A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has asked the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu to advise President Buhari to go back to his farm and that he should halt dabbling into matters concerning Nigeria and Ekiti State in particular.
Olayinka, who was reacting to Ojudu's comment that the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose was disrespecting President Muhammadu Buhari whom he (Ojudu) said was old enough to be his (Fayose) father, said; "Ojudu will be making the biggest political mistake if he believed that this time around, he will ride on the back of political treachery, blackmail and bootlicking to become the governor of Ekiti State."
The governor's spokesperson said "Ojudu should rather advise President Buhari to go back to his farm in Daura, Katsina State if he has become too old to be corrected by Nigerians, who elected him and on whose sweat he is being sustained."
He said Nigerians, irrespective of their age and position have inalienable rights to criticise public office holders, including the president, adding that; "Civilian dictators like Senator Ojudu are the ones carrying public office on their heads and playing god in the lives of Nigerians."
Describing Ojudu as a serial blackmailer and an unrepentant hypocrite, Olayinka said; "It is funny that someone like Ojudu, is the one talking about Governor Fayose disrespecting President Buhari on account of his age."
He challenged the Presidential Adviser to tell Nigerians the benefit derived by Ekiti people from his four years in the Senate and close to two years in the Presidency.
Olayinka said; "Here is a man who wasted four years in the Senate without anything to show for all the millions of naira he collected on behalf of Ekiti people now gallivanting up and down because he is in the Presidency.
"If Ojudu had done so well as a senator, won't he have had the courage to seek re-election in 2015 like his two other colleagues?
"Even last year when Fulani herdsmen were killing Ekiti people and destroying their farmlands, Ojudu took side with the herdsmen against his own people just because he needed to be in the good books of President Buhari.
"It is a shame that someone like him is the one talking about the governor portraying Ekiti in a bad light when all he (Ojudu) has done since 1999 was to champion political instability in the State.
"Is it not on record that he (Ojudu) wagged war against Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Governor Fayose (during his first tenure) and Engr Segun Oni? He even lied against Oni that he set his house ablaze and engineered protest against Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) in Ibadan in 2007."
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerian teachers that the National Assembly will increase their retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain more experienced teachers in public schools.
Dogara disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
The speaker said that the house would support an upward review of teachers' retirement age to benefit Nigerian children.
"We have done it for the Tertiary institutions and the Judiciary, so nothing should stop us from taking the bull by the horns.
"They say that wine gets better with age. It was the same consideration that motivated us to raise that of university lecturers, raised that of judges. So this is something we can pursue.
"Thankfully, it doesn't require constitutional amendment, it is something we can achieve by amending the existing law.
Speaker Dogara
"That is the responsibility of the parliament and we assure you that we will do something about that so that the benefit that comes with experience and wisdom will not be lost," he said
Dogara said that the welfare and working condition of teachers must also be upgraded to enable Nigerian citizens compete with the global world and produce citizens that can achieve development that the country seeks.
"If we don't have people who will sacrifice their time and energy to impact knowledge on our children, then like I said, we have lost the future.
"This government which is a government of change must be prepared to change the narrative by ensuring that teachers are motivated and the condition in which they work are conducive at all levels, so that they can deliver on their professional calling," he said.
The speaker also advised the union to channel their request for salaries of teachers to be handed over to state governments or paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission to the Constitution Review of the House of Representatives for consideration.
Comrade Alogba Olukoya, the National President of NUT, said the union preferred that payment of teachers' salaries be handed over to State governments. He also canvassed for an increase in the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.
The teachers union also demanded that teachers' salaries be paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission.
"We want the responsibilities of paying the salaries of Teachers be handed over to State Governments in which case the salaries component of the revenue allocation of the Local Governments will have to be transferred to the states and restructure the fiscal allocation of our national resources in favour of the states to guarantee uninterrupted and unfettered primary education in Nigeria.
"We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.
"This will help to check the rate at which experienced teachers are being lost in the school system whereas younger and prospective teachers are not recruited to take their places," Olukoya said.
US television network CNN on Wednesday fired a comedian from its annual New Year’s Eve coverage after she provoked outrage for being photographed holding up a prop depicting Donald Trump’s bloodied severed head.
The US president castigated Kathy Griffin saying she “should be ashamed of herself” for the grisly-looking photograph. “My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!” he tweeted.
Griffin, 56, who had co-hosted CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve coverage for the last decade, apologized on Tuesday and said she had asked the celebrity photographer Tyler Shields to remove the picture from the internet.
But it was not enough to save her job with CNN.
Kathy Griffin
“CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program,” its communications division announced on Twitter.
The network had said earlier it was “evaluating” its New Year’s Eve coverage and called the picture “disgusting and offensive.”
First Lady Melania Trump also criticized the outspoken Trump critic, who has twice won Emmys for her reality show “My Life on the D List.”
“As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing,” the president’s wife said in a rare statement.
“When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it,” she added.
In a 31-second video posted to social media late Tuesday Griffin said: “I beg for your forgiveness. I went too far. I made a mistake and I was wrong.”
Trump’s eldest son Donald Jr, who runs the family business in New York, and Mitt Romney, the defeated 2012 Republican presidential nominee, were among those conservatives who slammed the photograph.
“Our politics have become too base, too low & too vulgar, but Kathy Griffin’s post descends into an even more repugnant & vile territory,” Romney tweeted.
Even Trump critics vented disapproval.
“It is never funny to joke about killing a president,” tweeted Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Trump’s former election rival Hillary.
“I think she was thinking she was making some artistic statement, but that image has no place in our political dialogue,” Al Franken, Democratic Senator from Minnesota and a former comedian on long-running television show Saturday Night Live, told MSNBC.
The Secret Service said it would look into the incident, posting on Twitter that threats against protectees “receive the highest priority of all of our investigations.”
Squatty Potty, a Utah-based bathroom products company, suspended an advertising campaign featuring Griffin, calling the picture “deeply inappropriate.”
Lagos – Ten members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD),Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba Chapter, were allegedly injured by some security men from the teaching hospital on Wednesday during a clash.
Dr Adebayo Sekunmade, the president of the ARD of the hospital told newsmen during a news conference.
He said that the doctors sustained injuries when they attempted to take over their secretariat from the security men stationed there by LUTH's management.
Sekunmade told journalists that one of his members was inside the ARD's secretariat at 2.00 a.m. on Tuesday but the security men ordered him out and locked it up.
"We decided to monitor developments around the secretariat after the incident. On Wednesday morning, we saw the security men loading our belongings from there into a waiting bus.
"When we confronted them, they said that they were directed to lock up the secretariat by the management of LUTH.
"We went to the Chief Medical Director's office for dialogue but he refused to attend to us. He, however, directed us to the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of LUTH,'' he said.
Sekunmade said that the CMAC, Dr Olufemi Fasanmade, told them that the management of LUTH was retrieving the secretariat from the ARD.
Sekunmade said that he demanded a court order from Fasanmade to justify his action but he could not present it.
When contacted, the CMAC told journalists that LUTH's management had given the ARD a letter asking it to vacate the building serving as its secretariat, six months ago.
"Nine days ago; we gave them another letter as a reminder to leave the building but they refused, and we decided to lock up the place,'' he said.
Fasanmade said that the association should not have found it hard to vacate one of the seven accommodations it had within the hospital complex.
He said that the management wanted to use it for an important purpose.
"The doctors wanted to forcefully enter the building on Wednesday's morning and LUTH's security men had to disallow them.''
Fasanmade said that the doctors resulted into attacking the security officials.
"We had to invite some police officers from the Ilasamaja and Bode Thomas Police Stations to secure the building and other LUTH's belongings.
"Some of the injured security officials are in the hospital wards receiving treatment,'' Fasanmade said.
By Rotimi Ojomoyela Ado-Ekiti- There was pandemonium in Ikun Ekiti, Moba Local Government on Tuesday evening as masqueraders attacked Muslims while breaking their fast in the Central Mosque.
Muslims had gathered in the mosque around 7pm oblivious of danger lurking in the corner, to observe the Maghrib prayer after breaking their Ramadan fast, when the masquerade struck.
The masquearders attacked the worshippers with cudgels, stone and iron and inflicted injuries on them.
About five of the worshippers were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury.
The hoodlums also smashed the windscreen and destroyed the two cars parked at the entrance of the mosque with axe and stone.
By Babajide Komolafe Guaranty Trust Bank said that its newly introduced mobile application, GTWorld will not replace its USSD banking service but rather complement it.
