Waje performing live at the Lekki Africa Expo - LEAP this Sunday at Lekki Coliseum center you don't want to miss out. Other performances included
Date : November 6th 2016
Time: 12 noon prompt
Address : The lekki coliseum center 14 providence street of admiralty Lekki phase 1 Lekki Lagos
President Buhari last week forwarded a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion, in order to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 - 2018. Senator/businessman Ben-Murray Bruce reacted to this via social media, saying if the loan is at the end of the day mismanaged, the youths will not be leaders of tomorrow but future debtors. In his words:
I'm never against taken loans, but they should be spent exclusively on developing Nigeria not developing our elite. We are being told what FG plans to spend the loan on, but how much of those expenditures affect the youths? People of my age won't be the ones to repay this loan. Its the youth who will, repay, so it must benefit them, not us.
We elders must have a rethink. We must think of our youth and ways to bequeath assets to them, not liabilities. Elected officials still earn ridiculously high salaries in the midst of poverty. Let's address that before we borrow. Elected officials still move about in 10-20 car convoys costing hundreds of millions. Let's fix that before borrowing.
We want to borrow $29 billion for our youth to repay back yet not one youth is in the Federal Executive Council. We have not implemented the Orosanye Report and we want to borrow? It will be like pouring water into a basket. Before we pile on debt that our youth will have to repay lets at least plug all areas of waste in our government.
If we don't do the right thing, this loan will turn our youths from leaders of tomorrow to debtors of tomorrow!
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji has lost his daughter, Princess Mujidat Adejoke Adetunji-Alagbada in an auto crash. According to reports, the princess died along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on October 25th after the taxi she chattered crashed. She has been buried according to Islamic rites. May her soul rest in peace, amen.
Two suspects, Labaran Abdullahi, 25, and Sani Umar, 35, were on Friday October 28th arraigned before a Magistrates' Court in Kano on a two-count charge of unnatural offence and public nuisance, for allegedly having anal intercourse with a 10-year-old boy.
The men, who reside in Kano, were caught having anal sex with the boy, who lives close to them, at night. The prosecutor said that the victim was rushed to Waziri Shehu Gidado Hospital Kano for treatment.
The Nation reports that the prosecutor, Anthony Edward, told the court that one Sagir Muhammad and two members of Vigilante Group reported the case to Bachirawa Police Division Kano, on Feb. 10. The two suspects however pleaded not guilty to the charges but were remanded in prison custody while the case was adjourned to November 29 for hearing.
O yes it's happening live at the LA Vi Da Bella club @TLC with Jonny prest and the amazing starlit band bringing hot as always you don't want to miss this.
Time: 6pm
Date 30th October 2016
Venue : 14 Providence Street off admiralty Lekki phase 1 Lekki Coliseum center
Dress code: smashing
United States-based oil giant, Exxon Mobil corporation says it has discovered about one billion barrels of Crude oil at the Owowo field located offshore Koloama community in Bayelsa state. The Owowo-3 well with height of 10,410 feet (3,173 meters) and in water at 1,890 feet (576 meters) was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater Ventures) Limited.
Announcing the new discovery, the company’s president, Stephen M. Greenlee, in a statement released yesterday on their website, aid “We are encouraged by the results and will work with our partners and the government on future development plans.”
ExxonMobil, Dutch-British Shell and Chevron lost $7.1 billion in the first half of this year through militant attacks, low oil prices and weak refinery margins.
Freeze recalls his first six months of work at a radio station in the 1990s. Read below.
"Most people don't understand what it takes to be a broadcaster, I have heard "is it not to talk on the radio?" It takes a whole lot more. For my first 6 months on air, all I did was "o'clock" six hours a day, five days a week on an AM station.
When it's 6pm for instance, the main presenter would say 'it's 6' and I would say "o'clock" that was all I was required to say for an hour, then again at 7pm he would say, it's 7 and I will say "o'clock", repeating this every hour, never saying a single word more till my shift for the day ended. Was I sitting idle for the remaining 59 minutes 56 seconds? Of course not!!! I was buying zobo and buns, photocopying stuff and going to and from the news room running office errands, awaiting my next stint on the radio, where my services were needed to say "o'clock". This was all I did for 6 months, in the 1990s before I was considered fit for the radio."
Adamawa League of Women Empowerment, have blasted Aisha Buhari for criticizing her husband's leadership style, describing her action as a negation of the spirit of Pula-aku, modesty and decorum which are virtues of fulbe (Fulani).
The group stated their displeasure on Thursday, October 27th during a press conference held in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital.
The spokesperson of the group, Maryam Ibrahim said the outburst on BBC was counter productive as it only ridiculed the first family and exposed President Buhari to attacks from opponents. The group noted that Aisha being a Fulani woman had violated the Fulani culture and jettisoned the tradition of modesty of Fulanis by openly criticising her husband, adding that her widely reported statement had created a negative impression of her status as the wife of the president and exposed both her husband and the entire family to ridicule and contempt in the eyes of Nigerians and the world at large.
