CBN Has No Plan To Withdraw Form A Discounted Rate On Overseas Tuition

June 22, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has faulted reports in media circles suggesting that the payments of overseas tuition fees from Nigeria will cost more as from January 2023, due to the purported withdrawal of the “Form A” Discounted rate, with effect from December 31, 2022.

The Bank’s position followed reports in certain media, which quoted a tertiary institution in the United Kingdom as claiming that Nigeria had withdrawn the Central Bank “Form A discounted rate” in order to encourage more funds to remain within the Nigerian economy.

The advisory from the school purportedly urged new and returning students from Nigeria “to take advantage of the Central Bank Form A discounted rate while this is still available.”

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, today, June 22, the Director, Corporate Communications Department of the apex Bank, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, described the report as false and the purported advisory, as misleading and speculative.

Nwanisobi said that CBN had not issued such a policy, even as he cautioned concerned parents and students to disregard any advisory to pay up as much portion of their outstanding fees as possible, through Flywirex before December 31, 2022.

While also reminding all stakeholders that front-loading (for both visible goods and invisibles) is contrary to the provisions of extant regulations, the CBN spokesman assured that the Bank will continue to meet all legitimate demands for foreign exchange.

Nwanisobi therefore urged all authorised dealers to ensure that payments for tuition outside Nigeria are made no earlier than 30 days prior to due date, even as he charged them to put in place measures to forestall abuse.

It will be recalled that a Manchester-based university was purported to have issued an advisory urging students whose tuition were paid from Nigeria to pay up as much portion of their outstanding fees as possible, through Flywire, prior to December 31, 2022, based on claims that the Central Bank of Nigeria planned to withdraw the “Form A” discounted rate in order to encourage more funds to remain within the Nigerian economy.

We Are The Reason Why East Lost Out In Power Shift, By Obiaruko Ndukwe

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

We are the reason why the East lost out in the power shift! We hailed when we ought to have wailed; when the two brothers were at daggers down. We were the cheer-leaders, pitching tents on both sides when we should have sued for peace

Amaechi didn’t lose. Neither will Wike lose. It is the people of the East that lost a golden opportunity

We always say: may the Labour of our heroes past not be in vain. Yet we have spat on the graves of our fathers, whose sweat built the foundation of our unity. We play politics with ignominy

Today, we are yet playing second fiddle, waking up at midnight to look for our voting power. We are fixing a fast food just at the toll of the bell, when the elections are already here.

We seek a sudden messiah.

What we feared most has come upon us. Our lords have imposed a heavy tax on us because we failed to seek unity even in our diversity. The Tower of Babel has once again crashed and we are dancing to the discordant tunes. Maybe our dance steps will be uniform now; to entrench our feet in the seat of power.

Resilient and Tenacious people yet in disarray, because we sold our pride cheap to those who trample on it. May the bonds we share revive us again.

That we may recover our lost glory!

3 Lagos Farmers Win CBN’s Best Farmer Of The Year 2021, Go Home With Cash Gifts

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

Three farmers in Lagos State have won the “Best Farmer of the Year 2021” award organized by the Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The farmers were given the awards at the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) Farmer of the year award, on Tuesday in Lagos. The recipients who are into poultry, fish, snail and pig farming, got cash prizes of N50,000, N75,000 and N100,000 respectively.

The Lagos State Branch Controller of the CBN, Koyor Baribokola, represented by Nnaemeka Ukanyiriola, said that the bank rewarded participants who had shown exceptional promise and dedication to growing Nigeria’s agricultural sector despite numerous challenges.

He said that the previous year was particularly difficult with businesses trying to recover from the after effects of a global pandemic.

“It is evident that our commitment in rebuilding our agricultural might as a nation is crucial not only for our subsistence but also our economic relevance on a global scale.

“These awards are not only a reflection of our commitment to agricultural development, but also in line with our core values as an organization.

“As the bank continues to design and implement measures to improve food security by facilitating access to finance to the agricultural sector, we are confident that farmers will continue to grow and scale their businesses over time.”

He said that a total of 31, 666 loans, valued at N5.92 billion were guaranteed under the ACGSF in 2021.

This was even as the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpac said that the state is making great efforts to close the gap between local production and consumption in the state.

Emokpac, represented by Olushina Shobande, Assistant Director from the Agricultural Business Department, said that the total consumption in the state currently stands at 20 per cent.

“As you know, Lagos is the market and you know, Lagos State is limited by land. So, it is virtually impossible for us to produce everything that we eat in Lagos State by over 22 million within the state.

