Many shop assistants, salesgirls, salesboys, and shopkeepers – or whatever name they are called –have devised some ingenious ways in Abuja to cheat their customers. Almost on a daily basis, they smile home with ‘good returns’ in their pockets, thanks to their trickery.

A lot of drama takes place in many of the sales outlets, plazas, shops or service stations in the city. It is common to walk into a supermarket or shopping suite to find a customer and the shop assistant exchanging harsh words over “change”, the balance the former is legally entitled to after paying for the goods or service they have been offered.

Rarely is this balance, which may range from N50, N150 to N200 or more, available. It seems this is deliberate as sales assistants use all manner of tricks to ensure that the exasperated customer forfeits the balance. In big shops, for example, where there are up to five pay points on the exit, it is funny how customers are told that none of them has change!

Some of the sales persons simply shout, “Oga, no change,” in a deliberate harsh tone intended to embarrass the customer, especially during rush hours when many shoppers are likely to form a very long queue on the exit.

In one particular busy plaza in the Central Business District, the shop assistants perform all sorts of deceitful acts. The popular plaza trades largely in confectionery and household provisions. The ladies, in particular, try fake, flashy smiles or they engage the customer in conversations that portray them as being very familiar with the shopper.

An Abuja resident, Joshua Ohia, shares his experience. Ohia, who is a non-regular shopper, says as he walked in one day to pick a few items. On his way out, he observed that the sales assistant at the pay point suddenly beamed with smiles and initiated a conversation.

“At first, I actually thought I knew her somewhere or we had met before. She asked after my work and I replied ‘fine.’ She said, ‘Oga, you cannot recognise me?’. I tried not to offend her, so I just smiled. But, I realised we had never met before the moment she said, ‘Auditor-General’s Office.’

I told her I don’t work in any Auditor-General’s office. Rather than ending it there, she went on to ask, ‘Okay, CBN?’ Again, I replied in the negative. But, she kept on asking more questions.

“All along, the flashy smiles never left her lips. I paid for the items and waited for my balance. She pretended ‘looking for change’ for some minutes before eventually telling me, ‘Please, no change oh.’ “I ended up not controlling laughter as I left the hall.”

Another resident, Evans Agbo, says a “funny trick” employed by these shop assistants is to thrust a N100 note or some other denomination at you, depending on the amount of your change, and ask if the shopper has N50 so they can take the N100.

“This act is funny to me because it is a well-rehearsed game they are playing with you. They either know you don’t have the N50 or they are hoping you don’t have. In that way, you may reason that there is truly no change because you can see how they are genuinely making efforts to get your change for you.

“When this type of drama plays out, know you are about to lose your change. You see how they suddenly twist faces, suggesting disapproval when it happens that you have the amount they ask of you. Funnily again, that change they are pretending not to have may be right in the drawers.”

Some clever customers try to beat the shop assistants to their games by ensuring they don’t pay for goods with cash. The deployment of Point of Service terminals in a number of the shops is helpful in this regard. This group of customers regularly pays with their ATM cards, using the PoS terminals.

But even this strategy by the customers is frustrated most times by the assistants. They simply tell the ATM card-flashing customer that “there is network problem.”

Regina Samuel has been a victim. She says, “It is either there is network problem or the PoS is out of service. They now insist that you use the nearest ATM outside the hall to withdraw cash and pay for the goods. So, you withdraw cash and return to pay only for the game of no-change to begin. It is so frustrating that most times you get fed up and forfeit your change.”

However, as it is with all situations, they sometimes meet their match in difficult customers, who never part with any change, even if it is N5. These are the ones who create scenes in shopping malls, shouting that their balance must be given to them.

Although, some supermarket owners actually make efforts to placate the customers when there is truly no change by offering confectionery or takeaways equal to the amount of the change, there are still hiccups.

It is either some customers don’t want the takeaways or the shop assistants even fail to make them available, preferring to chorus the “no change” mantra.


http://www.punchng.com/feature/nations-capital/tricks-abuja-shop-assistants-use-to-cheat-customers/

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday gave a chilling account of how he contracted prostate cancer last December and got cured of it in October 2014.

Soyinka disclosed this on Tuesday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, while addressing journalists at a press conference tagged ‘Beyond Ebola and Beyond reign of the Silent Killer,’ which was meant to create awareness on cancer.

Though he neither gave details of where and how he got cured, he described the ailment as a ‘nuisance which must be got rid of.’

The literary icon said having got cured of the disease, he decided to make his health status public so as to encourage cancer victims to go for medical treatment.

Soyinka also noted that cancer should not be regarded as a death sentence.

He said, “In December last year, I discovered that I had cancer, we were making sure that, that was what it was before going for other tests. And once it was established that I did have cancer and I was sure because in my family we had an uncle, at the time he died, we did not have all the sophisticated ways of knowing how he died.

“What killed him was attributed to a lot of things. From the little things I know about cancer, I came to a conclusion that he died of cancer, maybe we have it in our family.”

Soyinka said as a private person he would have been silent on it, but he decided to make it public being a member of the Africa Cancer Centre.

He said, “For me, it is not a decision that I am happy with, but I felt I have an obligation being a member of the Africa Cancer Centre and also having donated during the festival of fund raising for cancer, I felt I owe people an obligation to make it known and also to demystify cancer, many people feel it’s death sentence. Family, friends and colleagues begin to look at you as if you are a ghost, just because you have cancer.”

Encouraging cancer patients, Soyinka said that they should know that cancer affliction should not be seen as a death sentence.

“No, cancer is not a death sentence, it is curable and I have undergone treatment and I am able to tell you that I even have a medal to show for it,” he said.

Soyinka, who said he was okay, appealed to Nigerians who have his kind of case to go for test within the available facilities in the country.

But he urged the Federal Government to treat the issue of cancer seriously by releasing the fund already budgeted for cancer treatment and construction of research centres in the country.

He said, “The important thing is that we have enough funds to build all the necessary cancer centres including research centres that this nation requires, though some of these centres are capital intensive.”

He added that funding should not be a challenge for the creation of cancer centres because money for it had been budgeted for during the late President Umaru Yar’adua’s administration.

He said, “One of the major reasons why I decided that I would come and make this personal appeal is that I happen to know that certain amount of money had been approved for cancer centre under the late President Umaru Yar’adua and I want to make a personal appeal that this money be released because not all of us can gallivant a round the world where we can stop over and have the necessary treatment.

“At least, we can have diagnostic centres everywhere where elementary treatment can be given to patients.”

He explained that there were many ways of treating cancer just like there were different types of cancer.

Soyinka, however, advised the people to watch what they eat, as according to him, “diet forms an important part of cancer.”

Speaking on his experience while undergoing treatment for cancer, Soyinka said the most difficult part of the process was the diet that was prescribed for him.

He said, “I have to drink a lot of water. The most painful part of it, as many of you know, is that water and I are not very good friends. I don’t enjoy drinking water.”

Asked how he felt when he was battling with prostate cancer, he said, “To tell you the truth, I do not recollect what I felt. What a nuisance, we deal with nuisances! Whatever it takes, just look at the best way of getting rid of this unwanted squatter in our body.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/i-survived-cancer-says-soyinka/

t first glance, the new car unveiled at a motor show appeared to be an updated model of the Range Rover Evoque.

With its signature body shape, lights and radiator grill and silver logo across the front edge of its bonnet, it was the spitting image of the British bestseller.

But in fact, it was a brazen copy of the hugely popular UK-designed ‘baby’ off-roader – and a fraction of the price.

Little-known Chinese carmaker LandWind launched its £14,000 X7 at the Guangzhou motor show in China last week.

Its uncanny similarity to the £40,000-plus Evoque’s distinctive design provoked an angry response from Jaguar Land Rover, which may take legal action to protect its brand.

The British manufacturer has just opened its first car factory in China in a venture with local firm Chery.

Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralf Speth told Autocar magazine: ‘The fact that this kind of copying is ongoing in China is very disappointing. The intellectual property (IP) is owned by Jaguar Land Rover and if you break that IP then you are in breach of international regulations.’

But drivers looking for a fashionable car at a bargain price might want to wait for safety inspection results.

LandWind’s earlier CV9 people-carrier scored just two stars out of five in European crash tests in 2010.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2846676/Fury-China-unveils-14-000-copy-Range-Rover-British-company-legal-action-little-known-manufacturer-launches-brazen-copy-roader.html

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has said President Goodluck Jonathan “is supervising a highly corrupt government.”

He also claimed that “there is no democracy yet in Nigeria.”

The governor, who spoke in Abuja on Saturday, insisted that he had no personal quarrel with President Jonathan, adding that if governance could be separated from the President, he (Jonathan) “remains a good man.”

He, however, regretted that the President “is supervising a highly corrupt government.”

He described the form of government being practised in Nigeria today as diarchy.

While reacting to the invasion of the National Assembly by the police on Thursday, Amaechi described the action as uncivilised.

