OAU students deny stoning Jonathan

The President, Students Union Government of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Mr. Isaac Ibikunle, has described as falsehood the report in some quarters that students of the university hurled stones and other missiles at President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the campus on Friday.


The SUG president spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Saturday.
He said that students of the university insisted on discussing with Jonathan on the increment of the fees charged by the school and the President obliged.


He said, “We read some reports that the President was stoned, booed and harassed when he came to our campus. This is not correct.


“Security personnel initially prevented us from seeing the president but we insisted that we wanted to discuss with him and we were allowed to see him.


“We told him that the increment was too high, and gave him a petition concerning the exorbitant fees and he assured us that he would act on it fast.


“I asked Mr. President to come down from the car and address us and he came down. He is our president, we did not harass him.”
Ibikunle added that the President was even hailed by the students and those present when his helicopter was taking off at the university’s sports centre.
He also said that no traditional ruler was embarrassed contrary to the reports in some online media.


Some Yoruba leaders held a summit at the Oduduwa Hall of the OAU and Jonathan was invited as a special guest of honour at the event which had the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and other prominent obas and Yourua leaders in attendance.

19-year-old emerges WASSCE best pupil

Ogunfolaji, Anyanwu and Fasola

Ogun State-born Oloruntoba Ogunfolaji leads the pack in this year’s West African Examinations Council Academic Excellence Awards, CHARLES ABAH writes

Nineteen-year-old Oloruntoba Ogunfolaji has emerged the best scholar in the 2013 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The leadership of the West African Examinations Council honoured the lad alongside two females on Thursday in Minna, Niger State. The females are Ifeoluwapo Fasola and Maureen Anyanwu, both of who are natives of Oyo and Imo states, respectively.

For posting outstanding results, the trio received the WAEC’s prestigious National Distinction and Merit Awards. They scored A1 in all their subjects.
However, Ogunfolaji is considered the overall best candidate having scored a total grade of 666.6525 in eight subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

By the feat, the lad becomes the current holder of the esteemed award instituted by the council in 1984 to encourage academic excellence.

Ogunfolaji, who attended the Sacred Heart Catholic College, Abeokuta, Ogun State between 2007 and 2013, with examination number 4280232/098, also obtained A1 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science, Geography and Yoruba Language.

Born on October 26, 1995 to Mr./Mrs. SP Ogunfolaji, the award winner attended St. Bernadette Nursery and Primary, Onikolobo, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ogun State between 1998 and 2006.

The lad, whose feat has placed the Sacred Heart Catholic College on the WAEC Excellence honours’ list, was the best pupil in his fifth and sixth grade in the school.

Following his success also, the college becomes the winner of the Omo N’oba Erediauwa Coronation Trophy for producing the best male candidate in the May/June 2013 WASSCE.

Other laurels, awards and prizes in his kitty include the 2010 overall best in Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination (obtaining nine As and four Cs), best in JSSCE (NECO) in 2010 (10As and 2Cs), and the 2011 champion in African Gifted Foundation Award in Mathematics.

Ogunfolaji, who represented the South West Zone in Uganda for the outstanding achievement in African Gifted Foundation Mathematics contest in 2012, also participated in the 2013 Robotics Academy competition.

He also clinched the third best position in the Shell Science Award in 2013 as well as the best Yoruba Student Award in WASSCE. The Yoruba Education Resource Centre, Lagos, organised the award.

The youngster is at present studying Medicine and Surgery at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

On the second position in the award is 17-year-old Ibadan, Oyo State-born Fasola. The lass, who had her secondary education at the International School, University of Ibadan, between 2007 and 2013, had a total score of 664.0075. Her WASSCE registration number was 4310824/089.

She obtained A1 in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science, French and the Yoruba Language.

Her success enabled her school to become the holder of the Omo N’oba Erediauwa Coronation Trophy for producing the best female candidate in the May/June 2013 WASSCE.

Born on July 8, 1997, Fasola, who attended the Junior International School, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan between 1998 and 2007, won many awards, including the Prof. Olufemi Bamiro and Prof. Ayodele Falase Awards, which earned her scholarship throughout her senior secondary school education.

Fasola, who represented the International School at various competitions, was its second best graduating pupil in the 2006/2007 academic session.

Like Ogunfolaji, Fasola is currently studying Medicine and Surgery at UI.

On the WAEC’s National Distinction and Merit Awards third position is Miss Anyanwu, who attended the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja.

The Mbaise, Imo State-born lass with a cumulative score of 656.5480 also posted an excellent result in all her eight subjects.

Anyanwu, who sat for the examination with registration number 4020617/017, obtained A1 in English Language, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science and Geography.

Born on April 23, 1996 to Dr/Mrs. Emmanuel Anyanwu, the youngster who attended the Montessori International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between 1998 and 2006 is also no stranger to academic success.

The 18-year-old not only emerged the overall best in her primary school, she also secured admission on merit to the LJC in 2007.

Anyanwu, who throughout her stay at LJC was on the honours and merit rolls for academic accomplishments, scored 12 distinctions and one credit in the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination in 2010.

In her set at LJC, she also won the best graduating pupil award in Agricultural Science and Chemistry.

Due to her academic feat, she was appointed the Academy Probation Prefect, a position that empowered her to assist and tutor other pupils on academic probation at the LJC.

Anyanwu, currently studying Chemical Engineering with focus on Clinical Research at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Arts, New York, United States, is on full scholarship valued at $160, 000. She passed Scholastic Aptitude Test with a score of 2380 out of 2400 in both Mathematics levels I and II.

Besides, the lad is good in sports, winning gold, silver and bronze in tracks and field events.

To be considered for the 30-year-old distinction award, a candidate must obtain Grade 1 in at least seven subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, one of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and one subject from any of the three sub-categories of core subjects.

In addition, the candidate must obtain a minimum of Grade 6 in at least one subject from each of the core subject sub-categories.

Candidates are considered under the merit awards only if enough participants do not qualify for the distinction awards. The eligibility criteria for the merit awards are the same as those of distinction awards, except that a candidate must obtain a grade not lower than 2 in English Language.

The results of candidates eligible for an award should have been obtained at the first attempt and at the same sitting. The grades would also have been obtained without any hint of impropriety.

The first National Distinction/Merit awards were presented in Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1985 to the winners in the Nov/Dec. 1984 SC/GCE, with Abdulkadir Sarki-Abba, a pupil of Government Science School, Dawakin-Tofa, Kano State receiving the excellence award.

Since the first presentation, findings by our correspondent showed that pupils from Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, have won the prestigious award 10 times. By this accomplishment, the school has become the highest-winning institution as well as the highest recipient of the Oba Erediauwa trophy for presenting the best female candidates.

Suleja Academy, Suleja is the second highest-winning institution, picking the prize four times in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2009, while the International School, Ibadan, Oyo State has won it three times in 1987, 2000 and 2004.

