See How Popular Music Artist Gets Married (Photos/Video)

On Saturday, August 30, popular Nigerian artist Sean Tizzle created a spot of drama onstage at Star Music Trek finale when he carried out a mock wedding onstage while performing his hit track “Perfect Gentleman”.

Sean Tizzle with his bride

Coming on a night of high drama and thrilling entertainment at the annual national music tour sponsored by Nigerian Breweries, the crowd appreciated the onstage spectacle and cheered wildly as the pop star first took off his bracelets, then his watch, then his coat, and finally his tie and threw them into the delighted crowd.

READ ALSO: Timi Dakolo Caught Making His Daughter’s Hair

See more wedding pictures and pictures below:

Sean Tizzle on stage

The night also witnessed performances from 2Face, Sound Sultan, Immaculate, MI, Joe El, Cynthia Morgan, Seyi Shay, Young Grey C, Runtown among others.

The post See How Popular Music Artist Gets Married (Photos/Video) appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Editorial: Buhari’s One Man Army Can Serve The Entire Nigeria

It is over 90 days now since President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the president of Nigeria and five months since he won the historic election, the landmark victory that marked the first time an opposition candidate has won a presidential election in Nigeria.

Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan by over 2.5 million votes

Buhari’s victory generated boisterous celebrations heralding a new beginning that had been dubbed as ‘change’. Many were left anticipating dramatic changes to follow, and analysts urged him to “hit the ground running”.

According to Mannir Dan Ali, an African journalist, most Nigerians expected President Buhari to shake up the security services and make other key appointments in his first few days – as former president Olusegun Obasanjo did within hours of his inauguration in 1999.

READ ALSO: Hearthbreaking: Governor Shettima Cries Out, Stops 49th Birthday Felicities

However, it took nearly two months for the new leader of the country to replace his security chiefs. So far he has only made appointments of about a dozen of government officials.

The new service chiefs were appointed on July 13, 2015.

A former newspaper editor and an unofficial aide to the president even wrote an article entitled ‘What is all the fuss about?’ defending the absence of the cabinet.

In the memo, he urged the press, social media and others to focus on the “real enemies of Nigeria: poverty, ignorance, disease and squalor” and not stand in the way of “the most popular president in our history”.

“The new government came into power through people’s power…. Therefore, its duty should be to constructively plan and execute people’s policies and not worry too much about who gets what post.”

Critics agree that the statement is right up to a point – though they argue that a new democratic halo around President Buhari does make it difficult for many to publicly criticise him.

Buhari’s victory received an unprecedented welcome by many Nigerians who have for too long craved a ‘change’.

However, it soon became clear that there would not be a cabinet before September, or even later. According to the presidency, the justification was that “almost everything is in a state of decay”. For the new government to achieve anything long-lasting, then there first must be the building of a new foundation.

A publication by President Buhari in the Washington Post which coincide with his visit to the US in July, made further justifications about why the task “should not be rushed”.

Buhari said: “It is worth noting that [US President Barack] Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim.”

“In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place,” he added.

Media reports subtly confirm that commentators are now learning to live with President Buhari’s pace of governance, as he has been dealing directly with the top civil servants, who run the ministries.

Though it is not only the cabinet that is not yet in place.

It is recorded that just after Buhari took office in May, the Senate gave him the freedom to appoint 15 special advisers.

But only a few have been appointed, and there is currently no adviser on the national assembly to serve as a link between the executive and legislature.

For some political analysts, this is seen as a mistake, taking into consideration the current rift between the presidency and the Senate over the election of the chamber’s president, Bukola Saraki, who was not the ruling party’s chosen candidate.

READ ALSO: World In 2050: Nigeria Ranked Fourth In New UN Report

Meanwhile, the politicians tend to be the ones who are suffering the most from the lack of a cabinet, and the suffering seem far from over, as none has a clue as to when the situation will be fixed.

According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a spokesman for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), no one in the party knows when the appointments would be, as the president has kept it all to himself and is basking in the euphoria of the mystery, riding currently and dully on the waves of fear rocking the public sector.

