Sabinews Midday News Update for January 26, 2015
Striking health workers injure doctors on duty
President, Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Dr Isaac Akerele has described as barbaric attack on medical doctors by striking members of Joint Health Staff Union, JOHESU. JOHESU members during the attacked last week Wednesday injured many medical doctors on duty at Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja. Read more
BoI Signs MoU on SME Financing with Banks
The Bank of Industry (BoI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ecobank Nigeria, the United Bank for Africa Plc, Diamond Bank, First City Monument Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc and five other banks in order to provide loans at low interest rate to operators of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The others are Access Bank Plc, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Chartered Bank Limited. Read more
‘Heads must roll over Naija billboards in Accra’
An International Relations Analyst, Dr. Vladmir Antwi Danso wants government to sack officials who sanctioned the erection of Nigerian political party campaign billboards here in Accra.
He indicated that the billboards pose a security threat to the nation because the turf war in Nigeria could be imported into the country. Read more
APC to boost SMEs with N10b
Delta State All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has vowed to set aside N10 billion in his 100 days in office as Empowerment Fund to encourage small-scale businesses.
He stated this in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state during the party’s grand rally where flags were presented to all the senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates of the party, vowing that he would involve venture capitalist consultant to advise beneficiaries on how to manage the money. Read more
Enugu APC seeks removal of REC
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has urged the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Atahiru Jega, to remove the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.
The Chairman of APC in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye, made the appeal in an interaction with journalists in Enugu at the weekend. Read more
Suspects Nabbed Over Death of Pharmacist
The Police Command in Benue State has arrested some suspects over the murder of a renowned pharmacist in Gboko town of Gboko local government area of the state.
Gunmen believed to be hired assassins had last Wednesday, at about 8pm, shot and killed Pharmarcist Ternenge Labeh, owner of LABET pharmacy located around the Bristow roundabout in Gboko town. Read more
Nigerian Lives Matter: the anti-Boko Haram protest in London
“Nigerian lives matter! We are with you, Baga!” The cries outside the Nigerian Embassy in London rang down Northumberland Avenue as an anti-terror protest to raise awareness around the actions of Boko Haram was held yesterday afternoon. The terrorist movement is currently occupying an area the size of Belgium across the north-eastern area of Nigeria as well as swathes of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Read more
Rosicky Stunner Secures Progression
On a weekend when all the top guns had witnessed the Fa Cup magic and had been eliminated by the supposedly lower teams, The baton had been passed to Arsenal and we sure did carry it well. On to the next round.
To be factual, it was not the best of performances from the FA Cup holders however, the most important thing was progression to the next round. And we got it. Read more
Jonathan releases N26bn for 2015 dry season farming
To further boost the government’s efforts at producing more food for the nation, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of another N26 billion towards the 2015 dry season farming programme.
The president noted that for too long Nigeria has depended on crude oil and neglected agriculture, which has created much suffering and poverty in the rural communities. Read more
CBN to Sanction DMBs over Non-compliance with Windows 7
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may sanction banks over their failure to migrate their automated teller machines (ATM) from Windows XP to Windows 7 operating system.
Businessworld gathered that barely two weeks to the expiration of the January 31 deadline set by the CBN for banks to migrate all their ATMs to Windows 7, over 10,500 are still running on Windows XP operating system. Read more
Algeria lifts ban on private investment in civil aviation
Algeria will lift a decade-old ban on private investment in the air transport sector, said Transport Minister Amar Ghoul on Sunday.
“The government is drawing up a new book of specifications to frame the decision of opening air transport to Algerian private investors, as well as to secure and control the airspace,” said the minister. Read more
Greek stocks edge down, bond yields up after Syriza win
Greek stocks rebounded from initial falls and yields on the country’s government bonds nudged higher on Monday after it became clear anti-austerity party Syriza would be able to form a coalition government after its victory in Sunday’s election.
The Athens ATG equity index fell more than 5 percent at one point, with banks hardest hit, before paring losses after the leader of the right-wing Independent Greeks party said there was “agreement in principle” to form a coalition with Syriza. Read more
Al Qaeda militants kill Yemeni soldier in southern Yemen – official
Al Qaeda militants attacked a military checkpoint in southern Yemen on Monday, killing a soldier and wounding two others, a local official told Reuters. Two of the gunmen were also killed.
The gunbattle occurred on the outskirts of Mahfad in Yemen province, where government forces have for years battled Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the local branch of the Islamic militant group. Read more
Mubarak sons freed from prison
The two sons of Hosni Mubarak have been released from jail, a day after the fourth anniversary of the uprising that ousted the former Egyptian president.
Alaa and Gamal Mubarak left Cairo’s Torah Prison early on Monday after nearly four years in detention, the capital’s police chief told the BBC. Read more
AirAsia Scraps Fuel Surcharges as Oil Price Plummets
Southeast Asia’s biggest budget carrier AirAsia on Monday scrapped fuel surcharges on tickets following the decline in global oil prices.
AirAsia said the move also applies to flights under its long-haul arm AirAsia X. Read More
Obama, new Saudi king to discuss fight against Islamist militants
U.S. President Barack Obama is likely to discuss the fight against Islamist militants and Yemen’s political crisis with the new king of Saudi Arabia during his visit to Riyadh this week, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said on Monday. Read more
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