"It is against this backdrop, that we unanimously condemned Mrs Aisha Buhari's BBC interview because it is ill-timed, counter-productive and was done in bad taste. Consequently, Mrs Aisha Buhari's action negate the spirit of Pula'aku, modesty and decorum which are virtues of fulbe (Fulani).
The group lamented that Mrs Buhari had set a bad precedent in the presidency,saying non of the wives of former president's had ever made negative comments about their husbands. The spokeswoman used the opportunity to re-iterate their support for the President in his effort to put the country on the right track.
"However, we would like to use this forum to re-iterate our total support and cooperation to President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort to restore the lost glory of Nigeria as a giant of Africa" said Maryam Ibrahim.
Source: Daily Trust
In another gut wrenching and bizarre revelation by the Child's Right And Rehabilitation Network(CRARN) a 40year old man, John Friday Akpan from Akwa Ibom State, resident in Calabar the Cross River State capital, is now explaining to the police how he heeded the advice of a herbalist, "Dr." Okokon and eventually tagged his two children, Elisha Friday Akpan and Esther Friday Akpan as witches and wizards.
An act reminiscent of the nailing of Jesus Christ on the Cross, Friday Akpan subjected his two children aged, 12 and 6 respectively, to harrowing treatment by nailing them to a plank in shape of a cross and locking them up in a dark, thatch hut without food for weeks. He claimed that the children took his money to their "master in the witchcraft coven and therefore deserve no mercy". He told the police.
Following weeks starvation, the two children whose emaciated and dirty physical appearance replicate the gory images of starving children in famine-ravaged Somalia and war-torn Sudan said they survived by water which was supplied to them by one of the man's kids from another woman.
"Our sister, Peace usually bring us water inside the hut when our father and our mother had gone out". Esther said.
Their father, the kids said, used to reside in Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria with the family where he sent them to a private school, Regent Nursery and Primary School, Ikot Nkanda but when their mother died and the man took another wife, Iquo, the story changed.
"My mother (stepmother), said the woman who used to live near our house in Akpabuyo gave us food and she put something (witchcraft spell) in the food and when we ate it we changed to bird at night and took our fathers money to 'our master' in the witchcraft world". Elisha who is a JSS one student of Regent said.
According to the kids, Elisha was alleged to have taken 4,000 Naira while Esther took 2,000 Naira and that angered their father and step-mother who started beating them severely and denying them food "because they said we took their money to our master in the witchcraft coven. This is something I don’t even understand"
Check out the cake made for FalzTheBad guy for his birthday yesterday. Nice cake.
Nigerian Surgeon Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye and his surgeon partner Dr. Darrell Cass of Texas Children's Hospital carried out an operation on a baby at 23 weeks. (Read here)
Lynlee Hope, who suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma was removed from her mother's womb, operated on and returned back. She healed and continued to grow until she was born again at 36 weeks.
Dr. Olutoye is Co-Director of the Texas Children's Fetal Center and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general pediatric surgeon. Dr. Olutoye received his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1988 and his PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, in 1996.
He completed his residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University, and his fellowship in pediatric surgery at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Olutoye is a member of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society and is a Fellow of the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons; he is also a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.
Dr. Olutoye has specialized clinical expertise in fetal and neonatal surgery, with specific interest in congenital diaphragmatic hernia and complex wounds. Dr. Olutoye's research interests include understanding the role of the fetal inflammatory response in scarless fetal wound healing, development of animal models of congenital anomalies, in utero correction of severe congenital malformations, and the study of endothelial-leukocyte and endothelial-tumor cell interactions with a goal to better understand the mechanisms of tumor metastasis.
Dr. Olutoye is certified by the American Board of Surgery in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.
Donald Trump on Thursday joked during a rally at Ohio, a key state in the U.S elections, that he'd like the election to be cancelled and he be 'declared the winner' due to Hillary Clinton's bad policies.
"Just thinking to myself right now, we should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump,"
"Her policies are so bad. Boy, do we have a big difference,"
Trump also mocked Hillary saying she had 'low energy' even asking the crowd at his rally who they thought had a lower energy between Clinton and his republican party presidential nomination rival Jeb Bush.
"Who is more low energy, Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton?" Trump asked the crowd
"Hillary!" replied most of the crowd.
Earlier on Thursday, the Republican presidential nominee was near Columbus, talking to supporters in Springfield. He was also in Toledo. The Billionaire business man continues to insist the election is rigged.
A Curious Case with Martell Cognac, the first radio show by Martell, the oldest of the great cognac houses, continues this week as it seeks to lead and decipher the conversations around entertainment in Nigeria.
