OBLONG MEDIA GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE is where independent minds meet to dissect politics, society, power, and global affairs without fear or filters. This is not mainstream media.
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Today there was a clash between Yoruba and Fulani youths in Ketu, Lagos state in which a number of people on both sides and some of our security agents were apparantly killed. Just a few days ago over 300 people were killed by well-armed Fulani herdsmen in Agatu, Benue state. Throughout the country Fulani militias and herdsmen are wreaking havoc and are slaughtering their compatriots for one reason or the other. Worse of all is the fact that our Fulani-led Federal Government and our Fulani-led Armed Forces are killing thousands of young igbos in the east simply because of…
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Information just made available to Oblong media, states that Nigerias Secret Service organ, the DSS, arrested Sir Victor Umeh at his Enugu residence this afternoon. He was purportedly flown to Abuja in handcuffs. Umeh, a former chairman of APGA is the party’s candidate for the postponed Anambra Central Senatorial District re-run election. Oblong media is still trying to contact Mr Umeh on this reported development. Details will come later
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There is an ongoing protest in Abuja municipal by the Coalition of Human Rights And National Inter Faith And Religious Organizations For Peace. They are demanding that the Iranian ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Saeed Koozechi should be expelled from the country without further delay and that the IGP and DSS should investigate the wife of the detained Shi’ite leader Mrs Zeenat Ibrahim Yaqub Alzakzaky. They alleged that they sponsor terrorist cells in Nigeria and promote bloodshed of Nigerians.
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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 arrested three top officials of Imo State government for allegedly diverting N2billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal Government for payment of salary arrears of the state’s civil servants. The suspects are: Obi Paschal Chigozie, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Uzoho Casmir, Director of Finance and Iheoma Kenneth, Treasurer. Their arrest followed an investigation into the alleged diversion of the said money which revealed that the cashier had made cash withdrawal of N456.532 million between September 3,…
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Though figures of its wealth vary widely, one report estimated it was selling $1.41 million per day in crude oil and kidnappings were worth $42.2 million per annum. (File Photo) Islamic State [Daesh] militants are earning up to £14 million (approximately $20 million) a month by funneling cash looted from Iraqi banks into legitimate currency speculation. The group seized hundreds of millions of dollars when it ransacked Mosul banks in June 2014, giving it the means to re-inject the cash back into unsuspecting foreign markets. Yesterday a Foreign Affairs sub-committee heard that this money is routed into financial markets in…
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An eight year old died of sexual injuries on her wedding night with her 40 year old husband in Yemen. [Photo for illustrative purposes courtesy of delhi4cats] An eight year-old child bride died in Yemen on her wedding night after suffering internal injuries due to sexual trauma. Human rights organizations are calling for the arrest of her husband, who was five times her age. Al Nahar, Lebanon, reported that the death occurred in the tribal area of Hardh in northwestern Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This brings even more attention to the already existing issue of forced child marriages in…
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The Nigerian Police has begun a revalidation of motor vehicle tinted glass permit. The exercise which commenced on January 1st 2016 is to enable owners of tinted motor vehicles obtain new permits before March 18, 2016, when all current licenses will become invalid. The new permit covers only factory fitted tinted glasses. To obtain a new permit, take the following steps 1. Log on to http://npf.gov.ng/tinted/ 2. Fill the Application form online. It will automatically generate a unique ID no for you 3.Complete the Application Process by Login in with email provided and the Application ID shown below. 3.…
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The Senate today passed a resolution reducing the registration fee of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) N5,650 to N2,500. At the plenary session today, the senators recommended the extension of the validity period of the UTME to three academic year. The resolution was taken following the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the inquiry into the new admission policy of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). They also resolved to amend the Act establishing JAMB to reflect the extension of the validity period which is at the moment a year.