Buhari’s leadership style and the method of appointments has for a while been a topic of debate, sparking off so much controversy. Some people have gone ahead to say that the president is still a dictator. Eye-brows have also been raised at his non-favourable disposition towards implementing the recommendations of the report of the National Conference which was organised by former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

While some groups are airing their grievances regarding Buhari’s latest appointments which have been adjudged by them as favouring the north, others have come out to appeal to Nigerians, asking that they be patient with the president. The appealing party reminds that there are still well over 5,000 important appointments to be made, stressing that the seeming lopsided appointments towards the north would soon be balanced.

The post Editorial: Buhari’s One Man Army Can Serve The Entire Nigeria appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Crisis Hits Uniport Over Deaths Of 20 Students

University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) student on Monday, August 31 kicked out the doctors and nurses working at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and locked up the gates barring entrance and exit from the medical centre.

The aggrieved students who came out in large numbers reportedly chased out all the medical officials present in what they claimed was a protest against the hospital’s poor service towards students.

READ ALSO: 57 Unrecognised Universities In Nigeria Face Sack

According to Vanguard, Uniport students complained that negligence was an issue of concern in UPTH and they claimed that more than 20 students had died due to the hospital’s negligence. The most recent case which was the death of a final year theatre arts student who died on Sunday, August 30 after the hospital allegedly denied the student medical attention.

The students complained that even after the school management bill them for medical fees, they did not receive the medical attention that was due. They urged the management to review its relationship with the teaching hospital so students would get better attention in health related issues.

Miss Judith Oyila, one of the leaders of the protest and a theatre arts student complained that students were not considered a priority by UPTH and that was why the number of students’ death increased.

“We are angry because we have lost another of our student again in UPTH, a 200 level student of Theatre Art.

“She died because of neglect by the doctors and nurses in that hospital. How could it be that a student slumped and students rushed her to UPTH but the doctors left her for over six hours without treatment and the poor girl died.

“We want the world to hear the injustice that we are facing here even in the hand of the doctors in our institution’s hospital. The doctors abandoned her without treatment.

“They gave excuses that do not worth it: saying no bed to keep her, no fuel, no ambulance until she died. The Doctors forgot that we pay for health.

READ ALSO: Eksu Trains Students On Modern Technology

“We want the government to sanction the school and UPTH for this, as well compel them to do a review of their policies as it concerns students health.

The protest has affected patients in the hospital as some of them have been moved to the emergency wards of other hospitals. Some of the patients expressed fear that it may lead to doctors going on strike and advised the government to intervene in the situation.

In another development, a student of the University of Ibadan slumped during the semester examination and papers were put on hold due to the unfortunate incident.

The post Crisis Hits Uniport Over Deaths Of 20 Students appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

2Face, MI, Others Bring Lagos To A Standstill [PHOTOS]

The eight Nigerian cities tour of Star Music Trek 2015 finally came to an end at the Lagos finale in Gbagada.

On Saturday, August 29, the Gbagada Open Field, Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos, hosted the biggest names in Nigerian music for the finale of the Star Music Trek 2015.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Pasuma, Wizkid, Chidinma, Others Bring Ibadan To A Standstill

The country’s entertainment capital witnessed thrilling performances from 2Face Idibia, M.I, Burna Boy, Cynthia Morgan, Seyi Shay, Sound Sultan, Young Grey C, Pepenazi, Joe El, Immaculate, Runtown, Sean Tizzle and several others.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: See How Wande Coal, Burna Boy, MI, Others Rocked Benin

DJ Xclusive, DJ Big N and DJ Spinal were on the turn table. Dotun of Cool FM, Lafup and Gbenga Adeyinka were the hosts of the night.

See photos from the here:

 

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Why Next Generation Of Nigerian Students Need ICT – Prof Okojie

The executive secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Julius A. Okojie has decried the low deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

He made this statement, on August 31, at the 2015 conference on “Technology Assisted Learning in the Nigerian University System” co-hosted by the National Universities Commission, American University of Nigeria, and Digital Promise Global.

Delivering his welcome address, Prof Okojie, emphasized the need for government to fund the deployment of ICT to help in teaching and learning process instead of funding universities to build lecture theaters.

