Global Naija Info

Wedding in Iraq The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least 15 people and injured 16 others at a wedding Sunday in the Iraqi city of Karbala. A statement released by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency said four suicide attackers targeted “a Shiite gathering.” Iraqi authorities said there were five would-be suicide bombers, and that security members killed four. The attacker who targeted the wedding sprayed the crowd with automatic gunfire and threw hand grenades before detonating his suicide vest, officials said. Karbala is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Baghdad and is one of the holiest cities for Shiite Muslims. ISIS is also the prime suspect in an attack at a Turkish wedding on August 20 that killed 54 people, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. But no group has claimed responsibility. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party condemned the blast. The wedding was for one of its memb

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday nominated Mr. Ayodele Hamzat Subair for confirmation by the State House of Assembly as the new Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). In a letter to the House of Assembly read on the floor of the House, Governor Ambode, said that following the retirement of the erstwhile Chairman, Mr. Folarin Ogunsanwo who held the post since September 2015, it became expedient to quickly seek a suitable replacement in view of the vital position of the LIRS towards its revenue generation drive and in attainment of the set target of his administration to deliver good governance to the citizenry. Subair, who was born on May 21, 1960, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Metropolitan University of Manchester, United Kingdom and a Masters Degree in Business administration from the University of Lagos. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), member of

A prison Kuje Maximum Prison, Abuja, is in the news again. There was confusion at the prison on Monday as officials of the prison fired teargas at inmates. The FCT Controller of Prisons, Mr Daniel Odahro, confirmed that there was a “minor riot’’ by the inmates. “There was a minor riot at the Kuje Prison, but the situation has been brought under control,” Odahro stated in Abuja. He explained that a ‘’disagreement’’ ensued at about 10.30 a.m., on Monday, when some inmates resisted the routine search in their cells. Odahro said that the situation was subsequently brought under control by the security operatives on duty and that no inmate escaped from the facility. He dismissed claims that inmates were shot in the melee, and insisted that the situation had been completely taken care of. “There was nothing like an attempted jail break, yes we had a minor disagreement between prison officials and some inmates, who refused the routine morning search in their cells, “I can categorica

Jimoh Ibrahim. Industrialist Jimoh Ibrahim has emerged the governorship candidate of the Sen. Ali Modu-Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ondo State. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the primary election commenced on Sunday evening at the Banquet Hall of Premier Hotel, Ibadan. More than 560 accredited votes were recorded and Ibrahim polled 502 votes and his sole contender Mr Olusola Ebiseni polled 41 votes, while 17 votes was invalid. Mr Ali Gulak, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee committee, who announced Ibrahim as the winner said that the party had displayed that democracy was about the people. There were five aspirants vying for the governorship ticket of the PDP faction led by Sen. Alimodu Sheriff in Ondo State. The aspirants are Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr Olusola Ebiseni, Mr Bamiduro Dada, Mr Niran-Sule Akinsuyi and Mrs Abiye Ademuyegun. Dada, Akinsuyi and Ademuyegun withdrew from the primaries to support Ibrahim to emerge as the gover

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State The Kwara Government on Monday expressed its readiness to start implementing contributory pension scheme in the state. Dr Femi Akorede, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, made this known in Ilorin while reacting to a protest by the NLC against implementing the scheme. Akorede called on the union not to panic on the policy but be assured of prompt and regular payment of pension as at when due. He said the inability of the state to pay salaries as at when due was not an indication that it might not fulfil its financial obligation under the scheme. Akorede said there was no cause for alarm as government had already device means of contributing its own part under the scheme. “The fear is genuine that the state finds it difficult to pay salaries, but the state government has a plan to ensure its success. “Some money had been set aside, a measure is already put in place by the government and the dedu

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has advised the CBN to be careful of likely effects of its policies, actions and pronouncements. A statement by Yusuf in Lagos on Monday said that CBN’s policies, actions and pronouncements could have serious effects on the foreign exchange market. He spoke against the backdrop of recent decisions by the apex banks. The CBN barred nine banks from the foreign exchange market on Aug. 23. Also, on Friday the CBN ordered commercial banks to conduct Know Your Customers’ Businesses (KYCB) to ensure customers do not transact illegal or illicit remittances through the banks. The apex bank alleged that some banks were operating accounts either as companies or masking themselves as individuals for the purpose of illegally receiving money transfer flow Yusuf said that for now, the Nigerian foreign exchange was market highly sens

