Nigerian Eye

IN PICTURES: Mark Zuckerberg, ICT Minister Osinbajo, others at Aso Villa Demo Day

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Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook was today spotted in the company of ICT Minister, Adebayo, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and others at Aso Villa Demo Day.<br />
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This is coming after speculations that the Facebook founder snubbed the Nigerian government.<br />
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See photos:<br />
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Latest-News IN PICTURES: Mark Zuckerberg, ICT Minister Osinbajo, others at Aso Villa Demo Day

Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook was today spotted in the company of ICT Minister, Adebayo, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and others at Aso Vill...

Samsung to suspend Galaxy Note 7 sales after battery explosions

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Samsung said Friday it would suspend sales of its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy Note 7 as reports of exploding batteries threatened to damage the reputation of the South Korean electronics giant.<br />
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Samsung — the world’s top maker of smartphones and ordinary mobile phones — will also offer new devices for those who have already bought the large-screen smartphone, its mobile chief said.<br />
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“We have received several reports of battery explosion on the Note 7 that was officially launched on August 19…and it has been confirmed that it was a battery cell problem,” Koh Dong-Jin told reporters.<br />
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Samsung has so far sold one million units of the Note 7 in countries including South Korea and the US.<br />
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So far 24 of them have been confirmed to have faulty batteries, Koh said, adding he was “deeply sorry” over the incident.<br />
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Since late last month, several users have posted photos and videos on social media showing the charred Note 7 with part of its 5.7-inch touchscreen burnt and melted, saying it suddenly caught fire.<br />
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Growing safety concerns over the Note 7 have forced Samsung to suspend its shipments at home and delay its planned release this month in several European countries including France.<br />
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AFP

Latest-News Samsung to suspend Galaxy Note 7 sales after battery explosions

Samsung said Friday it would suspend sales of its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy Note 7 as reports of exploding batteries threatened to...

Recovered loot not enough to revive economy – Lai Mohammed

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has explained that the looted fund recovered so far by government is far cry from what the country needs to revive the economy.<br />
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The minister noted that the Federal Government has recovered about N78 billion, and 3 million dollars.<br />
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The minister said this on Friday when he appeared on a News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja.<br />
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According to him, the amount of money recovered is always being made public.<br />
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He said, “What we have recovered and if my record is right is about N78 billion, and 3 million dollars.<br />
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“We have been able to block various accounts in which about 9 billion dollar is found but those are not money available to us because we are still in court over them.<br />
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“The government spends N165 billion every month to pay federal civil servants, even what has been so far recovered will not even pay 50 per cent of the salaries in a month.’’<br />
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Mohammed assured Nigerians that every penny recovered will be judiciously spent and nobody could re-loot what had been recovered under the administration.<br />
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The minister further explained that Nigerians should understand that what had been recovered was so little compared to what the people needed on a continuous basis.<br />
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On budget release, he recalled that the Federal Ministry of Finance released N400 billion for capital projects, mostly on roads, railway, and power.<br />
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“N400 billion seems a lot, but you must also understand that for three or four years contractors were not paid.<br />
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“So, when we paid this money to contractors, they also use part of it to settle their own debt, they use part of it to recall laid off staff.<br />
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“But the truth of the matter is that many of them have been paid, they are yet to mobilise to site and they cannot do so until the rains are over.<br />
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Mohammed said that what the government owed the contractors was about N2 trillion.

Latest-News Recovered loot not enough to revive economy – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has explained that the looted fund recovered so far by government is far cry f...

PDP’s call for Buhari’s resignation a joke – Lai Mohammed

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Friday said that the call for resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Peoples Democratic Party over the economy is “preposterous”.<br />
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<a name='more' id="more"></a>Mohammed said, “It is very painful in a situation where the armed robber is now the one sympathising with the victim.<br />
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“I read in the dailies that the PDP said that the President must resign because of the economy.<br />
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“While we are not going to indulge in blame game, I think we should also be honest enough to admit that we will not have been where we are today if they had done what they ought to do.<br />
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“For the party to ask the President to resign is just a big joke.”<br />
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The minister said that though the government was not interested in blame game, it was important to set the records straight.<br />
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He noted that “agree that Nigeria is not the only country hit by the recession and crash in price of crude, but other countries made savings.<br />
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“Saudi Arabia today has about 600 billion dollars in reserve and this is by planning and saving for the future which the past administration failed to do during surplus.<br />
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“This is not about blaming other administration, but we believe that one should be honest when criticising.”<br />
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Mohammed then assured that the Federal Government would do everything possible to bring the country out of the<br />
economic situation.<br />
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The PDP new Media Director, Deji Adeyanju, had in a statement in Abuja, asked the President to resign “for destroying” the economy.<br />
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Adeyanju was reacting to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics issued on Wednesday which stated that Nigeria was in recession.<br />
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NAN

Latest-News PDP’s call for Buhari’s resignation a joke – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Friday said that the call for resignation of President Muhammadu Buha...

2016/2017 Session: LASU to screen candidates online

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The Lagos State University has commenced the admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session using the online screening approach.<br />
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The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said on Friday that the institution had begun to use the system.<br />
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He said that candidates, who chose LASU as their first choice as directed ‎by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board, would be screened online.<br />
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Fagbohun said that an online application portal had already been designed for the candidates to upload their results, certificates and other relevant data<br />
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He said, “The university will go online and shortlist the credentials of successful candidates, who chose LASU as their first choice, for onward transmission to JAMB.<br />
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“We are aware that our prospective students are expecting us to invite them for the screening but it will be done online and we have already started that.”<br />
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Fagbohun said that there was no discord between the institution or any other university with JAMB as various positions were being harmonised.<br />
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He said that every university is complying with JAMB’s directives not to conduct the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.<br />
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He said, “We are acting in accordance ‎with JAMB’s directive to screen the candidates’ certificates and other requirements and make our selection from there.”<br />
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NAN

Latest-News 2016/2017 Session: LASU to screen candidates online

The Lagos State University has commenced the admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session using the online screening approach...

Buhari orders arrest of officials diverting IDPs relief materials

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President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the police to arrest government officials accused of stealing food aid intended for victims of Boko Haram in the North-east Nigeria, the president’s spokesman said yesterday.<br />
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Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, disclosed this the president had ordered the Inspector General of police to catch some of the alleged thieves and make public examples of them.<br />
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Recall that the Senate had recently launched an investigation into allegations of food aid being stolen and sold by state officials in Borno State, where aid agencies have warned of starvation, malnutrition and dwindling food supplies for the displaced. The public outcry was sparked in April when photos posted on social media appeared to show food aid on sale in shops. The items had logos of aid agencies, leading many to believe they had been diverted by state officials in camps for the displaced.<br />
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Hundreds of people displaced by Boko Haram militants last week left their camps to stage a protest in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, to demand more aid, accusing officials of stealing food rations. Protesters said they wanted to receive food aid directly, rather than through state-run feeding committees in the camps. However, the government of Borno State dismissed the allegations of theft, and said they were politically motivated ahead of general and presidential elections in 2019.<br />
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“There are some politicians exploiting the IDP (internally displaced persons) situation for political purposes, by spreading rumours about food stealing,” said Isa Gusau, spokesman for the state governor, Kashim Shettima. “It is practically difficult to divert food,” he said, adding that the international aid agencies involved in the distribution of aid would have spoken out if they had noticed any wrongdoing.<br />
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The U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) last month warned that up to 5.5 million people in the North-east might soon need food aid, double the current number, as soaring inflation was pushing up food prices.

Latest-News Buhari orders arrest of officials diverting IDPs relief materials

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the police to arrest government officials accused of stealing food aid intended for victims of Boko...

