Global Naija Info

Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Akande President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated elder statesman and founding Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Akande, as he turns 78 years on Jan. 16. This congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president. Adesina said Buhari joined all members of the APC, friends and immediate family of the eminent leader in celebrating the birthday of Akande. The president noted with delight that Akande was one of the pillars of the opposition party that had successfully ensured a round victory and smooth transition to unseat an incumbent president in 2015. According to him, Akande’s wisdom, sacrifices, patriotism and commitment to the unity and development of Nigeria will always be remembered by posterity. Buhari affirmed that Akande’s present role in the APC as a strong, visionary leader, a reconciling voice...

Some stakeholders in the entertainment and creative industry on Sunday advised the Federal Government to resuscitate the moribund textile industries across the country so that they could produce and promote high grade and high-quality made-in-Nigeria fabrics. Popular Nollywood actress Buky Wright, Mrs Yeside Laguda, Mr Bayo Balogun and an ex-lawmaker, Mr Bashiru Bolarinwa, gave the advice on Sunday in Lagos. Such fabrics would be able to compete favourably with their peers internationally, they also said. Speaking in separate interviews during the official launch of Fashion and Life Style Store in Lagos, they said that the Federal Government should resuscitate the moribund textile industries across the country, it would also boost the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). They said that with the existence of the textile industries functioning, many jobless Nigerians would also secure employment opportunities. Mrs Yeside Laguda, the Creative Director, MyQ Life Style Concepts, s...

The vehicle inside the river Over 12 persons have reportedly died in an accident on Oyo/Ogbomoso Road after a commercial bus skidded off the road and plunged into Odo-Oba River. An eyewitness told the Punch newspaper that the accident occurred when the bus was trying to avoid a head on collision with another vehicle that lost control and veered off its lane. The Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Yusuf Salami and the Police Public Relations Officer, of the State Command, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the accident. Ajisebutu said the bodies of the victims had been taken to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. He added, “The driver of the Mazda bus lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the Odo-Oba River. “Nine adults and three kids died on the spot and their bodies have been deposited at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso. “There were three survivors. The police, with assistance from local driv...

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it is set to meet with heads of other public examination bodies to fine tune examination schedules in order to avoid infringement on its examinations. The Head, Media and Information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, gave the hint in a statement made available on Sunday in Lagos. Benjamin stated that the board was determined to address “myriad of challenges confronting public examinations in the country’’. He said that the board had yet to roll out its applications for 2017 UTME because it was working to improve on the conduct of its examination. “You cannot do things the same way and expect different result. “This year, we shall improve on a lot of things to get better results. “However, we are mindful of the fact that there will be challenges accepting new directions of doing things by candidates. “There will be improvement in our new paym...

Gunmen demandsN1.2b for kidnapped students and teachers The abductors of students and members of staff of the Nigeria Turkish International College (NTIC) have demanded N1.2bn ransom for the victims to be released, it was learnt. Reports say the abductors called a family member of one of the victims on Sunday to make the demand. The police authorities confirmed that the gunmen invaded the school now changed to Tulip International School, and took the students and the teachers away in a white Toyota Hilux vehicle. They were abducted at about 9:30pm on Friday, when the kidnappers dug through the fence and entered through a back door. A source who confirmed the demand for ransome said, “They have been using the victims’ phone numbers to call their families. Each time the families try to negotiate, they would end the call.” Daily Trust learnt that footage of the CCTV Cameras at the school hostel indicated that the kidnappers wore masks when they stormed the hostel. One of them repor...

Nigerian soldiers Troops operating in the North-East have rescued 58 people abducted by terrorists in the last two days, including 35 women and 23 children. The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday that the victims were rescued during raids carried out by 112 Task Force Battalion of 22 Brigade of the Operation Lafiya Dole. Usman said the raids, patrols and clearance operations were carried out by the troops in conjunction with civilian JTF in villages and towns in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno. He identified those villages as Awada, Sinbaya, Agutari, Kirinari, Gubdori and Yale, Kajeri and Boskoro. Usman also said that during the period 13 insurgents were neutralised by troops, adding that two terrorists were arrested. He said a total of seven vehicles and three motorcycles, five pump action guns, two pumping machines, eight vehicle tyres and one battery were recovered from the insurgents during the period. According to h...

