THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED ABORU-ABESAN LINK BRIDGE AND ADJOURNING ROADS AT NIGHT

No doubt Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode is working, He has really transformed Lagos. See the view of the newly commissioned Aboru-Abesan link bridge and adjourning roads at night

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/the-newly-commissioned-aboru-abesan.html

FAAC PAYMENTS TO STATES FALL BY N1.453 TRILLION – NEITI
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/faac-payments-to-states-fall-by-n1453.html

The payments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to state governments plunged by N1.453tn between 2013 and 2016, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has said.
According to NEITI, the fall from N3.095tn that the states received in 2013 to N1.642tn in 2016, represents a 46.9 per cent decline, which was higher than the plunge in disbursements experienced by the federal and local governments during the same period.
The agency was, however, quick to explain that the reduction in Nigeria’s crude oil production, as well as the fall in global oil prices during the review period largely contributed to the decline in disbursements to the three tiers of government.
NEITI, in its latest quarterly report obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, said, “Total disbursements to all tiers of government have experienced a general decline since 2013. The figure shows that disbursements fell consistently from 2013 to 2016.
“The Federal Government received N3.711tn in 2013 and this fell by 43.9 per cent to N2.08tn in 2016. Similarly, disbursements to state governments totalled N3.095tn in 2013. In 2016, states received N1.642tn, which represents a 46.9 per cent decline over the 2013 figures.”
It added, “Disbursements to local governments experienced the lowest decline among the three tiers of government. Local governments received total disbursements amounting to N1.011tn in 2016. This was 40.7 per cent lower than N1.708tn they received in 2013.”
Drawing projections from what transpired in the country’s economy in 2016, the agency stated that because of the dependence of government revenue on petroleum exports, Nigeria’s public finances were subject to frequent upswings and downswings, following movement of global oil prices.
It stated that all the three tiers of government had been subjected to dwindling revenues as a result of militant attacks in the Niger Delta and falling/unstable oil prices.
It said, “This review showed that government revenue started rising in the second half of 2016. In 2016, oil production fell from January until August, after which it started rising. There was a gradual rise in oil prices from $30.70/barrel in January 2016 to $54.58/barrel in January 2017.”
NEITI further explained that FAAC’s disbursements to the three tiers of government increased by 1.18 per cent between the fourth quarter of 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2016.
It said the total payments to the three tiers of government in the fourth quarter of 2016 amounted to N1.214tn.
This, according to NEITI, represents an improvement of 1.18 per cent over N1.2tn disbursed in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

PARIS CLUB FUND : NUJ CHARGES SOUTH-WEST GOVERNORS ON USAGE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/paris-club-fund-nuj-charges-south-west.html

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),has charged the Governors in the Southwest States to use the second tranche of the refund Paris Club for the payment of workers salaries and entitlements of pensioners.
The Union, in a communique issued at the end of B-Zone meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, urged the Governor to use judiciously the money ,when realise to them by the federal government.
The communique, jointly endorsed by the Zonal Secretary, Lawal Afolabi, the Chairman of the drafting committee Abiodun Olalere, Bola Ogunlayi and Leke Adegbite, noted with serious concern the high rate at which government and private media workers are being owed salaries.
The union called on media owners to devise better strategies at improving the welfare of media practitioners to justify their commitments to duties.
The communique condemns the recent delay in the confirmation of new INEC RECs as a result of power play between Executive and the National Assembly.
While commending the recent working visit of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to the south west states, the union called on Federal government to improve power supply and address the deplorable condition of roads in the region for enhanced economic development.
The NUJ B-Zone who expressed satisfaction with the steady appreciation of Naira against dollars, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Federal Government to evolve more policies that will make the naira strong and move the country out of economic recession.
The zonal meeting which was presided over by the Vice President of the Zone, Cosmas Oni, had in attendance , NUJ National President, Waheed Odusile and union executives from Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.

RAPPER SKALES JUST ACQUIRE A BRAND NEW RANGE ROVER (PHOTO)
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/skales-treats-himself-to-brand-new.html

Nigerian singer and rapper, Skales has just gotten himself a brand new 2016 Range Rover car rumoured to be worth millions of Naira. The singer took to his IG page to show off the new whip. Captioning the photo, he wrote:
'It's been blessings upon blessings - I've worked real hard over the years and to celebrate my day; I think I deserve to spoil myself. Meet my new baby; the latest addition to my toys.'

UNTIE THE KNOT: END CHILD MARRIAGE BY JESSICA ORIKA - EYESOFLAGOS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/untie-knot-end-child-marriage-by.html

How would you feel if you were robbed of your childhood; waking up one morning only to find a group of men in your living room negotiating with your father for your hand in marriage; the man you love and respect trading off his little girl without even giving you a chance to make that choice yourself? It is no news that child marriage is a growing trend in the northern part of Nigeria. With each passing minute, a girl child is robbed of her innocence, the ability to make a choice for herself and sold off in marriage to a man who is just as old as her father or even older. She is being condemned to a lifetime of confusion and pain by her own parents and the lawmakers of the state who are supposed to be her protectors.


According to United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Africa has the highest incidence rates of child marriage, with over 70% of girls marrying under the age of 18, in three nations. Among Nigerian women between the ages of 20 and 24, 76% reported marrying before the age of 18, and 28% reported marrying before the age of 15. The northern part of Nigeria has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world with an estimated 65% of children sold off in marriage. Child marriage has been legalized in 12 states in Nigeria and this trend seems to be on the increase in Nigeria though laws have been made to put an end to its existence. These forced child marriages are a life changing reality for the girls who are victimized by this act of inhumanity. They are being forced to trade their childhood for a future of uncertainty, health hazards, isolation and violence; becoming brides and eventually mothers when they were not even given a chance to be children. They are denied the right to choose whom and when to marry. Parents who engage in this practice do this due to traditional obligation, poverty, the twisted need to protect their innocent younglings from sexual promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), religious and social pressures, gender inequality amongst many other reasons, never taking a pause to evaluate the heavy consequences of their decision. Some other parents are threatened by the state or people who want their daughter’s hand in marriage so they yield to the threats in order to save their lives while a few others who do not yield to the threat are killed before the eyes of the daughters who are then sold off in marriage like sheep taken to the slaughter.
The consequences of this negligence run too long and too deep for the girl child’s health. No girl child should be allowed to experience this. Some of these consequences include;

HEALTH RISK: Once married, these child brides face the intense pressure to become baby making machines. The older men who they are married to obviously do not care about the fact that they are just little babies who are supposed to be under the care of their parents so they go ahead to indulge their sexually under developed bride in all kinds of sexual practices. These girls face a high probability rate of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Neither physically or emotionally ready to become a mother, the girls who are initiated into sexual activity while their bodies are still developing, are vulnerable to pregnancy related injuries and a range of other long-term health complications. Her pelvis and birth carnal which are not fully developed causes her to face a higher risk of deaths in childbirth and her child stand a 50% risk more likely to be under weight, still born or die within its first weeks of life. The children of these child brides are at substantially greater risk pf perinatal infant mortality and morbidity. They tend to have a weaker immune system and face a heightened risk of malnutrition.

EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RISK: This gender based violence robs the girls of their sense of self-worth and reasoning since they were not given the opportunity to develop properly before being cast out into the wild. The forced sexual initiation and early pregnancy have a lasting effect on the mental health of child brides for years after. It destroys her perception of intimacy in marriage and start to view sex and marriage as rape and a curse instead of a gift from God to man. They constantly live in fear of their husband
and eventually resort to various means of reliving the pain and fear they feel which includes killing their husbands.


DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: The large age gap between the child bride and her spouse increase the power and control of her husband over her and makes her very vulnerable to domestic violence and nonconsensual sexual intercourse. They face various kinds of severe and life threatening marital violence with little or no hope of safety for them and their children.




ILLITERACY AND POVERTY: Education is the bedrock of the society. The girls are robbed of the chance to choose if they want to be educated or not and condemned to marriage, the rate of illiteracy, ignorant crime that is inspired by hate and then poverty is on the rise. They focus on the domestic duties and child bearing and raising duties as required of a wife rather than the educational duties of a growing child. As a result of this, they cannot earn a reasonable income and financially provide for themselves in a case where they become widowed. This vicious cycle is bound to continue with their children and the ones after them because they have come to accept their situation and their ignorance may cause them to condemn their children to the same fate.

ROBBING THE GIRLS OF THEIR LIFE AND DREAMS: They lose their childhood prematurely and without their consent and as such lose the ability to choose how their lives are fulfilled. They are deprived of the opportunity to live and grow the right way. The dream of becoming somebody great and influential is killed and their destiny tainted with this blackness. She becomes a woman in the eyes of the law when she is still physically, emotionally and psychologically a child.
Actions are being taken by world bodies and concerned individuals to end this madness and evident headway is being made. Several laws have been put in place to reduce the rate of child marriages, education opportunities are offered to the rescued victims of child marriage amongst other actions. However, the need for more; an immediate and continuous action on the part of the female folk and male alike is very necessary. The fact that a child has started maturing physically as in the development of breasts and seeing of her monthly period does not make her a bride. She is still a child and as such must not be violated. She is neither a bride nor a mother, she is only a child who is being denied a path of her own and condemned without even given a chance to grow up and make her own choices. If you think you know pain, you do not know the devastating pain of having your childhood cut short by the ones who are supposed to be your protectors, all your hopes and the dreams brought to an abrupt halt in just a second, spending every waking moment of your life in untold/unspoken pain and ignorance for the rest of your life. It does not have to be you or your child

before you decide to take an action. This is a call to action. We need to stand and fight for the life and right of the girl child. You were once a child; given a chance to grow and be a bride; the chance to choose a path for your life. These girls are robbed of this chance and much more. Let’s put an end to this madness. Let’s say no to girl child marriage.

Samsung unveils Galaxy S8 ‘comeback’ phone after Note 7 fire woes
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/samsung-unveils-galaxy-s8-comeback.html

Samsung has unveiled new versions of its flagship smartphone as it looks to bounce back from the disaster of its fire-prone Note 7 handset.
The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus bump up the screen size by doing away with a physical home button and dramatically reducing the frame – or bezel.
Taking up nearly all of the front of the phone, the screen curves around the side like the previous model.
The Samsung logo is gone and the home button is instead ‘virtual’ and on the display itself.
The S8 comes in at 5.8 inches (up from 5.1 on the S7) and the Plus measures 6.2 inches (up from 5.5 on the S7 Edge).
Apple’s iPhone 7, one of the phone’s closest rivals, is sold in 4.7 inch and 5.5-inch versions.
But – possibly to cover the cost of such a fancy screen – Samsung has also significantly hiked the price.
The S8 will be £689 and the Plus £779 (that’s up from £569 and £639 on the S7).
Tech fans saving up for the release can also look forward to trying out the firm’s new Siri-like personal assistant, Bixby.
The voice-activated feature can handle many of the functions done via touch and can recognise and retrieve information from the web when a user scans an object, such as an item of clothing or book, with their camera.
As for the battery – which sparked last year’s PR disaster and subsequent recall of the Note 7 – Samsung says the S8 cells will go through multiple inspections that include X-rays and extreme temperature stress tests.
They are also said to have better longevity, retaining most of the charge after several years of use.
Last year’s Note 7 fire debacle, where battery problems caused some to combust, led to the device being banned from planes in the US and forced Samsung to remove the handset from sale.
“The Galaxy S8 is the most important phone for Samsung in a decade and every aspect will be under the microscope following the Note 7 recall,” said Ben Wood, a smartphone industry analyst with UK-based CCS Insight.
Other features of the S8 include iris scanning to unlock the phone, the front-facing camera boosted from five to eight megapixels, and an optional docking station to turn the phone into a desktop computer.
The new models, unveiled at dual events in London and New York, will go on general sale in the UK on 28 April and a week earlier in the US

Darkness Looms As Egbin Set To Shut Down Over N110bn Debt
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/darkness-looms-as-egbin-set-to-shut.html

The management of Egbin Power plant has issued a strong warning that it will shut down operations due to non-settlement of N100billion debt. The company also said inadequate gas supply and inefficiency in operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are affecting its operations.
Managing director, Egbin Power Plc, Mr Dallas Peavey yesterday in Lagos warned that the country is heading towards another blackout by next week as liquidity, poor transmission and gas supply issues stand against its operations.
Peavey speaking on the dropped in generation at an interactive session with journalists yesterday said the plant was being forced to gradually shutdown due to adverse effect of grid instability that endangers its turbines.
He said inadequate gas supply to generate at optimal capacity as well as the huge debts owed the company by federal government owned Nigerian Bulk Electricity Traders (NBET) and Market Operator are posing serious threat to the plant operations.
According to him, Nigeria’s electricity supply may get worse in the coming weeks as liquidity, transmission and gas supply issues are threatening the operation of its biggest power station, Egbin.
“Egbin power plant is one of the biggest single power generating stations in Africa, with an installed capacity of 1320 MW consisting of 6 units of 220MW each.
“Following the conclusion of the government’s privatization exercise in November 2013, the consortium formed by the partnership between New Electricity Distribution Company and the Korean Electric Power Corporation (NEDC/KEPCO) acquired Egbin Power plc,” he said.
He said the effect of the debt has become worse for the company owing to the fact that it is owed N110billion. He said: ‘‘We owe gas companies, technical partners (KEPCO) and our lenders. We have made massive investments in making the plant readily available to generate electricity sustainably but unfortunately, we can’t break even due to the gross inefficiency in the value chain.
‘‘The government guarantees to pay us for every megawatt we generate and sell to NBET but they have not done that. We just got paid for the month of December, 2016, three months later and we were only paid a paltry 28 per cent out of the total 100 per cent of the verified and accepted invoice for that month.
‘‘That is how the outstanding debts kept accumulating for three and half years now.’’ He also said that eventually these unbearable business operating circumstances and conditions will shut us down any moment if it persists. “That is the simple but bitter truth. On transmission the company had reached 1,100 MW while the installed capacity is 1, 320 MW.
‘‘The grid could not take the power because of the capability issues within the Transmission Company of Nigeria system. We are constrained and limited to generate about 350MW daily due to both TCN system operations and inadequate gas supply issues.
‘‘So, 70 per cent of our output is lost because available power can’t be evacuated. When you get good news from TCN that you can increase your generation, we will be faced with not enough gas and when there is gas, you have TCN issues. So, you have one, you don’t have the other.
“Let me be honest, if Egbin fails, it’s going to be dark as Egbin provides close to 30 per cent of Nigeria’s power, so let the required intervention be completed and urgently too, however, the Egbin turbines are ready to light up Nigeria,” Peavey said.

