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
Cote d'Iviore Prime Minister, Daniel Duncan on Monday, announced that he and his entire government were stepping down.
According to report, a cabinet reshuffle had already been expected, but it was delayed because of a mutiny by soldiers over pay, local media reported.
A new cabinet was expected to be in place by Tuesday, a report added.
A two day mutiny by soldiers over pay and other allowances was reported last week.
The mutiny began on Friday when aggrieved soldiers in Bouake demanded their bonus payments and took control of the city.
Cote d'Iviore Prime Minister, Daniel Duncan, steps down
Soldiers stationed across the country followed suit shortly thereafter, culminating in the taking over of the military headquarters in Abidjan, the largest city in the country, on Saturday.
Ivorian Minister of Defense Alain Richard Donwahi flew into Bouake in an attempt to calm the situation, but was kidnapped by rogue soldiers and held in detention for two hours.
President Alassane Ouattara announced on state television on Saturday night that a deal had been reached putting an end to the uprising.
A troop involved in the mutiny confirmed that the mutineers and the government came to an agreement on Saturday night.
The details of the deal was unclear but Reuters revealed that soldiers demanded 5 million CFA francs ($8,000) each.
The soldiers warned the government that they would resume the mutiny if their demands are not met.
Peace returned to the country on Sunday after saying the Bouake roads were cleared of barricades that soldiers had built.
The Nigeria Customs Service has generated N898 billion as revenue in 2016, including VAT, says the service Spokesman, Mr Joseph Attah.
Attah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the figure was however less than the N904 billion collected in 2015.
He attributed the shortfall to the difficulty in accessing foreign exchange and removal of the 41 items.
According to him, the service was given a target of N937 billion as revenue in 2016.
"The strict insistence of the Comptroller General on application of instant laws enabled the service to generate a total that is inclusive of VAT of N898 billion.
"If VAT is removed, duty collection only is N720 billion, our performance represent a percentage of 76.90 per cent.
"Hopefully we will do better in 2017,'' Attah said.
According to him, the comptroller General in recent time had taken steps to effect some redeployment in a bid to strengthen operations and reposition the service for improved delivery. (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari will flag-off the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) revitalisation programme aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.
Adewole announced this in a statement he issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the flag-off would take place by 9 a.m. at the Kuchigoro, Gwarinpa PHC along the Airport Road, Abuja, on January 10.
The initiative, he said, would address the gross inequalities in health access and outcomes, especially among women and children.
"It is a pro-poor initiative and will have tremendous direct benefits on household economics.
"A cardinal philosophy of the current administration was to ensure the implementation of UHC through the availability of quality healthcare services in an equitable manner without any financial barriers at the point of accessing health care,'' Adewole said.
The minister said that it was against this backdrop a number of health sector reform initiatives were embarked upon to keep Nigeria on track towards achieving UHC.
NAN also reports the programme is a cardinal agenda of Buhari administration to revive 10,000 PHCs nationwide to scale up primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots. (NAN)
Mr Clement Odeh, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board, has attributed failure of pilgrims from the state to embark on 2016 pilgrimage to Jerusalem to non-availability of visas.
Odeh, who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, said that the Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) failed to secure visas for the state pilgrims last year.
He said that the board had concluded all arrangements, including payment of the required funds early enough to ensure a hitch-free exercise within the scheduled time of between October and December.
"Our job at the board was completed for the all the intending pilgrims.
"We had to push it to the NCPC saddled with the procurement of visas and flight schedules, but without the visas and flight schedules, we cannot travel.
"Nasarawa is among seven states that could not embark on the journey last year with over 2,000 intending pilgrims still waiting to be airlifted,'' Odeh said.
He lamented that the NCPC could not sincerely explain to the board why it could not secure visas and flight schedules for the pilgrims to embark on the journey.
"This to me, is a clear indication that some people are not doing their jobs and should be prepared to take responsibility given the fact that the exercise had a time line,'' he said.
Odeh also blamed the Unity Bank for not making available the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) in dollars since the foreign exchange had been fully paid for over a month.
He said that if the visas had been procured and flight schedules released without the BTA, the exercise would have still been thwarted.
"We were at the NCPC last week and they assured us that the documents will soon be ready for the intending pilgrims to embark on the journey as spillover,'' Odeh said.
He therefore called on the management of Unity Bank to expedite action in order to make the BTA available for the intending pilgrims to participate in the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 77 intending pilgrims were scheduled to embarked on the 2016 exercise from the state as against the 145, who made the journey in 2015. (NAN)
The Nigeria Army on Monday said it has released 1,250 Boko Haram suspects who have been cleared of no links with insurgency.
Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the army, disclosed this when the Head of Sub Delegation of ICRC, Mr Beat Mosimann, visit him at the Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri.
Ezugwu said that the cleared suspects were released in about seven batches after been cleared of having no link with Boko Haram.
"We are keeping this on the regular release because the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, want us to ensure that it is only people who has contact and connection with Boko Haram that have insurgency issues to sort that should be detained so that those who do not have contact should be released.
"By the end of this January and February another batch of detainees would be cleared.
"The ICRC wants us to collaborate in the area of welfare for our detainees and we have assured them that we are going to continue doing our best interns of welfare in accordance with the international practice.
"Our approach in handling detained suspects is multi agency so what we do is that we collaborate with NGOs so that once there is gap in what we are doing they will tell us.
"In terms of feeding, we are providing solid Nigerian foods for the detainees; good food supplement that would enhance their wellbeing.
"Access to exercise and the best out of accommodation. We are hoping that things will get better in 2017.''
Mosimann had earlier said that ICRC has mapped out several programmes in 2017 to assist IDPs who would soon be returning back to their respective librated communities.
"We have discussed with the army on issues of protection of especially that of the detainees which was part of our mandate to see how we can improve on that.
"It is part of our mandate, which was stipulated in Geneva convention, to assist wounded persons not just soldiers but anybody who is wounded in a conflict situation.
"Our job is purely humanitarian. The humanitarian situation had quite improved. We thank the army for supporting the people in librating their communities and ICRC will support this people to go back," said Musimann.
Donald Trump hit back at Meryl Streep on Monday, calling her an overrated actress after the three-time Oscar winner condemned the U.S. President-elect's imitation of a disabled reporter. Streep had turned an acceptance speech at Sunday's Golden Globe awards into a blistering attack on Trump.
"This instinct to humiliate when it's modelled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life," she said.
Streep and much of Hollywood supported Trump's rival, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, in the November election.
Trump, a Republican, wrote on Twitter: "Meryl Streep, one of the most overrated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes.
"She is a Hillary flunky who lost big."
President-elect Donald J. Trump & Meryl Streep
The tweet was Trump's second public response to the Streep speech. Early on Monday, he said in a telephone interview with the New York Times: "People keep saying I intended to mock the reporter's disability, as if Meryl Streep and others could read my mind, and I did no such thing."
Streep was referring to a 2015 incident at a South Carolina rally where Trump flailed his arms and slurred in his speech in apparent ridicule of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has a physical disability.
In his Twitter comments, Trump repeated his denial that he had mocked the reporter.
Streep, without naming Trump, used almost the entire speech when accepting the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award to criticize the real estate mogul's behaviour and policies, while calling for Hollywood to stand strong against any attacks and to support a free press. I've lost my voice from screaming in lamentation this weekend.
I have lost my mind sometime earlier this year, so I have to read. Thank you, Hollywood Foreign Press. Just to pick up on what Hugh Laurie said, you, and all of us in this room, belong to the most vilified segments in American society right now. Think about it. Hollywood. Foreigners. The Press. Who are we? What is Hollywood, anyway? It's just a bunch of people from other places.