Managing Director/Chief Executive, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje stated this while fielding questions from journalists during the launching of GTWorld.
Agbaje stated that the USSD platform was targeted at all mobile phone users, GTWorld was targeted at Smartphone users.
He said that USSD Platform was introduced to ensure that all the customers of the bank can conduct mobile banking irrespective of the kind of phones they use. We are aware everybody will not have a Smartphone, so the USSD platform will be sustained to ensure that those who do not have Smartphone can use their phones to conduct banking transactions.
Built on the back of the bank's customer-centric digital strategy, GTWorld features biometric authentication, such as facial recognition and fingerprint, which recognizes a customer and adapts to how and when they want to bank. The Mobile banking app also features a seamless switch to GAPS Lite, the online banking platform for small businesses which offers a flexible and secure channel to make payments and collections anywhere in the world.
With the rapid growth of Smartphone penetration in Nigeria, there has been a steady increase in the adoption of mobile banking solutions. Smartphone users are however very conscious about the security and efficiency and convenience of such applications; and on those three fronts, the GTWorld app excels remarkably. the mobile banking App offers customers access to more than 90 percent of the Bank's services on their Smartphones, guarantees further security through biometric authentication and ensures convenience through the Quick feature, which enables a user to perform transactions without signing in, among others.
GTWorld empowers customers, like never before, to make payments and access in-branch services swiftly and seamlessly, without going to a branch. When switched to GAPS-Lite, the app offers small business owners access to real-time monitoring of all transactions and the ability to make bulk and single transfers on the go to any account in the world.
Commenting on the launch of GTWorld App, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Stated that "We are delighted to be at the forefront of digital banking solutions that are making banking faster, easier and safer for our customers. The Simplicity of GTWorld and innovations such as facial recognition and fingerprint also ensure that our customers enjoy a seamless experience, anywhere, anytime and anyhow they choose to bank.
Gtbank has consistently played a leading role in Africa's banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial services industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent services, quality and innovation.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA- THE Presidency said Wednesday that no date has been fixed for assent to the passed 2017 Appropriation Bill, just as it said that consultations as to the signing of the document were still on going. President Muhammadu Buhari presenting the 2017 Budget before a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Maters, Senate, Senator Ita Enang while responding to when the 2017 budget would be signed into law simply said, “Further to several enquiries regarding action on the 2017 Appropriation Bill by the Executive, be informed that Assent to same is not yet scheduled as consultations and engagements are on going. Be please informed.”
It would be recalled that the Senate had on May 16th, 2017, explained that the need for authentication of the passed 2017 Appropriation Bill was the rationale behind the delay in the transmission of the document to the Executive arm of government for consideration and assent.
Addressing Journalists on the delay in transmission, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, APC, Niger North who explained that the passage of the budget document does not automatically translate that the document would be transmitted immediately, had said that the Joint committees on Appropriations still must carry out its assignment properly by not relenting on its oars.
Senator Abdullahi had said, “After the budget is passed, the appropriation committee has to do some authentication, to avoid just any kind of document flying around. Any moment from now (Tuesday afternoon) today or tomorrow, it would be transmitted to the Presidency. Let us allow those who have been given certain responsibilities to do their job, which must include certain protocols.
"Remember that we had to adjourn and reconvene to approve the votes and proceedings to allow them continue the process. If not, they would not be able to do anything on the document. If we had waited till today (Tuesday) to approve the votes and proceedings, it means they would have to start today.”
The defence on the delay came five days after the National Assembly had on May 11th, passed a total of N7,441,175,486,758 Appropriation Bill, which represented an increase of N143 billion from what was presented last December by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had presented the N7.298trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 14, 2016 and had during the presentation, disclosed that his administration would pay more attention to infrastructure with roads and rail projects enjoying priority attention.
Abuja – Tennis champ Serena Williams is expecting a baby girl.Serena Williams
Her sister, Venus, spilled the beans during a short interview with Eurosport saying: 'I want to be known as the favourite aunt' at the French Open in Stade Roland-Garros, Paris, France.
Venus was asked about the baby in the interview on Wednesday, where she referred to the baby as 'she' and said she wanted the tot to be named after her, according to Dailymail.
Serena announced she is expecting her first child back in April . She also said she still did not know the gender of her baby.
Talking at the Met Gala on May 1, she said: 'We're waiting. It's a surprise. We call it "baby,"' she said.
Serena recently revealed she had actually accidentally announced her pregnancy.
The star confessed the Snapchat which revealed she was 20 weeks along was sent by mistake.
Makurdi – A bill for a law to establish community volunteer guards has passed its second reading at the Benue House of Assembly.
The bill was read for the second time on the floor of the house during plenary on Wednesday.
Leading the debate on the bill, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Nick Eworo (Obi/APC) stated that the community guards, if established, would assist the police in detecting and preventing crimes, especially in the rural communities.
"The vigilante groups will maintain law and order in the communities. They will also ensure peace and safeguard lives and property.
"Their functions will also include detection and prevention of bush burning, illegal logging and deforestation.
They will also be responsible for mobilising labour and supervising community development activities," Eworo explained.
He pointed out, however, that while section 9(1) of an old law provided that the services of the vigilante group was voluntary and non-salaried, clause 9(1) of the proposed law stated that their services would be voluntary but salaried by the community, associations and local governments.
Eworo argued that the proposed law would foster a more professional, committed and dedicated vigilante group to cope with the mounting security challenges in Benue, and moved that the bill be read for the second time.
Seconding the motion, Mr Adam Okloho (Adoka/Ugboju/PDP) stated that the vigilante group would help security agencies to checkmate crimes in the state.
"Our security agencies have not been able to grapple with the security challenges facing Benue, but with the vigilante group in every corner of the state, crimes will reduce because the guards will be closer to the people and get information," he said.
Supporting the motion, Mr Iana Jato (Vandeikya/APC) said that many youths would be gainfully employed if the bill was passed.
The Speaker, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, who also spoke in favour of the bill, stated that Benue people deserved their own security outfit to safeguard their lives and property.
Ikyange, therefore, invited the Clerk of the house, Mr Terese Agena, to read the bill for the second time.
NAN reports that after the second reading, the speaker committed the bill to the committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for further legislative processes.(NAN)
Rafael Nadal admitted a French tennis player’s attempt to kiss a television reporter against her will during a live broadcast made for “uncomfortable” viewing.
Maxime Hamou kissing the journalist
Maxime Hamou, 21, grabbed Eurosport journalist Maly Thomas around the neck and shoulders while she interviewed him following his first-round defeat on Monday.
Thomas described the incident as “frankly unpleasant” and said she “would have punched him” had it not occurred while live on air.
Hamou, the world number 287, was banished from the Roland Garros site as a result by tournament organisers, who slammed his “reprehensible behaviour”.
Nadal was reluctant to comment in depth on Hamou’s actions, but he said: “The only thing that I can say is I watched the video, and it was a little bit uncomfortable for the girl.”
The Spaniard, seeking a 10th French Open title at this year’s event, added it was up to tournament officials in terms of taking disciplinary action.
“I cannot talk much about that. That’s not — something that happened in our sport, but they take a position, so they are free to do what they want.”
Hamou later made a public apology to Thomas.
“I want to offer my deepest apologies to Maly Thomas if she felt hurt or shocked by my attitude during her interview,” Hamou was quoted as saying by L’Equipe daily on Tuesday.
By Innocent Anaba Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, has commended the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, for its effective regulatory functions that has raised the standard of operations in the nation's insurance industry and also maintain integrity by industry operators. Yetunde Ilori
Speaking at the company's 25th Annual General Meeting held recently in Lagos, Mrs. Ilori, said that "NAICOM was established to ensure effective administration, supervision, regulation, monitoring and control of the business of insurance in Nigeria. In addition, they protect insurance policyholders and the insurance industry and have fared well, this is manifest by the performance and growth indices recorded across the industry."
On the level of support it enjoys from the regulatory body with regards to its operations and growth, Mrs. Ilori said, "NAICOM, in administering its regulatory functions, has shown commitment at ensuring that Insurance companies operating in the country are financially sound and honour their obligations towards policy holders."
Pleased with the result declared at the meeting, the shareholders said, "We commend the resilience of the board and management of AXA Mansard Insurance for recording growth in virtually all the performance indices. We equally appreciate the five kobo per share dividend declared and encourage you to do more in subsequent years."
