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Facebook’s 22.4millon Nigerian users will see some of the applications they are used to suspended or removed, as the firm continues to improve its privacy status. 

In a blog post seen by the GuardianUK, the United States-based social platform, said it had suspended tens of thousands of apps from just 400 developers across the world and are still investigating millions more.

It said, “As each month goes by, we have incorporated what we learned and re-examined the ways that developers can build using our platforms.

“We’ve also improved the ways we investigate and enforce against potential policy violations that we find.” 

The company said it is working with hundreds of contributors including attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists, and teams within Facebook.

Some of the applications that have been affected by the investigation include My personalityapp and South Korean firm Rankwave. 

Facebook has also taken action against LionMobiand JediMobi, companies that used apps to infect user’s phones with malware to generate profit and two Ukrainian men for using quiz apps to scrape user data from the platform.

“App developers remain a vital part of the Facebookecosystem. 

“They help to make our world more social and more engaging. But people need to know we’re protecting their privacy.” 

These investigations are an offshoot of the catastrophic scandal that hit the firm in March 2018.

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Facebook’s 22.4millon Nigerian users will see some of the applications they are used to suspended or removed, as the firm continues to improve its privacy status. 

In a blog post seen by the GuardianUK, the United States-based social platform, said it had suspended tens of thousands of apps from just 400 developers across the world and are still investigating millions more.

It said, “As each month goes by, we have incorporated what we learned and re-examined the ways that developers can build using our platforms.

“We’ve also improved the ways we investigate and enforce against potential policy violations that we find.” 

The company said it is working with hundreds of contributors including attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists, and teams within Facebook.

Some of the applications that have been affected by the investigation include My personalityapp and South Korean firm Rankwave. 

Facebook has also taken action against LionMobiand JediMobi, companies that used apps to infect user’s phones with malware to generate profit and two Ukrainian men for using quiz apps to scrape user data from the platform.

“App developers remain a vital part of the Facebookecosystem. 

“They help to make our world more social and more engaging. But people need to know we’re protecting their privacy.” 

These investigations are an offshoot of the catastrophic scandal that hit the firm in March 2018.

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Pills, beverages, food seasonings and other items produced with components from cassava, are likely to witness spike in prices. 

This is the submission of Managing Director of Crest Agro, an indigenous cassava processing firm, Tunde Solaja.

He, however, held that the forex restriction on by-products of the abundantly produced tuber will encourage investors to aggressively meet local demand.

He said, “Within three years, it (products made from processed cassava) will increase if there is consistency in the government’s policy. 

“I’ve always had issues with all the bans I’ve heard. Every ban in Nigeria is to create businesses for people.” 

Lydia Oyewole, who works in the Fadama set-up in Kogi State, has a different view from that of Solaja. 

She feels investors in the cassava processing industry are not sufficient and the government should have worked on building an enabling environment before attempting an importation ban.

She said, “We have enough cassava in our country but we don’t have enough industries to turn this raw material into ethanol. 

“We have had cases where we have heard the largest ethanol factory, the largest starch factory is coming to our state — Kogi State. 

“What the Nigerian Government is supposed to give them to establish those factories in the country, they are not giving them their own aspect of the deal.” 

Solaja whose company has been in the country for about three years, said if cassava investors had to wait for the government to provide infrastructure such as power, water and roads before restricting access to the importation of derivatives from the multipurpose tuber, then they might as well wait forever.

He said, “A lot of people are quite discouraged with the corn starch coming from the international market because we can’t compete.

“When you’re producing in Nigeria, you have to do everything yourself – you’re producing your own power, water, building your own road.

“I share the view that infrastructural development should come first but when you look at infrastructural development in Nigeria, it goes beyond the cassava industry. 

“If the government wants to wait to build infrastructure, what it means is that it will never happen.

“I think a ban like this will at least encourage investors to come in, seeing that there is a gap to be filled.”

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had on Thursday, in a meeting with some state governors in Abuja disclosed government’s intent to restrict access to forex for the importation of cassava products into the country. 

Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer but just like with petroleum, it does not process enough to meet demand. 

