₦airaland Forum

Aliko Dangote has not given up on his plan to acquire Arsenal. The Nigerian reportedly worth $10.9bn says he plans to take over the club by the end of the decade.

Dangote stated last year that he was prepared to pay any sum to take ownership of the Premier League club away from Stan Kroenke.

Dangote, a lifelong Arsenal fan whose fortune is largely tied up in Dangote Cement, is reported to have lost $4.4bn this year due largely to the depreciation of Nigerias currency

But the 59-year-old says he still plans to complete a takeover of the Gunners before the end of the decade once his latest ventures in gas pipelines and an oil refinery have developed.
Maybe three to four years, he told Bloomberg Television when asked when he intended to buy the club. The issue is that we have more challenging headwinds. I need to get those out of the way first and start having tailwinds. Then Ill focus on this.

Dangote believes his success in the business world proves he is the right man to transform Arsenals
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/23/dangote-plans-to-own-arsenal-in-next-three-years/

report by Sahara Reporters suggests that the economic recession in Nigeria have forced many parents and guardians to withdraw their wards from private secondary schools.

This new development was noticed as private institutions resumed for the new academic session nationwide.

Nigerias minister of education, Adamu Adamu

The report stated that hitherto filled classrooms have become considerably sparse, as parents and guardians had decided to move their children to more public schools which are generally affordable.

Private schools in Nigeria charge exorbitant prices, but the economic hardship witnessed across the country have made the fees to get out of the reach of the common man.

The report quoted various private schools management in Abuja complaining of significant reductions in their student body.

A school proprietor who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the development as worrisome,
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/23/recession-massive-withdrawal-of-pupils-hit-private-schools-in-nigeria/

The governor of Kogi state Yahaya Bello has said that Nigerias president Muhammadu Buhari is the greatest president on the surface of the earth

Bello said President Buharis virtues has made it possible for Nigerians to enjoy transparency and equity.
Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello

Just after winning at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, September 20, the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello addressed President Muhammadu Buhari as the greatest.

Bello who spoke to journalists in Abuja appreciated his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for giving him the opportunity to serve as a governor.

I want to thank my great party, I want to thank specifically, our dear president, President Muhammadu Buhari, the greatest president on the surface of this earth, who as the leader of our party believes in equity and justice, Bello said.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/22/buhari-is-the-greatest-president-on-earth-nigerian-governor/

President Muhammadu Buhari was a guest writer on Tuesday for Bloomberg, the US business and financial information company.
Here is President Buharis article:

Until a few years ago, Africa Rising was a dominant theme in conversations about the global economy. That enthusiasm has since cooled, so that in newsrooms and think tanks and conference panels, Africa Rising! has given way to a more questioning Africa Rising?

While some of that pessimism may be justified, we do not have the luxury of distracting ourselves with lamentations about our current circumstances. Instead of hoping for commodity prices to rise, African countries should seize the opportunities that these times present not least here at todays U.S.-Africa Business Forum to lay a foundation for the kind of economic growth that transforms the lives of our people.

One of our biggest challenges during the boom years was that we failed to convert the benefits of high commodity prices into more jobs and significant improvements in standards of living. Hence the great debate, during those years, about how to ensure that the growth became inclusive.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/22/buhari-outlines-plans-to-boost-ailing-economy-in-new-article/

Olamide and son, Batife showing off their blond hair.

In recent pictures, Olamide took to his social media handle to show off his sons new hairstyle. It is no longer news that Olamide has dyed part of his hair blond but he has replicated the same hairstyle for his cute little boy.

The music star posted one of the pictures with the caption: Ooouuu! Batife killed it, we in ds together lol.

Like father like son but the style looks cool tho!
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/21/like-father-like-son-you-wont-believe-what-olamide-did-to-his-sons-hair-photos/

Super Eagles of Nigeria will be difficult to beat when Zambia host them in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, according to Zambian coach. Zambia will host the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday, October 9 in the race to qualify for Russia 2018.

Kangwa, a one-time president of the Zambia Football Coaches Associations believes the Super Eagles will be a hard nut to crack and has warned Chipolopolo handlers to work hard if they want the three points against Nigeria.

Ahead of the qualifiers, Kangwa is also urging the Zambia Football Association (ZFA) to properly prepare the team.

