WAIVERS: SENATE ASKS CBN, CUSTOMS TO RECOVER N30BN FROM RICE IMPORTERS •Foreign reserves now $31.89bn —CBN

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (middle); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (left) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, after Emefiele's visit to the National Assembly.
SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, asked the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to recover the sum of N30 billion allegedly granted as waivers to rice importers by the administration of former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
Saraki, who made the call when he spoke to newsmen after a three-hour meeting with the Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the agencies should recover the funds meant for the country.
He stated that the CBN must take steps to diversify the nation’s economy and reduce import dependency.
“We must also show the big signals in things that will bring out success of this policy, for example, you (CBN team) brought to our notice the issue of the waivers on taxes and duties, especially on rice, which is about N30 billion that were granted to certain companies, this money must be paid back to the Federal Government.

CLAIM BY PDP THAT BAILOUT FUNDS WAS FROM JONATHAN’S SAVINGS IS FALSE, LUDICROUS – PRESIDENCY

The Presidency has rubbished claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that President Muhammadu Buhari’s bailout funds for the state was gotten from savings of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity to Buhari, he noted that Nigeria’s main opposition party’s claim was false, banal and ludicrous. “The Presidency deplores the attempt by the PDP and its agents to create an unnecessary controversy over the well-intentioned effort by President Muhammadu Buhari to give some relief to state governments and long-suffering public sector workers,” the statement said.
“We also reject the banal and ludicrous demand by the PDP Spokesman, Olisa Metuh that the PDP Government which was ousted by Nigerians at the last general elections for running the country aground, be given some credit for “saving” the funds that were disbursed as part of the intervention package approved by President Buhari.
“Mr. Metuh’s claim that a significant amount of the funds came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account and handed over to the Buhari administration is completely false and deliberately intended to mislead the public.

BUHARI BLAMES JONATHAN FOR DELAY IN RESCUE OF CHIBOK GIRLS

President Muhammadu Buhari today blamed the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the delayed response to the rescue of the over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State abducted since the night of April 14, 2014.

Speaking when he met members of the BringBackOurGirls campaign at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said there was no way government can rationalize the incompetence in dealing with the issue of the abducted schoolgirls.

“I don’t think representing the government of Nigeria, we cannot rationalize the government incompetence in dealing with this issue. We only ask for your patience. It is unfortunate that the security and federal government’s conflicting reports initially presented the government and it’s agencies in a very bad light but nationally and internationally because the law enforcement agencies and the government were conflicting each other sometimes within hours or within weeks, that is not very impressive,” Buhari said.

Ekwulobia Boko Haram Saga: Obiano in Closed Door Meeting with Delegation from Abuja

The controversies generated by the curious transfer of 47 Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State may soon go away following a 2-hour closed door meeting Wednesday between the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and a 7-man delegation from the National Security Adviser at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

The meeting which attracted highly respected senior citizens of the state took place on the instance of the Presidency following a passionate appeal by Governor Obiano to the Presidency, endless protests and wide agitations by traders, the South East Governors’ Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Aka Ikenga, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, Association of Town Unions, civil society groups and numerous social cultural associations across the region against the transfer of the dreaded inmates from Chad to Ekwulobia.

RELOCATION OF 47 BOKO HARAM DETAINEES TO EKWULOBIA IN ANAMBRA STATE

We the Presidents General (Community Leaders) of the 177 communities in Anambra State, under the auspices of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) received with shock, embarrassment and disdain the news that the Nigerian Prisons Service, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs had transferred some detainees of the dreaded violent terrorists of Boko Haram extraction from Borno State in the North East Zone of Nigeria to Ekwulobia in Aguata Local government Area of Anambra State.

It will be recalled that the people of the Southern part of Nigeria, particularly the South Easterners, their worship centres, business outlets and locations, social gatherings etc were the first targets of this callous, vicious and violent organization that killed, maimed and displaced our people from their various areas of livelihood in Northern Nigeria.

