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Naira was quoted at an all-time low of N409 to the dollar on the black market yesterday, compared with N402 the preceding day, after the suspension of some banks from forex trading made dollars even harder to obtain. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, suspended nine commercial banks from forex transactions on Tuesday for failing to pay money owed to the government, although one was readmitted after making a payment. Traders said the local currency fell due to the impact of the suspensions, compounding the dollar shortages Nigeria Naira exchanges N409 to dollar at black market Source: NSE Tenor Rate (%) O/N 18.7083 1M 16.5028 3M 17.794 6M 19.9892 Tenor Rate (%) Change (%) 1M 14.4143 0.012M 14.9106 -0.98 3M 15.2757 -2.03 NITTY NIBOR NIBOR as @ August 24, 2016NIBOR FAQs Exchange Rate Naira US Dollar N309.5 $1 Exchange Rates (N) WAUA 427.7768 USD 304.5 EURO 343.6283 CFA 0.5139 YEN 3.0268 SWISS FRANC 314.8589 POUNDS STERLING 401.5442 SDR 427.7007 Rate (%) Inflation 16.46MPR 14 Crude oil pric...

Ondo State governorship hopeful, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR, has passed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial screening. The 5-man screening committee, chaired by Yunisa Mohammed, was constituted by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. This development came Thursday in Abuja after the Hon. Ibrahim Bakauyi-led 3-man congress committee submitted the results of the successful party congress held on August 15 in all the 203 wards of Ondo State to Sheriff. Five gubernatorial aspirants were screened. Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim They are Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Abiye Ademoyegun (Mrs), Sola Ebiseni, Niran Sule and Bamiduro Dada. All the aspirants expressed confidence and approval of the outcome of the congress where delegates were elected for the eventual election of the party’s governorship flagbearer. It was on the premise of their confirmation of confidence in the delegate election that the national chairman underlined the importance of transparency in d...

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to at least 250 on Thursday and could rise further with rescue teams working for a second day to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns. The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes. An army of emergency workers using sniffer dogs clambered over piles of debris trying to find anyone still buried beneath, while cranes removed huge slabs of fallen masonry and trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes. Only yesterday afternoon, a violent aftershock measuring magnitude 4.3 sent rescuers fleeing from debris and stones that fell from the severely damaged bell tower of the 15th century church of St. Augustine in Amatrice. The jolt, which struck fear and panic in survivors, detached the church’s facade, leaving it leaning dangerously over the main street where rescuers worked. ...

Akwa Ibom State government has appealed to the Federal Government to refund the N140bn so far spent by the state on the rehabilitation of federal roads. Governor Udom Emmanuel made the appeal Thursday in Uyo while inspecting the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene-Aba dual carriage way being constructed by Julius Berger Plc. The governor said the reimbursement was necessary to facilitate the rehabilitation of federal roads connecting Akwa Ibom State with Abia and Cross River states respectively. He said commuters plying the Ikot Ekpene-Aba road; Ikot Ekpene-Umuahia road as well as Calabar-Itu road were experiencing difficulties due to the deplorable state of the roads. He urged the Federal Government to give approval for the rehabilitation of these roads through a public-private partnership, PPP, arrangement.

Prof. Oyewole Following a call by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, for his removal and dissolution of the governing council of the institution, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Professor Olusola Oyewole, Thursday blamed the crisis rocking the university on an unbridled interest of some individuals within the university community. Oyewole who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, also blamed in particular, the students’ agitation for a better security arrangement as well as SSANU’s call for his removal on “internal politics,” but stressed that he would eventually be vindicated. The VC who expressed great surprise at the attitude of the students of the university during the recent protest which witnessed the vandalism and burning of over 60 vehicles, maintained that students of the institution have a record for good rehabilitabehaviour when compared with those of other universities in Ni...

A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday declined hearing a case filed by Abdulmumini Jibrin, seeking to stop his planned suspension by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara. The judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that due to the limited time, the court would not be able to hear and deliver ruling in the matter before the expiration of the vacation. Abang said it was proper for the court to return domainthe case file to the Chief Judge of the Court to reassign the case to another judge after vacation. Jibrin’s Counsel, Mr. Abdulhamid Mohammed, had told the court that the case was slated for hearing. Mohammed said he had served the defendants in the suit as earlier directed by the court at the last sitting. He said the third defendant filed memoranda of appearance on behalf of their clients and a notice thereof preliminary objection to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case. He also informed the court that the plaintiff had filed a counter affidavi...

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday met the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III behind closed-door at the Presidential Villa. Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, Adeyemi said he was at the Villa to rub minds with the President and offer suggestions and advice on issues affecting the country.“As a Nigerian and one of the topmost traditional rulers in the country, over the time, I sent a memorandum to the President which he acknowledged and he asked me to come and endorse those things I have written. “I think it is time for me to use the proper channel to reach the President for suggestions and advice. “Where he deserves commendation, I should also do that, especially as it concerns the multi-dimensional problems Nigeria is facing; the Avengers and the bombing of oil installations, MEND and Boko Haram insurgency in the North East,” Adeyemi said. According to him, the recent visit of United States Secretary of State, John Kerry to the country made it clear ...

