ROAD CLOSED AS FUEL LADEN TANKER CATCHES FIRE IN ANTHONY
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/road-closed-as-fuel-laden-tanker.html

The emergency response team of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) closed a section of the Ikorodu Road along Anthony, Lagos Mainland moments ago after a fuel-laden tanker caught fire in the area.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that the tanker moving inwards Idiroko – Anthony suddenly caught fire leading to motorists and other bystanders scampering for safety.
Rescue officers were immediately deployed to the scene to manage the incident with men of the Lagos State Fire Service and LASEMA combining efforts to put out the fire.
As a result of the incident, the main carriage way was cordoned off for final evacuation of the burnt tanker by the rescue officers. Meanwhile, the service lane is open for vehicular movement.
According to the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the tanker is currently being moved to a lay-by along Anthony to ease vehicular movement in the axis.
The agency added that the road will be open to motorists once the burnt tanker gets to a secure location.
Meanwhile, the road closure has led to a heavy traffic along Ojota inward Idiroko. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to access their various destinations while rescue officers work to ensure the road is safe for everyone to use.

PDP TO BUHARI: YOUR CHOGM TRIP, A COLOSSAL WASTE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/pdp-to-buhari-your-chogm-trip-colossal.html

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s attendance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in United Kingdom, which came at huge cost to the nation, was a colossal waste. The opposition party further added that Nigerians are not surprised that the President returned empty handed last night and with no tangible dividend, a development which is the direct consequence of his negative comments about Nigerians and his presentation of false performance indices to his hosts. Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, A statement by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Kola Olagbondiyan said, “While other commonwealth heads of state used the occasion to negotiate businesses and showcase the potentials and opportunities in their countries, our President only succeeded in de-marketing our dear country and painting our citizens, particularly the youths, in the negative. “Nigerians may recall that during his meeting with British Prime Minister, Theresa May, President Buhari, in the quest to hide the failures of his administration and push his 2019 re-election bid, Mr President downplayed the worsened economic and security situation in the country under his watch, but opted for self-praise and brandishing unsubstantiated record of performance. “This self-serving stance ultimately blocked all beneficial bilateral engagements that could have helped secure the much needed international interventions in those critical areas. “Two days after, President Buhari again took the stage at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London and announced to international investors that Nigerian youths, a demography that forms the bulk of our nation’s workforce, are uneducated and lovers of freebies. “We were therefore not surprised that no serious investor sealed any meaningful investment deal with Nigeria as dividend from the CHOGM. “It is also instructive to note that despite the public outrage that trailed his denigration of our youths, the Buhari Presidency has not offered any apology to the nation, particularly our youths, thus further confirming the disdain in which this administration holds our young men and women. “Having returned from CHOGM with nothing but wasted opportunities, the next move by the Buhari Presidency would be to hugely mobilise their spin-doctors with public resources and direct them to inundate the media with claims of imaginary gains in an effort to befool Nigerians. “Nevertheless, while we request the Presidency to immediately make public the cost of this trip on the national coffers, we note that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its federal government have irredeemably failed and can no longer represent our interest and aspiration as a nation. “Nigerians must therefore unite to save our nation from imminent collapse by rallying with the repositioned platform of the PDP to enthrone a purposeful and people-oriented government, come 2019.”

FULANI HERDSMAN KILLS BROTHER OVER MISSING COW
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/fulani-herdsman-kills-brother-over.html

A 22-year-old herdsman, Bello Musa, has been detained for allegedly killing his brother, Abdullahi Musa, over a missing cow in Nasarawa State.


Bello was said to have given the deceased a fatal cut on the neck during a scuffle.

It was learnt that trouble started when the brothers noticed that a cow had strayed into their herd while they were grazing their cattle in Akuwate village in the Doma Local Government Area of the state.

Bello, who narrated what led to his brother’s death, said, “Abdullahi and I took our cattle for grazing. Later, we discovered that a cow, which was not our own, had joined our herd.
“Later, he asked me to sell it in the market, but the animal escaped while I was taking it to the market. I told Abdullahi about the development, but he accused me of selling the cow for N300,000 and pocketing it.”

He added, “I became very angry and we started fighting. In the course of the fight, he injured me on my right hand and I cut him with my cutlass on the neck, he was rushed to the hospital where he died.”

Our correspondent gathered that detectives had recovered the cutlass allegedly used by Bello to attack his brother.

The Nasarawa State police spokesman, Idrissu Kennedy, who confirmed the incident to Eyes Of Lagos on Sunday, explained that it was still under investigation.

He added that the suspect, Bello, was in the police custody and would be arraigned in court after investigation.

I&E FOREX WINDOW ATTRACTS $1.9BN IN 5 DAYS
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/i-forex-window-attracts-19bn-in-5-days.html

The foreign exchange market last week saw an inflow of $1.9 billion through the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window and the interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN had in its two interventions held last week pumped in $606.18 million as $1.29 billion flowed into the market through the I&E window. According to Eyes Of Lagos reports, The highest inflow last week at the I&E window was on Tuesday when $361.38 million flowed in but it dropped to $137.62 million by Thursday. Value of the naira at the I&E window opened the week flat at N360 to the dollar, the same at the close of the previous week and by Thursday, it had depreciated to N360.25 before closing the week at N360.2 to the dollar. The CBN spot rate opened the week at N305.60 and remained unchanged throughout the week. The CBN during the week had pumped in more foreign exchange into the economy selling $396.18 million into the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) segment of the market in its move to guarantee liquidity in the forex market. This brought the total of foreign exchange sold by the apex bank last week to $606.18 million. Earlier in the week it had sold $210 million to meet demand at the wholesale, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the invisibles segment of the market. According to figures obtained from the CBN, the released sum is meant to meet obligations in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors. Confirming the figures, the bank’s acting director, corporate communications department, Isaac Okorafor said that interventions by the CBN in both the retail and wholesale sectors of the forex market were targeted primarily at ensuring liquidity in the market as well as encouraging production and trade, particularly now that the focus was on the promotion of local content. Okorafor further explained that with the country’s reserves nearing $50 billion, CBN was even more determined to sustain the gains recorded through the various policy options the bank took in the course of stemming the depletion of the external reserves and steering Nigeria out of recession. Beyond ensuring liquidity in the inter-bank sector of the market, he said CBN was committed to supporting efforts aimed growing the economy and further diversifying it away from oil. Despite rates closing at N362/$1 on Friday, Okorafor, insisted that the market would remain stable and that CBN would ensure it maintains the country’s external reserves in order to safeguard the international value of the naira.

PANDEMONIUM AS SHIITES TAKE ON POLICE IN ABUJA
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/pandemonium-as-shiites-take-on-police.html

