Nigeria Will Land Own Astronaut In Space By 2030 – Minister

<p dir="ltr">The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says Nigeria will land its own astronaut in space before 2030.<br> Dr. Onu gave the assurance while in a meeting with the management team from the Defence Space Agency in Abuja.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Minister told the agency that the Federal Government was putting all the structures in place to ensure that the dream was actualised.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The space programme is very important for a country like Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ministry will work very hard in the years ahead to strengthen all the structures of the agencies that will help us to ensure that the nation plays a role in the space,” he told the team led by the Chief of Defence Space Agency, Air Marshall Victor Udoh.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Onu said the ministry would put in more efforts to ensure that all the arrangements needed were provided.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The space is a major asset which nations like Nigeria must also be involved in for the purposes of protecting national interest”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Responding to the Minister’s statement the Chief of Defence Space Agency, Air Marshall Victor Udoh, emphasised the need to set up a Space State Counsel that would aid the installation of a satellite for intelligence gathering.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpMMyk9yezHiQfY6YHM64lukvg7KF1w4wXRulmnaojjW4TWRcThmQZyxDJ5viO2i-BCrKAReZObpVJ3kdsEgQRkgiqFRVf3PBsep7cSu73xDQMwJLG0BHLLqBnqNDIIeSmLkQlu9N4an9/s1600/IMG_20160326_194147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpMMyk9yezHiQfY6YHM64lukvg7KF1w4wXRulmnaojjW4TWRcThmQZyxDJ5viO2i-BCrKAReZObpVJ3kdsEgQRkgiqFRVf3PBsep7cSu73xDQMwJLG0BHLLqBnqNDIIeSmLkQlu9N4an9/s640/IMG_20160326_194147.jpg"> </a> </div>

Nigeria Will Land Own Astronaut In Space By 2030 – Minister

BASAM 0 11:45:00

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says Nigeria will land its own astronaut in space before 2030. Dr. Onu gave the assurance while in a meeting with the management team from the Defence Space Agency in Abuja. The Minister told… link to this post

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P-Square reunites, put family first

<p dir="ltr">After weeks of drama which kept the social media abuzz with ranting tweet and comments, the Nigerian R&B acts, Peter and Paul Okoye of PSquare fame, are back together as a group.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although, this is not the first time a disagreement between the musical twins would come to public notice, it was the first time any of the brothers would release solo singles. They had at the beginning of their separation five weeks ago took to their different Instagram pages, breathing heavily on each other’s neck.</p> <p dir="ltr">Weekend Beat gathered that two female fans of the pop singers had cried profusely and posted a video on Youtube, begging the twins to come back as brothers and as a group to do what they know best, which gives a lot of people joy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Okoye brothers, perhaps, touched by the cry decided to heed to pleas of the fans and came back as a group. They took to their respective Instagram pages to inform the world that they are now back as a group. Their elder brother cum manager, Jude Engees Okoye, who, all through the drama was quiet, broke his silence by posting the same message on his own page.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That it took our stupidity to realize that family comes first; we are very sorry,” the twins posted on their different pages @PeterPSquare @rudeboysquare @judeengees #dembeonenobetwo #PSqaureForever.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before the reunion, Paul in a tweet, stated: “All you all want is P-square, all I want is family, love and care! Social media is the new root of all evil! There’s family before P-square and there will always be family after P-square. Jude was only a scape goat and a victim…the person who has been keeping us together for all these years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dear brother I’m begging you, even if you don’t want Jude anymore and you don’t want P-square, you are forever going to be my brother, but I wish the three of us could still do these together, because it’s a thing of joy. People love us so much not only because of our good music, but seeing brothers doing it together and keeping it, setting a good example to other families and to our kids.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Please swallow your pride, forgive and forget, we can still turn these things around. If I have said anything or done anything that hurts you, I’m very sorry, and to all our true fans please pray for us. God bless you all.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Then Peter wrote: “I am not flawless, I commit errors and it harms individuals. In any case, when I say sorry I would not joke about this. I am so sorry for my activities. I genuinely apologise.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The news of their separation had hit many like a hard stone, leaving their fans to take sides and pledged their support for one half of the twins. While some prayed for their quick reunion, others really do not care about the split.</p> <p dir="ltr">Peter and Paul cut their teeth as singers and dancers in their school music and drama club at St. Murumba Secondary School in Jos, Plateau State before forming a group known as the Smooth Criminals in 1997.</p> <p dir="ltr">When the group got disbanded, the twins, who were already household names in Jtown, founded their own group. At different times, they named the group Double P and Da Pees before finally settling for PSquare.</p> <p dir="ltr">They were initially managed by Bayo Odusanmi, popularly known as Howie T, a seasoned music promoter cum entertainment entrepreneur. The duo won the Benson and Hedges Grab Da Mic talent hunt in 2001 and earned a well-deserved sponsorship.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCme80a5y-Ff1wh48Dhwt2DEsFH5xG_MuONrCAY9StYTliC_F7pbPASqBDzipSVJoywQH7hWw-LJxmS8sB2dPWDEr5Ux7jTWPBttH2VQfFNFs7M_cYJpCKV096tBywZZOjNGQmWt3EENYh/s1600/psquare_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCme80a5y-Ff1wh48Dhwt2DEsFH5xG_MuONrCAY9StYTliC_F7pbPASqBDzipSVJoywQH7hWw-LJxmS8sB2dPWDEr5Ux7jTWPBttH2VQfFNFs7M_cYJpCKV096tBywZZOjNGQmWt3EENYh/s640/psquare_5.jpg"> </a> </div>

P-Square reunites, put family first

BASAM 0 11:16:00

After weeks of drama which kept the social media abuzz with ranting tweet and comments, the Nigerian R&B acts, Peter and Paul Okoye of PSquare fame, are back together as a group. Although, this is not the first time a disagreement between the musical… link to this post

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President Buhari Urges Nigerians To Love One Another

<p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to love one another and be disciples and flowers of Jesus Christ, just as He (Jesus) did during his ministry on earth.<br> President Buhari made this known in his Easter message to Nigerians. The statement says, “As we celebrate Easter this year, I sincerely believe that it will serve our dear nation very well if we all imbibe this essential message of Jesus Christ and truly learn to love our countrymen and women as we love ourselves.</p> <p dir="ltr">Indeed, we will surely make faster progress towards the achievement of the peaceful, united, strong, progressive and prosperous country we all desire if, as a nation, we eschew all divisive, parochial, ethnic and religious sentiments and rivalries, and begin to live more harmoniously with our compatriots, as Jesus Christ and the founders of the world’s other great religions enjoined mankind.</p> <p dir="ltr">Our unfortunate notoriety in recent years as a country where the blood of men, women and children are wantonly and callously shed in frequent orgies of criminal, political, ethnic and religious violence has become very embarrassing and utterly unacceptable.</p> <p dir="ltr">My administration is determined to achieve greater peace and security across our nation by ending the avoidable conflicts and crises that hinder our national progress.</p> <p dir="ltr">I ask for greater support from all Nigerians in this regard. We must put a stop to politically motivated killings. Our communities must be made safe again for all inhabitants to live together in peace and harmony”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He further noted that “Our armed forces, police and other security agencies are being progressively reformed, re-positioned and empowered to win the war against terrorism and make mass killings, abductions and other criminal atrocities things of the past in our beloved country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Let us all also play our parts as patriotic citizens and do all that we can to ensure that we make Nigeria a safer, more peaceful and happier place for its people and others.</p> <p dir="ltr">Faith, belief and the fulfillment of expectations are also key themes of the Easter celebration. I urge you all therefore, to continue to have faith in the future greatness of our country and to believe that the CHANGE my administration promised will surely come to fruition.</p> <p dir="ltr">That CHANGE, which we all yearn for, will certainly occur more rapidly if we all place the love of our country above selfish personal and group interests”.</p> <p dir="ltr">President Buhari stated that the National Assembly has just passed the 2016 budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I assure all Nigerians that we will do our utmost best to ensure that the budget, the first since my election as President, is efficiently and successfully implemented towards achieving our objective of faster economic growth and development.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thank the vast majority of Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the first ten months of this administration.</p> <p dir="ltr">As we go forward, I assure you all that we are working very hard to overcome the challenges we encountered on assumption of office.</p> <p dir="ltr">We are moving on with an unshaken resolve and determination to deliver on the mandate you gave us on March 28, last year”.</p> <p dir="ltr">I wish you all very happy Easter celebrations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyRB-nxxYs1gOGdl1Es9LAmLPFwIeoCo-0zWYLYlYaXUYeWoG9IbT99SbDhuPJbidYEIFDmXV299xoVEXM0EGaF2CBVyzLoQP1-NKkTcOqS9qJ12QgD27aTCpz0p51TwWWhu_7DZNvti5/s1600/IMG_20160326_165951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyRB-nxxYs1gOGdl1Es9LAmLPFwIeoCo-0zWYLYlYaXUYeWoG9IbT99SbDhuPJbidYEIFDmXV299xoVEXM0EGaF2CBVyzLoQP1-NKkTcOqS9qJ12QgD27aTCpz0p51TwWWhu_7DZNvti5/s640/IMG_20160326_165951.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqsppHKpa1rQ6Ejwv88skSo_T0X_1EldRY8ugDjNE1bTZQrPmdscvzCcDBpcsgKo-LhSpmEPjuBYsVB7y7FkTCf8DXnL6p3_iEqYozGobzdOzRwk0ub4plZztbkRDTo_tMtq0OVjtTPYW/s1600/IMG_20160326_165729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqsppHKpa1rQ6Ejwv88skSo_T0X_1EldRY8ugDjNE1bTZQrPmdscvzCcDBpcsgKo-LhSpmEPjuBYsVB7y7FkTCf8DXnL6p3_iEqYozGobzdOzRwk0ub4plZztbkRDTo_tMtq0OVjtTPYW/s640/IMG_20160326_165729.jpg"> </a> </div>

President Buhari Urges Nigerians To Love One Another

BASAM 0 09:00:00

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to love one another and be disciples and flowers of Jesus Christ, just as He (Jesus) did during his ministry on earth. President Buhari made this known in his Easter message to Nigerians. The statem… link to this post

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NIGERIANS, WHERE IS OUR MORALITY By Kayode Abiodun

