The Nigerian Communications Commission on Tuesday said the number of internet users in Nigeria’s telecommunications networks had reduced to 93.2 million by October.
The telecommunications industry umpire made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for October.
The data revealed that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications and Code Division Multiple Access networks had decreased by 391,679 in October.
It showed that of the 93.2 million internet users in October, 93.1 million were on GSM networks, while 38,309 users were on CDMA networks.
Also, the GSM service providers lost 378,015 internet customers after recording 93.1 million users in October, as against 93.5 million it recorded in September.
The CDMA operators lost 13,664 internet users, after recording 38,309 in October, against 51,973 recorded in September.
The data revealed that MTN had 32.4 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network.
It explained that MTN recorded a decrease of 306,480 internet subscribers in October, after recording 32.7 million in September.
According to the data, Globacom has 27.2 million customers surfing the net on its network in October, giving an increase of 297,623 users, from the 26.9 million that surfed the internet on the network in September.
Airtel had 18.8 million internet users in October, the same it recorded in September.
The data also showed that Etisalat had 14.7 million customers who browsed the internet in October, revealing a decrease of 369,158 users against the 15.1 million users recorded in September.
The NCC data revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 38,309 internet users on their networks in October.
It showed that the only two surviving CDMA networks in the country recorded a decrease of 13,664 internet subscribers in the month under review from the 51,973 users they recorded in September.
According to the data, Visafone has a decrease of 13,664 customers surfing the internet in October, as it has 38,305, compared to the 51,969 users in the month of September.
Multi-Links had just four internet users in October, same as the users recorded in September.
The decrease in the use of the internet in October showed that more Nigerians needed to embrace data, as the next revolution.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/21/nigerias-internet-users-fall-to-93-2-million/

The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmed Makarfi, has challenged the faction of the party being led by Ali Modu Sheriff to mention governors behind it.

Makarfi said that there was no iota of truth in the claim by the faction that at least eight governors were supporting it.A key member of the Sheriff faction, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, had claimed that up to eight governors were behind the faction.

Gulak, a former presidential aide, however, did not mention the names of the governors.

Nevertheless, the spokesperson for the Makarfi’s faction, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, debunked Gulak’s claim.

He said the contention was not true just as he said the faction had been making unsubstantiated claims since the party held its convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State early this year.

Adeyeye said that the Makarfi’s group would not have dignified Gulak “and his cohorts with a response,” but, said that silence could be misinterpreted as admission.

He said, “We are amused by Gulak’s claims. Since the May 21, 2016 convention which held in Port Harcourt, Ali Modu Sheriff and his renegade band have never missed any opportunity to blame the governors for the problems of the party.

“Only last week, their self appointed Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, was still castigating the governors for the party’s woes at a press conference.Why attack those who are supporting you?

“If Gulak wants to be taken serious he should name the governors who are supporting his group. Name names and say the type of support you receive from the governors.”

Adeyeye said Gulak’s claim was like a case of political hallucination.

“I think he actually meant the All Progressives Congress governors who are their sponsors and not our PDP governors,” he added.

Adeyeye, a former minister of state for works, said that Nigerians knew that members of the Sheriff faction were what he described as paid agents of the APC and were being used to destabilise the PDP.

He insisted that all the PDP governors remain resolute in their support for the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

Meanwhile, a former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Monday said that there was no way the party would die.

Tukur, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, also said that the clamouring for the formation of a mega party ahead of the 2019 general elections was in order.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/20/pdp-crisis-name-governors-backing-you-makarfi-tells-sheriff/

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, on Monday, in Enugu, said the Fulani were not responsible for herdsmen attacks in different parts of the country.He noted that it was wrong to attribute all herdsmen-related attacks to the Fulani.

According to him, other tribes in the country also rear cows.

The Sultan said, “If anybody commits any crime, he should be given his real name, which is a criminal, whether he is Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo or Ibibio.

“It is not only the Fulani that are herdsmen; there are herdsmen from other ethnic groups in the country.”

He maintained that those who commit crimes in the guise of cattle rearing should be described as criminals and not as Fulani herdsmen.

The Sultan said, “The Fulani have been living in peace with the people in the communities where they rear their cattle, will they wake up one day and start attacking and killing these people? It is not possible. Something must be wrong somewhere.

“We (the Fulani) will never support killing. I want to tell you that the Fulani people cannot do that. Until we give these killers their real name, which is criminal, we will not overcome the security challenges we have.”

The Sultan added that Nigerians should come together to tackle all the challenges confronting the country.

“The second thing we need to do is to come together as one. We should kick out the evil ones among us and deal with them.”

He also dismissed the insinuations that there were plans to Islamise the country, especially the South-East.

“More Muslims died in the Boko Haram insurgency than Christians. We have been hearing that herdsmen are invading Igbo communities and attacking people in order to Islamise them.

“You cannot Islamise people by killing them, you Islamise somebody by showing love. There is no compulsion in the Islamic faith. Please, don’t look at any criminal from the religion he practises. Political leaders should please stop using religion to divide this country,” he said.

Faulting the claims that President Muhammadu Buhari was marginalising the Igbo, the Sultan said that the President was misunderstood.

“I have spoken to him (Buhari) several times and what people are accusing him of are not even what he is thinking about.

“Of course, if some people are doing something behind his (Buhari’s) back, he must take the blame because he is the leader,” the Sultan said.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/killer-herdsmen-are-criminals-sultan/

Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, said that the electoral body has two major clues he said would assist Police to unravel those that masterminded electoral fraud in the recent re-run elections in Rivers State.Speaking at a stakeholders forum on elections, organised by a coalition of over 60 civil society organisations under the aegis of The Situation Room, in Abuja, Yakubu alluded to an audio tape purported to be the voice of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

He said, true to what was revealed in the said audio tape which was released by an online media outlet, that the commission indeed deployed one of its top officials from Plateau State to Etche/Omuma federal constituency during the election. “Somebody talked about a tape.

I granted an interview last week and I said well, that our investigation will reveal whatever transpired, especially about what happened in the tape. “It is curious that Etche was mentioned in that tape and that was the place where we couldn’t conclude and declare winners on December 10. So that is a very vital clue. We will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of what happened in Rivers State and Etche in particular,” he vowed.

It will be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, had earlier constituted a team of detectives and experts to conduct a thorough investigation into incidents of electoral malpractices during the Rivers re-run elections. The team is expected to unravel those who were directly or indirectly responsible for such occurrences and bring them to justice.

