₦airaland Forum

it's always possible with skinny girls with fantastic boobs....

I might have fallen too

confused and scammed tithe payers....

not at all! He's one of the Messiah of the gullible sheep, old and young, male and female...

these developer flatimos ehn?!

RIP

Jide Ojo

Every living thing needs food and water to live . They are one of the basic necessities of life , the other two being clothing and shelter. Ironically , many Nigerians are being fed with poisons in the name of food . A visit to our foodstuff markets will reveal to discerning minds that many of the raw food offered for sale are not fit for human consumption . They are either adulterated or contaminated .

Nutrition experts say many of the chemicals used to preserve most of the foods on sale in Nigeria are dangerous to human health . Some of the poultry products on sale in our markets are preserved with poisonous chemicals . An April 29 , 2016 report in Thisday newspaper entitled , “Imported Frozen Poultry Product as a Silent Killer ”, stated that “Medical experts have noted that these imported products are poisonous because smugglers use formalin to preserve and keep them fresh from neighbouring countries till they get to Nigeria .

Formalin is a cancer -causing chemical capable of initiating liver and kidney diseases.” Even local butchers have been accused of using formalin to drive away flies from their meat while some fruit sellers use it as well to preserve their fruits from going bad quickly .

I also watched a clip where some frozen chickens were being injected with steroids to increase their sizes .
In order to reduce or totally prevent post- harvest losses, many commercial farmers use all manner of toxic pesticides and insecticides to preserve their grains .

Some of the chemicals applied are supposed to be for six months or a year but in situations where there are huge demands for such grains , they are prematurely brought to the market for sale . With the toxicity levels of these products still high , they end up posing health challenges to consumers .
Some plantain and banana sellers allegedly use ashes and carbide to forcefully ripen their products .

This is a dangerous practice as it constitutes health hazards to consumers . Many women who go shopping at the local markets will bear witness to the many adulterated products being offered for sale . It ranges from rice , to beans , garri , yam flour , cassava flour , grinded pepper , egusi, groundnut oil , palm oil to honey and all sorts.

Only experienced women and men know how to spot the difference between the fake and the original.
Some canned foods are not left out . They are either fake or expired ; yet , they are offered for sale to unsuspecting members of the public. The same goes for many of the bottled drinks .

There is a raging controversy that many of the soft drinks contain certain amount of pesticides. Earlier this year , a Lagos High Court ruled that high levels of benzoic acid and additives in some soft drinks could pose a health risk to consumers when mixed with ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C .

There is also the fear that the sugar content of many of the soft drinks produced for consumption in Nigeria is too high and makes consumers prone to obesity and diabetes .
Due to epileptic power supply , many of the restaurants , cafeteria and bukataria operating in Nigeria are said to use all manner of preservatives whose chemical compositions may not be health friendly .

That ’s why some of the meals offered for sale there have some funny taste . As I write this , despite the warning by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Chief Audu Ogbeh , for Nigerians to stop the habit of cooking moimoi ( beans paste ) with cellophane ( nylon ) bags , the practice is still sustained in many households .

Ogbeh made the disclosure when he spoke at the public hearing on Food Security Bill , organised by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja on June 2 , 2016. According to him, cellophane bags contain a large dosage of dioxins that are harmful to health .

He advised lovers of the delicacy to make use of leaves in the preparation rather than cellophane , adding that leaves do not contain such poisonous substance .
Ogbeh , a farmer, said beans and grains preserved with an overdose of pesticides by farmers and sellers had killed many unsuspecting Nigerians .

He also said the consumption of ( pure) water in sachets exposed to sun at over 28 degree Celsius was poisonous and its consumption responsible for many cases of kidney and liver failure among Nigerians . The minister said poorly boiled meat could cause tuberculosis .

He warned further that the wrong application of fertiliser by farmers had led to consumption of poisonous foods . “Unknown to many farmers, there is a specific fertiliser for specific crops in specific states in line with soil texture ’’, he said . Despite this timely warning more than a year ago , Nigerians still carry on with scant regards for food safety .

Food safety is very important but Nigerians seem to care less about it. Often times , I see women using road sides to dry cassava flour and grains such as guinea corn , maize, rice and the like . This is a dangerous practice.

It is the mishandling of our food that lead to many instances of families dying or having running stomach after meal . It will be recalled that in June 2015 , the local gin popularly known as “ogogoro ” reportedly killed 70 people in Woji and Gokana communities of Rivers State . The Director Public Health Services , Rivers Ministry of Health , Nnanna Onyekwere , while confirming the deaths told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt , said two of the survivors had visual impairment .

The deaths were recorded as a result of contamination of the locally brewed drink . It is most disheartening that the government is trying to promote Genetically Modified Organisms consumption . It is widely believed that they are unsafe .

It is imperative for Nigerian health officials responsible for food safety and security to redouble their efforts to educate Nigerians about the dangers of some of the foods and drinks being consumed in this country .

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control , Ministry of Health , especially the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Environmental Health Officers or Sanitary Inspectors , National Orientation Agency and the media among others have a big role to play in sensitising the public and confiscating as well as arresting anyone who imports or locally manufactures dangerous foods and drinks .

