The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said they were collaborating to enhance growth and improve food production.

The Director-General of FIIRO, Prof Gloria Elemo, said that the tripartite agreement would utilise indigenous technologies to diversify the nation’s economy, create jobs, improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens.

She said that the partnership would fast track development of the agricultural sector through special focus on commodities that the nation had comparative advantage in producing.

Officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday dispensed over 14, 400 litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol free of charge to motorists at a filling station along Gwagwa- Deidei axis, Abuja over alleged illegal operation. The Abuja Zonal Controller of DPR, Abba Misau who led the operation told newsmen on ground that the station was selling above the stipulated pump price and was not licensed to operate by the DPR.

Debt Management Office said federal government has released a total of N1.2 trillion to finance capital projects in the 2017 Appropriation Act.

Report from DMO office revealed that given that the 2017 Budget was only finalised in July, the disbursement of N1.2 trillion over a short period of 6 months to capital, is a strong and positive development for Nigeria.

Niger Delta Avengers on Wednesday vowed to launch a fresh attack on oil installations in the South South region.

The group warned that its fresh attack which will be carried out in a “few days time” will be deadly.

In a statement on its website, Avengers said they would target several platforms and the FPSO on Total’s Egina field.

The Special Adviser to the President on Social Protection, Mrs. Maryam Uwais says over 67 per cent of Nigerians were living below poverty line before the advent of the current administration. She stated this on Thursday in Abuja, during a social protection Practitioners and Academics Dialogue. She identified the major challenges confronting Nigeria as poverty, unemployment, insecurity and gender inequality among others.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped further to 15.37 per cent in December 2017 from 15.90 per cent recorded in November of the same year.

The NBS stated this in its CPI report for December 2017 released on Tuesday in Abuja.

The CPI, which measured inflation, ended the 2017 with a rate of 15.37 per cent (year-on-year) in December 2017.

According to the bureau, this is 0.53 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in November.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday inaugurated the Country Office of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and hailed the banks $6 billion portfolio in Nigeria which enhanced job creation.

Osinbajo said he was particularly delighted that the bank was working closely with the administration in addressing the challenges of the people emerging from insurgency in the North East and militancy in the Niger Delta.

According to him, the Bank’s portfolio was spread across 73 projects across the country.

“The Bank’s inclusive basic delivery and livelihood empowerment integrated programme aimed at addressing the challenges in the North East in particular is commendable.

“The project will support youth, women and IDPs who have returned to their communities.

The Nigeria Customs Service says it is poised to generate N1.5 trillion in revenue this year. The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (Col/Rtd) stated this on Monday at the first management meeting of 2018 held at the National Headquarters, Abuja.

Access bank male employees gets paternity leave, the bank urged male employees of the bank to take advantage of the policy which extends benefits to all mothers and fathers. The bank has approved paternity leave for its male employees as lenders step up efforts to offer unique perks for their staff members.

The Federal Government has released the sum of N35 billion to fulfill its promise to settle the backlog of promotion arrears owed to Federal Civil Servants across the Federation covering years 2011 -2016 and over N30 billion is being spent on verified MDAS.

Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, disclosed this recently, after receiving a briefing from the Chairman of the Committee on the Verification of civil servants who are entitled to Promotion Arrears , Mr. Mohammed Kudu Usman, Director Inspectorate Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of Federation.