I was born and raised in the public schools of New Jersey. Viola [Davis] was born in a sharecropper's cabin in South Carolina and came up in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Sarah Paulson was born in Florida and raised by a single mom in Brooklyn. Sarah Jessica Parker was one of sever or eight kids from Ohio. Amy Adams was born in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem. Where are their birth certificates?
The beautiful Ruth Negga was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raised in Ireland, and she's here nominated for playing a small town girl from Virginia. Ryan Gosling, like all the nicest people, is Canadian. Dev Patel was born in Kenya, raised in London, and is here for playing an Indian raised in Tasmania. So Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick them all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts.
It was that moment, when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can't get it out of my head, because it wasn't in a movie; it was real life.
This instinct to humiliate, when it's modelled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.
An actor's only job is to enter the lives of people that are different from us and let you feel what that feels like. There were many, many, many powerful performances this year that did exactly that—breathtaking, compassionate work. But there was one performance this year that stunned me, that sank it's hooks in my heart.
It wasn't because it was good—there was nothing good about it—but it was effective and it did it's job. It made its intended audience laugh, and show their teeth. It was that moment, when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back.
It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can't get it out of my head, because it wasn't in a movie; it was real life. This instinct to humiliate, when it's modelled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.
This brings me to the press. We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call them to the carpet for every outrage. That's why our founders enshrined the press and its freedoms in our constitution. So I only ask the famously well-heeled Hollywood Foreign Press and all of us in our community to join the Committee to Protect Journalists, because we're going to need them going forward, and they'll need us to safeguard the truth.
One more thing: Once, when I was standing around on the set one day, whining about something, that we were going to work through supper or the long hours or whatever, Tommy Lee Jones said to me, 'Isn't it such a privilege, Meryl, just to be an actor?' Yeah, it is, and we have to remind each other of the privilege, and the responsibility, of the act of empathy.
We should all be very proud of the work Hollywood honours here tonight. As my friend, the dear departed Princess Leia, said to me once: Take your broken heart, make it into art.
The Kremlin on Monday refuted accusations of Russia's involvement in hacker attacks during the U.S. 2016 presidential election, saying that it was a "tiresome witch-hunt.''
"We continue to categorically rule out any involvement of Moscow and Russian officials and agencies in any hacker attacks,'' Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Earlier this month, the U.S. intelligence community published the declassified part of a report.
"Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections,'' claiming that "Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election.''
The report said Moscow's action aimed to "undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process,'' via Russian government agencies, state-funded media, paid social media users as well as hackers, in order to secure Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump agree to improve relations of both countries
Peskov said that the allegations in the U.S. intelligence community publication had no proof and had been prepared at an "amateur, emotional level,'' which was hardly applicable to the highly professional work of high-quality security services.
On Sunday, the Trump team said Trump had accepted the U.S. intelligence community's findings that Russia was behind the cyber attacks targeting the presidential election, accusations that Trump had also repeatedly rebuffed.
But Trump has said that the alleged hacking activities have no impact on the election results and he didn't directly acknowledge Moscow's responsibility.
The Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Mustapha Anka, in a rstatement disclosed the new pattern Boko Haram terrorists adopt in carrying out their operations.
The Press release in full read “This is to draw the attention of the general public to recent trend used by desperate remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT). Recently, two female suicide bombers knocked at the door of one Bulama and Usman about 200 meters apart in Kalari general area of Maiduguri.
“The daughter of the Bulama opened the door, while the Usman himself opened his own door immediately the suicide bombers detonated their suicide vest, in the process killing the unsuspected little girl, Usman including the two female suicide bombers.
“The general public is hereby advised to be cautious and weary of strange persons knocking at their doors. Security is a collective responsibility; the public is to engage in neighborhood watch. Suspicious movement of persons should be reported to security agents without any delay. The public is once again reminded that curfew is still enforced by 10pm daily, any defaulter will be prosecuted accordingly.
“You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium. Thank you for your usual cooperation”
Head coach of Katsina United, Bala Nikyu has said the club do not fancy any ambition of emerging champions in their first season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). He however was quick to assure their fans that the newly-promoted side will play to ensure they are not relegated at the end of the season.
Katsina United, a former powerhouse of the elite league of Nigeria in the 1990's returned to the top league at the end of last season after over a decade in the lower ranks.
Nikyu, who guided the club to win the playoff tourney and emerge overall champions of the Nigeria National League (NNL) said they intend to approach the elite division with the same spirit that saw them through in the second tier.
Bala Nikyu
“We’ve recruited the players we need and we are set for the NPFL challenge. We will fight to survive and maintain our NPFL status; that will be our first target before we set our sights on getting a place on the continent which isn’t impossible,” Nikyu began.
Katsina United at some point changed name to Spotlight FC, and have in the past finished as runners-up in the Federation Cup.
Nikyu continued: “Every team that is in the league must be respected whether they are new entrants or old horses, so no team should underrate us as we could be spoilers. We have an exciting pool of young players that form the bulk of our team.”
Katsina United will start life again in the NPFL with a home fixture against fellow returnees, Gombe United on January 15 and Nikyu is confident his team will begin on a winning note.
“We know Gombe United and we intend to start our return to the elite division with a win, so Gombe United will be our first victim, I assure you,” concluded Nikyu, a former national women’s U-17 team coach.
Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, on Monday warned the distribution companies in the country to step up their service delivery or quit.
Fashola gave the warning at the opening ceremony of the 11th Monthly Stakeholders meeting in Lagos.
According to him, we all know the issues around metering and billing system; we must build the trust and confidence that customers' complains will be addressed.
"We need to do whatever is possible in our various distribution areas to improve the quality of service and continue to train our personnel to recognise that customer is king.
"If we cannot provide or solve their problems, we own it a duty to explain what we are doing.
"We own it a duty to fish out a few members of staff, not all, because we have some dedicated staff.
"I am conscious of the challenges the operators are facing.
"We are working as hard as we can to make the environment more responsive to you and as I have said and will repeat that as pioneers, you will carry some burdens.
"You will have to sacrifice, perhaps more than what you have done,'' he said.
Fashola said that without the customers and the consumers, there would be no business.
"I think that all of us in the public and private sector must understand that. If you don't have the skill and the patient to serve, leave.
"But I am optimistic that things will get better, I am optimistic that we can win together and we can win for the Nigeria people," the minister said.
On the liquidity issues, Fashola said that government was working with other development partners.
"Local and international partners would have shown commitment and inspiring appetite to play in this market.
"We are trying to see what we can do together in order to bring the liquidity issues under some control and from there eventually solve it.
"Our partners in government are also inspiring and show understanding of what the challenges are. So, it is quick decision making now.
"Collaboration and decisions will be fair, but firm, and we expect that people will respect the decisions and also processes to be re-engaged as they come," the minister said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Ikeja Electric, Mr Anthony Youdeiwoe, said that 2016 was a challenging year for stakeholders.
According to him, though, the challenges still remain, they are better discussed whenever we meet like this.''
He said that efforts were also ongoing to address the challenges and proffer solutions.
Abuja – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick to commiserate with Nigeria over the killing of former youth international Douglas Uzama.
This is contained in a statement issued by NFF's Spokesman on Monday in Abuja.
Infantino had in a letter dated Jan. 6, personally signed by him said "I would like to express my deepest sympathy on hearing the news of the tragic passing of Nigerian youth international Douglas Uzama.
"On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, please allow me to extend my deepest condolences to the football community of Nigeria, and most importantly, to his family, friends and loved ones.
"We hope that in some way, our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace in this time of sadness," he said.
