Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, has visited the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose after leaving South East.

He was received by the Governor. Recall that the sultan had on Monday, visited Enugu state to attend the grand reception in honour of the 2015/2016 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Champions, the Enugu Rangers International Football club, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu. Many have described the solidarity visits as a bridge building exercise.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/sokoto-sultan-visits-fayose-in-ekiti/

Hopes that former Delta State Governor James Ibori will celebrate this year’s Christmas with his kinsmen at Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area may have been dashed.

There have been frantic preparations in anticipation of his return, leading to several repairs and clearing at Oghara in the last few days.But it was learnt last night, that the former governor had shelved his return.

Ibori is expected to regain his freedom this month after a 13-year term in a British prison.

A source told our reporter in Warri that the former governor would leave the British jail at 11 p.m Nigerian time yesterday.
But a close associate of his, who was also the Commissioner for Transportation in the last administration, Ben Igbakpa, said Ibori had said he would not celebrate Christmas at home.

Igbakpa said: “He has issued a statement to the fact that he’s not coming for Christmas. His media aide, Mr Tony Eluemunor, issued a statement to that effect, since Tuesday, that he’s not coming home for Christmas. He’s been away and everybody is enthusiastic to receive him back. But he’s not going to be around for Christmas as he has said.”

Also, in anticipation of Ibori’s return, his kinsmen have begun preparations and celebration of arguably their most illustrious son.
While the state government and Ethiope West Local Government Area have started series of repairs in Oghara, family and associates of the former governor are said to be cleaning his home.

Hopes were high that Ibori would return to his home town yesterday.

But some sources said this was not realisable because he was still in London.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/james-ibori-wont-celebrate-christmas-at-home/

The Nigerian Army says the video of soldiers begging for water and food, which went viral on Tuesday, was shot by “mischievous and disgruntled elements”.

The video, which was uploaded on YouTube, showed several soldiers at Alargarno in Borno State, lamenting their lack of food and water and seeking the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.However, following the release of the video to the public, the Nigerian Army said the problem was caused by a mischievous soldier, who had since been punished.

In a statement late on Tuesday by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, the army said, “We wish to state that the video clip was shot more than six months ago by some mischievous and disgruntled elements when 29 Task Force Brigade captured Alagarno Forest and environs in Borno State.

“It is disheartening that some mischievous elements have decided to circulate it now, creating the false impression that it is a recent occurrence.

“We wish to state further that the matter was conclusively investigated at the time, several months ago. The Board of Inquiry actually showed that, as of the time of the incident, the unit’s water tanker still contained water, but a soldier mischievously concealed it. That soldier was charged and punished accordingly.

“In addition to the unit’s water tanker, a borehole was subsequently drilled at the location and it is still serving both the military and adjoining communities.

“We wish to restate with utmost concern the continued commitment of the Nigerian Army to the total welfare of all its personnel.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/mischievous-elements-shot-video-of-soldiers-begging-for-water-army/

Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, has been shot dead while speaking at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian Foreign Ministry, has confirmed.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement in a live televised statement, Sky News reports.She said, “Today in Ankara, as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died.

“We regard this as a terrorist act. The murderers will be punished.”

The 62-year-old ambassador had been attending an art exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Centre in the Cankaya area of Ankara, along with other dignitaries and media.

The gunman was Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old who had been working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years.

He was off-duty when it was understood he entered the building using his police ID and opened fire on the ambassador as he made a speech.

A video showed him shouting, “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria! So long as our brothers are not in safety, you will not taste safety either. Only my dead body will leave here.

“Whoever is involved in this cruelty, one by one, you will pay for it.”

The gunman also shot three other people, although none were seriously injured, according to Turkey’s interior ministry.

Turkish media said he then climbed to the second floor of the building before a 15-minute shootout with police, during which he was killed.

A photographer from Associated Press who had been at the exhibition said the gunman had been wearing a suit and tie and had shouted “Allahu Akbar” before firing at least eight shots.

He had also spoken in Russian and smashed several of the photos in the exhibition.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/russian-ambassador-shot-dead-in-turkey/

Saidu Ayorinde of Nigeria on Sunday emerged the 13th Africa Scrabble Champion winning 23 games of 32 in Tema, Ghana.Ayorinde dethroned his Nigeria counterpart, Nsikakabasi Etim, the immediate past Africa Scrabble Champion, when he finished first in a 32-game scrabble marathon to become the best in the duel.

Ayorinde was ranked sixteenth at the 2015 World Scrabble championship.

Other Nigerians, namely: Eta Karo, Umebiye Cyril, Nsikakabasi Etim and Rex Ogbakpa emerged in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

A Kenyan, Gitonga Nberitou, broke Nigerian line up to take the sixth position.

Other Nigerians in the listing are: Ogbogu Azubuike, seventh; Dennis Ikekeregor, eight; and Anthony Ikolothe, the National Scrabble Coach of the Senior Team, ninth.

John Curtis Ebomah came tenth.

Nigeria won nine of the ten positions in the championship and consolidated its position as the best team of the championship since nine of its representatives finished in top positions.

Ikolo said in an interview that the victory was due to hard work and dedication.

“It is a testimony to the potential of Nigeria as a country and the sacrifice and hard work of the players,” he said.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/19/nigerias-saidu-ayorinde-wins-13th-africa-scrabble-championship/

A military parade is holding inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja to mark President Muhammadu Buhari’s 74th birthday.

The event holds at the forecourt of the President’s office.
Top government officials are attending the strictly military event.

He was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/president-buhari-celebrates-74th-birthday/

The results of 13,488 private candidates, out of the 172,699 who sat for the 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), have been withheld.
Olu Adenipekun, Head of National Office (HNO) of the WAEC, announced this while releasing results of the Nov/Dec diet of the examination on Friday in Lagos.

Mr. Adenipekun said the results were withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice.
According to him, the results withheld represent 7.81 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination.

He said that the cases of malpractices were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course, for consideration.
The HNO added that the committee’s decision would be communicated to the affected candidates thereafter.

Giving a further breakdown of the results, Mr. Adenipekun said that 176,621 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 172,699 sat for the tests.
He said that of the figure, 88,290 were males, while 84,409 were females, representing 51.12 per cent and 48.88 per cent respectively.

