₦airaland Forum

Alfaab:
I think he was just irked by the loss.
I think he shouldn't have gone public with those words.He should be ashamed of himself.

CodeTemplar:
hater. See am. Crude price is fluctuating and scale of economy also varies the unit cost as they get towards the 650k bpd mark.

Alfaab:
The best of footballers have always lost one penalty or the other.Penalty is an opportunistic event that can either be taken or lost

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has strongly criticised Ademola Lookman’s penalty-taking abilities following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League knockout round play-offs.

The Nigerian forward, who had earlier scored Atalanta’s only goal in the match, missed a crucial penalty that could have given his side a chance to fight back.

Speaking after the match on Tuesday, Gasperini did not hold back in his assessment of the player’s decision to take the spot-kick.

“Ademola Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” Gasperini said.

The Atalanta boss revealed that Lookman took the ball despite other designated takers being available.

“He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Keteleare being available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did,” Gasperini added.

The missed penalty proved costly as Atalanta failed to overturn their deficit, resulting in their elimination from the competition.

Since then, the price of petrol in Nigeria has fluctuated, as oil marketers across the country respond to the price shift initiated by fuel from the largest single-train oil refinery in the world.

The ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), was lowered to N899.50 per litre by the Dangote refinery during the yultide season last year, from N970 in November.

While fuel prices would jump back up in 2025, the Dangote refinery, two weeks ago announced a reduction of its selling price of petrol to retailers: from N950 per liter to N890 per liter, further easing market pressures.

This sort of decision driven by market forces, according to Dangote, is the reason why some have come to believe that Nigeria’s energy market may undergo substantial deflation, after experiencing its worst inflation spikes in recent years.

Prior to the inauguration of the country’s current president, petrol was sold for as low as N180 per liter.

However, after the president announced the removal of fuel subsidies, the price of petrol shot up drastically, even reaching as high as N1,200 per liter at one point.

The presence of a domestic refinery as opposed to the insistent reliance on imported petrol, is the reason why some experts believe that fuel prices could drop to levels that would significantly reduce the country’s inflation levels.

Following the announcement of fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the Nigerian currency, inflation levels in the country, which were already high, have gone from 22.22% to 34.80%.

Despite this, projections show that fuel prices, and by extension, inflation levels in the country are set to go down, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), seems to share the same estimates.

A recent report by the organization revealed that the Dangote refinery would ensure an adequate supply of fuel as well as spur a reduction in prices.

What OPEC said

“After the Nigerian economy recorded healthy growth in 3Q24 across key sectors, economic growth is anticipated to have been steady in 4Q24 as well. Economic growth reached 3.5%, y-o-y, in 3Q24, up from 3.2%, y-o-y, in 2Q24.

This came despite the impact of tightening monetary policy, with the non-oil sector playing an increasingly important role in driving growth, supported by easing price pressures and a potential loosening of tight monetary policy,” the report states.

“However, the oil sector remains central to the economy, and the Dangote Refinery reaching full production capacity should help stabilize the petroleum product supply and possibly lower petrol prices,” it adds.

As per the report, the ease of inflation projected to happen could also result from a more stable currency performance.

“While inflation remains high, early signs of cooling have emerged, partly due to base effects from the naira’s devaluation. The central bank appears to be nearing the end of its tightening cycle, following its rate hikes in 2H24, with the key policy rate standing at 27.5%,” the report revealed.

“Consequently, real interest rates remain deeply negative. Inflation rose to 34.9%, y-o-y, in December, following 34.6%, y-o-y, in November and 33.9%, y-o-y, in October. The S&P PMI remained at an expansionary level of 52 in January, compared with 52.7 in December,” it added.

Increased production capacity for the Dangote refinery

Officials at the Dangote refinery in January revealed that the facility's present capacity which is 500,000 barrels per day, is on track to reach its full potential at 650,000 barrels per day by June of this year.

This was announced as a result of the belief that a significant obstacle preventing the refinery from reaching its initial 650,000 bpd capacity is about to be removed.

Because the supply it now receives from Nigeria is inadequate, the refinery said that it intends to buy crude from outside the country's oil market.

If the refinery covers its local crude shortfall with imported oil, it is expected to increase production to 650,000bpd.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) now supplies between 350,000 and 450,000 barrels per day of oil to the Dangote refinery.

The newly appointed Board Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is making significant investments in the South-East health sector to demonstrate the President’s special interest in the region’s socio-economic development.

Hon. Dalori made this statement during his inaugural visit to NAUTH, where he also highlighted President Tinubu’s commitment to nationwide healthcare investments, according to his media team in Abuja yesterday.

He pledged the administration’s continued support for improving healthcare in the South-East and across Nigeria.

The NAUTH Board Chairman emphasized the Tinubu-led government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare in the South-East, as evident in various people-oriented projects implemented to improve medical services in Anambra State and the region.

