Nigeria Latest News Today 22nd December 2018

We bring you sizzling latest news in Nigeria Today, 22nd December 2018 for your reading pleasure. Some of which include: Jamb to begin sales of forms Jan, 10, bans cyber cafe operators and house help with double identity who disabled CCTV cameras to rob employer.

1. Mitsubishi Motors Repositioning in Nigeria

MITSUBISHI Motors has made the headlines with its recent recognition by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, NAJA, Awards at the 2018 edition held in Lagos.

The sole distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Nigeria, Massilia Motors, a joint venture consolidated with the CFAO group, won the award of the most innovative automotive brand in 2018 and the most outstanding SUV design for the recently launched Eclipse Cross model.

The Mitsubishi L200 was also among the nominees for the best pick-up of the year. This did not come as a surprise to many industry experts as Massilia Motors has been very innovative in its marketing strategies and has given a new look to their car showrooms.

The company has also invested in its after sales facility in Ijora and ensured continuous quality improvement. With the introduction of models such as the Pajero Sport and the Eclipse Cross, Massilia Motors offers customers sophisticated vehicles that are good value for money

In addition, giveaways were organized to reward Mitsubishi car owners for their patronage over the years. Emotions as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 2Face, Osibisa leader were also there to light up stage.

Commenting on the NAJA Awards, Deputy Managing Director of Massilia Motors, Mr. Kunle Jaiyesimi stated: “we are delighted with the recognition. We will continue striving to find new ways to add value to our customers.”

The Naira, yesterday, appreciated to N364.57 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window.

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the window dropped to N364.57 per dollar yesterday from N364.93 per dollar on Wednesday, translating to 36 kobo appreciation of the naira. This was due to the volume of dollars traded on the window which rose by 21 percent to $319.96 million from $264.46 million traded on Wednesday.

However, the naira yesterday rose by 50 kobo in the parallel market. According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rose to N363 per dollar from N362.5 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating 50 kobo depreciation of the naira.

3. Double Identity House Help Disables Camera to Rob Employer

A househelp, Usang Bassey, aka Ben Peters was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for breaking into his employer’s bedroom and stealing valuables.

Narrating how he committed the crime, Usang Bassey Effiong, who committed the act 11 days after he was employed, said: “I noted where Mr. Okoye usually hid his bedroom key and to gain access to the room, he revealed that he duplicated the bedroom key.

He also revealed that he disabled the CCTV cameras so that he won’t be detected. “After which, he stole their valuables and drove off with their car.

Robbing the couple was easy for the house help they dismissed before employing me, one Matthew Johnson Abam, was a member of our gang as he had furnished him with relevant information about the couple even before he came to live with them.

It was learned that Seventy-three-year-old retiree, Mr. Alexander Okoye, and his wife Mrs Njideka Okoye, employed one Ben Peters as househelp on October 12, who they later discovered his real names are Usang Bassey Effiong.

4. Senate Urges FG to Investigate Badeh’s Killing

 The Senate, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, carry out a holistic investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassination of late former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd).

The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of the late former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd) who was murdered following gunshot wounds he sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm alongside his driver.

The Senate has urged the security agencies to s carry out a holistic investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack to determine if it was an assassination.

5. Actress, Genevieve Nnaji in Battle with Film One, Others Over Lion Heart Screening

In a long worded statement circulated on her behalf, the 39-year-old specifically mention Film One as one of the major distributors who shut the door against her.

She had earlier announced December 21, 2018 as the cinema premiere date of the film, Lion Heart which has been acquired by Netflix for release on January 4, 2019.

“Film One, one of the major film cinema distributors, has categorically refused to distribute Lion heart, primarily because they have no stake in it. They are currently invested in a couple of movies showing in the cinemas and want to protect their assets at all cost. Monopolizing the market this season is their strategy to recouping their investment.

“Silver bird agreed to exclusively exhibit Lion heart across their cinemas and that was good enough for me. Like I said, having you watch this movie was my primary objective, not making more money. I’m an artist who wants to display her work to the people the art was created for.