Advocating for the utilization of ICT especially via virtual learning, Prof Okojie praised the National Open University (NOA) for serving as the bridge between the offline and online learning methods.

“What we need is to use ICT to optimize learning in our universities. Electronic teaching is such that the students of tomorrow need the class in their palms.”

READ ALSO: You Must Also Probe Obasanjo’s Govt – SSANU To Buhari

He charged the academics to brace up and ensure that they are ICT compliant because the “next generation of students will be more knowledgeable than their teachers in Information Technology”.

Concerning the recent publication of universities that have not been approved by the commission, Prof Okojie called on the press to help in promoting activities of the commission in improving tertiary education in Nigeria.

“The press should help us. Nigerian students are employable, those who are not are coming from another source, and I do not know them.”

READ ALSO: 57 Unrecognised Universities In Nigeria Face Sack

The conference will be coming to an end tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1.

The conference was attended by Prof. Faborode, Prof. Elias Bogoro, Permanent Secretary, ministry of communication technology, permanent secretary, ministry of science and technology, and Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola.

Also in attendance was the acting permanent secretary, federal ministry of education, Hindatu Abdullahi, Director, Open and Distance Education, NUC, Dr. O.E. Adesina, and Prof. Bill Bertrand.

Not too long ago, about fifty seven illegal degree-awarding institutions operating in Nigeria were been blacklisted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to Professor Julius Okojie, the executive secretary of the NUC, certificates obtained from the institutions listed would not be accorded recognition for the purpose of election and participation in the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

The post Why Next Generation Of Nigerian Students Need ICT – Prof Okojie appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

SCARY: Read What Lagos Will Look Like In the Year 2050 (PHOTOS)

Have you ever thought of Lagos will look like in the future? According to Population Reference Bureau, Nigeria’s population is expected to rise from the 2015 figure of 182 million to 397 in 2050. This projection means that Nigeria is expected to move from the 7^th most populous nation to the 4^th most populous. Although Lagos is the smallest state in terms of land mass, it already has a population of 17.9 million citizens living in the city.

Here are 5 things that may likely happen in Lagos in 2050.

Population

With the projected population boom, the number of people in Lagos coupled with the everyday immigration is expected to rise up to 36 million. The slums in Lagos would most likely be affected with a lot of people cramped in small spaces. Inadvertently, the problem of traffic might increase too but fortunately, a lot is being done to improve other forms of transportation. In other to provide more space for the growing population, experts advise that the city should take advantage of its waters like the Eko Atlantic project. The Makoko floating school should also be a model so as to reduce population density. One thing that is however certain is that the population would grow massively.

READ ALSO: 10 Reasons Lagos Is The Centre Of Excellence

Education

Lagos has less that fifteen higher institutions and that is less than the schools can cater for considering the high number of people that will be in the city by 2050. What this means that if more institutions are not available, the few school will either be admitting more students than they can cater for or few people will have the opportunity to school in Lagos. Either way, the result doesn’t look good.

Employment

The more than double population growth in Lagos might have an adverse effect on the citizens. Securing and creating jobs might be difficult. A better business environment will be favourable and a better investment opportunity might alleviate the problem of employment. Lagos is seen as a land of opportunities but these opportunities may become scarce and limited when the population in 2050 surpasses the opportunities available.

Health

With the densely populated environment and the projection of 2050, Lagos might be sitting in a precariously dangerous cliff in terms of health and disease control. The city was able to manage the outbreak of Ebola quickly which is a good thing. However, the country cannot boast of world class health care service and many people still travel out of the country for health issues. A lot of people living in a small location can be a breeding ground for contagious disease.

READ ALSO: 5 Things Other Nigerians Believe About Lagos

Food

Lagos is not a farming city and this is not a good sign for 2050. Food availability and distribution might be a problem. The availability of money without food to purchase might occur. The little available food will be very expensive which something to be wary of is. Food is the life blood of making every other thing work and with more people and little food, 2050 looks bleak.

 

The post SCARY: Read What Lagos Will Look Like In the Year 2050 (PHOTOS) appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

13 Army Generals Get Scared Of Buhari, Set To Return Stolen Funds

Thirteen retired army generals that are are expected to be interrogated by the probe panel set by President Muhammadu Buhari have already approached some members of the board for friendly settlement of the matter than appearing before the panel.