<p dir="ltr">I recently stumbled on an old book featuring some selected speeches of the former premier of defunct Western region Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in one of the Speech titled "Education as a Means to National Freedom " the Last Nationalist mentioned that "Corruption has been ineradicably ingrained in our system ". He made this statement on the 7th of February 1957 and this is 2016, that makes it 59 years since he made the statement. This bags a million dollars question that "if  Corruption was ineradicably ingrained in our system as at 1957, what about now that we're in 2016? This is what inspired this write up. <br> Morality are principles concerning the difference between right and wrong, good or bad behavior as it affects the people and society at large. The rate of moral decadent in Nigerian society begs for concern and has been on an all time increase over the years, Every time I tuned to news, if it is not that 65 years old man raped a 12years old girl, it will be that a pastor or an Alfa duped a man of all his wealth, if it is not that a politician was arraigned to court, it would be a police shot a commercial bus driver because of 20naira. The decay in our system is so colossal that the level of trust in our society is low. It is now a survival of the fittest. These gross immoralities has been on the news for a long time that people are counting some of it as part of our societal norm. </p> <p dir="ltr">Where did we got it wrong? History told that corruption in Nigeria started a very long time ago and instead of it to be reduced like a sane society, these filthy practices is rising with time. The most infuriating part is that Nigerian are now categorizing what corruption is. Once people hear corruption, they equate it with embezzlement only. Average Nigerian society don't know embezzlement is just a small fraction of what corruption really is. This same thinking mentality made the Former president Jonathan Goodluck to say on live TV that stealing is not Corruption. This statement is not so farfetched because that is how an average Nigerian thinks. <br> Now let's define corruption, Corruption according to the Oxford dictionary is willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain. <br> Corruption is the use of illegal ways to browse on your phone, Corruption occurs when Civil servants require for extra money before discharging their official duties, corruption occurs when police collect stipend from commercial drivers, corruption occurs when The vice chancellor and other University board members divert money meant for the institution, Nepotism is Corruption, stealing is corruption, Corruption occurs when you jump que in a bank simply because you know the cashier, Corruption also occurs when filling stations sell above stipulated price. These are just few examples of corruption, is in our system. </p> <p dir="ltr">Now that we know the definition of corruption, let's talk about its effect on our morality. Due to negligence, ignorance or intentionally, Nigerians talk, bath, ate and breathe corruption everyday. The situation has worsened, I even overheard a graduate saying that he is a yahoo boy not a fraudster, the commuters were even saying that the driver should give the police some stipends even after he has shown that all his papers were complete, what about Our religious leaders, they prefer to say what people want to hear, if someone gets rich overnight, they won't ask him or her where he got his money from, all they care about is the tithe offering or fizebililah that the person will pay. Another example of how demoralized we're was the recent twitter trend called #bringbackourcorruption, these set of people are of the opinion that Nigeria with corruption is better than this newly elected government. Remember Josephine Agwu, that Lagos cleaner that returned 12million naira to its rightful owner, the kind of bashing she received on social media is infuriating. Even when you get defrauded or swindled, people would rather abuse you than condemning the act. This is the extent of the effects </p> <p dir="ltr">How do we eradicate this infectious disease? <br> Firstly, every Nigerian must first admit that we have a problem with our morals, we need to start asking questions, Yoruba will say "omo yin o se agbafo, oun ko aso wale (your son is not into drycleaning, yet he brings home clothes everyday ), we need to reorientate ourselves on the dangers of immorality in our society and it's effect on next generation,  also we need to Stop pressuring our politician with personal needs immediately they assume office, our religion leader and educational institutions should preach moral values not acquisition of material wealth, there should be a probe panels to investigate sources of wealth of all rich men and women in our society. There should be ethic and moral codes for all and those who fall short should be made to face the music. </p> <p dir="ltr">Then above all, we all know what is right and wrong, let's endeavor to always do the right thing. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kayode Abiodun can be contacted on twitter @Abiodunsays</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOVN_T40AzRCb5XYP3z5mkAHsczipGckSGqFeRN_LnHKshpaI_A-T7D5IHKw_kr5KFeM4KncgD2XmZN8qKTDlH7_Pe1mBXmCdIEF98wi9evKZ2kilkyOyAeLr7SdQch81PjW-g85cSh2F/s1600/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOVN_T40AzRCb5XYP3z5mkAHsczipGckSGqFeRN_LnHKshpaI_A-T7D5IHKw_kr5KFeM4KncgD2XmZN8qKTDlH7_Pe1mBXmCdIEF98wi9evKZ2kilkyOyAeLr7SdQch81PjW-g85cSh2F/s640/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg"> </a> </div>

NIGERIANS, WHERE IS OUR MORALITY By Kayode Abiodun

BASAM 0 04:26:00

I recently stumbled on an old book featuring some selected speeches of the former premier of defunct Western region Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in one of the Speech titled "Education as a Means to National Freedom " the Last Nationalist mentioned tha… link to this post

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Unbelievable! Ronaldo, not Messi, helped out Neymar at the Ballon d’Or

<p dir="ltr">Cristiano Ronaldo put aside club rivalry to help out Neymar behind the scenes of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in January, according to Sky Sports presenter Kate Abdo.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite being a Real Madrid man, the Portuguese star was the one to offer a helping hand to the Barcelona player, not team-mate Lionel Messi as you might expect.<br> Ronaldo is extremely competitive – both on and off the pitch – but he still took the time to show the Brazilian around before the glitzy gala event.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the Ballon d’Or, which I did in January, we do a little rehearsal with the players before they are going to go on stage for real,” Abdo told Football Beyond Borders.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ronaldo came out with Neymar, who is Brazilian and Ronaldo is Portuguese, so they both speak Portuguese, and although Messi and Neymar are team-mates, it was Ronaldo who took him around, showed him where he had to go, made sure everything was translated for him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was just very kind and very caring towards Neymar, the way he looked out for him and made sure he knew what he was doing. That’s a side maybe you don’t expect.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The kindness did not translate into success for Ronaldo, who had to watch as Messi won the Ballon d’Or award for the fifth time.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Argentinian received 41.33% of the vote, with Ronaldo second on 27.76% and Neymar canvassing 7.86% of the votes to finish third.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ronaldo is once again locked into a competition with the Barca stars this season, with the Catalan side currently leading La Liga and 10 points ahead of their rivals.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the Portuguese forward is ahead personally on 28 league goals, while Messi has 22 and Neymar 21.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trio will meet again on the pitch soon, with El Clasico next taking place at the Camp Nou on April 2.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit : isoccerng.com </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hIa3JgTVecTy6HvaFd92vntGcSleGGxMCvY4PPaSNbInKZWtSjkDo0H6eisPBRW1AWGBpoqvm_BiblrzitVc6k37ay4m1Wf_9SgMsZI2d7F-33de5HRoz5svEY7k8DY3syjgOcbcoxeW/s1600/messi-ronaldo-neymar-ballondor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hIa3JgTVecTy6HvaFd92vntGcSleGGxMCvY4PPaSNbInKZWtSjkDo0H6eisPBRW1AWGBpoqvm_BiblrzitVc6k37ay4m1Wf_9SgMsZI2d7F-33de5HRoz5svEY7k8DY3syjgOcbcoxeW/s640/messi-ronaldo-neymar-ballondor.jpg"> </a> </div>

Unbelievable! Ronaldo, not Messi, helped out Neymar at the Ballon d’Or

BASAM 0 02:38:00

Cristiano Ronaldo put aside club rivalry to help out Neymar behind the scenes of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in January, according to Sky Sports presenter Kate Abdo. Despite being a Real Madrid man, the Portuguese star was the one to offer a helping han… link to this post

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NNPC Says More Petroleum Products Being Expected

<p dir="ltr">Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that four cargoes of about 4 million litres of petroleum products is being expected in the country within the next few days.<br> The spokesman of the Agency, Garba Mohammed, gave the assurance on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to him, this will address the gap in supply that has led to the current fuel scarcity being experienced by Nigerians.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the NNPC is working round the clock to find immediate and lasting solutions to the problems in the sector.</p> <p dir="ltr">The National President of the National Union Of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr Igwe Achese, had earlier said that he was hopeful that before the end of April, the petrol scarcity witnessed across Nigeria would end.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the union had, at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, advised the government to put in necessary policies that would adequately regulate the prices of petroleum products.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Achese told Channels Television in a telephone interview that the stakeholders at the meeting agreed to work together in making sure that product distribution is not hindered.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had on Thursday said that the explanation on the fuel scarcity situation provided by the Minister of State for Petroleum was misunderstood.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammed, the NNPC assured Nigerians that the fuel shortages will be over in a matter of weeks, not months and that the fuel shortage would improve sufficiently to make the long queues disappear, correcting “the erroneous impression created that fuel shortage will linger for two months”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbVBgQMuoUYmT4hZ1MfdRrKBz8MEzzFWCfstT6FObB2SvXoUMECYt-ROVkIIHarc0vgrlrCsOsiO0m1YtwdHhATLfR8MVqR1htwOS6RYp9W5m361AzQw9avIHO0AxejNSoCH6MPLmIa9S/s1600/nnpc-crude-oil-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbVBgQMuoUYmT4hZ1MfdRrKBz8MEzzFWCfstT6FObB2SvXoUMECYt-ROVkIIHarc0vgrlrCsOsiO0m1YtwdHhATLfR8MVqR1htwOS6RYp9W5m361AzQw9avIHO0AxejNSoCH6MPLmIa9S/s640/nnpc-crude-oil-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

NNPC Says More Petroleum Products Being Expected

BASAM 0 02:31:00

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that four cargoes of about 4 million litres of petroleum products is being expected in the country within the next few days. The spokesman of the Agency, Garba Mohammed, gave the assurance on F… link to this post

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Agriculture doesn’t have to be a poor people’s game, says successful farmer

<p dir="ltr">For decades, farmers in Africa have been portrayed as illiterate, old and poor. But agribusiness is gradually becoming ‘cool’, championed by wealthy public figures, and tech-savvy youth developing new solutions for the industry. Increasingly, agribusiness is being advocated as a viable career for Africa youth, many of whom grew up on farms but despised thoughts of becoming farmers themselves.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kenyan Charles Odida has been farming since he was a youngster attending primary school. He started with growing kale, tomatoes and onions on a small piece of land his grandmother allocated him. He would deliver his produce to the school kitchen every day before heading to class. At the end of the week, Odida received his pay, which he used for leasing additional land to grow more vegetables, and later maize. Today he is a large-scale farmer cultivating maize and sugar cane.</p> <p dir="ltr">Odida was one of the panellists at a recent event in Kenya’s capital Nairobi called ‘What’s Next AgTech’ – organised by start-up accelerator Nest – which brought together farmers, tech experts, academia and financiers to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities in agribusiness. Odida shared his experiences and offered advice to aspiring farmers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Go beyond banks for financing</p> <p dir="ltr">Financing is often cited as a challenge in agriculture, but Odida says there are many avenues farmers could seek financing from, other than commercial banks.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[The] Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), for instance, administers a fund on behalf of Kenya Sugar Board that lends money to sugar cane farmers at a 5% [interest rate]. The terms are flexible too – the sugar cane cycle is 18 months, so the [loan] repayment is only after 18 months,” says Odida.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have also seen that as a young farmer surrounded by more experienced farmers, if you show your zeal they will support you. There was a time when I almost failed to plough a portion of my land. One of my neighbours asked me what my plan was and I told them I didn’t have enough finance. The neighbour offered to plough for me as a soft loan that I would repay after harvesting. So seek cheap financing options. Form your own networks – have people who can trust you with their money.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Odida explained how he chooses what financial partner to work with based on the interest rate they charge, and the kind of project for which he wants financing. He seeks at least a 20% profit margin in every agricultural venture he undertakes.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So if I have determined that I should make at least 20% profit, and if you are financing me at 20% interest, it ceases to be useful. But if you are using the loan as a launching pad to the next project, then you can at least consider taking an expensive financing option.”<br> Financing ‘overdramatised’</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Odida advises aspiring farmers not to get stuck on the idea that they need to borrow money, or have buckets of financing. According to him, financing is “overdramatised” in agriculture.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Agriculture is the only business where every bit of capital you have is enough. If you have only Ksh.1,000 (about US$10) you can find your footing. I started with less than that, which was enough to buy seeds – I did the ploughing and weeding myself.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why do you want to grow sugar cane on 150 acres of land just because Charles is doing it? Why not start with Ksh.10,000 (about $100) that doesn’t require a loan and grow over time? If you really have the passion, money will not be an issue.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Smaller land acreage no excuse</p> <p dir="ltr">Odida might be farming on hundreds of acres today, but believes it is still possible to farm commercially on a smaller piece of land.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What matters most is how much yield you are realising from that one acre. We have farmers out here who have 500 acres of land growing maize, for example, [making] an average yield of eight bags an acre. Then you have another farmer who is working on 10 acres and [harvests] 45 bags per acre. So it is not always a question of the size of land at your disposal, but also about effort, focus and doing everything right to optimise the yield,” says Odida.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can have as much land as you want, but if you don’t optimise your production, it is a waste of time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sell direct, cut out middlemen</p> <p dir="ltr">One way of getting things right is seeking markets for your produce way before the crop is ready for harvest. Odida used an example of maize, a crop farmers often complain about because prices fall just when they are ready to sell. Odida has cut out middlemen in the supply chain by selling directly to institutions such as schools, and investing in storage facilities.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are institutions in this country that require maize in hundreds of bags every single year. Their price is higher than [the official] government price,” he explains. “At the end of the year I always have a schedule of the number of bags each school has ordered. Out of the total 3,500 bags produced I am often forced to ration them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Even if all you have is one acre – when you harvest, treat the maize and store it. The laws of supply and demand apply to all markets. When supply is low people come to me and ask for the maize. If you build your reputation around quality and protect yourself against post-harvest losses and middlemen, you will never complain about maize being a useless crop.”<br> Adopt new technologies</p> <p dir="ltr">Odida currently produces about 20 to 25 bags of maize per acre, which he considers “low”. However, his production is still higher than what some farmers in Kenya achieve. To improve his yields, he is investing in new technologies but concedes most of these are expensive.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I cannot afford the GPS operated tractor, which I am trying to get now. If I did conservation agriculture, that would improve my yield to about 40 bags per acre. If I produced even 30 bags per acre I would bask at the beach for one month.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He is also planning to set up an irrigation system at his sugar cane farm in western Kenya.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is not cheap. To do an irrigation system for sugar cane will cost about Ksh.3m ($29,000) to Ksh.4m ($39,000), and that is not pocket change. But the reason why I’m willing to do it is because I have realised I will be harvesting the 12-month cane variety in eight to 10 months, meaning my rate of return will be higher.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Be careful where you get your information</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted another downfall for most farmers is trusting information fed through official channels that is not always accurate. He gave the example of cheaper fertilisers promoted and supplied by government that have turned out to be ineffective in some areas.</p> <p dir="ltr">Odida advises aspiring farmers to use inputs designed for their specific crop and location considering weather and soil types, as opposed to going for cheaper uniform products pushed by government, interested parties and even the media.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although there are many challenges in the industry, Odida doesn’t believe farmers should be resigned to poverty.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit : howwemadeitinafrica.com</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10sawpyrQbMK1u_kKlCU-FnAf1YowONIRorOzrGHw7fWNLkA5oFyPXHj1bTnm4JU8L4wZjBd6ybtAFEbkt2KWzfXTWsOS7EKCwkgoh2YN1LCEWj6HTxS0lJX-BQ7_DC2RrsWtn82OXMLp/s1600/charles-600x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10sawpyrQbMK1u_kKlCU-FnAf1YowONIRorOzrGHw7fWNLkA5oFyPXHj1bTnm4JU8L4wZjBd6ybtAFEbkt2KWzfXTWsOS7EKCwkgoh2YN1LCEWj6HTxS0lJX-BQ7_DC2RrsWtn82OXMLp/s640/charles-600x300.jpg"> </a> </div>

