Economy
Nigeria’s Population Growth Rate Hits Estimated 3.2% – NPC
The National Population Commission (NPC) says the nation’s population growth rate hits 3.2 per cent based on estimated population of 216 million.
NPC Federal commissioner representing Enugu State, Mr Ejike Eze, disclosed this on Wednesday at a lecture organised by the Commission and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) University of Nigeria Enugu Campus.
He said that Nigeria was among the fastest growing population in the world and required periodic conduct of census for proper planning of development programmes.
According to him, Nigeria’s inability to conduct a population census within the last 17 years had created an information vacuum.
“This is because the data from the last census in 2006 has been rendered less useful for planning purposes,” he said.
Eze said that the preparations for the 2023 national census had reached an advanced stage with the demarcation of the existing 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
“There is also the need to ensure the implementation of poverty alleviations programmes drive by current data obtained from the 2023 census.
“This will improve the implementation of these programmes that target vulnerable population and ensure that “no one is left behind,” he said.
On religion and ethnicity in the 2023 census, the commissioner said it was a deliberate plan by the commission to exclude them in questionnaire due to the sensitive nature of the issues.
“And also to save the census data from needless controversies and attention.”
He added that the overriding goal of the questionnaire was to generate data that would facilitate sustainable development planning.
Speaking, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNN Enugu Campus, Prof. Dan Nwachukwu described NPC’s collaboration with IDS as “timely and appropriate”.
Nwachukwu said that without an accurate and reliable census, it was difficult for the country to execute its planned programmes.
According to him, lack of data was responsible for failure in the implementation of government policies.
In his remarks , Prof. Chuks Nwude, Director IDS UNN said the topic: “Methodology and Processes of the population and Housing census” was timely.
He said that the collaboration would help both parties to advance knowledge on the forthcoming census. (NAN)
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)
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