The 45-min show, hosted by ‘The Martell Cartel’, made up of Dotun, celebrated Cool FM OAP, Voice over Artist and Super Hypeman Extraordinaire. Ayo Rotimi, a well-respected A&R, Entertainment Consultant, Communication enthusiast and a Digital Media Junkie and Sesan Adeniji, one of the most respected entertainment journalists in Nigeria.
He is the Publisher of the popular Mystreetz Magazine, and the executive producer of Mystreetz TV - a music documentary channel. Never has a radio show been more focused on putting together industry thought leaders and opinion makers in a bid to discover what lies behind the scenes, what’s real and what’s hyped, in what’s been a great show so far!
A Curious Case with Martell Cognac, captures the surprising and real conversations that happen when you put together a bunch of industry heavy weights in one room. The high energy/ upbeat show gives you the low-down on all local and international entertainment topics and sheds lights on all the topsy-turvy on social media. The show also provides unlimited access to the Martell Party Train, with ready to serve entertainment industry source!
The first four episodes have not only been entertaining but also thought provoking. The first episode ‘What’s the big deal?’ took a look into the rise of Nigerian/ African artistes signing international deals, the advantages, disadvantages and the often misleading information and interpretations on all the deals. The second episode titled ‘Where Is the Money?’ had the hosts diagnose investment in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Curious questions like; are artistes reinvesting back into the industry that feeds them? Are investors recouping their investments? were insightfully addressed by the Cartel. The third episode Artist Damagers or Managers? Looked at the roles of managers, the commitments from the artists, bridging the gap between knowledge and emotional attachment in the course of managing the career of an artist, were analysed by the Cartel. On the show last week, the Cartel asked Who is the thief? They delved into the issue of copyright infringement in the Nigerian Music industry and piracy that is crippling the entertainment industry, as they looked at the ones who are really hit as a result!
If you missed the first four shows, make sure you tune in this Friday for this week’s show titled ‘And the award goes to…’ as the Cartel curiously discover what’s real and what’s hype about award shows.What are the credible awards shows out there, which are the most relevant, who is getting what and why? What is the criteria for giving out these awards. The highs, the hypes and the controversies.
Come on board and have your say daily by joining the explosive conversation on twitter using #Martell #BeCurious
Catch a Curious Case with Martel, every Friday at 8:30pm-9:15pm on Cool FM!
U.S presidential candidate Donald Trump seemed to suggest that he'll carry out legal action against NBC for leaking a 2005 video of him making lewd comments about women to Washington Post.
Trump was asked by Fox Tv's Bill O'Reilly if there's any chance he could take legal action against NBC for the leak of the "Access Hollywood" tape, to which Trump answered: "You'll see, you'll see, you'll see after the election," Trump said.
O'Reilly then asked him "Do you think you would be ahead if not for the 'Access Hollywood' stuff?"
Trump claimed that the tape represented an "illegal act" by NBC.
"I just don't know. I think it was very negative, it was locker room talk," Trump said. "The microphone was not supposed to be on, not that I make that as an excuse for myself, but certainly it was an illegal act from NBC."
Trump said it was "absolutely" illegal because "that was a private dressing room."
According to a new poll by consultancy firm PWC, London has been named the best city in the world to live in defeating Paris of France and New York of USA in the process.
The survey by PWC was conducted on 5,200 well-educated adults with high net worth and they were described as “senior business decision makers or well-educated, high-income consumers who typically stay up to date with world events”.
PWC ensured that the pollers represented 16 countries around the world so as to make the poll results fair and just.
London was named as the most dynamic city based on a variety of factors such as Its health service, legal system and well-developed infrastructure deemed to be better than those of Paris and New York.
Paris came in second place for its trendsetting, cultural influence, entertainment and cuisine while New York came third in the poll despite being considered number one in terms of economic influence and easy road access to capital.
The Federal Capital Territory has started a major wipe out on cattle movement in the streets of Abuja. This is happening after residents held a protest that the animals constitute nuisance and possess threat to their healthy living, prompting the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello to hold a meeting with members of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Abuja, where he ordered the herdsmen to move their cattle out of the city for the safety of the residents.
‘You have to understand that when Abuja Environment Protection Board says cattle should not roam the city, it is not because they want to prevent cattle breeders from raring cattle in the FCT. Basically, it is just for safety, it’s for the safety of your cattle and above all, safety of the citizens.’ Meanwhile, according to the reports culled from News Agency of Nigeria, the Ministerial Task Team on environment under the Chairmanship of Squadron leader, Abdullahi Monjel will take up the responsibility to combat movement of cows from the street.
While responding to questions after his lecture at Oxford University yesterday, Former President Goodluck Jonathan, said he does not believe Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, can "steal" $2.2 billion as he is being accused of by the EFCC. Responding to a question on Dasuki, Jonathan said
“They said the National Security Adviser stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion. We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion, so where did we get the money to buy all those things?
Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of it were over blown. I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible”.
Dasuki was arrested last year and has been in detention since. He is to be re-arraigned in court on November 16th.
Jonathan also stated that after he signed the anti-same sex marriage law in January 2014, no Nigerian has been discriminated.
Large number of manufacturers from particular industry present their products and show their capabilities to distributors, wholesalers, retailers,and end-users. This fair will attract participants and visitors from all over the country and provide widespread interactions and exposure.
Due to popular demand, Food, Fashion, Home Decor and Entertainment fairs’ have been merged together to hold every first Sunday of the month.
LEAP is set up in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere; with lots to eat, drink and enjoy with family and friends at the La Vida-Bella lounge set up within the auditorium. The purpose of moving the fair to Sunday is to include more activities, time Flexibility for both artists/performers and customers and reduced traffic.
Entertainment is fully covered, with hot celebrities in the building, music artists, live band, dance drama etc and also one of the hottest Djs on the wheels of steel… Lekki African Expo is the place to be.
Date: Sunday, 6th of November , 2016
https://youtu.be/skgxq1-PFLI
The Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has said that the sale of petrol at N145 per litre is not sustaining due to the current economic recession. Kyari stated this while speaking at the 10th Oil Trading and Logistics Africa Downstream Week in Lagos.
According to Kyari, the current economic downturn has made it impossible to import petroleum products at the current market price and at the current fixed foreign exchange rate and still make profit as well as recovered the capital invested in importation.
He said despite the harsh realities surrounding importation, government isn't planning on increasing the pump price of petrol.
“It is impossible for this government to announce tomorrow that petrol is about N150. This government cannot sustain it. That is the truth. The people will not take that number. But that is why the suppliers now are not importing. It is not about the foreign exchange. We are in subsidy regime absolutely, there is no way you bring product today and take it and sell at N145 and get back your money, and make profit. That is not possible. You can see some marketers saying that fuel is N138. It is because they did not import. Somebody has taken the heat of the price"he said
Diego Costa, Chelsea's main striker shared a photo of him cuddling his beloved dog while in the swimming pool on his Instagram page.Cute!
PDP in a statement released this morning, warned that its member, Femi Fani-Kayode must not die in detention. This comes after reports emerged yesterday that he slumped at the EFCC premises. Read the press statement after the cut ...
1. It is common knowledge that in furtherance of its campaign of attrition against members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the guise of an anti-corruption war, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PDPPCP) was arrested in the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
2. His re-arrest is the latest in a series of plans designed to further harass and intimidate our members and supporters using the security and intelligence apparatus of the Nigerian State. A few days before his arrest his wife, Precious Chikwendu and their 8 month old son, Aragorn, were arrested and would have been detained but for the timely intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.
3. What is not common knowledge is that at the time of his arrest, Chief Fani-Kayode was ill and taking medication. Since his arrest, he has been denied access to his medication and medical doctors who are conversant with his medical history.
4. As at the time of writing this statement, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have continued to deny Chief Fani-Kayode access to his medication.
5. The only conclusion that can be reached is that the APC led Federal Government and EFCC want Chief Fani-Kayode to die in detention. In the light of the prevailing circumstances where EFCC are detaining an obviously weak and ill man, this is an inescapable conclusion.
6. These continuous violations of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people by the Buhari Administration must stop. The Federal Government cannot, and must not, be allowed to continually infringe on the rights of the very people it swore to uphold.
7. We call on all well meaning Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to desist from its path of human rights abuses. 8. God bless Nigeria.
Signed: Prince Dayo Adeyeye National Publicity Secretary
The Nigeria Police has said there will be no cover-up in the case of the Assistant Commissioner of Police arrested with N2.7 million bribe cash.
The Head, Compliant Response Unit (CRU), Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abayomi Shogunle, said all necessary actions have been provided in the Police Act and Regulations on the case.
"I don’t see anybody covering up this particular case because the necessary actions needed to be taken, the normal disciplinary procedure as provided under the Police Act and Regulations are being followed." he said.
The indicted officer had been issued a query and a criminal investigation had been conducted by the X-squad. He responded to the query and had faced the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which had made its recommendations to Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.
Shogunle explained that the I-G had been forwarded his recommendation to the Police Service Commission ( PSC) for ratification.
"The processes needed have been done and all we are just waiting for is the recommendations of the PSC," he said.
He said it was when the Commission informed the I-G on the matter that the CRU would in turn inform the public on the matter.
Shogunle said that I-G had directed the unit to ensure that it discharged its responsibilities without impunity in line with its motto.
"One of the things the I-G has tasked the CRU, which is no to impunity, is that the unit should ensure that it upholds that motto," he added.
