Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted claims from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have continually blamed his government for the economic woes the country is currently going through.

While inaugurating the economic recovery and growth plan (ERGP) on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari still attributed some of the challenges in the country to the opposition party.

But speaking on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting at Yar’adua Center in Abuja , Jonathan said PDP achieved a lot in 16 years.

He said that it was not strange for the party to be experiencing difficulties because “every election cycle is a challenge to any political party”.



Jonathan said all over the world political parties lose elections not because they have failed but the electorate chose to experience another leadership.

“We are proud to state that PDP had creditably managed the affairs of this country for 16 years,” he said.

“There is no doubt that our party has in the last two years gone through some difficulties. However, in a democracy this is not strange in the life of a political party, especially after losing power to the opposition, like we did.

“At different times, I have also been making efforts to reunite, reconcile and re-energise to become stronger, before the next election. I will like to point out that every election cycle throws up a challenge as well as opportunities for a political party.



“A test to re-evaluate its performance, and an opportunity to reform its processes and programmes, towards rediscovering itself to become even more appealing to the electorate, in its next outing.

“This obviously is the area where we have excelled. The fact that we allowed this process to take place peacefully, and freely handed over.

“All over the world, political parties lose elections, not because they have entirely failed, but because, in most cases, the people who gave them power in the first place, have decided to hand it over to another party, in order to experience a different kind of leadership.”

He said that he was not going to “chest-thump” about PDP’s achievements but it was important to speak about it.

“This is not a forum for chest-thumping but it is important we highlight some relevant initiatives of past PDP administrations,” he said.

“Our ideological commitment towards a private sector-led and people-oriented economy manifested in the great achievements we recorded in various sectors including communications, agriculture, public financial management and financial reforms, the financial services rail and roads infrastructure, as well as in the social services.

“In agriculture, we revolutionized the sector by introducing programmes that encouraged more people, including the youths to embrace farming as a thriving business.

“We also boosted local capacity for food production, thereby drastically reducing the price of food stuff and food import bill.

“That the PDP Government improved communication in Nigeria through the introduction of Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) and the expansion of the nation’s information and communication technology architecture needs no gainsay.”


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/recession-stop-blaming-me-i-managed-the-economy-well-jonathan-tells-buhari/#P5zSRUbLfYYtX2v5.99

The number of babies born to Muslims is expected to exceed the number born to Christians in about 20 years.

There have been more babies were born to Christian mothers than to members of any other religion in recent years, reflecting Christianity’s continued status as the world’s largest religious group.

However, this is unlikely to be the case for much longer.

According to a new Pew research report, 20 years from now, the number of babies born to Muslims is expected to modestly exceed births to Christians.

Muslims the world’s fastest-growing religious group and signs of this rapid growth already are visible. In the period between 2010 and 2015, births to Muslims made up an estimated 31 percent of all babies born around the world, far exceeding the Muslim share of people of all ages in 2015 and fewer than one in four.

The world’s Christian population also has continued to grow, but more modestly.

In recent years, a third of the world’s babies were born to Christians, which is slightly greater than the Christian share of the world’s population in 2015 of just over three in ten.

Also, in recent years, Christians have had a disproportionately large share of the world’s deaths, nearly one in four and in large part because of the relatively advanced age of Christian populations in some places.

This is especially true in Europe, where the number of deaths already is estimated to exceed the number of births among Christians. In Germany alone, for example, there were an estimated 1.4 million more Christian deaths than births between 2010 and 2015, a pattern that is expected to continue across much of Europe in the decades ahead.

Globally, the relatively young population and high fertility rates of Muslims lead to a projection that between 2030 and 2035, there will be slightly more babies born to Muslims; 225 million, than to Christians; 224 million even though the total Christian population will still be larger.

By the 2055 to 2060 period, the birth gap between the two groups is expected to approach 6 million with 232 million births among Muslims set against 226 million births among Christians.

In contrast with this baby boom among Muslims, people who do not identify with any religion are experiencing a much different trend.

While religiously unaffiliated people currently make up 16 percent of the global population, only an estimated 10% of the world’s newborns between 2010 and 2015 were born to religiously unaffiliated mothers.

This dearth of newborns among the unaffiliated helps explain why religious ‘nones’ (including people who identify as atheist or agnostic, as well as those who have no particular religion) are projected to decline as a share of the world’s population in the coming decades.

The regional distribution of religious groups is also expected to shift. For example, the share of Christians worldwide who live in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase dramatically between 2015 and 2060, from 26 per cent to 42 per cent, due to high fertility in the region. Meanwhile, religious switching and lower fertility will reduce the shares of the global Christian population living in Europe and North America.

The analysis is based on data from the recent report, The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050, by Pew Research Center as part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, which studies religious change and its impact on societies around the world.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/muslim-births-expected-outpace-christian-births-within-20-years/

Quadruplet brothers in Ohio have all been accepted at some of the nation’s top universities, including each of them to both Yale and Harvard.

The Wade brothers of the northern Cincinnati suburb of Liberty Township say they have been notified in recent days of acceptances from a number of notable schools.

Lakota East High School principal Suzanna Davis, says the four seniors epitomise academic focus but are well-rounded, “great young men” with individual personalities.

18-year-old Aaron, Nick, Nigel and Zachary haven’t made their decisions, though Aaron likes Stanford University and his three brothers are leaning toward Yale. Financial aid offers likely will play an important role.

The youths said they are grateful to their parents and to the Lakota schools and their teachers. “It’s really something we couldn’t have done on our own without all the support we have had through our lives,” Nick said.

Their mother, Kim Wade, is a junior high school principal in the Lakota district, and their father, Darrin Wade, works at General Electric Co. “We feel like getting into these schools show who the people around us are,” Nigel said.

Zachary added that they have always gotten encouragement that “the sky’s the limit” with their hard work. “We were never told that we couldn’t get somewhere,” Zachary said.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/quadruplet-brothers-accepted-ivy-league-universities/

A fifteen-year-old boy has been found dead in the garden of his family home after his dad confiscated his iPad.

The teenager was found hung behind the house.

His dad, a project manager, told the authorities that he had not noticed anything unusual the day before finding his body, the PUNCH reports.

The dad said on the night of his son’s suicide, he had confiscated the young man’s electronics in order to prevent him from going to bed late.

It was a method that his mother had agreed with, the dad said.

