Ghanaian Gospel singer and preacher, Cecilia Marfo has spoken about Christianity, and how she approaches certain topics when giving sermons.

In an interview with Fiifi Prat, Marfo, who has recently devoted herself more fully to preaching, reflected on her spiritual journey and the significant number of souls she believes she has helped bring closer to God.

Celebrating her impact, Marfo described herself as a skilled preacher, expressing confidence in her style and effectiveness. However, she clarified that she intentionally steers clear of certain subjects, particularly criticizing others’ clothing choices or preaching against behaviors like pr0stitution and womanizing.

According to her, focusing on these topics lacks purpose, calling it “pure stupidity” to center sermons around judging people's attire or personal choices.

An economist and the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has projected that petrol prices in Nigeria could reach N1,200 per litre in the near future.

In his November 2024 economic outlook, Rewane also predicted that Brent crude could trade at $70 per barrel by December and that inflation might rise to 34%. He forecasted a potential appreciation of the Naira to N1,550/$ by January 2025.

According to ThisDay, Rewane shared these insights during the November edition of the Lagos Business School’s Breakfast Session titled ‘Democracy on Trial! Trump – Going Back to the Future.’

He highlighted that there is no economic rationale for the Naira to trade at less than 30% of its fair value within the next 12 months.

“According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, crude oil prices next year will average $74 per barrel, which could push petrol prices to N1,200 per litre,” he stated.

He added that global oil prices and logistics distribution costs will play a significant role in determining petrol prices, noting that higher petrol prices could help curb smuggling while official fuel exports to neighboring countries might boost foreign exchange revenue.

Rewane cautioned that while the Dangote Refinery has been viewed as a game-changer for Nigeria’s oil sector, it is not the ‘silver bullet’ many had hoped for.

“The refinery’s pricing strategy is dictated by global crude prices and operational costs,” he explained.

While it would ensure supply and availability, it would not necessarily stabilize prices, as the refinery operates on a cost-plus margin model.

“Smuggling will continue as long as Nigeria’s petrol prices remain lower than those of neighboring countries,” he noted.

Rewane also pointed out that the recent increase in petrol prices from N600 to N1,030 per litre has led to a 25% reduction in vehicular movement. This observation was based on a vehicular count report conducted on Adeola Odeku, a major thoroughfare in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He emphasized that the Naira is currently undervalued by 35.18%, with its fair value pegged at N1,090.24 to the Dollar, compared to the current NAFEM rate of N1,682 and the parallel market rate of N1,742 per Dollar.

“We anticipate that the Naira will strengthen by January 2025, contingent on reforms in the exchange rate determination mechanism,” Rewane said.

He stressed that “there is no justification for the Naira to trade at less than 30% of its fair value for an extended period. We expect the currency to regain some of its value by early next year.”

Rewane underscored that the exchange rate is a significant driver of inflation in Nigeria. A partial recovery of the Naira would help reduce inflation and curb excessive money supply in the economy.

He projected that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) might maintain its current stance to allow existing policies to take effect, but upcoming inflation data for October, set for release on November 15, could influence this decision.

Rewane further noted that fluctuations in crude oil production could impact Nigeria’s trade balance and exchange rate.

Historically, stable exchange rates align with periods of positive trade balances and high crude oil production, while trade deficits and currency depreciation are linked to low production or declining oil prices.

He concluded that Nigeria’s best-case scenario would involve the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) keeping interest rates high until 2025, a surge in capital flows, regular rDAS auctions, and an increase in oil production to 1.55 million barrels per day.

Rewane also highlighted that corporate entities are facing significant foreign exchange losses, which have collectively reached N2 trillion for 10 prominent companies, impacting their earnings.

He pointed out that fixed assets acquired at historic rates have now fully depreciated, increasing operational inefficiencies and driving up maintenance and replacement costs.

“Companies with foreign currency-denominated debt are also experiencing increased servicing costs,” he concluded.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has lamented that his state has been without power for the last three months, a situation attributed to the destruction of the power infrastructure of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by vandals.

Diri made this announcement during the 2024 All Nigerian Editors Conference, which took place at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the capital of the State, on Friday.

He pointed out that since the vandalism occurred, the state has been plunged into darkness for the duration of the three months.

He revealed that his government has been in close collaboration with TCN to bring back electricity to the state, and mentioned that as part of his ASSURED Agenda, there are plans to establish the state’s own power generation through gas turbines.

“I just want to let you know maybe you are in hotels where you have power. Bayelsa has been without power for the past three months. The hotels have light, so you may not know that the people of this state have been living without power for the past three months.

“The reason was that electrical installations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria were vandalized by criminals. After that vandalization, the state has remained in darkness till today. The other one that happened in the North was also a similar thing to this one, but we heard power has been restored in the North.

“But in our state here, for three months and still counting, there is no electricity and we are working hand in gloves with the Transmission Company of Nigeria. As you are all aware, energy was is under the exclusive list, particularly transmission. It is only with the coming of Mr. President that he liberalized it and signed into the law that now allows state governments to generate and distribute energy.

“For us as a state, we are very rich in gas, even more than oil. Now we are working with the TCN to restore the National Grid but we will not stop it there. We have now moved beyond that to see how we can have our own independent power supply through the gas turbines,” the governor told the editors.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), among other academic unions, will meet the federal government’s reconstituted committee next week on the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with university-based unions.

Naija News reports that ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, made this known in an interview with Punch in Abuja.

However, Osodeke did not specify the meeting date but stated that the committee would meet in the coming week to deliberate on issues.

In early October, the Federal Government announced the reconstitution of a committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreements between the government and various university-based unions.

The committee received a time frame of three months.

