₦airaland Forum

…Says No Plans To Increase Fuel Price

By Augustine Akhilomen

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that his administration would create an enabling environment that would provide wealth creation for Nigerians, thereby making life worth living.

Buhari made this promise on Thursday after meeting with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led by its President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He stated that his government has no intention of inflicting any additional hardship on Nigerians again while assuring that there won’t be an increase in fuel price.

“On fuel prices, I agree with you on the need to eliminate corruption and inefficiencies in the sector. I want to assure you that, as an administration, we have no intention of inflicting any additional hardship on Nigerians,’’ the president said.

“During our first term, we secured the nation’s territorial integrity and continue to protect the lives and properties of our citizens. We introduced various economic stimulus packages that support businesses and traders at all levels, promoted backward integration programmes especially in the agricultural sector to enhance our food security while creating jobs.

“We embarked on the most ambitious infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects this country has seen in decades. We also introduced the largest Social Investment Program in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Although these programs and many more successfully lifted Nigeria out of recession, the full impact is yet to be felt. In the next four years, we shall sustain this momentum and by the grace of God, lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty,’’ the statement quoted the president.

https://www.thepledge.ng/we-wont-make-life-miserable-for-nigerians-buhari/

By Augustine Akhilomen

The Lagos State Police on Tuesday have arrested those individuals that looted items at Shoprite across the state in retaliation to the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Recall that last week mall belonging to Shoprite and MTN were looted and burnt by some Lagosians, which prompted immediate action by the police.

Some of the stolen items have been recovered by the police and the arrested looters are set to be charged to court.

Details later…

https://www.thepledge.ng/breaking-police-nab-looters-of-shoprite-recovers-stolen-items/

By Augustine Akhilomen

The Lagos Taskforce has commenced the confiscation of motorcycle popularly known as okada across the state.

This followed an order issued by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his 100-day in office last week that a new policy would be implemented for all okada riders in the state.

However, on Tuesday, Thepledge can confirm that the Lagos Taskforce has commenced full action on it as they arrested over 500 okadas in Cele, Festac, Mile 2 and Okota axis.

Three trucked loaded with okadas was sighted as officers of the taskforce were confronted by some aggrieved okada riders in Cele bustop on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

As at filling this report, the onslaught on okada riders, who they believed have been constituting a nuisance in the state is still ongoing, as several arrests has been made by the taskforce.

https://www.thepledge.ng/breaking-lagos-begins-onslaught-against-okada-riders/

By Chibugo Okeke

Big Brother Naija Housemate, Cindy has emerged as the new Head of House (HOH) for the week.

She succeeds Mercy and Ike who were joint Heads of House for last week.

Cindy, Mercy, Frodd and Diane had qualified for the final round of the HOH challenge and were required to use a spoon to fill a glass tube with water. Cindy beat Frodd to the task with just a few seconds difference.

Cindy’s feat has earned her immunity from nomination this week, 250 bet9ja coins and the privilege of the luxury HOH room.

Asked who she would share the privilege of the HOH room with, Cindy didn’t hesitate to pick Mike, a decision that the other housemates were pleasantly surprised about.

Omashola later joked that Cindy’s decision was based on the fact that she was aware that Mike would not take the offer due to his marital status.

With Venita’s eviction yesterday, there are 11 housemates left in the game.

The grand finale will hold on Sunday, October 6, 2019 with one lucky housemate carting away mouthwatering prizes worth N60million and a chance at instant fame.

See the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Mf-59g8QS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link


https://www.thepledge.ng/bbnaija-cindy-wins-head-of-house-challenge-picks-mike-as-room-mate-video/

By Augustine Akhilomen

Plans are underway by the Lagos State Government to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, made this known on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with Association of Commodity Market Women and Men, led by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

Details later…

Visit: https://www.thepledge.ng/just-in-sanwo-olu-set-to-reintroduce-monthly-sanitation/

By Augustine Akhilomen

Plans are underway by the Lagos State Government to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, made this known on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with Association of Commodity Market Women and Men, led by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

Details later…

Visit: https://www.thepledge.ng/just-in-sanwo-olu-set-to-reintroduce-monthly-sanitation/

By Augustine Akhilomen

In a bid to find lasting solutions to the spat of Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama are currently holding a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This was confirmed by Buhari’s New Media aide, Bashir Ahmad on his verified Twitter handle.