Dalori also praised the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate, for his dedication and support in establishing a modern, state-of-the-art radiodiagnostic center at NAUTH. He noted that once completed, the facility would significantly strengthen efforts to combat various diseases in the region.

During a meeting with hospital staff, Dalori assured them of improved welfare, well-being, and motivation under the current administration.

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of Ndi Igbo. He also acknowledged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate, for driving meaningful improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.

The CMD highlighted Prof. Pate’s efforts in transforming the country’s medical landscape, shifting the narrative from challenges to progress under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasized that these initiatives aim to position Nigeria alongside global standards in quality healthcare.

Prof. Ugboaja further praised President Tinubu for his substantial support of NAUTH’s mega projects, describing them as a testament to the President’s commitment to Anambra State and the Ndi Igbo community.

wizelink:
This is nonsense. Whoever is sponsoring her moving to abroad should also be ready for another story over there.

In a twist of events, a UK-based Nigerian woman named Mkpouto Pius, has stated her desire to assist the expelled UNIZIK student, Miss Goddy Mbakwe in obtaining international scholarships.

She made this public, following a new video that provided an alternative perspective on the incident involving the student and the lecturer.The woman contacted miss Goddy and assured her that her family was fully behind her, claiming there was another side to the story.

In a Facebook post, Dr. Pius said she had spoken with miss Mbakwe personally and discovered an alternative version of events, claiming the lecturer had harassed the student and that the university was now attempting to hide it.

“UNIZIK did the right thing by expelling her, but they are now desperately trying to save face because they know the lecturer harassed that girl. That’s why they’ve been calling her parents, asking her to apologize publicly so they can rescind the expulsion,” Dr. Pius wrote.

She added that Mbakwe is doing well and that her family is taking good care of her. She also stated that she had given her an overseas scholarship which her parents had allegedly accepted.

“The girl is not breaking down or dying; she’s very fine. When I offered to support her in securing a scholarship abroad, she consulted her parents, and they quickly got on board with the idea,” she stated.

Netizens shared their thoughts on the matter
zucchy nedu wrote : Even if the school doesn’t expel her, she will expel herself.. because she wouldn’t be able to cope in that environment

fabulously owned wrote :Although deserving, Expulsion does not cut it. The Professor should go ahead and press charges.

xx.box.py had this to say :In as much as the girl has bad manners… But the lecturer tapping the girl on her shoulder can be perceived as intrusive or startling, especially when she is focused on her phone. It’s generally more polite for him to just say “excuse me” to grab her attention. Using verbal communication is usually the better option in such situations than making contacts…

chidinma lyd wrote :Jamb should cancel her from getting admission in any Nigerian university.

ameena_selense said :Those supporting her can contribute money for her to study abroad 😂

Iamchrisbassey wrote :If dem no use one Genz do example others won’t learn. Na pikin way respect him Papa for house de respect other people Papa outside..

lilvoke_voke said :Everything is always about sexual harassment… so the man wants to have his way with her in the public, right?

Graciefunmike:She can now go home , relaxed and do her tik tok without any intruder. Then she can enroll herself in either Shaolin temple or village market square wrestling.

sucree_jenny commented :You see bad behavior and you’re encouraging it the fact that your abroad doesn’t mean you have sense sha

_samkoko said:Not to pass judgment on anyone but my issue here is the people saying he was holding her phone and not her dress like what’s really going on? The man is clearly holding onto her dress and I heard her say “leave my cloth” and also heard some students say “the man is at fault, is it because he’s a lecturer”

Panel indicts ex-Gov Obaseki, LG chairmen, PDP leaders for alleged mismanage of N96bn Council fund.

The administrative panel of inquiry set up by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo to investigate the financial accounts of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in the state between September 4, 2023 and November, 2024 has allegedly indicted the immediate past Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.

DAILY POST reports that a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor also allegedly indicted some local government chairmen, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, among others.

The chairman of the panel, Solomon Imohiosen while submitting the report to Governor Monday Okpebholo, alleged that they were indicted for either mismanaging and/or diverting to private accounts, the sum of N95,080,676,687.86, being amount received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee, JAAC, by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period under review.

Imohiosen listed some of the indicted persons to include the embattled chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government, Newman Ugiagbe who is also the State chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON.

Others are Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan.

He alleged that the ALGON chairman used his hotel, the Demarriots Hotels Limited in collusion with others to loot Local Government funds.

He further alleged that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that the N96 billion was either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts.

According to him, the panel observed that N95,080,676,687.86 was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee, JAAC, by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period under investigation. However, the funds were not judiciously utilized as no meaningful projects were on the ground to justify the amount received.

“The panel established a case of fraudulent diversion of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the state. It was discovered that over N10,433 658,452.00 billion was fraudulently siphoned, using the pseudo name, “Security, Environment and Training”.

