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Rising imports push Nigeria’s trade deficit to 10-year high

By
Henry Williams
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The foreign trade in goods statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows the total value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade stood at N9, 757.87 billion representing a 6.99 percent increase over the value recorded in the last three months (Q4) of 2020.

This is 14.13 percent compared to the first three months (Q1) of 2020.

The rise in total trade during the quarter was driven by an increase in imports (up 15.6% quarter on quarter to N6.9 trillion) while exports declined. Exports were down by 9 percent quarter on quarter to N2.9 trillion in Q1 2021.

The current total value of imports is the highest recorded quarterly in a decade. The export component of this trade stood at N2, 907.21 billion, representing 29.79 percent of the total trade while import was valued at N6, 850 billion representing 70.21 percent.

Consequently, the surge in imports compared with the decline in exports resulted in the sixth consecutive quarter of trade deficit in Q1 2021 (N3.9trn) and the highest trade deficit in a quarter since 2011.

The higher level of imports over exports resulted in a trade deficit (in goods) of -N3, 943.45 billion.

The value of crude oil export stood at N1, 929.83 billion representing 66.38 percent of the total export recorded in Q1, 2021, while non-crude oil export accounted for 33.62 percent of the total export.

Nigeria clings to fossil fuels, favours slower energy transition

By
Henry Williams
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Nigeria has clung to making the most of its fossil fuels as the world races towards a low-carbon future and renewable energy resources take the centre stage.

Timipre Sylva, Nigeria’s minister of state for Petroleum Resources has said that the global energy transition would not happen overnight and that Africa’s most populous country has to optimise the use of available petroleum resources to energise its energy-poor economy.

This is contrary to what advanced economies are doing, switching to electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), an event organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria and aimed at charting the way forward in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era, Sylvia agreed that energy transition will make the world a cleaner, healthier place but he disagrees that this transition will happen anytime soon.

America’s Supreme Court Refuses Permanent Residency For Immigrants On Humanitarian Grounds

By
Angel Gimalo
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The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously refused to let immigrants who have been allowed to stay in the United States on humanitarian grounds apply to become permanent residents if they entered the country illegally, siding with President Joe Biden’s administration.

The justices, acting in an appeal by a married couple from El Salvador who were granted so-called Temporary Protected Status, upheld a lower court ruling that barred their applications for permanent residency, also known as a green card, because of their unlawful entry.

The case could affect 400,000 immigrants, many of whom have lived in the United States for years.

Biden, who has sought to reverse many of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, had opposed the immigrants in this case, placing the president at odds with immigration advocacy groups and some of his fellow Democrats.

A federal law called the Immigration and Nationality Act generally requires that people seeking to become permanent residents have been ‘inspected and admitted’ into the United States. At issue in the case was whether a grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which gives the recipient ‘lawful status,’ satisfies those requirements.

Writing for the court, liberal Justice Elena Kagan said that ‘because a grant of TPS does not come with a ticket of admission, it does not eliminate the disqualifying effect of an unlawful entry.’

Unity Schools: 76,855 Candidates Jostle for 30,000 Admission Slots

By
Precious Obazee
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The National Examinations Council says a total of 76,855 candidates on Saturday sat for the 2021 National Common Entrance Examination for admission into the 110 Federal Government Colleges, also known as Unity Schools.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, noted that goverment had planned to increase the carrying capacity of the Unity Schools to 30,000 to accommodate new schools and more candidates who were desirous of attending the Colleges.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sonny Echono, he noted that the carrying capacity was increased to about 26,000 last year, which did not include the six new Technical Colleges and the plan to establish five more Colleges in the country to bring the total number of Unity Colleges to 115.

He said the government was concerned about persistent attacks on schools and abduction of students and had taken steps to beef up security around the Colleges while appealing to parents to allow their children enrol for the Colleges, established to foster national integration and cohesion.

Adamu said it was interesting that more girls sat for the examination on Saturday, as a result of sensitisation and advocacy efforts of the Ministry.

He said Zamfara four years ago had no single student to enrol into Unity College, and had surprisingly become the first state with highest registered number of candidates in the North after Federal Capital Territory.

Acting Registrar of NECO, Ebikibina Ogborodi who accompanied the permanent secretary, said the conduct of the examination was smooth and hitch-free in all the 417 examination centers across the country.

While giving further breakdown on candidates that sat for the examination, the Acting Registrar said state with the highest number of candidates was Lagos with 21,423 candidates, followed by FCT, 8674 candidates, Anambra 5,738 and Zamfara has 4,865 while Taraba has the least registered number of candidates, 113.

He also disclosed that the total number of female that registered for the examination was 39,555 while a total of 37,300 male candidates registered for the examination.

IGP Orders Suspension Of Tinted Windshields In Nigeria

By
faith Jegede
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The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

The announcement was made on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including DIGs and Commissioners from across the states.

While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

International Friendly: Eagles And Lions Clash Again In Vienna

By
Emenike Agu
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nternational Friendly: Eagles and Lions clash again in Vienna

Nigeria and Cameroon will once more battle it out at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt in the second of a two-match friendly programme in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

Five –time African champions Cameroon edged the first encounter 1-0 at the same venue on Friday, courtesy of a 36th minute strike by Andre Zambo Nguissa. The Super Eagles created chance after chance but failed to get the ball into the net.

Coach Gernot Rohr spoke at length about having to use a rash of new players in the first session, but he is compelled to do even more of that in Tuesday’s encounter following injuries to defenders William Ekong and Jamilu Collins, and the knock for pacy winger Moses Simon.