UK: MIXED EMOTIONS AS PM TRIGGERS BREXIT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/uk-mixed-emotions-as-pm-triggers-brexit.html

There was what could mildly be described as mixed emotions when the British Prime Minister, Theresa May sent a tweet that triggered Brexit.
“After nine months the UK has delivered,” declared EU Council President Donald Tusk in a portentous tweet on receipt of the letter triggering Brexit from Prime Minister Theresa May.
The tone of his speech in Brussels was full of regret. There was “no reason to pretend that this is a happy day” in Brussels or London, he added. “We already miss you.”
Looking on the bright side, he said there was “also something positive” about Brexit as it had made the 27 states remaining in the EU more determined and united than before.
That mood of regret tinged with defiance was echoed by a tweet from European Parliament President Antonio Tajani: “Today isn’t a good day. #Brexit marks a new chapter in our Union’s history, but we’re ready, we’ll move on, hoping UK remains close partner.”
He later spoke about the possibility of Britain reversing its decision, saying that all member states would have to support it.
Indeed, the tweet generated different reactions from some leaders including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who while speaking in Malta in apparent response to the tweet, called it a “day of sadness”.
French President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, said that while Brexit was “sentimentally painful” for Europe it would be “economically painful” for Britain.
Mr Hollande also said there was no intention to “punish” Britain “for the principle”.
“It will end with a trade agreement between Great Britain and Europe, we hope that it’s the best trade agreement possible,” he said during a visit to Indonesia.
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel struck a pragmatic tone. She said Germany and other EU states “certainly didn’t want this day to come, because we’re losing a strong and important member state.
“But naturally we accept the democratic decision of the British voters,” she added.
Mrs Merkel also said Britain’s commitments to the EU had to be dismantled before talks could move on to the future relationship, in an apparent rejection of Mrs May’s call for simultaneous discussions.
She also stressed the need to protect EU citizens living in Britain.
A more bitter response came from another leading German politician, Manfred Weber, chair of the centre-right EPP Group in the European Parliament.
Pointing the finger at British politicians who had campaigned for Brexit, he complained that they had had the chance to grow up in a free Europe but now they were erecting walls.
“EU has done everything to keep the British. From now on, only the interests of the remaining 440 million Europeans count for us,” he tweeted.

ABIA GOV. IKPEAZU CONDEMNS MULTIPLE TAXATIONS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/abia-gov-ikpeazu-condemns-multiple.html

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on Tuesday said multiple taxations were not good for the image of the State Government as they had adverse effect on development.
Ikpeazu stated this when members of Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State chapter, paid him a visit in Government House, Umuahia.
He said the state government had set up a revenue council saddled with the responsibility of streamlining revenue collection in the state.
The governor said the council was working to get every tax payer into one consolidated revenue sub-head, a development he said would bring an end to all forms of illegal revenue collection in Abia State.
The governor said the only way to address multiple taxations was to make tax payment simple, straight forward and easy.
According to him, people avoid tax payment when they are not sure such would go into government’s coffer.
Ikpeazu also told the doctors that his administration would look into the inauguration of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria because of its important role in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Prince Onyemachi, the Chairman of the association, called on the state government to address multiple taxationa on owners of private hospitals and clinics.
Onyemachi said the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Abia State was not functional and urged the government to institute the necessary policies that would facilitate the inauguration of the Council.

AISHA BUHARI CONDOLES WITH PAULINE TALLEN OVER HUSBAND’S DEATH
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/aisha-buhari-condoles-with-pauline.html

President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari, has condoled with Pauline Tallen, former Minister of State for Science and Technology, and her family members over the death of her husband, John Tallen.
Mr. Tallen died on Tuesday at the age of 83 at his residence in Abuja after a protracted illness.
The president’s wife, who was received at the residence by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, and former governor of Plateau, Joshua Dariye, prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
She also prayed for the family to have the fortitude to bear the loss.
She was accompanied by wives of service chiefs and wife of Nasarawa State governor, Mairo Al-Makura, as well as her senior special assistant, Hajo Sani.
Mr. Dariye said Mrs. Buhari’s visit was symbolic and people of Plateau would forever remember her.
He said, “your coming for condolence is very symbolic because the people of Plateau will forever remember this visit.
“It is the humility in you that brought you here, in spite of the short notice given to you about the death.’’
Mrs. Buhari also paid condolence visit to the family of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buba Galadima, over the death of his son, Aliyu Buba Galadima.
The son died on March 26 in an auto crash along Kaduna-Abuja highway.
She prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
She was received by the deceased’s father, Mr. Galadima, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed, and former PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali.

BUHARI LAUDS TINUBU AT 65, SAYS ‘NIGERIA STANDS TO GAIN FROM HIS EXPERIENCE’
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/buhari-lauds-tinubu-at-65-says-nigeria.html

President Muhammadu Buhari believes that Nigeria has benefitted a lot from the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s personal sacrifices, political experience and intellectual foresight and still stands to gain more.
President Buhari said this on Tuesday when he congratulated Tinubu, on his 65th birthday.
Buhari’s goodwill message was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
The statement read, “President Buhari joins all members of the APC, political and business associates of the Asiwaju of Lagos, his friends and family, in celebrating another milestone in the life of the great leader, whose foray into politics ushered in a better understanding of building consensus to achieve historical feats, like unseating an incumbent government.
“As he turns 65 years, the President believes the Asiwaju raised the bar for many political leaders across the country as a two-term governor of Lagos State, and also bequeathed a style of leadership that completely altered the landscape of the commercial capital.
“Recalling his pleasant and intellectually enriching encounters with the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom over the years, the President reaffirms that the nation has benefitted a lot from the personal sacrifices, political experience and intellectual foresight of the APC chieftain, and still stands to gain more.
“President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant the Asiwaju good health, longer life and more wisdom to serve his country and humanity.”