The CRU head said that the inclusion of the X-squad unit of the police was yielding result.
"One of the breakthroughs we have had as contained in the CRU third quarter report was actually done by the x-squad. This is the kind of things the public should expect with the inclusion of the squad by the I-G in the fight against corruption," he said.
He said there was cordial working relationship between the Nigeria Police Force through the CRU and human rights groups in the country.
"As a matter of fact, we have a committee made up of these organisations to review policing operations nationwide. We hear from them issues of policing and also give them feedback on their cases that were handled by the CRU," he said.
Source: The Nation
The actor, 48, brought his children, Trey, Willow and Jaden Smith, and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith to the 26th Annual Environmental Media Awards in LA yesterday...
Toyin Aimakhu stuns in new make-up photos. She shared these photos and wrote: "If someone is strong enough to bring you down, show them you are strong enough to get up..
In order to encourage independence of the judiciary, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has barred judges and other court staff from accepting any form of gift(s) from any one or any arm of government.This is also to curb corruption and other unethical conducts among judicial officers and court staff members, especially due to the recent raiding of homes and arrests of some Supreme and High Court judges.
The new measures, which are part of a new NJP to be launched in Abuja today, Monday Oct. 23 was initiated to improve on the existing NJC NJP and a similar policy by the National Judicial Institute, NJI.
The existing Code of Conduct for judicial officers states that:
"A judge and members of his/her family shall neither ask for nor accept any gift, bequest, favour, or loan on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties.
“But, the provision in the new policy particularly bars judges and other court staff from accepting gifts from other arms of government, and made compliance mandatory.”
“The Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and Code of Conduct for Court Employees, with the amendment discouraging acceptance of gifts from other arms of government, should be such as would be adequate. Compliance with their provisions shall be mandatory.”
“The judiciary shall not resort to lobbying in ensuring that the legislature and the executive perform their constitutional responsibilities. “All arms of government should respect the doctrine of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the Constitution.” The policy also introduced measures to further keep complaints against judges and other court staff from the media and public domain.
“It shall be the policy of the judiciary on complaints of misconduct against judicial officers or employees of the judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media. “Where complaints on allegations against judicial officers and court employees are submitted for investigation, the complainant or complainants shall be made to give an undertaking not to do anything to prejudice investigation or actions that may be taken.
“The institutions of the judiciary concerned with investigation or/and implementation of decisions taken on such complaints shall be obliged to cease further action where such complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.
“Where such a leakage is occasioned after the submission of a complaint, then all investigations on the complaints shall be suspended, the leakage investigated and if such leakage is from the complainant or through other parties known to such a complainant, such a complaint should be discarded.
“Where such leakage is occasioned prior to the presentation of the complaint and the source of the leakage is found to be the complainant or through other parties known to and connected with the complainant, then such complaint shall not be accepted, upon submission, by the appropriate disciplinary body.
“In conclusion of investigation, the disciplinary bodies may allow public disclosure of their findings, subject to following the proper channels
Charlie Boy has taken to Social Media to announce he will be leading a revolution group against corrupt politicians in the country. The area father who now simply choose to be known as the ‘President of Frustrated Nigerians’ also said he would take the first bullet upon the revolution to restore change to the country. Read the full post after the cut...
"Like my friend Obinna said and I agree with him, henceforth.... "DON'T ASK for a Revolution; Be the Revolution. Forget about Buhari's Change. Be the Change. Do not wail for that which is troubling this country; Fight to fix it and make the country great again. Do not hail the Corrupt and destroyers of our Dreams; Expose and ridicule them. The Politicians are Corruptly Connected; Criminally Bonded and Fearful of the MOB; The People. We must be audacious in our Demands; we must be Fearless in our Agitation and we must be ready to sacrifice our all for this Country.
I will take the First Bullet; let my body be the first to drop; Let my Blood be the first to wash our LANDS. But let no Nigeria turn back once we begin this Resistance to Political Insensitivity and mindless looting of our common wealth; Let no Nigerian Walk Alone...The Nigerian Politician is our Enemy; The Nigerian People are the Victim and it is time to channel our anger towards a Peaceful Revolution". We must stop being the victims and become THE FEAR. If our yeye Leaders no fear us, change no go come. Stay tuned for The Change. *Charlyboy Oputa* *(AreaFada)* *President* *Frustrated Nigerians*
The Economic recession has hit Dangote Group as it has reportedly sacked 48 of its workers. Inside sources claim 36 expatriates and 12 local staff serving in Dangote Cement Plc and Dangote Industries Limited were relieved of their jobs last week Thursday October 20th.
A letter signed by chairman of the group, Aliko Dangote, states that the company is currently embarking on restructuring due to high cost of production in both factories.
