President Goodluck Jonathan and President Xi Jinping of China Wednesday in Beijing presided over the signing of five agreements to boost financial, trade, economic, technical and cultural relations between Nigeria and China. The agreements which were signed after bilateral talks between the two leaders and their delegations include the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Financial Cooperation In Support of Nigeria’s Economic Development and a Preferential Buyer Credit Agreement for Nigeria’s Four Airports Expansion Project. Others were a new Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Nigeria and China, an Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports…
Author: tech
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar on Wednesday denied knowledge of any attack on the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, insisting it is not true. “That is not true, no reasonable commissioner of police will go and tear gas government house, it is not true. “I have sent a DIG in charge of operations, he is in Port Harcourt and he will brief me the happenings and the action taken by police in Rivers state and necessary action will be taken against anybody who has anything to defend. But, the state government confirmed that the Government…
The crisis that has engulfed Rivers state of late has taken another dangerous dimension with the alleged invasion of Government House, Port Harcourt by thugs on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, hoodlums had invaded the state House of Assembly and attacked some lawmakers in the process, including House Leader. Premium Times reports that sporadic gunshots were being fired in front of the government house. It quoted media reports which indicate that the shots are being fired by thugs backed up by police officers. Witnesses also report that armoured tanks have been deployed to the state assembly complex, venue of Tuesday’s…
More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the last two years, according to the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption from Transparency International, but survey participants also firmly believe they can make a difference and have the will to take action against graft. The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 is a survey of 114,000 people in 107 countries and it shows corruption is widespread. 27 per cent of respondents have paid a bribe when accessing public services and institutions in the last 12 months, revealing no improvement from previous surveys. Still, nearly 9 out of…
I am writing this letter to give an account of the circumstances that preceded the loss of my bag at the hands of UK Border Agency on the night of 12/062013 at Stanstead Airport. I am also urging an immediate investigation to rectify the matter and most hopefully return my lost bag to me. In Nov 2012 whilst in the UK, I applied for a visa extension, which Home Office denied a few months later in March 2013. My Nigerian passports were then withheld by UK Border Agency and I was offered an Assisted Voluntary Return ticket – as is…
The main liberal opposition coalition in Egypt has rejected interim leader Adly Mansour’s decree, which sets a new poll timetable to stop the unrest. The National Salvation Front (NSF) demanded more changes and consultation on the document. Both the Muslim Brotherhood, which supports ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, and the Tamarod protest movement earlier rejected the decree. The Mansour plan also envisages changes to the Islamist-drafted constitution. In other developments on Tuesday: Mr Mansour named ex-Finance Minister Hazem el-Beblawi as new Prime Minister in turn, Mr el-Beblawi pledged to give cabinet posts to Muslim Brotherhood members – an offer immediately…
President of the Senate, David Mark is not comfortable with the statistics of an improved economy often being reeled out by banks, saying such should impact positively on the lives of ordinary Nigerian. He also decried high interest rates charged by banks on loans, saying it should be reviewed downward to create conducive environment for small scale businesses to thrive. The Senate President gave the charge on Tuesday, while receiving the Chairman and members of the Board of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, (CIBN), in his office. Mark noted further that small scale businesses are not finding the harsh…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned any attempt to remove elected leaders by unconstitutional means whatever might be their perceived offences. Reacting to the outbreak of chaos in the Rivers State House of House Assembly on Tuesday, following the attempt by five lawmakers to effect leadership change, the former Vice President warned against the consequences of going outside the constitution to oust elected leaders. Atiku Abubakar said in a statement by his media office in Abuja that the constitution of Nigeria was not written…
In its bid to boost lending to small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria, and also stimulate economic growth in the country, First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Tuesday signed a $100 million facility agreement with China Development Bank (CDB), a leading bank in the Peoples’ Republic of China. This is coming on the heels of the FirstBank’s extension of a single digit credit facility to Nigerian entrepreneurs in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI). The signing of the landmark agreement, witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who is on a State visit to China; and his…
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter has expressed fears over the possibility of the Sports Administrators in the FCT to effectively and efficiently organise a befitting National Youth Sports Festival. FCT SWAN noted that with the obvious nonchalant attitude of the Bala Mohammed- led administration towards sports in the territory, hosting such a big event, (which calls for high level of sport administrative acumen) could bring shame to the Nation as whole. SWAN further observed with regret that with just one month to the commencement of the Games, there are no activities to show that FCT would…