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These babies were found in the refrigerator of a chinese restaurant in the city of Douala, Cameroon. They were obviously been kept as the best ingredient for their best soup, People please be careful what you eat in some restaurants all in the name of international cuisines. May their souls rest in peace. #Copied…
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Some would argue the point and my question to them would be “What was, and still is, as his project is still ongoing, his goal?” Quite simply his aim is to ensure the spread and settlement of the Fulani across Nigeria in a manner that has the backing of law. On assumption of office he lit fires wherever a stack of kindling could be found and kept his critics, and those who thought they were doing “Change” with him, confused, guessing and focused on his right hand. Meanwhile his left hand, the Fulani herdsmen and their backers, were busy…
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Your excellency sir, I thought perhaps I should bring you up to speed with what is happening to Nigerians, the people who you claim to love and care about, the people who truly believe you have them at heart and for this reason they voted you into office. Since you assumed your highly elevated position it seems, perhaps, the seat has distanced you from the people, you’ve lost touch with the pains of the common Nigerian so you probably don’t how difficult life is for us Nigerians as a people. Since you became president of this nation of…
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Buhari in an interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday said the Constitution allowed him full control over the choice of his closest officials. The president assured that he was not ignoring some section of his society in his appointments, explaining that those he appointed were some of his most trusted associates. Responding to the interviewer’s question on the controversy generated by the appointments, Buhari said“This is the nature of Nigerian politics”. “If they will do justice to me, as an elected Nigerian president, let them look at the Constitution a Nigerian president works with, there are people who will…
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This picture taken on December 5, 2015 shows promoters smoking electronic cigarettes during the Vape Fair in Kuala Lumpur. Photograph by MOHD RASFAN–AFP via Getty Images. The “no smoking” rule applies to e-cigarettes. The U.S. Department of Transportation has explicitly banned the use of electronic cigarettes, or vape pens, on commercial plane flights. The rule applies to all scheduled flights in, to, and from the U.S. “This final rule is important because it protects airline passengers from unwanted exposure to aerosol fumes that occur when electronic cigarettes are used onboard airplanes,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, said in a statement. “The Department…
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The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has opposed the extension of the tenure of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Jamila Shu’ara, by the Presidency. According to the Public Service Rules number 100238, Shu’ara was retired on February 17 after attaining the age of 60. But the government insisted that she would still be in office for another year, thereby creating tension in the ministry. Shu’ara, in her notice of retirement dated February 15, 2016 to the acting Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, commended the Federal Government…
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The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has called on warring communities in the Ibaji Local Government Area of the state – who have taken arms against other neighboring communities in Anambra state – to choose the path of peace, adding that the dispute will soon be resolved by the Federal Government. He noted this when the Ibaji Community Development Association paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Lokoja, over the appointment of Chief Simon Achuba, as Deputy Governor of the state. This was contained in a statement by Gbenga Olorunpomi, SSA New Media to the governor.…
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A four-man team from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States of America are currently in the country carrying out the security audit of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos in line with TSA security procedures. The team, led by Transportation Security Specialist (TSS), were in the Aviation House to brief the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, on the exercise. According to him, they would, in the course of the exercise, observe the implementation of aviation security measures in place at the MMIA and exchange technical expertise in line with ICAO Annex…
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last night released the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus on bail. The anti-graft agency who seized his passport, also asked him to produce two sureties with a N750 million bond each. The sureties are Federal Civil Servants on Grade Level 17. It was learnt that Secondus was released at about 8.30 pm last night. Secondus’ counsel, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), said: “The PDP Deputy National Chairman has been released but under extremely stringent conditions. For a man whose alleged offence has not been proven, he…
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In the quote below, 33rd Degree Freemason and Gnostic philosopher, Manly P. Hall talks about the rank and file of present-masonic symbolsday Masons who strenuously oppose any effort put forth to interpret Masonic symbols in the light of philosophy. He also states that Masonry is a religious and philosophic body. These simple facts are only known by the wise Masonic philosophers who have taken the time to study the true history and symbols of the craft. The word philosophy simply means the lover of wisdom. So essentially what Hall is saying is that most Masons oppose wisdom in the interpretation…
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“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Dream interpretation and or analysis is a science that is thousands of years old. In ancient Egypt, Greece and other cultures, dreams were considered as a type of divine communication, and the people who interpreted them were said to have supernatural powers. These ancient cultures thought of many of our dreams as forms of divine inspiration sent to the dreamer to warn him or to foretell the future, and that some dreams were meant to misguide…
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The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, retained his position as Africa’s richest person and was listed as the 51st richest person in the world in the Forbes 2016 World’s Billionaires list released on Tuesday. Dangote’s net worth, according to the magazine, has risen to $15.4bn from $14.7bn in 2015. He was ranked 67th in the 2015 list. The 2016 list, which contains 1,810 billionaires in dollar terms, also has four other Nigerians apart from Dangote. These are the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga; Chairman of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola; Founder and Executive Chairman, Famfa…
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Airports Company South Africa has today launched its first 200m2 solar power plant at George Airport in the Western Cape, further demonstrating its commitment to clean energy generation and sustainability. George Airport is Africa’s first, and currently the only regional airport in South Africa, to be powered through solar energy. The solar plant is located on the grounds of George Airport. Building thereof commenced in March 2016 and took six months to complete at a cost of R16m.The first phase, which is now complete, will supply 41% of the airport’s current energy demand, while the balance will be drawn…