Trump's wife sues media houses for claiming she worked as a prostitute

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Melania Trump, the wife of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on Thursday sued two media outlets that alleged she worked as an escort in the 1990s.<br />
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Filed in a Maryland court, the suit is against Mail Media, Inc. which publishes the Daily Mail Online, and Webster G. Tarpley, who publishes a blog.<br />
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A Slovenian ex-model, Melania is seeking damages to the tune of $150 million.<br />
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“These defendants made several statements about Mrs. Trump that are 100 percent false and tremendously damaging to her personal and professional reputation,” her attorney Charles Harder said.<br />
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“Defendants broadcast their lies to millions of people throughout the US and the world.”<br />
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“Defendants’ actions are so egregious, malicious and harmful to Mrs. Trump that her damages are estimated at $150 million.”<br />
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The Daily Mail Online issued a retraction of the article, which the outlet had published on August 20 with the headline “Naked photoshoots, and troubling questions about visas that won’t go away: The VERY racy past of Donald Trump’s Slovenian wife.”<br />
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The article “did not intend to state or suggest that these allegations are true, nor did it intend to state or suggest that Mrs. Trump ever worked as an ‘escort’ or in the ‘sex business,'” the retraction said.<br />
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“The point of the article was that these allegations could impact the US presidential election even if they are untrue.”<br />
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Harder specializes in cases that involve privacy protection and defamation.<br />
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He represented former wrestler Hulk Hogan in his successful lawsuit against Gawker Media, which resulted in a $140 million jury award against the entertainment website for releasing a sex tape featuring Hogan and a friend’s wife.<br />
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The decision caused Gawker to shutter its flagship website after the court order drove the company to bankruptcy.<br />
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— Life of glamour, campaign of scandal —<br />
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The poised, impeccably dressed Melania is 24 years younger than her billionaire husband. She is Donald’s third wife and the mother of their young son Barron.<br />
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Her modeling career brought her in 1996 to the United States, where two years later she met the real estate mogul and reality television star she would eventually marry.<br />
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The allegations she was an escort are the latest in a series of salacious moments the potential first lady has faced.<br />
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The New York Post ran a series of nude photos featuring her earlier this summer, images taken in 1995 when she was 25 and working as a model.<br />
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She brought some pizzazz to the Republican Convention in July, but an embarrassing plagiarism scandal tarnished her prime-time speech.<br />
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Melania also unwittingly found herself in the eye of the primary storm when an anti-Trump political group unveiled a questionable ad on Facebook that used a photo of her lying naked and handcuffed to a briefcase.

Latest-News Trump's wife sues media houses for claiming she worked as a prostitute

Melania Trump, the wife of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on Thursday sued two media outlets that alleged she worked as...

PDP lambastes Buhari again: Your administration is killing the economy

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again attacked President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, saying the administration is doing significant harm to the economy and that it can not rescue Nigeria from economic recession.<br />
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PDP media director, Deji Adeyanju, made this known in a statement on Friday.<br />
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He decleared that the government was not taking the right steps to save the economy. He described the statement of Kemi Adeosun, finance minister, that the government would bring Nigeria out of recession through fiscal discipline and diversification as “empty rhetoric.”<br />
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“Yesterday, the minister of finance – Mrs Kemi Adeosun – stated that the Muhammadu Buhari administration will focus on two policies to remove Nigeria from recession – fiscal discipline and diversification,” he said.<br />
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“Firstly, we believe a recession is not reversed by diversification. A recession is reversed by implementing a stimulus package designed to cut taxes, reduce the cost of doing business and boost spending on infrastructure & other critical sectors of the economy.<br />
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“Available data shows that the Buhari administration has spent a meagre 19 percent of the allocation for CAPEX in budget 2016. This sort of spending will not make any sort of impact on the economy.<br />
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“Assuming, but not conceding that Mrs Adeosun is right, the challenge is the past 15 months show that despite the glib talk the Buhari administration is doing neither.<br />
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“For instance, despite claims of weeding out ghost workers from the payroll and reducing the civil service wage bill, Nigeria’s wage bill increased from N1.65tr in 2014 to N1.83tr and N1.71tr in 2015 and 2016 respectively.<br />
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“These figures represent a combined total increase of N240bn from the wage bill in 2014.<br />
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“Two days ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released its economic report for Q2 2016 which showed that the FG incurred a N1.09tr deficit for the quarter. This deficit was 96 percent higher than the N555.49b allowed.<br />
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“Total expenditure for this period stood at N1.76 trillion, surpassing the provisional quarterly budget estimate by 12.8 percent, representing a 58.1 percent increase of the Q1 expenditure.”<br />
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Adeyanju said that the figures showed “an abject lack” of fiscal discipline in the management of the nation’s finances by the Buhari administration.<br />
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“On diversification, GDP figures released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday show that the Buhari administration is doing significant harm to non-oil sectors of the economy‎,” he said.<br />
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“Non oil GDP contracted by -0.38 percentin Q2 2016 from -0.18 percent in Q1 2016 and 3.46 percent in Q2 2015. “Furthermore, CBN figures show that non-oil export fell by 43.2 percent to $576.97m in Q2 2016.<br />
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“As the data shows, even sectors that experienced growth in Q2 have slowed considerably compared to Q1 2016 & Q2 2015.<br />
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“As these figures show, the Buhari administration is just paying lip service to the issue of diversification and it is in fact worsening the non-oil sectors of the economy.<br />
“These figures also show that Mrs Adeosun’s comments about fiscal discipline are diversification are empty rhetoric.<br />
<br />
“We reiterate our position that this government is out of depth and is incapable of reversing the economic recession into which they have plunged our nation.”<br />
<br />
Earlier, the PDP had asked Buhari to resign for allegedly “destroying” the economy.

Latest-News PDP lambastes Buhari again: Your administration is killing the economy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again attacked President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, saying the administration is doing s...

Rohr: Mikel will continue as Nigeria captain

13:24 Unknown 0

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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for Gernot Rohr with John obi mikel" height="480" src="http://cdn-kwesesports.365.co.za.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/13231042/1024x768_Jon_Obi_Mikel_Nigeria2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />
Gernot Rohr has described Chelsea star John Obi Mikel as natural leader and will continue as Super Eagles' skipper.<br />
<a name='more' id="more"></a><br />
<br />
The tactician said the midfielder’s impact was felt at the Rio Olympics and insists he wants him to replicate same for the country’s senior national team.<br />
<br />
 “Mikel is a natural leader,” Rohr told the media<br />
<br />
“His experience and leadership is exceptional. I saw him play at the Olympics and I’m sure I want him to continue as my captain.<br />
<br />
“He spoke with me on the phone and he is here again when he should be resting from the rigours of the Olympics.”<br />
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The former Gabon and Niger national teams coach also disclosed that he hopes to combine experience and energy of the younger players in his team to achieve desired result.<br />
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“It’s a new beginning. I see the hunger in the younger players.<br />
<br />
“I see belief and I’m happy to lead. I’m confident we’ll make it to the World Cup.<br />
<br />
“Nothing is certain but we are motivated to do well. Not qualifying for Afcon will be a blessing in disguise as we’ll be motivated to work harder than ever.”</div>

Latest-News Rohr: Mikel will continue as Nigeria captain

Gernot Rohr has described Chelsea star John Obi Mikel as natural leader and will continue as Super Eagles' skipper. The tactician ...

FRSC announces new validity period for drivers licence

13:11 Unknown 0

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The Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) has announced a new validity period for the National Drivers’ Licence.<br />
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The General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Lateef Lawal, who disclosed today that the new validity period of five years for the national Drivers' Licence, noting however that the choice is optional.<br />
<br />
He said the decision was taken at the 134th meeting of the Federal Road Safety Commission’s Joint Tax Board in order to ease off the renewal/reissue process of the driver’s licence.<br />
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He lauded the initiative and maintained that with the new feature, applicants have the opportunity to either select the option of three or five year validity period.<br />
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Lawal affirmed that processing fees remain at N6,350 for the three-year period and N10,350 for five year option, inclusive of bank charges.<br />
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The General Manager however urged intending applicants to patronise only accredited driving schools following which an e-certificate will be issued to commence the process of obtaining a driver’s licence.

Latest-News FRSC announces new validity period for drivers licence

The Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) has announced a new validity period for the National Drivers’ Licence. The Ge...

Bible Society of Nigeria to hold Marathon Bible Reading

12:58 Unknown 0

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The Bible Society of Nigeria has concluded plans to hold the 2016 Marathon Bible Reading, the General Secretary of the organising committee, Mr Dare Ajiboye, said.<br />
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Ajiboye, who made this known in a statement made available on Friday in Lagos, said that the programme, would hold at 50 different centres simultaneously.<br />
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The event is billed to hold in Lagos from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9,<br />
<br />
He stated that the event would give participants the opportunity to read the Bible in their native tongues.<br />
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<br />
He said, “The programme will be declared open on Monday, Sept. 5, at Shepherd’s Flock International Church.<br />
<br />
“It is scheduled for Lagos from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9 at 50 different centres simultaneously between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.<br />
<br />
“The unique feature of this programme is that it gives the participants opportunity to read the Bible aloud in their own native languages.<br />
<br />
“Bibles in different languages such as English, Isoko, Igala, Igede, Ebira, Yoruba, Efik, Igbo, Hausa, Nupe, Khana, Urhobo, Fulfude, Jju, Bokyi, Edo, Arabic, Tiv, Itsekiri, Kanuri, among others, will be on display for the participants to choose from.”<br />
<br />
Ajiboye urged Christians to take advantage of the programme as it promised to be spiritually rewarding.<br />
<br />
He said, “Participants, irrespective of denomination, age or sex, will have a threefold joy by participating.<br />
<br />
“There is joy in reading the Bible in their languages, helping someone else hear the word of God in a new way and joining others in continuous reading of the Bible.”<br />
<br />
The Bible Society of Nigeria is a non-profit-making interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into Nigerian languages, publishes and distributes it and also raises funds for Bible work.<br />
<br />
The Society has complete Bible in 24 Nigerian languages and gives Bibles free to old people’s homes and orphanages, people with visual disability, prisoners, the deaf, among others.