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has initiated a N100 million empowerment scheme aimed at improving the living conditions of the families of late ex-servicemen and living legionnaires. The Governor, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo , Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani , Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, Service Commanders and the Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Jaja also laid wreaths in honour of fallen soldiers at the cenotaph of the unknown soldier. Addressing legionnaires at the 2017 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Celebration finale at the open court of the Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday, Governor Wike said that the N100 million empowerment scheme was an appreciation of the fact that the late ex-servicemen and their living colleagues invested their lives in the sustenance of the country. He said: “This empowerment scheme is to show the families of late ex-servicemen and their living colleagues that we appreciate...

Lookman Everton produced a brilliant performance to stun Manchester City and deliver a serious blow to Pep Guardiola’s Premier League title hopes. The Toffees willingly soaked up 71% of City possession but restricted Guardiola’s side to few chances and scored with four of just six attempts at goal. Romelu Lukaku coolly side-footed in a Kevin Mirallas cut-back and the Belgium internationals combined again after the break, Mirallas drilling Lukaku’s through-ball across the keeper. Tom Davies sent Goodison Park into raptures on just his second league start by dinking a third over Claudio Bravo and £11m debutant Ademola Lookman fired between the legs of the keeper in injury time. Goals from the two teenagers left Everton boss Ronald Koeman visibly elated, while Guardiola cut a frustrated figure, remonstrating with the fourth official late on in what is his heaviest ever league defeat as a manager. City lacked cutting edge throughout, though had Davies not headed a looping Bacary Sag...

Barrow, Jammeh Spokesperson to Gambia’s president elect Adama Barrow has said on sunday that Barrow’s inauguration must hold on Jan 19 unfailingly “Jammeh’s term shall end on the 19th and the same date president-elect Barrow’s term begins. Nothing will change that. He will be sworn in and shall assume office on that date without fail,” as revealed by spokesman Mai Fatty, who accompanied Barrow to Dakar. Barrow flew into Dakar as requested by West African leaders AFP reports. Details soon…

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday in Abuja led government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of Nigerian soldiers who died in active service. Apart from the wreaths laying ceremony, the President used the opportunity to make video conference calls to Nigerian troops in the battle fields in Sambisa Forest, Yola in Adamawa and to those serving in UN Peace Mission in Liberia. The President, who first spoke to the Nigerian troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa Forest in Borno, saluted their courage and urged them to continue to maintain discipline and efficiency they were known for. He said “your success was received spontaneously by all Nigerians. I congratulate you and I thank you very much for the honour you have done to the country and to us, well done. I wish your families are all well and are getting in touch with you. “Please maintain the standard of discipline and efficiency. Thank you very much indeed.’’ Al...

ECOWAS service chiefs at a meeting In preparation for a possible military action in the Gambia, defence chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday met in Abuja. The meeting hosted by Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, took place at the Defence Headquarters. Investigation reveled that the meeting was part of the preparation for the inauguration of an ECOWAS Military Intervention Group (ECOMIG) for the small West African country should President Yahya Jammeh makes real his threat not to step down when his tenure expires on January 19. Jammeh lost the December 1 2016 election to Adama Barrow of the opposition. Welcoming the participants and ECOWAS officials to Nigeria, Major-General Olonisakin expressed the readiness of regional leaders and military commanders to continue the pursuit of dialogue with the political leaders of Gambia and ensure peaceful transition of power in accordance with the Gambian’s constitution and the peop...