There is no gainsaying that many of the itemised unwholesome practices in the handling of Nigerian foods are what is responsible for the rise in cases of cancer , kidney , heart and liver failures, hypertension , diabetes and indeed premature deaths. A stich in time saves nine !





http://punchng.com/are-nigerian-food-vendors-merchants-of-deaths/

Car horns blared and cheering crowds raced through the streets of the Zimbabwean capital Harare Tuesday as news spread that President Robert Mugabe , 93 , had resigned after 37 years in power .
“We are just so happy that things are finally going to change ,” Togo Ndhlalambi , 32 , a hairdresser , told AFP . “We woke up every morning waiting for this day . This country has been through tough times . ”




http://punchng.com/breaking-jubilation-in-harare-streets-as-mugabe-resigns/

Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that most governors in the country, including all the South-East Governors, are in support of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office come 2019.
Governor Okorocha said all governors, whether in PDP, APC or APGA, with an exception of just one or two, are fully behind Buhari.

Governor Okorocha also said that Buhari is the best President for the country at the moment, and that there could not have been a better option now.
The Governor therefore urged Nigerians to support the president for re-election in 2019.
Governor Okorocha spoke while addressing leaders of the Democratic Youths Congress for Buhari 2019, who visited him on Tuesday at the Government House, Owerri, urging every Nigerian to support President Buhari for second term.

According to him, “I am a believer of Buhari and I made it clear years ago that if President Buhari is running for president I will not run. People have forgotten history that I ran with him during the ANPP days and in the last dispensation as governor.

Now God has chosen him to be the president of Nigeria and some of us now are witnesses that Buhari was and is still the best for Nigeria at this material time.”
He continued, “This is because I have seen a man that has the strength of character to lead this Nigeria at this moment of our history. There is no better president for Nigeria now under the situation we found ourselves than President Buhari. These are some of the considerations I have made for my support.”

For him ”President Buhari might not be the best president of Nigeria 2023 or 2027 but Nigeria of today, he is the right man for the job. His fight against corruption takes an unusual character to do what he has done. His style to end up terrorism in the North East is again something that requires his personal character.”

Governor Okorocha remarked that “To buttress the point much better, Nigeria has come out of recession in the shortest period recorded in history and this is a testament to Buhari’s tenacity. And since I have resolved with my political family to shelve my ambition and support Buhari, I want to appeal to others to show such support to him because having looked at the political calculation, I have found out that the best thing that will happen to Nigeria is to allow President Buhari complete his term.

“This will bring about the new Nigeria we are talking about and this will put Nigeria first and the unity we are looking for will be guaranteed under this administration. Our nation is going through a challenging moment and we will require a man of his caliber to see us through this period.
“People should not use the Anambra election result to Judge the support of Buhari. It does not reflect the support.

Even the government and people of Anambra support President Buhari. What happened was that internal disagreement among the leaders in APC in Anambra cost APC the election”, he added.
The governor also said that “I had run for the office of president for 3 times and I have supporters all over the country in their huge number. I am calling on all of them to support Buhari. The spirit of the moment warrants that.”

In his response, National chairman of the group, Hon. Kassim Muhammed Kassim told the governor, “We are not here to impress you but to attest to the fact that you have performed very well as a bridge builder and true nationalist. We know that the name Rochas has become an institution that we are gradually queuing behind.
“We have gathered here to plead with you, to appeal to you and request and cry to your able leadership to shelve your well deserved ambition of running for the office of the president.

You are more than qualified and well loved across the regions of this nation, but at this moment we plead that you support President Buhari to complete his good works for the nation.”
“With your track records we would have gladly chosen you to run for 2019 but we have all endorsed Buhari and accepted that you lead us all the way in the support.

We are begging and pleading that you lead all the governors of APC to support Buhari for what he has done and what he stands for in Nigeria. With you on our side, victory is as good as gotten”, Hon Kassim stated.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/governors-s-east-support-buhari-2019-okorocha/

Chidiebube Okeoma and Gibson Achonu
No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead from methanol poisoning in a local gin sold by one Uwadiegu Eze, a native of Umunakara community, in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to indigenes of the community, trouble started when residents, who patronised the gin shop on Tuesday, November 14, to Friday, November 17, started having body stiffness and partial blindness which culminated in deaths.

Our correspondents gathered that the shop owner, Eze, fled after he was informed that consumers of his product were dying.

On getting information of the deaths, the Imo State Ministry of Health sent a team headed by the Director of Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Okeji A., to the community.

Upon sighting the ambulance of the state Ministry of Health, many youths, believed to be from Umunakara community and other adjoining villages who reportedly drank the local gin, queued up in their numbers, waiting to be taken to Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Okeji lamented that despite the several episodes of methanol poisoning arising from local gin consumption in various parts of the country, people still patronised distillers who used methanol to boost production of the gin in order to increase their profits.