Latest-News Bible Society of Nigeria to hold Marathon Bible Reading

The Bible Society of Nigeria has concluded plans to hold the 2016 Marathon Bible Reading, the General Secretary of the organising committee...

APC Muslim group disowns Tinubu’s candidate

12:48 Unknown 0

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A group within the Ondo State All Progressives Congress, APC Muslim Council, said on Thursday that it had not endorsed any aspirant vying for the governorship ticket of the party.<br />
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A statement jointly signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Takuro Amidu, and the spokesperson, Akindele Ahmed, said the APC Muslim Council in Ondo State had not endorsed one of the aspirants, Mr. Olusegun Abraham.<br />
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Abraham is widely believed to be favoured by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to clinch the party’s governorship ticket.<br />
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<br />
Tinubu’s support for Abraham has come under attack by a cross-section of aspirants within the party.<br />
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Specifically, one of the aspirants, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, had written an open letter to Tinubu, accusing the former governor of Lagos State of disrupting the unity within the party.<br />
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Abayomi had faulted Tinubu on the grounds that it was better for the national leader to allow a free and fair primary to take place rather than impose an aspirant on the party.<br />
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But Tinubu, in a reply to Abayomi, said he, like any other member of the party, had the right to choose, whoever he likes for the governorship post.<br />
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The APC group said, “The APC Muslim Council comprising Ulamas, Chief Imams, Muslim leaders and all Muslim organisations in Ondo State has affirmed that its support will only be given to a credible, God-fearing person with demonstrable antecedents.<br />
<br />
“We will only support an aspirant who would rule with equity and justice as stated by the Holy Quran. We will only endorse an aspirant who has practical antecedents of developing his or her people and community because community development is a highly rewarding act of worship in Islam.”<br />
<br />
The group said it would only support a Muslim/Christian ticket, adding that the best candidates should be given the opportunity to govern the state.

Latest-News APC Muslim group disowns Tinubu’s candidate

A group within the Ondo State All Progressives Congress, APC Muslim Council, said on Thursday that it had not endorsed any aspirant vying f...

Singer Runtown Puts Behind Rift with his Label as he Resumes his US Tour

12:29 Unknown 0

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Runtown was scheduled for a tour of the United States in June 2016 before his rift with his record label truncated it.<br />
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<a name='more' id="more"></a><br />
<br />
Now that all is settled and he's back with Eric Many records, Runtown is all set to kick off the long awaited tour on Labour Day, September 4, 2016 in Philadelphia.<br />
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The tour will see Runtown perform in 20 cities in the US over a period of one month.<br />
<br />
Runtown who recently headlined the 2016 Crop Over festival in Barbados with international stars like Rihanna says, 'Am super excited about the tour, despite the controversies, it's been a great year for me and it's looking even better'.</div>
</div>

Latest-News Singer Runtown Puts Behind Rift with his Label as he Resumes his US Tour

Runtown was scheduled for a tour of the United States in June 2016 before his rift with his record label truncated it. Now that all i...

Ondo Politics: Ex-PDP Local Gov't Chairman, Niyi Pirisola assassinated

12:29 Unknown 0

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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC9w1ksAbypKUkuF9-qo4ed8GpxPcW-QCGtsL5qqICaTNXrJ9gYcpC94lMYyG3p3zzOj99PYgkhQeEYYq4VXcTsEByeYwX8ozZO8fL6ZtpIF2ZxrZ50UjIZ_vTF1bOdJdNwlpyz2GXC8/s1600/niyil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC9w1ksAbypKUkuF9-qo4ed8GpxPcW-QCGtsL5qqICaTNXrJ9gYcpC94lMYyG3p3zzOj99PYgkhQeEYYq4VXcTsEByeYwX8ozZO8fL6ZtpIF2ZxrZ50UjIZ_vTF1bOdJdNwlpyz2GXC8/s320/niyil.jpg" width="320" /></a></td>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niyi Pirisola</td>
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A former local government caretaker committee chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, Evangelist Niyi Pirisola has been assassinated.<br />
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Mr. Pirisola was "gunned down" by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Friday, Sahara Reporters confirmed.<br />
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"He was killed in the early hours of today (Friday) at about 3:00 am while returning from a branch of Celestial Church Of Christ at Ilutuntun in his hometown," a source told SaharaReporters.<br />
<br />
The source further said the tenure of the deceased and the chairman of the local area witnessed "bloody violence".<br />
<br />
A police officer in the town also confirmed the news, saying investigation is on-going.<br />
<div><br /></div>

Latest-News Ondo Politics: Ex-PDP Local Gov't Chairman, Niyi Pirisola assassinated

Niyi Pirisola A former local government caretaker committee chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okitipupa Local Gove...

Olu of Warri dissociates from stakeholders’ meeting convened by Edwin Clark

12:29 Unknown 0

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The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has distanced the Itsekiri nation from the Chief Edwin Clark-led pan Niger Delta coastal states stakeholders’ meeting which is to negotiate with the Federal Government on behalf of the Niger Delta militants.<br />
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The Itsekiri monarch, in a statement issued yesterday by the Palace Administrator, Dr. Emmanuel Tetsola, also claimed not to be part of the meeting of the Niger Delta monarchs with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.<br />
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Clark, who is the Ijaw national leader, had a fortnight ago convened a stakeholders’ meeting of six coastal states of the Niger Delta at Effurun in Delta State towards proffering solutions to the renewed militancy in the region. The meeting was attended by the Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa while the Bayelsa Governor was represented.<br />
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The meeting resolved to set up a dialogue team which would discuss with the Federal Government on behalf of militant groups in the region.<br />
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While disowning those claiming to have represented Itsekiri nation at the meeting called by Clark and the one with the Petroleum minister, the statement emphasized that the monarch had not authorised anybody to represent him or the people of Itsekiri.<br />
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It stated, “It has come to the knowledge of the Palace of the Olu of Warri that some Itsekiri sons and daughters who are attending the above mentioned meetings are claiming to be representing either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people of Delta State.<br />
<br />
“The Palace wishes to state categorically that while individuals are entitled to freedom of speech and association, as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution, it has not authorised or mandated any person to represent either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people at these meetings.”<br />
<br />
The Itsekiri royalty particularly frowned on a report in one of the national dailies which claimed that Prof. Lucky Akaruese represented the Itsekiri ethnic nationality at both meetings.<br />
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“Consequently, those persons who attended these meetings cannot arrogate to themselves the authority to speak or represent either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people,” the Olu of Warri added, even as he urged the general public to disregard such insinuation.

Latest-News Olu of Warri dissociates from stakeholders’ meeting convened by Edwin Clark

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has distanced the Itsekiri nation from the Chief Edwin Clark-led pan Niger Delta coastal st...

New Music: Niniola - Jigi Jigi

12:12 Unknown 0

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Following  her recent AFRIMA 2016 nomination for the Best Female Artiste in Western Africa, rising star Niniola is out with a new song – Jigi Jigi<br />
<a name='more' id="more"></a><br />
She is currently in the United States working on different projects and she's not in any way slowing down. Niniola’s Shaba Single is still topping charts and in this ODH produced tune, we know she’ll serve up some more greatness.<br />
<br />
Listen here:</div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="160px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.hulkshare.com/embed.php?fn=3d2xbyxpetog&enableCover=0" width="100%"></iframe></div>

Latest-News New Music: Niniola - Jigi Jigi

Following her recent AFRIMA 2016 nomination for the Best Female Artiste in Western Africa, rising star Niniola is out with a new song – ...