Agriculture doesn’t have to be a poor people’s game, says successful farmer

BASAM 0 02:29:00

For decades, farmers in Africa have been portrayed as illiterate, old and poor. But agribusiness is gradually becoming ‘cool’, championed by wealthy public figures, and tech-savvy youth developing new solutions for the industry. Increasingly, agribus… link to this post

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Do Nigerian Leaders Ever Watch Television? By @DeleMomodu

<p dir="ltr">Fellow Nigerians, you must be wondering why I chose this title for my column today. If you wait a moment and you want to know the real reason, I shall explain in the next few lines. Television has become a most important platform in the world of media today. Its attraction derives from the simultaneous usage of audio and visual mediums. As a young boy growing up in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, I used to marvel at the magic behind this extraordinary human invention. As a “bush” boy, I actually imagined at some point that some people must have been smuggled into television boxes by those wizards and goblins called oyibo (White people). Till this day it remains the eighth wonder.</p> <p dir="ltr">In those days, television was a rarity. It was mainly in black and white. Only one big man, Chief S.O. Fadiora, popularly known as Baba Larele, had television in our neighbourhood. We had the privilege of standing by his window to watch some programmes. This opportunity fired our imagination. We saw events from far-flung places. We watched football. We enjoyed musicals. We savoured boxing. Wow, Mohammed Ali was the greatest. We had to stay awake and endure the giant mosquitos making a feast of our exposed parts anytime he was fighting. Even Nigerian television paraded exciting programmes. The adverts were nice, decent and easily remember-able. Life was good and Television was a must watch for us.<br></p> <p dir="ltr">If television was that important then, you can imagine how powerful it has become now with live broadcasts in vivid colours from any part of the globe. There is no subject under the sun that is not covered by television. You can virtually study from the comfort of your home. You can visit anywhere in the world without going near any airport. You can witness human advancement at the speed of light and the collapse of nations at the drop of a hat. The world has become one box office movie. Everything has been demystified and decoded. Television has of course been amplified and expanded by its social media variants through You Tube and other variants.</p> <p dir="ltr">Where am I going with this preamble? It is simple and straight-forward. No serious leader should have excuse for failure. Ideas are available practically free of charge to those who need and want it. Power is no longer a product of abracadabra. Videos, smartphones, laptops, iPads, and others have contributed immensely to the growth of television. Social media has even done so much to bring information nearer home. Any information can be obtained without fuss or stress. You can build or penetrate any library in the world. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power. How come our leaders have refused to take advantage of the globalisation of anything and everything?</p> <p dir="ltr">Someone sat down somewhere in Dubai and said he wanted to build the tallest building in the world which used to be the exclusive preserve of American cities. The same man sat down and decided that the biggest airport in the world can be built in a tiny Arabian desert. He didn’t have to travel or globetrot. Anything he wanted was handy at the touch of a button. He probably got ideas first from watching television and thought to himself I could do this better.</p> <p dir="ltr">I got inspiration for this column this week from watching the Brussels, Belgium, attack on television. Even as I sit down to write this the whole world is still gripped and held spellbound by events unfolding in that country which are being beamed live on diverse global news channels. They’ve killed our sleep at night and replaced it with insomnia. My brain is pounding and racing with endless questions about why we are not able to replicate these things despite being blessed with some of the brightest and smartest human souls on earth.<br> The first lesson I expect our leaders to learn from watching the spectacle on television is that our present problems would never go away until we learn how to do things differently. For example, the war against terrorism is largely a matter of intelligence combining the resources available to different arms of security forces especially the Police. In Nigeria we drag the army out of their barracks to fight terrorists with weapons of war. Watching Belgium on television, the army plays a lesser role and they are called out in very extreme conditions. What this tells me is that we need to retrain and upgrade our ragtag police force. They can’t achieve much in their current configuration. They must be well educated, trained, equipped, empowered and remunerated. The Police is the umbilical cord that joins humans and society. It is not the Army or indeed other segments of the Armed Forces. It seems that we have allowed our recent past which has been dominated by military oppression and suppression to overshadow the activities of our security forces and how they operate. That is not the way of the world and it is not how we will make progress if we are to secure our people and even borders. The truth is that the military is ill-equipped for the task and role thrust upon it by our leaders not because they do not have the equipment but because they do not have the temperament and domestic savvy required for operations such as this. On the contrary all the military should do is to complement the efforts of the other members of the security forces like the Police, DSS and other ‘civilian’ security agencies.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second lesson is the power of determination and tenacity. The Belgian government launched a blistering counter-attack after the bombs that reverberated through the airport and Metro. True, the security forces appear to have missed early warning signs, but they quickly made up for their lapses in the manner in which they responded to the dastardly and cowardly attacks. Since the bombings, the security offensive has been relentless and productive. What is noteworthy is that the media has been kept as informed as possible. The result is that the people, who are probably the most significant object of security, are fully involved in the security operation, contributing their quota by supplying valuable information, like the taxi driver who provided the valuable nugget of information that led to a second suspect being sought in relation to the Metro bombing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nearly two years after over 200 young girls vanished into thin air in Chibok, nothing tangible has come out of the search by the former and present governments. I appreciate the fact that the Government has apparently very recently rescued about 830 hostages from Boko Haram in Borno. In this regard one must commend the security forces and the Government. But this success merely highlights the dismal failure with regard to the Chibok girls after a couple of years. In relation to the missing girls, the body language was and continues to be very worrisome. Life seemingly continues as normal. What should have been a national tragedy uniting us was even politicised. The few selfless individuals who chose to draw attention to this unprecedented disaster were treated with disdain. In Belgium, about 30 people died and 300 were injured and the world was literally brought to a standstill because the government knew the huge responsibility bestowed on it. It was reminiscent of the attitude to the French shootings and killings earlier on this year. Our leaders get angry when asked to do their job. They take it personal, forgetting that this is one of the reasons they were elected into their positions in the first place. You become an instant enemy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The third big lesson from watching Belgium on television is what I saw as efficient and coherent management of Information. Every department explains its role and achievement or challenges. I did not see any Information Minister, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistant, Presidential Media Support Group, I Stand with the President Group, Special Adviser Social Media, Special Assistant, Chief of Staff, National Security Adviser and others competing to take charge of media. There was no cacophony of misinformation. No one harassed the Media. Even two prominent Ministers offered their resignations but were rejected. Government elsewhere would have taken hurried decisions before realising that sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t know. It would be impossible for new Ministers to know what to do in the middle of this crisis. Better to chase the hyena away before returning to the hen later.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fourth lesson is the level of preparedness. Everything needed and necessary was ready and pulled out immediately the bombs exploded; ambulances, oxygen, blood, dogs, fire trucks, hospital facilities appeared in a jiffy. Even hotels were converted to emergency clinics. The nation and the world stood together. Effort was made to identify victims dead or alive. Within days so many suspected or confirmed terrorists were trailed and apprehended. I saw a sense of mission and commitment. There has been no attempt to trade blames yet. Errors have been identified and accepted. But people have moved on immediately because there is a common enemy to be overcome. No political party or politician took advantage of the brouhaha to advance personal ambition. It is obvious there are sharp disagreements and undercurrents here and there but everyone is doing what needs to be done for now. There is always time for recrimination later.<br> The fifth lesson I learnt from watching television is that Nigerian leaders are too flamboyant and ceremonial. Even in the middle of our intractable crises, we have refused to tone down the pomp and pageantry of power. Our leaders still waste our dwindling resources on over-bloated personnel. Our leaders still travel abroad with security aides in full military regalia. If they watch television and take time to study protocol and etiquette they would realise that their style has become outlandishly archaic. Why should journalists want to capture the speech of a President and they are forced to take pictures of two people because of an outdated security trend. As mundane as this may seem, it is one of the things that shows the world that we are not serious. I saw Nigerian First Ladies in the past roaming the streets of Washington DC and London with uniformed orderlies. Why are we so uncouth? I have not seen world leaders or indeed their spouses being obviously attended by uniformed men abroad. The truth is that effective and efficient security of leaders is now an unobtrusive thing. I often wonder how an Aide-de-Camp dedicated to taking a bullet for his charge can do so from behind the person? Indeed what can he even see from that less than vantage position that would enable him to protect his ward? Na wah!</p> <p dir="ltr">I’m very convinced that our leaders must watch good channels on television. It is impossible not to do so given the preponderance of votes in their budgets for this purpose. We have a few Nigerian channels but something must be done to bring NTA up to date with the rest of the civilised world. It is shameful that a country as big and powerful as Nigeria is not able to run a world class television channel that would compete with CNN, Al Jazeera, Sky, Fox, BBC, CCTV News, French, Russian, Chinese and others now rocking the world and expressing the views of their home country owners. A nation as strong and powerful as Nigeria should have a voice of its own. This is what Nduka Obaigbeina is doing with Arise News and Tony Dara did with NN24 before it went under. These are geniuses who like their forerunners Raymond Dokpesi, Gabriel Igbinedion, Osa Sonny Adun, Steve Ojo, Busari Gbadeyanka, John Momoh, Ben Murray Bruce, Bola Tinubu and others invested heavily in television, a casino of sorts. Lack of enabling environment and too much government control has made television business extra tedious in Nigeria. A government of Change can turn things around for the better if it sets its priorities right. But it would amount to nothing or mere wishful thinking if the leaders don’t watch television or prefer channels that engage in hero-worship.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is time for a CHANGE!</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbkCrZicIyTKJGiL65oqqJo2lEtO5rJ94xGi4ibudvAjZrAOwb5ne9rfjOcBT0GqSRaKBJ1dNKSFkpO2tr4qZBerByALCNZpD-C2eWX687syK2qX5LUFkcVr4JC0760A1CeYCrW5yuU__/s1600/TwImg-20150125-115919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbkCrZicIyTKJGiL65oqqJo2lEtO5rJ94xGi4ibudvAjZrAOwb5ne9rfjOcBT0GqSRaKBJ1dNKSFkpO2tr4qZBerByALCNZpD-C2eWX687syK2qX5LUFkcVr4JC0760A1CeYCrW5yuU__/s640/TwImg-20150125-115919.jpg"> </a> </div>

