₦airaland Forum

For authentic investigative journalism I will go with PREMIUMTIMES.
For my number one information on diverse topics I will go with NAIRALAND

0. Nairaland

1. Premiumtimes

2. Vanguard

3. Punch

4. Guardian

5. Leaadership

6. AIT

7. Channels

8. NTA

9. The Nation

10. TheCable

11. RSTV

12. Tribune

13. The Sun

14. Daily Independent

15. Daily post

16. National mirror

17. Linda Ikeji blog
feel free to add others if any.....

Chairman of Heirs Holdings and one of Africa’s most
influential business leaders, Tony Elumelu has
joined the growing lists of Nigerian billionaires who
have contributed financially to the fight against
Ebola outbreak in Nigeria. The renowned economist through his Tony
Elumelu Foundation has committed N100 million to
help fight the scourge. 50 percent of the fund has been reserved for
Nigeria while the other half will be spread across
Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. The fund, according to the foundation, will be used
to equip medical teams and the general response to
the disease in all four countries. Only last week, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dagote
patted with N150m dollars for the same venture.
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www.dailypost.ng/2014/08/18/tony-elumelu-donates-n100m-help-fight-ebola/

President Goodluck Jonathan leaves Abuja early Friday morning on a “private visit” to Germany, an Aso Rock statement announced on Thursday.

“The President will be accompanied on the trip by some of his principal aides. “He is expected back in Abuja early next week”,
said the statement issued by presidential
spokesman, Reuben Abati. Although the President fully performed an official
function in Abuja on Thursday, the tone of the
statement raises concerns his state of health. Besides, the terse statement implied that the
President would not be accompanied by his wife,
Patience, as is usual with many of his foreign trips. The last time Jonathan paid a private visit to
Germany was when Patience was hospitalised there
for an undisclosed ailment that nearly took her life. The Aso Rock statement was issued shortly after
Jonathan received a report of the 2014 National
Conference at the National Judicial Institute (NJI). Efforts to get other details of the visit did not yield
results as at press time.

www.dailyindependentnig.com/2014/08/jonathan-private-visit-germany/

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited has started phased delivery of low priced made-in-Nigeria cars assembled at the company’s plant in Lagos to its provisional dealers nationwide.

*Hyundai Sonata This is coming barely three months after Stallion Group owners of the multivehicle plant roll-out made-in-Nigeria Nissan range of vehicles in April.

The Chairman of Stallion Group, Mr. Sunil Vaswani who broke the news recently said the new vehicles “will be affordably priced” in other to give Nigerians a break from the stranglehold of wholesale vehicle importers.

Some of the deliveries in the passenger car segment are Hyundai i10, Grand, Elantra and iX35 SUV, while the 10-ton HD160; seven-ton HD 120; five-ton HD78 and three-ton HD65 constitute vehicles in the light commercial vehicle segment and 28+1 seater Hyundai County bus and 30-seater Stallion County are in the commuter bus category.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria has hitherto announced starting price of between NGN1.5m and NGN1.9m for the i10 and Grand models respectively, having announced in July it was commencing phased production of affordably priced Hyundai models.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria plant Managing Director, Tokunbo Aromolaran has said the vehicles are built to the world’s highest automotive operating standard – ISO/TS 16949.

The ISO/TS 16949 is the highest automotive
operating standard in the world and its benefits include improved quality processes with streaming supply chains that leads to better overall product, Mr. Aromalaran explained.

He said: “We are glad to inform Nigerians that we have delivered on our promise to make available affordably priced vehicles – thanks to strong-willed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the indefatigable supervisory roles of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment headed by Dr. Olusegun Aganga.”

The first phase delivery establishes a system of
record for the complete vehicle program which will gradually be expanded to meet the ever-increasing demands for functional vehicle in Nigeria, the plant director said.

He enjoined: “Prospective customers to walk into any of our dealership showrooms nationwide to buy value-driven made-in-Nigeria Hyundai certified vehicles.”

Hyundai i10, Grand, Elantra and iX35 SUV are
elegantly crafted functional cars with eye-popping styling, good fuel economy with fantastic driving experience and modest starting price for every desiring buyer.

Mr. Parvir Singh, Group Managing Director (sale, marketing and Dealer Development) Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited who received the made-in- Nigeria vehicles on behalf of provisional dealers described the accomplishment as a milestone in the
history of Nigeria’s evolving automotive industry, urging customers to take advantage of the discounted price to patronize certified made-in- Nigeria Hyundai vehicles.
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www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/low-priced-made-nigeria-hyundai-cars-goes-sale/

bloody blood suckers.