Redeem your image with Edo, Ondo elections - Group challenges INEC

12:11 Unknown 0

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A group, the Election Monitor (EM), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the recommendations of various election observer groups on previous elections in the country.<br />
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National Coordinator of the group, Mr Abiodun Ajijola, made the call at a public presentation of the 2016 Edo Governorship Election Observation and Research Guide on Thursday in Abuja.<br />
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He said that implementation the recommendations would INEC in achieving credible governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states on Sept.10 and Nov. 26, respectively.<br />
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“Hands are being put on deck to make sure that these elections taking place in Edo and Ondo states are better than previous elections.<br />
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<br />
“It is believed that many lessons have been learnt from the plethora of conducted elections in the past one year.<br />
<br />
“INEC is encouraged to ensure that it makes every effort to implement recommendations arising from these elections,” Ajijola said.<br />
<br />
He urged the commission to ensure consistent adherence to the use of card readers at polling units during elections for accreditations and voting.<br />
<br />
Ajijola recalled that manual accreditations were used in some polling units during previous elections, and said such situation created some problems in the process.<br />
<br />
He urged INEC to ensure that all polling officers handling the card reader were properly trained.<br />
<br />
He also advised the commission to make adequate logistics arrangement to ensure that electoral officers and materials were delivered at needed areas early.<br />
<br />
An INEC officer at the event, Mr Bala Shitu, said that the card reader needed for the election in Edo had been deployed by the commission.<br />
<br />
Shitu assured that the elections in Edo and Ondo state would not have problems as the commission had learnt from its mistakes in past elections.<br />
<br />
He said that no fewer than 19 political parties would participate in the Edo poll, adding that materials for the election were ready, while security personnel and the ad hoc staff had been trained for the exercise.

Latest-News Redeem your image with Edo, Ondo elections - Group challenges INEC

A group, the Election Monitor (EM), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the recommendations of ...

Dalung Declares State Of Emergency In Nigeria Sports

12:11 Unknown 0

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<br />
<br />
Nigeria's Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria's sports sector.<br />
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This is coming after the country's dismal performance at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, coupled with lots of administrative incompetence.<br />
<br />
The Nigeria Olympics Committee, afterward compiled a report reviewing the country's horrible outing in Brazil.<br />
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Reacting on Thursday, Dalung told newsmen:<br />
<br />
“To assure Nigerians and members of the committee that this report will not find uncomfortable accommodation in the archives, I hereby declare a state of emergency in Nigerian sports”.<br />
<br />
According to him, Nigeria has to develop sport stars at the grassroots level to compete at national, continental and global levels.</div>

Latest-News Dalung Declares State Of Emergency In Nigeria Sports

Nigeria's Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria's sports sector. This is coming after...

Don Jazzy Opens Up on what Really Happened between himself and Dbanj

11:56 Unknown 0

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Episode 5 of the flagship Forbes Africa TV show, ‘My Worst Day with Peace Hyde’ features super music producer Don Jazzy.<br />
<a name='more' id="more"></a><br />
In the exciting 5th episode of the riveting talk show hosted by Forbes Africa correspondent Peace Hyde, the music mogul shares his most challenging day in business – the day he lost the multi million Naira music empire he built which led to catastrophic personal and professional consequences.<br />
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What really happened between Don Jazzy and D’banj?<br />
<br />
Watch the exciting episode now!</div>
     <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mpfeWYIAmfc" width="600"></iframe></div>

Latest-News Don Jazzy Opens Up on what Really Happened between himself and Dbanj

Episode 5 of the flagship Forbes Africa TV show, ‘My Worst Day with Peace Hyde’ features super music producer Don Jazzy. In the excitin...

Fani-Kayode calls Finance Minister 'daft and insensitve'

11:56 Unknown 0

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Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, saying recession is juts a word.<br />
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Fani-Kayode on social media said: “Those that say that "recession is just a word" are daft and insensitive. Those that say it with a low class cockney accent are an affliction."<br />
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The account, @Mrskemiadeosun on micro-blogging platform, Twitter, played down the significance of a recession after the National Bureau of Statistics announced that Nigeria’s economy contracted by 2.06% in the second quarter, bringing the country into a long predicted recession.<br />
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“The strongest of all warriors are these two, time and patience. I know people are concerned about the recession. Recession is a word,” the handle tweeted.<br />
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Also, A video surfaced online confirming the audience of the statement.<br />
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Meanwhile, Festus Akanbi, spokesman for Mrs. Adeosun disowned the twitter account saying it was fake and the statements did not reflect the position of his principal.<br />
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The tweet statement has been deleted.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Those that say that "recession is just a word" are daft and insensitive.Those that say it with a low class cockney accent are an affliction</div>
— Femi Olu-Kayode(FFK) (@realFFK) <a href="https://twitter.com/realFFK/status/771321009819574272">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Latest-News Fani-Kayode calls Finance Minister 'daft and insensitve'

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, saying recess...

“Hausa And Fulani – Language As A Tool Of Conquest” by Fani Kayode

11:24 Unknown 0

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In the northern part of Nigeria two vessels were used as vehicles for conquest by the Fulani: religion and language.<br />
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Islam was imposed by the force of arms and the use of the sword by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio whilst Hausa, the language of the conquered people of the old Habe kingdom, was adopted as the official language of the new Fulani caliphate.<br />
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As brilliant and calculating as ever, the Fulani ruling class insisted that Fulfulde, their own native language, was spoken only by the Fulani themselves.<br />
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To them theirs was the language of emperors, kings and conquerors and they refused to allow their subjects and vassals to speak or learn it because they considered them to be nothing more than serfs and slaves.<br />
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For the conquered it was Hausa that was to be spoken and not Fulfulde because the latter was considered to be too good for them.<br />
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There are over 100 distinct and independent ethnic groups in northern Nigeria, each with their own cultural and historical heritage and distinct language, yet they are all compelled to speak Hausa.<br />
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Some of them have even forgotten their own native language or never learnt to speak it in the first place. Others do not know who they are or where they are coming from.<br />
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Some do not even know that they ever had a language or heritage of their own. Everything for them, from beginning to end, has become Hausa. This speaks volumes.<br />
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Ironically the white Boers of Apartheid South Africa, who were originally from Holland, adopted the same strategy of linguistic and cultural conquest when they arrived in southern Africa and established their hegemony and racist enclave in the 17th century.<br />
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Their native language was Afrikaans (which was a local derivative of the Dutch language) and, like the Fulanis of northern Nigeria, for many generations they ensured that only they were allowed to speak it.<br />
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The black South African natives were not taught Afrikaans and they were not allowed to speak it because it was considered to be the language of the elite ruling class and their racial masters.<br />
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Allowing them to speak it would bear the implication that they were on the same level as their religious, racial, and cultural masters and that was unacceptable.<br />
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They were only allowed to communicate in their own native African languages and English. This was very effective and it essentially kept the conquered in their place whilst it exalted the conqueror. That is the power and secret of language and linguistic conquest.<br />
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It is for this reason that the people of France, for example, refuse to speak English with you when you are in their country even though their English may be fluent.<br />
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They recognise the fact that once they adopt another man’s language as being the one that is commonly used in their own land it is an acceptance of subjugation.<br />
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They acknowledge the fact that such a concession or, to use a more appropriate word, “submission”, is essentially an acceptance and wholehearted espousal of a sinister and subtle form of cultural and linguistic imperialism.<br />
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Worst still it is symptomatic of the fact that your own culture and language no longer bears any relevance or has any value.<br />
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The English, who are undoubtedly the masters of the game when it comes to the art of cultural and linguistic imperialism, did it successfully to the Scottish, the Welsh and the Irish, all of whom had and spoke their own distinct languages until they were conquered and subjugated and turned into vassal states.<br />
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Toda, few of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish people are able to speak their native languages anymore. The language that they all speak now is English, the language of their oppressors.<br />
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Those that imposed and established Hausa as the lingua franca in the north and those that seek to establish it as the lingua franca of Nigeria know what they are doing and why they are doing it: and so do their British and, more recently, American friends and allies.<br />
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There is a long-term game plan unfolding and a not-so-hidden agenda. Yet, sadly it is only those that are discerning, insightful, incisive, and historically-literate that can possibly grasp or see it.<br />
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It is not for the dull, the unenlightened, the uneducated, or the slow. Such souls cannot possibly grasp or understand such complex issues and one can hardly blame them for that because they are simply ignorant.<br />
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It is points like this that those in our country that know no better and that believe that Hausa is just a “unique language” which should be spoken and adopted by all in our nation fail to comprehend.<br />
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Such people fail to appreciate the fact that if you take a man’s language and faith away and super-impose another on him, for whatever reason, that man loses his identity, his heritage, his culture and his history and he becomes absolutely nothing.<br />
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Once that is achieved he is successfully stripped bare of who and what he once was and all memory of the past is erased. That is tragic.<br />
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From the 18th century when the Caliphate was established in northern Nigeria the forceful imposition of Islam and the Hausa language were used by the Fulani as tools of conquest and what the French describe as the “raison d’etra” (which means “rationale”) to dominate and rule over the people of that region.<br />
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They used both to reduce the so-called “minorities” of the north to slavery and servitude. They also used both to humiliate them and bring them to their knees.<br />
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It was brutal and ugly and it continued right up until the time that there was no more resistance and it was accepted as the norm.<br />
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Now they want to do the same thing to the rest of Nigeria. Many fail to appreciate or recognise this because they are shallow.<br />
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Yet a failure to fully grasp or appreciate such things will eventually lead to nothing less than slavery.<br />
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May God open our eyes, may He continue to guide us and may He give us courage and understanding. Shalom.