NAN recalls that the former U-17 and U-20 international player Uzama, who was on the books of Gombe United FC, was murdered by unknown persons in Benin City on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016.
The NFF has already called on the Nigeria Police to intensify the search for his killers in order to bring them to justice. (NAN)
Pope Francis on Monday described jihadist attacks around the world as “homicidal madness” and urged religious leaders to reassert that “one can never kill in God’s name”.
The leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics also called on government leaders to combat the poverty that, he said, could allow fundamentalism to flourish.
In a hard-hitting and wide-ranging speech to the Vatican diplomatic corps, the 80-year-old pontiff voiced sorrow that, at the start of 2017, religion was still being used as a pretext for “rejection, marginalisation and violence.”
He cited the “fundamentalist-inspired terrorism” that in 2016 claimed victims in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States.
“These are vile acts that use children to kill, as in Nigeria, or target people at prayer, as in the Coptic Cathedral of Cairo, or travellers or workers, as in Brussels, or passers-by in the streets of cities like Nice and Berlin, or simply people celebrating the arrival of the new year, as in Istanbul,” Francis said.
“We are dealing with a homicidal madness which misuses God’s name in order to disseminate death, in a play for domination and power.
“Hence I appeal to all religious authorities to join in reaffirming unequivocally that one can never kill in God’s name.”Pope Francis AFP PHOTO
– Poverty ‘fertile terrain’ –
More controversially, Francis went on to suggest a link between poverty and acts of terror.
“Fundamentalist terrorism is the fruit of a profound spiritual poverty, and often is linked to significant social poverty,” he said.
“It can only be fully defeated with the joint contribution of religious and political leaders.”
While religious leaders had to ensure that believers “do not separate fear of God from love of neighbour” politicians had to deliver religious freedom and societies capable of incorporating it within their model of citizenship, he argued.
“Government leaders are also responsible for ensuring that conditions do not exist that can serve as fertile terrain for the spread of forms of fundamentalism. This calls for suitable social policies aimed at combating poverty…”
The Argentinian pontiff’s comments will have come as no surprise given his determination to make poverty the defining theme of his papacy.
But they are likely to be disputed by those who argue that emphasising the potential role of disadvantage and discrimination in fostering jihadism risks absolving the perpetrators of atrocities of responsibility for their actions.
Francis also touched on several other themes dear to his heart, including the plight of migrants seeking better lives in wealthier countries.
– Korea nuclear warning –
While reiterating past calls for a “common commitment” to offering a dignified welcome to allow migrants, displaced persons and refugees, his New Year message was tempered by a rarer recognition of the difficulties involved.
Integration had to be done in a way that ensured host societies did not sense their security, cultural identity and political-social stability were not threatened, he said.
Immigrants too had to remember their “duty to respect the laws, culture and traditions” of their new homes.
On other issues Francis:
— Said “particularly disturbing” developments on the Korean peninsula risk sparking a new nuclear arms race
— Urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume dialogue, telling them: “No conflict can become a habit impossible to break.”
— Called for intensified efforts to foster peace in Libya, South Sudan/Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo
— Urged efforts to promote peaceful co-existence in Myanmar and international efforts to aid those in “grave and pressing need” – an apparent reference to the country’s persecuted Rohingya Muslims.
— Described Europe as being at a “decisive moment” in its history, one requiring an update of the “idea of Europe” based on a new humanism.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is to release no fewer than 162 reports on different sectors of the economy this year.
According to the 2017 tentative data release calendar posted on the bureau's Website on Monday in Abuja, the NBS is expected to release 34 data in the first quarter.
According to the calendar, analysed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bureau released data on consumer price index and inflation, price watch on diesel, petrol and kerosene.
Other items on the calendar are telecommunications sector data, monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee disbursements, gross domestic products and capital importation in the quarter.
Also in the statistics are foreign trade merchandise, airline and passenger travel, multiple indicator cluster survey and report on women and children.
Unemployment and under-employment watch, labour productivity report and online recruitment service report are also listed.
The bureau is expected to release 43 data in the second quarter.
The data will focus mainly on statistics on corruption, motor vehicles, road accidents, energy and environmental statistics.
It will also focus on airline and passage travel data in addition to petroleum products and inflation reports.
In the third quarter, the bureau will release 38 data ranging, from financial services data, household consumption expenditure, port activities, national agriculture sample survey and solid mineral and mining sector survey.
However, the bureau will be releasing 47 reports in the last quarter which will be the highest data in the year.
It will also be releasing social statistics report for 2016, demographic statistics bulletin and 2016 statistical report on men and women, among others.
The bureau will also be releasing monthly reports on FACC disbursements, consumer price index and inflation reports as well as price watch on diesel, petrol and kerosene. (NAN)
Liverpool and Brazil footballer Roberto Firmino has had his Merseyside home burgled, with jewellery, watches and clothing stolen, according to reports.
The player and his family were out when thieves struck at their home in Mossley Hill at about 22:00 GMT on Dec. 22.
The burglars made an "untidy search" before making off on foot, police said.
Detective Inspector Steve Christian said the "targeted'' theft had "clearly been very upsetting'' for the 25-year-old forward.
Firmino
The footballer and his wife, along with their two children, moved to a hotel after the break-in.
The men were described as wearing hoods, with one said to have been wearing a navy blue Puffa coat.
The burglary is the latest in a number of break-ins at the homes of Premier League footballers in the North West in the past two years.
The homes of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Everton players Romelu Lukaku and Tom Cleverly have also been targeted.
Merseyside Police said there was no evidence that the break-in in Mossley Hill was linked to those burglaries.
Firmino, who signed for the Reds in 2015, was charged with drink-driving four days after the break-in.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday in Benin inaugurated the Family Court, to exclusively handle matters pertaining to children in both civil and criminal matters.
He said if Nigeria could implement the family court, it would go a long way to address some of the challenges facing families.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, assured that the government would support the judiciary, especially as the 2017 appropriation bill provides for infrastructural development.
He said that government would provide more courts as well as improve on the welfare of judges and judicial workers .
The inauguration of the court marks the beginning of the implementation of the Edo State Child Rights Bill.
The bill was passed into law in 2007 and was assented to by former governor, Oserhiemen Osunbor.
The Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, who spoke, said that the Child Rights Bill extensively caters for the interest and rights of the child.
Idahosa added that the court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to handle all matters pertaining to children in both civil and criminal matters.
"With the inauguration of this court, there shall now be speedy trials in matters relating to children's welfare and protection, specifically from undue exposure and exploitation.
"The court will strive to provide families with the best possible outcome in child rights' cases in accordance with the law and best global practices, he said.
Edo Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Ede Asenoguan, said the inauguration would place the state amongst the few states in the country that have established the family court.
"We are happy that today, our collective dream of caring for the rights of our children has been given a boost by this inauguration.
"Certainly, our children deserve the best and I believe that no effort shall be spared in ensuring that the rights of children are protected and enforced whenever or wherever same is breached or violated, "he said.
ABUJA-The mediatory team mandated by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS to intervene in the political impasse brewing up in The Gambia has again schedule to meet with President Yahya Jammeh.
Rising from a high powered meeting presided over by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the team announced the decision.
The Cross River State Government lost over N130 million revenue in 2016 due to allocation of cocoa farms to ghost farmers, Mr Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development, has said.
Governor Ben Ayade
Ofuka made the disclosure on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
He said the governor had consequently directed a total review of allocations done by the Cocoa Allocation Committee to ensure that genuine farmers were given allocation.
"The governor has directed me to review the allocations with a view to ensuring that the right farmers are given Cocoa farmlands.