It should be noted that the arms procurement investigation was set up to probe contracts executed during the administrations of late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigerian Pilot reports that a former National Security Adviser is supposedly the point of the negotiation, if the members of the panel will accept their request.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Panel Begins Sitting Over Arms Deals

The security source said that the 13 retired military chiefs are willing to return N1 trillion to the federal authorities as part of the plea bargain agreement.

The source added that the chairman of the probe panel is yet to take a decision on the proposal given to him by the affected accused generals.

Not less than 19 ex military chiefs are to be interrogated by the panel.

They are five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers, NSAs and eight former Ministers of Defence. The probe has caused panic among retired military chiefs who coordinated arms procurement in the last eight years.

The Buhari administration has ordered that tight security be given for members of the panel. The task is comprehensive. It will run through many governments.

The source further said: “The probe will require looking into the administrations of five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers and eight former ministers. It is a Herculean task.

READ ALSO: Buhari To Probe Jonathan’s Failed Arms Deal

 “Already, there is panic in the circle of retired military officers on the intent of the evaluation of arms purchase. Some of these former military chiefs have reached out to panel members to allow them have access to relevant documents.”

“All arms deals were not subjected to the nation’s procurement laws even though the late President Umaru Yar’Adua specifically said there should be no due process waiver for the military.”

 

The post 13 Army Generals Get Scared Of Buhari, Set To Return Stolen Funds appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Who Is To Blame For Nigeria’s Failure At The 2015 World Athletics Championships? The Athletes Or The Govt.

While other African counties like South Africa and Kenya returned from the 2015 Beijing Athletics Championships with medals to show for their efforts, Nigeria returned with zero medals.

After failing in all other categories and sports, Nigeria’s last hope Blessing Okagbare finished fifth in the 4x400m Women’s relay in Sunday’s final.

Nigerians were disappointed that the quartet of Regina George, Funke Oladoye, Tosin Adeloye and Patience Okon could not upset the USA and Jamaica in the 4X100 relay.

Regina George, Funke Oladoye, Tosin Adeloye and Patience Okon at 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 30, 2015 in Beijing, China. CREDIT: Getty Images

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare who was expected to lead team Nigeria suffered an unfortunate injury which hampered her performances and participation.

Blessing Okagbare

Back in 2013 at the World Athletics Championship, Okagbare picked up a sliver and a bronze (Nigeria was medal less for 14 years) and it seems we had returned to the 1996 season in which the country’s athletes were successful at the Olympics.

Some of the athletes who spoke to Vanguard were angered by the manner in which the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) handled the financial situation of the sportsmen and women.

READ ALSO: PHOTO: See The Man That Recommended Keshi’s Sack

Triple Jumper, Tosin Oke, who finished in the top world’s top eight was angered that some athletics were given much more financial rewards than his. He said: “How can an athlete be receiving five digits every month and I get zero?”

Tosin Oke

Oke begged for the AFN leadership to be changed ahead of the Rio Olympics next year .

Gloria Asunmu who is the current National 100m Women’s champion, blamed officials and poor preparedness.

She said: “I am not disappointed we couldn’t scale through because this is what you get when you don’t prepare. The federation should always be prepared. Put people in charge who know what they are doing. Up till the (national) trials in Warri (Maurice) Green (the former world and Olympic 100, 200m and 4x100m champion) has been our coach.

READ ALSO: Mourinho Confirms Sadness, Confusion, Frustration As Players Go On Int’l Break

“But when we got here, we found out he is not. The team bonding and chemistry we had under him was destroyed. Everyday what we have been having here is confusion. This is not how to prepare for a world championships. This is embarrassing.”

UK based, Olusoji Fasuba (Africa’s fastest man ever and former 60m champion) stated on his facebook page:  “Nigerian athletics has finally become a place where dreams are reduced to African championship and those that they deem can’t make a future thrown aside. But those thrown aside are taken at a young age by other countries and turned to world class in a couple of years.( unlike us who buy retired 100m runners to try and develop).

Olusoji Fasuba

 “When a country like Kenya can produce world champions in the 400m hurdles, then hope is not lost for Africa.