“So, we are currently at 20 per cent local production of our total consumption; we are striving by implementing our agricultural roadmap within the year 2021 and 2025 to ensure that we push that to 40 per cent.”

Emokpac said that the state has been giving farmers and other stakeholders the needed input at subsidised rates through its empowerment programme annually.

“We even give them grants in the form of input every year to ensure that we increase production.

“We rely heavily on CBN, particularly the development finance to provide the financial support through the single digit rates, which is the cheapest you can get in the country, through their various programmes.”

Ogunnimo Ayodele, the best farmer of the year 2021, who took the second position in 2020, thanked the apex bank for the initiative, saying it had allowed farmers access to more credible finance.

“I will not say it’s a huge one, I will like to use this opportunity to say that CBN can help us improve on the access that we have because inflation affects the amount that is being guaranteed.

“On behalf of all farmers, we would really appreciate it if the funds that are guaranteed can be increased,” he said.

Joy Nwakego, a pig farmer and the second best farmer of the year 2021, appreciated CBN for reviving her business after she was affected by swine flu in 2013.

“I appreciate everything. But, we need more, we want to grow, we are the bedrock of this nation; in my area in Badagry, my production is less than the demand; I need to expand to satisfy my customers.

“I live in a place where what I produce is generally consumed and it’s very scarce due to the high price of raw materials.

“A lot of farmers are going out of business. The few of us that are left are left with so many customers we can’t satisfy. So, we need help to be able to solve this problem.”

Source: NAN.

Osinbajo Launches Integrated Regional Human Capital Development Strategy

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, through the National Economic Council (NEC) which he heads, will host an international forum to launch the Integrated Regional Human Capital Development Strategy in a determination to significantly improve the human development indices in West Africa.
A statement today, June 22, by his spokesperson, Laulu Akande, said that the conference, scheduled for Abuja tomorrow, June 23, will have in attendance, leaders in the public and private sectors across the ECOWAS sub-region, reviewing strategies on human capital development, while the launch of the integrated strategy document will be the high point of the event.
Akande said that other partners participating in the forum include the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; the World Bank; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation, among others.
He said that the Human Capital Development programme was launched in March 2018 by the National Economic Council (NEC) and that the programme was conceptualized with the realization that human capital development plays a critical role in addressing poverty and ensures participatory and sustainable economic growth.
“The goal of the National HCD Vision – which was launched at an extended meeting of NEC focused on the Human Capital Development in December 2018 – is for “Healthy, Educated and Productive Nigerians by the Year 2030”, with targets across three thematic areas; namely Health and Nutrition, Education and Labour Force Participation.”
Akande said that the Vice President insisted on improved cooperation among West African countries to address the issues of healthcare access, out-of-school children among other human development indices.
Professor Osinbajo, in a separate audience with the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, in Abuja said: “the Human Capital Development meeting is very important, and it is an opportunity to share experience and help each other.”
“National Economic Council (NEC) has done a lot of work on Human Capital Development, focusing on various challenges including questions around out of school and healthcare access.”
The Vice President acknowledged that the indices show that a lot more work still needed to be done, even as he commended President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau for his strong support for Nigeria, describing him as a very good friend of the country and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria Military Sacks Soldiers With Divided Loyalty

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

Nigerian military high command has dismissed with immediate effect, some soldiers in all the military formations who it said “no longer exhibit a high level of undivided loyalty, and the presence of mind required of military operations.”

Information reaching us at Greenbareg Reporters online newspaper today, June 22, said that the order for the immediate retirement of the officers, whose number was not mentioned, came from the Defence Headquarters, in a memo dated 26 May 2022, and titled: “Retirement of Disgruntled and Unmotivated Personnel.”

The memo, signed by M. B Nagenu, a Rear Admiral, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, lamented that some military personnel are disgruntled or overcome by greed for various reasons.

“In view of the above, deployments of such personnel do not benefit the Services and are, in fact, counter-productive.

“Consequently, on the identification of disgruntled or unmotivated personnel Services are advised to take steps to compulsorily discharge or retire such personnel in line with extant laws, instead of deployment, General Irabor said.

Contacted the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said that the Nigerian Armed Forces depend on and emphasize loyalty, discipline, integrity and self-sacrifice, amongst other core values, in troops, to carry out its constitutional roles efficiently.

“Anything to the contrary portends negative perception for not only his team but also the entire Armed Forces.

