Patience Jonathan Sues EFCC For N200m

Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan has filed a N200m fundamental rights enforcement suit against Skye Bank Plc, following the freezing of four bank accounts, which she claims the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has used to inconvenience and embarrass her.

The four accounts, lodged with Skye Bank Plc, are in the name of four companies which is said to have a balance of $31.4m

The four companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

In an affidavit filed before the court and deposed to by one Sammie Somiari, a legal practitioner on behalf of Patience Jonathan, the deponents claims that the EFCC placed a No Debit Order on the four accounts in July in the course of probing one Waripamo Dudafa, a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

After its investigations, the EFCC went ahead to file an amended 17-count against Dudafa and seven others, including the four companies, with the defendants being accused of conspiring to conceal the monies which the EFCC claimed they ought to have known formed parts of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

In the affidavit however, Sammie Somiari claims that it was Dudafa who helped Mrs Patience Jonathan to open the four bank accounts which the EFCC froze.

According to him, Dudafa had on March 22, 2010 brought two Skye Bank officers, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, to meet the former first lady at home to open five accounts.

He, however, claimed that after the five accounts were opened, Mrs Patience Jonathan later discovered that Dudafa opened only one of the accounts in her name while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

Somiari added “that Mrs Jonathan complained about this to Honourable Dudafa, who at her prompting and instance promised to effect the change of the said accounts to the applicant’s name; and to effect this change, Honourable Dudafa brought the said bank manager, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, who claimed to have effected the changes. This was about April 2014.

“The bank official, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, as it would appear did not effect or reflect the instruction of the applicant to change the said accounts to her name(s) despite repeated requests.

The deponent also claims that Mrs Patience Jonathan who is said to be away for an urgent medical treatment abroad, is the sole signatory to the accounts as the money belongs to her.

The affidavit also said that the ATM credit cards bearing the said companies’ names were brought to Mrs Jonathan by the bank manager who promised to replace them once the cards bearing the changed names were available, but he never did.

“However, since 2010 up until 2014 and thereafter, Mrs Jonathan had been using the cards on the said accounts and operating the said accounts without let or hindrance. Even in May, June and July 2016, the former First Lady traveled overseas for medical treatment and was using the said credit cards abroad up until July 7, 2016 or thereabouts when the cards stopped functioning.”

In her fundamental rights action before the court, the wife of the former President is asking the court to compel the EFCC to immediately vacate the “No Debit Order” placed on her accounts.

She also says the action of the EFCC without a court order or prior notice to her is illegal, overbearing and constitutes a breach of her fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33, 34, 35 & 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

She wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal property under Section 44 of the Constitution.

The EFCC on its part is set to arraign the former Presdent’s aide, Dudafa and his alleged accomplices for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The case will be heard on Thursday, Sept 15.

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Wrath Of God Will Visit Children & Grandchildren Of Corrupt Politicians - Ex CAN Boss

Former Prelate of the Methodist Church and one time President of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Prelate Sunday Mbang, has said that the wrath of God will visit the children and grand children of corrupt politicians who steal from the treasury just to benefit themselves and their families. The clergy man who recently turned 80 years old, said this in a recent interview with Tribune.

“In Christianity, the Bible makes it clear that when you commit a crime, it is to the third and fourth generations. The belief with us is that they have allowed the grace of God in the New Testament to seem to have covered what is in the Old Testament – the wrath and love of God – which is also reflected in the New Testament. If you don’t repent of your sin, the wrath of God will fall upon you. People suffer in this country and what they would do is to explain it scientifically. I said it earlier that I made a prayer and someone died.

That death would be explained scientifically and so the main point would be clear to the people. The fact is that once you commit sin; once you loot public treasury; once you convert money belonging to the people for yourself and family, you will suffer, your children will suffer to the third and fourth generations. When these things happen, people explain them scientifically.

Nowadays if anything happens to someone, it would be blamed on either the brother, father or the mother, not knowing that God’s wrath might have fallen on the person. Every sin has punishment.

What I can tell our politicians is that all the sins they have committed – corruption, hatred, killings, kidnapping, false accusations – the wrath of the God will visit them one after the other to the third and fourth generations. My prayer is that all those seeking political appointments, because the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, God is the owner of the earth. He is not an absentee landlord. He is interested in this world. So when you come and do whatever you feel like, don’t think God does not see it. He sees everything we do and He gives us the grace for what we have done right and punishment, for our wrongs.

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Rivers APC to Wike: Pay Teachers Salary,Stop Wastin Rivers Money on Edo Election

•I gave Ize-Iyamu only moral support – Wike
•No, you also gave material, financial support to PDP candidate – APC

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are locked in a bicker over his support for the Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Wike dismissed reports that he backed Ize-Iyamu with a N2 billion donation, saying all he gave was moral support.

He vowed to continue to support democratic forces, not just in the Niger Delta, but across Nigeria, to bring better life to people of the country.

But the APC in the state said Wike has been a pillar of financial backing for Ize-Iyamu.

The Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, speaking for his principal said Wike had no N2 billion to give the PDP candidate.

He also denied allegation by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State that Wike and his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, were mobilising militants to rig the September 28 election for the PDP candidate.

Tam-George said: “Governor Wike has no links with militants in the region and anywhere else in the country. He (Wike) has only given moral support to the PDP candidate in Edo State to overcome the ineptitude and dysfunction the APC imposed on the people.”

Wike asked the people of Edo State to stand firm in defence of their sovereign right by voting for the PDP in the election.

However, the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers, Chris Finebone, told The Nation yesterday that Ize-Iyamu has been receiving massive financial support from Wike.

He said: “Wike should, for once, be courageous to accept that he also gave material and financial support to the Edo PDP’s governorship candidate (Ize-Iyamu), as charged by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“We all know that Wike is still on his schizophrenic delusion of grandeur. It is this same obscene pursuit of his that sent the PDP to its present life-support situation. Happily, some of his own people are now cutting him to size.

“The APC in Rivers State believes that Wike mobilized and exported militants and hoodlums to Edo State to rig the September 10 election and he will repeat the same on September 28, 2016 (new date for the governorship poll). Security agents and Edo people must be vigilant.

“We have informed him (Wike) that since all his (Wike’s) government can export is militancy, election-rigging and violence, he should tell Rivers people how much inflow that will bring, to improve the economy of Rivers State.

“The Rivers State governor should halt his ego trip and conserve funds to pay teachers outstanding seven months salaries, pay pensioners their nine months pensions, close to one year outstanding wages to Rivers State House of Assembly legislative aides and others who are already dying every now and then.”

