Report: Banks Took N950b Loan From CBN In Three Months [NATION]
Commercial and merchant banks took cumulative loans worth N949.91 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) within three months, the apex bank’s quarterly economic report has shown.
The report released at the weekend showed that the loans came through CBN’s Standing Facilities meant for the lenders to square up their liquidity positions and meet customers’ needs.
The funds were sourced, largely, from increased unclassified and foreign liabilities, and mobilisation of time, savings and foreign currency deposits. They were used, mainly, for acquisition of unclassified and foreign assets and to boost foreign reserves.
According to the report, the total Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) granted during the period under review was N1.93 trillion, with a daily average of N32.20 billion, compared to N2,081.14 billion in the third quarter of last year. The cost incurred on SDF in the reviewed quarter amounted to N0.66 billion, compared to N0.63 billion in the preceding quarter.
The SLF is an overnight CBN credit available on banking days between 2 pm and 3.30 pm, with settlement done on same day value. The rates for SDF and SLF remained at nine and 16 per cent, respectively.
According to the CBN, the funds covered three months ended December and came as SLFs.
Adeboye Leads March As Christians Protest Killings [NATION]
Nationwide ‘Prayer Walk’ in cities
Man with explosives held in Winners chapel
Christians on Sunday staged a nationwide protest against the resurgence of killings and general insecurity in the country.
The “Prayer Walk” against insecurity was called by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to coincide with the end of the three-day prayer and fasting for the nation.
President of CAN Rev. Samson Ayokunle led the protest in Ibadan after a prayer session at Orita Mefa Baptist Church in the ancient city. Ayokunle is the President of the Baptist Convention.
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, was on the streets in Ebute Meta, Lagos, bearing a placard and leading members of his church on the “Prayer Walk.”
In some of the recent killing, Boko Haram killed the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi, on January 21.
Andimi, who was declared missing on January 2, 2020, had in a video published on January 5, confirmed that he was in the custody of Boko Haram.
Last Saturday, the bodies of two kidnap victims were found: a seminarian, 18-year-old Michael Nnadi and the wife of a Kaduna-based medical doctor Philip Ataga.
The bodies of Mrs Ataga and Nnadi were found dumped by the roadside.
But the Federal Government has said that the terrorist group is killing Christians to create religious crisis.
All the parishes of the RCCG nationwide took part in the march. It was a peaceful short walk. Members of the church carried placards with various inscriptions. In most places, security men were on hand to monitor the walk.
Adeboye personally held aloft, a placard that read: ‘All Souls Are Precious to God.’ Behind and above his head was another placard with the inscription: ‘We Say No to Terrorism.’
Nigeria, U.S. May Discuss Visa Restriction In Washington Monday [NATION]
Govt opens lobbying
Expert: Buhari should hold talks with Trump
Nigeria and the United States are likely to discuss the immigration visa restriction on the country on Monday at the Bi-National Commission meeting in Washington D.C.
Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and his inter-agency delegation will attempt to reverse the restriction which is planned to take effect on February 21.
The other countries on visa restriction are: Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and Tanzania.
Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, said the new immigration restrictions were designed to “address security concerns in the way the banned countries track their own citizens, share information with the U.S. and cooperate on immigration matters”.
Nigerians and nationals of other affected countries would not be allowed to apply for visas to immigrate to the US under the policy designed to “tighten security for countries that don’t comply with the U.S. minimum security standards or cooperate to prevent illegal immigration”.
The new restriction would apply only to new visa applications as immigrants issued valid visas before that date will still be able to move to the U.S.
Established 10 years ago, the Bi-national Commission is the premiere platform of engagement between Governments of the U.S. and Nigeria to expand cooperation and advance shared goals.
Lagos Hospital Clears China Returnee Of Coronavirus [NATION]
Buhari in solidarity with China
Virus claims 304 out of 14,380 cases, says Embassy
The Lagos State government has debunked insinuations that the dreaded Coronavirus had found its way into the state.
In a statement at the weekend, the government said: “The attention of Lagos State has been drawn to a story of a query suspected case of #2019nCoV infection, which presented at a particular private hospital in Lekki, Lagos, on January 1, 2020. The subject in question is an adult male Nigerian who arrived from China four days ago. He was in Shanghai throughout his stay in China and during his stay he did not have any contact with anyone who was ill or from Wuhan region.
“On his return to Lagos, he followed the public advisory issued by Lagos State Ministry of Health. Like a responsible member of the society, he chose self-quarantine. He presented to a hospital for a check-up, just to be sure, but was found to be perfectly well and asked to return home to continue his self-quarantine. He is, therefore, clinically not a suspected case of #2019-nCoV as he is not exhibiting any symptoms.