There was pandemonium in Abuja, the nation’s capital, yesterday as protesting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) clashed with officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agents. Members of the group popularly known as Shiites, who had been around major streets of Abuja since last week, are protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Eyewitnesses at the scene of the clash told Eyes Of Lagos that the maturity and emotional restraint of the security operatives were all it took to prevent the fracas from degenerating into a more bloody mayhem. “The Shiite members were seen throwing stones and sticks at an armoured tank mobilized to the protest scene. They were several attempts by the protesters to break into the armoured vehicle. The Shiites members were not moved by the teargas continuously fired by security agents to disperse them”, one of them who spoke to ur correspondent said. The FCT Police Command was however said to have restored normalcy after the incident had resulted in the destruction of some government and Police operational vehicles. According to spokesperson of the Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, the members of the Shiite group also injured 22 Police personnel during the protest. Manzah said, “The FCT Police Command later restored normalcy at parts of Maitama following a violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who went on rampage and were attacking innocent citizens, disrupting business activities, obstructing traffic movement and smashing windscreen of innocent citizens’ vehicles in the affected areas “Following the unfortunate incident which also resulted in the destruction of some government and Police operational vehicles, the members of the Shiite group also injured 22 police personnel during the protest.” Manzah said the police also arrested 115 members of the sect, recovered catapults, iron bars, stones, ball bearings and pink head bands from them. DSP Manzah further said, “A Joint Team of detectives from the Command in conjunction with operatives from the IGP Monitoring Unit have commenced investigation into the incident. The arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation. “The FCT Police Command hereby warn members of Shiites movement from further disrupting the peace, harmony and free flow of traffic in FCT. “This is to also to urge the members of the public particularly parents not to allow their children or wards to be used as instrument of violence in any demonstration by any group that could jeopardise public peace and harmony. It is therefore imperative to state that anyone caught in the act of violent demonstration or any act capable of causing the breach of public peace will be made to face the wrath of the law.” The Command noted that contrary to speculations from some sections of the media, no life was lost in the violent protest as the Police operatives deployed to quell the protest were professional in handling the situation. On its part, the Shiite group condemned what it described as Police attack on its peaceful procession in Abuja. In a statement signed by president, media forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, the sect claimed that the Police opened fire on the peaceful free Zakzaky protesters, killing at least one and injuring many others. Musa said, “It all started in the afternoon after the Police laid siege on the venue of Free Zakzaky sit out, Unity Fountain. The peaceful protest march was then started with the intent of reaching the offices of National Human rights commission. “That was when a combined team of security agents, including the Police, Army and Civil defence attacked the protesters with tear gas canisters, water cannon and even live bullets. We have confirmed massive arrests of persons as well thereafter, numbering about 230. Many of them have injuries consequent on the police aggression. “It was purely a show of shame by the Police and other security services, who are hell bent on forcibly stopping our legitimate campaign for the government to obey the orders of its courts by freeing Sheikh Zakzaky. “Ours is a legitimate struggle. We have the right to protest and assemble peacefully. This we have done in Abuja and other places peacefully for almost two and half years now since the heinous Zaria massacre. We have undoubtedly stepped up our campaign in Abuja since the last 100 days on learning of the deteriorating health condition of our leader, who had suffered a mild stroke in custody, and has been denied access to adequate medical care. It is noteworthy that these rallies and processions had been peaceful, with daily sit out at the Unity Fountain and street protests. The Shiite group reiterated its demand that Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife be freed from illegal detention, as well as hundreds of its memberts still in detention with various security agencies. PDP Condemns Scuffle, Calls For Probe Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded for an immediate inquest into yesterday’s violent clash between security forces and members of the Shiite movement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. National publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said the party is gravely worried over the handling of security in the nation’s capital and the near breakdown of law and order, which resulted in stampede and disruption of public and private businesses in the city center. The PDP noted that the development is linked with protests over the continued refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to release the leader of the group, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, despite being granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction. It stated: “The party further notes the continued show of force and infringements on the rights of citizens by the APC administration. “Furthermore, the PDP and indeed all lovers of democracy across the country are deeply concerned by the continued erosion of democratic tenets by the APC administration, resulting in avoidable crisis in various parts of the country. The PDP sues for calm while demanding for an immediate inquest into the cause of this clash. “We also urge security high commands to ensure that this matter is nipped in the bud with the highest level of professionalism”.

DANGOTE BAGS ABU TOP CORPORATE AWARD
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/04/dangote-bags-abu-top-corporate-award.html

Africa’s foremost philanthropist and president of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote has bagged ABU’s top Corporate Award. The Award was conferred on him by the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association. Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, The 2018 Corporate Award was presented to the top industrialist in view of the numerous contributions of his conglomerate to the development of the educational sector in Nigeria, the Association’s National President Professor Ahmed Tijani Mora said. Professor Mora said the interventions of the Aliko Dangote Foundation in the educational sector over the years have been unprecedented through, especially, the sponsorship of various scholarship programmes. Reading his citation, Professor Mora said apart from the $100million donation to fight malnutrition, Mr. Dangote is a ‘dedicated philanthropist’ who has also “made an initial endowment of $1.25billion to the Aliko Dangote Foundation in March 2014.” He said Dangote Foundation has constructed 10 blocks of hostels for ABU Zaria. According to him, the Association has 12 governors as alumni, adding that one in every four Nigerian is governed by the alumni of the school. The Dangote Academy located in Obajana Kogi State is yet another contribution of the Group to education to Nigeria, he said. The Group’s executive director, Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communication Engr Ahmed Mansur who received the award on behalf of Africa’s richest person Aliko Dangote, said the award will spur the conglomerate to scale up its intervention programmes in all sectors. Mr. Mansur, while thanking the Association, said the Dangote Group will not rest on its oars in ensuring that the educational sector achieved its rightful place in Nigeria. He said the Dangote Group has pumped billions of naira into the educational sector over the years, even as it planned to officially launched another multi-million naira hostel, with the capacity to accommodate 1,440 students at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. It would be recalled that the Group had only recently donated a World Class Dangote Business School worth N1.2bn to the Bayero University Kano, and building another one in University of Ibadan worth N250million. Earlier, it donated N200 million to Katsina State University while N500 million for Bayero State University Business School in Kano. Funding was also provided for the construction of a 500 capacity student hostel complex of the University of Science and Technology, Wudil. The Group also gave N118 million for a squash complex project at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka main campus and another N50 million to the University of Port Harcourt, as well as N100million for the proposed Otuoke University. Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Ibrahim Garba commended the awardees, and added that all hands must be on the deck to rescue the educational sector. Professor Garba said out of the about eighty thousand applicants yearly, of which thirty thousand are qualified, only 11,500 eventually get admitted due to limited facility. Other awardees include: Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Amina J. Muhammad, the SGF, Boss Mustafa, NNPC MD, Maikanti Baru, NPA MD, Hadiza Bala Usman, Ace Banker Hayatudeen Muhammad and the Governors of Gombe, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kano, Bauchi and Adamawa among others.

JAMB RELEASES 2018 UTME RESULTS\
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/03/jamb-releases-2018-utme-results.html

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the final batch of the 2018 UTME results.
The Board confirmed this in a chat, on Monday morning.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, JAMB Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said on phone that the results could be assessed from Tuesday afternoon.
According to Benjamin, “We are not holding any press conference to make the announcement; no need for that.
“All those who sat for the examination are advised to check the JAMB website this afternoon.
“All results will be uploaded at 2pm,” he said.
He said candidates could check their JAMB results on www.jamb.org.ng
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was conducted nationwide between Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 17, 2018.
How to check JAMB result 2018:
Requirements:
Your PIN
Your Serial Number or Registration Number
Steps to follow:
Visit JAMB website – www.jamb.org.ng
Once it opens, check the upper right side of the website
Insert your PIN, Serial No or Reg Number
When JAMB 2018 RESULT comes up, print out the copies for further usage.The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the final batch of the 2018 UTME results.
The Board confirmed this in a chat, on Monday morning.
JAMB Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said on phone that the results could be assessed from Tuesday afternoon.
According to Benjamin, “We are not holding any press conference to make the announcement; no need for that.
“All those who sat for the examination are advised to check the JAMB website this afternoon.
“All results will be uploaded at 2pm,” he said.
He said candidates could check their JAMB results on www.jamb.org.ng
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was conducted nationwide between Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 17, 2018.
How to check JAMB result 2018:
Requirements:
Your PIN
Your Serial Number or Registration Number
Steps to follow:
Visit JAMB website – www.jamb.org.ng
Once it opens, check the upper right side of the website
Insert your PIN, Serial No or Reg Number
When JAMB 2018 RESULT comes up, print out the copies for further usage.

Kidnappers On Tricycle Bath UNIMAID Student With Acid
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/03/kidnappers-on-tricycle-bath-unimaid.html

final year student of the Universty of Maiduguri, Fatima Abu Usman is currently on admission at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital(UMTH ) battling with acid burns after two men kidnapped her in in Maiduguri on tricycle( Keke NAPEP)) and dumped her after dispossesing her of her mobile phones and other valuables. Fatima who is of the Department of Nursing in UNIMAID was kidnapped on Friday last week in the heart of Maiduguri in front of the First Bank Plc, shortly after she emerged from the bank where she had gone to deposit some cash.Eyes Of Lagos gathered, According the senior special adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on social media , Mr Christopher Akaba ,the victim boarded a commercial tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP to Baga Road, but unknown to her, one of the men in the tricycle brought out a white handkerchief and pretended as though he was having cough, but as soon as he touched her face with it, she passed out, only to find herself dumped at the Railway Bayan Quarters area, bathed with a substance suspected to be acid around 1pm last Friday. “She was also disposesed of her android phone and other valuables. “We visited her at the UMTH yesterday where she’s currently on admission. “It’s sad that an innocent young lady like Fatima, who is already in her final year at the university and looked forward to a better future, should be subjected to such cruel and inhumane treatment by criminal-minded Keke NAPEP operators in the state. “ I will suggest that it is about time that the activities of Keke NAPEP operators in the state be thoroughly scrutinised so as to weed out the criminal elements among them. Those perpetrating such crime may not even be from the state”, Mr Akaba said. He noted that if this can happen during the broad daylight, one wonders what has been going on under the cover of darkness. Continuing Akaba said , “ I learnt that many of such cases had been reported to the police in recent times, but the female victims and their families hardly open up because sexual assault is involved in most cases. “I also believe that there’s a direct correlation between such crime and the abuse of drugs by youths in the society. No right thinking individual will commit such crime except under the influence of drugs.

