Aso Villa Reads for 26/10/2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
At exactly 1:00 p.m., yesterday, Nigeria’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the eNaira, went live after it was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, said 500 million eNaira has already been minted, adding that 33 banks have been fully integrated and are live on the platform. The digital currency app and its merchant wallet are now live and available for download. The two apps, eNaira speed wallet and eNaira merchant wallet, are available on Google playstore and Apple store. As at 7:00 p.m. last night, the app had crossed 10,000 downloads on playstore. [Guardian]
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that his regime plans to create up to 250,000 jobs from its efforts to connect up to five million households to solar power. This is as he said growth figures were meaningless if they do not translate to good-paying jobs and improved standard of living for Nigerians. Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this on Monday in an address delivered virtually at the opening of the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit. According to the President, to tackle existing problems and at the same time benefit from domestic and global trends, stakeholders both in the public and private sectors must take timely actions and immediate steps for Nigeria to achieve the desired national goals. [Punch]
Following the launch of the enaira by the President, Major General Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), the application for the digital currency introduced by the CBN has become available for download, with more than 5,000 downloads within hours of the launch. This is as the apex bank released regulatory guidelines which stipulate that charges for transactions that originate from the eNaira platform will be free in the first 90 days commencing from October 25. After this period, applicable charges as outlined in the Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-bank Financial Institutions will become effective. [Punch]
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to restore payments to pensioners on its priority list as well as clearing the backlog of arrears inherited from previous administrations, under both the contributory and defined benefit pension schemes. Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, disclosed this at a two-day sensitisation summit on, ”Eradication of Pension Fraud” in Nigeria. [Daily Times]
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the Commission’s Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) have become a rallying point for the promotion of security of lives and properties of Nigerians. He also revealed that the ECCs, 24 of which are currently operational in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, processed about 34 million calls bordering on security and emergency issues in the first eight months of the year. Danbatta made this disclosure while delivering a goodwill message at the just-concluded 17th edition of All Nigerian Editors’ Conference in Abuja. [Tribune]
The Federal Government has said construction of shooting ranges at major airports in Nigeria was nearing completion as part of measures to train aviation security personnel in the industry. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika dropped the hint while declaring open the maiden edition of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, Security Week in Abuja on Monday. Sirika said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the deployment of (K-9) security at the country’s airports following the ministry of aviation’s presentation.The minister, who was represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu said the development was expected to upscale the safeguarding of national and international civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference in limits yet to be recorded in Nigeria’s history. [Tribune]
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja lauded the exploits of the Nigerian Armed Forces in maintaining peace, unity and stability in the country and urged Nigerians to celebrate them as the pride of the country. The president gave the charge at the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem appeal launch, an annual event to appreciate the gallantry, sacrifices and accomplishments of veterans of the first and second world wars, peace support operations and internal security operations in Nigeria. Paying tribute to veterans who devoted most of their active lives to securing the nation and the world, particularly those who paid the supreme sacrifice.[Leadership]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has rolled out a new financial instrument called “The 100 for 100 PPP” that targets more funding for private sector to boost productivity, encourage exports, cut down current massive imports and ultimately support the weak naira. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, announced that the new financial instrument will go public November 1. “Today, in addition to all policies and actions of the CBN to support the economy, especially through the trying times of COVID-19, the apex bank is announcing a new financial instrument titled “The 100 for 100 PPP — Policy on Production and Productivity,” which will be anchored in our Development Finance Department under my direct supervision,” Emefiele said in his address. [Business Day]
Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, says the Federal Government will be rehabilitating the Warri and Kaduna refineries as soon as it completes the ongoing rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt refinery and petrochemical company. Sylva stated this at the 2021 graduation ceremony of students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), in Effurun, Delta State, on Saturday. The minister, represented by Nasir Gwarzo, permanent secretary, federal ministry of petroleum resources, said the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the comprehensive rehabilitation of all the refineries in Nigeria earlier this year is one of the strides of the petroleum ministry. [Business Day]