Cassava is a multipurpose product that serves the pharmaceutical, petroleum, livestock and food industries. 

Nigeria depends on imported starch and ethanol to meet local demand.

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Pills, beverages, food seasonings and other items produced with components from cassava, are likely to witness spike in prices. 

This is the submission of Managing Director of Crest Agro, an indigenous cassava processing firm, Tunde Solaja.

He, however, held that the forex restriction on by-products of the abundantly produced tuber will encourage investors to aggressively meet local demand.

He said, “Within three years, it (products made from processed cassava) will increase if there is consistency in the government’s policy. 

“I’ve always had issues with all the bans I’ve heard. Every ban in Nigeria is to create businesses for people.” 

Lydia Oyewole, who works in the Fadama set-up in Kogi State, has a different view from that of Solaja. 

She feels investors in the cassava processing industry are not sufficient and the government should have worked on building an enabling environment before attempting an importation ban.

She said, “We have enough cassava in our country but we don’t have enough industries to turn this raw material into ethanol. 

“We have had cases where we have heard the largest ethanol factory, the largest starch factory is coming to our state — Kogi State. 

“What the Nigerian Government is supposed to give them to establish those factories in the country, they are not giving them their own aspect of the deal.” 

Solaja whose company has been in the country for about three years, said if cassava investors had to wait for the government to provide infrastructure such as power, water and roads before restricting access to the importation of derivatives from the multipurpose tuber, then they might as well wait forever.

He said, “A lot of people are quite discouraged with the corn starch coming from the international market because we can’t compete.

“When you’re producing in Nigeria, you have to do everything yourself – you’re producing your own power, water, building your own road.

“I share the view that infrastructural development should come first but when you look at infrastructural development in Nigeria, it goes beyond the cassava industry. 

“If the government wants to wait to build infrastructure, what it means is that it will never happen.

“I think a ban like this will at least encourage investors to come in, seeing that there is a gap to be filled.”

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had on Thursday, in a meeting with some state governors in Abuja disclosed government’s intent to restrict access to forex for the importation of cassava products into the country. 

Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer but just like with petroleum, it does not process enough to meet demand. 

Cassava is a multipurpose product that serves the pharmaceutical, petroleum, livestock and food industries. 

Nigeria depends on imported starch and ethanol to meet local demand.

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Zungeru Hydro Electricity PM NEWS

The order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission that electricity generated by the country’s hydro plants should be fully utilised, will lead to a reduction in the maximisation of power produced by gas-heated plants. 

This is according to the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Joy Agaji.

Agaji said the order was in line with current weather conditions but constraints on the national grid will mean that other power plants will have to take a backseat, while the 1,500MW of power from Jebba, Sharoro and Kainji power stations are fully absorbed.

She said, “This directive is understandable given the risks of flooding. 

“However, this means that thermal plants will suffer since load allocation is fixed. 

“Therefore, they will be dispatched less. There is an electricity dispatch schedule for every plant but there are always exceptions to every rule. 

“The flooding of communities is one of those exceptions to the rule. 

“Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have affected the thermal plants but for the limitation of the national grid. 

“If you put the capacity of the hydros together, it’s about 1,500, while the available generation capacity is 7,500. 

“If what the Transmission Company of Nigeria is claiming that the grid has 8,100MW carrying capacity, nobody will be short-changed.” 

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had on August 15 said poor distribution of infrastructure forced power generation down to 4,000MW. 

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Zungeru Hydro Electricity PM NEWS

The order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission that electricity generated by the country’s hydro plants should be fully utilised, will lead to a reduction in the maximisation of power produced by gas-heated plants. 

This is according to the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Joy Agaji.

Agaji said the order was in line with current weather conditions but constraints on the national grid will mean that other power plants will have to take a backseat, while the 1,500MW of power from Jebba, Sharoro and Kainji power stations are fully absorbed.

She said, “This directive is understandable given the risks of flooding. 

“However, this means that thermal plants will suffer since load allocation is fixed. 

