Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November 12, 2016

President Buhari congratulates victorious Super Eagles

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Eagles for outstanding 3-1 victory over Desert Foxes of Algeria in the African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The President, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, joined millions of football loving fans in the country in celebrating the very-much improved national team for meeting nation’s expectations during the “entertaining and action-soaked encounter”. The statement was signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. The President commended the team and its handlers for displaying “uncommon strength, determination and high professionalism in the onward and steady progress to the 2018 tournament in Russia. President Buhari assured that with the six points so far gathered from two impressive wins by the team, the Federal Government, and all Nigerians would continue to support them to make the nation proud. The President also commended the Akw

Clinton blames defeat on FBI director

Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton has blamed her defeat in the US presidential election on interventions by the FBI director. James Comey’s announcement of a new inquiry into her use of email while secretary of state shortly before election day had stopped her campaign’s momentum, Mrs Clinton said. The Democratic candidate was speaking to top party donors in a phone call, which was leaked to the media. Protests are continuing against the victory of her rival, Donald Trump. About 2,000 people have been marching through the New York borough of Manhattan, to shouts of “not my president”, as they head for the skyscraper where the president-elect lives. Advertisement American cities have seen nightly protests by activists furious at the property tycoon’s controversial policies. Mr Trump seems to be rowing back on some of his campaign pledges. Having pledged to scrap President Barack Obama’s healthcare law dubbed “Obamacare”, he now says he is open to leaving intact key parts of the a

Rescued Chibok girls: Presidency denies paying Boko Haram $21 million

President Muhammadu Buhari The Presidency on Saturday dismissed media reports that 21 million dollars was paid as ransom to secure the recent release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja. Shehu enjoined members of the public to disregard the reports, saying “this loose talk is journalism at its most irresponsible and it’s most dismaying’’. According to him, President Buhari’s administration is a responsible government that is run on the basis of the constitution and budgets duly appropriated by the National Assembly. “We have no such money under any allocation to pay out this outrageous sum of money as ransom,’’ he said. He said, “Beyond the call of journalism, the newspaper making this charge has a national duty to point how and where this money was paid, and to supply leads as to where the `powerful weapons` were bought by the terrorists.’’ The

Pictures: Godwin Obaseki’s inauguration as Edo governor

Mr Godwin Obaseki on Saturday, 12 November 2016, took the oath of office as the Governor of Edo State at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the state capital. The stadium was filled to capacity during the inauguration. Here are some pictures taken at the event by Jethro Ibileke. Obaseki waving to the crowd after his swearing in as Governor of Edo State Obaseki signing the oath register after being sworn in as governor Obaseki taking his oath of office Former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Iara, bidding the crowd goodbye after the inauguration Obaseki and his wife after the oath taking ceremony

Couple stabs husband, wife 10 times

The complainant The Police at Maroko division, Lekki, Lagos have arrested a couple, Paul Nnamdi Obodo a.k.a Opoko, 33 and his wife, Cynthia Obodo, 28 for allegedly stabbing their neighbours, Moses Ayemi and his wife Jovita Ayemi with broken bottle 10 times. The victims, according to the police charge sheet, were stabbed for allegedly accusing the suspects of pouring urine on their doorstep. The victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment while the suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of felony, to wit: inflicting injury occasioning bodily harm. The victim Police prosecutor, Sergeant T. O. Tubi, informed the court in charge No N/11/2016 that the couple committed the alleged offence at 8, Bakare Street, Ikate, Lekki Phase I, Lagos where they reside with the victims. He said the complainants told the police that they warned the suspects not to pour urine on their doorstep but they failed to heed the warning. He said th

Measles kill 134,000 children in 2015-Report

Margaret Chan, President of the World Health Organisation, WHO. Kazeem Ugbodaga A report released by the World Health Organisation, WHO, has disclosed that measles killed 134,000 children in 2015 with third world countries the most hit. The report said despite a 79% worldwide decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015, nearly 400 children still die from the disease every day. “Making measles history is not mission impossible,” said Robin Nandy, UNICEF Immunization Chief. “We have the tools and the knowledge to do it; what we lack is the political will to reach every single child, no matter how far. Without this commitment, children will continue to die from a disease that is easy and cheap to prevent.” Mass measles vaccination campaigns and a global increase in routine measles vaccination coverage saved an estimated 20.3 million young lives between 2000 and 2015, according to UNICEF; WHO; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How Donald Trump defeated the American media