“But when a country like Nigeria thinks African championship is the ultimate of all ultimate because they refuse to give or have faith in their athletes at the world stage. Then my people we are lost as a country. How can my nation Nigeria move forward when they limit the abilities of the male sprinters by keeping them because they feel that they wouldn’t get a medal.”

The athletes have spoken but should the Nigerian’s blame blame the AFN or the athletes for relaxing on their laurels?

The post Who Is To Blame For Nigeria’s Failure At The 2015 World Athletics Championships? The Athletes Or The Govt. appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

How Ex-Governor Escaped Death In Abuja (UPDATED)

Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, escaped death after his car got involved in an accident along Airport Road in Abuja.

Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state

Premium Times reports that the accident happened on Monday, August 31, near the Bolingo Junction close to the Ship House, Abuja.

According to a witness, Akpabio was moving in a convoy of vehicles towards the City Gate when his vehicle ran into another car.

“My wife and I were coming from the NNPC Mega Station and we stopped at the traffic light by Bolingo Hotel Junction. When the green light showed and we made to move, there was this siren blaring Mercedes Benz jeep that came from the town and almost crashed onto my car. I don’t know how we dodged but another that was behind the jeep hit the car behind me and tumbled on its side.

“I and my wife rushed out of our vehicle and helped the driver bring out his boss. When we brought him out, we found that it was former governor Godswill Akpabio.

“At the time we brought him out, the siren was still blaring. We put him in the other vehicle and he was rushed to the National Hospital,” the witness said.

READ ALSO: Psquare Escape Accident Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Unhurt

The witness added that the ex-governor was in a traumatic condition when he was brought out of the crashed vehicle.

Shortly after the accident, Akpabio was reportedly admitted at the National Hospital. However, a security official revealed that the former governor was later moved to a private section of the hospital for X-ray and other investigations.

Meanwhile, the driver of the ex-governor confirmed the accident, noting that his boss was in stable condition. However, he declined to explain how the accident happened and provide any details.

When contacted, J. Momoh, the chief medical director of the hospital, said that he could not speak on Akpabio’s behalf because he has no authorisation from the family. The director noted that it is against medical ethics to speak about a patient in admission.

Another source at the hospital said that Akpabio was “doing OK” as he only suffered shock after the accident.

Speaking with The Cable, Tayo Hastrup, the spokesman of the hospital, confirmed the incident, adding that the former governor “was fine and responding well”.

Earlier this year, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Abdul, the former governor of Kogi state, also escaped death in a terrible car accident. The ex-governor and his three aides were injured and hospitalised.

The post How Ex-Governor Escaped Death In Abuja (UPDATED) appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Mallakar Adamawa: Rikici Tsakanin Atiku Da Nyako

Akwai alamun rikici tsakanin tsohon mataimakin shugaban kasa Atiku Abubakar da kuma tsohon gwamnan Adamawa, Murtala Nyako akan kokarin mallakar Adamawa.

A lokacin zabe, wasu rahotanni sun nuna cewa gwamna Jibrilla Bindow ya samu nasarar lashe zaben saboda taimakon da Nyako ya bashi. Domin kuwa Atiku bai taimaka mashi ba lokacin zaben fidda gwani, Jaridar This Day ta ruwaito.

Nyako da magoya bayan shi su yi tsammanin su zasu hada sama da kashi 90 na gwamnati. Amma kwamishinoni da yawa cikin 22 wadanda Majalisar Jihar ta yarda gwamnan ya nada duk mutanen Atiku ne.

A cikin su akwai Ibrahim Yayaji Mijinyawa, wanda sau 2 yana gwabzawa da Bindow domin neman gwamnan Jihar, da kuma Umar Diya Daware.

A cikin kwamishinonin 22 akwai, tsofaffin kwamishinoni, Muhammad Barkindo Mustafa, Lilian nabe Kayode, da kuma Mata guda 4, Shanti Victoria Shashi, Kaleptapwa Farauta, Fatima Atiku da Lilian Nabe Kayode.

Wasu na ganin cewa gwamnan zaya ba fi ba bangaren Atiku dama a Jihar, ba na Nyako ba wanda ya taimake shi yaci zabe.