Meanwhile, Queen’s College, Yaba has also won the Council’s Augustus Oyediran prize six times, while Loyola Jesuit College, Wuse, Abuja has won it five times in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008.

Suleja Academy, Niger State has won it four times in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997.

The Oyediran trophy is given to the school that has the best aggregate determined on the results of its best 50 candidates in English Language, Mathematics and one science subject.

In a related development, Nigerian Turkish International College, Kaduna took home the Oyediran trophy for producing the best overall results in the May/ June 2013 WASSCE.

The Council on Thursday also honoured the New Era College, Mokwa, Niger State as the winner of the WAEC Endowment Fund Prize Book for producing the best aggregate results in the May/June 2013 WASSCE in the state.

While the PHCN Staff Secondary School, Jebba, Niger State won the second position, El-Amin International School, Minna took the third position.

Nigeria remain 42nd on FIFA ranking

Super Eagles players

Despite the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria remained on the 42nd spot in FIFA world ranking released on Thursday.

The national team also retained the ninth position among African teams.

The Eagles had dropped five places to 42nd on the previous FIFA ranking for the month which was released on October 23. But the country will slip further if they stay idle without quality international matches from now and through the 2015 Nations Cup.

Though they lost three spots to 18th globally, Algeria remain number one in Africa. They are followed by Tunisia, which went nine places up to 22nd in the world; and Cote d’Ivoire, which gained one spot up to 24th.
Senegal went up six places to become 35th in world and fourth in Africa; Ghana are fifth in Africa, even though they fell two positions to 37th; Guinea moved 17 places to claim the 38th position in the world and sixth in Africa.

The seventh and eighth positions in Africa are filled by Cape Verde, which went six places down to 39th, and Cameroon, which went down one place down to 41st position, respectively. Both South Africa and Congo, who qualified from Nigeria’s Group A in the qualifiers for AFCON billed for Equatorial Guinea in January, went up the FIFA ranking.

South Africa shot six places up to the 51st position; while Congo went three spots up to the 59th position.

There were no changes in the first six spots on the FIFA ranking.

World champions, Germany retained the number one position, followed by Argentina in the second position, and Colombia in the third.

Belgium remained fourth; Netherlands fifth; and Brazil sixth. Portugal went two places up to share the seventh position with France, while Spain went one spot up to the ninth position, while Uruguay took the 10th position, having dropped two places.

On the women’s ranking, USA maintained the number one spot, while Germany remained second, and Japan third.

Nigeria’s Falcons fell one place to 35th position in the world, even though they remained number one in Africa.

All the African women football teams lost places on the latest ranking, with Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa, taking the second, third, fourth and fifth positions in Africa, respectively.

2Face, Oritsefemi, Niyola, others thrill fans at NMVA

This year’s edition of the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) held on Wednesday night with titillating performances by 2Face, Oritsefemi, Mr Songs, Joe-el, Skales, Niyola and Mc Galaxy.Joe-el, MC Galaxy received their first awards for the Best Video by a New Act and Best Use of Dance in a Music Video respectively. Gbade Adetisola also received the award for the Best Use Of Visual Effects. Kemi Adetiba won the award for the Best Director, Niyola couldn’t help but cry when her name was called as the winner of the Best R&B Video. Sammy Okposo went home with the Best Gospel Video Award.

Kid Singer, Mya K was so excited to win the Best video by Minor as she showered thanks on her fans, parents and organisers of the show for the award, which happens to be the first for the 13-year old.

Oritsefemi dished out Double Wahala as soon as he was announced the Best Afro Beat video winner. Mc Galaxy got every attendee to their feet doing the “Sekem dance’ immediately he received the award for the Best use of Dance in a Music Video,

5Star Records bagged four awards for Best Contemporary Afro Video by Mr Songz (Kolombo), Best High-Life Video by Kcee (Ogadinma), Best Pop Extra Video by Mr Songs (My Story), Best Producer (5 Star), this got Mr Songz dancing ‘Kolombo’ right from his seat to the stage to receive the awards.

The event also enjoyed scintillating performances from Zaina, Niyola and Skales.

The tempo of the performance was increased when Okey Bakassi came in with Osita Iheme to present the award for the Best High Live Video as he thrilled the crowd with rib-cracking jokes. The night came to a climax when 2Face mounted the stage and wowed the crowd with some of his hit songs; ‘No be Small thing o’ ‘One Love’, ‘African Queen’, ‘Implication’ and ‘Ife heme’. It was a mind blowing performance which got everyone present on their feet.

Youths kill 30 in failed Borno terrorists attack

Civilian JTF

No fewer than 30 suspected members of Boko Haram were killed Thursday by vigilante youth, popularly called Civilian JTF, when the sect members, armed with sophisticated weapons, attempted to lay siege to Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

Unconfirmed report also revealed that about five of the Civilian JTF members sustained minor injuries with no reported death during the encounter, which lasted about three hours.

Kareto, a community in Mobbar Local Government Area and home town of former governor, Mohammed Goni, was also attacked.

Gubio is 87 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, while Mobbar, which borders Niger Republic, is 187 kilometres away.

Mobbar, according to sources, was under the control of Boko Haram after they invaded the area last Monday, leaving several people dead, with thousands of residents displaced.

Sources said the gunmen, using Hilux vehicles and motorcycles and armed with AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices, IEDs, and petrol bombs (Molotov Cocktail), were sighted at Kareto by some good Samaritans.

The youths from Gubio and Kateto were alerted. They mobilized and confronted the sect, killing 30 of them, while several others escaped into the bush with severe injuries.

Confirming the killing of the sect members by youth vigilante group, spokesman of Borno Elders Forum, Engineer Bulama Gubio, said: “There was huge success as 30 members of Boko Haram, who attempted to overrun Kareto, Gubio and other surrounding communities were killed by our youths.

“The areas are now calm as normal activities have since returned.

Your tenure end in 2015, APC leaders tell Jonathan

Former Head of State, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari

LEADERS of the opposition All Progressives Congress on Thursday told President Goodluck Jonathan that he would leave the Presidency in 2015.

The APC leaders, including a former head of state, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); ex-Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; a former Interim Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande; and governors of the states where the party is in power, said most Nigerians were tired of the President and would rather replace him with an APC president in 2015.
The opposition leaders spoke in Osogbo, Osun State, during the second-term inauguration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, performed the swearing-in for Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori. Ojo also administered the oath of office on the two.

Aregbesola got his second term when he was declared winner of the August 9 governorship poll in the state.

They APC governors who spoke at the ceremony are, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Abdufatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Babatunde Fashola ( SAN) of Lagos State and Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Moses Adeyemo.

Tinubu, who spoke mostly in Yoruba language, said the Osun electorate resisted those he referred to as “forces of repression” during the August 9 election by choosing APC, adding that the party’s new philosophy was “commonsense revolution”.

He urged every Nigerian to vote out Jonathan next year.

He said, “The revolution we are talking about is the ability to use our voter card to send those people away because they have failed woefully.