“The 18 Local Government Area Chairmen contributed the amount to the account, using it as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as monies were transferred from there to various individuals and companies.

“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Governments Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Governments finances.

“The report indicted former ALGON chairman, Oghomwen Newman Ugiagbe, who used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan to loot Local Government funds”, he alleged.

Imohiosen, however, noted that the panel faced different challenges during the course of the assignment, which included late submission of financial records by various Local Government Councils, incomplete submission of records.

Other challenges, he listed are deliberate obstruction of the investigation by Council personnel who failed to comply on time, but brought hefty sacks as an after-thought to dazzle panel members.

In his remarks after receiving the committee’s report, Governor Okpebholo vowed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would prosecute those indicted for allegedly looting the Local Government treasuries, running into over N95 billion.

Okpebholo, who said, he would personally petition the EFCC on the findings of the report for immediate prosecution, assured that he would go after those indicted to retrieve what they have stolen from the people of Edo State.

“I want to thank you for a job well done. I carefully listened to the submission of the report. The truth is that the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki took Edo people for granted. They took everything belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personal gains.

“We thank God for helping us to change the narrative to benefit Edo people. We also thank the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because without his support, we will not be witnessing the kind of development we are experiencing in Edo today.

“A lot has happened. The Peoples Democratic Party looted the treasury of the Local Governments and stole our collective patrimony, and nobody went after them or took action. This time, things are different. We will go after them and retrieve what they have stolen from Edo people.

“They will be made to pay for it. I will personally take this document to the EFCC and ensure that justice is done for this wrong done to Edo people.

“Besides the impeached Local Government Chairmen who were indicted by the report, former governor Godwin Obaseki, leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, were also fingered.

“The days of financial recklessness and lack of transparency in public office were long over, as “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders. This is the only way to fight corruption and ensure development”, he said.

DAILY POST recalls that Governor Okpebholo had on December 18, 2024 set up the Administrative Panel of Enquiry to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced the petrol pump price from N960 to N945 per litre at its retail stations.

The price adjustment, which took effect on Thursday, February 13, followed instructions from the company to its retail outlets.

The change in price was confirmed at an NNPC filling station in Ejigbo.

“Yes, this morning (Thursday), we received instructions from the head office to reduce the price from N960 to N945. You can already see the level of patronage and the long queues,” a petrol attendant at the station disclosed.

However, not all consumers are optimistic about the price reduction. As reported by Legit.ng, Kunle Ademola, a commercial driver at the station, said, “Although petrol price has been reduced, it will have no effect on my fares as the reduction is too small for me to adjust.”

Checks on other filling stations, such as Ardova, Mobil, and Petrocam, revealed no price adjustment. Ardova still sells its petrol at N970 per litre, while Mobil and Petrocam are selling at N960 and N970 per litre, respectively.

The price reduction by NNPC comes on the heels of a similar move by MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, which recently announced a new petrol pump price of N925 per litre across all its filling stations in Lagos.

MRS, in a statement, detailed its updated regional pricing structure, with petrol selling at N935 per litre in the South West, N945 per litre in the North, and N955 per litre in the South East.

The recent price adjustments are attributed to favourable developments in the global energy sector and a notable decline in international crude oil prices.

Since the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration, petrol prices have hovered around N1000 per litre. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023, and the product was sold at N198 per litre then.

From the bustling streets of Lagos to the grand stage of the Super Bowl, Moro Ojomo has written his name in history after leading Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl triumph.

On February 9, 2025, before a roaring crowd, Ojomo and his Philadelphia Eagles soared to victory, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.

Though a hard-fought win, it secured the Eagles’ fifth NFL title but also served as sweet revenge for their Super Bowl LVII defeat at the hands of the same opponent.

Moro Ojomo’s journey to stardom

Ojomo’s story is one of astounding transition. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he crossed the Atlantic at the age of seven, as his family relocated to California in 2009. His father served as a pastor, while his mother worked in the information technology sector. During his seventh-grade year, the family moved again, settling in Houston, Texas.

Attending Katy High School, Moro Ojomo was two years younger than most of his classmates, having begun his education at the age of three in his home country. He did not participate in varsity football during his freshman or sophomore years and admitted that, at the time, he had yet to develop a proper workout routine. However, after his sophomore year, he became dedicated to weight training and running, eventually securing a spot on the varsity team as a junior. His efforts paid off, as he earned All-District honors as a defensive lineman by the end of the season.

After starting the fall as a third-stringer, he gained confidence with more time on the field. He worked his way into a starting role and ended the season earning all-district honors. Then, in his senior year, he became one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the state.

“Nothing comes in life without hard work. I know that,” Ojomo said then as quoted by JokersMag.