Wasu kuma sunce shawara aka bashi akan ya kaucema rikicin Atiku da Nyako domin idan ya dauki bangare, hakan na iya bata  ashi manufar siyasar shi. Wani rikicin siyasa kuma naso ya kara barkewa tsakanin gwamna Bindow da shugaban ma’aikatan shi Abdurrahaman

Abbah.

Abbah yayi sanarwa a kafafen yada labarai cewa gwamnatin Jihar Adamawa zata ware Naira Miliyan 200 domin yin addu’o’i na samun zaman lafiya a Jihar.

Gwamnatin Jihar ta musanta zancen inda gwamnan yayi umurni ga Abbah da kada ya sake yin magan da Yan jarida. Hakan ya sanya ya kai mashi takardar aje aiki.

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Buhari Swears In SGF, Others, Refuses To Give Remarks After Ceremony

President Mohammadu Buhari has sworn-in the newly appointed secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal.

The swearing-in ceremony according to Premium Times, took place at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The swearing-in ceremony also featured other newly appointed presidential aides.

READ ALSO: 7 Things You Should Know About The Newly Appointed Nigerian Customs Service Boss

Recall that President Buhari approved some appointments last week Thursday, August 27. He approved Babachir David Lawal as chief of staff to the president, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as new comptroller-general, Nigerian customs service; Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi comptroller-general, Nigerian immigration service, Senator Ita S.J. Enang as SSA to the president on national assembly matters (Senate) and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu as SSA to the president on national assembly matters (House of Representatives).

However, it was reported that Buhari did not comment on the uproar that his latest appointment caused after swearing in the new officials. He also did not give any remarks. But speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the SGF, Mr. Lawal, said they were not appointed because of their places of origin.

“We did not have to pass examination to get appointed into these positions,” he said. “(It was) not because of our tribes, or our faiths, or our political groups that we were considered worthy for these positions. “If it is such, I am sure none of us would have been considered worthy of these appointments. We appreciate the president and we appreciate God that he has blessed us with these privileged appointments,” Mr. Lawal said.

The recent appointments by President Buhari have drawn criticisms from  southerners who accuse the president of falling short of the ‘federal character’ that he preaches, the north has also been unsettled over allegations that the president is trying to favour one part of the north above the other.

These recent appointments by Buhari brings the total number of his appointees to 30, with only seven of them coming from the southern part of the country and the rest from the north.

Meanwhile, Catholic bishops have expressed their support for President Muhammadu Buhari for his anti-corruption war.

The post Buhari Swears In SGF, Others, Refuses To Give Remarks After Ceremony appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Fayose Threatens To Shut Down Banks In Ekiti State

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has threatened to close down four commercial banks in the state over refusal to pay several millions of naira as taxes to government coffers.

Governor Ayo Fayose

The governor issued the threat on Monday, August 31, while holding a meeting with retirees in Ado Ekiti. He said he had obtained a court order to shut down the affected banks.

Fayose, who accused the banks of shortchanging the government despite making huge profits from the state, said he would not turn a blind eye and allow banks and other corporate organizations defraud the state.

READ ALSO: Drama In Ekiti As Fayose Visits Secretariat To Fish-Out Late Comers

According to The Nation, he warned that the affected banks and other businesses owing government taxes and levies to pay their offset their debts or risk being closed down.

Fayose also repeated his decision to make all private nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state pay the new imposed taxes before resumption by middle of September.

READ ALSO: Governor Fayose Drives Lorry To Project Site

He pleaded with the pensioners to be patient with him, saying he has been battling with the debt left behind by the immediate past administration and promised to meet their demands as soon as the financial situation in the state improves.

In a related development, Governor Fayose on Monday, August 31, caught civil servants by surprise when he showed up unexpectedly at the state secretariat unannounced for an unscheduled visit.

The post Fayose Threatens To Shut Down Banks In Ekiti State appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Buhari Sends Congratulatory Message To D’Tigers

Nigeria’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have been congratulated by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The president expressed gladness after the team emerged African champions when they beat Angola.

In a statement on Monday August 31, Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesperson, revealed that the Nigerian leader is happy with the players and entire crew for a job-well-done.