He said the actions of the police in recent times had shown that they had been pocketed by the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

He said, “We don’t have democracy in Nigeria yet. What we have is diarchy. We don’t have a democracy. Diarchy is dictatorship. The Federal Government has appropriated the police as its personal property. The FG has taken over the police. See the way the police took over the National Assembly. By law, the police have no power to invade the National Assembly and they have no power to stop the Speaker from going in or out of the National Assembly complex. But they don’t obey law.”

He insisted that his party, the All Progressives Congress, would not go to court if the PDP decided to rig the 2015 presidential elections.

Instead of going to court, he said the APC would form a parallel government.

He said, “What is the essence of going to court when the Federal Government don’t obey the law. That’s why the APC say we won’t go to the court any longer. If you rig us out, we would rig ourselves in; which means if you think you can rig us out in 2015, we will form our own government. We have met on that and we have agreed on that. We will instal our own government and there would be two governments.

“The only way to avoid a parallel government is to have a free and fair election. You can’t continue to use the police as if it is a private agency or company of the government.”

While saying that the Police in South Africa is currently investigating President Jacob Zuma, he wondered if the police in Nigeria would be allowed to play such a role in the country.

“Are you aware that the President of the South Africa is being probed by the police? Can that happen here? In this country, they slap judges. Seven members of a state (Ekiti) House of Assembly claimed they have sacked a Speaker,” he added.

On Boko Haram, the governor said it would be difficult to convince Nigerians that the Federal Government was not deliberately allowing the crisis to continue in order for it to decimate the votes that would come from the North-East in 2015.

The zone is considered to be a stronghold of the APC.

Amaechi said Nigerians knew the capability of their soldiers, who he said went to Liberia and liberated the country from the hands of the rebels only for them to be having problems dislodging a rag-tag army of insurgents in the country.

He said, “The Federal Government deliberately allowed the Boko Haram to overrun many villages in the North-East. If it is not a political agenda, why would the military not be able to chase away the rag-tag army of Boko Haram?

“They don’t want elections to hold in the zone so that there wouldn’t be election in the zone. If there is no election in the North-East, they believe that the APC would lose.

“If they are not afraid of the APC, let them restore law and order. The zone is in the hands of the APC. Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Yobe states are all APC states. The only state where it could be 50:50 is maybe Taraba State. Apart from this, other states in the zone have always voted for Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, one of our presidential hopefuls.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-supervises-a-corrupt-govt-says-amaechi/

The sons of political chieftains of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have thrown their hats into the ring to contest for Lagos House of Assembly seats.

They include the son of the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, the son of the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, and the son of a former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe.

Jimi Mohammed, the son of Lai Mohammed, is set to contest the Lagos State House of Assembly election.

According to information on the Facebook page of the APC, Jimi will contest the Ikeja constituency 1, the constituency the current Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, represents. However, Ikuforiji has declared his intention to contest Lagos governorship election.

The statement read, “Jimi Mohammed, the son of APC spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is running for a seat in the Lagos House of Assembly. He is coming out from the same area that the current speaker, Ikuforiji came out from in Ikeja.

“Already, he has begun campaigns for the seat and his friends are rallying round for him. Jimi is a brilliant guy. Judging by his achievements, he has done well for himself and others. Folajimi is the Managing Director of Knightsbridge Dredging Limited.

“He is a University of Kent, Canterbury, Law graduate. He also attended Fordham Law School and the Nigerian Law School.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent also learnt that Babajide Obanikoro, the son of the former Minister of State for Defence, has declared his intention to contest the Eti-Osa Constituency II election on the platform of the PDP.

Babajide, who attended Kings College, Lagos, and studied Political Science in the United States, also holds a Master’s degree from a University in New York.

Babajide came into prominence in 2011 when he contested the chairmanship of the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area.

He was declared winner by the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja the following year but the decision was later upturned by the Lagos State Appeal Tribunal which pronounced Adewale Adeniji of the APC as the winner.

Also, our correspondent learnt that Moyosore Ogunlewe, the son of a former Minister of Works and PDP chieftain, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, will contest the Kosofe Constituency 1 seat of the Assembly.

Moyosore, who studied Business Administration at the University of Lagos, holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Buckingham, in the United Kingdom.


http://www.punchng.com/politics/obanikoro-lai-mohammed-ogunlewes-sons-to-contest-assembly-seats/

Popular comedienne, Princess has made a chilling revelation of what she wishes for top female blogger, Linda Ikeji.

Yes, it is no longer news how the plus-sized was married for only few months but it is sure news that the comedienne is claiming that it was through the unruly posts of bloggers especially Linda Ikeji that her marriage came falling apart.

Real names Damilola Adekoya, married her ex-husband, Adesola Jeremiah sometimes in May 2013 but had a messy separation just few months after their wedding.

However, the female comedian taken it all further by mentioning popular blogger, Linda Ikeji‎ as the person who led the onslaught against her former union. She made this known at the Tyme out with Tee A concert which held on Sunday, November 16, 2014 She was quoted saying:

‘Have you seen Linda Ikeji before? Do you know Linda Ikeji is very ugly, I’m finer and sexier than her, my prayers made google shut down her blog, I remember I went to MFM to pray and when I got back, her blog was shut down.’…

It would be recalled that the female comedian revealed few days ago how men are wooing her now that she is not in any relationship. She also revealed the kinds of men asking for her hand in marriage.


http://www.naij.com/328225-i-prayed-for-the-shut-down-of-linda-ikejis-blog-princess.html

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said the Federal Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies are working very hard to ensure that the ability of Boko Haram to capture and hold any Nigerian territory is ended very soon.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council, in London, President Jonathan assured the gathering that the Armed Forces and security agencies were making steady gains in recovering areas recently taken by Boko Haram.

“We are improving on security. For about a week now there have been no reports of Boko Haram seizing more territory. Rather, we are steadily pushing them back. The impression being created by sections of the media that the situation is worsening is not true. I can assure you that it will never get worse,” President Jonathan told the gathering.

The President also called for greater support from the National Assembly for the Federal Government’s efforts to curb terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in the country.

He told members of the council headed by Lynda Chalker that he had offered himself as a candidate in Nigeria’s next presidential elections because he was convinced that with four more years in office, he will be able to further consolidate the positive national reforms initiated by his administration and take them to a point of irreversibility for the good of all Nigerians.

“As you already know, I have indicated my willingness to carry on for another four years if I am given the opportunity so that we can carry forward some of the reforms we have been talking about,” the President said.

He cited the expansion of transportation infrastructure, improvement of local content in Nigeria’s oil industry, more inclusive economic growth, job creation and national security which are on the agenda of the meeting as some of the areas in which his administration still hoped to achieve further improvements.

“We cannot move the economy forward without good infrastructure. We have been working very hard in that area. We have improved our road network significantly. In the next three to four years, we should be able to resurface almost all federal roads in the country and begin new ones.

“We are improving our airport terminals and aviation security. Reforms are also ongoing at our ports to drastically reduce the time required for import clearance formalities.

“In the rail sector, we may require private sector funds to quicken the pace of development. Our goal is to link all state capitals by rail. It may not be an objective that can be achieved by a single administration, but we want to lay a solid foundation that others can build on.

“We are also promoting the increase of local content in our oil industry, because that is the only way in which our people will benefit more from the industry and begin to see themselves as true stakeholders who need to protect and help in the development of our oil and gas resources,” President Jonathan said.

He thanked Ms. Chalker and other members of the council for their valuable advice to the Federal Government over the years.

“To be successful, leaders must take decisions based on adequate information and sound advice. Having had the personal benefit of interacting with you all as Vice President and President since 2007 has helped me a lot,” the President said.

The meeting later went into a closed door session to receive briefings, updates and presentations from relevant ministers and council members.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/171693-jonathan-happy-boko-haram-hasnt-seized-new-territory-in-one-week.html

Generally, women are seen as more fragile than men, but when it comes to the battle of the sexes as to who does better behind the wheel – the better driver – women should be given the pass mark, some studies have said.

The favourable rating of women in this category is regardless of the usual ‘we-can-do-things-better’ cliché associated with men or their over-flogged masculinity, which makes them consider themselves as better behind the wheel.

The studies revealed that 80 per cent of all fatal and serious car crashes are caused by male drivers and that women are 27 per cent less likely than men to cause auto accidents because women are more cautious and would rarely over-speed when driving, unlike men who can be a bit overly confident sometimes.

The researchers found that factors such as higher propensity to take risks, defying traffic laws, failure to use seat belt, reckless driving, over-speeding, failure to yield, higher level of aggression, high testosterone and the fact that men simply make too many mistakes behind the wheel make them worst drivers.

Even though men drive more miles, drive more dangerously and die more than women in car crashes, they often think they are better drivers, a position many attribute to their macho trait, which makes them see their cars and their driving ability as an extension of themselves.