“That’s why my story is a lot different than a lot of these kids who’ve been good all their years in high school. They’ve been ‘The Guy’ ever since junior high. I know what it’s like to compete for a starting spot. A lot of these kids don’t know that.”

During his five-year tenure with the Longhorns—a journey that spanned the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—Moro Ojomo amassed 95 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks.

In January 2023, when he declared for the NFL Draft, he expressed his enthusiasm for the road ahead.

“I am incredibly excited about what the future holds,” he wrote.

However, as draft day unfolded, his initial optimism gave way to anxiety. By the time the seventh round was halfway through, his name had yet to be called.

“I thought it was over.”

Then, with only 11 picks remaining, his phone finally rang.

On the other end was Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman—someone well acquainted with the trials of overcoming adversity.

“We’re gonna take you here, man,” Roseman told him.

“We can’t believe you’re here in the seventh round. We know you’re gonna show the world what kind of player you are… and we’re excited to get you.”

In the background of the recorded call, his sister’s joyful shrieks echoed the moment’s significance.

Katy High School head coach Gary Joseph later reflected on the resilience that defined Moro’s journey.

“The kids who you’re really proud of are ones who are self-made football players,” Joseph said.

“They work with what they have, and he’s one of those kids. He worked. It wasn’t a fluke.”

As a rookie, Moro Ojomo played just 6% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. But in 2024, he earned a more prominent role on the field.

And when the stakes were highest, he delivered—recording his first NFL sack in the fourth quarter of a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.

His belief in himself had never wavered, not even years earlier.

“People used to laugh at me in sophomore year when I told ’em I was gonna start,” he had said back in 2018. “They’re gonna realize it when I do what I plan to do… They’re gonna be like, ‘Wow, we really missed on this one.’”

Playing in every regular season game and all four playoff contests, he racked up 20 tackles and etched his name into Eagles’ history with his first career sack during the NFC Divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams.

Remarkable Super Bowl Performance

In the Super Bowl itself, Ojomo was a force to be reckoned with. His two tackles and a crucial tackle for loss contributed to the Eagles’ defensive dominance, a performance that stifled the usually explosive Patrick Mahomes and kept the Chiefs scoreless for a remarkable stretch of nearly three quarters. He played an important role in the Eagles’ defensive strategy, helping to contain one of the most potent offenses in the league.

Ojomo joins the Hall of Fame

Ojomo’s victory is more than just a personal triumph; it’s a testament to the growing influence of Nigerian athletes in the NFL. He joins a distinguished group of players like C.J. Uzomah, Chukwuebuka Godrick, Chris Oladokun, and Charles Omenihu, all of Nigerian heritage, who are making their mark on the gridiron.

Ojomo’s Super Bowl ring goes beyond being a symbol of his individual achievement, but a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the globe.

Nigerians have been dubbed some of the happiest people in the world.This is supported by a World Happiness Report released in March last year, which put Nigeria in 102nd position in the world.

While this may not be entirely true, Nigerians, as we know them, are a hardworking race who, despite the harsh economic and political environment in which they live, have learned to prioritise their happiness.

They work hard and party hard and, over time, have become really creative with aspects of their events – food, fashion, decor, etc.

An event can be valued by the quality of food served, the number of guests that turned up, how gaily they were dressed, and the quality of souvenirs shared at the event, in case of a wedding or birthday party.

But times have changed.

An event will be rated ‘octane’; not by the indices mentioned earlier, but by the number of celebrities that graced the occasion.

It is why such events are described as ‘star-studded’; and celebrities are at the center of it all.

In June last year, music superstar Davido shut down Lagos when he led a retinue of celebrity friends to marry his longtime partner, Chioma.

Expectedly, it was star-studded, and it caused global sensation that captivated the world with its splendor.

Videos and images of the to-die-for event that left many stunned, flooded social media platforms, captivating audiences worldwide and establishing their place in the hearts of fans globally.

Standing in solidarity with this one celebrity are over 29.4 million fans who viewed and re-shared images and videos from the event.

In January last year, social media was on fire when Obi Cubanna and friends showed up in Ukpor South local government area of Anambra State for the burial of the mother of CEO, Zenco Group, Chief Cletus Uzoezie Oragwa.

Call it the celebrity effect, and you won’t be wrong.

Events like this give fans the opportunity to see their favourite celebrities, give weight to the event, and leave onlookers talking about the event long after it held.

In a digital age, especially on social media where the number of followers is the currency with which people trade, the mileage one celebrity gives to an event cannot be overemphasized.

It is in this light that Nigerians have become creative with their event guest list.

Individuals seeking mileage for their events and parties have escalated their parties to at least include one celebrity to give shine and clout to the event and this does not come for free!