Chairman, AXA Mansard Insurance, Mr. Olusola Adeeyo, while presenting the company's 2016 financial result said the company recorded a 25 per cent increase in gross written premium from N16.6 billion in 2015 to N20.7bn in 2016, adding that net premium income of the company grew from N9.9bn in 2015 to N10.9bn, while profit before tax rose by 50 per cent from N2.02bn to N3.1bn in 2016.
He said, "Despite the adverse economic situation experienced in 2016, we had a successful business year with growth in almost all measures of performance. We performed even better as profit after tax went up by 63 per cent to N2.7bn from N1.7bn in 2015. Our balance sheet remained robust in 2016, experiencing moderate growth of seven per cent in total assets to N55bn from N51.21bn in 2015."
The company he noted, has vision to be the leading African financial services provider, delivering superior solutions to our customers while exceeding stakeholders' expectations.
The Ogun Police Command has arrested two commercial sex workers for allegedly stabbing a middle aged man, Adeyinka Olayinka to death in Ifo area of the state.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the State's Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the disclosure on Wednesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta.
Oyeyemi said the incident happened on Tuesday at KS Hotel in Ifo Local Government Area.
He said the victim, who was supervising construction work on his site, decided to pass the night in the hotel when the incident occurred.
He said that the suspects, Kudirat Raji, also known as Angela and Esther Basiru were sex workers at the Hotel where the victim was stabbed to death with broken bottles.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the victim contracted Kudirat Raji to pass the night with him on an agreed amount.
According to the PPRO, the deceased reneged on the agreement which led to heated argument between them.
"While the argument was going on, Basiru who is a friend to Angela broke a bottle and injured the deceased.
"Angela used the broken part of the bottle to stab the deceased in the armpit thereby cutting one of his nerves, consequent upon which he bled to death,'' he said.
Oyeyemi said the manager of the hotel alerted the Police and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ifo Division; CSP Anthony Haruna led his men to the scene and arrested the two suspects.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered that the case be transferred to Homicide section, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for investigation and prosecution of the suspects.
President Donald Trump's late night tweet #covfefe is causing frenzy around the globe. #covfefe has quickly become the top trending item on Twitter.
Not for the first time, a Trump tweet has lit up the internet. But this time, users the world over have been left scratching their heads over "covfefe": a bizarre word apparently created by the president.
Who can figure out the true meaning of “covfefe” ??? Enjoy!
"Despite the constant negative press covfefe," read the US leader's short tweet sent early Wednesday.
Was it an acronym? A secret message? Or just a typo?
Comments included a mock Google translation of "covfefe" from Russian into English as "I resign," and comments like "Drain the covfefe" — a play on Trump's promise to "drain the swamp" in Washington.
"'Covfefe is a great word, period! – Sean Spicer tomorrow," read one tweet, mentioning the president's spokesman.
To avoid confusion, the Regent's English Language Center in London wrote: "To all of our English language students, we can confirm that 'covfefe' is not an English word. Yet."
Four hours later the tweet had been neither corrected nor deleted, nor was there any hint of what Trump was trying to say.
At 0830 GMT Trump's "covfefe" tweet had more than 105,000 retweets and had been shared 35,000 times, according to Twitter figures.
Since entering office, Trump has used Twitter to issue declarations on everything from Arnold Schwarzenegger's TV performance to an alleged "MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany."
KATSINA – Spiritual leader, Abdulrazak Buhari to a gang of Armed robbers who specializes in snatching of highlanders, has confessed that his prayers failed him and his gang leading to their arrest.
Buhari, 25 years-old was paraded along side members of his gang and others by Federal Special Anti-Robbery squad, SARs at the Katsina State police command headquarters.
He said the gang usually come to him for prayers and he pray to God to grant them good luck and smooth operations.
Buhari said after two operations carried out by the gang, he was paid the sum of N50,000 saying after the first operations he was given N30,000 and the second, N20,000.
According to him, “Honestly, I’m brought because there is a gang of armed robbers I work for. They kept stolen bags of rice in my custody. I know they were thieves. They come to me to help them pray to God to grant them good luck and smooth operations. Two times now, when they come to give me goods stolen from operations, they gave me N30,000 and this time around they gave me N20,000.”
The gang were arrested after snatching highlander car from Eleme in Port Harcourt and attempt to cross the border from Jibia in Katsina state to Niger republic where they will sale the car.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved joint venture agreement between the Federal Government and May &Baker plc to produce vaccines from 2017 to 2021.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole Confirmed this development when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council's meeting which was presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
Adewole revealed that the federal government would own 49 per cent of the joint venture while May and Becker would own 51 per cent.
"Between 1940 and 1991, Nigeria was not only producing vaccines such as smallpox, yellow fever, and anti-rabies vaccines but we also exported to Cameroon, Central African Republic and a few other countries.
"In 1991 the Vaccine Production laboratory stopped production ostensibly because government wanted to reactivate and upgrade the facility which did not take place till today.
"What Council did today was to put life into this joint venture agreement that proposes to establish a company called Bio-vaccines Ltd which will be jointly owned by Federal Government of Nigeria and May and Baker Plc.
According to the minister, the board of the company will comprise seven people, four from May and Baker and three from federal government.
He said the company would be expected to meet the nation's basic vaccines requirements in the next four years with a take-off capital of N100 million.
Adewole added that May and Becker would make an equity contribution N1.3 billion while the federal government would contribute N1.2 billion
He said: "The company between 2017 and 2021 will produce basic vaccines that we need.
"We have considered vaccines as a security issue, it is not only health but we need to consider the security of all Nigerians particularly our children.
"So, with this agreement we will be able to produce those common vaccines and from 2021 and beyond other vaccines that are necessary will also be out in board for administration to Nigerians.
"We are quite happy that today it has taken place and we believe that Nigeria has started a journey to vaccines security.''
The minister announced that his ministry also presented to the Council the report on the outbreak meningitis.
"We are happy to inform the nation that we are almost at the end of the outbreak.
"What we are now doing is to now prepare to ensure that this does not repeat itself next year.''
Adewole also briefed the council about the unfortunate incident where a body was flown into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo, by Kenya Airways.
He said the body was brought into the country without the necessary approval.
"The standard procedure is that for you to fly in a body into Nigeria you need a waiver, a sort of approval by the Federal Ministry of Health.
He revealed that his ministry had already notified the International Civil Aviation Authority so that Kenya airways will be formerly sanctioned.
"But we want to assure Nigerians that the body tested negative to Ebola and any of the hemorrhagic fevers.
"We know the cause of death but for confidential reasons we do not have to disclose it. But it is nothing really to worry about.
"So, we are on top of the situation in the way and manner in which we handled the situation.
"The entire premises was decontamination immediately and the body was taken.''
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbunnaya Onu, who also briefed the correspondents, said for too long Nigeria had depended on the importation of raw materials and products at the detriment of nation's economy.
He noted that Nigeria was a great nation that was enriched with abundant natural resources and "it doesn't make sense that Nigeria has been importing what it has from outside the country.''
The Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Agency (KPWA),) has announced a flat rate of N1.53 million as the fare for intending pilgrims for 2017 hajj to Saudi Arabia.
The state Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Bala Sakaba, made the announcement in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
He said that the fare was approved by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Sakaba explained that all intending pilgrims are to receive 800 US dollars as Basic Travelling Allowance, adding that no provision was made for minimum and maximum fares as practised in the past.
"Already prospective pilgrims from the state have made deposits of between N1 million to the agency.
"We have given pilgrims up to next week as deadline to pay the balance of the fare as stipulated by NAHCON," he said.
He explained that defaulters risk forfeiting their chance to make the trip because NAHCON has also fixed deadline for remittance of the fare.
The chairman also commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the prompt issuance of national identity number to the intending pilgrims.
"Without the identity number no pilgrim will be allowed to go to Saudi Arabia for 2017 hajj in line with the Saudi Arabian Authority," he said.
4,929 intending pilgrims are expected to perform the 2017 hajj from the state.
Senate on Wednesday passed the Nigerian Customs Service Management Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2017.
The passage of the bill followed a clause by clause consideration of the report of Committee on Customs and Excise on the bill as well as a voice vote by the lawmakers.
Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma said the Act establishing Customs had not undergone a major overhaul since 1958.
He said the passage of the bill would help to reposition the service which was one of the major sources of revenue generation for the Federal Government.