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Look Beyond APC - Ekweremadu Tells Buhari

DEPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to in the spirit of Eid- Kabir celebration look beyond the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and constitute a Special Economic Squad to rescue the country from the present economic meltdown.
In his Eid-El Kabir message to the Muslim Ummah, Senator Ekweremadu also called on all Muslims to use the occasion of the Eid-El Kabir to pray for the nation’s quick recovery from her current economic recession, expressing confidence that Nigerians, working together, could heal the nation’s economy.

According to the statement which was signed by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Uche Anichukwu, the Deputy Senate President who noted that prayers alone, was not enough since Islam advocates both Work and Prayer, stressed that the present economic challenges were not beyond redemption, but could actually become the nation’s turning point away from an oil-driven economy to real prosperity if the right policies and structures were put in place.
He said: “I warned long ago that elections had come and gone and we should move from politics to governance. It is time for governance and we must bring all capable hands on the deck, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic backgrounds.

“Nigerians are facing hard times; and all they are interested in are positive results and urgent succour. They don’t care whether you are All Progressives Congress, APC, or Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and whether you are North or South. The good news is that capable hands abound in the country. We must assemble them and give them both the mandate and liberty to help the president’s team to revamp the nation’s economy”.

Ekweremadu who also commended the nation’s security agencies for the security arrangements put in place to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration, stressed that the war against insurgency and crime was beyond partisan politics because the terrorists and criminals do not consider party, religion, and ethnicity in their SinParties of violence and blood-letting against the nation.

He added: “My heart goes out in a special way to the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who are waging the war against insurgents in the North East. Through the successes of Operation Lafiya Dole, which has been able to consolidate on the efforts of the last administration, they have made it possible for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to begin their homeward journey. This is commendable and their families deserve all the love we can give at Eid-El Kabir.

“I commend in the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Defence Staff, and General Gabriel Olonisakin; and indeed the entirety of the nation’s Armed Forces for the progress in this regard. It shows that Nigerians always win whenever they come together with determination on any matter whatsoever.”

Ekweremadu who called on the Muslim Ummah to emulate the uncommon sense of sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim in their service to God and humanity, wished them and all Nigerians a happy Sallah celebration.

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"APC Open To All Nigerians Interested In Development" - Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, says the party is open to all Nigerians interested in the development of the country.

Oyegun made the declaration on Wednesday in Benin when he received some members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, who defected to the APC.
He said that the party was committed to turning things around in the country and would welcome any one genuinely aspiring to move the nation forward.

The APC national chairman noted that the party has made tremendous impact in Edo, adding that all those genuinely interested in the progress of the state, should ensure APC’s victory in the Sept. 10 election.

“Massive developent has already started in the state and we welcome people who have the interest of the state and are progressive minded, to join and continue with this development,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole said the defection of Dennis Evbuomwan, and other PDP leaders in Oredo, marked the end of the PDP in the state.

“To me, the coming of Evbuomwan and other leaders of the PDP in Oredo along with their unit leaders means they are here with a complete story.

“The unit heads are the real people on the field,’’ Oshiomhole said.
Earlier, Evbuomwan said their decision to join APC was based on “the historic developmental strides going on in the state.”

He described the PDP as a sinking ship, saying “when the ship is sinking, you don’t need to sink with it.
“I believe in the cause the APC is fighting, which is for the progress of the state, and I want to be part of that fight.”

Mr Ebima Ogbeide, another leader in the area who defected to the APC, said the occasion marked a home coming for him.

“It is a public knowledge that I resigned from the PDP three weeks ago, I am happy to be back home,’’ Ogbeide said.

He appealed for quick integration of those that decamped, to enable them canvass support for the APC governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki.

On his part, the state chairman of the APC, Mr Anselm Ojezua, said those that decamped were no strangers and promised to integrate them fully, so that they would contribute to APC’s success during the governorship election.

“The backbone of the PDP has been broken today. The PDP is dead in Edo,” Ojezua asserted.

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Earthquake Hits Kwoi In Kaduna: State Government Calls For Calm

There were reports of earth tremors in Kwoi, Jaba LGA of Kaduna State yesterday, causing panic among residents.

The state government has however appealed for calm. The government in statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, said it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development, report precisely on the event and issue appropriate guidance.

Aruwan said Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai had confirmed the notification of geological and emergency agencies on the incident.

“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremors. He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area andcomfort our citizens.

The national geological agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremors in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance,”

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Woman Gives Birth To Premature Set Of Quadruplets In Kogi State (Photos)

A case of preterm birth of a set of quadruplets was recently recorded in Kogi state.. The mother Mrs Amina Yesufu and her babies are currently being taken care of at Rehoboth Hospital, Lokoja, the capital city.. Read the full update below;

As shared by Petra Akinti Onyegbule, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello...

On the evening of 22nd of August, someone shared news of the preterm birth of a set of quadruplet in Lokoja which naturally caught my attention. By the next day, I was at Rehoboth Hospital to see the neonates, doctors and parents and I share the following:

1. The mother, Mrs Amina Yesufu presented with placenta previa on August 8 and was admitted for management. This included giving steroids to strengthen the lungs of the fetuses (which scans revealed to be four) as well as control contractions to delay delivery.

2. By late August 21, delay was no longer possible and a Caesarean section needed to be carried out. This was done on August 22 a a set of quadruplet were delivered at 32 weeks gestation. All four are doing well and are in the incubator where they are being given care.

3. Before coming to Rehoboth Hospital, Mrs Yesufu had been rejected at two tertiary health institutions in the nation's capital for lack of bed space and a third tertiary health institution in Lokoja was on strike.

4. As at the time they got to Rehoboth Hospital, they had near nothing on them. A nurse in the hospital had to donate blood for the mother as her PCV was 25%.

5. Tiny Beating Hearts Initiative (TBHI) has made a total part payment of #290,000.00 only (in two tranches of #90,000 and #200,000) and is raising more funds as the most recent assessment by the doctor in charge puts the estimated cost at over a million to cover cost of phototherapy to treat jaundice, tests, drugs for both neonates and mother, cost of CS, cost of incubator. Thanks to my colleagues in the media unit for their enormous support.

6. TBHI is in talks with the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for a sustainable means of ensuring these neonates grow into healthy children and members of society.

7. In the meantime, TBHI is hereby appealing to well meaning people to kindly donate their widow's mite to offset the Yesufus' hospital bills.

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Oby Ezekwesili Reacts To Mark Zuckerberg's Visit To Nigeria

The visit by Mark Zuckerberg is HUGE. It is a stellar achievement of Nigeria's YOUNG who have given their intellect to growing IT knowledge.

