₦airaland Forum

Olamide has been named MTV Base hottest Nigerian artist 2015 .This follows his release of several singles that topped the MTV Base Official Naija Top Ten for many weeks, in addition to his successful promotion of protégé, Lil Kesh, and the recent surprise release of his fifth studio album, “Eyan Mayweather”
On the panel that ranked ten of the hottest artists in Nigeria for the year 2015 were, OAPs Omalicha, Do2dtun and Sade Ladipo,Olisa Adibua, entertainment journalist Osagie Alonge, DJ Spinall and VJ Ehiz.
Full List below


1.Olamide
2.Wizkid
3.Davido
4.Patoranking
5.Yemi Alade
6.Korede Bello
7.Kiss Daniel
8.Burna Boy
9.Lil Kesh
10.Phyno

http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/12/olamide-is-hottest-naija-artist-of-year.html

cc: lalasticlala

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President Muhammadu Buhari received the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) David Miliband with other delegates during thier visit to the presidential villa, Abuja.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/12/photo-delegates-of-international-rescue.html

cc: lalasticlala

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36 years old Mohammed Adamu has been arrested by the Kogi State Police Command after he strangled his sister, Ikani Ayebe Adamu, to death after she prevented him from harvesting a plantain planted in their father’s compound. .

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/12/photo-man-kills-sister-over-plantain.html

Felix was reportedly arrested yesterday by DSS officials during the governorship election in Bayelsa state. The thug and his other gang members was reported to have been terrorizing a community during the governorship election before the were arrested by the DSS. Confirmed reports have it that they were caught with about 5 guns and charms.


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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/12/photos-dss-arrest-thugs-with-guns.html

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Rivers State Government has renamed the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt as the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt in honour of Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon who created Rivers State in 1967.

The State Government also renamed the Old Aba road in Port Harcourt as Yakubu Gowon, Road.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, the Rivers State Government renamed the stadium and the road to honour General Yakubu Gowon for creating Rivers State in 1967.

It will be recalled that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Saturday during a meeting with General Yakubu Gowon and officials of Nigeria Prays declared that the Rivers State Government will immortalise the former Head of State for his role in the creation of Rivers State.


Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
6th December, 2015.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/12/rivers-state-government-renames.html

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A pro-Biafra protester,Ahaoma Nnah who died on 9th November 2015 and was buried last weekend in Obehie, Abia state. He died at the age of 27 and was buried with a Biafran flag.
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/12/photos-pro-biafra-supporter-buried-with.html

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Omotola was a guest of the African union and One on the 27th of November at the First Ever African summit on child marriage which held at Lusaka, Zambia. Omotola who was a speaker at the event, spoke on the ways Movies and media can help eradicate child marriages from Africa. See more pics after the cut...

Meeting with the Zambian president Edgar Lungu who stated that he's not interested in curbing child marriage but eliminating it. Also in attendance were the zambian First Lady, First Lady Esther Lungu, South Africa’s First Lady Tobeka Zuma and Ethiopia First Lady Roman Tesfaye Also ford foundation, unfpa, the canadian govt and many more... At the opening, Omotola wore a red beautiful traditional outfit by Zambian designer chizo by chidima lombe.

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http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/12/photos-omotola-in-zambia-for-africas.html

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Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in the last general election, Senator Rashidi Ladoja had a friendly handshake at the eighth-day fidau of the late Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye yesterday.
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-gov-ajimobi-greets-fomer-gov-and.html

Senior officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, according to reports have rejected the appointment of Mrs. Roli Bode-George as the new acting Chairman because "she is not an employee of the NDLEA.”

Roli had been appointed acting chairman following Ahmadu Giade’s retirement from the service.

Some of the aggrieved top officers in a petition rejected the appointment of the agency’s erstwhile secretary, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, according to The Nation.

The senior officers say “the appointment of Mrs Roli Bode-George is breeding disaffection in the 25-year old agency.” They appealed to “President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the appointment of one of the directors of NDLEA as the chairman/chief executive.”