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For a couple of years now, I have been the Chairman and sole member of the Alhaji Putin Haters Club (APHC). I am now tired. When you are unable to beat them, joining them is not such a disgraceful option. “Let me clap for myself abeg” Today, Alhaji released 2015 (January to December) results for Dangote Cement and they were glorious. Hating this guy is a waste of time — it is his country and you all are merely living in it. A summary of the results can be found at Nairametrics Financial highlights Revenue up 25.6% to ₦491.7B as new…
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The Presidency on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari never promised to pay unemployed graduates N5,000 monthly The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said this in an interview with State House correspondents. Akande, whose boss, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo supervises the economy, spoke while reacting to statement credited to Buhari in which the President ruled out the possibility of his government paying N5,000 monthly allowance to unemployed youths in the country as promised by his party, the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the 2015 presidential election. He said the provision the…
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The running mate to retired General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential elections, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday explained the ‘Conditional Cash Transfer Programme’ included in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Prof. Osinbajo speaking on Sunrise Daily said “this programme is to lift 25 million of the extremely poor Nigerians; Nigerians who earn less than N200 a day to take care of themselves and their families”. Prof Osinbajo, who noted that “we have 119 extremely poor Nigerians”, added that the fast way of dealing with that is the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme. “We will give N5,…
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The massacre of innocent villagers in Agatu Local Government, Benue State, continued unabated, on Monday, in spite of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that a panel of Investigation into the Fulani attacks on the villagers be established and the announced establishment of an inter-agency security team to forestall further attacks. A survivor, Mr. Ada Ojechi, told Vanguard that Monday’s massacre which took place at Odugbeho-Agatu, was one of the worst ever witnessed in the series of attacks by the herdsmen. He said that the casualty rate was very high but could not put a figure to it because…
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Terrible Tuesday as GOP loses control – Clinton: 7, Trump: 6, Sanders: 4, Cruz: 2, Rubio: 1 Clinton, Trump dominate Super Tuesday Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have both won the most states in the biggest day of the race for the US presidential nomination. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia were among the states where both triumphed. Mr Trump was defeated by Ted Cruz in Texas and Oklahoma. Democrat Bernie Sanders won three, including his home state of Vermont. Super Tuesday sees 11 states voting on the biggest single day ahead of the 8 November presidential election.…
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With this new Nigerian international passport, you can now visit the following 44 countries visa free or visa on arrival. 1. Bangladesh (Visa on arrival) 2. Barbados ( Visa free for 6 months) 3. Benin Republic (Visa free) 4. Burkina Faso ( Visa free) 5. Burundi ( Visa on arrival for 30days) 6. Cameroon ( Visa free) 7. Cape Verde ( Visa on arrival) 8. Chad ( Visa free) 9. Comoros Island ( Visa on arrival) 10. Cote d’ivoire ( Visa free ) 11. Djibouti ( Visa on arrival ) 12. Dominican ( Visa free for 21 days )…
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1. No matter how beautiful and handsome you are, just remember Baboon and Gorillas also attract tourists.***Stop Boasting. 2. No matter how big and strong you are, you will not carry yourself to your Grave. ***Be Humble!. 3. No matter how tall you are, you can never see tomorrow. ***Be Patient!. 4. No matter how light skinned you are, you will always need light in Darkness. ***Take Caution!. 5. No matter how rich and many cars you have, you will always walk to Bed. ***Be Contented! Take Life Easy Life is “Exp. + Exp. + Exp.” Yesterday…
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The following is what a woman posted on a dating forum seeking a rich husband: …I’m going to be honest of what I’m going to say here. I’m 25 this year. I’m very pretty, I have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I’m greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York. My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to…
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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) openly disagreed with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) over an alleged N70billion contract fraud between 2008 to 2012. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Monday, officials of the OAGF had alleged that over N70 billion worth of contract by the NDDC between 2008 and 2012 were unaccounted for. The OAGF had in 2015, submitted its report to the senate committee alleging that the NDDC paid the amount for about 1723 contracts and paid mobilization fee while the contractors didn’t report to site. According to the…
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Electricity generation has dropped to 2,665mw due to inadequate supply of gas to the power stations and explosions that occurred at transmission lines in the Lagos area and Jebba. THISDAY gathered that with this development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has directed the 11 distribution companies (Discos) nationwide “not to pick loads to avoid a system collapse”. Data obtained from a source at TCN on the “Daily Load Analysis and Day Ahead Consumption” for yesterday showed that generation fell to 2,500mw between 1 am and 6 am on Saturday. However, between 6 am and 11.59 pm, the hourly…
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Almost all modern edible parthenocarpic (seedless) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. The scientific names of most cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, and Musa × paradisiaca for the hybrid Musa acuminata × M. balbisiana, depending on their genomic constitution. The old scientific name Musa sapientum is no longer used. Bananas are perhaps one of nature’s most under-rated fruits. The yellow skinned fruits are easy to overlook, especially when it seems as if there’s always some new and exotic type of fruit that’s being touted as the next big thing. However, the…
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APART from the ordinary issues language experts and others know about English, what other thing is the language known for or can be used. This has been the contentious issue until, Toluwalase Oladimeji presents yet another incremental instalment to the corpus of culminated knowledge with his work tagged English, the Language of the Gods. In the well researched paper that took the author to various places, the script writer and researcher took many students and language experts further in their understanding of this global lingua franca as he tries to unlock the secret behind ancient Egypt’s nomenclature, tracing its…
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The pathetic story of how 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was in August 2015, allegedly abducted in Opolo, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, by one Yunusa, who hails from Kano, has continued to elicit outrage on social media among Nigerians. Vanguard gathered that Ese, who was 13 as at the time of her alleged abduction, was taken to Kano, by Yunusa, where he converted her to Islam and married her. Ese’s parents had since last August made trips to Kano, where they unraveled the plights of their daughter. The parents said they have involved the police, but efforts…