“This revolution will take care of the elderly ones, create employment and to generate enough electricity and not to lie like they are telling lies from Abuja.

“The coming election in February, anybody who has charms must prepare very well. If you can use rings fortified with charms, do it; prepare waistbands and the likes. It is not going to be easy to defeat them.

“I am grateful to my mother who is in heaven. I was not trained to be a coward. We are ready for them.”

He berated the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government for attempting to rig the Osun State governorship poll, saying deployment of 30,000 armed policemen in the state for the poll was a shameless act.

Tinubu boasted that the APC would reclaim the mandate allegedly stolen by the PDP in Ekiti State.

Buhari, who is also a presidential aspirant of the APC, said that after the loss of the party in the Ekiti State governorship poll of June 21 and the removal of Governor Murtala Nyako in Adamawa State, the people of Osun State had raised the morale of the supporters of the party by re-electing Aregbesola.

Wife of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Mrs. Titi Abubakar, who represented her husband, congratulated Aregbesola and solicited the support of Nigerians for the APC in 2015.

Aregbesola said the APC stood for progress and development while the PDP was a symbol of insecurity, poverty and retrogression.

He said, “Our party, the APC promises prosperity, national unity and integration, security of lives and property, job and wealth creation, rule of law and constitutionalism and deepening of democracy.

“All these have been showcased in all the states where our party holds sway in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti (until recently), Edo, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Borno and Yobe.

“This is what we stand for and this is why a greater number of Nigerians continue to accept us and identify with us. Our present travails therefore are temporary.

“The PDP on the other hand stands for poverty, misery and insecurity. They are prepared to sacrifice the entire country as long as their hold on power is intact. Come February next year, Nigerians are going to say enough is enough. We are going to beat them because they are beatable. The God that helped us to beat them in Osun will also beat them for us in the national election. Do not be afraid, do not despair. Victory is at hand.”

Kidnappers pose as Aliko Dangote on Facebook, kidnap beauty queen

 
The Lagos state Police command has rescued one Miss Sa’adat Bibire, who is the current Miss Nigeria International 2014 & daughter of an aide to Kwara state Governor, from her abductors.
The beauty queen was abducted two weeks ago by a gang of kidnappers who lured her into visiting Warri, Delta state from Lagos by impersonating Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote on the social media platform facebook.
Pardaing the suspects before journalists on Wednesday, the Lagos state police commissioner, said “the gang is made up of students of the Delta state Polytechnic Ozoro…they opened a Facebook account disguising as Aliko Dangote and contacted Sa'adat. 

They invited her to Warri with the promise to make her Dangote brand ambassador. On getting to Warri, Sa'adat was kidnapped and taken to a place on the outskirts of Ozoro town in Isoko Local Government Area in Delta state. The kidnappers then contacted her family and asked for N20m ransom, which was supposed to be paid into a Malaysian account. We began a manhunt for them after they contacted the girl’s family but only one of them was arrested while the others are currently on the run.”

In his statement to the police, one of her abductors, 23 year old Patrick Ifada said he was lured into the kidnap gang because of the money offered
"I accepted to join the gang because of the money involved. We opened a fake Facebook account pretending to be Alhaji Aliko Dangote and we convinced her to come over to Delta State to meet the businessman. At first, our ransom was N20 million.
When they were not forthcoming with the money, we brought it down to N15 million and then N10 million. I was the one staying with the victim in our hideout. We were using the quarters of one of our members, Destiny. We are five in number and I was promised a huge sum. Other gang members are Destiny, Marcus Omajuwa, Ugada and Chuka.
We are all students of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, ND 1. I was studying Computer Science. She was in our hideout for about two weeks. We asked the Special Adviser to pay the ransom into a Malaysian account that one Fred helped us to set up. None of us raped her. Destiny told us we were only going to make money from her family, and not to assault her"

FG to buy N9.2bn cooking stoves for Rural women

Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the purchase of N9.2bn worth of cooking stoves and ‘wonder bags’ for rural women under the National Clean Cooking Scheme.

Wonder bag is a non-electric slow cooker invented by Sarah Collins, a South African eco-entrepreneur, who came up with the idea of surrounding the pan with cushions six years ago during a power cut in her country.

The council also awarded a contract of N60.9bn to an indigenous firm, KaKatar CE Limited, for the provision of engineering infrastructure for Kyami District, Zone C, in Abuja.
The Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, and his counterparts in the environment ministry and the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Lawrecia Mallam and Bala Muhammed respectively, briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC, which was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Muhammed said the N9.2bn, inclusive of Value Added Tax, was approved for the procurement of 750,000 units of clean cooking stoves and 18,000 wonder bags.

He said the stoves were expected to be delivered by Messrs Integra Renewable Energy Services Limited within a period of 12 weeks.

Muhammed noted that the stoves, to be assembled locally, would provide jobs for Nigerians, among other benefits.

The minister said, “The National Clean Cooking Scheme is an aggressive drive to engender clean cooking culture amongst the poor rural women, to reduce and possibly eliminate cooking with solid fossil which is detrimental to health.

“The scheme is expected to provide 20 million clean stoves over a five-year period at the rate of four million stoves per annum, which will be distributed free of charge.

“It will also reduce incessant felling of trees, which exposes the country to ecological problems.

“Furthermore, additional benefit to Nigeria in switching over to this technology by the rural households is the carbon credits arising from the registration by the UNFCCC. The country stands to gain 50 per cent subsidy of the price through the generated carbon credits.”

He added that the government would be above aboard in distributing the items to ensure that political consideration was not considered in determining the beneficiaries.

He explained further that all women groups in the country were involved in the scheme from conception to the level of awarding the contract.

He said the instrumentalities of the participating groups would be used to distribute the items.

Shedding more light on the contract, the Minister of Environment said in deciding the rural women that would benefit from the free stoves, the government would give preference to the about two million female farmers that are currently procuring fertilisers through e-wallet and another two million women already registered by a non-governmental organisation.

She described cooking with firewood as a silent killer hence the need for the government to come to the aid of the rural women.

Psquare loses dad, Lola- Omotayo pays tribute

 
Music stars Paul, Peter and Jude Okoye lost their father, Mazi Moses Okoye on Monday, two years after losing their mum.

There has been no official statement from Paul, Peter or Jude Okoye but Lola Omotayo-Okoye took to her Instagram page to share a touching tribute to her father-in law:

Our dearest “Gradpa Jos” it was just a week ago we were all hanging out with you, your grandchildren were running around you and playing with you. Cameron, Andre and Aliona all wondering why you had a cast on your leg and Cameron was playing with your crutches….Your warm smile and your energy kept us going. We were all happy that you were strong. You made us all laugh. This was the last thing we ever imaged. We are still in shock but we cannot question God as He knows best. May your gentle soul Rest in perfect peace our “grandpa Jos”. We miss you already. #RIP #Thebestfather-in-law

Robben rues Bayern loss

 

Arjen Robben admitted Bayern Munich were “brutally punished” by Sergio Aguero as Manchester City fought back to win 3-2 in their Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium,

Bayern were 2-1 in front and looking comfortable heading into the final five minutes of the match, despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men.