“It is interesting to know that both the chairman/chief executive and the secretary of the agency are appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief in what has been described as two key political appointees on consolidated salary. In view of the end of the tenure of Giade and vociferous clamour for a staff of the agency to take over leadership, it has become necessary to clarify who members of staff of the agency are.”

“It is obvious from the above provisions that the chairman/chief executive and the agency secretary are not staff since their appointments are not in accordance with the terms and conditions of the service of the agency.

“Thus, the clamour for a staff of the agency to take over the top job clearly excludes the secretary of the agency. This is more so, given the fact that Mrs. Roli Bode George, was appointed in October, 2014, as secretary without any law enforcement background,” the petition stated.

They noted that observation from other national agencies showed that the NDLEA secretary was not a suitable replacement for the position of the chairman/chief executive.

The petition added. “When Nuhu Ribadu was removed as the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, then director of Operations, was appointed as acting chairman.

‘’When Mrs. Farida Waziri was also removed as EFCC chairman, the director of Operation was again made to act as chairman pending appointment of a substantive chairman. On all these occasions, the EFCC also has a secretary.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/bode-georges-wife-rejected-as-ndlea.html

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The Governor of Kaduna State Malam Nasir El-Rufai received an award of honour earned by Kaduna State for being the best organized state among the African Non-Arab countries that partook in the 2015 Hajj.
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-kaduna-state-wins-best-organized.html

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The former Vice-President who recently turned 69 received APC Chairman Chief Odigie Oyegun and Bauchi State Governor Muhammad Abubakar in his Asokoro, Abuja residence on Thursday...
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-apc-chairman-bauchi-state.html

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Two men were apprehended and beaten up by a mob in Agege, Lagos around 11am this morning after someone identified them as they allegedly tried to dupe a woman on the streets. The man raised alarm and claimed the men had also tried to swindle and kidnap him and people descended on them. See more photos after the cut...
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-kidnappers-caught-and-beaten-in.html

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Diezani K. Alison-Madueke was elected the ever female President of OPEC, at the 166th OPEC Ordinary meeting in Vienna on 27 November 2014. She was Nigeria's minister of transportation on 26 July 2007.

Diezani, who is currently undergoing treatment of cancer in the United Kingdom and recently, the Boss Newspaper published a long article on her health and some activities about her as former Minister in Nigeria among others.

Here are twenty facts gathered from Trent online on the embattled former Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria.



These are some irrefutable facts on what the issues are:

1. She has not used pathos nor appealed for anyone’s sympathy. She is just a sick woman that even delayed her hospital photos till she had a slight break from the chemo. While, in office she was undergoing chemo in the UK. The cancer seems to have progressed.

2. She has not sought an injunction from any court that would stop her prosecution.

3. Sick people are prosecuted. Buhari’s army even court martials dead soldiers. Deziani has not told anyone she cannot stand a trial.

4. Deziani is in the UK, same place that jailed Ibori and was prosecuting late Alamieseigha. The same UK that has an extradition agreement with Nigeria.

5. Deziani is facing ZERO charges in the UK. The National Crime Agency said they had NO plans to prosecute her.

6. The Nigerian Senate cleared NNPC of any fraud under Alison-Madueke as petroleum Minister.

7. External world-reputed auditors, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, audited Diezani’s NNPC. They did not find her wanting.

8. For 6 months, since the media lynching began, Buhari, Oshiomole, and associates have been unable to bring up charges against her.

9. We understand that more international auditors have been commissioned to investigate her. The silence from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is deafening on this. Could it be they are finding ZERO evidence of wrongdoing?

10. Six months after Buhari took office, No single indictment traced to her!

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11. The new NNPC boss, Ibe Kachikwu praised Diezani and her initiatives, right there on national TV, before the Senate when he was being screened for minister. Today, he is minister of state for Petroleum. Buhari has named himself minister of Petroleum.

12. The SUBSIDY FRAUD Buhari and associates accused her of, they are paying the same amounts she paid even when crude oil price has been halved.

13. It is the same arrangements for refining fuel abroad, and so on that NNPC is still using under Buhari The same contracts and idea Diezani signed.

