Author: Chief Editor

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has emphasised the need for the country to ensure effective and efficient functioning of the Export Processing Zones in the buildup towards the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AFCTA) which is scheduled to kick off by January 2021. He said Nigeria, must as a matter of national emergency, ramp up industrialisation and manufacturing activities by repositioning the economic zones to attract foreign investments into the country. The speaker said efforts must be made to remove all bottlenecks in the way of functional EPZs going forward in…

•Annual report not submitted to N’Assembly in four years contrary to law •Ribadu, Farida, Lamorde in full compliance •SAN seeks bail for suspended anti-corruption chief The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, failed to submit the audited accounts of the anti-graft agency to the National Assembly as required by law, THISDAY learnt at the weekend as critics say he took advantage of the non-confirmation of his appointment by the Senate to avoid accountability leading to his current woes. By Section 37 of the establishment act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, ETC) Act…

Victory over Everton kept Wolves in the Champions League hunt while Aston Villa claimed an important win at the other end of the table. Wolves cruised to a 3-0 Premier League win over Everton to keep their Champions League hopes alive as Aston Villa claimed a crucial victory in the battle for survival. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men opened the scoring from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, as Raul Jimenez coolly converted from 12 yards after Daniel Podence was fouled by Lucas Digne. Forty-seven seconds into the second half Wolves were 2-0 up, Leander Dendoncker nodding in Pedro Neto’s free-kick. Diogo…

Manchester City has had an underwhelming season so far and may look to sell some of its stars in the upcoming transfer window. Pep Guardiola has plenty of talent at his disposal and has not been particularly happy with some of his side’s performances this season. Manchester City has one of the most reliable squads in the world. Under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, the Cityzens have built one of the most imposing lineups in the world and have become a genuine force to reckon with in the Premier League and in Europe over the years. By Pep Guardiola’s lofty standards, however, this season…

Aston Villa pledged to investigate and issue a lifetime ban against a supporter after Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha revealed a shocking series of racially-aggravated messages before Sunday’s Premier League clash between the two sides. Zaha posted on Twitter three screenshots of messages containing racial abuse from an Instagram account belonging to a Villa fan. “We deplore the disgusting racist messages sent to @wilfriedzaha,” Villa said on the club’s Twitter account. “We condemn all forms of racial discrimination and stand with @CPFC. We are working with the police in investigating this extremely serious matter and when the culprit is identified AVFC…

•Says agency more important than an individual •It’s the greatest damage to Buhari’s anti-graft fight, says TI •Suspended EFCC boss must answer for his crimes, says PDP •Shehu Sani: Buhari’s action a bold step, wants commission of inquiry to probe Magu The presidency, yesterday, said despite the seeming embarrassment the ongoing probe of the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu had caused the government and the country, it was a strong message that no one in Nigeria was above the law or beyond investigation in the country’s anti-corruption war. It said by…

In another statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in commemoration of Anti-corruption Day in Africa yesterday, Buhari called for renewed commitment to anti-corruption war by African leaders. According to Adesina, the president wrote South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Chairman of the African Union (AU), appealing to African leaders to ensure the immediate actualisation of the Common African Position on Assets Recovery (CAPAR). He said such commitment would engender an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.” Adesina also said Buhari…

A new report has identified Nigeria as one of the major countries whose citizens use Dubai, the economic capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to launder proceeds of corruption and other illicit financial activities. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace sponsored the report titled, “Dubai’s Role in Facilitating Corruption and Global Illicit Financial Flows.” The authors are eight globally renowned anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crime specialists. They include Policy Director for Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Lakshmi Kumar, and Associate Fellow, Chatham House, and non-resident scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Matthew Page, and a Fellow of the United Kingdom-based…

Some people never learn but I will tender to them a word of sound advice in hope that some degree of civility and good sense will find its way to them. It is not wise to continuously pass judgment on a person or to repeatedly predict a person’s demise, politically or otherwise. Worst, are those who lurk in the shadows to pass calumny and stir falsehood against someone because you believe that person may one day seek the same high office you so irrationally and desperately covet. The same measure you use shall ultimately be weighed against you and you…

In a way, the COVID-19 pandemic has come as a force majeure. As a consequence, the country’s large appetite for importation of everything under the sun has been temporarily suspended and the wish is for it to be permanently suspended. Although we may not all have noticed this, it is gratifying that in the short run, the country is being forced to look inward for sustenance in food supply, essentially. Gradually, all the foreign rice brands are vanishing from retail outlets yet the consumption of rice has not stopped. It has not even reduced and we can at this point…