Girl emerges miss virginity Dolapo Makanjuola was on Saturday, crowned the “Queen of the Virgins” at the 2017 Miss Virginity beauty pageant held inside the headquarters of Surulere LGA of Lagos. She emerged winner out of 35 contestants. An excited Makanjuola said she intends being a virgin until she’s ripe for marriage. No gynaecological test was conducted to ascertain their virginity, each of them only answered questions mostly on current affairs. Adunni Adediran, the organiser, said the contest was an avenue to propagate the importance of women keeping their virginity till their wedding night. . She said she was “called to order” by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, forcing her to stop the practice of bringing a gynaecologist to confirm the virginity of prospective contestants PREMIUM TIMES reports “We used to have a gynecologist who examines the girls before the event, but the ministry of education invited me and told me they disliked the attitude of a man looking at the...

Gideon Okeke, Chiwetalu Agu Popular Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu, has finally responded to the criticism he got from his colleague in the movie industry, Gideon Okeke, over his extreme vulgarity in movies. In a chat with Sunday Scoop, Agu said: “Let him leave the censors board to do their job, or does he work with them? Anybody can say anything or come to whatever conclusion they please. The viewers would judge whether I use vulgar words in movies or not. People who watch movies are the ultimate judges. I do not even know who Gideon Okeke is; I do not think I have ever heard his name. If people like AMAA are talking to me about this, I would know how to react appropriately. But this is an individual I do not even know. He has his own style, and I have mine which has won me awards all over the continent and even beyond. This is the first time anyone will be accusing me of vulgarity. Others have been hailing me. What we do is satire; we are re-enacting what happens in the society...

Gideon Okeke, Chiwetalu Agu Popular Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu, has finally responded to the criticism he got from his colleague in the movie industry, Gideon Okeke, over his extreme vulgarity in movies. In a chat with Sunday Scoop, Agu said: “Let him leave the censors board to do their job, or does he work with them? Anybody can say anything or come to whatever conclusion they please. The viewers would judge whether I use vulgar words in movies or not. People who watch movies are the ultimate judges. I do not even know who Gideon Okeke is; I do not think I have ever heard his name. If people like AMAA are talking to me about this, I would know how to react appropriately. But this is an individual I do not even know. He has his own style, and I have mine which has won me awards all over the continent and even beyond. This is the first time anyone will be accusing me of vulgarity. Others have been hailing me. What we do is satire; we are re-enacting what happens in the society...

Alexander Sh credit: Life News A teenager fell to his death from the 86th floor of Europe’s tallest building after reportedly slipping while he was taking a selfie. The 18-year-old, named only as Alexander Sh, landed on a Mercedes G-Wagen parked below the 1,161ft OKO skyscraper in Moscow. Russian reports gave two versions over the student’s tragic fall from close to a skating rink high above the Russian capital. As well as the selfie version of events, when he fell, others suggested that he had a furious row with his father before running to a rooftop helicopter pad and falling off. The OKO – meaning The Eye – is currently the tallest in Europe, at a height of 354 meters. A source from Moscow emergency service: ‘A young man – 18 years old – fell from the 86th floor of the OKO tower in Moscow City. ‘He fell right on a Mercedes car that was left in the outdoor parking lot. ‘One of the versions of what happened is that he tried to make a selfie. ‘According to the building’s se...

President Muhammadu Buhari Worried by the security situation at the nation’s airports, an aviation security expert, Dr Niama Fraser, has urged the Federal Government to upgrade the airports in line with international aviation organisations’ security regulations. According to her, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Air Transport Association had set international standards for aviation security. Fraser, the Chief Executive Officer of Eden & Mcwhit Aviation Security, gave the advice in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. She said the upgrading had become necessary in view of increasing global terrorism and to achieve a global airport security status. While commending the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and President Muhammudu Buhari for their prompt attention on the security situation at the nation’s airports, she called for urgent steps aimed at addressing it. Fraser, however, maintained that while it was encouraging that Nigeria ...