“Therefore, they will be dispatched less. There is an electricity dispatch schedule for every plant but there are always exceptions to every rule. 

“The flooding of communities is one of those exceptions to the rule. 

“Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have affected the thermal plants but for the limitation of the national grid. 

“If you put the capacity of the hydros together, it’s about 1,500, while the available generation capacity is 7,500. 

“If what the Transmission Company of Nigeria is claiming that the grid has 8,100MW carrying capacity, nobody will be short-changed.” 

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had on August 15 said poor distribution of infrastructure forced power generation down to 4,000MW. 

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Players in the finance sector say they are unsure of the thinking behind the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to effect N50 per N1,000 transaction online.

In two circulars, which became effective on Tuesday and Wednesday, the apex bank placed levies on withdrawals and deposits into money deposit banks— a move experts acknowledge could enhance the cashless policy drive and mandate retailers to collect N50 for every N1,000 online transaction they carry out.

One expert said, “I’m not sure what the CBN and the government want to achieve.”

Founder of Cowry Assets Management LTD, Johnson Chukwu, told SaharaReportersthat the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN will need to harmonise its policies.

He said, “The Central Bank and the fiscal authorities have to harmonise their position on what they want to achieve.

“Do they (CBN and fiscal authorities) want to drive cashless policy or want to compel people to go back to cash transactions and avoid the banking system?”

Expressing similar sentiments, Pauline Ezeh, who retired as a bank branch manager, said the apex bank discouraged the same thing they were trying to encourage at the same time.

She said, “What they (CBN) were trying to do with the charge on withdrawal and cash lodgement is to discourage cash transactions.

“They went wrong by trying to discourage Point Of Sale transactions.”

Head of Research at United Capital, Wale Olusi, believes Nigerians were over-reacting to the new policy by the CBN.

He said, “On the withdrawal and deposits, I think the public is over reacting.

“The CBN had already issued a rejoinder explaining that the two per cent fee on withdrawal or the three per cent fee on deposits will be on the extra sum – N100 paid alongside the N500,000 and not the N500,000 itself.”

Supporting Olusi’s view is Yinka Ogunubi, an economist and finance expert.

Writing on finance-focused website, Proshare, Ogunubi said Nigerians were “good at majoring on the minor while avoiding totally the weightier matters”. 

Chukwu however, feels having both policies in operation hits filling stations and retail businesses with small profit margins on all sides.

He added, “There are businesses that have very low margins and what the CBN is doing is taking their capital not their profit.

“What do you expect the filling station owner to do? They will take away all the POS and tell the customers to pay with cash.”

He concluded that the policy will simply compel people to stick to cash transactions, which appears perplexing to him.

According to the first circular by the CBN, there will be three per cent processing fee for withdrawals and two per cent for lodgements of amounts above N500,000 for individual accounts.

Also, corporate accounts will attract five per cent processing fee for withdrawals and three per cent for lodgements of amounts above N3m.

The statement noted that the charge on deposits shall apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers states including the Federal Capital Territory.

A country-wide implementation of the cashless policy would take effect from March 31, 2020.

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Players in the finance sector say they are unsure of the thinking behind the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to effect N50 per N1,000 transaction online.

In two circulars, which became effective on Tuesday and Wednesday, the apex bank placed levies on withdrawals and deposits into money deposit banks— a move experts acknowledge could enhance the cashless policy drive and mandate retailers to collect N50 for every N1,000 online transaction they carry out.

One expert said, “I’m not sure what the CBN and the government want to achieve.”

Founder of Cowry Assets Management LTD, Johnson Chukwu, told SaharaReportersthat the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN will need to harmonise its policies.

He said, “The Central Bank and the fiscal authorities have to harmonise their position on what they want to achieve.

“Do they (CBN and fiscal authorities) want to drive cashless policy or want to compel people to go back to cash transactions and avoid the banking system?”

Expressing similar sentiments, Pauline Ezeh, who retired as a bank branch manager, said the apex bank discouraged the same thing they were trying to encourage at the same time.

She said, “What they (CBN) were trying to do with the charge on withdrawal and cash lodgement is to discourage cash transactions.

