₦airaland Forum

Lovely..


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President Muhamamdu Buhari has congratulated every Nigerian child.

The president reaffirmed his belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.

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Read Full TEXT:

I heartily greet and felicitate with all Nigerian children on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.

On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.

The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles and yellow fever.

Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers.

Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation, my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our youth.

It is a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, we can also celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki and many other abducted women and children who have been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram by our gallant troops.

I assure all Nigerians and friends of the country, once again, that my administration will not rest on its oars until the ungodly terrorist sect is totally eliminated from our country.

As peace gradually returns to the insurgency-ravaged North-Eastern States, the Federal Government will continue to work diligently to ensure the rapid and full reintegration and rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons, including orphaned children in the region.

We will also sustain and strengthen ongoing actions to protect children more effectively from violence, child-labour, child-trafficking, forced marriages and other related offences.

In return, I urge you all to imbibe and exhibit in greater measure, the virtues of hard work, diligence, discipline, honesty, prudence, selflessness and patriotism which are essential for the actualisation of our vision of a truly great nation.

The world now looks up to our dear nation, Nigeria as an exemplary model of democratic ideals after the smooth transition that brought our Administration to power.

You, our children and youth have a very significant role to play in ensuring that our democratic institutions of governance are continuously nurtured, improved and strengthened to underpin national development and prosperity.

Remain assured that under my leadership, the Federal Government will continue to do its best to prepare and equip you to show the world that with its brilliant, resourceful and resilient people, Nigeria is a country of incredible potential and opportunity.

I wish you all a Happy Children’s Day celebration.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/president-buharis-children-day-message.html

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (4th left), with Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC, Sola David-Borha; Wife of former Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Angela Adebayo; Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya; Executive Director, Dangote Foundation, Hajiya Halima Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Commissioner for Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande and Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade during the launching of the Dangote Foundation Micro Grants to Beneficiaries across Lagos State at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Thursday, May 26, 2016.

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The Commissioner for Information in Rivers state, Dr Austin Tam-George, said on Tuesday that the state government built more than 150 kilometres of roads in the past one year, which translates to about 12.5 kilometres per month.

George disclosed this in Port Harcourt at a news conference to mark the first anniversary of governor Nyesom Wike`s administration.

He said the roads cut across all parts of the state and had ensured a boom in economic activities of affected communities.

The commissioner also said that government completed road projects left over by the previous administration.

“ The governor made a commitment during the campaigns that he will depoliticise development. He has not shown any partisanship in the road or other projects in the state.

“ We are talking about an actual attempt made at re-industrialising the state through the provision of critical infrastructure,” he said.
George said government had developed a template to transform and standardise all general hospitals in the three senatorial zones.

On security, George said the Wike administration presented 100 security fitted vehicles to the police and 46 to the Joint Task Force to boost security in the state.

He stated that the governor held town hall meetings in some areas and urged the residents to assist it check crime.

On water, the commissioner said government signed an agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Bank to provide water to 2.5million people in the state in the first phase.

“ Already, the project has been launched and upon completion, the first phase will provide water to 2.5 million people in the state,” he said. (NAN)

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The Chairperson of the Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Parliamentary Portfolio Committee in Zimbabwe, Beatrice Nyamupinga, has accused the plight of more than 200 of their women who are on death row for drug trafficking in China and other Asian countries on Nigerian men who trick and use them as mules to carry the deadly cargoes for them.


The Chronicle, one of the country's biggest newspaper, report that Nyamupinga, a ZANU-PF MP for Goromonzi, moved a motion on human trafficking in the National Assembly, where she made the revelations, adding that findings have shown that most of the women on death row were duped by their Nigerian boyfriends that they were going for shopping in preparation for their weddings, while dangerous drugs would be placed in their luggage without their knowledge.

She said the Nigerians would have paid lobola (a sort of bride price in property in cash or kind, which a prospective husband or head of his family undertakes to give to the head of a prospective wife’s family in consideration of a customary marriage), for the women who the West Africans then use as drug mules.

