The Real Change: DOLLAR SCARCITY:manufacturers turn to local raw materials.

The scarcity of foreign exchange has forced some manufacturers to look inwards for raw materials, investigation has shown.

Manufacturers who spoke to our correspondent said they had embarked on urgent search for raw materials and substitutes that could be sourced locally because access to forex through the official route was near impossible while getting it through the black market was very expensive.

The fall in global oil prices has weakened the naira against the dollar while the Central Bank of Nigeria maintains an official exchange rate of N197 to a dollar.

The CBN later announced the closure of its official forex window, the Retail Dutch Auction System and Wholesale Dutch Auction System and followed the action by banning importers of 41 items from accessing forex at the official market, an action, which further caused the naira to plummet.

The bank had also in August 2015 barred banks from accepting cash deposits into domiciliary accounts as a measure aimed at preventing fraud and round tripping.

Graphic Video: Dead pregnant woman's niece cuts her belly open to save her twin babies

Mrs Koumate Monique was a Cameroonian woman pregnant of twins. On the day of delivery she went to the hospital, but was reportedly denied medical attention, since she had no money.

She died at the gates of one of the main public hospitals of the city Douala (Hopital la Quintinie). However the babies in her womb were still alive. The niece of the deceased demanded that at least the lives of the babies be saved by immediate medical intervention, and she would pay for the intervention later on, but all to no avail.

Kidnappers Demand N50m For Abducted Redeemed Zonal Pastor’s Son, Omeiza Jonathan Sulieman

Kidnappers of a 5-year-old boy, Jonathan Sulieman , the son of a Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Okene, Kogi State are demanding N50million before the boy,a nursery 2 pupil will be released. Saturday Mirror gathered that suspected gunmen numbering about four kidnapped the toddler on Monday about 7:45am when he was being driven to school in Okene. According to the father of the boy, the gunmen had perfected plans to have his son kidnapped and they succeeded in their plans.

How Sambo Dasuki Blew N2.2 Billion On Boko Haram Prayers

Besides the fortune sunk into phoney arms deals, no less than N2.2billion was spent on prayers against Boko Haram, it was learnt yesterday.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration blew the cash on special prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to win the war.

The cash was disbursed through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), following a proposal by a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.

Photos: 3-year-old Girl Rescued By Soldiers From Boko Haram Captivity.

Gallant troops of 118 Task Force Battalion of 7 Brigade, encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Ma'ala Village in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. During the encounter, the soldiers killed one Boko Haram terrorist and captured another alive. They also rescued a 3 year old girl from the terrorists. The soldiers also recovered quite a number of items from the terrorists which include 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 rifle magazines, 1 Hewlett Packard laptop, 2 External hard drives, a pair military and Nigeria Police camouflage uniform, a camel bag, 3 mini solar panels, assorted charms, fishing nets and soldering iron, amongst others.

Fulani Herdsmen Attack Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, on Friday raised concerns over alleged invasion and subsequent destruction of the institution’s farmlands by suspected herdsmen. The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Taiwo Akande, said at a pre- convocation news conference in Ado-Ekiti that the institution had lost several millions in monetary terms to the menace.


She called on the Federal Government to intervene in the crisis.  She added that the police and eminent Nigerians like Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) whose university is located directly opposite the polytechnic had intervened to stop further damage but to no avail.

JAMB 2016 Should Not Be Scrapped Or Remarked - See Why

JAMB 2016 SHOULD NOT BE SCRAPPED/REMARKED...


I Have Been Reading Online Posts On Nairaland, MySchool & Some Other Blogs, And I Kept Seeing Lazy Users Screaming, Calling For The Scrapping Of Jamb 2016.
I Simply Read & Laugh At These Posts.

After This Post, Richiez , olawalebabs , Fynestboi & Lalasticlala Should Stop Paying Attention To Those UnPrepared/ Dull Candidates Calling For The Scrapping Of JAMB 2016. Because, As Far As You Are Intelligent, You Must Definitely beat The Mere 180+ Cutoff Mark, Even If Your Result Was Poorly Marked.