Do Nigerian Leaders Ever Watch Television? By @DeleMomodu

BASAM 1 02:05:00

Fellow Nigerians, you must be wondering why I chose this title for my column today. If you wait a moment and you want to know the real reason, I shall explain in the next few lines. Television has become a most important platform in the world of medi… link to this post

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INEC To Announce Date For Fresh Rivers Rerun

<p dir="ltr">Nigeria’s electoral umpire, INEC has restated its decision to uphold results of the Rivers rerun elections in the federal and state constituencies where the exercise had been concluded.<br> The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also promised to announce results in constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and collation were done in compliance with the electoral act.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement, INEC says, it will conduct fresh elections on a date to be decided in all local government areas, constituencies, registration areas and polling units where the exercise was disrupted before voting was concluded on Saturday march19th.</p> <p dir="ltr">The commission, however, insists it will not return to Rivers State until a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of fresh elections is guaranteed.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to INEC “Even where dates have been fixed and published, the commission will not hesitate to again suspend the exercise where there is a clear danger or credible threat of a breakdown of law and order”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The commission also commiserates with the National Youth Service Corps as well as the family, friends and colleagues of Samuel Dumebi Okonta, the corps member who lost his life while serving as a poll official.</p> <p dir="ltr">Below is INEC’s full statement on Rivers State Rerun election:<br> FURTHER STATEMENT BY INEC ON THE RIVERS RE-RUN ELECTIONS</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the disruption of the re-run elections in Rivers state and the consequent suspension of further action in the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State and its Supervisors and Monitors who were in the State.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Commission has considered the submissions of these officials and undertaken an audit of its personnel deployed as polling officials and for related duties. Its findings are that the elections were characterized by violence, intimidation, threats, palpable fear and abduction of some of its officials in many areas.</p> <p dir="ltr">INEC acknowledges that there were some challenges in its operational efficiency, especially as it concerns the production and customization of the result sheets used for the conduct of the election.</p> <p dir="ltr">Specifically, there was the omission of the original watermark in the result sheets for a few polling units in 3 (three) Federal Constituencies and the omission of some delimitation details in 47 (forty seven) of the over 20,000 (twenty thousand) booklets produced. Political Parties that participated in the elections and their accredited agents, witnessed the distribution of all materials from the Central Bank Vaults and subsequent distribution to the various INEC Local Government Area Offices and the Registration Area Centres (RACs).</p> <p dir="ltr">On election day some of the RACs were invaded and barricaded by hordes of people who prevented our officials from leaving for the polling units, thus disrupting the prompt commencement of the exercise in many places. Fortunately, the Commission was able to undertake the exercise in several places after explanations by the INEC staff and further validation/authentication of these result sheets by the endorsement of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Electoral Officers (EOs) of some of these Local Government Areas.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Commission wishes to emphatically state that there were no fake result sheets or any fake materials used in the conduct of the elections.</p> <p dir="ltr">Position as at Time of Suspension<br> As at the time of the suspension of further action by the Commission, the exercise was at different stages, as follows:<br> (i.) The Elections had been concluded in some constituencies with the declaration of results and return of winners by the respective Returning Officers;<br> (ii.) Results declared and/or returns made under duress or by unauthorised persons;<br> (iii.) Collation had been concluded but no declaration or return made;<br> (iv.) Voting had been concluded and collation was on-going but yet to be concluded;<br> (v.) Voting concluded but collation yet to commence;<br> (vi.) No voting at all or voting commenced but was disrupted before conclusion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Modalities and Way Forward<br> Faced with the above scenario, the Commission restates its earlier decision to uphold the declarations and returns made in the Federal and State Constituencies where the exercise had been concluded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Similarly, the Commission will conclude and make returns in constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and collation were done in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and our Guidelines (This will cover scenarios iii, iv and v above).</p> <p dir="ltr">Further details as to the constituencies and the nature of the exercise will be announced by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the next few days.</p> <p dir="ltr">INEC will, at a date to be decided, conduct fresh elections starting with accreditation and voting in all Local Government Areas, Constituencies, Registration Areas and Polling Units where the exercise was disrupted before voting was concluded on Saturday 19th March, 2016. Even so, this will only be after due consultation with stakeholders and subject to the advice of the Security Agencies and guarantees by the Political Parties, Candidates and their supporters.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the Commission is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections, it hereby reiterates its resolve not to return to Rivers State (or anywhere else where there was a breakdown of law and order in the cause of conducting elections) until there is a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections. As a responsible organization, it will not expose its stakeholders especially voters, its officials, observers, media personnel to any danger and even where dates have been fixed and published, it will not hesitate to again suspend the exercise where there is a clear danger or credible threat of a breakdown of law and order.</p> <p dir="ltr">INEC reassures that all materials used for the conduct of the elections which were not destroyed by hoodlums are safe and are being kept in secure custody.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Commission condemns in no uncertain terms all those who have been spewing hate speeches and making incendiary statements, which no doubt exacerbated an already tense situation. It will like to again commiserate with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the family, friends and colleagues of Samuel Dumebi Okonta, the Corps member who unfortunately lost his life in this patriotic service as a poll official. May his soul rest in peace.</p> <p dir="ltr">Issued this 25th day of March, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi<br> Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC.<br><br></p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f4IwOUmSx66SSjgr8vK94_YZ2OApm1tlCBpOtUs6Xv75PakJ6XKu6eiiUV0Qi4amzlsG9VzTFfKuUokg_VKEX5G7REUA5-BgjIMVrdBrBzwM41kUPAVBNDdy1ZQKeaCTuTTHT3AzDb8q/s1600/INEC-2-300x161.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f4IwOUmSx66SSjgr8vK94_YZ2OApm1tlCBpOtUs6Xv75PakJ6XKu6eiiUV0Qi4amzlsG9VzTFfKuUokg_VKEX5G7REUA5-BgjIMVrdBrBzwM41kUPAVBNDdy1ZQKeaCTuTTHT3AzDb8q/s640/INEC-2-300x161.png"> </a> </div>

INEC To Announce Date For Fresh Rivers Rerun

BASAM 0 16:09:00

Nigeria’s electoral umpire, INEC has restated its decision to uphold results of the Rivers rerun elections in the federal and state constituencies where the exercise had been concluded. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also p… link to this post

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Alleged Boko Haram Video Depicting Leader Shekau Surrendering

<p dir="ltr">Alleged Boko Haram Video Depicting Leader Shekau Surrendering. Click the link below to watch. <br> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v<u>=oefFuM4JS1c</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4UGUjb4n9R0/VvXCg6nUySI/AAAAAAAAAeA/s1600/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4UGUjb4n9R0/VvXCg6nUySI/AAAAAAAAAeA/s640/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nquj_wu7dZYBVaFGwfswAjKcntuOde0_bpDNmwYZeA7s5TViyUGoqeJ08aK0p642SsIJyW4Y7MGc4p_6D4A400UNSDX8P073bk_m50zHoT1a-7X96i9KIZ7aBVc1iK8ESkPRg5InVskI/s1600/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nquj_wu7dZYBVaFGwfswAjKcntuOde0_bpDNmwYZeA7s5TViyUGoqeJ08aK0p642SsIJyW4Y7MGc4p_6D4A400UNSDX8P073bk_m50zHoT1a-7X96i9KIZ7aBVc1iK8ESkPRg5InVskI/s640/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg"> </a> </div>

Alleged Boko Haram Video Depicting Leader Shekau Surrendering

BASAM 0 15:58:00

Alleged Boko Haram Video Depicting Leader Shekau Surrendering. Click the link below to watch. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oefFuM4JS1c … link to this post

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Rivers Election: NYSC DG Visits Family Of Slain Corper

<p dir="ltr">The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has paid a visit to the family of the NYSC member believed to have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government Area Rivers State during the rerun elections in the state.<br> Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi was at his hometown in Ila Local Government Area of Delta State accompanied by the state coordinator and a few serving corps members.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was a sad atmosphere as the family of late Chukwudumebi received the DG and his train and with lots of regrets the family poured out their hearts on the demise of their loved one.</p> <p dir="ltr">Addressing the relatives, the NYSC DG, Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi said that Chukwudumebi Okonta’s death is a great loss, not only to his immediate family, but also to the NYSC and the entire nation.</p> <p dir="ltr">He promised that investigations were on to unravel the mystery behind the death.</p> <p dir="ltr">The NYSC boss promised to work with relevant agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous act are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Corps member, Chukwudumebi Okonta was an orphan and also the eighth of nine children.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1fOQ77pcwOA/VvW9wXirrzI/AAAAAAAAAdw/s1600/IMG_20160325_233732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1fOQ77pcwOA/VvW9wXirrzI/AAAAAAAAAdw/s640/IMG_20160325_233732.jpg"> </a> </div>

Rivers Election: NYSC DG Visits Family Of Slain Corper

BASAM 0 15:37:00

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has paid a visit to the family of the NYSC member believed to have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government Area Rivers State during the rerun elections in the st… link to this post

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Fayose Urges Buhari To Address National Issues

<p dir="ltr">Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more in addressing national issues challenging the Nigerian state.</p> <p dir="ltr">Governor Fayose made the statement on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.</p> <p dir="ltr">While addressing reporters on the state of the nation, the Governor commended the President for apologising to Nigerians on what he called failures recorded by his administration.</p> <p dir="ltr">Governor Fayose, however, urged the President to do more in order to better the lot of Nigerians.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also pleaded with President Buhari to reduce his foreign trips and solve the nation’s topical challenges.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ_3qiNA9KSo3MGGcv8Nb6uZnR_IPyENlm05E-PlQOIUId7in5bUt4OUeBARj-uSl6xKRKMQmZuV7L0QXXJSwCxK-UjDmRKWltR8mdZunLaeCdJ39PJmfTCqDPB3U822SMRsfWX1DJg7k/s1600/fayose-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ_3qiNA9KSo3MGGcv8Nb6uZnR_IPyENlm05E-PlQOIUId7in5bUt4OUeBARj-uSl6xKRKMQmZuV7L0QXXJSwCxK-UjDmRKWltR8mdZunLaeCdJ39PJmfTCqDPB3U822SMRsfWX1DJg7k/s640/fayose-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Fayose Urges Buhari To Address National Issues

