Nigeria Moves up 24 Places in World Bank’s Doing Business Report Ranked among 10 most improved global economies President hails rise in ranking Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Nigeria has moved up 24 places in the World Bank’s Doing Business report released yesterday and was also
recognised as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world. From last year’s 171st position in the Doing Business report, Nigeria is now ranked
145th, in a project that provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies worldwide. A statement by Vice-
President Yemi Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, quoted the vice-president as saying Nigeria had broken the jinx of a decade of decline in global rankings on the ease
of doing business. Osinbajo, who said the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) set up by the president and headed by him had worked
hard to achieve the feat, praised all stakeholders who cooperated with the council to achieve the feat. Continued on page 8
Italian Judge Expected to Rule on Eni, Shell Indictment over Malabu Oil Deal Dec 20… Page 10 Wednesday 1 November, 2017 Vol 22. No 8231. Price: N250
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New SGF Promises to Effectively Stimulate Govt Policies… Page 10
Governors Back Buhari as APC Defers Decision on Automatic Ticket President pledges to expand cabinet, constitute boards of agencies soon Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Rising from its National Executive Committee meeting yesterday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said that it has not started consideration of offering an automatic presidential ticket to President Muhammadu Buhari
to contest for a second term in the 2019 presidential election, but this was just as the party’s governors threw their weight behind the president to fly the party’s flag during the election. The party at its NEC meeting held in Abuja, Continued on page 8
N300m Was Stolen Daily from Pensioners, Alleges Maina Says assassins after him Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and John Shiklam in Kaduna The embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has finally broken his silence on the multi-billion naira pension fraud that took place when he was in charge of the reform task force four years ago, alleging that N300 million was
stolen from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation daily before the advent of the Pension Transitional Directorate (PTAD). Given that he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and afterwards by Interpol, after being indicted in the N2.1 billion pension Continued on page 8
Oando Reports N7.1bn Profit in Q3 2017... Page 10
WIKE ON CLOUD NINE... Vice-President, Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities, Dr. Taj Hamad (left), presenting the Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, during a ceremony by the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA) in New York, USA… Monday