14. Buhari having shot from the hips, banned all the vessels she approved to lift crude oil. All the vessels have been given a clean bill of health, by the same Buhari, and cleared to continue lifting crude.

15. The Tompolo that she and her government put in charge of waterway security and as some sort of “citizen policing/vigilante”, the Buhari government and NIMASA, having reviewed the contracts and have stated that Tompolo has the job for the next ten years.

16. Fuel scarcity was minimal in her time of service with prices remaining constant even through Christmas period.

17. The fuel queues and black market which only came about by sabotage at the end of her government’s tenure is alive and well now, especially outside Lagos. Black market is booming again under Buhari.

18. The oil theft has not abated since she left, showing the intractability of that malaise and that she is not to blame. As a matter of fact, oil theft has increased under Buhari.

19. Moreover, she is not the police that should become GI Jane and go after oil thieves.

20. Again, not one “subsidy cabal” has been linked to her or her company, the way Lagos tax collection companies are linked to Tinubu and Fashola.

21. Buhari and Nigeria in six months have not been able to show how removing her from office as Petroleum Minister has led to increased earnings in anyway. They have not told us the production quotas declared under her were short. It is same volume of crude oil production under Diezani that continue under Buhari.

22. There is evidence of fraud against Fashola placed on public notice by his successor ranging from grossly overpaid for websites,boreholes and footbridges paid for but never built. There is a standing judicial decision against Amaechi in Rivers. None yet on Diezani Madueke.

23. Evidence of the Monorail of Amaechi and Fashola trains are there as monuments to their failure. Diezani successfully fixed four refineries to very appreciable extents that Buhari was credited wih doing them with body language. While Amaechi’s monorail has been declared a waste of state resources and moneys being voted to clear the billion Naira worth of debris, None of Diezani's project have been question til date.

24. Nigeria has in six months paid N62 Billion to a company which owns REMITA from the TSA funds. The transaction have been flagged by the Senate and populace. With same Saraki in the 7th Senate, None of her project has been flagged til date.

25. While people say “the courts have not declared them thieves” on Fashola and Rotimi, those same witches and wizards have condemned (without any charge even brought against her) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATED AND ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN EVER IN NIGERIA. Ever, ever, ever!!!

26. We restate Diezani’s accomplishments:

a. She is an architect. How many women architects do you know personally?

b. She has a masters degree from CAMBRIDGE. That is an IVY LEAGUE school.

c. She is THE FIRST FEMALE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHELL.

d. She has held THREE MINISTERIAL POSITIONS SINCE 2007. Transport, Mines and Steel, and then the position Amaechi and Tinubu can murder someone over PETROLEUM. Buhari is stepping into her shoe as petroleum minister. This woman has put in 8 years of meritorious service to her country.

e. SHE IS THE Ever FIRST FEMALE OPEC PRESIDENT.

f. She is the ever FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF GAS EXPORTING COUNTRIES.

g. She was Vice President of OPEC before then.

h. She is also the first ever female Transport Minister in Nigeria

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/amazing-facts-about-diezani.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Popular American singer, Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran reportedly arrived Nigeria last night to host PLAY club's 10th pool party in Abuja.
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According to her photo caption, the pool party is going down tonight, November 16 at PLAY Club by 11pm.

Tran had announced her coming to Nigeria 3 weeks ago .

http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/11/photos-karrueche-tran-arrives-nigeria.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Chairman of Ashaka cement, Suleiman Yahaya says continued attacks by Boko Haram in the Northeast has caused his company to lose $230million. Speaking during a meeting with the Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, over the weekend, Yahaya said the constant attack on his plant by Boko Haram members has drastically reduced their output. He however stated that despite the attacks, his company is determined to ensure it was "one of the only surviving institutions in the entire north-eastern Nigeria".

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/ashaka-cement-loses-230million-to-boko.html

cc: lalasticlala

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The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase paid a courtesy visit to the Sokoto government House today.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photo-police-ig-solomon-arase-visits.html

cc: lalasticlala

Lagos state government has released a statement replying international magazine, The Economist, who published an article some days ago criticizing Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, saying he was full of excuses and had few solutions to the persistent traffic gridlock being experienced in Lagos in recent times.

