NIGERIAN NOTCH

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that over 9,671 title owners who failed to pay their ground rents in 2023 are at the risk of losing their lands if they fail to pay within two weeks. Top on the list are foreign embassies, who the administration said are owing over $5.3 million . Others, according to a publication in national dailies signed by Muhammad Hazat Sule, FCTA’s director of information and communication, included companies and individuals, who are collectedly owing N2,205, 079,937.  ‘’The FCT Administration hereby reminds the general public, particularly allotees of land(s) within the FCT of their obligation to the FCTA as stipulated in the covenanted terms of the Certificate of Occupancy to wit ‘to pay in advance, without demand to the Honorable Minister, FCT, the annual ground rent from the first day of January of each year. “All allotees, property owners as well as beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT who...

The Federal Government yesterday declared a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria. CBN, Odoh Ocheme, and two other persons are wanted for allegedly forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari to steal $6.2m cash from the apex bank. In a letter addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police by office of the CBN special investigator, Ocheme, alongside one Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar, were accused of conspiring and forging documents in the name of Buhari to steal $6,230,000 from the coffers of CBN. The letter, signed by Head of Operation, Office of Special Investigator, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Eloho Okpoziakpo, read: “The Special Investigator, appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the CBN Related Entities and other key government business entities, KGBEs, kindly requests you to place the above-named individuals on INTERPOL red notice. “In the course of the Special Investigator’s ass...

Nigeria on Tuesday signed the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with the United Kingdom (UK) to boost trade and investment between the two countries and unlock new opportunities for businesses in both countries. The UK Secretary of State, Ms Kemi Badenoch signed the ETIP alongside her Nigerian counterpart, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mrs Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, in Abuja. The ETIP is the first the UK has signed with an African country and is designed to grow the UK and Nigeria’s already thriving trading relationship, which totalled £7 billion in the year to September 2023. This arrangement will pave the way for opportunities in sectors crucial to both economies such as finance and legal services as well as foster new collaborations in innovative areas like the creative industry. The visit by the Secretary of State comes a week ahead of a UK Government-led fashion and beauty trade delegation to Nigeria. The ETIP also initiates further collaboration...

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite has expressed the need to work with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to boost diaspora investments in the Country. Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Minister said she  will create  a full department called “Catalytic Investment Unit” in the Ministry to accommodate all diaspora related matters. The Minister commended NiDCOM, partnering with three private sector-led Nigerian Diaspora Summit initiative (NDSI) to organise the Nigerian Diaspora Investment summit, which has provided a platform for Nigerians who want to invest . She said the Ministry would synergise with NiDCOM and NDSI to make the summit even stronger , in-line with the Ministry’s investment initiatives and policies. The Minister said “I have been charged by  Mr President to look for inward investment into the country. NiDCOM has saved me from starting from the scratch. We will build on your pl...

The House of Representatives is set to consider a bill seeking to create three additional states in the South-West region. The bill which has been listed to be brought for first reading before the House of Representatives is sponsored by the member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Oluwole Oke. Oke who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, is proposing the bill seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa States. According to a copy of the bill signed by Vanguard, the proposed bill titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)” in the amendment of the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution reads, “The First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution is amended by introducing new states and reducing the number of Local Government Areas.” In the drafted bill, Ijebu State when created will include Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North ...

The Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) has resumed the production of arms and ammunition years after it suspended operations. Its Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Aniedi Edet, made the declaration in Jos on Tuesday when he visited Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army. The corporation’s 24th director-general said it was undergoing some reforms aimed at meeting its statutory mandates. “DICON was established in 1964 and mandated to produce enough to meet the defence needs of the entire armed forces and other security agencies. “Over the years, DICON has been doing its best to meet these needs, but people feel it should do more. “We have resumed the production of ammunitions which has been stalled for sometimes. As we speak, we are churning out a good batch of 7.6 by 55mm rounds of ammunition. “In January, DICON supplied about four million rounds of ammunition to the Nigerian Army and it is assembling some rang...

The Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.  President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, rewarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a national award (Member of the Order of the Niger, MON) flats in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and piece of land. President Tinubu made the pronouncement when he received the players and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The delegation is led by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh. The Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.  All the team members, clad in green attire, and officials were in attendance, including Alex Iwobi, who had faced cyber attacks following Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire at the final of the just concluded African Cup of Nations. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media ...

Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, on Monday, February 12, 2024, convicted and sentenced Aisha Wakil (otherwise known as Mama Boko Haram), Tahiru  Daura and  Lawal Soyade to 10 years imprisonment. This was disclosed in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dele Oyewale, late on Monday night. The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC had earlier secured a conviction against Wakil and her accomplices for falsely obtaining N15m from one Bukar Kachalla of Hamiza Global Resources Limited under the guise of supplying three units of Chemistry Analyser Solar Energy Brand Model 1800 (UK version). The action was said to be contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. Former EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, sentenced Wakil and the others, to seven years impr...

Prominent groups from the South and Middle Belt including   Ohanaeze, Afenifere and  Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, have jointly appealed to President Bola Tinubu  to  release  the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, asserting that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is in the best interest of Nigeria. A communique issued after their meeting in Abuja  expressed concern over the potential repercussions of Kanu’s continued incarceration on peace and security in the South-East region. Part of the communique released under the aegis of Southern, Middle-Belt Forum Leaders read: “The SMBF condemns the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu and its implication on peace and security in the South-East. “The SMBF, therefore, calls on President Tinubu to ensure that the rule of law is allowed to prevail on this matter and all court rulings on this matter are obeyed. “The  release  of Nnamdi Kanu is in the interest of the enti...

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Anite on Monday assured Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to creating over three million jobs. She made the statement in her office during a meeting with delegates of the Oil and Gas Industry and some investors in the industry in Abuja. A statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations Mrs. Ozokwelu Nonye said the minister acknowledged the current economic challenges. However, she noted that investors’ confidence is paramount to sustaining investment in the oil and gas sector for economic growth. She said, “If you want to know if a country is doing well, follow the money, the oil and gas sector is a priority sector for economic growth for the country. “The development of the sector will be backed in every way possible as there are lots of potentials present, in terms of forex earning, job creation and also economic development because whatever is being produced can be used internally “Th...