Mr. Adenipekun said that 1,210 other candidates had some of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them in the course of writing the examination.

“Such errors are being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently,’’ he said.

According to him, out of the 172,699 that sat for the examination, 72,229 candidates, representing 41.82 per cent obtained credits and above in six subjects.

A total of 95,294 representing 55.18 per cent obtained credits and above in five subjects, while 116,133 candidates, representing 67.25 per cent, obtained credits and above in four subjects.
Similarly, 134,152 candidates, representing 77.67 per cent, obtained credits and above in three subjects, while 149,651 candidates, representing 86.65 per cent, also scored credits and above in two subjects.

Mr. Adenipekun explained that 66,497 candidates, representing 38.50 per cent, obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Giving a comparative analysis of the performance of the candidates who sat for the 2016 Nov/Dec of the examination, the HNO said there was an improvement when compared to candidates’ performance in the same examination in the 2014 and 2015 diets.

“In the percentage of candidates that obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics in this year’s examination, there is improvement in the performance this year when compared to the 29.37 per cent in 2014 and 20.59 per cent in 2015 respectively,’’ he said.
Mr. Adenipekun attributed the improved performance to the impact of democracy in the country.
He said that many state governments were now showing commitment towards improving education in their respective states.

“More infrastructure are being put in place, more schools also being built, while existing ones are being improved upon,’’ the HNO said.

On its part, he said that WAEC maintained the standard of the examinations at all times.
He assured that the council would continue to organise seminars for stakeholders to discuss the way forward for the Nigerian child.

“We will always ensure the examinations are taken to the places of habitat of the candidates, no matter the challenges.

“This is to ensure that no one is denied the right to education,’’ he said.
The official said that 19 blind candidates registered and sat for the examination.

Mr. Adenipekun said that candidates who sat for the examination would be able to check the details of their performance on the council’s website in the next 24 hours.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/2016-gce-waec-withholds-13488-results/

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has pledged to conclude two outstanding state assembly rerun elections in Rivers state next year.

INEC had last weekend moved to conclude all the 22 rerun elections in the state, but was forced to cancel the exercise in two constituencies in Etche.Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this on Friday at the opening of a two-day workshop organised by the commission for some journalists in Abuja.

He said there were 70 incidences of deliberate obstruction of the election process in Rivers state, adding that the commission has documented all the cases and is reviewing them for possible prosecution in line with its guidelines.

He said the commission is instituting an administrative inquiry‎ into the election and. Would not hesitate to punish any of its staff found wanting.

Details later…

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/%e2%80%8ebreaking-inec-to-conduct-outstanding-rivers-rerun-in-2017/

The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has reacted to an audio yesterday released by Sahara Reporters where he purportedly threatened to kill an INEC official.
In a statement signed Dr Tam-George, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rivers State Wike said he was impersonated and blamed APC for the act.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a publication by SaharaReporters, alleging that Governor Nyesom Wike had illicit contacts with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the run up to the rerun elections, on the 10th of December 2016 in Rivers State.“We categorically deny these latest allegations as a sick fabrication, and an outright lie. Governor Wike never made any contact with INEC officials, in person or by telephone. Saharareporters.com is the online propaganda bullhorn of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Their publications are typically false, and the writers are professional hawkers of fiction. No one would have thought that the APC and its cowardly media allies would resort to an audio impersonation of Governor Nyesom Wike, using a voice changer technology. The voice changer technology is often used by teenagers especially in South Korea and Japan to launch innocent technological pranks at each other, mainly for laughs.

“The use of such a technology to blackmail a governor is a new criminal low for the APC, a party already widely discredited for its addiction to falsehood. The APC and Saharareporters are inmates in the prison of their own lies. We reject the latest blackmail by the APC.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/rivers-re-run-wike-reacts-to-incriminating-audio-tape-blames-apc/

The New UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Thursday announced Nigeria’s Environment minister, Amina Mohammed, as his Deputy Secretary-General.

Guterres made the announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric.
Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN.

He said, “I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.

“I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.

“I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

“These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity.”

Mohammed, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

She is also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She is also the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.

Guterres had hinted on Monday after he took the oath of office that gender parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.

He said, “I think that one very important element of the agenda would be to give a clear signal that gender parity is a must and so in the appointments I will be making.

“And the first ones would be announced soon. You’ll see that gender parity will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN and it will have to be respected by all.”

“This is a very ambitious agenda, an agenda that must be for both woman and man, and that is why parity is so important in our reform perspectives.

“That is also why the empowerment of women is so important in everything the UN will be doing around the world.”

Guterres, succeeds outgoing secretary-general Ban, who bows out on Dec. 31, 2016 after a decade of two terms, while the new secretary-general assumes office on Jan. 1, 2017, for the next five years.

NAN

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/nigerias-environment-minister-amina-mohammed-announced-as-deputy-secretary-general-of-un/

Wife of Nigeria’s president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, on Thursday, December 14, donated some bags of rice and cartons of liquid milk to the Christian community in Abuja for Christmas, Vanguard reports.

According to her, the donation was to support the Christian families of the First Baptist Church in FCT, Abuja.Aisha Buhari donates food items to Christians for Christmas

Aisha, who was represented by Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the vice president, said the kind gesture was done out of passion and love.

She said: “I know there are men of God and people of God here and I see a lot of Christian mothers, the youth and children too, it is lovely to be here.

“The Bible says how good and pleasant it is when God makes us enjoy together in unity.

“I am not here in my own capacity; I am here representing the wife of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Everyone knows that she has a large heart and she has sent a lot of items to the Christian community, I am here to watch the handing over of the items to them.”

Reacting after, the FCT chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Jonah, thanked Hajiya Buhari for identifying with the Christian community at this festive period.

He assured Buhari that the items would be distributed to all the Christian groups in the FCT.

Jonah said: “We want to assure you that by the grace of God, the distribution would go round all the Christian groups.”

He also expressed the community’s continued support for President Muhammadu Buhari administration in its bid to tackle corruption, insecurity and improve the economy.

Also speaking, the CAN chairman, North Central, Rev. Israel Akanji, said the kind gesture showed a sense of unity.

He said: “I am really grateful, this is leadership; it is a sense of unity for the nation.