Charcoal The Borno State Government said on Sunday that it had banned the sale of charcoal and firewood on major streets in the metropolis to prevent pollution in the city. Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, the Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this in a statement made available in Maiduguri. Lawan said that sellers of the commodities were expected to relocate to a new market on Damboa Road designated for the sale of charcoal and firewood. “Sales of charcoal and firewood along major streets is hereby banned. “All those engaged in the business should relocate to the Charcoal and Firewood market along Damboa Road in Maiduguri,” he said. Lawan gave a two-week notice to all sellers to either relocate to the market or face prosecution. He said that the operation of charcoal and firewood sellers on major streets had constituted environmental hazard in the state. “Government action is based on the fact that the sales of these items on our streets has become a source of pollution as well as ...

President Muhammadu Buhari Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the successes so far recorded in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges in the country. Lalong made the commendation on Sunday in an interview with newsmen after he had laid a wreath at the tomb of unknown soldiers in Jos. The governor said President Buhari as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces had provided the needed direction in the fight against insurgency. He added that with the President’s commitment, the military were able to flush out Boko Haram in their enclave in the Sambisa Forest. He noted that “I am very excited with what the military have done, especially the release of some Chibok girls and the complete take over of the Sambisa Forest. “I commend the President, who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the entire military for the efforts in restoring peace in the country. “I am particularly happy that Plateau has been peacefu...

Governor Olusegun Mimiko The Ondo State Government has promised to pay some of the outstanding bursary and scholarship entitlement to indigenous students of the state in all tertiary institutions in the country. Dr Jeffrey Olu Abidoye, the Chairman of Ondo State Scholarship Board, announced on Sunday in Akure. Abidoye said that the outgoing administration of Gov. Olusegun Mimiko was mapping out strategies on how to meet its financial obligations as regards the payment before its tenure expired. According to him, the administration has been magnanimous in the payment before the dawn of economic doldrums which makes it difficult for the government to even meet its basic statutory functions. He urged students to be proactive and good ambassadors of the state and project ideas that could contribute to the development of the state, instead of thinking on what to derive often from the government. The chairman cautioned them not to use destructive and incisive words that could tarnish...

Oranges Some orange sellers at the popular orange market at Mararaba, Nasarawa State on Sunday decried scarcity of oranges, attributing it to transportation and strike by wholesalers nationwide. However, orange dealers in Benue attributed the scarcity of oranges in markets to high cost of the commodity, transportation and multiple taxation. According to some sellers and dealers in Lafia and Makurdi respectively, the problem began when indigenous farmers stopped the marketers from buying directly on their farms. Mrs Sarah Obi, an orange seller, told NAN that the incident became a surprise to her when she noticed fewer bags of oranges at the market on a market day. “I was just surprised when I came to the market for oranges, only for me to discover that there were just few bags of oranges. “On enquiry, I was told that there is a misunderstanding between our distributors and the farmers where they used to buy oranges,“ she said. According to Obi, a bag of orange before the incide...

pension Retired soldiers in Cross River have appealed to the Federal Government to harmonise their pensions with salaries of serving army personnel. Retired Col. Timothy Ushie, the Chairman of Nigerian Legion in Cross River, made the appeal on Sunday during the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an annual event held every Jan. 15 in honour of fallen heroes who lost their lives during the Nigerian civil war and the first and second world wars. Ushie, who also appealed for timely payment of the ex-soldiers’ pensions, said that harmonising the pension with salaries of serving officers would address some grievances of the retired soldiers. According to him, the Military Pension Board saddled with the responsibility of paying pensions of retired personnel has so far been transparent. He added that “today, pensions are being paid promptly even though we still have some delays sometimes; but the system has been fair. “I must ...