He tweeted: “President @MBuhari is currently meeting with Vice President, @ProfOsinbajo and Foreign Affairs Minister, @GeoffreyOnyeama over the recent #XenophobicAttacks on Nigerians in South Africa. The FG is committed to protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians in South Africa.”

President @MBuhari is currently meeting with Vice President, @ProfOsinbajo and Foreign Affairs Minister, @GeoffreyOnyeama over the recent #XenophobicAttacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The FG is committed to protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/pPluEke2GR

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) September 4, 2019

Visit: https://www.thepledge.ng/xenophobic-attacks-buhari-osinbajo-onyeama-in-closed-door-meeting/

By Augustine Akhilomen

For the umpteenth time, Portuguese and Juventus midfielder, Cristiano Ronaldo will be competing for the prestigious World Footballer of the Year Award after he was shortlisted alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi and Netherland's Virgil van Dijk.

Ronaldo, having missed out on UEFA's Player of the Year award at the expense of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, is looking to win FIFA's The Best award after being named among the nominees.

The Portuguese will again contest for the game's biggest individual honour with Van Dijk and Barcelona star, Lionel Messi. The winner will be announced on September 23 at a ceremony in Milan.

Recall that on Monday night he won the Portugal player of the Year Award for the 10th time. The 34-year-old has dominated his country's annual awards night since 2007 and has taken the top gong each year since then - bar exceptions in 2010 and 2014 when Simao and Pepe respectively won the awards.

In his first season with Juventus following his £99million move from Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored 21 Serie A goals as La Vecchia Signora secured an eighth successive domestic title.

Ronaldo also helped his country to the UEFA Nations League finals, where Portugal was crowned champions of the inaugural competition.

Ronaldo was top goal scorer for his new club in all competitions with 28 goals in total and he was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player.

However, is FIFA right to have shortlisted Ronaldo among the top three candidates for the FIFA Player of the Year Award without including Liverpool duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on the list?

Many expected the trio of Liverpool's stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah to be in contention for the 2019 accolade but it was shocking that only Van Dijk made the final shortlist.

They did win the Uefa Champions League with Liverpool and finished runner-up in the Premier League, with the Dutchman being named Premier League Player of the Season, while the African duo shared the Golden Boot with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Despite Egypt's shock Africa Cup of Nations exit at the hands of South Africa, it is not easy to overlook what a season Salah had for Liverpool. It would always prove difficult for the forward to emulate his 44 goals in all competitions from his debut season under Jürgen Klopp, but as a marked man, he still managed to end the season as the Premier League's joint-top scorer with 22 strikes.

Salah also scored the opening goal from the penalty spot as Liverpool lifted the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Tottenham.

In the same vein, what a season it was for the Senegalese forward, Sadio Mane, who took his game to the next level, often overshadowing the more-feted Mohamed Salah with his displays as Liverpool came within two points of the Premier League title.

Mane was crowned joint Premier League top scorer for the 2018/19 season with 22 goals, and he also starred in helping Liverpool lift the Champions League in Madrid.

The former Southampton man, who scored 30 goals across 57 games for club and country, didn't end there as he helped Senegal reach the Africa Cup of Nations final, where Algeria prevailed in Cairo.

No doubt, any of Mane and Salah deserved to have been shortlisted for this year's award if performance and trophies are used as a yardstick to judge a player (s).

By and large, the Liverpool stars should not be deterred with the omission of their names from the list but step up their game this season in a bid to be counted on when the 2020 FIFA World Best Player Award is announced.