“Hajiya Aisha Buhari is a Muslim and she knows that this cerebration is for Christians and yet she has decided to brighten the hearts of Christians.”

Recall that despite her fond act of giving, Aisha Buhari recently disclosed that she been rejecting gifts from people even before Muhammadu Buhari became president.

Speaking at the launch of a new campaign against graft tagged, “Women Against Corruption” in Abuja, on Wednesday, December 7, Aisha said she does not intend to collect gifts as the wife of the president even in the future.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/16/see-shocking-thing-aisha-buhari-did-to-christians-celebrating-christmas/

The inspector general of police Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday, December 13, met with some Igbo traditional leaders in Abuja.

The leaders under the aegis of Association oftradition kings in Diaspora) met with the police boss in his office at the Force Headquarters.
The association led by Boniface Ibekwe, the Eze Ndigbo in Kano state, congratulated the IGP on his appointment.

Ibekwe assured the police boss of continuous co-operation and partnership with the commissioners of police in their respective state where they serve as traditional rulers.

He commended Idris for his excellent police community relations strategies and initiative with the force.

In his response, the IGP said the police will continue to provide necessary support, co-operation and sustain the partnership between the force and the Ndi Eze Ndi Igbo N’uzoije.

http://nignews.com.ng/see-what-igp-ibrahim-idris-did-with-igbo-traditional-leaders/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once again cautioned the citizenry against investing in the ponzi scheme, Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM).

The scheme operators stopped the accounts of its investors in Nigeria few days ago.CBN Director of Development Finance Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan gave the warning at a business leaders’ conference with the theme: “Prospering in a recession”, organised by EZ37 Solutions in Ibadan.

He called on Nigerians to be careful in investing their resources, especially at this period of economic recession.

According to him, the nation is blessed with many resources and businesses that could bring returns at minimal risks, urging people to embrace agriculture instead.

Olaitan, who was represented by the Head of CBN Development Office in Ibadan, Mr. Banji Akinola, said the Ponzi scheme has become a national embarrassment with the scheme’s operators insulting the Nigerian government just because it cautioned the people over the scheme.

A university don from the Department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Funmi Soetan, who spoke on the theme of the conference, advised companies to consider cutting the cost of production through waste elimination rather than laying-off workers.

According to her, Nigerian economy is passing through a difficult phase of the business cycle.

Factors responsible, she said, include Nigeria’s overdependence on oil revenue, the adverse impact of the increase in global crude oil supply, fall in global oil prices, slow and declining growth in China, the BRICs and Europe, rising global and local terrorism and its attendant insecurity in Nigeria.

Other factors listed by Prof. Soetan include corruption and poor management of Nigeria’s oil revenue, the decline in external reserves and CBN devaluation of the Naira.

An associate professor at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Mr. Femi Ogundele, stated that the immediate consequence of recession was that businesses might cut employees, which translate to more work being done by fewer people.

The Chief Executive Officer of EZ37, Adaora Ayoade, stated that the effects of recession on the business community were challenging, urging firms to engage the situation in an informed, constructive and pragmatic manner.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/15/stop-investing-in-mmm-cbn-warns-nigerians-again/

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has presented the 2017 appropriation bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Here are the breakdown of the budget:

Oil : N1.985tn

Non-oil: N1.73tn

Independent: N807bn

Recoveries: N565bn

Other Sources: N210.9bn

N419bn – Statutory Transfers

N1.66tn – Debt Service

N2.9tn – Non-Debt Recurrent Exp

N2.24tn – Capital Exp

Capital provisions in the 2017 budget is N2.24tn

Capital expenditure allocation:

Defence, N140bn;

Water resouces N85bn;

Interior N63bn;

Education N58bn;

UBE commission N92bn;

FCT N37bn

Top Recurrent Expenditure:

Interior – N482bn

Education – N398bn

Defence – N325bn

Health – N252bn

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/expenditure-breakdown-of-2017-budget/

The Kano State Hisbah Board arrested 226 beggars for allegedly violating the law banning street begging along the major streets of the state capital in November, an official said on Wednesday.

The officer in charge of the Anti-begging Unit of the board, Malam Musa Sangaya, in Kano said that 119 of the 226 beggars were children, while 107 were adult.He said, “Our men arrested 226 street beggars around Bata, Naibawa, Nassarawa hospital and Yankaba areas for violating the law banning street begging in Kano metropolis.

“Out of the 226 beggars, 107 are adult (both male and female), while 119 are children who engaged in begging in places like traffic junctions and restaurants.”

He stated that 98 of the arrested beggars hail from Kano city, while eight are from Bichi, Rano and Gezawa local government areas of the state.

According to him, the remaining 120 are from neighbouring Cameroon and Niger, among others.

Sangaya said six of them had been taken to court, while others who were first offenders, were taken to their various local government areas.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/kano-cracks-down-on-beggars-arrests-226/

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

May the peace and prayer of Allah be upon His Messenger (SAW)

To proceed:

Basically, MMM is a community where people render or provide help in expectations of getting a more greater reward in help (30 percent per month above your initial help).

Islam teaches us to give alms and donation to seek for rewards in the Hereafter. Whenever we prepare some money to be donated, we already intend to get the rewards in the Hereafter.

ﻣَﺜَﻞُ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻳُﻨْﻔِﻘُﻮﻥَ ﺃَﻣْﻮَﺍﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﻓِﻲ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻛَﻤَﺜَﻞِ ﺣَﺒَّﺔٍ ﺃَﻧْﺒَﺘَﺖْ ﺳَﺒْﻊَ ﺳَﻨَﺎﺑِﻞَ ﻓِﻲ ﻛُﻞِّ ﺳُﻨْﺒُﻠَﺔٍ ﻣِﺎﺋَﺔُ ﺣَﺒَّﺔٍ ﻭَﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻳُﻀَﺎﻋِﻒُ ﻟِﻤَﻦْ ﻳَﺸَﺎﺀُ ﻭَﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻭَﺍﺳِﻊٌ ﻋَﻠِﻴﻢٌ . ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻳُﻨْﻔِﻘُﻮﻥَ ﺃَﻣْﻮَﺍﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﻓِﻲ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺛُﻢَّ ﻟَﺎ ﻳُﺘْﺒِﻌُﻮﻥَ ﻣَﺎ ﺃَﻧْﻔَﻘُﻮﺍ ﻣَﻨًّﺎ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺃَﺫًﻯ ﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﺃَﺟْﺮُﻫُﻢْ ﻋِﻨْﺪَ ﺭَﺑِّﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺧَﻮْﻑٌ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻫُﻢْ ﻳَﺤْﺰَﻧُﻮﻥَ.

