News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Governor of CBN, Dr Yemi Cardoso The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has stated emphatically that the standard and commemorative N100 notes remain legal tender in Nigeria and must be accepted for all transactions nationwide. This followed reports of the rejection of the standard ₦100 banknotes by some members of the public, businesses, and other stakeholders due to doubts about its continued legal tender status. To douse the tension created by the rejection, the apex bank’s Ag. Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali issued a statement on Wednesday, clarifying the status of ₦100 banknotes as legal tender. She said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has been drawn to reports of the rejection of the standard ₦100 banknote by some members of the public, businesses, and other stakeholders, apparently due to doubts about its continued legal tender status. “For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN hereby reiterates that both the ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has strengthened its border security and intelligence capabilities by embracing the INTERPOL network, providing an opportunity for officers to access one of the world's largest criminal intelligence infrastructures. Shortly after the installing of the INTERPOL Data Centre at its Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi described the development as a major milestone in the Service's technology-driven transformation and intelligence-led enforcement strategy. He said that Customs enforcement has evolved beyond conventional compliance, with technology now playing a central role in combating transnational crime, adding that the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with INTERPOL would further deepen cooperation between both organisations. The CGC highlighted the Service's indigenous B'Odogwu platform, which he linked as an innovative digital solution th...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Dr Bosun Tijani The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has mandated regulatory agencies under his purview to harmonise internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues, pending the development of a harmonised national policy and governance framework. This followed a high-level strategic meeting convened by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, with the leadership of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, on Tuesday in Abuja. The Minister noted that regulatory coordination is not only essential to preserving legal certainty but also fundamental to promoting investment, innovation, consumer confidence and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy. According to the directives issued by the Minister, ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has extended its olive tree to the United Bank for Africa, UBA, in a bid to deepen the implementation of National Single Window, NSW, advance trade facilitation and support key digital transformation initiatives. NSW is a digital platform that incorporates importers, exporters, NCS and other relevant regulatory agencies into one coordinated trade compliance system, targeted at streamlining trade processes, reducing bottlenecks, and increasing transparency to position Nigeria for unprecedented economic growth. During a high-level meeting at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi described the partnership as a critical component of the Service's ongoing modernisation agenda. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in financial integration, technology-driven Customs operations and the successful implementation of the NSW, a flagship Federal Government initiativ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has commenced its landmark project with the rehabilitation of the Bama-Banki Road and the Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala Road in Borno, meant to cripple insecurity in the State. During the flag-off ceremony at Muna City Gate, Km 10 along the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru Road over the weekend, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi said that the projects are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's determination to complete long-abandoned strategic road infrastructure and use development as a tool for restoring peace and prosperity. According to the Minister, President Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon courage by reviving projects that had remained on the drawing board for years. "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man destined to retake this country. It is very certain that all that was impossible to be done before are now being done. One of the projects from Kano-Maiduguri, whose Section 5 is here, was awarded in 2006. It is this P...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank has strategised to unlock Africa's economic potential through stronger trade among African countries. By deepening its partnership with the Afreximbank, the NCS intends to strengthen trade facilitation, enhance customs cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi stated this during a working visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi at the Service Headquarters over the weekend in Abuja. Welcoming the Afreximbank delegation, the CGC noted that the collaboration has continued to yield tangible results in customs modernisation and trade facilitation, particularly through initiatives designed to harmonise customs procedures and improve the movement of goods across the continent. He said, "...