"But, the implication of this shoddy exercise is that the state has lost over N130 million from the projected revenue from cocoa allocation in 2016.
"The projected revenue was N200 million, supposed to be generated from payments for allocation fees by farmers.
"But, only N68 million was realised. This is a huge set back to the government's revenue drive.
"Also, the state lost a whole farming year, and we are about losing another year due to this discrepancies,'' Ofuka said.
The governor's aide said that his office had mapped out strategy to begin verification of farmers to ascertain genuine allottees in the state three Cocoa Estates.
"We will first undertake physical verification exercise where farmers will be made to stand in front of their farms to receive their cocoa seedlings.
"And later, we will carry out biometric capture of the farmers,'' Ofuka said.
He lauded the governor's quick intervention on the matter, assuring the farmers that the state government's target of 500,000 metric tons of cocoa annually would be feasible.
Ofuka advised politicians, who were not professional farmers, to allow real cocoa farmers to do their work for the overall benefit of the state.
"We are trying to make cocoa our alternative revenue generating base in view of the dwindling federal allocation,'' he said.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Eke, on Monday expressed dissatisfaction at the poor turnout of pupils and students as schools resumed in the state.
Eke, irked by the development, directed school authorities to ensure attendance of pupils and students was taken in all government-approved schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the schools resumed for the second term of the 2016/2107 academic session.
The commissioner, who visited schools to monitor resumption of teaching and learning, told newsmen that laxity, truancy and nonchalant attitude by pupils and students would not be tolerated.
"We are not happy with the level of attendance of pupils and students to schools in both public and private primary and secondary schools that we visited during the exercise.
"As a government committed to high academic excellence, we cannot condone such irresponsible attitude to learning by our pupils and students.
"We have ordered for immediate opening of attendance register in all government-approved schools in the state.
"We also advise parents and guardians to release their children and wards, as effective teaching and learning have commenced.
"I wish to sound it loud and clear that sanction is awaiting all those who chose to absent themselves from the first day of reopening of schools.
"We shall continue the monitoring exercise," Eke said.
The commissioner lauded the teachers for resuming academic activities, reminding them that government was committed to their welfare.
"We are happy with our teachers because there is almost 100 per cent of attendance in all the schools visited.
"The teachers were also busy teaching the few pupils and students that resumed for academic activities.
"I want to remind them that government has placed the welfare of teachers top in its priority list,'' the commissioner said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the schools visited by the commissioner and top ministry officials include Holy Child Secondary School, in Izzi Local Government Area.
He also visited Government Technical College, Abakaliki, Model Urban Secondary Schools, Abakaliki, Ezza Road Primary School and Holy Ghost Secondary School, among others.
Argentina's former captain Diego Maradona is delighted by plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, saying that it would rekindle interest in the tournament.
The FIFA Council is expected to approve a proposal to expand the finals from 32 to 48 teams, starting in 2026, when it meets on Tuesday.
Maradona, one of the greatest players to grace the game, has been a long-time critic of FIFA but the two sides buried the hatchet last year after Gianni Infantino was elected President of the global soccer body to replace Sepp Blatter.
"I'm delighted by Gianni's initiative because it gives chances to teams that otherwise would start the qualifiers knowing they had no chance of getting to the World-Cup," Maradona told reporters after a veterans' match at FIFA-headquarters on Monday.
"It gives each country the dream and it renews the passion for football, it appears to me to be a fantastic idea," added Maradona, who captained Argentina to World Cup success in 1986.
He said it was important for the sport that FIFA's image improved after it was battered by a corruption scandal that has seen 40 individuals and two sports marketing companies indicted in the U.S.
"We want a FIFA that is clean so people come back to the stadiums, with so much corruption people have got tired of always seeing the same thing," said the 56-year-old.
Maradona was a frequent critic of Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter and claimed there was "a mafia" inside FIFA.
He had also previously criticised Infantino, saying it was "very wrong to go from drawing the lots to running for FIFA president."
The remark was a reference to Infantino's previous role as general secretary of European soccer governing body UEFA, where his duties included supervising draws for European competitions.
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
The Football Association (FA) in England plans to increase FA Cup prize money with the aim of helping lower league clubs, says chief executive Martin Glenn.
The FA in October signed a six-season overseas broadcast rights deal for the FA Cup which was reported to be worth £820 million.
Glenn said the FA could raise the current £25m fund because of the deal, which starts from the 2018/2019 season.
"The FA Cup is a great way of redistributing money to the lower leagues," he said.
"The prize fund is £25m. We're looking to increase that over the coming years and hopefully benefit the smaller clubs."
Glenn also said the FA may look at introducing a "unity" payment which would help split money more equally.
Under the current system, clubs receive a larger amount of money if their game is televised.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch had warned however last month that the government would legislate to force through FA reforms if the governing body does not make changes itself.
She had set a deadline of April for the FA to "set a path to reform".
Glenn reiterated some of the concerns of five former FA executives, including previous chairman Greg Dyke, who said the organisation was held back by "elderly white men".
Figures show that of the FA Council's 122 members, 92 are aged over 60, eight are women and four are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
"It's over-represented by white males who are quite old and it doesn't reflect the people actually in the game and that's the opportunity," said Glenn.
"With council reform, we'd like to see term limits and the government would like to see term limits so (that) you can't stay there for life.
"You might do three sets of four years and then move on so (that) fresh blood can come through."
The FA Cup third round saw many top-flight sides rotate their squad, with Bournemouth making 11 changes before they lost 0-3 away at League One side Millwall.
But Glenn said he was happy for teams to use the competition to juggle their resources.
"I think Bournemouth were an outlier. Eddie Howe can make his own reasons for it," he said.
"It doesn't upset me. The Premier League teams really understand the value the FA Cup brings them.
"People want to do well in the Cup, but the positive side is that these bigger clubs have big squads, you want to give people game time.
"Giving a chance for young players to get real-game experience is not a bad thing."
Former Governor of Niger, Abdulkadir Kure, 60, dies on Sunday in Germany, Tanko Beji, Chairman, PDP, Niger, confirms.Late Kure
Abdulkadir Kure was the governor of Niger State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Abdulkadir Kure in May 2000 introduced Sharia law in Niger State.
Kure was married to Zainab Abdulkadir Kure, a former civil servant and, since 2007, a member of the Nigerian Senate. They have two daughters and four sons.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has said that it will reduce petroleum products importation by boosting the capacity utilisation of local refineries to 60 per cent by the end of 2017.
The NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, made this known in a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Sunday.
Baru, who received the Management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, led by its Chairman, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, said that NNPC was keen on ending product importation in a few years.
"We are putting together various programmes to ensure that we achieve at least 60 per cent local refining by the end of this year.
"It is the procedure or methodology that we are changing a little bit.
"We are focusing on the process licensors to come and audit our processes and they have already started auditing most of our process units in the various refineries.
"We hope if we do all these systematically, we should achieve 60 per cent capacity utilisation this year or first quarter of 2018 and get to 80 per cent by the end of 2018."
This, he said, would result in the ability of Nigeria to locally supply half of the Premium Motor Spirit required in the country.
"With other efforts in terms of other refineries coming in place, we should be able to quit importation in a few years," Baru said.
Baru commended the management of Media Trust for its factual reportage of the corporation's activities and operations.
According to him, Media Trust had remained a leading voice in the fight against unwholesome activities of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and sabotage of the nation's oil and gas installations.
He urged the media to help in enlightening the public on the dangers of pipeline vandalism which he said was a drain on the nation's economy.
Yusuf commended NNPC for excellent performance in discharging its fiduciary responsibilities.
He said that the management of NNPC under Baru deserved accolades for the good works he was doing for the country.