Mark Zuckerberg did not pay a Charity Visit to Nigeria. He can already SMELL where the NEXT BIG thing will emerge from in IT world-NIGERIA!

Location no longer inhibits Talent. The world will come looking for you & your talent even in the tick forest.It's why Mark Zuckerberg came!

Only some months ago, Bill Gates profiled & gave global nod to the work of @seunonigbinde & his @BudgITng .They intersect Tech & Governance!


The unimaginable frontiers that continuous success & innovation of our Technology folks will take Nigeria will end our enslavement by Oil.

Nollywood. Nigeria IT world. Nigeria Fashion Industry.

Can YOU guess what is COMMON to these three sectors of "silver lining" in Nigeria?

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Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria Increases Access Gate Charge (Photo)

Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has increased the access gate charge. The new charges is effective from tomorrow Thursday, September 1st. Imagine paying N400 everyday, probably to-and-fro at N800 everyday.

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Man City outcast Hart completes Torino loan move

t-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has joined Italian club Torino on a season-long loan, the two clubs announced on Wednesday.

The England international, 29, arrives in Turin after being frozen out at City by new manager Pep Guardiola.

Hart had been City’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2010, winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup, but Guardiola signed Chile’s Claudio Bravo to replace him.

“Suddenly (in) my career has been an important turning: it was a sign. Torino’s offer came in the right moment, with the right manner,” Hart said in a statement on Torino’s English-language website.

“I am very excited to compare myself in an important and beautiful league such as Serie A. History of Italian goalkeeper is known everywhere: I am sure I could learn in Torino too.”

Hart was pictured signing his contract on the Torino website.

He was mobbed by fans after flying in to Turin on Tuesday and was later pictured posing with the club’s shirt on a balcony in the city.

Hart will now link up with the England squad, who are preparing for their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia on Sunday.

“Joe Hart is an international goalkeeper with a considerable experience in Manchester City Football Club and in his national team, where he made his debut when he was only 21,” said Torino president Urbano Cairo.

“His transfer to Torino makes us proud and demonstrates our willingness to build a team more competitive.”

Hart will be only the third English goalkeeper to play in Serie A.

He is expected to take the gloves from Daniele Padelli, who has failed to impress coach Sinisa Mihajlovic since the former Lazio defender became coach in May.

Torino are seventh in the Italian top flight after two matches of the season.

Hart could make his Torino debut on September 11 when the ‘Granata’ face Atalanta in Bergamo.

Guardiola explained that he had dropped Hart due to his desire to use a goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Willy Caballero, Hart’s deputy last season, began the campaign as City’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Last week, Bravo signed from Guardiola’s former club Barcelona in a deal reportedly worth around £17 million ($22 million, 19 million euros).

“A key figure in a golden age in the club’s history, Joe has collected as many individual prizes as he has team honours in his decade at the Etihad Stadium,” City wrote on their website.

“A popular, well-liked figure in the dressing room and a fans’ favourite thanks to his articulate, straight-talking candour in interviews, Hart now joins Turin-based Serie A outfit Torino for the remainder of the current campaign. From everyone at the club, good luck and thank you, Joe!”

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Trump to visit Mexico

nald Trump announced he would travel to Mexico on Wednesday to meet its president, just hours ahead of giving a much-anticipated speech in Arizona on immigration.

The Republican presidential nominee’s surprise trip south of the border comes as debate about his hardline immigration policies is reaching fever pitch.

Although his visit holds potential political peril, Trump could seize control of the campaign narrative at a crucial time, showing a willingness to engage diplomatically on a sensitive issue at the heart of his campaign.

“I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow,” Trump posted on Twitter Tuesday.

Mexico’s presidential office confirmed the visit, posting its own tweet in Spanish to say the billionaire New York real estate tycoon “has accepted the invitation and will meet tomorrow privately with the President @EPN.”

Pena Nieto’s office said in a statement that he had sent invitations to Trump as well as his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Her campaign has announced no plans for a visit, with an aide on Tuesday saying Clinton “looks forward to talking with President Pena Nieto again at the appropriate time.”

Trump has routinely assailed Mexican immigrants who illegally cross the border into the United States. Hardline immigration policies including calls for deportations are a key plank of his campaign.

A sudden international trip by a US presidential candidate would be a logistical and security nightmare at such short notice.

But Trump could be sensing an opportunity in the visit as he mulls whether to soften his positions on immigration, particularly the call early in his campaign to deport some 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows.

Any Trump-Pena Nieto meeting could be an awkward affair. In rally after campaign rally, Trump has pledged to “build a wall” on the US southern border if he becomes president and to force Mexico to pay for it.

Pena Nieto for his part has likened Trump to “Hitler and Mussolini” and slammed the Republican nominee for his isolationist positions.

And in a July interview, he told CNN that “there is no way that Mexico could pay for a wall like that.”

Trump used some of the most incendiary language of his campaign when launching his White House bid last year, describing Mexicans as drug dealers, “rapists” and other criminals.

He is scheduled to deliver what is billed as a crucial speech Wednesday evening in Phoenix, Arizona, seen as an opportunity to clarify his positions on immigration.

In recent weeks he has expressed willingness to soften his hardline stance to a “fair and humane” policy ahead of November’s election.

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I'm flattered by Allardyce’s comments about me – Okocha

Former Nigeria captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha has said he is overwhelmed by the eulogy poured on him by England coach Sam Allardyce despite retiring from football many years ago.

On Tuesday, Allardyce retained Wayne Rooney as England captain and encouraged him to follow Jay Jay Okocha’s example. Rooney was told to continue in his role as England captain – by following the leadership blueprint of  Okocha who also played as Allardyce captain while at Bolton Wanderers.

The Independent quoted Allardyce, “On and off the field, Jay Jay was the captain you looked for.

 “In a multi-national side from all over the world, he could speak four different languages and communicate very well with some of the players who couldn’t speak quite as good English.

“He sorted the odd scuffle out in the dressing room, talked to the players about how we had to go out and win. He’d take the manager’s instructions and apply them in the right way.

“Then there was outstanding ability on the field, leading by example and showing everybody he wasn’t a mercenary which was suggested in the beginning, that he’d only come for the money.”

Okocha, who was unaware of the Allardyce comment until The PUNCH called him, said he was overwhelmed to be so remembered by his former manager.

He said, “His comments make me feel so good and fulfilled. Sometimes we do things the way we know best without knowing how well and far it goes with other persons. I was just working the way I felt the work should be done; I never knew it made his (Allardyce) work easier too.