“We’ve about 200 Zimbabweans and the majority of the 200 are women, who are on the death row in China because they’ve been used by the so-called Nigerians who are coming here, marrying them through an Act that we enacted in this House.

They marry them and then ask them to go to China to buy their wedding gowns. As they go to China to buy their wedding gowns, they’re given a bag, which has a false bottom and in that false bottom, drugs are secretly packed.

They’re told; ‘when you get to China, my friend is going to receive you and will show you the shops where you can buy your gown.’ She gets to China and the immigration and customs of China know that and these girls are intercepted and convicted.

It’s with a heavy heart that I rise to move a motion on human trafficking following the repatriation of around 53 out of 1,000 women believed to have been trafficked to Kuwait.

Not only Kuwait but to other countries like China, other Arab countries and including South Africa of all countries.

On this one, let me also add that these girls or the women who are being trafficked, we’ve almost 2,000 or over 1,000 that are roaming around China as we speak right now. They were trafficked to China and some of them are now desperate and stranded in China.

The government departments should swiftly address the issue of foreigners marrying locals as they are the ones contributing to the challenges of human trafficking.

Once that’s done, the Nigerian will go and marry the next one. I don’t know the game of changing names and whatever happens. I think also the Minister of Home Affairs, through the Registrar General, should also look at this.

So, these women now, you know in China, they’ll tell you that once you bring drugs, it’s death penalty; almost 200 are on death row and of the 200, the majority are women.”

This is not the first other countries will blame Nigerians for their woes. Early this year, a controversial Kenyan blogger, Cyprian Nyakundi, set the tone for an online war between his country and Nigeria, after he took to his blog to say that Nigerian men use their women as drug mules.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/nigerians-responsible-for-200.html

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said the plan of his administration to transform Oshodi into a world class transport interchange in the next 13 to 16 months would go a long way to depict the regeneration plan of the State, just as he said that the project would also totally remove all notorious activities associated with the area.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja during a meeting with key stakeholders on the planned transport interchange, said by the time the project is delivered, the fear of insecurity must have been totally removed from the area, while Lagosians would be treated to the best of facilities compared to any other where in the world.

The meeting, which was a follow up to an earlier forum organized by the State Government through the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development to sensitize stakeholders on the project, was attended by leaders of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), market associations and community leaders.

While pleading with the stakeholders to support the project which is billed to take off on June 1, 2016, Governor Ambode said the interest of market men and women and transporters have been taken care of, as they would make more money compared to what they are currently making.

He said: “I am so happy that we are working together on this project. What we are doing today is what we have been planning for long and our plan is to transform some notorious areas in the State to places like Victoria Island. Oshodi is known for all kinds of notorious activities and we want to totally do away with that belief and the best way to go about it is to give the people world class facility and make them to live better lives.

“We want the people in Oshodi to be identified with good and not bad things all the time and that was what made us to decide that the kind of development going on in Victoria Island, Lekki and other places should take place in Oshodi as well. I mean, I find it very disturbing that our children in Oshodi would have to travel to Lekki or Ikeja to have access to good shopping mall. So, what we have decided is to regenerate Oshodi.

“Now, if we say there are 13 Bus parks all scattered in Oshodi. Can we put these Bus parks in the same place? You know it is not possible for me to bring the drivers or the buses to Oshodi. It would still be the people who are currently operating there. But the plan is that those who are operating there now, we can make life more comfortable for them and they would still be the ones operating the buses.

“The issue is that when we transform the terminals, what kind of buses should fit into the new look and that is why we are engaging all the stakeholders, especially the transport people. We can take away all these yellow buses and put these other buses but you will be the operators, and all we are only doing is to provide you with world class terminals that you would even be asking is this happening in my lifetime. So, instead of scattering ourselves all over, let all of us be in one very well organized and secured place,” Governor Ambode said.

