We didn’t ask banks to collect old N500, N1,000 notes — CBN (Vanguard)
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said it did not direct banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000, as earlier reported.
Director, Corporate Communication, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, stated this in response to media reports that the apex bank had directed commercial banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000.
He said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to some fake and unauthorised messages, quoting the CBN as having authorised the Deposit Money Banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes. Read more
Naira scarcity: Gridlock eases off on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after protests (Punch)
Gridlock along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has eased off and the road is now free for vehicular movements.
The PUNCH reported on Friday morning that vehicular movements were brought to a standstill after protest erupted at the Mowe-Ibafo end of the expressway in Ogun State.
The youths had taken to the road to protest over the naira scarcity and inability of residents to access the newly redesigned notes. Read more
Crowd “takes over” CBN office in Lagos (DailyTrust)
There is currently a large crowd at the office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Marina, Lagos.
The crowd consists of persons trying to swap old currencies in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his national broadcast on Wednesday, Buhari declared that old N500 and N1000 notes had ceased being legal tender, directing Nigerians to take the notes to the CBN and designated places.
He also ordered the CBN to recirculate old N200 notes until April 10. Read more
Sanwo-Olu appeals against protests in Lagos (Nation)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday appealed to Lagosians to avoid protests over the cash swap policy.
He said the government was working to ease the sufferings occasioned by the rejection of old notes and scarcity of new notes in the state.
He told aggrieved Lagosians to allow the Supreme Court rule on the controversial matter on February 23, sympathizing with residents for the hardship caused by the policy. Read more
Painful Dilemma: Along Lagos roads, we pay all manner of levies to touts — Truck drivers (Tribune)
For many trucks that ply the nation’s ports of Apapa and Tin-Can to pick cargoes or drop empties, ensuring prompt payment of levies at different checkpoints manned by touts belonging to different labour unions has been the order of the day.
While many have continued to live with this brazen extortion of truckers by hoodlums along these various checkpoints, others who tried to put up a fight have lived to regret it.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the harrowing experience of truckers in the hands of touts who man different checkpoints, President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA), Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun exclaimed that haulage operators are under siege from State backed touts who wield pipes and other dangerous object at various checkpoints. Read more
CBN bows to pressure; you can now take old N500, N1,000 to banks (Vanguard)
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has bowed to pressure and ordered Deposit Money Banks to collect old N500 and N1,000 notes from customers.
In view of that every Nigerian that has old N500 and N1000 notes can now take it to banks. Many Nigerians early this morning stormed the CBN offices and demanded that the apex bank should collect their old notes.
A top CBN official confirmed to CBN saying yes we have directed them to collect the old N500 and N1000 from customers.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, had directed that the old N500 and N1,000 notes are no longer legal tenders but those having the notes should take the notes to the CBN so as not to lose their money. Read more
Ogun PDP guber candidate, Adebutu, debunks claim of not campaigning for Atiku (ThisDay)
The Ladi Adebutu/Akinlade Campaign Organisation has described as ludicrous the claim by one Segun Showunmi that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has not been campaigning for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
A statement signed by the Director of Media of the campaign organisation, Mr. Afolabi Orekoya, said Showunmi does not deserve any reactions, except for the expediency of setting the records straight.
According to Orekoya, “We challenge Mr Showunmi to show us his followers. The Peoples Democratic Party, Ogun State Chapter is not crisis-ridden as he mischievously strives to project. The party is intact and peaceful. We won’t allow a man to be clouded by selfish motives to draw us back. Read more
NBC urges foreign broadcasters to register within 30 days (Guardian)
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has urged foreign broadcasters with offices in Nigeria and beam their signals into the country to register with the commission within 30 days.
The Director-General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Ilelah, made the call at the presentation of provisional approval to the newly approved 67 licensees, on Friday in Abuja.
Ilelah also called on the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and other broadcast stations streaming online, to register with the commission to avoid disconnection and prosecution. Read more
Ryan Reynolds says Blake Lively is ‘‘doing great’’ following birth of 4th child (Standard)
Ryan Reynolds has revealed his family are “doing great” after his wife Blake Lively welcomed the couple’s fourth child.
The Hollywood couple announced Lively had given birth on Super Bowl Sunday.
In a very low key announcement, The Gossip Girl star posted a picture on Instagram in which the 35-year-old is seen with no sign of a baby bump as she stands between Deadpool star Reynolds, 46, and his mother, Tammy. Read more
”Tetris” Trailer: Taron Egerton stars in movie about thrilling real-life story behind hit video game (People)
The trailer for Tetris has just dropped — and it’s more gripping than one might expect.
Starring Taron Egerton as real-life entrepreneur Henk Rogers, the Apple TV+ biographical drama sees Rogers fighting some serious overseas battles in the 1980s Communist Soviet Union over the rights to the popular puzzle game during the Cold War.