Reports reaching DailyPost indicate that there was an attempt by a suspected member of Boko haram sect to bomb the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA office in Lagos, this afternoon.

The suspect was arrested some minutes ago with the explosives he was strapping, and they have so far been recovered from him.

It was also alleged that he had with him a manual timer with which he intended to detonate the bomb.

Sources who spoke to DailyPost at NAMA office confirmed the report, saying that there is an obvious tension and panic at the office.

More details to follow shortly.
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www.dailypost.ng/2014/08/18/breaking-suspected-boko-haram-insurgent-arrested-explosives-nigerian-airspace-agency-office/

atlwireles: Senior brother, Uncle and my sister's son.With a dad retired after almost 35 years of service. Ask me another question.

really? Then you must definite know sa much that we do not and will never know in the military. A family of militarymen and heros.
E no easy my bro. Una weldone and make unaa try for us civilians sleeping and abusing.....
Despite the corruption in all strata of Nigeria life, I respect service personnel because they are the ones that sleep in the bushes and trenches for us to sleep in our mosquito treated nets at our duplexexxxx.
Respect to the galants and heros.

heard report that boko haram are using supernatural powers also to overcome the military forces.
So those who do not possess these equivalent powers armed with their conventional firearms will definitely chicken out.
Do you blame them? Yes of course! Why would you sign for something that only has two choices for you - fight to stay alive and/or fight to the death in defence of you country and die a hero.

barcanista: Na signal unit I want join or the PR dept. Combatant?? Noooooooooooo

okay bro buh let us know that a time is coming when no one will wield any weapon against anybody again in the new world order.

barcanista: Cowardice punishable by death? I no join Military again!!!!!


Long Live The Military

hahahahahha! So you never new before? You might be lucky to be psted to a non combatant region you know

pussygotlips: A country not worth dying for


Move on boys

are we that bad

who is not scared of this

The Nigerian military is in the process of constituting a trial panel to try over 100 soldiers said to have exhibited “acts of cowardice” and “disobeyed deployment directives” in Maiduguri on Saturday, reliable military insiders have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The soldiers were among several hundred troops being deployed from the army’s 7th Division in Maiduguri to locations in Damboa and Gwoza for major operations planned to significantly rout the extremist Boko Haram sect from the areas.

“But as we were about to depart, some of the soldiers began to behave funny,” a witness said.

“They were acting in ways that were delaying the movement.

This was a movement that had been timed and we had to arrive locations at a time that should coincide with other operational arrangements.

And then these guys were slowing us down.”
The witness said at a point, the commander of the troop became fed up with the antics of the “lazy soldiers” and he immediately ordered that they be disarmed, stripped of their uniforms and dropped from the operation.

The rest of the detachment then continued the journey, our sources said.

Other witnesses corroborated these disclosures.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, [an Air Marshall] the Chief of Army Staff, Kenneth Minimah [a Lieutenant General], as well as other service chiefs have been briefed on the development.

The military chiefs, insiders say, have since ordered the arrest, interrogation and court-martial of the erring soldiers, some of whom are said to have gone into hiding.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

He however said, “Military personnel should be reminded that persons subject to military law risks death if found liable for refusing or inciting failure to perform military duties against the enemy in the course of the ongoing military operation.”

Mr. Olukolade said any soldier or officer who fails to perform military duties or deserts his duty post risks dire consequences.

“The military is a disciplined organization and we do not have room for indiscretions.

Anyone who disobeys deployment directive or deserts his duty posts would be made to face due justice.

“Indeed such deserters would be considered to have done evil similar to what terrorists are doing against the nation’s security.

Act of cowardice and related indiscipline will not be condoned in the Nigerian armed forces.

“While efforts are ongoing to improve on the available stock of weapons and equipment, no soldier or officer has been assigned to any duty without being duly armed.

“Any soldier who subscribes to the excuse being peddled by some indiscipline ones would have himself to blame.

“Soldiers are therefore warned that anyone who allows himself to be misled by enemies of the nation who have been trying to incite mutiny by various methods would face appropriate legal actions without any form of sentiment.”

Mr. Olukolade urged the Nigerian media and Nigerians in general not to celebrate incidences of indiscipline within the nation’s security services, saying the security of all citizens depend significantly on the stability and discipline of the agencies.

The Nigerian Army had in early July began the court–martialling of another 18 soldiers involved in an alleged mutiny in May, in which revolting troops opened fire at a car carrying the commanding general of the army’s 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Military sources had told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the newly-created 7 Division, Ahmadu Mohammed, a Major General, was targeted by soldiers who blamed him for the deaths of their colleagues.