He said one of the major objectives of the bill was to create a commission that would regulate and oversee activities of the service to ensure optimal performance.
He said the bill also made provision for the appointment of a Comptroller-General from the service by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate.
He stressed that the commission would take up most of the duties of the Minister of Finance, who was currently the head of the Management Board of the service.
"At the beginning of this senate a committee was set up to identify the money bills that will help our distressed economy and one of the bills that the senate earmarked for amendment is the Customs and Excise Management Act.
"The primary purpose of amending this bill is to bring discipline and prudence into Nigeria Customs Service as a major revenue earning Department of Government.
"It is also to use the services of Customs to strengthen border community and facilitate trade.
"The Customs Act was legislated upon last in 1958. This is the first time that this bill is going through a comprehensive overhaul and it is as good as a brand new one.
"This bill has created a Customs Service Commission that is in charge of the day to day management of the service.
"It will be in charge of discipline, conduct, training, deployment of officers, and it has the powers of oversight the various customs operations while ensuring that it is not different from customs in other clients.
"The Chairman of the Commission will be appointed by the President, subject to Senate confirmation and members of the commission are going to be statutory organs of government, Federal Ministry of Finance.
"Others are Federal Ministry of Transport, the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), the Nigeria Customs Service, Standard Organisation of Nigeria,'' he said.
Uzodinma further said that the tenure of the Chairman of the commission would be four years with an option to renew for another four years.
He stressed that the creation of the commission was not to jettison the position of the Ministry of Finance, adding that it was to make the work easier.
The lawmaker further said that that with the passage of the bill revenue accruing to customs would improve significantly.
"Currently Customs should get money from non-dutiable items and it should be able to oversee the activities of dutiable cargo and non-dutiable cargo.
"That is what we have done. Now customs will be funded through the existing seven per cent surcharge and additional one per cent charge from the revenue generated,'' he said.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the bill, when assented to, would bring about the modernisation of customs procedure in accordance with the requirement of the Revised Convention.
He said, ''it will also ensure that Nigeria complies with international commitments of World Trade Organisation (WTO).
" It is a very positive development in ensuring that we have a customs administration that will be more transparent with better clarity.''
African champions, Zambia left it late to see off Germany 4-3 in a pulsating second round encounter at the on-going U-20 world cup in South Korea.
Emmanuel Banda of Zambia celebrates scoring
Both sides failed to find their groove in the opening period during a disjointed first half, but there was one moment of sublime brilliance. Philipp Ochs arced a free-kick from wide on the right flank, whipped with his left foot, that cannoned in off the underside of the bar to open the scoring.
It seemed to be the injection of energy Zambia needed. Five minutes were on the clock when they levelled after the break. Enock Mwepu went for the spectacular following a deflected cross, but Emmanuel Banda was on hand to volley in following Mwepu’s miscued bicycle kick.
Zambia then struck again as Fashion Sakala bagged his third of Korea Republic 2017, beating Sven Brodersen from wide on the right of the area. With nothing to lose, Germany committed more and more forward, losing the shape that kept the African champions quiet in the first half, and ultimately led to Enock Mwepu converting on the break.
But Suat Serdar's delightful near-post flick kept the game alive before, with the last kick of the 90 minutes, substitute Jonas Arweiler slammed home to send the European side into delirium.
A cagey start to extra-time saw Daka force a good save from Brodersen before Shemmy Mayembe put Zambia back in front, this time holding out – just, with Serdar fluffing a fantastic chance – for that first ever ticket to the last eight.
The Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says it has arrested three suspects in connection with the kidnapping of six students of Model College, Igbonla, Lagos.
He said the suspects were arrested on Tuesday in Benin
According to ACP Abba Kyari, the three suspects arrested have been involved in various kidnap incidents within the country.
"Three of the militant kidnappers, who left the creek and came to Benin to visit one of their members that was injured in recent gun battle with security agents, were arrested by IRT in Benin.
"The suspects are Egelu Endurance, aka Jubby, 25, a native of Abere town in Ovia South L.G.A Edo; Stanley Yomi Irabomini, 25, aka Powei from Ovia South LGA of Edo State and Bentel Endurance, 24, also from Ovia South LGA Edo State.
Kyari said the suspects have confessed to have participated in the kidnapping of prominent personalities in Lagos and Ogun state.
"The suspects claimed they came to Benin to see their injured colleague and relax for a while before going back to the creek."
He said that effort to arrest remaining gang members and rescue the school children was in progress.
A luxury Hermes handbag shattered the world auction record in Hong Kong on Wednesday, fetching an eye-popping $380,000, Christie's spokeswoman, Gigi Ho said.
The handbag was produced in 2014 and has 18 karat gold buckles and strap loops encrusted with 205 diamonds.
It fetched 2.94 million Hong Kong dollars ($380,000), which Christie's says is a record for any handbag sold at auction.
The auction house didn't identify the buyer of the matte white "Himalaya" crocodile skin Hermes Birkin bag.
The price flew past the presale estimate of HK 1.5 million to 2 million ($193,000-$258,000) during 10 to 15 minutes of intense bidding in the auction room and from phone and online buyers, Christie's spokeswoman Gigi Ho said.
The price surpasses the record set a year ago when Christie's auctioned a similar Birkin bag for $300,000. It had identical specifications but was produced in 2008.
Christie's says Himalaya Birkins get their name from the bag's color, which fades from smoky gray to pearly white, evoking comparisons with the mountain range.
The company says they're exceptionally rare, with only one or two believed to be made each year because of a time-consuming process to dye the crocodile skin.
The highly coveted bag was created in 1984 by French luxury label Hermes in honor of British singer and actress Jane Birkin. It's famous for a stratospheric price tag, celebrity owners and a years-long waiting list.(NAN)
A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday said that the Federal Government through its agriculture empowerment programme had created new set of millionaires in farming.
The minister stated this when he featured on a special edition of Channels TV programme, "Sunrise Daily" on the mid-term report of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.Lai Mohammed
Mohammed said that many young farmers were empowered through the Central Bank of Nigeria's Anchor Borrower Programme and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture's Soil Map initiative.
He said that the programme, which recorded huge success in rice and grain productions, particularly in Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Sokoto states, had made farming attractive to young people.
Mohammed said the initiative had also helped in boosting the local production of rice, increasing yields per hectares in grains production and reducing importation of rice.
He said that in 2015, the country imported 580,000 metric tonnes of rice, which had been brought down to 58,000 metric tonnes in 2016 with the successful implementation of the programme.
The minister noted that though the price of local rice was still higher than the imported one, but the situation would change when production increased.
He said the imported rice was being subsidised and dumped into the country but assured that the trend would change by next harvest.
The minister said that the government had also been able to bring down the cost of fertiliser from N9, 000 to N5, 000 following a bilateral agreement it signed with the Kingdom of Morocco.
Mohammed said that the country was gradually moving out of recession, particularly in the agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals sectors.
He explained that it was made possible because of committed investments in infrastructure, ease of doing business and increased budgetary votes for capital projects.
"When we came in, we inherited about N1.7 trillion in debt owed to contractors; 202 roads were abandoned. In the entire 2015, only N18 billion was spent on roads and N5 billion spent on power.
"In 2016/2017 we released N1.2 trillion for capital projects only; we spent N260 billion on roads and N99 billion on power generation.
"We have constructed 320 kilometres of roads and fixed 460 kilometres of road: We have built 24 bridges and repaired about 21
"On rail lines, we have commenced the construction of the 150 km per hour standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan and working on others across the country," he said.
The minister reiterated that looking at what the government had done in areas of the economy, security and in fighting corruption it had fulfilled its electoral promises.
Mohammed said the situation would have been worse than it is now if Buhari was not in power, adding that he was proud to be a part of the administration.
He said in spite of recession brought about by defective economy run by past administration only on oil and the sharp drop in the price of crude, the administration has performed well.
"We are coming from a situation where we were earning over 100 dollar per barrel of oil and it was reduced to about 30 dollar per barrel
"It takes acute discipline and management of resources to be where we are today.
"In spite of recession, between October last year and today, we have been able to add additional 7 billion dollars to our federal reserves.
"We have also successfully added 87 million dollar to the Excess Crude Account and attract 500 million dollar to the Sovereign Wealth Fund," he said.
On security, the minister said that the government defeated Boko Haram insurgency which had taken over almost half of the North-East region before the administration came into power.
He said government was taken pro-active measures to address the challenge of clash between the herdsmen and farmers and incidences of kidnapping.