MAN SENTENCED TO 9 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR INSULTING GOV. MASARI ON SOCIAL MEDIA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/man-sentenced-to-9-months-imprisonment.html

A Katsina Chief Magistrate’s Court today sentenced one Gambo Saeed to nine months imprisonment for insulting and defaming the character of Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari, on social media.
At the hearing of the case against Saeed today, the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Isa Liti told the court that Saeed was arraigned following complaints received from the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Radio Monitoring, Mansur Ali Mashi
According to Liti, Saeed was arrested and arraigned for intentional insult, defamation of the governor’s character and inciting disturbance.
The charges were in accordance with sections 399, 392 and 114 of the Penal Code. Saeed pleaded guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Abdu Ladan, found the accused guilty and sentenced him to 9 months imprisonment without an option of fine.

I'M PREPARED TO DIE! - SOWORE VOWS AS HE HITS BACK AT DINO MELAYE, SHARES E-MAIL FROM LONDON SCHOOL
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/im-prepared-to-die-sowore-vows-as-he.html

The outspoken Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye who on Saturday, posted his official petition against Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on social media and promised that he will send him to jail, has received a response from the investigative journalist.

Sowore, has sworn to see to the very end the case against Dino Melaye, saying he was ready put his life on the line to ensure that Nigeria is rid of manipulative leaders.

He said he would rather go meet his ancestors in his quest, than see Melaye walk free, adding that he has sworn to name and shame politicians who have, for too long, been deceiving the Nigerian people.
Read Sowore's Facebook Statement below:


Folks: It was brought to my attention earlier that Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye promised to 'send me to jail' over the recent unraveling of his questionable educational background.

While some are worried, appalled, alarmed and concerned and even scared about this declaration, it had me thinking differently.

I am a Nigerian citizen who had been through torture, humiliations, and incarceration by dictators in uniform between 1992-1999 before I eventually left Nigeria. I have never doubted the power of justice over legalities.

That a Nigerian Senator in a democratic era could make this proclamation is indeed a sign that our democratic transition was a farce, particular when you've now noticed that Mr. Melaye was sitting at the feet of one of Nigeria's worst military dictators, Ibrahim Babangida just a week ago.

One of Babangida's worst crimes against humanity was the assassination of notable investigative journalists of our time, Dele Giwa, by way of a parcel bomb.

Another thing Melaye shares in common with Babangida and his killer squad was using libel lawsuits to silence inquisitions In the 80's Gani Fawehimi was found liable of libeling the killers of Dele Giwa and asked to pay damages to Halilu Akilu.

Here is how I am different and also not different, I am not going to run away from criminals running the Nigerian political space until they are defeated, and their ideologies of greed, bloodiness, and avarice are entirely abandoned and discredited forever (Apology to Bob Marley).

If it takes my life, so be it. If it means another unjust ruling asking for damages for thieves. So be it. We must take our space back from the 10 percenters, drug dealers, certificate forgers, money launderers, political manipulators, and assassins.

Thanks you.

PROMINENT NIGERIANS WITH CERTIFICATE SCANDALS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/prominent-nigerians-with-certificate.html

Like sea creatures in ocean’s depth, prominent Nigerians have been grappling not to sink in the murky waters of certificate scandals, BAYO AKINLOYE writes

“I’ll never resign!” his gentle voice echoed through his expansive office, as his body shook like a man being led inevitably to the gallows as he addressed journalists in a press conference.

The grandeur of his office as the Speaker, House of Representatives, was unmistakable with his retinue of security details and aides.

There were five rooms adjoining and leading to his expansive official personal office: the security details, receptionists, private secretaries, aides, chief of staff and aid-de-camp.

As the Number Four citizen of Nigeria, he could wield enormous power and would do anything to remain in power – as he had already lied his way to become the fourth most powerful person in the most populous black nation on earth.

The Ahmadu Bello University connection

Erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari’s way to the lower chamber of the National Assembly was fraught with forgeries. To become a federal lawmaker, he claimed he was 36 years old as of 1999, though he was born in 1970.

The minimum required age to be a lawmaker in the House, according to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, is 30.

He also claimed to have attended University of Toronto in Canada and graduated with a degree in Business Administration, but the university denied he was ever a student of the institution.

And for falsifying his credentials to gain admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, he was kicked out and never had the opportunity to participate in the one-year National Youth Service Corps exercise.

In 2000, the lid was fully blown open and the defiant Buhari broke down in tears of confession before the nation, owning up to allegations of forgery and perjury.

“I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation. I apologise to my family and friends for all the distress I have caused them. I was misled in error by my zeal to serve the nation. I hope the nation will forgive me and give me the opportunity to serve again,” he begged.

To date, Salisu Buhari has remained the poster boy of certificate scandal in the country’s political space, with the latest accusation levelled against a one-time anti-corruption activist and now senator, Dino Melaye.

Forty-three-year-old Melaye, bald-headed with a well-tended moustache to boot, was accused by an online news medium, SaharaReporters of not graduating from the same ABU. One of his colleagues, Senator Ali Ndume, called for the upper legislative chamber to probe him for forgery and perjury.

“SaharaReporters, please sue me and ABU if it is true that I did not graduate from Zaria. Tell (the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) Magu (Ibrahim) to arrest and prosecute me. I’m presently a student of ABU pursuing my seventh degree,” Melaye retorted.

However, Harvard University and the London School of Economics and Political Science, which Melaye had reportedly claimed to have graduated from, told SaharaReporters that Melaye did not study degree courses with them, and hence, couldn’t have graduated.

As it is customary, the Senate has referred Melaye’s case to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. The committee’s report is expected to come in towards the end of April.

Just a fortnight ago, the firebrand politician was breathing fire and brimstone, hankering that Magu’s confirmation should be dismissed because he did not pass the Senate’s “integrity test.”

But the spokesman for northern delegates in the last National Conference, Anthony Sani, does not think it is a problem peculiar to politically exposed persons.

“Certificate scandal is not an exclusive preserve of politicians but manifestations of corrupt practices that have distorted our sense of what is right and what is evil in the polity. Consider the prevalence of exam malpractices, among our youths in order to have realistic appreciation of the unsavoury situation,” he told SUNDAY PUNCH.

A scandal that rocks even presidents

In an animated manner, Sani dismissed an allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari did not have a certificate to show that he finished his secondary school education. He had told SUNDAY PUNCH in 2015 that it was an insult to say the man – a general – that would soon be the nation’s president did not have such a certificate.

Even though the respected former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.), in defence of President Buhari, had expressed disdain for those who accused the President of not having the Cambridge West African School Certificate Ordinary Level in 1961 as he claimed, the allegation left much a chink in the armour of Buhari than any other issue as the 73-year-old has yet to present the certificate.

Few months to the 2015 presidential poll, Buhari defended himself, saying that he attended the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, with many prominent Nigerians, including the late General Shehu Yar’Adua.

Certain of not forging his certificate, Buhari said he sat for the University of Cambridge/WASSCE Examination in 1961, with the examination number 8280002, which he reportedly passed in the Second Division.