Victorious Donald Trump savouring victory in the US Presidential Election Donald Trump’s stunning and “upset” victory over Hillary Clinton in the recent US presidential election should primarily go down in history as the triumph of a political outsider over a corrupt and arrogant media industrial-complex, not necessarily as the triumph of a derided billionaire against a woman that was a political insider like no other. The US media claims it did not see Trump’s victory coming. It did; it just turned its evil and uber-partisan eyes away from a nagging probability that was unfolding before its very eyes. Instead of confronting, or better still, reporting that reality it turned to manipulating obvious and not-so-obvious facts, while allowing itself to be blinded by its not-too-subtle political and ideological preferences. The subject of the media is one that is obviously very close to my heart. I worked as a full-time journalist in Nigeria for close to a decade from the late 80s to 19

CSR key to securing multi-billion dollars LFTZ Investment-LASG

Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Mr. Popson Jayesinmi (6th right); Chairman, Lekki Area Development Association, Alhaji Tajudeen Jegede (7th left); Lagos Free Trade Zone Company (LFTZC) Representative, Mr. Gokil Rajan (6th left); Representative of Rendeavour, Mr. Stephen Hynes (5th left) with other participants during a 3-Day Workshop on Community Service and Relations for Stakeholders in the Lekki Free Trade Zone Communities at the La Campagne Tropicana, Lekki, Lagos, on Friday. Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government on Friday charged investors in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, corridor to step up their Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSR, to the host communities as that is one of the ways to secure the multi-billion dollars investment in the corridor. The government said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration was passionate about the investment in the corridor as it is the future hub of commerce and industry in Afric

Super Eagles on rampage, trash Algeria 3-1

Mikel celebrates after scoring against Algeria Two goals from Chelsea sensation, Victor Moses and another goal from Mikel Obi gave Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles 3-1 victory against Algeria in 2018 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Nigeria. The result ensured that Nigeria maintain a perfect start in the qualifiers and stands top in Group B with maximum six points from two games so far. Nabilr Bentaleb got Algeria’s only goal of the match but it was not enough to stop the rampaging Nigerian team made up of mostly young players. The Eagles took the lead on 25 minutes through Moses who burst into the Algerian defence before sliding a low shot past Raise M’Bolhi in goal for the visitors. Manchester City sensation, Kelechi Iheanacho almost doubled the Eagles lead on 30 minutes but could not connect with Moses’ cross. Algerian had a wonderful chance to equalize on 37 minutes but Nabil Bentaleb could not direct his effort to goal. Mikel made it 2-0 on 42 minutes finishing

Why Nigerians should embrace cooking gas

With the increasing price of kerosene and with the campaign against deforestation gaining more momentum across the country, Nigerians have been advised to embrace the use of gas for cooking. The advantages of using gas to cook include energy efficiency, precise temperature control, immediate heating and cooling, lower operating cost and the ability to work without power. The use of gas cookers has been proven to be the best alternative to electric cookers, fueled by LPG (butane or propane). Cooking gas is the way to go for those who want a clean and pleasant cooking experience, however, the numerous benefits of cooking gas over other forms of energy make it an attractive choice for homeowners. According to James Atiti, co-founder Doowe Gas , an e-commerce startup that specializes in the door-to-door delivery of cooking gas, he said, “Using liquefied petroleum gas for cooking is becoming more economically viable and a cleaner choice that Nigerians should embrace.” Founded in 2016 w

Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters surrender in Chad

Boko Haram insurgents Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered in Chad in the past month, security and U.N. sources said, in a sign the military campaign against them is making headway. Boko Haram, which has killed and kidnapped thousands of people, had seized an area approximately the size of Belgium in northeastern Nigeria by last year but has since lost significant ground amid growing regional military pressure. Analyst and security sources think the fighters are probably recent recruits that Boko Haram has struggled to retain as it has ceded territory. Defections of Boko Haram fighters have been reported in Nigeria but are not known to have previously occurred on such a large scale. “They surrendered to our troops on the front line in Lake Chad,” said Colonel Mohammad Dole, Chief Military Public Information Officer for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) headquartered in Chad’s capital N’Djamena. “The surrenders are taking place because of th