Rose Pinto, 34, a certified driving instructor at Sharkey’s Auto Driving School, Brooklyn, United States, said men are overconfident, which she said is their downfall. “Even if a guy doesn’t know what he is doing, he is more inclined to say he does,” she said.

In a research by a Car Monitoring Firm, Wunelli, which analysed black box recorders used by some insurance companies to monitor the vehicles of 19,000 motorists to set premiums, women were also found to be better drivers.

The recorders monitored more than 40 million journeys and 154 million miles of travels by the motorists over four years and half of the drivers were men while the other half were women.

The verdict from the data collected showed that, “Overall, women are up to a fifth safer on the road while men drive 28 per cent more at night than women, they exceed speed limits 12 per cent more and brake hard 11 per cent more than women.”

In a summary of the study by the Oxford-based Social Issues Research Centre, men are more than four times likely to be arrested for drunk driving, they tend to be more sceptical about road rules, hence, seeing them as optional. They are less likely to obey traffic laws, such as running red lights, tailgate, and race other drivers, as well as drive drunk. On the other hand, women tend to view traffic laws as just and necessary, hence, would obey them even when safety is not a factor.

The summary said, “A vast literature, plus common sense, indicates that men are far more physically aggressive than women, a behaviour that unsurprisingly manifests itself in the realm of transportation. This is one of the reasons why men are more likely to make rude gestures or verbally abuse other drivers.

“Clearly, heightened aggression may lead not just to disobeying traffic laws, but to dangerous display of emotionally-charged recklessness behind the wheel. This is apart from the fact that some men are more likely to consume excessive amounts of alcohol, which causes and exacerbates reckless behaviour, and can manifest in dangerous driving.

“This would explain why men drive faster than women. All of these indicate that men simply receive greater pleasure from the power, speed and danger that can be found behind the wheel, and thus are at the greater risk of severe accidents when it all goes wrong.”

It noted further that apart from the fact that male drivers would more likely thunder over rugged terrain, the main thrust of the research is thus moving toward a biological explanation.

“There is pretty consistent agreement that thrill- and sensation-seeking is linked to testosterone levels, which are obviously higher in men than in women, while other findings have shown that testosterone levels are also high in women who commit unprovoked violent crimes.

“Hence, male aggression, which they transfer to the roads, can be traced to an inborn territorial instinct and the result of that on the road can be tragic.”

For more, click on the link below:


http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/saturday-breeze/women-are-better-drivers-than-men-studies/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday prayed to outlive the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission which has a 10 years life span.

Speaking while collecting the PVC at his Presidential Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo said ” My prayer to God is for him to please let me outlast this card.”

“This means that if I outlast this card, I can be smiling. But then, it is only the grace of God. But I heard that some people were complaining that they have not collected their card. I do not complain because I know that I will eventually get my card. But people that genuinely complain will be attended to before the elections.”

He said the recent issuance of the PVC and the continuous voters’ registration exercise will portray the country in good light.



http://thenationonlineng.net/new/i-pray-to-live-for-10-years-or-more-obasanjo/

There are indications that consumers will pay more for electricity from December 1, 2014 when the new price of gas for generating power takes effect.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission confirmed the development on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the $1 increase in gas price to power plants would become effective on December 1. The regulated price of gas for 2014 was $1.8 per million British thermal unit.

The commission stated this during its presentation during a meeting with industry stakeholders on the bi-annual minor review of the Multi Year Tariff Order-2.

Aside from the price of gas, NERC stated that other factors being considered before undertaking the tariff review included inflation, foreign exchange rate and power generation capacity.

The Vice Chairman, NERC, Mr. Mohammed Bello, said the upward review was necessary although Nigeria’s power situation had yet to improve.

He said, “From what I have seen in the initial report, not much has changed. The tariff review is a sensitive issue to the consumer who considers paying higher and not seeing improvement in electricity supply. But there is a general consensus that this is the way to go. By paying what is due this is how the power will begin to improve.”

Industry analysts and operators of power distribution and generation companies also stated that the increase in gas price by $1/mmbtu would warrant a rise in electricity bills.

According to them, the gas component in the power value chain is a major factor that cannot be ignored.

“I doubt if a rise in gas price by about 40 per cent per mmbtu won’t warrant a corresponding increase in tariffs considering the significance of gas to power plants in Nigeria. This is because most power plants in Nigeria today are gas-fired,” a chief executive with one of the Discos, who did not want his name published, said.

Explaining the rise in gas price while giving the presentation at the commission’s head office, Mr. Roland Achor from Tariffs and Rates, NERC, said gas prices had been regulated since the adoption of the MYTO in 2008.

He noted that the regulated prices were applied in the 2012-2016 price regime.

“However, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in collaboration with NERC has agreed to a gas price of $2.5/mmbtu and transport cost of $0.8 effective December 2014,” Achor added.

On the rate of inflation, he stated that what the commission received from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed a figure of 8.3 per cent as of September 30, 2014 while the inflation rate at last minor review was 7.8 per cent.

“However, MYTO-2 had an assumption of 13 per cent inflation rate and the effective rate is now 8.3 per cent,” he said.

Achor noted that the data received from the CBN and the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics showed an exchange rate of N154.75 to $1 as of September 30, 2014 while the figure for the last minor review was N158.57.

He said, “MYTO-2 was benchmarked at N178 to $1. It is however important to note that MYTO-2 also allows a charge of one per cent above the CBN rate to cover letter of credit and other bank charges. The effective exchange rate is now N156.29 to $1 over the next six months.”

The NERC official stated that data from the Systems Operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria showed available generation on six months average ending September 30, 2014 was 3,675.41 megawatts.

He noted that the gross capacity was therefore estimated to be 5,556MW but the last available generation capacity was 3,424MW.

“Throughout the period from December 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015, the retail tariff will be based on generation of 3,675MW,” Achor said.


http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/electricity-consumers-to-pay-more-from-december-nerc/

Tottenham Hotspur Emmanuel Adebayor is on a warpath his family after accusing him of neglecting them.

The Togo captain is alleged to have ejected his mother madam Alice Adebayor from the US$ 1.5million he bought for the family.

It is reported that the former Arsenal man split with his relatives because they were doing rituals against him.

“For the past six years Adebayor has rejected his mother and his immediate family whilst doing charity outside on the premise that our mother is a witch,” Adebayor’s cousin Margaret told Accra-based Peace FM.

“We have been thinking of his future as a footballer and did not want this issue out in the media but it is becoming too much.

“Could you believe Adebayor ordered his machomen to sack our mother and his own mother from a house he built in Togo claiming she is a witch?

“As we speak our mother lives in an apartment rented by our junior brother, Kola Adebayor, who currently lives in Germany.

“My mother weeps bitterly about the issue every day. Anytime his mother or any of us (his close relatives) call and he realizes, he will quickly cut the call.

Margaret added: “I personally supervised the building of his house in Trassaco and he gave us an apartment in the house. But all of a sudden he changed his attitude towards us, one afternoon his machomen came to drive us away from the house.”

But in a rebuttal, Adebayor denied the allegations although he admitted his relationship with his family has been severed.

“Ask my sister Margaret whether I did not build them a house in East Legon, and what happened to it? I bought my younger sister Lucia a car worth $35,000, where is it?” Ade explained.

“If they want the issue resolved they should stop spreading the news and let’s meet to resolve it but they aren’t willing to do so.” Adebayor added


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/adebayor-accuses-mum-juju/

US TV network NBC has scrapped a Bill Cosby comedy that was under development and TV Land will stop airing reruns of The Cosby Show, a day after another woman came forward claiming that the once-beloved comedian had sexually assaulted her.

NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said on Wednesday the Cosby sitcom “is no longer under development”.

A TV Land representative said the reruns will stop airing immediately for an indefinite time.

“The Cosby Show” also was to have been part of a Thanksgiving sitcom marathon.

The NBC sitcom and “Cosby Show” reruns joined a Netflix Cosby standup comedy special, which was indefinitely postponed late on Tuesday, as mounting evidence of Cosby’s faltering career.

They occurred a day after model Janice Dickinson, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, became the third woman in recent weeks to allege she had been assaulted by Cosby – charges strongly denied by the comedian’s lawyer.

The developments, which involve allegations that were widely reported a decade ago as well as new accusations, have gravely damaged the 77-year-old comedian’s reputation as America’s TV father at a time when he was launching a comeback.

A year ago, a standup special – his first in 30 years – aired on Comedy Central and drew a hefty audience of two million viewers. His prospective new series was announced by NBC in January.

Cosby has never been charged in connection with any of the allegations.

Former Pennsylvania prosecutor Bruce L. Castor Junior, who investigated a woman’s claims that Cosby had sexually assaulted her in 2004, said on Wednesday he decided not to prosecute because he felt there was not enough evidence to get a conviction.

“I wrote my opinion in such a way as I thought conveyed to the whole world that I thought he had done it, he had just gotten away with it because of a lack of evidence,” the former Montgomery County district attorney said.