“I am proud of what I achieved at Bolton and in football.”

The former Super Eagles captain also had kind words for his manager at Bolton many years ago in the English Premier League.

Okocha told The PUNCH, “He was a good manager. He knows how to get the best out of his players. You could see what happened to Newcastle after he left there. He’s really a good coach and deserves the England job. His appointment didn’t come as a surprise to me.”

Okocha with the likes of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Hernan Crespo and Youri Djorkaeff made the EPL low-budget team quite formidable even against the top-four teams. They were one of the teams to always look out for in cup competitions.

For the England team, Rooney’s retention in the role, widely anticipated, ensures continuity for a player who broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time England goal-scoring record during the qualification campaign for Euro 2016.

With 115 caps, Rooney is likely to surpass Peter Shilton’s all-time appearance record in the run-up to Russia 2018 and Allardyce insists that sticking with the player as captain was an “easy” choice.

“Wayne has been an excellent captain for England and the manner in which he has fulfilled the role made it an easy decision for me to ask him to continue,” he said.

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Nigerians Elected Us To Do Impossible Things –APC

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress, Segun Oni, has said the party was elected to do the impossible.

He, however, said Nigerians should be patient with the APC-led Buhari administration because it could only do its best by contributing it’s quota to national development.

Oni said this in an interview with newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

He argued that the economic difficulties currently being experienced by Nigerians would have been worse if the Peoples Democratic Party had returned to power.

The former governor of Ekiti State also accused unnamed politicians, whom he described as “money bags,” of sponsoring criminals under the guise of herdsmen to destabilise the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to him, even though Nigerians have every right to expect “magic” from the APC, the reality on ground is that there is no magic wand to make Nigeria’s problems disappear overnight.

He said, “The economy was traumatised by a government whose only agenda was to win another round (of elections). Therefore, everything that they could put into trying to win a second round, even bastardising the economy, was done and we are all here.

“The reality on ground is that, if the previous government were (still) in power by now, Nigeria would have virtually packed up, maybe many of us would have become refugees by now.

“Yes, we are elected to do the impossible; we will do our best. I just want to plead that people should give us more realistic expectations.”

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ASUU Threatens To Embark On Strike After FG Ignores Demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) through its Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Olusoji Sowande at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday, threatened to embark on a nationwide strike in regards to its demands for the implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

Sowande said the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on funding of state universities, breaches of the conditions of service and re-negotiation of the agreement, exclusion of Nigerian universities from Pension Management Company and non-release of NEEDS Assessment Intervention Fund were still being ignored. The

He said:

“The review of the agreement should have been undertaken in 2012 and 2015 but that did not happen.‎ “The implication is that our union has shown enough patriotism and understanding on these matters in the last four years.

“We are perplexed and disappointed that both the Federal and State Governments are not responding to our consistent appeals to bring about genuine transformation in the education sector.

He said they would rather not embark on a strike because it is the Students and ASUU members that end up suffering. Adding:

“It is unfortunate that the only language government appears to respect and listens to is that of industrial action like strike”.

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Armed Herdsmen: Afenifere, Ohanaeze, ACF Disagree On Fayose’s Law

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, the Igbo socio-political organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra have expressed support for the bill assented to by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, which categorises grazing with arms in the state as terrorism.

But the umbrella body for northern groups, the Arewa Consultative Forum, however, said any law which contravened the constitution of the country would be illegal, adding that any Nigerian was free to move in any part of the country.

Fayose had, while signing the ‘prohibition of cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti 2016’ into law on Monday, said any herdsman, caught with any form of weapons while grazing his cattle in any part of the state, would be arrested and charged with terrorism.

Afenifere, which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, on Tuesday, described Fayose’s action as courageous and worthy of emulation.

Odumakin pointed out that the bill would put an end to the incessant attacks by the Fulani herdsmen on farmers and their farms in the southern part of the country.

He said, “The bill will stop the menace of the herdsmen, who have been terrorising their host communities.

‘‘Right from ages, herdsmen are not to carry arms when they are moving about with their cattle. But when herdsmen begin to carry unlicensed AK 47 (rifles), these are clearly not herdsmen; these are terrorists. I think the law should not smile at such people.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo hailed Fayose for signing the bill into law, noting that the governor took a “brave” step.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the law should be replicated in all parts of the country.

He added, “Fayose has done the right thing and he should be commended and encouraged for taking this brave step.

“Cattle rearing is a private business; those involved in the venture should not become a threat to other Nigerians.

“We in the Ohanaeze Youth Council are asking the South-East governors to do same in their states.

“The law, if implemented in the South-East, would check the violent activities of herdsmen in the zone, and same applies to other parts of the country where the herdsmen are wreaking havoc on their host communities.

“Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, should act fast; he should emulate Fayose if he really intends to protect lives and property in his state.”

MASSOB, while commending Fayose for signing the bill into law, said other governors in the southern part of the country, as well as the Middle Belt, should enact similar laws.

MASSOB spokesman, Samuel Edeson, said, “It is a very good development; we are expecting other governors in the southern part of the country, and the Middle Belt, to do same.

“Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi, should emulate Fayose because herdsmen attacks are becoming regular in the state.

“The people of Enugu State are under attack; they are being killed and the governor is not taking action.

“The attack happened only once in Ekiti State and Fayose responded immediately. What Fayose did is laudable; it is a very good development.”

ACF, which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, on Tuesday, said any law passed by Ekiti State, which contradicted the law of the Federal Government should be considered null and void.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees free movement of Nigerians as long as they pursue their legitimate business,” Ibrahim added.

The ACF, however, described any individual or group that illegally carried arms against the state as a criminal.

In an interview with one of our correspondents in Kaduna, the ACF spokesman stated that any Fulani herdsmen or any other group in possession of illegal firearms were considered as criminals before the law and should be treated as criminals by the state.

“This is not the question of herdsmen or Fulani or anybody. Anybody carrying arms illegally is committing a serious offence against the state. Naturally, such people should be punished by the law.”

The President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, while condemning the attacks by the herdsmen, however, expressed reservation on the new law in Ekiti State.

Shettima added, “The issue of criminality perpetrated by some people should not be seen as an avenue to criminalise others.

‘‘Fayose should have looked at the issue in collaboration with the Federal Government. So, if he is passing the law to victimise other people, I don’t think it is right.”

On his part, President, Campaign for Democracy, Abdul Usman, said the protection of people’s lives from herdsmen was necessary.