“Such negativities also erode the morale of the fighting troops and overall efficiency of the Armed Forces.

“The point must not be lost that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a well-structured organization with requisite departments and branches to deal with all issues, administrative or otherwise.

“Hence, no personnel would be retired or made to exit Service without rigorous administrative processes and procedures being exhausted.”

Source: PRNigeria.

Why We, In FCT, Respect Law, Justice System, Minister Tells Body Of Benchers

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that the administration respects the law and justice system because the capital city is the only one in the country that is the creation of law.

“We are very conscious of the legal profession and justice system probably because we are the only city in Nigeria that is a creation of law and in all that we do, we are guided by law and all of you and the entire profession have been supportive of us.

“It is our duty therefore as a city to really support you in all that you require because it is the natural thing to do.”

Malam Musa Bello, who received in audience today, June 22 in his office, members of the Body of Benchers of Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun, expressed the appreciation of the Administration to the judiciary.

He promised that the Administration will complete the access road to the Body of Benchers Hall in time for the commissioning of the edifice located at the Research Institutional District of Abuja.

The minister, who responded to the demand for access road to the Body of Benchers’ Hall, which is its office complex, the Minister, said that the Institutional District of the city is intended to accommodate research and academic institutions and the FCTA was paying particular attention to the provision of infrastructure within the district.

”A few months ago, I was there to see what we could do to fast track the road projects in the area and I intend, with my team, to look at what the challenges are and as quickly as possible try to see how we can surmount them. This is very important because it will add tremendous value to the city of Abuja.

“What we have tried to do over the last few years is to try to position the city as a conference tourism destination because of the serene environment, peace and the ability to move around easily. We think that gradually, we can position the city for that.”

Earlier, Chief Wole Olanipekun had thanked the Minister for the warm reception granted the delegation and requested for the completion of the access road to the Body of Benchers Hall in time for its formal commissioning.

2023: Peter Obi, Gov Wike, Gov Bala Ganging-Up In LP?

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

There are signs that the Presidential flag bearer of the Lbour Party (LP), Peter Obi, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and other notable politicians in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are working towards a gang-up in alliance to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre.

Lately, such governors and PDP top shots have visited the Rivers State Governor in P ort Harcourt, the state capital in the build up to the crucial 2023 general elections.

Today, June 22, Governor Wike, who gave a former Vice-president and presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a run for his money at the party’s presidential primary election, received in audience the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

Coming closely on the heels of Obi’s visit was the visit by the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who also participated in the party’s presidential primary poll but was trounced by Wike.

It was learnt that the meeting between Wike and Obi centred on the way forward for Nigeria, especially on strategic collaborations that could produce a Southern presidency in 2023.

Wike is a strong advocate of presidency rotating to the South of the country in 2023 after eight years of Northern presidency which is still being held by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While Wike had been assured through his strategic moves that he would upset Atiku and emerge as the party’s candidate, Obi had on his part, resigned from the party over which structure he had no control to stake his presidential bid on the platform of the Labour Party.

Obi had resigned and withdrawn from the PDP primary poll so as to not run fowl of the provisions of the extant laws.

The closed-door meeting between Wike and Obi at the Government House in Port Harcourt, as learnt, dwelled on the issue of southern presidency within the context of the overarching national interest.

Series of meetings, it was learnt, are expected to culminate in significant resolutions that will be salutary to the outcome of the 2023 General Elections, particularly the presidential poll.

Source: CONCLAVE.

Bottled-Up Anger: Atiku Begs Gov Wike, Others Ahead Of 2023

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has set up a committee to beg and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and some other aggrieved members of the party.

Information had it that the initiative was taken by Atiku on the need to go into the 2023 general elections with a united front, against the background of crisis that is rocking the party after Atiku decided to choose the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

Governors Wike, Okowa and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom had appeared before the screening panel set up by the PDP to nominate a vice-presidential candidate to the PDP presidential flagbearer.

Okowa was nominated by the PDP presidential candidate after rumours had it that Wike had been selected by the party advisory committee as the vice-presidential candidate the day before.

But findings indicate that the PDP feared that Gov Wike might work against Atiku’s ambition following his loss as the party presidential candidate and running mate to Atiku.

Signs that the PDP might run into stormy waters became pronounced with the defection of some of Wike’s supporters from the party in the last 24 hours.

“There was an attempt to draft a man who was not interested in the vice-presidency into the vice-president; a committee set up, the caucus spoke, the national working committee of the party spoke favourably about Wike and it was not honoured.”