If Cosby had not been cooperative with the investigation, “I probably would have arrested him,” he said.

Cosby has continued working as a stand-up comic, and has at least 35 performances scheduled throughout the US and Canada through May 2015. None of the performances has been cancelled.

National Artists Corporation, which is promoting part of the tour, said it will not be cancelling any shows.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art has not changed its plans for an exhibition featuring Cosby’s African-American art collection alongside African artworks. The show opened this month on the National Mall and is scheduled to remain on view through early 2016.

“The exhibition has been very well received. We’ve actually had record numbers through the door,” spokesman Eddie Burke said, adding the museum has had no complaints.

Cosby was asked about the growing furor by an AP reporter when the comedian was promoting the exhibit earlier this month.

The Associated Press news agency reported that when it interviewed Cosby, on November 6, the story involved long-circulated accusations from several women and recent criticism from comedian Hannibal Buress. Cosby declined to comment, saying “We don’t answer that.”

The AP mentioned the allegations and Cosby’s decision not to comment at the end of its story, which, like the interview, was primarily about his loan of more than 50 artworks to the Washington museum.


http://www.punchng.com/news/bill-cosbys-shows-scrapped-over-sexual-assault/

Police fired teargas at the National Assembly Thursday as security operatives barred the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and as several of the speaker’s loyalists overpowered the security agents and smuggled him into the chamber

A large contingent of SSS personnel and police took over the sprawling complex early Thursday, and sealed off all entry points leaving only one open where everyone going in is thoroughly frisked and many, turned back.

Mr. Tambuwal had earlier managed to drive through the first gate of the complex before his convoy was stopped at the second gate.

After several minutes, Mr. Tambuwal was later allowed in after he abandoned his car and escort vehicles at the gate.

Other lawmakers, mainly from the All Progressives Congress, APC, were also stopped from driving through the second gate.

At least 15 APC lawmakers scaled the assembly fence to access the building, our correspondent at the assembly said.

Mr. Tambuwal was later stopped at the third gate, and was finally allowed in after a prolonged argument with security operatives.

Witnesses say lawmakers came out of the assembly, overpowered the security, and damaged the third gate to allow the speaker in.

There are reports some lawmakers fainted after inhaling teargas fired by the police.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed, told reporters at APC secretariat that security operatives prevented Mr. Tambuwal from gaining entrance into the National Assembly Complex.

“I spoke with speaker Aminu Tambuwal five minutes ago and he confirmed to me that he has been locked out of the National Assembly complex at the second gate,” Mr. Mohammed said.

The APC spokesperson also said while Mr. Tambuwal is disallowed from entering the complex, his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha is already allowed entrance and is in the chamber.

“The Speaker reconvene the House at the instance of the President who wrote a letter to the Speaker asking for an extension of the state of emergency in three states and now he is being ambushed and not allowed in, it is a sad development for our country

“There must be limit to impunity and we are being ridiculed in the eyes of the world,” Mr. Mohammed said.

Read our earlier report below:

The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed, has confirmed to journalists at the APC secretariat in Abuja that security operatives have prevented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining entrance into the National Assembly Complex.

“I spoke with speaker Aminu Tambuwal five minutes ago and he confirmed to me that he has been locked out of the National Assembly complex at the second gate,” Mr. Mohammed said.

The APC spokesperson also said while Mr. Tambuwal is disallowed from entering the complex, his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, is already in the chamber.

‎”The Speaker reconvene the House at the instance of the President who wrote a letter to the Speaker asking for an extension of the state of emergency in three states and now he is being ambushed and not allowed in, it is a sad development for our country

“There must be limit to impunity and we are being ridiculed in the eyes of the world.”

=======================

Scores of State Security Service, SSS, personnel have taken over the National Assembly ahead of a crucial House of Representatives sitting today, in an enhanced security operations one official said is aimed at denying the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, access to the complex.

Mr. Tambuwal’s spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES the move may be aimed at stopping the speaker.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately verify that claim.

Mr. Tambuwal angered the ruling government of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by defecting to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

The speaker adjourned the House shortly after his defection on October 28, and announced a resumption schedule for December in what was believed an attempt to frustrate any move by his former party to unseat him.

The PDP has the majority in the House.

The House announced this week it will reconvene Thursday to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, where Boko Haram attacks have intensified.

Thursday’s plenary would be the first since Mr. Tambuwal’s defection.

On Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, told PREMIUM TIMES his party, APC, expected the PDP to abide by a court ruling which that the status quo be maintained in the House, meaning the speaker retains his seat.

But early Thursday, a large contingent of SSS personnel took over the sprawling National Assembly complex and sealed off all entry points leaving only one open where everyone going in is thoroughly frisked and many, turned back.

The spokesperson for the Speaker, ‎Imam Imam, told PREMIUM TIMES that move is likely aimed at stopping Mr. Tambuwal from entering the assembly to preside as speaker.

“All the entrances are locked and only one gate is used and everyone is totally frisked before being allowed in‎ and only one person is allowed into the Assembly from any vehicle, others are asked to go back,” he said.

‎Mr. Imam however assured that Mr. Tambuwal will make it to the Assembly and preside over today’s sitting.




http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/171556-update-tambuwals-loyalists-overpower-security-operatives-smuggle-chamber.html



Watch video of Reps scaling gate:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si1EA4YTBD0&feature=youtu.be

Indication emerged on Monday that Dangote Group’s oil refinery project for Nigeria would come on stream in 2018.

The Director of Petroleum Refining, Dangote Industries, Mr. George Nicolaides, said in an interview at the Platts African Refining Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday that the plant located at Olokola Free Trade Zone, Ondo State, would process 500,000 barrels of crude a day.

“The site is being cleared; the plant is being designed,” Nicolaides was quoted by Bloomberg as saying, “We are close to the beginning of detailed engineering.”

Dangote had said in September last year that it had agreed on a $3.3bn loan with 12 Nigerian and foreign lenders to build the refinery as well as a petrochemical and fertilizer complex costing a total of $9bn.

The facility was initially expected to be completed in 2016 and the capacity of the refinery was put at 400,000 barrels a day.

“We have a very ambitious construction schedule,” Nicolaides said, adding that, “I’m not sure about the history of those dates.”

Dangote has named Engineers India Limited to do most of the detailed engineering work for the new plant. Construction contractors have yet to be appointed.

“Supplying the local market is the primary objective,” Nicolaides said, explaining that, “Naturally, we can move products to the region. The government is being very supportive, very enthusiastic about this project. We are not looking for or wanting any particular subsidies.”

The refinery, according to the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will generate over 10,000 direct jobs and end the importation of refined petroleum products into the country.


http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/dangote-refinery-to-begin-operation-2018/

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged Nigerians to brace up to defend themselves against the extremist Boko Haram sect which has mounted a bloody campaign against Nigerians; killing, maiming and overrunning territories.

Speaking on Saturday while making a closing remark at the weekly recitation of the Holy Quran as part of prayers for peace in the country, Mr. Sanusi urged religious and community leaders to undertake the immediate task of reinventing courage in their people, particularly the youth, in preparation for self defence against Boko Haram attacks.

People must stand resolutely in the face of attack and not abandon their towns, women and children, he said.

“These people”, the Emir recounted in Hausa in reference to the Boko Haram, “when they attack towns, they kill boys and enslave girls… People must stand resolute.”

He reminded the congregation of muslim clerics who came from various Islamic schools in Kano of the saying of Prophet Muhammed that whoever dies in defence of his country, family, life or wealth is a martyr.

“People must not assume that the crisis will not reach their area,” he said. “If it comes, we are asking God to give us fortitude, but if He wishes to take martyrs from amongst us, we should be ready to give our lives.”

The Emir also called on the people to make preparation for defence with whatever way possible.

“People must not wait for soldiers to protect them. There are even instances where soldiers on ground ran away in the face of attack,” he said.

Since the insurgents took control of Mubi in Adamawa State, there have been calls from religious and opinion leaders in Northern Nigeria for people to rise and face Boko Haram without relying solely on government.

This led to the liberation of the town early this week by hunters and local vigilantes. Also, when the insurgents moved to Gombi, they were successfully repelled by the hunters.

Mr. Sanusi asked hunters and experts in the area of security and defence to use their expertise in the quest for seeking the pleasure of God by employing it to end the current crisis.

He expressed the hope that the insurgents would be defeated, affirming, “God will grant us victory over them.”



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/171271-emir-kano-sanusi-urges-nigerians-defend-selves-boko-haram.html

It is not always easy for people, especially those at the helm of affairs like president, governors, senators, ministers, commissioners and many others to discuss their private lives particularly their families.

Many don’t even discuss their birthdays for reasons best known to them. Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum is an exception.

In an interview to commemorate his 59th birthday, the governor, who calls himself the Chief Servant of the people, says he is a “very very romantic man”.

