News
Fire Guts Wooden Stores In Delta
Published
3 months agoon
By
EditorMore than 1,200 stalls have been gutted by fire at Hausa market along Asaba-Benin Expressway in Okpanam, the Delta State capital following a gas explosion.
It was gathered that no death was recorded but one person was reportedly injured in the inferno which destroyed goods and food items among others.
An eyewitness said that the fire has left many traders homeless since some of them also reside in the wooden structures that were razed.
The eyewitness explained that the fire was caused by an explosion from a gas cylinder.
The eyewitness said, “It is a massive land occupying stores built with wooden structures. They have different activities taking place there.
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“Somebody that sells noodles there was preparing noodles and there was an explosion from the gas cylinder he was using.
“The entire market went into flames with the harmattan breeze that is a catalyst on its own and the fire spread across.
“According to the leader of the community, there were over 1,200 stores and just about 20 stores were spared.”
Similarly, some structures went up in flames at Obulu-Okiti community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of State, in the early hours of Wednesday as a result of suspected activities of illegal dealers of petroleum products.
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It was learnt that some persons engaged in the illegal sales of petroleum products otherwise called the ‘black market’ at the location where the incident occurred.
A source said, “It was a wooding structure and people are living in part of it.
“A young man that lives there with his family who took his child to the hospital, but on coming back, his belongings were gone.”
When contacted, the Director of Delta State Fire Service, Mr. Eugene Oziwelle, confirmed the incident, saying it was true without further explanation on the incident as reported to the Service.
He said, “Yes, it is true”
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In January, two youths in their early 20s reportedly set ablaze a building housing eight shops along Palm-Groove Road in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
They were said to have fled the scene immediately after they set the building on fire.
One of the victims and owner of an eatery located within one of the shops told journalists that he “woke up around 3am as a result of the petrol smell.”
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Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Orders CBN To Suspend Implementation Of Cybersecurity Levy
Published
1 hour agoon
May 12, 2024By
EditorPresident Bola Tinubu has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy policy and ordered a review.
This followed the decision of the House of Representatives, which, last Thursday, asked the CBN to withdraw its circular directing all banks to commence charging a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions in the country.
The CBN on May 6, 2024, issued a circular mandating all banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers to implement a new cybersecurity levy, following the provisions laid out in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024.
According to the Act, a levy amounting to 0.5 per cent of the value of all electronic transactions will be collected and remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Financial institutions are required to apply the levy at the point of electronic transfer origination.
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The deducted amount is to be explicitly noted in customer accounts under the descriptor “Cybersecurity Levy” and remitted by the financial institution. All financial institutions are required to start implementing the levy within two weeks from the issuance of the circular.
By implication, the deduction of the levy by financial institutions should commence on May 20, 2024.
However, financial institutions are to make their remittances in bulk to the NCF account domiciled at the CBN by the fifth business day of every subsequent month.
The circular also stipulates a timeframe for financial institutions to reconfigure their systems to ensure complete and timely submission of remittance files to the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc as follows: “Commercial, Merchant, Non-Interest, and Payment Service Banks – Within four weeks of the issuance of the Circular.
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“All other Financial Institutions (Microfinance Banks, Primary Mortgage Banks, Development Financial Institutions) – Within eight weeks of the issuance of the Circular,” the circular noted.
The CBN has emphasised strict adherence to this mandate, warning that any financial institution that fails to comply with the provisions will face severe penalties. As outlined in the Act, non-compliant entities are subject to a minimum fine of two per cent of their annual turnover upon conviction.
The circular provides a list of transactions currently deemed eligible for exemption, to avoid multiple applications of the levy.
These are loan disbursements and repayments, salary payments, intra-account transfers within the same bank or between different banks for the same customer, and intra-bank transfers between customers of the same bank.
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Exemptions include other financial institutions’ transfers to their correspondent banks, interbank placements, banks’ transfers to CBN and vice versa, inter-branch transfers within a bank, cheque clearing and settlements, letters of credit, and banks’ recapitalisation-related funding.
Others are bulk funds movement from collection accounts, savings, and deposits including transactions involving long-term investments such as treasury bills, bonds, and commercial papers, and government social welfare programmes transactions.
These may include pension payments, non-profit and charitable transactions including donations to registered non-profit organisations or charities, educational institutions transactions, including tuition payments and other transactions involving schools, universities, or other educational institutions, and transactions involving the bank’s internal accounts, inter-branch accounts, reserve accounts, nostro and vostro accounts, and escrow accounts.
The introduction of the new levy sparked varied reactions among stakeholders as it is expected to raise the cost of conducting business in Nigeria and could potentially hinder the growth of digital transaction adoption.
PUNCH
News
Moment Chief Defense Staff Hosts Prince Harry, Meghan Markle In Reception [VIDEO/PHOTOS]
Published
12 hours agoon
May 11, 2024By
EditorPrince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a reception hosted by the Chief of Defense Staff.
This was after they attended a volleyball game earlier in the day.
During the reception, which held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received asho oke gifts from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
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The couple also danced with Dabiri-Erewa.
The purpose of the visit was to introduce the royal couple to Nigeria’s rich socio-cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for the Duchess of Sussex to explore her Nigerian lineage.
News
JUST IN: Again, Aircraft Skids Off Runway At Lagos Airport
Published
19 hours agoon
May 11, 2024By
EditorBarely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday.
Following this development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut the 18/Left runway of the airport
The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.
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Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.
Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded off the runway, in one week.
Aero Contractors, flight NG 119 with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja had a total of 133 passengers on board.
All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.
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The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN limits the airport to one single runway which is expected to lead to aircraft delays and landing.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.
She stated that a team had been deployed to the site of the incident.
“Our teams are there and on top of the matter. But whether or not the runway will be reopened today, i cannot immediately answer questions on that.” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.
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