Berlin – U.S. President Donald Trump called Germany's trade and spending policies "very bad" on Tuesday, intensifying a row between the allies and immediately earning himself the moniker "destroyer of Western values" from a leading German politician.TRUMP
Trump took to Twitter early in the day in the U.S. to attack Germany, a day after Chancellor Angela Merkel ramped up her doubts about the reliability of Washington as an ally.
The tit-for-tat row has escalated rapidly after Trump criticised major NATO allies over their military spending and refused to endorse a global climate change accord at back-to-back summits on May 26.
"We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change," Trump tweeted on Tuesday.
On Monday, Merkel showed how seriously she is concerned about Washington's dependability under Trump by repeating the message she delivered a day earlier that the times when Europe could fully rely on others were "over to a certain extent".
Those comments, which sent shock waves through Washington, vented Europe's frustration with Trump on climate policy in particular.
Senior German politicians responded swiftly to his tweet.
Martin Schulz, leader of the center-left Social Democrats, told reporters Trump was "the destroyer of all Western values", adding that the U.S. president was undermining the peaceful cooperation of nations based on mutual respect and tolerance.
"One must stand in the way of such a man with his ideology of rearmament," Schulz added.
Thomas Oppermann, head of the Social Democrats' parliamentary group, told reporters: "Donald Trump makes clear with his tweet that he views Germany as a political opponent."
Merkel on Monday repeated almost word for word her message from Sunday, when she told her Bavarian conservative allies in a packed Munich beer tent that "we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands".
She also finessed her message slightly on Monday, stressing that she was a "convinced trans-Atlanticist".
On Tuesday, Merkel repeatedly stressed the importance of trans-Atlantic ties. She talked to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin about developing cooperation with India.
"That's of huge importance and in no way directed against any other relationships and certainly not against the trans-Atlantic ties, which have historically been very important for us and will remain so in future," she said.
In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he agreed with Merkel that Europe needed to forge its own path.
"This takes nothing away from the importance of our trans-Atlantic ties and our alliance with the U.S., but the importance we put on these ties cannot mean that we abandon fundamental principles such as our commitment to fight climate change and in favor of open societies and free trade," he said.
FOR some time now, eating sugar-sweetened foods and beverages has been identified as the cause of overweight or even obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Because of this, many health care experts have proposed that non-caloric, high-intensity sweeteners (such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose) provide, if not a beneficial alternative to sugar, at least a less damaging one.
Many people switched from regular soft drinks to 'diet' versions of the same and started checking the labels on other foods and beverages to make sure they were made with something other than sugar.
New evidence, however, seems to show that people who frequently consume sugar substitutes may also be at increased risk of excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Within given age groups, the risk for coronary heart disease was significantly elevated in women who consumed more than two artificially-sweetened beverages per day or more than two sugar-sweetened beverages per day. Another study shows the risk of coronary heart disease was significantly elevated by both types of drinks.
Consuming at least one artificially-sweetened beverage daily significantly elevated risk for hypertension for women in a number of studies; the same effect was found when the women in the study drank sugar-sweetened beverages. Truth is, when it comes to artificially-sweetened beverages, as few as one of these drinks per day may be, it is enough to significantly increase the risk for a number of health problems.
Los Angeles – U.S. pop star Ariana Grande will host a star-studded benefit concert in Manchester, England, on Sunday for the victims of the suicide bombing at her May 22 concert there, her record company announced on Tuesday. Bieber and Grande Pop stars Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and British bands Take That and Coldplay will also perform at the June 4 concert, organisers said in a statement.
American singers Pharrell Williams, Usher and One Direction singer Niall Horan will also perform.
Last week's suicide bombing, which killed 22 people, took place moment after Grande finished a concert in Manchester. All proceeds from the concert will go to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund which was set up by the Manchester City Council in partnership with the British Red Cross.
Grande, 23, is offering free tickets to the charity concert to all of those who were at her Manchester show on May 22.
The suicide bombing injured more than 100, many of them members of Grande's large, young female fan base. Grande was unharmed but she later cancelled several concerts scheduled in London and Europe through June 5.
Sunday's show will take place at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground and will be broadcast live by BBC television and radio, Tuesday's statement said.
Grande said in an open letter on her social media accounts last week that "There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you (her fans) are feeling or to make this better. However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way."
"We will not quit or operate in fear. We won't let this divide us. We won't let hate win," she added.
DO you know that human beings spend roughly 30 per cent of their lives sleeping? Yes! If the average night's sleep is about eight hours, then you can imagine how much of your lifetime you spend snoozing. If you live to 75 years old, it may add up to 25 years of your age.
This makes mattress one of the most important furniture purchases you must make for your home. Can you think of another item in your home that you use more than your bed? The reality is that, in this side of the world, we spend money more on electronics which, I believe, gives us happiness but what will give us joy, we don't see it as a priority.
The truth of the matter is that the backache, the body pains of all sorts that take money from our pockets may be avoided if we begin to shift our priority to making life comfortable for ourselves. We go out early in the morning to our various places of work, sitting sometimes in damaged seat in the bus only to get to our destination to sit on uncomfortable chair.
Uncomfortable chair
The cycle continues when we return home to sit on less than comfortable settees only to go to bed on bad mattresses. What a life! People oftentimes build or rent apartments, buy quality upholstery, couches, equip the kitchen, put quality toilet seats, install air conditioners, buy generators to power the house and even change their bed, but still move in with old mattresses.
Life can be good if we take pains to prioritise our needs. You need quality sleep to be alert and healthy to use those things you give priority over mattress.
Your mattress is a huge contributor to getting quality sleep for your health and general well-being. It pays to invest in your rest, and that means choosing the mattress that is right for you. Still not convinced? Here are some key reasons you should consider spending money on good mattress.
Good mattress decreases your stress level
A full and restful night's sleep is your number one defence against stress. A lack of good sleep leaves you more vulnerable to stress and you may find yourself overwhelmed by situations that you could normally handle with ease. Not just having seven to eight hours of sleep is what matters but doing it on a good mattress will better equip you to manage the demands of your day.
It increases productivity
You may have also experienced the impact of a sleepless night on your ability to get things done the next day. That foggy, zombie-like feeling interferes with your daily work activities, and your boss probably doesn't appreciate you nodding off during your office hours.
A good night's sleep helps you concentrate on the task at hand and stay alert and focused throughout your work day. This also relates to sitting on a good chair in the office. This will be discussed fully in future.
It boosts your mood
You probably know firsthand that lack of sleep negatively impacts your mood. You may also notice that you are more irritable, impatient or even hostile after a sleepless night. While your body may feel tired, the emotional centres of your brain are 60% more reactive; suddenly molehills turn into mountains and it is more difficult to control your emotions.
So when you hear your co-workers whispering about how you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, they may have a point! Or maybe you woke up on the right side of the wrong mattress. Either way, you'll be amazed at how just a few extra hours of restful sleep can improve your attitude and outlook.
It maintains long-term health and well-being
The benefits of sleep go beyond the mental and emotional. Getting quality sleep is vital to your physical health as well. Practising healthy sleep habits over time decreases your risk for a number of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and arthritis. Sleep is also essential to maintaining a healthy weight, supporting your immune system and preventing premature aging. Yes, getting your beauty rest is a real thing!
It reduces back pain and body aches
One of the most common, and easily avoidable, causes of back pain and body aches is an unsupportive mattress.
It could be that your mattress is not right for your body type and sleep preferences, or it could be the age of your mattress. In either situation, the solution is finding a quality mattress that supports your spine and joints properly. A good mattress can do wonders for your body pain and sleep comfort.
It saves you money
Investing a few extra naira in your mattress now will save you money in the long run. Cheaper mattresses tend to use lower quality materials that won't stand the test of time. You'll end up replacing your mattress more often when you could have invested a little more upfront for a higher quality, better performing product. You can save yourself a future headache by purchasing the highest quality mattress available that fits your budget and comfort needs.
Lagos – The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday set-up a six-man committee to investigate the cancellation of the contract for the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said at plenary that the committee would be chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun.*Pictorial representation of the 4th Mainland Bridge….A priority of the Ambode administration
Other members include the Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade; the Chairman House Committee on Finance, Mr Yinka Ogundimu; and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Muyiwa Jimoh.
The rest are Mr Moshood Oshun, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (State) and Mr Bisi Yusuff, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local).