Answering a question on when he got married, and how he has been coping as governor, an activist, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, ,a husband and a father, Aliyu said he got married at the age of 23 barely four months after his National Youth Service in Lagos while his wife was 19..

“Luckily for me, I married a woman I love and a woman I pursued for more than four years. It was like a prophecy that i was going to marry her. I made the prophecy myself. I actually went to a girl friend’s house and I saw the picture of my wife and I looked at it and I said to the senior sister to my girlfriend in form of prophecy that ‘this is my wife’ and I asked, ‘who is she.?’

“They tried to describe her and I never knew I was going to meet her. Honestly, with her photograph I saw, I just fell in love with her. When I eventually met her, she was more beautiful than what I saw in the picture,” the governor stated.

“Most people would want to know the rest of the story. I want to confess to you that I am a very very romantic man and, because I am a little straight forward again, polygamy was not and still not attractive to me and that is why probably I have only one wife.”

Aliyu has been a very busy man right from school. He was a class monitor in primary school, a prefect in secondary school, a unionist, an activist and Chairman/Secretary to about 10 clubs in school before he joined the civil service and rose to the post of permanent secretary in many ministries at the federal level and now governor for almost eight years, and also Chairman, Northern Governors Forum for over seven years. These are responsibilities he sees as a routine and has successfully combined with his family affairs.

“I make sure I have time and discuss with my wife and children. We are always together. Whenever I travel, I buy books for my children and I usually commit them to reading them by placing prices and other gifts for whoever finishes reading the books first. This is

just to make them vast in reading and to make sure they read the books. So, we relate very well and discuss a lot. As you see me outside, so you see me at home and, in terms of romance, I am very sure my wife is very happy with me. I am very sure of that one,” Aliyu declared.

He said being the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum is an added responsibility which has not hindered his affairs at home.

The governor described the group as an association where governors collectively discuss the problems of their states and proffer solutions.

He said the job is made easier by the secretaries to the state governments who meet ahead and discussing vital issues leaving them as governors to only ratify at their meetings.

“There are some of us with abundant energy and, most of the time, I do not expend too much energy at home but on responsibilities bestowed on me. If I have four wives, by the time I jump from one room to another, I would have exhausted my energy but thank God I have only one wife and I have abundant energy for other jobs!”



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/i-am-very-very-romantic-gov-aliyu/

Lately, he has not been gracing many movie sets. An actor and entrepreneur, Jim Iyke, has for years, remained a constant figure in the Nigerian entertainment scene. Sometimes dubbed Nollywood’s bad boy, there is no denying the fact that he is a style icon.

To him, style is simply looking good.

“Whether it is trending or not, it is important I go with the trend. I have a stylist. You always have to be on-point because someone is watching you. I like pulling the formal look,” he says.

A sunglass freak and footwear collector, he says he pays attention to his appearance and is also not crazy about brand labels. “I am not brand crazy. The designer labels cost a lot of money but there is a healthy competition; which is why I find the fashion market very interesting. I have been to factories that make goods for Gucci. These are people working on a smaller scale and these are the ones I hire to make my clothes and they give me what I want. However, I always buy what I know I would look good in.

“I have about 125 pairs of sunglasses. I think I own about 200 pairs of shoes and sneakers and it is not something to brag about. I like shoes and I collect them. I get shoes that are much branded and are limited edition. For, me it is not just about making a fashion statement anymore, it is art,” he explains.

Having evolved from that little boy born and bred in Libreville, Gabon, whose foray into Nollywood began in 2001, he has gone on to become one of Africa’s finest role interpreters. The 38-year-old actor speaks about some of the shifts his acting career has been experiencing lately:

“When you arrive at the pinnacle of a career pursuit where else do you go? I surmounted that apex long in my prime. I was the guy that made 38 films in a year! I had created the work-machine image and inevitably also made myself socially redundant. I couldn’t glean at the moment of my decision till late what else that world had for me. It was a vicious circle of constant, monotonous engagement.

“Nothing was challenging anymore. It (Nollywood) was too easy, too perpetual, having travelled same circles and faced same obstacles. I also earned same bracket, produced and invested in the same suffocating projects. The secret of the constantly progressive individual is the ability to discern when to shift focus and reinvent even if it’s temporarily. I took all I had, the vast contacts I had gathered, and moved into the world of business and facilitation,” he reveals.


http://www.punchng.com/spice/ive-125-pairs-of-sunglasses-jim-iyke/

Contrary to popular opinion that influential ministers of God are superhuman and immune from challenges which mere mortals face, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye recently shocked members when he declared that he was susceptible to fear, including other human weaknesses.

Ministering at the November monthly Holy Ghost Service with the theme: ‘Great Expectations’, Daddy G.O., as he is fondly called by members and non-members, at the Redemption Church revealed to the mammoth crowd how he was gripped with the fear of death during one of his numerous ecclesiastical trips outside the country.

Known for using personal experiences to illustrate his sermons despite series of criticisms from such personal testimonies, Pastor Adeboye recalled how he was gripped with fear and close to death during one of his trips with the then Nigeria Airways.

In his words: “Contrary to what many of you may think I am human and I have my fears too. There were times I have had cause to fear and doubt because I am human but God always ended up disappointing my fears and doubts.

“In one of my trips with the then Nigeria Airways, the pilot had announced, when we were already airborne, that there were indications that the plane would crash-land. Immediately the pilot made the announcement, I was afraid and as if that was not enough, he said there were expert fire fighters who would put out the fire when the plane crashes.”



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/super-human-says-pastor-adeboye-2/

Chidinma Ekile, one of Nigeria’s most talented pop stars took music to another level when she featured her mum, Mrs Martha Ekile, in a new song dedicated to her. The song ‘Martha’ had the mum doing the intro while Chidinma picked it up from there.

However the petite singer couldn’t hide her excitement over the whole thing as she took to her Instagram page to express her feelings: “The song ‘Martha’ is dedicated to my mother, Mrs Martha Ekile. I decided to show my fans a different side to Chidinma, a side never revealed to so many, a side I will forever remain grateful and indebted to Father Lord for his miraculous interventions and guidance in my life,” she wrote.

“I was conceived and certified totally blind at birth. For fifteen nights this woman held me in her hands and wept uncontrollably, with my father calling on God to bless the newly born, Chidinma with sight. On the sixteenth day I opened my eyes and they have been opened ever since.

I was born a very fragile baby with some health conditions. Her prayers took it all away. Life is such a wonderful and colourful piece of art and it must feel like hell not to envision God’s creation” she added.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/blind-15-nights-birth-chidinma/

Mercedes-Benz is changing the way it identifies its cars and light trucks as it prepares to launch 30 models, including 11 all-new vehicles, by 2020.

In addition to new models, Mercedes said it would also introduce new body variants and drive systems, Autonews reports.

“This results in an increasingly complex situation when it comes to naming the models,” a statement by the company said.

Mercedes joins Infiniti and Cadillac among luxury brands changing the way they name their vehicles.

The new nameplates will begin appearing next year when Mercedes will launch redesigned or freshened versions of all of its crossovers and SUVs.

Some dealers have said the proliferation of models has posed marketing challenges and caused confusion among consumers, especially when companies have adopted alphanumeric names.

Head of Mercedes Brand Marketing Communication, Jens Thiemer, in a statement said, “After more than 20 years of continuity involving some of the most recognised and successful product names in the world, we are now making our system of vehicle nomenclature even more understandable.

“The new nomenclature is a simpler, more transparent and more logical system for the designations of our model series, with the aim of providing clear orientation for our customers.

“Mercedes will have five core models: A, B, C, E and S. All crossovers will have a GL in their name in a tribute to the legendary G-Class and the letter that follows will indicate the vehicle’s size, similar to the way the company has differentiated its sedans through the years.”

According to the statement, the renamed crossover lineup is given as follows: the compact GLA keeps its name and is short for the GL A class, the compact GLK is renamed GLC for the GL C class, the midsize M class becomes the GLE for the GL E class and the all-new midsize coupe based on the current ML becomes the GLE coupe. While the G remains the same, the full-size GL becomes the GLS for the GL S class.

According to the report, the company’s four-door passenger cars with coupe-like styling would all have CL as the first two letters in their names and the third letter would refer to the size related to the core models. The cars include the compact CLA and the larger CLS sedans.

Beginning in 2016, Mercedes said the SL designation would be used on two-door roadsters and the third letter would indicate the size. The SLK would be renamed SLC while the SL name won’t change “in recognition of its iconic status,” the company said.

Furthermore, engines, other than gasoline-powered, also would get new designations with a single lower-case letter on the trunk lid: c for compressed natural gas, currently called Natural Gas Drive, d for diesel, replacing BlueTEC and CDI, e for electric and replacing Plug-in Hybrid BlueTEC Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Drive. Others are f for fuel cell, currently F-Cell and h for hybrid, currently Hybrid and BlueTEC Hybrid.



http://www.punchng.com/feature/auto-famous/mercedes-renames-vehicles-to-avoid-customer-confusion/

Local militia in Adamawa State have driven Boko Haram militants out of Mubi, a key town in the northeast state, nearly two weeks after the town fell to the insurgents, the state governor and residents said Thursday.

