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Friday, 1 May 2015

UK’s Cameron wins TV debate as polls predict election deadlock

British Prime Minister David Cameron won the last major TV contest of Britain's election campaign broadcast on Thursday evening, a snap Guardian/ICM poll showed, with 44 percent of viewers saying he had performed best on the night.
But despite taking the lead in the last television debate before Britain goes to the polls on May 7, the

In what appears to be the lowest drop to be recorded within a one-year period, the cumulative electricity generated in the country has dropped to a meagre 2,800 Megawatts. This is happening at a time Nigerians struggle with mini-heat waves caused by rising temperature.

Disclosing this on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, noted that power output dropped from a recent peak of 4,500MW on April 3, to 2,800 as of March 30. He blamed the huge cut on “vandalism of gas pipelines”.

Many Nigerians were shocked when news filtered in on Monday that President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has barred the African Independent Television (AIT), from covering his activities.

Buhari allegedly gave the order through his security team,

AIT’s crew were walked out of the Defence House during the Cuban Ambassador’s visit.

The Federal Government on Thursday said it had paid N156 billion debt to oil marketers in line with its commitment to prioritise payments in spite of revenue constraints.

This was contained in a statement by Paul Nwabuikwu, the Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Thursday in Abuja.

The police on Wednesday arraigned one Samson Ndubuisi, 31, before an Apapa Magistrates’ court for allegedly having canal knowledge of an 11-year-old boy.

Ndubuisi, who resides at No. 3/4, Umuaka Close, Ilufe Junction, Alaba Market, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and sexual assault by penetration.

I have just read message sent to SSS by you to the effect that you heard that Governor Ayodele Fayose and his people are celebrating and that you and your people would be arrested even before getting to me tomorrow for the peace meeting. Consequently, you advised your people to cancel the meeting.

The All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers state has alleged that the governor-elect in Rivers state, Nyesom Wike who won the guber contest in the state under PDP is making plans to cross to the APC.

Wike, who was declared winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, received knocks over the alleged moves from the leadership of the APC in Rivers state.

Jonathan Appoints Sanusi Ado Bayero MD of NPA

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday approved the appointment of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, son of the late Emir of Kano, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero, as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

At least 12 out of the 24-member Kebbi State House of Assembly Wednesday served impeachment notice on Governor Saidu Nasamu Dakingari for alleged gross misconduct in the handling of the affairs of the state.

The lawmakers in a notice served to the governor last Tuesday night, accused Dakingari of gross abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

General Muhammadu Buhari

AIT: We look forward to healthy relationship with president-elect

The president-elect of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, has instructed all his staff, including the security personnel attached directly to him, to steer clear of all dealing with the media, and leave all media activities to his official media team.

Mother and child under mosquito treated net

Nigerians continue to shun the use of mosquito-treated nets, despite the prevalence of malaria scourge in the country, writes Martins Ifijeh

With the target set by United Nation that by 2015, Nigeria will be free from malaria if the estimated 60 million long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLITN) projected to be distributed across the country are actually judiciously distributed, it has unfortunately not achieved the set goal even with the statistics from the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, showing that over 60 million LLITN have been distributed across every nuke and cranny of the country since 2009 till date.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday said the federal government would disburse N156 billion to oil marketers today in order to arrest the fuel shortage nationwide.

One of China’s top schools has been causing quite some controversies after installing metal bars on the balconies to prevent students from jumping to their deaths. Read more from Scoop:

Burundi: Thousands Flee To Rwanda As Protests Grip Capital Before June Poll

More than 22,000 Burundians flee to Rwanda in a month amid violence provoked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for third term as president.

Thousands of people have crossed from Burundi into neighbouring Rwanda over the past week, fleeing intimidation by youth militia who are reportedly targeting rural areas as protests grip the capital, Bujumbura, over the president’s decision to stand for a third term in June’s presidential elections.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed Honors Rashidi Yekini, Jonathan, Sambo, Atiku, Dangote, Otedola, Others, Names Abuja Streets After Them

This is a good initiative that our government hardly takes, but I'm glad they did this time.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has named major streets in Abuja after some eminent Nigerians and accomplished Africans, with the soon-to-be inaugurated Inner Southern Expressway, running through Abuja city centre, named after President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Wuye district boulevard, measuring 1,730 metres, was named after former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Another major road in the same district was named after Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Transition: Don’t Take Jonathan’s Magnanimity As Cowardice, Jonathan’s Men Tell Buhari’s Men

A disagreement has broken out between the transition committees of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) as the President accused the Buhari team of acting like a parallel government and trying to stampede the Jonathan administration out of office.

Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, yesterday, Minister of National Planning who is also a member of the Jonathan Transition Committee, Abubakar Suleiman, said the Buhari transition team was making impossible demands from the government.

Although he did not specify those demands, he however warned that the President’s magnanimity should not be construed as cowardice.

Indonesian authorities last night executed eight people, including four Nigerians, convicted for drug offenses.
They were killed by firing squad on Tuesday.
However, execution of a woman Filipino was postponed at the last minute.
The Fillipino was spared after a woman accused of tricking her into carrying drug, turned herself to the police in Philippines Tuesday.

Queen Latifah on Homosexuality: ''I Don't Find Being Gay or Lesbian to Be a Character Flaw''

Queen Latifah is speaking out in support of the gay community.

In a new interview with Uptown magazine, the 45-year-old actress reveals her support for marriage equality. "People's ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love. We haven't moved as quickly as we probably should. And the reality is that there's always been gay people in the black community, so it's not foreign to us. And not just as a black community but just a society as a whole," Latifah says.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, on Wednesday dared the incoming All Progressives Congress administration to probe his tenure as he had nothing to hide.