The incident happened in St. Albans in Hatfield, England.

The teenager, Ceri Sheehan, reportedly argued that he should be allowed to keep his iPad, but his doting parents felt otherwise.

His dad, Michael Sheehan, found all the lights on when he went downstairs at 6 am the following day, but he assumed that his son, who was a talented photographer, was out taking photographs.

According to the SUN, a search of the house led to the discovery of Ceri’s body hanging in the garden.

An ambulance was called to the house, but Ceri was declared dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was asphyxia.

It was gathered that the teenager had been suffering from depression and had attempted suicide with an overdose of pills a year earlier.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/teenager-commits-suicide-dad-seized-ipad/

A Director of Administration at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Christian Nwosu, on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving 30 million Naira for the purpose of manipulating the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

According to Channels TV reports, he allegedly received the sum out of a total of 264.88 million Naira purportedly used by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, to bribe some officers of the electoral body ahead of the conduct of the elections.

The EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the money is a small fraction of a larger sum of $115 million, which the former Petroleum Minister allegedly diverted.

The INEC Director has given useful information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).



He also surrendered the title document of a landed property he acquired with the funds for 25 million Naira in Delta State, with another five million Naira already recovered from his account.

After reviewing the facts, Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, subsequently found him guilty of the offense and convicted him.

The judge, however, deferred his sentence till Friday, April 7.



Read more at http://www.herald.ng/ate-inside-diezanis-115-million-bribe-inec-boss-pleads-guilty/#XX4c4OybLSposUqw.99

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the National Assembly to address the issue of low funding of the education sector in the country.

The ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi made the call on Wednesday while answering questions from newsmen after the inauguration of a new secretariat constructed by the ASUU chapter of Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil.

NAN reports that the new ASUU secretariat was named after Nasir Hussein, a founding member of the union in the university.

Ogunyemi said the union was not happy with the allocations to the sector in the last three years and said that the National Assembly must change the narrative.

“In this year’s budget 6.1 per cent was allocated, last year it was eight per cent and we rejected it and the year before was 11 per cent.

“So the allocation to the education sector has been on the decline and what we are saying is that we will no longer take it.

“We went to the National Assembly during the budget defence and argued our case,” the ASUU president said.

He expressed hope that the lawmakers would do something urgently to address the issue, to enable Nigerian universities have the necessary facilities for uninterrupted academic activities and be able to compete with other universities across the world.

“We hope the National Assembly will address the issue of funding and address other problems bedeviling the universities in the country.

“We have always been engaging government on what they need to do to make our universities globally competitive to attract and retain the best academics.”

According to him, the union is also working to promote policies that would address the welfare of its members as well as improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.

Ogunyemi also commented on salary shortfalls in some universities, saying that the union would no longer tolerate such.

“We have written to the government. We met at Yola last week and we put it on the table that as from the end of March, we will no longer accept any reduction in what is due to our members as their entitlements.”

He added that ASUU would continue to concsientise Nigerians to identify people with the capacity to provide the best leadership in the country.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/ASUU-nass-address-funding-issue-varsities/#VHCL1jqo4ZUcJUG2.99

A Malaysian member of parliament, Tasek Gelugor, said girls as young as nine were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.

He made comments on Wednesday as Malaysia passed a law on sexual offences against children without criminalising child marriage.

Gelugor, a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition, made the comments in response to a proposal by an opposition member of parliament to amend the Sexual Offences Against Children bill to include a ban on child marriages.

The proposal was voted down by the majority of parliament.

“They reach puberty at the age of nine or 12. And at that time, their body is already akin to them being 18 years old.

“So physically and spiritually, it is not a barrier for the girl to marry,” Tasek said on Tuesday during a debate on the bill.

He also said there was “nothing wrong” with a rape victim marrying her rapist as she would then not face a “bleak future”.

Tasek’s comments sparked outrage on social media, with some opposition politicians asking for him to be fired.


Under both civil law and Islamic law, girls and boys younger than 18 can be married.

Civil law sets the minimum age of marriage at 18, but those above 16 can be married with the permission of their state’s chief minister.

Under Islamic law, children younger than 16 can get married if the Shariah courts allow it.

The law criminalises “grooming”, touching and befriending children as a prelude to sexual abuse, and spells out penalties for making and possessing pornography involving those under 18.

A special court will also be set up under the new law to deal with child sexual abuse cases more quickly.

The maximum penalty under the law is a jail term of up to 30 years and six strokes of the whip for making, possessing or distributing child pornography.

The new law comes into effect ten months after British pedophile Richard Huckle was found guilty of abusing up to 200 babies and children, mostly in Malaysia.

Reuters reported in 2017 that most complaints of child sexual abuse in Malaysia do not lead to successful prosecutions, largely due to weaknesses in the criminal justice system.

Only 140 of the 12,987 cases of child sexual abuse reported to police between 2012 and July 2016 resulted in convictions.

“The law is more stringent now… but not enough,” Teo Nie Ching, the opposition member of parl;iament who proposed the ban child marriages, told Reuters.

She said offenders would use the absence of a ban on child marriages to get away with crimes as marital rape is not a crime in Malaysia.

There have been several cases over the years of rapists marrying theirs victim, including those under 18, to avoid prosecution.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/malaysian-mp-says-girls-young-9-physically-spiritually-ready-marriage/#mUQE6WUvTEBMEV1r.99

The United States president, Donald J. Trump has begun to deliver o his campaign promises to Americans a the Donald Trump-led administration began to crack down on work visa programs which allow thousands of skilled overseas workers access to companies in the technology industry.

In line with the campaign promises which saw him into office, Donald Trump noted that the program favours foreign workers at the expense of Americans and therefore rolled out a trio of policy shifts.

On Friday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency introduced new policies which will make it harder for overseas tech workers to access the United States using the H-1B work visa.

In a memo issued on Monday, the agency noted that the new policy is aimed at combating “fraud and abuse” in the program.

In line with latest development, the Justice Department also warned employers applying for the visas not to discriminate against U.S. workers which comes in line with the promise to overhaul the US immigrations system made by Donald Trump.

The latest development will force technology companies in the country to hire more Americans instead of outsourcing job to countries with cheaper labor or bringing in lower-paid foreign workers.

Addressing the recent development which had earlier provided jobs for about 460,000 people working in the US on the H-1B visas according to a data released in 2013 by the Economic Policy Institute, R Chandrashekhar, president of the trade group Nasscom said: “Each of these steps are small steps by themselves.”