The House mandated the committee to invite the State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, the Commissioner for Finance and the state Chairman of Lagos Global to clarify the termination of the contract.
The committee is to submit its report to the House on June 5.
Earlier, Mr Dayo Famakinwa (APC-Amuwo-Odofin) raised the issue of the cancellation of the contract on the floor of the House under urgent matter of public importance.
Famakinwa said the project would have led to massive employment and increase the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
According to him, the project will ease movement of goods and services and lead the nation out of recession.
He said: "When the contract was signed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, majority of the people of Lagos were happy. But we read in the newspapers last week that the contract was cancelled and this raised a lot of concerns.
"We need to know what the issues are. Residents of Lagos were happy with the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and at the centre," he said.
Contributing to the matter, Mr Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, also said the project had attracted the interest of many people in the state.
Ogunyemi said the project would improve the image of the governor and the party.
The lawmaker said that Ambode should also explain the outcome of the SMART City Project signed with the City of Dubai to the House.
Several other lawmakers also took turns to speak on the matter, referring to the Public Private Partnership Law of 2015.
They said the law made it mandatory for the state government to inform the House of any arrangement with private companies on any matter.
Agunbiade, the majority leader, said it was wrong for the executive not to obey that section of the law.
He said that the House needed to emphasise strict compliance with the law by the state government.
The state government had recently terminated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of firms to build the 4th Mainland Bridge at the cost of N844 billion.
The project was to be financed by Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, and other private investors who had already signified intention to be part of the construction, while the Visible Assets Limited was to be the coordinating firm.
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, during a ministerial briefing in Alausa, cited the slow pace at which the concessionaire was working as the reason behind the termination of the contract.
"Due to slow pace of work, the contract was terminated. We are now looking at many investors, though interest is very high," the commissioner had said.
The House adjourned its plenary session until Thursday.
Jos – A Jos High Court on Tuesday dissolved the marriage between Mr Leonard Dilkon, a former member of the House of Representatives, and his wife, Joy.Leonard Dilkon: Pastor Ewenji granted bail
Justice David Mann of High Court III, dissolved the marriage in his judgment on the petition filed by Joy, seeking an end to the union.
"The marriage between these two people has broken down irretrievably. It is hereby dissolved," Mann declared.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Joy, through her Counsel, Mrs. Juliet Esoro, had filed a petition on Aug. 5, 2016 asking the court to dissolve the marriage because she was no more in love with her husband.
She also prayed the court to grant her access to the three children the marriage was blessed with. The children had been with their father since the marital crisis began in 2011.
She claimed that since July 3, 2011, when the crises started, she had lived separately with her husband "without any conjugal relationship between them".
But Dilkon, who did not oppose her plea for divorce, accused Joy of committing adultery with her Pastor, Damjuma Fwenji.
The former lawmaker, through his counsel, Mr Francis Okafor, accused the wife of being unfaithful to him "for à very long time".
In his cross petition to the court, Dilkon claimed Joy once took in for Fwenji, but alleged that the pregnancy was aborted.
Fwenji, however, denied the allegation, and filed a motion seeking N10 million as compensation for the damage to his image and reputation.,
Mann, in his judgement, declared that from all indications, especially from the evidences of the prosecution and defence witnesses, the marriage could not stand since all attempts to reconcile the couple had failed.
"From all indications, the marriage between Mr and Mrs. Dilkon has broken down irretrievable and I hereby declared it dissolved.
"As for the prayer for access to the children, the court hereby grants the mother of the three children equal access as their father, both at home and at school,'' he declared.
On the issue of Dilkon's claim of adultery against the wife and the clergy, the judge declared that that petition had failed as the "petitioner could not substantiate his claim before this honourable court.''
"I hereby declare that Dilkon's claim of adultery has failed and therefore is struck out.
"Fwenji's demand for N10 million as damage can also not stand since he did not follow due process in filing his appeal. It is therefore discarded,'' Mann further declared.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday inaugurated the Presidential Industrial Policy and Competiveness Advisory Council, mandating it to develop policies that would make the Nigerian economy competitive.AG PRESIDENT OSINBAJO DEMOCRACY DAY CHURCH SERVICE 1. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo during the 2017 Democracy day Church service at the Economical Center in Abuja.
Essentially, the Council was set up to spur greater partnership between the government and the private sector on industrialization.
It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council had on March 15, 2017 gave the approval for the establishment of the Council.
Speaking at the inauguration which was held in his Conference Room at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said that the input of the private sector was very important if the country must industrialize.
"The public sector, by itself, cannot do business and simply cannot even deliver on any industrialization effort. Government does not make the best businessmen and women”, he said.
Members of the Council from the Private Sector included: Chairman, Nigerian Breweries and PZ Cussons, Kola Jamodu; Chairman, BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabi; Chairman, IVM Innoson Group of Companies Limited Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma; GMD, Chi Foods Nigeria, Mr. Rahul Savara; Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, John Coumantarous; CEO, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Stella Okoli; Country Head, Olam; Mukul Mathur; President/CEO Beloxxi Industries Limited Obi Ezeude; MD/CEO Fidson Healthcare Plc; Fidelis Ayebea; Founder, Flutterwave, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji;
Others were President & CEO, GE Business Operations Nigeria, Lazarus Angbazo; CEO, Jumia, Mrs. Juliet Anamah; CEO, SecureID Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe; Chairman/C.E.O, AMMASCO International Limited, Ado Mustapha; Chairman, KAM Industries, Kamaldeen Yusuf; Chairman, United Textiles Plc, Adamu Atta; Chairman Candel Corporation; CEO Swift Networks, Charles Anudu; Chairman, Rumbu Sacks Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Salisu Buhari; Chairman, Tofa Group, Isiaku Tofa; MD/CEO Proforce Limited, Ade Ogundeyin; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Frank Udemba Jacobs.
Other Public Sector Members included: Minister for Budget & National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; Minister for Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi; Minister for Science & Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Technical members of the Council included: Economic Adviser to the President, Yemi Dipeolu; Trade Adviser/Chief Negotiator, Chiedu Osakwe; MD, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju; Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Olusegun Awolowo; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Yewande Sadiku; Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics, Yemi Kale and CEO, Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba.
*seeks better rewards for them By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA- Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung Tuesday said the country had not accorded Nigerian Journalists their rightful place in the nation’s democratic practice, saying that they have been neglected.
He also said that many Nigerians are usually turned off by objective reports of most Journalists as they feel repulsive, hearing the truth.
To this end, the Minister said that Journalists build a lot of enmity in the line of duty.
Dalung spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while paying tributes to Chukwuma Onuekwusi, the State House correspondents for Channels Television who died last week.
Evolving what he called a Wheel-Barrow theory, the Minister said that Nigerian Journalists have been ignored after fighting for the restoration of democracy.
He advocated for a good reward system for the members of the fourth estate of the realm.
He said: “Yes, it has been my sentiment too and you are not too far from being very accurate. Looking at the role journalists play even in entrenching this democracy, I don't think and believe that they had actually been accommodated within the structure with which they sought to build. I believe that the absence of journalists in the present democratic experiment is also one of the major factors with which we have not appreciated them much.
“Anybody who participated in the struggle for democracy in this country would know the role journalists play. Many lost their lives in the struggle but unfortunately, when democracy finally came, what has actually become of journalism is the wheelbarrow Theory.
“The wheelbarrow is a very important tool that has no garage. It is kept in the sun and under the rain but when there is the need for you to convey any bag of either garri or rice, you rush, you dust it and use it and return it to where you keep it.
“It is unfortunate. We need to begin to appreciate contributions in this country before we will take our bearing properly. Our reward system is fundamentally faulty.
“So what is left of journalism is well, you build a lot of enmity in terms of trying to file reports because for you to be objective and report events, you are going to build also a profile of enmity in a country where people do not appreciate being truthful. At the end of the day, when you phased out as Chukwuma has done, you are only now left with story telling.
“The State chapel here and the Nigerian Union of Journalists will now be left as the final constituency to be responsible for him, his family and his little kids and how long can they go?
“So, I am of the opinion that we must look at our laws and entrench a very solid reward system to guarantee contributions of key actors like journalists.”
In his tribute, Dalung who said he had been away, described late Onuekwusi as a gentleman.
“Well, I have been on medical vacation, I just returned. I am here to pay a condolence to the State House Chapter over the sudden exit of a very great man, gentle man, a friend, somebody who personally I appreciated so much, Chukwuma Onuebgusi.