A spokesperson to Governor Bala Ngilari told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that Mubi is now “quite different from what it used to be”.

He said local vigilante, popularly called Civilian JTF, launched a daring night time attack on Boko Haram insurgents in Mubi and drove them out of town between Wednesday and Thursday.

The government said the operation received some support from the military.

The Defence Headquarters could not confirm the operation. Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, could not be reached.

A military official, however, told PREMIUM TIMES the operation was not as “conclusive as claimed”.

But the Adamawa State government said the operation was successful and that Mubi is now free of Boko Haram.

“His Excellency, Governor Bala Ngilari, has confirmed that the combined efforts of the Civilian Vigilante and the Sarkin Bakan Gombi as well as the military has successfully chased away Boko Haram from Mubi town,” Phineas Elisha, the director, press, to Governor Ngilari, told PREMIUM TIMES.

He said: “Some of them(Boko Haram) ran away through Askira Uba and others through Mubi South and the situation in Mubi now is quite different from what it used to be.”

A journalist based in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, said Mr. Ngilari first made the disclosure while inspecting relief materials provided by the government for people displaced by Boko Haram in the captured towns.

A resident of Mubi, who is now in Yola, Abdulrazak Aide, had earlier informed PREMIUM TIMES that a vigilante group popularly known as “Yan Tauri” carried out an overnight raid on Mubi, killing many insurgents.

“Yan Tauri, under the tutelage of Sarkin Bakan Gombi, carried out a raid and killed many Boko Haram members,” he said.

Boko Haram captured Mubi October 30 in a daytime raid after attacking the military installation there, chasing soldiers and residents out of town, and killing many.

The group has made lightening wins in recent months, taking and holding towns in Adamawa and neighbouring Borno State, the hotbed of its five-year-old campaign.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171106-local-vigilante-recapture-mubi-drive-boko-haram-out.html

Most Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) plants in the country have run out of product supply, and the instability is causing serious panic among stakeholders, investigation by our correspondent has shown.

This supply challenge, our correspondent gathered, is heightened by the fact that the concerned authorities have not been able to provide a space for the berthing of LPG vessel from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas which is on Apapa shore.

The vessel is said to have been waiting for a space to berth for more than a week, our correspondent also gathered.

Speaking on the development, the National President of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Michael Umudu, in an email response to queries from The PUNCH, admitted that there was a serious challenge in the supply of LPG at the moment.

He said, “There is a serious problem in the supply of LPG currently. In fact, as of today, most LPG plants in the country have run out of supply owing to the inability of the concerned authorities to provide a space for the berthing of LPG vessel from NLNG which is staying on the Apapa shore.

“As you may have known, refineries are not producing. The vessel is said to have been waiting for space to berth for some time now, perhaps about two weeks. It appears that the only source of supply now is Navgas which seems to be importing the product and this can never be enough.

“This kind of situation has become a regular occurrence in recent times.”

Umudu said stakeholders in the LPG market had experienced similar shortage in September this year, while explaining that as the situation appeared to be getting normal, recent developments had made it to resurface.

He said if nothing was urgently done, Nigerians might start experiencing the kind of LPG scarcity that characterised the industry before NLNG intervention late 2007.

“It is quite unfortunate that up till now the policymakers (at federal and state levels) are yet to come out with a robust programme to develop the industry. One of the major implications of this kind of erratic supply is rampant malpractices including production or importation of substandard LPG,” the LPGARAN boss lamented.

Many developing countries such as Nigeria that used to depend on traditional fuels like firewood have moved on with LPG and in the process stimulating economic development including job creation for their people while Nigerians are still depleting their forests in search of firewood, he added.

Government, he advised, should construct deposits in parts of the country to receive LPG from NLNG and other producers or provide incentives to attract the needed investors.

He said presently, it appeared that the industry was not attractive enough to investors owing to low usage of LPG in the country, stressing that, “It is equally important to note that if the situation is not checked, the little growth witnessed in the industry in the recent times would be reversed; many Nigerians are beginning to embrace LPG but such cannot continue in this kind of situation.

“Many LPG users and intending users can’t afford the current price let alone paying more for the product that is supposed to be even cheaper. Private investors, local and foreign, have tried to develop the LPG industry as the government often pays less attention to it.

“Even the willing investors are helpless since key infrastructures such as ports are managed by the government. A token of what is currently used to subsidise kerosene, for instance, will suffice to develop LPG sector in the country even as billions of naira annually go into managing environmental problems which can be averted.”

As of last week, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company claimed that 0.34 million litres of LPG was refined locally.

The PPMC, which is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, provides customer services by transporting crude oil to the refineries and moving white petroleum products to the existing and future markets through a network of pipelines and depots.

It also put the daily consumption of the product at 1.2 million litres per day.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Haruna Momoh, also described as huge the investment opportunities in the market, saying there was a huge need for private sector involvement in building new refill plants; and training opportunities in cylinder/accessories repair and maintenance.

He said new investors with cutting-edge acumen for the marketing and distribution of LPG was required, adding that there were provisions for the acquisition of LPG trucks within a structured financing model for investors.



http://www.punchng.com/business/energy/cooking-gas-scarcity-looms-as-supply-falls/

Electricity distribution companies in the country are enriching themselves corruptly through the issuance of estimated bills to consumers, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

This is following complaints by consumers who decried the over 100 per cent rise in their bills for the month of October, a development which was not commensurate with the actual supply of electricity.

Reacting to consumers’ concerns during a radio call-in programme monitored by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday morning, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, said the distribution companies were being mischievous by not metering customers but extorting them.

Asked to explain why the October bill increased by over 100 per cent, Amadi said, “We talk about estimated billing, which has now become a synonym for corruption among the Discos, the truth of the matter is that some distribution companies are still indiscriminately inflating the bills of consumers and that is part of what we are tackling.

“Because they’ve not metered these consumers, they use the opportunity to extort their customers. The bill for last month increased and there has not been significant improvement between the power supply of last month and that of this month. Also, NERC has not increased tariffs; so, clearly, something is happening.

“What is happening is that the Discos are now moving higher to make more revenue by overcharging unmetered consumers and that is one area we are going to be tackling them. It is not going to be easy because we don’t have an empirical formula of knowing who has been exploited, but we will find a way. That is why we say consumers should complain to us through our forum offices for we are ready to get to the heart of this.”

Reacting to the claims that there were enough meters in the country and that the Discos had refused to buy them because of their desire to extort consumers through estimated billing, Amadi said it was not NERC’s responsibility to prescribe meters to operators.

He said, “NERC is supposed to provide certification to importers, manufacturers and installers of meters across the country. We’ve put out a very transparent process by asking those who have meters to get them certified. So, there’s a procedure for certification and we have Nigerian companies that have also been certified as well as those who are importers.

“And we’ve published in the newspapers a full list of all the companies, including those that manufacture, import and install. And we also gave to every Disco the full list of companies that have been certified.

“It is right to say that there are meters in Nigeria and it is the responsibility of the Discos to ensure that the meters are certified by NERC; and if they are functional, the Discos should use them and meter customers. We are the regulator, we don’t prescribe to the operators.”

On whether there were reasons why a distribution company would choose not to use meters produced in the country, Amadi said there were complaints that they were easily being bypassed by consumers.

He said, “There are about three or four meter manufacturers in Nigeria. But let me say that under our local content regulation that is about to start, we indicated that we should use Nigerian meters as long as they are compliant with the rules.

“Now, see what is happening! Some companies like Eko Disco have come to us to say that consumers are bypassing some of the meters because of their degree of smartness. This is because meters have different levels of smartness and truly, some consumers bypass meters and disrupt their functionality. So, they said they would like to get smart meters.”



http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/nerc-accuses-electricity-firms-of-inflating-bills/

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said Nigerians spend a total of $6.5bn (N1.096tn) on the importation of cars and car parts annually.

Aganga spoke in a pre-recorded interview as part of the 2014 Investor Conference of FBN Capital Limited, which had as its theme, ‘Lifting the lid on emerging Nigeria.’

The minister said, “We spend $3bn every year importing cars and another $3.5bn every year importing parts.

“That is why the auto policy is an economic issue, it is a job creation issue, it is a revenue issue, but it is also a balance of payment issue.”

Aganga explained that with a young population of an average age of about 18.6 and which was expected to be the third largest in the world by 2070, the country could not continue importing cars.

“That is why we must invest in assembling and increasing the local content, and be part of the global value chain for the auto industry,” he said.

Addressing concerns that the National Automotive Policy was hurriedly formulated and was, therefore, not sustainable, Aganga stressed that such claims were untrue.

The reality, according to him, is that the policy was the result of industry-wide consultations and took into consideration the socio-political and economic realities in the country.