He stated, “If the Nigerian state will have so much value for animals against humanity to the extent of providing grazing reserves and importing feeds for animals, the Ekiti State Governor has done well to the deserving people of the state.

“Human protection first, then animals should follow. We have seen the unrest caused by the herdsmen; it’s quite worrisome and with this new law, a lot will be addressed.”

Also, the President, Civil Liberties Organisation, Igho Akeregha, said the grazing law in Ekiti State was a two edged sword.

He said, “Herdsmen have a right to freedom of movement with their cattle anywhere in Nigeria but while enjoying that right; they cannot be killing people anywhere they go, which is a violation of the right to life.

“Since the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state and has a corresponding duty to secure lives and property, the anti-grazing bill signed by Governor Ayodele Fayose is therefore in order.”

DHQ plans special task force on herdsmen killings

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters is planning a special task force to deal with the menace of the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country, Meanwhile, the.

According to the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, the task force, which is expected to address the attacks by herdsmen, is code named ‘Operation Accord’.

Abubakar told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Tuesday that while the operational headquarters of the planned operation would be in one of the six states of the North-East, it would be mandated to address the scourge of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes all over the country.

The operation, he added, would give serious attention to identified flashpoints of such clashes in the country.

“So when it is operational, we will make it known to everybody but for now, the Chief of Defence Staff has come out with that idea of forming Operation Accord which is intended to curtail the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes nationwide.”

Rich politicians behind herdsmen attacks –APC

However, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress, Segun Oni, has blamed some rich politicians, who he did not name, for the spate of attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

Oni said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

Oni added, “This personally worries me because, these gunmen, who have suddenly become so notorious, invading villages and so on, are people that have always been around.

“But my guess is that many of these are sponsored by people who have so much money and want to create instability.’’

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How to see and block Wi-Fi thieves

When the Wi-Fi connection on your Android device is running slow, it could be that someone is using it without your permission.  Here’s how to find out exactly who you’re sharing your Wi-Fi network with, and how to block intruders off it forever.

 Make sure you’re connected to the Wi-Fi network you wish to monitor. Next, download the Fing network tools from Google Play Store.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, open it, and you will see the name of your network on the home screen, along with the Refresh and Settings buttons. To see all the devices connected to your Wi-Fi network, tap Refresh.

This process could take a few minutes, but afterwards you will see a list of devices, along with an indicator that tells you if it’s a smartphone or PC.

Tap any device on your network to bring up a list of options for interacting with that device. These include sending pings or Wake on LAN signals, and you can even log when those devices connect and disconnect from the network.

How to block trespassing devices

If one of the devices connected to your network is unfamiliar or suspicious, you can block it forever. Fing shows you the Media Access Control address of each device connected to your network (the number will follow this format and be made up of numbers and letters: ‘xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx’). Make a note of this number.

On the computer that is connected to your router, enter your router Internet Protocol into the browser, then enter your router login details on the next page.

Once logged into your router, find the Security options (its location varies between routers and may be located under Advanced Settings)

In Security, click MAC Filtering, then Add Device

Enter the MAC address of the device you want to ban in the MAC field, give it a name if there is such an option, then click Apply, Save or OK

While you’re logged into your router, it might also be worth changing your Wi-Fi password, since it is possible your last one may have been compromised.

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Zuckerberg's Visit: Nigerians Blast CNN For Not Adding 'Nigeria' In Its Report

Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Nigeria was widely covered by not only the Nigerian media but foreign ones as well, including CNN.


However, CNN Africa in its report on twitter didn't specify the Sub-Saharan country Mark Zuckerberg is visiting and the action did not go down well with some twinigerians.


See some reactions below:

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I’m Not Nigerian Sports’ Problem – Dalung

The Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday replied those who have been calling for his sack after the nation’s poor outing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, saying he is not the problem of sports in Nigeria.

Dalung spoke to State House correspondents shortly after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari of the outcome of the Olympics where Nigeria got a bronze medal in the men’s football event.

The minister said poor performance in Nigerian sports pre-dated his appointment.

“I am not the problem of Nigerian sports. Abysmal performance has been happening before me,” he said.

The minister however attributed Team Nigeria’s poor outing at the Olympics to late release of funds and inability to develop home-grown talents.

Dalung said it was time Nigeria returned to the grassroots and groom talents for future competitions.

He also faulted the scrapping of the Nigerian Sports Commission, saying the commission was necessary.

The minister also said he was yet to be informed officially of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation.

‎‎The NFF had early this month selected a German, Gernot Rohr, to manage the Super Eagles.

He said although he was yet to be informed officially, he wished Rohr the best.

On the coach of the Dream XI team, ‎Samson Siasia, the minister expressed disappointment at the treatment meted to a coach whose team won the only medal at Rio’s Olympics by the NFF by withdrawing his official car in Abuja while he was battling to secure a medal for the country in Rio.

Dalung, who confirmed he met with Siasia a day before, said Nigeria still needed him ‎in football development.

He said even if the NFF would not re-engage him, the Federation should at least, give him some peace of mind to enable him make his contributions in a personal capacity.

He said it would be sad to lose Siasia out of frustration to another country who appreciates his worth, just like many athletes did as witnessed during the Rio Olympics.

On the $390, 000 donation to Siasia and his team by a Japanese surgeon, the minister said after he met the donor in Rio, he was convinced there were no strings like match-fixing, attached to the donation

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Stop Giving Too Much Powers To Terrorists, BBOG To Buhari

 The Bring Back Our Girls BBOG movement has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to seize the initiative in rescuing the 218 abducted Chibok school girls rather than granting unnecessary powers to the abductors, the Boko Haram sect, by asking them to determine the rescue options.

The movement stated this Tuesday in Abuja during another failed attempt to march on the presidential villa. It said 869 days since the abduction, no evidence of persuasive, deliberate and result- targeted action has been conveyed by the president. President Buhari had on the side-lines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) recently held in Nairobi, Kenya suggested a willingness to swap the girls with Boko Haram fighters preferring that the terrorists engaged an international Non-Governmental Organization in the intermediation process if they so wish.
"If they (the terrorists) do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognized Non-Governmental Organization, convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know”, Mr Buhari had stated.

However, the BBOG said it was at a loss as to why terrorists have to determine the process for rescue. It lamented the current situation whereby it appears the president now heavily relies on media reports to gather intelligence about the terrorists.