Anambra Computer Literacy for Teachers: Prof. Omenugha Explains Laptop Policy

The heated controversy generated by the recent implementation of a voluntary laptop acquisition scheme for primary school teachers in Anambra State has finally been dispelled by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha who revealed that the revolutionary policy was actually an initiative of the National Council on Education that was hatched in 2012.
Addressing journalists in Awka on Tuesday, Prof. Omenugha wondered why there was so much hoopla over a policy that her Ministry was merely implementing to give Anambra children the chance to compete with their peers from across the globe in an ever dynamic computer age.
The Commissioner used the opportunity to re-emphasize the fact that the laptop acquisition scheme which gives primary school teachers a chance to acquire first rate laptops complete with a synchronized tutorial package was actually a voluntary scheme and as such not mandatory on the teachers to subscribe to.

Mrs. Obiano commends UBA Foundation for supporting Girl Child Education Campaign with Book Donation

The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has commended the UBA Foundation for supporting the Girl Child Education Campaign of her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), with a donation of books. A delegation led by the Regional Bank Head of UBA, Mr. Jerry Azih today presented 20 copies of Things Fall Apart by the late Anambra State born literary icon, Professor, Chinua Achebe, and 208 copies of The Girl Who Can and Other Stories by Ghanaian Author, Ama Atta Aidoo, at her office in Government House Awka.

Expressing appreciation for the book donation to CAFE, Mrs. Obiano thanked UBA and noted that CAFÉ is always appreciative of such kind gesture by philanthropists and organizations. According Mrs. Obiano “it is actually through such donations and support that we are able to operate and execute all our intervention programmes. Rest assured that we will distribute the books to the students who need them to advance their knowledge. Like Oliver Twist, we will continue to request assistance from you and other organizations and persons who can intervene through CAFÉ to make the lives of others meaningful.”

President General Tussle In Nkpor: Residents & Traditional Ruler Appeal To Governor Obinao To Wade In

The traditional ruler of Nkpor community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, His Royal Highness, HRH, Igwe Christopher Ibegbunam II (Eze Nkpor) has appealed on the Anambra state government to as a matter of public importance support the plans of the community to democratically elect a leadership for the Community to avert imminent break down of law and order.

Igwe Ibegbunam called on Governor Willie Obiano to stop further recognition of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) led by Chief Ngozi Anyakora and Barrister Raphael Asha Nnabuife as their continued stay in office has caused much agony and distrust for the community that are anxious to elect their substantive town union leaders.

Igwe Ibegbunam however warned that should the relevant authorities ignore the appeals from the traditional institution and the community leaders, the state government should not hold him accountable for any breakdown of law and order in the area.

NFF Shops For Oliseh To Succeed Keshi As Nigeria Super Eagle Head Coach

Former Super midfieder, Sunday Oliseh is in advanced talks with the Nigerian Football Federation over becoming the new Super Eagles coach.

The 40-year-old super  eagle 1994 USA World cup set, who captained Nigeria and won 63 caps, is set to be appointed in the coming days.

The NFF have acted quickly to fill the vacancy following the sacking of Stephen Keshi on Saturday.

Oliseh was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and Olympic gold two years later.

He also played at the World Cup in 1994 and 1998, helping the Super Eagles to the last-16 at both tournaments and in the latter he scored a memorable winner as Nigeria shocked Spain 3-2 in a group match.

34 Nigerian Students Bag Chinese Confucius Institutes Scholarship To Study In China

Not Fewer than Thirty-four Nigerian students including 21 Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka students have been awarded the 2015 Confucius Institute Scholarship by theChinese Government.

 

The scholarship which would afford the 34 students who had passed through the Confucius Institute, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka the opportunity to study in various disciplines in Chinese Universities has been approved by HanBan Headquarters.

 

An elated Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku who disclosed this to reporters with a list of the benefiting students said the feat was made possible from the outcome of the university’s partnership with Xiamen University China.