God has a hand in Nigeria's economic crisis - APC Chairman

According to the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Nigeria's current economic crisis has something to do with God.

In a statement he issued through APC's Assistant Director of Publicity, Mr Edegbe Odemwingie in Abuja on Thursday, Odigie-Oyegun.

He said that the economic downturn could be a divine arrangement to prod Nigerians to embrace radical change.

"I think God has a hand in the current economic predicament of the country.

''Imagine the sudden fall in the price of crude oil, the mainstay of the Nigerian economy from its heights in 2014, averaging 112 dollars per barrel down to the current price of 28 dollars per barrel -- lower than the 38 dollars per barrel which the proposed 2016 budget is predicated on.

''It is an object lesson for us. It tells us that we must embrace radical change in our economic model," he said.

He added that the crash in oil prices has adversely affected government revenue, hurting the economy in the process. He urged Nigerians to prepare to adapt to new ways of getting things done.

''As a party, we know and understand it calls for tremendous sacrifice; there is no other way.

"Yes the economy is in a bad shape; but maybe that is the kick we need to be innovative and find ways to drive the economy out of the woods.

"The luck we have is that we have as president a man committed to personal probity and sincerity of purpose to the project of developing Nigeria.''

NAN

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CBN clarifies N50 stamp duty policy on bank transactions

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN on Thursday in Abuja, made clarifications to its directive of N50 deductions on bank transactions of N1000 and above.

The Director, Corporate Communications of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Ibrahim Mu’azu said in a press release that salaries and wages as well as payments and deposits for self-to-self transactions whether inter or intra bank are exempted from the N50 stamp duty policy.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the CBN recently introduced the policy which was contained in the Stamp Duty Act of 2004 and the Federal Government of Nigeria's Financial Regulation of 2009 as part of measures to boost government revenue through taxation.

According to the press release, all receipts issued by banks and other financial institutions for services rendered in terms of teller deposits and money transfers of N1000 and above are subject to the N50 stamp duty charge.

"The implementation of the Stamp Duty at this point in time emanated from a Federal High Court order that the CBN should direct deposit money banks under its supervision to commence the collection of the duty on behalf of the federal government.

"Consequently, the money deposit banks have been directed to commence the collection of the duty.

"Banks are to collect the N50 stamp duty and remit same to the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) on behalf of the customer.

"The N50 stamp duty is charged per transaction and NOT per volume. Hence, irrespective of the amount, the sum of N50 is to be charged provided such a transaction is N1,000 and above.

"There are however some exemptions and these include payments of salaries and wages, payments and deposits for self-to-self transactions whether inter or intra bank among others.’’

NAN

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Buhari rewards Eaglets 31 years after World Cup triumph

It was a pleasant surprise at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday as President Muhammadu Buhari rewarded members of the victorious national U-17 team which won the maiden edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in China in 1985.

Each of the players got a cash reward of N2 million while the coaches became N1.5 million richer.

General Buhari as Head of State had promised to host the team when they won the trophy in 1985 but was overthrown before he could redeem the pledge. Subsequent administrations thereafter failed to honor them.

Also rewarded were team members of the National U-17 team that won the 2015 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Chile.

The players got a cash reward of N1.2 million each while Chief Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke was given N900,000. The assistant coaches got N600,000 each.

Samson Siasia's national U-23 team which won the African U-23 Nations Cup last year was not left out as each team member was given a cash reward of N500,000.

Buhari also honored members of the national basketball team, D’ Tigers which won the Afro Basketball championship in Tunisia. They were blessed N600,000 each.

The president did not leave out
members of the silver winning FIBA U-16 Women Championship in Madagascar as they were given N400,000 each.

Also part of the national appreciation were Willington Jighere, champion of the World English Language Scrabble Championship in Australia and Olarenwaju Durodola who won the WBC Cruiser Weight Title. Willington was given N1.5 million naira while his coach was got N1.2 million.

Also honored with cash rewards were the contingents to the 2015 IPC Asian Open International Powerlifting Championship in Kazakhstan and the 2015 World Wrestling Championship.

President Buhari thanked the athletes and their coaches for doing the country proud.

“Nigerian athletes, despite prevailing challenges, have always proven to the rest of the world that the Nigerian spirit is indomitable.

“On behalf of all Nigerians, I wish to specially express my appreciation and indeed that of the nation to our athletes and officials for the consistency, determination,willpower and penchant for success being witnessed in the sports sector in recent times. I urge the managers of this sector to keep up the momentum,” he said.

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Olisa Metuh remanded in Kuje Prison for the second time.

Embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh was on Thursday remanded in Kuje Prison for the second time in one week.

Metuh was docked at a Federal High Court in Abuja on a two-count charge bordering on willful destruction of evidence.