He also submitted an affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission that all his academic credentials were with the Military Board. However, the army issued a curious disclaimer that it did not have the original, certified true copy or statement of results of the retired general.

In the ensuing claim and counterclaim, one Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe instituted a lawsuit asking the court to disqualify Buhari from running for president because he did not have the minimum qualification required to contest for the presidential election.

There was raucous noise across the nation as opponents and supporters awaited the court’s pronouncement but before the case could be decided, the former head of state won the election and was sworn in as a democratically elected president.

On June 16, 2016, a Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the suit indefinitely seemingly putting an end to a nail-biting controversy that may be forever associated with a president who built his claim to the presidency on the platform of integrity.

Goodluck Jonathan

But before Buhari was subjected to this scrutiny, former President Goodluck Jonathan had also been caught momentarily in the web of a certificate scandal.

Like a salvo, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo hauled a bombshell that must have unsettled and rattled the leadership of the PDP and others who revered Jonathan and never ceased to laud him as the first doctoral degree holder to lead Nigeria.

Obasanjo had said, “Even Jonathan did not finish his PhD course but when it was presented, we stated that it does not matter but many people did not know because it was a PDP thing.”

Coming from arguably Nigeria’s most respected leader and global statesman, the accusation was weighty and left the sitting president’s integrity and image in a precarious state.

Jonathan reportedly holds a BSc in Zoology with second class honours; an MSc in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology; and a PhD in Zoology, all from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

His supporters felt Obasanjo was making desperate efforts to discredit the then president ahead of the 2015 presidential poll to ensure he would not win the election.
continue reading more: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/prominent-nigerians-with-certificate.html

Buhari's WASC Certificate Scandal: Presidency Speaks

The Presidency on Sunday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari being mentioned in the names of prominent Nigerians with certificate scandals. This comes as the issue of Buhari's West Africa Examination result was a focus used by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to taunt the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Buhari had been told by the PDP to present his WASC results. It is not clear what eventually happened as after he won the election, everything about it died off.

While reacting to the article that listed prominent Nigerians with certificate scandals with Buhari and many others mentioned, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that Buhari did not fit into the categorisation because he had no certificate scandal.

The presidential spokesman said the issue of Buhari’s certificate was raised by those who wanted him disqualified from the presidential race.

He said the issue was however successfully dealt with before the election, saying the President has no certificate case hanging on his neck.

The statement read, “We wish to emphatically state that President Muhammadu Buhari does not fit into categorisation of leaders with certificate scandals because he bears none that is on available records.

“In the course of the contest for the office of the President in 2015, a number of wild, untrue and malicious allegations were made against him in order to stop him from contesting for the office in the election.

“The issue of certificates was raised against him but the campaign successfully dealt with the allegations by providing evidence that not only was he qualified to run, he had a far higher academic qualification than is required by the constitution. As a result, he went on to run for the office and eventually win.”

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/buharis-wasc-certificate-scandal.html

ARIK AIR MANAGEMENT TO CHALLENGE FG’S TAKEOVER
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/arik-air-management-to-challenge-fgs.html

The management of Arik Air on Thursday said it would challenge the taking over of the airline by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) in court.
Capt. Ado Sanusi, Senior Vice President, Arik Air made, the disclosure at a joint news briefing with the newly appointed receiver Manager, Mr Oluseye Opasanya (SAN) and the airline’s technical consultant, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu.
National Daily reports that AMCON had taken over the airline following the huge indebtedness of the company to both local and foreign creditors.
However, Sanusi said the Arik Management had been served with a valid court order empowering AMCON to take over the affairs of the airline. “As responsible citizens, we have obeyed the court order which appointed the Olaniwun Ajayi (SAN) as the receivership manager.”
“We will comply but I want to make it clear that we have a right to challenge the court order. In the coming days, we will make our position known. It is a court order and we can challenge it and we will challenge it to the highest court of authority,” Sanusi said.
He added that while the legal battle would be on one front, the parties had agreed that Arik Air would continue to run without any disruption.
Also speaking, Opasanya said AMCON was on a rescue mission to reposition the embattled airline. ”AMCON has been a creditor to Arik for some time. It also has security over substantial parts of the assets of Arik.”
“The debt of Arik to AMCON has not been paid and huge sums of money is owed. So AMCON, having consulted widely with government authorities, has decided to appoint me to preside over the affairs of Arik. So we have come to supervise the operation, sustain the operation, improve services and ensure that we support Arik with people of deep knowledge, experience and commitment in the airline industry.”
According to him, Arik plays a pivotal role in the airline industry and many Nigerians are currently drawing their means of livelihood from the company. “We have addressed the workers and the management and we want to assure other stakeholders and members of the public that the desire of AMCON is to keep the airline flying.”
On his part, Ilegbodu said Arik had 28 aircraft in its fleet but only 10 are currently being used for operations. He said his duty as technical consultant was to get to the root of the problems bedeviling the airline to ensure its sustainability.

ECONOMIC INSTABILITY COULD DELAY NIGERIA’S PLAN FOR $1.4 BILLION LOAN – IMF
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/economic-instability-could-delay.html