Earlier, head of the CSOs and Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, said there was need for attitudinal change among politicians in the country. Reliving some of the things his group observed in the Rivers election, Nwankwo said: “INEC was indeed overwhelmed by activities of politicians, who decided to share security apparatus among themselves in the Rivers poll.”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/rivers-re-run-weve-two-major-clues-to-aid-police-probe-inec/

The Enugu State Police Command says it has commenced investigation into the clubbing to death of a police officer who was attempting to apprehend some hoodlums smoking Indian hemp in Enugu metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the incident took place at about 5.p.m on Saturday at the popular New Artisan Market within Enugu metropolis.

NAN gathered that the hoodlums, who were intoxicated with the hard drugs, overpowered the officer and then used hard objects to club him to death.Reacting, the command’s spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, said that the police had begun massive crackdown and investigation into the matter.
“We are saddened with the development that we lost one of our own in the line of duty.

“It is unfortunate that at this age, people still engage in maiming law enforcement officers meant to protect and ensure they live peacefully in their neighbourhoods.

“We have launched investigation into the matter.
“The command would unravel what happened and deal with the culprits decisively,” he said.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/nigeria-police-officer-clubbed-to-death/

Former coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, has claimed that he is currently unemployed because he failed to qualify Nigeria for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Siasia was appointed as a caretaker coach to lead the Eagles in the AFCON qualifiers against Egypt in March this year, after Sunday Oliseh resigned from the role.Egypt forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Kaduna, before they won the return leg 1-0 in Alexandria, clinching the ticket from the group.

“I do not have job now because I did not qualify Nigeria to the AFCON,” Siasia told newmen.

“It has shown that anytime I have taken a point midway, I do not do well.

“When I have started a job, I have always finished well.”

Siasia, however, led the Dream Team VI to a bronze medal at this year’s Olympic Games, although his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), ended after the competition.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/siasia-i-am-jobless-because-i-didnt-qualify-nigeria-for-2017-afcon/

What could have made a 33-year-old Yoruba man kill his mother who is 60 years old and then bury the corpse in a soakaway?

This is the mystery is currently being unraveled by men of the Ogun state police command in the southwestern part of Nigeria.Segun reportedly killed his mother in Ogun and buried her in a soakaway

Segun Ogunlusi was arrested for allegedly killing his mother, Abimbola Ogunlusi, and burying her in a soakaway, according to a report by The Punch which said the incident occurred on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at Oketunde Street, Molatori, Ogijo, Sagamu local government area of the state.

The state police public relations officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident adding that the man’s younger sister, Yetunde Ogunlusi, reported the incident to the police.

The police said Yetunde explained that she left her mother at home when she was going to work on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 and that when she returned in the evening, she could not find her.

Oyeyemi said of Yetunde’s report: “She further stated that when she inquired from her elder brother, Segun, who was at home with their mother, the explanation given by her brother was not satisfactory enough.

“Based on her report, the divisional police officer, Ogijo division, Ahmed Tijani, led a team of policemen to the house situated on Oketunde Street, Molatori, Ogijo, and the suspect was promptly arrested.”

During investigation, the police reportedly discovered that Segun stabbed his mother to death and hurriedly buried her in a soakaway very close to the house.

Oyeyemi said the reason for his action is still under investigation but that the commissioner of police in the state, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the case be transferred to the homicide section of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department, Eleweran , Abeokuta.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/this-33-year-old-yoruba-man-killed-his-60-year-old-mother-buried-her-in-soakaway/

There will be no mass burial for the victims of last Saturday’s Reigners Bible International Church building collapse in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the government assured yesterday.The government said those whose negligence caused the collapse would be punished.

Twenty-six worshippers died and 218 others were injured when the building collapsed during the consecration service of Apostle Akan Weeks, the head of the church, as bishop.

The structure came down on the congregation and guests including Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Health Commissioner Dominic Ukpong said at the Government House in Uyo that bodies of the victims would be released to their family members after the conclusion of investigations by the police.

Dr.Ukpong said: “Government has no intention to do mass burial for the dead victims. The corpses will all be released as soon as the police conclude its investigation. It is our responsibility to ensure that we release these bodies to members of their families.”

The commissioner said that 26 people died in the building collapse. 186 in-patients and 50 out-patients were being treated in 10 hospitals (public and private) across the state.

According to him, there were few unreconciled cases of not more than three persons, promising that the figures would be reconciled as soon as possible.

He said: “26 total deaths were recorded (reconciling three); total in-patients are 168 and total out-patients are 50.

“Ten hospitals have the following patients: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), 28; Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo (70) Sifon Clinic (nine); Lifecare clinic (24); Premiers Clinic (nine); St Lukes Hospital (22); Gateway Medical Centre (two); Uwah Mfon Clinic (one); First Line Clinic (one) and Alma Clinic & Surgery (two).”

With Ukpong at the briefing were Commissioner for Works Ephraim Inyang-Eyen; Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko; Special Assistant to the Governor on Protocol Mr. Ralph Edem; Senior Special Assistant to the Govenor on Medicals Dr. Ignatius Akpabio and Police Public Relations Officer Cordelia Nwawe, an Assitant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

Reading a prepared statement after the news briefing, Edem, who represented the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, said the panel of enquiry set up by the government to examine the incident had begun its work.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/collapsed-church-26-dead-218-injured-akwa-ibom-govt/

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration was determined to ensure a departure from dependence on imported goods to locally made products.

The president gave the assurance while presenting the 2017 Appropriation Bill before the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday in Abuja.He said he would ensure a new era where Nigerians consumed locally made products.

He said, “For many years we depended on oil for foreign exchange revenues. In the days of high oil prices, we did not save, we squandered.

“We wasted our large foreign exchange reserves to import nearly everything we consume.

“Our food, our clothing, our manufacturing inputs, our fuel and much more. In the past 18 months when we experienced low oil prices, we saw our foreign exchange earnings cut by about 60 per cent.

Also, our reserves eroded and our consumption declined as we could not import to meet our needs.

He said, “By importing nearly everything, we provide jobs for young men and women in the countries that produce what we import, while our own young people wander around jobless.

“By preferring imported goods, we ensure steady jobs for the nationals of other countries while our own farmers, manufacturers, engineers and marketers remain jobless.

“We will CHANGE our habits and we will CHANGE Nigeria.”

According to him, his administration will work on growing, processing local food as well as refine petroleum products locally.

He added that small scale business men and women would be encouraged by creating enabling environment for their products to be patronised.

He said, “We will patronise local entrepreneurs. We will promote the manufacturing powerhouses in Aba, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nnewi, Onitsha and Ota.

“From light manufacturing to cement production and petrochemicals, our objective is to make Nigeria a new manufacturing hub.