The letter states that this year has been the most difficult for the group. Part of the letter reads
"This year has been a very challenging one for us as a business. The unavailability of foreign exchange, coupled with an unprecendented hike in exchange rate has resulted in increased costs across the organisation. This called for a proper review and adjustment of our costs across board to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the deployment of our factors of production in a bid to eliminate redundancy that we know exist, which resulted in some tough decisions which means losing staff, including some of our colleagues. On Friday, October 14, 2016, we began the process of staff cutbacks as it is imperative to review our human capital deployment for required cutbacks that would ensure efficiency and eliminate redundancies in the allocation of human resources. This first phase of this exercise involved the cutback of 36 expatriate staff across the Dangote Cement Plc and Dangote Industries Limited and 12 local staff in Dangote Industries Limited.”
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (MACBAN), an association of herdsmen in Nigeria, has warned that the anti-grazing activities of Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, may degenerate into an unquenchable inferno if not curtailed.
Governor Fayose last week inaugurated Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals whose responsibility it is to arrest herdsmen who graze their cattle in areas that are not designated for such activities.
A statement released over the weekend by the National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, states that anti- grazing marshalls attacked its members, whose herds had gone to a stream on Friday 21st October 2016. Ngelzarma said the marshalls shot dead 5 cows, carting away the meat from the cows.
He called on the Federal government to wade into the matter immediately to forestall a breakdown of law and order which according to him, may go beyond Ekiti state.
“We are hereby constrained to implore the federal government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this macabre incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti state government. No cattle strayed into anybody’s farmland around that area in question, as such the actions of the anti-malu vigilante are not only apprehensible but capable of creating uncontrollable scenarios whose ramification may go well beyond Ekiti state. We cannot fold our hands while the only means of survival of our members is taken away and destroyed”he said
The Kenyan Albinism Society organised the country's first Mr and Miss albinism pageant pageant as part of its tenth anniversary celebrations and in a bid to show the beauty in persons living with albinism as well as to do away with stigma associated with the medical condition.
"There are beautiful albinos who feel good about themselves,” an organiser and also the first Kenyan MP with albinism, Isaac Mwaura, said.
The contestants walked the catwalk in different professional outfits to show that they too can be part of the workforce. Jairus Jzay and Loise Lihanda were crowned winners of the contest.
In several countries in southern and eastern Africa, such as Tanzania, Malawi, Burundi and Mozambique, persons with albinism are subjected to numerous attacks. Some even seek their limbs and other parts of their bodies for rituals believed to bring wealth and luck. This type of attack is however rare in Kenya.
A Special Investigation Panel instituted by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly recovered 19 police vehicles from former IG, Solomon Arase.
According to Sahara Reporters, some of the vehicles include assorted sedans, Sports Utility Vehicles and pick-up vans.
The Inspector-General of Police had ordered an investigation into the purchase and distribution of vehicles by his predecessors. Inside sources say the probe was instituted after it was discovered that retiring police officers, including former IGs and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, were in the habit of appropriating police vehicles for their personal use.
The 19 vehicles recovered from Arase are apart from the four vehicles he was entitled to take with him on retirement.
A senior officer, who is familiar with the investigation, said the SIP led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, (retd.) was still working to recover five additional vehicles from the former police boss. A source in the Police said
“We are making progress in our investigations. We were able to trace 24 vehicles to the former IG and we have recovered 19 already. He has yet to release the remaining five, but we won’t let up until we recover all the vehicles. We have pictures of the vehicles and they have been documented, so he can’t deny it, the recovery is a fact.”
Some ladies are still trapping and extorting men through special means. Credit: @Yommie_Scream
Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Shehu Garba in this article, enumerates the ten benefits of President Buhari's three day official visit to Belgium last week. Read below President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country after a three-day intensely busy State Visit to Germany which, as is usual with his foreign engagements, was characterized by punishing schedules.
Unfortunately, an important trip such as this one planned to boost trade and investment, enhance security partnership and pitch the country to eager investors became overshadowed by public outcry over some remarks President Muhammadu Buhari made in Germany, which have sadly been misconstrued by the media and some members of the public.
I can assure you that President Buhari’s sense of humor is one of his most distinguishing characteristics, despite his stern mien.
His comments clearly do not reflect his attitude towards women, a number of whom he has appointed into key positions in his administration, neither do they reflect his attitude towards his wife, Hajiya Aisha, as anyone can see from their history together.
President Buhari has been an invaluable support to his wife, and I know that he has great plans for every Nigerian woman. Five of his daughters have acquired university degrees. One of them just finished law school and another one undertakes a higher degree program.
I hope that all well-meaning Nigerians will put an end to the unfair insinuations that have been generated by President Buhari's jocularity. Seeing a well-meaning leader being so misunderstood is painful for me.
Let us hope that God continues to give him the grace and wisdom he requires to steer Nigeria through this difficult time in our country's history.