In the address, jointly signed by its leaders, Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu, BBOG said; “We fail to understand why our Federal Government is giving so much powers to determine process and first mover actions to the terrorists. We have always maintained that the President has the powers to assemble all relevant intelligence assets required for determining the best action in terms of lowest risk option. Many countries with superior capabilities have indicated willingness to help our Government gather security and intelligence assets on this and other related North East challenges. We were therefore extremely shocked to read Mr. President state, that ‘some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read it in the papers about the conflict in their leadership’.

Are we right to conclude from that statement that our President merely relies on newspaper reports like the rest of the Nigerian public for information on such an important and monumental tragedy? This is a grave basis for concern to our movement. “So, while we welcome the statement, we counter that it sounds too tentative and lacking of the conviction, decisiveness, strong ownership, and urgent actions required to #BringBackOurGirls. This tragedy must no longer be allowed to linger any further! It is time to act with the fiercest urgency and the authority that must lead this action is our President, Commander – in-Chief – of-the-Armed-Forces”.

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Iheanacho Overtakes Mikel As Eagles Highest Earner

MANCHESTER City wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho is now the top Nigeria earner in the Premier League on £85,000-a-week to knock off Chelsea star Mikel Obi.


This month, Iheanacho signed a new two-year contract extension at City till 2021, saying his new contract will “change the lives of his family”. Mikel, who moved to England 10 years ago, has been the biggest earner from Nigeria for many years and he is now on 70,000 pounds a week at Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder’s compatriot at ‘The Blues’, Victor Moses bagged a 50,000 pounds-a-week when he joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012. Watford striker Odion Ighalo is believed to have improved on his 25,000 pounds-a-week after he recently signed a contract extension.

Defender Kenneth Omeruo is on 15,000 pounds every week even though he has yet to play an official match for Chelsea. It was further gathered that Iheanacho’s new handlers negotiated this bumper deal even though they are still locked in an ownership tussle with the player’s previous representatives, who are based in the United States of America.

Iheanacho’s former agents had proposed a new contract of 50,000 pounds-a-week for the 19-year-old forward. He earned less than 18,000 pounds-a-week when he first joined Manchester City.

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See The Kidnappers And Child Traffickers Caught In Benue State

Benue State Command of the Department of State Services,DSS has Some Kidnappers who have been terrorizing Benue state. Six School children have been rescued, some were united with their parents while some are yet to identify their parents.

Addressing news men at the old banquet hall of Benue people’s house Makurdi, Governor Samuel Ortom reiterates that kidnappers and other criminals has no place in Benue. He call on the people of the state to remain resolute and assist the security agencies to curb more criminals in the State as his Government will continue to do his best to chase away criminals so as to pave way for investors come in.

Those paraded were Adejo Ogiri who is said to be the inn syndicate’s anchor man in Benue, Michael Uzochukwu Ezekiel, Afonne Edward Nwokocha, Henry Ndukwe and Ifeanyi Sunday Isaac.

kidnappers caught in benue2

One of the notorious kidnappers, Ogiri 35 have said to be a son of the first Och Idoma, Others paraded were Michael Uzochukwu Ezekiel, Afonne Edward Nwokocha, Henry Ndukwe and Ifeanyi Sunday Isaac.

Some of the children kidnapped by the gang included Emmanuel Ogochukwu Abedi, Favour Chijioke Oleka, James Ochoyama Adanu and Joseph Abode.

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'Is The Nigerian Economy Affecting You?' - Angry Fan's Open Letter To Singer Chidinma

Miss Kedike Chidinma Your Silence Lately Is Rather Annoying Than Golden.

As a very concerned fan, I’m deeply worried about your inactivity lately in the music industry. The last quarter of the year is lurking around the corner; your fans are starved as you have not served any meaningful tune lately. Oh please don’t remind me about the few features you graced this year. In my candid opinion, none of those songs can be nominated on any award show as “Collaboration of the Year”. Let me prove to you I am a fan, I will possibly name all songs you have been featured that I am aware. “I Am A Winner”, “All I Want is You”, “Mama”, “Bless Me”, that means I have been keeping up. Unfortunately, none of those songs has inspired much of an applause. It was another song with Miss Kedike.

You brought home KORA award as the Best Female West African Act in 2012, can you do that now in 2016? I mean can you win an award now over Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, or maybe even a Simi? Except that must be a charity award. It’s been four years since you bagged an award, ain’t you hungry for one now? A lot has changed since you dropped your debut studio album roughly four years ago. Let me remind you a bit. New talents are now on the block, some have already released solid debut albums. I’m sure you are aware of Lil Kesh, Kiss Daniel, Adekunle Gold. In a bit to be fair let me remind you of Simi, Aramide these girls are killing it will their voices. Besides, there is Seyi Shay in the block, Yemi Alade has since left your class as she has two albums to her name and with strong claims as “Mama Africa”. I dare not mention Tiwa Savage, ain’t nothing stopping her not even here marriage and her new kid, she is headed worldwide.

As a fan, I can’t say which direction you going with your music. I got news of your exit from Capital Hill Records, and wide speculations you have pitch tent with Flavour’s 2nite Entertainment. Hold on a second, is the Nigerian economy directly impacting your music? One thing that bugs me is your propensity to kiss your male counterparts in music videos or during a stage performance, never mind, it’s none of my business. I sincerely hope you know there is no sleeping on a bicycle as music in Nigeria is concerned.

I hate to say this, after your successful run with “Eni Mi Baller” it seems you took a chill pill, pulled a back seat and became nonchalant. Earnestly we miss the attitude you brought into your popular songs “Eni Mi Baller” and “Kedike”. Why are you still being referred to as “Miss Kedike”? It’s simple; there has been nothing really impactful you have done to be christened after, SMH. You seriously have to thank MTN and Coca-Cola for giving you flashes of the Spotlight. I begin to wonder what would have been your fate without them. I wouldn’t want to imagine.

I have suddenly lost interest in bearing my thoughts and those of numerous fans about you. This is where I end my tirade. Dear Miss Kedike you can do better.

Sincerely,

A big fan of yours.

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See Hilarious Response Linda Ikeji Got After She Tweeted On Mark Zuckerberg's Visit

Linda Ikeji like everyone else was surprised on the way Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg entered Nigeria and tweeted about it, but a follower wasn't having it.

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Robbers Spend Six Hours In Victim’s House In Lagos (Photo)

The Anti-Robbery Squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, has arrested a four-man gang that had allegedly been terrorising residents of the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects – Akin Ayotunde, Isaac Ogbonna, Sola Dede and Sodiq Lawal – specialised in lurking around houses at night and switching off their victims’ generators before attacking them.

They, however, met their Waterloo last Thursday when they were arrested after invading the apartment of one Bello Hakeem in the Igbe area.