Huge crowd as Obaseki takes oath of office

Godwin Obaseki taking oath of office as new Edo State Governor The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin was filled to capacity as the new governor of Edo, Mr Godwin Obaseki, took the oath of office on Saturday. The main bowl of the stadium and the outer precincts were filled to capacity during the ceremony. Among the dignitaries at the occasion were the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun. Also present were business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the APC governorship candidate in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu. The ceremony also had in attendance a former military head of state, Dr Yakubu Gowon, and ministers including that of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The inauguration ceremony was also graced by traditional rulers from across the three senatorial districts of the state as well as youths and market women who were all dressed in different attires. Obaseki is taking

RED CARD, GREEN CARD – Notes Towards the Management of Hysteria

Prof Wole Soyinka I shall begin on a morbid note. One of the horror stories that emerged from the Daesh (Isis) controlled parts of Iraq was the gruesome tale of the mother who had a daughter affected by wanderlust, even in that endangered zone. One day, when she looked for her to attend to some home chores, she found that she had gone missing yet again. As she searched, she shouted in frustration: ”As Allah is my witness, I’ll kill that girl when I catch up with her”. A neighbour overheard and reported her to the Hisbah. The mother was summoned by the mullahs who ordered her to put the child to death, since she had sworn by Allah. She refused, so they took the child by the legs and smashed her head against a wall. End of story. True or false? It certainly was published as true testimony. That is all I have to say to the ”literalists” who obsess over a time scheme of their own assessment. Thus, failure to have torn my Green Card ”the moment” that I learnt that Mr. Donald Trump had wo

Lagos-Ibadan express road ready soon– Minister

Lagos-Ibadan expressway Expansion and rehabilitation works on the Lagos-Ibadan highway would be completed this dry season, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the minister of power, works and housing said on Friday. Fashola, who briefed the media in Lagos on his first year in office, said that the long bridge at the Lagos-Ogun border on the road had to be shut because a lot of construction work was ongoing underneath it. “Roads are depreciating assets that need constant maintenance and regulated usage,” he said, adding that the issue of overloaded trucks was being addressed. According to him, the ECOWAS sub-region is already looking into the issue of double-axle articulated vehicles that transport more tonnage than most roads were built to accommodate. Fashola also said that weighbridges would be reintroduced on Nigerian roads to arrest overloading. He said, however, that warehouses have to be built by the weighbridges to take in offloaded extra goods from arrested haulage vehicles. The min

Recession has been growing for three years -Fashola

Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola, the minister of power, works and housing said on Friday night that the prescription for recession in Nigeria had been in place for more than three years. Fashola, accompanied by the minister of state in the ministry, Mustapha Shehuri, and its top officials, spoke at a media briefing to commemorate his first year in office. He noted that when workers were being retrenched and the purchasing power of an average citizen eroded, as had been the case since 2013, these were obviously signs of recession. He, however, expressed the hope that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was on the road to making Nigerians smile once again. According to Fashola, electricity generation in Nigeria has improved considerably in the last 12 months, peaking at above 5074MW for the first time in the nation’s 63-year-old electricity history earlier this year. He said this has created jobs for hitherto idle artisans, small a

Ondo guber poll: Akeredolu promises to revive state

APC Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State, has promised to revive the state, if elected. Akeredolu made the promise during his campaign in Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. He also promised to restore electricity in Okitipupa LGA given that the area has not had power supply for more than two years. “We are poised to revive Ondo State and make the state viable again and restore the state’s old glory. “The youths and women shall be empowered to take their rightful places. “We have taken stock of the wants of our people in Okitipupa LGA. “We shall restore electricity in Okitipupa LGA that has been in total darkness for the past two years now,’’ Akeredolu said. He solicited the support of residents of Okitipupa LGA and urged them to go out en masse on the governorship election day and vote for APC. Earlier, Akeredolu and his running mate, Mr Agboola Ajayi, were offered `roya