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The Federal Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has insisted on the control of social media in order to stop what he termed its “destructive” power. The minister made the revelation when speaking at the closing event of the 2016 Social Media Week in Lagos. “Social media itself must understand that power without control is destructive. I think the social media needs to set up a code of conduct. “The power of social media is something that cannot be ignored but unfortunately today it has become a big destructive tool. Families, marriages have been destroyed just for…
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‘The best place to find gold is to look where it has been found before.’ The opportunities in this article have created some of the biggest successes Africa has ever seen. If you want to increase your chances of building a successful business or finding the right investment, these opportunities could make your dream come true. Let’s meet them… 1. Media and Entertainment Africa’s film industry has become a global and cultural phenomenon that enjoys a huge following within and outside the continent. The industry serves an audience that’s hungry for African stories of love, drama, intrigue, comedy, redemption,…
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will Monday, arraign former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, before Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Moro, who is standing trial for an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and other offences, is to be arraigned alongside four other suspects over the N676 million failed recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service that led to the death of several applicants in March 2013. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the anti-graft agency had got the nod of the court to dock the erstwhile minister and the other suspects. Meanwhile, PDP…
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Former Presidential candidate and seasoned journalist Dele Momodu has flayed what he described as the intimidation of current ministers serving in the Buhari Administration by President Buhari, saying the ministers fear the president, and as a result are not as vibrant as former president Jonathan’s ministers. Momodu, who was speaking at the first City People Social Media Awards advised President Buhari not to concentrate only on anti-corruption probe as that is bringing a paralyzing fear on his ministers who are too afraid to take any initiative. ‘If I were Buhari I would probe but not just probe, because…
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After the Jonathan government uprooted not less than 90,000 ghost workers I’m 2013, No fewer than another 23, 846 ghost workers have been removed from the Federal government’s payroll, saving the government N2.293 billion from the total salary bill for the ministries, departments and agencies MDAs for February 2016. According to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who disclosed this over the weekend, Bank Verification Exercise and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) exposed ghost workers that have hitherto been collecting salaries in various MDAs
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The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has worked out strategies to expose and punish contractors who default in the execution of its projects. The new measures were outlined by the Commission’s Managing Director, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, at a meeting with the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, at his residence in Owerri on Saturday. Briefing the governor on her findings after a two-day inspection of projects in Imo State, Mrs. Semenitari said that the NDDC would upload the list of all its projects on its website to show clearly who is doing what and where. She said: “I have…
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Bothered by Nigeria’s current economic crises, former Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and co-founder of the Pan-African University, Prof Pat Utomi, yesterday, decried that the nation was currently failing to learn from its 1983-85 financial crisis, blaming it on what he described as the knowing-doing gap of the Nigerian people. Utomi who took to his Facebook page to express his concern for the country’s dwindling economy, said: “When anxieties with the state of the economy rose, as Oil prices went South in 2015, I was struck by how we went from worry to panic and how…
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Nigeria and the Qatar on Sunday in Doha signed Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries. Both countries also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and tax evasion on the sideline of President Muhammadu Buhari’s state visit to Qatar. The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, representing President Muhammadu Buhari, signed the air services agreement on behalf of the country while Qatar’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Alsulaiti, signed on behalf the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani. The agreement which was signed…
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National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has revealed that he has initiated contact with politicians who defected to the All Progressives Congress and other political parties. Sheriff’s appointment as PDP Chairman has generated sharp division within the former ruling party, owing to his chequered past of being alleged to have ties with Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram. But he attributes the initial opposition to his candidacy to the unease of the All Progressives Congress with his ability to unite members of the PDP and to bring back those who had cross-carpeted. …
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Hillary Clinton is the only candidate with the multi-theme and multi-issue campaign that can easily move to the centre (while maintaining her progressive vision) and unite the people. This is because the centre is about the politics of multi-issues, multi-themes and never about a single narrative. This is why Secretary Hillary Clinton should be the next President of the United States of America. The global prominence of United States of America justifies global interests in her elections. The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world where every nationality, ethnicity, race and culture in the world is…
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Three years after the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC), President Mohammadu Buhari has on Wednesday reportedly accused some members from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the party (APC) of budget manipulation and padding, affirming that those to whom the budget racketeering might be traced shall never go scot free. APC as a political party which was formed on 6th February, 2013 in anticipation of the 2015 elections, comprised of Nigeria’s three biggest opposition parties- the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a…
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Let the truth be told. The People involved in that so called 1966 “Igbo coup” were: 1. Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu (Midwest Region Igbo) 2. Major Adewale Ademoyega (Western Region – Yoruba), author of “Why we struck” 3. Capt. G. Adeleke (Western Region – Yoruba). 4. Maj. Ifeajuna (Midwestern Region – Igbo). 5. Lt. Fola Oyewole (Western Region – Yoruba), author of “The reluctant rebel”. 6. Lt. R. Egbiko (Midwestern Region – Ishan). 7. Lt. Tijani Katsina (Northern Region – Hausa/Fulani). 8. Lt. O. Olafemiyan (Western Region – Yoruba). 9. Capt. Gibson Jalo (Northern Region – Bachama). 10. Capt. Swanton…
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Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai on Saturday gave account of his 9-months stewardship as the governor since taken over the mantle of leadership of the state. The governor who gave his stewardship account during his 6th town hall meeting in Saminaka, headquarters of Lere local government area, revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has so far ceeated over 125,000 direct jobs in State within less than one year in office. El-Rufai said the state school feeding programme created at least 85,000 jobs, including the vendors, their staff and supervisors. He told the gathering that,…
