hailing the exit of Nigeria from recession. Headlines like, 'Oh great, finally Nigeria exits recession'. 'Wow! Oil GDP grew by 1.65%'. The excitement is so suffocating that many of those commenting had not bothered to analyse the underlying assumptions, []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Continued from Tuesday It may also be recalled that the concept of Unity Schools where students from across the geopolitical zones were admitted into schools far from home was also introduced to encourage cultural integration amongst Nigerian youths. But all those noble objectives and initiatives of the golden days of Nigeria have now become memories []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
In the aftermath of the tragic flooding incident that recently hit Benue State, a revelation came out that a particular contractor who was given about N1bn to provide drainage channels in a risk-prone area of the state capital, absconded with the money. This means that if the drainage channels were constructed according to plan, perhaps, []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Peter Dada, Akure The Ipinsa community in the Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State has accused a pastor, identified as Abiodun, of involving in fetish activities in the town. It was gathered that sequel to the development, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Omoniyi Olufunmilayo, on Tuesday ordered that Abiodun's land in []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Samson Folarin A suspected armed robber, Michael David, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State, after he robbed a lady, identified simply as Kate, of her phone. PUNCH Metro gathered that 22-year-old David and two other members of his gang, while armed with a locally-made double-barrelled pistol, attacked Kate and []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
A 20-year-old woman, Ajoke Owolabi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly abducting a seven-year-old girl, Rachael Olorunshola, for 19 months. The girl was said to have been abducted in Abeokuta while returning from school. It was gathered that she was brought home by a Good Samaritan last month. Luck ran []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt ONE person has been feared killed as military men attached to Greenville Oil Company in Rumuji community, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, attacked protesting residents. Some youths from Rumuji town had laid siege to the company in protest against alleged neglect of the host community in the []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia The Abia State Police Command on Wednesday arraigned 10 suspects arrested on Monday in connection with the clash between soldiers and tricycle operators in Umuahia, the state capital. The police prosecutor, S.E. Onyemauche, arraigned the suspects on eight counts before the Magistrate's Court, Umuahia. He accused the defendants of conspiring to commit []
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Sodiq Oyeleke Two people have been injured in a fight that ensued between Students Union Government leaders of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday. During the fight, the Vice President of the union, Miss Jacob Tosin, allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed the Social Director, Adedayo Emmanuel, in the arm. It was learnt that []
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