“Today, the demand of the urban consumer has presented an opportunity for the rural producer.

“Across the country, our farmers, traders and transporters are seeing a shift in their fortunes.

“Nigerians who preferred imported products are now consuming made in Nigeria products.

“From Argungu in Kebbi to Abakalaki in Ebonyi, rice farmers and millers are seeing their products move. We must replicate such success in other staples like wheat, sugar, soya, tomato and dairy products.”

President Buhari stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Organised Private Sector and a handful of Nigerian commercial banks, had embarked on an ambitious private sector-led N600bn programme.

He said the essence of the programme was to ensure self-sufficiency within three years.

The president called on all state governors to make land available to potential farmers for the programme.

He said, “To achieve self-sufficiency in food and other products, a lot of work needs to be done across the various value chains.

“For agriculture, inputs must be available and affordable. In the past, basic inputs like the NPK fertiliser, were imported although key ingredients like urea and limestone are readily available locally.

“Our local blending plants have been abandoned. Jobs lost and families destroyed.

“I am pleased to announce today that on 2nd December 2016, Morocco and Nigeria signed an ambitious collaboration agreement to revive the abandoned Nigerian fertiliser blending plants.

“The agreement focuses on optimising local materials while only importing items that are not available locally.

“This programme has already commenced and we expect that in the first quarter of 2017, it will create thousands of jobs and save Nigeria $200m of foreign exchange and over N60bn in subsidy.”

President Buhari said the true drivers of the country’s economic future were farmers, small and medium sized manufacturers, agro-allied businesses, dressmakers, entertainers and technology start-ups.

According to him, they are the engine of imminent economic recovery, adding that their needs underpin the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

(NAN)

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/president-buhari-vows-to-change-nigeria/

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NMP, mni has expressed satisfaction in the performance of the police officers deployed in the re-run parliamentary elections in Rivers State held on Saturday, 10th December, 2016, the gruesome death of one of the officers, DSP Mohammed Alkali and others missing notwithstanding.

The IGP condoles with the family for this great loss and identify with the grief of his colleagues. To this end, a high-powered investigation team has been directed to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the officer and submit findings.The gains of the security personnel’s performance in the Edo and Ondo elections were further concretized in the Rivers re-run elections in the areas of massive deployment of logistics, enabling the process, stakeholders engagement, facilitating voters participation, interagency collaboration and general provision of peace and security in the state before, during and after elections. The performance indicators are visible and verifiable.

There is no doubt that some disgruntled elements in the state attempted to foist violence and insecurity on the populace that are generally peace loving. Comparatively, the re-run election was a huge success in contrast to past elections in the state that were usually characterized by violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.

The IGP master plan on election security will continue to be improved upon for future elections in the country.

This master plan will usher incredible, fair, free and acceptable elections in accordance with the principles of democratic policing and international best practices.

The report released by an NGO, CLEEN Foundation that the elections were “marred by irregularities, large-scale violence, professional misconduct and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel” is in its entirety lurid, fraught with inaccuracies and lacking in substance.

It is a disservice to the evolving Nigerian democracy and sacrifice of the security personnel for the CLEEN Foundation report to assert that, “There were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS.”

It is also saddening for the CLEEN Foundation report to attribute the death of a police officer, DSP Mohammed in the course of duty to what the report termed “unwarranted use of force and shooting.” It is a brazen display of insensitivity to the fallen officer and disrespect to the family.

Undoubtedly, there were some infractions of law in the course of the elections where the police and other security agencies rose to the occasion and ensured the electoral process prevailed accordingly. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are our veritable partners; the extent to which they justify funding should not undermine national interest. The IGP wishes to reassure Nigerians that enthronement of credible electoral process remains one of the police’s uppermost priorities. In addition, the IGP commends the good people of Rivers State for the cooperation availed the police and other security agencies in the course of the re-run elections.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/13/igp-commends-police-performance-in-rivers-rerun-elections/

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has debunked reports that it is set to ban some players and coaches of the Super Falcons, over their ongoing protest.

The Falcons have been on strike in Abuja after they won their 10th African Women Cup of Nations title, following the failure of the NFF to settle their outstanding bonuses and allowances.Last week, reports made the rounds that about 10 of the players and some officals would be banned for life, for “ridiculing their fatherland before the international media”.

USA-based striker, Francisca Ordega, was specifically mentioned as one of the players to be banned, over alleged comment that she regretted playing for Nigeria. Orderga has since denied saying that .

“How can people cook up such a story? There is nothing of such,” NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, told The Guardian.

“They are our players and we will continue to appeal to them to see reason with the NFF in view of the tight economic situation we are currently. Their wages will be given to them as soon as we get money. To say that the NFF is planning to ban some of the players and coaches for life is out of it.”

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/13/nff-denies-plan-to-ban-falcons/

Organised Labour weekend warned that it would not guarantee industrial peace in the new year should government fail to put in place the process of reviewing and approving a new national minimum wage without further delay.

Speaking at the 10th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBITE, in Lagos, General Secretary of the Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson warned that organised labour would not guarantee industrial peace over the matter in 2017, if government continued to ignore workers’ demand for upward review of the existing N18, 000 minimum wage.He lamented that organised labour had severally written to remind the Federal Government to no avail on the urgent need to constitute a tripartite committee, comprising government, private sector employers and labour, to review the minimum wage which had expired.

Dr. Ozon-Eson contended that workers had exercised tremendous patience in the wake of the hardship occasioned by ongoing recession which completely eroded workers purchasing power, insisting that workers could not endure and be patient for ever.

He said: “In the interest of industrial peace in 2017, government should immediately constitute a tripartite committee of social partners to review the current minimum wage which has been in existence since 2011 and has since expired. ‘’We have been patient and have been appealing to government severally on the need to review the minimum wage.

Government has not yielded. We want to let government know that our patience is running out. “Besides the fact that the current minimum wage has expired, it has lost its real value and has depreciated beyond expectation as a result of the economic recession and current exchange rate.

‘’We have written several letters to the government on the need to constitute the tripartite committee. So far, the government has refused to do so. The earlier the government does so, the better for everybody in the new year.” Earlier, President of NUFBITE, Mr. Lateef Oyelakan, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the challenges facing the beverage and confectionaries sector before it became too late.

He said: “The economic recession is really biting us very hard as we continue to lose our members to closures, retrenchments, and casualisation as employers devise more stringent means of surviving especially since they are finding it extremely difficult to source foreign exchange for operations.

‘’We are appealing to the government to intervene urgently before the situation gets at of hand. We appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari efforts at revamping the economy.