BASAM 0 14:10:00

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more in addressing national issues challenging the Nigerian state. Governor Fayose made the statement on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State. While addressin… link to this post

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The World Celebrates Good Friday

<p dir="ltr">Christians around the world are remembering the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday.<br> is a day usually filled with messages of Christ’s devotion to the cross, for the salvation of mankind.</p> <p dir="ltr">Head of the Catholic Church, has focused his message this year, on condemnation of arms makers and the people who distribute them, blaming them for the multiple blasts in Brussels on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The attacks have threatened to overshadow celebrations around the world, as security is heightened in many countries in Europe.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the Philippines, however, Catholic devotees have been re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with live crucifixions in Cutud village, 80 kilometres north of the capital, Manila.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hundreds watched as the bloody rites were performed, as nails were hammered into hands and nails to crosses, while ropes and fabric supported their weight.</p> <p dir="ltr">A less bloody scenario played out in a similar scenario in Sydney, Australia, where actors from the Wesley Mission staged a show of Christ’s death.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Stations of the Cross was observed in Jerusalem, as Christians stopped at different stations, to say prayers, and sing hymns.<br> The feeling of Good Friday also spread across Nigerian states beginning from Jos, Plateau State to Yola in Adamawa State and then Asaba and Osogbo among others.</p> <p dir="ltr">Very unique was in Adamawa State where the Catholic Bishop of Yola diocese took the day to celebrate with prisoners and then also paid fines for some prisoners who were given options of fines by judges but could not pay.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, the Vicar of the Saint Matthews Anglican Church, Maitama, Venerable Benjamen Idume, has advised public service holders to ensure the implementation of the 2016 budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking with reporters in Abuja at a service to mark the Good Friday celebration, Venerable Idume called for prudent utilisation of the nation’s resources for socioeconomic development.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also asked Nigerians to contribute their quota to the nation’s development, irrespective of their social status.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Lagos, however, several travellers were lamenting the fuel situation as they remained stranded for hours at motor parks across the metropolis.</p> <p dir="ltr">During a visit by Channels Television to some parks, passengers said there were no buses available as park authorities say vehicles are also trapped in the traffic lock jam spreading across the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Good Friday is a religious holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.</p> <p dir="ltr">The holiday is observed during holy week on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday, or Easter Friday, though the last term properly refers to the Friday in Easter week.</p> <p dir="ltr">Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday in many national governments around the world, including Nigeria.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYa3aw1pK6kPO1-LONXHGmd-lKBaMiBW-qjDZgmcDKb9MVeyh-BJXVOtFC0iPun1EiGCBSD-GDdyF4JMe1URR_4i-6G2-ABJP9l88yLVVeZadXqJHbygjkgEPcAM_KfsVcpqSr1ciP4EU/s1600/Easter-Jesus-Christ-Crucifixion-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYa3aw1pK6kPO1-LONXHGmd-lKBaMiBW-qjDZgmcDKb9MVeyh-BJXVOtFC0iPun1EiGCBSD-GDdyF4JMe1URR_4i-6G2-ABJP9l88yLVVeZadXqJHbygjkgEPcAM_KfsVcpqSr1ciP4EU/s640/Easter-Jesus-Christ-Crucifixion-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

The World Celebrates Good Friday 

BASAM 0 13:38:00

Christians around the world are remembering the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. is a day usually filled with messages of Christ’s devotion to the cross, for the salvation of mankind. Head of the Catholic Church, has focused his … link to this post

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Presidency Dissociates Itself From #Istandwithbuhari Group

<p dir="ltr">Nigeria’s President has dissociated himself from the ‘I Stand With Buhari (#Istandwithbuhari) advocacy group’ and demanded that the group should immediately stop claiming any alliance with the Buhari administration.<br> In a statement released on Friday by the spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, the Presidency also demanded that the persons behind the controversial group should stop using the President’s name and that of his wife, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to promote themselves and their activities.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statement read: “Among other reasons, we have found it necessary to distance the Presidency from the #Istandwithbuhari group because its premature and ostentatious celebration of the present administration’s achievements is totally inconsistent with President Buhari’s philosophy of service with humility.</p> <p dir="ltr">“While the present administration has indeed recorded significant successes in its priority areas of improving security across the nation; ending the Boko Haram insurgency, curbing official corruption and revamping Nigeria’s economy, the President is well aware that his government still has a lot of national challenges to overcome.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He prefers to give his fullest attention to addressing those challenges without the unsolicited and unwelcome distraction of untimely praise-singing from groups with dubious and questionable motives”.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavT0aIeqRUmjjct7muXzr7lSabgSRR5Btt9SKoFZYs5kGfuAKim6r3BlThpqjpdbgLOw-ZwB9pr_J_iA2gneSHZ7AD1i1MaXa8pGq3OFMk7VVXb_9h3ElHxHkVM3ddonxAIsJJQkgEDq9/s1600/TwImg-20141127-204050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavT0aIeqRUmjjct7muXzr7lSabgSRR5Btt9SKoFZYs5kGfuAKim6r3BlThpqjpdbgLOw-ZwB9pr_J_iA2gneSHZ7AD1i1MaXa8pGq3OFMk7VVXb_9h3ElHxHkVM3ddonxAIsJJQkgEDq9/s640/TwImg-20141127-204050.jpg"> </a> </div>

Presidency Dissociates Itself From #Istandwithbuhari Group

BASAM 0 08:10:00

Nigeria’s President has dissociated himself from the ‘I Stand With Buhari (#Istandwithbuhari) advocacy group’ and demanded that the group should immediately stop claiming any alliance with the Buhari administration. In a statement released on Friday … link to this post

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Aisha Buhari Launches Health Initiative In Ogun

<p dir="ltr">The wife of Nigeria’s President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has launched her health initiative, the ‘Future Assured Initiative’ towards reducing child mortality rate in Ogun State communities.<br> The launching took place on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where at least 5,000 beneficiaries benefited from the health screening initiative.</p> <p dir="ltr">Representing Mrs Buhari at the occasion, the National Coordinator of the screening initiative, Mr Abdul Rahaman Kamal, enlisted the support of individuals and corporate organisations in developing the health sector in Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">In attendance at the event was the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun and the daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Halima Buhari among other dignitaries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Giving his goodwill message at the occasion, Governor Amosun restated the commitment of his administration towards affordable and qualitative health care services in Ogun State.</p> <p dir="ltr">Considering the lean resources, he called on corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support government in attaining quality health care for all.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WfNuNhfsioUu1Y6QkbxlbXzH5IiOaqJLjdm3uEzgueG1PYtBYxlXQtY6XYtp8UgL7rUEtSDZgHnAWKdINrLWzxfWO6WOf933pqhozEya5hisV7Jd5U1eoN2PDS8M4t1bAcv8W8yexTh8/s1600/Aisha-Buhari_APC1-300x161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WfNuNhfsioUu1Y6QkbxlbXzH5IiOaqJLjdm3uEzgueG1PYtBYxlXQtY6XYtp8UgL7rUEtSDZgHnAWKdINrLWzxfWO6WOf933pqhozEya5hisV7Jd5U1eoN2PDS8M4t1bAcv8W8yexTh8/s640/Aisha-Buhari_APC1-300x161.jpg"> </a> </div>

Aisha Buhari Launches Health Initiative In Ogun

BASAM 0 14:25:00

The wife of Nigeria’s President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has launched her health initiative, the ‘Future Assured Initiative’ towards reducing child mortality rate in Ogun State communities. The launching took place on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State … link to this post

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Aisha Buhari Launches Health Initiative In Ogun

<p dir="ltr">The wife of Nigeria’s President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has launched her health initiative, the ‘Future Assured Initiative’ towards reducing child mortality rate in Ogun State communities.<br> The launching took place on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where at least 5,000 beneficiaries benefited from the health screening initiative.</p> <p dir="ltr">Representing Mrs Buhari at the occasion, the National Coordinator of the screening initiative, Mr Abdul Rahaman Kamal, enlisted the support of individuals and corporate organisations in developing the health sector in Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">In attendance at the event was the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun and the daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Halima Buhari among other dignitaries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Giving his goodwill message at the occasion, Governor Amosun restated the commitment of his administration towards affordable and qualitative health care services in Ogun State.</p> <p dir="ltr">Considering the lean resources, he called on corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support government in attaining quality health care for all.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WfNuNhfsioUu1Y6QkbxlbXzH5IiOaqJLjdm3uEzgueG1PYtBYxlXQtY6XYtp8UgL7rUEtSDZgHnAWKdINrLWzxfWO6WOf933pqhozEya5hisV7Jd5U1eoN2PDS8M4t1bAcv8W8yexTh8/s1600/Aisha-Buhari_APC1-300x161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WfNuNhfsioUu1Y6QkbxlbXzH5IiOaqJLjdm3uEzgueG1PYtBYxlXQtY6XYtp8UgL7rUEtSDZgHnAWKdINrLWzxfWO6WOf933pqhozEya5hisV7Jd5U1eoN2PDS8M4t1bAcv8W8yexTh8/s640/Aisha-Buhari_APC1-300x161.jpg"> </a> </div>

Aisha Buhari Launches Health Initiative In Ogun

BASAM 0 14:25:00

The wife of Nigeria’s President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has launched her health initiative, the ‘Future Assured Initiative’ towards reducing child mortality rate in Ogun State communities. The launching took place on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State … link to this post

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NSA Fund Scandal: Presidential Committee Indicts Over 300 Contractors