The state government queried The Economist for criticizing Ambode over his approach in managing traffic in Lagos while forgetting to criticize the approach of LASTMA officials during Fashola's administration. They asked the UK magazine to stick to strict journalism rather than the form of journalism where they try to force their opinion on others. The full statement after the cut




The Lagos State Government has taken note of an article in the latest edition of The Economist magazine entitled “Paralysed: Why Nigeria’s largest city is even less navigable than usual” and has considered a rebuttal necessary, in view of the bile and bias contained in it.

The said article has since gained frenetic, orchestrated spread in both social and traditional media in Nigeria, helped in part, ostensibly, by a push from a recalcitrant legion of traducers still struggling with the reality of a new helmsman whose idea of progress in Lagos State factors in electoral promises and respect for human dignity.

If we excuse the fact that the offensive article in The Economist came out last weekend just about the time that Lagos State Government has added some bite to its security and traffic management efforts, what shall we call the curious ‘culling’ of the said article by some local media? For only last Friday, the media had widely reported Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s comprehensive enforcement effort on traffic management, which in a matter of days has already started yielding positive results and wooing converts to the Ambode cause.

Is it not painfully obvious that fifth columnists have hijacked this one-sided reportage in The Economist that failed to take into account the bigger picture of an emerging reform policy, designed to address the larger concerns in the management of security, traffic and the environment? If we were to conclude hastily, like the article did, we would have described the magazine’s effort in the same words it once famously used as “an unpleasant nose-to-stranger’s-armpit experience.”

But we won’t necessarily query the original motive by asking “what is it about foreign correspondents that makes them believe they are the ultimate authority” on a city they have only covered for a few years, as India’s Swarajya magazine did last year in taking The Economist to the cleaners when it ran a harsh report on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appearance at Madison Square Garden in the United States.

However, because the magazine got its report on Lagos wrong on every score, what is important is to deconstruct the fallacies therein:

Firstly, The Economist claimed Governor Ambode cut the powers of “traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars” and “officers have refused to enforce the rules.” This is inaccurate and preposterous.

In July, what the Governor did was to task the officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to release to the owners hoards of impounded vehicles that had clogged LASTMA offices for several months or years without claims or retrievals. What’s the use of turning a government agency into a junkyard thereby blocking space for other offending vehicles that could be taken in?
The Governor also enjoined them to choose booking offenders through a ticketing system backed by the same type of technology used in licensing and tracking vehicles instead of impounding the vehicles as first option. If technology could work for vehicle licencing and tracking, why should we be timid of exploring a similarly convenient option that saves time and money and shows a more people-friendly approach to law enforcement?

Both considerations, of course, arose out of the campaign promises that the governor made to voters. But to The Economist, this is inadequate and anything that falls short of a show of force and dehumanizing traffic offenders is unacceptable to this international magazine that used to stoutly stand for human rights and civic engagements.

That The Economist sees nothing wrong in recalcitrant officers refusing to carry out a directive by their employer is as surprising as it is shameful. Shockingly still, the veil finally came off this curious article when it states that by choosing a compassionate approach to enforcement, Governor Ambode is less competent and has deviated from his predecessor’s template. But what legacy has The Economist bequeathed to former Governor Babatunde Fashola? “Cars were terrified into order by a state traffic agency, LASTMA, whose bribe-hungry officers flagged down offending drivers.”

This is clearly an uncharitable summation of traffic management under the last administration. It is disrespectful, even more condescending to the officers of LASTMA and to Lagosians in general for whom the magazine purports to be fighting. In any case, if indeed some officers were corrupt in LASTMA, by The Economist’s damning verdict, should Governor Ambode continue to maintain such a tainted template? Is this the magazine’s idea of the end justifies the means or it is negligible because this is Africa?