NDLEA Arrests 60-year-old Monarch With 12kg Of Cannabis In Nasarawa (photo)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Nasarawa State on Friday apprehended the 60-year-old village head of Koje community in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Samuel Agu, for allegedly cultivating and harvesting 12kg Indian hemp otherwise called cannabis sativa in his farm land.

Parading the suspect at the command office in Lafia, the state capital, the NDLEA commander in the state, Mr.Sumaila Ethan, said, “On March 4, 2016, we arrested Mr. Samuel Agu, the village head with bags of cannabis sativa weighing about12 kg.

Vigilante Brutally Murdered In Lagos (Graphic Photo)

According to a facebook user the watchman was murdered 3days ago in an undisclosed area in Lagos state Read the post below: People are so wicked and callous. this vigilante was murdered in my area three days ago. I pray dis will never befall us. We shall live to celebrate dis Easter and beyond in Jesus name. seems his eyes where plucked out..

Women Lawyers Tackle Ndume Over Call On Saraki, Men To Marry More Wives

International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is outraged by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume’s call on Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others to marry second wives describing the call as ‘disparaging and meant to demean Nigerian women’.

In a statement issued yesterday by FIDA Country Vice President/National President, Mrs. Inime Aguma, the lawyers said they were outraged by Ndume’s utterances on the floor of the hallowed chambers of the Senate.

According to them, the remarks portrayed women as ‘sex objects’, whose clamour for gender equality could be realised by being married off by men.

Human Rights Group Calls For Commutal Of Rev King’s Sentence

Following the death penalty judgement to be executed on the General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo a.k.a Rev. King, a human rights group, Integrated Coalition for Human Rights, weekend called for commuting of the sentence.

The group, while reacting to the death sentence, said it was a travesty of justice and not in tune with modern day trials.

The Coalition in a statement signed by Dr. Raphel Umore n said the trial, prosecution and the eventual conviction by the Supreme Court of Nigerian fell short of all known legal procedure which warrant death sentence and called on the powers that be to commute the sentence without delay.

NNPC Appoints New Unit Heads

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced new appointments, redeployment and secondments into key positions of the organisation.

In a press statement by the management of the Corporation, these appointments take effect immediately. The new unit heads are expected to resume fully by April 1 2016”.

The appointments are part of the recent reorganization by the management of the corporation.

They are as follows:

North Africa Observer– MAR. 1-7, 2016

Written by Marko Milicevic exclusively for SouthFront; Edited by Viktor Stoilov

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal has received the Angolan Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti on Thursday, in Algiers.1 The main topic of their talks was improvement of the bilateral economic cooperation. African countries can improve the living standard and level of security of their citizens only if they strengthen mutual economic and political ties.

Ex-NNPC Chief: Jonathan’s Govt Blew N2.2b On Prayers

Besides the fortune sunk into phoney arms deals, no less than N2.2billion was spent on prayers against Boko Haram, it was learnt yesterday.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration blew the cash on special prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to win the war.
The cash was disbursed through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), following a proposal by a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.

Senate, House Disagree On NNPC Restructuring

The two chambers of the National Assembly have disagreed with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, over the restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
While the Senate has backed the reforms, saying the minister’s action did not contravene any known law, the House of Representatives insists that the restructuring of the national oil firm is illegal.
Kachikwu appeared before the Senate Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) in Abuja on Thursday to explain the reasons for the restructuring.

NNPC Restructuring Is Illegal – Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has described the reorganisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, as illegal.
According to him, having realised the illegality of the reforms, the minister, who is also the group managing director of the NNPC, has said that he has not unbundled the corporation but is merely reorganising it.
Falana said in a statement on Thursday, “It is pertinent to point out that the reforms being carried out by the NNPC GMD are illegal in every material particular. Section 2 of the Nigerian National Petroleum Act stipulates that the affairs of the corporation shall be conducted by the Board of Directors of the body. To that extent, it is the board of the corporation that is saddled with the responsibility to carry out the reorganisation of the body.