But Aguero pounced on two defensive errors to turn the match around; completing his hat-trick in the process and ending the German side’s 100 per cent start to the competition.
“We’ve lost possession twice and been brutally punished,” Robben said on the Bayern website. “It’s a real shame because we played so well. We deserved something.

“I want to pay the team a huge compliment and we can be proud. We never went looking for a hiding place and we were excellent in possession even though we were a man down.”

Robert Lewandowski, who scored Bayern’s second goal, added: “We’ve made two or three mistakes in the last couple of minutes and Manchester City scored twice.

“I think we played really well even though we only had 10 men for so long. We played so well until the 80th minute, but unfortunately we couldn’t keep it going right to the end.

“We weren’t as focused in the last few minutes. It’s a shame.”

Gunmen kill 7 soldiers, 43 others in Zamfara

Ammunitions used the Boko Haram insurgents

About 50 people, including seven soldiers, were reportedly killed in Zamfara State yesterday by gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers.

The attackers were also alleged to have burnt some houses and destroyed other property worth millions of naira.

According to police sources, the alleged reprisal attack, believed to be the deadliest in recent times, occurred at Lilo town in Gusau Local Government Area of the state.
 
Report learnt that the incident followed the recent killing of some rustlers by some people in the area.
Eye witnesses told Vanguard that the attackers stormed the area when everybody was going about their businesses and opened fire at anybody on sight.

“They just entered the town armed with sophisticated weapons and before we knew it, they had started shooting whoever they came across, which also led to the death of soldiers on surveillance who confronted them,” it was said.

Report reliably gathered that hundreds of the victims who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment at Mada Hospital in the state.

“We have lost so many things, especially lives,” one Sa’adu Musa, a resident of the town, who narrowly escaped death told Vanguard.

Musa, who sobbed as he spoke said: “Just few hours after I left, a phone call came to me that I should not go back to Lilo because it has been overtaken by enemies. I fainted because I knew how I left my family.”

He said the town had been deserted as those who survived the attack had since taken refuge at nearby villages, including Mada town and Kwatarkwashi for fear of further attack on them.

Musa told Vanguard that he left the town for another neighbouring village to see one of his friends when the rustlers struck.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, DSP Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the attack but explained that only eight people were killed while another eight were injured.

Abdullahi also confirmed the burning of some houses and the stealing of 92 cows by the suspects, pointing out that the command had started investigations into the matter.

“The command is still investigating this painful incident. We are yet to make any arrest but by God’s grace, we will fish the attackers out just like we did the other time,” Abdullahi said.

Suicide bombers attack Maiduguri market, kill 59

“Maiduguri is gradually being captured. Its location is almost in the middle of Borno State and only the Maiduguri-Damaturu axis of the roads leading to it can boast of relative calm.”

These were the words of Jack Vince, a Maiduguri, Borno State-based freelance journalist shortly after a male and female suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devices at the city’s market on Tuesday.

About 59 people died and 92 others injured in the attacks which occurred at 11. 23 am.

Thirty five of the corpses, according to medical sources, were deposited at the mortuary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The remaining 24 corpses were taken to the state specialist hospital in the troubled city.

A military source told our correspondent that the female bomber was the first to detonate her IED, “killing herself and some traders and their customers who were near her.”

He added, “Just as people gathered around her corpse and few other people that died in the first explosion, the male bomber detonated the explosive on him. No one can give you the exact casualty now but over 50 people were killed and many have been rushed to hospital.”

Earlier, some traders at the market had claimed that the attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers believed to be members of Boko Haram.

One of them, Abba Kolo, said he counted “more down 40 corpses.”

“As I am talking to you we are still trying to rescue the injured and evacuate the corpses of almost 60 traders and people who came to purchase things in the market.”

A youth vigilante, Hassan Ibrahim, however claimed that the female attacker kept a parcel in a shop on One-Way, a commercial area beside the popular market, which detonated as she made to walk away.

“As people were still wondering what happened and trying to rescue the injured, another bomber in the same area detonated a bomb planted on his body. This claimed so many lives.”

A trader, Ali Bukar, said, “They were two suicide bombers. The first detonated an IED, killing herself and many people. But as traders and their customers were running for their lives, the other bomber detonated his own, killing many more. I saw about 14 tricycles evacuating corpses to the hospital.”

A worker at the UMTH said “about 35 corpses and 42 injured persons were brought to our facility”.

The state’s Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary Hospital Management Board, Salisu Bura, told Governor Kashim Shettima that 24 corpses were deposited at the hospital.

He also told the governor, who visited the victims at the State Specialist Hospital, that 54 people were admitted.

“Out of this number, 14 of them who were critically injured have been referred to the UMTH for proper treatment while 20 have been discharged.”

Our correspondent however gathered that one of the injured, a 14-year-old boy, died after.

Shettima described the bombers as “wicked” and wondered why they had chosen traders and children as their targets.

Journalists were not allowed to take pictures of the site of the explosions by security agents.

A photojournalists with the Daily Trust, Tunji Omirin, who was nearly beaten up by soldiers had his camera seized.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Gideon Jubrin, did not give the number of the casualties.

“I can confirm to you that there were explosions at the Maiduguri Monday Market today(Tuesday) but I cannot give you details now as our men and the military are on ground to bring back order,’ he told journalists on the telephone.

Jubrin added, “Whatever figures you heard from the hospital source are their own figures, but as you know, we are still evacuating corpses. We have yet to count the corpses. This is a sad situation, I will update you whenever we are able to clear the scene and know the casualty figure.”

There was however high security alert in Maiduguri after the explosions.

Armed security operatives were seen screening vehicles, thereby causing traffic jam on major roads in the town.

People were also subjected to serious screening before being allowed into public premises in the troubled town.

It was however gathered that the security threat might not be unconnected with suspected infiltration of the internally displaced persons camp in the town by Boko Haram insurgents.

A member of the youth vigilante group, who spoke to our correspondent under condition of anonymity said, “It is believed that insurgents followed the IDPs into town. They ( insurgents) even slaughtered two people in one of the camps and they have been going about wreaking havoc in some parts of the state.”

FG to cut petrol subsidy by half in 2015

 

The Federal Government has said it plans to cut subsidies on petroleum products by half next year after sharp falls in global crude prices, spurred a reversal of its 2015 budget downwards.

President Goodluck Jonathan submitted the revised budget figures to lawmakers last week, proposing to spend 458.68 billion naira ($2.59 bln) on petrol subsidy in 2015, down from 971.14 billion naira presented for 2014.

It also assumed further cuts to petrol subsidies in 2016 to 408.68 billion naira and 371.18 billion naira for 2017.
The Minister of finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has proposed lowering the assumed benchmark oil price for the 2015 budget to $73 per barrel from the $78 proposed in September, after global crude prices collapsed.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters last week that declines in the price of oil, which has lost almost 30 percent since July, would impact the economy, requiring the government to cut non-essential spending and raise more revenues.

