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Lagos directs the opening of gates in Lekki Phase I and II for the Yuletide season

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The Lagos State Government, through a press statement from the Commissioner of Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, has directed the opening of street gates in Lekki Phase I, Phase II, and surrounding areas from 6 am to 11 pm during the yuletide season.

This initiative aims to facilitate smoother vehicular movement and alleviate potential traffic congestion resulting from holiday activities.

Strict adherence to this directive is emphasized, with sanctions for non-compliance, while residents are reassured that security measures will be implemented to ensure their safety.

 

The Federal Government announces official holidays to mark Christmas and New Year celebrations

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The Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, representing the Federal Government, has officially declared December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024, as public holidays for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

In extending warm wishes to Christians and Nigerians worldwide, Dr. Tunji-Ojo encourages individuals to embody the values of Jesus Christ, emphasizing humility, service, compassion, and patience.

Highlighting the significance of peace and security for economic prosperity, the minister assures that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to implementing effective measures for safeguarding lives and property.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo urges citizens to prioritize security awareness and report any suspicious activities to the nearest authorities.

Emphasizing the need for discipline during the festive season, the minister calls on all Nigerians to contribute to the protection of lives and property in their communities and the nation.

Looking ahead, Tunji-Ojo expresses optimism, urging citizens to stay focused on the Renewed Hope agenda for a promising 2024.

 

Adeboye brings evangelism to the Oyo community, enriching the outreach

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On Friday, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, brought the evangelism program, ‘Let’s go a fishing,’ to Orile-Igbon in Oyo State’s Surulere Local Government Area.

Arriving at the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon’s palace around 12:33 pm via chopper, he paid homage to Oba Francis Alao, praying for him and his entire family. Subsequently, Pastor Adeboye proceeded to Olugbon High School for the evangelistic event.

Further details will be provided later.

Asake leads the ranking of the most sought-after Nigerian artists on Google

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Ahmed Ololade, renowned as Asake, emerges as the top-searched Afrobeat sensation in Nigeria for 2023, as unveiled by Google’s latest search rankings.

Khalid and Shallipopi closely follow on the list of most-searched artists.

Asake claims the spotlight not only as the most searched artist but also with his chart-topping single, ‘Lonely At The Top,’ securing the position of the most sought-after song.

The top 10 most searched artistes feature a mix of talents, including Seyi Vibez, Kizz Daniel, Portable, Spyro, Boy Spice, Odumodublvck, and Ayra Starr.

The captivating sounds extend to the most searched songs, with a diverse playlist led by Asake’s ‘Lonely at the Top,’ followed by hits like Omah Lay’s ‘Reason,’ Kizz Daniel’s ‘My G,’ and Spyro’s ‘Who is your guy’ featuring Tiwa Savage.

The music scene remains vibrant with tracks such as King Promise’s ‘Terminator,’ Ayra Starr’s ‘Sability,’ Ruga’s ‘Asiwaju,’ Khalid’s ‘Carry me go’ featuring Boy Spyce, KCee’s ‘Ojapiano,’ and Kizz Daniel’s ‘Rich till I die’ completing the dynamic lineup.

Stay tuned for the latest in breaking news and videos.

Chivita unveils its festive holiday campaign

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Chivita, the renowned juice brand, has launched its festive campaign titled ‘Enjoy your Chivita this Season.’

According to a brand statement, the campaign aims to spread joy, foster togetherness, and captivate consumers through innovative experiences during this special time of the year.

As an integral part of the campaign, Chivita plans to captivate consumers with 12 days of delightful activities and surprises across various digital platforms.

The kickoff, titled ’12 Days of Christmas,’ will initiate with a Christmas Pyjamas photo contest running from December 3 to 20.

Families and friends are invited to share their finest Chivita-themed holiday photos by tagging Chivita on Facebook and Instagram.

The most festive and imaginative entries stand a chance to win Chivita-themed Christmas hampers.

Moreover, a digital Santa Grotto fiesta with influencer engagements is on the agenda. This collaboration will enable consumers to interact and win prizes on the brand’s Instagram page.

Guest influencers will entertain the audience with relatable Christmas riddles, trivia, and an analysis of entries from the Pyjamas photo contest. This engaging activity is scheduled from December 11 to 22.

Toyin Nnodi, the Marketing Director at Chivita Hollandia, expressed excitement about unveiling the ‘Enjoy your Chivita this Season’ campaign.

She highlighted the brand’s enthusiasm as families and friends immerse themselves in the enchantment of the holiday season.

Polo and Providus Bank reveal their curated art collection

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Polo Limited and Providus Bank recently introduced Montblanc’s prestigious Masters of Art collection of writing instruments, paying tribute to the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh.

The event, held in Lagos, highlighted the artistry behind Montblanc’s inaugural Masters of Art collection of writing instruments.

John Obayuwana, the Managing Director of Polo Limited, expressed delight in meeting avid pen collectors while celebrating Montblanc’s exceptional craftsmanship.

The unveiling took place at the Providus Bank penthouse, transformed to reflect Saint-Remy-de-Provence, the Southern French town where Vincent van Gogh spent most of his artistic life in the 19th century.

Obayuwana described the evening as an immersive journey through Montblanc’s legacy of precision and craftsmanship, showcasing limited-edition masterpieces inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s writing instruments.

