News In Brief Today - 8/4/2016

Happy Friday people...Read what the news says about Nigeria!

1- Buhari Receives Full Details of 2016 Budget

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the full details of the 2016 budget from the National Assembly.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, alongside his colleague, Hon. Ismaila Kawu, who brought the document to the Presidential Villa confirmed its receipt to State House correspondents.

He said: “The budget details have been transmitted to His Excellency, Mr. President today. The constitutional process begins thereafter.

2-800 Boko Haram Insurgents Offered Olive Branch by Army

The Nigerian Army has said 800 militants from the Islamist Boko Haram group who have surrendered and shown remorse will be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

According to the BBC, they would be profiled, documented and offered training in new skills at several camps currently being set up, the army spokesman said. Until now militants who surrendered were held in jail awaiting trial.

3-CBN Raises Forex Supply to Manufacturers, Oil Marketers to Get $200m for Fuel Imports

Crusoe Osagie, Obinna Chima, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Chineme Okafor in Abuja

As part of efforts to address the scarcity of foreign exchange that is impacting negatively on the real sector of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased dollar supply to manufacturers in the country.

The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Frank Jacobs, disclosed this in a phone chat with THISDAY on Thursday.

Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in its financial and operations report for February, confirmed that it would in partnership with the CBN provide up to $200 million for oil marketers to enable them meet their fuel import allocations in the second quarter of this year.

4-Panama Papers An Attempt to Blackmail, Tarnish My Reputation

Even as the dust raised by the leaking of  the names of prominent Nigerians among world leaders who operate dubious  foreign accounts and offshore companies is yet to settle, former president of the  Senate, Senator David Mark, whose name was allegedly mentioned in the report,  has denied the allegation.

In a statement signed by his media  assistant, Paul Mumeh, he said that his  hands are clean and that the inclusion of  his name is “an attempt to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned image by some  political elements.”

5- 2.8% Adult Population Diabetic – Flags off World Health Day

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal, said on Thursdaywhile flagging off World Health Day that 2.8 per cent of the nation’s adult population was diabetic.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, charged all Nigerians to create awareness on the need to eradicate diabetes.

6-Natcom To Spend $1bn In Mobile Rollout Plan to Lagos, PH, Abuja

NATCOM, the consortium which acquired the former national carrier, NITEL/Mtel, and now rebranded it to Ntel, said it planned to spend $1 billion as part of its post-acquisition plan to rollout services to Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

7-Buhari Asks Doctors to Shelve Strike, Says FG Will Honour All Valid Agreements

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the National Association of Resident

Doctors (NARD) to shelve its threatened strike action and give the Federal

Government more time to address the grievances of doctors.

8-Obasanjo Visits Buhari, Says He Never Signed Budgets without Details

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said he did not sign budgets into law without seeing the details while he was in power.

Obasanjo, who was responding comments credited to the National Assembly that during his time, he signed budgets into law without seeing the details, said the purveyors of the news needed to be contacted the second time to prove the authenticity of the information.

The former president, who spoke with the State House Correspondents after a private meeting with president, when asked why he was at the Villa, said he came to share some of his experiences with the president.

9-Forex Shortage Hits Airlines as $575m Gets Stuck in Nigeria

Airline operators in Nigeria have started feeling the negative impact of the current foreign exchange policy of the federal government, as they have an estimated build-up of $575 million held in the country, which they are unable to repatriate, according to the Financial Watch.

Experts said this development might result in a drop in investments and loss of jobs in the country’s aviation sector, as many airlines may be faced with the option of laying off staff.

10-Nollywood Movies Awards Set to Dazzle

The Nollywood Movies Channel UK, is set to dazzle Nigerians and the world as plans for the 4th Edition of the Nollywood Movies Awards, now tagged ‘The Nolly’s’ is almost concluded. This edition is sequel to the huge success of previous editions. The 2016 edition, organisers said aims to raise the bar even higher.

The Nolly’s 2016 is billed to take place on May 1 at the prestigious Land Mark Event Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

-This Day

ENTERTAINMENT

*2 finalists set for last 'American Idol' showdown - Associated Press

*Actress Storms Abuja With #Every Second Counts Nigeria Campaign - Leadership

*Alan Rickman's death ended plans for 'Galaxy Quest 2 - CNN

*Alex Iwobi: Arsenal FC youngster shares lovely family picture - Pulse

*Amber Rose supports Kim Kardashian on posting naked selfies - New Telegraph

*American Idol' ends tonight - CNN

*American music legend, Merle Haggard dies at 79

*Anne Hathaway And Husband Welcome Baby Boy - Huffington Post

*Anti-Abortionists Are the Child Donald Trump Doesn't Want - Gawker

*Art is a profession that builds conscience 'Francis Uduh - National Mirror

*Bernie Sanders Tells Spike Lee What Black Lives Matter Means To Him - Huffington Post

*Beyonc is suing fashion brand over 'Feyonc' products - Guardian

*Biodun Okeowo scrambles with generator for fuel - New Telegraph

*Blac Chyna's Mum apologizes for her negative 'jokes' towards the Kardashians-ET

*Blac Chyna: Is Tyga pretending to be happy for model - Pulse

*Cal Assistant Coach Who Was Fired For Sexual Harassment Drops Appeal And Resigns - Gawker

*It's So Easy to Lose  Track of Nicki Minaj's  Relationship Status~E

*Demi Lovato Falls Onstage  During WE Day & Bounces  Back Beautifully~E

*Rob Kardashian and Blac  Chyna's Wedding Plans  Revealed!~E

*Charlie Sheen under investigation, LAPD says - CNN

*COE students stage Ayakoroma's Dance On His Grave in Akwanga - New Telegraph

*Comedian, AY's soliloquy on haters - New Telegraph

*Court denies Kesha appeal - CNN

*Court grants Fiberesima N2m bail - The Cable

*Simon Cowell Returns for the American  Idol Finale~E

*Grey's Anatomy Finally  Reveals Why Owen Hates  Nathan~E

*Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett  Remains Furious Over Her  Mom's Tell-All~E

*Khloe Kardashian Slams Kris  Humphries~E