The Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Muhammad Bello, says the Land Swap Programme will save the Federal Government nearly N1 trillion.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on June 16, approved the resumption of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) land swap initiative, started by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/15/fg-to-save-n1trn-from-land-swap-programme-minister/

As Christmas is fast approaching, the Department of State Services (DSS) has hinted that there is likely going to be an increase in the number of kidnappings that would be experienced during this yuletide period.

During a media parley that was held in Abuja, the services’ Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr. Peter Afunanya noted that federal lawmakers, who will soon begin their Christmas recess and other vacating public and private workers, were susceptible to kidnapping, assassinations, and armed robbery.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/15/dss-hints-on-possible-increase-in-kidnapping-as-christmas-approaches/

Finance minister Zainab Ahmed has told Nigerians to expect to pay new taxes in the coming year (2022).

While addressing stakeholders at a public hearing on the 2021 finance bill in Abuja, Ahmed hinted that there is likely going to be modest increases in taxes and tariffs on certain businesses and individuals.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/14/zainab-ahmed-to-nigerians-expect-to-pay-new-taxes-next-year/

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Monday, December 13, 2021, charged Lagos State Police Command to invite blogger and social media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, for questioning.

In a letter addressed to the police, Falana said there was a need for Olunloyo to explain a “reckless allegation” she made against the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/13/falana-to-police-invite-kemi-olunloyo-for-questioning/

Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and Professor Julius Ihonubere, a House of Representatives member representing Owan Federal Constituency, have been indicted in the recently-published investigative report, in which BBC uncovered the activities of and other cult groups in Nigeria.

In the report, Tony Kabaka, a notorious youth leader for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin, Edo, whose affluence among cult groups in the state is known to all, expressed pride during an interview with the medium, where he said he knows people in government that have same affluence as him, and more, in cult groups.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/13/oshiomhole-edo-lawmaker-indicted-in-bbcs--investigation/

An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has revealed Benin, the capital city of Edo State, Ikorodu, a community in Lagos and Makoko, one of the largest slumps in the state, as the den of cult groups, including the infamous .

In the investigative report published on Monday, December 13, 2021, BBC reported that started from the University of Benin in Edo State, and it was initially for peace.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/13/-bbc-mentions-ikorodu-benin-and-makoko-as-cultists-den/

The Presidency says that tackling the scourge of banditry and terrorism remains Federal Government’s first priority, as President Muhammadu Buhari holds the victims and their families in his thoughts and prayers.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to Sunday’s Daily Trust editorial: “Life has lost its value under Buhari’s Nigeria’’.

https://newsrand.com/2021/12/13/presidency-reacts-to-media-says-buharis-priority-is-tackling-insecurity/

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, has labelled the report from the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters, fake.

During a media parley that was held today (Tuesday, November 23, 2021), Mohammed said the report submitted to Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a rehash of already irculating fake news.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/23/lai-mohammed-says-lagos-endsars-panel-report-is-fake/

By next month (December 2021), Nigerians would start to pay for more as it concerns their electricity supply subscription.

According to Punch, the federal government is reviewing power tariffs nationwide.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/18/nigerians-to-pay-more-for-electricity-by-december/

There is a possibility that the United States (US) government may stop selling arms to Nigeria again. This is as the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters, indicted the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the killing of at least nine persons at the Lekki toll plaza on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

As reported on Newsrand, the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to look into the incident, held that going by available evidences, victims’ reports, and eyewitness accounts, the Nigerian security forces are guilty of the alleged massacre.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/18/endsars-us-may-stop-selling-arms-to-nigeria-again/

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction in his administration, saying it has friendly policies for investors.

Speaking in Paris, France, during the one-day Nigeria International Partnership Forum, with focus on, “Beyond the Pandemic,’ the President said he’s proud of his government.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/11/buhari-my-administration-has-friendly-policies-for-investors/

The Lagos State High Court, presided over by Justice L.A. Okunnu has discharged Mr. Thomas Etuh of complicity in the money laundering charges preferred against Messrs. Francis Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu.

The discharge order, which was made on September 21, 2021, followed an application by Etuh and others who were earlier erroneously thought to have played a part in the alleged money laundering activities of the former Managing Director of the defunct BankPHD.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/09/atuche-court-discharges-etuh-of-complicity-in-money-laundering/

Senate’s Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed how he reconciled General Ibrahim Babangida and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kalu disclosed this in his social media recently with a picture of him and the former military leaders, which was taken in his hometown, Igbere, Abia State

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/09/how-i-reconciled-buhari-and-babangida-orji-kalu/

Cooking gas price, between January and October 2021, has gone up by 240%, and the trend is likely to continue.

Newsrand learnt that the importers of cooking gas in Nigeria, have stopped the importation of the commodity over the reintroduction of customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT).

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/09/cooking-gas-price-to-go-up-further-heres-why/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the faking of higher denomination banknotes in Nigeria dropped 20.80 percent in volume and 12.18 percent in value in 2020, lower than 84,934 pieces and N64.71 million in 2019.

The apex bank stated this in the Currency Operations 2020 Annual Report posted on its website.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/08/cbn-reports-declining-of-fake-higher-denomination-banknotes/

Few months ago, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to provide support for Senegal, by sharing Nigeria’s oil exploration expertise and experiences with the country. As an African country, new into the exploration of crude oil, Senegal would certainly need all the help it can get, to harness the power of its oil and gas resources, towards driving socio-economic growth and regional energy expansion.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/08/how-government-support-is-a-key-driver-for-the-growth-of-nigerias-oil-and-gas-sector/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has concluded the investigation of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami‘s appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity in the Federal University of Technology (FUTO).