Among other plans, according to the Governor, is the provision of about 800 modern buses which would run 24/7 and would convey Lagosians to all parts of the State in a more comfortable arrangement.

Speaking on the market, Governor Ambode said the new transport interchange would accommodate world class containerized shopping mall with recreation and entertainment facilities, while the existing market men and women in Oshodi would be the same people to be allocated with the shops.

“I plead for your tolerance because eventually this whole thing is coming back to you but we must have achieved so much. You see, Oshodi is the entrance point from the international Airport and it create the image of where we want to go and once we are able to create that image, nobody will ever remember Oshodi in their head for anything bad. The only thing that would be left is for us to ensure that the road from Oshodi to international Airport meets international standard and by that, we would have regenerated that part of Lagos for good,” Governor Ambode said.

Responding, Lagos State NURTW Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede commended the Governor for the initiative, and expressed the readiness of his members to support the government to make the project a reality.

Also, a market leader in the area, Mr. Lateef Tajudeen thanked Governor Ambode for the concretized Brown Street in Oshodi, but pleaded that their members should be carried along in the allocation of the shops in the shopping mall.

On his part, Managing Director of Planet Projects Limited, the contractor partnering with government to deliver the interchange, Mr. Biodun Otunola assured that the firm will meet up with the scheduled time.

He said the project would gulp about $70 million, adding that several financial institutions have expressed interest to be part of the project.





SIGNED

HABIB ARUNA

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

MAY 24, 2016

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A septuagenarian, Elder Taiwo Shoyode has advised the Federal Government to adopt the socio-economic policies that boosted the economy of the defunct Western Region in resolving the country’s economic quagmire.

Shoyode, father in-law to Vice-President Yemi Oshinbajo, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a free health progarmme, sponsored by a philanthropist, Dawodu Olatunji.

The programme, ``Health is Wealth’’, is a free malaria test and drugs outreach, held on Saturday at Solomon Hall, Mushin, Lagos.

Shoyode urged the new generation politicians to go back and study the socio-economic agenda of the then Western Region to tackle the issues of economic downturn.

He said the laudable programmes embarked upon and implemented well by the Obafemi Awolowo-led western region remained the best economic policy that might address the present day realities.

``I will recommend that our politicians go back to those economic policies as a way out of this economic recession.

``Then, we have farm settlements which absorbed more than half of our graduates.

``I urge politicians to bring back those laudable social and economic policies and we will be better for it; even if they implement 30 per cent of it, Nigeria will be great again.

``We need to go back to the farm settlements because many jobs will be created through it and thousands of our unemployed youths will be absorbed by the programme.

``The old western region’s socio-economic programmes remain the best politicians could copy from. Even if we can achieve 30 per cent it will reach every corner of this country,’’ he said.

Shoyode also said that agriculture should be the mainstay of the economy because of its capacity to absorb as many people as might want to engage in it.

``Agriculture will combat unemployment and bring quality implementable programmes that will positively impact the lives of people.

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Tinsel actress Joju Muse, fondly called April, took to her Facebook page today to reveal shocking photos of how she was battered by her younger brother, whom she has now cut ties with. So sad! Sharing the horrifying experience, April wrote;

"I regret this day the 22nd of May 2016. I was brutally assaulted by someone I least expect. I cry out against domestic violence,and I will always do. But how does one handle this? When the culprit is my own blood? Today I cut the tie between us,with no regrets!. I ddnt throw the first punch! But u beat me to a pulp. I suffered a seizure nd am to do head nd chest xray all thnks to u. Am not ashamed of this pic,am only ashamed of d monster uv turned out to be. U were brot up in d way of God. In a good home! I wonder how u turned into an end time beast. I forgive u. But u will never be part of me for this. Sme ppl will say it's nt a social media tin. But domestic violence happens in all forms. Say NO to assault on women! Let's join hands to sanitise our homes and environment. Say NO to all forms of domestic violence! Av a Blessed week."