Recall that the FG tried to end subsidy in 2012 in efforts to cut government spending and encourage badly needed investment in local refining, doubling the price of a litre of petrol overnight to about 150 naira ($0.93) from about 65 naira

The budget proposals assumed an exchange rate of 162 naira to the U.S. dollar for 2015, weaker than 160 naira assumed for 2014. It expects the naira to weaken further to 163.50 in 2016, reaching 165 in 2017. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/fg-cut-petrol-subsidy-half-2015/#sthash.IAZBCt1n.dpuf

Three killed, houses burnt in Ibadan by Thugs

One of the buildings and a car burnt by thugs in Ibadan .

At least three people were killed and 10 houses destroyed by armed youths who invaded Born Photo, Isale Osi, Idi Arere and Popoyemoja in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The youth who operated freely for about two hours before policemen arrived at the scenes, also burnt or vandalised about 200 shops, several vehicles and a tricycle.
Eyewitnesses said the thugs partly burnt a petrol station at Popoyemoja junction.

Report gathered that the mayhem started at 9am at Born Photo before it spread to Isale Osi, Idi Arere and Popoyemoja.

Residents linked the violence to last Friday’s attack in which a policeman was shot dead at a rally by the All Progressives Congress.

One of them said, “Youths hired by politicians released several shots at Born Photo junction. This is a fall-out of Friday’s violence at the APC rally. This may not be over soon because there could be reprisal. Government must intervene quickly.”

Mr. Okunola Asimiyu, whose family house on SW9/263 was burnt on Sunday, wondered why his house was a target.

He said, “I am not a politician. My father built this house many decades ago. The fight in Oke-Ado three days ago may have led to today’s (Sunday) attack on our community. I have no friends among the politicians. I was in the building when the thugs set it on fire . I tried to put off the fire but when I realised that it was spreading, I had to escape.”

About five shops in the house were vandalised.

Folake Oladipo, who operated one of the shops, said she lost over N1m.

She added, “I received a call this(Sunday) morning that my shop was burning. I rushed there but I saw people with guns shooting and burning houses. They burnt my refrigerators, generators and looted everything in the shop. I am devastated.”

Also destroyed in the building was a football viewing centre. Its operator, Adepoju Owolabi, said football fans were lucky to have escaped.

At Popoyemoja junction, a BP petrol station was vandalized and partly burnt. Policemen at the scene said calamity would have happened if the fire had reached the fuel dump.

However, the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan South-West Council Area, Taoreed Adeleke, blamed the opposition for the attack.

Adeleke said, “Clearly, this is the work of the opposition. They want to scare people during elections and place the blame on the government of the day. We appeal that people should return to their homes. People are not ready to talk; they are scared of mentioning the perpetrators for fear of being attacked.

“I will also blame hoodlums or area boys that are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state for the attack. We heard that the people would come up before the election to make the state ungovernable.

“It started on Friday in Oke Ado and its spreading now. I was called early this (Sunday) morning that the problem had started again so I mobilised security men to stop them.”

However, an Accord Party chieftain, Lanre Ogundipe, said the fight was between APC members.

“APC started it among rival groups within the party on Friday. They should not point accusing fingers at any other political party,” he said.

The APC Chairman in the state, Akin Oke, in a statement after the violence, called on the police to investigate the attack thoroughly.

Like Adeleke, Oke blamed the mayhem on the opposition.

His statement read in part, “All evidences at APC disposal pointed at a high-level gang-up by some politicians currently at large to embarrass government and to destroy the three and half years of peace in the state.

“We still insist that the persons behind that violence were carrying out a high-level assignment which has to do with the 2015 elections. The violence betrays logic. Why would APC ‘thugs’, if the allegation of the opposition is to be believed, be involved in shooting the police and not their rival groups? Why did the fomenters of the violence choose the governor’s local government and the last day of his meet-the-people tour, as their target?”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Police Command, Olabisi Ilobanefor, said the police had yet to make any arrest.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, would address the media over the spate of attacks in the state on Monday (today).

Gospel Music : Ay_Swag [@ayswag1] – Jehovah Nissi [Doro Cover]

 
The sensation hip-pop, hi-life gospel singer drops the gospel cover for the year’s several award winning “Dorobucci” by Don Jazzy and the Marvins Crew to thrill again fans this season. Ay Swag (someone who admires God) intends to bring people closer to God with tunes they are familiar with and prayer danceable lyrics. He titled this dope song “Jehovah Nissi featuring the Ay Swag Praise Crew like popular Dj Baddo on the mix, Calibird (comedian), Anica, Ronnie D and Horlumaday. Ay Swag who also had several gospel covers of the popular Kcee’s Limpopo, Iyanya’s Kukere, Davido’s Skelewu and Aye amongst severals has become the toast of all in the gospel circle. Enjoy!!!!
 Download. 

Video: Oritse Femi ft. DBanj – Double Wahala Part 2

After signing a multimillion Naira management deal with AVATAR, the Musical Taliban Oritse Femi releases a brand new video ‘Double Wahala Part 2′ ft the Kokomaster Dbanj of the Lee Temple. Shot on location in Los Angele’s, California. Directed by Mr Moe Musa.

“Don’t Do Anything To Mortgage Your Conscience”-Jonathan to NYSC

 
President Goodluck Jonathan has urged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who will be used in the 2015 general elections as polling officers, to exhibit a high sense of patriotism in the discharge of the national assignment.
The President, who was speaking at a special exhibition of arts and crafts floated by Batch C of the National Youth Service Corps members posted to Plateau State in Jos on Saturday, also urged them to resist any temptation for anybody to use them to subvert the elections.

Jonathan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters, Jude Imagwe, on the occasion that was held simultaneously in all NYSC camps all over the country, said that as youths and future leaders, allowing themselves to be used to rig elections meant that they would also be mortgaging their future.
Imagwe also used the opportunity of his visit to Jos to inaugurate the youth campaign office of a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Senator Gyang Pwajok.

He said, “You know that some of you will be used as polling officers during the next election. My advice is that the future belongs to you and therefore you must avoid being used by any politician or anybody to do anything that that would subvert the system.

“You must not do anything that would mortgage your conscience. That election is an important national assignment and therefore you must approach it with all the seriousness that it requires”.

Shell ordered to pay N75m compensation to impacted communities - Bayelsa State Govt

 

Bayelsa State Government and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, have ordered Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to pay N75 million compensation to Biseni communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area impacted by the Adibawa North East 6″ Test Line oil spill.

The government and the regulatory agency threatened more severe sanction should the company fail to pay up before November 30 and also engage an independent team of experts to undertake a comprehensive technical assessment of the impacted area.

It was learnt that the government’s tough posture followed Shell’s alleged refusal to attend a meeting summoned to resolve the protracted issue of the spill.
The state government, through the Environment Commissioner, Mr. Inuiro Wills, accused Shell of impunity and refusal to attend series of meetings scheduled to resolve the contentious issues bordering on oil spillages and community protests that had shut down oil exploration activities in the area.

