Nigerian Gossip

Ranieri Attends Unveiling Of Premier League's New Hi-tech Substitutes Board

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The Premier League have unveiled an eye-catching new substitutes board from designer watch makers TAG Heuer. 
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Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri was present at the launch put on by the English top flight’s new official timekeeper. 
 
Referee Craig Pawson demonstrated the new board which resembles a watch and will be used by fourth officials from the beginning of next season. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Image Credit: Premier league/Twiiter</div>

Ranieri Attends Unveiling Of Premier League's New Hi-tech Substitutes Board

The Premier League have unveiled an eye-catching new substitutes board from designer watch makers TAG Heuer. Leicester manager Claudi...

City Win Made Us Believe - Mahrez

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Leicester City striker Riyad Mahrez has highlighted Leicester City’s win at Manchester City in February as the moment when they started to believe that they could win the Premier League title. 
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The Fennec Foxes attacker – who was named the PFA Player of the Season on Sunday – also revealed that he spoke to N’Golo Kanté about what it would be like to win the Premier League a few weeks before their stunning victory at the Etihad Stadium. 
 
At the time, the Foxes players were essentially joking about lifting the league trophy at the end of the season, but Tottenham Hotspur’s draw against West Bromwich Albion last night means Leicester will mathematically secure the title if they beat Manchester United this coming Sunday. 
 
For Mahrez, the win away to City on February 6 – which followed shortly after a good victory over Liverpool – was the point at which he realised Leicester were capable of going all the way to Premier League glory. 
 
“To score three goals at City is not easy. It was 3-0 and ended up 3-1. That was when we started doing something big,” Mahrez said, reflecting on a match in which he scored a wonderful solo goal. 
 
“In January we [Mahrez and Kante] just said: ‘Imagine?’ We didn’t go into much more, we just said: ‘Imagine?’ But that was only for about 30 seconds and then we said: ‘No, let’s stay focused and let’s see.’ It was still a long way to go, maybe 15 games.” 
 
Mahrez, in a separate interview with French magazine Onze Mondial, also revealed one of the secrets behind Leicester’s success. 
 
“It is desire. We are fighters. And when I say to you ‘fighters’, I have never seen anything like this in my life,” said the Algerian. 
 
“The guys are hungry like crazy and they let nothing go. You blast a shot straight into a guy’s face and he doesn’t even flinch. The defender’s job is to defend, that is it. They love that. You will never see our defenders out of line, trying to dribble and making a pass through the gap. 
 
“Next, we have real midfielders. The signing of N’Golo Kanté has put Danny Drinkwater in the limelight, because the pair complement each other superbly. And then I am doing well this year, Jamie Vardy too. And we have a good coach. It is a bit of all of that.” </div>

City Win Made Us Believe - Mahrez

Leicester City striker Riyad Mahrez has highlighted Leicester City’s win at Manchester City in February as the moment when they started ...

INEC Explains Why Recent Elections Have Been Inconclusive

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Hajiya Amina Zakari, former acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has explained why recent elections have been inconclusive. 
 
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According to reports, Zakari said that the decision of the electoral body to ensure that every polling unit counts in any election is the major reason why most elections conducted by the commission recently were declared inconclusive. 
 
She said the do-or-die syndrome in the country’s politics was fueling violence during elections and for every vote to count, election results in those violent areas had to be cancelled. 
 
“With this, the entire election or part of it has to be declared inconclusive to ensure that every polling unit and of course every vote counts,’’ she said.

INEC Explains Why Recent Elections Have Been Inconclusive

Hajiya Amina Zakari, former acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has explained why recent elections have ...

Atiku Abubakar's Speech At the London School of Economics

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Atiku Abubakar's Speech At the London School of Economics

Ibrahimovic And Team Mates Party Hard With Bikini-clad Women

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<div>Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrated  PSG's latest silverware in style as he joined team-mates Marco Verratti, Javier Pastore and Salvatore Sirigu for a celebratory trip to the bright lights of Las Vegas.<a name='more' id="more"></a></div>
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<div>Laurent Blanc gave his players time away from the training ground after the side added the Coupe de la Ligue title to Ligue 1 success with a 2-1 win over Lille at the weekend.</div>
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<div>The quartet were pictured surrounded by women in sultry swimwear and friends at the Encore Beach Club, basking in the glory of a fourth consecutive league title, and third under Blanc.</div>
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Ibrahimovic And Team Mates Party Hard With Bikini-clad Women

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrated PSG's latest silverware in style as he joined team-mates Marco Verratti, Javier Pastore and Salvatore...

Oshiomhole, Anenih End Political Feud in Church

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The protracted enmity between the Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former chairman of Board of Trustee, BOT of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih has been laid to rest. 
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The move was initiated by the governor, weekend at Uromi at the canonization and 10th year anniversary of the Catholic diocese of Uromi. 
 
Oshiomhole, it was gathered had on the previous day sent emissaries to go before him to meet Chief Anenih and peruse the intent of the heart of the octogenarian . 
 
The sitting arrangement in the church was mixed as politics was completely set aside by both PDP and APC. The Governor sat next to Chief Anenih who sat next to Mr. Orbih, and was next to Chief Odigie-Oyegun. The political rivals exchanged pleasantries and complimentaries. 
 
Oshiomhole rendered his apology to Anenih at his homeland, Uromi in the presence of over a thousand witnesses. Oshiomhole to Anenih, he said: “my leader and MY father, at different time I know that I have offended you by the position of our political differences. 
 
“I feel that there is no other way and as the occasion, right now present us, there is nowhere suitable to call for forgiveness and I will like to passionately appeal to those and to you my leader, Chief Tony Anenih that you forgive me. I beg for your forgiveness Sir,” the governor expressed. 
 
Oshiomhole’s grievance with the PDP chieftain came to crescendo after Mr. Fix It as Anenih is fondly called allegedly stole the governor’s mandate in the 2007 April governorship election t and gave it to a two-term senator , Prof. Osariemen Osunbor apologise.

Oshiomhole, Anenih End Political Feud in Church

The protracted enmity between the Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former chairman of Board of Trustee, BOT of Peoples Demo...

PDP National Convention: South-West Chieftains Threaten Mass Defection

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Leading lights of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria’s South-west geopolitical zone are threatening to dump the party en masse should the zone be blocked from producing the next national chairman of the party. 
 
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A former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, told newsmen on Monday night that party leaders in the zone met in Ikoyi, Lagos, last week and took a position on how to respond if the zone is “robbed” at the party’s national convention next month. 
 
“We took a firm position which was that we will dump the party en masse if we get robbed again at this year’s convention,” Mr. Okupe said. 
 
Some of the PDP leaders present at the meeting included a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Olabode George; the governorship candidate of the party in Lagos in the 2015 election, Jimi Agbaje and Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State. 
 
A former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide; a former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe and party chieftain, Bode Olajumoke were also at the meeting, Mr. Okupe said. 
 
He therefore advised Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State to resist pressure from politicians and do the right thing by zoning the chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party to the southwest geopolitical zone. 
 
Mr. Okupe said Mr. Udom’s final decision would determine if history would judge him kindly or as a villain. 
 
The PDP zoning committee is expected to meet On Tuesday (today) in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where the party’s zoning formula would be redesigned.

PDP National Convention: South-West Chieftains Threaten Mass Defection

Leading lights of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria’s South-west geopolitical zone are threatening to dump the party en masse should ...

Lil Kesh floats own record label

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A few days ago it was reported that Lil Kesh was set to part ways with Olamide's record label after his 2-year contract with the label had expired. 
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The report also indicated that Lil Kesh would be floating a label of his own named 'YAGI' Records . Lil Kesh has however come out to confirm that although the YAGI Record Label rumour is true, YBNL remains his family and management for life. 
 
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">Olamide also reacted to the news as he released a statement via his Instagram page. See his post below</div>
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Lil Kesh floats own record label

A few days ago it was reported that Lil Kesh was set to part ways with Olamide's record label after his 2-year contract with the label...

15 fastest growing economies in Africa — and Nigeria is NOT one

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Having enjoyed blissful growth over the past decade, Nigeria was one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but it is not one of the 15 fastest growing economies in Africa for 2016. 
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In 2014 and early 2015, Nigeria was named the third fastest growing economy in the world by CNNMoney, with China and Qatar, taking the lead at 7.3 percent, 7.1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth. 
 
Following the 2015 election uncertainty, crash in crude oil price, and prolonged revelation of policy direction by the newly-inaugurated Muhammadu Buhari-led government, Nigeria’s GDP for 2015 crashed to 2.8 percent. 
 
For 2016, however, the coast is cloudy, and Nigeria is nowhere near the fastest growing economies in Africa. 
 
According to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) World Economic Outlook for 2016, as revised in April, the fastest growing economy in Africa for 2016 is Cote d’Ivoire and the slowest is Chad, which is expected to record negative growth. 
 