After people began to console her over the sad incident, she added,

"Thanks guys. My EX kid bro was d actor in d whole movie. It can only get better. At the end of the day. All man for himself."

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photos-tinsel-actress-april-joju-muse.html

A Nigerian based in Seoul, South Korea has been charged with sexually assaulting an Australian woman, after spiking her drink in a pub, with a drug. The Nigerian was arrested after his DNA matched the one taken from the Australian woman, Aidre Mattner.

Mattner claims three men, two of whom were captured on CCTV raped her in a seedy hotel in the Korean capital. She wants the man charged with rape, but the Korean prosecution chose the lesser charge on the grounds that the 25-year-old was not awake during the assault.

Korean authorities were initially indifferent to her case, but after she and her mother set up a GoFundMe page to raise money so they could pursue legal action against her attackers, sparking international outcry from women’s rights groups, the authorities reopened the matter.
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Aidre being taken away from the pub

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Mattner at the Seoul pub

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The Nigerians in the Seoul CCTV
The re-opening led to the arrest of the Nigerian. But Mattner has further upped her campaign by featuring on 60 Minutes, after the Nigerian was slammed with the lesser charge.

Aidre Mattner, from Adelaide, was alone on a pub crawl in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, when a stranger spiked her drink, piled her into a taxi and took her back to a seedy hotel where he and two other men forced themselves on her in September last year.

Security footage from the hotel, in an area known to locals as ‘hookers hill’, show two men in white leading a disoriented Ms Mattner inside before they took turns violating her on the bed.

‘I was completely naked on my back on the bed and the man was on top of me trying to force himself inside me,’ she told 60 Minutes on Sunday night.

‘I struggled as much as I could… I tried to push him off and just wasn’t strong enough,’ she added.

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The European Union says traffickers are taking advantage of Europe’s migrant crisis to target certain types of people, often for sexual exploitation, with children and Nigerian girls and women among the most vulnerable.

An EU report into trafficking released Thursday said that crime gangs focus on children because they are easy to recruit and replace, with young migrants more exposed as they often travel long distances alone.

The report also noted “a worryingly sharp increase in Nigerian women and girls leaving Libya”.

The report says from January to September 2015, more than 4,370 Nigerian women and girls headed for Europe, compared to 1,008 the previous year.

The International Organisation for Migration says around 80 percent of them could be victims of trafficking.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/over-4000-nigerian-girls-smuggled-into.html

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Many states across Nigeria snubbed the Nigeria Labour Congress on the first day of its call on Nigerian workers to embark on a strike action to protest the increase in the pump price of petrol.

Apart from Ebonyi state, where a total shut down of the state was carried out by union leaders, and Gombe where partial compliance was recorded, in many states it was business as usual.

NAN correspondents who monitored the situation in north east states reported that key institutions such as banks, schools, state and federal secretariats, hospitals, markets and all major commercial, centres were open for normal activities.

In Bauchi where some youths demonstrated Tuesday in support of the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, labour officials did not attempt to enforce the strike.

A civil servant working with the state government, Sanusi Ibrahim, said most workers were not in support of the strike.

“When we were not paid our salary for over eight months, what did the NLC do?

“Before the removal of subsidy, we were buying fuel at the cost of N300 per litre; in some states, even N500.

“Now the fuel is available at maximum of N145. The NLC should leave us alone,” he said.

Contacted on telephone Wednesday for his comment, Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Hashimu Gitel, said he was on his way to Abuja.

He however said that his colleagues would brief the press later in the day.

Normal activities are also going on in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, with banks, schools, hospitals, state and federal secretariats open for business.

An official of the NLC in the state who did not want his name mentioned, told NAN that they would meet later in the day to decide on their next line of action.

NAN correspondents in Yola also reported that normal activities are going on in Yola and other major towns of Adamawa as schools, banks, markets, as well as the State and Federal secretariats remained open.