‘’We are excited with the government employment agenda. We will like to use this medium to urge Mr. President through the Honourable Minister, to place total ban on importation of beverage and confectionaries. We have enough capacity to supply local needs and the West African sub-region. “In the same vein, there should be outright ban on foreign spirit into the country.

It is unacceptable for Shoprite and others to import spirit and wine from South African and Europe into Nigeria while the local distillers are on the verge of closing down. ‘’ The sad thing is that these are products we can produce locally but these importations are killing local industries and reducing their abilities to create jobs. Similarly, we call on government to do more to bring the textile industry back to life.

‘’The government should make it compulsory for the armed forces, paramilitary agencies, public schools and government officials to use local fabrics for all public functions. ‘’We are also encouraged with go

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/no-new-minimum-wage-no-industrial-peace-in-2017-labour-tells-fg/

Buhari will make the presentation before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

President Muhammadu Buhari will expectedly present the 2017 budget to the National Assembly on Thursday, December 1, 2016.

Buhari will make the presentation before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
This was disclosed by Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday, November 23.

“We can see that we don’t have a perfect document in our hands but of course we are looking at assumptions and assumptions may not necessarily be correct,” Akpabio said.

The Senators further questioned the government decision to set the foreign exchange rate at 290 to the dollar instead of the actual price.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/11/24/buhari-president-to-present-2017-budget-on-december-1/

Pandemonium ensued on Thursday in the Oke Kura Prison, Ilorin, Kwara State, after six inmates were reportedly beaten to death by warders.

Saturday PUNCH exclusively gathered from a top prison source that 11 other inmates were seriously injured during the fracas which occurred around 2pm.
It was learnt that the inmates, who were in the condemned inmates’ cell, had protested the substandard quality of food they were served.

Saturday PUNCH exclusively gathered from a top prison source that 11 other inmates were seriously injured during the fracas which occurred around 2pm.

It was learnt that the inmates, who were in the condemned inmates’ cell, had protested the substandard quality of food they were served.

They reportedly demanded to see the controller of the prison to address their grievances.

The source said the prison authorities shunned the inmates and refused to heed their call.

He said, “The demand for improvement in food quality and quantity had been on for the past two months, but nothing was done.

“On Thursday, the inmates decided to protest. That was how the warders went and got the arms squad. They entered into the prison and unleashed terror on the inmates, who were in the condemned cell.

“Five of them died there and one of the 12 casualties died at the hospital. The incident has caused tension in the prison as I speak with you.”

It was learnt that the 11 other casualties were on “danger list” at the hospital where they were receiving treatment.

Our source identified the deceased to include one Alhaji Fasisi, Alhaji Yusuf, and Jeunlo.

“There is a grand plan to cover up the incident in the prison,” he added.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Prison Service, Francis Enobore, could not be reached on his phone.

He had yet to respond to a text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Ilorin Prison who identified himself simply as Philip, denied the incident.

He said, “How is it possible for warders to beat inmates to death? It is not true and no such thing happened. If you’re in doubt, come down to Ilorin, I will personally lead you to Oke Kura to see things for yourself.”

They reportedly demanded to see the controller of the prison to address their grievances.

The source said the prison authorities shunned the inmates and refused to heed their call.

He said, “The demand for improvement in food quality and quantity had been on for the past two months, but nothing was done.

“On Thursday, the inmates decided to protest. That was how the warders went and got the arms squad. They entered into the prison and unleashed terror on the inmates, who were in the condemned cell.

“Five of them died there and one of the 12 casualties died at the hospital. The incident has caused tension in the prison as I speak with you.”

It was learnt that the 11 other casualties were on “danger list” at the hospital where they were receiving treatment.

Our source identified the deceased to include one Alhaji Fasisi, Alhaji Yusuf, and Jeunlo.

“There is a grand plan to cover up the incident in the prison,” he added.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Prison Service, Francis Enobore, could not be reached on his phone.

He had yet to respond to a text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Ilorin Prison who identified himself simply as Philip, denied the incident.

He said, “How is it possible for warders to beat inmates to death? It is not true and no such thing happened. If you’re in doubt, come down to Ilorin, I will personally lead you to Oke Kura to see things for yourself.”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/kwara-prison-officials-beat-six-inmates-to-death/

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities to suspend its strike action and embrace negotiation with the government.
The university lecturers had on Wednesday commenced a one-week strike over failure by the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Agreement and 2013 Memorandum of Understanding.
Speaking during his 70th birthday celebration in Yola on Thursday, Atiku said his concern was about the children who would be out of school, while calling on the union to shelve the strike action.
He said, “My call to ASUU is for the sake of the education of our children, I call on them to suspend their strike action and continue negotiations because I believe at the end of the day an amicable resolution of the issues in contention would be reached. The most important thing is to think of the children not going to school.”
The former Vice President also reiterated his position that if he had been the President of Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency, which had plagued the North Eastern part of the country, would not have existed, saying the absence of strong political will and courage in dealing with the uprising was to blame for the lingering situation.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/atiku-appeals-to-ASUU-to-shelve-strike/

[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4pibtg26glc.42173ec1.jpg[/img]

A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akolade Arowolo, has been sentenced to die by hanging for the murder of his banker wife, Titilayo.

Pastor Arowolo could not hold back his pains after the court ruling, he burst into a fit of prayer.
Titilayo worked with Skye bank, whilst her husband was employed. Prosecutors were able to present compelling evidence that led to the conviction of Mr Arowolo and his sentencing by Justice Lateefat Okunu of the Ikeja High Court, he was handed a death sentence.

Justice Okunu held in her over three hours judgment that evidence before the court proved that Arowolo actually murdered his wife in their matrimonial home.

Testimony in the form of a forensic report from Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, a pathologist, was what the court used to determine that there was no way the deceased could have stabbed herself to death.

Immediately after the judgment, Arowolo fell down in the dock and started shouting “Jesus have mercy.”

PM News reports that Prof Obafunwa testified that his autopsy report revealed that Titilayo was killed through 76 knife stab wounds.
He noted that the knife wounds affected Titilayo’s left eye, right eye, upper chest area, right chest and collar bone.

Prof. Obafunwa pointed out in his testimony that the deceased could not have inflicted such wounds on herself.

To further prove its case, prosecution invited some of Titilayo’s family members who testified that Arowolo and Titilayo had always had a troubled marriage.

The family members included Titilayo’s father, George Oyakhire; sister, Ijeh and mother-in-law, Mrs Adetoun Yeside Oyakhire.