Cote d’Ivoire is expected to experience an 8.5 percent rise in GDP, while Nigeria’s neighbour, Chad, would see a -0.4 percent growth. 
 
 
Cote D’Ivoire (8.5%), Tanzania (6.9%), Senegal (6.6%), Djibouti (6.5%), Rwanda (6.3%), Kenya (6.0%), Mozambique (6.0%), 
 
Central African Republic (5.7%), Sierra Leone (5.3%) Uganda (5.3%). 
 
Madagascar, Zambia and Chad are expected to see a growth of 4.1 percent, 3.4 percent, 3.2 percent respectively. 
 
The fastest growing economies in Africa by GDP growth rate, as projected by IMF for 2016, are: Cote D’Ivoire (8.5%), Tanzania (6.9%), Senegal (6.6%), Djibouti (6.5%), Rwanda (6.3%), Kenya (6.0%), Mozambique (6.0%), Central African Republic (5.7%), Sierra Leone (5.3%) and Uganda (5.3%). 
 
DR Congo expects a GDP growth of 4.9 percent, Cameroon; 4.9 percent, Ethiopia; 4.5 percent, Ghana; 4.5 percent and Republic of Congo; 4.4 percent. 
 
Madagascar, Zambia and Chad are expected to see a growth of 4.1 percent, 3.4 percent, 3.2 percent respectively. 
 
Major oil exporters, Angola and Nigeria, hard hit by the slump in crude oil prices, are projected to see a growth 2.5 and 2.3 percent. 
 
At 2.3 percent, Nigeria is expected to see its poorest GDP growth since the return of Democracy in 1999. 
 
This development has become a point of concern for the IMF, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), which would be having its meeting on Africa later in May. 
 
“It is important to recognize the challenges that many African economies face – the commodities slump, currency devaluations and geo-security risks all threaten growth,” WEF explained. 
 
The Forum says its May meeting will highlight the need for diversification in order to ensure inclusive economic growth, tapping into the fourth industrial revolution’s potential to create new industries and help reduce inequality across the continent. 
 
The World Economic Forum on Africa 2016 will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 11-13 May.

15 fastest growing economies in Africa — and Nigeria is NOT one

Having enjoyed blissful growth over the past decade, Nigeria was one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but it is not one of th...

Senate ends debate on Petroleum Industru Bill (PIB) abruptly

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The senate has ended debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) abruptly. 
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Omotayo Alasoadura, senator from Ondo central, had taken the lead debate on the bill when the exercise was halted. 
 
As Alasoadura, who chairs the senate committee on petroleum resources, outlined the features of the bill, lawmakers murmured that they had not received copies of the document. 
 
Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed surprise that the document had not been circulated, but said he was sure that copies of the bill had already been distributed to lawmakers last Thursday. 
 
He suggested that the bill be stood down until members get the document. 
 
The bill was, thereafter, stood down to the next legislative day. 
 
Earlier, Godswill Akpabio, senate minority leader, raised an objection to the exercise, saying the bill was not to be glossed over, hence the need for members to get copies of the document before a debate on it. 
 
Making his own contribution, Kabir Marafa, a senator from Zamfara central, said that he noticed that essential parts of the document were separated instead of being presented as a whole. 
 
Having perceived the feelings of the senate, Saraki suspended debate on the bill, which was the first order of the day, until the next legislative day. 
 
While leading the debate, Alasoadura said the PIB was first introduced in 2008, but that it wasn’t passed in previous administrations of the national assembly. 
 
He said that the objective of the bill was to create efficient institutions, and to promote transparency in the administration of petroleum resources in the country.

Senate ends debate on Petroleum Industru Bill (PIB) abruptly

The senate has ended debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) abruptly. Omotayo Alasoadura, senator from Ondo central, had taken the ...

Klopp Wants Toure To Remain In Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Kolo Toure to remain at Liverpool, but admits he still has to talk to the defender about his future with the club. 
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Toure, 35, will be out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to discuss a new deal with the club. 
 
The former Arsenal and Manchester City centre back has been a regular since Klopp's arrival at Anfiled - playing 90 minutes in the clubs 2-2 draw against Newcastle United this past weekend. 
 
"Kolo is a very, very important player for us, even when he doesn't play," said Klopp. 
 
"He's one of the most impressive people I have met, but now is not the right time to speak about Kolo's future. 
 
The former Borussia Dortmund boss continued:"When I came here Kolo had a few problems injury wise but now it looks completely different and that's good. 
 
"How I have heard things is that a big part of Kolo's future is at Liverpool. So I'd say everything is okay." 
 
The Reds travel to Spain for their first leg Europa League semifinal clash against Villarreal this Thursday. Toure played for Arsenal in a goalless draw against the 'Yellow Submarine' in the UEFA Champions League semifinals 10 years ago. 
 
The defender scored the winner at Highbury in the first-leg and is looking forward to a return to the El Madrigal. 
 
“Of course I will be ready," Toure told the Mirror. "After the game against Newcastle I am ready mentally. I think I did good things. I will need to recover, but I will be ready for it. 
 
“Skrtel is there as well, Lucas can play at the back as well. Of course you know it is up to the manager. For me the most important is the club, the team. 
 
“It is going to be a big two days for the team and for the club. You need to do your best for the club. If they call me up of course I will be really happy.” 
 
The second-leg is set for Anfield on the 5th of May. </div>

Klopp Wants Toure To Remain In Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Kolo Toure to remain at Liverpool, but admits he still has to talk to the defender about his future wi...

Japan To Support IDPs In Nigeria With $1.45m

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The Japanese Government has said it would provide $1.45 million for a humanitarian response project designed to support the internally displaced women and children in Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States. 
 
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The Senior Assistant/Advisor on General Affairs, Information and Culture at the Japanese Embassy in Abuja, Mr. John Nwankwo, said this in a statement on Monday. 
 
He stated the project, tagged “Emergency Assistance to Internally Displaced Women/Girls and Survivors of Boko Haram Terrorism Attacks in Nigeria,” was in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. 
 
He said the project is a one-year initiative spanning 2016-2017and targeting selected areas in Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states. 
 
Nwankwo added that the aim of the project was to strengthen emergency assistance initiatives to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially women and girls and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the target areas. 
 
It was also aimed at improving the economic capacity and social rehabilitation of women affected by crisis for peaceful cohabitation in target areas, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Japan To Support IDPs In Nigeria With $1.45m

The Japanese Government has said it would provide $1.45 million for a humanitarian response project designed to support the internally disp...

Children's Footprints Spotted in Sambisa Forest - Army Chief

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Children’s footprints have been spotted in Sambisa Forest, the Boko Haram’s stronghold by Nigerian soldiers, according to Commander of the 29th Task Force Brigade, Brigadier-General B.A. Raji. 
 
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He explained that it was from this intelligence that troops use the most basic of tracking skills to hunt for evidence of people passing through. 
 
“Sometimes we see children’s footprints,” he said, according to an agency report. 
 
Commenting on the intelligence capabilities in gathering data relevant to the search, Ragi said 30 ISR drone planes provide an “eye in the sky” that has helped the soldiers immeasurably, directing them to enclaves of Boko Haram captives. But not their target – the Chibok girls. 
 
On his part, the theatre commander of Lafiya Dole in the NorthEast, Major-General Leo Irabor, stressed the need for more international support to crush the insurgents.

Children's Footprints Spotted in Sambisa Forest - Army Chief

Children’s footprints have been spotted in Sambisa Forest, the Boko Haram’s stronghold by Nigerian soldiers, according to Commander of the...

NFF Commiserates With Ighalo On The Death of His Father

12:19 Unknown 0

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The Nigeria Football Federation has commiserated with Super Eagles’ forward, Odion Jude Ighalo, over the death of his father, Paul, on Monday, 25th April 2016. 
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Paul Ighalo reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, only two days after complaining of weakness, according to his son, Jude. 
 
 NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Monday put a call through to the Watford FC of England player to mourn with him and assure the player of the empathy of the NFF and the Nigeria football fraternity. 
 
 “I know that no amount of words can console you at this moment. But I want you to know that the NFF and the Nigeria football family are mourning with you at this period. It is always tough to lose a parent. But I want you to be strong at this period and be there for younger members of the family. That is very important.” 
 
Odion Ighalo said his father complained of being weak only two days ago and was treated, but passed on some minutes after 2am on Monday. 
 
“I’m short of words at this moment. I can’t believe my dad is no more. I spoke to him on Saturday and he prayed for me. I never knew that would be the last time we would have a father-and-son conversation. I’m going to miss him a great deal because he has been the greatest motivator for me in my career.”</div>

NFF Commiserates With Ighalo On The Death of His Father

The Nigeria Football Federation has commiserated with Super Eagles’ forward, Odion Jude Ighalo, over the death of his father, Paul, on M...