“An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union,” reads an official synopsis for the movie, published by IMDb. Read more
Niall Horan admits it’s ”really scary” releasing new music after 3 years (MusicNews)
Niall Horan admits it’s “really scary” releasing new music after being away for a while.
The Irish pop star – who shot to fame as a member of the chart-topping boy band One Direction – is back today (17.02.23) with his first new music since his 2020 LP ”Heartbreak Weather”, ”Heaven”, from his upcoming third solo album ”The Show”.
And the ”Slow Hands” singer is a “little nervous” for fans to hear the “version” of himself presented in the lyrics. Read more
R. Kelly is denied motions for acquittal and new federal trial (CBS)
Singer and convicted sex offender R. Kelly has been denied all motions for acquittal and a new federal trial, Chicago Federal Judge Harry Leinenweber ruled on Thursday.
Kelly, 56, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 on nine counts that included “sexual exploitation of children” and “transportation of women and girls in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity.” He was convicted of three child pornography charges and three counts of child enticement in Chicago last year.
The disgraced singer’s attorneys filed the motion for a new trial on Feb. 4, stating that the main witness in the trial misled jurors when she said she was undecided on whether she would be seeking monetary damages from the case. The motion was denied less than two weeks later. Read more
Ukraine war the focus as leaders take the stage at Munich Security Conference (TimesOfIsrael)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky planned to give the opening address Friday at a major annual conference on international security policy, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was expected to dominate the event after almost a year of war that has produced worldwide repercussions.
About 40 heads of state and government, as well as politicians and security experts from almost 100 countries, including the United States, Europe and China, were expected to attend the three-day Munich Security Conference in Germany. Zelensky is participating by video link.
For the first time in two decades, conference organizers did not invite Russian officials. Western countries have sought to isolate Russia diplomatically over the invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. Read more
Turkey earthquake: Boy among 3 survivors found in the rubble in last 24 hours (MEE)
Almost two weeks after two powerful earthquakes and hundreds of powerful aftershocks struck southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble.
Turkey’s health minister, Fahrettin Koca, praised the efforts of rescue workers on Friday for finding a 14-year-old boy and two men from the rubble nearly 11 days after the huge earthquake.
Covered in a blanket and with a neck brace, the teenager, called Osman, was initially given first aid by rescue workers and then rushed to a waiting ambulance. Read more
U20 AFCON: Making 25-man list boosts my confidence – Flying Eagles winger (Sun)
Flying Eagles winger, Kingsley James Awodi has said the experience he gained with the team will spur him on to better his performance when he returns back to his base in England, BSN sports.com.ng can report.
Kingsley was one of the four members of the team that failed to make the final 21-man list for the CAF U20 African Nations Cup in Egypt. He hopes to be part of the team to Indonesia at the FIFA U20 World Cup if the Flying Eagles pick the ticket at the U20 AFCON.
He said the coach of the team, Ladan Bosso told him that he is still part of his plans for the world Cup adding that he was dropped not because he was not good enough but because the AFCON needs players with African mentality, vigour and strength but at the World Cup, his flair and European mentality will add value to the team. Read more
Kyogo Furuhashi: Celtic striker in swift return to training after shoulder injury (BBC)
Celtic have no fitness concerns over Kyogo Furuhashi for the Viaplay Cup final against Rangers on 26 February.
The Japanese striker was withdrawn early in last weekend’s Scottish Cup win over St Mirren after picking up a shoulder injury.
But the 28-year-old, who has scored 22 goals this season, trained on Thursday and Friday and is available for Saturday’s meeting with Aberdeen.
“He’s fine, he’s good to go,” said manager Ange Postecoglou. Read more
Aaron Ramsdale: Tottenham Hotspur fan sentenced for attacking Arsenal goalkeeper (LondonWorld)
A man has been banned from attending football matches for four years after he attacked Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the north London derby.
Ramsdale, 24, was kicked in the back after the Gunners beat Spurs 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January.
Joseph Watts, 35, from Dalston, pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday. Read more
Sky Sports ATP and WTA deal not yet confirmed (Tennis365)
A reported broadcast deal between the ATP and WTA Tours and Sky Sports are yet to be confirmed by the media giant.
SportBusiness broke the story, quoting ‘‘multiple sources’’ that have claimed that Sky will become the home of tennis from 2024 after signing a deal to show both ATP and WTA events.
However, at this stage Sky Sports themselves are mum on the deal. Read more
Leona Maguire among the chasing pack at Saudi International (RTE)
Leona Maguire carded an impressive second round 69 at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, where India’s Aditi Ashok holds a two-shot lead at the halfway stage on 13-under par.
Maguire improved on her opening round 71, carding four birdies and a bogey and stands at four-under par and a tie for 22nd.
Stephanie Meadow played no further part at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club after successive rounds of 77 saw her finish on 10-over par. Read more