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is like that of a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears, and in every ear there are a hundred grains. Thus Allah multiplies the action of whomsoever He wills. Allah is Munificent, All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah and do not follow up their spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find their reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and grief.” (Al Baqarah, :261-262)

The Messenger of Allah – peace and prayer of Allah be upon him – also advised us, so that no matter how small that we give, we give it due to our fear of Allah’s punishment.

ﻓَﻠْﻴَﺘَّﻘِﻴَﻦَّ ﺃَﺣَﺪُﻛُﻢُ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺎﺭَ ﻭَﻟَﻮْ ﺑِﺸِﻖِّ ﺗَﻤْﺮَﺓٍ، ﻓَﺈِﻥْ ﻟَﻢْ ﻳَﺠِﺪْ ﻓَﺒِﻜَﻠِﻤَﺔٍ ﻃَﻴِّﺒَﺔٍ.

“Fear the Hell, (and protect yourself from it) even with a half of date fruit. If you don’t have it, then by saying good words.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 1413, Muslim no.1016, and others)

Verses and hadith that speak about this matter are numerous.

Islam also teaches us to give something to other without wishing for greater return. Allah reminded us:

ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺗَﻤْﻨُﻦْ ﺗَﺴْﺘَﻜْﺜِﺮُ.

“And bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return.” (Al Mudassir :6)

Imam al-Qurtubi interpreted this verse:

ﻻ ﺗﻌﻂ ﻋﻄﻴﺔ ﺗﻠﺘﻤﺲ ﺑﻬﺎ ﺃﻓﻀﻞ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ.

“Do not give something to seek for a better return.” (Tafsir al Qurtubi, 19/67)

This is how Islam teaches the Muslims, to build the nonprofit spirit in doing the social deeds. Moreover to wish for return from the aid given.

It all shows that the MMM transaction is not in line with some principles of Islam, thus it shouldn’t be preserved.

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MMM Transactions Are Against Principles of Islam, By Murtada GusauPremium Times December 14, 2016 MMM Transactions Are Against Principles of Islam, By Murtada Gusau2016-12-14T11:18:28+00:00 Opinion Comment (1)
mmm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

May the peace and prayer of Allah be upon His Messenger (SAW)

To proceed:

Basically, MMM is a community where people render or provide help in expectations of getting a more greater reward in help (30 percent per month above your initial help).

Islam teaches us to give alms and donation to seek for rewards in the Hereafter. Whenever we prepare some money to be donated, we already intend to get the rewards in the Hereafter.

ﻣَﺜَﻞُ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻳُﻨْﻔِﻘُﻮﻥَ ﺃَﻣْﻮَﺍﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﻓِﻲ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻛَﻤَﺜَﻞِ ﺣَﺒَّﺔٍ ﺃَﻧْﺒَﺘَﺖْ ﺳَﺒْﻊَ ﺳَﻨَﺎﺑِﻞَ ﻓِﻲ ﻛُﻞِّ ﺳُﻨْﺒُﻠَﺔٍ ﻣِﺎﺋَﺔُ ﺣَﺒَّﺔٍ ﻭَﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻳُﻀَﺎﻋِﻒُ ﻟِﻤَﻦْ ﻳَﺸَﺎﺀُ ﻭَﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻭَﺍﺳِﻊٌ ﻋَﻠِﻴﻢٌ . ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻳُﻨْﻔِﻘُﻮﻥَ ﺃَﻣْﻮَﺍﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﻓِﻲ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺛُﻢَّ ﻟَﺎ ﻳُﺘْﺒِﻌُﻮﻥَ ﻣَﺎ ﺃَﻧْﻔَﻘُﻮﺍ ﻣَﻨًّﺎ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺃَﺫًﻯ ﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﺃَﺟْﺮُﻫُﻢْ ﻋِﻨْﺪَ ﺭَﺑِّﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺧَﻮْﻑٌ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻫُﻢْ ﻳَﺤْﺰَﻧُﻮﻥَ.

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is like that of a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears, and in every ear there are a hundred grains. Thus Allah multiplies the action of whomsoever He wills. Allah is Munificent, All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah and do not follow up their spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find their reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and grief.” (Al Baqarah, :261-262)

The Messenger of Allah – peace and prayer of Allah be upon him – also advised us, so that no matter how small that we give, we give it due to our fear of Allah’s punishment.

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ﻓَﻠْﻴَﺘَّﻘِﻴَﻦَّ ﺃَﺣَﺪُﻛُﻢُ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺎﺭَ ﻭَﻟَﻮْ ﺑِﺸِﻖِّ ﺗَﻤْﺮَﺓٍ، ﻓَﺈِﻥْ ﻟَﻢْ ﻳَﺠِﺪْ ﻓَﺒِﻜَﻠِﻤَﺔٍ ﻃَﻴِّﺒَﺔٍ.

“Fear the Hell, (and protect yourself from it) even with a half of date fruit. If you don’t have it, then by saying good words.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 1413, Muslim no.1016, and others)

Verses and hadith that speak about this matter are numerous.

Islam also teaches us to give something to other without wishing for greater return. Allah reminded us:

ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﺗَﻤْﻨُﻦْ ﺗَﺴْﺘَﻜْﺜِﺮُ.

“And bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return.” (Al Mudassir :6)

Imam al-Qurtubi interpreted this verse:

ﻻ ﺗﻌﻂ ﻋﻄﻴﺔ ﺗﻠﺘﻤﺲ ﺑﻬﺎ ﺃﻓﻀﻞ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ.

“Do not give something to seek for a better return.” (Tafsir al Qurtubi, 19/67)

This is how Islam teaches the Muslims, to build the nonprofit spirit in doing the social deeds. Moreover to wish for return from the aid given.

It all shows that the MMM transaction is not in line with some principles of Islam, thus it shouldn’t be preserved.