Simon appeared to be getting better as of Monday morning, but the smart money is on him starting from the bench, just as Cyprus-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho may start in goal against the Indomitable Lions. With the versatile Abdullahi Shehu heaved back to the rear from midfield for which he was initially pencilled down, and the couple of injuries from Friday’s match, Rohr has had to extend invitation to Hungary –based Vincent Onovo to fight for his first cap. Onovo arrived in the team hotel just after dinner on Sunday.

A three-man defenceline is in the offing, with perhaps Chidozie Awaziem, who impressed in that unit on Friday, Abdullahi and Ozornwafor. Another late invitee, Anthony Izuchukwu, from Slovakia, is another possibility. A loaded midfield could include Onovo, with Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Samson Tijani and Abraham Marcus also on the roll.

Home –based professional Anayo Iwuala could start, with Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi and Captain Ahmed Musa also to taste action.

After Friday’s game, Rohr told the media: “We missed seven key players due to injuries, so it was not our best team, but it was good to see other players. We are not happy to lose the game, but we saw some interesting new young players.”

Friday’s defeat was Rohr’s first loss to Cameroon in four matches. The Eagles pounded the Lions 4-0 in Uyo and were held 1-1 in Yaounde in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in September 2017, and then edged the Lions 3-2 in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt two years ago.

Though a friendly game, fierce rivals Cameroon were very happy to prevail over Nigeria for the first time since winning the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalty shoot-out in Lagos 21 years ago. “We took the game seriously because we played against a tough opponent, a big game against a big rival. It was important for us to show our preparations, and I’m happy we won,” said Cameroon’s Germany-based striker Eric Choupo-Moting.

A sense of purpose to win the second game reigns supreme in the Eagles’ Hilton Garden Inn camp in Wiener Neustadt, 46 kilometres outside Vienna.

After a one-hour training session in the light drizzle on Sunday morning, the three-time African champions will have their last training session at the match venue on Monday evening. Captain Ahmed Musa says defeat in Tuesday’s game is not an option.

“We are not happy to have created so many chances and fail to score. We will approach the game differently on Tuesday. Cameroon is a big rival and we are not happy to have lost the game on Friday.”

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye told thenff.com: “We bave taken some positives from the first match against Cameroon. We had a good game and it was unfortunate that they scored with just that one shot on target. However, we have shown that we are ready for the AFCON with the strength of character we showed after conceding the goal. We are ready to go for it on Tuesday.”

New-boy Abraham Marcus said it was a dream come true for him to join up with the Nigeria camp. “When the coach introduced me into the game, all I had in mind was to help the team get the equalizer. I look forward to another opportunity on Tuesday.”

Both teams have qualified for the finals of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, which Cameroon will host in January 2022. Nigeria finished top of their group winning four of six matches and drawing two, while Cameroon also topped theirs though they had already qualified as hosts.

The two teams are using both matches to look at their general shape, form and structure ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches starting in September.  

South Korea Trounces Turkmenistan 5-0 In World Cup Qualifier

By
Angel Gimalo
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The South Korean men’s national football team beat Turkmenistan on Saturday in a 5-nil blowout and that’ll keep the Red Devils at the top of their group in World Cup qualification.

At Goyang Stadium just outside Seoul, those goals came from three different South Korean players Hwang Ui-jo who scored two Nam Tae-hee, Kim Young-gwon and Kwon Chang-hoon.

South Korea now has ten points in Group H, the same as Lebanon, but are ahead on goal differential.

They’ll play Sri Lanka next on June 13th. There are still two more rounds to go and then the playoffs before the final Asian teams are determined for the World Cup, which next year will be hosted by Qatar.

Russia’s Grand Cascade And Samson Fountains Celebrates 300th Anniversary

By
Angel Gimalo
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The fountains at the Peterhof Palace, also known as Russia’s Versailles, attracts visitors from around the globe with their dazzling water displays.

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the Grand Cascade and Samson fountains, as they have been in action since July 1721.

The Grand Cascade consists of 255 sculptures and 64 fountains with 138 water jets pumping skyward.

One of the spotlights of the whole composition is the well-known statue of Samson tearing the lion’s mouth.

Baidu Rolls Out First Paid Driverless Taxi Service In Beijing

By
Angel Gimalo
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Amid the pandemic, a self-driving taxi might be the way to go.

Chinese tech giant Baidu has launched its paid driverless taxi service in Beijing.

It’s the first company to commercialize autonomous driving operations in China, and since the beginning of May ten of its driverless taxis called Apollo Go have been running.

One passenger said, he felt it was a bit too fast when turning a corner.

“Beijing has too many pedestrians and we see a lot of sudden crossing movements, so I’m pretty concerned. The driverless taxis may have wide applications in second or third tier cities.”

People aged 18 to 60 can take the taxi and each ride costs close to five U.S. dollars.

Passengers can hail a cab using an app and need to scan a QR code to verify their identity before entering.

Baidu says it expects to transport athletes and visitors during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Israel To Lift Mask Restrictions Indoors

By
Angel Gimalo
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Israelis at a No-Masks outdoor dance party for COVID-19 vaccinated guests only, at the Tel Shifon Winery, in Kibbutz Ortal, northern Golan Heights, March 19, 2021. Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** îñéáä øé÷åãéí øé÷ïã öòéøéí öòéø îñéáä øééá áìé îñéëåú

Israel, which has already lifted mask requirements when people are outdoors, will soon lift its mandate for indoors, as well.

According to the nation’s health ministry on Sunday, requirements for masks to be worn indoors will be lifted next Tuesday, ending one of the only major COVID-19 restrictions remaining in the country.

However, schools will be excluded, with children still required to wear masks during class, since the majority of those under 16 have yet to be vaccinated.

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