Sabinews Daily Morning News Update for April 
National News
Fire sparks panic at MMIA’s arrival hall
There was confusion at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, as fire outbreak in one of the offices belonging to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) forced inbound passengers to scamper for safety.
The smoke from the outbreak enveloped the arrival E finger, forcing passengers to abandon their luggage at immigration and customs checkpoints to avert being choked by smoke. Read more
Obama heaps praise on Nigerian leaders
United States President Barack Obama spoke to Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and outgoing leader Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, praising both for their role in the country’s first democratic transfer of power.
Obama spoke to the men separately to “commend them for their leadership during Nigeria’s election”, the White House said. Read more
NLC assures president-elect of positive engagement
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has opened an important chapter in the socio-political development of the nation, saying it was prepared to positively engage the new government in defining a new agenda.
In a congratulatory message entitled: “Nigerians as winners”, by the its president, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said Nigerians have finally broken the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected government controlled by one party to one controlled by an opposition party. Read more
Nigerian waters safe from illegalities during elections, says Navy
The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with its security arrangements for protecting Nigerian waters during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
The spokesman of the command, Lt. Commander Abdusalam Sanni, made the assertion while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Read more
E-PPAN Moves to Address Financial Security among Bank Customers
The Electronic Payments Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) has restated its commitment to maintain high standard of financial security among bank customers, especially in this period of elections and Easter celebrations.
To this end, E-PPAN has offered banking customers with tips to achieve up to 80 per cent financial security amid cyber crimes. Read more
$100m donor fund for education in five states
The Nigerian government has signed a $100 million grant agreement with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), an initiative partially funded by the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant will support Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Sokoto states to increase reading and writing skills, include more girls in basic education, and create a robust monitoring and evaluation system for the education sector.
GPE focuses on increasing and maintaining equitable access to quality education globally. In Nigeria, GPE’s goals are to strengthen community activism and local governance, expand access to education through community-based education, and increase the number of qualified female teachers in areas with high gender disparities. Read more
CAN congratulates Buhari, says Jonathan a true democrat
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, yesterday congratulated the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his electoral victory.
In separate congratulatory messages made available to journalists electronically in Abuja, CAN and the elder’s group also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the spirit of sportsmanship in conceding defeat to his opponent. Read more
World must support BH fight, UN rights council hears
The international community must step up to support countries facing attacks by Boko Haram militants, accused of a litany of atrocities, African nations told the UN Human Rights Council Wednesday.
In a draft resolution presented to the UN’s top rights body, the group of African countries called on the international community “to provide an active and multifaceted support to Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and other states affected by actions of the terrorist group Boko Haram. Read more
Buhari vows to take on Boko Haram, corruption
Victorious Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari praised his defeated rival Goodluck Jonathan for overseeing smooth elections and said his victory over the incumbent president in Sunday’s vote signaled a new era of democracy and reconciliation for Africa’s most populous country.
In his acceptance speech Wednesday, Mr. Buhari, a former army general who briefly led the country in the mid-1980s following a military coup, asked Nigerians to congratulate Mr. Jonathan for his “statesmanship” for acknowledging the election result, while vowing that his administration will take the fight to Boko Haram Islamist militants with new fervor. Read more
Okom, others reject election result in Anambra
In spite of the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of last Saturday’s presidential election by the Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, APC House of Representatives candidate in Orumba North/South Federal constituency of Anambra State, Okonkwo Okom, yesterday rejected the outcome of the election, describing it as a sham.
Okonkwo, while briefing newsmen in Awka, said the outcome of the election did not reflect the wishes of the people, accusing INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of masterminding the manipulation of votes in the area. Read more
Political thugs manhandle returning officer in Benue
A senior lecturer with the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr. Smart Chor, who was returning officer for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Benue State, yesterday narrated how he escaped death.
Chor was the returning officer for Konshisha Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Aliyu concedes defeat to APC opponent
Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has conceded defeat to Niger-East Senatorelect, Mr. David Umaru, who defeated him in last Saturday’s National Assembly election.
He also said the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections have added value to the entrenchment of democracy in the country. Read more
Twitter Launches Live Video-streaming App
Twitter has launched live video-streaming app called the Periscope, which has been described as the best way to share and watch live video broadcasts from mobile phone.