Celebrities, who have also realised the value their appearance bring to an event, have resorted to monetize it – what is now widely referred to as an ‘Appearance Fee’

Brief stop

Although making an appearance refers to just a brief stop, most host require more than just a brief stop by a celebrity.

The length of time the celebrity will spend and whether or not he or she will mingle and have conversations with guests often go to determine how much is billed as appearance fee and this also vary from one celebrity to the other and from one event to the other.

Market factors such as social stature play a great role.

A celebrity is in high demand if his or her most recent work is creating a buzz, has public visibility, and relevance in popular culture.

Such a celebrity with a huge fan base and compelling social media presence will without doubt, stand to charge higher fees than less known ones.

Understanding these dynamics will essentially help a potential host in planning for the financial implications of booking a celebrity.

Taking a celebrity outside of his or her base will attract additional fees to cover travel expenses.

Appearance fee vary from one celebrity to the other, the type of event whether corporate or private or even a charity and the specific assignment he or she is expected to carry out at the event.

Some celebrities contacted to shed light on this appearance fee declined speaking with Sunday Vanguard.

However, actress Uche Ogbodo disclosed that celebrities could charge between N500, 000 and N10, 000, 000.

She explained that an appearance fee will be determined by the class of event.

According to her, high profile event such as awards shows or luxury brand launches will attract higher fees than smaller private gatherings.

“For events that require travel or longer commitments, I charge higher than otherwise”, she said.

A high fee will also be applicable to events that come to disrupt her schedule.

“If you need me when I’m busy and fully booked, I charge higher than when I’m not”.

Location

For actress Anita Joseph her appearance fee depends on the location of the event as well as her relationship with the host.

She added a twist to it which is the kind of dress she will be required to wear.

“On the average if I am not buying a new dress or new hair, I can charge N700, 000, N800, 000 to a million naira and if I am traveling out of town, your money go long o!”, she said

So, why does it cost so much to attract a celebrity?

Again Anita says: “You know, we buy new dresses every time because we must appear right. I charge because I have put in work. If I am not a celebrity, you won’t be calling me to boost your event. My presence is very important and my time is money”.

“Celebrities charge appearance fees for events because their presence can significantly increase the event’s visibility, credibility, and attractiveness to attendees”, says Uche Ogbodo.

“By charging a fee, celebrities can capitalise on their fame and popularity, which can help event organisers attract a larger audience, generate buzz and publicity, enhance the event’s prestige and reputation and increase ticket sales or sponsorships where needed”.

And for this fee, a celebrity hired is typically expected to make a physical appearance like walk the red carpet, or take photos with the host or other important guests and interact with attendees by signing autographs for them.

Uche added that, sometimes, celebrities are expected to “participate in a specific activity; e.g., give a speech, perform, or present an award”.

“The specific expectations can vary depending on the event, the celebrity’s contract, and the organiser’s goals”, she said.

Social media

Whether specified or not, promoting the event on their social media is also expected.

People desire celebrities at their events for several different reasons.

According to Uche Ogbodo, associating with celebrities can elevate the event’s prestige and the host’s social status.

“This is because celebrities have the capacity to bring excitement, glamour, and entertainment to an event, creating a platform for networking and opportunities for attendees to connect with influential people”.

Besides marketing and promotion of the events on social media, Uche says “meeting or seeing a celebrity can create lifelong memories for attendees”.

At the heart of creating a memorable look for celebrities are the stylists.

They ensure that celebrities show up at events making heads turn in gorgeous outfits, picture perfect make-up and hair that compliments the outfit.

Celebrity stylist Yolanda Okereke says that in creating a red carpet look, a lot of processes go into it and all of these are not cheap!

According to her, “celebrities are very specific when it comes to designs that they like”

She revealed that they pay particular attention to fit and comfort and a dress that allows for easy mobility.

“Some dresses cost over a million to make because of the intricacies of the fabric, style, the accessories and applique used on the outfit cost a lot of money.

“I have made an outfit that was worth N1.5 million before. I have made an outfit that was £2,500, I have made an outfit that was 350, 000; so it depends on the style that was agreed to be made and specific to the event.

“So events like AMVCA that we know is all about fashion style and glamour, they go all out and you would spend a lot of money. That is why designers like Vikee James of this world and Lanre DaSilva, their money ranges in millions and these dresses are not dresses that are made overnight. Some dresses take about two weeks to produce them.

“So in 2025, in modern day Nigeria, if you want to create a red carpet look, it will be nothing less than a million naira because you would want to look like something that came out of Vogue or something out of GQ”.

Star-studded

So, if you are considering bringing celebrities to grace your event in order to make it a star-studded one, remember that it costs a lot of money to achieve that glamorous look you see in the red carpet and those dresses in most cases do not get a second chance to be seen on the red carpet and all these bills are piled into the appearance fee.

If you were ignorant before, now you know.