“As of 2:38 p.m on Saturday, the report from the epidemiology officers of the state’s Ministry of Health and the doctor that attended to him at the hospital in Lekki indicated that he is in perfect health with no symptoms of #nCoV2019…”
Nigeria, with the help of World Health Organisation (WHO), acquired in-country capacity to test for coronavirus.
World’s Biggest Aircraft Boeing 777X Makes Historic Test Flight [NATION]
Foremost aircraft manufacturer-Boeing Commercial Airplanes dazzled global aviation last Monday when it carried out test flight on its latest machine-Boeing 777X.
The aircraft is the world’s largest twin-engine plane designed to carry 426 passengers in a two-class cabin configuration.
The manufacturer said the aircraft will revolutionise long-haul travel by making flights more fuel-efficient. It has a unique folding wingtip technology, which makes the aircraft more airport-friendly.
The plane, which is 77m (252ft) long, took off from a runway just outside Seattle on the United States (US) West Coast. Four hours later, it landed at the historic Boeing Field, not far from rows of 737MAX planes grounded after two fatal crashes triggered safety concerns.
Produced since 2017, it took the company three attempts to get Boeing 777X off the ground as the first two planned test were abandoned.
The 777X is a larger and more efficient version of Boeing’s successful 777 mini-jumbos. Standout features include folding wingtips and the world’s largest commercial engines.
“It represents the great things we can do as a company,” said 777X Marketing Director Wendy Sowers.
Boeing said it has sold 309 of the plane – worth more than $442 million each at list prices.
The plane will go head-to-head with the Airbus A350-, which seats about 360 passengers.
Exploration Of Untapped 42bn Mt Bitumen Will Diversify Economy – FG [LEADERSHIP]
Nigeria has taken steps to explore and exploit its bitumen potential put at 42.74 billion metric tonnes located in Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States.
The minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, said that when the mineral resource was fully tapped, the diversification of the economy would be facilitated.
Adegbite, who stated this when he inaugurated a nine-man committee on the development of the country’s bitumen in his office in Abuja, said that bitumen is an important mineral resource needed for road construction that is in abundance in the country waiting to be harnessed for economic growth.
Adegbite, whose office issued a statement on the event, said that “Nigeria has an estimated reserve of about 42.74 billion metric tonnes of bitumen along the states of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa which remained majorly untapped for years.”
The minister listed the benefits that Nigeria would derive from the exploration of the bitumen deposits as the diversification of the economy, improvement in technological growth, establishment of contracts vital for international cooperation in the new expanding technology and socio-economic impact on the areas of operation amongst others.
FG To Sign Pact On Repatriation Of $321m Loot [LEADERSHIP]
The attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday left Nigeria to attend a three-day meeting of the United States-Nigeria Bi-national Commission in Washington DC.
Among others, the minister will sign a tripartite agreement on behalf of Nigeria with the Island of New Jersey and the United States of America (USA) for the repatriation of $321 million looted assets, as part of the federal government’s efforts to recover more stolen funds stashed abroad.
The looted fund is traced to the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha.
In a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, by his special assistant on media and public relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, he explained that the meeting is an annual event between Nigeria and the US to review bilateral relationship and take necessary steps to advance mutual interest in all diplomatic areas between the two countries.
The minister added that the meeting is not an ad-hoc event for addressing impromptu concerns, but a friendly bi-national forum that holds annually devoid of “intervening concerns or relating to the internal affairs of the participating states.”
In the federal government’s entourage are the ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), minister of Foreign Affairs; Geoffrey Onyeama, the national security adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) as well as minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Faruk.
South-West Plans Anti-Graft Teams For Amotekun [PUNCH]
- Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti harmonise Amotekun bills on Thursday
- Ogun, Ekiti police begin community policing recruitment
There are strong indications that the South-West states are planning to set up anti-corruption units in their security outfit, Operation Amotekun, The PUNCH has learnt.
The unit, in each state, it was gathered, would handle cases of graft and abuse of power levelled against operatives of Amotekun.
It was learnt that the Amotekun bills, which were being drafted by the states, would make provisions for either an anti-graft unit or an ombudsman to check the excesses of the operatives.
A top official of one of the states, who confided in one of our correspondents, said, “Some of the operatives may want to take advantage of their powers to extort money from people or engage in other forms of corruption. The anti-corruption unit or an ombudsman will take care of this.”