We have a lot of work to do to prepare the team for the World Cup, but we have all the resources and personnel, I am positive that we can do it before the qualifier next month, Kangwa told Post..
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/21/eaglesll-be-difficult-to-beat-zambia-coach/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday called for global support for the cleanup of Ogoniland and to raise 14 billion US Dollars for the restoration of Lake Chad Basin.

The president made the call while presenting Nigerias statement at the 71th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S.A.

He said the call had become imperative in view of the drying up of the Lake Chad to the negative consequences of Climate Change.

He said, Nigeria is proud to have been part of the process leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, and supports the African Union Initiative on the Great Green Wall to halt desertification.
The president said it was in furtherance of the countrys commitment to environmental sustainability that Nigeria launched the cleanup of Ogoniland.

He called on development partners and multinationals to contribute to the Ogoniland Restoration Fund.

The Nigerian leader also spoke on dangers posed by global terrorists.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/21/buhari-seeks-14bn-for-restoration-of-lake-chad/

In seeking ways to get Nigeria out of the worst recession in its history, the Federal Government is considering a $15billion (N4.72 trillion) fiscal stimulus plan.
The Buhari-led administration is seeking diverse ways to pull Nigeria out of the worst recession the nation has ever experienced.

Following the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recent official confirmation that Nigerias economy had slipped into one of the worst recessions in its history, the government convened a ministerial retreat last week to rally economists opinions on possible way out of the doldrums.

Premium Times reports that one of the key resolutions at the retreat was a four- pronged funding plan to generate and inject massive foreign capital, estimated at between $10 and $15 billion (about N4.72 trillion at N320 to the dollar) into the economy.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, said the stimulus plan would be funded majorly through sale of some national assets, advance payment by joint venture operators for license renewals, infrastructure concessions, use of
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/20/troubled-nigeria-fg-set-to-combat-recession-with-n4-72trillion/

Paul Pogba agent Mino Raiola has boasted that Romelu Lukaku at the moment can only be afforded by the richest clubs in the world.

The Belgian striker was speculated to leaving Everton during the summer transfer window after letting the Merseyside club know that he wanted Champions League football.Romelu Lukaku is tipped by Raiola to have an expensive price tag

The 65million asking price by the Toffees discouraged potiential suitors as Ronald Koeman revived the Goodison Park club and convinced the 23-year-old to stay.

Lukakus representative disclosed that only the worldd wealthiest clubs will be able to afford the services pf the former Chelsea striker if he was to be sold.
Lukaku has scored foru goals in two games for Everton this season

There was talk of Juventus but no-one can afford him in Italy,
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/20/pogbas-agent-plotting-another-world-record-deal-check-out-his-latest-target/

Authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, say that they can only admit 3, 800 out of the 17,334 candidates that applied to study in the institution for the 20167/2017 academic session.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Oluyemisi Eromosele, stated this during the pre-screening admission exercise conducted by the university for its prospective students.

Eromosele, who is the Chief Coordinating Officer for the exercise, noted that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry candidates would be offered admission to the 10 colleges in the university.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/20/funaab-to-admit-3800-out-of-17-334-candidates/

President Muhammadu Buhari and vice president Yemi Osinbajo

A recent report of the salaries and emolument for public office holder in the executive arm shows that only President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice Yemi Osinbajo receive hardship allowance.

The report, an excerpt from the remuneration for public office holders as approved by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and compiled by the Economic Confidential, a financial magazine shows that President Buhari and vice president Osinbajo enjoys 50% of the annual basic salaries as hardship allowance.

A breakdown of the report shows that President Buhari receives an annual basic salary of N3.51m; Osinbajo receives N3.03m, while ministers, secretary to the government of the federation, head of service and chairmen of boards of statutory agencies go home with N2.02m annually.

This means, the president and his vice receives N1.75 million and N1.52 million as hardship allowance.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/19/recessionwhile-nigerians-suffer-buhari-osinbajo-receive-hardship-allowance/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the speechwriter responsible for plagiarising the United States President Barack Obamas 2008 victory speech will face disciplinary action.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement said that the similarities between certain paragraphs in Buhari and Obamas speeches were too similar to be coincidental.