Allah knows best.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/14/mmm-transactions-are-against-principles-of-islam-by-murtada-gusau/

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Adamu Abubakar Rasheed, weekend disclosed that there will be 150 additional private universities in the next three years even as he took a swipe at people calling for suspension of approval for the establishment of such schools.

According to him, anyone calling for the stoppage of issuance of license to more universities is ignorant because the 152 universities in Nigeria are not adequate for a population of over 150 million people.Speaking at the first founders day lecture of the University of Medical Science, Ondo State and analysing the Nigerian universities system with the State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and Emeritus Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe, Rasheed noted that Nigerian universities cannot isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Using Argentina as a yardstick, the NUC boss stated that Argentina’s population of about 44 million has 1705 universities while several other developing counties with lesser population than Nigeria has over 300 universities.

According him, the challenges facing the universities include: the governing structure, the provincial forces competing against the actual forces that seek to retain the established or sustain the cut of the University, where university community are arguing about who will be the next Vice-Chancellor and who comes from the community where the University is located.

‘’Presently, 243 applications are being processed for private universities, so in the next two to three years, we will have about 150 private universities,” he said.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/well-soon-approve-150-more-private-universities-nuc/

The month of December is the most festive month in the world.

And among all the festivals held on that month, Christmas happens to be the most famous.

In Nigeria, we celebrate Christmas and adding to our African way and methods, our celebration tends to be very special and memorable.

Below are 10 Activities that makes our Christmas unforgettable in Nigeria.

1. Traveling to our villages (hometown)

In search of greener pastures, many Nigerians tends to leave their state if origin to other states, Xmas sometimes happens to be the only time they have to travel and see their relations. It’s very special because you will see people you haven’t seen for a longtime.

2. Returning of relations and friends.

For those of us that are not opportune to travel, they will gladly wait and welcome their relatives who have traveled.

They even make sure the house is neat and decorated so that their incoming relations will have a memorable stay.

3. Amazing Christmas decorations

There is always a joyful feeling, when we see Christmas decorations everywhere.

Some state governors are good in this aspect.

Christmas light everywhere and also other wonderful declarations.

4. Vacations/holidays

No school will be in session, and even office workers will be given holiday break.

There will be free time for a very mighty celebration all across the country.

Nobody will say that he/she is busy. (Except the doctors of course Lol)

5. Carnivals and masquerades

December is know to be a month of great festivals. Many states/ Churches even streets host their numerous carnivals and they are always making sense.

Masquerade on other hands isn’t excluded. The are also given the opportunity to showcase their talents and powers and all these adds to why we can never forget Christmas.

6. Promos

You must have heard of Christmas Promos.

Every shop/companies both online on offline sometimes reduces their prices in the spirit of Xmas. We sometimes hear “oya bring money, let me do Christmas for you“.

7. Gifts from many people

We usually receive gifts from our friends/parents/customers/wife’s/uncles/etc during Christmas.

Although sometimes the gifts are small, but it worth the celebration.

8. Hamattern

That rare feeling in which everywhere becomes dry, cold and dusty, your cloths dries within 30mins of washing, and our bodies turns white (Lol).

Hamttern is one of the best natural activities that makes Christmas a wonderful and memorable festive seasons.

9. Fireworks/knockout/bangers

How can Christmas be complete without knockout in Nigeria?

In fact, these are one of the top reasons why Xmas can’t be taken for granted by our teens.

Although sometimes it’s dangerous, but it’s really nice if its monitored by an adult. 31th is really unforgettable because of fireworks and bangers.

10. Father-Christmas

Santa Claus also know in Nigeria as Father Christmas is the best and unforgettable aspect of Xmas. Nigerians kids love Santa soo much that they disturb parents to take then the any Xmas shows to see Father Christmas.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/10-activities-that-make-christmas-a-memorable-experience-in-nigeria/

A female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), identified as Miss Elechi Chiyerum, has been confirmed dead after she was found ill at the orientation camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokoma, Bayelsa
State.

Miss Chiyerum, 27, from Rivers State, reportedly arrived at the camp with an illness that made her bleed and vomit.She was a graduate of Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt and was reported to have been found vomiting at her lodge.

Non-disclosure Of Ailment

She was said to have arrived the camp ill as she could not participate in most activities lined up for the opening ceremony.

An official of the NYSC, who spoke with Channels Television’s correspondent and asked not to be named, described the unfortunate incident as a case of non-disclosure of an ailment.

A source revealed that when the deceased was found vomiting and bleeding, she was immediately taken to the sickbay in the orientation camp. After the initial treatments, the doctors found her case to be severe and referred her to a hospital in the state capital.

“She was taken to a hospital in Yenagoa. Unfortunately, before getting to the hospital she died. She died at about 9:00 p.m., having spent only five days at the camp. We are pained and shocked by the news of her death,” the source said.

An NYSC official who confirmed the incident advised corps members to always disclose their true health conditions to the authorities.

Miss Chiyerum’s death came a day after the death of another corps member in Kano was reported.

It was a tale of tears, agony and regrets on Thursday in Osogbo the Osun state capital, as Ifedolapo Oladepo was buried.

Like many thousands of young graduates mobilised for the 2016 Batch ‘C’ service year, 26-year-old Ifedolapo Oladepo, a first class Transport Management graduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho had said her goodbye to her family members, set for Kano, hoping to see her dreams fulfilled.

However, exactly a week after, it was her corpse that was brought to her family after she was said to have died following complications arising from an ailment few days into the NYSC orientation programme in Kano.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/another-corps-member-dies-in-bayelsa-camp/

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State said, yesterday, that he married his wife as a virgin, which is the pride of Africans, who value the virtues of chastity.

Governor Ayade, who made the disclosure in Calabar, while delivering a lecture on the HIV/AIDS scourge to mark the 2016 World Aids Day, said the greatest gift any woman could possibly hand to her husband was to present her body as a virgin to him.He said: “I should say to the teenagers here today that when somebody leads you to the altar, at the end of that day he should be glad to say I married my wife a virgin.”

The governor stated that young people easily gave in to sex due to financial inducement, peer pressure and influence of international movies and believed that with the use of condom they were secure from HIV, which in most cases was not full-proof protection against the pandemic.

