Author: tech

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday took a bold step towards boosting the nation’s automotive industry by approving a new Automotive Industrial Development Plan. In principle, Council members also approved gradual phasing out of imported used cars also known as ‘tokunbo’ cars through introduction of a high tariff regime that will compel ‘tokunbo’ car dealers to close shop. Briefing State House correspondents after the weekly cabinet meeting, Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the new plan aimed at reviving Nigeria’s automotive industry with a view to generating jobs. According to him, about N445 billion was expended on…

Read More

The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission said the 28th September 2013 legislative elections in Guinea took place in  “acceptable conditions of freedom and transparency.” In the Preliminary Declaration of the 100-strong mission read by the Head of Mission, Edem Kodjo at a Press Conference in Conakry on 29th September, 2013, the mission said the “few shortcomings observed could not be attributed to any deliberate attempt by any party to undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” but mostly to “poor mastery of the process and genuine logical challenges.” “The shortcomings observed did not prevent the electorate from freely expressing their constitutional right to vote” continued the declaration. The Mission…

Read More

A leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, has entered into a partnership with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (“Ecobank”), the leading pan-African banking group with presence in 34 countries in Africa, to deliver Airtel Money across nine African countries where Airtel also has operations. Thanks to this agreement, millions of Airtel and Ecobank customers across Africa will be able to access secure, convenient and instant mobile financial services. The partnership between Airtel and Ecobank is already effective in seven African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Niger, Zambia and Kenya. Airtel…

Read More

Like a soldier that has just returned from the war front, I was engaged in the past-time of admiring what looked like a ‘war trophy’ that is a colorfully made 1,148 page book I recently bought in Enugu during my recent trip to the South East for some speaking engagements at the behest of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission. It was therefore in that convivial atmosphere that I glanced through it and read what Marcus T. Cicero once said that; “I Shall always consider the best guesser the best prophet”.  Ironically, this pleasant discovery of a wise saying was…

Read More

President of the Senate, David Mark has assured that nothing would be swept under the carpet to unravel the circumstances or other wise of the killing of nine suspected insurgents in the Apo District, Abuja on September 20, 2013. “There will be no biases; no sentiments and we have no preconceived idea. All we are interested in is to get to the root of the matter. We are approaching the matter with an open mind in order to get the facts so that justice would be done”, Senate President told the joint investigating committee of the Senate (judiciary and intelligence)…

Read More

By: Gracious Akujobi General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Amadu stated emphatically on Wednesday that the Federation is not in agreement with those thinking Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes belong to the featherweight category and would be easily over-run by the Super Eagles in next weekend’s World Cup qualifying cracker in Addis Ababa. “Yes, we believe that the Super Eagles, champions of Africa, will come out of Addis Ababa with a good result, but we are not taking the match lightly. We do not subscribe to the suggestion that all we need do is turn up in Ethiopia and we…

Read More

By Gracious Akujobi Super Eagles camp will open in Abuja on Sunday, October 6 preparatory to the 2014 world cup first leg play-off qualifier against Ethiopia, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed. The crucial game is slated for October 13 in Addis Ababa. NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu told Prompt News Online that the match is being taken with all seriousness by the federation, adding that plans have been concluded for the team to train for five days in Abuja, between Oct.7 and Oct 11 before departing for Addis aboard a chartered flight on Oct 12. “This game is very…

Read More

Without the embrace of socialism, the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has introduced one of the most cherished components of egalitarian rule – the luxury or “sin” tax. When I read about its coming, it was hard not to admire the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, for allowing the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to charge private airline operators between $3,000 and $4,000 for each flight they operate. I have read several complaints by the operators, who have vehemently denounced the $3,000 payable for every flight by a private plane registered in Nigeria and $4,000 for a flight by one that…

Read More

By: Sunday Oyewole Federal Government on Tuesday night named the leader of the Patriots, Prof Ben Nwabueze and an activist, Tony Uranta as members of the Advisory Committee on the proposed national dialogue. The body is headed by a fourth Republic senator, Femi Okurounmu, with Dr Akilu Indabawa as Secretary. The list comprises of 13 eminent Nigerians. Others are a former FCT Senator, Khairat Gwadabe; Prof. Funke Adebayo, Dr. (Mrs) Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Prof George Obiozom, Timothy Adudua; Tony Nyiam, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Dauda Birma and Buhari Bello. According to a statement from the Secretary to the Government of the…

Read More

By: Gracious Akujobi The sports-loving Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, has secured a spot for the state-owned football club, Kogi United to play in the Nigeria National league next season. In his determination to re-position football in the state, Governor Wada bought a Nigeria National League (NNL) slot for Kogi united who got relegated to Nigeria National league after a woeful 2012/2013 season. The club Chairman, Abdul Adama thanked the Governor for his passionate will and resolve to improve the fortune of waning sports in the state. A statement issued by Samuel Ahmadu on Monday reads, “We are glad…

Read More