The three witnesses testified that the couple lived a cat and mouse life. They claimed that the family had at several times, settled serious fights between the couple. None of the witnesses however saw what actually happened on the day Titilayo died.

The Herald reports that Arowolo’s co-tenant, Adewale Adeyemi also gave evidence in the case.

Arowolo’s parents testified that their son was incapable of murder.

Adeyemi in his evidence said that on the day of the incident he heard a loud noise when he was in his apartment and later saw Arowolo rushing out with a deep cut in his palms.

He claimed to have also seen a hammer and a knife with a broken handle in the yard. Other witnesses such a the security man at the Arowolos’ residence, Investigating Police Officer and an MTN Staff also gave evidence in the case.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4nf6lcifm87.ce624849.jpg[/img]

Having presented its case, the burden was shifted on Arowolo to defend himself. Expectedly, Arowolo had his personal explanation as to what happened on the day Titilayo died. First, he claimed that he and his deceased wife had passionate sex for two hours and kissed on the same day she died.

He claimed that Titi stabbed herself to death on the day after they had a fight.

Arowolo claimed that Titilayo was possessed by an evil spirit and inflicted several stab wounds on him before turning to herself.

Arowolo’s father, Mudashiru and mother also testified of their son’s good behavior, insisting he could not have killed his wife.

They claimed that he has always been a religious person and was incapable of killing anybody.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/heartbreaking-redeem-pastor-to-be-hanged-for-killing-his-wife-photos/

It was a simple household scuffle, which degenerated into fisticuffs. But when 24-year-old Okechukwu Chiagba woke up that day, he did not imagine that he would nearly lose his manhood over something as mundane as a potty.
But that was exactly what happened when he engaged in a scuffle with his neighbour, 41-year-old Michael Essien, a Calabar, Cross River State indigene, over accusation of using a potty without permission.

But by the time the dust settled, Chiagba had sustained a gory tear in his manhood that put him in the hospital for more than one week.
He explained to newsmen that the incident that led to his injury began at 6am that day in the apartment building in which he lived with his wife (what is called face-me-I-face-you) in Shasha, Egbeda Lagos.

Chiagba said, “That night, my wife went out to use the toilet. We normally use potties. But when she got to where she put her potty, she could not find it.

“She came back to ask me but I told her I had not seen it. She went outside to look for it and that was when she saw our neighbour (Essien) coming out of the toilet with it.

“My wife came back to report to me. I was preparing to go out and challenge the man for using my wife’s potty when my wife cautioned me not to go. She said she would prefer to go and meet the man’s wife and talk to her. I agreed and let the matter go.”

According to him, later that morning, he went to work but when he came back in the night, he saw the potty at their entrance, even though they usually kept it out of sight in a corner of the house.

Chiagba said when he asked his wife about it, she said she did not know who put it there.

He said, “I picked the potty and put it under the staircase where we usually kept it. When I was returning it, Essien blocked my way and said I should not put it there again, I asked why and he said because my wife was accusing him of using the plastic.

“I told him that if my wife really accused him, all he needed was to deny or ignore her that he really did not use it. I tried to go past him and put the potty there but he pushed me to the ground. We were about to fight when neighbours separated us.

“I went inside and sat down. Later, I went to put on a boxer and sat outside to take fresh air. I was receiving a call when I heard ‘I will surprise you today. I will show you today.’ I turned around just in time to catch him as he rushed at me.

“We were fighting when he grabbed my manhood and held on to it so tightly that I fell down and fainted. I think he did not know that I had actually fainted because I was told he still held on to it even when I had passed out. I learnt that it took three men in the compound to force him to let go.”

It was learnt that after Essien let go, the neighbours realised how serious Chiagba’s injuries were as he laid unconscious on the ground.

They quickly revived and rushed him to a hospital where he was stitched up and hooked on a drip.

Essien who has since been arrested by policemen from the Egbeda Police Division, Lagos, explained that he did not mean to inflict such an injury on Chiagba.

The police said Essien has now been charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for assault and battery.

Chiagba told newsmen that he had not been able to walk properly since the incident. He said he had expended a lot of money on treatment and believed Essien must be made to reimburse the money he spent on his treatment.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/man-tears-neighbours-manhood-over-potty/

The Kogi state House of Assembly has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare Kogi an oil producing state.

The lawmakers said the federal government must accord the state its rightful status as an oil producing state, Vanguard reports.
This plea comes after an oil exploration in two communities – Echeno and Udeke both in Ibaji local government area of Kogi state.

Following the adoption of a motion moved by John Abah of Ibaji constituency, the lawmakers in the state said the federal government must speedily act on the demands of the people of Kogi.

“Late Prince Audu Abubakar, the former governor of Kogi State, on July 18, 2001, conveyed a letter to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, notifying the corporation of discovery of crude oil in Ibaji local government area,” the motion read in part.

“He also requested NNPC to carry out a thorough investigation to determine the extent of the deposit. Even though the preliminary investigation carried out by NNPC was not published, it is no longer in doubt that there is oil deposit in Ibaji Local Government Area.

“Orient Petroleum Resources Limited even made three offers to Kogi State government,” the motion said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, November 10, a millionaire robber arrested by the Nigeria police said he was supposed to become the chief security officer to the late All Progressives Congress flag bearer for Kogi state Audu Abubakar.

The robber, Zakeri Isiaka said his dream was cut short after the death of Prince Audu Abubakar who had promised him the position.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/shocking-kogi-lawmakers-give-buhari-ultimatum-request-immediate-action/

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has been admitted in a hospital in Germany for eye surgery despite claims by the state government that he is hale and healthy, The Punch reports.

According to the report, Bello was in Dubai en route to Germany for the operation as he is expected to correct an eye ailment that had been troubling him for some time.Governor Yahaya Bello has been admitted in German hospital for eye surgery despite claims by Kogi state government that he is hale & healthy.

However, it was gathered that Bello could not wait for a formal handing over to his deputy, Simon Achuba.

The governor also did not officially notify the state House of Assembly of his foreign trip, contrary to laid down regulations.

Although, the nature of the eye problem could not be ascertained as of Monday, November 7, a senior official in the state confirmed to The Punch on condition of anonymity that Bello travelled with some close aides and officials for the surgery.

The source said: “The governor is not missing as being speculated. The fact is that he has an eye problem and he decided to travel to Germany for medical treatment.

“He actually travelled with some close aides, including about two or three commissioners. He is expected back in the state within two weeks, after he might have recovered from the effects of the surgery on his eyes.”

It was gathered that Abdulmumini Sadiq, Kogi state commissioner for Works, Land and Housing, who earlier travelled with Bello, returned to Lokoja, the state capital, a few days ago to run some errands for the governor.