La Liga-NPFL Deal To Aid Bilateral Sporting, Cultural and Business Ties

11:48 Unknown 0

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A delegation of Spanish Premier League board, the La Liga led by its President, Javier Tebas landed in Nigeria early hours of Monday to a warm welcome by representatives of the Nigerian and Spanish governments who separately remarked that the technical partnership initiated by La Liga and the League Management Company (LMC) holds a huge prospect of deepening sporting, cultural and commercial ties between the two nations. 
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Tesba and his team were led by the top hierarchy of Nigeria's football governing body including President Amaju Pinnick and LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko to the office of Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung and later to the Residence of the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastián de Erice. 
 
Dalung in his welcome remarks reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian government towards making Nigeria investment friendly by providing the enabling environment for such partnership between the LMC and the La Liga to succeed. 
 
Barrister Dalung commended the LMC for keying into the policy thrust of government for the development of the elite league which provides jobs for thousands of youths through the 20 clubs and stimulating business activities within the areas matches are played. 
 
"The league in Nigeria is indeed a major tool for social cohesion. Government is committed to putting in place, enabling administrative and legal frameworks for international business partnerships". 
 
According to the Minister, government will work with and support the managers of football in the country for meaningful projects like the international collaboration with Spain. 
 
"It is of significance that the NPFL and La Liga are entering into an understanding that will improve the business aspects of the league in Nigeria. Such areas will boost the earnings of football which will in turn impact positively on the welfare of the players while creating new frontiers for business" Dalung said. 
 
Ambassador Barnuevo while receiving the delegation of LMC and La Liga noted that the partnership will strengthen the already strong cultural and trade ties between his country and Nigeria, stating that “at the moment, Spain is the third biggest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil”. 
 
On the occasion, the Chairman LMC, Shehu Dikko said discussions that led to the partnership that will be signed on Tuesday was initiated at that inaugural World Leagues Forum meeting in London in 2015. 
 
"Our objective is to be able to move with the times. We need to get our league to conform to international standards and best practices. La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world. They have some of the richest clubs in the world and they have a system which is very attractive to us. The structure and management of their clubs is fantastic as well as the way the government and the clubs relate. They also have legislation by the government to ensure that the league is developed. We need to learn how they're doing",  Dikko said. 
 
Tebas, the La Liga President expressed delight at the prospects of sharing experiences with the NPFL, noting that while they will be providing technical assistance to the LMC in the administration of the league, they also will in turn learn something from Nigeria. 
 
"We are here not only to teach but to share experience and we are sure we can also learn from the Nigerian Professional Football League.  This exchange of experience will help us to grow and we'll ratify this in Nigeria during this visit with a Memorandum of Understanding. Football is not only a commercial issue but also an example of values especially for youths in any country and the La Liga will like to help develop these values for the Nigerian youths. We want to use the names of our stars to transmit the values of the sport. We will also offer our expertise not only to football but to the Nigerian government" Tebas assured. 
 
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was at the head of the Nigerian team during the visit to the Minister alongside the LMC Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Nduka Irabor, NFF Executive Board member, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Chairman of Club Owners and Managers of the NPFL, Barrister Isaac Danladi. 
 
Accompanying the La Liga President were Melcior Soler, the Director of Audiovisual Affairs, Fernando Sanz, International Projects Director and Antonio Baradas, Manager, African Affairs.</div>

La Liga-NPFL Deal To Aid Bilateral Sporting, Cultural and Business Ties

A delegation of Spanish Premier League board, the La Liga led by its President, Javier Tebas landed in Nigeria early hours of Monday to ...

List Of Dastardly Fulani Herdsmen Attacks On Commmunties

11:33 Unknown 0

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The incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on several communities have caused a lot of concern. If their activities are not nipped in the bud, they could degenerated into something worse than the Boko Haram insurgents. 
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Below the some of the known attacks they have carried out. 
 
1. Enugu, April 2016 (Body Count: 40) 
 
About 40 persons have so far been reportedly killed by some Fulani herdsmen at Nimbo in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. The incident took place barely 24 hours after stories filtered out that no fewer than 500 heavily-armed Fulani herdsmen sneaked into the community preparatory to launch an attack. About seven villages in Nimbo (Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara) were among the areas attacked. 
 
Ten residential houses and a church, Christ Holy Church International, aka Odozi Obodo, were also said to have been burnt by the herdsmen just as vehicles and motorcycles were destroed and domestic animals killed. 
 
2. Agate, February 2016 (Body Count: 50) 
 
Suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked a village in Agatu area of Benue State, killing no fewer than 50 persons. According to a survivor, Ada Ojechi, the latest attack, which took place at Odugbeho-Agatu, was one of the worst ever witnessed in the series of attacks by the herdsmen. 
 
3. Taraba April, 2016 (Body Count: 15) 
 
Suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Dori and Mesuma villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing at least 15 people, police sources said. However, residents said more than 40 people were killed and several houses razed by the attackers. 
 
4. Jos, December 2015 (Body Count: 22) 
 
 
More than 22 persons were killed in December as Fulani herdsmen attacked Kwata in Jos South Local government area of Plateau State‎. The Fulani had written to warn the community of Kwata, Trade Centre, and Kuru that this Christmas season will not be an enjoyable one for the people of the community but the residents took the warning as a joke.One, the marauding Fulani lived up to their threat when they attacked about six houses in Kwata leaving not less than 14 dead bodies in their trail of violence and death.

List Of Dastardly Fulani Herdsmen Attacks On Commmunties

The incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on several communities have caused a lot of concern. If their activities are not nipped in the bud...

El-Rufai Is Dead Already, He Should Ask For His Burial Date - Apostle Suleiman (+video)

11:33 Unknown 0

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Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the president of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), has reiterated his prophecy that Governor Nasir El-Rufai will die. 
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In a new video, Apostle Suleiman describes El-Rufai is a pathological liar. 
 
In the Video, he said, "Pray for the plan of the enemies (those in authority), to turn Nigeria to a country of one religion; it will not work. I said something sometime back about one governor that is trying to Islamise Kaduna,he said he want to put a bill to try and control preaching and the reason he wants to do that is because of the Islamic uprising i.e. the issues of insurgency in the Islamic world. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bsYq09jfbnI" width="640"></iframe>

El-Rufai Is Dead Already, He Should Ask For His Burial Date - Apostle Suleiman (+video)

Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the president of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), has reiterated his prophecy that Governor Nasir El-Rufai will die. ...

Pinnick, Green, Others Meet Galadima Committee

11:33 Unknown 0

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The Ibrahim Galadima-led Reconciliation Committee yesterday began sitting in Abuja with the aim of establishing sanity to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ongoing presidential tussle. 
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Already notable stakeholders including the president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, chairman of the Technical Committee of the federation, Chris Green as well as a former chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya (rtd.) amongst others honoured the invitation of the committee. 
 
Confirming their appearance, spokesman of the NFF, Ademola Olajire told reporters that the committee was set up to ensure that peace returns to Nigerian football adding that all relevant stakeholders will have their opportunity to appear before it. 
 
However there are concerns that the leader of the group laying claims to the leadership of the NFF, Chris Giwa and some of his associates may shun the committee as they were yesterday said to be concluding plans to take over the secretariat. 
 
The Minister of Youth and Sports,  Solomon Dalung had set up the Galadima Committee at the wake of the latest crisis which followed the ruling of a Jos High Court which ruled that the Giwa group is the authentic board of the NFF. Already the Amaju Pinnick-led board had appealed the ruling. 
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Pinnick, Green, Others Meet Galadima Committee

The Ibrahim Galadima-led Reconciliation Committee yesterday began sitting in Abuja with the aim of establishing sanity to the Nigeria Fo...

Jonathan feigns illness, cancels speech over fear of embarrassment

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Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan reportedly cancelled some of his public engagements to avoid being embarrassed. 
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According to Sahara Reporters, the ex-president  who has been in the United States since last week, canceled a scheduled keynote speech at the Africa Peace Awards Dinner organized bythe Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution at the California State University, Sacramento in order to avoid embarrassment. 
 
Mr. Jonathan’s former Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, spoke on his behalf, explaining that the former President had taken ill. 
 
SaharaReporters has however learned that Mr. Jonathan, who has been travelling across the US to associate himself with international NGOs, feigned his illness to avoid embarrassment by protests planned against him. It will be recalled that Mr. Jonathan, while in Newark, New Jersey, met with a human trafficking NGO and made remarks at the Mayor’s office.

Jonathan feigns illness, cancels speech over fear of embarrassment

Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan reportedly cancelled some of his public engagements to avoid being embarrassed. According t...