In a bid to deepen health and sanitation practices, Guinness Nigeria Plc and WaterAid Nigeria have partnered to construct two solar-powered water facilities in Gwam, Ningi Local Government Area, Bauchi State. The Guinness Nigeria/WaterAid Gwam water facility, which was formally unveiled at a colourful ceremony, is one of two major water schemes which the brewing giant has delivered this year. The projects were carried out in collaboration with its international NGO partners, and the 34th site for the Guinness Nigeria, Water of Life initiative in Nigeria. The Gwam water scheme which comprises two solar-powered boreholes and two blocks of toilets will benefit about 20,000 people. According to a statement on Monday in Lagos, Guinness Nigeria’s Corporate Relations Director, Mr Sesan Sobowale, restated the company’s commitment to initiatives that improve access to safe water. “Guinness Nigeria will continue to play a leading role to promote water stewardship in Nigeria, while thanking

Ohaneze Ndigbo Chief Celestine Okeke, the National Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, has said that Igbos were in dire need of credible and dependable leaders that would pursue their cause at the national level. Okeke stated this when he led chieftains of the organisation in Abia to confer the award of grand patron of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Abia chapter, on an Abuja-based businessman, Chief Charles Nzechi, in Umuahia on Sunday night. He said that the apex socio-cultural organisation was searching for politicians that would provide the needed credible and effective representation for the people. The Ohaneze official regretted that the present crop of politicians of Igbo extraction had not given a good account of themselves in terms of their service to the people. He extolled the legacies of late Michael Okpara who, according to him, provided effective leadership as the premier of the defunct eastern region. Okeke said that Ohaneze had always been in the forefront of identifying and proj

Pastor Ademola Popoola Pastor Ademola Popoola of C & S Movement Church English Chapel, Ilorin, on Monday, stressed the importance of unity for national development. Popoola in Ilorin said that national unity was important for the development of the country. “There are four kinds of people in the world and it is important we know the strengths and weaknesses of others to build an egalitarian society. “The inability of the people to take time to study and accommodate others led to the various social and political problems affecting the country. “Discovering oneself and knowing people for who they are determine our character and how to associate with others in the family and place of work,” he said. Popoola enjoined Nigerians to move closer to God and always pray for peace and progress of the country. According to him, it is not too late for things to work for Nigeria as a country if the people learn to do things right.

Mr. Sule Ajayi, the National Vice Chairman, North Central chapter of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has called on the electorate in Kwara to demand good governance from political leaders. Ajayi told newsmen in Ilorin on Monday that it was time leaders keyed into the politics of development rather than that of embezzlement. He said there was no way the state would experience genuine dividends of democracy if things were not done proper ways. “We must do away with politics of “godfatherism” and the electorate should rise up to challenge the government on good governance. “With that, there is no way we will not experience genuine democracy dividends because leaders will try to deliver their promises and not hide under anybody. “The ruling party has made things very difficult for other parties to grow in their exercise of power,’’ Ajayi said. He denied reports that his party was for only Igbos. “We are very much on ground in the state and have members across tribes in the n

Ali Modu-Sheriff A high court in Ondo State has barred factional leader of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his group from conducting another governorship primary election in the state. The court, presided over by Justice Omolara Adejumo granted the restraining order at 9.10 a.m. Monday. The court recognised the primary already conducted by the Clement Faboyede-led state congress which produced Eyitayo Jegede as the PDP flagbearer in the upcoming elections in the state. The state high court also ordered Jimoh Ibrahim, Chief Sola Ebiseeni, Bamiduro Dada, Niran Sule, and Abike from presenting themselves as aspirants in the proposed parallel primary.

Rev. Yakubu Pam The Northern Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has decried persistent attacks on rural farmers. Its Chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam, made the condemnation in Jos on Monday, saying that the situation could hamper the achievement of food security. “Farmers are killed on the fields and this has forced them to abandon the farms; hunger is imminent in the country if nothing is done about this.” Pam spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a regional delegates’ conference of the association taking place in the Plateau State capital. The association chairman called for special protection for farmers, stressing out that farmers were vulnerable to attacks because their farms were normally in forests. Pam also drew government’s attention the constant abduction of young girls and appealed for special security for those in the villages. “We have also observed that girls in the northern part of the country are being withdrawn from schools and f