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to warn Nigeria its economy needs urgent reform, according to a report seen by Reuters that could delay talks over $1.4 billion in international loans.
The Washington-based fund will urge Nigeria, a major oil producer, to introduce immediate changes to its exchange rate policy and say its recent reform plan is not enough to drag Africa’s biggest economy out of recession, according to the 68-page report.
“Much more needs to be done,” the IMF said in the document, written after a final meeting between its representatives and top officials in the capital Abuja before the fund issues its verdict on Nigeria’s economy, expected on March 29.
“Further actions are urgently needed,” it said.
The report – from the fund’s acting secretary and addressed to members of its executive board – is set to form part of the IMF’s verdict, although Nigeria can request alterations.
Three people familiar with the negotiations said it would send an important signal to institutional lenders.
The World Bank has been in talks with Nigeria for a loan of at least $1 billion for more than a year and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has $400 million on offer, but discussions have stalled over economic reforms.
Nigeria is seeking the funding for infrastructure investment and to help plug an expected record deficit in this year’s budget as it boosts spending to try to end a recession.
“The tone of the IMF will be critical in terms of signalling,” said one of the people familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media.
Two of the people with knowledge of the loan talks said the lenders were unlikely to withhold funding entirely.
President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected a devaluation of the naira currency and backed curbs imposed by the central bank that force firms to buy dollars needed for imports for a premium on the black market.
Nigeria has at least five exchange rates – the official one, a rate for Muslim pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, one for school fees abroad and a retail rate set by licensed exchange bureaus.
The IMF said that if Nigeria did not remove foreign exchange restrictions and unify the exchange rates, it risked “further deterioration in (forex) reserves” and “a disorderly exchange rate depreciation”.
The report said Nigeria should also tackle its over-dependence on oil, low government revenues, a large infrastructure deficit, a rising debt service and double-digit inflation.
Nigeria has not asked the IMF for fiscal support. An IMF spokeswoman declined to comment.
A spokesman for the presidency directed inquiries to the ministries of finance and budget and national planning. The finance ministry and central bank did not respond to repeated attempts to seek comment. A budget and planning ministry spokesman declined to comment.
A World Bank spokeswoman said the lender was continuing its discussions with Nigeria and other partners and “will determine with the government the most appropriate lending instrument to support the implementation” of reform plans.
The AfDB declined to comment.
POLITICAL RISK
Earlier this month, Nigeria released an Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) for 2017 to 2020 calling for a market-determined exchange rate. But it offers few concrete steps.
The ERGP “is more optimistic on growth than (IMF) staff… does not explicitly call for tighter monetary and fiscal policy in the near term, and assumes no immediate change in exchange rate policy – all of which are essential to reduce vulnerabilities and increase investors’ interest,” said the IMF.
Delays in adopting these policies increase vulnerabilities and risk reforms being politicised ahead of the 2019 elections, the IMF said.
Nigeria’s woes go beyond its economy, said the report, piling additional challenges onto the government. The northeast is in the throes of a humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram Islamist insurgeny, which is threatening millions with starvation.
Adoption of a fully flexible exchange rate would likely see the naira, which is propped up by the central bank but trades around 30 percent weaker on the parallel market, plummet in value.
Buhari, a 74-year-old former military ruler who led the country for 20 months in the 1980s, resisted pressure from the IMF and World Bank to devalue the naira in his previous tenure before being deposed in a coup.
Two of the people with knowledge of the negotiations said even without the IMF’s proposed reforms, the World Bank and AfDB were likely to offer the loans to Nigeria.
“There might be some eye-rolling but then they’ll still go through with the loans,” said one, a diplomat, adding that the World Bank could offer its money in tranches as a way of holding back and enforcing reforms.
The report said Nigeria should articulate a sustainable fiscal policy and adopt structural reforms to diversify the economy away from its dependence on oil and promote competitiveness.
“The outlook is challenging, with growth expected to remain flat and macroeconomic imbalances to persist,” it said.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WIZKID NEW LOOK CHECK HIM OUT ?
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/wizkid-looking-hot-and-dope-in-his.html

What is your opinion about wizkid new look and style ?

NIGERIA REMAIN AFRICA’S NUMBER ONE IN LATEST FIFA WOMEN’S RANKINGS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/nigeria-remain-africas-number-one-in.html

Nigeria’s women, the Super Falcons, have moved up one place on the monthly FIFA world rankings to 34, retaining their place as the top-ranked African side.
The rankings released on Friday showed Nigeria as having amassed 1613 points to maintain their status as African champions, with Ghana their nearest African side on the rankings at 45th.
Cameroon, who lost to Nigeria in the final of the 2016 African Women Championship they hosted, are 47th on the rankings and Equatorial Guinea are 50th.
In the overall rankings, England have moved back up to fourth, overtaking Canada to equal their best ever position.
Germany have replaced world champions U.S. as the number one team.
England came third at the SheBelieves Cup competition earlier in March after a 1-0 win over the U.S. and defeat by European and Olympic champions Germany.
Northern Ireland rise four places to 55th, Wales move up one to 33rd and Scotland stay 21st.
It is the first time since March 2015 the U.S. have been replaced at the top of the table.
England Women will host Italy and Austria in April — their final home matches before the Euro 2017 finals this summer.

OUSTED EGYPT PRESIDENT MUBARAK FREED FROM DETENTION
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/ousted-egypt-president-mubarak-freed.html

Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian autocrat toppled during the 2011 Arab Spring, left a military hospital on Friday where he spent much of the last six years in detention.
The release of the 88-year old who ruled Egypt for three decades would have been unthinkable several years ago, but revolutionary fervour gave way to exhaustion and even nostalgia in the uprising’s chaotic aftermath.
Mubarak had been cleared for release earlier this month after a top court finally acquitted him of involvement in protester deaths during the 2011 revolt that ousted him.
“Yes,” his lawyer Farid al-Deeb told AFP when asked if Mubarak had left the hospital on Friday.
He added the Mubarak had gone home to a villa in Cairo’s Heliopolis district.
Mubarak was accused of inciting the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt, in which about 850 people were killed as police clashed with demonstrators.
He was sentenced to life in jail in 2012 in the case, but an appeals court ordered a retrial which dismissed the charges two years later.
Egypt’s top appeals court on March 2 acquitted him of involvement in the killings.
Throughout his trial prosecutors had been unable to provide conclusive evidence of Mubarak’s complicity — a result, lawyers said, of having hastily put together the case against him in 2011 following demonstrations.
In January 2016, the appeals court upheld a three-year prison sentence for Mubarak and his two sons on corruption charges.
But the sentence took into account time served. Both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, were freed.
On Thursday, a court ordered a renewed corruption investigation into Mubarak for allegedly receiving gifts from the state owned Al-Ahram newspaper.
He is also banned from travelling.
– Nostalgia –
Meanwhile several key activists in the 2011 uprising are now serving lengthy jail terms, and rights groups say hundreds of others have been forcibly disappeared.
The anti-Mubarak revolt ushered in instability that drove away tourists and investors, taking a heavy toll on the economy and leading to nostalgia for his rule.
His successor Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist, ruled for only a year after his 2012 election before the military overthrew him, prompted by massive protests against his Muslim Brotherhood group.
Morsi’s overthrow ushered in a deadly police crackdown that killed hundreds of protesters demanding his reinstatement.
The military chief who toppled him, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, won election as president the following year.
Morsi’s overthrow helped rehabilitate some Mubarak-era politicians, including a former senior member of his National Democratic Party who served as prime minister under Sisi.
Most of Mubarak’s associates have been cleared in corruption trials, and police officers charged with violence during the revolt have been acquitted.
“Mubarak’s trial lasted six years and public opinion became bored of it,” said Mostafa Kamel al-Sayed, an analyst and political science professor in Cairo University.
Sisi and the powerful military have not fully embraced the former regime, and continue to praise the January-February revolt that brought it down.
But critics say they have limited freedoms even more than Mubarak.
Some who participated in the protests against Mubarak said they felt the uprising was in vain.
“Honestly, I found that all of that was useless,” said Ahmed Mohamed, 29.
Mohamed had been among the thousands of protesters who took to Cairo’s Tahrir Square demanding Mubarak’s fall.
“Mubarak’s time was a lot better in all aspects,” he said after the prosecution ordered Mubarak’s release.
In the few years before his overthrow, Mubarak had begun to loosen his grip on political life and the media, allowing for some protests and criticism.
But police abuses and economic grievances remained.