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For the Ndi Anambra and Ndi Igbo in general resident in Lagos, Friday, February 19, 2016 will remain memorable for quite some time; not so much for what it was, but for the hope it represents. As they trickled into the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre to share an evening with Chief Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State. It is doubtful whether most of the members of the Aka Ikenga, League of Anambra Professionals (LAP), Ndigbo Lagos and other Igbo groups who came colourfully dressed knew what to expect. It was a special evening, made more so…
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KEY ROAD PROJECTS 1) The Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which was becoming an embarrassment and a source of agony to many Nigerians before the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan because of its deplorable condition, has been improved upon tremendously in the past one year. Only last weekend, I led an inspection of the ongoing works on this road and the current expansion of the road, drainage works, construction of Trailer Park and the construction of a dedicated bridge leading into Tin-Can Island Port from Liverpool Round-About, were very re-assuring. 2) The Benin-Ore-Shagamu highway is another project where we have achieved…
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Entrepreneurship goes beyond Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Garrett Camp, and it embodies something bigger than Twitter and WhatsApp. Entrepreneurship is a mindset, an attitude, and a lifestyle adopted by people who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. It’s an approach to life that favors creativity over conformity and action over inaction. Bestselling author, investor, and entrepreneur James Altucher says that for him, “Being an ‘entrepreneur’ doesn’t mean starting the next Facebook. Or even starting any business at all. It means finding the challenges you have in your life, and determining creative ways to overcome those challenges.” So, even…
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The Nigerian Army has reopened the Maiduguri-Damboa expressway for passage, after being closed due to Boko Haram attacks. The Chief of Army, Tukur Buratai, announced this at the launch of Army Combat Motor Bikes in Damboa, headquarters of Damboa Local Government Area of the state. He said the army would work towards securing the lives and properties of motorists plying the roads. “From today the road – Maiduguri-Damboa and Damboa-Biu highway will be opened. “The road is going to be entrusted into the hands of the Brigade Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade,” he said. Lt. Gen.…
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Nigeria’s oil export revenue, which has been driven down by the plunge in global oil prices, looks set to worsen as flows of the nation’s Forcados crude oil to the export terminal could be halted until April. The pipeline operator, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, put the grade under force majeure on February 21, a week after a pipeline leak forced it to halt loadings to the export platform. The declaration of force majeure freed the oil major from contractual obligations to its customers due to circumstances beyond its control. As a result of the oil…
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In the lifetime of most Nigerian family settings, there are 3 Dispensations of Power. 1. The 1st is the first 25 years in the life of the family (father, mother, children) where power indisputably rest with the father. 2. The 2nd is after the kids have grown & started working when the power shifts to the mother. 3. The 3rd is when the kids move out of the family house or start their own families when the power moves to the children. We’ll start from the 1st Dispensation. Total dominance of the father. He is the Lion of the…
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The Kaduna State Government has introduced a new tax policy, banning multiple tax collection in the state. The new policy also bans Local Government officials and agencies from collecting taxes and all form of levies from individuals and corporate organisations across the state. The State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, made the announcement on Friday after signing the new Kaduna State Codification and Consolidated Tax Policy and Pension Scheme into law. El-Rufai said that the replacement of cash tax collection with e-payment method is part of efforts to block leakages in revenue collection. According to him, the measure is to ensure…
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I received a number of e-mails, calls and text messages in the morning of October 4, 2012, following the appearance of my column, titled “The Pains of Jonathan’s Avian Diplomacy” in Peoples Daily and other online news sites. The article was a response to the then presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati’s piece, “The Gains of Jonathan’s Diplomacy”, in which he justified the frequent foreign trips of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The article drew a potpourri of approbation and reprobation. Jonathan’s supporters, expectedly, lashed at me, while a section of my readers poured commendations – left, right and centre. Notable among the…
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Conspiracy theorists have been saying it all along – but cannabis does apparently kill cancer cells. That’s according to the US government, which has added a page on the use of cannabis and cannabinoids to their official cancer advice website. The National Cancer Institute, part of the US Department of Health, now advises that ‘cannabinoids may be useful in treating the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment’ by smoking, eating it in baked products, drinking herbal teas or even spraying it under the tongue. The site also lists other uses including: Anti-inflammatory activity, blocking cell growth, preventing the…
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In the run up to the 2015 presidential election, leaders and members of APC were very vocal in condemning the then president of the country, President Goodluck Jonathan, for every step he took. This even included attending churches on Sunday, Jonathan’s religion’s holy day of obligation. It was Babatunde Raji Fashola, the then governor of Lagos State and now Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, that succinctly captured the mind of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and supporters then when at the sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos some time in March 2014, he charged at his listeners…
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Pat Utomi, professor of political economy and management expert, says Nigerians may start queuing to buy salt if the government fails to deal with the fundamentals of the economy. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, on Thursday, Utomi said the government needs to deal with the fundamentals of a producing economy. He said Nigeria should “learn from history” to fix the problem facing our economy. A similar economic crisis in the early 1980s saw Nigerians queue up to buy essential commodities such as milk and rice because the foreign reserves were down and importers could no…
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(COMPLETED, ONGOING PROJECTS AND POLICIES) FOUR YEARS OF UNPRECEDENTED TRANSFORMATIONAL AGENDA 1) CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ABUJA – KADUNA RAIL TRACK: President Jonathan’s administration has constructed the new world class infrastructural project; the Abuja-Kaduna Rail is ready. 2) OPERATION AQUILA: Operation Aquila under President Jonathan has helped reduce up to 20 million litters a day in PMS subsidy fraud by using technology to track the movement of petroleum around Nigeria. 3) DRY SEASON FADAMA FARMING: Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of N26 billion for the 2015 dry season farming in the country, the scheme was launched in…