The statement read in part, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that prompt and appropriate disciplinary action be taken against those responsible for a wrongful insertion in his speech delivered on September 8, 2016 at the launch of the Change Begins with Me campaign.
Shehu blamed the action on some overzealous workers and apologised on their behalf.

He also said that a deputy director in the presidency had accepted responsibility for the action but added that the oversight would be investigated and the appropriate punishment would be meted out to the official.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/17/obamas-speech-plagiarism-presidency-to-punish-speechwriter/

Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saad Abubakar has condemned state governors who embark on what he termed worthless projects while leaving the core projects that touch the lives of the common man.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/16/sultan-berates-governors-over-worthless-projects/

Egyptian Ghead Grisha as referee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Zambias Chipolopolo and Nigerias Super Eagles in Ndola on Sunday, 9th October 2016.

Grisha, 40, has been a FIFA referee since 2008. He will be assisted by fellow Egyptians Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (assistant referee 1), Ahmed Hossameldin Taha (assistant referee 2) and Ibrahim Noureldin (Fourth Official).

Also appointed is renown former FIFA referee Zeli Sinko (from Cote dIvoire), who will serve as referee assessor, while former Ghana FA president Mahamadu Nuru Deen Jawula will be match commissioner.
The match has been scheduled to kick off at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola at 2.30pm Zambia time (1.30pm Nigeria time) on Sunday, 9th October.
Grisha, incidentally, was in charge of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group phase clash between the Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo, at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which ended 1-1.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/16/fifa-appoints-grisha-to-handle-zambia-nigeria-match/

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo is a British Nigerian actor and producer. His most famous films include: The Last King of Scotland, The Butler and Selma.

He is a two-time Golden Globe-nominated British star, who spent part of his childhood in Nigeria. He is recently among the flock of movie stars attending the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada.

He was asked in an interview about how he feels about the Nollywood industry. He said: Nollywood, it oscillates between being the second- and third-biggest film industry in the world.

I can tell by the profile that they are gaining that its not going to be long before I to be perfectly frank, as someone who has established their career in Western film making am going to be desirous to go back and make a film that would be deemed a Nollywood movie.
David Oyelowo in the film A United Kingdom which is featured at TIFF
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/16/hollywood-actor-reveals-why-he-will-soon-abandon-hollywood-for-nollywood/

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will today, Thursday, September 15, 2016, join ministers and heads of relevant Federal Government Departments and Agencies, to present and discuss priority areas of the 2017 Budget. Venue of the retreat being organised by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning is the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the ministry said that the retreat is part of its arrangements to set the right parameters and fine-tune the 2017 Budget, so as to align with priority areas of the MDAs with national growth and development objectives.

According to the statement, The key objective of the retreat is to discuss the 2017 Budget as well as discuss steps that are being taken to get the economy out of recession. It will provide an opportunity to discuss the framework of the 2017 Budget, the key priorities and the deliverables of the budget.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/15/buhariosinbajo-ministers-meet-today-to-discuss-2017-budget-priorities/

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop agonising about the past administration but to tackle the challenges facing the country.

He said Nigerians did not vote for him ( Buhari) to complain about previous government but to perform better than his predecessor.

The clergymen stated this at a dinner organised by the Ondo State Government after the 2016 Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria held in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday.

He said, We didnt vote a government to complain about yesterday, if we wanted yesterday the new government would not be there. The previous government didnt only do bad things; he did a lot of good things.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/15/kukah-to-buhari-stop-blaming-jonathan-solve-current-problems/

Arsene Wenger is looking for Arsenal to show greater consistency in the Champions League, starting with a positive result when they begin their campaign at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

A year ago the Gunners lost their opening two group games before scraping through to the last 16 behind Bayern Munich, only to fall at that stage for the sixth year running.

The key to returning to the latter stages is winning Group A to thereby set up an easier draw in the first knockout round, and so taking points off the French champions at the Parc des Princes could be crucial.

Last year we had a bad start because we lost our first game at Dinamo Zagreb and after we had the hiccup at home against Olympiakos and Bayern was a bit more consistent, Wenger said at a press conference on Monday.
What we need to do to win the group is make a good result here tomorrow.

