Nigeria’s External Reserves Hit $27.2bn FG plans to sell $1bn Eurobonds in March
Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja and Obinna Chimawithagencyreport Nigeria's foreign exchange (forex) reserves have increased
to $27.223 billion as at January 16, 2017, according to latest figures on the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) website. The growth in the reserves,
Explains high personnel cost in 2017 budget
derived majorly from the proceeds of crude oil sales represented an increase by $1.380 billion or 5.3 per cent in the last 17 days, compared
with the $25.843 billion that it was as at December 30, 2015. It was also indicative that the drop in militancy in the Niger Delta and rising oil
exports led to the accretion in the forex reserves. Oil prices settled up on Monday, as Saudi Arabia's commitments to reducing
production offset a report forecasting U.S. output would again rise this year. Continued on page 8
CBN Warns Against Patronising Bitcoins, Virtual Currencies…
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Wednesday 18 January, 2017 Vol 21. No 7944. Price: N250
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50 Killed, 200 Injured As Airforce Jet Bombs Settlements in Error Buhari, Military appeal for calm, express regret Foreign charity group says it’s shocking and unacceptable Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Tobi Soniyi, Paul Obi in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Yesterday was another day of tragedy for Borno State as a Nigerian Airforce fighter jet mistakenly dropped bombs on some settlements, believed to also harbour Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs), in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of the
state, killing over 50 persons. About 200 others, including some humanitarian aid workers of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) were reported injured. International aid agency, MSF, confirmed to BBC that at least 50 person were killed and more than 100 injured in Continued on page 9
Nigerian Warship Heads to The Gambia Defence headquarters denies Jammeh declares state of emergency
Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Tobi Soniyi inAbujawithagencyreport
A Nigerian warship has been deployed in The Gambia, more as a show of force rather than preparation for an attack, the BBC reported yesterday. The deployment is obviously part of the strategy of ECOWAS to force out President Yahya Jammeh who
has refused entreaties from the region’s leaders to step down following his last December 1 presidential election defeat by Mr. Adama Barrow. Jammeh remained intransigent yesterday, declaring a 90-day state of emergency, less than 48 hours before his official mandate Continued on page 8
20,000 Killed in Various Crises in Kaduna, Says El-Rufai… Page 9
GATHERING FOR PEACE…
L-R: Senior Advisers to King Salman bn Abdulazeez, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Sa'ad Nasir As-Shathriy and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; and President General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III (CFR), at an International Conference on Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in Nigeria, in Ilorin… yesterday