#BBNAIJA: LOLU AND C-CEE IN HEATED FIGHT, RISK DISQUALIFICATION
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/bbnaija-lolu-and-c-cee-in-heated-fight.html

The Big Brother Naija house was on fire today as Lolu and and the very controversial C-Cee engaged in a very heated fight, they also risked disqualification despite the fact that both of them are on two strikes each.

Other housemates like Bam Bam, Cleo, Teddy A and others tried to intervene in the matter


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j6-6Oz_l5M

APC ENDORSES PRESIDENT BUHARI FOR SECOND TERM
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/apc-endorses-president-buhari-for.html

The national executive committee of Nigeria’s ruling party has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term in an election next year, two senior party sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Buhari, who took office in May 2015, has not yet said whether he intends to seek re-election. The 75-year-old leader spent five months on medical leave in Britain last year for an unspecified ailment, raising questions about his ability to run Africa’s most populous nation.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, The national executive committee of the president’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party, which takes decisions on the party’s direction, held a one-day meeting which concluded late on Tuesday.
“The party made it clear that this endorsement is not an automatic ticket for the president,” one of the sources said, adding that the party would still conduct a presidential primary to be fair to other potential candidates.
A spokesman for the president could not immediately be reached for comment.
Nigeria’s political parties must select their candidates for the 2019 presidential election between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7 this year. Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place on Feb. 16, 2019.
Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s minister of communications who played a prominent role in Buhari’s 2015 campaign, said in January he would chair a group to support the re-election of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Campaigning for the re-election of a president in Nigeria has often started with such support groups before the incumbent declares his intention to run again.

GOV AMBODE HAS PLANS FOR ONE MILLION LUCKY LAGOSIANS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/gov-ambode-has-plans-for-one-million.html

Lagos State Government on Tuesday, February 2018, said that it would have trained one million residents on coding by 2030 to make them to compete favorable for employments globally.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, The Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, gave the assurance at the sixth edition of Social Media Week Lagos, with the theme: ‘Closer’ .
He spoke on the topic “Teaching One Million Lagosians to Code”.
Bank-Olemoh said that global competitiveness required critical thinking and problem-solving skills which could be acquired through coding.
Bank-Olemoh said that skills to be acquired during the training would also make beneficiaries to be entrepreneurs.
“Lagos population is 65 per cent young; so, you have to give them skills that will make them to succeed.
“How do we ensure that the workforce in Lagos succeeds? Technology has to play a role.
“We want Lagos to continue to prosper and the average workforce able to deliver, ” he said.
” We also want to ensure that the average Nigerian becomes relevant and able to compete globally.
According to the official, skills acquired through coding stay with one for the rest of his life.
”That alone is beneficial to the individual and encouraging to the government.”

NNAMDI KANU, WIFE SPOTTED IN GHANA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/nnamdi-kanu-wife-spotted-in-ghana.html

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been spotted by security agents in Ghana.


There has been controversy over the whereabouts of the IPOB leader who was last seen in public in September 2017 before the military launched Operation Python Dance II — apparently to quell the agitation for the breakaway of south-eastern Nigeria.

Since the military raided his home in Aba, Abia state, there has been speculation that he was arrested and might have been killed.

At some point, Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state, said Kanu was in London.

His court trial for treason has stalled and Enyinnaya Abaribe, the senator who served as Kanu’s surety when he was granted bail after spending 18 months in detention, has sought to be discharged from the obligation after his disappearance.

TheCable reports that, security sources have informed them that Kanu was ferried to the Niger Delta creeks by militants at the height of Python Dance II, from where he found his way to Ghana by sea.

He is regularly seen at Kenzo Bar and IBG saloon in Accra, disguised in fez cap and usually in company with his wife, Uchechi.

source: Eyes Of Lagos

PDP DENIES SQUANDERING $500BN OIL PROCEEDS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/pdp-denies-squandering-500bn-oil.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari that PDP squandered the sum of $500billion oil proceeds in 16 years as baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated. Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, The party urged the president not to allow his aides railroad him into peddling what they called groundless allegations and bandying of unverified figures, as doing that could detract from his personality. PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said the figures alluded to by the President does not even tally or reflect the actual oil related profile of the nation during the said period and urged the President not to allow his handlers set him up for public ridicule. He said, “The entire country is aware that the Presidency is on a feverish mode over their bound-to-fail 2019 re-election bid for which they have resorted to making spurious claims against the PDP even when it is clear to Nigerians that the PDP has since rebranded while preponderance of those who mismanaged the nation’s resources have now found a safe haven in the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC).” The party however challenged President Buhari to name one corrupt person in the repositioned and rebranded PDP and it will hand him a list of an army of corrupt persons who are hiding in his APC including those who funded his 2015 presidential campaigns with stolen money in addition to his many cronies who are now frittering away billion of naira under his watch. “We know that President Buhari did not source his figures, otherwise we would have directly taken him to task on the veracity of his claims and detestable image of his party. “We however ask; is the President and his handlers not aware of the humongous corruption going on under the Buhari Presidency? What have they to say to the recent Transparency International (TI) report which shows that corruption has worsened under the Buhari administration? What have they to say about the official memo detailing shady oil deals to the tune of N9 trillion ($25 billion) at the NNPC which is directly under the purview of the President as minister of Petroleum Resources? “The Presidency is yet to address its complicity in the heavy sleazes in the National Health Insurance Scheme where billions of naira have allegedly been siphoned by their agents, in spite of the Treasury Single Account (TSA); the alleged diversion of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil and the frittering of billions of naira meant for rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons in the northeast, all to service APC interests? “Nigerians are alarmed by the President’s claim that his administration inherited a collapsing economy when it is common knowledge that he was actually handed a thriving economy, ranked the third largest in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world. “Has Mr President forgotten that when he assumed office in 2015, the value of our naira was N185 to 1USD? Nigerians are aware that the naira went as low as N510 to 1USD and in case Mr President is not aware, Nigerians are also ridiculing his much touted strengthening of the naira. “We therefore urge President Buhari and his dysfunctional APC to come to terms with the fact that Nigerians now know the truth and can no longer be swayed by propaganda and false claims with which the APC hoodwinked the nation in 2015.”

DIAMOND BANK TO REWARD CUSTOMERS WITH N433M IN NEW PROMO
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/diamond-bank-to-reward-customers-with.html

A businessman, based in Markurdi, Benue state, Mr. Rapheal Ogugua, has received the star prize of a Hyundai Accent car during the Season 9 DiamondXtra regional prize presentation ceremony held in Umuahia, Abia State. Also,Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, the bank said it has set aside a whopping N433 million as the total prize money to be won in its Diamondxtra Season 10 reward scheme which kicked off in January, 2018. The head, Mass Market Segment, Diamond Bank, Osita Ede said that the prizes for this year has been increased by 20 per cent to give more customers the opportunity to win in the monthly and quarterly draws. According to him, DiamondXtra Season 10 is a testament of how people’s lives have changed. Now it is possible for someone to win salary for life. It is bigger than ever before and the Bank has given out over N5 billion and this year we are giving out 20 per cent over what we have been giving. He also revealed that winners are expected to emerge from all the geo-political zones in the country. Of all the winners that are expected to emerge from the draws and rewarded in the season, one customer will win the star prize of salary for life and 10 customers will be rewarded with N1 million every month in the monthly electronic draws.
“The DiamondXtra Season 10 monthly and quarterly draws are meant to reward our customers and give them the financial power to contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s economy. The draws scheduled for this season reaffirms Diamond Bank’s commitment to financially empower more Nigerians by spreading the draws across the six geopolitical zones throughout the four business quarters of the year,” Osita concluded. Other unique benefits that DiamondXtra customers enjoy, include earning competitive monthly interest on savings, lodgment of cheques and dividend warrants from other banks into the account for value, access to quality healthcare for just N6, 000.00 annually, Internet and telephone transactions and several other banking transactions on the Bank’s ATMs and other electronic channels. Head, South Directorate, regional Businesses, Diamond Bank, Nkem Okoro, said that the DiamondXtra account is open to both existing and potential customers of the bank. He revealed that a deposit balance of N5, 000 qualifies a customer to participate in the draws while a multiple of that amount increases the customer’s chances of winning.