According to the governor, “when people use condom, they think they are safe which is the major cause of infection because evidence abound that the use of condom does not provide total protection against HIV/AIDS since the condom itself has small holes that are 0.05 wider than microbes, which makes HIV virus to pass successfully.”

Dr Rose Nyambi, the Director General of the State Action Committee Against AIDS, SACA, said the state had 164,267 persons (108,000 females; 61,827 males) living positively with the virus.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/i-married-my-wife-a-virgin-wait-for-marriage-to-have-s-e-x-gov-ayade/

The participant claims that God rejected his tithe from MMM earnings and clearly told him that Christians involved in the scheme have had their names removed from the book of life.

Read the post below:

MMM came into Nigeria in 2015 and since then, it has succeeded in forming a cult-like following.

Based on the huge membership, loyalty and testimonies, a lot of Nigerians refer to it as a religion of some sorts.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, recently announced that the organisation is currently investigating the investment scheme.

Regardless of these, the scheme has received a lot of support from people, including a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish in Abuja that advertised MMM during a Sunday service on October 30, 2016.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/01/christians-involved-in-mmm-will-have-their-names-removed-from-book-of-life-man/

The Nigerian Army on Monday launched ‘Operation Python Dance’ in the South-East part of the country.

It, therefore, warned secessionist groups against acts capable of threatening the nation’s sovereignty.
It said it would not hesitate to apply the Rule of Engagement to deploy troops and deal with secessionists as appropriate.
According to the military, the exercise became imperative in anticipation of rise in violent crimes during the Yuletide.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said the operation would last from November 27 to December 27.

The statement read in part, “It would be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, having painstakingly appraised the myriad of security challenges and scenarios across the country, directed on the conduct of both command post and field training exercises as a way of enhancing troops’ preparedness across the spectrum of contemporary challenges.

“Similarly, Exercise Python Dance has been planned for the South East Region from 27 November to 27 December, 2016.

“The prevalent security issues such as armed robbery, kidnapping, abduction, herdsmen-farmers clashes, communal clashes and violent secessionist attacks, among others, would be targeted.

“In this wise, the exercise would be multi-agency in nature, whereby the Nigerian Army and other security agency are expected to synergise and collaborate extensively.”

The statement said that within the period under review, an elaborate civil-military cooperation line of operation had been planned.

“Nigerian Army Corps and Services would conduct activities such as medical outreach, repairs of roads, schools, and other infrastructure across the South East region.

“The Chief of Army Staff has therefore directed that a contingent of durable mechanism be imbued in the overall planning as well as execution of the exercise to achieve a hitch-free Yuletide for the entire region”, the statement added.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/military-launches-operation-python-dance-against-secessionist-groups-in-south-east/

Alhassan said the move was borne out of the resolution by African leaders to end child marriage during the 25th African Union Ordinary Session of Heads of State in June 2015.

She said the leaders also resolved to take practical steps in addressing the issues of child marriage and other harmful traditional practices.

“One of first practical steps is a vigorous campaign to end child marriage which will be launched tomorrow Nov. 29 at the Sheraton Hotel.

“Global communities and Nigeria in particular are increasingly recognising child marriage as a serious challenge, both as a violation of human rights and a hinderance to key developmental outcomes,’’ she said.

Alhassan said African countries were faced with the challenges of child marriage which robbed girls or children of their education, health and future.

She said according to UNICEF findings, 15 million children are married off every year globally with devastating consequences on their general wellbeing.

“This is very disturbing as it is further revealed that 15 out of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world are in Africa.

“Fifteen African countries have so far launched the campaign to end child marriage.

“The countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Niger, the Islamic Republic of Gambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Zambia, Chad, Burkina Faso , Mali and Madagascar,” Alhassan said.

She said a National Technical Working Group set up to end child marriage in the country was inaugurated on July 23, 2015 by the ministry.

Alhassan urged the media, development partners and other stakeholders to redouble their efforts in ensuring girl’s rights to freedom from child marriage and other forms of violence against children.

She also urged all stakeholders in the campaign, to be more proactive and come up with concrete actions to end child marriage in the country.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/fg-set-to-launch-campaign-to-end-child-marriage/

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not been fair to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.

The governor said the commission was trying to foist injustice on the people of the state by insisting to go ahead with the election.Mimiko, who personally addressed a press conference, said the PDP was yet to have agents for the poll.

It will be recalled that the Appeal Court on Thursday declared Jegede the authentic PDP candidate by dismissing the ruling of the lower court which earlier directed INEC to recognise Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s candidate.

Mimiko also disclosed that the Commission had not released the collation tags for ward collation officers for PDP ward agents.

He wondered how INEC expected the PDP candidate to campaign round the local governments, raise money for the elections and also screen his agent.

The governor alleged concerted efforts by INEC and forces within the APC to prevent the emergence of a credible and electable candidate for the PDP in the state.

Mimiko further disclosed that the voter register which should have been given to the candidate was released only 48 hours to the election, contrary to Electoral Law which stipulates 30 days to the poll.

According to the governor, the “ungodly process” started when INEC, in disregard of extant laws governing elections, removed the name of Eyitayo Jegede on the basis of a Justice Okon Abang order which has since been declared by the Supreme Court as a fraud.

His words: “We wonder why INEC could remove the name of a man who emerged from a party primary that was conducted in a free, fair and open environment and by legitimate organs of the party, where INEC itself was represented, with another from a process that is illegal, and by people not known to law and logic.

“INEC discarded all legal advice not to substitute Eyitayo Jegede by its own chosen consortium of lawyers!

“Several other hurdles were placed on the ways of the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, to the extent that he did not become a candidate until about 48hrs to election, on the directive of the Court of Appeal!

“INEC did not release the list of voters register to the PDP until yesterday, in clear infraction of its own laws and against its advertised ‘Time Table and Schedule of Activities” for the Ondo election.

“INEC refused to publish Eyitayo Jegede’s name for 30 days as stipulated in Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010.

“INEC denied Eyitayo Jegede the right to submit his party agents’ list at least seven days before the election as stipulated in Section 45 of the Electoral Act 2010, among many others!

“As we speak, collation tags for ward collation officers are not available for PDP ward agents!

“More than the above, the agents on INEC list are agents submitted by a man already aptly described by the courts as an impostor, who has also openly showed he is working as a fifth columnist in the Ondo election.