Many people who spoke on the failure of the strike said they were not convinced that the action was the best alternative in the present circumstance.

Mallam Adamu Danwanzam, the chairman of Yola Perishable Food Items Sellers Association, said his members were not in support of the strike action.

Also speaking, the state chairman of Private School Proprietors in Adamawa, Hajiya Dijatu Balla, said her members had no business with the strike action.

Malam Husaini Isa, chairman of Commercial Tricycle Association in Adamawa , also distanced his members from the strike, pointing out that for many months ,his members had been buying fuel for N200 per litre, as such the new prize of N145 per litre was a relief.

When contacted on the development, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Dauda Maina, said he could not comment as he was still in Abuja.

“I am still in Abuja where I missed my flight back due to lack of aviation fuel, but I have given mandate to my vice and other union officials to ensure compliance with the strike”, Maina said.

The situation was the same in Dutse, Jigawa state as people went about their normal businesses.

At the State and Federal secretariats, civil servants were seen attending to their official duties.

A bank staff who pleaded for anonymity told NAN that they observed the situation for some time and decided to open at about 9:00am as against official time of 8:00am.

Officers and men of Nigeria Police force were seen in strategic places to ensure safety of lives and property.

There was however a partial compliance in Gombe as the NLC Monitoring Committee went round to ensure compliance.

Most places of work, schools, banks and the state radio and television stations were closed.

Malam Haruna Kamara, chairman of NLC in the state, told NAN that a committee was inaugurated and vested with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the NLC directive.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/30-states-didnt-participate-in-todays.html

Read the press statement below...

The dictatorial, vengeful, vindictive and scurrilous use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the APC-led federal government to achieve sinister purposes against vocal individuals and members of the opposition has once again played itself out in the macabre continued detention of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, 5 days after fulfilling all his bail conditions.

We are appalled by this risible development but not surprised at all by it because that has been the hallmark of this current administration. Rather than work to improve on its reprehensible anti-democratic record, the Buhari-led administration has insisted on continuing in its self-engineered free nose-dive into the abyss of autocracy and the infamy of gross abuse of citizens' rights.

This tactic of keeping key and vocal members of the opposition out of circulation without due regard to our laws and or harass them with charges that cannot stand the test of judicial requirements has got to stop. The sweet smelling savour of democracy will be polluted when the opposition is stifled.

The continued holding of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody for this long despite meeting his bail conditions goes a long way to show that this fight is not about corruption after all but all about silencing the opposition.

We condemn in very strong terms these acts of intimidation and harassment and request that he be released forthwith even as we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to know who to hold responsible should anything untoward happen to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode!

This act of executive rascality, at a time when Nigerians are groaning more than ever before over the economic hardship inflicted on them by this administration, is needless. It will achieve nothing but will only lead to a puerile end.

Release FFK NOW!


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Taiwo Ogungbe, the twin brother of entertainment mogul, Kenny Keke Ogungbe has revealed his decision to vie for the seat of Ago Iwoye Local Government council chairman.

According to sources, Taiwo, who has since moved to Ogun State to remain with the people of Ago Iwoye, where he hails from, has been consistent in his campaign and ploy to win the LG boss seat.

Contesting under the ruling All progressive Congress, Taiwo promises good welfare and proper governance if elected.

While Taiwo looks forward to the primary, he has intensified his campaign in the local government area as well as on social media where his twin brother had also joined in campaigning for him.

Taiwo's twin brother, Keke Ogungbe's buddy and business partner, Dayo D1 Adeneye had contested for a seat in Ogun State but lost at the primaries after which he got a job in the Gov. Ibikunle Amosun's cabinet.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photo-kenny-keke-ogungbe-twin-brother.html

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on Nigerians to ignore the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) call for a protest against the fuel price hike.

The CNPP also said the labour union has been compromised, adding that the planned protest is a plan to destabilise the good intention of the Buhari-led administration.