"We are here as stakeholders in the media and the economy to say that we appreciate the work you are doing."
He said that the visit to the corporation would avail Media Trust the opportunity to have more insight into the activities of NNPC and communicate it to the public.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has condemned the continuous arrest and detention of former Niger Delta agitators.
The IYC spokesman, Mr Eric Omare, made this known in a statement to newsmen in Warri, Delta, on Sunday.
Omare decried the continued invasion, arrest and detention of ex-agitators without any justifiable reasons.
"The latest of such invasion and arrest is the commando style arrest of ex-agitator, Bounanawei Smith on Jan. 7, 2017 in Warri, Delta.
"Smith was arrested while hosting some IYC members in his guest house at Esiso Estate, Warri, by a combined team of military officers.
"They invaded and ransacked the whole of his guest house and some of the IYC members who were with him narrowly escaped death when the military officers shot sporadically into his apartment," he said.
The spokesman subsequently demanded the immediate release of Smith,who he said, was currently in the custody of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri Naval Base.
Omare said Smith had since accepted amnesty and had been very active in maintaining peace and security in the Niger Delta.
"Few days ago before his arrest he hosted a meeting of Ijaw and Urhobo leaders toward resolving the age-long inter communal crisis between Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Diebiri and Aladja communities.
"In recognition of this, the Delta Government appointed him into the land and Waterways Security Committee and he has since been working closely with security agencies.
"Such invasion, arrest and detention of Niger Delta people by the military has become a norm. On Jan. 1, 2017 military officers invaded Gbaraun community, southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa arrested a youth leader, Kalami Inakemeduo.
While commending the Federal Government's peace initiative in the region, Omare said such incessant and unlawful arrest was capable of truncating the peace process. (NAN)
The Kano Sate Government has launched a door to door health delivery system at Gamadan Village in Kura Local Government Area of the state.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Malam Isma'il Gwammaja, said that the programme was launched by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso.
Getso reiterated the state government's readiness to continue to pursue people-oriented health programme to enhance healthcare delivery to the populace.
Ganduje
He said the programme was launched for hard to reach rural areas of the state.
The commissioner gave assurance that government would complete the Giginyu General and Zoo Road Pediatric Hospitals that were abandoned before the end of 2017.
The projects, he said, were inherited from previous administrations.
Getso explained that the two hospitals when inaugurated would reduce the influx of patients seeking medical attention abroad.
He noted that the hospitals would be provided with modern equipment to meet international standards.
It would however, provide Free Medical treatment to the communities living in the hard to reach rural areas.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Yobe has appealed to the state government to introduce Christian religious studies in public schools. The state CAN Chairman, Rev. Jibrin Joshua, made the call when he briefed newsmen in Damaturu on Sunday.
According to him, despite the constitutional provision for freedom of worship, the teaching of Christian religious knowledge is prohibited in Yobe and some Northern states.
Jibrin urged government "to revisit the policy and give our children the privilege of Christian religious education."
The cleric called on government to return Christian missionary schools to their owners with full financial grant for their rehabilitation. He described the introduction of preaching licence in some states as unnecessary.
The CAN chairman also implore the government to address the non-issuance of certificate of occupancy for building of churches and broadcast of christian religious activities on state-owned media
Jibrin described the killings and destruction of property in Southern Kaduna as unacceptable and condemnable, and called for compensation to victims who lost their property in the conflict.
The police in Lagos on Sunday said they have arrested a 24–year old driver for allegedly stealing his former employer's pet dog, car and television sets.
According to the suspect's confessional statement to the police, he allegedly committed the crime in order to raise money to cater for his siblings during the Christmas period.
The police spokesperson in Lagos State, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen, said the suspect was arrested on Dec. 26, 2016 at Ojuelegba by a team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
Badmos said the suspect was picked up by the police while trying to sell off his former employer's Toyota Avensis 2013 model marked AGL 734 AR for N2 million.
She said the suspect was arrested along with three of his friends who were aged between 22 and 23.
The suspect, she said, had during the Christmas period stormed the Magodo home of his ex-boss while he and his family were holidaying in Delta State and the security man gone to the church.
"He conspired with others to move a 100 inches LCD TV, a 42 inches LCD TV, a dog, a suitcase, two DSTV decoders and a Toyota Avensis," she said.
The image maker noted that the suspect was able to access the house because he knew where his former -boss usually kept the keys to his rooms.
Badmos said when the victim got report of the theft, he reported the incident at Magodo Police Station while the car was later recovered by the RRS operatives.
Other items, she said, had also been recovered.
She said the suspect had left the service of the victim as a driver three months before committing the crime, stressing that he had also collected about N1 million for the car before his arrest.
Badmos advised the public to always carry out a background check on their domestic servants so as not to expose themselves to the antics of criminals.
She said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further investigation.
…Says God’s judgment will descend on his govt if he doesn’t thread softly
Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose Sunday cautioned the Federal Government on its recent law which has tampered with the administration of churches in Nigeria by making General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)’s Pastor Enoch Adeboye to step aside as the head of the church in Nigeria. The same regulatory law would soon make other clerics like Pastor Williams Kumuyi to retire as their church head in the country.
Criticizing the law, Fayose said that the government must thread softly on this path to avoid tragedy of monumental proportion befalling them.
Governor Fayose spoke during the 53rd birthday thanksgiving service of his wife, Mrs. Feyisetan Olayemi Fayose, held at the governor office chapel, in Ado-Ekit, State chapter, saying: “There is one thing every government must not do, the moment you face the church of God, you will fail. The God of Adeboye, Kumuyi will bring down all the enemies in this government.Governor Fayose and President Buhari
Somebody must tell them, there are certain things you don’t do. They are going from frying pan to fire.
This government wants to subdue the church, God will subdue them. They are ridiculing leaders of the church, God will rubbish them. The same church they had deceived to get power, they are saying that we now have the ring, who will remove it from our hand, the Lord will cut off the hand that wears the ring.
APC is behaving in this way, But God is the creator of the ring and the hand, God will amputate the hand.
Ayo Fayose is anointed of God.
I have warned and I’m still warning, take your hands away from the administration of churches, you are killing Christians, The Lord will rise against you. By rising against the church, this government has failed. As anyone that rises against God will fail. By using Laws against the church, they have started to crumble.
” Christians are being slaughtered in Southern Kaduna and noble men cannot talk because of fear of incarceration. Remember you are here today, tomorrow you would not be here again. We must condemn what is happening here today, ” he said.
Speaking earlier, Mrs. Fayose said she stopped praying to God to remove her husband’s heart from politics when God revealed to her in 206 that He needed him (Fayose) in Nigeria. She said to her husband: “The Lord will reward, He will stand by you. You are going higher and I’ll be beside. I’ll still remain the same person. God has said it and it will never fail.
” When I was praying to God to remove politics in my husband’s heart. God told me in 2006. He said leave that man, I need him in Nigeria. I ask when and how and when but he said don’t ask me. But I’s taking him higher. God indeed is really watching over me. I want to be praising God and to be watching my enemies falling, and all haters of Fayose and his govt falling.
“Note this, I prophesize this year that many things, governments, kingdoms, conspiracies will be torn tear so many things this year, because of Ekiti State and Fayose, be on God’s side so that you’ll not be torn.
By Clifford Ndujihe AHEAD of tomorrow’s election of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ndigbo have been urged to go for good candidates, who will reposition the organisation for the onerous tasks before it in the country.
The charge was made by Elder statesman and former Secretary General of Ohaneze, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, and National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie.