MAN ARRESTED WITH FRESH WOMAN’S HEAD, HANDS
source:http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/man-arrested-with-fresh-womans-head.html


The police in Lagos have confirmed the arrest of a middle-aged man found in possession of a fresh woman head and two hands at Muwo area of Badagry.
An eyewitness, Mr Solomon Adube, said on Tuesday in Badagry that the suspect was seen carry a sack with blood dripping from it.
“The man was seen carrying a bag with blood dripping from it but when he was asked what was in the bag, he claimed it was bushmeat, saying he had just finished hunting.
“The people insisted on seeing the bush meat but he didn’t oblige, so we suspected foul play and the bag was collected from him.
“Upon searching the bag, a head and two hands of a lady was seen in the bag and that was how people descended on him,’’ he said.
“The timely intervention of policemen from the Area K Command, Morogbo saved the suspect from being lynched by angry mob,’’ Mr Deji Sebonji, another eyewitness said.
Lagos State Police spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, told NAN that investigation was underway to ascertain the identity of the victim.

MENINGITIS CLAIMS 16 LIVES IN NIGER
source:http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/meningitis-claims-16-lives-in-niger.html

An outbreak of Cerebro Spiral Meningitis has killed at least no fewer than 16 persons at Tungan Jika and Mazakari villages of Magama Local Government Area out of 31 cases in four local governments of Niger State.
The State Commissioner of Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Mustapha Mohammed Jibrin, on Tuesday made the disclosure in Minna at a press briefing.
Jibrin said all deaths recorded were from Magama Local Government Area, with eight of them female and seven male, who were within the age of one and 20.
Jibrin added that the four local governments are Magama, with 23 cases; Rijau, four cases; Kontagora recorded three cases; and Agwara has one case.
The first case was reported on March 6, 2017, with 77 per cent of cases from Magama, where most of the localities claimed it was a witchcraft attack on the community.
Jibrin noted that in 2017, the country has recorded 374 cases in 21 states, with 49 deaths.
Meningitis which usually occurs between December and June due to excess heat, over crowding, poverty, malnutrition and others.
The commissioner explained that it is caused by a bacteria which affects the central naval system and spinal cord, adding that the symptoms usually manifests from two to 10 days of infection from fever, body pain and neck stiffness.
He assured of government’s prompt identification and treatment of the victims that it was not a witchcraft attack as alleged by the villagers.
Jibrin appealed to them to have good ventilation, good hygiene, regular hand washing and charged the people to quickly report to the nearest hospital.
Jibrin expressed satisfaction that they are on top of the situation, hence sensitization was ongoing to give antibiotics to those who had close contact with the victims and has partnered with the World Health Organisation for the preventive measure to be put in place to curb its spread, just as the state team, led by the commissioner visited the community on Thursday this week.

PMB DECRIES WANTON KILLINGS, SUMMONS SERVICE CHIEFS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/pmb-decries-wanton-killings-summons.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condemned what he described as wanton killings, destruction of lives and property across the country.
Accordingly, he ordered security and law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion in stemming the tide of the growing spate of killings,
Categorically, the president observed that the country seemed to have lost value for human life, which he said is so sacred that nobody has the right to unjustly and unlawfully take recklessly.
Buhari was reacting to the latest massacre on Monday in Zaki Biam, Ukum local government area of Benue State where unknown gunmen killed over 50 persons, including women and children.
Apparently in a bid to stop this ugly trend, the president yesterday met with the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique and the Chief of Army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The spate of killings had become a recurrent decimal in the country of recent. Just last week, 46 people were also killed in some parts of Ile-Ife, Osun State during a communal clash between Hausas and Yorubas.
In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari decried the wanton killings in the country, saying security and law enforcement agencies must end the gory trend which is becoming a blight on the image of the country.
“We must condemn inhuman and unnecessary shedding of human blood all over the country. We seem to have lost value for human life, which is sacred. Man is the glory of God’s creation and nobody has the right to unjustly and unlawfully take another person’s life in a reckless manner,” Buhari said.
The president enjoined all citizens to learn to live together in peace and brotherhood and not allow little misunderstandings to degenerate into heartless acts that are capable of straining the bonds of nationhood.
He commiserated with the government and people of Benue State on the recent attack on a market in Zaki Biam by some unknown gunmen which resulted in the loss of lives.
Adesina said, “The President condemned the wicked attack and directs security agencies to begin immediate investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
“President Buhari, while sympathising with those who lost loved ones, also prays that Almighty God will comfort the grieving families and grant the souls of the victim’s eternal rest.”
Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday met with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique and Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Buratai assured that the military will continue to do all it can to defend the territorial integrity of the country.
He said, “I visited the commander-in-chief to update him on the security situation that the army is involved in and defending the territorial integrity of the country, the welfare of the troops and the state of our general administration. Basically, that is why I came.
“The president is happy with the Nigerian army and the military. We will continue to do our work to defend the constitution of this country and we assured him of our absolute loyalty and that we’ll ensure we discharge our constitutional responsibility.”
On his part, the Chief of Air Staff said he came to brief the president on the happenings in the airforce.
He also assured that the airforce was doing all within its powers to secure the country so that all Nigerians can go about their normal businesses in peace.
Sadique said, “It is just a routine meeting. I came to brief the president on what is happening in the airforce. He is the commander in chief and he has the right to meet with his service chiefs.
“For us in the airforce and for all the service, we are really doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our society is secure and our communities are stable so that people can go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any fear. That is the purpose for which the airforce is established.
“That is why we are working to ensure that we do everything humanly possible to create such an enabling environment because without security you cannot think of development. You are very familiar with the relationship between security and development and we are working round the clock to ensure that we provide the enabling environment for development.”

NNPC announces new measures to ensure improved products supply
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/nnpc-announces-new-measures-to-ensure.html
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday said it had put in place measures to ensure steady supply of petroleum products across the country.
The corporation said this in a statement released in Abuja by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division.‎
According to it, part of the measures was the re-commissioning of a strategic 479.2-kilometre system 2B petroleum products pipeline network.
“The network which stretches from the Atlas Cove to Mosimi-Ejigbo-Ibadan terminates at Ilorin and will enhance effective distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
”This is in addition to the envisaged resumption of loading activities at the Mosimi, Ejigbo and Ibadan depots,” it saidThe Corporation said that it also had on ground over 1.2 billion litres of petrol sufficient for more than 34 days consumption by motorists in the country.
It added that plans were also in place to complement local refining of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as diesel and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) otherwise called aviationfFuel.
‎
”The Corporation’s product supply outlook for March to May, 2017, shows that steps have been taken to ensure adequate supply of diesel and aviation fuel and ‎NNPC will continue to import to supplement local refining.
‎
”Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria has released foreign exchange to marketers to import both products.‎
‎
”The Calabar and Aba depots have been stocked with AGO, while AGO load-out at Kano depot will commence soon,” it said.

IBORI APPEALS AGAINST UK COURT CONVICTION
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/ibori-appeals-against-uk-court.html

A former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has now filed a full appeal in the British Court of Appeal against his 2012 conviction.
A statement from Ibori’s Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, said his counsel informed the Southwark London court on Friday that they have filed the appeal on Ibori’s behalf.
As a result, the court then indefinitely adjourned the ongoing proceedings concerning the second confiscation hearing.
The original three weeks confiscation hearing before Judge Pitts in September 2013 was unable to make any finding of theft from Delta State.
The British Crown Prosecution Service has, since February 2016, been undertaking a mammoth disclosure exercise and so far, substantial material evidencing the police corruption and misconduct has been disclosed.