Wills, in a statement in Yenagoa, said the refusal by Shell’s management to send a delegation to the series of peace meetings on the oil spillage had heightened tension in the area and was capable of threatening peace and security of the area.

According to him, the state government had resolved that a thorough clean-up of the impacted area, in line with international best practices, be conducted immediately by a competent firm approved and accredited by the state government and NOSDRA.

Also resolved against Shell, was the payment of N75 million compensation to the impacted communities as earlier decided not later than November 30, 2014 and should Shell fail to meet the deadline, a comprehensive technical assessment of the impacted area would be undertaken by an independent team of experts.

“After a joint pre-assessment visit conducted on October 34, 2014, a meeting was proposed for October 30, 2014. In response to the letter, Shell requested for the rescheduling of the proposed meeting of October 30, on the ground of non-availability of key personnel required for the discussion. As a show of respect, we obliged by rescheduling the meeting to November 18, 2014, about three weeks from the earlier date.

“To our dismay, Shell was the only party that did not turn up for the meeting, with convincing reason for the failure to attend a meeting that was rescheduled at their instance. The team from NOSDRA and various communities representatives all travelled in for the meeting.

Source: Vanguard

Jonathan to Obasanjo: I’m Nigeria’s best leader.. TRUE/FALSE

President Jonathan and Obasanjo

President Goodluck Jonathan has described himself as the best leader to be produced by Nigeria.

The President said no leader since the country gained independence in 1960 had done better than himself for the country.

He, therefore, said the comment made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which the ex-President described Jonathan’s performance as below average, was untrue.
Jonathan said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in Abuja on Sunday.

Okupe’s statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to comments made by a former President of this country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, regarding the performance of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Obasanjo had at an event over the weekend declared that he rated the President Goodluck Jonathan administration ‘below average’.

“We aver that Obasanjo’s comments are untrue, misleading and clearly do not tally with the facts on the ground.

“We therefore wish to assert without equivocation that in terms of performance and achievements, no administration since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain, has done as much as that of President Jonathan.”

He said that every discerning and unbiased Nigerian would definitely attest to this “as the evidence stare all of us in the face.”

Okupe, who had also worked with the former President while in office, added that contrary to Obasanjo’s position, the Federal Government under Jonathan had performed excellently given the prevailing circumstances and resources available to it.

He said while it was true that Nigeria had been faced with incidents of insurgency and terrorism, especially in the last few years, the Jonathan administration had successfully contained the initial widespread activities of the insurgents, which he said were prevalent in 12 states of the North, including the Federal Capital Territory.

He added, “While it is true that the present activities of the terrorists in the three north-eastern states have become more deadly in mindless killings, kidnappings and supposed territorial seizures, government has made giant diplomatic strides with our neighbouring countries in order to checkmate the crisscrossing of the insurgents.

“The military and other security agents, which have engaged the insurgents since inception, have done a great job in spite of recent challenges.

“The truth of the matter which we must know and accept is that we have an internal enemy supported by internal and external resources waging a major warfare against our nation.”

Gunmen execute 28 on Kenya bus near Somalia border

Shebab Militants

Gunmen seized a bus in northeastern Kenya near the Somali border early Saturday and executed 28 non-Muslim passengers, police said, blaming the attack on Shebab Islamic extremists.

“I can confirm… that 28 innocent travellers were brutally executed by the Shebab,” said regional police chief Noah Mwavinda, referring to the Somali militant group.
He said the gunmen forced the bus to stop and drove it to the side of the road, where they proceeded to kill passengers identified as non-Muslim.
The attack came after a week that saw one person shot dead and more than 350 people arrested as Kenyan security forces carried out raids on mosques in the port city of Mombasa searching for weapons and Shebab supporters.
Kenya has suffered a series of attacks since invading Somalia in 2011 to attack the Shebab, later joining an African Union force battling the Islamists.
The Shebab carried out the September 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall, killing at least 67 people as a warning to Kenya to pull its troops out of southern Somalia.
During the Westgate attack, the gunmen weeded out non-Muslims for execution by demanding they recite the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith.

Olamide’s ‘Eleda mi’ hits one million plus views on YouTube

The smash hit single, ‘Eleda Mi’ by indigenous language rapper, Olamide has just crossed the one million view bar on Youtube.

The rapper is currently promoting his recently released fourth studio album ‘Street OT’ which is currently sitting on the number one spot on iTunes worldwide.

His video, ‘Eleda Mi’ was released in January 2014, off his third album, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth and the video was directed by Unlimited L.A. The video has amassed a total of 1,034,593 views as at the time of filing this report.

120 lawmaker sign Jonathan’s impeachment notice

 
More than 120 lawmakers have appended their signatures for the impeachment of President Goodluck,immediately House reconvenes in December.

Mohammed Zakari, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, while reacting on it said “the notice of impeachment was not on the order paper today but I’m not foreclosing that some other things took place.”

On his part, Leo Ogor, deputy House Leader who urged members to jettison such plans, argued that the notice of impeachment is inconsequential, as the President had no hand in what transpired at the National Assembly.

“The President is unaware so bringing it (impeachment) up is going to be defeated. The President has done no wrong, impeachment should not even be part of the issue,” he pleaded.

Similar agitation by aggrieved lawmakers to move for impeachment of Emeka Ihedioha, deputy Speaker during the brief closed door session, was however averted by the Speaker who called for calmness.

The lawmakers further gathered that appended their signatures are of the APC extraction

Oprah Given 12 Weeks to Live After Cancer Diagnosis

 

Daytime talk show extraordinaire Oprah was given the shock of her life when a routine check up turned into her having less than four months to live following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. “I’ve made more money than I could spend in a life time, but I’m going to enjoy seeing what kind of dent I can put in $2 billion in 3 months” Said Oprah proclaiming that she would spend half her fortune making a few lucky fans dreams come true, donating the rest and while leaving something for her dog and Steadman. Oprah seem to be in high spirits saying “why be sad when I can buy a small country, name it Oprah, and live forever”

119 million Nigerians lack toilets - UNICEF

 
The United Nations Children Fund on Wednesday raised the alarm that poor hygiene and entrenched culture of open defecation among millions around the world would continue to put children and their communities at risk.

The situation had reached a worst dimension in Nigeria where about 119 million people were not using safe toilets.

The agency’s Communications Specialist (Media and External Relations), Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, said this in a statement issued in Abuja in commemoration of this year’s World Toilet Day.
He said, “Some 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have adequate toilets and among them one billion defecate in the open. Here in Nigeria, about 119 million people are not using safe toilets while 50 million out of this number defecate in the open.

“Nigeria is among the top five countries in the world with high population practicing open defecation and the number of open defecators has been on increase since 1990. Lack of a safe, clean toilet and practice of open defecation seriously impact people’s health, well-being and dignity as well as efforts towards poverty reduction, economic and social development and the environment.”