He added: “What we are waiting to see is how they will tighten the process. How exactly will the policy be implemented? The process for granting H-1B visa has become a lot more uncertain.”

The new development requires additional information which will prove beyond doubt that the basis for employment of programmers applying for the H-1B are indeed complicated and require the expertise and application of more advanced knowledge and experience.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/trump-initiates-another-step-limiting-immigrants-working-us/#5rUFPEDKKZ64uKc8.99

Puma are suing chain store Forever 21 accusing the company of copying a number of the Fenty X Rihanna designs created by Rihanna.

The shoe wear giant is demanding the retailer not only stop selling the alleged rip-offs but hand over all profits it has made from them, TMZ reports.

The suit comes as Puma also took action against Topshop in a German court, getting an injunction to stop the store selling slides Puma said were direct copies.

The songstress has served as the creative director for the Fenty X Puma range for over two years and her products often sell out.

According to TMZ, Puma filed the suit in Federal court claiming Forever 21 had blatantly ripped off at least three of the pop star’s designers.

Rihanna and fashion fans have long commented on the internet about the similarities between the Fenty X Puma shoes and those sold at Forever 21.

In the suit, according to TMZ, Puma singles out three designs which it claims have been copied by the chain store.

Puma holds patents and copyrights on the shoes’ designs, which include the sold out Leadcat Fenty Fur Slide which did retail at $80, the Bow Slide which costs $90 and her suede Creepers, which costs $99.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Puma argues by Forever 21 selling ‘copies’ it lessens the demand and stops the shoes being seen as a luxury item.

The shoe giant admits that it keeps stock levels low on purpose to ensure this.

According to the suit: ‘Forever 21’s business model is based on trading off of the established goodwill of reputable, name-brand companies, such as Puma.’

‘We will continue to take action to enforce our global intellectual property rights both against other brands who seek to trade off our designs and reputation and those who trade in counterfeit products.’

Forever 21 have been sued by brands including Adidas and Diane von Furstenberg that claimed their designs were copied.

But Forever 21 has also sued other retailers over copyright claims also.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/puma-sues-forever-21-knock-off-rihanna-sneaks/#fDyPtUqiWRBulrVq.99

Police have launched an investigation after human waste was discovered in a shipment of Coke cans in at the Knockmore Hill facility in Lisburn, Ireland.

The discovery was made during after the night shift was disrupted when stunned workers peeked into the cans and saw the waste after the machines became clogged.

The affected cans arrived from a German supplier that hadn’t been used previously.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the cans arrive at the factory without tops on, and are then filled with drink before being sealed and sold across Northern Ireland.

However, Coca-cola has confirmed the shock discovery was an isolated incident and didn’t affect any products currently on sale, as all the affected cans have been impounded.

Coca-cola said; “The problem was identified immediately through our robust quality procedures and all of the product from the affected production was immediately impounded and will not be sold.

“This is an isolated incident and does not affect any products currently on sale.”

Local politician Pat Catney said the incident “begs belief.”

“I am not sure how contamination could have come about,” he said. “They are sticklers for hygiene, cleanliness and about contamination.

“We shall have to wait for the police investigation. But it is a state-of-the art factory. I have been around it and this is one of the most professional set-ups I have ever seen.”

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Read more at http://www.herald.ng/human-waste-found-coke-cans-causes-uproar/#FL0cTUIkkCGIbDX1.99

Police have launched an investigation after human waste was discovered in a shipment of Coke cans in at the Knockmore Hill facility in Lisburn, Ireland.

The discovery was made during after the night shift was disrupted when stunned workers peeked into the cans and saw the waste after the machines became clogged.

The affected cans arrived from a German supplier that hadn’t been used previously.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the cans arrive at the factory without tops on, and are then filled with drink before being sealed and sold across Northern Ireland.

However, Coca-cola has confirmed the shock discovery was an isolated incident and didn’t affect any products currently on sale, as all the affected cans have been impounded.

Coca-cola said; “The problem was identified immediately through our robust quality procedures and all of the product from the affected production was immediately impounded and will not be sold.

“This is an isolated incident and does not affect any products currently on sale.”

Local politician Pat Catney said the incident “begs belief.”

“I am not sure how contamination could have come about,” he said. “They are sticklers for hygiene, cleanliness and about contamination.

“We shall have to wait for the police investigation. But it is a state-of-the art factory. I have been around it and this is one of the most professional set-ups I have ever seen.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/human-waste-found-coke-cans-causes-uproar/#IOgkmiH0P7pg5wRw.99

Photos of the Imo State University, Owerri student shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists has surfaced online.

The student identified as Jboy was reported to have been killed yesterday following three gunshots.

The incident reportedly happened close to a betting Center close to DaVita Hostel, Aladinma Students Alliance area at IMSU back gate.

The social media user who shared the photo wrote: “Owerri people what is going on why out goverbment can’t protect us, our young youths killed for no reason, I served this town for 3years, and is death, kidnapping, theft, rape, prostitution, cultism am tired, owerri people well done, RIP Jboy

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/photos-imsu-student-killed-suspected-cultists/#0PKkL5Ix1cuyg81R.99

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday disclosed that the nation’s economy was gradually recovering from the current economic recession.

Buhari made the disclosure when he received the outgoing Ambassador of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Fahad Bin Abdullah Sefyan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina “Noting that the last farming season was quite good, and the Nigerian economy was gradually reviving, President Buhari said the two countries would have more areas to collaborate in future.”

The President stated that the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia is a mutually beneficial one, which should grow stronger in the years to come.



Insisting that both countries enjoy strong ties, Buhari noted that apart from visiting Mecca and Medina for religious reasons, a lot of Nigerians are in Saudi Arabian universities.

“I quite appreciate the relationship between the two countries,” the President said.

On his part, the outgoing Ambassador who spent 20 months on tour of duty, said he loved it in Nigeria and would have wanted to stay longer if not that he was now due for retirement.

Commending Buhari for visiting Saudi Arabia in February 2015, Sefyan said there should be reciprocal visits between the leaders of both countries.

Speaking on the issue of security in Nigeria, the outgoing Ambassador observed that the President is doing well.

“I think you are doing very well, Your Excellency. We know what you have done with Boko Haram, and we applaud you,” he said.
http://www.herald.ng/moving-recession-gradually-buhari/

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed April 4 to April 11 for the continuation of trial of a former Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, charged with N304.1 million fraud.