WORK TO START ON KASHIMBILLA HYDRO POWER PLANT THIS YEAR – FASHOLA
source:http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/work-to-start-on-kashimbilla-hydro.html

The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday said that work would begin this year on the 40 megawatts Kashimbila Hydro Power Plant in Taraba.
Fashola said this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri after a tour of projects in the North East.
He said government was equally making efforts to complete the Mambilla Power Station, also in Taraba.
“As for the Mambilla plant, the contractor is back to site after he was mobilised.
“But he has lots of challenges; he has to open letter of credit and import equipment, among other things.
“For Kashimbilla project, we have made progress in terms of project planning.
“We are in the final stage of pricing and we expect that we will start work this year,’’ Fashola said.
According to him, preparatory work is going on and the ministry is considering the best route to move the equipment to site.
“This is part of project planning that makes for efficient project execution,’’ the minister said.
Fashola said that estate valuers had been engaged to prepare ground for easy compensation of the natives.
“We already have estate valuers who are valuing the whole site where the plant will be constructed so that when compensation is paid, there will be no problem when work construction begins.
Zungeru project had problems relating to compensation as no prior work was done like this one,’’ Fashola said.
He lauded the National Assembly for its planned amendment of the Procurement Act to provide for more mobilisation fee to contractors, especially those handling road projects.
“I want to acknowledge the tremendous support that our ministry is receiving from the National Assembly.
“Amending the Act will be useful now; if you get more money to contractors in an economy that is getting out of recession, it will help in reflating the economy,’’ the minister said.
Fashola added that injecting more money to the economy, through lawful means, would help in quick recovery from the current recession.
He assured that government would pay more attention to federal roads in all states of the North East within the shortest possible time.
“The most important thing is that we are back to site and very soon those nasty experience on our roads will be over.
“We have gathered momentum and our contractors are working while the journey is getting progressively better and ultimately it will return to what it used to be,’’ the minister said.

LASEMA Identifies doctor who jumped Into Lagos Lagoon
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/lasema-identifies-doctor-who-jumped.html

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has given a identified the man who today abandoned his vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge and jumped into the Lagos Lagoon.
Spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Kehinde Adebayo, said the man is Orji but did not give any other name.
Adebayo said : “The Agency received a distress call of a man who parked his grey coloured Nissan SUV with registration number LND 476 EE at about 4.50 pm today Sunday.
“The incident happened around Adekunle, inward 3rd Mainland bridge and jumped into the Lagos Lagoon.
“Preliminary investigation at the scene revealed that the man said to be a medical doctor named Orji who was said to be driven by his driver and suddenly ordered the driver to pull over.
“He dropped from the car and suddenly jumped into the water from the bridge. The vehicle and the driver have been taken to Adeniji Adele Police Station for further investigation.
“There are efforts to recover his body from the Lagoon,” he said.

Dickson, Makarfi trade blame over lingering PDP crisis
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/dickson-makarfi-trade-blame-over.html

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party National Reconciliation Committee, Governor Seriake Dickson, has accused Senator Ahmed Makarfi of stalling the party’s peace process.
He also accused Makarfi who was the chairman of the ousted Caretaker Committee of the party of blackmail.
Dickson said this in an interview with Journalists in Abuja, on Sunday.
According to him, he and several other party leaders at different times made proposals aimed at ending the war of attrition within the party but that the refusal of Makarfi and some of his supporters to accept present realities was stalling the process.
In a separate interview, Makarfi said, the issue was not about his person but about the overall interest of the PDP and Nigeria’s opposition.
Dickson said Makarfi was one of several party leaders who earlier pleaded with him to support the emergence of Sheriff as the Chairman of the PDP when he opposed the move.
He said, “I opposed Modu-Sheriff’s entry as Chairman, I thought there were other roles he could play. But some of my colleagues and other leaders thought otherwise including most of these people who are calling names.”

MY HUSBAND CANES ME DAILY – WOMAN TELLS COURT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/my-husband-canes-me-daily-woman-tells.html

A 39-year-old petty trader, Yemisi Akinwunmi, on Friday pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to end her 20-year-old loveless marriage to free her from pangs of daily corporal punishment meted to her by her husband.
“My husband constantly beats me and whenever he wants to do so, he tells me to kneel down and stretch my hands like a pupil before caning me.
“He often threatened to kill me,” she told the court.
Testifying before Mr Phillips Williams, the court’s President, she said there was no love lost between them again.
Yemisi described her husband of 20 years as an irresponsible man, who has refused to take proper care of her and the children.
She said she had been solely responsible for the feeding and upkeep of the children since her husband lost his job.
“I made effort to secure a loan for my husband from a cooperative bank to start a small business with a promise by him to pay back in instalments.
“But after a few months, he refused to pay and attempt to get him to refund the money was unsuccessful.
“My husband started threatening to kill me and dispose of my corpse without anybody knowing.
“I am fed up with the marriage; there is no love between us again. I can no longer bear the pains and humiliations,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the marriage and to compel the respondent to be responsible for the welfare and education of the children.
The respondent, Wasiu, 49, however, denied the allegations and pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage.
According to him, his wife started misbehaving and became promiscuous the moment he lost his job.
Wasiu, who claimed to have caught her in the act of adultery, said, “My wife later told me that she was fed up with the union and she moved out of the house with the children sometime in 2015.
“However, after much pleading, she returned home later in 2016 only to start engaging in adultery; I have caught her on several occasions.
“My wife stopped cooking for me since July 2016 and finally moved out of the house.”
The respondent said he made efforts and begged his wife to return, especially for the sake of the children, but she remained adamant.
The president of the court invited the estranged couple to his chambers for a possible resolution of the crisis.
He adjourned the case to April 11 for further hearing.

9 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS SURRENDER TO NIGERIAN ARMY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/9-boko-haram-members-surrender-to.html

The Nigerian Army has achieved a major success in the fight against Boko Haram as nine key members of the terrorist organisation have surrendered.
9 key Boko Haram members surrender to Nigerian Army
The nine terrorists reportedly surrendered to the Nigerian Army
A statement from Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the director of Army public relations, said the nine Boko Haram members were from Tambashe village in Dikwa local government area of Borno state.
“While some unscrupulous elements in the society are conniving with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists to continue to commit atrocities, the reality is dawning on the terrorists in the northern part of Borno state.
“Two days ago, nine key Boko Haram terrorists from Tambashe village, Dikwa local government area, voluntarily surrendered to troops deployed along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana road.
“The suspects claimed to be tired of the situation under the Boko Haram terrorists group and willingly offer themselves to troops as a mark of repentance.
“Nevertheless, the repentant suspects are further being investigated,” the statement from Usman sa