It was gathered that the unit or the ombudsman, depending on the preference of each state, would receive complaints on cases such as bribery, extortion, misuse of power, human rights abuses and other complaints levelled against any member of Operation Amotekun.
The Ekiti State Attorney General, Wale Fapohunda, in an interview with one of our correspondents, confirmed there would be anti-corruption provisions in the proposed Amotekun law.
Explaining highlights of the proposed law, Fapohunda said, “There must be anti-corruption provisions in the law. The proposed law must have citizens’ complaints provisions, including a framework for an independent ombudsman with strong authority to receive complaints from the public on matters of corruption and abuse of power.”
Senate Plans Public Hearing On Buhari’s $29bn Loan Request [PUNCH]
The Senate has said it will seek the opinion of stakeholders on the foreign loan borrowing plans of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The 8th National Assembly had rejected the President’s proposed borrowing of $29.96bn because the proposal was not accompanied by expenditure details.
Buhari presented the request again to the 9th National Assembly for its consideration and approval in November 2019.
The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, had assured Buhari that his request would be granted, even when the legislative protocol had not been carried out on it.
Lawan’s position did not go down well with members of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans, who had been asked to scrutinise the documents and advise the Senate on the next step to take.
CAN, Adeboye Lead Christian Rallies Against Insecurity [PUNCH]
Christians across the country on Sunday heeded the call by their apex organisation, the Christian Association of Nigeria and staged prayer walks round their churches to end killings in the nation.
At the Oritamefa Baptist Church, Ibadan where the CAN President, Reverend Supo Ayokunle, worshipped, the rally held around 12.30pm.
Ayokunle said the attacks were targeted at Christians and urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to rise up to his responsibility of protecting Nigerians, irrespective of their religions.
He said, “Our President should rise up and up his game. If the attack is not religious don’t let there be attacks on Christians again. The killing of the young man going to Maiduguri is still fresh in our minds. When they were killing him, they said it in Hausa or Arabic that it was because he was a Christian.
“The killing of the CAN chairman was because he was a Christian; they rejected ransom. The incarceration of Leah Shuaribu was because she is a Christian and she refused to convert to Islam. Boko Haram didn’t mince words; Abubakar said he was out to plant Sharia from the North to the South. So why are you saying it is not religious? Nigerians be hopeful; your God will fight for you.”
Recently, terrorists have attacked Christians, including the CAN Chairman in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Lawan Andimi, and a student of the University of Maiduguri, Ropvil Dalyep, who were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
CAN on Thursday directed Christians to begin a three-day prayer and fasting on Friday to save Nigeria and Christians in particular from being consumed by insurgents, Islamic terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
NAMA Issues 30-Day Deadline To Debtor Airlines, Airports [PUNCH]
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has threatened to withdraw its services from some airlines, as well as private and state-owned airports over debts.
The agency on Sunday said it had issued a 30-day ultimatum as notice to its debtors.
According to NAMA, the notice expires on February 28, after which debtors will face sanctions.
The agency said in a statement that the affected debtors had earlier been communicated with details of their respective indebtedness to NAMA but they had made no tangible efforts to pay.
“NAMA hereby notifies debtor private/state owned airport operators and airlines that effective February 28, 2020, our services will no longer be available for the operation of their airports or airlines as the agency can no longer keep its personnel working at airports without payment,” the agency stated.
It added that in the meantime, the affected debtors, where in doubt had been advised to liaise with the commercial department of NAMA for reconciliation within the stipulated grace period.
The agency had in 2018 stated that it was owed over N4bn by state-owned and private airports as well as airlines, some of which had become bad debt as some airlines had gone out of business.
Bomb Scare At Living Faith Church, Kaduna [SUN]
Worshippers at Living Faith Church, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA)of Kaduna State were on Sunday disrupted after a man suspected to be suicide bomber gained access into the church’s auditorium.
The suspect, who was having a device suspected to be improvised explosive device(IED) in his bag was monitored on close circuit television (CCTV) and subsequently ransacked.
But, the Chief Security of the Church, Ekpenyong Edet, said, the suspect was monitored on a CCTV Camera, carrying the bag into the church auditorium after beating security check at the entrance.
“He successfully gained access and was seated before he was suspected and the bag searched, only to find the explosive device”, he said.
Edet ,however, said, the suspect had been handed over to the police and moved to the Sabon Tasha Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
As at the time of filing this report, the police were yet to make any official statement on the development as the Spokesman for the Command, Yakubu Sabo ,was not picking up his calls.