<p dir="ltr">There are more revelations from the Presidency on contracts allegedly awarded by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) from 2011 to 2015.<br> committee set up to examine the contract transactions has indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens including serving and retired officers of the Armed Forces.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the report, over 7 billion Naira has so far been recovered from the companies and individuals.</p> <p dir="ltr">Also another 41 billion Naira is to be refunded by the indicted companies while further investigation by the EFCC is still ongoing.</p> <p dir="ltr">The committee has further established that one of the indicted companies was overpaid to the tune of 7.9 million euros and 7.09 million dollars.</p> <p dir="ltr">Find below, the full statement by the Presidency.</p> <p dir="ltr">PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INDICTS OVER 300 ONSA CONTRACTORS, RECOVERS OVER N7 BILLION, ASKS FOR THE REFUND OF N41 BILLION, RECOMMENDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF CONTRACTS VALUED AT OVER N75 BILLION</p> <p dir="ltr">A committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) from 2011 to 2015 has indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens including serving and retired officers of the armed forces.</p> <p dir="ltr">Over N7 Billion has been recovered so far from the indicted companies and individuals.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another N41 Billion is to be refunded by the indicted companies while further investigation by the EFCC has been ordered to determine whether another N75 Billion should be recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially executed contracts.</p> <p dir="ltr">The committee further established that one of the indicted companies, Societe D’Equipment International was overpaid to the tune of 7.9 Million Euros and $7.09 Million.</p> <p dir="ltr">The committee which is different from the committee that is investigating the Defence Arms and Equipment Procurement, discovered that there was a total disregard of salient provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by ONSA.</p> <p dir="ltr">Several contractors were apparently over paid, while others were given full upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in force.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was also evidence of payments to individuals and companies by ONSA without any contractual agreement or evidence of jobs executed. The committee further discovered that somecompanies failed to meet up their tax obligations for contracts executed.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Committee has made attempts and succeeded in recovering some of the funds from these individuals and organizations amounting to Three Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and forty Nine Thousand,<br> Two Hundred and Twenty Three Naira and Four Kobo (N3,537,549,223.04), Eight Million US Dollars ($8,000,000.00) and houses worth Five Hundred and<br> Twelve Million Naira (512,000,000.00) from 32 companies. The Committee also established that some individuals and companies received monies without evidence of contractual agreements or jobs done. The amount received by<br> these individuals was Seven Billion One Hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Naira only (N7,104,925,000.00).</p> <p dir="ltr">In a similar vein, the Committee revealed that some companies that failed to execute contracts or did so partially were to make refunds. The total amount to be refunded is Nineteen Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Six Million, five<br> Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-five Naira and thirty kobo (N19,896,539,125.20) only, Forty Three Million Seven Hundred and Seventy One Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Three US Dollars and<br> Seventy-Three Cents ($43,771,433.73) and 2 houses in Abuja worth Two Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N260,000,000.00).</p> <p dir="ltr">The Committee also revealed that 15 companies were awarded contracts that require further investigation to ascertain the status of their contracts. The total value of the contracts awarded in this category was Eleven Billion Seven<br> Hundred and Twenty Six Million Five Hundred and Seventy One Naira only (N11,726,571,161.00), Two Hundred and Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety US Dollars only ($202,136,890.00)<br> and Four Million, One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Two Euros and Ninety Six Cents (€4,114,752.96).</p> <p dir="ltr">The Companies investigated by the committee include:<br> a. Abrahams Telecommunication Limited and Value Trust Investment Limited RC 1050628 and RC133792.<br> b. Bilal Turnkey Contractors Limited RC 616389.<br> c. Circular Automobile Limited RC 953549.<br> d. Continental Project Associates Limited RC 1201210.<br> e. Da’voice Network Solutions Limited RC 658879.<br> f. Foretech Investment Limited RC 759046.<br> g. Forts and Sheild Limited RC 1148793.<br> h. GDP Associated Limited RC 830715.<br> i. Hakimco Automobiles – RC 904389.<br> j. Hamada Properties and Investment Limited RC 635720.<br> k. International Resources Management Company RC 228657.<br> l. Investment Options Limited – RC 133484.<br> m. Jakadiya Picture Company Limited RC 270972.<br> n. JBE Multimedia Investment Limited RC 48875.<br> o. Kamala Motors Limited RC 845545.<br> p. Key Information Services Limited RC 297516.<br> q. Leeman Communications Limited RC 499781.<br> r. MCAF Associates RC 734745.<br> s. Moortown Global Investment RC 968416.<br> t. Syntec Nigeria Limited RC 220165.<br> u. Trafiga Limited RC 1098961.<br> v. Trim Communications Limited RC 261180.<br> w. Securicor Emergency and Safety RC 431246.<br> x. Sologic Integrated Services Limited RC 744982.<br> y. Wada Autos Limited RC 1082513.<br> z. Zukhruf Nigeria Limited RC 306244.<br> aa. 2020 Nigeria Limited RC 1090292.<br> bb. A and B Associates Limited RC 279980.</p> <p dir="ltr">The individuals and companies that received payments<br> without contractual agreements are:</p> <p dir="ltr">a. Honourable Bello Matawalle.<br> b. Brigadier General AS Mormoni-Bashir (the former Principal General Staff Officer at the ONSA and still a serving military officer).<br> c. Alhaji Umar Sani.<br> d. Dr Yakubu Sanky.<br> e. Baba Bala.<br> f. Ambassador Clement Layiwola Lasseinde (a Director in the ONSA).<br> g. An architect from Baitil Atiq Travels and Tours.<br> h. Alhaji Shuaibu Salisu (The former Director of<br> Finance and Administration at the ONSA).<br> i. Colonel Bello Fadile (rtd) (Special Adviser to Lt Col Sambo Dasuki; former NSA).<br> j. Mr Otunla Jonah Niyi.<br> k. Otunba Adelakun.<br> l. Alhaji Bashir Yaguda.<br> m. Dr Tunji Olagunju.<br> n. Miss Oluwatoyin Oluwagbayi.<br> o. Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) {The former NSA}.<br> p. Honourable Maipata Mohammed Abubakar.<br> q. Mohammed Suleiman. From Musaco investment and properties.<br> r. Ibrahim Abdullahi also from Musaco investment and properties.<br> s. Alhaji Aliyu Usman.<br> t. 18 other officers that served in the ONSA.</p> <p dir="ltr">The companies that out rightly failed to execute contracts or did so partially, and have therefore been asked to refund various sums with are as follows:<br> a. A and Hatman Limited.<br> b. Abuja Consulting Limited.<br> c. Afro-Arab Investment.<br> d. Agbede A Adeshina and Co.<br> e. Aleppo Systems Nigeria Limited – RC 947255.<br> f. Amp Africa Holdings and Solar Services.<br> g. Apple Drops Nigeria Limited – RC 1102219.<br> h. Apt Security Limited – RC 165189.<br> i. Autoforms Integrated Enterprises Limited – RC 1234829.<br> j. Axis Consulting Services Limited – RC 1151145.<br> k. Belsha Nigeria Limited.<br> l. Community Defence Law Foundation – RC/IT No 56854.<br> m. Complus International Service Limited.<br> n. Cosse Limited – RC 316214.<br> o. Daar Investment and Holdings Limited.<br> p. Dalhatu Investment Limited – RC 404535.<br> q. Destra Investment Limited.<br> r. Development Strategies International Limited – RC 361191.<br> t. DFX/White Zebu BDC – RC787658/RC1049919.<br> u. Duchy Concepts Limited RC392281.<br> v. Fara Security Limited RC 694607.<br> w. Fimex Gilt Nigeria Limited RC 143150.<br> x. First Aralac Global Limited RC939512.<br> y. Fix-HYL Global Investment RC1129654.<br> z. Good year Properties Limited RC1168828.<br> aa. Image Merchant Promotions Limited RC 416703.<br> bb. Interglobal Limited RC 189188.<br> cc. Jos Peace Dialogue Forum CAC/IT/No75434.<br> dd. Kakatar Limited RC 443321.<br> ee. Leaderette Nigeria/Norden Global<br> RC 422129/RC1119925.<br> ff. London Advertising Limited UK BASED.<br> gg. Mithra Oil Limited RC 620979.<br> hh. NigerLink BOG (Under Musaco Investment) RC 834592<br> ii. Iban Global (Under Musaco Investment)<br> jj. Musaco Investment (Bank Charges)<br> kk. Mystrose Limited RC 475579.<br> ll. NAF Holding Company Limited.<br> mm. Peach Tree Communications Limited RC 410115.<br> nn. Perception BDC RC 740741.<br> oo. Pioneer Ventures RC 69776.<br> pp. Proptex Nigerian Limited – RC 116801.<br> qq. Prosedec Interglobal Limited RC 619845.<br> rr. Real Property Investment Limited RC 294761.<br> ss. Sinash Communications Limited RC 333134.<br> tt. Skytick International Limited RC 798693.<br> uu. Soject Nigeria Limited RC 74991.<br> vv. StellaVera Development Company Limited RC 713258.<br> ww. Teracon AG SWISS BASED.<br> xx. Wehsec Farms Limited RC 713258.<br> yy. African Cable Television Limited RC 1113903.<br> zz. BCN Nigeria Limited RC 509693.<br> aaa. Brains and Hammers RC 655673.<br> bbb. Concept Options Ultimate Limited RC 604167.<br> ccc. Elizade Nigeria Limited RC 11544.<br> ddd. Emerging Platforms Limited RC 922205.<br> eee. EMI System Nigeria Limited RC 248986.<br> fff. Hadassa Investment and Security RC 709085.<br> ggg. Kala Consulting Solutions Limited RC 98562.<br> hhh. Pioneer Ventures.<br> iii. Nan Bizcom Nigeria Limited RC 680708.<br> jjj. Nerres Limited RC 1138835.<br> kkk. Plectrum Consulting Limited RC 937931.<br> lll. Protech Consultant RC 301426.<br> mmm. Summit Publications Limited RC 304671.<br> nnn. Telios Development Limited RC 468351.<br> ooo. Urban Abode Nigeria Limited RC 651613.<br> ppp. RCN Networks Limited RC 439720.<br> qqq. Sail International Limited RC 97863.<br> rrr. Suburban Broadway Limited – RC 469689.<br> sss. Geronimo Middle East and Africa.<br> ttt. Julius Berger RC 6852.<br> uuu. Romgat Morgan Nigeria Limited RC 902020.<br> vvv. Stallion Motors Limited RC 178627.</p> <p dir="ltr">Contracts awarded to the following companies are to be further investigated:<br> a. 2020 Nigeria Limited RC 1090292.<br> b. Acacia Holdings Limited RC 940978.<br> c. Africair Incorporated US Company.<br> d. Augusta Westland Limited.<br> e. Almond Project Limited.<br> f. Bam Project and Properties.<br> g. Bob Oshodin Organisation Limited RC 790662.<br> h. Coral Builders Limited RC 397748.<br> i. Dan Clington Nigeria Limited RC 940978.<br> j. Law Partners and Associates BN/UY/004566.<br> k. Magnificient 5 ventures Limited BN/2299463.<br> l. MPS Global Services Limited.<br> m. One plus Holdings Nigeria Limited RC 695999.<br> n. Quadsix Nigeria Limited RC 1177968.<br> o. Reliance Reference Hospitals</p> <p dir="ltr">Garba Shehu<br> SSA to the President<br> (Media & Publicity)<br> March 24, 2016<br></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDcFAPLZPrXbD4CL5L5m5uMi_QTDZ9xudhzkYcUiUDRx4iUUf-gTA_p0xV66VwXL8i3ZcWtYW6lrhgZHlKRE6Gwoq1Mh3ZlkzJOfMkFdRZ4_X_vp4MVtx8NOP8Sg1cHEZABX9YdcmXpqz/s1600/IMG_20160324_220809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDcFAPLZPrXbD4CL5L5m5uMi_QTDZ9xudhzkYcUiUDRx4iUUf-gTA_p0xV66VwXL8i3ZcWtYW6lrhgZHlKRE6Gwoq1Mh3ZlkzJOfMkFdRZ4_X_vp4MVtx8NOP8Sg1cHEZABX9YdcmXpqz/s640/IMG_20160324_220809.jpg"> </a> </div>

NSA Fund Scandal: Presidential Committee Indicts Over 300 Contractors

BASAM 0 14:16:00

There are more revelations from the Presidency on contracts allegedly awarded by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) from 2011 to 2015. committee set up to examine the contract transactions has indicted more than 300 companies and prom… link to this post

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Johan Cruyff, former Dutch footballer and manager, dies at age 68 after cancer battle

<p dir="ltr">Johan Cruyff, former Dutch footballer and manager, dies at age 68 after cancer battle. <br> On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) died<br> peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJDVUp0wvI0c6SrogN4ko3vGdXFPb1SWhRDRQQDv1FbHX3JwEDtYZv3kdqQYK0OhSTWaJO6MwQ-rkfhyphenhyphenN2zJeZXInvKx-Sz_w7_oPKKxInMKNJoeu1e9A0SqjgDfZKKzD3OpDt-EkhsZ5/s1600/Johan-Cruyff-Memoriam-hires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJDVUp0wvI0c6SrogN4ko3vGdXFPb1SWhRDRQQDv1FbHX3JwEDtYZv3kdqQYK0OhSTWaJO6MwQ-rkfhyphenhyphenN2zJeZXInvKx-Sz_w7_oPKKxInMKNJoeu1e9A0SqjgDfZKKzD3OpDt-EkhsZ5/s640/Johan-Cruyff-Memoriam-hires.jpg"> </a> </div>

Johan Cruyff, former Dutch footballer and manager, dies at age 68 after cancer battle

BASAM 0 06:02:00

Johan Cruyff, former Dutch footballer and manager, dies at age 68 after cancer battle. On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer. … link to this post

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BREAKING! Has Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Finally Surrendered?