Latest-News “Hausa And Fulani – Language As A Tool Of Conquest” by Fani Kayode

In the northern part of Nigeria two vessels were used as vehicles for conquest by the Fulani: religion and language. Islam was imposed b...

It’s wrong play politics with the economy - Ahmed Makarfi, PDP caretaker committee chairman

11:09 Unknown 0

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Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker committee chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says rather than play politics, all hands must be on deck to salvage the economy.<br />
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His party recently asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for destroying the economy.<br />
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Speaking with journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, Makarfi explained that if the economy was bad it was the political class that would be blamed as a whole.<br />
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He said by coming together to fix the economy all parties must not agree on political matters but must have the country’s interest first above all.<br />
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“All hands needed to be on deck. There is a time to play politics, and there is a time whether you the party in government or not, we should not play politics with certain issues,” Makarfi said.<br />
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“If the economy is bad, it is the political class that is to be blamed.‎ Indeed before the political class, the military class should share part of the blame because they have done a lot of damage to the system.<br />
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“Let us own up to the wrong we have done and let us collectively repent and come together for the sake of the ordinary man and woman and even those that are not ordinary and save our nation from economic doom.‎”<br />
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Makarfi said he shares the same views with Olubunmi Okojie, a Cardinal, who recently wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.<br />
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“Long before that letter and as a matter of fact, before the President was sworn into office and to be candid, my personal belief was that the country was in a serious problem and that we were heading into more serious problems,” Makarfi said.<br />
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He said that it should not be seen as failure if “we should come together and salvage our country”.<br />
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“In any case, people are voted because they were dissatisfied with the last administration. If they were satisfied they would have returned all the past administration at all levels,” Makarfi added.<br />
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“Having not returned them because people believe that things will improve with this government, it is good to go forward and see what we can do and improve on our economy.”

Latest-News It’s wrong play politics with the economy - Ahmed Makarfi, PDP caretaker committee chairman

Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker committee chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says rather than play politics, all hands must be on dec...

CAF: AFCON 2017 Will Still Hold Despite Riots In Gabon

11:09 Unknown 0

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The African Cup of Nations continental football finals will go ahead as scheduled in Gabon despite the wave of riots following President Ali Bongo’s re-election, African football authorities confirmed on Thursday.<br />
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“There will be no change, we are following proceedings closely,” African football confederation media spokesman Junior Binyam told AFP.<br />
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The 16-nation bi-annual finals are scheduled to take place between January 14 and February 5 in Gabon after original hosts Libya were stripped of the competition due to their ongoing civil conflict.<br />
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“As things stand the schedule is being maintained,” Binyam insisted. “The draw for the finals will take place at Libreville (on) October 19 as scheduled.”<br />
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However, he warned things could change.<br />
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“The situation will be debated and evaluated at the annual CAF meetings (in Cairo) between September 21 to 27,” he explained.<br />
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When asked if the finals could possibly be moved in the case of escalated violence, Binyam said, “The time has not yet come to discuss that.”<br />
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</div>

Latest-News CAF: AFCON 2017 Will Still Hold Despite Riots In Gabon

The African Cup of Nations continental football finals will go ahead as scheduled in Gabon despite the wave of riots following President ...

Tekno and 8 other NigeriaN Celebrities Bag Ambassadorial Deal with MTN Nigeria

10:54 Unknown 0

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Osuofia and nine others have now been unveiled as the 2016/2017 brand ambassadors for telecommunications giant, MTN.<br />
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Mr Iweanoge disclosed that the unveiling was in line with the company commitment to supporting Nigerian musician, providing alternative platforms from which the artistes receive lucrative value for their intellectual property.<br />
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He listed the other nine ambassadors as follows:<br />
Saka, (Hafiz Oyetoro); Nedu (Steve Onu); Adamu Zango Praiz (Praise Adejo); Iyanya (Iyanya Mbuk); Chidinma (Chidinma Ekile); Falz (Folarin Falana); Tekno Miles(Augustine Kelechi) and Skales(Raoul Njeng-Njeng).<br />
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This arrangement was also designed to continually support the development of the entertainment industry, he added.<br />
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He said:<br />
<i>"With the significant investment made so far in Nigeria’s music industry, MTN remains and will continue to be one of the biggest supporters of the music industry.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>"We have a track record of consistently providing the stage for some of Nigeria’s biggest artistes to shine and express themselves. Through our Caller Ring Back Tunes (CRBT), MTN is the largest music distributor in Africa.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>"Through the platform, we ensured that Nigerian musicians would no longer suffer the scourge of piracy.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>"They are able to make good money, as a result of their hard wor</i>k." he concluded.<br />
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MTN Executive, Ms Amina Oyagbola, revealed in the statement that the company was proud to be associated with the growth and development of its ambassadors, whether past or present.</div>

Latest-News Tekno and 8 other NigeriaN Celebrities Bag Ambassadorial Deal with MTN Nigeria

Osuofia and nine others have now been unveiled as the 2016/2017 brand ambassadors for telecommunications giant, MTN. Mr Iweanoge disclo...

Joseph Yobo: I Have Not Signed for Kano Pillars

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<div>Former Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, has refuted reports that he has signed for Nigerian Football club Kano Pillars.<a name='more' id="more"></a> </div>
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<div>According to reports, Yobo was expected to play for Kano Pillars in accordance of with an ambassadorial deal he signed with the League Management Company (LMC).</div>
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<div>"Yobo will play for Kano Pillars; he will be on the pitch as soon as possible,” LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko said at the unveiling of the LMC partnership deal with Star Lager Beer, as the official beer of the NPFL on August 23 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.</div>
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<div>As a result, Yobo was expected to be in action against the Sunshine Stars of Akure last weekend. </div>
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<div>However, Yobo said he didn't sign for any club. </div>
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<div>“I read that I was missing in action last weekend. I have not signed for Kano pillars or any NPFL club. Yet,” Yobo wrote on his official Twitter page.</div>
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</div>

Latest-News Joseph Yobo: I Have Not Signed for Kano Pillars

Former Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, has refuted reports that he has signed for Nigerian Football club Kano Pillars. According...

Rohr: I’m Used To Working Without Salary

10:53 Unknown 0

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<br />
The new technical adviser for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, says he is not bothered about his salary for now, as he is focused on building a formidable national team for the country.<br />
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<div>Mr. Rohr spoke on Thursday in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, in his maiden pre-match press briefing, ahead of the Saturday encounter between Nigeria and Tanzania taking place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in the city.</div>
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<div>He was responding to a reporter’s question about having thick skin to work with the Nigeria Football Federation known for shoddy treatment of coaches.</div>
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<div>Mr. Rohr, a German, said he has experienced such harsh conditions, having worked for six to eight months without salaries as coach of Niger’s national team.</div>
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<div>“My problem at the moment is not when my salary is coming; my problem is building a national team,” he said. “We have a contract, and I see everyone who signed the contract as being honest.”</div>
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<div>Rohr said he came with “German mentality”, and that he was proud to be in Nigeria. His mission, he said, was to take the country to Russia for the 2018 world cup.</div>
</div>
</div>

Latest-News Rohr: I’m Used To Working Without Salary

The new technical adviser for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, says he is not bothered about his salary for now, as he is focused on...

Sports Minister Has Apologised To Me – Siasia

10:53 Unknown 0

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Coach of the bronze winning U-23 national football team at the Rio Olympics, Samson Siasia has said he no longer habours any ill-feelings for the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung for labelling him a ‘Human trafficker’ because “he has apologized to me”.<br />
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<div>Widely travelled BBC World Football reporter, Osasu Obayiuwana revealed that Siasia spoke extensively with him during an interview Wednesday night for the BBC on so many issues including the attack on him (Siasia).</div>
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<div>Obayiuwana disclosed that the Bayelsa-born gaffer said during the interview that he was disappointed by the ill-treatment of the U-23 team before and after wining the face-saving bronze medal for the country at the Games as well as the aspersion cast on the Japanese billionaire,</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Katsuya Takasu who came to the rescue of the team when Nigerian billionaires who heard about their predicament turned deaf ears.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Siasia’s feelings: “I was very surprised that he (Dalung) accused me of being a human trafficker. He has apologized to me for making that statement. The minister has made some mistakes and needs to be guided. But I have decided to let what he said go…”</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>On being owed five months wages, by the Nigeria Football Federation: “If I had known that I will be in this situation, I would never have taken up this job. I have been relying on friends, in order to survive. There is no excuse for my being owed five months wages… My son asks me, “Dad, how can you be working and they don’t pay you?”</div>
</div>
</div>

Latest-News Sports Minister Has Apologised To Me – Siasia

Coach of the bronze winning U-23 national football team at the Rio Olympics, Samson Siasia has said he no longer habours any ill-feelings...