BOKO HARAM TOP COMMANDER KILLED
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/boko-haram-top-commander-killed.html

Nigerian troops in Borno have killed five Boko Haram insurgents and captured a top commander of the group in the ongoing operation in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad basin.



Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of Operation Lafiya Dole, in a statement in Maiduguri, said troops also rescued three civilians, recovered vehicles and high calibre ammunition in various operations in the past two days.

Nwachukwu said on Thursday, the troops engaged and neutralised a number of fleeing insurgents while attempting to escape the military blocking position in one of the cleared enclaves ‘Sabil-Huda’, deep in Sambisa Forest.He said that the troops also recovered one G-III rifle magazine, one life jacket, a light Machine Gun metal link, four rounds of Anti-Aircraft ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and three rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

“Unfortunately, two soldiers were injured in the process; they had been evacuated by the Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment,” he said.

Nwachukwu said that the troops on Friday launched offensive targeting a terrorist’s hideouts up ‘CAMP ZAIRO’, and neutralized a number of insurgents in spite of initial damaged caused to their Armoured Fighting Vehicle by Improvise Explosive Device (IED) planted beneath the ground.

He said that the troops killed five insurgents; several others wounded and recovered ammunition at a hideout in Parisu, Sambisa Forest.

Nwachukwu disclosed that troops of 151 Battalion in conjunction with “7 Division Support Group’ had also cleared nine terrorists’ hideouts along Frigi-Izza area.

The director added that the troops also recovered one motorcycle, two bicycles, 10 bicycle tyres, one bicycle, three Boko Haram flags, a solar panel, five drums filled with grain, two mattresses, two grinding machines, three bags of metal scraps, two motorcycle tyres and two underground grain silos.

Also recovered are one AK-47 Rifle Magazine, 1 dummy rifle, a round of 12.7mm ammunition, 12 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, assorted IED materials and a tool box.

According to him, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE provided air cover for the land troops in the conduct of the operations.

YOU SHOULD BE IN JAIL, ABDULLAHI ADAMU TELLS OBASANJO
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/you-should-be-in-jail-abdullahi-adamu.html

The Senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial district, Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday took a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo for discrediting the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, said Obasanjo lacks moral standing to counsel Buhari against seeking a second term in office after he (Obasanjo) had sought for a third term in office. He said if the anti-corruption war of President Buhari were to be total and blanket in nature, corrupt-minded Nigerians like Obasanjo ought to be in jail by now. Senator Adamu who is the chairman of the Northern Senators Group stated this in Abuja yesterday at a press briefing in reaction to the recent special statement issued by Obasanjo on Buhari’s performance in governance. He agreed with the former president’s submission that the anti-corruption war as presently being prosecuted is selective, the benefit of which, according to him, Obasanjo is enjoying going by his multiple corrupt practices while in government from 1999 to 2007. The lawmaker said, “Chief Obasanjo said that President Buhari is selective in his anti-corruption war. I agree with him because if the President were not selective, Chief Obasanjo himself would be in the dock today on trial on charges of corruption arising from the corrupt practices in the pursuit of his third term gambit in the National Assembly in 2006. “He (Obasanjo) knows as well as I and other leading members of the PDP that he badly wanted it and initiated the process of constitutional amendment. He bribed each member of the National Assembly who signed to support the amendment, with the whopping sum of N50million. “The fresh mint money was taken in its original boxes presumably from the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria and distributed among the legislators. The money was not his, and it was not appropriated by the national assembly as required by law. I therefore, agree that in failing to make former President Obasanjo account for the money, President Buhari is waging his anti -corruption war selectively. “Nor should we forget that President Buhari has also not bothered to interrogate Obasanjo’s role in the Halliburton scandal for which some Americans are cooling their heels in jail. Perhaps President Buhari might wish to look in the Siemens affairs in which the Obasanjo administration was indicted”. Adamu also punctured Obasanjo’s low marks for Buhari’s government on economy and security, declaring that Buhari inherited most of the problems afflicting the Nation from the two areas. He continued: “Every administration grapples with problems thrown at it by circumstances beyond its control. President Buhari inherited an economy that was unsteady on its feet. “He also inherited the security problems such as Boko Haram, armed robberies and kidnappings. Yes, I agree, that under his watch these problems should grow less, not more. But the solution to problems such as these is a slow and agonising process since he has no powers to simply make them disappear overnight”. He lampooned Obasanjo further, alleging that his eight years in government almost ruined the hard earned democratic governance in Nigeria as a result of self-delusion and messianic mentality. The Senator continued: “He (Obasanjo) waged his anti-corruption in a manner intended to rubbish all our reserved institutions such as the courts and the national assembly in a way to be the only Nigerian without palm oil on his hands. “The courts quaked over his unconstitutional rampapage . Chief Obasanjo left our democracy in a lurch. He was like a wrecking ball. In 2007, he alone, decided his successor in office contrary to the rules of the game, the repercussions and consequences of which are now history“. He further declared that the coalition Obasanjo advocated for in his statement would not fly, as it is an exercise in political skullduggery, just as he warned that if the former Nigerian leader doesn’t desist from his behavioural pattern, he will end up being a national nuisance and irrelevant figure.

#BBNAIJA: TOBI’S PARENT ARE RICH HE DOESN’T NEED BBNAIJA MONEY – ACTRESS LIZZY ANJORIN
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/bbnaija-tobis-parent-are-rich-he-doesnt.html

NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS, LIZZY ANJORIN, TOOK TO HER INSTAGRAM HANDLE TO REVEAL WHAT WE ALL DON’T KNOW ABOUT BIG BROTHER NAIJA HOUSEMATE, TOBI, WHO HAS BEEN ON HEADLINES FOLLOWING HIS CARPETING OF THE YORUBA DEMON STYLE IN HIS DEALINGS WITH FELLOW HOUSEMATE, CEE-C.
NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS, LIZZY ANJORIN, TOOK TO HER INSTAGRAM HANDLE TO REVEAL WHAT WE ALL DON’T KNOW ABOUT BIG BROTHER NAIJA HOUSEMATE, TOBI, WHO HAS BEEN ON HEADLINES FOLLOWING HIS CARPETING OF THE YORUBA DEMON STYLE IN HIS DEALINGS WITH FELLOW HOUSEMATE, CEE-C.
“HEY. EGBAMI KE!!! ALLOW ME TO EXPOSE TOBI BAKRE OF BBNG. HE IS A BANKER,HE ACQUIRED BSC @ AGE 19. WHEN AM TALKING, HE HARDLY RAISE HIS HEAD TO LOOK INTO MY EYES,VERY HUMBLE AND RESPECTFUL.
I SWEAR, TOBI WILL BE THE LAST PERSON I COULD EVER IMAGINE TO SEE ON SCREEN. PARDON ME, HUSTLE NEVA GREE ME ENJOY MOST OF THE NICE SCREENED PROGRAMS.
I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH MY IG HANDLE AND I SAW MY OWN TOBI BAKRE IN BBNG HOUSE. THE MOST EVIL THING YOU CAN DO IS TO BE PRAISING THE GOOD DEED OF YOUR GODSENT,AFTER THEY HAVE DIED. ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU WHO TOBI IS.
TOBI’S MUM WAS MY ACCOUNT MANAGER YEARS BACK, SHE ENTRUSTED MILLIONS IN MY HAND FOR BUSINESS AND SHE ALSO INTRODUCE ME TO NICE CUSTOMERS THAT WOULD PURCHASE IT.
TOBI’S DADDY GAVE ME HIS MULTIMILLION NAIRA MANSION FOR FILM SHOOTING FOR GOOD 4MONTHS TO SHOOT WITHOUT COLLECTING A DIME INSTEAD HE GAVE ME MORE MONEY. APART FROM THAT,ANYTIME I VISIT AGÒ-ÌWOYE TOBI WILL VACATE IS ROOM AND STAY DOWNSTAIRS.DURING MY OWO NAIRABET MOVIE PREMIERE, I SWEAR TO GOD, TOBI’S MUM CAME WITH 30 POWERFUL DIGNITARIES THAT BLESSED ME WITH �..IT IS ONLY TOBI’S DAD THAT CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY TWICE IN A YEAR.
DAD YAFF DOUBLE STORED MY BD DATE. THERE IS NO WAY I WILL WRITE MY SUCCESS STORY WITHOUT MENTIONING MRS BAKRE, SHE TREAT ME LIKE HER 1ST CHILD AND HER HUSBAND WILL CALL AND SAY “LIZZY ANJORIN, ITS BEEN LONG I SETTLE YOU. CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT AND MANAGE THAT TOKEN FOR THE WEEKEND”.
FUNNY ENOUGH, MR & MRS BAKRE ALWAYS TREAT ME LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE SKY. I AM SAYING IT BOLDLY THAT WHAT I HAVE BECOME TODAY IN BUSINESS IS THROUGH THE HELP OF GOD AND MRS BAKRE. IRONY OF LIFE, WHEN TOBI’S PARENTS MET ME. THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH ALL THEY HAVE WITH ME. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ANY OF THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE ON SCREEN? MR & MRS BAKRE EACH TIME YOU PUT SMILE ON MY FACE, I SAY TO YOU…YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD. TOBI WIN, WIN OR THE OTHER WAY ROUND. I KNOW ONE DAY YOU WILL RULE THIS COUNTRY COS YOU ARE BORN TO RULE. FOR THE SAKE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE YOUR PARENTS FEEDS EVERY WEEK IN AGO -IWOYE, YOUR PARENTS GOOD DEEDS WILL ALWAYS PAVE WAYS FOR YOU WHERE EVER YOU GO. PLEASE, LET’S MAKE TOBI BAKRE WIN ON BBNG.
THIS IS MY REACTION WHEN PEOPLE ACCUSED TOBI FOR BEING TOO WEAK TOWARDS WOMEN….CAN’T YOU GUYZ RECOGNISE (YORUBA ANGEL FROM YORUBA DEMON)..TOBI BAKRE IS A COMPLETE UNDILUTED YORUBA ANGEL.
PEOPLE HAVE BEING COMPLAINING ABOUT TOBI AND CEE CEE …TRUST ME “TOBI” CANNOT HURT,I THINK WE SHOULD ALL APPRECIATE TOBI FOR BEING A YORUBA ANGEL NOT YORUBA DEMON …
TOBI EMULATE A WONDERFUL CARING SPIRIT FROM HIS FATHER..PEOPLE SAYING TOBI’S PARENT ARE RICH HE DOESN’T NEED MONEY .I THINK WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW HATE AND JEALOUSY TO RUIN OUR LIFE…WE ARE TO LOVE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE LOVE ..WE SHOULD EMBRACE PEOPLE THAT RENDER HELP TO THE SOCIETY..
TOBI’S PARENT GOOD DEED HAS PAVED WAY FOR HIM ALREADY SO LETS SUPPORT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT PRICE, LET HIM WIN SO THAT TOBI CAN EMULATE SPIRIT OF GIVING FROM HIS PARENT….
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BAD ECONOMY ..OUR HATE TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE RUIN OUR ECONOMY ALL OVER THE WORLD NOT GOVT …WE SHOULD LEARN TO APPRECIATE GOOD DEED,TO SERVE AS A LESSON TO OTHERS…
IF I CAN SWALLOW MY PRIDE AND DO DIS …YOU TOO CAN QUENCH HATE AND SUPPORT THE SUCCESSFUL ONES SO THAT YOU CAN BE ONE …WE ALL SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE POOR ONES WILL DEFINATLY CLIMB SUCCESS LADDER THROUGH SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY ..#TOBI WIN…#TEAMTOBI# #PARENTGOODWILLPAVESWAYSFOR THEIRCHILDREN#”

SOURCE : EYES OF LAGOS

HERDSMEN NOW MORE DEADLIER THAN BOKO HARAM – WOLE SOYINKA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/herdsmen-now-more-deadlier-than-boko.html

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to treat the issue of herdsmen killings being reported all over the country with kid gloves, saying the herdsmen are becoming more deadly than the highly dreaded Boko Haram sect.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Soyinka, who stated this while fielding questions during a press conference at the Freedom Park on Lagos Island, Lagos said wanton insecurity that has engulfed the nation, especially the herdsmen crisis seemed to have plunged the president into a state of trance.
He said the sooner the president got out of the trance, the better for the nation, lamenting that the president was committing lots of unforced errors and could not imagine why Buhari should reinstate the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Umar Yusuf, who was suspended over questionable circumstances and was being investigated.
Dwelling on the herdsmen crisis in the country, Soyinka decried the onerous and total failure of the Federal Government to protect the lives and properties of the masses as herdsmen had gone on killing spree across the country.
He described as unacceptable and irresponsibly the nonchalant attitude of the government in handling the herdsmen crisis, saying that it had reached a point where the people would have to protect themselves.
Soyinka also decried series of cow invasion of his premises and some other parts of the Southwest State, saying that he had reported to the police several times but warned that next time cows invaded his territory, there might be suya feast.
The Nobel laureate called for organised resistance against herdsmen invasion in territories in order to avert the wanton killings that occurred in Benue State and some other states in recent times.
Soyinka urged voluntary organisations and associations like hunter associations to form themselves into groups to disarm any herdsmen found with arms.
According to him, once a herdsman was found with weapon, the police should first be reported to for prompt action and that if the police failed to act, the voluntary organisations, such as Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, hunter associations and others should move in to disarm such herdsman or herdsmen.
He charged the various associations to intensify surveillance to nip in the bud herdsmen invasion in their communities in the Southwest if the police could not do their jobs properly, leaving the people with no choice than to defend themselves.
Soyinka further said the crisis between farmers and herdsmen was not new, noting that the way the crisis had been ignored in recent times had created problems.
“We need to understand that the confrontation between farmers and the cattle rearers are not new. But the issue of concern is the way the attack had been handled by the government and the lies that followed after the attacks, especially from remarks from the public officeholders, especially from the Minister of Defense.
“Can one imagine the minister of defense opening his mouth to utter words in support for the attacks perpetrated by the herdsmen across the country? With those words, why is that man still in office? What sought of government is that?”
Soyinka also kicked against the proposed establishment of colonies as a way of solving the herdsmen/farmers crisis, saying that ranching was preferably as it was being done in other parts of the world, adding that no business should warrant killings of people for whatever reason.
“Establishment of ranches is the solution that many countries have adopted to prevent clashes between these two set of people. There is something I called governance body language. The body language of the government is sad and it has allowed the attack to continue for long. The long term planning proposed by the Federal Government has not gone hand in hand with the security necessity,” he stated.
The Nobel laureate also said there were lots of stolen money in the system which disgruntled elements could use to destabilise the nation, especially when the 2019 elections were around the corner.
Soyinka also backed the introduction of State Police, saying it could help in solving the herdsmen crisis, adding that a situation where there is centralise police system had not helped the system.