According to Twitter, customers can download the iOS app to start exploring. Read more
Fidelity Bank wins 2014 Green Era Award
Fidelity Bank has won the Green Era Award in recognition of its Green initiati ves. Announcing the award at a gala night during the 2015 Green Economy Forum in Germany, Association OtherWays Management & Consulting, organisers of the event said that Fidelity Bank was adjudged the winner of the award having come tops in all the parameters set for the award.
Specifically, they said that the Bank’s drive for long term economic development; contribution to reduction in greenhouse emissions and ability to manage environmental risks in customers’ businesses among others won the award for the Bank. Read more
Arik Air Begins Operation of First Bombardier Aircraft
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that Arik Air, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, has placed the first dual-class CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft configured with three-abreast business-class seating into service in West Africa.
Arik Air will use the aircraft to increase network service on its most popular business routes in West Africa. Read more
Economy
Naira gains 7%, now 211 to dollar
The naira appreciated by seven per cent to 211 against the United States dollar at the parallel market following the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Saturday’s presidential election.
The local currency, which sold for 228 against the dollar before the election, rose to 211 on Wednesday, Bureau de Change operators said. Read more
CBN Advocates More Financing for Medium, Small Business
Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated the strategic importance of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) to the growth of the nation’s economy, saying they needed more funding. This was stated at the 3-day workshop on the N220 billion Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Development Fund organised by the Bankers’ Committee’s sub-committee on Economic Development, Sustainability & Gender in collaboration with the CBN in line with the vision of the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to promote financing to the MSME sector. Read more
CBN approves two models of mobile money services
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved two models for the implementation of mobile money services in the country namely: Bank led, which is a bank and/or its consortium as lead initiator and non-bank led, which is a corporate organisation duly licensed by the CBN as lead nitiator.
In the Regulatory Framework and Guidelines on Mobile Money Services in Nigeria issued by the CBN on Wednesday, the apex bank explained that the introduction of mobile telephony in the country, and the identification of person to person payments as a practical strategy for financial inclusion, has made it imperative to adopt the mobile channel as a means of driving financial inclusion of the unbanked. Read more
Maritime truckers count losses as import volume dips
Strong indications emerged that truck owners in Nigeria’s shipping industry might be groaning under the negative effects of the sharp decline in the volume of goods imported into the country, occasioned by the declining value of the naira, economic and political uncertainties that characterise the electioneering processes and the consequent decision of importers to postpone most import transactions till after the elections.
The decline in the price of crude oil, which is Nigeria’s economic mainstay from over $100 per barrel to about $54 per barrel following the reduction in demand especially by the United States, had brought about lots of pressure on the naira, which led to massive devaluation of the currency to sustain the nation’s non-oil exports. Read more
CA seeks improved credit opportunities for Nigerians
The Institute of Credit Administration (ICA) has called for improved access to credit in monetary and trade terms, to boost Nigeria’s export goods and grow the economy.
This is just as the institute described the poor attitude to credit, especially to public loans provided by government’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and lack of robust regulatory regime for the DFI sector to operate as serious threats to the credit system in the country. Read more
Stocks extend gains on election results
With the announcement of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as President-elect, the market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) soared by 8.5 per cent yesterday.
The upward trend became noticeable on Tuesday, after news of Buhari’s imminent victory spread across the country. Also, events took a dramatic turn in the foreign exchange market yesterday with the naira gaining strength with other major currencies, to stem its hitherto sliding profile. Read more
MTN Shares Gain Most in Five Years
MTN Group Limited, Africa’s biggest wireless operator, increased the most in almost five years after former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari won a largely peaceful vote in Nigeria, the South African company’s biggest market.
According to Bloomberg, the shares advanced as much as 6.6 per cent, the most since May 2010, and traded 5.6 per cent higher at 216.45 rand in Johannesburg. That pared the year’s decline to 2.2 per cent, valuing the company at 400 billion rand ($33 billion). Read more
Microsoft Launches Biz4Africa Hub to Boost Intra-Africa Trade
Microsoft 4Afrika has launched an online hub for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access locally relevant information and resources to promote SMEs and improve trade across Africa.