CAN, Pastor Adeboye March Against Killings, Kidnapping [SUN]
Christians, yesterday, marched along streets praying and seeking divine intervention to stem the spate of insecurity, kidnappings and killings ravaging Nigeria. The move followed the directive by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to members to embark on a three day fasting and prayers for the country.
General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who led members on a prayer walk against insecurity in the country, said every soul lost to insurgency was precious to God and prayed that evildoers in the country should be exposed. Adeboye, during a service held at the church’s headquarters in Lagos, prayed that God should “have mercy on Nigeria.”
“Let there be peace and security in Nigeria. God sees all things and knows where the terrorists are. We pray that God send His light to Nigeria and expose the evildoers in the country.
“Every soul is precious to God, whether a Christian or a Muslim. Father, we declare, no more death of the innocent in Nigeria. After the service, we are all going for a prayer walk. We will march according to our age. There are some who would march round the church because of their age and there are some who would march with me to Atan Cemetery and back,” Adeboye said.
The cleric expressed the optimism that God would address the country’s security challenges. He was accompanied in the march by other pastors of the church.
FG insensitive to plight of Christians – CAN president
In Ibadan, Oyo State, national president of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who led Christians in a prayer walk, accused the Federal Government of being insensitive to the plight of Christians in the country.
Bandits Kill Seminarian, After 3 Weeks In Captivity [SUN]
One of the four students of Catholic Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, who spent three weeks in the hands of the kidnappers has been killed by his captors.
The Cable reports that the victim identified as Nnadi Michael ,was abducted alongside three others when gunmen invaded the seminary located at Kakau along Kaduna-Abuja road in Chikun local Government Areea of the State on January 9.
The others were reportedly released following the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
In a statement, Joel Usman, registrar of the seminary, confirmed the killing of Michael.
“This is to inform all our friends and well wishers that the remaining abducted Seminarian has been found dead. Thank you very much for your prayerful support. Let us keep praying for Nigeria in great distress. Please let us remain faithful in the risen Lord. May the soul of our brother, Nnadi Michael, and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace with the Lord.”
South South Leaders Plan Regional Security Outfit [SUN]
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on South South governors to organise a similar regional security and development initiative as done in the South West.
PANDEF said it is ready with a regional security blueprint and would submit to the governors, even as it called on the South South governors to reactivate the BRACED Commission to fast track socio-economic development in the region.
These were part of resolutions contained in a communique issued by PANDEF at the end of its expanded national executive committee meeting in Benin, at the weekend.
It restated its earlier position on the establishment of the South West joint Security Initiative, Amotekun, and further commended the governors and people of the South West on their resolute stand on the initiative.
Besides, PANDEF rejected plans by the Federal Government to establish nuclear reactor plants in the Niger Delta, but restated its position on restructuring and called on the Federal Government to begin a constructive dialogue process on restructuring of the country to guarantee harmonious and peaceful co-existence.
The communique signed by PANDEF National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd), noted that the Senate has set up a committee to tinker with the constitution, but warned that the process should not be schemed to divert citizens’ attention from the clamour for restructuring.
It decried the poor state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, particularly roads and called on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to address the dearth of infrastructure in the region, particularly the completion of all sections of the East West road as well as the commencement of work on the coastal road and railway from Lagos to Calabar.
Herdsmen Attack Ebira Farmers In Ondo [SUN]
Farmers in Ondo State, who are of Ebira extraction in Kogi State, have protested an alleged invasion of their farm land and attack of their members by herdsmen.
Daily Sun gathered that about 20 Ebira farmers, dealing in food crops, are already receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across the state as a result of the attack by the herdsmen.
The aggrieved farmers are operating in Elegbeka, Agogboro, Oba-Ile, Iju Itaogbolu, Ologido, Malege and Ogbese all in Akure South and North local government areas of the state.
The farmers pleaded with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to intervene in the incessant attacks on them and their crops by the herders.
Ebira Farmers Association (EFA) Chairman, Amuju Ovoro, said: “Fulani herders are attacking us on regular basis. They will invade our farms with their cows and uproot our crops prematurely, causing unprecedented losses to us.
“As at today, 20 of our members are being hospitalised following attack by Fulani herdsmen on our farms.
“Our crops are being destroyed and our water contaminated. The herdsmen will arm themselves with offensive weapons in the night with their mission of massive destruction on our farm crops and assault on us.
“They even went to the extent of raping our women. We, therefore, plead with the governor to rescue us. We are peace-lovers and have been operating in Ondo State for several decades without molestation from any quarters.”