The 2027 general elections are about two years away and the realignment of forces to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power, especially at the federal level appears to be on the upswing.

In another development, a former top member of the APC, Alhaji Salihu Lukman, speaks of similar efforts gathering steam. Lukman, a former Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North), in an interview monitored on Arise News, elaborates on his scheme, saying key opposition figures in the country have a role to play as they have to jettison their presidential aspirations ahead of the 2027 and provide leadership for a new political party to confront the APC.

He urges former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who flew the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential flag in the 2023 elections, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the elections, Mr Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, standard bearer, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, to prioritize party building over personal ambitions.

Lukman, who has since quit the APC, also extends the advice to former party members and opposition figures, including Mr Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State but later served as Transportation Minister under the Buhari administration; El-Rufai; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State.

According to Lukman, who was also one-time Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, if these leaders set aside personal ambitions, it will prevent the imposition of candidates in 2027 and foster a stronger political alternative. Excerpts:

You have been a key member of the APC, now you are saying Nigeria needs better leaders. What are your grievances? What do you think is wrong with the APC that you are asking all the critics and opponents of the administration to come together and push the same party out of power?

What is wrong with the APC is what is wrong with Nigeria in my view, and I think the view of most Nigerians is that our democracy should give something much better than what we have today. I am not making any new proposals.

If you have been following the debate during the merger negotiations that produced the APC, all these arguments have been raised about the kind of leadership a political party should have and what is required for a party to really position itself to direct elected representatives to meet the expectations of citizens. If we argue that APC has failed, the failure of APC is largely due to its inability to meet a number of some of those criteria.

Yes, I was a member of the NWC of the APC, I was part and parcel of the APC from formation to possibly the present day but that does not disqualify some of us from highlighting some of the limitations of the APC and I think in terms of the problem of democracy, what was first the problem of Nigeria with PDP that led to the defeat of PDP in 2015? The major issue is that there was no competition within the party.

The culture of imposition has taken over the party so much so that it is predictable anybody who has close relationship with Abuja, with the Presidency can pick ticket at any level of the party without bothering to contract relationships with other members of the party, and I think that those were some of the issues that we used to campaign against the PDP and made the APC popular and Nigerians trusted us and believed that we were capable of producing a party that could drive the process of changing Nigeria which was the campaign mantra in 2015.

Unfortunately, I am not shy to say that we failed largely because we ended up with another variant of PDP, the culture of imposition took over.

Yes, we fought and this is part of my grievance with President Tínubu. Asiwaju knew very well that we stood up and faced what you call the cabal in the Presidency under former President Buhari and ensured that a level-playing field was provided within the party which enabled him to win the ticket and become the presidential candidate of the party.

So, having done that, our expectation was that we return the party to its founding vision and begin to build a party that can now implement all the campaign promises and direct all elected representatives but instead, what we see is that a more superior variant of imposition took over so much so that the party became a parastatal of the Presidency, and of the government.

Leadership of the party cannot say anything contrary to what the President wants and so long as that is the case, we can’t make progress. Now, coming back to some of the issues which you highlighted which I raised in the last piece, is basically like an appeal to our opposition leaders (Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Amaechi, Fayemi, El-Rufai, Tambuwal, among others) because if we continue to play politics the old way, then Nigeria is not going to get any better. We are not going to produce better leaders.

We will produce a new set of leaders which may continue the practice of imposition and become emperors so much so that everybody is now rushing to them to access favours in government and what have you and that is not what democracy should be about. I think one of the most important things that came out of the conference that was held last week was the statement by the former Vice President of Ghana and also a former presidential candidate.

He made the point that politicians must be able to subordinate their personal ambition to the bigger interest of the country and I think that is where we are today and, as far as I’m concerned, if that is the case and several time, I hear people lamenting about how in the Second Republic we had an NPN (National Party of Nigeria) where the president, when it comes to party meeting, is an ordinary member and Chief Augustus Akinloye, who was the party Chairman, was the leader of the party.

Now if we are going to get back to that, it’s not going to be after the election and after defeating Tínubu and producing a president with that mentality. It’s now that we should begin to align ourselves and ensure that in the whole campaign to defeat APC, we are not replicating exactly the mistake APC has made.

We must tell all leaders to first drop their ambitions and, in dropping their ambitions they must also be ready to make the needed sacrifice, to commit to building the party. If your strategy is all about let’s have a party and, after having a party we will ensure that we impose our surrogates to become leaders of the party, then we are going back to square one.

I think Nigerians should begin to watch and when they see some of these leaders taking positions in the party, that should give them confidence that, yes this is a new party and it’s a serious business. It is going to depart from the old ways and to that extent, therefore, the prospect of meeting the expectation of citizens will be high; other than that, I think we may just be deceiving ourselves and Nigerians and imagining that we can produce anything better.