“They went wrong by trying to discourage Point Of Sale transactions.”

Head of Research at United Capital, Wale Olusi, believes Nigerians were over-reacting to the new policy by the CBN.

He said, “On the withdrawal and deposits, I think the public is over reacting.

“The CBN had already issued a rejoinder explaining that the two per cent fee on withdrawal or the three per cent fee on deposits will be on the extra sum – N100 paid alongside the N500,000 and not the N500,000 itself.”

Supporting Olusi’s view is Yinka Ogunubi, an economist and finance expert.

Writing on finance-focused website, Proshare, Ogunubi said Nigerians were “good at majoring on the minor while avoiding totally the weightier matters”. 

Chukwu however, feels having both policies in operation hits filling stations and retail businesses with small profit margins on all sides.

He added, “There are businesses that have very low margins and what the CBN is doing is taking their capital not their profit.

“What do you expect the filling station owner to do? They will take away all the POS and tell the customers to pay with cash.”

He concluded that the policy will simply compel people to stick to cash transactions, which appears perplexing to him.

According to the first circular by the CBN, there will be three per cent processing fee for withdrawals and two per cent for lodgements of amounts above N500,000 for individual accounts.

Also, corporate accounts will attract five per cent processing fee for withdrawals and three per cent for lodgements of amounts above N3m.

The statement noted that the charge on deposits shall apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers states including the Federal Capital Territory.

A country-wide implementation of the cashless policy would take effect from March 31, 2020.

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Kehinde Musa, a 25-year-old man, has killed himself after he was dumped by his girlfriend for another man.

According to the spokesperson for the police in Lagos, Bala Elkana, Musa allegedly drank a popular insecticide after sending a suicide note to the said lady.

He said, “At about 6:30p,m Surulere Police Station received information that one Kehinde Musa of number 56, Modele Street, Surulere, locked himself in his room and drank a poisonous substance.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased earlier sent a suicide text message to his ex-girlfriend, Rasheedat Animashaun, informing her that he will take his life since she decided to quit the relationship.

“The said girlfriend promptly informed his family about the text message he sent to her and they rushed to his house, broke the door and found him unconscious.

“He was rushed to a hospital but unable to make it. His corpse has been deposited to the mortuary for autopsy.”

Similarly, Elkana said that one Dominic Ukaegbu, Chief Security Officer of Farest Mercantile Company Limited, Mushin, Lagos, reported that one Honda City car with Registration number KRD 755, belonging to the company, was removed from the park.

He said that on the strength of the report, detectives from Mushin Division launched a search for the stolen vehicle and recovered it along Western Avenue area of Surulere, Lagos.

Elkana added, “One Ebosie Ugochukwu was arrested while negotiating to sell the stolen car at the rate of N400, 000.

“The suspects has confessed to the commission of the crime.” 

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Kehinde Musa, a 25-year-old man, has killed himself after he was dumped by his girlfriend for another man.

According to the spokesperson for the police in Lagos, Bala Elkana, Musa allegedly drank a popular insecticide after sending a suicide note to the said lady.

He said, “At about 6:30p,m Surulere Police Station received information that one Kehinde Musa of number 56, Modele Street, Surulere, locked himself in his room and drank a poisonous substance.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased earlier sent a suicide text message to his ex-girlfriend, Rasheedat Animashaun, informing her that he will take his life since she decided to quit the relationship.

“The said girlfriend promptly informed his family about the text message he sent to her and they rushed to his house, broke the door and found him unconscious.

“He was rushed to a hospital but unable to make it. His corpse has been deposited to the mortuary for autopsy.”

Similarly, Elkana said that one Dominic Ukaegbu, Chief Security Officer of Farest Mercantile Company Limited, Mushin, Lagos, reported that one Honda City car with Registration number KRD 755, belonging to the company, was removed from the park.

He said that on the strength of the report, detectives from Mushin Division launched a search for the stolen vehicle and recovered it along Western Avenue area of Surulere, Lagos.

