NEWS
Insecurity: Sokoto Govt Constructs Military Base in Illela
Sokoto State Government, says it is currently constructing a military base in Illela town to support military operations in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state.Dr.Bashir Achida, Economic Adviser to the state governor said this in an interview in Abuja on Friday.
He said the move was part of the efforts of the government and people of Sokoto State towards addressing the security challenge in the northwest and country at large. According to him, the government, when done with the construction of the base, would hand it over to the Federal Government in line with constitutional provision which placed the military under the Exclusive list.He said the renewed support became necessary, given the need to secure life and properties of citizens and the strategic position of the state in agriculture and the nation’s economic development.According to Adicha, with secure environment, Sokoto State would contribute more to the nation’s efforts to fight poverty and food shortage.He said the strategic location of the state as a major agrarian area and having an international boundary made it vulnerable to the activities of bandits other anti-social elements.He said the government had provided 140 operational vehicles to support the security agencies in the state to fight criminality, banditry in the communities and the farm lands.Achida said the state government was also constructing major roads to make the rural communities accessible to the military as part of its contributions to the fight against banditry and terrorism.He said the community guards that was earlier set up by state government had been provided with 700 motorcycles and 40 Hilus vehicles.This, he said, was to complement efforts of the military and other security agencies in combating banditry and other criminal activities in the state. (NAN)NEWS
Taraba Renames Government House after T.Y. Danjuma
The Taraba Government on Friday unveiled the renamed and remodelled Taraba Government House as T.Y. Danjuma House.Alhaji Aminu Alkali, the Deputy Governor and Chairman, organising committee, said that the decision was to appreciate Danjuma for his uncommon contributions to the development of the state.
According to him, the state government found the elder statesman’s significant contributions to nation-building and vital role in the development of Taraba worthy enough to rename the facility after him as a form of appreciation. “The decision to rename Taraba Government House as T.Y. Danjuma House is to recognise his contributions to nation-building and the developmental strides.“This will serve as a form of appreciation for what the elder statesman has done for the development of the state,” he said.Danjuma, while inaugurating the remodelled government house renamed T.Y. Danjuma House, commended the governor for the decision.Danjuma said the honour was a morale booster that would motivate him to attract more development to the state.He appealed for a United Taraba, irrespective of political, tribal, and religious affiliations, to allow Kefas’ administration to thrive. (NAN)NEWS
CBN Sells $543m to Banks to Check Market Volatility
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says sold 543.5 million dollars to authorised dealer banks between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30.According to a statement by Omolara Duke, Director, Financial Markets Department of the CBN, the transaction was through a two-way quote at the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) on 11 dealing days.
Duke said that the spot sales was to reduce observed market volatility driven by high demand for commodity important and seasoned demand for fx. She said that the value date for all the transactions was T+2.Report says that T+2 refers to the settlement dates of security transactions that occur on a transaction date plus two days.“This statement is to educate and provide guidance on the general public the pricing of fx.“This is by taking a clue from the range of rates at which gx was sold by the CBN to authorised Dealers.“The CBN will continue facilitate the supply of fx into the NFEM as part of its holistic fx management strategy,” she said.The CBN had earlier announced the introduction of an Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), for Foreign Exchange (FX) transactions in NFEM.Duke said that the new system was expected to enhance governance, transparency, and facilitate a market driven exchange rate that would be accessible to the public.“This development is expected to reduce speculative activities, eliminate market distortions, and give the CBN improved oversight capabilities to effectively regulate the market.“Authorised dealers will subsequently conduct all foreign exchange transactions in the interbank Fx market on the EFEMS approved by the CBN where transactions will be reflected immediately,” she said.She said that there would be a two-week test run in November, adding that the apex bank would publish real time prices when the EFEMS starts becomes operational.She said that the CBN would also buy and sell orders from the system and in collaboration with the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), publish the rules for the EFEMS.“The Nigerian FX Code and revised Market Operating Guidelines for the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market will also provide guidance to market participants.“Authorised dealers are, therefore, required to comply with extant guidelines and regulations governing the Nigeria foreign exchange market.“They should ensure that all necessary documentation, training, and systems integrations are concluded ahead of the go live date,” she said. (NAN)NEWS
BSIEC to Set up LG Elections Situation Room
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has said it would set up its situation room by Saturday to monitor elections and results that come in from various local governments.BSIEC Chairman, Mr Richard Tombowua, stated this on Friday in Makurdi while speaking to newsmen on election preparedness.
Tombowua said the commission sent out non-sensitive materials on Tuesday and distributed sensitive ones on Friday. “The commission initially indicated that it needs 16,000 ad hoc staff, but when the portal was opened for registration, 36,000 people applied, and they were trained from the headquarters down to local government council wards. “Two trainings were held at the headquarters, three at the zonal headquarters.“After the training, the commission selected those who would conduct the elections on Saturday.“We met with the heads of security agencies in Benue, and they are synergising with us and have given us their men to help maintain peace and order.“Most of them are already on their way with sensitive materials to various local government areas,” he said.Mr Agbo Umaru, member representing Apa Constituency at the House of Assembly and also the Chairman on Electoral Matters and Civil Society Organisations, said he was impressed with what BSEIC has done so far.Agbo commended the commission for the timely distribution of sensitive materials to various local government areas and prayed for free, fair, and credible elections.“I came on a surprised visit to the commission, and with what I have seen on the ground, the sensitive materials would get to the various local governments on time for onwards distribution to council wards,” he said. (NAN)