Author: Chief Editor

With the Federal Government exhausting its debt window, the only option available for the next administration is to find pathways for sustainable budget funding, experts have said. The Chief Executive Officer of Dairy Hills Limited, Kelvin Emmanuel, a professor of Economics, Ike Ife and a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee, Prof Adeola Adenikinju all submitted that a radical departure for budget funding options, apart from unbridled borrowing is the way to go. Indeed, the 2023 appropriation Act presents the widest deficits in the history of budgeting in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has a fiscal…

• How country can improve on rating, by experts Nigeria has been scored low in the 2022 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) released by JLL and LaSalle Investment Management. Out of 156 cities across 94 countries and territories covered globally, Nigeria was ranked 60. GRETI has been charting the evolution of real estate transparency across the globe since 1999. Updated every two years, this edition, the 12th, is based on a comprehensive survey of availability and quality of performance benchmarks and market data, governance structures, regulatory and legal environments, transaction processes and sustainability instruments. The report revealed a widening…

• Realistic exchange rate will add N4tr to federation account in 2023, says Yusuf• Ex-CBN Director: It’s not intervention but outcome of regulatory control• Three years after, rate harmonisation still illusion• FX inflow dwindle as dollar demand pressure continues From 2020 to last year, Nigeria lost, at least, N8 trillion to rent seekers who explore the multiple rates in the foreign exchange (FX) market to rip off the country, data obtained by The Guardian yesterday have shown. This came as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues to dilly dally on the exchange rate convergence, three years after it promised…

As the sun broke through at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, the rain got heavier for Manchester City. A Jack Grealish goal looked to have clinched City’s tenth win in their last 15 games at Old Trafford, only for a hugely controversial refereeing decision see the Blues collapse to defeat against a United side that offered little until they went behind. A game that looked to be restoring City’s brittle confidence instead saw them fold like a house of cards to make their task of defending their Premier League crown even tougher. Action was required after the misery of the Southampton defeat, and while it came…

Manchester United defeated Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.. United suffered a heavy 6-3 defeat in the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad in October and that scoreline was made to look better by two late goals from Anthony Martial, who started today’s match, despite being a pre-game doubt. Martial was ineffective in the first half, though, as both sides looked to break the deadlock. He was brought off at half-time, with Antony replacing him, but it was the visitors who drew first blood through Jack Grealish in the 58th minute.…

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, was yesterday appointed the national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) by its National Executive Committee. Governor Soludo’s appointment was announced in a statement the party issued after its NEC meeting which was held at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Anambra State. The statement was titled: ‘Soludo Takes Charge, Appointed National Leader of APGA by the National Executive Committee of the Party’. “This has humbled me! I’m feeling the weight of history right now. The APGA is a coalition of all progressives. I feel the weight of our forebearers and those…

The Niger Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 137 drug suspects. The agency also stated on Saturday in Minna that it destroyed 21 tonnes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the state in 2022. Mr Haruna Kwetishe, the State Commander, NDLEA, announced this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna. “In our scorecard for the year 2022, NDLEA Niger Command made a total arrest of 137 suspects, among them are 135 males and two females. “The command also destroyed 21 tonnes of psychotropic substances including 5,656.3 kilograms of cannabis…

The Ajaokuta Steel Project was conceived to be bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialisation. As an integrated steel plant, it was expected to lay the foundation for Nigeria’s industrial drive. Since 1979 to date, however, the project has not distilled anticipated liquid steel. Despite gulping billions of dollars, the prodigal venture has been mired in high stake politics, monumental corruption and stuck in the mud. For past administrations and those to come, the Ajaokuta sob story will be retold with new promises of how to awaken a giant that never was. FEMI ADEKOYA writes. The story of Ajaokuta is not new, but…

As part of efforts towards putting an end to open defecation, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development says it will ensure Nigerians practice the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” policy. The Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, said this in Abuja when the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu paid him a courtesy visit. Dare disclosed this in a statement issued by Mohammed Manga, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, on Thursday. “My ministry will continue to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other stakeholders in line with the commitment of the *”…

Dr Samuel Onyeka, an insurance consultant, has backed the upward review of the third-party motor insurance premium by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). Onyeka, the Director, of Transparent Protection Ltd. (TPL)/Gte, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), said that the review would help curb fake insurance and facilitate claims payment by insurance companies. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NAICOM had in December, released a circular for the review from N5,000 to N15,000 for third-party motor insurance premiums for private vehicles, effective Jan. 1. The insurance expert said that contrary to views that it was not the right time for…