According to another source, the activities in the state had been grounded to a halt following the absence of Bello and some key cabinet members.

It was gathered that some of the cabinet members, including commissioners and special advisers, spent more time in Abuja, than in Lokoja, where they have their offices.“The commissioners and special advisers were just appointed to do nothing, because no money was allocated to their offices for the implementation of the budget. This is due to the fact that Kogi state is broke,” the source stated.

Recall that Fanwo Kingsley, the spokesperson to Governor Yahaya Bello, had denied reports that his principal had died.

This followed rumours on Sunday, November 6, that Bello passed away in a foreign country.

Kingsley said in a statement that the governor was “hale and hearty”.

He said: “I want to state clearly here for the avoidance of doubt that the rumour lacks any iota of truth. It is a reflection of the depth the enemies of Kogi state have gone in their desperate angst against fate

“To put the record straight, the Governor is hale and hearty, healthy and unwavering in his vigour to make Kogi State the Confluence of Excellence.”

According to Kingsley, Governor Bello was only enjoying a two-week break and will return on November 12.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/revealed-governor-bello-in-german-hospital-for-eye-surgery/

A new five-star Central Hospital built by outgoing Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has been commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president commissioned the edifice on Monday.The Benin Central hospital was first built in 1902 with only 10 beds.

President Buhari, who is in the state for a two-day official working visit, said it is his third time of visiting Edo to commission projects.

He also described the Central Hospital as the best legacy Gov. Oshiomhole – who would be handing over to his successor this Saturday after eight years at the saddle – would be bequeathing to the people of the state.

The president also expressed satisfaction with the quality of the project, saying “it takes a lot of courage for the Governor to do what he did”.

“I am impressed with the work. This is the best thing Oshiomhole can do for the people. When I was coming, I asked the governor, ‘Whose edifice is this?’”

President Buhari stated that many elite would prefer to build a more comfortable environment for themselves but Oshiomhole opted to build a hospital that would benefit the people.

Governor Oshiomhole in his remark said the only way to show equality among men was for government to provide facilities for both the rich and the poor.

Oshiomhole noted that successive administrations in the state had “patched” the central hospital but he decided to completely overhaul the hospital instead of erecting a new Government House.

He noted the hospital was built following his conviction that public health care facilities should not be inferior to private health facilities.

According to him, “I almost wept when I first visited this hospital. What I found here was shocking and I concluded that even if a healthy man visited the hospital, the healthy would be admitted the next day”.

“This hospital is fitted with the latest technology in health care delivery. This hospital will not be run as public service.

“We will make sure that efforts to work are rewarded and not for those that want to embark on strike”.

During his visit, the president is expected to commission key projects by the Oshiomhole administration including the Upper Siluko road and the new Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia College (formerly New Era College, Benin City).

He will also commission the Edo University, in Iyamho and the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi road.

Mr. Buhari will also inspect the reclaimed Queen Ede Erosion site, in Benin City.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/11/07/buhari-hails-oshiomhole-over-edo-five-star-central-hospital/

There has been panic across Kogi state, Nigeria over the whereabouts of Yahaya Bello, the governor.

Reports say Governor Bello had not been seen in public for over two weeks thus fueling speculations that he may be ill.Governor Yahaya Bello has reportedly not been seen for over two weeks

The speculation was further boosted by the fact that many, even in government, could not tell where he actually travelled to.

Daily Times reports sources as saying that the governor might have been flown abroad to treat an undisclosed ailment.

In his absence, all state functions have been put on hold and the report says this had left Simon Achuba, the state deputy governor, with only the duty of receiving visitors on behalf of his boss.
In reaction however, the governor’s spokesperson, Kingsley Fanwo, denied that his boss was ill.

Fanwo reportedly released a statement from the state government house urging the public not to believe the rumour.

PM NEWS quotes Fanwo as saying: “My attention has been drawn to the spurious rumour that there are concerns over the health of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“I want to state clearly here for the avoidance of doubt that the rumour lacks any iota of truth. It is a reflection of the depth the enemies of Kogi state have gone in their desperate angst against fate.

“The governor is hale and hearty, healthy and unwavering in his vigour to make Kogi state the Confluence of Excellence.

“I urge all Kogites of goodwill to discountenance the rumour as His Excellency will return from his two weeks break on the 12th of November, 2016.”

He however did not mention the specific whereabouts of the governor.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/panic-in-kogi-over-disappearance-of-governor-bello-govt-reacts/

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his commitment to making life better for Nigerians, noting that any Nigerian who has another country to relocate to is free to leave.

The President said this on Tuesday, November 1 while addressing Niger Delta stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“We are determined to make life comfortable and affordable to all Nigerians. If anybody has a country to go to, let him go, we will stay here and salvage our country,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.

It said the President told the Niger Delta leaders that bringing peace to the region is dependent on their commitment to nation building.

He reaffirmed the determination of his administration to ensure its key campaign promises of securing the country, fighting corruption and creating jobs through the improvement of the economy are fulfilled.

He expressed the determination of his administration to stay focused on its key campaign promises of securing the country, fighting corruption and creating jobs through the improvement of the economy.

He said peace, security, investment and prosperity are linked together, adding that “if we give peace a chance, investors will come here to invest. Nobody will invest in an insecure environment.”

Buhari said the problems his administration found on the ground were many, as illustrated in the collapse of oil prices, the inability of 27 of the 36 states to pay salaries, the absence of savings to fall back on and having to deal with an elite who didn’t seem to care.

According to him, all these problems made his government conclude that “life as usual is no longer affordable.”

The President added that the government will look into the 16-point request presented for negotiation by the Niger Delta leaders, in which they demanded oil blocks, award of contracts to indigenes of the region, among others.


SOURCE: http://nigeriabreakingnews.com.ng/president-buhari-to-nigerians-leave-nigeria-if-you-have-another-country/

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the Ministerial Task on Environment have raided a hideout of suspected beggars and scavengers in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, where dangerous weapons including knives, daggers and cutlasses were seized.

A combined team of the AEPB and the Task Team on Environment, who were on a routine operation carried out the raid.The AEPB Director, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olanipekun, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, stated that all those arrested during the operation had been handed over to the police for investigation and necessary action, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule said.

The director restated that begging and scavenging activities in the Federal Capital City remain prohibited and warned that defaulters would be prosecuted at the Sanitation Mobile Court.

She noted the theft of manhole covers and fingered the scavengers as the prime suspects of the crime.

This, she stated, necessitated the FCT Administration to ban their activities in the city.