The dead victims were identified as: Daniel Nwosu Jnr. (Male, 45); Friday Osuji (Male, 70); Ifeanyi Njoku (Male, 31), Mrs. Adanna Iheanacho (Female, 60) and one Benjamin Okoroafor.

A former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Toe Ekechi, who is an indigene of the community, commended the prompt response of the state health officials.

He said security operatives were already on the trail of the owner of the gin shop.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Metro learnt that eight other victims were on Saturday rushed to Uchenna Clinic, a private clinic in Owerri.

When our correspondents contacted the Chief Medical Consultant of the clinic, Dr Ezimefula Andrew, he said one of the eight victims transferred from St Augustine’s Hospital, Ulakwo to the clinic, was already blind, while the others were in other stages of methanol poisoning.





http://punchng.com/five-die-in-imo-after-taking-local-gin/amp/

Lalasticlala abeg do normal now...

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has instituted a N5billion defamation suit against Senator Isah Misau, who he said raised sundry corruption allegations against him in the media.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Ibrahim Idris and Senator Isah Hamman Misau
The IGP, in the suit he filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, insisted that Misua who is representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, greatly tarnished his public image.

For instance, the IGP told the court that Misau had in a news report entitled “Police Officers pay bribe for special promotion—Senator”, published in the Daily Trust of August 10, quoted thus: “You are talking about N500,000, it’s beyond that. A serving police officer aware of the trend has told me that they pay as much as N2.5m to get special promotion. Other sources have also confirmed to me. So it is nothing but fact.”

He told the court that the lawmaker had in other reports that were published in the same paper on August 22 and 26, , entitled , “Bribe for promotion: “Senator asks DSS to probe Police, PSC”, and “Senator accuses IGP of collecting N120 billion from oil firms, others”, accused him of perpetuating bribery and corruption in the Nigerian Police Force.

More details soon




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/breaking-igp-slams-n5bn-defamation-suit-misau/

Nigeria modest fashion designer and CEO of Kenny Jones Designs, Mr Kehinde Olayiwola recently in Lagos marked the 25 years’ existence of his fashion line. At the event which coincided with his birthday, the award-winning designer awarded some members of his staffs as well as individuals who had his life one way or the other since the establishment of his fashion outfit.

The designer who started his company in 1992, dedicated the event to the glory of God who he claimed directed those receiving awards towards him. In his words “I can’t but be thankful, I remember there was a time I could not afford to buy a sewing machine, but today God has changed my story”.

Kenny Jones Design has for years been the personal designer of juju music legend Ebenezer Obey who also received an award, others that received award for their impact include; Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye, Hon. Dr Samuel Adejare (Lagos State Commissioner for Environment), Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), Reverend Sola Rotimi who flew in from his USA base for the event.
The award recipients described the CEO of Kenny Jones Designs as a very hardworking young man who always aspires to be the best in the industry.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/obey-oyedepo-tunde-ayeni-others-honoured/

By Ifeanyi Okolie

When the wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Mrs Margaret Emefiele, and four other women alongside her driver were kidnapped on September 29 2016 along the Benin-Agbor Expressway, operatives of the Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Abba Kyari, immediately swung into action. They were released few days later after a ransom demanded by the abductors was reportedly paid. The police however succeeded in arresting all the members of the gang where it was discovered that two serving soldiers were involved in the kidnap.

An interaction with the soldiers, who were formerly attached to the Nigeria Army Third Division, Jos, Plateau State, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where they are currently being detained after their dismissal from the armed forces, has revealed that the soldiers, Musa Maidababara, Edwin Gorge and their friend, Ernest Anthony didn’t take part in the kidnap, but they were contacted by some of the kidnappers to help them ferry their share of the ransom out of the bush.

The suspects told Vanguard that they were not aware that the money the kidnappers had in their possession, when they met them were proceeds of kidnap. They said they stole it, thinking it was proceed from the sale of cows
Nine members of the gang, including the soldiers and their friend, were arrested in Benin, Edo State, Asaba Delta State and Makurdi, Benue State by operatives of the IRT, while the sum of N14.7million, two newly bought Honda cars, an Audi car, one Ak-47 magazine and two cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

They all confessed to the crime at the time they were arrested but Ernest Anthony a taxi driver who resided in Benin, Edo State, disclosed that he lured his friends, who were soldiers into the operation. He confessed that he and his friends didn’t take part in the kidnap and narrated how one of the kidnappers who was his customer got him involved in the deal and how he equally brought in his friends who were serving soldiers at that time.
Suspects’ confessions

Anthony, a native of Ndukwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, who is married with three children and has a Diploma in Computer Operations from America University, Adamawa State, said his customer, Mohammed, got him into trouble.

Anthony said; “I secured a job with an NGO based in Port-Harcourt Rivers State that organized poverty alleviation programmes for oil companies within the Niger Delta, after my diploma program and I was in charge of the NGO’s Computer Department and worked with them for four years, earning N50,000 monthly.