Oguchi and his colleagues celebrate

READ ALSO: French-born Athlete Reveals Why She Is Dumping France For Nigeria (Photo)

He said: “President Buhari joins other sports-loving Nigerians in applauding D’Tigers’ exhilarating 74-65 victory over their Angolan opponents which also secured Nigeria’s qualification for the men’s basketball event at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.”

“The President commends the players for displaying exemplary strength, courage, determination and patriotism as well as great skills and creativity to dethrone Angola, the perennial African basketball champions.

“President Buhari urges members of the team and their handlers to work very hard to surpass their extraordinary heroics in Tunisia before a global audience at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro and bring even greater glory to Nigeria.

“The President assures the team, its managers and the Nigerian Basketball Federation that his administration will give them and Nigeria’s other representatives at the next Olympic Games, the fullest possible support to ensure that they are well prepared to excel against the champions of other countries and regions in Rio De Janeiro.”

READ ALSO: Rio 2016: Nigeria’s D’Tigers Battle Mozambique For Olympic Ticket

The president however promised that his administration will be very supportive as the team prepares for next year’s Olympic games, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The post Buhari Sends Congratulatory Message To D’Tigers appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Hearthbreaking: Governor Shettima Cries Out, Stops 49th Birthday Felicities

Kashim Shettima, the Borno state governor, would be 49-years-old on Wednesday, September 2, but he will not be felicitating as his heart is saddened by the incessant insurgent attacks by Boko Haram.

Shettima appealed to his political appointees, political associates in the All Progressives Congress (APC), foreign and local contractors having dealings with the state, kinsmen, former colleagues in the banking sector as well as friends in different parts of the country. The governor asked them not to place any advertisement on newspapers, magazines, television, radio, online and social media platforms to congratulate him.

According to Daily Post, the governor noted that the restriction was to respect the memory of too many Borno citizens and residents who have been killed by Boko Haram Islamists in the recent and the previous attacks, as well as the utmost need to honour the late deputy governor of Borno state, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, who died on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram: 56 Dead, Many Injured In Borno State

The governor’s ban was stated in an by his special adviser on communications and strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, dated Monday, August 31. Shettima also used the medium to seek understanding by the media houses which could have anticipated to generate revenue from his 49th birthday.

Gusau said his boss personally called some specific friends and associates, whom he suspects were planning to place adverts, and has made the appeal to them directly, but felt it was necessary to tell others whom the governor might not be aware of.

Shettima urged those willing to place adverts to channel the funds to different private organizations in Abuja and Maiduguri currently seeking funds to support multitudes of internally displaced persons affected by the attacks in Borno and other parts of the northeast.

He expressed deep appreciation to anyone, group or institution especially those associated with the APC or the Borno state government that might have intended congratulating him on Wednesday, September 2. He pleaded with them to pray for the return of peace in Borno and all parts of Nigeria and for his administration to succeed in its practical efforts to remodel Borno state for the benefit of its citizens under an atmosphere of freedom from terror attacks and any violent or criminal threat.

The governor, who had refused to allow any birthday party from taking place since becoming the governor in 2011, maintained that he would only celebrate his birthday, if necessary at all, when peace is completely restored in all the parts of Borno state with affected citizens fully rehabilitated and re-integrated into reconstructed communities.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram New Deadly Attack: Nigeria Warns US

‎It is recalled that in 2014, Governor Shettima reportedly rejected a birthday party organized by a group of his friends from Lagos and Abuja who wanted to surprise him on his 48th birthday. The governor then explained that it would be insensitive of him, as the leader of Borno, to be partying while the citizens of his state were being killed in serial attacks by Boko Haram insurgents who destroyed dozens of communities, rendering over 1.5 million internally displaced and forcing others to take refuge in neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, at least 80 people were killed from attacks on three different villages by suspected Boko Haram gunmen who raided at the weekend on horseback in Nigeria’s restive northeast.

Sources said 68 people were killed in an attack on Baanu village in Borno state late on Friday, August 28, while witnesses said another 11 people were shot dead in two other villages on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30.