Gov-Shinkafi-of-Zamfara The Zamfara government says it is constructing 160 blocks of public toilets, 580 boreholes in public schools and hospitals as part of its efforts to ensure Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the state. Projects would be executed under Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN II) a UNICEF/DFID intervention programme. NAN further reports that Zamfara is one of the six states benefiting from SHWAN projects in the country which aimed at improving sanitation, hygiene and water supply in the rural communities inline with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The state commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Lawal M-Liman, disclosed this in Gusau on Sunday. M-Liman said that 78 Solar motorised boreholes would be constructed and rehabilitated, while 250 hand pump would also be constructed under the projects. According to him, the project is being jointly financed by the state government and DFID/UNICEF with sharing formula of 50 per cent c...

Ambode Gov Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday restated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of members of the Nigerian Legion. Already, he said N5 million had been provided by the administration to support the families of the fallen heroes and the Nigerian Legion. Ambode spoke at the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Remembrance Arcade at Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island. The 9 Brigrade commander, Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, while speaking with newsmen, said the remembrance day was in remembrance of the fallen heroes — soldiers who lost their lives in serving the nation particularly in war time. Also speaking, the State Commandant of the Nigerian Legion, retired Col. Samuel Akande, expressed satisfaction over the success of the remembrance day, adding that the governor had always contributed to the development of the legion. “Nigerian Legion is using this opportunity to thank Gov. Ambode for all the provisions and care for the legion...

Nigerian soldiers The Nigerian Army on Sunday said soldiers killed 13 suspected Boko Haram members during clearance operations in Bomboshe and Sinbaya in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno. Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operations were carried out on Thursday and Friday. According to him, the troops also discovered and destroyed the insurgents’ night market at Boboshe and neutralised five terrorists. “The Army troop also rescued 58 persons comprising 35 women and 23 children held in captive by the terrorists. “During the operations, the troops met stiff resistance from suspected terrorists, eight of whom were neutralised around Sinbaya. “As part of the clearance operations of remnants and fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, troops have continually carried out raids, patrols and cordon operations. “It is in that regards that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army on Op...

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State The Borno State Government said on Sunday that it had banned the sale of charcoal and firewood on major streets in the metropolis to prevent pollution in the city. Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, the Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri. Lawan said that sellers of the commodities were expected to relocate to a new market on Damboa Road designated for the sale of charcoal and firewood. “Sales of charcoal and firewood along major streets is hereby banned. “All those engaged in the business should relocate to the Charcoal and Firewood market along Damboa Road in Maiduguri,” he said. Lawan gave a two-week notice to all sellers to either relocate to the market or face prosecution. He said that the operation of charcoal and firewood sellers on major streets had constituted environmental hazard in the state. “Government action is based on the fact that the sales of these...

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has rejected the conditions given by the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group for joining a day search sorties for missing Chibok girls to Sambisa Forest. In a letter addressed to the convener of the group, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, which was made available to the media on Sunday, the government said it was unable to postpone the trip as scheduled. The letter dated Jan. 14 was signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. ‘’Thank you for your letter, dated Jan. 13, which is in response to ours of Jan. 11, requesting that we change the date of the proposed guided tour of the North-East to accommodate a Pre-Tour Meeting between your organisation and some top officials of the Federal Government. ‘’We have also noted the conditions you gave for embarking on the trip which include the said Pre-Tour Meeting and the retraction of some remarks allegedly made by the Ch...

Eric Teniola I was born in Idanre, a hilly ancient town in Ondo State, but I have spent more years in Lagos than in any other city in the world. Since the early sixties when I used to spend holidays with my cousin, Professor Ayo Akinbobola (1942-2008) at 92, Ogunlana Drive (Bus Corner) in Surulere, Lagos, along with another cousin of mine, Chief Babu Akinbobola (now 66), Lagos has always been my focus. No matter my sojourn in the country, be it in Eket, Calabar, Ogoja, Katsina, Bendel, Akure, Owerri, Maiduguri, Sokoto and many other cities, including, of course, Abuja—that artificial city—I always love to come back to Lagos—a city that never sleeps. In the past, Ikoyi was the best place to be in Lagos, hence my disappointment that the names of places we cherished in the past have been changed. A fact that can’t be erased is that we were once colonised by the British and Lagos was also once the capital of Nigeria. Another fact was that some streets in Lagos, especially in Ikoyi, we...