The case which was earlier fixed for the defence to continue its testimony in a trial-within-trial could not proceed on Wednesday as the court did not sit.

Jauro, who acted as DG at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He is standing trial alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd on a 19-count charge bordering on fraud.

The accused, who were arraigned on April 12, 2016, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties each in like sum.



On Feb. 3, EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had called his first witness, Mr Orji Chukwuma, who narrated how some monies were allegedly converted to personal use by the accused.

Oyedepo had sought to tender a written statement of the accused as evidence, but was opposed by defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, who argued that the statements were not voluntarily obtained.

Ojo urged the court to order a trial-within-trial to determine if the statements were voluntarily obtained by the commission.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun consequently ordered a trial-within-trial.

The prosecution opened its case in the trial-within-trial on Feb. 21, and at the last adjourned date on March 3, it closed its case while the defence opened its case and called on its witness.

A defence witness, Mr Dankuku Galadima, who introduced himself as a legal practitioner of 10 years standing, said the first accused approached him sometime in 2016, seeking his legal assistance in relation to his EFCC matter.

He told the court that he informed the accused that he was “unavailable” at the moment as he was handling the brief of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

He said he, however, assisted the accused in securing the legal representation of one Peter Achuneni, who accompanied the accused to the commission.

The witness said he was not always physically present with the accused at all invitations by the EFCC, but that the accused was represented by a counsel.

Justice Olatoregun will now resume trial-within-trial on April 4 to 6 and April 11.

Jauro and others were alleged to have conspired to defraud NIMASA of N304.1 million between January 2014 and September 2015.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused converted the money to their private use, an offence which it said contravened the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012. (NAN)
UNS/DA


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/n304-1m-nimasa-fraud-court-fixes-jauros-trial-april-4-11/#R8bd6x6YPkk5LIRQ.99

Cross River State Governor Senator Ben Ayade Wednesday locked out the staff of Government House including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) for coming late to work.

Ayade, who was said to have arrived earlier than 7:30 am, met his office door locked gave an instruction that the main gate should be locked, the Guardian reports.

The Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, however, arrived shortly after the governor and was allowed through the gate.

Some staff, visitors, including the SSG, Tina Agbor, who came before 8:00 am were all made to stand by the gate for several hours while some workers grumbled.



The Guardian gathered that civil servant official time of resumption was 8:15 am but the Governor who for the first came before the time to the office decided to lock workers outside.

A civil servant who pleaded anonymity said workers were not happy because the governor has refused to grant promotion to workers who are due for promotion.

In his anger, he said, “what will motivate workers to come early to the office when all gratuities are not given to us. Those that are due for promotion have not been promoted”.

Another said, “The official time for us to resume work was 8:15 am and we arrived here before 8:00 am. So why are they locking us outside?”


The gates were however opened at exactly 9:00 am with some staff allowed in while those who came after were left standing outside.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/governor-locks-ssg-workers-lateness/#HdAMrt8oBmifrosQ.99

The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union has been formalised following Prime Minister Theresa May signingg to the effect.

Giving official notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, it will be delivered to European Council president, Donald Tusk later.

In a statement in the Commons, the prime minister will then tell MPs this marks “the moment for the country to come together.”

It follows June’s referendum which resulted in a vote to leave the EU.

The BBC reports that Mrs. May’s letter will be delivered at 12:20 BST on Wednesday by the British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow.

The prime minister, who chaired an hour long cabinet meeting earlier, is set to make a statement to MPs confirming the countdown to the UK’s departure from the EU is under way.

She will promise to “represent every person in the whole United Kingdom” during the negotiations – including EU nationals, whose status after Brexit has yet to be settled.

“It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country,” she will say.

“For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can – and must – bring us together.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/official-united-kingdom-no-longer-part-european-union/#uX8EOQ8FSMi8U4lx.99

I had five abortions but decided to keep one pregnancy to have a deal with God.

“ I was traumatised due to the abortions because milk was coming out from my breasts but there were no babies to suck them until the sixth pregnancy,’’ a post-abortion counsellor told journalists in Lagos.

Ms Jackline Gandi, a Kenyan in her late 20s, said these at the ongoing African Regional World Congress of Families organised by the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH).

Gandi shared her life experiences regarding post-abortion psychological traumas and how she has been using the experiences to counsel people with similar problems in Kenya.


Gandi said, “My father and mother were separated when my brother and I were young, and my father married another wife who never had time for us.

“My father was a figure-head because he was never around to play his roles. This made me to fall in love with a foreigner who was meeting all my needs.

“I got pregnant for the man but he travelled outside Kenya without communicating with me. That was my first pregnancy.’’

Gandi urged parents to create time for proper nurturing of their children to avoid sexual abuse by men.

The young woman said that her family members frowned at her pregnancy and that she had to abort the pregnancy since her boyfriend was nowhere to be found.

Gandi said that when her boyfriend returned and demanded for the baby, she lied to him that she suffered a stillbirth due to the stress of looking for him.

She said that after that relationship, she went into other affairs, drugs and alcohol consumption.

“My submission is that let me enjoy myself in this world before I go into the grave, and these affairs led me to aborting four other pregnancies.

“However, I decided to keep the sixth pregnancy as a deal with God and saying Lord, remember me in your goodness for keeping this pregnancy,’’ she said.

She advised young women to shun abortion, drug abuse and alcoholism which, she said, could create psychological problem and ruin their future.

She also called on those already having psychological trauma to seek counsel.

According to the counsellor, the baby from her sixth pregnancy is seven years old now and has started schooling.

“At times, I loved the baby and sometimes hated her; several times I would kick her and attempt to kill her because she was reminding me of all the several abortions I had done.’’

She said that she was haunted by the post-abortion traumas and depressions and knew that she needed counselling.

Gandhi said that proper counsel helped her to decide to move on with life and secure a job at an abortion clinic.

“I fell in love with my job which made me get promotions regularly and earned more money.’’

“However, I left the job when I realised that the clinic was into illegal practice.

“I decided to drop my resignation letter,’’ Gandi, currently working with the Pearls and Treasure Trust in Kenya, said.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN) reports that the organisation is into post abortion support and counselling, crisis pregnancy intervention, sexuality talks and healing programme.