A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Isa Kalanjeni, on Monday donated assorted relief materials worth N5 million to flood victims in Bachaka, Gudu Local Government of Sokoto State. Presenting the items, at Bachaka, Kalanjeni, who represents Gudu/Tangaza Federal Constituency, said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the victims. Kalanjeni said: “My visit here is to personally commiserate with you in your most trying times. “My donation is not in any way a compensation for your huge losses, as only God who destines the disaster is capable of doing that. “You should, however, regard the unfortunate disaster as an inevitable act of God.” The lawmaker said he had reported the incident to the House of Representatives with a view to getting relief for the victims. “I have also written to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its prompt action.” The District Head of Bachaka, Alhaji Aminu Abdulahi, commended the lawmaker for the gesture and pr

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia Alhaji Bala Sakaba, the Kebbi Chairman of Pilgrims Welfare Agency, said on Monday that a total of 3,390 pilgrims from the state had been transported to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj. Sakaba in Birnin Kebbi said that the pilgrims, who landed in Medina, were from 20 local government areas of the state . He said that they were transported by Max Airline from the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, in four flights. “Only pilgrims from Gwandu Local Government and state officials remain to be transported to the Holy Land”,” he said. The chairman commended the pilgrims for their peaceful conduct during screening and departure procedures. He also applauded the management of the airline for keeping to the flight schedules.

A cleric, Pastor Adam Kolawole of the Church of Christ Assembly, Ilorin, on Monday called for the prosecution of anybody caught selling fake alcoholic drinks in the country. Kolawole, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, said it was important to take firm action to save lives, and serve as a deterrent to others. According to him, it is not enough for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to just issue a warning to the perpetrators. “This is no longer a joking issue, we are talking about human lives, I see no reason why someone who sells fake drinks should go free. “I must commend NAFDAC for discovering this evil act, but they should not stop at this, they should make sure that the perpetrators are brought to Justice”, Kolawole said. The cleric also expressed concern over the high rate of fake and adulterated goods in the country, saying it was having a negative effect on the country’s economy and im

The collapsed building A six-storey hotel building under development collapsed on Monday morning on 444 Crescent, Citec Villas, Gwarinpa, Abuja. The incident happened at about 1a.m. Five labourers were trapped inside and three have been rescued by combined efforts of the Police, NEMA and FERMA. According to Babafemi Ojudu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, who posted pictures on his Facebook wall, the iron rods used for the pillars gave in like wood and the concrete work is as brittle as ordinary sand. Ojudu called on the Federal Capital Territory authorities to investigate those in charge of approving and supervising this construction to determine why they were so negligent. Another part of the collapsed building Said Ojudu: “Thank God it was not completed and inhabited by lodgers before collapsing. It would have been tragic.” Meanwhile efforts are still going on to rescue the two innocent laborers trapped under the rubble. NEMA and others are

Mike Adenuga Jr, Chairman, Globacom John Adebisi Gone are the days when you couldn’t talk the talk. Now you’re talking everywhere you go. Inspired to change your world, we’ve got you covered on the smartphone network. Touching lives with smile, we speak your language. We’ve got you talking. Now you can talk special. But if you talk in Naira and Kobo, talk value for money. Smart talk is better talk is true talk. Talk more for less is more or less smooth talk. Talk good talk; better talk is about the best. When in talk zone, talk safety first. Don’t text and drive. When you drive, don’t talk de go. Wherever you go, talk straight. Wherever you be, talk true. Do not say yes when you mean to say no. Ok, let’s talk the fucking talk. Before a marathon talk, take a cup of coffee. In between talk, have a tea break. Between Milo and Bournvita is Top Tea. By your side is Ovaltine. To your right is Lipton or yellow label tea. Up there is milk left and right. It may be full cream, low fat, co

Godwin Onyeacholem Over the years, it has been identified in countless studies that one of the core reasons Nigeria has failed to develop to its full potential is pervasive corruption. Corruption, it is said, runs through the entire gamut of the country’s life such that many official enquiries and probes have exposed widespread monumental fraud, bribery, embezzlement, rent seeking and kickbacks across the public and private sectors. It can’t be emphasised enough that funds which ought to have gone into building infrastructure and generally improving the lives of the people invariably end up in the pockets of some people. The result is that healthcare, education, food security, human security, job creation and other areas where funds are needed to make life meaningful to the people are severely neglected. Why? The monies budgeted for these sectors over the years are spirited away by a few heartless crooks. Today, all over the country evidence of this willful theft and unconscionabl

