ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: FRIDAY

13 Jan ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: FRIDAY

🌎Nigeria has recovered £6.3 million, €5.4 million, and $390,000 of stolen assets in foreign countries, according to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, who also said a total sum of N1,823,788,146.86 has been generated so far by the Ministry, from the forfeited properties

🌎Oil prices rose on Friday, set to gain more than 6% for the week, on solid signs of demand growth in top oil importer China and expectations of less aggressive interest rate rises in the United States. Brent crude futures rose by 5 cents to $84.08 a barrel by 0746 GMT

* NNPC Limited projects Nigeria’s oil production in 2023 at average of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), including condensate.

* The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the commencement of the 2022 deep offshore mini-bid round, promising that the process would be transparent and competitive.

🌎Nigeria is working closely with ECOWAS to deal with insecurity in the West African region as well as implementing strategies to stop unconstitutional changes in government, President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja.

🌎Exploring the opportunities in the energy sector offer possibilities for a more robust relationship between Nigeria and Spain, according to VP Osinbajo.

🌎Access Holdings Plc on Thursday said it has discontinued its plans to acquire 83.4 percent stake in a Kenyan lender Sidian Bank Ltd following the inability of the parties to the deal to reach an agreement.

🌎INEC has extended the deadline for the collection of permanent voter cards (PVC) till January 29.

🌎The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) – the brainchild of Industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and the BUA Foundation has awarded development grants worth N1.5 billion to Yewa Land in Ogun State

🌎EFCC has explained that Doyin Okupe, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), was wrongly arrested on Thursday by the State Security Service (SSS) because it used an old watchlist.

🌎Security Stories: The Defence Headquarters says troops of the armed forces eliminated more than 50 terrorists in various operations in North-East and North-West theatres of operation in three weeks.

* An unnamed Divisional Police Officer (DPO) has been kidnapped by the gunmen after they shot him in his hotel room in the Pankshin council area, Plateau State.

* The police in Anambra State said they have rescued a kidnap on Thursday at about 7 a.m. by police operatives along Uga-Akokwa Road in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

* Two farmers identified as Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba have been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday while returning from their farms in Ileogbo area of Osun State.

🌎Russia-Ukraine War: Fierce fighting continues around the eastern town of Soledar, with Ukraine claiming Russian forces are “suffering heavy losses” while denying the Wagner mercenary group’s claim it has taken control of the area. Around 500 civilians remain in the besieged town and evacuations are unrealistic, a Ukrainian official said.

* An American Navy veteran detained in Russia for nearly a year was released from custody Thursday, a family spokesperson said.

* A US Defense Department spokesperson said Moscow’s appointment of a new head of its invasion operation likely reflects “systemic challenges” for Russia.