PATIENCE JONATHAN TO COURT: DISMISS EFCC SUIT SEEKING FORFEITURE OF N9.1BN
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/patience-jonathan-to-court-dismiss-efcc.html


Former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to strike out an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking temporary forfeiture of the sums of $8,435,788.84 and N7.35billion linked to her. Eyes of Lagos gathered that, Mrs. Jonathan is also asking the court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun for an order striking out the motion filed last December 13 on the ground that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear it. She further maintained that the anti-graft agency’s motion is “a gross abuse of court process” because the issues were already pending before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. “The ex parte originating summons filed by the EFCC amounts to forum shopping, thus an abuse of court process,” she said. Through her lawyer Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mrs Jonathan said the same application had earlier been filed by the EFCCC before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the court’s Lagos division, upon which it had obtained an exparte order. She said the same application was before Justice Nyako “over same parties to be affected by this same application.” The former first lady said EFCC allegedly failed to disclose the different suits and orders made prior to filing the application before Justice Olatoregun in Lagos. “The respondent is making great mockery of this judicial system and in extension this honourable court,” Mrs Jonathan said. In a supporting affidavit, a lawyer in Ozekhome’s chambers, Chimaobi Onuigbo, said EFCC knowing that its application had been challenged in Abuja, filed the one in Lagos. “The respondent upon knowing that their application had been challenged has come to this court to seek same relief over same accounts and parties that it has filed same application against in all the suits already mentioned. “They have never been invited, investigated, charged or convicted by any court after same accounts have remained freezed for over one year and two months. “I know that the applicant will never disclose these gross abuse of the judicial process of this court to this honourable court as this same matter is pending before four different courts of concurrent jurisdiction,” the deponent said. The respondents in EFCC’s motion are Mrs Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services, Finchley Top Homes Ltd, AM PM Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd, Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba. EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo had at the last hearing informed Justice Olatoregun that he had filed an affidavit showing that all monies seeking to be forfeited were not subject of litigation in any court. He said the coast was clear to hear the forfeiture application, adding: “The application we filed in Lagos is for forfeiture and it is not pending before any court other in Nigeria.” EFCC said the funds, which it believes were diverted from Bayelsa State, were found in 15 bank accounts linked to the Mrs. Jonathan. According to the commission, the funds were allegedly moved from Bayelsa State’s coffers when Mrs. Jonathan served as permanent secretary. The Commission alleged that she gained access to the funds by fraudulently assuming the identity of one Esther Oba as the signatory to the accounts. Hearing was stalled in the case yesterday due to Justice Olatoregun’s absence. The case is coming up for hearing today.

PHOTOS: OBANIKORO OUTLET OF POPULAR FASHION DESIGNER GUTTED BY FIRE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/photos-obanikoro-outlet-of-popular.html


The Obanikoro, Lagos Mainland office of popular fashion designer known as Vivid Imagination was completely razed by fire on Saturday, February 10, 2018.
It was learnt that the inferno caused by a power surge started at about 2:00 am and continued for several hours before the arrival of rescue officers attached to the Lagos State Fire Service who then put out the fire.
According to Eyes Of Lagos reports, the fire gutted the entire store which is home to the company and client’s fabrics, ready-to-be-delivered outfits, shoes, machine equipments and other accessories.
Commenting on the incident, the Managing Director, Godwin Mekwuye, said: “We wish to announce that there was a fire incident at our company that vastly affected our store and factory.
“The damage done by this incident was phenomenal because it affected over thirty years of the brand’s history and memories as well as hundreds of millions naira worth of goods and equipment.
“This is a very difficult time for us as we begin to investigate the cause or causes of this disaster, but we assure our clients’ that the process of revival will begin immediately and we would ensure that this setback will not affect our time-tested efficiency and qualitative service delivery.”
See more photos of the gutted building below.

TERMINAL OPERATORS WAIVE N1.5BN CHARGES ON STRANDED TCN CONTAINERS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/02/terminal-operators-waive-n15bn-charges.html

Container terminal operators at Nigeria’s seaports have waived N1.5 billion on 500 containers carrying power equipment belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The terminal operators under the auspices of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) said yesterday that they decided to waive the amount on the TCN containers in support of the federal government’s efforts to ensure steady supply of electricity in the country. STOAN’s spokesman, Bolaji Akinola said, “We are not unmindful of the fact that electricity is the most important commodity for national development. Stable electric power supply is an empowerment and an enabler for people to work from the domestic level and the cottage industries, through the small-scale and medium industries to employment in the large-scale manufacturing complexes. “We took this bold step in support of the government’s effort to ensure steady power supply and accelerate economic development. In April 2016, the office of the Vice President set up a committee comprising of the Ministers of Finance, Transport, Power, Works and Housing, along with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service to look into the stranded power equipment containers in the ports. “As a result, terminal operators and shipping lines were invited to a meeting on April 5, 2016 at the office of the Minister of Power, Works & Housing. We agreed at the meeting to a 50 percent storage waiver ending April 30th 2016 for the power projects while the shipping lines agreed to 75 per cent waiver on demurrage. “The government however could not make payments for the containers and storage continued to accrue and then, we were called again to a meeting on 1st September 2016. Because we are committed to the well being of Nigeria and Nigerians, we still went ahead to honour the April 2016 agreement. The implication of this was that we had to waive additional charges that accrued as storage over another one year period from April 2016 to when payment was made in March 2017”. The federal government confirmed in January 2017 that it had taken delivery of the 500 power equipment containers from the port. The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, made the announcement while receiving a 20-year Transmission Expansion Master Plan presented by the interim managing director of TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed, in Abuja. Fashola said the containers containing transmission equipment had been deployed to TCN sites, adding that the delivery of the containers was in line with a presidential mandate to improve the capacity of TCN to deliver service between power generating companies (GENCOs) and power distribution companies (DISCOs). Meanwhile, there are strong indications that Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) will not contest the Court of Appeal judgment asking the terminal operators to refund N1trillion in excess charges to the federal government. A Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos had upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court in the case between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) over shipping charges. In her judgment, Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa of the Court of Appeal, Lagos dismissed the appeal of STOAN and upheld the counter claim of the second respondent, Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS). The dismissal of STOAN’s appeal by the appellate court means that the Progressive Storage Charge would reverse to the rate approved by the Transport Ministry in 2009 for the terminal operators. Also, container free Storage Period would increase from three days to seven days to compete favourably with neighbouring ports of Cotonou, Ghana, Gambia and Cameroun. The Container Demurrage-free days equally increased to 10 days while Container Deposit, which importers and freight forwarders complained about, would henceforth be refunded within 10 days after the empties had been returned to the shipping companies. EYES OF LAGOS findings shows that the terminal operators are ready to dialogue with the shippers and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on the N1trillion the court asked the operators to refund to the FG. A reliable source told our correspondent that there are plans by the terminal operators to dialogue with the shippers and the NSC because there is no fund on ground for the refund. The source who did not want his name in print urged the federal government to look into some challenges fueling increase in charges by terminal operators. “Where is the N1 trillion? There is no money anywhere to refund but we are hoping to discuss but it is when the discussion doesn’t go well that we will be looking at appealing the appellate court judgment but hopefully it will be sorted out. The money is supposed to go back to the shippers but government want to hijack it.

ISLAMIC STATE FIGHTERS IN NIGERIA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/islamic-state-fighters-in-nigeria.html

Security agencies have uncovered Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) fighters in Benue, Kogi and Edo states, it was learnt yesterday.
A source in the Presidency said the group had been operating within some North Central and South-South states, using foreign terrorists.
They are also believed to be recruiting young men into their fold and killing innocent people, thereby creating tension along ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.
It was gathered that “a good number “of the Islamic State terrorists have been arrested not only in the Benue valley but significantly in many towns in Edo State, such as Akoko Edo, Okpella and Benin, the state capital. They have also been found in Okene in central Kogi State.
The source said: “Security service organisations, including the Department of State Service, (DSS) in a report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, identified an Islamic State in West Africa network operating within some North Central and South-South areas”
The source said the discovery was made following the arrest of many suspected attackers made up of Fulani herdsmen, government-sponsored militias, militants and other miscreants in Benue State.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said among those in custody were many who spoke Nigerian languages.
“They mostly speak the French,” the source said, adding: “This is the first time that security officials have confirmed that Islamic State in West Africa members are operating as a unit in Nigeria and the level of their penetration of the country.”
He went on: “It is understood that the cell, which has members in different parts of the country concentrates on recruiting young men to fight for the Islamic State in West Africa by unleashing the cold-blooded murder of innocent citizens.
“There was intelligence that they had planned attacks in the country, before and during Christmas and the New Year festivities. Their bombing targets included fuel depots, foreign missions, the police and military establishments.
“Their network is very wide. But so much was achieved by the DSS, which made a significant number of arrests in the last two months that helped to preempt those attacks. This helped to save Nigeria from the spate of major terrorist attacks witnessed elsewhere that were syndicated by ISIS worldwide.”
The reports submitted to the Presidency, he said, also revealed that security officials now fear an influx of other ISIS members into many parts of the country.
“We are learning more and more about this complex and sophisticated network. This is the main reason why the secret service is not parading those suspects so far arrested. It has become clear to us, by now, that the challenge facing this country is a serious one.”
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu confirmed that President Buhari had been receiving “report upon report on the situation in Benue and other states”.
He said although the DSS had recorded a lot of success lately, he had not been briefed on any of the reports.
In Benue State, no fewer than 73 persons were killed by gunmen, who were said to be herdsmen. In Taraba, 55 persons died and 200 homes were torched. Both incidents occurred early this month.