According to UNICEF, there has been an upsurge in cholera cases in Nigeria which is primarily due to poor sanitation and hygiene practices in the country.

Quoting the recent epidemiology report from the Federal Ministry of Health, the agency said 34,825 cases of cholera was reported as against 2,882 cases over the same period in 2013.

Every year over 150,000 Nigerian children die from diarrohea alone, largely caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practices.

Njoku said, “The call to end the practice of open defecation is being made with growing insistence from the United Nations which is being led by the office of the Deputy Secretary General, encouraging countries to prioritise investments in sanitation and develop appropriate interventions to end this menace.

“In response to this call, the Nigerian government has shown commitment to end open defecation by 2025, a target which is not only commendable but achievable, considering Nigeria’s potential. A country that has 75 per cent of its households having mobile phones can easily mobilize the people to have simple toilets and end open defecation.

“Towards achieving the set target, UNICEF Nigeria is supporting the government to develop a national road-map for the elimination of open defecation in the country by 2025.”

Also, the General Manager, DMT Mobile and Portable Toilets Limited, Isheri Olofin, Ogun State, Mr. Lanre Akinwale, on Wednesday said about 75 per cent of Nigerians lacked access to decent and functional toilets facilities.

He spoke at the company’s second awareness campaign to mark the 2014 World Toilet Day at Isheri Olofin, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State.

He said awareness about decent and functional toilets had increased over the years but that attitude was still a challenge to achieving reasonable success.

Akinwale said a toilet must have water, toiletries, hand sanitizer and driers before it could be considered as a functional one.

He lamented what he described as poor sanitary condition in both public and private schools in different parts of the country.

Politics is not on my mind for now – Zack Orji

Zack Orji

Veteran actor, Zack Orji, has said he is not prepared to join politics in 2015 while not ruling out the likelihood of contesting a political office in no distant time. Some Nollywood actors and actresses including musicians have decided to contest elective positions in the next general elections.

Orji, who spoke with Arts Dome, said his colleagues were exercising their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for by joining politics. He expressed confidence that they would make a change if allowed to serve.

He said, ‘‘I have not given it a thought to go into politics. It is not what I have to give a thought now. But who knows what may happen tomorrow. Constitutionally, my colleagues have a right to vote and be voted for. They are Nigerians. I also know that they will make a change if they are given the chance to serve.’’

Besides, the role interpreter stated that the entertainers’ desire to join politics would not in any way affect the fortunes of the industry. He stated that having distinguished themselves in their chosen profession, the performers saw the need to contribute their quota to the country’s development by taking part in politics.

He also said the phase could not be described as a ‘mass exodus’ of entertainers to politics.

‘‘The development is not a mass exodus of Nollywood actors and actresses to politics. It is just that those who have shown interest in 2015 elections are some of those who have been playing active roles in Nollywood. But the number is still intangible when one takes into account the talents that abound in the industry,’’ he added.

Nollywood stars such as Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot, singer Abolore Akande (9ice), including showbiz personality, Dayo Adeneye among others are currently eyeing elective positions in 2015.

D’banj Releases New Video: Beats by Dre Deal Accomplished

After Apple Inc. releases a tweet announcing D’banj as its African Ambassador for its freshly acquired head phone company Beats by Dre…D’banj releases video showing his work abroad and the team that worked with him to get on his new international venture with the brand ‘Beats by Dre’.
Similar deals have been extended to huge names in the entertainment industry such as Nicki Minaj who had her own collection of PINK HEADPHONES!

D’banj is bringing to Africa this year a collection of GOLD headphones! Why Gold you ask?

As we know it, Gold signifies success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the color Gold implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance. Many of these attributes D’banj has experienced in his years in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry (10 years to be precise).

Follow Dbanj on Twitter:@iamdbanj

CBN banned banks from selling dollars to Bureaux de Change (BDCs)

The fortunes of the national currency, the Naira took a sharp turn downwards yesterday as it fell by 270 kobo, with the parallel market exchange rate rising to N180 per dollar from N177.3 on Monday.

Since the beginning of the month, the Naira has fallen against the US dollar by N7.9 at the interbank market, and N10 at the parallel market.

Interbank and parallel market operators attributed this sharp depreciation to restrictions introduced by the CBN to curb foreign exchange demand at the official market. Falling crude oil prices, coupled with depleting Excess Crude Account has triggered palpable anxiety about the value of the Naira. Stocks have also been hit as a result.
On October 28, in addition to a 10-kobo margin limit imposed on intervention dollars, the CBN banned banks from selling dollars to Bureaux de Change (BDCs). Furthermore, on November 6th, the CBN excluded importation of six items from official foreign exchange, saying it would no longer sell official forex for their importation. The items included electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment and invisible transactions. According to the apex bank, the items would henceforth be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only.

Thus, the apex bank unwittingly shifted forex demand for importation of the six items from the official market to the interbank market.

The two restrictions combined triggered sharp increase in demand for forex in the interbank market, and scarcity of dollars in the parallel market. Though the CBN was selling intervention dollars to banks, banks could trade with the dollars because of the 10 kobo limit. This, according to a foreign exchange dealer created a scarcity situation in interbank and the subsequent steady depreciation of the naira.

Why CBN imposed restrictions

The restrictions were imposed to stem the persistent decline in the nation’s external reserves following continued decline in price of crude oil. Within three months, the price of crude oil fell from $100 per barrel to $78 per barrel.

The sharp decline in crude oil prices occasioned apprehension among foreign investors, who believe that with decline in revenue from crude oil, and the CBN using the reserves to defend the Naira, it would not be long before the Naira suffered sharp depreciation. Hence they moved their money out of the country by divesting from the nation’s stock market and FGN bonds.

Scarcity of dollars behind Naira’s fall
Acting President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe said the depreciation was due to scarcity of dollars in the market. He said most of the banks are not selling dollars to BDCs, thus worsening scarcity in the market.

This was corroborated by Managing Director/Chief Executive, HJ Trust BDC, Mr. Harrison Owoh. He said that parallel market rate rose from N177.3 to N180 per dollar because there is no dollar in the market. He said the banks are not selling to BDCs, and the two banks that sold at N179 per dollar and N178.4 per dollar respectively. He added that depreciation of the Naira is not limited to the dollar, adding that it has been depreciating against the Euro and Pound Sterling in recent times too. He said the exchange rate of the Euro has risen to N220 from N117 last week. Owoh said that the market is overwhelmed with uncertainty about the exchange rate.

“In fact, we don’t know what the rate of the dollar is now”, he said.

Source: Vanguard

Sad Story!!! Aftermath of bus conductor’s death: Children out of school

Mrs. Abasirim and children

The harsh reality of the tragic end of Ikechukwu Abasirim, the bus conductor who was allegedly crushed to death by policemen attached to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, along Apapa/Oshodi expressway , last month, has begun to take its toll on his pregnant widow and four children.
As at Thursday last week, only one out of the four children of the late conductor had gone back to school while the rest were still at home, owing to lack of money to pay their school fees.

