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Tag: Nigeria

  • Emirates Airlines suspends flights from Nigeria

    Emirates Airlines suspends flights from Nigeria

    Emirates Airlines has suspended flights from Nigeria to Dubai for two weeks, until February 28 2021.

     

    It said travellers from both Abuja and Lagos would not be accepted for travel prior to the date, according to a statement issued by the airline on Wednesday.

     

    Also, the carrier warned that passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days would not be allowed entry into the United Arab Emirates (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai).

     

    The statement read, “In line with government directives, passenger services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai are temporarily suspended until February 28 2021. Customers from both Abuja and Lagos will not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date.

     

    “Passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed entry into the UAE (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai).”

     

    Emirates noted that flights from Dubai to Lagos and Abuja would continue at the normal schedule as it urged travellers to contact the airline’s customer centre or their booking agent in terms of rescheduling.

  • Digital Ecosystem Will Create Value, Wealth For Nigeria –NITDA

    Digital Ecosystem Will Create Value, Wealth For Nigeria –NITDA

    The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Friday, Kasifu Inuwa, observed that creating a digitised ecosystem would guarantee value creation, wealth and prosperity, for a digital economy.

     

    Inuwa made the remark at the unveiling ceremony of the first Nigerian assembled Hyundai KONA Electric Vehicle, launched by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in Abuja.

     

    He said that creating an ecosystem was the only way to easily get value that would enable growth, wealth and prosperity, citing the introduction of electric vehicles into the country, as a welcome development that would enable the nation advance to a vibrant economy.

     

    Inuwa further said that the country needed to advance from assembling cars to building parts, adding that already NITDA was working with start-ups, young Nigerian entrepreneurs, to develop ground breaking ideas on automobiles, using Internet of Things (IoT), renewable energy, and other relevant emerging technologies.

     

    He recalled that the recent ground breaking National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (NDIEC), established by the agency, was in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.

     

    He said that NDEPS, and other activities of government, was designed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

     

    “The NDIE Centre is intended to provide facilities that would encourage inquisitive perspectives and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to transform their skills into products.

     

    “The centre will provide the opportunity for start-ups to accelerate their innovations, through design, thinking sessions and co-innovation workshops,” he added.

     

    He commended the Director-General of NADDC, Mr Jelani Aliyu, the council’s partners, Stallion Group, for their innovation and contributions to the technological advancement of Nigeria.

     

    Inuwa, in the company of other dignitaries, took a ride in the newly unveiled vehicle.

  • CBN Prohibits Cryptocurrency In Nigeria

    CBN Prohibits Cryptocurrency In Nigeria

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Friday, February 5, 2021, issued a stern warning to banks across the country over transactions relating to cryptocurrency.

     

    In a memo addressed to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), Other Financial Institutions (OFIs), and members of the public, the apex bank ordered financial institutions across the country to persons and entities transacting or operating in cryptocurrency exchanges.

     

    The circular signed by Director of Banking Supervision, Bello Hassan stated: ”The CBN circular of January 12, 2017, refFPRIDIRGENT R/06/010 which DMBs, NBFIs, and OFIs and members of the public on the risks associated with transactions in cryptocurrency refers.

    “Further to another regulatory directive on the subject, the bank hereby wishes to remind regulated institutions that dealing in cryptocurrencies or facilitating payment from cryptocurrency exchanges is prohibited.

     

    “Accordingly, or DMBs, OFIs, NBFIs, are advised to identify persons and /or entities transacting in or operating cryptocurrency exchanges within their system and ensure that such accounts are closed immediately.”

  • Nigeria Ranks 2nd Most Corrupt Country In West Africa – TI

    Nigeria Ranks 2nd Most Corrupt Country In West Africa – TI

    Nigeria is now the second most corrupt country in West Africa with Guinea-Bissau the only country more corrupt than Nigeria in the region.

     

    The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2020 report published by Transparency International indicates that Nigeria occupies the 149th position out of the 180 countries surveyed as well scored 25 out of 100 points.

     

    With the current ranking, Nigeria is now the second most corrupt country in West Africa with Guinea-Bissau the only country more corrupt than Nigeria in the sub-region.

     

    It can be recalled that in the 2019 report, Nigeria was ranked 146th out of the 180 countries surveyed, scoring 26 points out of 100 points.

     

    What you should know

    • The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is an annual survey report published by Berlin-based Transparency International since 1995 which ranks countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.

     

    • The CPI scales zero (0) to 100, zero means “Highly Corrupt,” while 100 stands for “Very Clean”.

     

    • Nigeria’s ranking on the corruption perception index has continued to drop in the last four years.

     

    • With the current ranking, Nigeria is two steps worse off than she was in 2018 when she scored 27 points to place 144th out of 180 countries.

     

    • Only 12 countries are perceived to be more corrupt than Nigeria in the whole of Africa. The countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Chad, Eritrea, Burundi, Congo, Guinea Bissau, and South Sudan.

     

    • Somalia and South Sudan remain the most corrupt nations on earth, according to the CPI 2020 ranking.

     

    • Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Singapore, Germany, Sweden Switzerland, Norway, The Netherlands and Luxembourg are the least corrupt countries in the world.
  • Airtel Commences NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria

    Airtel Commences NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria

    … says it will expand footprints to reach more Nigerians

     

    Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has commenced the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise in its retail outlets across the country following an approval from the Federal Government granting the telco a verification and enrolment license to register citizens.

     

    The telco says while select retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja are now fully operational to register Nigerians for the NIN exercise, work is currently ongoing to expand its NIN footprints to cover more areas and States.

     

    It added that residents of Abuja can now visit Transcorp Hilton situated in Mataima or Airtel showrooms at Carpet Plaza and Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, while those in Lagos can walk into Airtel Express Point, Oyin Jolayemi, Victoria Island or Airtel showroom in Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos.

     

    Lagos residents can also visit the Airtel showroom in Tejuosho, Yaba; Airtel showroom in Isheri Road, Ogba and the Airtel showroom in Oba Akran, Ikeja to register for the NIN exercise.

     

    Speaking on this new development, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, for expanding the registration footprints and taking definitive steps to smoothen the NIN registration process for Nigerians.

     

    “Airtel is always seeking opportunities to cooperate and partner with the Nigerian government on initiatives that will make life easier and better for Nigerians. As a law abiding and responsible corporate citizen, we are always ready to go extra mile for our esteemed stakeholders and that is why we are pleased to partner with the Federal Government and the National Identity Management Commission on citizens’ registration exercise”, he said.

     

    Customers who already have NINs have the option to send their NINs to Airtel via USSD, SMS or through the Airtel Self Care app or website to update their SIM registration details.