I bought a car which I used for taxi to supplement my earnings. But in one of my trips, I met one Mohammed who said he was selling cows within Benin City. He requested for my phone number and said he would like to always engage me whenever he was in Benin City. “

“On October 1, 2016, he called me around 6:20am and asked me to come and pick him. Before then, I had been expecting one of my friends, a serving soldier of the Nigeria Army, Musa Maidabara, who was visiting me from Makurdi, Benue State. When I got to the point where Mohammed asked me to meet him, he then gave me a huge amount of money which I didn’t count, but I suspected the money was close to N2 million. I was scared because I saw another bag containing a large amount of money.

I then went back home, and told my friend Maidabara and one of his friends, Edwin George, also a serving soldier what was happening. The three of us then went to meet Mohammed and one of his friends who also had a large sum of money with him. Maidabara asked Mohammed’s gang member to hand over his own money to Mohammed and link up with him later in his house. He accepted and we drove off.

We took Mohammed and his money to Agbor where he said he wanted to buy some new clothes. While he stepped into the shop to buy the clothes, we drove off with his money. We went to my house in Ndukwa, shared the money, and we all got N6.5million each. The next day I took the sum of N2million out of the money and went to Onitsha where I bought a Honda End of Discussion for N1.5million.

Then I used N200,000 to buy some home appliances which I needed urgently. I also invited one of my girlfriends to meet me in Benin City but while I was with her the police came and arrested me. I didn’t know that the money was a proceed from the kidnap of the wife of the CBN Governor.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/stole-ransom-kidnappers-cbn-govs-wife-dismissed-soldiers/

https://i1.wp.com/www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/cbn-suspect1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1
https://i2.wp.com/static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/crop5588539/9485296746-chorizontal-w1600/Kidnappers-CBN.png?resize=350%2C200

You will see lalasticlala only if snake meat will be served......










The guy and snake....
Shiorrrrrr!

Multi-talented Fuji mega star Alhaji Wasiu Alabi, popularly called PASUMA WONDER on Wednesday paid homage to the Ooni of Ife – Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II in Ile Ife and Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

The world famous Fuji mega star declared that he decided to pay homage to the foremost African King as his father from whom he needed fatherly blessing to mark his 50th birthday and to identify with him in his relentlessly continued efforts to ensure unity and advancement of Yoruba race.

Pasuma who commended the foremost monarch also congratulated him on his recent birthday, and wished him a peaceful and successful reign on the throne as the Arole Oodua.

“Baba, you are great you have indeed made us proud as our overall father in Yorubaland. That is why I have come to identify with you in your mission of peace, unity and progress for our race and Africa”.
“Kabiyesi, please pray for me as your son as I will be marking my 50th birthday very soon”.Alabi Pasuma said.

Ooni in his response also lauded Pasuma for using his music in promoting the culture and unity of the Yoruba race urging him him to always produce music that will further project the image of Yoruba nation which is source of mankind.

The Spiritual leader of the Yoruba race worldwide added that he has been a great fan of Pasuma. He congratulated him on his 50th birthday and prayed God would bless the rest of his journey on earth with good health, long life and prosperity.

“I’m your fan from time and I still remain your fan. May the Almighty Olodumare bless you with good health, long life and prosperity as you’re now 50years of age. We will surely celebrate you”. Ooni Ogunwusi added.

Baba Suwe, the globally famous Yoruba ace comedian also fondly called “Adimeru” also was also at the Ile Oodua Palace of Oonirisa to exercise what he called “his own turn of homage” which he said is long overdue.

It will be recalled that the Aare OnaKakanfo designate, Otunba Gani Adams had on Sunday paid his first official visit sequel to his proclamation as Aare OnaKakanfo to receive the Yoruba ancestral blessing from the Ooni as the overall father of all the descendants of Oduduwa home and abroad.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/obaseki-charges-new-edo-cp-burst-crime/

DanielsParker:
Great move

Bro, u no dey sleep �?

By Godfrey Bivbere
LAGOS—Barely a week after it intercepted a 20-foot container load of 1,100 pump action rifles, the Tin Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Monday, uncovered yet another set of 475 rifles shipped in by the same importer.

Vanguard gathered that the guns were discovered after the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Bashir Yussuf, ordered a detailed profiling of the importer of the 1,100 rifles intercepted last week.
The container, belonging to the same importer, with marked CMAU189817/8.

This is the fourth seizure at Tin Can Island Port within eight months.
Recall that Customs arrested four persons but disclosed only two to the press. One of those arrested is said to be a senior staff of Tin Can Island Container Terminal, TICT.

An eyewitness acount
A source, who witnessed the examination of the container, told Vanguard that the rifles were concealed with small connecting pipes.
The source said:

“The container is owned by the same importer of the 1,100 guns. After a detailed profiling of the importer ordered by the Area Controller, it was discovered that he still has another container inside the port; so they fished it out.
“But I don’t know why they are hiding the identity of the importer.. It could even be the government themselves importing these weapons.”

At press time yesterday, the container was being examined at the enforcement unit of Customs, while a large number of Customs Intelligence Officers, CIU, and enforcement officers barred port users from witnessing the counting of the guns.