“The news came to me as a devastating blow because hitherto he never exhibited signs or symptoms of sickness.
“So, I couldn't comprehend actually what could have been the circumstances that led to his demise. I was even imagining it could have been accident. But indeed, it wasn't. It is a great loss not only to the State House Chapel but to Nigeria in general. We have lost a rear gem and I believe that the vacuum his exit created might not be occupied too easily.
“It is my sincere and honest prayers that the Lord God, the custodian of human destiny and source will grant him paradise. May his soul rest in perfect peace”, he said.
The Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has said that there is nothing wrong in pro-Biafra agitators observing the Biafra Day so long as no life is lost, no property destroyed and nobody is molested.
The Governor also said that it was up to the businessmen to either come to market for their businesses of otherwise because democracy provides for freedom of expression and lawful gathering.
He however said that Government offices and agencies must be opened for business of the day even though pro-Biafrans declared May 30th as Biafra Remembrance Day.
Governor Ikpeazu made the statement some days ago while marking his second year in office in the state. According to him, "you know the beauty of democracy; there is freedom of expression and we also have the freedom of gathering and meeting.
"My experience in that area is that we have two major cities in Abia, Umuhia was quiet, Aba is calm also. Government offices and agencies opened but is up to businessmen to either open their shops or close them at will.
"Two reasons, one, some people want to comply and the second reason is that a few people will want to close their shops for fear of hoodlum may hijack the exercise to loot.
"So, in all, as long as no life is lost, as long as nobody is molested, as long as lives and properties are secured is okay. That's my assessment of it".
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday intervened in the inter-bank market to the tune of 482.6 million dollars in the first trading day after the Democracy Day celebrations.
A statement issued by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor in Abuja said that this was part of measures to underline its determination to guard the international value of the naira.
Okorafor said that a breakdown of the intervention indicates that the retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) was allocated 285.7 million dollars, while the 100 million dollar was offered in the Wholesale SMIS auction window.
The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) window got an allocation of 52 million dollars, while the invisibles segment, comprising Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), Personal Travel Allowance (PTA), medicals and tuition fees, among others was allocated 45 million dollars.
Okorafor said that the interventions were in line with the Bank's resolve, echoed by the Governor, Godwin Emefiele at last Tuesday's briefing of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
While expressing pleasure that the intervention of the bank had ensured stability across all segments of the Foreign Exchange market, Okorafor expressed optimism that the bank's objective of exchange rate convergence would be achieved soon.
Okorafor reiterated his call to all stakeholders to play their respective roles in ensuring a smooth running of the Foreign Exchange market for the overall benefit of the economy.
According to him, surveys in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt on Tuesday indicated that the dollar traded to the Naira at an average rate of N375 to one dollar.
Luis Enrique reportedly blames Lionel Messi and Neymar for Barcelona not winning La Liga.
Suarez, Messi and Neymar
Enrique has left the Nou Camp after beating Alaves in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
His departure was announced in March but despite ending the season on a high, the campaign was a disappointing one after losing the La Liga title to Real Madrid.
Messi and Neymar both scored against Alaves but reports in Spain suggest the duo were behind Enrique's decision to call it a day.
Diario Gol report the superstar duo told senior club figures a new manager should be brought in.
A number of other Barca players are said to have shared their view and Enrique felt it would have been a more successful season, had he had his players' backing.
It is even suggested some players felt Enrique should have lost his job after defeat to Real Sociedad in January 2015.
GARETH Bale is FIT for the Champions League final on Saturday.
Gareth Bale
The Welsh star has not played since El Clasico on April 23 because of a series of calf injuries.
But the 27-year-old is "desperate" to play against Juventus in what will be a homecoming to Cardiff.
Bale's season has been marred by injuries with the former world record winger starting just 23 matches in all competitions this season.
Spanish playmaker Isco has been sensational in Bale's place, with Zinedine Zidane's squad winning six games in a row at the end of the season to win La Liga for the first time since 2012.
But with Bale back in training on Tuesday, Zidane now has a massive decision headache.
The French manager said: "Gareth doesn't need to tell me anything.
"He is ready, he is back with us and he is absolutely desperate to play because it is his home.
"We are happy that Gareth is with us. I'm glad he has recovered and we will prepare for the game together as always."
Zidane even raised the possibility of starting BOTH against the Italian champions.
"The two of them are very good players," he added.
"They played 16 games together this season, everyone speaks about Gareth or Isco but they can play together."
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods, said alcohol wasn't involved in his arrest for drink driving on Monday and that he had an unforeseen reaction to prescribed medications.
Woods was arrested for Driving Under the Influence in Florida on Monday, an arrest that jolted the sporting world.
"I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions," Woods said in a release on Monday night.
"I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realise the mix of medications had affected me so strongly," he said.
"I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again. I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office for their professionalism."
Tiger Woods: blames medications for his drink driving
Woods, a Jupiter resident, was taken into custody at 3 a.m. Monday, according to WPTV. The golfer was booked into a county jail under his birth name Eldrick Woods, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's website.
Woods, 41, was charged with DUI and released on his own recognizance about 10:50 a.m.
The golfer has been living on Jupiter Island since 2006 after buying a $40 million estate there, The New York Times reported.
Woods has won 14 major tournaments and ranks second with his 79 career victories on the PGA Tour.
His attempts to jump-start his career again after being derailed by chronic injuries has been unsuccessful. He has not played for four months and is out for the rest of the season while he recovers from his fourth back surgery.
In an update Friday on his website, Woods said last month's surgery to fuse disks in his lower back provided instant relief and he hasn't "felt this good in years."
Woods' first major scandal happened the day after Thanksgiving in 2009 when he was injured in a car crash in front of his Orlando, Florida home. Days later, reports surfaced that Woods cheated on his then-wife Elin Nordegren with dozens of women during their five-year marriage. The couple got divorced in 2010.
ABUJA- A whistle-blower, Mr. Ahmed Echoda has landed himself in trouble after he allegedly gave wrong information that led the Nigerian Police Force to raid the Abuja home of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Echoda, who is 50 years old, was arraigned before an Upper Area Court sitting at the Gudu District of Abuja on Tuesday, and was subsequently remanded in Keffi Prison.
Chief Magistrate Umar Kagarko ordered that he should remain in prison custody till June 5 when his bail request will be considered.
The defendant is facing a one count charge of criminal conspiracy and giving false information to mislead the police, contrary to section 97(1) and 140 of the Penal Code Law.
His trial was endorsed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
Police told the court that Echoda's alleged accomplice, identified as Maiwada Adamu, is currently at large.
Specifically, the charge against the defendant read: "That you Ahmed Echoda, age 50 of No 44 living truth street Masaka Nassarawa State and one Maiwada Adamu now at large, did conspired within yourselves by informing the office of the IGP at Guzepe Area of FCT Abuja that house no 10 Ganges street Maitama FCT Abuja occupied by Oliver Ogbenyi is being maintained and used for criminal activities including keeping of arms and ammunitions, unfortunately after the police carried out diligence execution of the search warrant no incriminating items were found there. You by such action mislead the police and hereby committed the above offences".
Shortly after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, he sought and secured permission of the court to speak from the sock.
Echoda told the court that the Police had yet to establish to him how he passed the alleged false information to them.
"They (Police) have not proved that I was the one that passed the said information to them. How did I pass it to them?'', he queried.
"They need to tell this court how I blew the whistle for them! I never at any time passed either written or verbal information to the Police", the defendant insisted.
Spirited effort by his lawyer, Mr Peter Ugwuoke to secure his bail after the arraignment proved abortive.
Police prosecutor, Mr. David Taiwo, objected to the bail request, maintaining that the offence the defendant committed was not ordinarily a bailabel one.
He added that the accused person could tamper with police investigations since his alleged accomplice is still on the run. It will be recalled that a Special Squad under the IGP had on May 26, raided the house which belongs to Ekweremadu, following a tip-off from a whistle-blower.
Ekweremadu had in a statement he issued through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, condemned the raid which he said was not only conducted without a search warrant, but also a calculated plot to undermine him.
The statement revealed that the police search team only met Ekweremadu's steward, Oliver Ogenyi, some staff and their children in the house.
"In spite of the fact that they were informed that the property is the guest house of the Deputy President of the Senate, they nevertheless proceeded to thoroughly search the house without establishing any contact with the Deputy President of the Senate or any of his senior staff. The steward was taken away by the police to the Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) Office, Garki, Abuja, where the IGP Special Squad's office is also located. Ogenyi was later released after making a statement.