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie chatted to Le Monde journalist Sylvie Kauffmann in Paris, France yesterday, as part of the Le Monde Afrique Conference on the topic Women: The Future of Africa. Kauffmann asked Adichie for her opinion on Beyoncé’s latest single “Formation”, in which the singer embraces and celebrates her blackness in what is seen as a major career departure. The music video for the song contains references to Hurricane Katrina, the Black Panthers and police brutality, and as an overt political statement it has been the cause of both celebration and controversy. Beyoncé famously sampled Adichie’s TED Talk “We…
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It is either I do not understand economics and how exchange rates work or a vast majority of us Nigerians still don’t get how we have wrecked our country with our own curious choices. Just this morning I was listening to the radio and the lady on air went on and on about how she thought CBN governor Godwin Emefiele was incompetent and should be sacked because the naira was now exchanging at 309 or so to the USD. That view pretty much echoes the sentiments expressed by many people I know and it amazes me that there are…
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A Nigerian registered helicopter with number 5N-BQH owned by a yet to be named politician from the Niger Delta crashed in Benin Republic on Thursday, but no life was lost in the incident. It was learnt that the helicopter, an airworthiness aircraft meant for private use, was contracted for commercial purposes by a presidential candidate in Benin Republic who wanted to use it for election campaigns before it crashed. A source at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who confirmed the accident, said the helicopter’s tail rotor clicked on an object and the pilot lost control of it. “I can…
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The Pan Igbo social-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, on Friday said it has started talks with the Presidency to ensure the release of Radio Biafra founder, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention. The body also said its leadership will commence discussions with the notable traditional rulers in the country for the same purpose. Although the group did not give details of its discussions and Presidency officials it met “for security reasons,” it noted that those consulted assured its representatives that something positive would come out of the consultations very soon. Ohaneze told journalists in Abuja on Friday that discussions were already at…
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Ruling party jittery, plans counter strategy. APC orders Tinubu, Atiku to woo or cripple Sheriff, Fayose. The major organs of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have recently been enmeshed in a battle of wits over the control of the party’s hierarchy, after the appointment of a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the party’s national chairman. Though the players might have temporarily sheath their swords, what many did not see was the undercurrent that led to the power-play, which first appeared as a rumour, later seen as a rude joke. But now, it is gradually leaving…
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While Asian traders were mopping up Angola’s crude oil, Nigeria’s crude remains in ample supply, languishing as it awaits buyers. Programmes for Erha were issued after several weeks of delay. Four cargoes will be loading in March and three in April, the programmes showed. NNPC also issued its official selling price for Erha in March at nine cents above dated Brent, up from a 17 cent discount in February. About 15 March-loading Nigerian crude cargoes are still available, traders said, and a force majeure on Forcados exports was doing little to boost differentials for most grades. Meanwhile, according to…
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The Ministry of Communications on Friday confirmed it collected N50 billion from MTN Nigeria on behalf of the Federal Government as part payment for the N780 billion fine imposed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The NCC had in October 2015 sanctioned MTN, one of Nigeria’s largest mobile operator, for failing to disconnect 5.1 million improperly registered lines within a prescribed deadline. MTN thereafter challenged the fine at the Federal High Court, Lagos, but announced on Wednesday that it was settling out of court with the government. MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, announced in a statement on…
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The former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is accused of misusing billions of naira meant for the fight against Boko Haram militants, opened up Friday at Abuja High Court, blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for his arrest and detention without trial since December 29, 2015. Mr. Dasuki, who spoke through his counsel, Joseph Daudu, said President Buhari instigated his detention unjustly against the bail granted him by three different courts, through his comment during a presidential media chat in December 2015. In an affidavit filed in support of his application at the court, Mr. Dasuki said the president betrayed…
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I have come to the conclusion that our biggest problem is forex supply. Our monthly national demand for forex is about $4.6 billion, while the official monthly inflow is less than $1 billion. Our dollar reserves will continue to dry up if oil prices do not appreciate, and while many an economic analyst reasons that devaluation is desirable to curb demand, the fact is: as long as supply is far lower than the demand, the margin between demand and supply will keep widening and the exchange rate will keep going up. If we devalue the naira, therefore, black…
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• Asks Buhari to arrest failing economy The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has said the manner of harassment of the opposition party members, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is making the anti-corruption battle lose its appeals. The members asked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to concentrate on delivering on its campaign promises of reviving the economy, providing social welfare and arresting the fall of the naira. The Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, berated the EFCC for the arrest of the PDP former Acting National Chairman,…
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The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has explained why it reversed itself and expressed support for Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party. The BOT had on Monday dismissed Mr. Sheriff as not being credible to lead the party, but on Tuesday recanted its decision and pledged its support. The board, in a communique after its meeting on Thursday, explained that the unity, cohesion and future successes of the party necessitated a review of its earlier position. The board however emphasised that Mr. Sheriff and all current members of the National Working Committee…
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The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, has asked the Nigeria Police to disregard the Senate’s order for his arrest. In a statement issued by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, Mr. Lamorde said the police and other law enforcement agencies should resist the invitation to drag themselves into “this illegal scheme.” “We most respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force to await the outcome of the matter pending in court before deciding one way or the other about the enforcement of the said Warrant of Arrest, if eventually issued,” Mr. Lamorde said in a statement on…