<p dir="ltr">According to some reports, the leader of Boko Haram, the jihadist group terrorizing Nigeria’s northeastern region finally surrenders.</p> <p dir="ltr">Boko Haram made their surrender through a video which shows their leader, Abubakar Shekau surrendering and advising followers to follow suit.</p> <p dir="ltr">The report suggest that Boko Haram has finally surrendered to the superior power of the Nigerian troops . A video released on Wednesday, March 23 by the Leadership, shows the kingpin, Abubakar Shekau who was rumoured to have been killed, advising his followers to “surrender to save themselves”. Shekau in the video below appeared to have surrendered to constant bombardments by the Nigerian army troops.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">In the course of war against Boko Haram, the Chief of Army Staff Visits Columbian Army Headquarters in an effort to find a permanent solution to the menace of the insurgents wrecking havoc in the north-eastern part of the country. As it is well known that Colombian army is highly astute in fighting terrorism, being a country that has been battling insurgency over the past 50 years hence, the need to draw from their wealth of knowledge.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other efforts made by the Nigerian army to eradication the insurgents include deploying Combat Motorbike Battalion, others.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : buzznigeria.com </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiyA5-SE11lpph2JWVUwpUIO-IzFPD04wFUXkB1RTW2OndaZ1rcm47Ey-DYWexHbmQWsREcxOJ0Z4jeAFET5StkbHD4njyTiY0XPxXxLoI9iIZmlc_5zhw2fWcBlcpBAwRnoBChIAEkSr/s1600/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiyA5-SE11lpph2JWVUwpUIO-IzFPD04wFUXkB1RTW2OndaZ1rcm47Ey-DYWexHbmQWsREcxOJ0Z4jeAFET5StkbHD4njyTiY0XPxXxLoI9iIZmlc_5zhw2fWcBlcpBAwRnoBChIAEkSr/s640/IMG_20160324_131900.jpg"> </a> </div>

BREAKING! Has Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Finally Surrendered?

BASAM 0 05:20:00

According to some reports, the leader of Boko Haram, the jihadist group terrorizing Nigeria’s northeastern region finally surrenders. Boko Haram made their surrender through a video which shows their leader, Abubakar Shekau surrendering and advising … link to this post

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Rivers Re-run: INEC Offers Automatic Job To Injured Corps Member

<p dir="ltr">The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered automatic employment for a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who lost her sight during the 2011 general elections in Yobe State.<br> Similarly, the commission promised to fully participate in the burial programme of Okonta Samuel, a? corps member who lost his life in last Saturday’s re-run elections in Rivers State.<br> These were disclosed by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu when he paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi on Tuesday.<br> Professor Yakubu, who regretted the circumstances, which led to the unfortunate death of the corps member, praised the services of youth corps members in the conduct of elections.<br> He said the commission appreciates their invaluable services to the nation, and restated that INEC would continue to guarantee the safety of corps members participating in the conduct of election.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : <u>DailyTimes</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUOkjWo8jKSeUy80MM8csRUhTwpbl7s0uH87unyC0S5vSw0OYkbEWebkq_eAUutc-5en7BK9mfWEgB_XLPrfWTZH5RGnWnnqPvLdQPNJBWW6mtV22_xXsMdPOWrUeVF_rs7l8f1EKj3qT/s1600/1-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUOkjWo8jKSeUy80MM8csRUhTwpbl7s0uH87unyC0S5vSw0OYkbEWebkq_eAUutc-5en7BK9mfWEgB_XLPrfWTZH5RGnWnnqPvLdQPNJBWW6mtV22_xXsMdPOWrUeVF_rs7l8f1EKj3qT/s640/1-17.jpg"> </a> </div>

Rivers Re-run: INEC Offers Automatic Job To Injured Corps Member

BASAM 0 05:13:00

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered automatic employment for a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who lost her sight during the 2011 general elections in Yobe State. Similarly, the commission promised to fu… link to this post

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Kim Kardashian Takes North And Penelope Easter Egg Hunting

<p dir="ltr">Kim K took her daughter, North West, 2, and her niece, Penelope Disick. 3, egg hunting at Underwood Family Farm in LA dressed as bunnies. The adorable duo wore rabbit ears and colourful paints across their cheeks as they enjoyed the fun activity at the farm. More photos below…</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : http://www.kevindjakporblog.com/2016/03/kim-kardashian-takes-north-and-penelope.html<u>#ixzz43ojdqa1M</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAacWN_IxjbUQcgt1iYxQOKpZzh3XW_YxFjixvtZcdUJxto5OGmF77cEtw3elMG4Es0Rkwv-7xPO4y3wkHK6YJSEu3941eIHpmTqrOyzGG4r2aP3xys63ed81IJW-r6CWL-dp2c8tFy2G/s1600/PEN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAacWN_IxjbUQcgt1iYxQOKpZzh3XW_YxFjixvtZcdUJxto5OGmF77cEtw3elMG4Es0Rkwv-7xPO4y3wkHK6YJSEu3941eIHpmTqrOyzGG4r2aP3xys63ed81IJW-r6CWL-dp2c8tFy2G/s640/PEN.png"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnv9GqNtYYUDa3iSuySMjBCiAm-gFi3eelrXGNpJ56jNf0Bm4h426iUGvZdascqWXxZvvfK43a_FoO-Eu7PpUA6O3E5S-6dbdzGJsTvryNaaRJvfuET85Zf4YRkhDf_vhLfqfJmUU3oYr/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnv9GqNtYYUDa3iSuySMjBCiAm-gFi3eelrXGNpJ56jNf0Bm4h426iUGvZdascqWXxZvvfK43a_FoO-Eu7PpUA6O3E5S-6dbdzGJsTvryNaaRJvfuET85Zf4YRkhDf_vhLfqfJmUU3oYr/s640/5.png"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNTEHZZF3_nYbaZDAy-h8o7594S6hqa8BUpJYqroAvnLeWY_hKVvT4aGYW2mR7Lxpo6jq2MpapMIP9DOmdHzyNsyTO5azuNSZifEyhG1_lJ8mc-d9KN_GjDqp1LemZSQVfIsKf2Fmpyiu/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNTEHZZF3_nYbaZDAy-h8o7594S6hqa8BUpJYqroAvnLeWY_hKVvT4aGYW2mR7Lxpo6jq2MpapMIP9DOmdHzyNsyTO5azuNSZifEyhG1_lJ8mc-d9KN_GjDqp1LemZSQVfIsKf2Fmpyiu/s640/2.png"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGauhkl_bb0zAzpSq9pNwN6gdRFZSZKpOw94bhNqod47AFt0pa9PfFwnxss1m_iJ2qoM31Pvcm2zJc-GWSLUSBFauWXDva0SyWVXh-H-aLg1g4cnYg1dwuLmp02sI-1pIp4cypaxjZn-v/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGauhkl_bb0zAzpSq9pNwN6gdRFZSZKpOw94bhNqod47AFt0pa9PfFwnxss1m_iJ2qoM31Pvcm2zJc-GWSLUSBFauWXDva0SyWVXh-H-aLg1g4cnYg1dwuLmp02sI-1pIp4cypaxjZn-v/s640/1.png"> </a> </div>

Kim Kardashian Takes North And Penelope Easter Egg Hunting

BASAM 0 04:47:00

Kim K took her daughter, North West, 2, and her niece, Penelope Disick. 3, egg hunting at Underwood Family Farm in LA dressed as bunnies. The adorable duo wore rabbit ears and colourful paints across their cheeks as they enjoyed the fun activity at t… link to this post

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Davido Models For His Clothing Line, Announces Launching Date

<p dir="ltr">One of the biggest music exports in Africa, Davido is ready to launch his clothing line, “OBO Clothing” soon.</p> <p dir="ltr">The arguably best music act in Africa and multiple award-winning singer, Davido posted a photo of himself rocking his new clothing brand, showing his fans sample of the faze cap and t-shirt.</p> <p dir="ltr">He captioned the photo above; “OBO BRAND CLOTHING ….. COMING SUMMER 2016.</p> <p dir="ltr">Davido has joined the likes of Ruggedman, Olamide and more who have floated clothing <u>brands</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir34WDyJw5ORgJJnmFojwHXVWZnUSxh8vtK4J8LsH_inh1Oe4kxuhdAgdFZpy0u4buaakK7Ntr0mTYy-2pE1aOKVbHchbnu0j5nE2ForcnIf7IYYdVyQsDiOErwzJpep6e1G9KyqYUB2DM/s1600/Davido-OBO-Clothings-700x875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir34WDyJw5ORgJJnmFojwHXVWZnUSxh8vtK4J8LsH_inh1Oe4kxuhdAgdFZpy0u4buaakK7Ntr0mTYy-2pE1aOKVbHchbnu0j5nE2ForcnIf7IYYdVyQsDiOErwzJpep6e1G9KyqYUB2DM/s640/Davido-OBO-Clothings-700x875.jpg"> </a> </div>

Davido Models For His Clothing Line, Announces Launching Date

BASAM 0 04:20:00

One of the biggest music exports in Africa, Davido is ready to launch his clothing line, “OBO Clothing” soon. The arguably best music act in Africa and multiple award-winning singer, Davido posted a photo of himself rocking his new clothing brand, sh… link to this post

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Alleged False Asset Declaration: CCT Says It Has Jurisdiction In Saraki’s Case

<p dir="ltr">The Code of Conduct Tribunal has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki for allegedly declaring false assets while he was governor of Kwara State.<br> The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki raised objections about the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the last sitting.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar, said it does not matter how long a crime was committed as the federal government can initiate criminal proceeding anytime the crime is uncovered.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tribunal also ordered the prosecution to produce its witnesses.</p> <p dir="ltr">The federal government is being represented in the case by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, while Mr Kanu Agabi is leading 80 other lawyers in Dr. Saraki’s Defence.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the charges instituted by the federal government, the Senate President is being accused of making false assets declaration in his forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau as a two-term governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHaB_vePdAyAgHPLaQdFeSvDpxmqHLVRT7R-WzObeKUmnhBzElXfsntTVYrXugqv83AUtGDtKQyA_sXzKogwA_Y-DzW0grlo5WX5yERwVpgqRiEPZJ5vLtj9iE80wdKK8yE6JmR7NKDci/s1600/wpid-bukola-saraki-senate-president-in-nigeria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHaB_vePdAyAgHPLaQdFeSvDpxmqHLVRT7R-WzObeKUmnhBzElXfsntTVYrXugqv83AUtGDtKQyA_sXzKogwA_Y-DzW0grlo5WX5yERwVpgqRiEPZJ5vLtj9iE80wdKK8yE6JmR7NKDci/s640/wpid-bukola-saraki-senate-president-in-nigeria.jpg"> </a> </div>

Alleged False Asset Declaration: CCT Says It Has Jurisdiction In Saraki’s Case

BASAM 0 04:04:00

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki for allegedly declaring false assets while he was governor of Kwara State. The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki raised… link to this post

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Congo opposition Says Its Tally Shows Incumbent Lost Presidential Vote