Video: Lupita Nyong'O shares video of her dancing to Lil Kesh's song

11:18 Unknown 0

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Lupita Nyong'O dances to Lil Kesh's 'Efejoku' hit dance song in a car ride with friends. 
The actress shared the video of herself and friends turning up right inside the car as they journeyed on. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> “West African Jammin’ on the West Side Highway,” the Academy Award-winning actress captioned the video of herself in the car with her Eclipsed play stars, all of them them bumping to the minute-long clip, mouthing the lyrics. 
 "eclipsedbway day off, here we come! ridealong Lil Kesh's Efejoku with ladyzjah, vintagepopsoul, pascale_armand and katiecm" the actress added. 
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Video: Lupita Nyong'O shares video of her dancing to Lil Kesh's song

Lupita Nyong'O dances to Lil Kesh's 'Efejoku' hit dance song in a car ride with friends. The actress shared the video of...

Giwa FC Fined N6.7m By Disciplinary Board

11:18 Unknown 0

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The Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Board have hit Giwa FC of Jos with a N6.7m fine following their fans unruly behavior against Rangers International FC of Enugu, in the penultimate weekend. 
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The amount also included additional fines for further violating sections of the FIFA Code of Ethics, FIFA Disciplinary Code and the LMC Rules and Regulations. The board noted that the club was absent at its sitting, neither was a written defence made, even after an invitation was duly served for them. 
 
“The NFF Disciplinary Board wishes to state clearly that adequate invitation notice was served to Giwa FC requesting that they forward their written submission to the secretariat of the NFF Disciplinary Board and also appear before the Board on 25th April, 2016 by 10:00am. This invitation was not honoured by Giwa FC.” 
 
After a careful observation of all documentary evidence presented before it, the NFF Disciplinary Board slammed a fine of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira only) for the discontinuation of the match; the match shall be continued behind closed doors at the National Stadium, Abuja tomorrow, 27th April, 2016, from the point of disruption which is the 74th minute and the 0-1 result of the match at the point of disruption shall stand. Other additional fines include N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) for failure to provide adequate security, N750,000.00 for failure to control their players and officials during the match, and another N500,000.00 for assault on the referee and Match Commissioner. 
 
Giwa FC is required to ensure, within the next seven days, that in addition to the apprehension of one Sodiq Goje, his co-culprit identified as one Mustapha Apiya is also apprehended and prosecuted by the relevant security agencies, for assaulting the Referee, failure of which a fine of N25,000.00 (Twenty Five Thousand Naira only) per day shall accrue, until such time the offender is apprehended and charged to court. 
 
The club have also been banished to Ilorin Stadium for their next three home matches and to play under closed doors for the rest of the season. 
 
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Giwa FC Fined N6.7m By Disciplinary Board

The Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Board have hit Giwa FC of Jos with a N6.7m fine following their fans unruly behavior agains...

Ben Murray-Bruce And The Glamour Of Favor By Pius Adesanmi

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A national teachable moment happened recently on Twitter between Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Nigeria’s Area Father Plenipotentiary of commonsense, and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who needs no introduction. 
 
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There is a background to that Twitter spat that most commentators have not critically examined. The said background is wholly rooted in the tragedy of our collective definition of Nigeria and our stubborn persistence to clinch to an understanding of nationhood and statehood in the 21st century that is inferior to how Askia the Great understood those notions in the late 15th century. 
 
We must sympathize with Ben Murray-Bruce before exploring the background of his spat with Mrs. Ezekwesili. These are not the best of times to be Ben Murray-Bruce. The Bayelsa Senator is finding out in a very harsh way that it is impossible to be a national crusader for ethics, morality, and common sense from the belly of the cesspool that is Nigeria’s National Assembly. Nigeria’s NASS is one of the most corrupt and irredeemable political institutions ever to bestride the African continent. In the two chambers of NASS are the most execrable African humanoids. As Senator Ben Murray-Bruce is finding out, nothing good can come out of the Nigerian National Assembly. 
 
NASS is constitutionally and statutorily set up to be a crematorium of good and great intentions; an unforgiving grave yard for the angelic reputation. Consider the example of Ben Murray-Bruce’s commonsense crusade. It is crumbling under the weight of its own contradictions for a very simple reason: when you are a member of Nigeria’s National Assembly, commonsense is the very first victim of your situation. You may be honest; you may not have stolen a dime (very unlikely though); you may not have rigged your election, however, your legitimate earnings, allowances, and sundry perks put you above the pay grade of Barack Obama. Does this make sense? No, it doesn’t. 
 
Your legitimate pay puts you above the pay grade of parliamentarians and congressmen and women in any part of the developed world. Yet, they do much more work than you and are answerable to constituents who are citizens in full civic sentience and will therefore not tolerate the rubbish that Nigerians take from you. You are basically the highest paid parliamentarian in the world and you put in the least hours for your constituents. Even the hours you put in are useless for being a Senator or a Rep does not require any cerebral effort from you in Nigeria. You need no intellect to be in NASS. You just wear your agbada and go and yawn and sleep for a few hours every day and watch your account swell every day. Does this make sense? 
 
To be in the position to talk about commonsense at all, our friend from Bayelsa would have to remove the speck in his own eyes. That speck is where the context from which he connects daily with Nigerians. That speck, NASS, is wholly corrupt and indolent. That specks, NASS, is Nigeria’s greatest theatre of legitimate corruption by legislating immoral and amoral allowances which defy commonsense. 
 
Has the Senator done anything about this speck beyond the perfunctory inaudible noise? No, he hasn’t and I do not expect him to. I am just trying to show him the inherent contradictions of his situation. That is why he is salving his conscience by promising Osun workers a cut and riding Okada from time to time to distribute pure water and Tetmosol to his constituents in line with the loot trickle down philosophy of Nigerian politicians. 
 
You will notice that I have concerned myself only with the legitimate earnings of our Bayelsa friend which automatically exclude him and anyone in NASS from being in the same bracket with commonsense. Whatever is legitimate about him disqualifies him from being a spokesperson for commonsense for that role cannot be anchored from within the existential contradictions and ironies of NASS. NASS is antithetical to commonsense. NASS negates commonsense. You cannot crusade for commonsense on the platform of its existential negation. 
 
Now, we all know that the part of the role and functions of a NASS member which devolves from legitimacy is less than 5%. The remaining 95% space in your life as a Senator or a Rep is occupied by everything we associate with politicians and government officials in Nigeria: corruption, patronage, and prebendal avarice. If the 5% that is even legitimate about you and NASS stand commonsense on its head, what does that make of the remaining 95% which falls in the province of the Nigerian way? 
 
The second part of Senator Ben Murray-Bruce’s problem is the mediocrity of his context. He wants to be seen as Nigeria’s answer to Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau, and co: an urbane and cosmopolitan politician powered by 21st century cutting-edge ideas and ideals. Yet, as someone famously puts it on Twitter, his Obanikoro predilections are in tandem with the overall Baba Suwe level of his peers in the Senate. Hence, his attempt at cosmopolitanism are constantly overwhelmed by the prelogical mentality of the Orangutans who dominate the two Chambers. 
 
This is why Senator Ben-Murray Bruce is heehawing for commonsense from the platform of a National Assembly where the predominant opinion is that granting gender equality to women in marriage will make of them lesbians and prostitutes in the 21st century! And the same week they emit these pre-Medieval ideas, they go on a spending spree like demented demons, buying jeeps in an orgy of spending which defies commonsense and the only thing we have heard from the commonsense Chief Priest is the feeble noise that he did not accept his. By the way, I saw a photo-op of Senator Shehu Sani with his own jeep. This is the man donating donkeys and camels to his constitutents. May Sango thunder Shehu Sani’s jeep! 
 
It is in the context of all this turbulence on the commonsense front, when the Area Father of Commonsense, had wisely crawled underground to contemplate the ruins of his crusade – ruined by tragic contradictions – that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili decided to call him out. The wounded Senator, a master of the knockout repartee, promptly advised the Bring Back Our Girls crusader to occupy her own Senator and stop bugging him. You are making your own Senator lazy by focusing on me, he opined. 
 
On the surface, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce’s response to Mrs. Ezekwesili would appear to be a brilliant uppercut. I was even tempted to think that Mrs. Ezekwesili deserved it for not allowing a man to mourn the ironies and contradictions of his doomed commonsense crusade in peace. Doomed not because Nigeria does not stand in desperate need of commonsense but by the contradictions and hypocrisy attendant upon the Senator’s context and platform: right message, wrong bearer, diseased platform. 
 
However, if you look at it closely, the Senator’s response is silly and irresponsible. A man who has spent an entire year trying to curate a national image for himself as a pan-Nigerian spokesperson of commonsense is suddenly scurrying under the cover of representing only his constituents in the National Assembly when called out on the very basis of his own national crusade! Mrs. Ezekwesili made it clear that she was calling him out on the basis of what he has been projecting. Has he ever projected or given the slightest hint that his crusade was exclusively addressed to his constituents? 
 