The organisation is also into ladies’ mentorship, abortion education and teenage mothers’ empowerment.

She said that she decided to join Ms Akech Aimba, the Executive Director of the organisation, to run the programmes for victims of abortion.

“I am happy to join Aimba to advocate `no-to-illegal abortion’ because it causes serious post- abortion psychological trauma to women and girls.

“I now intervene on behalf of girls and women in crisis pregnancy, and run safe, non-judgmental and confidential counsel for women suffering from psychological, emotion and effects of abortion,’’ she said.

Also, Miss Aketch Aimba, the Executive Director, Pearls and Treasures Trust, advised parents and governments to address sexuality issues among girls who, she said, were prone to sexual abuses.

Aimba currently in her 30s said that she aborted two pregnancies before she attained 18 years.

“Many women, who are sexually abused, become pregnant and go for abortion because they are always financially down and depressed.

“When in such states, they need healing, hope and restoration,’’ she said.

Aimba said that empowering teen mums, by mentoring them back to the path of responsible sexuality and exposing them to skills to support their children, were important.

She also cautioned young people against the bad peer influence.

“I was raised in the rural area, experienced low self esteem and was naïve. Because those around me were into relationships, I decided to have a relationship.

“The first time I tried sex; it was not a penetrative one but I still became pregnant without knowing until after the second trimester.

“I had to abort the pregnancy because I was scared and not ready for motherhood. After that, I was into another relationship which also resulted into another abortion.

“I was emotionally and psychologically down which made me to hate people around me; I tried to commit suicide twice but they were not successful,’’ she said.

Aimba said that she, however, got help from a centre that was into `healing’ therapy.

She said that many people with history of abortions would need post-abortion counselling.

“Government should set up post-abortion clinics where people with the challenge can be given counsel.

“Post-abortion depressions may not manifest in their victims immediately after the actions, but such cases can be handled by such clinics when they show up,’’ she said. (NAN)

OKG/PAD/IGO


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/i-had-five-abortions-but-kept-the-last-pregnancy-so-as-to-strike-a-deal-with-god-counsellor/#ahkIcIWXdfted1WZ.99

I initially reticent to say this, but the big and unfair condemnations and insults showered on the couples, @junaidu2011 and @fareeluv makes it paramount for someone to come out and tell the world the truth about what actually happened, and nothing but the truth.

Even as a professional journalist, I am naturally a person who minds his business. That is why it was a little bit difficult for me to come out and tell the world what should be told about this interesting love triangle. People believe what they see and hear, and as much as we all know there are always many sides to a story, people just believe the loud side even if it’s full of falsehood. It is therefore as an act of ethical submission, I am doing this.

I have known Junaidu for close to a decade, I have worked closely with him – he is a media person for a governor and I am a gatekeeper for a newspaper. He is a man of honour, integrity, very principled and disciplined. I am sure it was why Ayeesha wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Every woman will want Junaidu, he is a perfect gentleman.

Like it is with contemporary girls, Ayeesha reached Junaidu through a social network during one of his foreign trips. She saw his picture abroad and she sent him a DM. The two got talking and a progressive acquaintance was established. What started like a fling turned into a serious relationship and marriage was discussed. I was one of the very few people Junaidu called to inform about his intention to marry Ayeesha, I prayed for him and wished him well.



To say Junaidu sacrificed so much to make his relationship with Ayeesha worked is an understatement. He was faced with lots of objection and outcry from colleagues, family and friends because of her religious background, tribe, and most of all, her social life. But the man stood firm on his position to make her his wife and that was her mistake, she took all that for granted.

As a potential husband, Junaidu has done so much for Ayeesha and her family and whether she admits it or not, she will never get to find a man that will cater for her mentally, financially, socially and otherwise. The man just barely laid down his life for her and her family, and he was happy and excited doing it. He changed her life and dragged her into 21st century comfort. All that didn’t stop Ayeesha from being the unfaithful girlfriend she is cut out to be.

During their early courtship days, there were big questions about her social life and male acquaintances, which Junaid propelled aside and continued his plans to make her his life partner. What started as a mere rumour became an established fact, when he became observant and kept a surveillance on her movement. About a dozen times, he had caught her red handed at places, no marriage thinking lady should be.

In Kano, where she schools, Junaidu being a public figure heard about the wayward social lifestyle of Ayeesha. And all he asked her was to adhere to the islamic ‘istibira’i’ days before their marriage and that was where the problem started. During these days, Ayeesha was seen severally on ungodly hours at ungodly places with male friends.



I was an eye witness to such circumstance, Junaidu used my car to trace Ayeesha to an ungodly place where she had spent the night and it became the last straw the broke the camel’s back. She went on her kneels and begged him, and I also begged him and made him understand that marrying Ayeesha is a big islamic obligation now and Allah will reward him abundantly for that.

Reluctantly, he agreed and she was made to understand that this is her last chance. she became the good girl we all want her to be but after a few days, Ayeesha went back to her old ways, clubbing and going to ungodly places at ungodly hours, and then having the effrontery to post such ill-mannered escapades on snapchat. It is at that point that it became vividly clear to Junaidu that marriage isn’t what she rally wanted – she is in Islam for business not for salvation.

Instead of asking for another chance, Ayeesha for reasons best known to her became hostile. She started sending him offensive texts, telling him to grow up and stop following her around, and that marriage is not madness. At that point, I would have told my friend to leave her and go get a decent wife to marry, but I didn’t do that. I pleaded with him to forgive her and remember that he is doing this for Allah.

It was at this point that Junaidu, traveled abroad again, instead of accepting reality and facing it, Ayeesha continued her wayward life and at that junction, we all realised that, Ayeesha has no plans of settling down. We just decided its only fair for Junaidu to continue his search for a wife as the man is no longer getting young. And the small distance between them grew big and the relationship turned completely sour.

It may interest anyone reading this piece to know that, Junaidu was never close to Ayeesha’s friends, she doesn’t like him close to her friends and he understood that. He knew nothing about her friendship with @fareeluv, Fareeda, when he met her, it was much later that he realised that they were friends. Is he now expected to cancel his marriage plans because his bride knew his ex?

OC has a gem of a man in her hands in Junaidu and she played dirty with him and an appreciative bride came along, and when she realised what she had loss, she resorted to deceits, lies and blackmails on social media and people who don’t know the truth are passing harsh judgement on the couple. This is so so unfair.