Nigeria to stop wheat importation from Russia — Minister

wheat-farm The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, has said that Nigeria will soon stop the importation of wheat from Russia. Abba-Ibrahim, represented by Amb. Baba Garba, Director, European Affairs in the ministry, made the disclosure at the end of the fourth Joint Commission meeting between Russia and Nigeria in Abuja on Friday. “We import a lot of wheat from Russia and we are telling Russia that this has to stop. “We want the Russian companies and farmers to come to Nigeria to show us how we can grow our agriculture sector with modern technology,” the minister said. The Russian delegation was led by Mr Dianov Alexander Yurievich, Deputy, Head Russian Delegation in Nigeria. Abba-Ibrahim said the meeting was to foster the existing relationship between the two countries and noted that Nigeria and Russia had enjoyed cordial relations over time. “Russia has always been in support of Nigeria at different international fora, it has been in support o

27 States donate land for mass housing

A-house The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola says 27 states have provided the ministry with land on which to build houses for the masses. Fashola told newsmen in Lagos on Friday night that the government had to lay the structure and establish a system before calling for private participation in the housing sector. He said that most of the building materials to be used would be sourced locally to fast-track growth and reduce unemployment. “If we achieve what we are planning, we would have built a system; if it becomes enduring like the new pension scheme, the better. “When acceptability has set in, the private sector can be called in,” he said, adding that the Federal Mortgage Bank would play a significant role in providing funds.” Fashola said the socio-cultural needs of each geopolitical zone would be considered in arriving at what architectural designs to choose for a particular town. He said that the targeted group would be civil servants on levels

No secrets during courtship, counselor advises intending couples

marriage Mrs Destiny Iheukwumere, a Marriage Counselor in Abuja advised intending couples not to keep secrets during courtship, stressing that issues which may cause problems in their marriage should be truthfully discussed. Iheukwumere gave the advised on Friday. She said that a lot of problems in marriage could be avoided if couples took time to understand themselves. She added that “marriage is good and many couples are truly enjoying it but there are many others who seem to be in perpetual pain because of their marriage. “Each time I come across a man or woman going through emotional pains because of marriage, I try to find out what could have gone wrong. “I often found that most marriages started on “faulty foundation’. Sometimes one or both parties lied to start the relationship and various other reasons. The counselor said that many singles took many things for granted during courtship and may end up in pains with actions they could not correct during marriage. Accordi

Oshiomhole hands over to Obaseki in Edo

Governor Adams Oshiomhole flanked by Mr Godwin Obaseki and his deputy during the governorship campaign Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Friday in Benin passed on his hand over notes to Governor-Elect Godwin Obaseki. He gave the documents to Obaseki at exactly 8:44pm on Friday. Oshiomhole said that the governor-elect is familiar with the information contained in the documents as he had been part of his administration as head of his economic team. ”I hand over the comprehensive hand over note and formerly bring to a close my tenure”, Oshiomhole said. Oshiomhole hoped that the governor-elect would do well for the people. Obaseki, who will be sworn-in on Saturday gave assurance that he would put in every pint of his sweat and energy into the governance of the state. He thanked Governors Simeon Lalung of Plateau and Mohamed Abubakar of Bauchi for witnessing the presentation of the hand over notes. Oshiomhole thereafter formerly announced the dissolution of the State Execut

Gunmen ambush police, kill officer

Umaru-Tanko-Al-makura-Nasarawa-state-governor The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Abubakar Sadiq-Bello, says gunmen have killed a police officer during an ambush in Obi Local Government Area of the state. Sadiq-Bello disclosed this on Friday in Lafia, while fielding questions from newsmen. But he did not disclose the name or rank of the officer who was serving at the Obi Division of the command. He said the police patrol team was ambushed along Obi-Agwatashi road about two weeks ago. He said the Police would arrest the killers and prosecute them. The commissioner described the incident as unfortunate and part of the hazards policemen encountered in the line of duty. He condoled the family of the deceased officer and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. He appealed to members of the public to continually support the efforts of the police in order to curb crime and criminality in the state.