The attack in Maimalari cantonment, on May 14, angered the Nigerian military at a time the force came under international spotlight over the abduction of nearly 300 school girls in Chibok by the extremist boko haram.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/166859-exclusive-nigerian-military-to-court-martial-over-100-soldiers-for-cowardice.html#sthash.a5bS5OeX.dpbs

After a week in hiding from the Boko
Haram terrorists atop the rocky hills of
his domain, the Emir of Gwoza, His Royal
Highness Muhammadu Idrisa Timta,
yesterday met with the Nigerian
president, Goodluck Jonathan.

The president was said to have assured him
that the Nigerian forces would soonest
reclaim his domain for him. The embattled Emir, who was helped to descend the mountains alongside other displaced subjects in their hundreds, was received at Madagali by the Nigerian security forces, from where he was whisked to Abuja on Tuesday.

Throughout his stay on the hills of
Gwoza, his displaced subjects had all the
while shielded him from the general
public.

The media as well as some security operatives were told that he had long escaped to some unknown destination.

Some of his subjects later explained that they did that to protect him from the Boko Haram gunmen who were out to kill him.

While in Abuja, the duo of Borno State
governor Kashim Shettima and the senator representing southern Borno and native of Gwoza, Muhammed Ali Ndume, were able to arrange the displaced Emir’s meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

The Emir, accompanied by Governor
Shettima, Senator Ndume and some top
officials of the Department of State Services in Borno State, was received by President Jonathan about 11:05am.

The president sympathized with him and other displaced people of Gwoza.
.
...
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www.leadership.ng/news/381267/displaced-emir-gwoza-meets-jonathan

The Minister of Health in Nigeria, Professor
Onyebuchi Chukwu, says the first Nigerian Ebola patient declared fit and discharged from hospital.
Professor Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the patient, whose identity has not been revealed, was asked to go home after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out.
“The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of deaths remains four.
The people under surveillance in Lagos is now 189, while six are in Enugu, in southeast
Nigeria,” Professor Chukwu said.
The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics code.
His statement is coming two days after the death of a fourth Ebola patient was reported.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Lagos State government, the only state in Nigeria with reported cases of Ebola, had provided an isolation unit to accommodate persons who tested
positive to the virus. At a press conference in Abuja on
Thursday Professor Chukwu, said eight persons
were still alive, more than half of them are doing
very well and actually showing signs of recovery …
under treatment,” Prof Chukwu said. The discharged patient is believed to be among
those he earlier said were recovering. The World Health Organization has called this Ebola
outbreak, whose worst affected countries include
Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, an international
emergency. It has killed around 55 to 60 per cent
of those who have contracted the disease. President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared
the Ebola outbreak in Lagos State a national
emergency and approved an intervention fund of
1.9 billion Naira to contain the disease
.
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www.channelstv.com/2014/08/16/ebola-first-patient-discharged-hospital/

JayJohnson: The Jonathanian, the clueless, the inept, the daft people of this world are already catching cold and afraid. Their days are numbered in aso rock.

hmmmm is it not the Almighty that delegates power to whomever pleases him?

size38: How is it a secret meeting if NL knows about it?

hahahhhaha this is Nigeria na

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting at the former’s home in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Though the detail of the meeting was not disclosed, it is believed to be in relation to the coming 2015 general elections. While both men are members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Obasanjo recently wrote to the leadership of the party, informing it of his decision to stay away from all PDP activities. Prior to that, Mr. Obasanjo had written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan accusing him of mismanaging the party, and planning high level political assassinations. The former President accused Mr. Jonathan of reneging on a promise to do only one term in office. Although Mr. Tambuwal remains a leader of the PDP, he is rumoured to be one of the front runners to clinch the presidential ticket of the opposition All Progressives Congress. Only last week, posters of the Speaker alongside his
deputy, Emeka Ihedioha as presidential and vice presidential aspirants adorned major streets of Abuja. Both Messrs. Tambuwal and Ihedioha distanced themselves from the posters. Neither Mr. Tambuwal nor Mr. Obasanjo spoke to journalists after Tuesdays’ meeting. However the spokesperson of Mr. Tambuwal, Imam Imam, informed PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Tambuwal was just in Abeokuta to ‘rub minds’ with the former president. “It was just a meeting to rub minds with baba being
that the former president is a father figure to all Nigerians and an elder-statesman. The same way we do meet with other stakeholders, the speaker went to confer with Baba and rub minds together as part of our legislative mandate,” he said. Another source close to the speaker informed PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Tambuwal has started nationwide consultation with regards to his rumoured presidential ambition. “The Speaker has already begun consultations with all relevant stakeholders, you know 2015 is fast approaching,” our source, who declined to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the press, said.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/166612-obasanjo-tambuwal-hold-secret-meeting-in-abeokuta.html

do you not know that to convince some we would need your source for confirmation sake