I think OC should just accept her fate and change her ways, if she is really the good girl she delineated, a good man will come. For now, I think we should all say good or keep quite about this couple. None of them has done anything wrong. We should also remember that, every man will pay for the bad things he says about others – if not before man, then before Allah.

Meanwhile, I wish you a happy married life, Junaidu and Fareeda.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/marriage-betrayal-untold-truth-story-junaiduayeesha/#X2XBUgRSbV20usCo.99

A lady took to her social media page to narrate a shocking experience which she had with one of her passengers.

The social media user who took to her page, @Msixelaa, o Twitter reveals that she works as an Uber driver and was ‘fortunate’ enough to have gotten deep into a conversation with her passenger who turned out to be her man’s booty call.

The social media user revealed that she connected with her passenger on grounds that she was on her way to see her man whom she (the passenger) hadn’t seen in a long time.

The Uber driver who revealed that she could relate to her passenger’s pain as her man also just left got the shocker of her life when the passenger asked to alight at her boyfriend’s house.

The Uber driver further disclosed that her man had excused himself to see his mother at the hospital earlier in the day before she left for work.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/uber-driver-narrates-passenger-turned-mans-booty-call/#Ezi9ScoxXTrBYe4x.99

Germany plans to deport asylum seekers whose applications have failed once it completes all procedures in line with international migration laws, a top official has said.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Bernhard Schlagheck, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, said the exercise would be a continuous one.

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, had said in January that more than 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers in the country might be denied asylum status if they did not meet application requirements.

Cue in audio

“Germany has been doing its uttermost to comply with its international humanitarian obligations with regard to migrants and refugees enshrined, for instance, in the Geneva refugee convention and in particular with the prohibition of forced return in cases of political prosecution.

“If the internal and legal procedures in Germany have been concluded and basically asylum applications have been denied, then we will ask the migrants to leave and return home; if they do not, we will subtly deport them.

“So this will certainly be an ongoing exercise as long as there are migrants who are not entitled to stay in Germany.’’

Cue out audio

Schlagheck told NAN that Germany was working with the Nigerian government to facilitate procedures for returning asylum seekers and illegal migrants.

He further said that efforts were being made to continually return illegal migrants and assist with support for them.

The envoy did not, however, state the number of illegal Nigerian migrants that had been deported from Germany so far.

“I would say the figures are somewhat sketchy, but certainly we will see to it that persons who are not entitled to stay in Germany and do not have a humanitarian title to remain, have to leave.

“And here we are very strict and compliant with international norms and rules.

“There is a common interest and good cooperation with the Nigerian Government on that; this is a whole package that currently is being negotiated between the EU mission for all the European countries and the government of Nigeria,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the German constitution recognises several categories of asylum seekers and refugees which include those seeking protection from political persecution and those seeking protection as refugees.

An individual can earn refugee status if faced with a justified fear of persecution in the home country based on race, nationality, religion, membership of a social group, and/or political beliefs.

Another category includes those who qualify under subsidiary protection if at risk of serious injury in home country due to armed conflict, torture or inhumane treatment or one who faces the death penalty.

Individuals who do not qualify in any of the aforementioned categories maybe granted Prohibition of Deportation status if they truly face a substantial concrete danger or extreme general danger at their home country.

Those who apply for asylum for economic reasons are usually rejected. (NAN)


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/germany-deport-asylum-seekers-failed-applications/#7khcmyZU80Omgkqr.99

A respondent, Mr Abiodun Adeyanju, on Tuesday told an Akure Customary Court that he married his wife, Mrs Opeyemi Adeyanju, carrying another man’s pregnancy.

Abiodun told the court that despite being aware of his wife’s pregnancy for another man, he still married her to show his love and kindness for her.

The respondent said he recently discovered that his wife was pregnant again for another man, whose identity she refused to disclose.

“I offered to render her some relief out of compassion, I allowed her to live with me in my house, and our relationship subsequently led to marriage.


“My wife was a known symbol of a mess in our neighbourhood, as a result of her high rate of promiscuity,’’ he said.

Adeyanju, a truck driver, alleged that Opeyemi was stubborn and disrespectful to him.

Earlier, the petitioner told the court that the respondent was fond of beating her at the slightest provocation.

“He usually stays away from home, without considering my welfare and that of our two children.

“My husband twice broke my hand because I was trying to dissuade him from smoking.

“I usually reported all the issues between us to his family members,’’ she said.

The petitioner sought the dissolution of her 12-year-old marriage to the respondent on grounds of threat to life and lack of care.

Opeyemi said she could no longer cope with the pains in the marriage.

The president of the court, Chief Rotimi Olusanya, told the petitioner not to misuse the opportunity she had, saying, “rarely could anyone cater for another man’s pregnancy’’.

“I want two of you to settle the misunderstanding between you because of your children,’’ Olusanya said.

He adjourned the case until April 6, for settlement or determination of the marriage. (NAN)
OKEO/DEB/PIO


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/married-wife-carrying-another-mans-pregnancy-husband-tells-court/#Q871OLJZF5rMP4hH.99

The senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye has taken his fight against online publishing medium, Sahara Reporters outside the shores of the country.

Recall that the Senator had filed a N5 billion lawsuit accusing Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters publisher of defamation of character along with other offences.

The Senator’s move against the Sahara Reporters publisher comes after the media house alleged that the Senator did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello Univerisity, Zaria.

Dino Melaye who had earlier vowed to send the online news medium’s publisher to jail took to his social media page on Twitter to reveal that he will be filing a cyber stalling suit against the publisher on Friday in New York.

image: http://www.herald.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/melaye.png

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/certificate-scandal-sen-dino-melaye-takes-fight-against-sahara-reporters-nigeria/#YQaVJ5VRKgimQXzP.99

image: http://www.herald.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CBN-2-600x403.jpg




The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed down the rate at which it was selling dollars to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators nationwide.

Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the buying rate for BDCs would now be N350 and would sell at N360 to the dollar.

NAN reports that before now, BDCs were buying dollars from the CBN at a forward rate of N381 to the dollar and selling at N399 to the dollar.

Gwadabe commended the CBN for heeding the appeal of BDCs for a level playing field for all players in the foreign exchange market.



The ABCON chief pledged the commitment of all BDCs in collaborating with the apex bank to sustain the gains recorded by naira against the dollar.