The CNPP in a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said “What the labour unions are doing now by calling for a strike action was what they did in 2012 during the Occupy Nigeria protests in response to similar increase in the pump price of petrol under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The labour unions later scuttled the action by purportedly entering into an agreement with the then government on behalf of Nigerians and ended up fixing the pump price of petrol at N97.00 per litre.”

The statement also said “Nigerians must be aware that the planned strike action scheduled for Wednesday won’t last beyond Friday as the labour leaders have been compromised and are using the call as a ploy to deceive the masses.

“We have it on good authority that the labour leaders have compromised. Recall that the labour leaders were at a meeting where the decision to inflict more and more pains on the already impoverished Nigerian people by increasing the pump price was taken and never protested against it. Why the sudden U-turn by the same labour leaders?

“The federal government and its labour collaborators must be told that the CNPP, the masses and the civil society shall occupy Nigeria until the reversal of the pump price of patrol. Enough of more and more suffering under the guise of fuel subsidy removal.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/cnpp-tells-nigerians-not-to-join-nlc.html

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Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), said oil exploration by multinational companies was a major contributor to environmental warming and climate change effects in Nigeria.

Coordinator of the organisation, Mr Nnimo Bassey, stated this on Sunday at an environmental awareness campaign tagged “Break Free 2016” in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom.

He said that exploitation of crude oil and flaring of gas had destroyed the ecosystem thereby causing environmental warming in the country.

“We can break free from fossil fuel; we cannot keep on burning fossil fuel and the oil companies knew many years ago that oil extraction causes global warming,” Bassey said.

He said that the spread of chemical in the ocean during oil spills had affected fishing activities in the parts of the country.

According to him, the polluted water has affected the quality and quantity of fish in the ocean.

“It is happening in 15 countries around the world; everybody is saying the use of crude oil, the use of crude, the use of gas is destroying the planet.

“It makes the planet to change, everywhere is hot; it is because when oil is burning, it pollutes the air as the weather is changing,” Bassey said.

He alleged that a scientific study sponsored by a multinational in the area had proved that oil exploration was detrimental to human health and the environment.

“They paid scientists to hide the information so that they can make profits in dollars now that the information is coming out in the USA,” Bassey alleged.

He called on the multinational companies to the leave the oil in the soil, saying that 80 per cent of the chemical kept in the soil had polluted the ocean.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Peace Point Action (PPA), another NGO, Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, said that residents of oil-bearing communities were suffering from respiratory and skin diseases.

Ikoh attributed the situation to breathing of poisonous gases emitted into the air through oil exploration and extraction activities in the area.

He said that the objective of the awareness campaign was to stop the impunity committed in the Niger Delta by the oil multinational companies.

“If we are sincere about doing our part to fight climate change, then we must leave the oil and gas in the soil,” Ikoh said.

He said that oil and gas companies were sacrificing peoples’ lives and future of children “at the altar of profit’’ and that governments in the country had “unfortunately, become their bedfellows’’.

“Our roofs top wear and tear very fast because of acid rain. Companies around continue to flare gas with impunity in spite of several targets to end gas flaring.

“We want to see an end to gas flaring in the Niger Delta region,” Ikoh emphasised.

He claimed that though Akwa Ibom had been the highest oil producing state in Nigeria, it had the worst socio-economic indicators in the Niger Delta.

According to him, oil wealth does not directly translate to wealth and sustainable development for the people.

“The truth is that oil and gas exploration and production has left in its wake only environmental disaster, time bomb, poverty, disease and conflict in the region,” Ikoh said.

In his remarks, a former Chief Medical Superintendent in the state, Dr Charles Abakam, decried the state of devastation of the environment in Ibeno Local Government Area by oil extraction activities.

Abakam said that people living in an environment where oil was exploited had the tendency to develop prostate cancer.

