24 July 2018 ( Lagos )

National carrier - Engage stakeholders, foreign airlines tell FG: The Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives has called on the Federal Government to engage domestic airline operators and other stakeholders in a dialogue before the proposed national carrier becomes operational. (Source: Punch)

Inflation drops for 17th consecutive month to 11.23%: The National Bureau of Statistics on Monday said the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation rate, dropped by 0.37 percentage points from 11.61 in May to 11.23 in June. (Source: Punch)     

Lagos-Ibadan rail - FG orders demolition of Apapa station: The Federal Government on Monday directed the contractor handling the new Lagos-Ibadan railway project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, to extend its work from Ebute Meta to Apapa as part of measures to facilitate the movement of goods from the Lagos seaports to other parts of the country by rail. (Source: Punch)

Our economic policies will attract foreign investments – Osinbajo: Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has assured investors that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is committed to implementing strategies and policies that will encourage foreign direct investments and economic development. (Source: Punch)

NPA lifts suspension order on Maersk, others: The Nigerian Ports Authority has lifted the 10-day suspension order it last week placed on four shipping lines, Mearsk Line, Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal, over the issue of operating holding bays for their containers. (Source: Punch)

FRC concludes public hearing on corporate governance code: The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria has concluded public hearing on exposure draft of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018. (Source: Punch)

65 agencies have never submitted accounts for audit –AGF:  The Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine, has said that a total of 65 agencies of government never submitted their financial statements for audit purposes in line with the provisions of Financial Regulations 321. (Source: Punch)

FG to commence River Benue dredging next year: The Acting Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Danladi Ibrahim, has said the dredging of the River Benue will commence fully next year. According to him, the dredging of the River Benue will boost commercial activities around the two river ports of Onitsha and Baro, which will come on stream before the end of this year. (Source: Punch)

Oil producing communities want derivation fund raised to 50%: Oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region of the country have indicated their preference to have the new bill – the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill (PHICB) – contain a 50% derivation payout to them as against the 13% that currently exists. The communities demanded that either that be put in the PIHCB or 25% of royalties paid to the government by oil-mining companies be made to come back to them in the bill. . (Source: Thisday)

We were entitled to only N58bn of CBN’s Power Sector Fund - DisCos: The electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reserved just about N58.45bn (US$161.6m) or 27.75% of its N213bn (US$588.7m) power sector intervention fund for the Discos, while the balance went to generation companies and gas suppliers. (Source: Thisday)

PIB Passage Could Move Nigeria’s Gas Reserves to World’s 3rd Largest: If Nigeria pass the Petroleum Industry Bills (PIBs) which have been split into four parts for ease of passage, the country may become the world’s third largest holder of gas reserves. (Source: Thisday)

Post-privatisation Blues Inevitable in Power Sector, BPE Insists: The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has said the current challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector were consistent with a market that had been privatised. It assured the sector will eventually pull out of the situation to become productive. (Source: Thisday)

Federal Government unveils ICT roadmap: The Minister of Communication, Dr.  Adebayo Shittu, yesterday unveiled the Nigeria Communication Technology (ICT)  roadmap 2017 – 2018, in Lagos. (Source: The Nation)

Trawler owners raise the alarm on threats to $5b investments: Over $5 billion (about N1.8 trillion) investments may go down the drain, if the government does not come to the aid of fish and shrimps firms. (Source: The Nation)

Agric value to hit N91 trillion: Nigeria’s agricultural sector would be yielding about $256 million, (about N91trillion) by year 2050. (Source: The Nation)

High spectrum prices hit Nigeria, others: Spectrum prices in Nigeria and other developing countries are, on average, more than three times higher than in developed countries when income is taken into account. (Source: The Nation)

NSE opens market to non-interest debt securities: The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday began the implementation of a regulatory framework for the listing of non-interest debt securities on the stock market. The move will further deepen the market and open up alternative avenues for companies to raise more capital. (Source: The Nation)

NERC clears 65 firms for DisCos’ meter financing, installation: The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has granted ‘No Objection’ to 15 other firms to participate as Meter Assets Providers (MAP) who upon engagement by the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) will finance the installation of meters for electricity users. (Source: Daily Trust)

Grid loses 3,109MW of electricity to gas issues, others: The Nigerian national grid last weekend lost 3,019 megawatts (MW) of electricity to key power sector constraints of gas, load demand frequency, line constraint and water management issue. (Source: Daily Trust)

NSE Indices rise by 0.30% amid Dangote Cement gain: Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed on Monday with a growth of 0.30 per cent following a Dangote Cement gain. (Source: Vanguard)

Herders/Farmers clash continues to pressure food inflation: There are indications that the lingering farmers-herders clashes in major food producing regions in the country may have put more pressure on the food inflation numbers. (Source: Vanguard)

House of Reps pledges quick passage of AMCON amendment bill: The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency said that the lower house will work with the Senate to ensure quick passage of the AMCON amendment bill. (Source: Vanguard)

Reporting for EasyKobo on Tuesday, 24 July 2018 in Lagos, Nigeria