President Goodluck Jonathan has said no group can threaten him before he will perform his official duties.
He said it was wrong for any group to issue a threat asking him to rescue Chibok schoolgirls before he could get the support of any person or group for his 2015 presidential ambition.
President Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said he was already working on how to rescue the abducted girls.
Okupe, in the statement in Abuja on Tuesday, was responding to a threat by the members of the Northern Elders Forum on Monday, where they issued October deadline for the condition to be met.
The NEF position was made known through two of its members, Solomon Dalung and Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
It will be recalled that since three months ago when the more than 200 girls abducted by the members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect have been, eleven of their parents have died.
The northern elders were of the opinion the military can defeat the Boko Haram terrorists – if, indeed, the government wants to subdue the sect.
They said, “We are convinced that most of these conflicts are being engineered to weaken the North politically and economically by interests, which intend to exploit such weaknesses for electoral benefits.
“In the light of our firm conviction that the
insurgency and related security challenges pose threats to the 2015 elections and the survival of our nation, we strongly advise President Goodluck Jonathan to bring an end to the insurgency in all its manifestations and produce the Chibok girls before the end of October, 2014.
“The circumstances under which our fellow citizens in and around Gwoza in Borno State in particular live and die will not be tolerated by any people who have a government and a leader sworn to defend them, and they must be reversed immediately.”
Okupe, while faulting the northern elders, said
“President Jonathan does not require any threat or ultimatum from any group of persons to be alive to his responsibilities to the Nigerian People.”
He added that the issue of insurgency, especially those ideologically based on Islamic extremism was a global phenomenon, which he said required tact, military capability, serious de-radicalisation techniques and community based counter insurgency programmes to ensure success.
In these areas, he said the Federal Government was making progress.
He said the military and other security agencies
were improving on operational capabilities and efficiencies by acquiring more advanced weapons and technologies. Apart from this, he said the government had also
drafted more military personnel to the region to
strengthen its fighting power. Okupe added that the government was equally
taking advantage of the offers from international
military and intelligence allies to assist in identifying
key locations. He said, “We are working with our neighbours to
secure the borders and limit the movements of the
Boko Haram fighters, building on the agreements
reached at the recent summits in Paris and London. “We are deploying more resources to maximize
operational efficiency, acquire more advanced and
relevant weaponry and boost the general morale of
our combatants. This is why the Government
recently requested for an additional funding of $
1bn. “And the last piece in the puzzle is targeting the
domestic and international funding, and stopping
the money flows into the coffers of the terrorists.” On the suggestion that the government was
carrying out plans aimed at scheming to annihilate
any section of the country for political gain, Okupe
said such accusation was “preposterous, contrary
to common sense, divisive and essentially a
deliberate attempt to disseminate ‘hate mentality’ and cause mischief.” He said President Jonathan was voted for by an
overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the
board, and that he will never promote any policy
that is either divisive or inimical to the wellbeing of
any section of the polity.
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www.punchng.com/news/you-cant-threaten-me-jonathan-tells-northern-elders/

Petroleum Technology Development Funds (PTDF) on Monday inducted 217 beneficiaries of its 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) scholarships.
At the ceremony in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr Femi Ajayi, said that the new
beneficiaries had brought the number of recipients of the scholarship programme to 2, 974 since it began in 2000.
“Today we are inducting 217 scholars, including 170 fresh MSc scholars, four deferred as well as 43 fresh PhD scholars,” he said.
He said that no fewer than 500 candidates sat for the examination, out of which 217 were selected.
According to Ajayi, PTDF has so far sponsored the training of 2,412 MSc students in Petroleum
Engineering, Gas Engineering, Geo-Science, Off-
Shore Engineering, Geology and other oil and bbgas-related courses.
He said 488 PhD scholars were also trained in
relevant fields overseas since the inception of the Fund, adding that some of the old beneficiaries were engaged in the oil and gas industry and the academia.
The Fund has also trained 74 university lecturers under its University Lecturers Skills Enhancement Training Program, a train-the-trainer programme, in Newcastle, United Kingdom and Grenoble in France.
“Twenty others will be leaving Nigeria for Grenoble, France in September this year,” he added.
While explaining that the programme could not hold last year due to financial challenges, Ajayi commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his timely intervention in providing fund this year.
He explained that the prevailing trend in the
petroleum industry had exposed the wide gap
between technology advances in the global scene and the limited capacity of Nigerian professionals.
According to him, non-availability of some core courses in Nigerian universities which are relevant to oil and gas sector, necessitates the need to send Nigerians abroad for studies in such areas.
He said that on their return, the beneficiaries were expected to fill up the skills gap in the industry “in the area of state-of-the-art technologies”.
One of the main objectives of the Overseas
Scholarship Scheme is to encourage and stimulate continuous learning and technology development in the petroleum industry.
It also aims to expose Nigerians to the latest
technological advancement in the global petroleum industry.
“It seeks to accelerate the development of local
capacities in an international competitive
environment thereby enhancing local content
participation,” he said.
While congratulating the recipients, the executive secretary advised them to be diligent in their studies, and reminded them of the need to return home after their studies to help in building the country.
“There is actually a bond for the PhD students
although we have not been enforcing that bond because we believe that you should be patriotic to serve your country,” he said.
.
www.dailyindependentnig.com/2014/08/ptdf-gives-217-students-masters-doctorate-degrees-scholarships/

The Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, has congratulated the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun, Rauf Aregbesola.
Mr. Obanikoro, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Mr. Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, deserved the victory.
“His re-election is a confirmation of the goodwill he enjoys among the people of Osun State,” he said.
The minister, who was highly castigated by the APC for allegedly using the military as a tool of coercion in the build up to the election, commended the role of the military and other security agencies during the election.
Read his full statement below.
I congratulate the good people of Osun State for once again re-affirming the will of democracy by their exceptional conduct during the just concluded gubernatorial elections.
The people of Osun State have consolidated our hope in a democracy where violence-free elections are allowed to thrive.
I enjoin all other citizens of our great country to emulate them as we prepare for another round of general elections early next year.
I also wish to congratulate the winner, His Excellency Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his victory at the polls.
His re-election is a confirmation of the goodwill he enjoys among the people of Osun State.
My brother Senator Iyiola Omisore deserves great commendation for fighting a good fight.

His rare display of maturity and sportsmanship throughout the period of the campaign and the election is worthy of emulation.
History will be kind to him.
I salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and particularly, our Military and other security forces for their professional conduct which ensured a peaceful, free and fair election in Osun State.

But for the efforts of our Military in Osun State, the elections could have been marred by violence.
The tireless effort of INEC officials and our security forces in ensuring a credible outcome of the Osun election pays glowing tributes to President Goodluck Jonathan’s strong and consistent commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections.
Long Live Osun State
Long Live The Federal Republic Of Nigeria Musiliu Obanikoro, Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Nigeria.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/166504-obanikoro-congratulates-aregbesola-says-victory-deserved.html

bokoslayer: Where were you when APC colluded with elements from the north to deprive the Southwest of the Speakership which was zoned to the region. Were you not there when they conspired to elect Tambuwal instead of the present majority leader?

APC shortchanged Yorubas, that's the truth of the matter and they would be made to pay for their sins in Oyo State, I am sure several of their reps won't be returned.

south-west now has the CHIEF OF STAFF. And please put the blame squarely on the selfish leaders of APC.

titoetal: Thanks dear. Picture of various models will satisfy our appetite more. I was hoping to see it when openig the topic. Anyway, we can google it.

have added it now.

REDBULL1: Well said my friend. @OP where're the fotos to help us believe? we're in a foto age! pics or...

okay sir! Will do the needful presently.

so where do we place microsoft

yes you are correct EXXON MOBIL IS NO.1.

purplesummer: Microsoft?

hehehhehhehehe I thought as much that someone would go for Microsoft. Buh sorry neither MS.

do you also think that shell is no.1

can you guess?

continuation...
No.3. Chevron
The second largest oil company in the world comes in third on the list with a net worth of $273.6 billion.
Over the years, Chevron has merged with several other large oil companies and this has surely aided in its growth.
The most significant aspect of the company’s success is the ownership of the largest oil field on the planet in Ghawar, Saudi Arabia.

No.2. Walmart
The retail monster known as Walmart comes in
second with a net worth of $446.95 billion.
Walmart’s rapid expansion began in the 1980’s and it has dominated the industry ever since, with over 8,500 stores in 15 different countries.
Selling everything from toys to common household supplies, Walmart is the undisputed retail king and is here to stay.

And the richest company in the world is...
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Give it up for....

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No.1. Exxon Mobil
No surprise here, the the world’s largest oil
company takes the top spot, with a net-worth
coming in at an astounding $486.6 billion.
Although the company has come under fire for its insensitivity towards the environment, this criticism has not stopped it from becoming a gasoline powerhouse.
Many don’t know that this company was formed in the early 1970’s from a merger of
three smaller companies that originated in the
1880’s.