I’m not aware —Spokesman
However, when he was contacted, spokesman of Tin Can Customs, Uche Ejesieme, could not confirm the development, saying “I am not aware and I don’t know anything about it.”

Efforts to reach the Deputy Controller in charge of enforcement at Tin Can Port, Mr. Dera Nnadi, proved abortive as all calls to his phone were not answered.
Recall that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (retd.) had last Monday, displayed 1,100 rifles imported into Tin Can port from Turkey.

The importation came through the Tin Can Island Container Terminal, TICT. A customs officer and Terminal Clerk of the terminal were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Ali said the Customs will hold the terminal operator responsible for the illegal import and queried how the container found its way into the examination bay, even though it was not positioned or listed for examination.

He said the all the guns were imported from Turkey.
He added that the bill of lading of the container falsely indicated the content to be wash hand basins and water closets, but a thorough examination revealed that it contained 600 pieces of Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles.






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/breaking-customs-impounds-475-rifles-tin-can-port/

Ilorin – The University of Ilorin has for the fourth consecutive year maintained its status as the most subscribed university by admission seekers from 2014 to 2017.

Prof. Musa Yusuf, the Director of the Computer Services and Information Technology Centre (COMSIT), of the University, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday.
He said that more than 104,000 candidates picked the University as their preferred institution.

Yusuf, who is also the administrator of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening of the institution explained, that for the past four years, Unilorin has consistently emerged as most subscribed University in Nigeria.

He explained that out of the 104,000 candidates, 59,045 scored 180 and above in the UTME, qualifying them for the screening, which is the last stage of the admission process.

Yusuf said that the result of the screening was promptly released less than five hours after the completion of the examination each day.
“Candidates were just required to check their results online via the Unilorin admission portal by login in with their JAMB Registration Number and their Surname,” he said.

He also disclosed that the exercise went on smoothly in both Ilorin and Lagos centres with only one incident of impersonation recorded. (NAN)



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/unilorin-emerges-subscribed-varsity-4-consecutive-years-official/

Ado-Ekiti – An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 55-year-old man, Adeyanju Basiri in prison custody for allegedly sleeping with his daughter.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt Monica Ikebulo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 11 at Irona Street, Ado-Ekiti.
She said the accused and one herbalist now at large were arrested for attempting to use the 7-year-girl daughter of the defendant for money rituals.
She said that the accused claimed he had slept with his daughter, name withheld, nine times.
The prosecutor said the accused told the police he always use a white handkerchief given to him by the herbalist to clean his daughter’s private part after having intercourse with her.
She said the offence contravened Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law.
Ikebulo told the court that he had duplicated and sent the case file to the Departament of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
The plea of the accused was not taken as his counsel; Mr Simeon Ojo sought for adjournment date pending the issuance of the legal advice.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Dolapo Akosile ordered that the accused be remanded in the prison custody till the outcome of the legal advice from the DPP and adjourned the case till Oct.12 for further hearing. (NAN)



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/father-55-remanded-prison-sleeping-daughter/

More

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It's always cool to see those old faces. Kudos to inventors of Internet and social media.

The images are old mates @ Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu Remo, Ogun State

We’re making beads, learning computer studies, playing games, doing assignments and eating more
By Dayo Adesulu, Elizabeth Uwandu, Kelechukwu Iruoma Happy Ekeyede & Miracle Ndubuisi
AS the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, enters its 31st day, grounding academic activities in virtually all universities in the country, students have lamented lack of jobs to keep them busy, while labour leaders and the Federal Government work out their strategies to cope with the situation.

While some students have enrolled to learn different skills during the period, some said they will continue to stay at home in the hope that government and ASUU would reach an agreement soon, which would lead to the calling off of the strike.
Frustrating and disgusting
students.

Chinyere Udechukwu, a 300 level student of Literature of the University of Benin, said the strike has not only crippled her academically but made her irrelevant as she is unable to find a job to keep her busy. She said: “I must tell you that the strike is a sour grape that not only suspended my academic quest, it has also hindered me from getting a job to keep me busy.

This is because most employers have refused to employ undergraduates whose institutions are on strike because they believe such persons have no definite time of staying. They feel that such person might be called back to school at any time.”
She said they prefer to employ an undergraduate that came for holiday and not the one that is on strike.

Agnes Onyilo, a student of Benue State University, said “ASUU strike has frustrated me and I don’t know what to do again as there are no jobs. It is not ASUU’s fault but that of the government. They have wasted my precious time making my education slow and extending the year I plan to wrap up my studies. It is annoying, frustrating and disgusting.”

A student, Pius Patrick said that he is unlikely to go back to school if the strike is not called off soon. “I will be pursuing certificate without an assurance of getting a job after graduation. If ASUU likes, let it allow the strike last for years. Nigeria’s educational system is frustrating. I am making plans to ensure that my male children become footballers,” he said.
Students do nothing at home

Joseph from Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Edo State, said since the strike is still on, he is a bit frustrated over this issue. “But I am reading, praying with hope that government and ASUU settle this ongoing issue. But presently it really sucks that I am still at home doing nothing.”