“But, as soon as the announcement was made on Friday about the release, the “powers that be” of distribution and marketing were not having it. They proceeded to arm-twist Silver bird cinemas to backing out of our agreement by threatening to boycott them in the future.

According to the sultry actress, “It is clear to me that the interest of the consumers is not of utmost priority as advertised. These cinema chains are only here to make money off of struggling artists while protecting their investments in the films they are affiliated with.

6. AFCON 2019: Super Eagles Tackle Pharaohs March 26

Super Eagles will play an international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on March 26.

The Egypt Football Association confirmed that the game will be played during the international break in March. The game is meant to prepare both teams for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Egyptians are in contention with South Africa to host, after CAF stripped Cameroon of the hosting rights.

Both nations have already qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals but will play their final qualifying games ahead of the friendly encounter.

Nigeria host Seychelles in Group E while Egypt travel to face Niger in Group J. Egypt and Nigeria met in 2017 Nations Cup qualifying with The Pharaohs earning a 1-1 draw away from home before winning 1-0 in Alexandria to qualify for the finals ahead of the Super Eagles. It will be the 18th meeting between the two sides with Nigeria holding the upper-hand having won seven times to Egypt’s five with another five matches drawn.

7. Phyno’s PentHauz Record Label Signs New Artist

The PentHauz Music boss, Phyno, today unveiled and welcomed the new artist, Rhatti, to his household. Today, 20th of December, 2018, also happened to be the lucky artiste’s birthday.

Phyno seems to be quite hysterical about this as he has been flooding his Instagram page with some of Rhatti’s rap freestyles.

According to reports, Rhatti was discovered by Olamide, when he came across Rahatti’s freestyle with the popular ‘motigbana’ beat. However, having been impressed by his talent, he figured it’d be perfect he gets signed by his friend, Phyno – since he’s Igbo and raps in Igbo too.

Reports also has it that Rhatti is still a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, popularly known as UNIZIK – in Awka.

The apparently excited Olamide reacted to the news by making it clear to Rhatti, that they’ve got a whole lot of work to do together.

8. Two Men Remanded in Prison Over Possession of Human Parts in Ilorin

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, yesterday, remanded two men, Samuel Idowu and Stephen Abraham, for allegedly being in possession of human parts.

Investigations revealed that the accused persons remove human bones from graves and use them for charms. He also said some pieces of human bones were recovered from the homes of the accused.

The prosecutor added that the accused were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, unlawful opening of a grave and being in possession of human parts. He prayed the court to remand the accused in prison custody, saying investigation was ongoing. The accused, however, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

9. JAMB Begins Sale of Forms Jan 10, Bans Cybercafe Operators

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB) has said that it will commence sale of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) form for prospective candidates by January 10, 2019.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this at a meeting with Computer Based Test ( CBT) centre operators in Lagos. He also said that about 50 centres had been sanctioned by the board for various infractions and malpractices.

He said: “Cyber cafes have been banned from registering candidates for the year 2019 examination over allegation of extortion. They were extorting and overcharging candidates, doing services that they do not have capacity to do. They keep on deceiving candidates and we have no way of tracking them because they are not registered. That’s why we banned them, he said.

10. Nigeria: How I Will End Unemployment If Elected – Ezekwesili

The Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby  Ezekwesili, has disclosed how she would end unemployment, if elected in 2019.

Ezekwesili promised that no fewer than 80 million Nigerians would be lifted out of poverty by her administration, promising that she would implement a productivity and competitiveness initiative to create new opportunities and jobs in some key sectors.

Among the sectors she listed, are agriculture, fisheries, livestock and agribusiness, where more than one- third of Nigeria’s active labour population are found. She said there will be jobs from light manufacturing industries, construction, housing and public works, renewable solutions services, including trade, telecommunications technology, domestic tourism and creative industries. According to her, these industries hold the key to putting more Nigerians to work, and also provides a much-needed boost to the nation’s productivity.

The ACPN candidate said her government would accord priority to building a rapidly expanding economy, which would be powered by the private sector, based on an economic structural change agenda.

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