ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: SATURDAY

21 Jan ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: SATURDAY

🌎Update on new naira notes :
The CBN has warned that any commercial bank that fails to pick up the new naira notes for distribution will be fined N1 million daily.
* The Bank has launched a cash swap programme in partnership with super agents and deposit money banks (DMBs).
* State Governors in Nigeria have set up a six-member committee led by the Anambra State, Governor Charles Soludo, to engage the CBN in addressing issues pertaining to the country’s monetary management and financial system.

🌎The National Population Commission (NPC) will carry out the 2023 census exercise between March 29 till April 2, 2023, the commission’s Chairperson Nasir Kwarra, announced on Friday.

🌎Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources , has denied reports of Federal Government approves increase of the pump price of petrol. He said the President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any price increase for petrol, contrary to speculations on Thursday and that “He (Buhari) is sensitive to the plight of the citizens.”

🌎Oil settled up about $1 a barrel on Friday and clicked a second straight weekly gain as China’s economic prospects brightened, boosting expectations for fuel demand in the world’s second-biggest economy. Brent crude settled at $87.63 a barrel, up $1.47, or 1.7%.
* Nigeria’s NNPC spent 4.39 trillion naira ($9.7 billion) on a petrol subsidy last year, latest data from the state-owned firm showed on Friday.

🌎The United Kingdom (UK) government has issued a proposal for its funded Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Nigeria programme. CFA Nigeria is a climate finance country platform that aims to mobilize finance for the country’s just transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy in response to the urgency and scale of the climate crisis in Nigeria.

🌎The United Nations agency regulating the global aviation industry – the International Civil Aviation Organisation – has issued new recommendations for countries on COVID-19-related requirements for air travel to help countries maintain air connectivity.

🌎Eight power transformers funded by the World Bank through the Nigeria Electricity Transmission and Access Project have arrived Apapa Ports in Lagos, the Transmission Company of Nigeria announced on Thursday.

🌎Google’s parent Alphabet Inc is cutting about 12,000 jobs, or 6% of its workforce, it said Friday, as Tech Giants reel from recent layoffs and faces a troubled outlook.

🌎Security Stories: The Katsina Emirate Council has confirmed the dismissal of a top district head, the Makaman Katsina, Idris Sulefor allegedly aiding terrorism in his domain.
* The Taraba State Police Command on Friday confirmed the abduction of eight family members of the Chief of Mutum-Biyu in Gassol Local Government Area, Justice Sani Muhammad (retd).
* Gunmen in the early hours of Friday kidnapped the Sole Administrator of the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Chris Ohizu, and two others. This was after his country home in the Imoko community in Arondizuogu was razed by his attackers.
* No fewer than six pupils at the Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Alwaza, in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have been kidnapped by heavily armed men who stormed the school premises on Friday morning.
* Gunmen on Thursday morning killed Sale Yakubu, a councillor in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

🌎Russia-Ukraine War: The US will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday after a key meeting of allies in Germany focusing on military aid for Kyiv. The Pentagon announced a $2.5 billion Ukraine security package, which is the second largest ever announced by the United States.
* The US and Germany appear to be in a standoff over sending tanks to Kyiv. Berlin has indicated it won’t provide its Leopard 2 tanks unless the US also agrees to send M1 Abrams tanks.
* Russia has warned Western countries that providing tanks to Ukraine would mark an “extremely dangerous” escalation in the conflict