Progress, also from AAU, said he is really not doing anything at home, noting, “I’m just hanging out with friends, helping my father at work. My friends and I are planning to go into business if at the end of this year the strike is not called off. I believe and hope that ASUU calls off the strike so students can go back to school because we are tired of staying at home doing nothing.”

Ifeyinwa Mbamara, a final year student of Accountancy in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, said she is at home and tired of the strike but have been preparing to learn bead making to make better use of her time. “I am still chilling and hoping for the best and if I don’t get a positive reply by the end of this month I will get a job and go on with my life,” said Peace, another student of Ambrose Ali University.

Priscilla Eze said at the moment that she has been doing nothing, noting that she is staying at home helping her parents with the house chores and praying the strike is rescinded soon, so she can get back to school.

Dera Nwosu, a 300 level student of Mass Communication, also from COOU, urged government to intensify efforts to ensure that they reach a consensus with ASUU. He said: “I am frustrated already at home but with high hopes, I am doing nothing because I believe that the strike would be called off soon.”

Engage in activities or delayed calendar
Pelumi Olugbenga, a student of History and International Studies of the Lagos State University, said the strike which has revealed the fact that government is not taking education seriously, had made him resort to reading and writing articles.

“The current situation is quite unfortunate and sad. I had initially envisaged to be in my final year in a matter of weeks but the strike has dashed my hopes. The strike has substantiated the fact that studying in a government-controlled varsity is four years plus X and the value of X will be known only when you graduate.”

He said in the meantime, he has dedicated the holiday to the reading of books, writing of articles and other self-development related activities. “To be frank, the country’s educational sector is not well-funded and it deserves greater attention. If we want to develop, then we must be really ready to fund our educational sector. UNESCO recommends that each country should spend 26 per cent of its total annual budget on education but is that obtainable in Nigeria? We budget less than 10 percent for our education sector and it’s sad,” said Olugbenga.
“I attended the Hesselbein Fellowship Summit for Young Professionals at the University of Pittsburgh, USA in July and I can boldly posit that education stimulates critical thinking. Critical thinking births innovations and innovations drive development. “Government should start seeing education as part of our national security and not just and ‘anything goes’ approach,” he said.

“The Hesseinbein fellow pleaded that government and ASUU should reach a compromise for the benefits of the students as soon as possible for our future is at stake.”

Final yearexams

Karen Anaeme, who was lucky to have written her final year exams at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, few days before the strike started but was unable to do her clearance said she has started learning how to sew. She said while the strike lingers, she would utilize the time judiciously to be grounded in sewing.
Amara Orji, a third-year student of Mass Communication, UNN, said the strike came when she was supposed to begin her two months compulsory internship programme. She said: “I am currently undergoing my internship programme in Enugu and I pray that the strike should not continue even after I would have finished the programme.”

For Owolabi Temitayo Alexander, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS Ekiti chapter, said the strike was affecting students in both negative and positive ways. “It is affecting the students negatively and positively on a 70:30 basis. Some students are supposed to have written their final exams but they couldn’t due to the ongoing strike. On the negative side, there is the increased rate of social vices particularly cybercrime and psychologically, students are getting academically tired. Some students have lost faith in the Nigerian educational system.”

On the positive aspect, he stated that during strikes, students will always want to wile away time by learning one or two things like tailoring, trade, etc. “It is an avenue to have vocational skills that are key for survival,” added the Ekiti NANS President.

Increased cost of living

The continuous stay of students at home, according to parents and guardians, has affected their standard of living, considering the high cost of living in the country. Temitayo, Ekiti NANS President, called for an end to the strike, stating “As students, we want the FG and ASUU to reach a compromise. We are even confused as we know it might be difficult for FG to fulfill its promise. So, all efforts should be geared towards ending the strike as it at the same time affects our parents who have to spend double for their wards.”

A guardian, who identified himself as Innocent, stated that since the strike began, three of his relations in tertiary institutions have come to stay with him till the strike is called off. According to him: “They are consuming the little food I have in the house. They are using the opportunity given by the strike to consume a lot of food and things are hard. The cost of living in the country is high.”

Image

As shared on Facebook.

A lady slaying in a casket...

Wetin eye no go see.

During Sallah or Eid al-Adha, there is one festival that everyone looks forward to in South West, Nigeria. It’s the Ojude-Oba festival.
The festival is a gathering of indigenes of Ijebuland who gather at the Awujale palace to pay homage to the Royal Majesty, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. It is a very colourful parade and it is celebrated with extreme pomp and pageantry. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, takes you on a ride to the festival as the 2017 edition beckons!

Origin of the festival

Long before the Ojude-Oba festival became an all-encompassing gig, it was a small gathering of adherents and followers of the Islamic religion. The festival came into existence over 100 years ago when the earliest Muslim converts in Ijebu-ode paid homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland to thank him for granting them the freedom to practice their religion. Today, however, the festival has transcended religious lines and now attracts people of all faiths as well as tourists from within and outside Nigeria.

Where

The festival is held in the town of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, South West, Nigeria.

When.