This is part of the hypocrisy that has undone Ben Murray-Bruce’s crusade. We must also advise him that it is called the National Assembly for a reason. If he wants to be answerable exclusively to his constituents, he is welcome to go to the Bayelsa House of Assembly – if Mama Peace approves of such a move. In Abuja, the laws and bills you are making (or not making as is the usual case) have a national purview. Besides, not all of us have Senators representing us. In my own case, Senator Dino Melaye has made it clear that he is representing only Senator Bukola Saraki in the Senate till death does them part. Okun people have no Senator currently representing them so don’t tell me to call my Senator. At any rate, I’d sooner call the boss, Saraki, than call his self-styled slave, Dino Melaye. 
 
There is a second aspect to the exchange between Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and Mrs. Ezekwesili. There is a certain patronizing and condescending tone in the Senator’s responses. You’d be right to surmise that he believes he is doing her a favour by even responding at all. This brings me to my earlier point about our tragic understanding and definition of Nigeria. We define and understand Nigeria as a chaotic association of favour doers and recipients of favour. It is not an accident that Nigerian Pentecostals regularly disturb God with endless requests for an uncommon favor. They are taking to the spiritual domain how they have been shaped and defined by Nigeria. 
 
We have conceptualized the social contract as a terrain of favour-doing in Nigeria. Nobody does anything for you because it is their duty and obligation. Rather, every secular transaction in Nigeria is a favour done for you by somebody drawing a salary to do precisely that task. Every Nigerian politician, from the President down to the Local Government Chairman, considers every aspect of what he or she is elected to do a favour rendered to the people. 
 
That is why your politician tars a road, digs a borehole, builds a gada or a culvert or a gutter and his aides gut the airwaves with noise demanding acknowledgement and appreciation from the people for the uncommon favour. This national mental malaise is not limited to politicians. Interactions among the ordinary people is also subject to the same affliction with civil servants being the worst culprits. There is no service you receive in any office in Nigeria that is not conceptualised as a favour by the service provider. Try obtaining any document from a Ministry or a local government office in Nigeria. Everyone you come into contact with sees what they are doing in the delivery of that document to you as a favour. 
 
Go to ShopRite and the attendant who accepts your money is doing you a favour. 
 
Go to Mama Put and Sikira who serves you amala and abula believes she has done you a favour. 
 
Go to your ‘forganaiza’ and he doing you a favour by fixing your tire. 
 
Go to WAEC or JAMB; they give you your results as a favour. 
 
There is no sphere of life that is free from this disease in Nigeria. This is why Ben Murray-Bruce did Oby Ezekwesili a favour by sending her to her Senator. 
 
This is why I have done you a favour by writing this!

Ben Murray-Bruce And The Glamour Of Favor By Pius Adesanmi

A national teachable moment happened recently on Twitter between Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Nigeria’s Area Father Plenipotentiary of commons...

Jamie Vardy Given Additional One-match Ban

11:03 Unknown 0

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Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been hit with an additional one-match ban and fined £10,000, the Football Association has confirmed. 
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Vardy, 28, will miss Sunday's Premier League trip to Manchester United, where a victory will see the Foxes win the title. 
 
He was hit with an improper conduct charge, one which he admitted, following his reaction to referee Jon Moss after being sent off for diving in last week's 2-2 draw with West Ham. 
 
The England forward, Leicester's 22-goal top scorer, requested a personal hearing as he wanted to explain his outburst but will sit out another game. 
 
An FA statement read: "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Jamie Vardy has been given a one-match suspension with immediate effect, fined £10,000 and warned as to his future conduct. 
 
"The Leicester City forward had accepted an FA charge of improper conduct following his second half dismissal against West Ham United on Sunday 17 April 2016." 
 
The club has also been fined £20,000 after admitting an FA charge of failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. 
 
The sanction, which the Foxes accepted, followed the award of an 83rd-minute penalty during the game with the Hammers. 
 
Vardy will return for Leicester's final home game of the season against Everton on May 7, having missed Sunday's 4-0 win over Swansea. 
 
His replacement, Leonardo Ulloa, scored twice as Claudio Ranieri's side temporarily moved eight points clear at the top with a comfortable victory. Newly crowned PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring while Marc Albrighton added a late fourth. 
 
Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 draw with West Browich Albion on Monday closed the gap to seven points but their failure to win means Leicester only need three points from their final three games to take the title.</div>

Jamie Vardy Given Additional One-match Ban

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been hit with an additional one-match ban and fined £10,000, the Football Association has confirm...

Fulani Herdsmen Killed 100 in Enugu and You Don't Care - Fani Kayode Blasts Buhari

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Former Minister of Aviation,  Femi Fani-Kayode has slammed President Buhari for his tepid attitude towards curtailing the incessant rampaging actions of Fulani herdsmen in the country. 
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Femi Fani-Kayode,  who now prefers to be called Olufemi Olu-Kayode, took to his Twitter handle to admonish Mr President to rise to the occasion and put a final stop to the dastardly acts. 
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<div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">The number of Igbos slaughtered by Fulani militants in Enugu this afternoon has gone up to 100.Many churches n homes have been burnt down.</div>
— Olufemi Olu-Kayode (@realFFK) <a href="https://twitter.com/realFFK/status/724669264096026624">April 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">The slaughter of 20 people in Enugu by Fulani militants is unacceptable.When will <a href="https://twitter.com/MBuhari">@MBuhari</a> appreciate the fact that NON-FULANI LIVES MATTER?</div>
— Olufemi Olu-Kayode (@realFFK) <a href="https://twitter.com/realFFK/status/724646572877852672">April 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Fulani Herdsmen Killed 100 in Enugu and You Don't Care - Fani Kayode Blasts Buhari

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has slammed President Buhari for his tepid attitude towards curtailing the incessant rampag...

Genevieve Nnaji goes into real estate business

10:34 Unknown 0

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Nollywood super actress Genevieve Nnaji is regarded as one of the richest celebrities in Nigeria. 
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She is regarded as a multi-millionaire raking in huge sums of money from acting and endorsements. Now it seems Genevieve Nnaji is about to diversify into another business- real estate. 
Nnaji today, Monday, April 25, 2016 took to Snapchat sharing several photos of a block of flats. 
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She simply captioned the photos as, "Back to site. #stick&stones". 
In the photo we can see construction work going on in the estate which begs the question, Is the actress into the real estate business? 
 
Recall that earlier this year, Nnaji shared photos of a block of apartments in Apo Dutse, Abuja. 
Genevieve Nnaji captioned those photos as "#sticksandstoneshomes" (sama as now) which might be the name of her real estate company. With the real estate being a lucrative form of business expect Genevieve to rake in more cash for 2016.</div>

Genevieve Nnaji goes into real estate business

Nollywood super actress Genevieve Nnaji is regarded as one of the richest celebrities in Nigeria. She is regarded as a multi-millionair...

APC Chieftain reacts to Lamido's presidential ambition

10:18 Unknown 0

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has reacted to Former Governor Sule Lamido's presidential bid. 
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According to reports, Okechukwu asked the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, to be ready to tell Nigerians what his party, the People Democratic Party, did in the last 16 years to warrant another shot at the presidency. 
 
''It is now incumbent on him to tell us his programme what he want to do that PDP did not do in the last sixteen years or whether for him, PDP did so well, if he tells us the PDP did so well, then we have enough armour and arms to confront him with."

APC Chieftain reacts to Lamido's presidential ambition

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has reacted to Former Governor Sule Lamido's presidential bid. ...

I didnt snatch Doris Simeon's husband - Stella Damascus

10:03 Unknown 0

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Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus, has cleared the air concerning her marriage to Daniel Ademinokan, who was the ex-husband of fellow actress, Doris Simeone. 
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In an interview with ThisDay, Damasus said she has been quiet about the ‘husband snatching’ allegation for too long, but now deems it fit to express herself concerning the matter. 
 
“One of the comments I have seen consistently, over and over again’ is, ‘Stella snatches somebody’s husband’; ‘Stella the husband snatcher which is what has been going on.” 
 “And I had sworn that I would never talk about it or even listen or stress myself about the issue. But I have decided to talk about it now, so that I end it once and for all. 
 How is it possible to go to somebody’s home, and take a man, and take his son, away from his home and say follow me.” 
 “(Let’s assume) You are a man, and according to their story, he is happily married inside his home with his family. Complete and I walk into that home to forcefully take a man, able-bodied man, and a kid, away from somebody’s hand and you are there looking at me. How does that work?” 
 “So logically if people actually sit down and think about it intelligently, how do you snatch somebody from somebody and the person is there looking at you?” 
 “So when you see a man who has settled ties with a woman and decides to move on with his life and you feel that there is something in this man that you like and he likes you, is there a problem there?” 
 
“I am not a kid. I am 36 years old. I am not about to start hiding myself.”</div>

I didnt snatch Doris Simeon's husband - Stella Damascus

Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus, has cleared the air concerning her marriage to Daniel Ademinokan, who was the ex-husband of fellow actr...