The minister, who admitted that in implementing the policy, there would be some pains for some people, reiterated that the policy would pay off in the long run if rigidly implemented.

He said, “If they (Nigerians) understand where we are going, why we are going there and know that government has no intention of making their lives very difficult, and it is just in the interest of the whole economy and the country, they will understand why they need to be on board.

“And we will do everything to make it easier for them.”

He explained that it was in order to make things easier that the Federal Government came up with a Vehicle Credit Purchase Scheme.

The scheme is meant to allow Nigerians borrow money and buy brand new cars and pay over a four-year period at single digit interest rate rather than paying cash.


http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/n1tn-spent-on-cars-parts-importation-annually-aganga

The Federal Government has given approval to about 138 companies to function as Metering Service Providers in the Nigeria power sector.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in a document obtained by Vanguard, disclosed that the companies were certified after due inspection and consideration.

Specifically, five companies were certified as meter manufacturers; 13 companies were given government approval to import meters into the country, while 28 companies were certified as meter vendors.

Also, thirteen companies were approved by NERC as individual meter installers while 79 companies were certified as corporate installers.

The five companies approved as meter manufacturers are Elsewedy Electric Nigeria Limited, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Uni Star Hitech Nigeria Limited, Electricity Meter Company Nigeria Limited (EMCON) and Mojec International.

However, Memmcol, apart from the approval given to it to manufacture meters, was also given approval to function as a meter vendor and corporate installer.

Also, EMCON, in addition to its meter manufacturing certification, also got approval to act as an importer, vendor and corporate installer.

Mojec International also got approval as a meter importer, meter vendor and a corporate installer of meters, while Uni-star Hitech got approval to also perform as an importer, vendor and corporate installer.

The NERC had, a couple of days ago, given electricity distribution companies (Discos), two weeks within which to provide electricity consumers whose meters are yet to be delivered months after payment with the products.

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, said the Commission will view very seriously failure to meter these consumers.

According to him, the NERC will give Discos two weeks to make sure they fully meter all those who have paid because the order of the commission is 45 days.

He said, “After two weeks, we will be conducting public hearings to ascertain whether all those who have paid for CAPMI meters have been metered.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/estimated-billing-fg-licenses-138-companies-provide-meters/

At least 23 automakers have signified interest to set up assembly plants in Nigeria, the Director-General of the National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal, has said.

He said this at the fifth Conference of the Haulage and Logistics Magazine organised by the Intelligent Data Company in Lagos.

Jalal was represented at the conference, which had as its theme, ‘The opportunities and challenges of the haulage and logistics industry in Nigeria,’ by the Assistant Director, NAC, Chika Nwokoye.

He said, “Of the 23 companies that have signified commitments with their technical partners to set up assembly operations in Nigeria, six of them are interested in car and sport utility vehicles; five are interested in minibuses, five in pickup trucks and eight in the assembling trucks.

“These eight companies will be in addition to the existing National Truck Manufacturer in Kano. One of them has started assembly operations; two would start before the end of the year, while the rest will begin early next year.”

The DG added that five of the eight truck assembly plants would be located in Lagos.

Jalal said, “The assembly plants are Aston Motors located on the Lagos/Badagry Expressway, which will produce the Aston brand of trucks; Pasco Nigeria Limited located on Oyo Road, opposite Ojo Market in Ibadan, which will produce JVC trucks; Nigeria Sino trucks Limited located at Surulere, Lagos which will produce Sino trucks; SCOA Nigeria Plc on Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Isolo, which will produce MAN Diesel trucks; Tata Nigeria Limited, Lagos, which will produce Tata range of trucks; Trans Limited, in partnership with Leventis Motors, a division of AG Leventis , which will produce Volkswagen, Foton and Acer trucks; while Transit Support Services at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, will produce Chapman trucks.”

Jalal described logistics as an important aspect of the automotive industry as it played a big role in modern assembly operations.

He said, “As we develop our industry too, the logistics industry will also develop correspondingly and that is why we are very much interested in your affairs. The automotive development will therefore be good news to the logistics industry.

“The policy will provide affordable vehicles backed up with after-sales service by the manufacturers. It is always better to have good support services; otherwise you might not be able to achieve your goals if the vehicles are not properly maintained.”

The Managing Director, Intelligent Data Company, Mr. Alfred Okugbeni, in his welcome address, said there was a need to encourage professionalism in the haulage sector.

He said, “We have to ensure excellence in the supply chain management. Nigeria has always ranked low in the supply chain business. It was because of this that we established the Haulage and Logistics magazine so as to exchange.”

The Chairman of JOZA Global Logistics, Mr. Emmanuel Usiakpor, called on NAC and the truck assembly plants to take note of the challenges confronting the haulage sector.

He said, “Getting Nigerian banks to finance loans at a single digit interest is a problem; many haulage companies have gone down as a result. When you buy trucks with loans from Nigerian banks, you discover in the long run that you are buying the trucks at double the price because of high interest rates.

“We were previously dependent on foreign financing which was on a single digit. As it is now, you cannot ask foreign institutions to finance the purchase of cars assembled in Nigeria.”

He also lamented the practice by insurance companies in limiting their coverage only to states that they found relatively secure.

He said, “In this business, we often welcome long distance trips because the freight charges are higher. Today, the North-East is out of it. Insurance companies are now giving clauses, saying if the trucks go to volatile or war-torn areas, they would not pay should there be any damage.”


http://www.punchng.com/business/23-automakers-establish-assembly-plants-in-nigeria/

In the last three days, ace comedian, Julius Agwu, was the subject of a raging controversy on the Internet. While some reports published online claimed that he had decided to withdraw from the forthcoming Governorship election in Rivers State, others said he was still in the race.

One report actually insinuated that Agwu would go ahead with his plan to contest in the election in 2015. It said the comedian boasted that nothing would stop him from fulfilling his ambition.

But Agwu confirmed his decision to quit, in a telephone interview with our correspondent. Admitting that he would no longer run for an elective office in 2015 due to pressure from his kith and kin in Rivers State, he said, “My people have asked me to drop my ambition because of a zoning arrangement within the PDP to produce the next governor of Rivers State from the riverine tribes.”

The standup comedian, who returned from a trip to the United States a few days ago, said he had no choice other than to listen to wise counsel of his people.

Although Agwu’s kinsmen and fellow party men have given him the option of contesting for a seat in the State House of Assembly, he said he might not accept the offer.

“The reason is that I really want to concentrate on my career. I think I am going to forget about politics for now and focus on my career,” he said.

It appears that, in making such a decision, Agwu may have disappointed his numerous fans, well wishers, friends and associates who had earlier pledged to support his ambition financially.

While the popular comedian’s withdrawal from the 2015 general election continued to ignite reactions from many Nigerians, other entertainers have gone on to indicate their interest to contest. One of them is music star, Gift Uwame, aka Muma Gee.

Apart from declaring her intention to represent the Abua/Odua and Ahoada East Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Muma Gee has since picked a nomination form from the party’s office in Port Harcourt and printed campaign posters.


http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/why-julius-agwu-withdrew-from-2015-race/

A pest control firm exterminated 4,400 rats over two days at a state-run hospital in India with thousands still on the premises, its chief executive said on Thursday.

According to Sanjay Karmakar, Head of Laxmi Fumigation and Pest Control Service Ltd., said that Maharaja Yeshwantrao in Indore, south of Delhi, was still home to over 10,000 rodents.

However, the complex consists of seven buildings across about 10 acres.

Karmakar said, “We have only tackled a part of the grounds so far they are riddled with rodent burrows, at least 1,000 of them.

“Each would have four to eight rodents, we have not started on the buildings yet, the pest control firm is baiting the rodents with different food each day.

“One day, it is peanuts and clarified butter, another day its roasted chickpeas, potato cakes and so on.

“If one of a family dies after eating something, the other rats will not touch the same food, so we have to keep changing the menu.”

Operation Kayakalp (transformation) began on Oct. 28 and is scheduled to run until Dec. 4.

Karmakar’s company ran a similar operation at the hospital in 1994 soon after an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

“We cremated 12,000 rodents at the local electric crematorium in the presence of government officials after Kayakalp I in 1994,’’ Karmakar said.

However, there was no follow up by the hospital authorities and the rodents multiplied again.

Report says the 950-bed hospital is one of the biggest government-run healthcare facilities in Madhya Pradesh state.

It includes a medical college and is visited by over 1,100 outpatients daily.

Officials said that poor refuse disposal was the main reason for the rat infestation.



http://www.punchng.com/news/more-than-4000-rats-killed-at-indian-hospital/

Residents of Itire-Ikate/Ijesha in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have been told by the Business Manager, Mushin Business District, of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. D.O Adewunmi, that they would have no electricity supply because they abused him.

Residents of the community, comprising over 20 streets, had mobilised to the Marina, Lagos Island head office of the company to protest alleged insensitivity of the Mushin Business District to their plight.