It would be recalled that Pantami, who was a Boko Haram apologist, attracted controversy from members of the public, after being appointed as a professor at FUTO.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/08/ASUU-concludes-investigation-of-pantamis-professorial-appointment/

Senator Ali Ndume has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently sign or issue an Unexplained Wealth Order, as a way to strengthen the fight against corruption.

Ndume made the call on Saturday, in Ibadan while delivering the 2021 Distinguish Leadership Lecture Series, organized by the University of Ibadan.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/08/ndume-to-buhari-issue-an-unexplained-wealth-order/

Seven days after a 21-storey building collapsed on Gerrard Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, the recovery operation is still ongoing by rescue agencies.

Newsrand gathered that responders were already concluding their operation as the death toll hit 44 as of Sunday, November 7, 2021.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/08/7-days-after-ikoyi-building-collapse-death-toll-his-44/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged skit comedians to use their huge followings on social media and the internet to promote issues for the social good and impact.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the vice president stated this when he received on a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a team of young skit practitioners.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/05/osinbajo-host-skit-comedians-at-villa-task-them-on-social-impact/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been left with no other choice, but to remove the name of Raymond Dokpesi from its watchlist.

Chief Justice John Tsoho of a federal high court in Abuja, directed the anti-graft agency to do so, just some days after showing support for former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu‘s presidency ambition.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/05/efcc-to-remove-dokpesi-from-its-watchlist-after-supporting-tinubus-presidency/

Two pupils of Glory Land Group of Schools in Edo were kidnapped on Tuesday at 5.35 p.m on the Igarra-Auchi Road, near Ikpeshi, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo.

The spokesman for the police command in the state, SP Kontongs Bello, confirmed the abduction and said that police operatives, soldiers and vigilantes were combing bushes in an effort to rescue the pupils.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/03/gunmen-kidnap-primary-school-students-in-edo-state/

Shareholders of Guinness Nigeria Plc have approved the N1.008billion dividend declared and recommended by the Board of the Company at the 71st Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, as the Company recorded a 54% increase in revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021.

Appreciating the support of the shareholders, the Chair, Board of Directors, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Dr Omobola Johnson maintained that the Company will keep up with its growth strategy to continue on its path of profitability.

https://newsrand.com/2021/11/01/guinness-nigeria-declares-n1-008bn-dividendreassures-shareholders-of-continued-profitability/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters who have been posting fraudulent messages relating to the e-Naira launched recently.

Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, Director, Corporate Communications, said in a statement posted on the bank’s website on Wednesday, that the bank was not disbursing e-Naira currency to citizens as claimed by the fraudsters.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/28/e-naira-cbn-alerts-public-of-fraudsters-on-social-media/

A former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, said petrol imports figures were inflated when global oil prices went up during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the regime of the current President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sanusi, who spoke on Tuesday at a panel session during the 27th National Economic Summit in Abuja, said the subsidy on petrol was responsible for the inflated figures.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/27/sanusi-how-nnpc-oil-marketers-inflated-petrol-figures/

Financial experts and analysts have predicted the future of First Bank after billionaire Femi Otedola became its largest shareholder.

In what seemed to be a hostile takeover, Newsrand reported that Otedola recently purchased a large number of shares that eventually surpassed those of Oba Otudeko and Oye Hassan Odukale combined.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/25/otedola-experts-predict-first-banks-future/

Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has indicted President Muhammadu Buhari, as he recently criticised medical tourism.

During his speech at the launch of Duchess International Hospital, a newly built 100-suit health facility located in Ikeja, Lagos, the CBN boss disclosed that medical tourism, which Buhari is known for, is putting a huge strain on the country’s foreign reserves.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/24/cbns-emefiele-indicts-buhari-as-he-criticises-medical-tourism/

Information reaching Newsrand has it that billionaire Femi Otedola might soon be announced as the chairman of First Bank, as he’s on a shopping spree of the financial institutions’ shares.

According to a source who disclosed this development on a condition of anonymity, the energy tycoon is acquiring a lot of shares in recent times.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/22/is-femi-otedola-planning-first-bank-takeover/

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to tackle the decay in the power sector, saying Nigeria can no longer afford to be relegated to the backseat in a technology-driven world.

He also said that Nigeria needed a leader that would develop the country through restructuring and put the country in the positive corner of the global economy of nations.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/22/atiku-im-the-right-man-to-lead-nigeria/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will support youths in tertiary institutions with grants to promote entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment.

The CBN disclosed this on Wednesday in a report, titled ‘Guidelines for the implementation of tertiary institutions entrepreneurship scheme’.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/21/cbn-to-reduce-unemployment-with-n500m-grant/

Nigeria ranks 50 out over 180 countries globally in cyberspace security, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said on Wednesday in Lagos.

Speaking at the Information Technology Systems Security Professionals (ITSSP) conference, Sodiya that Nigeria was not doing badly in the cyber security space could do better because the nation was endowed with experts in information security.

https://newsrand.com/2021/10/21/nigeria-ranks-50-in-cyberspace-security-globally-ncs-boss/