Top 5 Stories Of The Day | FG Announces Plan to Evacuate Nigerians in Lebanon Over Israel Bombings

• FG announces plan to evacuate Nigerians in Lebanon over Israel bombings
• ASUU threatens indefinite strike as FG ignores its demands
• CBN sells $543.5 million to stabilise the FX market
• Russia in talks of cancelling visas to some African countries
• University complains about expensive electricity bills for being on Band A

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss. 

FG announces plan to evacuate Nigerians in Lebanon over Israel bombings

The Nigerian government has announced its decision to evacuate Nigerians living in Lebanon due to the recent bombing events occurring in the country.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has taken to fighting with neighbouring countries after it desolated Palestine. Israel has attacked Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

In response to the attacks, the Nigerian government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has stated that arrangements are being made if any willing Nigerian wants to be evacuated for safety.

ASUU threatens indefinite strike as FG ignores its demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike due to the federal government’s ignorance of its 2009 Agreement.

According to the union, it first issued a 21-day ultimatum starting in August after having its Nationals Executive Council (NEC) meeting. It then added another 14-day warning ultimatum, which the government had also successfully ignored.

According to Prof. Timothy Namo, the union’s Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, the federal government has yet to reach out and address any of their demands.

CBN sells $543.5 million to stabilise the FX market

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that it sold about $543.5 million (₦844.9 billion) to authorised dealer banks through the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) between September 6 and 30.

The sale was one of the national bank’s actions to reduce the volatility in the FX market despite the rising demand for foreign exchange due to product imports.

Russia in talks of cancelling visas to some African countries

Russia has revealed that it is in the process of cancelling visas to several African countries as Moscow is working on a visa-free experience with nine countries in Africa and the Middle East.

This information was shared by Alexei Klimov, head of the Consular Department of Russian Diplomacy who stated that though the timeframe for completing the agreement was unknown, negotiations are still underway.

Moscow already has visa-free access to Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Tunisia, Mozambique, Morocco and Malawi.

University complains about expensive electricity bills for being on Band A

Christian Anieke, the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUni), Enugu State has lamented the DisCo placing the university on Band A and charging the varsity exorbitant fees for electricity consumption.

Since the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced a review in prices of electricity tariff for Band A users (from ₦66/kWh to ₦225/kWh), customers under the Band A have complained about the prices to be paid for electricity.

“It is only in Nigeria that you see things like this; billing a university like it is a business,” the Vice Chancellor said.