NNPC-logo A total of 50 companies recently submitted bids to partake in the provision of sea worthy Tug boats on charter time basis for the maritime operational requirements of the NNPC in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt. The public bid which was held at the Abuja Corporate Headquarters of the corporation had in attendance representatives of the bidding companies with officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and some members of the civil society as observers. Successful companies would be engaged on a two year term contract in the first instance with an option of renewal for a further one year. Winners are expected to provide services which include: aiding the berth and un-berth of all ships operating at the NNPC jetties/buoy, logistics support for safe ship-to-ship operations which covers movement of fenders, ho...

Femi Aribisala The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Rich men don’t run after passers-by in the street. Nevertheless, in the scriptures, a “rich young ruler” is shown running after Jesus. When he finally gets to him, he does something equally unusual: he falls down on his knees at his feet. What does he want that money cannot buy? There is a need in his life and it is great. There is a need in his life and it is pressing. So pressing, he forgets he is a “big man.” So pressing, he forgets he is a rich man and that rich men don’t beg. So pressing, he forgets that the street he is kneeling in is probably muddy and dirty, and that his expensive clothes will be soiled. Chasing God I know you might have run after a bus before. It was the first bus in a long while, and you just had to catch that one. I know you may have run after a woman or man before. You were smitten and you just had to make his or her acquaintance. But have you ever had to run after the Lord Jesus? Have yo...

Eric Teniola I was born in Idanre, a hilly ancient town in Ondo State, but I have spent more years in Lagos than in any other city in the world. Since the early sixties when I used to spend holidays with my cousin, Professor Ayo Akinbobola (1942-2008) at 92, Ogunlana Drive (Bus Corner) in Surulere, Lagos, along with another cousin of mine, Chief Babu Akinbobola (now 66), Lagos has always been my focus. No matter my sojourn in the country, be it in Eket, Calabar, Ogoja, Katsina, Bendel, Akure, Owerri, Maiduguri, Sokoto and many other cities, including, of course, Abuja—that artificial city—I always love to come back to Lagos—a city that never sleeps. In the past, Ikoyi was the best place to be in Lagos, hence my disappointment that the names of places we cherished in the past have been changed. A fact that can’t be erased is that we were once colonised by the British and Lagos was also once the capital of Nigeria. Another fact was that some streets in Lagos, especially in Ikoyi, we...

NNPC-logo A total of 50 companies recently submitted bids to partake in the provision of sea worthy Tug boats on charter time basis for the maritime operational requirements of the NNPC in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt. The public bid which was held at the Abuja Corporate Headquarters of the corporation had in attendance representatives of the bidding companies with officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and some members of the civil society as observers. Successful companies would be engaged on a two year term contract in the first instance with an option of renewal for a further one year. Winners are expected to provide services which include: aiding the berth and un-berth of all ships operating at the NNPC jetties/buoy, logistics support for safe ship-to-ship operations which covers movement of fenders, ho...

Femi Aribisala The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Rich men don’t run after passers-by in the street. Nevertheless, in the scriptures, a “rich young ruler” is shown running after Jesus. When he finally gets to him, he does something equally unusual: he falls down on his knees at his feet. What does he want that money cannot buy? There is a need in his life and it is great. There is a need in his life and it is pressing. So pressing, he forgets he is a “big man.” So pressing, he forgets he is a rich man and that rich men don’t beg. So pressing, he forgets that the street he is kneeling in is probably muddy and dirty, and that his expensive clothes will be soiled. Chasing God I know you might have run after a bus before. It was the first bus in a long while, and you just had to catch that one. I know you may have run after a woman or man before. You were smitten and you just had to make his or her acquaintance. But have you ever had to run after the Lord Jesus? Have yo...