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Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc,  Tony O. Elumelu, has hailed the African Finance Corporation on its various initiatives and contributions  targeted towards supporting African economies in the last few years noting that these initiatives have gone a long way in fostering growth and diversity on the continent.

Elumelu , who gave this commendation during the AFC’s 10th Anniversary celebrations of the corporation  in Abuja, Nigeria this week, was also full of praises for the corporate governance culture exhibited and practiced by the AFC, adding that its impact has been felt not only in Africa, but by the world over.

The UBA Group chairman who was honoured and recognised at the event as a long serving board member of the AFC, said, “As a pioneer chairman of Risk and governance at the AFC, I interacted closely with management and the AFC has world class leadership and management. We have seen great seeds planted. This is indeed an African institution domiciled in Nigeria with world class standards’ he said as he referred to the Triple A rating of the AFC.

Having served on the board of AFC for 9 years, he shared his vision and hopes for the corporation in the next 10 years as he sat on a panel titled The foundation for growth, alongside the former Nigerian President Olusegun  Obasanjo and the Former Central Bank governor of Nigeria, Professor Chuwuma Soludo. ‘The commodity crisis has demonstrated that we need to attract more capital to Africa and I would like to see the AFC mobilizing much needed capital to the continent as we engage with our political leaders to create the enabling environment for growth and development’ Elumelu said.

Acting Nigerian President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who had earlier opened the AFC’s summit on Infrastructure revolution, commended Obasanjo, for his clear vision in conceiving the idea of an African Development Finance Institution that would be birthed on the continent; “the idea of developing a wholly African Finance Institution that was the will of African leaders, nations and institutions, seemed far – fetched a decade ago’ he said. He expressed pride that Africa was on the right path. ‘This coming decade is Africa’s time’ he stated, saying that the world would be seeing real development on the continent in the next few years.

Other African leaders who were in attendance at the summit include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Uganda’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hon Kasija Matia; Gambian Minister of Trade, Isatou Touray; Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and many others.

BIG STORY

Customs Adjust FX Rate For Import Duties To N1,147/$

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The foreign exchange (FX) rate for duties has once again been modified by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to N1,147.02 per dollar.

When compared to the N1,238.1/$ reported on April 18, this indicates a decline of 7.3 percent. On Friday, the customs rate was observed.

It dropped below the official foreign exchange rate, which ended trading at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on April 18 at N1,154/$.

The drop in the FX rate for customs tariffs and duties is coming amid the Central Bank of Nigeria‘s (CBN) effort to stabilise the naira.

On April 17, the naira appreciated to N1,050 at the parallel section of the FX market, from the N1,100/$ traded on April 15.

Meanwhile, on April 16, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the national single window (NSW) project to boost trade in Nigeria.

NSW is an electronic portal linking all agencies and players in import and export processes to an integrated platform.

Speaking on the development, Adewale Adeniyi, the comptroller-general (CG) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said the country is making progress with consultations on the reopening of the borders with Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

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BIG STORY

8 Nigerians In South Africa Police Net For “Attacking Officers During Drug Raid”

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Eight Nigerians have been taken into custody by the South African police for reportedly fighting police during a drug operation.

The suspects were taken into custody in the province of the Northern Cape, the police said in a statement released on Friday.

According to the police, the suspects also caused damage to other properties and cars.

“At the time of the arrest, police were tracing information of one of the Nigerian nationals being in possession of drugs,” the statement reads.

“While conducting this search, a large group of Nigerians attacked police. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

“One suspect was arrested for illegal possession of drugs, and three suspects were arrested for public violence and detained at Kimberley Police Station.

“During processing, the suspects broke windows at the station. Additional charges of malicious damage to property were added.

“Another group of Nigerians later approached the Police Station and threatened to retaliate.

“The Operational Commander warned the group to disperse.

“However, upon dispersing, the group damaged police vehicles. Another four suspects were arrested for malicious damage to property.”

Koliswa Otola, police commissioner for the province, commended officers for the arrest of the suspects.

Otola condemned acts of violence against law enforcement agents, saying those who prevent police from exercising their duties “will be dealt with harshly”.

“We will not allow such lawless behaviour,” the commissioner said.

“We are processing the suspects and working with Home Affairs to determine if they are legally or illegally in the country.

“Police will continue to stamp the authority of the state in the Northern Cape Province.”

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Minister Test Runs e-Gates At Airports

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The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s electronic gates (e-gates) were tested on Friday by Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who claimed that 99 percent of the work was completed.

He stated that by the next week, the e-gates would be operational.

Among the other high-ranking government officials that joined Tunji-Ojo were Dr. Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, and Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of Immigration.

He said the e-gates were being deployed to eliminate human interfaces, reduce bureaucracy and make movements of passengers in and out the country seamless.

The Minister said 29 of the e-gates would be deployed in Lagos, four in Enugu and Kano while Port-Harcourt would have five.

He disclosed that the Airport infrastructure and Command and Control Centres have been subjected to different tests with fake and expired passports rejected while genuine ones were cleared.

Tunji-Ojo said:” With this massive infrastructure, we believe that no unwanted persons or persons of interests can find their ways into Nigeria. Our security through the Airports and in the Airport domains are guaranteed.

“It is a testimony to what Mr President told us from day one on his Renewed Hope Agenda. He asked us to change the narratives and make passengers movements in and out of the country seamless.

 

“You can see that we have all our team here working in synergy with the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.

“I must at this point commend the Minister of Aviation, Hon Festus Keyamo (SAN) and other critical stakeholders who have made this transformation possible.”

 

 

More to come…

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