Our correspondent was told that the suspects spent six hours in the victim’s duplex and went away with his car, generator, money, phones, Automated Teller Machine cards, modems, laptops and cash.

They also stole his wife’s jewellery and withdrew N100,000 using one of the ATM cards.

Hakeem told our correspondent that around 11.09pm on Tuesday, he observed that his generator suddenly went off and he asked two of his children to go outside and fix the problem.

 “About five minutes after they left, they were forced back into the house by four men, who were armed with knives.

“They ordered us to cooperate with them. They searched the house and made away with three laptops, six phones, three ATM cards, a new 3.5KVA generator, one 75alms battery, two modems, jewellery, cash, and my Toyota Corolla. They held my family hostage for six hours before leaving at about 6am the next day,” he added.

Hakeem, an environmental scientist, said he reported the incident at the Ijede Police Station, adding that the suspects were able to withdraw N100,000 from his First Bank account before he deactivated all the stolen ATM cards.

He said two days after the incident, a friend called him that a car that looked like his own had been put up for sale.

He said operatives from the SCIID, Yaba, were alerted and the suspects were rounded up.

The four suspects, who confessed to the crime, said they operated with knives to avoid bloodshed.

The gang leader, Ayotunde, 27, said, “I used to sell garri with my grandma in a market before a former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, demolished shops in the market. I tried another job, but it didn’t work.

“I then sold the idea of robbing houses to my friends and we agreed to use only knives and not guns. We always lurk around developing areas in Ikorodu at night, look for any house that had its generator on, scale the fence and put off the generator. When the occupants of the house come out to check the generator, we attack. We made N60,000 from our first operation in March.

“I was arrested when the man whom I had given the man’s car to called me that he had found a buyer. He said the buyer had paid N700,000 for the vehicle and that I should come for my share. We agreed to meet at a restaurant in Ojota. But on getting there, I discovered that it was a set up and I was arrested.”

Ogbonna, 23, an indigene of Ebonyi State, said he was looking for money for the treatment of his elder sister when he was invited to join the gang.

“My sister needed blood transfusion and I had to look for money by all means. I got N25,000 from the operation,” he added.

The third suspect, 24-year-old Dede, from Ondo State, said he joined the group because he was told nobody would be killed, adding that he needed money to change his apartment.

He said, “An Alfa told me to move out of my family house because there was a spiritual force working against the success of men in the house. I needed money to change my apartment.”

The police also arrested the receiver of some of the stolen items, Akeem Lawal, who claimed that the suspects lied to him that the goods were imported.

The Police Public Relations officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest, adding that investigations were ongoing.

She said, “The last house they robbed belonged to a couple who quickly alerted the police. They were trailed and arrested. They are currently undergoing interrogation at the command.”

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‘Nigeria Moving Away From Corruption To Production’ – Rotimi Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, said the Federal Government has concluded plans to award the contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project. Amaechi made this disclosure at the 1-year memorial lecture in honour of former General Secretary of Alliance for Credible Election, ACE-Nigeria, late Comrade Emma Ezeazu, in Abuja. The former governor of Rivers State, explained that, “The President’s agenda is not just to recover loots. We are recovering as much as we can. But the president is determined to create employment. That is why you can see his focus. In transportation, from Kaduna to Abuja, we have created over 700 workforce. What did I do? I said all the villages or those communities along the route; I said they should give them level six down."

Speaking further, Amaechi said, “Their job is to march on that railway from the beginning to the end to see there was no security breach. The rest of the applicants will go online to apply for the jobs. They said if we publish it, people will die the way it happened during immigration recruitment exercise and they will say Amaechi should resign. This year, we will start the Lagos-Ibadan, railway project. You know the difference between us and the rest, we will not say ‘go and start’, we will look for counterpart funding.” On how the project will be funded, he said, “We will bring our counterpart fund as poor as the country is now and give to the Chinese because their money is already in their bank account. It is for us to bring our own. If we bring our own, they bring their own to make sure there is no delay, we will bring all our own to give them and say ‘go and start work. If that happened in two years, the Lagos-Ibadan will be ready. Tomorrow, I will sign the contracts for Calabar-Port Harcourt railway project. Before the week runs out, I will sign Kano-Kaduna. That is what we are doing. This is to show you that we are moving away from the corruption economy to production economy.”

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Nigerian Economy Slips Into Recession - BBC

The country has now seen two consecutive quarters of declining growth, the usual definition of recession.
Its vital oil industry has been hit by weaker global prices, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Crude oil sales account for 70% of government income.
The price of oil has fallen from highs of about $112 a barrel in 2014 to below $50 at the moment.

Outside the oil industry, the figures show the fall in the Nigerian currency, the naira, has hurt the economy. It was allowed to float freely in June to help kick-start the economy, but critics argued it should have been done earlier.

Nigeria, which vies with South Africa for the mantle of Africa's biggest economy, is also battling an inflation rate at an 11-year high of 17.1% in July.
"A lot of Nigeria's current predicament could have been avoided," said Kevin Daly from Aberdeen Asset Management.

"The country is so reliant on oil precisely because its leaders haven't diversified the economy.
"More recently, they have tried, and failed, to prop up the naira, which has had a ruinous effect on the country's foreign exchange reserves and any reputation it might have had of being fiscally responsible."

Analysis: Martin Patience, BBC Nigeria correspondent
This economic recession comes as no surprise to millions of Nigerians. Many say they've never known it so tough.
The slump in global oil prices has hit Nigeria hard. The government depends on oil sales for about 70% of its revenues.

But critics say government policies made a bad situation even worse. The decision to delay devaluing Nigeria's currency meant many businesses struggled to get foreign currency to pay for imports, which had a cooling effect on the entire economy.

Following enormous pressure, the government changed tack this summer, allowing the naira to float.
That's led to a spike in inflation, but the hope is that it will attract foreign investors. The government also says the country needs to import less: it wants to see more products made in Nigeria.

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"Don’t Bomb Niger Delta" - Ex Kaduna Military Governor, Umar Warns Buhari

Former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar(retd), on Tuesday warned President Muhammadu Buhari against deploying troops and military hardware in the Niger Delta to halt the activities of militants in the region.

Umar said the Federal Government’s planned use of force to rout out militants, especially the Niger Delta Avengers in the Niger Delta, was not the best option; adding that the militants were still amenable to dialogue.

President Muhammad Buhari was, in a statement credited to him by his Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Mr. Garba Shehu, in Nairobi, Kenya, quoted to have said that he would treat Niger Delta agitators the same way he dealt with Boko Haram if they failed to negotiate.

