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Showing posts from June, 2018

World Bank Grants Nigeria $2.1bn Loan

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The World Bank has reportedly granted Nigeria a $2.1billion loan to be used exclusively for seven projects. The development bank in a statement Thursday said the projects cut across supporting Nigeria’s investment in nutrition, access to electricity, states’ fiscal transparency, polio eradication, women’s economic empowerment, public finance and national statistics and reducing vulnerability to soil erosion. It was reported that Nigeria which just recovered from a short but painful recession, is determined to diversify its economy from sole reliance on crude oil by encouraging investments in agriculture and other areas. Nigeria’s foreign reserves has since recovered from around $28billion and now stands at $47 billion mainly assisted by the return of FDI and the recovery in the price of crude and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele’s ingenious strategies that has stabilized the naira.

Plateau Killings: APC Youths Accuse Elders of Conspiracy of Silence

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Plateau State APC Youths Online Forum on Thursday expressed shock that since the recent killings of over 200 persons which threw the state into utter confusion, elders in the state have remained silent, describing the development as sickening. Members of the forum expressed surprise that the elders have remained silence leaving the security business to the state Governor, Simon Lalong, alone. They said: “It is bad that all the elders in the state are divided and scattered along political lines.” They also described the call for Lalong to resign his position as governor of the state as untimely, as the crisis didn’t start with his administration, and considering the laudable efforts he has made to maintain peace in the state. Rather, the youths called for the immediate arrest and questioning of the North Central Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma, “who has given a lead about the perpetrators of the a

Appeal Court Launches Mediation Centre to Enhance Justice Delivery

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, on Thursday inaugurated the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre, as part of efforts to enhance justice delivery in the country. Onnoghen, at the inauguration ceremony at the headquarters of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, expressed confidence that the innovation would reduce the workload of judges and improve the efficiency in the country's court system. The CJN, who was represented by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola enjoined judges to encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in cases that are less contentious in order to decongest the jurisprudence. "A mediation centre, such as the one I will be inaugurating today (yesterday), heralds a new era for court connected Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR in Nigeria. It is noteworthy that this centre is proof that the Nigerian judiciary is fast becoming a legal system able to deploy multi-model justice delivery, thereby ensuring

Presidency Dismisses PDP's Declaration of National Mourning as Shedding Crocodile Tears

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The presidency on Thursday in Abuja accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of shedding crocodile tears over last weekend killing of over 100 persons in Plateau State. The president's spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, criticised the party's decision to declare seven days of national mourning and fly its flag in all its secretariats across the country at half mast, saying PDP's reaction to the massacre amounted to dancing on the graves of the dead. Adesina, who went down memory lane to exhume various violent incidents across the country during the administrations of PDP from 1999 to 2007, said it was nauseating that the party which never declared any national mourning during any of those incidents is now lowering its flag after the Plateau killings, which he described as sad and unfortunate. The president's mouth-piece, who said the PDP flag is not just lowered but had rather been lowered since 2015 when it was kicked out of power, added that Niger

IPOB Members Bombed Ohanaeze Leader's House, Police Allege

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Two months after the country home of the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was bombed, the police in Enugu State on Thursday paraded two persons suspected to have taken part in the attack.  The police also paraded nine other person's for alleged involvement in other criminal activities. Parading the suspects at the state police headquarters on Thursday, the state Police Commissioner, Danmallam Mohammed, disclosed that the bomb attack on Nwodo's house on  April 29, 2018, were carried out by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He said that the two suspects one Ekene Okechukwu who hails from Ubahu Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State and Alagba Gabriel from Mgbo in Ohaukwu Council Area of Ebonyi Sate were arrested through intelligence information in connection with the bomb attack. They were said to have after the bomb attack send threat messages to the Nwodo's m

Petrol Tanker Explosion in Lagos as Nine Die, 54 Vehicles Burnt on Otedola Bridge

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Eight years after a massive tanker explosion at Otedola Bridge area of Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State, which claimed 15 lives, a similar explosion at the same area on Thursday killed no fewer than nine persons and burnt 54 vehicles, including a tricycle. The August 2010 tanker explosion that claimed 15 persons, including an infant, had also inflicted 18 others with varying degree of injuries and 20 cars burnt beyond repairs. At the scene of on Thursday explosion, pandemonium was the order of the day after the tanker, which was fully laden with petrol, exploded and engulfed virtually all the vehicles around it as well as some of their occupants. While nine bodies were recovered as at press time, several others with various degrees of injury were also rescued and taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment. Some of the injured persons, who experienced third degree burns, were given first aid treatment before they were rushed to the accident centre i

Kano Govt Signs Friendship Pact with Hunan Province of China

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Kano State Government and Hunan Province of China have signed a ‘Friendship Agreement’ that will cover several areas of bilateral cooperation. The Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Office of Hunan Provincial Government, Mr. Xu Zhengxian, and the Kano State Attorney General, Ibrahim Mukhtar, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. During the ceremony Thursday, the state acting Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, said Kano has carved a niche for itself “as a famous commercial centre, with easy access to multiple markets and millions of people not only in Northern Nigeria but also in Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Sudan in the state.” He described Kano as an ideal investment destination because it serves as one of West Africa’s largest markets. The acting governor stated that the entrepreneurial skills in Kano and warm hospitality of its people coupled with vast natural resources is also an added advantage that

Ebonyi Assembly Gives Anambra Govt Seven Day Ultimatum to Restore Abakaliki Street