The duo spoke, yesterday, while rooting for different candidates, who are running for the post of the president-general. While Professor Nwabueze is backing Professor Chiweyite Ejike, Chief Okorie is supporting Chief Nnia Nwodo for the prime slot.Prof Nwabueze
In a reference letter he wrote for Ejike, a professor of Zoology and current chairman of the Convention for Intellectual Co-operation of Nigeria, COFICON, Nwabueze said: ”At a time when Ohanaeze, the umbrella Organisation for Ndigbo, is in shambles, and in some kind of disarray inflicted on it by lapses on the part of the leadership in recent years, we need someone of great integrity, impeccable character, outstanding sagacity and intellect, principled and disciplined, someone imbued with a passion and a vision for the promotion of the interest of Ndigbo, especially in the context of Nigeria. Professor C. Ejike seems to me to be such a person. He possesses, in an eminent degree, the qualities mentioned above…
”From working closely with Professor Ejike as my deputy in the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, I know him to be a good manager of men and resources, however small the resources, an exemplary leader, a man of outstanding intellectual endowment, with an affable personality and a high sense of responsibility.”
Warning against the imposition of candidates, Nwabueze added: ”The forthcoming election provides an opportunity to revitalize Ohanaeze, to inject into it the spirit, vision and dream that animated its founding some 40 years ago, and to create, as it were, a new Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
In like manner, Chief Okorie said he is backing Nwodo to be elected in the interest of Ndigbo because ”Ndigbo are at crossroads in Nigeria today. The Ohaneze leadership we must elect at this time cannot be somebody who has just chanced on the Pan Igbo organisation..”
He continued: ”I make this recommendation with every sense of responsibility and patriotism. Chief Nnia Nwodo towers head and shoulder above those who have stepped forward to contest for the office of President General of Ohanaeze in terms of commitment and personal sacrifice to the course of the apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, consistently for several years.
I wish to state unequivocally that I became a member of the Igbo Forum as an undergraduate of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1976. Igbo Forum was renamed Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1979. I have been involved in the affairs of Ohanaeze for an unbroken period of 40 years. I am therefore in a sound position to proffer an opinion on the fit and proper person to be considered for the exalted office of the President General of Ohanaeze.
I venture to state without any fear of contradiction that Chief Nnia Nwodo has paid his ‘dues’ satisfactorily to Ndigbo and Ohanaeze. Let me remind members that Chief Nnia Nwodo played a central role in supporting his elder brother, His Excellency Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former Governor of Enugu State to donate the present National Secretariat of Ohanaeze complete with a Certificate of Occupancy. Chief Nnia Nwodo single-handedly sponsored and hosted several meetings of the Ime-Obi (Elders Council) of Ohanaeze when we were meeting monthly.
Chief Nwodo was the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of Ohanaeze. I served as the Secretary of the Committee. He practically converted his Law Office complete with his staff to the secretariat of the Constitution Drafting Committee until we completed the assignment and submitted our report to Ohanaeze. The Ohaneze profile of Chief Nnia Nwodo is unassailable.
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has said that 111roads have been earmarked for construction in the dry season.
Obiano, who disclosed this on Saturday in Awka, said the roads were in areas with prospects for the realisation of agriculture, commerce and industrial vision.
He said that the roads would cut across the three Senatorial districts of the state.
Obiano
"It would be done to standard due to the anticipated heavy duty trucks conveying products to and from the project sites,'' the governor said.
He described the year 2016 as a year of breakthrough for the state.
According to him, the state government would intensify efforts to ensure that the economy of the state remain viable to alleviate the impact of the present economic recession on the people.
Obiano said he had initiated short-term policies to guarantee the state's continued march toward greater achievements.
"This government is more focused on building strong institutions for a viable model for subsequent administrations to consolidate on,'' the governor said.
"I am committed to seeing through my social contract with the people,'' he said.
Liverpool face the prospect of a tricky FA Cup third-round replay against Plymouth Argyle after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
The sides met for the first time in any competition since April 1962 and although the Premier League team dominated possession and had the majority of the chances, they were unable to find the net.
Plymouth, who are second in fourth-tier League Two, will now host the seven-time winners at Home Park in south-west England later this month.
It will add to a congested January for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose team also have a two-legged League Cup semi-final against Southampton to contend with.
After a hectic festive period, Klopp decided to rest many of his first-choice players as he made 10 changes from the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in the Premier League.
He ended up naming the youngest team in Liverpool’s history, with an average age of 21 years and 296 days, which included a first start for teenage striker Ben Woodburn.
Liverpool’s English striker Daniel Sturridge (R) has an unsuccessful shot during the English FA Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Plymouth Argyle at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 8, 2017.
The 17-year-old became Liverpool’s youngster ever goalscorer in a League Cup victory over Leeds United in November.
He drew the first save out of Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick with a low toe-poke from close range after clever play by Emre Can.
Divock Origi had the ball in the net for the Reds moments later after he brought down a high ball, but the Belgium international was deemed to have fouled Plymouth defender Gary Miller.
Liverpool controlled the play against a side 68 places below them in the English football pyramid, but the visitors were organised and reached the break on level terms.
– Sturridge summoned –
Plymouth, backed by 8,500 vocal fans who had made a near 600-mile (965-kilometre) round trip to Merseyside, finally managed a shot on target 10 minutes into the second half.
But Graham Carey’s speculative free-kick was comfortably saved by Loris Karius.
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, handed the armband by Klopp, brought a save from McCormick with an equally audacious effort from outside the box moments later.
Anfield started to grow restless and Klopp responded shortly after the hour mark with the introduction of Daniel Sturridge for Can.
The striker’s first act was to whistle a low shot just the wrong side of the post following a Liverpool counter-attack.
Shortly after he lifted a dangerous ball into the area, with Sheyi Ojo not quite able to apply the decisive touch.
Klopp brought on Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana with 15 minutes remaining in an attempt to inject some life into his side.
Despite the fresh legs and six minutes of added time, the hosts failed to find a way past a stubborn Argyle defence.
Right at the death, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick was flicked on by Origi and substitute Connor Smith almost nudged the ball into his own net, only for McCormick to gather.
When referee Paul Tierney blew the final whistle, the Plymouth players went to applaud the away contingent, who celebrated as if they had secured victory, while Liverpool’s players trudged off.
The State Pastor, Living Faith Church, Lokoja, Kogi State, David Popoola, has said that it takes spiritual warfare and personal responsibility for prophecies to be fulfilled in the life of a Christian.
Popoola made the disclosure in his sermon entitled: "Gateways to operating in the supernatural " on Sunday in Lokoja.
The state pastor said no prophecy could fulfill itself except by spiritual warfare of prayer and fasting to bring the prophecy into reality.
Taking his lesson from the Book of James 5 v 17 and 18, he said: "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not for three and half years.
"And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
He, therefore, urged the congregation to participate actively in the 21-Day prayer and fasting of the church scheduled to commence on Jan 9.
"Prayer is to commune with God personally without distractions while fasting is denying ourselves of food, drinks and pleasures.
"Fasting and prayer demands investing our time in praying, studying the word of God, praising and worshipping God; and one of its benefits is empowerment.
"We must learn to wait on God while fasting and not waiting on our time or food, we must show love to everyone.
"The spirit of love will empower us to live in a different world in 2017; it will make our case to be different.
He defined love as putting "God first in all that we do, living a kingdom priority lifestyle, placing God above all things and identifying with Jesus openly and unashamedly".
The cleric, therefore, urged Christians to emulate the virtues of Christ by showing genuine love to others in all things. (NAN)
Kerosene scarcity has resurfaced in Kano and its environs, forcing consumers to resort to using coal and firewood for their daily cooking.
