Author: Saint Augustine

A financial expert, Mr. Johnson Chukwu has said that the agricultural sector will still largely drive the Nigerian economy this year. Chukwu who made this declaration in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos recently explained that 2019 being an election, little attention would be paid to other economic sectors or those policies that would actually trigger or stimulate other critical sectors to sustainable growth. He added that most of the policies that Nigerians were going to hear this year would be largely politically induced. “In effect, I think the agricultural sector which is propelled even by the weather will…

Dangote Fertilizer Limited has entered into a long-term agreement with Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) for the delivery of Natural Gas from Chevron’s supply portfolio to the fertilizer plant, which is poised to start operations soon. The contract, under the Gas Sale and Aggregation Agreement (GSAA) is part of International Oil Company (IOC)’s gas obligation to the domestic market through the Gas Aggregation Company Limited (GACN). The signing ceremony, held at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) office in Lagos, was executed on behalf of the parties by Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar…

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has launched a campaign – supported by one of the largest ever global studies across the profession – on the skills accountants need as they head into the next decade. ACCA’s body of research shows there are diverse emerging issues where technical and communication skills will be vital by 2020–25. What topped the list of competencies expected to be most important over the next decade is the ability to communicate a more holistic view of corporate reporting. Thomas Isibor, head of ACCA Nigeria, said: “New hardware, software, economic threats, services and regulations are…

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello has said that barriers to trade increase the cost of trade. Bello who made this observation in his opening remarks at the Borderless Alliance Workshop on Dissemination and Launch of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Handbook held in Lagos yesterday said that according to UNCTAD report, Africa has the highest cost of transporting goods between origin and destination. Represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs, NSC, Chief Cajethan Agu, he observed that Africa must work assiduously to reduce these unnecessary costs by eliminating all the trade barriers and make…

A Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ebute-Meta, has ordered the remand of a 39- year old estate agent, Ibrahim Hamidi Ayinde for allegedly defrauding 125 persons under the pretense of providing them with an apartment. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs.  O.A Olagbende however ruled that the accused person should be remanded in Ikoyi prison for a week for failing to carry out court order. Ayinde is standing trial on 125 count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. He however denied the charge preferred against him by the Lagos State Government. According to the Police prosecutor, Mrs. Clara Olagbayi, the defendant committed…

The Imo state governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, has warned financial institutions to stop new transactions with the state government or do so at their own peril. Ihedioha who gave this warning at a media interaction in Owerri on Thursday, said new transactions would increase chances of illegal activities and jeopardise the financial stability of the state, NAN reports. He said his duty and responsibility would be to ensure that citizens and residents of the state remained united and work together for the common good of the state. The governor-elect commended other contestants in the election for their “sportsmanship” and urged them…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has opened its portal for recruitment of fresh graduates and experienced professionals into the system. Ndu Ughamadu, its Group General Manager (Public Affairs Division) confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday. He said that the portal for the recruitment was opened on Wednesday. The recruitment portal address is https:/careers.nnpcgroup.com. “The portal was opened today and I have received hundreds of inquiries on whether it is correct or not. “We are going to recruit people from different engineering fields, especially fresh graduates and equally in the administrative areas,”…

…Says Govt. will foot hospital bill of victims …Orders full scale investigation into cause of incident Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday visited the scene of a three-storey building which collapsed in Ita Faaji area of Lagos Island, where he commiserated with families of victims who lost their lives, most of whom are children. The three-storey residential building, located at No 14, Massey Street, Opposite Oja, Ita-Faaji, housing a primary school on its pent house, caved in at about 10am on Wednesday morning trapping scores of pupils of the school in the process. Governor Ambode, who got to…

By Abuchi Onwumelu As part of its effort towards solving the problem of child theft and abuse in day care centres across the state, the Anambra State government through the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs recently trained over 100 day care proprietors and proprietresses on child management and operational tips. Addressing the participants, the state Commissioner for Social Welfare, Women and Children, Lady Ndidi Mezue said that government was worried with some unwholesome and unethical conducts of some day care centre operators especially as it concerns reducing such places to baby factories for illegitimate business. The Commissioner who was…

The Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the Nigerian Ship Registry, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori has assured that the committee is working to ensure that Nigeria has a credible ship registry that the International Oil Companies and banks will not reject as well as one that will provide jobs for Nigerians. Ilori who made this disclosure in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos on Monday said that this had become necessary because when ships were not from the Nigerian ship registry, they cannot engage in Cabotage trade saying that if they cannot engage in Cabotage trade to support…