SHELL PLANS $2BN ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN NEW ENERGY BUSINESS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/shell-plans-2bn-annual-investment-in.html

Chief executive officer of Royal Dutch Shell, Ben van Beurden, has said the company would be investing between $1-2 billion on annual basis in new energies and buying back at least $25 billion in shares, while ramping up focus on improving safety performance of its facilities and doubling its returns. Beurden said he was particularly troubled by declining safety operational standards in the company activities, stressing on plans to make improvements in 2018. Beurden,Eyes Of Lagos gathered, in an interview published on Shell’s official website, said, “The safety performance at our facilities has not been good enough and that gives me concern. We have to redouble our focus and continue to bring the number of incidents down. The tanker lorry tragedy in Pakistan was just terrible. It is a stark reminder for all of us that we must never forget the role that safety plays every day.” The CEO also talked about the company’s plan on scrapping of scrip dividend and his own experience of using a hybrid car. Beurden also stressed on the need to thrive through the global energy transition and the urgency to bring more bio-fuels, hydrogen and electric vehicle charging into the mix, including investments in renewable energy projects. Shell had on Monday announced its plan to buy 43.86 per cent stake in US-based solar company Silicon Ranch Corporation for $217 million. The move comes at a time its British rival BP has just announced re-entering the solar sector with a $200 million investment in UK-based solar company Lightsource. While talking about Shell’s aim to become a world-class investment case, Beurden said, “If you look back on how we have been doing, in terms of total shareholder return, you could argue we are already number one in the industry. Now we need to sustain that for three years, ten years and beyond. “Nothing in the bag yet, but I am very confident. We also said we need to be the leading company in terms of overall value. At the moment, we are number two and we are closing in on number one. We almost have the tiger by the tail. So, yes, I feel pretty good about progress towards our world-class investment case” the CEO noted. However, he stressed that the company has a long way to go and needs to further streamline its operations by bringing down overall costs in operations, reducing debt, turning off scrip dividend from the fourth quarter and focus on posting double digit returns.

NNPC, NIMASA Partner On Crude Oil Export
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/nnpc-nimasa-partner-on-crude-oil-export.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), yesterday convened a meeting of stakeholders in the maritime industry with a view to generating ideas on how best attract maximum benefits from export of the country’s crude oil. A statement issued by NNPC’s spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu said the theme of the meeting was: “Free On-Board (FOB) and Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) Incoterms Framework for Export of Nigerian Crude Oil and Gas.” According to the statement, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in his welcome address told participants that various attempts in the past to transit from the Free-on-Board (FOB) to Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) system of exporting the nation’s crude oil had failed. According to Eyes Of Lagos investigation, The minister stated that there was no better time than now to revisit the issue holistically to determine which of the systems best serves the interest of Nigeria. He therefore urged participants to come up with recommendations to help the Federal Government take appropriate decision on the issue with a view to enhancing the nation’s the economy. In his keynote address, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the corporation’s preference for FOB was informed by the prevailing security situation and the need to guarantee steady revenue into the Federation Account. He explained that under CIF, petroleum cargoes are legally the property of the Federal Government which could pose a danger to the country’s earning as creditors could procure court orders to confiscate crude oil cargoes as a means of securing payment of Nigeria’s indebtedness. “The experiences of Nigerian Airways and the Nigerian National Shipping Line both of which had their vessels/crafts and cargoes confiscated on court orders obtained by creditors is unpleasant to recall. “Due to these peculiarities, we find it most appropriate to transfer the potential risks associated with the ownership of the cargo to the buyer at the load port in Nigeria which FOB incoterm allows. Government/NNPC’s liability ends as the crude oil passes from loading hose at the vessel’s manifold to the loading vessel. The buyer pays for Freight, Marine Insurance, unloading and transportation from the load port in Nigeria to the destination”, he stated. He said NNPC was, however, not unmindful of the value erosion inherent in the FOB sale arrangement, adding that the corporation was open to new ideas on the proper mix that could enable synergy and collaboration amongst different stakeholders to guarantee security of federation revenue as well as guard against associated risks involved in delivery of crude oil and Gas to customers. On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said while there was no correct answer to the issue of freight system to adopt, there was need to be open-minded about possible alternatives that could help in the quest to diversify the economy. He urged participants to be guided by the national interest in their discussion and explore all possible opportunities.

EXPOSED!!! BUHARI’S NEW NIA BOSS IS A CHADIAN, NOT NIGERIAN.
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/exposed-buharis-new-nia-boss-is-chadian.html

There is a raging controversy trailing the appointment of Dr Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as the substantive director-general of National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The controversy is brewing over what Presidency insiders and members of the intelligence community consider “as breach of national security” over the personality of the new NIA chief.

Another issue is what insiders called the Presidency’s “promotion of mediocrity, nepotism and incompetence” in the intelligence community.

Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Multiple sources who spoke to 247ureports said the new NIA chief “may compromise the security of this country because of his background.”

“Rufai was born in Chad Republic. He had his primary and secondary education all in Chad. He had a dual citizenship. Not only that he’s married to a Moroccan. Where is he loyalty lies now as head of Nigerian apex intelligence body? Will he be loyal to Nigeria, Chad or Morocco? That is our concern,” one of the intelligence chief said.

Another security chief said apart from Rufa’is dual citizenship, his competence is equally is a source of concern.

“Rufa’i retired from the NIA in 2013 to avoid being dismissed. As an assistant director in the NIA, he sat for two promotion examinations and failed. He craftily retired after failing the second exams to avoid being dismissed. This was because failure for the third time would have earned him instant termination,” the security source conversant with Rufa’i stint in the agency said.

Investigations revealed that the new NIA chief is used to violating the extant civil service rule. Rufa’i was a level 12 Officer in Katsina State Civil Service when he was transferred to the NIA and placed on Level 14 by Talban Katsina Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim.

After leaving the agency, he somewhat became an informal personal assistant to Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who took him to Darfur and later secured an appointment for him as Senior Special Assistant to the President on foreign affairs, another source said.

Explaining the web of intrigues surrounding his appointment, another presidency source. fingered Kingibe and Zakari on the latest twist.

“Interestingly it was Kingibe, Talban Katsina and Horsfall (all former NIA chiefs) who were appointed to investigate the recovery of the $43million dollars found at Ikoyi apartment. The duo must have recommended his name, I suppose. It was Kingibe through Kyari that got him the post of SSA on Foreign Affairs. This was done to cover up the actual involvement of some Presidency power brokers in the Ikoyi cash haul”, the source said.

Another issue that sent tongues wagging was that of nepotism and clannish attitude of the Buhari administration.

The new NIA chief is from Buhari’s gone state of Katsina just like his counterpart in the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

“The concentration of security chiefs in the north and Katsina in particular, speaks volumes and portray the Buhari government as ethnic and clannish,” a source close to the government said.

“Almost all the security heads are northerners yet they fail to stop herdsmen killings of innocent Nigerians. The police IG is from Niger, the internal affairs minister from Kano, the head of civil and security defence is from Niger, the army chief is from Borno, the air force chief is from Bauchi, the heads of prisons and immigration are from Kano and Jigawa, the DSS chief is from Katsina, the customs chief is from Bauchi, the minister of defence is from Zamfara,” the source said.

“This development is portraying the Buhari administration as ethnic, religious and clannish. These appointments are all from the north and they are all Muslims. That is what it means,” the source said.