Biz4Afrika is an Africa-wide network of SMEs designed to enable a sustainable and connected community of entrepreneurs that will have a meaningful impact on job creation, global competitiveness and wealth creation in the long run. Read more
Dangote, Saipem Announce Joint Venture in Central, West Africa
Dangote Industries Limited, Africa’s leading indigenous conglomerate, has announced a multi-million dollar Joint Venture agreement with the Italian engineering and construction gian, Saipem.
The agreement has given birth to a new company named Saipem-Dangote E&C. Read more
Oil and Gas
Oando Energy Resources announces year end 2014 results
Oando Energy Resources Inc. (“OER” or the “Company”) (TSX: OER), a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, today announced financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2014. The audited consolidated financial statements, notes and management’s discussion and analysis pertaining to the period are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) at www.sedar.com and by visiting www.oandoenergyresources.com. All monetary figures reported herein are U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. Read more
World News
Sierra Leone to start laying off Ebola workers as cases fall: president
Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma said on Wednesday authorities would soon start laying off staff recruited to fight Ebola as the numbers of cases decline, but these workers would be employed elsewhere, where possible.
Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone are battling to stamp out the worst Ebola outbreak on record, which has killed over 10,000 people during the last year. Read more
BioCryst wins $12.1m US grant to support Ebola drug
Shares in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals closed up more than 5% yesterday after it won a $12.1 million US federal grant to underpin further development of its antiviral for Ebola and other diseases.
The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response has awarded the contract for the continued development of BCX4430 as a potential treatment for diseases caused by RNA pathogens, including filoviruses such as Ebola. Read more
Britons Held on Syria Border to be Deported
Nine Britons arrested for trying to cross illegally from Turkey into Syria are expected to be deported today.
The Britons – including two women and four children – were held by Turkish officers at a military outpost at Ogulpinar in the south of the country. Read more
At Least 54 Dead, 15 Missing as Trawler Sinks Off Eastern Coast of Russia
A Russian trawler capsized in the waters just off the country’s Kamchatka peninsula on Thursday, leaving at least 54 dead and another 15 still missing.
A total of 63 people from the Dalniy Vostok have been rescued by other fishing vessels, Russian news agency TASS reported. Read more
China’s Warning On Deadlocked Iran Talks
China has called for both sides to compromise in nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, warning that all previous efforts will be wasted if a deadlock continues.
The talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, will drag on into Thursday, the State Department said, a day after negotiators agreed to a one-day extension. Read more
Sports
My days in Eagles numbered –Enyeama
Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, is considering international retirement and has asked the country to start preparing someone to take over from him.
Enyeama, who featured in his 100th game for Nigeria in a friendly against Uganda last Wednesday, say he’d love to keep on playing for as long as possible, but admits he’ll have to give way at some point. Read more
Nigeria leads ITF/CAT tourney
Nigeria’s dominance of junior tennis in the West and Central Africa Zone continued on Wednesday as the country won three gold medals in the ongoing ITF/CAT U-14 & U-16 Championship holding at the Stade Ominsports in Lome, Togo.
Oyinlomo Quadre, who is the zone’s top rated player in the girls’ U-12, justified her rating by beating Dotsie Vania of Togo 6-3, 6-1 in the final, while Mathew Abamu edged Sadiq Noudgbessi of Benin Republic 6-3, 4-6, 7 -6 (4) in the boys’ U-12 to seal Nigeria’s second gold. Read more
ACL: Fans to watch Pillars, Moghreib for N100
Ahead of Saturday’s African Champions League clash between Kano Pillars and Moghreib Athletico of Morocco, management of the Kano side has slashed ticket prices to as low as N100 in a bid to attract fans to the stadium.
Vice Chairman of the club’s Continental Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, told National Mirror yesterday that the decision was informed by economic factors coupled with the efforts to encourage Kano fans to turn out en mass to watch the game at the Sani Abacha stadium. Read more
Kwara United through to FA Cup final
Kwara United have cruised to the final of the Kwara State FA Cup after they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Kwara United Feeder on Tuesday.
Speaking with SportingLife about the match, the head coach of the Afonja Warriors, Tunde Abdulrahman said their feeder team gave them a good run for their money and they were only fortunate to scrape through to the final. Read more
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