USA to block Nigeria's looted funds from banks

James Entwistle, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, has expressed his country’s readiness to stand hand in hand with Nigeria and provide any assitance needed to jointly combat corruption. He also assured that no looted funds are laundered through the American banking system. According to the diplomat, the Obama administration has already offered technical assistance to local anti-graft agencies for the training of investigators and prosecutors.

Mr Entwistle made the announcement during the 240th United States Independence Anniversary celebration cocktail party in Abuja on Saturday. He said: “Not just the political freedom you exercised last year, but freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom from sickness, and freedom from corruption. The last election was tremendous democratic success, not only for Nigeria, but the growth of democracy across Africa. As you fight Boko Haram and secure and rebuild the Northeast, and you strive for harmony in the Niger Delta and across the land, we will continue to help in every appropriate way.

Indeed, let us redouble our efforts on the humanitarian front in the Northeast. Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria. The United States stands with every Nigerian who believes that Nigeria can be healthier, safer, and more prosperous.” On economy and investments The ambassador also commended Nigeria’s economy direction, stressing the importance of fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange rate control. Besides, he urged the government to keep developing investment-friendy environment to attract more foreign companies thus boosting economy.

“As you continue privatization of the power grid, through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, we stand ready to, among other things, help companies invest in building more electricity infrastructure, especially environmentally-friendly power generation. As you increase your commitment to healthcare and education, we support those efforts too,” he assured Mr. Entwistle, who has worked 35 and a half years at the U.S. Foreign Service, is planning to retire and leave his post of the ambassador to Nigeria by the end of this month. He has described his stay in Nigeria as a fascinating time and expressed optimism and hope for the better future for Nigeria. However, he refused to comment on his letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, over sexual allegations against three Nigerian lawmakers while on official trip to the U.S. months ago.

NAIJ

Video - Plan to raise over $90bln to stabilize Nigeria

Stabilizing oil prices should help Nigeria's engineer an economic recovery, but Africa's largest economy also needs a lot more funding to develop -- that's why a Nigerian business delegation is in China this week. Is that a hard sell? Cheng Lei spoke to Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria's state minister for petroleum resources, to find out how the fundraising is going.

Nigeria strengthens airport security after Turkey terrorist attack

Nigerian authorities have reacted swiftly to the terror attack in Turkey by beefing up security at all major airports across the country.

Following the twin explosions and gunfire that rocked the Turkish international airport of Ataturk in Istanbul, killing 36 and leaving more than 40 people injured, Nigerian authorities have reacted to possible terrorist threats.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said yesterday that technological devices such as metal detectors and 3D screening machines had been installed to counter any possible security breach.

FAAN advised all airport passengers to be security conscious at all times and weary of any threats or suspicious packages.

The Presidency meanwhile reacted to the terrorist attacks in Turkey, calling it very sad and wishing that all the victims to rest in peace.

News24 reported that two explosive devices were set off in the Ataturk International airport with video footage captured by CCTV cameras showing the exact moment a suicide bomber detonated the device.

News24

Lagos shutting down churches and mosques to reduce noise pollution

Authorities in Nigeria's Lagos State have shut 70 churches and 20 mosques in an attempt to reduce high noise levels.

About 10 hotels, pubs and club houses were also closed, officials said.

Some estimates put Lagos' population at around 20 million, creating a constant background of noise - from the blaring of car horns, to the Muslim call to prayer and loud singing in churches.

The state government has vowed to make the city, the biggest in Africa, noise-free by 2020.

In August, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LEPA) closed 22 premises after residents complained about noise emanating from them.

Following the latest crackdown, its general manager Bola Shabi said the agency would no longer allow people to pray in makeshift buildings and tents.

Mr Shabi said noise levels had been reduced by about 35%, but this was not a "pass mark yet".

"Enforcement is a continuous exercise and we have set a target for ourselves. We want to ensure that Lagos is noise-free by the year 2020," he said.

Mr Shabi said mosques complied with their instructions more than churches because when they are ordered to shut down, they "instantly bring down their speakers or reduce the noise they make''.

Nigerians are extremely religious, with a large number of evangelical churches operating in Lagos.

Christians form the majority in the city.

In 2014, 116 people died when a building owned by popular televangelist TB Joshua collapsed in Lagos.

BBC

President Buhari appeals for patience as government 'rebuilds' Nigeria

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to the citizenry to exercise patience as his administration works assiduously to rebuild Africa’s most populous nation.

The president’s appeal was contained in a press release after he had met with a delegation of Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him beyond building Nigeria to become a nation that generations to come would be proud to inherit, under his watch Nigeria will also witness judicious utilization of resources.

“We intend to rebuild this country; so that our children and grand-children will have a good place they can call their own. A lot of damage has been done, so I want you to tell the people to be patient. We will utilize the resources of Nigeria with integrity and rebuild the country,” he assured.

He further disclosed that the Niger Delta Amnesty programme signed by the late president Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration was been studied with a view to determining what had been fulfilled, promising that whatever is left would equally be addressed.

He tasked local leaders like His Royal Highness, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, who led the group that met him to talk to groups in the region to maintain peace and calm as government works to address their plights.

He also sympathized with business people whose capital investment in the Niger Delta region was being badly affected due to insecurity. The traditional authority on his part reiterated that the group was made of peace builders, dedicated to peace and stability in the region.

AfricaNews