“Every resident of Ondo State knows we are free and fair people who however abhor impunity and open rape on justice. We shall not take this!

“In this instance, injustice stares us in the face and we are about being treated like slaves and a conquered people in our own country.

“INEC is being forced to subvert its processes, and imperil the Ondo election. The team it sent to Edo, which it is sending to Ondo, is peopled by rabid supporters of APC who have displayed their brazen disdain for justice and fair play in the Edo election.”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/ondo-election-inec-unfair-to-pdps-jegede-governor-mimiko-cries-out/

Over 470,000 Nigerians are believed to have died from firewood smoke-induced ailments in the past five years.

The World Health Organisation recently said smoke from open fire is Nigeria’s third biggest killer with over 95,000 deaths annually behind Malaria and HIV/AIDS.It added that the majority of the people affected are women, who cook for their families and their children, who often stay close to them in the kitchen.

The draft National Gas Policy of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, obtained by Saturday PUNCH, said, “According to WHO, smoke from open fire is Nigeria’s third biggest killer with over 95,000 deaths annually behind Malaria and HIV/AIDS.”

With 95,000 deaths annually, over 470,000 Nigerians must have died from diseases contracted as a result of being exposed to open fire smoke between 2011 and 2016 and this, experts said, was worrisome.

The policy document said approximately 30 million households and more than 100 million Nigerians depend on wood as a source of energy for cooking, adding that the situation had come with collateral damage to human health, environment and the economy of the country.

The International Energy Agency in the World Energy Outlook, 2012, said over 120 million Nigerians rely on solid fuels (wood, charcoal, agricultural residues or animal waste) for cooking.

The Global Burden of Disease 2010 study, the biggest survey of global health ever undertaken, also found out that four million people die prematurely every year from illnesses linked directly and indirectly to indoor air pollution due to the use of solid fuel and virtually all of them are in poor developing countries like Nigeria.

A paediatrician with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Rotimi Adesanya, described smoke from open fire as hazardous to health, while stressing that children are mostly at risk.

He said, “When there is smoke from open fire, gases are emitted and some of the gases are poisonous to the system. Gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and many other gases are very dangerous to the human health. Some people have pneumonia in the process, especially small children.

“And pneumonia is one of the main causes of mortality in children, after malaria and diarrhoea. It is the third child killer disease; it kills children on a daily basis.”

Also, the President, Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Mike Ogirima, described the problem as serious, saying persistent exposure to smoke from open fire can lead to health challenges.

He said, “It can be serious if it happens in an enclosed environment and there is the possibility of inhaling carbon monoxide, which is very bad for health. It is a serious issue, especially in highly polluted environments. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.”

The President, Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, Mr. Dayo Adeshina, who lamented the deaths of many Nigerians to smoke-induced ailments, emphasised the need to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) which brings manifold benefits to human health, environment as well as economy of Nigeria.

“As a domestic cooking fuel, LPG therefore presents valuable opportunities to simultaneously combat climate change, reverse deforestation and improve community health and rural economy and livelihood,” the policy document said.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/over-470000-nigerians-die-from-firewood-smoke-in-five-years/

Police in Lagos has arrested a fake doctor, Celestine Yolonfun in Apapa area of the state. Celestine, a quack doctor has allegedly been practising since 2005 after dropping out of nursing school.

He was nabbed after a pregnant woman died in his hospital and her husband reported him to the police.A fake doctor has been arrested in Lagos state

He was arrested at his hospital, Be Well Hospital, which is located on Liverpool Road, Apapa. While speaking to the police, Celestine admitted that he had been practising since 2005 and two patients have died in his hospital.

He confessed that he paid a colleague N70,000 to obtain fake certificates from the Nigerian Medical Association and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

“I take care of general ailments,” he said, “only two persons have died in the hospital. The first patient died in 2013.

“The second patient was a woman who died two weeks ago. The woman was pregnant, she also had high blood pressure. After giving her the initial treatment, I planned to refer her to a bigger hospital, but she died before I could move her. Her baby also died.”

The State Commissioner of Police confirmed the arrest adding that, “We found a fake University of Ibadan MBBS certificate, a fake Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria certificate and a fake Corporate Affairs Commission certificate in his house.”

Quite a sad tale. It is important for people to double check the kinds of medical practitioners they entrust their life with.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/11/25/shock-the-fake-doctor-was-arrested-after-practicing-in-lagos-for-11-years/

Looks like some beggars have decided to up their game, with the way some of them now package themselves to attract attention.

Seems like with the biting recession, people are seeking more ‘innovative’ ways to make more money than they used to.If the picture above is anything to go by, these beggars are well on their way to making more money than any other person with the same ‘practice’ around them.

In recent times, it has been the case of people dressed corporately, looking for jobs or trying to promote their legitimate businesses through packaging, but this is almost an impressive one.

The physically challenged men were seen rocking their suit and tie, wearing an ID card around their neck, somewhere in Illorin, Kwara state.

What do you think? Would you give them money?

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/11/25/checkout-the-new-way-beggars-operate-photo/

For many years the gallant soldiers of the Nigerian army have been involved in a bloody and dangerous war against the deadly Boko Haram sect in the north-east of the country.

[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2qt32l5tbar.f2f18d23.jpg[/img]

The troops confronted a multitude of militants in the northeast, but sometimes the Nigerian military also suffered casualties.

But more often these figures remain mere statistic as many Nigerians do not know their real heroes.

However, everything apparently changed with the death of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali, who said to be the most gallant commander and efficient fighter in the Nigerian army’s battle to crush the members of the terror group.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7bc7fllvd0f.3fedc63f.jpg[/img]

The whole nation received this news with the pang of shock, tears, anguish and lamentations.

Since then some Nigerians took to different social media to honour other fallen heroes in this evil war with the hashtag #NigeriansHonourOurHeroes. These brave soldiers paid the supreme price, so we can live our lives in safety and security.



President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to end this war as soon as possible. Let’s pray for our heroes!

[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt6ja9m4iq5tf.d8a721ba.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt170ks3dng13.d1a666a6.jpg[/img]

See More Photos: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/these-brave-nigerian-heroes-lost-their-souls-combating-the-boko-haram-photos/

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, has disclosed that the 200,000 youths to be employed under the Federal Government’s employment
scheme, N-Power will be notified soon.