Recall that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has affirmed that the Federal Government is taking proactive measures to prevent another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

She noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration is working diligently to address the underlying issues and implement reforms that will strengthen Nigeria’s economy in the long term, despite the immediate challenges these reforms may present.

Speaking during her 17th annual free medical outreach in Isuochi, Abia State, Onyejeocha reassured the public that the concerns raised by ASUU would soon be resolved.

ASUU recently issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the settlement of four months’ salary arrears from the 2020 strike, the migration of its members from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) to the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS), and the payment of outstanding earned allowances, among other issues.

Onyejeocha expressed optimism that ongoing discussions with ASUU would lead to a positive resolution soon

Certain reports claiming the federal government has directed civil servants to move their salary accounts away from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has been debunked.

The denial follows a viral WhatsApp message that reads: “Please let’s all take note, seems GTB now has serious problems and may be shut down any moment from now. Anyone that has money in the bank should do the needful.”

However, the spokesperson for GTB, Cornelius Onuoha, on Friday debunked the message.

He said those behind the messages are the same set of people seeking to blackmail the bank since it declared a N1 trillion profit.

The report is “absolutely false”.

“It is a totally false story. The federal government has also commented about it. These same set of people are looking for ways to blackmail the bank since it declared a N1 trillion profit,” Onouha told The Cable.

Naija News recalls following the decision of the federal government to discontinue the use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to pay salaries to staff of Federal Tertiary Institutions (FTIs), the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, also denied any order from the government requiring workers o change their salary accounts.

Mokwa, in a statement on November 4, clarified that the OAGF has not issued any instruction to workers to switch their salary accounts.

He told workers not to make any panic-driven decisions as their welfare remains the top priority of the government.

He explained that any decision to change salary accounts is entirely personal for each worker, with no mandate from the IPPIS office.

“The OAGF explained that whenever there is an application for change of salary account, such is always a personal decision of the worker concerned. The IPPIS Office has not issued any general directive to this effect as there was no reason to do so,” Mokwa said.

“The OAGF tasked financial institutions to implement necessary strategies to boost customers’ confidence and guarantee efficient fulfillment of their obligations to persons whose salaries are domiciled in such financial institutions and Nigerians in general.

“The OAGF noted that there are agencies that are statutorily mandated to determine the health as well as viability of financial institutions and expressed optimism that those agencies are up to their tasks,” Mokwa said.

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has urged President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the economic hardship of Nigerians.

Osinbajo expressed worry over the increasing food insecurity in the country.

He adviced the president to focus on improving the welfare of Nigerians, particularly as the country faces significant economic hardships.

The erstwhile Vice President shared his concerns while speaking at the 2024 Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) conference.

He highlighted the pressing need for targeted social welfare programs, accessible healthcare, and policies that address the rising costs of essentials such as food, transportation, and housing

He said, “The cost of living is overwhelming Nigerians’ hope for survival.

“Children are suffering from the impact of rising food prices, and we must address this crisis.

“We need stronger social safety nets to ensure that the basic needs of our people are met.”

Osinbajo also spoke candidly about the country’s literacy challenges, particularly in the northern region, where over 67% of women are illiterate.

He stressed the vital importance of education for national development, warning that “a country where half the population is socially and economically disempowered due to illiteracy will find development difficult, if not impossible.”

To overcome these barriers, Osinbajo emphasized the necessity of large-scale social interventions that not only tackle literacy but also promote economic empowerment and reduce inequality.

“We must invest in education and provide opportunities for economic independence for our people, especially women. This is a critical part of creating a fairer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he added.

Popular Nigerian businessman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest, has encouraged his followers to appear rich until they make it.

According to him, it is okay to live the fake live until the real life comes into manifestation.

In a post charged via his Instagram page, Cubana Chief Priest urged his followers to package until the success they desire happens or the opportunity they seek comes forth.

“Make Sure You Appear Rich, That’s The Fastest Access To Open Doors,” he wrote.

“Na Fake Life Go Bring You Real Life. If You No Add Packaging For Your Life You Go Suffer Tire,” Cubana Chief Priest added.

Meanwhile, controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, has claimed that he has more hit songs than Grammy award-winning singer, Burna Boy.

Portable insisted that his statement is not about boasting, as he does not make empty boasts.

Naija News reports the ‘Zazu’ singer made the submission in a video making the rounds on social media.

“I have more hit songs than Burna Boy. I’m not making empty boasts. I have hit songs like ‘Tony Montana’. Uncle Burna, I have more hits than you,” he stated.

A newly elected Chairman of Ogbaru LGA in Anambra State, Franklin Nwadialo, has been arrested in Texas, United States (US), for allegedly running a $3.3 million romance scam.

The US department of justice said in a statement that Nwadialo is facing a 14-count charge and risks a 20-year sentence if found guilty.

The federal bureau of investigation (FBI) reportedly arrested the 40-year-old LGA chairman on arrival in Texas.

He would be transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.

Nwadialo said, “According to the indictment, Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni’ when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café.

“Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person.

“Using these personas, Nwadialo invented many reasons he needed the victims to send him money.

“In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim. He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million.”

The US department of justice cited another instance where the accused contacted a second victim in 2019 to help move funds from US accounts to accounts controlled by him and his co-schemers.

“In this instance, Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death. The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant,” the department stated.

“A third victim was defrauded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her.

“He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments, and he had her “reinvest” the money in a specific cryptocurrency account that he controlled. The victim transferred at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction.

“Finally, in August 2020, Nwadialo defrauded another victim who he met on an online dating site and caused this victim to transfer at least $310,000 by claiming he needed financial assistance, including help paying for his father’s funeral or his son’s school tuition.

“The 14 counts of wire fraud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers.”

The case is being prosecuted by Sok Jiang, an assistant United States attorney.