<p dir="ltr">Opposition candidates in elections in Congo Republic said on Wednesday that President Denis Sassou Nguesso placed no better than fourth in any major district, rejecting official partial results that gave him a commanding lead.<br> Results of Sunday’s ballot announced by the country’s electoral commission on Tuesday, and based on returns from 72 of 111 voting districts, showed Sassou Nguesso with 67 per cent of the vote .</p> <p dir="ltr">Charles Zacharie Bowao, the head of a coalition of five opposition candidates, posted its summary of preliminary results — showing Sassou Nguesso trailing others — on his Twitter account.</p> <p dir="ltr">It said this was based on results collected from regions representing more than 75 per cent of the electorate, though no exact vote totals were provided.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is impossible that the candidate-president could claim a victory, even taking into account only the partial results,” the coalition said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bowao did not say which of the opposition candidates the summary placed in the lead, or how it was compiled. The opposition previously said it had deployed observers to all polling stations to tally votes.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sassou Nguesso, who has ruled the oil-producing country for 32 of the last 37 years, must win an outright majority against eight opponents in all to avoid a run-off.</p> <p dir="ltr">The government says the opposition’s publication of its own results is illegal and has imposed a blackout on internet and mobile phone communications since Sunday that it says will help prevent unofficial results circulating and creating unrest.</p> <p dir="ltr">The U.S. State Department said that it had “received numerous reports of irregularities that have raised concerns about the credibility of the process”, urging authorities in a statement to restore communications.</p> <p dir="ltr">Final results from the electoral commission are expected as early as Wednesday afternoon amid heightened tensions in southern Brazzaville, an opposition stronghold.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police fired tear gas on Wednesday morning to disperse opposition supporters who had gathered outside one candidate’s campaign headquarters to await the results, witnesses said.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was also a heavy police and military presence in the economic hub Pointe Noire, where the opposition is well-supported, a resident told Reuters.</p> <p dir="ltr">At least 18 people were killed by security forces in protests ahead of a referendum in October that removed term and age limits that would have prevented Sassou Nguesso from running again.</p> <p dir="ltr">Congo’s election is being watched closely across Africa, where several long-ruling presidents are trying to remove constitutionally mandated term limits to stay in power.<br></p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbezhk9Q6U0BvxvAHOcvKCw4na8tLGc70Up-Xe-Zp6anAOSt-GjkG-joaxsBV18KW3A2S-JSZNLflnYjJEC-Z5JJs0x04fUZPjaXxoRj4vs8qbzsnXBTTkdvzrLW9RzbepF3eXbI_FEA2/s1600/congo-presdent-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbezhk9Q6U0BvxvAHOcvKCw4na8tLGc70Up-Xe-Zp6anAOSt-GjkG-joaxsBV18KW3A2S-JSZNLflnYjJEC-Z5JJs0x04fUZPjaXxoRj4vs8qbzsnXBTTkdvzrLW9RzbepF3eXbI_FEA2/s640/congo-presdent-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Congo opposition Says Its Tally Shows Incumbent Lost Presidential Vote

BASAM 0 01:01:00

Opposition candidates in elections in Congo Republic said on Wednesday that President Denis Sassou Nguesso placed no better than fourth in any major district, rejecting official partial results that gave him a commanding lead. Results of Sunday’s ba… link to this post

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Belgium Identifies Brussels Bomb Suspect, Suicide Bombers: Media

<p dir="ltr">Belgian police have identified a prime suspect in Tuesday’s Brussels blasts and two suspected suicide bombers, linking them directly to Islamic State. militants behind last November’s Paris attacks, Belgian media reported on Wednesday.<br> Najim Laachraoui, 25, is believed to be the man seen on CCTV pushing a baggage trolley alongside the bombers and then running out of the Brussels airport terminal.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier some media reported that he had been captured in the Brussels borough of Anderlecht, but they later said the person detained was not Laachraoui.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police and prosecutors refused immediate comment but the federal prosecutor was due to hold a news conference at 1200 GMT.</p> <p dir="ltr">The death toll in the attacks on the Belgian capital, home to the European Union and NATO, rose to at least 31 with some 260 wounded, Health Minister Maggie De Block said on VRT television. It could rise further because some of the bomb victims at Maelbeek metro station were blown to pieces and victims are hard to identify.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the suspects seen on CCTV pushing baggage trolleys at Brussels airport just before the explosions was identified as Brahim El Bakraoui, public broadcaster RTBF reported. It said his brother, Khalid, blew himself up on the metro train.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both had criminal records for armed robbery but had not previously been linked by investigators to Islamist militants.</p> <p dir="ltr">Laachraoui is wanted in connection with the Paris attacks. His DNA was found on at least two explosives belts used in those attacks and at a Brussels hideout used last week by prime Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam, who was arrested last Friday after a shoot-out with police.</p> <p dir="ltr">RTBF said Khalid El Bakraoui had rented under a false name the apartment in the city’s Forest borough, where police hunting Abdeslam killed a gunman in a raid last week. He is also believed to have rented a safe house in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi used to mount last November’s Paris attacks.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Syrian-based Islamist group claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attacks, four days after Abdeslam’s arrest in Brussels, warning of “black days” for those fighting it in Syria and Iraq. Belgian warplanes have joined the coalition in the Middle East, but Brussels has long been a center of Islamist militancy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft9rQz8O9UBp69dVdqOKmk3XeFI6s5-P0xoBURTAXESXm906kE7i0ldtyuAcw84HkiBRdonM3ItBox2Q59uYfGXXw0xJiNmnAifBT_cbNnNTCAkf-mWtn1WcGafdVNZG7PDlxvV3b8ZNU/s1600/busserels-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft9rQz8O9UBp69dVdqOKmk3XeFI6s5-P0xoBURTAXESXm906kE7i0ldtyuAcw84HkiBRdonM3ItBox2Q59uYfGXXw0xJiNmnAifBT_cbNnNTCAkf-mWtn1WcGafdVNZG7PDlxvV3b8ZNU/s640/busserels-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Belgium Identifies Brussels Bomb Suspect, Suicide Bombers: Media

BASAM 0 15:10:00

Belgian police have identified a prime suspect in Tuesday’s Brussels blasts and two suspected suicide bombers, linking them directly to Islamic State. militants behind last November’s Paris attacks, Belgian media reported on Wednesday. Najim Laachrao… link to this post

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Buhari, Oil Workers Meet To Tackle Petrol Scarcity

<p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari has held a meeting with the leaders of the NUPENG and PENGASSAN behind closed doors in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to promote peace and harmony in the oil and gas sector.<br> Briefing reporters after the meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the meeting reviewed the oil industry and looked at how to end the petrol scarcity.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the President, who had headed the sector before, shared some of his thoughts and possible solutions to the challenges.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Kachikwu told reporters that the government was looking to see how it could get foreign exchange input to help in cushioning the crisis of petroleum supply.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The President and I discussed extensively this morning and we talked about how to allocate more crude because His Excellency will rather have less crude, but having individuals in the society not suffer than have more crude and have them continue to suffer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are going to put a new model to enable us increase the pace and actually get measures, as part of the crude that we are entitled to, to apply some of those to bringing in more product so that the role of the NNPC will go back to what it has the capacity to do.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If we do that, I will expect that over the next two months we should see quite frankly, an elimination of this,” he explained, referring to the petrol scarcity currently being experienced across the oil-rich nation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Make Nigerians Smile Again”</p> <p dir="ltr">He further said that the government’s strategy in tackling the shortfall of supply was to reserve some refined products.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whatever is produced in the refinery will not go for sale. We are going to put that into strategic reserve.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The key problem here is, because there is no reserve, anytime there is a gap in supply it hits us,” he stated.</p> <p dir="ltr">The President is said to have tasked the workers in the oil sector to be agents of change and to ensure they take change on its head and make it happen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The National President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Igwe Aghaeze, said they discussed the issue of the petrol scarcity and the Petroleum Industry Bill at the meeting.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We discussed how the oil sector will bounce back economically and make Nigerians smile again.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Keenly we talked much more on the issues of the corruption in the oil and gas sector vis-a-vis the product allocations which we (NUPENG and PENGASSAN)  are trying to do together.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the President assured the unions that they would be part of the restructuring that would be made to address the issues and ensure that scarcity is out of Nigeria’s fuel service stations.</p> <p dir="ltr">On his part, the President of Petroleum and Natural Gas‎ Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Olabode Johnson, also recognised the fact that the President was not new in the sector and expressed optimism that he was capable of introducing the magic wand that would change the ugly situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nigerians will be watching and waiting to see the queues disappear completely in a country said to be one of the biggest oil producers in the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is only then that they will believe that the meeting had a fruitful deliberation. <br><br></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEqeWqlLec7-cv8F0PIrjoVzF4t6RXk6wYQQOkFCvr9_uPrc4pApEm3uqC18ioherlXjFTtB0VbjHsr5EWMSSXgxi2tIUaWFAKwgf44FUC1Rs08rvjGSypTumizlpkhHhiNqbZQSI0DB3/s1600/IMG_20160314_135211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEqeWqlLec7-cv8F0PIrjoVzF4t6RXk6wYQQOkFCvr9_uPrc4pApEm3uqC18ioherlXjFTtB0VbjHsr5EWMSSXgxi2tIUaWFAKwgf44FUC1Rs08rvjGSypTumizlpkhHhiNqbZQSI0DB3/s640/IMG_20160314_135211.jpg"> </a> </div>

Buhari, Oil Workers Meet To Tackle Petrol Scarcity

BASAM 0 15:01:00

President Muhammadu Buhari has held a meeting with the leaders of the NUPENG and PENGASSAN behind closed doors in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to promote peace and harmony in the oil and gas sector. Briefing reporters after the meeting on Wednesday… link to this post

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Oshiomhole Urges Govt. To Provide Quality Tertiary Education

<p dir="ltr">Edo State Governor has advised the Nigerian government to look inward and provide quality tertiary education for the increasing number of students seeking tertiary education.<br> Governor Adams Oshiomhole made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja.<br> Speaking after receiving licence to establish the Edo State University, Governor Oshiomhole said that there was a need for more Nigerians to be given access to university education in order to reduce some of the social vices prevalent among the youths.</p> <p dir="ltr">He advised government at all levels to provide quality secondary school education in order to improve the standard of education.</p> <p dir="ltr">Every year, thousands of students sit for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board examination in order to gain admission into tertiary institutions. Only a few thousand are offered admission into schools.</p> <p dir="ltr">To address the situation, the Edo State Government established its second state university, Edo State University, which Governor Oshiomhole said would address the quality of human capital in Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okojie, advised university authorities to positively impact on the community where they are based, as he gave recognition to Edo University.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the recognition given to Edo University as the 41st state university in Nigeria, the dream of more young Nigerians to acquire university education, would soon be a reality.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XuO_NZzmpUXwk1_thxfXNSB1lX-Qa4SGGS9pt7ongiI-KN7bq00fuLbH2f6yHu_p7UCuTVXx-gi0tDRCJczr07o3lojyWXUUqLRALKHcgvJzmXcDi234WBs0yiuv7xV7GWcA_3wbQeVe/s1600/Oshiomhole-Adams-Edo-300x162-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XuO_NZzmpUXwk1_thxfXNSB1lX-Qa4SGGS9pt7ongiI-KN7bq00fuLbH2f6yHu_p7UCuTVXx-gi0tDRCJczr07o3lojyWXUUqLRALKHcgvJzmXcDi234WBs0yiuv7xV7GWcA_3wbQeVe/s640/Oshiomhole-Adams-Edo-300x162-1.jpg"> </a> </div>

Oshiomhole Urges Govt. To Provide Quality Tertiary Education

BASAM 0 14:57:00

Edo State Governor has advised the Nigerian government to look inward and provide quality tertiary education for the increasing number of students seeking tertiary education. Governor Adams Oshiomhole made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja. Speaking … link to this post

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