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Cold might have run down the spine of the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, who had vowed to collect its pound of flesh when the news broke out that the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisah Metuh had obtained the leave of court to make a no-case submission in his trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. By a no-case submission, Metuh will not be required, at this stage to lead evidence. He will argue that by the evidence led by the prosecution, no case has been made out against him…
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The erstwhile Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has refuted claims alleged by the former Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Austin Oniwon, that she unilaterally extended crude oil swap contracts valued at $24 billion for refined products. Alison-Madueke in a statement issued in Abuja through her spokesman, Clem Aguiyi, rejected the claims insisting that the probe in the House of Representatives claiming she granted an “extension”, instead of approval for the renewal of the contracts was a fabricated tissue of lies deviously concocted to sustain the escalating evil narrative against her person. It…
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A former Secretary-General of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe ministers that served during the tenure of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, and a former maximum ruler, Ibrahim Babangida. Okurounmu said although Abacha was dead, some of the ministers who served during his tenure are still enjoying public funds looted during his regime. Speaking with our correspondents on Tuesday in Lagos, the Yoruba leader said the foundation of corruption was laid during Abacha and Babangida’s regime. He said, “If I were President Buhari, I will begin the probe and…
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While some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still grumbling over the chice of Ali Modu Sheriff as its chairman, sources in Sheriff’s camp said former President Goodluck Jonathan had congratulated him. It was learnt that Jonathan congratulated the new chairman on the telephone in the presence of members of the National Executive Council of the party. A source at the meeting said, “Jonathan has congratulated Sheriff despite the protests by some members of the party. The former President told Sheriff to act like a father and unite the warring factions. “Most of those who are accusing…
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“But most of the people clamouring, particularly in the north today, I want to say that none of them won 10 percent in their state. What are they bringing to the table to continue with this argument?” “What is their relevance at home? But as a leader, I still have to appeal to them. They should please allow the dust to settle and channel this energy against Ali Modu Sheriff’s chairmanship into rebuilding the party.”
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Heavy shooting rent the air in Yeghe community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday evening when soldiers invaded the country home of former militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara. At the time of filing this report, people had deserted the community as shootings raged, leaving scores injured. It was further gathered that Ndigbara’s house was razed and soldiers have taken over the community. At the time of the soldiers’ operation, the ex-militant was not at home, it was learnt. According to his media aide, Dum Nwine, “nobody knows his whereabouts.” Nwune was around when soldiers stormed the community. He…
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World oil prices appear on course to be lower for the longer term after Saudi Arabia ruled out production cuts and suggested high-cost producers should be allowed to fail to help rebalance the market. The comments – made by the country’s oil minister Ali al Naimi at an event in Texas – were seen as being directed at the producers of US shale oil who have challenged the Saudi-led OPEC cartel’s share of the global market. The boom in US production coincided with the slowdown in the Chinese economy to force down prices from highs of $115 a barrel…
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested another senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) National Working Committee, Uche Secondus. Secondus, deputy national chairman of the party, was allegedly arrested on Tuesday by the anti-corruption agency. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, is currently facing trial over his alleged involvement in the diversion of public funds meant for arms purchase into the campaign fund of the party’s presidential candidate in the last general elections, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Investigation indicated that Secondus, who, until last week, was the acting national chairman of the party, was…
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Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is currently undergoing extensive cancer treatment in the United Kingdom, has strongly refuted claims that she awarded crude oil swaps valued at $24 billion without supporting contracts. In a statement, supported by letters from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the former minister when she was in office, which was issued in Abuja through her spokesman, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, Alison-Madueke rejected reports attributed to the probe in the House of Representatives on the oil swaps claiming that she granted an “extension” instead of approval for the renewal of the…
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised an alarm on plans by the government to clamp down on opposition by arresting its top members, including Deputy Senate President Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader and Godswill Akpabio. In a statement signed by its national Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor Kwon the party noted that such arrests are mockery on democracy. “We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges. “The…
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The chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have met on February 24th in Aso Rock villa while President Muhammadu Buhari was away in Saudi Arabia for a state visit. State House correspondents failed to receive any comments from the participants of the meeting. Frantic efforts by the State House Correspondents to get a word from many chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC who rose from a crucial meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential Villa on Wednesday afternoon met a brick wall. National leader of the party, Bola Tinubu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the…
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The immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan has been nominated for the Person of the Year Awards by African Leadership Magazine, ALM. Also nominated for the awards was a Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, Chairman of Heirs Holding, Mr. Tony Elumelu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, founder, ECONET Wireless, Dr. Strive Masiyiwa, President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a Tanzania Business Man and MP, Mr. Mo Dewji, and the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The ALM’s Publisher, Dr. Ken Giami, said that the award nominees were shortlisted from distinguished…
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Nigeria’s indigenous telecoms operator, Globacom, has increased its mobile Internet subscriptions to 21.8 million, according to a report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In the study, Globacom is reconfirmed as attracting highest Internet users just a few weeks after a similar report by the industry regulator rated Globacom as having acquired more new data subscribers to its network. Globacom gained the highest number of Internet subscribers in September 2015, with over one million new users on its network. The addition increased Globacom’s Internet subscribers from 20,765,379 in August to 21,896, 229 data users in September, showing a difference…