The festival is celebrated on the 3rd day of Eid al-Adha. That means the 2017 festival will be held on Sunday, 3rd, 2017.
Getting there
Ijebu-Ode has been made very popular by the Ojude-Oba festival. Hence, it is not really difficult getting to Ijebu-Ode. From Lagos, locate a major bus park, preferably Oshodi, board a bus en route Ijebu-Ode. The bus fare is between N1,500 and N2,000. If you want to drive, make sure you are familiar with the route or you get someone that does.

Key highlights

Parade by different age grades (Regberegbes)
There are three different age-grade that show off their colourful attires to the Awujale. There are different regberegbes from both the male and female sides. Both genders belonging to different age-grades will attempt to outwit each other employing different tactics to be declared the best. The winners are awarded cash prizes.

Horse-riding

There are different horse riding families led by the Balogun. The Balogun is the descendants of Ijebu war heroes who executed wars. Some of the horse-riding families include Balogun Odunuga, Balogun Bello Odueyungbo Kuku, Balogun Agboola Alausa, Balogun Alatishe, Balogun Otubu, Balogun Adesoye, Balogun Odejayi, Balogun Adesoye Onasanya, Balogun Towobola, Balogun Aregbesola and Balogun Ajibike Odedina. Their entry is announced by intermittent gunshots which send almost everyone into a frenzy!

Tips for surviving the Ojude-Oba festival.

Arrive as early as possible to the festival
If you can, take public transport to Ijebu-Ode. In addition, have a pouch where you keep all your gadgets. Better still book a hotel close to where the festival will be held.
Leave your kids at home. Importantly, ensure that you stay together because it may be difficult to locate anyone who strays.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ojude-oba-festival/

You can get more out of your smartphone camera with these awesome photo apps that help enhance and give improvements to your simple everyday camera shots. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 great apps for taking pictures.

VSCO Cam.

This is a great app for photography and image editing. It helps you capture images, tweak and tune them to your preferences, then sync the images across devices and share them with as many people as you want. It even has a Grid feature that helps you discover the best original photography from other VSCO users.

Snapseed

This photo app is owned by Google and is one of the most accessible photo editing apps for Android users. It has a wide range of features for experienced users and newcomers, and at it’s most basic level, gives users the option to scroll through image enhancement options and control the intensity of effects used. It has a diverse range of features from basic automatic colour and contrast enhancement to cropping and sharpening. It also gives the option of selectively adjusting colour properties within a particular radius, and has varieties of filters and frames to choose from.

Pics Art Photo Studio and Collage.

This app includes a robust photo editor with photo editing tools that allow you adjust white balance, tone, crop etc. However, Pics Art goes a step further by letting you purchase sticker packs on the app to use to adorn your photos; you can also add adjustable lens flares to your images, access varieties of filters and even apply Prisma-like features to transform your photos. In addition, Pics Art has its own tiny social media network that lets you share your photos on the app and make it free to edit, so others can edit or tweak your photos into something new and different.

Camera+

This app offers the ability to manually control both the exposure and focus of your images, which gives you total control of elements like brightness. It also has a ‘stabilizer-like’ feature that helps you avoid blurry pictures, and a one-touch ‘clarity’ button that instantly improves the results of a photograph. Basically, it gives instant improvements to your everyday shot, however, it is an iOS only option for now.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/4-great-apps-taking-pictures/

By Emma Una

CALABAR —PEACE Mass Transit, a popular mass transport company that operates in Cross River State and other states in the South-South and South-East has bemoaned the multiple taxes and levies imposed on it by agents of the Cross River State Government and has threatened to vacate the state if the trend continues.

Managing Director of the company, Dr Sam Onyishi, in a letter to the Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, obtained by Vanguard, said the persistent and unfriendly activities of persons who parade themselves as state and local government representatives on levies and taxes in various forms were ruining the operations of the company in the state.

He said: “These persons have continually inundated us with requests for all manner of levies and taxes including those we are not owing.

“May we point out to you sir, that one sure implication of these people whom we refrain from calling touts is disruption of our business, consequently, damage to our investment and we have genuine fears that with this state of affairs, we are being forced out of Calabar and other cities in the state.”

Contacted, Chairman, Internal Revenue Service, Dr Ukam Edodi, said only consultants were authorised to collect revenue on behalf of the government as he warned touts harassing companies and individuals to desist from such actions.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/peace-mass-transit-bemoans-high-levies-threatens-vacate-criver/

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the fight against corruption can only be effective when national institutions are strengthened to act independently.

Governor Wike spoke during a courtesy visit by officials of Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK, to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Wike noted that political influence had weakened the fight against corruption, adding that “it is difficult to fight corruption when the institutions are weak.
“It may just be a political tool to attract sympathy from western countries.”

Earlier, Manager of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, Tighisti Amare, invited Wike to the institute to deliver a keynote address on developmental issues, which he accepted.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/fight-corruption-weakened-institutions-gov-wike/

ENTHUSIASTS and stakeholders alike in the fashion industry have continuously touted the idea that Fashion has the capacity to be a big earner for the country.