The situation had deteriorated in the last one week, forcing residents who could afford, to buy the product at exorbitant prices.
NAN reports that the situation was compounded by non-availability of the commodity at most filling stations in the metropolis.
Some of the retailers told NAN that for the past one week, no filling station in the metropolis sold the product.
One of the sellers at Tarauni market, Malam Mohammed Aminu, said even those with old stock had jerked up the price by about 200 per cent due to its scarcity.
A consumer, Malam Annas Abba-Dala, said a four litre gallon of kerosene now go for N1, 600 as against N800.
Even today (Sunday) I bought a gallon of the product at N1, 600 as against N800," he said.
Another customer, Malam Garba Ahmad, said he had since switched to the use of charcoal until the situation improves.
"With this recession and the current price of Kerosene, men with large families cannot afford to buy it.
"So, people like us have to resort to the use of charcoal or firewood as an alternative though their prices has also increased slightly due to high demand."
A filling station attendant on Audu Bako way said, "the owner of this filling station stopped bringing the product when a litre was sold at N230".
Effort to contact the state Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Bashir Dan-Malam, failed as his mobile phone was switched off.
NAN recalls that the last time Kano State experienced similar scarcity was in July 2016, when a four litre gallon of the commodity sold for N1,000 at the black market.
A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Jude Idimogu, on Sunday commended President Muhammadu Buhari's resolve to commence the payment of outstanding stipends to the Niger-Delta ex-militants.
Idimogu, representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, gave the commendation in Lagos.
President Muhammadu Buhari
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that such development has become imperative for the good of the nation, saying the country and Nigerians, had suffered enough due to the unrest in the region.
NAN reports that the Federal Government had paid two out of the four months stipends owed the repentant militants in Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Mr Ramsey Mukoro, Leader of the Third Phase of the amnesty programme, had on Saturday said that some former agitators had received two out of the four months outstanding allowances.
Idimogu said, "This is a good development for the country to move forward.
"Whether we like it or not, peace in the Niger Delta is paramount, because it is the area that lays the golden eggs for this nation as of today.
"We should go ahead and do everything possible as a government, to maintain peace in the region, and in other places.
"We are pampering them (the region) already as a result of the 13 per cent derivation the region has, apart from the normal allocation. Let the Federal Government do more to get result."
The lawmaker also urged the government to always try to have robust discussion with stakeholders from the region, and regard the people as stakeholders in the nation.
Idimogu said that the region had long been neglected by the government in the area of provision of road infrastructure, urging the government to commence rigorous road construction in the region.
"Crises in this region had been affecting the nation's economy, putting the whole Nigeria in crisis. We should take care of the region.
"Let's make them happy, and if we need to also do extra things for the people there to achieve our goals, let's do such things.
"Nigerians are suffering because of the dwindling government revenue. We all know that without peace, no family, community and nation can progress.
"Let that region be happy by developing the place. When you make the people there happy, all these crises will die down naturally.
"Communication and dialogue solve a lot of problems. The government cannot meet every need at the same time, but communication will make people understand and stop unrest," he said.
NAN reports that retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office and Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta, recently indicated the government's commitment to the training and empowerment of all beneficiaries listed on the programme.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has commiserated with families of the army captain and five other soldiers reportedly killed yesterday, by Boko Haram insurgents during an attacked on the Nigeria Army Brigade in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, calling on the federal government to stop deceiving Nigerians with stories of defeat of Boko Haram insurgency and return of Chibok girls.
Fayose
The governor, who maintained that the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgents could only be won through truthful information by the federal government and cooperation of all Nigerians, asked; “If indeed Boko Haram was already defeated, where are those suicide bombings and attacks coming from?”
In a release issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “Nigerians are faced with many wars now, Boko Haram is just one of them and it is worrisome that we are not being told the truth about anything.
“It is like a patient telling his doctor that nothing is wrong with him. How will such patient be treated?”
He said it was funny that the federal government was celebrating the recovery of what they called Boko Haram flag as a sign of defeat of the insurgents while more daring attacks were being made by the same Boko Haram against the army, killing our gallant soldiers.
“The reality is that insecurity has increased in Nigeria more than President Muhammadu Buhari met it. Herdsmen have even killed more Nigerians than Boko Haram in the last one year while hundreds have died through extrajudicial killings by security agencies,” the governor said.
Speaking on the 21 Chibok girls, said to have been rescued, Governor Fayose maintained that the real story behind the Chibok girls abduction will be told one day.
He said the federal government must have to tell Nigerians why the 21 rescued Chibok girls have not returned to their families since last year October.
“Have you ever seen anyone that will be in captivity for that long and won’t be eager to reunite with his or her family two months after regaining freedom?
“If the girls are truly Chibok girls, their freedom must be total. They must also be allowed to tell their own stories.
“However, as it appears, the girls may have moved from one captivity to another,” he said.
SERVING Overseer, The Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare has thrown his weight behind the agitation for restructuring of the country, saying it will correct the fundamental flaws in the polity.
President Buhari and Pastor Tunde Bakare at State House Abuja
He, however, faulted the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration for refusing to heed the call for restructuring.
Bakare said this, Sunday, during a state of the nation address in Lagos.
Noting that restructuring will correct the fundamental flaw in the nation’s federal system, he said: "The hues and cries for restructuring in our nation appear not to have been well received by this present government. The inquisitive may ask: Why must we restructure? We must restructure to correct the flaws in our federal system. A federated state is defined as a territorial and constitutional community forming part of a federal union.
“In a true federal system, previously sovereign states agree to confer their individual sovereignties on a central government. In other words, the states create the federal government, as was the case with the original thirteen American colonies. This was also the case when the Nigerian federal system was originally conceived by our founding fathers. Prior to the coming of the colonialists, sovereignty was domiciled in empires, kingdoms, city-states and republican villages. It was, however, taken over by the colonialists at which point it resided in the British crown."
Lamenting that the current crop of leaders have deviated from the ideology of the nation’s founding fathers, Bakare said: "Our founding fathers agreed that Nigeria would be a truly federal state with limited and specific powers allocated to the federal government and residual powers inherent in the regional governments."
"This agreement was the social contract upon which the Nigerian state was formed, but this social contract was broken on May 24, 1966 through the Unification Decree by Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi's administration. That was the day Nigeria died.
"Five decades later, in spite of the reversal of the Unification Decree by Gen. Yakubu Gowon's administration resulting in the division of Nigeria into twelve states, this deviation from the landmarks set by the fathers is a crucial reason for our disjointed nationhood and the perennial socioeconomic decay. It is why efforts at economic diversification by government after government, including the present government, have failed to yield the expected results."
Advocating for a zonally structured governance system, the cleric said: "I must state that I am inclined to a zonally structured governance system due to the reasons I earlier alluded to. However, in the spirit of trustful give and take, let all the proposals be brought to the table. Inasmuch as it is in the interest of our nation, whatever governmental structure results from the process, a people deserve the right to determine the structural and functional parameters of governance in their nation. Let the Nigerian people decide. From the United Kingdom's European Union membership referendum, to the constitutional plebiscite in Italy, we have seen examples of how this is done.
“The notion that the Nigerian nation is non-negotiable will remain contested through agitations, until we summon enough courage to put it to the test, and prove, through the outcome, that we are indeed prepared to become a truly united nation."
Bakare, who is also Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, called on President Buhari and his team to summon the courage to make hard choices to restructure and the choice to embrace the necessary self-sacrifice that precedes economic recovery.
He said: "To The current government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, has the opportunity to provide such leadership by being at the forefront of the quest for change. Guided by the indicators of good governance in a well-structured state, and propelled by a true unifying national vision, Mr. President and his team must summon the courage to make hard choices, especially the choice to restructure and the choice to embrace the necessary self-sacrifice that precedes economic recovery.