Secondly, the magazine dismissed as mere excuses Governor Ambode’s explanations that the rains and the unprecedented influx of ‘internal economic migrants’ and escaped insurgents from the North-East were major causative agents of worsened gridlock and a slight rise in crime in traffic within the metropolis. It is curious how a magazine of this stature would ignore weighty intelligence reports from both the Assistant Inspector General of Police of the Zone 2 Command and the Lagos State Police Commissioner.

While the latter said at a press conference last month that as military intervention intensifies in the beleaguered North-East of Nigeria, insurgents are escaping and finding their ways into Lagos and a few other states, the latter said Lagos has witnessed an unprecedented influx of ‘migrants’ from other states in the last six months as harsh economic realities in the country bite harder, leaving 27 states struggling with payments of workers’ salaries.
In a May 3, 2014 article, The Economist in ‘The Tube Strike’ publication had no qualms linking incessant tube strikes with disruptions in traffic situation in London, it even examined it along the larger socio-economic reality of the city. The magazine agreed that “in the past decade, passenger journeys have risen by 29%. As jobs became concentrated in central London, more people are traveling from outer suburbia…and that between 2003 and 2012 the average number of people entering the underground system in zone one – the most central – on a weekday morning rose by 23%, while the number entering in zone six rose by 41%.”

But it refuses to accept that as the economies in many Nigerian states face sustainability challenge, the first point of call for internal migrants is Lagos where civil servants’ salaries are not owed; the Internally Generated Revenue is larger than those of 31 states in Nigeria combined and the Gross Domestic Product is larger than those of 42 African countries combined.

Changes in demography could necessitate incessant strikes in London without The Economist recommending a “terrified into order” treatment that the magazine celebrates as the only language of enforcement in Lagos.

Is the magazine advocating different standards for treating people in London and Lagos? If it is called traffic management in London, why is The Economist advocating a show-of-force treatment for Lagosians?

Also, it alleges that “the biggest concern is that the gridlock is a sign of a breakdown in relations between security forces, government agencies and the new governor.” Not only is this assertion unprofessional, it is equally reckless and slanderous.
The bile in this is unmistakable.

But it came a tad late as the Governor has since rolled out an effective, comprehensive security and traffic management solutions with the active participation of every security stakeholder like the Police, the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Army, Navy and Air Force.

On this solution that has since rolled out against every form of impunity on the roads, critical stakeholders like tank farm owners, and association of trailer, commercial motorcycles, tricycles, taxi and commercial bus owners have all pledged compliance to this method that favoured consultation and advocacy over force. Lagosians have since seen the difference and are full of commendation that the Governor they elected will get the job done without being a brute or playing to the gallery.

For the avoidance of doubt, the monthly Security Council Meeting, which has the leadership of every security agencies in attendance, has never failed to hold since Governor Ambode became governor five months ago. The Security Trust Fund under him is well embraced by the corporate partners. The Governor certainly has a most cordial relationship with all the security forces in the state and is in firm control of all of its enforcement agencies.

President Muhammadu Buhari won the April Presidential election in Nigeria in spite of The Economist’s reluctant, tongue-in-cheek endorsement of his candidacy. We are also aware of how Boris Johnson, the Conservative London Mayor, won his reelection in 2012 in spite of The Economist’s campaign that ‘London deserved better’ and the virulent accusation of the Mayor for dealing a blow on what the magazine called “London heritage and individual liberty” after Johnson decided to do away with some of his predecesor’s mass transit and traffic policies.

Perhaps, it is high time that this vaunted magazine learnt to restrict itself to strict journalism rather than seeking to impose jaded views in a volatile political climate where, we dare say, the gluttonous lot can choke on their own bile, almost hoping that the elections leading to the emergence of the governor could be held over again.
Governor Ambode won a hard contest, at the polls and at the tribunal…up to the Supreme Court. He enjoys the full backing of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and majority of Lagosians who see in him a compassionate leader and competent manager of resources.