Soldiers on parade in Yemen At least 60 people have been killed in a suicide car bombing at a military facility in the southern Yemen city of Aden, doctors say. A training camp, or compound used by the pro-government Popular Resistance militia, was hit, reports say. So-called Islamic State said it carried out the attack. It comes amid a fresh push to end Yemen’s 17-month-old war between Saudi-backed government and rebels that the UN says has left 6,600 people dead. Some 2.5 million Yemenis have also been displaced. IS’s self-styled news agency Amaq said the group had carried out Monday’s attack. Meanwhile, the government and rebels have responded positively to a new Gulf-backed initiative to end the conflict. The plan, announced last week by the US, calls for the withdrawal of Shia Houthi rebels from the capital, Sanaa, and talks on forming a unity government. The rebels said they were prepared to restart negotiations, provided the Saudi-led coalition stopped attacking and la

Prof. Fashina A High Chief of Idaseland in Owo Kingdom, Professor Nelson Olabanji Fashina of the Department of English, University of Ibadan, UI, is relatively a household name in the institution. Several reasons could be adduced for his popularity. First, he is an eloquent and outspoken scholar who is also versatile in his academic field. He relates well with both students and staff, yet he is principled and very ideologically radical. A former coordinator, Use of English under the General Studies Programme, and a Sub-Dean Postgraduate, he was the Chairman/Convener, UI Community Forum for public interaction with the aspirants to the position of Vice-Chancellor, in 2015. Secondly, he is a tri-career individual: a professor of Literature in English who specializes in African Literature, literary theory and text stylistics, a Prophet in an Ibadan branch of Celestial Church of Christ, CCC. he is also a herbal medical doctor, “Onisegun”, who shares affiliation of traditional knowledge o

Following the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo state, the situation seems to be taking another dimension as it was discovered that unknown ritualists early Monday morning locked up the state party secretariat located at Oyemekun road in Akure. According to reports from the secretariat, the suspected ritualists put a drum-like shaped object tied with leaves, clothes and other “fetish paraphernalia” believed to be Ogun at the entrance gate to the APC secretariat office in Ondo state. It will be recalled that two weeks ago, some aggrieved party members led by Bar. Tolu Babaleye and Hon. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye had locked up the party secretariat preventing the party chairman in the state, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, from entering the office. The aggrieved group alleged that a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu moved to impose one of the governorship aspirants in the party, Mr. Segun Abraham, as the party candidate. The party chairman was also accused o

Donald Trump Donald Trump has been labelled crazy by American actor, Robert de Niro. Now the US Republican presidential candidate has earned another unedifying tag: a psychopath. David Plouffe, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama and manager of his 2008 presidential campaign said Trump met the clinical definition of the personality disorder. With a little more than two months to go before the Nov. 8 U.S. election, the comment marks another escalation in a series of blows exchanged between Trump’s camp and that of his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton. “Basically, you have a psychopath running for president. I mean, he meets the clinical definition,” Plouffe said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. When challenged, Plouffe acknowledged he had no degree in psychology but rattled off what he said were the New York businessman’s symptoms: “grandiose notion of self-worth; pathological lying; lack of empathy and remorse.” The Trump campaign did not immediately respon

Some of the okadas impounded The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit, (Taskforce ) has impounded 98 motorcycles including tricycles at Mile 2 and FESTAC areas of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The enforcement was led by the Chairman of the Taskforce, Olayinka Egbeyemi. Egbeyemi disclosed that the operation was carried out based on persistent petitions from members of the public around FESTAC and Mile 2 about criminal activities perpetrated by operators of both motorcycles and tricycles. He said that residents living around these areas complained that criminals used both okadas and tricycles to dislodge them of their valuable properties during day-time and at night. Egbeyemi said the residents, in their petition said they could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. The taskforce chairman said the agency would continue to impound and arrest violators of government’s policy on restricted routes across the State until owners and operators of both motorcyc