They have put their money where their collective mouth is, it would seem, as there seems to be a rise in the showcasing of contemporary Nigerian fashion both at home and abroad.

London, New York, Paris, Milan have been the fashion capitals of the world forever, and while other cosmopolitan capitals continue to strive to join the shortlist or even to displace the privileged four, Shangai is the only one that appears to have a fighting chance.

It would appear that a Division2 of fashion capitals has emerged including, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro and, hopefully, Lagos.

There has never been any doubt that Nigerians – men and women alike – are stylish enough to sustain a healthy fashion industry but with the Nigerian economy in the doldrums, a new conversation has begun on what industries can replace oil in the bid to diversify our monocultural economy. Fashion is on the front burner.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/fashion-new-oil/

Wednesday, August 30th approval by the Federal Executive Council, FEC for the award of the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of the 3050 MW Mambila Hydro Electric Power Project reflects President Muhammadu Buhari’s strong commitment to the development of infrastructure in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. AUG 19 2017.
After more than 40 years on the drawing boards, the FEC approval for the award of the contract to a consortium of three Chinese Companies, Messrs CGCC-SINOHYDRO-CGOCC Joint Venture represents a milestone in the journey for the realisation of the country’s long-standing dream.

The landmark infrastructure project will cost the country the sum of US5,792,497,062.00 inclusive of taxes, environment utilization, works, as well as project land acquisition and compensation to about 100,000 people who will be resettled.

From 2015 when he took power from the Jonathan-led, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has, in addition to the successful prosecution of the costly war against terrorism and economic sabotage, unleashed a slew of infrastructure projects that would change the face of the country.

These projects include railway, roads, airports, housing and agriculture among many others.
The specific case of Mambilla presents an interesting story, given the many years it has taken to leave the drawing boards.

As far back as 1972, a preliminary study was carried out by Moto Columbus, and confirmed by an indigenous water resources consultancy, Diyam Consultant led by distinguished Nigerian engineer, the late Malam Salihi Ilyasu which recommended the construction of a hydropower project with a rated capacity of 3,960 MW.

From then till now, various governments made efforts, or to put it in a better way, pretended to be committed to actualising the project. Nothing came out of it. Sham attempts to develop the project on Build-Operate-Transfer, BOT also failed to achieve the commencement of construction.

A government revocation of a BOT approved by a former President through an anticipatory approval led to a protracted litigation that stalled the project.
In 2011, the then administration approved the award of contract for consultancy services for the detailed design and project management and supervision of a revised power output of 2,600 Mambila Hydro Electric Power project at the sum of USD 37,220,068,72.

The major breakthrough in the execution of this project was achieved when President Muhammadu Buhari initiated discussions at the level of the President of the Peoples Republic of China in the course of his State Visit to that country.

One of the achievements of the visit was the bilateral agreement between the two governments to cooperate on the project and in particular, for the Peoples Republic of China to prioritise Chinese financing of the Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project using Chinese contractors.

The formation of the Joint Venture by the three companies, CGCC, SINOHYDRO and CGCOC under the guidance of the Chinese authorizes at the request of our government was significant in breaking the deadlock caused by litigation. It also ended needless competitor wrangling.

Following this development, a series of meetings took place to reduce the cost of the project from the projected USD 6.62 billion to the now agreed sUm of USD 5,729,497,062.00.

The importance of this project is being counted in its capacity to transform the communities in Taraba State and beyond that, the country as a whole.
To quote the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola speaking on the Mambila project, “it will have a transformational effect on all of Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

During its construction and upon completion, and subsequent operation, it will have considerable positive impact on electricity supply nationwide, productivity, employment, tourism, technology transfer, rural development, irrigation, agriculture and food production in the area and beyond.”

This show-piece infrastructure project by the Muhammadu Buhari administration will therefore chart a new course of prosperity in Taraba, the North-East and the entire country. It will no doubt help the country’s infrastructure. After construction, it will be the biggest single power project in the country.

Considering what this landmark infrastructure project means to the country’s economy, sociology and politics, it is hard to fathom why the past administrations delayed the Mambilla power project inordinately.

Although blame for this is shared by governments over this 40-year period, the ones to take the bigger share are the governments during which tenure the oil sector boomed with oil prices as high as US$120.

That period in question, especially the one preceding President Muhammadu Buhari’s second coming was one of missed opportunities and misplaced priorities. The long overdue investments in power and transport needed to unlock the economy were ignored. Nigeria earned unprecedented Dollar revenues.

But there is nothing to show for the revenues earned. No major capital project was completed, neither power generation, road development, rail or agriculture benefitted from the windfall earnings. Rather, the administration presided over the diversion of oil revenues on a such a massive scale.

President Muhammadu Buhari on the other hand has a positive and prosperous vision for Nigeria. A nation in which the natural talent and hard work of the people is being supported by an enabling environment of infrastructural development and policy reforms that will develop a firm future for our nation.

Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President( Media and Publicity)




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/mambila-power-buharis-big-bang-project-set-take-off-garba-shehu/