When Crime Guard visited the widow’s abode at Oshogbo street, Ijesha road, it was learnt that she had since relocated to her in-law’s place at Taiwo Keji street, along the same axis, with her four children.
GLOOM AT HOME

On arrival, parents of late Ikechukwu, were found sitting on a mat while their pregnant daughter-in-law sat on a sofa in the sitting room with her chin on her palm, carried away in thought. At a point, she clapped her hand and exclaimed in her dialect, apparently trying to fathom how long the pang of anguish will last. Her children on the other hand, were sighted in a corner of the sitting room looking gloomy . One of them had a reddish eye ball. The sight of the children aroused pity from sympathizers who still throng the home to commiserate with the family.

Out of concern, one of the visitors asked why the children were still at home instead of being in school. The distraught and dispirited widow responded in a weak tone “ they have not started because I do not have money to pay for their school fees”.

At that point, one of the children, Victor , broke down in tears and asked the mother curiously, “ does it mean I won’t go to school again?” The question elicited sympathy which was accompanied with a gush of tears from his grandparents, his mother and sympathizers.

Before his father’s demise, 7- year-old Victor, a primary 3 pupil, was said to have boasted to his parents that he would attend Kings college , after his primary education. He had reportedly also advised his father to be saving towards his university education but that dream may not be realised except a miracle happens.

WIDOW LAMENTS

In an emotion-laden tone, the pregnant widow lamented that the demise of her husband of 13 years had plunged the family into a difficult phase.

She said: “ I wonder how I will carry on without my husband. He might not be rich while alive but, at least , we lived within our limit. He managed to pay the children’s school fees as at when due.

But right now, I can’t foot the bills. Our first child , Ndubuisi, who is in Junior Secondary School in a public school has resumed.

The second child, Emmanuel (11) finished from a private school but I have to start processing a school in the public sector for him because the person that used to pay his fees is gone. But Victor (7) and Destiny (4) are still at home because of lack of funds. I honestly do not know where to begin from”, she said in tears,with sympathizers advising her to have a grip on herself , considering her present state.

FATHER’S REGRET

While she was lamenting, late Ikechukwu’ father, who retired from the Nigeria Ports Authority, kept shaking his head in self pity, trying as much as he could not to betray his emotion.

At a point, he said in a shaky voice: “ The most painful aspect of it is that I can not assist financially because I have not been paid my pension. Currently, we have dragged government to court over the non-payment of our pension. My dear daughter, you know that nothing can be more painful than watching one’s children sit at home while their mates are in school.

Much as I desire to assist them, I am financially handicap . My wife,(points to his wife who sat on a mat), a petty trader who has been assisting tremendously, is at home at the moment.

She has not been herself since the incident”. At 74, who will employ me, in order to take care of these children? This is, indeed, the most shattering incident that has happened to me since I was born”, he lamented.

Lawyer asks court to cancel Lagos monthly sanitation

A Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to put a stop to the monthly enviromental sanitation exercise in Lagos State.

The lawyer is asking the court to declare as illegal, the monthly exercise, during which citizens’ movements were restricted.

Joined as respondents are the Inspector General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Governor and the state’ Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Others are Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and the Ministry of Environment.

The applicant in his motion on notice argued that the imposed environmental sanitation on every last Saturday of the month did not have any legal backing.

According to him, the restriction of people’s movement was in conflict with Sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution, which guarantees rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

Adegboruwa stated that the restriction also violates Article XII of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He is therefore asking the court to declare that the Lagos State Government and its agents do not have the legal backing to restrict movement of Lagos residents on the last Saturday of the month.

The applicant is also asking the court to declare that the respondents could not, as of right, arrest and detain any Lagos resident found moving on either state or Federal Government roads in the state on the last Saturday of every month.

Justice M.B. Idris has adjourned till January 28, 2015 for hearing in the suit.

Eagles, Bafana’s match now to start 6pm

Officials confirmed on Monday morning that tomorrow’s 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will now start at 6pm.

“We got the information that the match will now kick off at 6pm, and not 5pm as earlier slated,” NFF’s Head of International, Bola Oyeyode, said Monday.The 90 –minute pitch strife at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium will earn Nigeria a ticket to the 2015 African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

The match coordination meeting will take place from 7pm on Tuesday at the Hotel L’Meridien, to be coordinated by Match Commissioner, Ghanaian Laryea Louis.

Also, the itinerary of the South African contingent changed, with officials confirming the team would travel direct by chartered flight from Johannesburg to Uyo, arriving at 8pm.

FIFA/CAF Match Commissioner, Etubom Paul Bassey, informed the Akwa Ibom State Government about the need for a landing permit for the South African delegation.

Glo subscribers first to own iPhone 6 in Nigeria

Apple’s new offering, iPhone 6 (L) and iPhone 6 Plus (R)

 




Globacom, Nigeria’s national telecom carrier, has become the first Nigerian operator to officially sell iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Nigeria. The operator’s flagship outlet was open at midnight on Friday, November 14 2014, offering buyers the opportunity to be among the very first set of Nigerians to own the devices.
A number of Globacom subscribers kept vigil at Globacom’s Gloworld till midnight when Apple officially flagged off the sale of authentic iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Nigeria.

Apple Regional Sales Manager for Africa, Mr. Paddy McManus was on hand to witness the sale of the first set of the devices to Nigerians at the Adeola Odeku GloWorld outlet. He commended Globacom for the creativity of the launch and especially the impressive turnout of subscribers.

“This is a very loud move, from a loud network in Lagos. I am extremely impressed. This is what usually happens all over the world when Apple is launching its products. Nigerians are really great,” Mr. McManus exclaimed.

An On Air Personality, Mr. Folajinmi Akinsola became the first Nigerian to own an authentic iPhone 6 sold by any telecommunication network in Nigeria when he purchased the phone at the Gloworld shop on Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, Lagos immediately after it was officially unveiled at 12:05 a.m. on Friday.

Former beauty queen, Miss Tobi Phillips kept vigil to emerge the first Nigerian female to own an authentic iPhone 6 when she paid for the phone which she had pre-ordered.

Iconic Glo brand ambassadors like Flavour, NaetoC and Chee the Voice were on hand to pep up the event. Flavour and Naeto C later joined the official Apple team to present the devices to early buyers who kept vigil at the Gloworld shop to make history.

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday, an Asset Manager with Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited, Mr. Tunde Amolegbe sauntered into the Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island Gloworld shop to pay for his pre-ordered iPhone and thereafter got a celebrity treatment from Glo brand ambassadors Wande Coal and Waje.

Similarly, at the Gloworld shop located in the Ikeja City Mall, the Managing Director, Cita Petroleum, Otunba Thomas Ogunbangbe was the first to pay for his pre–ordered iPhone at the shop.

The story was the same at all Gloworld shops across the country where subscribers took delivery of their iPhones.