Tension as Over 56 arrested Fulani herdsmen’s 'disappear' in Army, Police custody

10:03 Unknown 0

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The police and the Nigerian Army have contradicted their claims on the whereabouts of 56 Fulani herdsmen, who were arrested with arms at a military checkpoint, along the Airport Road, Abuja, last week. 
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Troops arrested 36 armed Fulani herdsmen at a checkpoint in Keffi, Nasarawa State, while another 56 herdsmen were also caught with arms along the Airport Road, Abuja, by the military. 
 
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Bashir Jajira, had, in a statement on April 18, said the 36 suspects arrested in Keffi had been handed over to the Nasarawa State Police Command. 
 
Jajira added that the other 56 suspects were handed over to the Kuje Divisional Police Station. 
 
He stated that the troops recovered “one pump action gun, 19 cartridge, dane guns, 118 cartridge ammo, 28 cutlasses, three jack knives, 14 sticks, seven torches, Certificate of Occupancy, assorted charms and hard drugs.” 
 
On Sunday, Jajira insisted in an interview with newsmen that the herdsmen were handed over to the Police Division in Kuje, Abuja, and the Police Area Command, Keffi, on April 18, 2016. 
 
The Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Ismaila Numan, confirmed on Monday that 36 suspects were handed over to the command, pointing out that they had been charged to court for illegal possession of firearms and criminal conspiracy. 
 
But the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it had not received the second set of 56 suspects which the Army claimed to have handed over to the Kuje Divisional Police Station. 
 
A source at the FCT Police Command said the information from the DPO, Kuje, indicated that “no herdsmen were handed over to the police, as claimed by the Army.” 
 
The Force Public Relations Officer, Bisi Kolawole, also claimed that the command had not received the suspects. 
 
“I have made inquiries at the FCT Police Command and what I learnt was that they had yet to receive the suspects,” she explained. 
 
A security analyst, Ben Okezie, wondered why the Army had yet to hand over the suspects for investigation and prosecution one week after the armed men were apprehended, noting that the police would not deny if the suspects were in their custody.

Tension as Over 56 arrested Fulani herdsmen’s 'disappear' in Army, Police custody

The police and the Nigerian Army have contradicted their claims on the whereabouts of 56 Fulani herdsmen, who were arrested with arms at a ...

Don't judge my work by fuel scarcity, Kachikwu begs

09:48 Unknown 0

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Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, has appealed to Nigerians not to judge his work by their difficulties in obtaining fuel. 
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Speaking in Lagos at the town hall meeting hosted by Lai Mohammed, the minister of information, he explained that the ongoing fuel crisis has persisted mainly because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cannot track fuel trucks. 
 
He urged Nigerians to be endure the hardship because his ministry and the NNPC are working hard at solutions even though the situation is blighting. 
 
“Do not judge our work on the basis of the difficulties you have had in fuel supply,” he said. “I love your patience, I appreciate it; we are working feverishly at solution. We are looking at intelligent solutions.” 
 
Kachikwu said fuel trucks are being diverted to other countries rather than points of sale in Nigeria, revealing that no truck in Nigeria has a tracker and the NNPC is at the mercy of the truck drivers. 
 
“Over 30 per cent of (fuel) supply is diverted,” he said. 
 
“For example, in the last five days, we have pumped 400 trucks of product into Lagos state. The total consumption (in the state) at the maximum is 250 trucks, and most of those trucks are diverted from Lagos to the hinterland of Chad …and Cameroon. 
 
“We need, literally, a whole army to stop this from happening. So I continue to supply and over-supply and so we struggle.” 
 
He said Nigerians, therefore, cannot afford to live the work of tackling the fuel scarcity to the government alone, and must take initiative, including repenting from traffic indiscipline, which causes long queues. 
 
Kachikwu also implored Nigerians to report incidents of diversion of fuel. 
 
“We started publishing deliveries and telling you the filling stations they were allocated to, so if you don’t find products in those filling stations, there are hotlines to call and for police to report. 
 
Kachikwu said the NNPC has mostly dealt with the shortfall in supply resulting from debt to marketers; and then foreign exchange scarcity, has, by itself, substantially improved supply of products. 
 
He, however, described this as a short-term solution because the private sector “needs to drive this business… because ultimately, without doing that, we are never going to find a solution to this problem”. 
 
Kachikwu said the NNPC is currently burdened with the entire work of supply and regulation, and takes all the loss. 
 
“That model must change,” he said. “The private sector will have incentive to drive their business.” 
 
Tracing the difficulties in the oil sector to years of systematic enclosure of opportunities and lack of transparency, he said significant gains are now being made. 
 
“Contracts are awarded through open bids; monthly transactions are now being published by the NNPC with favourable business policies now in place after a 20-year lull,” he said. 
 
“For the first time, average loss position of NNPC, which was about N300bn per month, has been reduced to about N3bn as of January 2016. 
 
“The Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP), which was the Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA) which we reviewed, has saved us over $1bn. 
 
“Payment of subsidies, which last year was over N1trn has been reduced to zero – except in April, which was prepared for because of over-recovery. 
 
“Finally we are focusing on the business – not just bleeding government – and benefitting Nigerian people.” 
 
Kachikwu said pipelines and refineries, including the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, had been revived, while the Kaduna refinery would begin to work in a week. 
 
“Today, we commissioned… for the first time in seven years, we commissioned the crude supply pipeline both from Brass to Port Harcourt and from Escravos to Warri refinery.” 
 
Kachikwu charged Nigerians to channel energy to solutions for Nigeria’s myriad of problems to relieve the government.

Don't judge my work by fuel scarcity, Kachikwu begs

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, has appealed to Nigerians not to judge his work by their difficulties in obtaining fuel. ...

Fifty-five people stole a quarter of 2015 budget - Lia Mohammed

09:48 Unknown 0

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Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has decried the level of corruption during the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it was so bad that 55 people stole an amount that was equivalent to a quarter of the 2015 budget. 
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He was speaking in Lagos at a town hall meeting organised by the federal government. 
 
Despite widespread criticism that the government has been concentrating on its war against corruption at the expense of other crucial sectors of the economy, he argued that nothing else would work in the country unless corruption is fought to a standstill. 
 
“On the issue of corruption, I’ve heard many commentators say that this administration is fighting corruption without paying attention to the economy. Of course, this is not true,” Mohammed said. 
 
“But even if it was, it is patently justified. Why? Unless we fight corruption to a standstill, nothing else we do will yield positive results. 
 
“It was corruption that prolonged the war against Boko Haram and sent many soldiers and civilians to their early graves. It was corruption that ensured that while oil was selling for over $100 per barrel, we had nothing to show for the windfall. 
 
“It was corruption that gave us darkness instead of light when we supposedly pumped millions of dollars into the power sector. I can tell you today that we are squarely fighting corruption and we are winning. The situation is serious and no government can fight the battle alone. That explains why we have launched a nationwide sensitization campaign to make Nigerians to join the anti-graft war. 
 
“We launched the campaign in January and we released what some people call a bombshell, that between 2006 and 2013, just 55 people allegedly stole a total of N1.34trn, an amount that is more than one quarter of the 2015 national budget. 
 
“Even if just one-third of the stolen fund is recovered, it will provide us with 6 Lagos Ibadan express ways and in addition, it will build 183 schools to educate 3,974 children from primary to tertiary education, also 36 modern hospitals. The money that was originally stolen represents the total earning s of four African nations. 
 
“The funds meant to buy arms and ammunition for our soldiers to fight Boko Haram was shared out by few people for political purposes. What is remarkable in all of this is that no one who has been named to have shared in the money has denied it. All they have done is give very ridiculous excuses for what they did. All of must be part of the war; its not Buhari’s war, its not APC’s war, its Nigeria’s survival war.” 
 
Mohammed also spoke about the government’s spirited efforts to rescue the economy, expressing confidence that better days are ahead. 
 
“Our nation’s economy or whatever is left of it poses a great challenge to all of us for one. We have lost a sizable chunk in the price of oil,” he said. 
 
“Think about it, if you lose about 70% of your salary, your life can never be the same again. Oil crashed from about $100 to $30. For an economy like ours, this is nothing short of a disaster but this government has decided to turn this disaster into a blessing by working assiduously to diversify our economy from oil. Agriculture, solid minerals, culture and tourism are some of the sectors that we are working to rejuvenate. 
 
“By these efforts and all, the administration has decided to block all financial loopholes with the treasury single account (TSA), into which a lot of money has accrued so far. Funds, which would have ordinarily found their way into private pockets, are now piling their way into the public treasury account to be used for the benefit of all of us. Over 30,000 ghost workers have been discovered and weeded out, saving the government of billions of naira. 
 
“This budget has recorded a first, with the capital expenditure increased to 30%. Beyond that is the social intervention areas that will reach millions of citizens and leave them out of poverty. 
 