Four persons believed to be workers on a World Bank assessment mission to Egbe Dam in Egbe community in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State have drowned in River Egbe. The tragedy occurred when a boat conveying seven workers and their equipment capsized.Three of the workers wereb rescued.The deceased areBamidele Waheed Alayande, Tirimisiyu Alaran, David Malu and one Albert. Those who survived and are receiving treatment in hospital are Charles Ehinlaye, Bukky Ajet and Yahaya Mohammed. The workers, said to have come from Development Dams and Irrigation Schemes, Kaduna State, were said to have begun their assessment mission to the dam for turnaround maintenance on Tuesday night. Sources said the bodies of the dead were fished out by local fishermen, who were said to have been mobilised by the chairman of Gbonyin Local Government, Mrs. Folasade Akinrinmola. Akinrinmola, who said she was notified of the incident by the traditional ruler of the community, said: “We immediately mobi...

EagleWatch : Ronaldo crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe : Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions Le...

EagleWatch : Ronaldo crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe : Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions Le...

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions League and Euro 2016 with Portugal. Ronaldo, 31, received the accolade for the second time in his career after finishing ahead of Real team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann. Real Madrid and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo. “I’m obviously delighted to receive this award, it’s been an incredible season. But these two other players deserve it as well,” said Ronaldo, who also won the prize in 2013-14. Ronaldo struck the winning spot-kick as Real claimed a record 11th European Cup title, beating city rivals Atletico on penalties in May, before leading his country to Euro 2016 glory. Ronaldo scored three goals en route to the final of the tournament to equal France’s Michel Platini’s record of nine goals in the European Championship finals. The award was voted for by journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 mem...

EagleWatch : Kerry announces new Yemen peace initiative : US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday announced a fresh international peace initiative for Yemen aimed at forming a unity government ...

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday announced a fresh international peace initiative for Yemen aimed at forming a unity government to resolve its 17-month-old conflict. “This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible,” Kerry said after a meeting in Saudi Arabia with Gulf counterparts, a British minister and the UN peace envoy to Yemen. He said participants “agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations” between the Saudi-backed government and Iran-supported rebels, after three months of talks in Kuwait ended earlier in August without making headway. Kerry lashed out at Iran, saying its arms shipments to the Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen posed a threat to the United States. “The threat potentially posed by the shipment of missiles and other sophisticated weapons into Yemen from Iran extends well beyond Yemen and is not a threat just to Saudi Arabia and… the region,” Kerry told reporters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. A handout picture released by the Saudi P...

The line-up for the group stage of this season’s 2016/2017 UEFA Champions League after the draw was made in Monaco on Thursday: Group A: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Arsenal (ENG), Basel (SUI), Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) Group B: Benfica (POR), Napoli (ITA), Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Besiktas (TUR) Group C: Barcelona (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER), Celtic (SCO) Group D: Bayern Munich (GER), Atletico Madrid (ESP), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Rostov (RUS) Group E: CSKA Moscow (RUS), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Monaco (FRA) Group F: Real Madrid (ESP), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Sporting (POR), Legia Warsaw (POL) Group G: Leicester City (ENG), FC Porto (POR), Club Brugge (BEL), FC Copenhagen (DEN) Group H: Juventus (ITA), Sevilla (ESP), Lyon (FRA), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) Matchday 1: September 13/14 Matchday 2: September 27/28 Matchday 3: October 18/19 Matchday 4: November 1/2 Matchday 5: November 22/23 Matchday 6: December 6/7

The Borno Government announced on Thursday that it had abolished the Committee for the Feeding of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State. This followed a protest by some displaced persons over poor feeding. Protesters The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamman Durkwa, told newsmen in Maiduguri that government had approved the immediate abolition of the Committee. Durkwa, who described the protest as unfortunate, said that the government would not allow greed and self interests to impede efforts to assist the IDPs. NAN further reports that IDPs from Marte Local Government Area had taken to the streets to protest poor feeding by the authorities. “The whole thing took us by surprise, I was on my way to the Bakassi IDP camp to distribute food items for household feeding when I got information about the problem. “I immediately proceeded to the place where I learnt that the IDPs were protesting over some issues,” he said. “They wanted the feeding Comm...

EagleWatch : Breaking: Hungry IDPs go on rampage in Maiduguri : Irked by their apparent neglect by government officials, no fewer than 500 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, Thursday, took to the streets...  Details Later...

Irked by their apparent neglect by government officials, no fewer than 500 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, Thursday, took to the streets to protest against hunger and thirst in their respective camps. Mostly women and children, the visibly angry IDPs barricaded the city’s main entry point, causing a gridlock along the Kano-Maiduguri highway. Security operatives seemed helpless as the IDPs refused to leave the highway. DETAILS LATER...

EagleWatch : INEC to deploy 18,511 personnel for Edo governorsh... : The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it would deploy 18,511 personnel for the conduct of Sept. 10 governorship electio...