The VP aide who took to his twitter handle, @Akandeoj said successful applicants will be notified “any moment from now.”
According to the tweet: “The 200K unemployed graduates selected in first batch of N-power jobs will be notified any moment from now.

“ 150K will teach, 50K for health & agric.”

Recall that Akande, had few weeks ago said Federal Government hademployed 200,000 youths to work as teachers and agricultural extension workers in the country.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/fg-to-notify-200000-youths-to-be-employed-under-n-power-project-soon/

Following the recent killing of some members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by men of the Nigerian police during a violent clash in Kano, the United States government on Friday expressed deep concern.

Recall that the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, said his men had no choice than to open fire on protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)
The U.S. government said in a statement from its Embassy in Abuja that while the matter was still being investigated, it was “troubled by the apparent disproportionate response by the police” during the clash.

“This is the latest in a series of violent incidents between security forces and members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), some of which have resulted in deaths, destruction of property, and the arbitrary detention of IMN members.

“The United States calls for calm and restraint on all sides, a reduction of tensions, and greater communication between Shia citizens and government authorities,” the statement said.

The U.S. government noted that members of the Shia community, like other religious communities, have the right to assemble, peacefully express their religious beliefs, and mark their celebrations.

“We continue to urge the government to ensure accountability for the deaths of more than 300 IMN members during December 15, 2015 clashes between the IMN and security forces in Zaria, Kaduna State.

“We also call on the Nigerian government to conduct a transparent investigation of the latest incidents and bring to account anyone responsible for violating the law,” it said.

Meanwhile, Ekiti state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International and other world bodies to investigate the murder of members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ite Muslim group in Zaria, Kaduna state and Kano State, as well as the ongoing killings in the Southern Kaduna

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/stop-killing-shiites-u-s-tells-president-buhari/

The bills were the ones that had earlier been passed by the National Assembly and sent to the President for assent.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after the President signed the bills into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Enang said the bills signed into law cut across various sectors of the economy and development.

He listed the new laws as the Prevention of Crime Amendment Act 2016; National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration) Amendment Act 2016; Telecommunications and Postal Offences Amendment Act 2016; National Agricultural Land Development Authority Amendment Act 2016; Produce Enforcement of Export Standards Amendment Act 2016; Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Amendment Act 2016; Bee Import Control and Management Amendment Act 2016; and the Water Resources Amendment Act 2016.

Enang said, “These bills were passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to Mr. President for assent and Mr. President today (Friday) assented to them today and (they) have automatically become law.

“Mr. President expresses his appreciation to the leadership and the membership of the National Assembly for the great work they did in considering the bills.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/buhari-signs-eight-bills-into-law/

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce took to his Facebook page today to a lenghty piece he wrote ‘Like Trump Like Obasanjo’, where he compared US president elect Donald Trump to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to Senator Bruce, Donald Trump and Obasanjo who can be brash and outspoken undeniably have an insatiable taste for women and beautiful ones at that. Read his post after the cut
‘Like Trump Like Obasanjo
On the morning of Saturday the 20th of February, 2016, I was having breakfast at Eko Hotel with a friend of mine, Reno Omokri and one of the top Democratic Party strategists in the US and an argument ensued. Omokri said Trump would go all the way while the American said he was not going anywhere. I joined the conversation by saying that Trump is a phenomenon and no one knows how far he will go.
Today, I sit here writing this piece pleasantly stunned that what the mainstream media, what the establishment and what the powers that be said could never happen has happened due to this phenomenal man’s belief in himself when others did not believe in hm.
I have met Donald Trump one on one before and what I clearly remember about him is that he is a White and younger version of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The two of them can be brash and outspoken but they always seem to come out on top by some sort of divine arrangement that makes whatever they do turn out for the best even if it began with controversy.
More similarities between the duo is that they both undeniably have an insatiable taste for women and beautiful ones at that!
Then again, they are both men who have succeeded in business and, even though they were political outsiders, they extended their business success to politics.
And even though there is a lot of anxiety in the Black world and especially Nigeria, I believe that a Trump Presidency would be better for Africa and Nigeria than a Hillary administration.
For one, Boko Haram are now afraid. Very afraid! This is a man that is not afraid to use the word radical Islamic terror and to declare to all who care to listen that he will be their nemesis.
Nigeria needs such a partner!
We are spending way too much of our resources on fighting terrorists. We need a big strong hand to help us fight them. A hand that will not be afraid to sell us weapons and will not make us grovel before it is willing to help us destroy our enemies who want to destroy us.
But secondly and very importantly, Nigeria is an oil producing nation and though I believe that it is what is between the ears of our people that will make this nation great, we still need foreign exchange and Hillary’s plans for alternative energy was not going to see the price of oil go up anytime soon.
But Trump won in Texas because the oil industry knows that they have a friend in him, and any friend of Texas big oil is a friend of Nigeria.
And forget about all that talk about immigration reform. Trump will not stop Nigerians from entering the US. The US needs Nigerians more than Nigerians need the US.
Without Nigerian healthcare professionals, the US health industry would collapse overnight. Neither Trump or Hillary wanted that.
Trump’s rhetoric was directed more at Mexican immigrants because of the immediate threat posed to the US by illegal immigration from Mexico.
Having said that, let me add that the last similarity between Trump and former President Obasanjo is that they both look not very intelligent, but their looks betray their vast knowledge and deep wisdom. You meet them and size them up by their looks and end up underestimating them.
But when they reach into their reptilian brain and come out with strategies it becomes too late to do what you should have done.
I am glad that Trump won and I cannot wait to see how he will change the world positively.
But one thing is clear, any politician who underestimates the role of social media in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the people is a politician that is going the way of the dinosaurs.
Social media and particularly Twitter was the weapon Trump used to fight the mainstream media. Social media is the ultimate form of democracy in that it gives the underdog a vehicle to amplify his or her voice against a biased media that wants to suppress it.
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce is the founder of the Silverbird Entertainment Group and the Senator Representing Bayelsa East

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/they-have-insatiable-taste-for-women-and-beautiful-ones-at-that-ben-bruce-compares-donald-trump-to-obansanjo/