"The Deputy President of the Senate is a law-abiding citizen and does not dispute the fact that the security agencies are empowered by law to carry out searches on premises in accordance with the law. However, the law requires that the owner of the property or his representative must be informed and should be present during the search.
"Senator Ekweremadu is worried about the manner in which his guest house was raided. The questions are: Was there a search warrant? What were they looking for? Who searched the police officers before the search? Who supervised the search?
"Instructively, this incident comes just a few weeks after Senator Ekweremadu, on May 3, 2017, read to the Senate in plenary a written, but anonymous tip-off by a patriotic Nigerian on a plot to plant incriminating sums of foreign currencies, arms, and ammunitions in a house linked to him under the pretext of the whistleblower policy. The aim, according to the source, was to rubbish, arrest, prosecute, and ultimately remove Senator Ekweremadu from office", the statement read.
Picture shows a woman alleged to be a food vendor sitting lonely with her benches spread in anticipation of her Igbo customers to come and buy food.
But, alas, it was a bad market day for her as her customers failed to show up following their obedience to the call by the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and other pro-Biafran groups to sit-at-home in commemoration of the Biafra Day.
The question is, “are there such people like this woman who failed to make her sales for the day because her customers sat at home observing Biafra Day?”
Type your comments below lets here you.
Food vendor sits lonely and gloomy as she met no customer after preparing food for sale on Biafra Remembrance DayOnitsha market deserted as Biafrans mark DayFood vendor sits lonely and gloomy as she met no customer after preparing food for sale on Biafra Remembrance DaySome markets in South-EastFood vendor sits lonely and gloomy as she met no customer after preparing food for sale on Biafra Remembrance Day
Mr Robert Azibaola, a cousin to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has asked a Federal High Court, Lagos to declare that the EFCC has no power to remand suspects under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Azibaola, a lawyer and environmental activist, had filed the suit following his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2016.
He has since been arraigned and granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Azibaola, in the suit filed on his behalf by a Human Rights lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, joined the EFCC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
He is challenging his alleged illegal detention.
On Tuesday, Adegboruwa informed the court that he was ready to move the applicant's originating summons.
However, Justice Mojosola Olatoregun, asked him to return on another date for the hearing.
She, consequently, fixed July 5, for hearing.
Azibaola had been accused of receiving 40 million dollars in September 2014 from a former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for supplying "tactical communication kits".
The commission said he received another N650 million from Dasuki on Dec. 8, 2014.
The plaintiff, however, is praying the court to hold that sections 293 and 294 of the ACJA 2015, which the EFCC relied on to secure remand orders from magistrate courts, were inapplicable in his case.
He said the sections were for capital offences such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping or treasonable felony, for which a legal advice from the Attorney-General is required before a charge is filed.
Azibaola said that the sections do not apply to financial crimes.
He is also praying the court to hold that EFCC's alleged attempt to force him to implicate Jonathan is contrary to section 7 of the ACJA, which he said has outlawed the practice of arresting a citizen in lieu of another.
The applicant said that he was engaged to meet with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to explore how to prevent oil pipelines vandalism, oil bunkering and crude oil theft, among others.
According to him, the assignment was duly executed upon payment, adding that under Section 8 of the ACJA, he should not be arrested or prosecuted for a civil contract or transaction.
He avers that he is being persecuted on account of his blood ties with Jonathan.
Meanwhile, in its processes, EFCC denied detaining the applicant illegally, describing his claims as unfounded.
The commission said Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2011 empowered it to detain suspects based on remand warrants issued by magistrate courts.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has signed into law two bills that would give easy access to credit facility for Nigerians. AG PRESIDENT OSINBAJO DEMOCRACY DAY CHURCH SERVICE 1. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo during the 2017 Democracy day Church service at the Economical Center in Abuja.
The bills which have now become ‘Acts’ were the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017.
A statement signed the spokesman to the Acting President, Mr. Laolu Akande on Tuesday stated that the laws would ultimately facilitate the achievement of the goals of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2016 and make Nigeria an easier place for businesses to start and thrive.
The statement stated thus: “The Collateral Registry Act’ ensures that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria can register their movable assets such as motor vehicles, equipment and accounts receivable in the National Collateral Registry, and use same as collateral for accessing loans. This in turn will increase their chances at accessing financing and tackle one of the major obstacles faced by MSMEs.
“On the other hand, ‘The Credit Reporting Act’ provides for credit information sharing between Credit Bureaus and lenders (such as banks), as well as other institutions that provide services on credit such as telecommunication companies and retailers. (A Credit Bureau is defined as a company that collects information relating to the credit ratings of individuals and makes it available to financial institutions, who need such information to determine an individual’s credit-worthiness and whether or not to grant loan applications to such individuals.)
“Access to credit is critical to economic growth and is considered to be the motor for driving private sector development. However, in Nigeria more than 70% of private enterprises, typically MSMEs, have limited or no access to credit. Credit applications get rejected due to insufficient credit history and information for the lender to use to make a reasonable judgement, as well as unacceptable collateral. The two new Acts remove those obstacles for MSMEs.
“Traditionally, banks only give loans to businesses that can provide fixed land and property as collateral. This shuts out MSMEs which usually own only movable assets like motor vehicles and equipment. The Collateral Registry Bill, 2017, will give confidence to lenders to utilise the Registry and thereby make credit available to MSMEs and individuals through the use of their movable assets as collateral.
“The Credit Reporting Act now enables lenders to make reasonable judgement on whether or not to extend credit to an individual, and reduces the cases of bad loans.
“On February 21st, 2017, the leadership of the National Assembly publicly committed to passing the two bills as part of the 60-Day National Action Plan for Ease of Doing Business initiated by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). That promise was kept by the National Assembly last week with the Bills forwarded to the Acting President for assent.
“With the passage of these Acts, the existing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Guidelines regulating the operations of the National Collateral Registry and Credit Bureaux have now been replaced by formal legal frameworks.”
Awka- THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have expressed delight with the level of the observation of the sit-at-home order for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra today.
Parts of South East deserted as Biafrans mark Day
In their separate statements, the media and publicity secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful and the MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu congratulated Biafrans, saying the huge success showed that Biafra was divinely ordained by God.
The statement by Powerful read: "IPOB and its leadership worldwide congratulate Biafrans and all the IPOB family members worldwide both in Biafraland and Diaspora for their compliance to the sit- at- home order issued by our indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
"Our supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu issued this order of sit at home when he was still in Kuje Prison Abuja and it has come to pass as all the people of Biafra, both home and abroad, complied in totality, which had not been done in the history of Biafra struggle.
"Biafrans have proved to the entire world that they need freedom and the world must know that we are not going back in the quest for independence of Biafra.
"The sit- at- home order was a success as all the markets, schools, banks, companies/industries, transport companies and businesses in Biafraland were in total compliance. May God Almighty bless you all.
"We, however, blame those saboteurs who were paid by the government to sabotage the restoration project because Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide obeyed our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We in IPOB must be strong and we promise everybody that Biafra is here."
In a similar statement, the MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu said the huge success achieved during the sit- at- home exercise was marvelous and glorious because Almighty God divinely approved the programme of commemorating the golden jubilee celebration of declaration of Biafra by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
His statement read: "The honour and pride go to the people of Biafra. The success achieved is not a selfish pride for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu- led IPOB or Comrade Uchenna Madu- led MASSOB or any other group; it is an honour for the people of Biafra; it is an honour for the gallant and brave soldiers of Biafra and civilians that bravely laid down their lives for the establishment of Republic of Biafra.
"It is an honour for Biafra school children, commercial motorcyclists, tricycle, bus and other vehicle operators; it is an honour to the corporate firms/establishments that complied with the exercise.
"The huge success is express evidence that the coming Biafra referendum shall be a walk over against Nigeria state. The success is also a direct confirmation that light and darkness can never walk together. The huge success has further proved the acceptability of Nnamdi Kanu- led IPOB and Uchenna Madu- led MASSOB.
"The huge success should be an eye- opener to the international community that Biafrans are ever willing to stay on their own. MASSOB is not against Nigeria's existence, Biafra nation can as well exist as a sister nation with Nigeria like any other African country.
"As this exercise is the greatest of all civil disobedience applied in the struggle for Biafra actualization and restoration, the success has opened a new dimension to Biafra struggle, a new dimension anchored on nonviolence."