But the former governor in a statement entitled, ‘War in the Niger Delta: A most dangerous option,’ argued that the militants could not be treated like Boko Haram insurgents that had killed over 20,000 Nigerians in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Umar argued that the Niger Delta militants could not be said to be terrorists in the real sense of the word, warning that collateral damages to any military option in that region would be colossal.

Umar said, “I am really frightened by the sudden escalation in the Niger Delta Region from where there are some reports of skirmishes between our security forces and the Niger Delta militants. This is happening after the President was quoted as vowing to deal with the militants as he did to Boko Haram.
“All factors considered, the use of military force in an attempt to resolve the lingering crisis is not a good option and must therefore be discarded.

“As a retired general, Mr. President is well aware of the serious and daunting challenges any military will face in its operations in the most difficult and densely populated Niger Delta region.

“The creeks are so heavily polluted with oil, rendering them highly inflammable. It will take the firing of a few high explosive shells to set the whole area on fire, resulting in the inestimable collateral damage among innocent civilians.

“It is also difficult to see how an armed conflict can secure our oil and gas assets in the region. Instead, it will aid the destructive activities of the militants and lead to the total shutdown of all oil and gas operations in the area.”

The former governor added, “Besides, the Niger Delta militants cannot be said to be terrorists in the real sense of the word. I believe they are amenable to meaningful dialogue.

“I need not to remind the President that a war in the Niger Delta will be opposed by most objective Nigerians and the international community as unjust and merely aimed at the control and exploitation of the region’s oil and gas resources.

“I therefore beseech you, Mr. President, in the name of all that is good, to continue to explore peaceful means of resolving the Niger Delta crisis as painful as you may find this. May God direct and guide you on the path of justice.”

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5 Lessons Every Nigerian Should Learn From #savemayowa

Sad. We could not save Mayowa Ahmed. A beautiful young lady with a budding career in catering and management, but lost the battle to ovarian cancer. Her story and so many circumstances that led to her death will for a while linger in the hearts of Nigerians who within 3 days after taking up the campaign raised about eighty million naira in her local account, and USD100, 000 in her Go-fund me account. Here are 5 lessons we should all learn from the whole issue.

Educate Ourselves:

Even though we face the toughest of times, there is this thing that will always bind us together – Humanity. Compassion. We are all such a generous soul easily moved by pathetic situations, that we didn't even care to look up on the the stage the ovarian cancer was, and its survival rates. Not many of asked for the papers before we poured in our savings. Such a beautiful moment to be a Nigerian, it reminds us that humanity holds a special place in our hearts. And it's commendable. But when issues like this arise, we should take time to educate ourselves very well, pass the knowledge on to people – so that we won't be burnt in the fire of its grave consequences.

Celebs Should Stop Crying Wolf:

Celebrities are adorable. Especially those ones that have taken up one humanitarian cause or the other. Their fame has been useful in charting new cause and giving hope to the less privileged. For a a Drama Queen like Toyin Aimhaku – whose talent cannot be underrated in the movie industry, and who perhaps wanted to take the glory of #SaveMayowa for herself, should always think before they act. Her efforts is laudable – putting her name and her acting career on the line to save a terminally ill patient. She was lashed at for being so hasty and rushing to judgement and denouncing the young woman's family, and joining the band wagon to tag it a scam. The criticism is: Why be part of it since you knew it was a scam? She didn't do her research before crying wolf? Perhaps she wanted to take the glory of Mayowa's survival? So many yabs thrown at her character and temperament. It would have been sensible if she was sure of the whole issue before tagging it a scam.

Professional Reportage:

Hasty Reportage Kills. We live in a modern age. Social media platforms and other technology channeles have been responsible for helping people and uplifted tens and thousands of people from misery. Need to say that excellent reportage makes a difference in the lives of people everywhere. Especially with online media platforms and the so-called gist bloggers, we are so quick to break news – we want to be first to inform the public. But this rush should not rub off the place of professionalism and getting to know the truth behind the whole issue. The fact that some online platforms rushed to tag it a scam changed the perception of Nigerians that donated generously to the cause and started having second thought towards their kind gesture. The ability to inquire of both sides of the story, and present it as it is is what Professionalism is important. Our audience should be informed, and our contents should not be divisive, and capable of spreading hate.

Our Health System:

Nigeria health care system is in shambles. From ill-diagnosis to the delay at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to Reddington – swinging a terminally ill patient up and down is a cause of concern and worry how porous how healthcare system is. The hospital was also so quick to cleanse off its hands from the issue, with claims that they already informed the family she won't survive it.

Family Members Should Communicate the Truth: 

One thing stands out in #SaveMayowa Case; the family members did not communicate the truth of the matter. This was responsible for why the story was blown beyond proportion.

According to Aramide Kasumu, founder of Lifestake Foundation and one of those who worked to raise funds for #SaveMayowa, she said: “It started from her ovaries and moved to her liver, which gave her liver metastasis. Basically, it is not curable, and if it is curable, it is the just Grace of God. When I got the story, I took it up, and I called the CMD to get her to LUTH. Before she got to LUTH, they were already waiting for her. When I brought her to LUTH, the first thing the doctor said to me is that no airline will carry her, because she is too frail to travel. Before I brought her to LUTH, she was at home. It was almost as if they (the family) already knew what the case was. You know how the doctors will tell you that the cancer is already in the last stage, let her stay home”.

“They said they had already called the hospital in America, they needed $100,000. They mailed it to me, I looked at it. It now dawned on me that the hospital in America said treatment is going to cost $3,000 – $30,000 per treatment, and she needed 10-50 treatments. Technically, what she needed was N150 million, but that wasn’t what they raised. All they just picked was the $100,000.

“The hospital also said to them that she needs $1,780 for an invitation. There was no invitation, no visa, nothing! So they already knew what they were doing from the onset.”

And also, there were conflicting travel arrangements. First, we learnt that she would be flown to the United States – and that was what the donations were premised on; later Dubai, and then South Africa, where she later gave up the ghost. It was after the whole issue was 'out-of-hand', that was when the family members had to come out with a statement. That was pretty too late.

–

Hearts out to Mayowa Ahmed's family. And we also wish Mayowa an eternal rest. #SaveMayowa's case should serve as a lesson for every girl, young lady to do PAP Smear at least every 3 years. There are certain cancers that young girls are checked for at least once every three years.

Pap smear (also called a Pap test) is a screening procedure for cervical cancer. It tests for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix, the opening of the uterus. 

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