All these appointments are done not to serve the north or Muslims, but to serve the interests of some selected few who constituted themselves into a cabal that control the Buhari government, another insider said.

“By their actions, they portray the administration in bad light. That is why am saying even the appointment of Rufa’i as DG of NIA was to serve their interests,” the source said.

It is left to be seen how the new NIA chief will work in the agency he was considered too incompetent to even get promotion. “I think there are some elements who are bent in undermining this government. With the latest NIA saga, I believe they seem to be succeeding,” the presidency official who declined being named because of the sensitivity of the matter said.

cc: mynd44 , lalasticalala

HAWKER FALLS OFF THE BRIDGE AFTER A HIT BY A COMMERCIAL BUS IN LAGOS (PHOTOS)
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/hawker-falls-off-bridge-after-he-is-hit.html

A roadside hawker escaped death after being hit by a commercial bus along Apongbon Bridge causing him to fall off the bridge. According to the reports gathered by Eyes Of Lagos, the driver of the commercial bus has been arrested by the police. More photos from the incident below…


cc: mynd44 ,lalasticalala

AFDB DENIES CALLING OFF $600M LOAN TO NIGERIA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/afdb-denies-calling-off-600m-loan-to.html

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has refuted media reports that it has called off its $600 million loan to Nigeria.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, A statement by Fatimah Alkali, Senior Communications Officer in the Country Office in Abuja, yesterday reads in part, “The African Development Bank wishes to categorically refute the statement that it has “called off loans to Nigeria”, as credited to AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Amadou Hott.
The bank said: “The African Development Bank is highly encouraged by the economic recovery of Nigeria from recession and salutes the government’s efforts towards diversification of the economy. The bank also strongly supports the Economic and Growth Recovery Plan of the Government and efforts to stem corruption and strengthen fiscal consolidation and efficiency.
“In November 2016, the Board of the African Development Bank approved a $600-million loan to support Nigeria’s efforts to cope with macroeconomic and fiscal shocks that arose from the massive decline in price of crude oil. An additional $400 million in support could be considered, if requested and approved by the Board, as part of a larger coordinated effort with other development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“The African Development Bank is in consultations with the Government on how best to continue its support for its laudable Economic and Growth Recovery Plan through investment projects that will help address existing structural challenges, including infrastructure, power, agriculture and support to boost private sector and job creation.
“The bank assures the Nigerian government of its full support for its continued reforms to diversify the economy and boost economic growth and development.”

FAYEMI’S POSTERS FLOOD EKITI STREETS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/fayemis-posters-flood-ekiti-streets.html

Barely six months to the governorship election in Ekiti State, the posters of the former governor of the state and current minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, were seen pasted in strategic locations across Ado-Ekiti and some other towns in the state. Fayemi who lost the 2014 governorship poll to Governor Ayodele Fayose, was yet to declare his intention to contest in the July 14, 2018 governorship poll. The colourful posters pasted in Ijigbo, Odo Ado, Okesa, Irona, Ajilosun, Adebayo, Ilawe Road, Oke Oriomi areas of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, according to sources were also pasted in other towns and villages by the loyalists of the former governor who held sway between 2010 and 2014. The posters, it was gathered were produced and pasted by John Kayode Fayemi (JKF) Movement, a pressure group promoting the minister’s undeclared governorship bid. The posters with the inscription: “Happy New Year 2018, JKF Again, congratulations, this is your year of supernatural transformation,” was believed in some quarters to be a subtle announcement of Fayemi’s rumoured intent to take another shot at the state’s highest office expected to be vacant on October 15, 2018. Eyes Of Lagos report that, The state coordinator of JKF Movement, Pastor Ade Kolade, who spoke on the development yesterday said the posters was a gesture from the group to draft the minister into the 2018 governorship race. Kolade who claimed that the project was financed by the group and not by the minister said the gesture was to create awareness among the electorate on the need to give Fayemi another chance.

WORLD CUP: NIGERIA SHOULD NOT BE MERE SPECTATOR IN RUSSIA – PMB

Source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2018/01/world-cup-nigeria-should-not-be-mere.html?m=1


Ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia in June, President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the Super Eagles to leave a mark at the mundial and not just be mere spectators. Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung disclosed this to State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the presidential Villa. He stressed the need to pay the players their match training allowances and bonuses before March to have a good outing at the World Cup. “Well, the president encouraged me to in 2018 sustained the tempo of the successes recorded so far in2017 especially with the World Cup in Russia. He challenged me to ensure that Nigeria does not go to Russia a mere spectator. “Of course I also informed him that part of the measures we have taken to address some of the challenges is to ensure that by March all the players are paid their match training and camp allowances upfront but for the bonuses is in terms of progression according to performance at the World Cup, “ he said When asked how prepared Nigeria is for the World Cup , he said “For the World Cup, apart from the friendlies we have now I think we have lined up so many friendlies to play with countries participating in the World Cup, top ranking countries that did not make the World Cup, so as to strengthen our preparation. Disclosing that the budget for the World Cup has been approved but has not been released, Dalung said the difference they have in the budgetary allocations this time is that the budget is funded by both the government, private sector and the federation. According to him, he insisted that the era where government alone will fund such competition a lot is no more acceptable. Dalung said there are grants released by organizers to complement efforts of government, this must be declared and included in the budget. He added that the monies realized from sponsorships and marketing will also have to be declared to constituted the budget that will be declared for the World Cup. “So we have a round figure that has been budgeted which is N3 billion but the nigeria football federation will raise about N1.5 billion from what we are getting from FIFA and corporate nigeria, the private sector. Government is expected to turn in N2 or N1.5 billion for the competition, he said. On when will the money be released since the competition is starting in June, he said”, to get government money involved process but the beauty of it is that we made the request early and we have gotten the approval. The next thing is the funding and it had to do with the 2018 budget which we are waiting for. Asked why sports infrastructures are not maintained in the country, he cited lack of patriotism and absence of maintenance culture as reasons . He explained that “ when we are talking patriotism we have to begin from the foundation, that is the award of the contract. For instance, the National Stadium in Abuja, the contractors retained maintenance. And the cost of maintenance in two, three years is close to the entire contract sum. The contract is faulty because it maintains maintenance within the contractual agreement to where it did not foresee circumstances or economic realities will not be there to support it. “Secondly, lack of patriotism in terms of our maintenance culture. For instance the national stadium lagos, does it mean that 2003 the stadium was shut down and no maintenance at all? Because that is the only reason to explain its present deplorable state. Thirdly, every year, there is a budget for the maintenance of that particular infrastructure, the question is what has become of this budgetary allocations,” he stated.

Alagbado Resident Lands In Trouble For This Hilarious Reason
Source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/12/alagbado-resident-lands-in-trouble-for.html?m=1




A resident of Alagado community, Lagos Mainland, Mr. Adeyemi Akande, yesterday, Wednesday, December 27, 2017, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly threatening to kill his wife, Olanike over son’s paternity.

The suspect is being tried for threat to life and assault, the Police prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase said.

Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, According to the prosecutor, the accused committed the offences on October 10, 2017 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland.

The Prosecutor told the court that the accused beat and threatened to kill Olanike to reveal who the true father of her son was.

He added that the accused at first refused to release money for a DNA test when Olanike asked. He said however that Olanike on her own, released money for the DNA test.

“When the result of the DNA finally came out, it showed that Àdeyemi was the biological father of the child but the accused threatened to kill her,’’ Awase said.

The Prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 56 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

In his defense, the accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr. J.A Adigun, ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must present two years tax certificate to the Lagos State Government.

The case was however adjourned until Monday, January 4, 2017 for mention.

FAYOSE PRAYS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY OF PRESIDENT BUHARI’S SON, YUSUF
Source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/12/fayose-prays-for-speedy-recovery-of.html?m=1




Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has joined other Nigerians to pray for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf who was recently involved in a power bike accident.

According to reports gathered by Eyes Of Lagos that, The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Idowu Adelusi , quoted him to have prayed on his verified Twitter Handle that God will be with the President’s family at this trying time.

He said; “I wish the President’s son speedy recovery. May the healing hands of the Almighty God be upon the young man and may God be with the first family at this trying time.”

“God, who is the giver of life will restore every aspect of Yussuf’s body that needs to be restored.”