He said that apart from destroying the ecosystem, oil exploration was injurious to the health of the people in the oil producing areas and called for cessation of oil extraction.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/oil-exploration-causes-climate-change.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Yesterday, regional and Western powers gathered in Nigeria to discuss their war with Boko Haram, as the United Nations said the group posed a major threat to security in West Africa.

Leaders from Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger were among the delegates, alongside French President Francois Hollande, and high-ranking diplomats from the US, UK and the European Union.

After the summit, this picture surfaced on social media, where Obasanjo was seen whispering to President Muhammadu Buhari and the French president spy on them .

Can you guess what he is telling him?

[img]http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/attachments/obn-jpg.81194/[/img]

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photo-what-is-obasanjo-whispering-to.html

A 17 year old man identified as Usman Abdu from Ganja ward in Ganjuwa local government area of Bauchi state has committed suicide over his failed marriage proposal to his 12 year old cousin. According to a statement released by the State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, Usman carried out the act by hanging himself on a tree at about 9am yesterday May 13th.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that victim hanged himself when his cousin, a 12 years old girl of the same address rejected his marriage proposal. Exhibit recovered include rope which the victim used in hanging himself while the corpse has been released to his relatives for burial after postmortem examinations" the police spokesperson said.

Usman was certified dead at Soro hospital in the state.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/boy-commits-suicide-over-failed.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

https://16745-presscdn-0-7.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/REGIONAL-SECURITY-SUMMIT-2-e1463245320935.jpg
President Buhari and other leaders at the regional security summit at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja
https://16745-presscdn-0-7.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/REGIONAL-SECURITY-SUMMIT-4-e1463245352697.jpg
President Paul Biya, President Hollande, Buhari and President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon
https://16745-presscdn-0-7.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/REGIONAL-SECURITY-SUMMIT-2-e1463245320935.jpg
R-left, Idris Debby Itno of Chad, Patrice Talon, Buhari, Hollande and Paul BIya

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photos-buhari-at-regional-summit-on.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

A residential house is currently burning in Elere part of Agege,Lagos


www.metronaija.com reporter who was at the scene confirmed that no lives has been lost but few occupants of the building were seriously injured.


The fire started at about 1pm today and Felix John,Metronaija reporter also have it that the fire started from the kitchen

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photos-from-burning-house-in-elereagege.html

Igbokuta Model College, Igbokuta, Ikorodu, Lagos State, is currently under siege. Gunmen are currently shooting sporadically.


A concerned individual alerted www.metronaija.com to call on security operatives around Ikorodu and its environs to reinforce to the school to save the lives of these innocent students

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/shooting-currently-going-on-in-ikorodu.html

African football’s governing body on Monday fined Nigeria $5,000 (4,400 euros) for overcrowding and lack of security during their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt.

overcrowding 1.jpg

Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed the fine at a disciplinary meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, threatening “sanctions will be applied” if there was any repeat.

More than 40,000 spectators crammed into the 15,000-capacity Ahmadu Bello Stadium in the northern city of Kaduna on March 29 to watch the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.


Fans climbed onto any available space, including floodlight scaffolding, while others had to be held back from spilling onto the pitch by police mounted on horseback.

The Kaduna State government had thrown open the doors of the venue to allow fans to watch the crucial qualifier for free. Nigeria’s Super Eagles lost the return fixture in Alexandria 1-0, ending their hopes of qualifying for the finals in Gabon next year.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/caf-fines-nigeria-5000-for-afcon.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, arrived Borno state this morning where he paid a visit to the IDP camp in Dalori, Borno state. He was welcomed by the state governor, Kashim Shettima. See more photos after the cut.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/photos-dangote-visits-idp-camp-in-borno.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The Lagos State Government generated a total revenue of N101.69bn in the first quarter of 2016 out of which a surplus of N4.85bn was realized as against an expected N29.92bn deficit, the State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade said on Monday.


Speaking at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office, Ashade said the generated revenue was above that of 2015 which stood at N97.28bn in the first quarter, adding that in absolute terms, the revenue performance was N4.4bn more than comparative period of 2015.