In the course of this historic visit, he held formal talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, a roundtable with the German President Joachim Gauck, a meeting with business leaders and an interactive session with Nigerians resident in Europe. A number of side, but equally important meetings were dotted in-between these.
Three big-ticket items on President Buhari's Berlin agenda were security, trade and investment, climate change and its consequences for the Nigerian eco-space. A breakthrough was achieved in all areas covered by the discussions.
Bilateral relations:
Chancellor Merkel was the first leader of a major economic power in the world to have foreseen what a Muhammadu Buhari administration would mean to Nigeria, Africa and the world. As Chairperson of the "G 7" group of industrialized nations, she extended a hand of fellowship to him upon his victory in the 2015 elections. She asked him to be ready with his wish list and be present at the G 7 meeting to brief its leaders.
Since that time, there had been a big demand for President Buhari all over the world, a demand that our officials in Foreign Affairs insisted must be cashed on or else we missed the opportunity.
President Gauck came here in February at the head of a business delegation, a visit that pushed the existing relations up by several notches as manifested by the setting up of a one-stop investment center to facilitate foreign investment and partnerships.
Germany has also proposed a twining of two cities, Lagos and Frankfurt to facilitate the sharing of experience, meeting of businesses, trade and investment as well as exchange of visits by officials.
In the course of the visit by President Gauck, a pledge by the EU to spend fifty million Euro (€50 m.) against terrorism in the Lake Chad basin area was announced.
President Buhari's state visit brought closer the relationship between Nigeria and Germany in addition to breakthroughs in several areas of negotiations.
Business/Investments.
The other key success area is investment. The President and his team held a highly successful business forum which had in attendance over 100 Nigerian and German business leaders with interests in industries across Manufacturing, Information Technology, Healthcare, Construction, Training, Agro processing, Power, Mining and Consumer businesses
In a speech at the meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari decried the current low level of trade and investment between both countries and Nigeria’s openness for business and long-term investment from Germany. He highlighted the steady work of renewal that has started in the country and the progress that is being recorded in the government’s pillars of security, governance and the economy.
He also presented a strong case on Nigeria’s compelling fundamentals and stated the priority sectors of the government in which investments are being sought as being Agriculture, Industrialization, Solid Minerals, Digital Economy and Infrastructure, especially power generation.
The biggest gypsum producer in the world has already obtained an exploration license for the mineral and is looking to commence local production in Nigeria. A well-known consumer brand with over 50,000 employees worldwide is considering production of its laundry detergent locally. The company has already invested $250 million locally, with 900 employees. The transition to local production will significantly increase the number of Nigerians employed.
A Nigerian-based pharmaceutical company in partnership with a German conglomerate is also to commence a renal testing business in Nigeria before the end of the year
Finance:
The President stated that the Nigerian Development Bank will soon commence operations to help provide additional funding to the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs). As a large contributor to the economy, funding to the SMEs will help spur inclusive economic growth. He thereafter charged government officials and the business community to enhance the process of achieving tangible results that are mutually beneficial to both countries
Economic relations:
A significant takeaway from the Presidential engagement in Germany is the agreement to give vocational skills training to thousands of our youth.
Germany is always known to be a strong developer of apprentice skills. In addition to their reputation for quality education, the distinguishing feature of the German economy is that emphasis on skill development.
What President Buhari got from this trip is a commitment by Germany to share with Nigeria their skills in agriculture, IT, telecommunications, machinery, aviation, vehicles, healthcare, construction and so forth.
As part of the steps towards imparting the vocational skills, there will be collaboration between the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) and a Nigerian conglomerate to build a technical school for artisans. The school will train Nigerians for three years, of which 50percent of the time will be spent in the school and the remaining 50percent of the time spent gaining practical experience. This model will be scaled up for the other parts of the country based on the success of this cooperation.
Agriculture:
Nigeria and Germany had useful discussions on a program of food processing locally, rice and oil milling with the aim of leavening that country's experience in a new plan by the administration to create wealth in rural communities.
There also plans for a financing fund for agriculture in Nigeria to assist small and medium size entrepreneurs and cooperatives in the agricultural sector.
Energy/Power:
A renewable power company with advanced and affordable solar technologies is going to commence operations in Nigeria. The company is headed by a Nigerian and have commenced the ground-work to commence operations early next year.
Following the MOU at the Bi-national Commission, agreements were also struck for energy partnership in renewable energy. Several states characterized by hot weather, mostly in North have signed for solar Independent Power Project, IPPs. A 30 Megawatt power plant is coming up in Adamawa while Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina and some others are on the queue.
Security:
Germany has offered Nigeria support in the war against terrorism with mine detectors, radar equipment and a field hospital.
Chancellor Merkel also pledged increased involvement of Germany in supporting Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and the reconstruction of their destroyed communities.
