IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma on Wednesday said that with the exit of the economy from recession, the task ahead is to grow the economy in a rapid manner. Udoma who said this while reacting to the Gross Domestic Product growth rate report released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics, noted that the improvement in economic performance is an indication that the objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is being achieved.

In the statement issued by his media Adviser, Akpandem James, the minister said with the coming of the economy out of recession, investors confidence would begin to return to the economy. He said the exit from recession is a testimony to the fact that government is moving in the right economic direction. “Now that we have accomplished the first task, attention will now be on growing the economy as rapidly as we can. “We are happy that people are beginning to see the results of the efforts we have been putting through in the last two years to get the economy back on track and to place it on the path of growth and sustained development,” the statement quoted him to have said.

Udoma explained that as the economy continues to grow, the people will begin to feel the impact of the growth rate.

Britain's Anthony Joshua will defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles against Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 28 October. The bout comes six months after Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April, to add the WBA title to the IBF belt he claimed in 2016.

Pulev, 36, is the mandatory challenger for Joshua's IBF title. "I have been eager to get back in the ring since Wembley," said Joshua, 27.

"I'll be locked away focusing on fight number 20 for the next eight weeks. I am excited to experience the atmosphere in a sold out Principality Stadium and aim to give the fans a spectacular night."

The Super Eagles on Monday ended the Indomitable Lions’ hopes of qualifying for the Russia 2018 World Cup despite being held 1-1 by the Cameroonians in the reverse fixture of their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying double-header in Yaounde. With the draw, the Eagles thus amassed four points from the double fixtures having walloped the Cameroonians 4-0 in Uyo on Friday, to extend their lead in Group B to 10 points while Zambia are second with four points. Cameroon are third with three points and Algeria hold the rear with one point.

It was sweet revenge for the Nigerians, who lost the ticket to the 1990 World Cup to the Lions after losing 1-0 in Yaounde in 1989. A goal from Gent forward, Moses Simon, and a converted penalty from Vincent Aboubakar ensured the two sides shared the points at the StadeOmnisports AhmadouAhidjo.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr maintained the Uyo starting line-up, with Elderson Echiejile, Shehu Abdullahi, Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong in defence. Wilfred Ndidi and OgenyiOnazi were in defensive midfield while Moses, Mikel and Moses Simon supported Ighalo in attack. Ifeanyi Ubah’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa remained in goal.

The 8th Senate on Tuesday applauded the report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that Nigeria’s economy has officially exited recession. The Senate, in a statement by Chairman of its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that it was truly commendable that after five consecutive quarters of contraction, the economy grew by 0.55 per cent in the second quarter of 2017. Abdullahi also stated that the improved performance of the trade, manufacturing, agriculture and oil sectors was an indication that, with carefully aligned policy and legislative interventions, Nigeria’s economy could thrive beyond current forecasts and expectations.

The statement partly read, “The Senate received Q2 NBS economic report with great excitement. We are delighted that government’s response to the economic recession has begun to yield tangible results. “The public will recall that in the days following the announcement of the 2016 recession, the Senate initiated steps and tabled 21 recommendations that it submitted to the executive for immediate action. We also listed out economic priority bills, many of which have now been passed, or at the final stage. “We are also happy to note that many of the economic recommendations, specifically in the areas of retooling our agriculture and trade policies were adopted. This shows that the ‘all hands on deck’ approach was necessary from both branches of government.”

Abdullahi further noted that although the nation was now out of the recession, the Senate remained committed to seeing that the unemployment rate and high cost of living in the country were brought down.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will on Thursday resume talks with the Federal Government on the implementation of the 2009 agreement signed by both parties. ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said on phone that the union would attend the meeting and table its unfulfilled demands which caused the union to embark on indefinite strike.

“The latest is that they (government) had invited us for a meeting on Thursday.  We will attend and present our demands before them,” he said.

Last week, ASUU boycotted a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and his Education counterpart, Malam Adamu Adamu.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed that processes (court documents) be served on Nnamdi Kanu and his group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in relation to a suit seeking to restrain them from disrupting the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election. Justice Babatunde Quadri gave the order for service of processes on the respondents after listening to arguments by plaintiff’s lawyer, Smart Iheazor, for leave to serve the processes on Kanu and IPOB outside Abuja.

Other respondents in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/756/2017 are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The plaintiff, Dr. Richard Ndubuaku, who described himself as businessman based in Awka, with properties in Onitsha and other parts of Anambra State, wants the court to restrain Kanu, IPOB, their agents and members from making utterances or taking actions inimical to the conduct of the election slated for November 18 this year.