Ashade said the remarkable feat was achieved despite the diminishing statutory allocation from the federation account, adding that same was due to Governor Ambode’s purposeful and visionary leadership.


He expressed optimism that with the implementation of multiple revenue collection channels and broadening of the revenue base, the State Government would achieve tremendous progress in its revenue drive.


Giving a detailed breakdown of the budget performance, the Commissioner said N76.06bn was the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State in the first quarter representing 72 percent of the estimate for the quarter and 75 percent of the total revenue, as against the N67.21bn generated in first quarter of 2015 representing 74 percent of the estimate and 69 percent of the total revenue in the corresponding period for last year.


He said the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) revenue for the first quarter of 2016 stood at N67.25bn representing 90 percent estimate for the quarter and 88 percent of the total IGR and 66.12 percent of the total revenue, compared to N60.58bn (87 percent of the estimate for Q1 Y2015), representing 90 percent of total IGR and 62 percent of total revenue in 2015.


“This performance was N6.67bn more in absolute terms compared to corresponding period in Y2015 and due largely to more participatory structural and systemic re-engineering.


“Over the course of the first quarter of Y2016, Federal transfers contributed N25.64bn (83 percent of the estimate for the quarter) and accounted for 25.21 percent of total revenue. Further breakdown showed that statutory allocations contributed N7.48bn while VAT contributed N18.16bn,” Ashade said.


Speaking on performance of capital expenditures for the period under review, the Commissioner explained that in the regard, the government expended N48.88bn on capital projects which represented a 51 percent better performance of N15.08bn (24 percent) as at the first quarter of 2015.




He also revealed that as at the end of first quarter of 2016, the ratio of capital expenditures to recurrent expenditures closed at 50:50, better than a ratio of 21:79 recorded for the same period in 2015 but short of the ratio of 58:42 projected for 2016.


He, however, expressed optimism that capital expenditure performance would experience significant improvement in the second quarter of 2016 based on the projections and expectations of revenue inflows.


Ashade, whose Ministry is also responsible for managing the State’s existing relationships with development partners as well as identify new potential ones to drive further development, disclosed that the State Government has gone into partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to invest in a possible monorail project that will link Marina to Oniru in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, and later connect to the Lekki Rail Line project which is also in the works.


He clarified that the monorail project is an urban mass transportation project different from the ongoing Blue Line Rail project that will connect Mile 12 to CMS, and the Red Line Rail Project.


According to him: “A detailed feasibility study has been commissioned on the monorail project to validate the initial survey, which will eventually lead to an investment of US$1billion (about N300billion) in the project if the results of the feasibility study are positive, amongst other conditions.”



Ashade further disclosed that under the Eko Urban Project, the State Government, in partnership with the Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) would soon embark on the upgrade of slums in Amukoko in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State and Ilaje-Bariga in Bariga Local Council Development Area of the State, as well as the provision of modern waste disposal facility in Epe.


He said projects would soon take off as the AFD has already committed a US$100m loan for the projects, while the State Executive Council has equally approved the upgrade of the slums.



SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
MAY 09, 2016

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/lagos-state-generates-over-n101-billion.html

In a recent interview with Channels TV, actress Adesua Etomi who won the AMVCA 2016 Best Actress in a Movie, said she will appreciate it if her funeral can be used in a movie after she is gone.

“I want to act till I die. It will be great if they could use my funeral in the scene of a movie. I am serious, that’s how much this means to me” she said

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/itll-be-great-to-have-my-funeral-used.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District at the upper chamber of the National Assembly has reacted to the British newspaper article on president Muhammadu Buhari.

Ben Bruce, who lambasted the British newspaper for being rude on President Muhamamdu Buhari's personality and the country said: That @DailyMailUK article on our President is rude.

See his tweet:
[img]http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/attachments/bruxmailnewspape-jpg.80489/[/img]

http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/attachments/bruxmailnewspape-jpg.80489/