News Rider

As protests deepen across the States, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks to start accepting the old N500 and N1,000 notes from the public immediately.  This is even as the apex bank pegged the maximum amount that the banks would collect at N500,000, adding that the old currencies were no longer legal tender. A source confirmed that the CBN ordered the banks to accept the old cash instead of going to the CBN office following difficulties encountered in getting access to the bank.  “Go to your bank but fill out the form before you go. Go with the reference code you generate. With your code, banks will collect it from you. But if it is more than N500,000, you will go to the CBN and deposit it, " an official added.  The CBN had earlier opened a portal on its website and made it mandatory for those willing to return old notes to fill and generate a code. But on Thursday, February 16, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele ordered the banks to make the ...

Some residents of Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday barricaded the Benin-Ore expressway over a shortfall in the supply of new naira. BOblog reports that the protesters made bonfire on both sides of the expressway to register their anger on the scarcity of new notes.  This obstructed human and vehicular movement and resulted to heavy gridlock on the axis.  In separate interviews, the protesters frowned at their inability to access cash, which is already threatening their livelihood.  One of the protesters, Angela Alonge lamented that she was unable to withdraw cash from her banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) and was also disallowed from gaining access into the banking hall.  Another protester, Femi Martins wondered why the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated such policy without considering the plight of Nigerians in cities and communities.   He said the essence of the protest was to register their grievances on...

        IGP Usman Baba At least, 310,973 policemen have been mobilised to secure 176,846 polling units nationwide ahead of the forthcoming general elections.  The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba stated this at the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House Abuja, on Thursday. ”From INEC records, there are 176,846 polling units in 8,809 wards of the 36 States of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory where the elections will be conducted," he said.  He noted that the police, with the support of other security agencies have perfected plans to deploy 310,973 personnel to cover the locations. This would comprise conventional policemen, mobile policemen, special counter terrorism unit, special forces, intelligence response team and other sections of the police. Baba stated that the manpower required for the successful conduct of the elections would be complemented by the military and o...

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has received 6338 arms and ammunitions, as well as 1,057 cartridges from the police that were recovered from criminals.  Handing over the items to NCCSALW on Thursday in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba said that the small arms and light weapons were recovered by the police in various operations across the country. He listed the arms and ammunitions as 265 automatic rifles, 146 pump action guns, 1,909 locally fabricated pistols, 1,500 locally made single barrel guns and 98 locally made double barrel guns. Others were 46 general purpose machine guns, 16 locally made rocket launchers, two locally made anti-craft guns, seven rocket propelled grenade, 2,358 assorted ammunitions and 1,057 assorted cartridges. The IGP, who was represented by Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Mohammed Dan-Malam. hinted that  proliferation of sm...

Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has concluded arrangement to commence drilling of oil in Nasarawa State by March 2023.   The oil well which is sited in Obi/Keana community and named 'Ebenyi-A', would be the first in the North Central part of Nigeria. Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Malam Mele Kyari, stated this when he led management of the company on a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule on Thursday in Lafia. He noted that NNPCL started exploration activities in the state since 2010 and technically discovered hydrocarbon, expressing optimism that the exercise would be fruitful.  Kyari hinted that the exploration would not be restricted to the current Obi/Keana location, hoping that the discovery would open up more opportunities for the state and the country generally. He appreciated the government and people of Nasarawa state for their cooperation during the exploration, promising that NNPCL would add more va...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO) Mallam Shehu Ibrahim, accompanied by staff and journalists during the inspection of ongoing projects executed by the office on Wednesday in Abuja The Federal Government has mapped out plans to end the daunting gridlock experienced by commuters and motorists on Nyanya-Mararaba axis.  To this end, the Ecological Project Office (EPO) has commenced the construction of 10.8 kilometre access road from Wasa-Gude communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).  When completed, the project which kicked off in March 17,  2022, is expected to open up more access route from Karshi to Kuje, as well as boost food security in the nation’s capital by fourth quarter 2023.  Permanent Secretary of EPO, Mallam Shehu Ibrahim, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday when he led over 40-man team comprising staff and journalists to inspect some of the projects executed by the office.  ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Moved to douse the tension of Nigerians triggered by the introduction of redesigned naira, President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the old N200 notes would be valid for more 60 days.  This implies that beginning from Thursday, February 16, 2023, that the old N200 notes would remain a legal tender until Monday, April 10. 2023.  At a nationwide broadcast on Thursday in Abuja. Buhari approved the reintroduction of the old N200 alongside the new N200 notes.   He noted that the approval was necessitated in order to ameliorate the sufferings caused by the implementation of the new monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Buhari disclosed that after wide consultations with the representatives of state sovernors and the Council of State, that the approval became necessary.  He stated that as an administration that respects the rule of law, that some judges had made pronouncement on  the naira tussle which is pres...