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The Rivers government has informed parents and guardians of students currently benefiting from the state government funded scholarship program in various universities across the world, that resources are no longer available to continue with the sponsorship abroad. As a result, the Rivers government will no longer pay the tuition and allowances of the scholars and has consequently advised all of them to return home. In a February 6th, 2016, letter obtained exclusively, the executive director/CEO of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Lawrence Pepple, said that the only exceptions to the directive are those students in their final…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has tactically rejected an invitation by Saudi Arabia to join the Coalition of Islamic States against Terror. Buhari, who is on a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, told his host and ruler of Saudi Arabia. King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz, that rather than joining the coalition, Nigeria would support the coalition. He spoke at a bilateral meeting between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh hosted by the ruler, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz. The president, who made his first pronouncement on the invitation to join the coalition of Islamic states against terror spearheaded by the Saudis,…
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The Nigerian Senate has terminated the contract of System Specs Ltd, the company responsible for the REMITA platform for the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The Senate also called for the prosecution of the ‘culprits’ involved in the contract. The report on the abuse and mismanagement of the TSA was read on the floor of the senate by Senator John Owan Enoh representing Cross River Central who headed the committee that probed the contract. The recommendations one and two of the report on Abuse & Mismanagement of TSA was amended by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and Sen.…
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President Muhammadu Buhari vowed late Tuesday that all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 National Budget will face the most severe punishment. Addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia, President Buhari condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by entrenched interests. The president said the “unauthorised alterations” had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly, a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said. “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund. “Never had I heard the…
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· Ubah’s magic working already as Dollar dips to N305 after his challenge The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Services Limited, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, on Tuesday staked his N500 billion assets on his proposal to the Federal Government to stem the free fall of the Naira against the Dollar. Ubah said if given the opportunity by the government, he would halt the slide of the national currency and bring it back to N200 to the dollar within one month. The billionaire businessman, who addressed journalists in Abuja, backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision against devaluing the Naira, noting…
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News on the N25.8bn Lagos Refinery project went viral Yesterday. The Imo state Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance party (APGA) in the last elections has provided an insight into the factors which determined the investment location decision. Here’s what he had to say: “I am glad you guys got around talking about my refinery project. Perharps i can give you some additional heads up on the project and the unique factors which determine its location. I have a license to develop a 20,000 bpd modular refinery at a specific coastal location in Lagos state. The refinery…
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1. Public declaration of assets and liabilities 2. State and community policing 3. Ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad 4. Implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions for women 5. Revival of Ajaokuta steel company 6. Generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years. 7. Empowerment scheme to employ 740,000 graduates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. 8. Establishment of a free-tuition and scholarship scheme…
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•Feb pay due as allocation is stuck JUDICIAL officers, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, Supreme Court Justices, justices of the Court of Appeal and all Federal and state High Court judges, are yet to get their January salaries, it was learnt yesterday. This month’s pay falls due tomorrow but the over 600 judges seem not to have any hope of getting paid. The development has affected workers in the Judiciary in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and the National Judicial Council. Only workers in the state Judiciary in…
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….Says Centre’ll Aid Investigation On Domestic, Sexual Violence Cases, Others In furtherance of its commitment to the criminal justice sector reforms and take the fight against crime to a greater level, the Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced that it has concluded plans to establish the first ever high-powered DNA Forensic Laboratory in Nigeria which will take off within the next six to twelve months. The lab, which would be called the Lagos State DNA Forensics Centre (LSDFC), when fully operational, would fulfill an unmet need for DNA profiling which is a unique forensic technique that is now being…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a visually impaired man, Dr. Samuel Ankeli, as his Senior Special Assistant. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President has saddled Ankeli with the responsibility of dealing with persons living with disability on his behalf. Shehu said Ankeli headed the Directorate of Persons with Disability at the Buhari/Osinbajo APC presidential campaign headquarters, the first of its kind in a political party in Nigeria. He added that the new presidential aide led a team that successfully mobilised a large number of more than 24 million disabled…
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An exclusive report suggests that President Mohammadu Buhari may engage in a minor cabinet reshuffle just 8 months in his administration. The cabinet swap according to our source may be due to some incompetence and the image of the Federal Government. The likely affected ministries are Infomation, which it minister, Alhaji lai Mohammed may be swapped with his solid mineral’s counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; While the Foreign affair minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama may be swapped with Hajiya Amina Mohammed of Ministry of Environment. Eight months in power and three months after the appointment of ministers, the Buhari administration…
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Nigeria’s Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has enumerated how the government of a developing country can attain sustained development. Speaking in a recent interview, the ex Finance Minister identified structural reforms, institution building and the need to achieve macro-stability as the requirements to achieve sustainable development in any nation. She stressed that any policy maker that wants to sustain development, and leave a lasting impact, really needs to put in systems, processes, and institutions that would drive development going forward. Responding to a question on how the immediate past government she worked under was able…
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