The last time Arsenal won their Champions League group was in 2011/12, when they finished ahead of another French side in Marseille.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/14/wenger-eyes-european-improvement-as-arsenal-face-psg/

Omokri in a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 13 wondered how the sports minister who believes athletes dont need training, a finance minister who thinks recession is just a word and an information minister who wants to generate jobs via masquerade dressing.

READ ALSO: Reno Omokri mocks Nigerias communication minister

Read the post below:

Change is defined as a sports minister who believes athletes dont need training, a finance minister who thinks recession is just a word, a science and technology minister who aspires to produce pencils in 2 years, an information minister who wants to generate jobs via masquerade dressing, an interior minister who uses his security to publicly shine his shoes, an agriculture minister who fights for land for cows instead of farmers, a labor minister who threatens banks with revocation of license when they retrench workers due to bad economy,....
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/14/the-definition-of-change-by-jonathans-former-aide/

Go youtube

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele and Omoni Oboli pictured wearing similar outfit and they both looked stunning in the item.

Newly wed Funke Akindele shared picture of herself rocking this ankara patches dress about four weeks ago, looking stunning while the movie producer/ actress Omoni rocked the same dress at the ongoing TIFF festival in Canada yesterday.

The two looked fun and beautiful in the stylish dress.

Funke Akindele popularly known as Jennifer recently opened her heart again to give marriage/love a second chance by tying the knot with her newly found love JJC.

On the other hand, Omoni Oboli, mum of three is currently in Toronto where her latest movie is being premiered. The Okafors Law producer and actress Omoni was recently accused of intellectual theft on her latest movie by a Canadian based writer Jude Idada, who claimed Okafors Law storyline is all his except for the title which was suggested by the actress.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/13/who-rocked-it-better-funke-akindele-or-omoni-oboli/

Jamie Vardy says Leicester City have no intention of treating the Champions League as some sort of belated Premier League victory parade, and are ready to add another chapter to last season’s stunning success story.

Claudio Ranieri’s side travel to Belgium to take on Club Brugge on Wednesday in their opening group fixture, and Vardy says he wants the Foxes to make an impact on the competition, given English clubs have struggled at Europe’s elite level in recent years.

‘We definitely want to make a mark in this tournament,’ Vardy said. ‘We don’t just want to sit there and roll over and get beat every time we play in the Champions League.
We want to give it a good go. I think if we play anywhere near how we have played, especially all last season, then why can’t we [do well]?,’ the 29-year-old added.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/13/jamie-vardy-says-lechester-wont-roll-over-in-the-champions-league/

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration and ask God to give them the inspiration, wisdom and knowledge to lead the country.

He expressed hope that the country would be great again, urging all to adhere to the tenets of peace, perseverance, tolerance, peace and love for one another as preached by Islam.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/12/nigeriall-be-great-again-fayose/

http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/11/touching-the-sad-story-of-nigerian-orphan-who-emerged-sudans-best-medical-student/
Nigerian orphan named Islamiyat Oluwatoyin Abdulkadir has emerged the best graduating medical student at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan in yet another accolade to the country.

Orphaned since the age of six, Abdulkadir said her outstanding achievement looks like a miracle to even to her.

Sudan’s best medical student, Islamiyat Oluwatoyin Abdulkadir

The Cable quotes her as telling the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview from Sudan that not just her academic achievements but also her life in general is a massive miracle since her father died when she was around three years old and her mother when she was six years old.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Garba Abari, has expressed delight that Nigerians have been left with no option but to look inwards because of the economic recession.

Abari stated this in an interview in Abuja, on Friday.

He explained that the fall in oil prices and the disappearance of what he referred to as “free money” will engender a home-grown response to the nation’s economic problems.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic problem was not peculiar to it because other oil producing nations like Venezuela were also taking a hit but that Nigeria under the Buhari-led administration was handling it better.

Abari said, “Happily, the country is broke, if we had lived a life of falsehood always guided by our crass appetite for consumption and lack of productivity because there was free money, now we are being confronted with the reality.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/11/im-happy-nigeria-is-broke-says-dg-noa/

There is no love lost between On Air Personality, Freeze and comedian, Basketmouth, as virtually everybody knows that the two don’t see eye to eye.

