₦airaland Forum

I have a sister, she is five years younger than me and despite the pretty distinct age gap we get on really well.

Most of the time.
Much like every other sister relationship, we fight. I let her borrow my clothes and then if I don’t specifically ask for them back then that’s it, she has claimed them. She’s also the youngest sibling out of the three of us, so of course, she gets pretty much everything she wants, and she knows it and lords it over my brother and I. So sisters can sometimes suck. But, she’s also the person that I send stupid internet memes to, and she calls me to complain when our family are being crazy. It’s a good dynamic.

If you have a sister, you will find these pictures a little too relatable!?

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A suspected member of a militant group allegedly planning to blow up the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, has been arrested by the police in Majidun, Ikorodu area of the state.
The suspect, Abiodun Amos, aka Senti, was said to be a bomb expert, who had participated in several robbery attacks and kidnappings in Lagos and Ogun states.
PUNCH Metro learnt that two Ak-47 rifles concealed in a bag and a vehicle loaded with dynamite and detonators were recovered from the suspect’s hideouts around the creeks in Majidun.
It was gathered that Amos’ arrest followed an intelligence report received by the office of the National Security Adviser to the President.
The report was said to have been passed onto the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who directed the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, led by ACP Abba Kyari, to go after the group.
A police source disclosed to our correspondent that Amos was a top commander of a militant group, which had been terrorising communities in Lagos and Ogun states.
The source said, “The suspect is a member of a militant group operating from the creeks of Ikorodu and Arepo areas of Lagos and Ogun states. The police got an intelligence report from the office of the NSA that Amos and his gang members wanted to blow up the Third Mainland Bridge.
“The group was trailed to a river bank in the Majidun area, where the suspect, an expert in explosive, was arrested. Two Ak-47 rifles hidden in a Ghana-Must-Go bag were found in his possession and he led operatives to a vehicle parked discreetly within Ikorodu, and a large cache of dynamite and detonators were recovered from its boot.”
PUNCH Metro learnt from another source that some members of the gang earlier arrested gave detectives information that led to Amos’ arrest, adding that the police were on the trail of other members of the gang.
“After receiving the report, the IG directed the IRT operatives to commence a full-scale investigation and it was discovered that the group actually planned to blow up the bridge at the end of November 2016. The suspect, who coordinated the plan, was arrested before the scheduled date,” the source added.
In his confessional statement, Amos, who hails from Arugbo in the Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, reportedly told the police that his gang was frustrated by the military operations against pipeline vandals.
The 43-year-old man said his gang went into kidnapping after the bombardment of the creeks, adding that the botched attack on the bridge was initiated by the overall ringleader identified as
General Ossy .
“We went into bank robberies and kidnapping because we wanted to get government’s attention and all we wanted was for them to grant us amnesty and offer us pipeline protection contract. We have made several appeals, but the government is not listening to us.
“ General Ossy said if we didn’t blow up the Third Mainland Bridge, government would not listen to us. We had concluded plans and we decided to carry out the attack by November ending. I am the group’s explosive expert. We were about going into the creek to conclude plans on how to carry out the attack when I was arrested.”
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, confirmed the arrest and seizure of the explosives, saying investigation was ongoing.
He said, “An arrest was made of an individual. While the police operatives were pursuing another one in a vehicle, he abandoned the vehicle and ran but he was tracked down. Some explosives were discovered in the vehicle and two Ak-47 guns were recovered from him.”
http://punchng.com/man-planning-attack-third-mainland-bridge-arrested-police/

The naira fell against the United States dollar from 485 to 490 at the parallel market on Wednesday, reversing part of the gain it had recorded against the greenback last week.
The local currency, which had fallen to 495/dollar last Thursday, recorded some gains and closed at 485/dollar on Friday.
Since Friday when the Christmas holiday was announced, the naira closed at 485/dollar at the parallel market.
On Tuesday, three days to the end of the year, the naira traded flat and was sold for 485 per dollar on the streets of Lagos and Abuja,
Currency experts have predicted the naira will weaken against the greenback as the New Year approaches.
Specifically, they said the naira might fall to 500/dollar this week.
Last Monday and Tuesday, the naira traded flat at 490 after closing at 487/dollar the previous Friday.
The naira has been under severe and continuous pressure as the scarcity of the US currency continues to create ripples in the financial markets and economy.
The naira plunged to 470/dollar, down from 455/dollar on the back of dollar shortage at the official and parallel forex markets some weeks ago.
The naira has, however, consistently closed around 305.5 a dollar level since August via the official window.
A Director at Union Capital Markets, Mr. Egie Akpata, said it was really difficult to predict the direction of the naira currently because part of the currency market had shut down for the year.
You can’t really predict the market now because part of the market has shut down for the year. Things will really take shape next week. Currently, it could swing anywhere.”
Currency dealers said the consistent clampdown on black market operators by security agents had compounded the naira problem, putting more pressure on available dollars.
The CBN had on June 20 lifted its 16-month-old naira peg, following overwhelming dollar demand from companies and calls for a free floating of the naira by industry experts.
Experts, however, argued that the central bank had yet to fully allow the naira to float freely.
The CBN has struggled to support the naira as the country’s external reserves continue to fall.
Dollar shortages have caused many companies to halt operations and lay off workers, compounding an economic crisis exacerbated by the fall in global prices of oil, which accounts for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s budget revenue.
Meanwhile, the Bureau De Change operators are now getting $8,000 each per week against the usual $15,000 each per week.
Economic and financial experts said unless the lingering dollar supply problem was abated, the volatility in the exchange rate and the consequent economic challenges might continue.
However, the currencies of Uganda, Kenya and Zambia are seen trading sideways this week as most investors closed positions ahead of the end of the year, according to a Reuters report.

http://punchng.com/naira-reverses-gain-drops-490dollar/

Sapele indegenes and residents have asked the Benin Electricity
Distribution Company, BEDC to be ready to face the consequences if it
fails to heed its call to restore and supply light to Sapele town within one week.
Sapele town has been in perpetual darkness for months as a result of
BEDC’s inability to supply light to one of the foremost towns Nigerian towns.
The people of Sapele handed down the threat during a peaceful protest
to the Office of the Distribution Company which shares the same
premises with African Timber& Plywood, AT& P in Sapele, Sapele Local
Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters who began their protests from Olympia chanted solidarity
songs and matched through major streets in Sapele to register their
anger against BEDC while bearing placards with inscriptions such as
“Jegede must Go”, “ No Light, No bill”, “ Give us Prepaid Metres” also
accused BEDC of alleged overbilling and the failure to supply light
to them even when they pay their bills as at when due.
Those having light at the moment are those using 33 KV
Transformers(Industrial lines) while the others wallow in darkness.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabor
issued the BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and supply light to
Sapele or be ready to face the consequences.
Fr. Ekabor noted that the few companies in Sapele have closed down
while some of them have relocated to other towns as a result of power
outage in the town.
According to Him, “I pay my bills and I see no reason why Sapele, a
foremost town should not have light. Companies like Eternit are dying
and relocating. We are giving BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and
supply light to Sapele town or be ready to face the music.”
In a swift reaction, BEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr.
Adekunle Tayo stated that the company decided to withhold supply of
power from Sapele town because the people don’t pay light bills.
Tayo said, “ It is what we have we give to the public” noting that the company is into deficit of 41% and above.”
In his words, “This is what we are supposed to give out. The 33KV
Transformer is for industrial lines.”
http://dailypost.ng/2016/12/28/sapele-indiegenes-threaten-shut-bedc-power-not-restored-town/

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