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US Empowers Nigerian Businesses to Benefit from Its Market Opportunities

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By Gloria Ikibah
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Prosper Africa, a U.S. government Presidential-level national security initiative, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria and key Nigerian government institutions, has played host to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) workshop aimed to empower Nigerian businesses to benefit from U.S. market opportunities.
Naijablitznews.com reports that AGOA is a program that allows eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa to export 6,800 different products to the United States without paying tariffs or facing limits on the amount they can export.
The two-day workshop, organized in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), provided valuable training to export-ready Nigerian businesses. It focused on businesses in the agriculture, manufacturing, textile, and apparel sectors, and had in attendance customs and trade officials.
Over 200 participants learned about the requirements for benefiting from AGOA, strategies for export growth, and practical guidance on improving the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian exports. They also received practical guidance on navigating the U.S. market, enhancing trade capacity, and the benefits of strengthening trade relations between Nigeria and the United States.
Speaking at the workshop for the apparel and textile sector, USAID Nigeria Mission Director Melissa Jones said, “Diversifying Nigeria’s export base away from crude oil is extremely important if the country is to shield its economy from the volatility it currently suffers. Nigeria is a critical partner in U.S.-Africa trade and this AGOA workshop represents a unique opportunity for Nigerian businesses to increase their presence in the U.S. market.”
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens also urged the participants to take full advantage of the preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.  “We remain as committed as ever to the goal of creating the necessary conditions for a long-term, durable trade and investment relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria,” Consul General Stevens added.
The workshop was held in response to a request by the Nigerian government during the Bi-National Commission in April 2024, to train Nigerian businesses on how to effectively utilize and benefit from AGOA.
Prosper Africa coordinates across 17 US government agencies to increase trade and investment between the United States and the African continent, including supporting strategic efforts to increase AGOA utilization at scale. Since June 2019, Prosper Africa, in collaboration across the US government, has closed trade deals valued at $509 million dollars.
The U.S. Government, through Prosper Africa, is also a sponsor of this year’s Lagos Fashion week scheduled for October 23-27.  Prosper Africa works with partners to leverage innovation, technology and collaboration, transforming U.S.-Africa trade and investment into dynamic, sustainable and empowering relationships.
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SAD! 10 Family Members Die In Private Jet Crash

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A tragic plane crash in the city of Gramado, southern Brazil, has claimed the lives of ten family members of influential businessman, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi.

The crash involved a private plane piloted by Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi. He, along with his wife, three daughters, and other family members, died in the crash, according to a statement from his company.

The small aircraft reportedly struck a building’s chimney, as well as a house and a shop, before crashing. Local authorities confirmed that 17 people on the ground were injured, with two in serious condition.

Mr. Galeazzi, 61, was reportedly taking his family on a trip to Jundiaí, São Paulo state. All ten victims were members of his family, as confirmed by the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite.

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The plane had taken off in poor weather conditions. The aircraft flew for about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) before crashing into the urban area just minutes after takeoff on Sunday morning.

An eyewitness, Nadia Hansen, described hearing the plane revving up before it hit the building. “At the time, it was revving up. You could see that it was accelerating a lot,” Hansen said. “Then there was a bang as it hit the building and then it passed close to my house and then it fell, and I thought it had dropped in front of the house.”

Emergency workers were seen at the crash site, attending to the wreckage and debris from damaged buildings. Galeazzi was the CEO of Galeazzi & Associados, a corporate restructuring and crisis management firm based in São Paulo. His company expressed its condolences in a LinkedIn statement, honoring Galeazzi’s dedication to his family and his professional legacy.

The crash occurred near the center of Gramado, hitting a house, furniture store, and hotel. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa). Governor Leite assured that the state was mobilized to provide necessary assistance.

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Gramado, a well-known tourist destination, has recently been hit hard by devastating flooding earlier this year, which caused extensive damage and displaced thousands of residents.

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Renovation: Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters to gulp N6.36bn

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The Federal Government has allocated a total of N6,364,181,224 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the residential quarters of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some of their aides in the 2025 budget proposal.

Sunday PUNCH’s analysis of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa would gulp N5.49bn.

According to the proposed budget, N765m will be used for the renovation of the Vice President’s quarters and guest house.

The renovation of the president’s quarters at the State House will cost N6.39m, while the renovation of security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium and presidential aides’ quarters will cost N49m.

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In addition, the renovation of Prescott barracks at Maple State House officers’ mess building and signal office in Asokoro, Abuja will cost N51m.

Further analysis of the budget revealed that Tinubu and his vice are also expected to have N87m as honorarium and sitting allowances, while N127m was allocated for the procurement of SUVs.

Also, N3.66bn was budgeted for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1,09bn will be spent on replacement of SUV vehicles at the State House.

Under the budget of the State House Lagos Liaison Office, there is an allocation of N14.72m for the routine maintenance of State House Lagos facilities (Dodan Barracks, Vice President guest houses at Ikoyi, among others).

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Another N140.10m was allocated for the completion of renovation and furnishing of the State House annex (Dodan Barracks), Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to spend N1.83bn on converting forfeited properties from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into State House quarters.

The plan to convert forfeited houses from the EFCC comes in the same month that the commission disclosed the recovery of an estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.

The commission described this as its “single largest asset recovery” since its inception in 2003.

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The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 of the district, and was forfeited in a ruling on Monday, December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

(Punch)

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SEE NAIRA Rates Against The USD, GBP, EURO Today December 23, 2024

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WHEN we look at this month, USD was traded at ₦ at the beginning of this December on Monday, December 2, 2024. As at today with USD being traded at ₦1,655 we see a % for United States Dollar to Naira exchange rate for this month.

On this page, we are primarily focusing on the Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, the USD to Naira currency pair are the most traded currency in the FX market.

Black Market Exchange Rates
Buying Rate
Selling Rate
Dollar to Naira 1655 1640
Pounds to Naira 2150 2000
Euro to Naira 1730 1700
Canadian Dollar to Naira 1146 1135
Rand to Naira 52 43
Dirham to Naira ‎0 0
Yuan to Naira 62 62
G.Cedi to Nair 70 50
CFA F. (XOF) To Naira 0.83 0.81
CFA F. (XAF) To Naira 0.74 0.74
READ ALSO: INSIDE LIFE: 26-Year-Old Lady Died In Bangladesh With No One To Claim Her Body, She Is A Nigerian From Enugu (SEE PHOTO)

Having full knowledge how much USD to NGN black market exchange rate today will give you a better opportunity to plan and make informed decisions.

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