Siasia: Where Was Dangote When We Needed Help In Brazil?

10:39 Unknown 0

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Ex coach of Nigeria's U-23 team Samson Siasia in an interview with BBC, expressed disappointment at Nigerian billionaires for failing to come to the team's aid at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.<br />
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A Japanese surgeon, Dr. Katsuya Takasu, gave the team a gift of $390,000 to help them during their stay in the South American country.<br />
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Speaking about him, Siasia said: “This man came to our aid when we were in trouble. I must thank him. He is a wonderful human being.<br />
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"Where were our billionaires, like Aliko Dangote, when they must have heard that the team were in trouble?" he queried.<br />
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He added that the report written by the NFF’s Integrity Officer (Dr Christian Emeruwa) on Dr Takasu (which alludes that he could be associated with match-fixing) is nonsense.<br />
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"He should have done a better job of checking him out," he added.</div>

Latest-News Siasia: Where Was Dangote When We Needed Help In Brazil?

Ex coach of Nigeria's U-23 team Samson Siasia in an interview with BBC, expressed disappointment at Nigerian billionaires for failing...

How Boko Haram lures youths, pupils with interest-free loans –Reports

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New reports by an international aid organisation, Mercy Corps, have revealed how Boko Haram insurgents use informal micro credit schemes and promises of safety to recruit hundreds of youths and pupils as fighters.<br />
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The beneficiaries, the reports funded by the Ford Foundation added, received amounts ranging from N10,000 to N1m in order to buy motorcycles, restock their trading stores and grow their small-scale businesses.<br />
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The reports, presented on Thursday in Lagos, also highlighted how repression from the military and access to interest-free finance, among others, had perpetuated terrorism and elicited sympathy from communities in the North.<br />
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However, the Lead Researcher and Global Director, Conflict Management for Mercy Corps, Rebecca Wolfe, said many of the locals did not know that the credits were from the insurgents.<br />
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The reports noted, “Roughly one out of three respondents had completed secular secondary school and about the same number had completed some sort of Islamic schooling.”<br />
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Titled, “Motivations and Empty Promises: Voices of former Boko Haram combatants and Nigerian Youth and Gifts and Graft: How Boko Haram uses Financial Services for Recruitment and Support,” the reports revealed that peer pressure and the availability of girls were also incentives to the beneficiaries.<br />
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According to Wolfe, 47 former members of the insurgent groups, comprising 21 females and 26 males, 45 community members and seven others, who refused the sect’s incentives were interviewed during the study.<br />
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 She added, “Sometimes the people did not know. It is usually something like a friend coming to give them money for their business and they later find out that the friend is a member of Boko Haram. I asked them, ‘Don’t you people know?’ But it turned out that sometimes, they did not know what they were getting into.<br />
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“One male recipient shared how he was complaining to a friend that he wanted a job so he could better provide for his parents. The friend then liaised with Boko Haram leaders to secure a motorcycle to allow the recipient start a business,” she said.<br />
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Meanwhile, the reports recommended that the government should, in the post-conflict era, “increase the quality, availability and diversity of financial services, particularly to youths with small, informal businesses. Increase transparency and accessibility to government-led economic programmes. Explore financial services to help youths achieve their ambitions, among other interventions.”<br />
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A member of the team, Ballama Mustafa, who urged the government to make its presence felt in remote communities in the region, added that interventions should be interest-free and should not exclude locals, who are not literate.<br />
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He added, “There are diverse paths to membership. Some were abducted and some joined because they had friends who were insurgents. Some joined to avenge the deaths of their family members or friends. When the military invades a community after a terrorist attack, you find that the military arrests people indiscriminately. But Boko Haram also does that. When they go into a community, they can kill parents who have prevented their children from joining them. One of our recommendations is that communities and schools should create counter-narratives to dissuade youths and pupils from joining the sect.”

Latest-News How Boko Haram lures youths, pupils with interest-free loans –Reports

New reports by an international aid organisation, Mercy Corps, have revealed how Boko Haram insurgents use informal micro credit schemes an...

Minister of Science and Technology discloses Nigeria's ranking in world tech

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Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that in Global Competitiveness Report for 2015/2016, Nigeria recorded a score of 3.0 out of 7 and ranked 106 out of 140 countries on Technological Readiness and a score of 2.8 out of 7 with a rank of 117 out of 140 countries on Innovation.<br />
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Ogbonnaya Onu The minister at a policy dialogue with private sector organised by the Nigeria Economic Submit Group, NESG, said: “It is worth pointing out that 13 of the countries that ranked among the top 20 in the Global Competitive Index also ranked among the top 20 in the rankings of the Technological Readiness and Innovation Pillars.<br />
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They are Switzerland, Singapore, United States of America, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Luxembourg. “When we look at the MINT countries of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey, apart from the fact that the other three are doing much better than us in competitiveness, they rank far above Nigeria in the rankings on Technological Readiness and Innovation.<br />
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“We should aim to be the best for only the best is good enough for Nigeria. We can no longer continue to depend on others. The time has come for us to be self-reliant and also be competitive enough for others to depend on us at least in some areas. This will nourish our national pride,” he said.<br />
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Latest-News Minister of Science and Technology discloses Nigeria's ranking in world tech

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that in Global Competitiveness Report for 2015/2016, Nigeria recorded a sco...

Finance Minister Adeosun disowns Twitter account

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Nigeria's finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has disowned the twitter handle @MrsKemiAdeosun previously believed to be hers.<br />
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A statement by her media aide, Festusn Akanbi, disowning the account read, - “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has been drawn to a fake Twitter handle in her name saying that ‘recession is just a word’.<br />
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“For the avoidance of doubt, the Honourable Minister does not own a twitter account. The Twitter handle currently trending, and any other twitter handle presently in existence is not, and cannot be that of the Honourable Minister, as a twitter account has not yet been set up for her. It is obviously fake and does not represent the views and opinions of the Honourable Minister.?<br />
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“Also at no time did the Honourable Minister, who addressed the media immediately after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council, make such a statement.<br />
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“The minister has consistently demonstrated empathy for the plight of Nigerians hard hit by dwindling oil prices and the impact on the economy.<br />
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The account has existed for about 11months and has been copied in tweets by the Nigerian senate, members of President Muhammadu Buhari's media team, and other prominent Nigerians. Could the minister be lying about the account?

Latest-News Finance Minister Adeosun disowns Twitter account

Nigeria's finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has disowned the twitter handle @MrsKemiAdeosun previously believed to be hers. A statemen...

Most expensive cities to live in Nigeria

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We live in a third-world country. But this does not make Nigeria a relatively cheap country to live in. There are some cities in the country that are expensive in terms of living condition, and you would want to think twice before you settle or relocate there. They are:<br />
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1. Lagos: Regarded as the commercial hub of Nigeria, with a growing population of over 21 million people is the second fastest growing city in Africa. Lagos, also called by ''Eko'', is a home of businesses and many tribes. The city is regarded as no man land because of how it accommodates people from different culture – who all make a living in Lagos. The influx of people in Lagos does not make the city a cheap one to live in. From transport fares to housing and food items, life is not so cheap in Lagos. But, it a commercial hub – which is why people throng there daily.<br />
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2. Port Harcourt: The capital of Rivers, an oil rich state is a large industrial area having quite a number of multi national firms, and businesses related to the petroleum industry. The city has one of the functioning seaports in Nigeria. Not that you will be totally stranded on your first time visit in Port Harcourt, but the traffic gridlock will make you sick.<br />
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3. Warri: A city in Delta state is one of the first civilised cities in Nigeria. The city is a home to head offices of Local and International oil companies in the country. Housing in Warri is quite affordable, but not cheap as some localities in the state.<br />
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4. Abuja: Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. The Nation's seat of power is unarguably one of the expensive cities to live in the country. From transportation to housing to food items, Abuja is a no-go city if you don't have a fat source of income. Abuja is an organized and well-planned city, with good roads.<br />
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5. Calabar: A seaport city due to its tourist attraction has continue to drive in people, leading to increase in cost of living. Calabar, once a capital of the country is blessed with tourist attractions like Obudu Cattle Ranch, Tinapa resort and friendly weather. Things are not so cheap in Calabar. Know that before you visit.<br />
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6. Enugu: One of the beautiful cities to visit in Nigeria is Enugu. A hilly, calm, beautiful city that makes you feel at home away from home. But it is expensive, though not so much in comparison to the nation's capital. Also a good city to spend the vacation.<br />
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7. Owerri: Owerri, the capital city of Imo state is also one of the expensive cities in Nigeria. The city has a growing population rate, with presence of so many schools. Owerri used to be very cheap but ever since it transformed to be a hub for tourists, it has become quite expensive to live in. Unlike Aba, accommodation is not so cheap in Owerri, and down to the cost of some basic items. .