You’re talking about how the previous or past leaders are part of the problems that we currently have and why those responsible for the failures should be humble enough to take a backseat in an effort to build a strong coalition to strengthen Nigerian politics. What if they are not ready to take a back seat, what other alternative would you propose?

First, I will say that it’s not a question of trying to get rid of the old guards, no. I think, fundamentally, my view and I have said that, several times, that what we have now made it only possible for leaders to show their bad side and that the only way to push leaders to put their best side, their right foot in the business of leadership will be to create the framework, strengthen the structures of political parties that will subordinate them and make them accountable.

I have said so several times that from former president Jonathan to Buhari and now Tínubu, I believe under a different condition they may turn out to be better leaders. Unfortunately, they also contribute to a situation where they turn out the way they did. So, if we are going to depart from that, which is why I’m saying, first and foremost, we must build a political party that everybody will subordinate themselves.

It’s possible. I give you for instance, if Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and many others can subordinate themselves and go through competitive primary… because part of the problem, is that a number of them, were not able to develop the kind of relationship that will enable them to access even good advice, you know, the strategy is basically that I want you to subordinate yourself to me but once you turn it the other way around they may turn out to be better leaders.

Sincerely speaking, I think we should not beg the question; Nigeria deserves much better and current leaders must answer the question: What is their vision for the country? Is their vision for the country only to become president of Nigeria? We have seen that with Buhari and we have seen it now with Tínubu.

They have become presidents, they have achieved their vision and, in the end, it’s debatable whether they are any better in terms of public standing. My appeal and my prayer is that within our lifetime we’ll be able to produce leaders who will work for the country, and on the basis that citizens who love them, and generations to come will continue to remember them.

But you knew that President Tínubu had the conviction of “I just want to be president” when you supported the APC in the last election. Now you are talking about idealism, would you expect anything different from him?

Well, I will continue to debate all these issues. Yes, I supported President Tínubu; however, whether I am aware his ambition was just to become president, I can say publicly that I had the conviction that Tínubu is truly a progressive politician and a democrat and which was why I invested my support for him but I didn’t wait once I saw he was departing from those beliefs I had; I didn’t wait any longer and I was not pushed by anybody.

In fact, if anything, most of the criticism I received today is people telling me that it’s a mistake for me to have resigned, that I should have waited to fight inside. I mean, I could have only waited to compromise myself and become part of the establishment and become part of the physical structure of APC and, at the end of the day, damage myself.

I am humble enough to admit that yes, my judgment was wrong and I said it’s a challenge to President Tínubu to prove many of us wrong and if he did that, I will be the first to come out and apologize publicly and say again I was wrong, but to the extent that he continues arrogantly in the direction he’s going without remorse, that he has departed from all the promises he has made to Nigerians, I have no apology to him.

I’ll continue to stand and campaign against both the APC and its administration but in doing that, which leads me to your second question, life is about making choices.

I will not shy away from making a choice simply because I made mistakes in the past. I’ll continue to make choices with my eyes wide open so as not to repeat past mistakes, which is why today I am standing where I am engaging all our political leaders in a direction all of them also should not put themselves in the line of repeating the same old mistake previous leaders have made. We are all human, nobody is perfect.

They may have made mistakes in the past but to the extent that they are able to admit that the old ways are wrong and come and work together to produce a new reality which will now begin to push them to show their good side, I will have no problem and I think as Nigerians, we must have confidence that we can be able to get things right.

duro4chang:
We don't even need new states now

Creation of New 31 States Hits Roadblock As Deputy Speaker Rejects All Applications, Explains Reason.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has declared that the 31 applications for new state creation in Nigeria are invalid because they do not meet the constitutional requirements.

Kalu made this known during an interview with TVC News, where he explained that none of the proposals had fulfilled the necessary conditions as outlined in Section 8, Subsections 1, 2, and 3 of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to Kalu, the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, which is responsible for processing the requests, has received applications through member bills and memoranda. However, he noted that these proposals had failed to meet the required legal framework for state creation.

"We decided to let the people know that, granted, we have received all the applications for new states to be created, either through a member's bill or through memoranda. However, not all of them are good enough to be created," he stated.

He further stressed that state creation must follow a strict constitutional process, which includes obtaining approval from a two-thirds majority of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State Houses of Assembly, and local government councils.

"As we speak, none of these 30 proposals have met the requirement of Section 8. That is why we decided to bring it to the notice of Nigerians that your application before us is ineffective," he added.

Kalu announced that applicants have until March 5 to address the deficiencies in their applications. He emphasized that there is no alternative to constitutional compliance, urging those seeking state creation to follow the prescribed process.

He added; "There is no alternative to complying with the provisions of the Constitution. The Constitution is sacrosanct; it is our guiding principle. If it states that a particular process must be followed in line with the rule of law, then we must respect the supremacy of the Constitution. There is no other option."