The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, says that his country will do everything in its power to help Nigeria diversify from single to multiple resources dominated economy. This is contained in statement from the information Unit, U.S. Department of State, on Thursday in Abuja. Kerry held a meeting with the workers and families of U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, where he made the statement. Kerry commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to moving the country forward by dealing with corruption, economic challenges and the challenge of Boko Haram. The secretary noted with concern that Nigeria was a single-resource dominated economy. According to him, the reduction in the global price of oil, which is a major driver of Nigerian economy, is a huge challenge to it. “We are making enormous progress in pushing back against Boko Haram, and I came here now to reaffirm the promise of the United States to stand by Nigeria, to help Nigeria. “We will win this battle against Boko Ha...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it would deploy 18,511 personnel for the conduct of Sept. 10 governorship election in Edo. This is contained in the commission’s daily bulletin issued on Thursday in Abuja. INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood The number, according to the commission, will comprise one Returning Officer, 18 Local Government Area Collation Officers, 192 Registration Area Collation Officers and 263 Supervisory Presiding Officers. Others are 2,627 Presiding Officers, 12,036 Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) I, II and III; 2,530 Assistant Presiding Officers and 728 Reserve APOs. Also on the deployment list were 19 LGA Supervisors, with one “Headquarters Reserve’’ and 97 Registration Area Cluster Supervisors as well one headquarters reserve. Edo, with 18 local government areas, has a total of 1,925,105 registered voters, 192 Registration Areas, 2, 627 Polling Units and 4, 011 Voting Points.

Super agent Jorge Mendes will be in Manchester today to meet with   Manchester United   boss Jose Mourinho. United Boss, Jose Mourinho The   Daily Mail   says Mourinho is represented by Mendes, who helped broker his move to replace Louis van Gaal as   Manchester United   manager in May. United have mainly dealt with fellow high-profile agent Mino Raiola this summer, going through him to sign Paul Pogba,   Zlatan Ibrahimovic   and Henkrikh Mkhitaryan. But while United have splashed out around £150m on those three stars and defender Eric Bailly, Mourinho still wants more signings. Mendes is due in Manchester today for talks with City over the future of defender   Eliaquim Mangala .And it is added that Mendes, 50, is expected to also meet with Mourinho over his possible targets at United.

The EagleWatch : Eric Trump: It would be 'foolish' for my dad to re... : Eric Trump on Wednesday dismissed arguments that his father, Donald Trump, should release his tax returns, saying doing so would be "...

Eric Trump on Wednesday dismissed arguments that his father, Donald Trump, should release his tax returns, saying doing so would be "foolish." "You would have a bunch of people who know nothing about taxes trying to look through and trying to come up with assumptions on things they know nothing about," Eric Trump  said Wednesday on CNBC . "It would be foolish to do. I'm actually the biggest proponent of not doing it." Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has faced criticism for refusing to release his tax returns. He has repeatedly pushed back against calls to release the documents, saying he is under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS has said nothing prevents Trump from releasing his tax returns. Eric Trump Eric Trump said on Wednesday that there is "no tax attorney in the world who will tell you to release your tax returns while you're under a standard routine audit." He added,...

The EagleWatch : Donald Trump shouts: ‘Hillary Clinton is a bigot!’... :  As Donald Trump listed the ways that he would make life better for African Americans living in poverty, he suddenly shouted, "Hillary ...

 As Donald Trump listed the ways that he would make life better for African Americans living in poverty, he suddenly shouted, "Hillary Clinton is a bigot!" The line was included in prepared remarks distributed to reporters, and it seemed to catch many in the crowd by surprise, triggering a delayed and somewhat brief round of cheers and applause. A woman standing behind Trump grimaced at the comment, her eyes widening as she seemed unsure whether she should clap. Another woman seated in the upper tier of the arena approvingly shouted, "Yeah! Yeah!" As the overwhelmingly white crowd tried to figure out how to respond to the loaded accusations, Trump kept talking. " ... who sees people of color only as votes, not as human-beings worthy of a better future," Trump said. "She's going to do nothing for African Americans. She's going to do nothing for the Hispanics. She's only going to take care of herself, her husband, her consultants, her donors...

The EagleWatch : Groups warn against granting emergency powers to B... : An Igbo socio-political group, Igboekulie and a civil society organisation based in Anambra State, International Society for Civil Libert...

The EagleWatch : NAF fighter jets killed Boko Haram leaders in air ... : The Nigerian Air Force has killed an undisclosed number of Boko Haram leaders during a raid on the Sambisa Forest hideout of the insurgents....

An Igbo socio-political group, Igboekulie and a civil society organisation based in Anambra State, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, Intersociety, have described the reported plan by President Muhammadu Buhari, to seek legislative approval for a wide range of presidential powers to revive the Nigerian economy as unnecessary, saying that he has enough executive powers so far under the constitution to move the country’s economy forward if he so desired. President Buhari     Intersociety in a statement, yesterday, by its Chairman, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, said: “Buhari’s administration has since September 2015 castrated the 1999 Constitution and illegally arrogated sweeping extra constitutional powers to itself in the governance of the country; upon which it now seeks for legislative legitimization through retroactive legislation or legislative cementation by way of executive sponsored bill. “For the purpose of putting the rec...