Olanipekun emphasised that the AEPB, the Ministerial Task Team and other security agencies in the FCT would soon commence full enforcement and prosecution of scavengers and beggars.

The statement read, “The director called on the residents of the FCT to give useful information to the authorities and security agencies to ensure that miscreants and criminal minded persons are exposed and dislodged from the city.

“She said that the AEPB would not relent in its effort to ensure that the FCT Environment remains clean and protected for the benefit of the entire residents of the Territory.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/environmental-board-recovers-daggers-knives-from-beggars/

macfako:
Expect more from him. We don enter am. Only God can help us

yes ooo

The herdsmen wore military uniforms and pretended that they wanted to brief the village elders on security issues.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen, on Thursday, October 27, 2016, killed seven people and left many others injured, reports say.command’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, confirmed the attacks and added that officers have commenced investigation into the matter.

According to reports, the attackers who came in military uniforms, pretended that they wanted to brief the village elders on some security issues.

John Zango, an 85 year-old village head and an 80-year-old man, Yakubu Abuja, reportedly lost their lives during the clash.

The Kaduna state police command also dismissed reports that seven people died, adding that only four people lost their lives.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/29/in-kaduna-suspected-fulani-herdsmen-kill-7-in-jemaa/

Northern socio-cultural and political groups have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to mend walls with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The groups warned that the cold war between the duo was capable of destroying the ruling party.

There were strong indications that Tinubu and former vice president Atiku Abubakar are planning to float a new party.Political analysts have also linked the recent disagreement between Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to the purported crisis between the former Governor of Lagos State and the President.

The Chairman, Coalition of Political Parties in Kaduna State, Muhammadu Sani-Ahmed, blamed those he described as the “kitchen cabinet” of the President for the seeming feud between Buhari and Tinubu.

“On the pages of newspapers, the two leaders have consistently denied any feud; but somebody close to them has told me there is a crisis between them,” he said.

Sani-Ahmed told Punch that with the big role played by Tinubu during the 2015 presidential election, there was a need for the two leaders to come together and settle their differences.

He said, “Nigerians are not stupid. Even the blind knows that the relationship between the President and the National Leader of APC is not cordial.

“This feud is being fuelled by those close to the President. They are telling the President the wrong things. The President and Tinubu must come together regardless of their differences to settle their rift before the 2019 elections because if it continues like this till that time, it will certainly affect the chances of the APC.”

Second Republic Member of the House of Representatives and also the Convener, Coalition of Northern Intellectuals, Politicians and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, had also earlier called on Buhari to apply caution in his handling of the alleged feud with Tinubu and the internal crisis in the APC.

He said, “Given the tenuous nature of this administration, the party (APC) and of course, the powerful enemies undoubtedly which Tinubu has, he (Buhari) should do well to please take it easy. Some of us believe that he (Tinubu) certainly has done some good for the party, (Muhammadu) Buhari as a person, and for the country; we would not want him to fall by the wayside as a result of lack of tact.

“I also believe that he (Tinubu), Buhari and leading members of the party must all rush back to the drawing board because rightly or wrongly, their making Buhari as the presidential candidate and his arrogance and megalomania may in fact, sooner than later, destroy the party.

“And to make matters worse, Buhari does not have a clue about forming a party or running one. If care is not taken, he will throw the party into complete disarray and by the time most of them in the party realise it, it would have been too late.‎”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/stop-fighting-tinubu-kinsmen-warn-buhari/

President Muhammadu Buhari declared, yesterday, that the economic recession will end soon.

The president also urged Nigerians to always speak positively about the country.Buhari made the call at the Seventh National Prayer Breakfast organised by the National Assembly with the theme: ‘A tree and its fruits: is yours a blessing or a curse to Nigeria,’ yesterday, in Abuja.

The president was represented by Secretary to Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal.

Buhari assured Nigerians that the recession would end very soon as the government is doing all within its power to restore the country’s economy.

‘As Christians and political leaders, we must strive to be the light of the world by speaking positively concerning the state of the nation.

‘These hard times we are in, require leaders who are aware of the situation, to stand in the gap, to see how to turn the situation around.’

He said Christian leaders have forgotten to look at the positive side of issues and the opportunity it presents for the good of all.

‘I have total faith that Nigeria will emerge from this crisis strong, united and prosperous, this will come to fruition in the lifetime of this government.

‘Also, as Christians and leaders, we should all thank God for the opportunity to be key players at this time of economic meltdown,’ Lawal said.

Rev. Abu Bako, in his keynote address, charged leaders to rise up and take responsibility of making Nigeria a blessed nation.

He said Nigeria was founded upon water so that she can bear fruits and flourish and added that, ‘we are all instruments of transformation and our role is to make Nigeria great.’

Bako urged political and religious leaders to behave like persons who would not steal from the people’s wealth but have the interest of the people at heart.

‘Let us behave as God-fearing persons who have the interest of its citizen and welfare at heart and not behave as politicians.

‘We must be able to take Nigeria to a place of her destiny by praying for clarity of vision for our leaders who are leading us,’ Bako stressed.

He urged Nigerians to be instruments of transformation and be carriers of blessing where ever they go by speaking positively.

‘When the nation seeks God’s face then the Lord will heal our land,’ he added.

According to him, ‘as a nation we have responsibility to build Nigeria and not to tear it down by our actions, inactions and the words of mouth.’

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/economy-recession-will-end-soon-pres-buhari-tells-nigerians/

The Nigeria Custom Service has confirmed that farm produce from some northern states are to be exported to Europe.

Daily trust reports that Mr Abutu Mathias who is the Comptroller in charge of Kano and Jigawa States said this on Thursday, October 28 during the quarterly stakeholders’ forum in Kano.Mathias explained that the essence of the exportation was to complement the efforts of the federal government towards boosting the non-oil sector to revive the nation’s economy.He revealed that the exportation would be done during the November and December harvest of 2016 and that some of the produce to be exported are sesame and gum Arabic grains.

He urged all agencies involved to give the effort a maximum cooperation to achieve the desired goals.

Meanwhile, the scarcity of rice in the market seems to be ending soon as Anambra state has hit its target of 210,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum.

This was revealed by Afam Mbanefo who is the commissioner for agriculture in the state at a Commodity Alliance Forum/Consultative meeting in Awka.

He said the state had earlier targeted production of 210,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum but it seems that has been exceeded.

“Based on the calculation of our expected yield, we are expecting to realise over 236,000 metric tonnes of rice in 2016 based on the production capacity.”