“The first is the employment of 500,000 unemployed graduates who will be trained and employed as teachers and deployed to our primary schools, employment of 370,000 graduates and artisans, cash transfer to the most vulnerable Nigerians – not to the unemployed youth – school feeding programme targeting 4.5 million children in the 2016 budget, and lastly bursary for those studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Fifty-five people stole a quarter of 2015 budget - Lia Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has decried the level of corruption during the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PD...

Presidency Reveals Conditions Surrounding Buhari's Signing of 2016 Budget

09:33 Unknown 0

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Femi Adesina, the Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, in a recent interview on Radio Continental, spoke about the conditions surrounding the passage of Nigeria's 2016 budget. 
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"The exact situation is that the legislature and the executive are still consulting," he stated. 
 
"There has to be a lot of consultation on this because naturally, a President should not sign a budget that will become unimplementable. It is even an impeachable offence because they will say later that he didn’t implement it. And a President should not sign a budget that is not in favour of the people. Those budget projections were sent to the National Assembly, and what came back didn’t in any way look like what was sent," 
 
He also said the 30 day grace for Buhari to assent the budget has not expired. 
 
"I wouldn’t think it would be 30 days by Tuesday because that budget was sent about two weeks ago. And the constitution gives the executive a 30 days window. What I will just say is that it is in nobody’s interest to have a constitutional crisis because the party that is governing in the centre also has the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly. That party has to do the right thing. They need to call themselves, sit down and tell themselves; we are the party in government, and we must do the right things for the people.

Presidency Reveals Conditions Surrounding Buhari's Signing of 2016 Budget

Femi Adesina, the Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, in a recent interview on Radio Continental...

'Jim Yong Kim' World Bank President Arrives Nigeria for a 3 Day Visit

09:33 Unknown 0

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The President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim is billed to arrive Nigeria this morning on a three-day visit. 
 
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Kim is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by 9a.m. He is to be received by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and some top government functionaries. 
 
Although the details of his visit are not known, it's believed that Kim is coming to Nigeria in connection with issues pertaining to the economy and the support to the country’s efforts to rebuild the North-east, which has been ravaged by insurgency. 
 
Four months earlier, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Christine Lagarde, visited Nigeria. 
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'Jim Yong Kim' World Bank President Arrives Nigeria for a 3 Day Visit

The President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim is billed to arrive Nigeria this morning on a three-day visit. Kim is expected to arr...

Ekiti Doctors’ Death: Hospital Workers Accuse CMD of Using ‘juju’ to kill Staff

09:33 Unknown 0

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The death of three doctors of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) in an accident on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Sunday has sparked a protest and strike by their colleagues. 
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They accused the CMD of using juju to kill workers in a bid to secure a second term. The protest which started at about 6am went on for several hours. 
 
Trooping out en masse in a protest which forced the closure of the hospital yesterday, the workers claimed that the doctors’ death on the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Lawrence Ayodele. 
 
They claimed that workers have been dying mysteriously during Ayodele’s tenure, accusing the CMD of carrying out rituals in the dead of the night in the hospital. 
 
Various unions, including the Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association (SSA), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), locked the hospital’s main gate. 
 
Singing dirges, they barricaded the Ido-Otun Highway preventing human and vehicular traffic. According to the irate staff, 42 of them had died in the last 42 months 
 
Some of their placards read: “42 Months 42 Dead”; “No To Occultism and Ritual Actions in FETHI”; “Give Us New CMD in FETHI” and “Buhari, Save Our Souls”, among others.

Ekiti Doctors’ Death: Hospital Workers Accuse CMD of Using ‘juju’ to kill Staff

The death of three doctors of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) in an accident on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Sunday has ...

Edo deputy gov denies plotting to kill Oshiomhole

07:18 Unknown 0

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Edo state deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has denied reports published by some national newspapers on Sunday that he was plotting with some native doctors to kill his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole. 
 
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The cordial relationship between Governor Oshiomhole and his deputy had plummeted since the latter had declared interest in vying for the governorship position of Edo State. 
 
But denying the reports on Monday, Odubu who debunked the allegation in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kelly Odaro, described them as part of the campaign of calumny to smear the good working relationship he had enjoyed with his boss in the past. 
 
He said the allegation was being fuelled by mischief makers and blackmailers who are bent on destroying his cordial relationship with his boss, even as he ‎raised the alarm over alleged plots by some persons to circulate fliers round Benin City with a view to further destroy his image and fuel the crisis between him and the Comrade Governor. 
 
“As a practicing Catholic, Dr. Odubu will not do anything that is unbecoming of a true Christian in the name of politics. God knows that he has never had any pact with any witch/native doctor to kill anyone or avenge for him and he will never condescend to that extent as long as God lives. It is against his faith.‎ 
 
“The Bible teaches that even when the innocent suffers and mischief makers and traducers appear to triumph, by their chief blackmail, it is for God alone to avenge. 
 
“The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu will, by the special Grace of God, continue to disappoint the dubious expectations of those who are bent on driving a wedge between him and the Comrade Governor. It is his nature and character to be loyal to those who God has set over him because they are His instruments. 
 
“At times like this, blackmailers are at their best but the Deputy Governor has decided to take solace in God who knows the hearts of men, trusting and believing as always that God will vindicate the just. He wishes to reiterate that he has no rift with the Comrade Governor who he revers and deeply appreciates,” the statement said.

Edo deputy gov denies plotting to kill Oshiomhole

Edo state deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has denied reports published by some national newspapers on Sunday that he was plotting with s...

Bloodbath in Enugu as Fulani herdsmen, burn church, houses, kill 48

07:03 Unknown 0

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Fulani herdsmen yesterday invaded an agrarian community, Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Enugu State. 
 
Forty eight members of the community were killed. 
 
Over 60 houses, church and shops were set ablaze by the invading herdsmen. About 56 injured residents are receiving treatment at hospitals in Nsukka. 
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The attack came two days after a security report hinted of an impending attack by Fulani herdsmen in the area. 
 
The report had said the community would be invaded by about 500 Fulani herdsmen from Nasarawa State. 
 
A team of soldiers and mobile police drafted to the area after the report of the invasion filtered into the state was overpowered by the herdsmen. 
 
The invaders, who came into Ukpabi-Nimbo in the wee hours of yesterday, were said to have used grenades, AK 47 and other dangerous weapons. 
 
According to the residents, the herdsmen “were indiscriminately shooting and cutting our kinsmen with machetes”. 
 
As at yesterday evening, some residents said those killed have exceeded the initial 48 brought to the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, by policemen. 
 
Transitional Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Cornell Onwubuya said despite efforts to stop the attack, the herdsmen still went ahead to unleash mayhem on the community. 
 
Enugu Police, in a statement, said it had commenced “a full scale investigation into the alleged killing of six persons at Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government by suspected herdsmen”. 
 
The police said following a report, the Commissioner of Police, Nwaodibo Ekechukwu, mobilised and left with operatives to ensure that the incident did not degenerate into an uncontrollable situation and to work out strategies aimed at fishing out those behind it and to bring them to book. 
 
The police said normalcy has returned to the area. 
 
Ekechukwu ,who visited the area, urged the people of Nimbo to continue to be law-abiding and never to take laws into their hands. 
 
But a worker at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, confirmed receiving 30 bodies and 22 injured persons in the morning. 
 
Hundreds of displaced residents are reported to be taking refuge in Nsukka. 
 
The Council of Bishops of Methodist Church of Nigeria yesterday described the continued onslaught by Fulani herdsmen as primitive and lamentable. 
 
They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take actions to stop the carnage. 
 
The bishops said a situation where Fulani herdsmen would sack a community, villages and kill hundreds of people in a bid to feed and protect their cattle was unacceptable. 
 
Speaking after their 34th Conference in Ibadan, presided over by the Prelate, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, they said Nigerians should no longer keep sacrificing human lives for the grazing of cows. 
 
The council, in a communiqué at the end of the conference, decried the menace of Fulani herdsmen, which it said was now becoming worse than the Boko Haram insurgency. 
 
They urged the Federal Government to establish ranches rather than creating grazing zones which, it observed, might create more problems.

Bloodbath in Enugu as Fulani herdsmen, burn church, houses, kill 48

Fulani herdsmen yesterday invaded an agrarian community, Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Enugu State. Forty eight members of...

DPR bans fuel reservation for special customers

06:49 Unknown 0

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday said it has cancelled the reservation of petroleum products for institutions, and “special customers,” known as credit customers. 
 
Speaking with reporters during the enforcement and monitoring of products sale in Abuja, its Zonal Operations Controller, Abuja, Mr. Mohammed Usman, said DPR has insisted that there is longer any “VIP” customer in the petrol stations. 
 
All customers, according to him, are expected to pass through the same process to access petrol instead of the preferential treatment that some petrol stations accord some customers. 
 
His comments followed the discovering that the Mobil in Lugbe Extension on Airport Road was hoarding the 3,900 litres of petrol in its underground tanks which the station manager reserved for “credit customers.” But the team compelled the manager to sell the product immediately. 
 