"May 29 this year will mark two full years of this administration in government. We have no more time to waste. Mr. President must galvanize his team to get the job done; square pegs in round holes must be removed or put in appropriate places; the wicked who surround the righteous must be led away from the presence of the king. Those who cannot stand the heat must get out of the kitchen. It is time to demonstrate leadership, wise judgment and astute public policy that guarantees stable and prosperous nationhood upon a foundation of peace; it is time to build a well-ordered nation with strong institutions dispensing justice; it is time to arise with patriotic zeal to build a great nation such that, years from now, generations yet unborn will look back at their history, not with disdain, but with gratitude to God that our generation preceded theirs."
Adamawa Police Command on Sunday confirmed the killing of three Mobile Policemen and the disappearance of two others in an attack by suspected herdsmen in Demsa Local Government Area of the state.
The policemen were among those drafted to secure Kwayine, Gidan Dadi and Karlahi communities after clashes that followed the killing of 47 cattle in the area.
The command's Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola, said that four rifles belonging to the policemen were also missing.
"Fulani militia attacked the three villages and we lost three of our gallant MOPOL while two are missing.
"We have constituted a high powered search team and by the special grace of God we are going to recover our men.
Armed Fulani-herdsmen
"On the side of the civilians, two bodies have so far been recovered," Othman said.
The spokesman said that the police had succeeded in killing scores of the militias who where however able to escape with their dead ones.
Abubakar said more policemen had been drafted to the affected areas.
Gov. Muhammad Bindow had condemned the attack, which occurred less than 24-hours after a government delegation on peace building mission visited the area.
The governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, directed security agencies to deploy more personnel to the area.
He described the attack as unfortunate and sad especially coming after recent peace and confidence building efforts.
"The Governor feels highly disturbed that after he had sent delegations on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to interface with the different communities in the area, a clash could occur so soon thereafter."
He assured residents of government's resolve to restore peace to the affected areas and protect the lives of every citizen.
Bindow saluted the gallantry of the police in confronting the attackers and urged them not to relent until normalcy is fully restored.
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigerian Army's impeccable feat of routing the Boko Haram insurgents from its Sambisa forest stronghold.
Umahi gave the commendation at an inter-denominational service to mark the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abakaliki on Sunday.
Represented by Dr Kelechi Igwe, his Deputy, Umahi said that Buhari had shown that he was commanding the Nigerian armed forces effectively.
"The feat is unprecedented in the nation's long years of fighting insurgency and militancy and it signifies continued security for the nation's troubled areas.
"The president's military expertise came into bear in routing the insurgent's stronghold as he combined military skills and finesse to achieve the feat.
"He also assembled the best, high-ranking officers in the military to storm the Sambisa forest-haven of the insurgents and matched them force to force which destabilised them," he said.
Umahi
The governor urged Ebonyi and Nigerian citizens not to leave security issues in the hands of relevant agencies alone, but contribute immensely to secure the state and nation.
"Security issues are dear to God which made him deploy the cherubim, armed with swords to protect the Garden of Eden from unwanted intrusions.
"Former British Leader, Winston Churchill, said that if British people would protect their households, there would be no need to hire mercenaries to fight for them during the Second World War.
"The same is obtainable in the state and country as the legionaries should see themselves as privileged to be chosen to protect the lives of over 180 million Nigerians," he said.
He promised to assist the legionaries and families of the fallen heroes, especially their children who would be assisted to excel in their educational endeavours.
"We will always appreciate your sacrifices for the nation as you have emulated Christ who laid down his life for his people," he said.
Mrs Eunice Oyeyemi, Chaplain of the Government House Chapel, also congratulated the military for the feat, while praying for God's continued guidance and protection on it.
"The Nigerian military ranks among the best in the world and we pray that God continues to embolden it to check all security challenges confronting the country.
"The government and well-meaning individuals should take care of families of departed legionaries to cushion their emotional trauma and give them a sense of belonging," Oyeyemi said.
The cantonment Commander of the Nkwagu Military Cantonment, Ebonyi, Paul Kolawe, pledged that his officers would ensure the protection of lives and properties of the citizens.
Homilies and words of encouragement were given by the clergy and other stakeholders who graced the service, while prayers were said for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.
Lagos – Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG), on Sunday joined other eminent Nigerians in the calls for restructuring of Nigeria's federal system to a united nation.
Bakare made the call in his "State of the Nation'' broadcast at the Latter Rain Assembly, End-Time Church in Lagos.
Theme of the broadcast is: "Looking into the Future with the Eyes of Faith.''
He said the founding fathers had agreed that Nigeria would be "a truly federal state with limited and specific powers allocated to the Federal Government, and residual powers inherent in the regional governments.Bakare
According to him, this agreement was the social contract upon which the Nigerian state was formed.
He said that this social contract was broken on May 24, 1966, through the Unification Decree by the late Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi's administration.
Bakare said that the current government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, has the opportunity to provide such leadership Nigerians want by being at the forefront of the quest for change.
According to him, the change will be guided by the indicators of good governance in a well-structured state, and propelled by a true unifying national vision.
"Mr President and his team must summon the courage to make hard choices, especially the choice to restructure and the choice to embrace the necessary self-sacrifice that precedes economic recovery.
"May 29 this year will mark two full years of this administration in government. We have no more time to waste.
"Mr President must galvanise his team to get the job done; square pegs in round holes must be removed or put in appropriate places.
"It is time to demonstrate leadership, wise judgment and astute public policy that guarantees stable and prosperous nationhood upon a foundation of peace, and build a well-ordered nation with strong institutions dispensing justice.
"It is time to arise with patriotic zeal, to build a great nation such that, years from now, generations yet unborn will look back at their history, not with disdain, but with gratitude to God that our generation preceded theirs.
"May 2017 be the year we look into the future with the eyes of faith and take steps to accomplish all that we know is possible,''' he said.
Bakare said that 2016 was characterised by extreme uncertainties, intense political suspense, accelerated global terror, and mounting economic pressure, due to dwindling resources.
He said that in spite of the challenges, some achievements were recorded in the areas of security and diversification.
"'As at April 2016, despite the acceleration of global terror, Boko Haram's impact had been reduced from 22 attacks per month in 2015 to nine per month in 2016.
"Under this administration, 21 of the abducted Chibok girls were also released to their parents in October 2016, and last Friday, Rakiya Abubakar, the latest rescued Chibok schoolgirl, was reunited with her parents in Abuja.
"To crown it all, at the tail end of 2016, Sambisa Forest was liberated and the Boko Haram flag was captured by our gallant soldiers,'' Bakare said.
He, therefore, prayed for the safe return of all still in captivity, the continued protection of our soldiers, and the safety and rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons.
The cleric-politician said, "The government's diversification efforts have also propelled increased attention to agriculture with the sector growing by 4.54 per cent in the third quarter of the year, despite the 2.24 per cent year on year reduction in growth rate.
"The third quarter also saw growth in non-oil sectors including fishing and crop production.
"These are signs of a diversifying economy. Therefore, the assumption that the Buhari-led administration lacks direction is questionable."
Bakare then urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious, ethnic, gender or other distinctions, to pray for God's intervention and support the government.
"Prayer has its place, but God will not come down to solve problems. He has already equipped us to solve.
"God is looking for patriots who will become responsible for their families, for their communities, for their organisations, for their nation, for the continent and for the world, " he said.
Bakare prayed that God would grant President Buhari wisdom, health, courage and clear vision to do the needful via policies that would redeem and make Nigeria great.