NAN further reports that the CBN, had on Monday, pegged the selling rate for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at N360 to the dollar.


The CBN had injected close to two billion dollars since it started its intervention in the foreign exchange market five weeks ago.

Efforts of the apex bank have crashed dollar rates at the parallel market to between N375 in Lagos and N365 in Abuja.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/cbn-reviews-bdc-rates-n360/#5oMOHTkh5bJR1rDd.99

Apples are practically one of the commonest fruits we encounter today, with the fruit playing an important role as an ingredient in many desserts, such as pies and cakes.

They are fruits rich in nutrients that enriches the human health, providing flavonoids and polyphenols that help reduce blood sugar, fiber for proper digestion and a substantial amount of vitamin C that necessary for dietary intake.

Apples are also full of a fiber called pectin; a medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fiber. Pectin is classed as a soluble, fermentable and viscous fiber, a combination that gives it a huge list of health benefits.

Eating at least an apple a day comes with the following benefits;

Whiter, healthier teeth

An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

Avoids/Prevents Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of ageing on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

Curbs all sorts of cancers

Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds such as triterpenoids in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast tissue. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumors in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fiber intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Protect against Parkinson’s

Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fiber foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.

Reduce cholesterol

The soluble fiber found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

Get a healthier heart

An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fiber intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

Decrease your risk of diabetes

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fiber, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

Beat diarrhoea and constipation

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fiber found in apples can help. Fiber can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.

Prevent gallstones

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fiber to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

Avert hemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate haemorrhoids.

Neutralise irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fiber in your diet.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/healthy-reasons-eat-apples/#1zCXwM6ryvLqSert.99

Controversial rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem has said that more recent artistes like Don Jazzy are making a lot of money because of sacrifices older artistes like himself made.

In an interview with Hip TV, Abdulkareem said the Mavins boss was stranded in London, but only became successful as soon as he came back to Nigeria.

“Without the old artistes, the new artistes won’t make money, because we fought for the life that they are living right now.

“We put food on their table because of what we fought for, and we are very happy, and that’s why we are legends, you understand. But if anyone of them tries to disrespect, we will put them back to where they belong.

“All of them, from Don Jazzy and all of them, they lived in London, how come the British government never gave them opportunity, they had to come to Nigeria because we made it happen,” he said.
Read more at http://www.herald.ng/don-jazzy-making-money-eedris-abdulkareem/#3rEtxze2MyYC2b7J.99

A Clinical Psychologist, Mr Adedotun Ajiboye, has advised relations, friends and colleagues of persons suffering from depression to be extra vigilant to avert incidents of suicide.

Ajiboye, who works at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He spoke against the backdrop of rising incidents of suicide across the world.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its recent reports said that 800,000 people commit suicide every year across the world.

WHO also said in the report that depression was also the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people, majority of them women, young people and the elderly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Lagos-based medical doctor, Dr Allwell Orji, took his life on Sunday by jumping off the Third Mainland Bridge into the Lagoon.

NAN reports that Orji had ordered his driver to park while on the bridge in order to ease himself.

Ajiboye explained that people who suffered depression had the tendency to become suicidal.

He identified terminal medical condition, poverty, loss of a loved one or loss of money as other factors that often lead a person to depression and become suicidal.

The psychologist called for proper monitoring of behaviour of persons with depression in addition to taking them to see a psychiatrist who would prescribe anti-depressant drugs and follow up on such patients.

Ajiboye also advised that harmful objects such as knives should be kept away from people suffering from depression.

He advised that people should be their brother’s keepers, especially in the religious circles, saying that they should have welfare packages for people in these times of economic hardship.

“People are passing through a lot of tough times and they may not want to share their experiences, so religious leaders must learn to engage people.

“We must call our loved ones regularly to check on their welfare and see how we can be of assistance, you do not know if that call will just save a life,’’ the psychologist said.

He also advised people who were faced with some challenges to learn to share their problems, saying “a problem shared is a problem half solved”.

Ajiboye explained that unstable mental condition was one of the factors that could make an individual to be prone to committing suicide.

According to him, suicide is the process of purposely ending one’s life.

“The person has determined already to kill himself which is quite different from someone who hears a voice telling him to jump into the lagoon or to strip naked.

“We have what we call auditory hallucination where someone hears a voice saying remove your clothes or jump into the lagoon and the person obeys, that person may have a psychosis condition.

“Also, the person maybe experiencing visual hallucination, where only the person sees people or things that want to harm him and to escape, jump out of a vehicle, or jump in front of a moving vehicle.

“All these must be established before you can arrive at a conclusion,” Ajiboye said.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/suicide-psychologist-advises-relations-victims-depression-extra-vigilant/#UOZDJxZR7CGZlwO4.99

Popular musician and rapper Drake has tattooed an image of English singer Sade Adu on his torso to express his admiration for her.

While this may come as a surprise to his fans, this isn’t new development. Drake has never been shy about letting the world about things he likes or admires and also it’s an open secret that the man is a lover of getting his body etched up with tattoos.

Sade’s mutual respect for Drizzy shined through this week, as she stopped by his Boy Meets World Tour while it was on in London, and he managed to snap not one, but two pictures for the ‘gram with the famously reclusive artist. This, of course, is no easy feat.

One of them was just him and Sade, which ended up on Drake’s IG page for the purview of his fans.

On top of that, it turns out his fanboyism is big enough to get Sade’s portrait permanently etched on his torso.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/no-ordinary-love-drake-gets-huge-tattoo-sade-wearing-gele/#MSQ6Lg1q7lX7hBHA.99

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) said only N362.3 billion was actually disbursed out of the N557 billion that was earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2015 budget.



The commission’s 2015 Annual Report and Audited Accounts, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, indicated only 65 per cent performance of the budget.

It said that N587 billion was disbursed in 2014, a figure much higher than what was even budgeted for capital expenditure in 2015.



“Analysis of the 2015 4th quarter and consolidated Budget Implementation Report (BIR) revealed that N387.3 billion was released and cash backed against actual utilisation of N362.3 billion.



“In terms of efficiency of fund releases, a performance of 93 per cent was recorded, denoting a high degree of ease of access to funds once all relevant documentations are completed in accordance with due process.’’



According to the report, the Federal Government directed a greater part of its capital budget to the provision of critical infrastructure in the priority areas of power, health, education, roads, rail, aviation, physical, food and security.