Buhari Has Put Nigeria On The Right Track, Says Commonwealth.

The Royal Commonwealth Society has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for “putting Nigeria in the right shape and uniting African leaders”.
Abdullahi Faruk, vice-president of the association, said this on Thursday at the 2016 Commonwealth Day Celebration in Abuja.
Faruk said the Commonwealth appreciates Buhari for his dogged determination to put Nigeria on the right track, for his leadership role in the continent and ensure better relation with leaders.
“The Royal Commonwealth Society would like to appreciate him for his dogged determination to put Nigeria in the right shape,” he said.
“We also commend him for uniting the African countries and making the continent a better place to live.

MTN’s N50bn Payment Inadequate, Must Pay All N1.04trn Fine – Reps

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday said the down payment of N50 billion by MTN as a step towards out-of-court settlement of its N1.04 trillion fine was inadequate and must be forced to pay the total amount to the Nigerian government.
This is coming as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta told the lawmakers that the commission was not in custody of the N50 billion payment and was unaware of the account the money was paid into by the MTN.

Investigate, Prosecute Those Behind Forex Crisis, AGF Tells EFCC

IN a bid to stabilise the exchange rate of the naira against major foreign currencies in the foreign exchange market, the Federal Government has mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to investigate and identify and prosecute those behind the crisis experienced in the foreign exchange operations.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday, blamed the current state of the naira on the activities of unscrupulous elements, whom he said were hiding under the cloak of “market forces” to deliberately undermine the national currency.

Fulani Influx Too Much For Benue —Gov Ortom

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has raised the alarm over the massive influx of Fulani herdsmen into Benue State who, he said, the state cannot accommodate.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in his state, he said ranches must be developed for the herdsmen to turn them away from farmlands.
He expressed delight that following the recent attack in Agatu communities in the state, leading to hundred of casualties, the Federal Government had mobilised more security personnel to restore normality to the area.

Ethnicity, Corruption Lead To National Instability – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday described ethnicity and corruption as a lethal combination that is inimical to national development.
He said any nation where the two are prevalent would continue to witness instability.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke while receiving South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Ethnicity and corruption are a lethal combination. You have to deal with them otherwise instability will continue,” Buhari warned after receiving a briefing from Machar on the current state of affairs in South Sudan.

Arms Scandal: Jonathan Should Be Tried If Involved –Senate Leader

Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to authorise the prosecution of former President Goodluck Jonathan if he (Jonathan) covertly instigated the sharing for other purposes the $2.1bn given to former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to buy arms.
Ndume, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, also said the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state.

Women Representation Under Buhari Poorer Than Past Administrations – UN

United Nations Information Centre in Nigeria has said women have a poorer representation in President Muhammadu Buhari-led government than in past administrations. UNIC Lagos Director, Mr. Ronald Kayanja said this yesterday at the United Nations International Women’s Day celebration, organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations in Lagos. He attributed the situation to huge funding required for election campaign and traditional perception of women, saying economic and gender-based violence also increased the risk of young women contracting Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Reserves Rising Again As Nigerian Crude Hits $39.

Nigeria’s foreign reserves are on the rise again, as the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed on Thursday that the Nigerian crude, bonny light, is trading at $39.07 per barrel.
The current selling price, which is above the 2016 budget benchmark of $38 per barrel of crude by $1, is also the highest point for Bonny Light in 2016.

According to the latest figures from the central bank, the reserves rose to $27.88 billion following a nine-day rising streak from $27.82 billion at the beginning of the month.
The reserves had a four-day rise in February, the very first of such, since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May 2015.

30 Senators Flood CCT To Support Saraki.

Senate President Bukola Saraki is at present at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where his trial for alleged false declaration of assets continues.
He arrived at 9:56am in company of at least 30 senators.
He wore a flowing milk-coloured agbada and sat gently in the second row of benches reserved for senators.