Immigration:
Another key area of cooperation is immigration.
There are thousands of illegal immigrants from Nigeria currently in Germany. On their records, 20,000 Nigerians enter their country each year. This is a sore issue for Germany. Of these numbers, only about nine percent of those who enter clandestinely qualify for legal asylum. To deal with the issue, they have indicated to Nigeria their willingness to train all prospective deportees in skills they can use back at home. In addition to this, two other Nigerians will be given free vocational training for every one deported illegal immigrant.
Climate Change:
President Buhari never missed an opportunity to make a pitch for the recharging of the Lake Chad, now only ten percent of its original size, whenever he met the leaders of rich countries.
He has been persuaded a long time ago that the best way to save the lake Chad and the people who inhabit its basin from the corrosive effect of climatic change is to divert water from the Congo Basin to the Lake Chad.
A study financed by Nigeria indicated that USD 15 Billion will be needed to do this but it is the kind of money that neither this country nor its neighbors can muster.
Having successfully established that the climate change has a lot to do with the drastic decline of livelihoods in the area and is at the root cause of the Boko Haram insurgency, the President is convinced that recharging the Lake is no longer the sole business of the Lake Chad Basin countries but that of the wider world.
Given her commitment to saving the environment, Chancellor Merkel had shown keenness in the project and is willing to be a part of the effort.
Her reported earmarking of €18 billion for the project was misconstrued from her speech. After a repeated playback of the speech, the same conclusions were unfortunately drawn. Angela Merkel's commitment is however to the tune of €18 million on the Nigerian side and the rest €32 million to the rest of the Lake Chad basin countries, with all of the money coming from the European Fund. Nevertheless eighteen Million to support ongoing efforts in the North East is still a mouthwatering amount.
New and Pending Issues.
The Nigerian delegation also had useful discussions on road and rail development, gas exploration, equipment and surveillance for the protection of oil and gas infrastructure in Niger Delta, upgrading of Defense Industries Corporation, DICON, cooperation in rule of law and polio eradication.
Last but not the least, the President used a moment of his time in Germany to act his role a Commander-in-Chief by paying a visit to a recuperating army officer injured in the course of duty in the North East.
A Nigerian man - IG User: bluprint__ shared his late father's photo and wrote:
"I remember 16/10/2006 10 years ago just like 10days ago when my father died as a police officer serving his useless country he died and ever since then his country has forgotten him. No investigation on his assassination, no gratuity nothing not even hope for his 6 children and his poor widow. Nigeria is useless, Nigeria police are so useless
I remember how my dad was so passionate about his job, he didn't deserve to die and be forgotten that way. Nigeria is actually not worth dying for cause once you die it is finished for your family. Rest in peace dad and to other people who died serving their country. Your family and friends still have in you in their hearts."
Donald Trump on Wednesday night during the U.S Presidential debate in Las Vegas reiterated that he had never met Russia's president Vladmir Putin and that they weren't friends, suggesting Hillary Clinton didn't like Putin because he outsmarted her and U.S President Barack Obama.
Donald Trump said Putin had no respect for Hillary Clinton to which she responded by saying Putin would rather have a "puppet" as president of the United States.
'He has no respect for her, he has no respect for our president, and i'll tell you what, we are in very serious trouble because we have a country with tremendous amount of nuclear warheads, 1800 by the way. They expanded and we didn't . '1800 nuclear warheads! 'The Putin i see has no respect for this person (he says pointing at Clinton)
To which Clinton responds 'Well that's because he'll (Putin) rather have a puppet as president' Trump Interjects her 'No puppet, no puppet, you are the puppet'
Clinton continued : 'He won't admit but Russia has engaged in cyber attacks against our country, 'Russian govt has engaged in espionage in America. They are willing to spout the Putin line, you get help from him because he has a clear favorite in this race' This has come from the highest levels from Russia.'
'Clearly, from Putin himself. He’d (Donald) rather believe Vladimir Putin than the country’s security agencies and intelligence' to which Trump replied: 'I’ve never met Putin, this isn’t my best friend. Putin has outsmarted Obama and her (Hillary) at every single step on the way'
Talking about borders and immigration plans, Clinton said she wanted open borders to which Trump rejected saying Clinton actually wanted a wall when she was a senator but couldn't do anything that's why the wall was never built.
Clinton said ‘My dream is a hemispheric common market with open borders’ We will have secure borders but we will also have reforms. I think we are both a nation of immigrants and nation of laws.
Trump then said 'My comprehensive immigration plan, of course, includes border security. I’m introducing a comprehensive immigration reform within the first 100 days.'
'Hillary Clinton wanted the wall. But she never gets anything done, so the wall was never built. We need to have strong borders. It’s the first time border security forces have endorsed a presidential candidate. 'We have some bad hombres here and we’re going to get them out.'