He has demonstrated his mettle by first getting the finances of the state back in shape, restructuring a choking debt exposure from 18% interest rate to 12.5%, thereby freeing N3bn every month for the state to put into other pressing use. He has paid out N11bn in pensions to those neglected since 2010; signed 2.500 C of Os; constituted a forward-looking cabinet that has hit the ground running; fixed more than 200 roads across the state in what he calls Operation Zero Tolerance for Pot Holes and has flagged off a remarkable initiative with Local Governments that will have 114 roads (two per each of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas) constructed with standard drainages, walk-ways and street lights.
This Thursday November 12, he is declaring open the BRT corridor that links Mile 12 to Ikorodu, which in itself is preparatory to the launch later this month of an ambitious roll-out of 450 new set of mass transit buses and a dedicated special BRT service that will be direct from Ikorodu to Victoria Island. He is lighting up the entire metropolis in a matter of weeks and is finalizing on a major waterways expansion project. All these and more at a time that he is fortifying the security apparatus with a set of brand new patrol vehicles and power bikes as well as three helicopters to assist in surveillance.

Governor Ambode’s great plans for Lagosians are not in doubt and are already being unfolded. He will get on with it while insisting that like Londoners, Lagosians too deserve good things of life…with some respect!

STEVE AYORINDE
COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION AND STRATEGY
LAGOS STATE
NOVEMBER 11, 2015

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/lagos-govt-replies-economist.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Former EFCC boss Mr Ibrahim Lamorde officially handed over to the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, -Ibrahim Magu..
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-ibrahim-lamorde-hands-over-to.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Students of Novena University Ogume, Delta State say they were locked out of the school premises and denied lectures today. One of the students wrote below...

"Reasons being that they stay of campus due to very poor maintainance of their school Hostels. After the High cost of Accommodation which is at 90K naira and Additional 30k naira for staying 4 in a room. Also, the lack of a Student Union has prevented the students from sharing their opinions.
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-novena-university-students.html

Following his highly acclaimed leadership of the Commonwealth Observer Group in last month’s Tanzania general elections, the 53-nation body of former British colonies has given former President Goodluck Jonathan a fresh mandate to lead the charge for the resolution of the political stalemate in the semi-independent island of Zanzibar.


After the October 25 general elections which produced John Magufuli as the new President of Tanzania, the Jonathan-led COG and other international observers had endorsed the polling processes as credible.
However, tension rules on the island of Zanzibar, following the nullification of the presidential election results by the local electoral body, over claims of irregularities. International observers have continued to dispute this decision, on the grounds that both the voting and counting processes were held in an atmosphere of peace.

The Commonwealth which has a history of mediating on the island has kick-started the international efforts towards resolving the current crisis, by appointing Jonathan as its Special representative, in what analysts see as an affirmation of the former President’s towering status as the moral face of democracy and transparent polling in Africa. This development was conveyed to Jonathan last week in a letter sent to him by the Commonwealth Secretary General, MrKamalesh Sharma.

In the letter which Sharma personally signed, the Secretary-General had wrote: “As you are aware, the Zanzibar electoral situation remains unsolved, although recent reports indicating willingness by the main political parties to engage in talking is encouraging. In view of the Commonwealth’s historical role as the moral generator of the Muafaka Accords, it is important that we remain engaged to continue to encourage all concerned to resolve the situation in a peaceful and sustainable manner.
“I am therefore delighted and honoured that you have kindly agreed to be my Special Representative over the coming weeks, in order to remain in contact with key political leaders and to encourage them towards an expeditious resolution of the impasse. I am certain that your personal close interest can play a crucial role in building the necessary political bridges.”

He further commended Jonathan for his successful leadership of the COG, saying that he brought his rare experience to bear on the challenging mission. Sharma said further: “I am writing to thank you once again for rendering the Commonwealth such distinguished service through your generous personal commitment of time and your Leadership of the Commonwealth Observer Group to last week’s elections in the United Republic of Tanzania.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/jonathan-to-lead-commonwealth-observer.html

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday paid a surprised visit to President Muhammadu Buhari and held a secret meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ,Abuja .

The meeting between the two leaders was held behind close doors and lasted for just five minutes at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa ,Abuja .

www.metronaija.com news gathered that the former President arrived the State House at precisely 2.00pm in a dark Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and on arrival he set out straight to the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa,after the brief meeting he was seen off the venue by President Buhari at 2.07pm .