Latest-News Most expensive cities to live in Nigeria

We live in a third-world country. But this does not make Nigeria a relatively cheap country to live in. There are some cities in the countr...

Nigerian Senate announces job vacancies

09:53 Unknown 0

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Nigerian Senate, the upper chamber of the National Assembly has announced recruitment.<br />
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The Senate, @NGRSenate on Thursday said it is looking for two video editors for its television station.<br />
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The tweet reads: “We are looking at recruiting 2 video editors for Senate TV station. Know anyone interested? We will start taking applications September 5th”.<br />
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To Apply, check @NGRSenate on September 5th, 2016 for details.<br />
<div><img height="324" src="https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/attachments/ngse-jpg.94405/" width="640" /></div>
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Latest-News Nigerian Senate announces job vacancies

Nigerian Senate, the upper chamber of the National Assembly has announced recruitment. The Senate, @NGRSenate on Thursday said it is loo...

The Mark Zuckerberg Visit By Reuben Abati

09:53 Unknown 0

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Reuben Abati recently wrote a piece on the visit of Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, to Nigeria.<br />
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Mark Zuckerberg’s two-day visit to Nigeria has done a lot for the country; it is a pity no government official or agency has tried to tap into the gains of that visit. He arrived at a time there was much talk about economic recession, concerns about companies folding up or retrenching staff, or international investors leaving the country in droves, out of frustration with the uncertainties in the system.<br />
Zuckerberg’s arrival raised our hopes: co-founder of Facebook and the 5th richest man in the world, sneaked into Nigeria to meet with developers and entrepreneurs and to discuss investments in Nigeria’s growing start-up ecosystem. And for two days, he went round the city of Lagos, visiting start-ups and interacting with young entrepreneurs.<br />
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The way Nigeria is often painted abroad, and in those travel advisories that foreign ministries issue, you would think Nigeria is such an unsafe place where kidnappers are permanently on the prowl. Zuckerberg helped to show the rest of the world that Nigeria is not so bad at all, and that something really exciting is happening here among the country’s young population. He had no bodyguards. He did not have to hire a lorry load of Nigerian policemen to keep watch over him. He trekked on the streets of Lagos, surrounded by a few of his hosts. On Wednesday morning, he jogged across the Ikoyi-Lekki bridge. He ate pounded yam, shrimps, snails (I thought they said he is a vegan!) and jollof rice (Nigerian jollof (!) not that one from Ghana). His visit went smoothly. More investors may well be encouraged to visit Nigeria too, seeing how confidently a whole $53.7 billion walked freely about in Nigeria, and he was not stolen or kidnapped.<br />
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Zuckerberg’s visit also provided great publicity for Nigeria’s emerging Silicon Valley, and the young entrepreneurs to whom Zuckerberg paid compliments. He has already invested in a Nigerian start-up, Andela, and he has made friends with other young Nigerians, the guys behind Jobberman and C-Creation Hub (CcHUB) and so many others. Zuckerberg cut the picture throughout his visit of a true inspirational figure. His simplicity and humility was impressive. He kept going about in a T-shirt, and interacted freely with everyone he met.<br />
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Many young Nigerians can learn from his example: the way some people whose biggest possession is a laptop sometimes carry their shoulders in the sky, if they were to be half of what Zuckerberg is, they won’t just claim that they are voltrons or overlords, they will look for more intimidating labels. But Mark Zuckerberg, who is just 32, shows that it is not all about money, or influence, character matters. There is no doubt that his hosts were also impressed with him.  And that probably explains the protest that greeted the attempt by CNN International and American artiste, Tyrese Gibson, to refer to the visit as Zuckerberg’s visit to sub-Saharan Africa. Young Nigerians kept shouting back that Zuckerberg is in Nigeria, not sub-Saharan Africa! They wanted the publicity for their country.<br />
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Inspired by Zuckerberg’s visit as the tech entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s Silicon Valley may have been, the Nigerian government should see in the visit, and the excitement that it has generated, the need to provide greater support for technological innovation in the country. There are many young Nigerians out there who are gifted, hardworking and innovative. They belong to the 21st Century. They are aggressive. They want to operate at the international level and become superstars. They have ideas. They are ready and willing. The basic thing that government owes them is to provide an enabling environment for their talents to flower. It has taken a few young men and ladies to bring Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria. There are other young Nigerians doing wonderful things in other sectors of the economy who can save this country if they are given the chance. There is also a large army of untapped and yet-to-be-discovered talents, whose future we cannot afford to waste. Investment in education will help. Uncommon sense will make things happen.<br />
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Zuckerberg’s visit also did a lot for Nollywood. He described Nollywood as “a national treasure”. That statement should be framed and sent to every major agency in the private and public sectors in Nigeria. He may not yet have invested in Nollywood, but there was no doubt that the members of Nollywood and other celebrities who met with him appreciated their being recognized by one of the most successful young men of the 21st century. I watch Nollywood movies, but I don’t think I have ever seen those Nollywood stars who met with Zuckerberg smile that heartily and broadly - not even in the movies. The ones who did not bare their 32, were staring at the Facebook ambassador in that typical Nigerian fashion: “ah, see money, Mark, abi make I send you script make you sponsor?”<br />
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The way the visit went, if Mark Zuckerberg had wanted a Nigerian wife, or girlfriend, he would have been met at every turn with echoes of “Yes, Yes, Yes…come and hold something.” But he is already married. So, don’t worry, Priscilla Chan (Mark’s wife), your husband is safe, Nigerian ladies will only admire him, they don’t mean any harm, and they won’t initiate him into coded runs.  But of course you trust him - you know he is not Justin Bieber. But money is good oh. After money, it is money. Ha, Ori lonise, eda ko la’ropin o, Edumare funmi ni money…<br />
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Altogether, it was a great business outing for Zuckerberg and Facebook. Over 16 million Nigerians are on Facebook, it is the largest and most influential social media platform in the country; on a daily basis, over 7 million Nigerians log onto the website. Many more are on whatsapp, another Facebook acquired platform. With Zuckerberg’s visit, that number is bound to grow.  The strategic friendships and partnerships that he has been able to build is a demonstration of power and influence: Facebook is on the ground in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, and he has taken that further by visiting Kenya - look beyond the T-shirt, this young American billionaire is building constituencies and spheres of influence across Africa; he is exploring new markets and staying ahead of the competition in a continent that many other investors may overlook, or desert for reasons of inconvenience.<br />
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As a business strategy, Mark Zuckerberg’s exploration of the African market is brilliant. It may be the subject someday of a Management, Leadership and Marketing Class. Businesses must innovate, innovate and innovate and the best way to do that is through people.  Nigerian entrepreneurs have a lot to learn in this regard: the mindset of the business leader is the soul of strategy. There are too many thermostatic leaders in the Nigerian business environment, and that is why at the slightest confrontation with hard choices, they close shop and run. Here is Mark Zuckerberg, in the face of proven recession, he wants to support start-ups and SMEs in Nigeria; at a time others are fleeing, he is coming into Nigeria and Africa. He is smart. Wicked problems in a business environment should inspire genius, change and innovation. That is what leadership is all about.<br />
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Beyond business and culture, there was a small political side to the Zuckerberg visit. The Facebook CEO had said Facebook will promote the use of Hausa Language, some reports indicated he had said he loves Hausa language, and then a storm followed, resulting in a hot, healthy spat between two friends, colleagues and brothers of mine, Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) and Reno Omokri (@renoomokri), with one claiming that Americans are promoting Northern hegemony (John Kerry, now Zuckerberg and Facebook), and the other saying it is not a big deal, and in the exchange, we got some lectures about Nigeria’s ethnic and hegemonic politics.<br />
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On Wednesday at a town hall meeting, Zuckerberg more or less edited himself by saying “I am glad we support Hausa, and we are planning on supporting more languages soon.” He didn’t specify what those other languages are. I hope he knows Nigeria has over 400 languages and ethnic groups, and they all form part of the Nigerian Facebook community. He should tread carefully here, because I am not too sure Facebook can adopt Yoruba language before Igbo, or vice versa, without a social media war on its hands, and if Facebook chooses to accommodate the three major languages in Nigeria, it could be confronted with a major battle over minority rights on its platform. We are like that in this country, Mark.<br />
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But the difference is that Mark Zuckerberg is not a politician, he has voted only once (in 2008) and he doesn’t make political statements, except when business interests are at stake. Eyin boys, FFK and Reno, Zuckerberg doesn’t really care about the local fights we fight: he wants to create new markets and if promoting Hausa on Facebook will create more customers in that part of Nigeria, so be it. And in case religion is part of that politics, it doesn’t concern him either, he was born Jewish, but he is a self-declared atheist. If he worships any religion, it is the religion of Facebook. In Nigeria, he has Igbos, Yorubas and other Nigerians working for him. (https://techpoint.ng/2016/08/31/nigerians-working-with-mark-zuckerberg-facebook/).<br />
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He is interested in their intellect not where they come from.  One more thing: The Nigerian government snubbed him or did he snub our government? When he got to Kenya, he was received at the airport by the Cabinet Secretary of Information and Communications and later given a delicious lunch of fish, semo and soup (https://techpoint.ng/2016/09/01/mark-zuckerberg-in-kenya/), no Nigerian government official offered him common sachet water and yet he was here to create jobs and markets! We shouldn’t frighten him away with our politics! The good news, though, is that he is a humanist even if a secular humanist: End of story.<br />
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Thank you Marky, for the visit and for giving us a good story to tell.