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Ebonyi State House of Assembly has given the Anambra State Government seven-day ultimatum to restore the renamed Abakaliki street, failure of which the assembly will mandate the government of Ebonyi State to rename all structures named after Anambra people and towns with immediate effect. Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abakaliki over the resolution of the state assembly, the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Information and Member representing Ikwo South state constituency, Hon. Chike Ogiji, said the decision became important because the action was not only embarrassing but a threat to the unity of Igbo nation. This was the resolution of the assembly after its last Wednesday plenary, where they also resolved that Anambra State Government must also apologise to the people of Ebonyi State. A street hitherto known as 'Abakaliki street' in Awka, was recently renamed 'Club street' by Anambra State Government, but the people of Ebonyi State

Soyinka To Buhari: Nigeria Is Dying, Take Immediate Action Against Murderous Herdsmen

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Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse a situation where one human being is killed for every missing, stolen, or maimed cattle. In a statement on Wednesday, Professor Soyinka said it is not enough for the President to distance himself from killer herdsmen as what is required is for the country’s leader to make the killer herdsmen pay for their crimes, match words with action and stop the killing spree by “murderous herdsmen”. The Nobel Laureate’s statement comes a day after President Buhari paid a condolence visit to Plateau State where suspected herdsmen attacked several villages over the weekend killing at least 100 people. While commiserating with the people of Plateau, the President told them that “there is some injustice” in the criticism he has received concerning his reaction to the killings across the country. “The Farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick,

Michael Jackson Father, Joe Dies of Pancreatic Cancer at 89 as Family Pays Tribute

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Michael  Jackson  father, Joe, the music manager and father of 11, died early Wednesday morning,  TMZ reports . He was 89. The Jackson family patriarch had been battling terminal pancreatic cancer and was “not doing well” as of late, a source previously told PEOPLE. Grandsons Randy Jackson Jr. and Taj Jackson confirmed the news in tweets Wednesday afternoon, writing, “RIP to the king that made everything possible! I love you grandpa” and “Joe was loved by the entire family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve.” Prince Michael Jackson , grandson of Joe and son of Michael, captioned a photo on Instagram. “This man is and always will be an example or sheer willpower and dedication. He didn’t choose the path that was the easiest but he choose the path that was best for his family,” he wrote. “You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness.

11 Plc (Mobil Oil Nig) Rewards Loyal Customers, Promises to Expand Scheme

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  Sunday Okobi Customers of 11 PLC, formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria PLC, from the Southwest region who participated in the ongoing ‘Mobil Peel and Win promo and raffle draws for Mobil Super 1000 4 litre range of lubricants’, had a field day on Tuesday as they carted away various gift items in the first draw held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The raffle draw witnessed by senior officials of the company and the Ibadan Zone of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), saw over 50 customers going home with gift items ranging from engineering tools, gas cookers, generating sets, motorcycle, Tricycle, popular called Keke NAPEP, as well as cash prices. The event which is the first series of Mobil Peel and Win promo and raffle draw is designed to reward lubricants consumers who are loyal to the Mobil brand of lubricant. In his welcome address, Manager, Lubricant Sales and Marketing of 11 Plc, Steve Ezendiokwere, said the promo is part of the company's efforts to

Obasanjo Visits Plateau, Tasks FG on Killings …Youth CAN, plateau youths, women protest killings …Military parades suspects

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  Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday separately visited Jos, the Plateau State capital, to commiserate with the governor and people over the recent killings. In Jos, Obasanjo urged the federal and state governments to identity the root cause(s) of insecurity and deal with them so that people would get reprieve from the incessant violence plaguing the land. He admitted that there were problems during his time in government but “not in this magnitude” and believed solutions can be found to address the challenges. According to him, “I'm here to express my condolences. What happened is very sad that in this day and age, this type of barbaric act is taking place in our country. I have suggested and I will say it again that we should find out the root cause of this problem and deal with it. “There must be remote and immediate cause, and if we deal with it, we are not going to be multipl

Obasanjo Canvasses for Robust Africa, China Bond to Curb Poverty

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said a robust bond between Africa and China would limit the plague of poverty in Africa. He stated this at a forum organised by the Embassy of China titled: ‘A new era for China-Africa Cooperation, Partnership for Peace, Security and Development’ in Abuja on Wednesday. Obasanjo added that a new era of such stronger tie would be advantageous to Africa and the world at large, saying Africa had a lot to gain from China, urging Africa and China to enter a strategic partnership in the areas of grants, long and short term loan such that it would help in providing skills acquisition, trade and infrastructure. The former president said if Africa is ready to move with China, Africa must be ready to get on   regular and periodic reform. He added that poverty alleviation in Nigeria with active collaboration with China was also imperative, and that the effect of poverty was telling on Africa, therefore, it must seek a lasting solu

Lagos Police Rescue Kidnapped Toddler in Ogun, Arrest Suspect

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  ...I took her because my child got missing at Redeemed Camp, says suspect Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday arrested Jumoke Adesida, 35, for allegedly kidnapping two years old Rokibat Raji in Jerry Farm area of Ikorodu, Lagos and took her to Ogun State. Police report revealed that on June 22, 2018, Adesida allegedly kidnapped the toddler after the mother, Mrs. Aminat Abidoye, left her in the care of her neighbours in her shop located at 12 Kazeem Adeboye street, Odogunyan at Ikorodu to buy some eggs. But upon her return, she realised that her daughter had disappeared. Abidoye narrated that: “I rushed to buy some eggs from the market to sell. So I left my daughter in the shop with my neighbours. When I returned, I noticed she was not around. My neighbours and I searched everywhere but all our efforts were futile. So, I reported to the police station at Shagamu road, Ikorodu.” Parading the suspect at the state Police Command