In a telephone chat with Saturday Beats recently over the latest news, Freeze said, “Can Basketmouth get you fired from your job?”
He claimed the issues he had with his former employees had nothing to do with Basketmouth.

“When you work in a corporate organisation, it is not everything that goes on there that you can make a story out of. Legally, I am not allowed to comment on such a matter because I have a non-disclosure agreement with my organisation. I cannot even comment because I tried to sit down with lawyers to know what to say but they advised me to tell anyone who asked that I cannot comment but what I can say is that CoolFM is my family and that is where I have worked for over 15 years.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/03/i-had-a-good-laugh-when-i-heard-basketmouth-got-me-fired-freeze/

only goal of the game to give Nigeria their first win of an underwhelming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Saturday in Uyo.

With the 1-0 success, Nigeria finished the group stage on five points, while Tanzania were bottom of a three-team group already won by Egypt.
The Super Eagles created a rash of chances in this dead rubber game, but wasteful finishing and the brilliance of goalkeeper Aishi Manula ensured they had to wait until the 78th minute to snatch victory at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.

It was a winning start for new coach Gernot Rohr, but he certainly knows his team will have to improve their shooting in time for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia.

The Eagles created a rash of chances in the first 45 minutes, but couldn’t not make any of them count against an inspired Manula.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/03/how-iheanacho-gave-nigeria-victory-over-tanzania/

Kung fu master Jackie Chan to receive lifetime achievement Oscar

Jackie Chan’s high kicks elevated him to a respectable place in the film industry. The
Chinese kung fu star will receive a lifetime achievement Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday.

The martial arts expert who made his movie debut at the age of 8, as well as three other Hollywood veterans, will get honorary Oscar statuettes in recognition of their lifetime contributions to films in November.

62-year-old Chan starred in dozens of martial arts films and went on to huge international success with hits like Rumble in the Bronx, the Rush Hour franchise, and the animation film Kung Fu Panda.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/03/jackie-chan-to-receive-lifetime-achievement/

Simi is quiet young in the music industry in Nigeria but the lady has been linked with quiet a handful of guys, especially those in the entertainment industry.

From Adekunle Gold to Falz and to the latest, Ycee, not just a few believe the petite singer may have had one or two things to do with these artistes even though all parties have tried their best to convince the public that they are “just friends”. But Simi didn’t seem to help matters when she posted online recently that she was in a “loving relationship” with rap artiste, YCEE.

While speaking to Saturday Beats on that, Simi claimed she was just “goofing around”.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/03/falz-adekunle-gold-ycee-not-my-lovers-simi/

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced Monday, Sept. 12 as the Eid-El-Kabir Day, 1437 AH.

This followed the declaration of Saturday, Sept.3 as the 1st of Zulhijja, 1437 AH.
This is contained in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council of Sokoto.

The statement said, “The committee in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee had received reports from various Moon sighting committees across the country.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/09/03/sultan-announces-sept-12-as-eid-el-kabir-day/

Okogie, has said President Muhammadu Buhari must do something fast to address hunger across the country.

Okogie said in an open letter to the President on Monday that Buhari’s campaign slogan was anchored on change.

He stated, “Today, cries of “hunger” could be heard across the length and breadth of our vast country. Nigerians hunger, not only for food, but also for good leadership, for peace, security and justice.

“This letter is to appeal to you to do something fast, and, if you are already doing something, to redouble your effort. May it not be written on the pages of history that Nigerians die of starvation under your watch.
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/08/30/nigerians-are-hungry-okogie-tells-buhari/

The European Union on Tuesday ordered Apple to pay a record 13 billion euros in back taxes in Ireland, saying deals allowing the US tech giant to pay almost no tax were illegal.

In the latest in a series of rulings that has angered Washington, Brussels said the world’s most valuable company avoided tax bills on virtually all its profits in the bloc under its arrangements with Dublin.

Apple and the Irish government immediately said they would appeal against the European Commission ruling, while the US Treasury said it could undermine its economic partnership with the EU.

Ireland has been seeking to attract multinationals by offering extremely favourable tax conditions, known as sweetheart deals, but EU Competition
http://yusbaklee.com/2016/08/30/apple-hit-by-record-13bn-euro-tax-bill/