The engagement cum wedding ceremony between beautiful  Adetoun Adesanya and Temitayo Adedamola Oyelami took place on Saturday 27 August. Purple was the dominant colour at the well attended ceremony held at the Grand Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Adetoun is the daughter of businessman Prince Adetayo Adesanya and Princess Abimbola Adesanya, while Adedamola is the son of Mr. Timothy Ademola Oyelami, former senior partner and present consultant with OSA, a firm of Chartered Accountants based in Ibadan. Adesanya is the founding chairman of  TheNEWS group. Here are  some of the photographic highlights of the event: Temitayo Adedamola Oyelami and his wife Adetoun Adesanya Adedamola Oyelami and Adetoun Oyelami Prince Tayo Adesanya and Princess Abimbola Adesanya with Adetoun Adedamola with his parents, Mr and Mrs Ademola Oyelami The Adesanyas with their daughters, Adetoun and Banke The Oyelamis pose with friends of the bride Dr Yemi

Jimoh Wasiu of Shooting Stars Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Sunday thrashed Kano Pillars Football Club by 4-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 33. The Ibadan club scored first through Ifegwu Ojukwu and Ajani Ibrahim in the 8th and 29th minutes respectively Sunday Adetunji scored a brace in the 48th and 64th minute bringing the tally to four by the home team. Coach Gbenga Ogunbote of 3SC said the result reflected his team’s hard work and preparedness. “We have to double-up our efforts not to lose. The players are aware that they must win the match. The team was psychologically motivated to win,’’ he said. Ogunbote said that his team was attack-minded because they really needed to win the match. He said that they still have five games left and must finish the season in a comfortable position. According to him, the team is looking forward to their next away match with Plateau United. Tolu Olaifa, a 3SC player who spoke on behalf of his

Paramedics treating some of the injured at the Notting Hill Carnival event Four people have been stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival, with one man fighting for his life in hospital. The man was knifed in Wornington Road just before 4.30pm today, police said. Emergency services were called to Wornington Road in Kensington and Chelsea at 4.25pm on Sunday, the day the festival is dedicated to children and families. A second man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Minutes later, police were called to another stabbing on Portobello Road, taking one person to the hospital. And less than an hour after that, two men were stabbed on Ladbroke Grove. They were also taken to the hospital. The men were among 345 people treated by ambulance workers at the carnival, with 43 of them taken to the hospital. The Police according to Sky News said they had arrested 71 people, including two for sex offences, 50 for drugs, 13 for possession of offensive weapons and others for th

Babangida and the month of August General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Ibrahim Babangida, IBB for style, has some special dates in August. He was born on 17 August 1941. He marked the birthday this month. On 27 August 1985, he overthrew Major General Muhammadu Buhari in a coup. It was exactly 31 years yesterday. And he stepped aside from office on 27 August 1993. For eight years that he ruled, his regime was characterised by high dribbles (for which he was nicknamed Maradona), brutality, deceit and Don Corleone or Godfather type of generosity. And 23 years after he left power, many Nigerians still remember his government with love or hate, depending on which side they belong. How did IBB get the ideas that gave his regime its notoriety or popularity? In the following feature, TheNEWS reveals how he and his August 1985 to August 1993 regime were greatly influenced by Niccolo Machiavelli’s classic, The Prince. We present two pieces written by Adebayo Williams (IBB: The lonely long dis

Niger Delta Avengers The Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, says Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka cannot represent them in the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government, insisting on Chief Edwin Clark as their representatives. The group said its high command was bothered again on the insensitivity to the genuine plight of the Niger Delta agitation by every successive government of Nigeria and the present handlers of the All Progressives Congress, APC government. “We are amazed that Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been taken on the jugular by enemies of the Niger Delta because of his belief that the government of the day should understand the need to restructure and listen to the Niger Delta agitation positively,” said Mudoch Agbinibo, NDA’s spokesman in a statement on its website. “That we, the NDA have named Prof. Wole Soyinka and some incredible names to advise and lead any group is the lie of the century. The handwriting is so clear that our Nobel laureate’s name is going the infamous wa

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Jethro Ibileke/Benin A former Sergeant at Arms of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Greg Osagie, escaped death Saturday night when unknown gunmen attacked his residence. Osagie who recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), was allegedly attacked shortly after returning from a political meeting. His residence located off Stadium Road, was riddled with bullets at about 8.30 pm. According to him, “When I was coming back at about 8:30 p.m. from a political meeting, I saw a jeep parked close to my house. But I thought it was visitors who came to see my neighbour. So I drove into my compound. “I was just removing my shoes when they shot at my bedroom. Bullets started flying everywhere in the compound. They were calling me but I had to run outside through the back and escaped through the fence. So, they decided to destroy everywhere with bullets. My political opponents wanted me to play a script to discredit APC but I said no and tha