Visit: https://www.thepledge.ng/why-ronaldo-and-not-salah-mane-should-have-been-omitted-from-fifa-player-award/

By Augustine Akhilomen

The Federal Government have decided to take drastic action in order to prevent further Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and foreigners residing in South Africa.

The move became necessary after three Nigerians were killed and shops bungled by South Africans on Monday.

Recall that last month, President Muhammadu Buhari met with South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa in a possible move to end the spate of attacks on innocent Nigerians living in the land of Madiba.

However, Monday's attack on Nigerians has thrown question marks on the relationships between the two countries.

In a statement by the Nigeria High Commission in South Africa, Ambassador Kabiru Bala, he urged Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks to report their situation to the Commission.

“The High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria views with concern the ongoing loss of lives, arson, and looting of properties in some parts of Gauteng Province of South Africa.

“Some of the victims of the anarchy are Nigerians and other Africans. The High Commission and the Consulate in Pretoria and Johannesburg are compiling the list of all the Nigerian victims of the current anarchy for engagement with the South African government and other stakeholders for succor.

“In this regard, all Nigerian victims of the current attacks are requested to come forward to report their situation to the High Commission and the Consulate.

“The two Missions will continue to be home to all Nigerians in this trying times and in the future. Since the outbreak of the attacks last week, the two Missions have remained open and continued to render normal services to Nigerians and other customers without hindrance.”

More so, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has admonished the Federal Government to lay down the rules for the South African government in a bid to put an end to their dastardly acts.

He made this known on Tuesday via his twitter handle, where he charged President Muhammadu Buhari and South African President, Ramaphosa to step up their game in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I am saddened by the unfortunate events in South Africa. Nigerians should be allowed to carry out legitimate businesses without fear for their lives.

“I encourage @NigeriaGov and @CyrilRamaphosa to take decisive actions that will send a strong message. All Nigerian lives matter.”


Visit: https://www.thepledge.ng/fg-moves-to-take-drastic-action-against-xenophobic-attacks-on-nigerians/

For the first time in the history of the Big Brother Naija show, two housemates, Ike and Mercy emerged as the first joint Heads of House (HOH) for this week.

In a keenly contested HOH Challenge, both housemates were the last two challengers for the competition that required the housemates to successful throw ping pong balls into a cup of water.

Elozonam looked poised to spoil the party for the two love birds who had looked forward to sharing the luxury HOH room for the first time in the show, when he successfully threw the ball into the cup, but both Mercy and Ike matched his effort with their first throws.

With the game already stretched and with only Ike and Mercy left, Big Brother offered the duo the opportunity to share the HOH title and other privileges, however, only one housemate will enjoy the privilege of immunity from nomination.

Mercy did not hesitate to give Ike the privilege to be safe from nomination, while she stands the risk of coming up for eviction later this evening or if veto power holder, Seyi Awolowo decides to swap her with another housemate.

Aside the luxury HOH room, both housemates were awarded 250 bet9ja coins.
Big Brother, who seemed impressed a few minutes later, invited the two HOH into the diary room and offered them an extra 250 bet9ja coins.

Viewers of the show will be eagerly watching to see how the lovebirds will explore the HOH room for the entire week.

Visit https://www.thepledge.ng/bbnaija-lovebirds-ike-mercy-emerge-joint-heads-of-house/

Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kogi State governorship primaries on Tuesday, a top contender in the race, Senator Dino Melaye has laughed off reports that he had stepped down from the race.

Barring any unforeseen hitches, the party’s candidate will emerge tomorrow from the exercise billed for the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, the state capital.

In a short video he posted on his instagram page, Dino insisted he was still much in the race to win it.

“I did not step down, I will not step down, I am winning this primaries, we are coasting to victory, Yahaya Bello must go, one love. PDP,” Melaye said in the short video.


To read more...visit https://www.thepledge.ng/kogi-poll-step-down-for-who-dino-melaye-debunks-rumour-ahead-pdp-primaries/