He said: “DPR has cancelled that special reservations for special institutions. Every organisation is to queue up and get fuel like any other person. They had over 3,900 liters which could serve over 50 vehicles but we didn’t even meet up to 20 vehicles there because they said they reserved it for credit customers and DPR has cancelled credit customer.” 
 
 
 
While at the station, a customer gave the DPR monitoring team a tip-off about an illegal petrol station in Iddo Sarki on the same airport road that was selling petrol for N170 per litre. 
 
The anonymous petrol station was caught selling petrol for N150 per liter with an adjusted pump from its 3,900 liters stock that was under dispensed to customers. 
 
The DPR forced the station to adjust the pump price to N86.50 per litre and the fuel attendant refused to disclose the source of the petrol. 
 
Usman however explained that he refused to give order that the product should be sold free-of charge because of the risk involved. 
 
According to him, when it is free, it is normally rowdy as some customers are always in a hurry to get the product by even serving themselves and a fight could ensue and cause a fire outbreak. He said DPR considers safety first before any other thing in its enforcement. 
 
“Some of the customers will always seize the nozzle to serve themselves and these okada boys at times bring out daggers to ensure that they get the free petrol before it is exhausted. We experienced that the last time we tried that even with the director. We asked the director to leave because they can even lynch you,“ he said. 
 
He said the team came out with reporters and armed officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to monitor sales as early as 6.00am “because it is mostly on this axis you see people selling fuel above the regulated pump price. We have it here. They are selling up to N150 per litre.” 
 
The controller lamented that some illegal stations lifted consignments from the depot, adding that DPR would stop it. 
 
He said: “They are not only selling above pump price but also under-dispensing. And the penalty for selling above the pump price is that for every pump, it will be charged N100,000. But this is a special problem and we are going to seal this station and station our staff and security here.” 
 
The monitoring team also went ahead to other stations on airport road and discovered that NNPC Transjordan in Giri had 16,880 liters while Gosiyah in Gwagwala had 39,000 liters and they were selling to their customers. 
 
The team sealed Stallionaire Energy Coastal Service whose workers escaped on sighting the DPR vehicles because customers revealed that it was selling petrol for N170 per liter. It sealed MRS in Gwagwalada temporarily for hoarding 1,200 liters . It also sealed an illegal station in Gessa Sauka from which the owners escaped. 
 
Commenting on the entire observation after inspecting sales in over 10 petrol stations on Airport Road and Gwagwalada, he said most of the petrol stations had products but they were either hoarding the products or under-dispensing them.

DPR bans fuel reservation for special customers

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday said it has cancelled the reservation of petroleum products for institutions, and “s...

We’re linking rail lines to ports, says Amaechi

06:49 Unknown 0

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Ameachi has said all rail lines being constructed in the country would be linked to ports as it is done in other parts of the world. 
 
“The first railway contract in the revitalisation policy was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that is railway from Lagos to Kano; the next one was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan, that is Lagos to Calabar. 
 
“In all these, the agreement with Chinese government that there will be counterpart funding of 15 per cent; we did not fulfill these agreements. 
 
“The only place they tried a bit was the Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, which is yet to be completed; and we are working extremely hard to ensure that between June and July we would commercialise that rail line. 
 
“That will reduce the challenges of production; to convey goods and services between Kaduna and Abuja. 
 
 
 
“And I assure that, by God’s grace, before the end of the year we would commence work on the Lagos – Kano rail line,”he said. 
 
He added that the ministry would ensure that the country’s rail lines are connected to the sea ports in order to reduce the burden on roads and clogging of Lagos ports. 
 
“When we took over, we discovered that there is nowhere that railway doesn’t end up at the sea port; but this one did not end up at the seaport. So what we did is to connect it to Calabar, Port Harcourt and Onne, and Warri Sea ports and then to either tin can or Apapa. 
 
“It means if you are in Onitsha you want to import through Warri that’s your business. 
 
“If you are in Port Harcourt you don’t need to come to Lagos anymore, the same also goes to those who are in Calabar; that is what we’ve done,’’ he added. 
 
He said the Federal Government has commenced negotiation for the completion of the Itakpe-Warri rail line which had been abandoned for more than 32 years. 
 
“Nigeria has been struggling to construct that rail line in 32 years. 
 
“We are negotiating with a Chinese company that is ready to take up that rail line together with the Ajaokuta steel plant. 
 
“We would carry it all from Itakpe down to Abuja and then down to the sea port in Warri; that entire solid mineral axis will be covered but we have also introduced passenger trains as well. 
 
“We have not concluded negotiation with them, but when we do, we will handover to them,’’ he said. 
 
Amaechi said the Federal Government has entered into agreement with the company, General Electric (GE) to revive the old Lagos to Kano rail line. 
 
He said the company in exchange for the project would build a University of Transportation in the country. 
 
“We have agreed with GE as follows. I give you Lagos-Kano, and you (GE) give me the following, because you can’t dump a technology on us and go, you must give us a University of Transportation.’’ 
 
The minister said university would train railway graduates, marine engineering graduates and aviation. 
 
He said the GE would build a factory that would produce the locomotives, wagon and the coaches in Nigeria. 
 
“Finally, we said to the company you will not take Lagos-Kano if you will not do Port Harcourt – Maiduguri; that again I think they have agreed, we have not concluded negotiation. 
 
“If all this is done in the next four years, we would have been able to connect the whole of Nigeria and reduce the impact that we put to convey good and services on the road. 
 
The minister therefore expressed hope that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration would connect the entire country by rail by the end of his four-year term. 
 
He therefore appealed to property owners, who would be affected by demotion exercises to pave way for the construction, saying, “please bear with us because without demolition there would be no rail line. 
 
On aviation, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to rejuvenate the aviation sector. 
 
“I hear you loud and clear about the situation in aviation sector; not because of the comfort but because I want to be as proud as the Chinese or Ghanaians when you go to their airports,” he said. 
 
“Just take a step few metres from the current Port Harcourt airport you will see a brand new airport terminal under construction and by December they should finish that terminal. 
 
“The same is happening in Kano, which we hope will be completed between December 2016 and January 2017. 
 
On maritime, Amaechi expressed worry that Nigeria’s maritime sector was not at par with its counterpart in other climes.

We’re linking rail lines to ports, says Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Ameachi has said all rail lines being constructed in the country would be linked to ports as it is do...

Court refuses stay in Saraki’s, Dasuki’s, Metuh’s trials

06:49 Unknown 0

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday refused to entertain motions for stay of proceedings in the case involving Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Olisa Metuh. 
 
A three-man panel of the appellate court, presided over by Justice Abdul Aboki, took the stance on the appeals by Saraki, Dasuki and Metuh. 
 
Justice Aboki, at the mention of Metuh’s appeal, said: “We have decided that we will not hear motion for stay of proceedings. You should go back to the court to argue your application before the court and pursue your appeal before us.” 
 
Efforts by Metuh’s lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) to persuade the court to reverse itself failed. 
 
Ikpeazu prayed to be allowed to convince the court on the merit of the motion for stay of proceedings he filed for his client. 
 
 
 
But Justice Aboki refused, insisting: “We are not going to allow that. Even if you file it, we are going to dismiss it straightaway.” 
 
The PDP spokesman and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, are being tried on a seven-count charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja. 
 
They allegedly laundered $2 million and unlawfully accepted N400 million from Dasuki. 
 
They had appealed Justice Abang’s ruling dismissing their no-case submissions. They filed separate appeals. 
 
Yesterday, Ikpeazu, who filed processes on behalf of Metuh and Destra, withdrew his representation for Destra and was replaced by Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN). 
 
On the appeal by Saraki, his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), acting on the court’s position not to entertain motion for stay of proceedings, withdrew a similar motion he filed. 
 
Saraki, who is being tried for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is appealing the March 24 ruling by the tribunal. The CCT insisted it had jurisdiction to try the Senate president. 
 
Also, Dasuki’s lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) elected to wait before deciding whether or not to withdraw the motion for a stay of proceeding he filed. 
 
He said he would await the response by the respondent before making a decision. 
 
“If I see the respondent’s brief, I will be able to make the decision,” Daudu said. 
 
The respondent, Federal Government, is represented by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). 
 
Dasuki is appealing two separate ruling by Justices Hussein Baba-Yusuf and Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja. 
 
Both judges dismissed Dasuki’s motion to stop his trial, among others. 
 
Justices Yusuf and Affen, in their ruling on February 8 and March 4, dismissed Dasuki’s motions for an order restraining the Federal Government from further prosecuting him on the two charges of diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms. 
 
A similar motion by Dasuki was dismissed on April 19 by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja. 
 
The Court of Appeal announced yesterday that parties would be informed about the next hearing dates in the appeals by Saraki and Dasuki.

Court refuses stay in Saraki’s, Dasuki’s, Metuh’s trials

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday refused to entertain motions for stay of proceedings in the case involving Senate President...