1. As Nigerians continue to suffer the effects of hike in petrol prices, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged citizens to use gas as an alternative to fuel, stressing that the nation is endowed with vast Natural Gas resources.
Speaking at a virtually held event at the State House to unveil National Gas Expansion Programme and National Auto-gas Roll-out Initiative, the President said: “with a proven reserve of about 203 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and the additional upside of 600 TCF ranking Nigeria as the 9th in the world currently, the need for domestic gas expansion and utilization is apparent.’’
2. The Senate has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to begin the replacement of service chiefs following the killing of 43 farmers.
The Red Chambers also admonished the President to immediately set up a probe panel into widespread allegations of corruption and leakages within the security structure and put mechanisms in place to foster transparency.
3. The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to invite President Muhammadu Buhari, to brief the house on the true state of security in Nigeria.
The decision to summon President Buhari was taken at Tuesday’s plenary when the house considered a motion moved by members from Borno State on the recent massacre of 43 rice farmers in the state by Boko Haram insurgents.
4. Abubakar Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram, has released a video claiming responsibility for the killing of at least 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari.
In the video obtained by HumAngle, Shekau said the farmers were killed for collaborating with the Nigerian army.
5. The police have commenced processes for the extradition of the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrashid Maina, who was arrested in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Monday.
6. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that Nigeria is one of the first countries to develop cheaper and faster COVID-19 test kits.
Osinbajo said on Tuesday in Abuja that such test kits would enable testing to be carried out in places experiencing kit shortages.
7. The Naira on Tuesday gained N10 against the dollar at the parallel market to close at N490/$, compared to N500/$ it exchanged on Monday.
The local currency’s appreciation against the greenback came a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy permitted payment of dollar to money transfer beneficiaries.
8. US President-Elect Joe Biden has formally introduced the officials who will lead his economic team, including Nigerian born Wally Adeyemo who he nominated as deputy secretary of the Treasury.
If approved by the Senate, several of Biden’s intended nominees would break barriers, including Janet Yellen, selected for Treasury secretary, and Neera Tanden, picked to helm the Office of Management and Budget.
9. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will make N250 billion available for infrastructure funding in a bid to expand gas use and cut reliance on imported fuel as government looks forward to offering free conversion to enable some cars to run on gas,
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter is hoping to have one million gas-powered cars by 2021, and convert about 40 per cent of its fleet within 10 years. The plan, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, is part of the country’s effort to free itself of costly gasoline subsidies while avoiding public anger over higher fuel pump prices.
10. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday accused some states of not yet implementing the national minimum wage after a year and eight months it was passed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking at the second Youth National Delegates’ Conference in Abuja, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said: “Almost two years after the new national minimum wage was signed into law, some state governments have refused to pay, despite the prevailing inflation. I call on our young comrades to see the fight against wage injustice and sub-standard living conditions as your own fight.