They lamented that members of staff of the business district were in the habit of extorting money from them before rendering any form of assistance. They also complained of poor services, estimated billings and general poor attitude of the company staff to their customers.

Wielding placards bearing various inscriptions such as “We don’t want darkness” and “crazy billing is evil”, the protesters blocked the road in front of the office, chanting solidarity songs. The Public Relations Officer of the company, Godwin Idemudia, asked the protesters, who were in their hundreds, to select representatives to meet with the management inside the company.

At the meeting, the leader of the delegation, Baba Owe, presented the group’s position to the management of the EKEDC. He said, “We are here to register our grievances because all our entreaties to the Mushin Business District have yielded no results.

“Your employees are in the habit of maltreating their customers because they enjoy monopoly. We pay for virtually everything – wire, metres, maintenance, repairs and many more. This is apart from the normal bills which are not only outrageous, but wicked. Nobody comes to read our metres, yet we get crazy bills every month.

“Just last Thursday, your men came before dawn to disconnect our community from the Johnson feeder, disabling over 60 transformers and keeping over 20 streets in darkness.”

Addressing the representatives, the Deputy Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ramesh, explained that the company had concluded plans to begin the distribution of prepaid metres to all its customers.

“We have sent a proposal and once it is approved by the regulators, we will begin implementation, which will be in phases within a period of three to four years. We would have distributed standard prepaid meters to our over 600,000 customers,” he said.

On the issue of poor services, he explained that the nation as a whole, with a population of over 170 million people, generates only about 4, 000 megawatts of electricity, out of which only about 300 megawatts gets to Lagos which is barely enough, but promised that services would improve with time.

The protesters then asked what the EKEDC would do to ensure that their electricity supply was restored. The Vice President (legal) of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Wola Ojoye, asked why they were disconnected but the residents said they did not know.

Ojoye subsequently called the business manager, Adewunmi, on the telephone and put the conversation on speaker.

The protesters were stunned when Adewunmi, said that his reason for disconnecting the community’s electricity supply for four days was because the people were ‘abusing and threatening’ him.

“They were abusing and threatening me, sending threat messages to me and members of my team. So I disconnected them,” he said.

Ojoye subsequently instructed Adewunmi to re-connect the community.


http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/power-firm-disconnects-electricity-consumers-for-insulting-manager/

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude oil producer, continued to import a large volume of jet fuel as it had the highest volume draw from the United States in August, according to the latest data from the U.S Energy Information Administration.

The country imported 1.51 million barrels of US jet fuel in the month, surpassing Canada’s import of 1.23 million barrels.

Nigeria had in November 2013 imported 1.74 million barrels of the fuel, the country’s largest draw so far.

With 5.7 million barrels of the fuel imported from January to August, Nigeria remains the second-largest importer of US jet fuel after Canada. The country had imported 864,000 barrels of US jet fuel in February, rising from 292 barrels in January.

Also, the country imported a total of 809,000 barrels of kerosene from January to August. It brought in its largest kerosene cargo of 292,000 barrels in February.

Industry analysts and stakeholders have continued to stress the need to deregulate the downstream sector of the industry to attract private investment in order to ramp up the country’s refining capacity.

“Not very many persons will want to invest in the real downstream assets in this kind of environment. The environment is heavily regulated. It is not like deregulation will solve all our problems, but it is very critical. The regulatory environment will stifle any investment and so I don’t see anybody investing to build refineries until we address those fundamental issues,” the Chairman, Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), House of Representatives, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, said at a recent conference in Lagos.

Nigeria continues to create a lucrative market for refineries particularly in Europe and the US as it imports more than 80 per cent of its refined petroleum products as a result of inadequate domestic refining capacity.

Meanwhile, other oil exporting countries are increasingly shifting towards meeting their domestic demand for petroleum products and exports of refined products by increasing their refining capacity.

In what is the latest case, Saudi Arabia has built two new refineries that will give it 800,000 barrels per day in refining capacity online in 2015, part of an ambitious downstream drive which will see its refining capacity rise to 8 million bpd in a decade.

In mid-2014, a 400,000-bpd refinery, known as SATORP, in Jubail, reached full capacity and another 400,000 bpd plant, the Yasref refinery in Yanbu, started trial runs in September with the first gasoil export cargo seen in December.

Early 2015, an expansion of the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company’s (Takreer) existing facility in Ruwais, United Arab Emirates, is expected to be fully operational. This will put on-stream another 417,000 bpd of distillation capacity.


http://www.punchng.com/business/energy/nigeria-emerges-largest-importer-of-us-jet-fuel/

A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and the Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun, have defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Social Democratic Party.

A reliable source, who made this known on Wednesday, also said that the three APC senators from the state and six members of House of Representatives had joined the SDP train.

The Senators are Adegbenga Kaka, Gbenga Obadara and Akin Odunsi, who represent Ogun East, Ogun Central and Ogun West respectively.

The members of the House of Representatives are Kunle Adeyemi, Babatunde Olabode, Olumide Osoba, Abiodun Abudu, Odeleye Kehinde and Bukunola Buraimo.

News of their defection coincided with the resignation of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s Senior Special Assistant on Environment, Abayomi Odunowo.

Adesegun had on October 24 sent a stinker to Amosun, accusing him of starving his office of funds, and allocating old vehicles to him.

In the letter personally signed by him and published exclusively on October 29, by The PUNCH the deputy governor advised Amosun to fear God and warned that he might not win the next governorship poll in the state.

A part of the letter read, “Your Excellency, while writing this letter, my thoughts race to my university days in Ile-Ife, Osun State where I joined a group of bikers travelling around the country out of youthful exuberance.

“During this period, one of my pastimes was reading inscriptions on cars and buses to amuse myself. In 1978, I witnessed a fatal accident near a big tree at Alakia Junction in Ibadan on the way to Ile-Ife involving a white Peugeot 504 station wagon. Nearly everybody in the car died; shockingly there were several amulets hung over the car that had the word “I shall return” boldly inscribed on both sides. Unfortunately, it did not return. I therefore conclude that we all must fear God.”

Kaka and Obadara confirmed the defection of the politicians during separate telephone chats with our correspondents.

One of our correspondents had asked the Senator if the Osoba group had left the APC, he replied “Something like that.”

When asked to be specific on Osoba and Adesegun, he said, “All of us; we will soon have a formal unveiling.”

Kaka also disclosed that Osoba and the National Assembly members loyal to him had started consultations and sensitisation visits to the Local Government Areas in the state.

He said, “What we are doing currently is that we are going about to the local governments to sensitise the people of the need to register and get their permanent voter cards.

“But we have not formally defected. You know that if someone wants to defect to another party, it must be done formally, so we need to do that.”

On his part, Obadara said, “Yes, I am in the SDP. But it has not been made formal; we are in the process of making it formal. In fact, all the senators and members of the House of Representatives are also in the SDP.

“We are out to rescue Ogun State from recklessness and provide good governance. We are not going to run a government of my friends, my school mates and my family.”

When contacted , Adesegun said he would always be in a party where his leader(Osoba) belonged.

He said, “Osoba is our leader, I am talking about politics in Yorubaland. Nobody can create leaders for us in Ogun State.”

Efforts to speak with Osoba did not yield any result, as he neither picked a call made to his telephone line nor responded to the text message sent to him on the matter.

When contacted, the state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said, “It is purely a party affair.”

But the national leadership of the APC expressed shock over the defection, saying the party would restrategise to cushion the effect of the defection of the politicians.

It said through its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, that it was inching towards reconciling the factions in its Ogun State chapter.

“We read it only in the newspapers like you read it. We thought we were making a breakthrough in our reconciliation talks. So, it was a shock to us,” the APC added.

It admitted that the defection might affect its chances of retaining the state in 2015, but said it “will go back to the drawing board and redouble our efforts.”

On what would happen to the deputy governor of the state, the APC said, “The party in Ogun State will decide what to do with the deputy governor. Right now, our own is to face the new challenge.”

Just as news of the defection of Osoba and others gained ground, the SSA on Environment to Amosun told The PUNCH that he had resigned. His resignation came barely two months after the Special Adviser to the governor on Environment, Abimbola Lanre-Balogun, quit.

Odunowo, in his resignation letter dated October 31, 2014 and addressed to the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said he wanted to pursue a new opportunity, which has ‘‘presented itself.’’

Part of the letter read, “This is to inform you that an opportunity has presented itself that will enable me to work in the area of my stated preference.

“I believe the reasons leading to this decision are known to you and I will therefore leave them unsaid at this time.

“I am therefore tendering my resignation letter and wish to inform you that 5th November, 2014, will be my last day in employment.”

Odunowo thanked the governor for the opportunity given him to serve, describing it as a ‘‘truly outstanding experience.’’

Odunowo told our correspondent that he resigned to pursue his senatorial ambition, stressing that he wanted to effect a change for the people of Ogun East.


http://www.punchng.com/news/osoba-ogun-deputy-gov-others-dump-apc/