He attributed the calculation to the expected yield of 35 per cent of over 14,300 farmers and rice investors including Coscharis farms, Joseph Agro and others.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/good-news-north-exports-farm-produce-to-europe/

Not a single out of the 21 released Chibok schoolgirls was assaulted during the two years spent in Boko Haram captivity.
Quoting a source close to negotiations to free the remaining of those abducted in April 2014, NAN dismissed reports that the only girl who came back with a child was impregnated by an insurgent.

The agency said the girl was pregnant before her abduction.

“The girl and her parents have confirmed this. The child is not a Boko Haram Child,” the source reportedly said.

“None of the girls released was sexually harassed or abused while in captivity by their abductors.

“The current state of the girls is a source of joy as they are receiving the best medical, psychological and other forms of support from the authorities as directed by the federal government.

“All groups including the families, The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) and Chibok Community are happy with their condition as medical experts work to address their health conditions.

“The girls have been visited by members of International Committee of the Red Cross, which played a great role in getting the girls freed.

“It is obvious to everyone that having been in captivity, the girls were traumatised but since their release, they are showing signs of recovery.”

Speculative reports about the state of the freed captives, are said to be creating stumbling blocks to further talks with the insurgents.

The insurgents were said to be angry with government for breaching some understanding reached with them when the 21 girls were being handed over on October 13.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/none-of-the-21-released-chibok-girls-were-sexually-abused-true-or-false/

true talk

Dr Victor Adeniran, the Executive Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a viable sector to get the nation out of economic recession.

Adeniran told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the present downturn in the economy had drawn out the importance of Agriculture in the drive towards our economic revival.He said in spite of the fact that oil sector had provided the mainstay of the economy of Nigeria over the years, “the reality is that we must revive our agriculture to exit from economic recession”.

Adeniran said that it was in realisation of this fact that the NNPC was planning to invest heavily into the cultivation of Jathropha, a plant that had a lot of value for production of bio fuels, as an alternative to fossil fuels.

“This investment will boost employment generation, with catalyse agricultural linkage with oil and gas which is desirable for economic growth, ” he said.

He called on agricultural based communities to realise their potential in the scheme of things and be prepared to harness the renewed focus on agriculture.

He also called for the revival of the Orin-Ekiti farm settlement scheme and other farm settlements created by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to make them the pivot of youth empowerment in this period of recession.

“Farmers and those who add value to farm produce are the ones who can benefit from the current foreign exchange regime.

“Our youths should be encouraged to embrace this agriculture initiative as a way to solve the unemployment quagmire that stare us in the face, ” he said.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/24/nnpc-director-urges-nigerians-to-embrace-agric-to-exit-economy-recession/

Fresh reports emerged last night that the former Director of Media and Publicity of the President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was re-arrested yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he stepped out of a court room at Federal High Court Lagos, where he is standing trial would be flown to Abuja for fresh interrogation.

He would face fresh charges over new evidence that he collected huge cash directly from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.Meanwhile, Chief Fani-Kayode has raised the alarm that his life was in danger and that the EFCC should be held responsible should anything happens to him.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Jude Ndukwe, he wondered why all others who were on trial with him were allowed to go while he was the only one re-arrested.

The statement therefore called for his immediate release.

Why Fani-Kayode was re-arrested – EFCC

However, a top EFCC source said last night that, “we are going to move him to Abuja to answer fresh questions arising from the new evidence that he personally collected various sums of money from the ONSA”.

The amount allegedly collected by Fani-Kayode, according to the source is different from the N4.9 billion, which he and the former Finance Minister, Esther Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd., reportedly collected from the ONSA ahead of the presidential election.

The EFCC has already slammed a 17-count charge against them for taking the money from the public treasury and retaining same without rendering any verifiable service to the nation.

“There is a fresh case of various sums of money traced to the suspect, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the N4.9 billion case we instituted against him and others in Lagos.

“We arrested Fani-Kayode because we need him to explain to our operatives why he took the money and what he used it for.

It is clear from the records before us that he received the money directly from the NSA. “From the record before us, the suspect signed and collected the sum of N26 million for undisclosed purpose and we want him to explain to us why he took the cash in the first place,” the source said At the resumed hearing of the charge against him in Lagos yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, opened his case and concluded the witness’ evidence for the day, while the court adjourned the case to November 14 and 15, 2016, for continuation of trial and rose.

Obanikoro spends weekend with EFCC
Meanwhile, it learnt also that the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who reported to the EFCC since Monday this week, would spend the first weekend in the commission’s custody, as there was no plan to set him free yet.

Although Obanikoro has implicated Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and former Osun Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in his latest statement to the EFCC, the agency made it clear that it was not yet through with the former minister.

“Obanikoro will still be with us this weekend,” a competent source said last night.

Shortly after Fani-Kayode had walked out of court, two officers of the EFCC dressed in white kaftan, requested that he followed them to the commission’s office. Immediately, the court’s gate was barricaded by a Toyota Hiace bus and Fani-Kayode was taken to the EFCC.

The Commission yesterday opened its case and called its first witness, Mr Idowu Olusegun.

Led him in evidence, the witness, who is media consultant with Paste Posters Company Ltd, told the court that N30 million was paid in cash to him, by the office of the Director of media and publicity, PDP campaign Organisation.

According to Olusegun, he had reached an agreement with the organisation whose office is situated at 14B, Samora Machel Avenue, Asokoro, Abuja, for the sum of N24m for media consultancy services.

He said that a further negotiation was reached in which N50 would be paid for each size of A2 posters, while N20 would be paid for each size of A4 flyers. The witness told the court that after the printing job for the posters and flyers was done, he was invited to the office of the organisation and given N30 million in cash.

He further told the court that he had demanded to know why payment was made in cash and was informed by one Mr Oke, that cash was the approved means of payment. He said that Mr Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs.

The witness added that apart from the N30 million paid to him, there was also an outstanding payment of N24m which was not paid to his company. After his testimony and based on agreements of counsel, the court fixed November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.

Meanwhile, a mild drama played out in court during trial, when the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, ordered the seizure of the mobile phone of Fani-kayode. The accused had held his phones and suddenly, the phone rang out loud and the judge asked: “Who is doing that?” He ordered the court’s registrar to seize the phones.

Similarly, the trial judge also issued a warning to counsel representing the accused, when he sighted him sipping from a bottled water during proceedings. The judge had warned counsel to seek the permission of the court, whenever, his client was pressed for water.

According to Hassan “The court is not a market place, there must be order and sanity.”

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/22/fani-kayode-to-be-flown-to-abuja-for-fresh-questioning-as-obanikoro-spends-weekend-with-efcc/