IMF Raises Alarm Over Inflation In Sub-saharan Africa
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concerns over the increased Inflation rate at double-digits in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking at a Press Briefing on the updates of the World Economic Outlook in Washington DC, the IMFs Director Research Dept, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said despite steady growth rate at 3.6percent for year 2024 and growth projections of about 4.2percent in 2025, there are concerns on the impact of Conflicts, flooding and Insecurity challenges on the economies. He added that advanced economies like the US are making steady progress in quelling inflation. Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that Jean Natal, Division Chief, Research Dept, IMF furthermore says though inflation stabilizing in some African countries, however sub-saharan Africa especially Nigeria is experiencing heightening Inflation rate at 32percent and high debt burden, alluding to the fact that tightening monetary policy is key.
FG Halts Export Of Cooking Gas To Crash Price
From November 1, Nigeria will stop exporting locally produced Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG, also known as cooking gas. Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, who announced this during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, said the measure is to mitigate the price of the gas that has been soaring steadily. On pricing framework, Ekpo said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, will engage stakeholders to create a domestic LPG pricing framework within 90 days. He added that within 12 months, facilities will be developed to blend, store and deliver Liquefied Petroleum Gas, ending exports until the market achieves sufficiency and price stability.
WAEC Commence Computer Based Examination Friday
West African Examinations Council will from Friday, October 25, commence its Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates, until December 20, 2024. Its spokesperson, Adesina Fadekemi, explained that the CBT examination will have multiple-choice questions rendered on screen, and candidates would be required to give their responses on the screen. Similarly, the essay and practical questions will be rendered on-screen, but candidates would have to give their responses using provided answer booklets. Meanwhile, WAEC has also provided an option for candidateswho wish to use Paper and Pen mode, for the whole examination papers.
President Biya Returns To Cameroon After Death Rumours
After a 6-week long absence prompted concerns over his health and whereabouts, Cameroonian President Paul Biya has returned to the country. On his arrival from Geneva with his wife Chantal Biya, the 91 year-old did not speak to the public, but he did wave at supporters gathered nearby as his car drove away from the airport in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde. Biya’s disappearance from Cameroon triggered widespread speculation he was ill. But authorities have published statements insisting that he is well, and have insisted that it was a matter of national security. READ ANOTHER RECENT STORY HERE: https://classic94.fm/neco-warns-against-registration-of-candidates-for-by-proxy/
NECO warns against registration of candidates for by proxy
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has warned school owners and other stakeholders to desist from enrolling candidates for its examinations by proxy. In a statement from its acting Director, Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the council said it had observed that such fraudulent practice often resulted in identity theft and subsequent parade of fake results. Determined to eradicate all forms of examination malpractices, he said that the council had put in place some measures to check impersonation in all its examinations. Sani also said that the NECO e-verify, an on-line platform for confirmation/verification of NECO results, was unveiled in 2023 to reduce these infractions, and urged members of the public to note that any certificate not verified or authenticated, using the NECO e-verify platform, was fake.
Federal Government implements 300% pay raise for judicial officers
Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says the Federal Government has started the implementation of the 300% pay rise for judicial officers. Speaking at the Afe Babalola University’s convocation yesterday, Fagbemi described the move as “an important first step” in the President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to “strengthen the judiciary”. Tinubu had in August signed into law a bill seeking a 300% increase in salaries and allowances for judicial officials.
VP Shettima To Represent President Tinubu At CHOGM 2024
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). VP Shettima will join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held in the Pacific small island of […]
CNG Car Explosion Injuries Three Persons in Edo
Three persons were injured in Benin Edo state when an illegally modified vehicle exploded at a NIPCO Compressed Natural Gas Station at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City. Sources say the explosion was as a result of substandard conversion kits, including cylinders used in the installation by the driver himself, who drove to the filling station to test the efficacy of the installation when the explosion occurred. The Presidential CNG Initiative notes that close examination of the cylinder in question shows it was welded and modified and not approved for CNG use.
INEC Fixes November 2025 For Anambra Governorship Elections
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says the off-cycle governorship election in Anambra state is scheduled for November 8, 2025. Speaking during a consultative meeting with political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Prof Yakubu said the polls will hold in 5,720 polling units across the state and that a formal notice for the election will be published on Nov 13th The INEC Chairman equally said party primaries will hold from March 20 to April 10, 2025, and that candidate nomination process will begin on 18th April and close on May 12, while political campaigns will commence on June 11 and end at midnight on November 6, 2025. Our correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that Professor Yakubu also revealed that preparations are in top gear for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, as he urged Voters to pick up their Permanent Voter’s Cards from yesterday, October 17 to October 29.
NCDC Warns Of Rising Cholera, Fever, Marburg Threats
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concern over the rising incidences of infectious diseases across the country. Its Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, during a news conference yesterday in Abuja, attributed the recent floods in northern states, including Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano, as the primary factor worsening the spread of cholera in these regions, now identified as the epicenters of the outbreak. Nigeria will also become one of the first countries to roll out a new R21 malaria vaccine after receiving a first batch of 846,200 doses produced by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax. The Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, says the doses represent a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to eliminate malaria.
