Economists have faulted the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria over its decision to increase the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 18 per cent from 17.5 per cent. The experts spoke in reaction to the lending rate announced by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday. Emefiele, while reading the communiqué of the second MPC meeting of the year on Tuesday, said the slight increase was meant to mitigate the effect of inflation and other economic challenges. He said, “The MPC committee voted to raise the MPR by 50…
Author: meridianspy
At least 12 people were killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan by a strong earthquake felt across thousands of kilometres, but the appeared Wednesday to have dodged the mass casualties usually associated with a tremor of such scale. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centred near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan, but the depth of 187 kilometres (116 miles) mitigated extensive damage. The quake, which struck around 09:30 pm Kabul time on Tuesday and lasted more than 30 seconds, was felt from central Asia to New Delhi in India — more than 2,000 km away. “It was…
The Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed Bola Tinubu’s call for healing after a violent election as the height of hypocrisy. He, however, commended the United States Government for condemning the outbreak of violence during the election. Tinubu had in a statement he personally signed said he was saddened by the infractions in some states as well as the divisive rhetoric that characterised the polls. Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, in a statement on Tuesday, however, described Tinubu’s statement as an after-thought and hypocritical garbage. be slammed with visa bans should…
Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to quickly declare the results of Abia State governorship election held on Saturday to avoid bloodbath in the state. Similarly, Abia State human rights and pro- democracy groups have called on the INEC to save the state from avoidable crisis by resolving the logjam over the March 18 governorship election. Also Read: Obi wants INEC to Declare Abia, Enugu Result without Delay Ejimofor who read from a prepared text said:”We have noted with sadness, the controversy surrounding the 18th March 2023 Abia Governorship election and wish to state…
The Presidential Candidate Of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has responded to allegations of ethno-religious bigotry against him by Senator Chimaroke Nnamani. Nnamani, had in a statement on Monday accused Obi of whipping up ethnic and religious sentiments in his quest to win the presidency. The ex- Enugu State Governor accused Obi of exploiting the nation’s fault lines to advance his personal cause. Nnamani, who lost his re-election bid to a candidate of the Labour Party last Saturday, accused Obi of other sundry infractions. In response, Obi in a letter addressed to Nnamani, a known acolyte of the President-Elect, Asiwaju…
Controversial Anambra pastor, Chukwuemeka Ohanere, popularly known as Odumeje, has said he will die soon, having completed his work on earth. The pastor came into limelight with his weird pattern of spiritual deliverance, where he carries miracle seeking members of his church in a manner akin to the WWE wrestlers, and smashes them on the floor. He was in the news last year after he confronted officials of the Anambra State Government, who had come to demolish his church. He was beaten during the encounter. During Sunday service, Odumeje, in a video circulating online, was heard telling his…
Obi Wants INEC to declare Abia, Enugu Results without Dela Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has frowned at what he described as the continuous delay in releasing the governorship results of Abia and Enugu states. In a statement on Tuesday, Obi charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the results immediately. Mrridianspy reports that INEC suspended the collation of results in Abia over violence and the invasion of one of its offices in Abia. But Obi said further delay of announcement of results would delay the commission’s intent and credibility of the election Obi…
The Chief Whip of the Senate, and winner of the Abia North Senatorial district election, Sen. Orji Kalu, has declared his intention to contest for Senate presidency in the 10th National Assembly. Kalu disclosed this Tuesday while briefing newsmen at the National Assembly. The ruling All Progressives Congress maintained a majority in the Senate, having secured 57 seats. APC senators eyeing the Senate presidency have been lobbying their colleagues to seek their support. Aside from Kalu, who has publicly declared interest in the position, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sani Musa (Niger); Barau Jibrin (Kano); and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) are also…
IBM has started accepting proposals for the next cohort of its Sustainability Accelerator, which will focus on water management solutions. Quoting the World Health Organisation in a statement, the firm stated that over two billion people live in water-stressed countries, and its competition will create solutions that will solve some of these challenges. According to the report, 70 million Nigerians have no access to basic water services and 114 million did not have basic sanitation facilities in 2021. The General Manager of IBM Africa Growth Markets, Julia Carvalho, stated, “Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the most water-stressed regions in Africa…
No fewer than 27 persons were killed during the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections across the country, a report by a leading intelligence organization, SB Intelligence stated on Monday. The deaths were recorded in 10 states out of the 28 where governorship elections were conducted, according to the report. The report said at least six persons were killed on election day in Rivers and Benue states; while five died in Delta, three in Lagos, two in Akwa-Ibom, and one each in Cross River, Ebonyi, Niger, Kebbi and Katsina states. The organisation said the casualty figure might be…
PDP Dauda Lawal Unseats Matawalle at Zamfara Guber Poll Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has lost his reelection bid. The incumbent lost to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dauda Lawal. Lawal polled 377,726 votes to defeat Governor Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 311,976 votes. Details later.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, as the winner of the March 18 poll and the Governor-Elect. The Catholic priest won 473,933 votes ahead of his closest rival and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Titus Uba, who scored 223,913. The Returning Office, Prof Faruq Kuta and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna declared Alia the winner. More to follow…