Report has it that Jonathan left the Presidential Villa without conversing with journalists, it would be recalled that this was the second time Jonathan would be going to Buhari,since May 29 .



http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-goodluck-jonathan-in-secret.html

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Senate adhoc Committee on works led by Senator Barnabas Gemade this morning visited some states in South East Nigeria to see the state of some Federal roads. See more photos after the cut..
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-senators-on-tour-on-status-of.html

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A www.metronaija.com reader tells another horrifying story of a robbery attack in Lagos traffic..

A friend was robbed this morning at about 5.45am or so, just by Muson Center as she made her way to turn under the bridge towards Victoria Island, 2 boys walked up to her and without asking any questions, they just smashed the 2 side windows (passenger's side) of her Toyota Corolla and made away with her handbag which contained her valuables. According to her, they robbed another lady beside her just about the same time she was attacked. She was shaken, and I could understand her fears.


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My worry about her (and other victims, particularly the ladies) is not the loss of valuables or damage to their vehicles, but the damage to them psychologically, where they now drive to work with so much fear and trepidation whenever they have to slow down either at a traffic light or to make way for another vehicle to pass. And you know what, they'll leave with that fear for a long time because they need to be at work early, and the Employer isn't going to understand that they had to wait for daylight before setting out to work.

I imagine my young friend driving to work tomorrow morning (on her way from the mainland), and having to pass by her regular route; she'd probably freak out whenever she sees any male walk by or towards her regardless of his intentions. This menace is causing damage that will require time to heal, and I say its totally unnecessary. If we know the dark spots and have been reporting on same, then why cant the authorities ensure that such areas are properly manned during peak traffic hours? I just don't get it!

Beyond rhetoric, here's an appeal from a concerned Lagosian to the Government to really act now and restore our confidence in their ability to secure us, because from where I stand, it may make a lot of sense to get armed (I mean with a Gun, not a knife please!) so that if ever you get robbed in traffic and the guy is walking away, you probably take out your piece from your glove compartment or under your seat and plant a few pellets into his fleeing backside to serve as a deterrent to others with similar tendencies. Selah!

By the way, my friend was thankfully unharmed

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/photos-from-another-traffic-robbery-in.html

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has won the Borno Central senatorial bye-election having polled 75 per cent of the total votes cast, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The APC candidate, Baba Garbai beat his closest rival, Kaka Bolori, of the PDP who polled 20 per cent of the total votes cast.

The total number of votes cast in the election held on Saturday was 159,998.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/11/apc-wins-borno-central-senatorial-bye.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Another trailer carrying a container fell today at Bonny Camp, VI. LASTMA took to the site to manage traffic. More photos after the cut...
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/10/photos-container-falls-in-vilagos.html

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This is the state of Ariaria Intl market after heavy down pour in Aba yesterday. What a sad thing to see and they have a government here... See more photos after the cut.
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/10/photos-bad-state-of-ariaria.html

cc: lalasticlala

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12 year old Adetayo Adefarasin, a student of Government Junior College, Epe, suffered severe burns to her face, chest, arm and legs after a faulty transformer exploded along Broad street, Lagos as she was trying to board a bus while returning from church on September 20th.

She was rushed to General Hospital, Lagos where she's still receiving treatment for her severe injury. The faulty transformer was repaired two days after this incident but according to girl's family who reached out to LIB, PHCN have not made any attempt to help the girl who is still in hospital. Friends say she is a brilliant student and was looking forward to a great future. The family want to sue PHCN over the incident I hear but haven't done so yet. The carelessness of these people is worrisome. They don't do anything until someone gets killed or injured. See photos of Adetayo in hospital after the cut

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Before the incident...
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http://www.metronaija.com/2015/10/photos-girl-suffers-burns-after.html

cc: lalasticlala

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Five Deputy Comptroller Generals of the Nigeria Customs Service unanimously announced their resignation from the service today October 29th. A copy of their resignation letter above. No reason was given for their resignation.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/10/photo-5-deputy-comptroller-generals-of.html

cc: lalasticlala