He is accused of destroying the statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In count one of the charges read before the court on Thursday, Metuh is accused of;
"Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence, punishable under Section 166 of the Penal Code CAP 532 LFN, Abuja (2004).

“Particular of offence: Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, destroyed the document, to wit: a statement made under caution to investigators/operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the 5th of January 2016 with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence in a court of law."

In count two, Metuh is charged with “Mischief contrary to Section 326 and punishable under Section 327 of the Penal Code CAP 532 LFN, Abuja (2004).

"Particular of offence: Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with intent to cause wrongful loss or damage to the property of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) committed mischief by destroying/tearing into pieces a statement you made under caution to investigations/investigative of the EFCC.”

The prosecution counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir argued that the offense is punishable under Section 166 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Abuja) 2004.

Having heard from both the defense and prosecution counsels, Justice Ishaq Bello adjourned the matter till January 25 for hearing of Metuh's bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.

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Elderly couple injured in Abuja car crash

An accident occurred this Thursday afternoon at Finance Quarters bus stop near Julius Berger roundabout.

Eyewitness accounts have it that the driver of a Toyota Corolla saloon car lost control while trying to avoid a pedestrian crossing the 10-lane highway.

The car subsequently uprooted the nearby streetlight before ramming into an elderly couple driving in a Toyota Camry.

The elderly couple as well as the lone driver of the Corolla sustained injuries and were rushed to National Hospital, Abuja by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

See photos after the cut.

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Lassa fever will become history by April - FG

The Federal Government has declared that lassa fever will be eradicated from the country by April 2016.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole who spoke with The PUNCH in Abuja, on Wednesday, said that the family in Kubwa who was visited by a victim of the virus has been placed under surveillance along with the hospital where he was treated. 

He also said that the hospital where the victim was on admission before his transfer to National Hospital, Abuja would not be allowed to receive any visitors or patients until it is sanitized.

The 33 years old man who was visiting Abuja from Jos in Plateau State had died barely 24 hours after he was admitted in National Hospital.

“We want to assure Nigerians that Lassa fever will soon become a thing of the past. It will become history in Nigeria. Ordinarily, Lassa fever will be eradicated from Nigeria in April. But if we do nothing, it will come back by August. So, we will make sure that we work all-year round to make sure that there is no resurgence in August.

“Our target is to eradicate it in April. Even if we have one or two cases, we will treat them early because all our antennae will be out to treat any case.

“Not just the families that the patient visited in Kubwa but also those who treated him (have been placed under surveillance). We are working on that, we don’t want to frighten anybody. But I can assure you that our officials are all over the place to make sure that we place them under surveillance. It is all in their interest, not that we want to frighten them.”

Responding to a question as to whether the hospital that treated the victim would be completely shut down, the Minister had this to say :

“When you say shut down, we don’t want to physically shut down the place. But when the hospital is under surveillance, no patient will be allowed to go there until we declare the place safe and that is the situation in the Kubwa hospital.”

He however, added that the ward in the National Hospital where the victim was admitted and the mortuary where he was kept had been decontaminated.

Source: The PUNCH

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Dasukigate: Ex-Customs boss, 5 others may be declared wanted.

A former Chairman of the Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Muazu, a former Nigeria Customs Service, NCS Comptroller-General Abdullahi Dikko Inde  and three others may soon be declared wanted by security agencies.

The rest are former PDP  governorship candidate in Kebbi State, Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, a former official in the Office of National Security Adviser, Col. Bello Fadile, and former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

They are expected to answer questions on their roles in certain corrupt practices including the disbursement of the $2.1b arms procurement fund from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA under Col Sambo Dasuki.

Specifically, they are alleged to have diverted public funds in the following manner :

1. Muazu (N500million cash allegedly from the Office of the National Security Adviser);
2. Yaki (N200 million from ONSA);
3. Fadile (N100 million from ONSA);
4. Dudafa (under investigation for N10 billion shared to the delegates to the PDP Presidential nomination convention);
5. Maina (alleged N20 billion pension fraud);
6. Dikko (N3.5 billion bill incurred  on internet project).

Abujacitynews learnt that the affected persons had spurned earlier invitations from the Special Investigative Committee probing the activities of the ONSA.

“Security agencies have given these former public officers enough time but they have not turned up to clear some disbursements and  expenditures traced to them.

“The committee is not saying that they are guilty but it is imperative for them to appear before the team handling these issues.

“They have up to one week to honour the invitation of the panel or else they will be declared wanted by the appropriate security agencies,” said a source close to the committee.

Another knowledgeable source disclosed that the suspects who are mostly holed up abroad may be declared wanted to facilitate their extradition to the Nigeria.

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