CBN Fixes April 3 and 4 for MPC Meeting S&P affirms Nigeria’s ratings at ‘B/B’, Stable Outlook Cautions against high debt service cost Forecasts 2.4% GDP growth in 2018 Obinna Chima Following the concession made by the Senate to screen
and confirm the nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari to fill the posts of deputy governors of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the four membersdesignate of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the
CBN has said it will hold its first meeting of the MPC this year on April 3 and 4. This is just as Standard and
Poor’s (S&P) has affirmed its ‘B/B’ long and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Nigeria. The agency also
assigned a “stable outlook” on the country. Continued on page 8
NLC Opposition Puts African Free Trade Deal in Jeopardy… Page 10 Monday 19 March, 2018 Vol 22. No 8369. Price: N250
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Kukah Blasts Northern Muslim Elite, Says They Use Religion to Hold onto Power
Says region remains backward, poorest in the country
John Shiklam in Kaduna The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has accused the Northern Muslim elite of using religion to hold onto power to the detriment of their people and the larger society. Continued on page 8
R-L: Director, Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Peter Tarfa; acting Director, Renewable Energy, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Farouk Yabo; wife of President, Asteven Group, Mrs. Barbara Akpoyibo; President, Asteven Group, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ogun State, Mr. Bimbo Ashiru; a guest; and Executive Director, Asteven Renewable Energy Academy, Dr. Magnus Onuoha, during the opening of Asteven Group Centre of Excellence and Renewable Energy Academy at Asese, Ogun State… recently
Why Buhari’s Re-election Declaration is Delayed Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency at the weekend in Abuja disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to keep Nigerians in suspense on his re-election bid was a deliberate ploy to avoid sabotage. Making this disclosure in an interview with select State House correspondents,
the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president would continue to keep his intentions close to his chest because those opposed to his re-election could exploit his declaration to sabotage the country.
According to him, the president declaring his ambition about a year to the next election would only give such saboteurs a lot of time to sabotage the country economically and politically, among others. “You know the peculiarity of Nigeria, particularly now. If
the president speaks too early, it’s a problem. There is a lot of sabotage in the country. “You have also heard so many have said, ‘don’t run,’ because they know that if the president runs, other people would just run away because they don’t have the foggiest chance in hell
of beating him. So, they want to discourage him from running. “Now, if he tells you, ‘I’m going to run,’ and elections are still one year away, it gives them one year to sabotage the entire country from all fronts – politically, socially, economically – they would
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throw everything at him just to dissuade him from running. “So, when you know that, why then speak early? I think it makes a lot of sense for you to keep things close to your chest till it is time for you to then say, ‘ok, I’m running’ by which time they can do less damage,” he explained. Continued on page 10