Elkana added, “One Ebosie Ugochukwu was arrested while negotiating to sell the stolen car at the rate of N400, 000.

“The suspects has confessed to the commission of the crime.” 

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A 21-year-old man, Usman Abubakar, has been arrested for raping 10 of his boss' children.

According to the Zonal Commander of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person and other Related Matters, Hassan Tahir, the young man confessed to the act following his arrest.

Abubakar has allegedly been sodomising the children since he got into their parents' home at Rungumi area of Sokoto South Local Government Area of Sokoto State 10 years ago.

He said he was introduced to the act by one Mallam Muntari when he was only five years old.

Tahir said that the suspect will soon be charged to court.

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A 21-year-old man, Usman Abubakar, has been arrested for raping 10 of his boss' children.

According to the Zonal Commander of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person and other Related Matters, Hassan Tahir, the young man confessed to the act following his arrest.

Abubakar has allegedly been sodomising the children since he got into their parents' home at Rungumi area of Sokoto South Local Government Area of Sokoto State 10 years ago.

He said he was introduced to the act by one Mallam Muntari when he was only five years old.

Tahir said that the suspect will soon be charged to court.

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The bus was carrying Chinese tourists near Bryce Canyon National Park when it veered off the road.

Three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Adetutu Ibrahim, a Point of Sales agent in Akure, Ondo State, have been released by the police, Sahara Reporters has learnt.

Mrs Adebusola known as 'Madam Gold', Mrs Teju, and Mrs Ilori, a former bank worker, were arrested as main suspects following reports by family of the deceased at a police station.

Ibrahim was killed by some gunmen on the August 29, 2019 at the Oke-Ogba area of Akure, the state capital.
It was gathered that the gunmen numbering about three killed the victim at her shop. 

A family source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the suspects were freed by the police on Friday.

He said, "Police have released the three of them (suspects), they are no longer in detention.

"We met with Commissioner of Police over it and he said that they can't continue to keep the three of them in custody. 

"He told us that since police commenced their investigation, nothing has linked the suspects to the death of Ibrahim. 

"The agreement is that any time they need the suspects to help in investigation, they must honour such invite." 

When contacted, spokesperson for the police in Ondo, Femi Joseph, said he was not aware if the suspects had been released from custody. 

He said, "I am not yet aware if they had been released but I can confirm to you that we are seriously on the case."
 

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Three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Adetutu Ibrahim, a Point of Sales agent in Akure, Ondo State, have been released by the police, Sahara Reporters has learnt.

Mrs Adebusola known as 'Madam Gold', Mrs Teju, and Mrs Ilori, a former bank worker, were arrested as main suspects following reports by family of the deceased at a police station.

Ibrahim was killed by some gunmen on the August 29, 2019 at the Oke-Ogba area of Akure, the state capital.
It was gathered that the gunmen numbering about three killed the victim at her shop. 

A family source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the suspects were freed by the police on Friday.

He said, "Police have released the three of them (suspects), they are no longer in detention.

"We met with Commissioner of Police over it and he said that they can't continue to keep the three of them in custody. 

"He told us that since police commenced their investigation, nothing has linked the suspects to the death of Ibrahim. 

"The agreement is that any time they need the suspects to help in investigation, they must honour such invite." 

When contacted, spokesperson for the police in Ondo, Femi Joseph, said he was not aware if the suspects had been released from custody. 

He said, "I am not yet aware if they had been released but I can confirm to you that we are seriously on the case."
 

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The "defensive" deployment comes after attacks on Saudi oil installations, which it blames on Iran,

Hip hop artiste, Naira Marley, was on Friday night stopped from performing at a show inside the campus of the University of Lagos, Akoka.

The event organised by mobile phone manufacturer, Infinix, is currently taking place at the Sports Centre of the institution.

According to findings by SaharaReporters, the decision to stop Naira Marley from performing stems from his poor public perception and ongoing court case over cyber fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

More details shortly…
 

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Benjamin Netanyahu's political base has fractured, leading to an uncertain future.

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Indian Prime Minister Modi will address supporters in Houston, where he will be joined by Donald Trump.