Latest-News The Mark Zuckerberg Visit By Reuben Abati

Reuben Abati recently wrote a piece on the visit of Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, to Nigeria. Mark Zuckerberg’s two-day visit to...

Bags of rice now smuggled in ambulance like corpses into Nigeria

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Selechang Taupyen, spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme command, on Thursday disclosed that rice smugglers have devised a method to beat security checks.<br />
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According to Taupyen, the latest tactic of smugglers is to wrap bags of rice as corpses and load them in hearses.<br />
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He said 11 bags of imported rice, wrapped as a corpse, were seized recently, with one Moses Degbogbahun arrested in connection with the incident.<br />
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“The smuggler concealed the smuggled bags of rice in a Volvo ambulance with Reg. No. DV 74 EKY and he was arrested along Aradagun toll gate area of Badagry,” he said.<br />
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“The mobile patrol team led by Chief Superintendent of Customs M. Ozah noted the frequent movement of the ambulance and this aroused curiosity of the team, and the vehicle was stopped for proper examination.<br />
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“During the examination, 11 bags of imported rice were discovered and they were carefully arranged and wrapped as a corpse. The suspect is still undergoing investigation for possible prosecution.”

Latest-News Bags of rice now smuggled in ambulance like corpses into Nigeria

Selechang Taupyen, spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme command, on Thursday disclosed that rice smugglers have devised a method ...

BREAKING NEWS: Facebook founder, Mark Zukerberg back again in Nigeria, set to meet President Buhari

06:55 Unknown 0

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<b><br /></b><b>NigerianEye</b> can exclusively report that Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg who left Nigeria yesterday for Kenya is now back in the country for the second time in few days.<br />
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The sixth richest man in the world who left Nigeria for Kenya yesterday will be attending the Aso Villa Demo Day in Abuja, <b><i>NigerianEye</i></b> gathered.<br />
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Zukerberg will also be visiting President Muhammadu Buhari for a brief meeting before he proceeds to the venue of a tech event.

Latest-News BREAKING NEWS: Facebook founder, Mark Zukerberg back again in Nigeria, set to meet President Buhari

NigerianEye can exclusively report that Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg who left Nigeria yesterday for Kenya is now back in the country f...

'Nigerians regret voting for Buhari'

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Following the declaration by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS that the nation’s economy has gone into recession, social critic and former All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Benue state, Mr. Nath Apir has stated that Nigerians are currently regretting voting for President Muhammadu Buhari at the last general elections.<br />
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<a name='more' id="more"></a>Apir who spoke Thursday, in Makurdi, lamented that the APC led government had failed to do the needful to sustain the level of economic growth recorded by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.<br />
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 He said, “during the last administration. Our economy was performing above average.<br />
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This government came in and because every government comes in to fix the problems of the previous government. It took Presidemt Buhari six months to appoint Ministers in a country where, whether rightly or wrongly was rated by the World Bank and the IMF as Africa’s largest and number one economy. We did not get that rating through bribe.<br />
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“On coming to government it behoved this administration to inflate the tyres that were low on air pressure, grease those bearings that needed to be oiled so that we don’t grind to a halt just like we are in now. “Our country is in shambles, the people can hardly feed, the Naira has crashed to over N400 to the Dollar.<br />
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They talk of recovering money from looters and we have not seen where the monies have gone to. Where exactly are the three or five key pillars of the economic policies of the APC government?<br />
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“Agree that there are issues of militancy in the south south, other governments also faced same challenge. Buhari came in with a military mentality to crush them.<br />
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Look, civilized people negotiate, they don’t do that because they are weak. They do that beacuse they know that you cannot go forward in a situation of crisis and chaos. “He has just aggravated our economic situation in the country.<br />
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Six months no Minister and the country was drifting and has not recovered till today and he has brought us to this level. Nigerians are regretting voting Buhari, that is the truth. Continuing, Apir said, “all his policies had been anti corruption, by the time he came in as military ruler in 1983 we resorted to the purchasing of essential commodities.<br />
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We are back to that vicious circle. We are back to anti corruption war without real economic policies. “Let me tell you, western countries are neck deep in corruption. Don’t be deceived, they have been receiving stolen monies from Africa without questioning the sources of such wealth.<br />
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Today we are asking for the return of those monies and they are asking for proof that the monies are our own when they did not ask the alleged thieves where they got the monies from.<br />
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 “These are basic things we should know, they use the monies to develop their economies. President Buhari’s war on corruption is excellent and I support it, but he must not use his anti corruption war to destroy the country’s economy. “He should strengthen institutions to fight corruption.<br />
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You want to fight corruption go after bankers, permanent secretaries as well, don’t just go after only highly exposed political people. These people cannot transfer monies without the banks. Permanent secretaries are the accounting officers of their offices. How come they are not being held to account. “The economy is in shambles and he has no solution.<br />
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The experience of the Finance Minister is low. Who is running this economy. You cannot assemble a group of yes sir people and expect good results. No one to challenge you. An educated man said, ‘we are all ignorant of everything except in that which we know’, that is why you need great minds around you as a leader. So our country is in recession, though I’m not surprise because we had same in 1983 to 1985.<br />
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“Who is running this economy? As a President he is looking at a maze but you cannot read or lead the economy inside that maze without anybody interpreting it to you, it’s a matrix. Buhari has to reorganize his administration, he has to push out those who obviously have no business in the government, corrupt and inefficient people are everywhere in this government they must leave now to save our country.”

Latest-News 'Nigerians regret voting for Buhari'

Following the declaration by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS that the nation’s economy has gone into recession, social critic and ...

Man exchanges his 8, 13-year-old siblings for bags of rice

06:41 Unknown 0

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An unidentified middle-aged man, Wednesday, abducted two siblings, who were returning from extra-moral class in Satellite area of Lagos. Thereafter, he exchanged them for two bags of rice in a shop at 63, Marwa Road, near Chemist Bus Stop. The children are aged 8 and 13.<br />
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bags of rice</td>
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 It was gathered that at the shop, the abductor told the sales girl that he would like to take two bags of rice to the mother of the children, whom he claimed owned a restaurant close-by, to ascertain whether the rice was the brand she needed.<br />
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Speaking with newsmen, owner of the shop, Mrs Silverline, explained that “he (the abductor) told my sales girl that the mother of the children needed Indian rice, but my sales girl told him that what we had was Brazilian rice and that it was good.<br />
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“Thereafter, he made a phone call to someone he claimed was the mother of the children and at the end said he would like to take the bags of rice to the woman. But my girl insisted on following him to collect the money for the bags (N40,000) should the woman agree to buy them.<br />
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“The stranger said he would ride on a motorcycle with the bags of rice, while my girl followed with the children on foot. But on reaching the purported restaurant, the owner said she never saw any one with bags of rice, neither did she admit knowing the children.<br />
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“They walked to Ijegun end of Satellite without any sight of the abductor. When we asked the children about him, they said that the abductor was not their father.” An eyewitness, Ifeoma John, said that immediately the abductor left with the bags of rice, a man who claimed to be the biological father of the children, arrived, alleging that his children could have been hypnotised by the abductor.<br />
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He contacted policemen from Satellite Division, who took everyone involved to the station, from where the children were released to their parents.