Discerning clients had the opportunity to explore the artistry behind these coveted collector’s items in a captivating display.

 

Vice Presidents and Governors establish committees to address issues of crude oil theft and economic concerns

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The National Economic Council, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, established committees on economic affairs and crude oil theft and management, appointing Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as chairs, respectively.

The move followed deliberations on economic matters and strategies during the 138th virtual NEC meeting.

The Economic Matters committee, chaired by Governor AbdulRazak, is tasked with creating a roadmap for addressing petroleum subsidy, wage negotiations, exchange rates, fiscal consolidation, liquidity management, inflation, medium-term investment, growth, fiscal transparency, accountability, and a state of emergency on food production for 2024.

The Crude Oil Theft and Management Committee, chaired by Governor Uzodimma, was reconstituted with members from various regions and government officials.

The VP urged members to prioritize governance over vacation during the yuletide, emphasizing the responsibility they bear.

He highlighted the importance of citizens feeling the positive impact of government reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and forex unification, addressing global challenges like high inflation and the cost of living.

The Council also received updates on account balances as of October 31, 2023, with the Excess Crude Account at $473,754.57, the Stabilization Account at N32.06bn, and the Development of Natural Resources Account at N156.77bn.

The P’Harcourt refinery is set to increase its daily processing capacity to 60,000 barrels following necessary repairs

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On Thursday, the Federal Government declared the successful completion of rehabilitation work on Area-5 Plant at the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State, announcing that the first phase of the plant, set to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil, would commence operation after the Christmas break.

This development is expected to yield approximately 10.2 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit and other refined products.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, overseeing the refinery, revealed that the second phase would conclude in the fourth quarter of 2024, enabling the facility to refine 150,000 barrels of crude daily.

Additionally, the government stated that the importation of cooking gas would diminish post-Christmas as the refinery begins producing refined products.

The Port Harcourt refinery’s rehabilitation, spanning over two years, reached a milestone with the completion of phase one, as confirmed during an inspection tour by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on December 20, 2023.

Lokpobiri expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their patience, emphasizing that the completion of the first phase at Port Harcourt refinery marks the beginning, with subsequent phases planned for refineries in Warri and Kaduna. Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted that the refinery would contribute to the production of cooking gas, reducing its importation.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, reported that as of December 15, 2023, 84.4% of Area-5 Plant and 77.4% of the entire rehabilitation project had been completed. Kyari affirmed the commitment to complete phase two by the last quarter of 2024.

The Chairman of NNPCL Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, deemed the achievement historic, emphasizing the goal of stabilizing petroleum prices and generating revenue.

Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Ibrahim Onoja, assured the facility’s durability for decades, providing value to Nigeria through job creation, industrial feedstock, revenue, foreign exchange, and energy security.

The $1.5bn rehabilitation project, covering Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning phases, achieved the mechanical completion milestone with a stellar Health, Safety, and Environment record.

In conclusion, the Port Harcourt refinery’s successful rehabilitation signifies a pivotal step toward enhancing Nigeria’s energy independence, economic stability, and job creation, with a focus on sustainable production and reduced reliance on imports

 

Banks collaborating with Point of Sale (PoS) operators to interfere with the circulation of the naira, according to the CBN

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a caution to Point-of-Sale (PoS) operators regarding cash availability, citing a collusion between some Deposit Money Banks and PoS operators disrupting the smooth circulation of the Naira.

The warning, conveyed through Acting Director of Communication and Public Relations, Sidi Ali, emphasizes the need for immediate cessation of such activities or facing legal consequences.

Responding to public concerns about limited naira accessibility, the CBN suggests utilizing alternative payment platforms and reporting unauthorized activities through a provided digital platform.

The statement underscores the CBN’s commitment to investigating reported cases that may undermine the economy and warns of sanctions for those found engaging in inappropriate actions.

 

CBN investigator reveals Emefiele’s involvement in operating 593 unauthorized accounts in the US, UK, and China

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The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, illicitly deposited billions of naira in over 593 bank accounts across the United States, United Kingdom, and China, bypassing approval from the apex bank’s board of directors and the CBN Investment Committee.

Jim Obaze, the Special Investigator on the CBN and Related Entities, discovered that Emefiele, without authorization, placed £543,482,213 in fixed deposits in UK banks alone.

Emefiele, currently held in Kuje Custodial Centre for N1.2 billion procurement fraud, faces potential additional charges related to the handling of the CBN naira redesign policy.

The investigation found that the naira redesign initiative was pursued without board approval, and Emefiele might be prosecuted for illegal currency issuance.

The probe also uncovered fraudulent use of N26.627tn in Ways and Means of the Apex Bank and misuse of the COVID-19 intervention fund.

Emefiele’s management approved anticipatory expenditures, with instances of padding approved amounts and questionable legal fees.

The report revealed Emefiele’s involvement in misrepresenting presidential approval for NESI Stabilisation Strategy Limited and an unlawful payment of N17.2bn to 14 deposit money banks.

Additionally, potential charges include manipulation of the naira exchange rate, fraudulent e-naira project implementation, and tax exemption for three foreign firms.

The investigation exposed a peculiar illegal withdrawal of $6.23mn from the CBN vault through a forged presidential letter, leading to the arrest of two individuals.