It, however, said that the low capital expenditure budget as appropriated could not actually make any significant impact in the face of high infrastructural deficit in the country, even if it was 100 per cent fully implemented.



The report also said that the perennial low capital expenditure performance as expressed by the cash utilisation in relation to the annual appropriation was the direct result of ineffective capital expenditure funding.



“This has largely been the case in the last few years as project execution slowed down and was sometimes totally abandoned.



“The consequence of this is the possibility of escalation in project costs and the inability of the projects to satisfy the needs for which they were originally intended.’’



The commission blamed late passage of the budget, low revenue inflows, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) capacity to utilise funds and overspending in recurrent expenditure for difficulties in full implementation of capital expenditure.



The report suggested that to fully enhance the level of capital expenditure budget performance, approval of budgets should be timely and consistent with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).



It also said that MDAs should have the capacity to execute set out capital projects within the stipulated execution timelines.



The report suggested that selective capital expenditure releases in the implementation process should be adequate to ensure meaningful project execution.

The report noted that the low capital expenditure performance had over the years remained dismal largely due to high recurrent expenditure and low revenue generation, especially in the last two years.



“There is therefore an urgent need for a rethink and complete overhaul of the capital expenditure implementation strategy to ensure better funding, utilisation of resources and completion of projects in line with national development.’’



NAN reports that the FRA 2007 was enacted to promote prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensure long term macro-economic stability and transparency in fiscal operations of the national economy. (NAN)

Local man Simon Williams has applied for custody of his wife’s breasts as part of his divorce settlement according to online reports.

Describing the breasts as being of ‘great sentimental value’ in his submission, Simon said he’d happily give up any claim over the house for full custody.

Alternatively, his wife can have the car in return for access at weekends.

“Those breasts have been with me through thick and thin; a rock in times of needs and a pillow in times of comfort. My quality of life will decline substantially if I lose custody.”

“It’s actually ironic,” he told us. “Considering one of the reasons I’m getting divorced at all is because I said I’d like her breasts custody.”

However, Simon’s soon to be ex-wife has angrily rejected the request, saying that his failure to grant her exclusive possession of his ‘bits and bobs’ during their marriage undermined his position.

Lawyers in the case have suggested that they hold the breasts until the situation is resolved.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/divorcing-man-applies-custody-wifes-breasts-says-can-house/#gtgMvfGqgadP6qqR.99

Following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) intervention in foreign exchange (forex), the Naira traded N400 to a dollar at the black market on Wednesday in Abuja.



The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Naira has also appreciated against the Pound Sterling and Euro rate as it traded at N510 and N415 respectively.



One of the Bureau de Change operators simply known as Tijanni Jos, said that the development had caused operators to lose a lot of money.



According to him, operators did not envisage a quick downfall of the dollar which has caused them to buy at an expensive rate hoping to make returns.



The Nigerian currency also traded at N307.5 at the interbank window.



In other segments of the market, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Travelex, an International Money Transfer Services Operator, sold the Naira at N381 to a dollar.



NAN reports that Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor of CBN, had on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, said the apex bank was determined to see the convergence of rates at the foreign exchange market.



Emefiele said that the CBN was optimistic that the rate between the official and parallel market would converge further.



He also said that the bank could sustain the policy, adding that those who doubt the ability of the bank to take decisions and implement it were taking a great risk.

He noted that the nations’ foreign reserves were trending further to 31 billion dollars.



Emefiele had also warned speculators to desist from stocking dollars at home because the CBN intervention would crash the price of dollar, which was already happening.



The CBN had in the last few weeks injected about 1. 7 billion dollars into the foreign exchange market. (NAN)

There’s truth to President Trump’s claim that there was wiretapping inside his midtown skyscraper during the Obama administration, only Trump wasn’t the target.

This report counters the allegation levelled against the previous administration by current President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Trump had earlier this month ignited a firestorm of controversy with a series of tweet that claimed the then-President Barack Obama “had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower” shortly before last year’s election.

The FBI listened in on phone conversations and monitored text messages between 2011 and 2013 while probing a gambling and money laundering ring tied to the Russian mob that operated out of a 63rd-floor pad in Trump Tower, ABC News reported on Tuesday.

The $5 million condo, unit 63A, is located just three floors below the president’s lavish, triplex penthouse.

“Everything was moving in and out of there,” said ex-FBI official Rich Frankel, who’s now an ABC consultant.

The ring was headed by the apartment’s then-owner, Vadim Trincher, whose son, Illya, ran a related was financed by art dealer Helly Nahmad.

Nahmad who’d bought up all the apartments on Trump Tower’s 51st floor was sentenced to a year and day in prison after copping a plea to gambling charges for his role in the scheme, which catered to high-rollers and A-list celebs including movie star Leonardo DiCaprio and then-Yankee Alex Rodriguez.

According to court records, the feds tapped Vadim Trincher’s cellphone for around four months, and caught him “communicating directly” with Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, a reputed Russian mobster who’s charged with fixing figure skating at the 2002 Olympics.

The suit — which sought more than $6 million over damage to custom wall panels, “very valuable furniture” and an “extremely rare silk rug” — was settled for an undisclosed amount less than a week later, court records show.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/trump-not-target-bugging-fbi/#erFlErYZ7qvmoIbF.99

The Naira has continued to appreciate against the dollar at the parallel market, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Nigerian currency on Tuesday afternoon traded at N420 (buying rate) and N430 (selling rate), while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N530 and N450 respectively.

Trading on the floor of the Bureau De Change (BDC) showed that the Naira closed at N400 to a dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N545 and N480 respectively.

The Naira remained stable at the interbank market, exchanging at N307.50 to a dollar.

Traders at the market said that they were happy with the performance of the Naira at the market, adding that it would lead to the fall in the prices of goods and services nationwide.

Meanwhile, Mr Emefiele Godwin, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said that the bank was optimistic to see the further convergence of the official and parallel market rates.

Emefiele said this, while fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the two- day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the CBN in Abuja.

“We are determined to see a greater convergence of the official and parallel market rates,’’ Emefiele said.

NAN reports that the CBN retained the lending rate at 14 per cent and other monetary policy parameters.

The CBN has recorded huge success at the FOREX market since it started injecting over 1.5 billion dollars at the interbank market.

The Naira has continued to firm against the dollar in defiance of predictions by some experts that it would sink to N1,000 to a dollar by the second quota of the year. (NAN)

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