Nwuke further said “Atiku did what he wanted to do. So what committee is he setting up again? To do what? It doesn’t make sense.

“When the convention was over, nobody showed him the way to Wike’s house. If he wants Wike to work with him, he should walk to the Governor of Rivers State and speak with him. We don’t need committees, what will the committee do? It doesn’t make sense to me.

“I don’t know why relationships shouldn’t be exploited. What is this committee thing? You have something else in your mind, you set up a committee to do something else. What is the meaning of that?”

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Wike had said no matter what happens he would not leave the PDP. That was what he said.

“The implication is that a man who is committed to the PDP will work for the PDP, whether you set up a committee or not. And that is my personal opinion,” Nwuke stated.

Efforts to reach the chairman of the River State PDP, Desmond Akawor, and the party’s spokesman, Sydney Gbara, proved abortive as they did not respond to calls.

Source: Up Short Report.

Buhari Flies To Rwanda For CHOGM

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Jets departs Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari left for Kigali, Rwanda, today, June 22 to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), being held from June 20 to 26, 2022.

A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina today, said that President Buhari is expected to join other leaders to participate in discussions focused on the progress and prosperity of the more than two billion people living in the 54 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific that make up the Commonwealth.

According to Adesina, the theme of the CHOGM 2022 is “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming,” and the Heads of Government are expected to reaffirm their commitment to upholding the Commonwealth Charter, which focuses on democracy, human rights, the rule of law, as well as economic opportunities and sustainable development.

He said that President Buhari will attend the official opening ceremony on June 24, followed by high-level meetings of Heads of State and Government on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June.

The Presidential spokesman said that the leaders would consider a range of topical issues including post COVID-19 economic recovery, debt sustainability, climate change, poverty reduction, youth entrepreneurship and employment, trade and food security.

“Prior to this, the Nigerian delegation drawn from the public, private and youth organisations participated in four forums covering youth, women, business and civil society; and will engage in ministerial meetings and several side events.”

Adesina said that on the margins of the meeting, the Nigerian leader is scheduled to deliver remarks at the High-Level Session of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Summit and participate in an Intergenerational Dialogue for Youth.

“President Buhari is also expected to hold bilateral talks with some leaders from the Commonwealth countries.

“Ahead of the biennial meeting, which was due to take place in June 2020 but was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Buhari, in an article published in The Telegraph, London, stressed that the Commonwealth can become a real global power with improved collaborations on trade and security, lending weight to each other in international bodies.”

The spokesman said that Buhari is being accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami.

Others, he said, are the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NidCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

He said that the President will return to the country on Sunday, June 26.

Protesters Against Muslim-Muslim Ticket In APC Angry With Sponsors Over Unpaid N3,000

Greenbarge Reporters

June 22, 2022

Crowd believed to have been rented to stage a protest at the headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja against the possible Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket have turned on the sponsors over unpaid N3,000 they were promised each.

The protesters, who got stranded in the rain after the event expressed anger over the deceptive attitude of the unnamed sponsors of the protest.

Some of the aggrieved protesters were seen shouting at the sponsors and creating a scene.

Some others hid under the trees, while others were seen pleading with private security men guarding a nearby ECWA Church for shelter. They lamented that they were used and dumped.

A middle-aged woman who spoke to journalists said those who hired the protesters failed to remit the money due to them and also failed to transport them back home.

“They brought us from different places; from the outskirts of Abuja, I am from Dei-Dei, some are from Suleja, some from Maraba. We were told that we will get N3,000 each after the protest, but since we finished nobody is even talking to us and the bus that brought us has left,” she said.

Another protester flayed the sponsors for abandoning them in the rain without any care.

“I was about going to my place of work this morning when our coordinator approached me that one man wanted us to protest at APC national secretariat, but since we finished about two hours ago, the coordinator and the man that invited us have disappeared and we are left in the rain.

“I regret coming here to receive this kind of treatment and that was why some of us staged a counter protest against our mission here,” he said.

The protesters dispersed in disappointment around 2.30pm after waiting endlessly for settlement that never came.

The protesters had arrived at the party’s secretariat in three buses, defied the downpour and took over Blantyre Street, housing the national headquarters of the ruling party and grounded vehicular and human traffic demanding that the party jettison the idea of same religion ticket.

Though presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, is yet to submit a substantive running mate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), using Kabi Ibrahim Masari as dummy placeholder, there are speculations he could tinker with the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket to curry votes of the predominately Muslim north.

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