Colonel Tukur Gusau, an army spokesman in Maiduguri, and Borno government spokesperson Isa Umar Gusau could not immediately comment on the attacks, saying they had been out of town over the weekend.

Boko Haram has been seeking to impose a strict Islamic system in northern Nigeria, and their insurgent attacks have killed at least 15,000 people and displaced not less than 1.5 million since 2009.

The post Hearthbreaking: Governor Shettima Cries Out, Stops 49th Birthday Felicities appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

Attention Lagos Government! There Is A Deathtrap In Lagos Called Kirikiri Dillion Street

Editor’s note: Year after year, reports emerge in the press about the pitiful condition of the roads in Lagos suburbs, the town of Kirikiri. Countless accidents occur on its most frequently-used, busy Dillion Street; road users, residents lose lives, property, businesses and time because of the terrible state of the road. Naij.com contributor, Arinze Esomnofu, has visited the town and, through Naij.com, hopes to convey the pleas of Kirikiri town residents to Lagos state authorities.

Naij.com contributor and freelance reporter, Arinze Esomnofu, has visited the town of Kirikiri to report on the shameful condition of Dillion Street, an important and frequently-used road that has become a “deathtrap”

Kirikiri, a densely populated town in the Oriade local government area of Lagos state with some spicing of industrial presence, is home to the most notorious prison in Nigeria – the medium and maximum security Kirikiri prisons.

To most Nigerians, hearing someone mention they live in Kirikiri means the person admitting to their prisoner status. But in reality, Kirikiri has two sets of people: those that dwell behind the “walls” and those who reside outside.

The town, which is as old as the Lagos state itself, is attracting manufacturers and bonded terminal moguls. This explains the dense movement of heavy vehicles in and out of the area.

The importance of the town cannot be overemphasised as the entry point into the Nigerian naval base, aside from it being a shortcut to other areas within the Amuwo-Odofin local government area of the state.

That being said, the general state of the town is pathetic and has sunk deeper into a state of abandonment. Absence of motorable roads is glaring.

“I was a cashier in Macdon’s, but because of the bad state of the Dillion road, we were having poor sales that gradually led to the shutdown of our branch, all because of this road!” lamented Obianuju, a resident of Dillion Street. Her sad view is shared by many residents of the town who believe the state and local governments deliberately abandon the town to its fate.

Here is what the security man attached to the gates of the Broadway Nursery and Primary School, once a model school in the town, has to say: “Oga, I no go lie, this road really dey affect our school bad bad, and we dey lose most of our pupils, abeg make you help me beg our government people them. Make dem come fix this road I no won lose my job oh!”

Dillion Street, Kirikiri, Lagos; photo credit – Arinze Esomnofu

Sometime last year, a motorcycle (popularly known as Okada) lost control and fell into the gutters. The bike rider and his passenger were hospitalised in critical conditions. Also last year, the driver of a trailer conveying two containers lost control and fell sideways, destroying the goods in the containers worth millions of naira in the process.  

Saint Paul Anglican Church, a popular church in Kirikiri, is not left out on the pains caused by the deplorable state of the Dillion road, as worshipers from Olodi Apapa are now seeking for other churches close to them instead of coming to worship at Saint Paul.

The pains felt daily by the residents of Kirikiri due to the poor state of the roads in the town, especially the Dillion Street road, are unimaginable. As long as that road remains unattended to, their sufferings continue.

One of the roles of government is looking into the plight of its citizens and fixing such problems to ensure better living among the citizenry. When this does not happen, the people call on their government to come to their aid.

And it is on such note that I call the attention of the executive governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, and the local government chairman of Oriade, Sanusi Ibrahim Tunde, to come to the aid of the residents of Kirikiri by fixing the Dillion road, for the present state of that road is a nuisance.

Dillion Street, Kirikiri, Lagos; photo credit – Arinze Esomnofu

Dillion Street, Kirikiri, Lagos; photo credit – Arinze Esomnofu

Arinze Esomnofu for Naij,com

Arinze Esomnofu is a political analyst, public commentator on trending political events, and a motivational speaker.

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The post Attention Lagos Government! There Is A Deathtrap In Lagos Called Kirikiri Dillion Street appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.