The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has unveiled a framework for the implementation of solar intervention facility, which it said was designed “to complement Federal Government’s effort at providing affordable electricity to rural dwellers through the provision of long term low interest credit facilities to the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) pre-qualified home solar value chain players that include manufacturers and assemblers of solar components and off-grid energy retailers in the country.” As part of its Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), the Federal Government had launched an initiative to achieve the roll out…
Read MoreAuthor: Dorothy Ewah
Thailand exporters lose N385.2bn rice market in Nigeria
Thailand exporters have lost 1.2million tonnes of rice valued at N385.2billion ($819.6million) in Nigerian market following import restrictions by the government. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s import restriction has boosted local production by 11.2per cent or 600,000 tonnes from 4.8million to 5.4million tonnes in one year. Last month, Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), which has also shifted to Benin, Cameroon, South Africa and Angola markets, raised the price of the grain from $678 in August to $683 per tonnes in September, 2020. Data from the United States Department…
Read MoreUBA: USA CEO, Yomi-Ajayi, appointed to US EXIM’s sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee
Sola Yomi-Ajayi, the CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA)’s operations in the United States, has been appointed to the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) Committee on sub-Saharan Africa for 2020/2021. Established by the US Congress, the sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee provides guidance and advice regarding US EXIM policies and programmes designed to support the expansion of financing for US manufactured goods and services in sub-Saharan Africa. The committee is composed of prominent members of the US business community and Ms. Yomi-Ajayi is the sole representative…
Read MoreNigerian porn producer arrested for shooting movie near shrine
Popular Nigerian pornstar, Tobiloba Jolaosho better known as KingTblackHOC has been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly recording a ‘sex movie’ inside the Osun Osogbo Grove. TBlak, who allegedly dressed like an Osun devotee with a completely naked woman, shot a ‘sex movie’ at Osun grove in July this year and shared the clip on social media. The Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed Jolaosho’s arrest. She explained that he was detained based on a complaint by a member of Traditional Religion…
Read MoreOPEC sees steeper oil demand drop as virus remains challenging
World oil demand will fall more steeply in 2020 than previously forecast due to the coronavirus and recover more slowly than expected next year, OPEC said on Monday, potentially making it harder for the group and its allies to support the market. World oil demand will fall more steeply in 2020 than previously forecast due to the coronavirus and recover more slowly than expected next year, OPEC said on Monday, potentially making it harder for the group and its allies to support the market. World oil demand…
Read MoreHealth workers begin nationwide strike
Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) are to begin a nationwide strike from midnight on Sunday. The strike is over Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands. The JOHESU President, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, made this known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers had issued a notice to the government, saying that it would embark on a…
Read MoreCOVID-19: Heritage Bank, FAMO provide succor for 300 teachers
Heritage Bank Plc in partnership with Honourable Fatima Mohammed (FAMO) foundation has provided succor to over 300 affected private school teachers and small medium enterprises (SMEs). The gesture is part of efforts to cushion the effect of COVID-19. A statement issued at the weekend said in alleviating the challenges, Heritage Bank and its partner supported over 300 private school teachers and small businesses as palliatives in 15 local governments; including five major markets in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Ifako Ijaiye, in Lagos State. Speaking at the event,…
Read MoreStocks: Banks post N92bn gain in August
Investors in banks quoted on the main board of the nation’s stock market reported a cumulative gain of about N92 billion during the month of August 2020 following fair earning results released by most lenders despite COVID-19 ravaging the country. Checks revealed that the stocks recorded a gain of N92 billion or 4.67 per cent to close at N2.063 trillion in market capitalisation on the last trading day of August 31, as against the opening figure of N1.971 trillion at the beginning of trading on August 1. Market watchers believe…
Read MoreInvestment migration: Wealthy Nigerians boost $3bn industry with traffic to Caribbean Island
The decline in standard of living and an unimpressive return on investment prospect in Nigeria has again been accentuated by a report that wealthy Nigerians have started buying their way into the citizenship of St. Lucia, a small island in the Caribbean. According to the report by Quartz Africa, the office of Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) of St. Lucia, which had no application from Africa in the last five years of its operation, has suddenly been invaded by Nigerians with the intention of relocating their families to the tiny…
Read MoreBenefit management: Evaluating regulators’ path to sanity
To contain the unhealthy competition between pension fund managers and life insurance providers as regards management of retirees’ benefits, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recently took the bold step to address issues therein that are propelling friction in that regard. Long before now, there existed a silent motor park type struggle for passengers between the pension fund managers as represented by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and life insurance providers in the way they prospect clients for pension management. The clamour was all about…
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