"Those who desire state creation must comply with the constitutional procedures and resubmit their applications. That is the window we have provided—a one-month period—which is sufficient for applicants to address the gaps. Once they do so, we will reconsider the applications."

Vice President Kashim Shettima has humorously warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to expect more political jabs as the 2027 general elections approach.

Reiterating the respect he holds for Atiku, Shettima while speaking at a symposium in Abuja to commemorate the 60th birthday of former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, teased that the upcoming election cycle would see even more provocative remarks aimed at the former vice president.

He, however, acknowledged Atiku’s dignified response to past criticisms, recalling their exchanges during the 2023 presidential election, where he described himself as an “adjunct provocateur” taking “hot shots” at Atiku.

The Vice President added that in private conversations, he affectionately calls Atiku “Baba,” an informal term for father, but reiterated that he would not hold back in 2027.

This lighthearted remark sparked laughter among attendees, with Atiku himself smiling at the comment.

Despite the jest, Shettima emphasized the importance of unity among Nigerian leaders, calling for collaboration across political divides to ensure Nigeria’s future success.

Sikiru Adepoju, the renowned Nigerian percussionist, holds a distinction in the country’s music history with two Grammy Award.

Born into a musical family from Eruwa in Oyo State, Nigeria, Adepoju and his brothers, Saminu and Lasisi, were introduced to drumming at a young age by their father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju.

As a descendant of the Yoruba Ayan lineage, which is traditionally associated with master drummers, Sikiru honed his craft early on.

As a teenager, he toured and recorded with the Inter-Reformers Band, the group led by Nigerian Juju music legend, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey.

His talents eventually brought him international recognition, leading to collaborations with some of the world’s finest musicians.

Adepoju’s major breakthrough came when he joined Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum, a group that blends percussion styles from different cultures.

Their self-titled album, Planet Drum, won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 1991, making Sikiru Adepoju the first and only Nigerian to win a Grammy at the time.

His success did not stop there. In 2009, he was part of Mickey Hart’s Global Drum Project, whose title album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Adepoju’s journey to global recognition began in 1985 when he moved to the United States to perform with O.J. Ekemode’s Nigerian All-Stars. Shortly after, he met Babatunde Olatunji, a legendary Nigerian percussionist, and joined his group, Drums of Passion.

Through Olatunji, he was introduced to Mickey Hart, the drummer of the iconic rock band, Grateful Dead, which marked the beginning of a longstanding collaboration.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined assent to a bill for the establishment of Federal University of Education, Numan, Adamawa State.

He conveyed the decision in a letter addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajuddeen, read by his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary on Tuesday.

President Tinubu, while explaining his reasons for declining assent to the bill, stated, among others, that, Section 22 of the bill accords the authority on the disposal of land to the governor and not the President as it ought to be by law in respect of land belonging to a Federal Government entity in the case of universities.

Kalu added that President Tinubu also said in the letter that, the proposal on the Award of Degree by the proposed institution was omitted in Section 25(b).

The House had passed a Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Education Numan in Adamawa State last year and forwarded it to the President for Assent.

The Kano State government has budgeted N2,500,000,000.00 to conduct quarterly mass weddings across the 44 local government areas of the state in 2025.

The State’s Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Musa Shanono, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the breakdown of the State’s 2025 budget passed into law by the State House of Assembly on Friday, January 31.

According to him, the government planned to spend N91.32 billion in the governance and service delivery sector for programmes and services of which the mass wedding is included.

He said the commitment was to further entrench responsibility, openness, and the defence of human rights as well as to promote a fair society for sustainable growth as well as improve the living standards of citizens.

Shanono said out of the amount, N1,000,000,000 has been earmarked for Ramadan feeding, N955,000,000 for manpower statistics survey, general household survey and out-of-school children statistics and N1,049,000,000 for purchase of printing machine, rehabilitation/repairs of general water system, purchase of library equipment at the Government Printing Press.

He also explained that the sum of N267,615,310.86 has been budgeted for provision and equipping of infrastructure, production and printing of Islamic calendar and support for Islamic Da’wah programme/welfare package to new converts to Islam.

Others include N589,000,000 for security research and empowerment development, street begging special intervention coordination activities while N200,000,000 is being budgeted for procurement of office furniture, general maintenance of the accountant-general’s office and development of PFM software and reform activities, among others.

The Commissioner, however, highlighted that the approved 2025 budget has a total size of N719,755, 417,663:00, representing an increase of N170,595,000:00, equivalent of 31% over what was initially submitted, which was N549,160, 417,663.00, by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the State House of Assembly.

While noting that the total recurrent expenditure is N262,670,660,562:65, and the total capital expenditure is N 457,084,757,100:35, Shanono noted that the budget is higher than that of 2024 by N282,417,104,875:07, which represented 65% increase.