He said having being in the saddle for five years, he was armed with documents and records to account for his actions in office.

Twelve-year-old Primary Six pupil, Tijani Boluwatife of Araromi Primary School, Orile Agege, and Sonoiki Idowu of Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun, have emerged winners in the primary and secondary categories of the 2015 edition of the Spelling Bee competition for public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State. Organised by the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, the competition is aimed at developing the innate skills of the students in the state, creating good reading habits and helping them improve their spelling skills, increase their vocabulary and develop correct English usage.

Pointing out that the overall goals of the competition are to help students improve their spelling skills, increase their vocabulary, create good reading habits that would lead to better academic performance, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said these goals are being met as evident in the performance of the students in external examinations.

Nepal (CNN) On day six of Nepal's tragedy, life triumphed as rescuers pulled an 18-year-old man from the rubble of a multistory residential building in one of Kathmandu's hard-hit neighborhoods.

A large crowd erupted in cheers as Pemba Tamang was carried out on a stretcher. He was wearing a New York shirt and blue neck brace, was blanketed by dust and had the look of a deer in the headlights.

General Buhari Inaugurates 19-Member Transition Committee [Photos + Full List]

The President-elect has inaugurated a 19-member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition. General Buhari did this today, Wednesday April 29th in Abuja

See more photos and names of the transition committee members below:

A statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Committee (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the terms of reference of the committee include to develop a clear framework for liaison with the out-going Administration for purposes of a smooth hand-over/take-over and to receive hand-over documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government.

SUBSIDY: FG To Pay Marketers N156bn As Fuel Crisis Worsens

The Federal Government, yesterday, said it would pay oil marketers N156 billion, out of the about N256 billion the marketers claimed they are being owed.

This was even as the perennial fuel crisis in Abuja took a dangerous turn yesterday, as about 80 percent of petrol stations across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were out of stock, while the few with the product were selling a litre for between N130 and N160.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who hinted journalists in Abuja about the planned settlement, expressed optimism that the payment, which is expected to be made today, will help address the perennial fuel scarcity.

Who Are They? Army Claim The 300 Girls Rescued In The Sambisa Forest Are Not The Chibok Girls

Army spokesman says the hostages freed during military offensive are not schoolgirls abducted from Chibok last year.

Nigerian troops rescued nearly 300 girls and women during an offensive against Boko Haram fighters in the north eastern Sambisa Forest, the military said.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, said on Wednesday that the Nigerian military was planning to release photos and more information of the women and girls rescued.

MAJ-GEN Muhammadu Buhari’s orders barring the crew of the Africa Independent Television, AIT, from the courtesy visit of the Cuban Ambassador to him at Defence House, Abuja, has set off an uproar that connects to Buhari’s first administration 31 years ago.

THE President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday painted a gloomy picture in the economic development of his administration as he said that the decline in the revenues due to fall in oil prices poses a great threat to his administration’s development agenda.

Gen. Buhari who visited the newly elected Senators and House of Representatives members who are undergoing induction course in preparation for the 8th National Assembly in Abuja also said that the decline in revenue would affect the reconstruction of devastated areas in the country as a result of insurgency.

He reminded the elected members of the 8th assembly of the challenges the nation had been facing which he also said would continue in the near future.

Former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig. General Idada Ikpomnwen, yesterday, tasked the Nigerian government on making the country habitable, rather than rather than blame the South African government for xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

Remove fuel subsidy, face our wrath – NLC, TUC warn Buhari

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against any move by the government to remove subsidy from petroleum products.
Nigeria’s National Assembly had passed the 2015 appropriation bill without allocating any money for subsidy payment.

Media guru and owner of African Independent Television, AIT, a division of Daar Communications PLC, Raymond Dokpesi, has fired back at president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari over his recent clampdown on the TV station.
Dokpesi described Buhari’s action to bar AIT from covering his activities as an attempt to bring back the era of Decree 4.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday warned against the establishment of a parallel government by the incoming administration before May 29.
Minister of National Planning, Suleiman Abubakar, told State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, that Jonathan was still in charge till May 29.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has expressed commitment to the peace move initiated by elders in the state, led by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to find political solution to the crisis between the two factions in the State House of Assembly.

Governor Fayose said in a statement personally signed by him that he was committed to the peace meeting scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, adding that; “the peace of Ekiti State is far and above all other interests and therefore everyone should support the elders peace efforts.”

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza won’t back down on his bid for a third term in power, a spokesman said Tuesday, dismissing calls by protesters who have clashed with police for three days.
At least five people have died since clashes broke out Sunday after the ruling CNDD-FDD party, which has been accused of intimidating opponents, designated Nkurunziza its candidate for the presidential election to be held in the central African nation on June 26.

Tinubu’s alleged apology to Bode George: George seeking relevance – Tinubu’s aide

Chief Bode George’s claim that the national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, apologized to him should be taken as the meditations of a man in search of political relevance, Mr. Sunday Dare, Media aide to Tinubu, said yesterday.

The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, are to meet today to resolve simmering issues on the zoning of principal offices in the National Assembly and the incoming government, sources close to the party have said.

The meeting is in the wake of fresh intrigues in the party that have led to the realignment of geo-political caucuses within and outside the National Assembly.

Turkish Club Closes Taiye Taiwo’s Contract By Mutual Consent

Bursaspor have announced it has terminated Taiye Taiwo’s contract by mutual consent.

Taiwo, who joined the side from AC Milan in July 2013, had been surplus to requirement since the start of the season.

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday called for further currency depreciation in Nigeria and seven other oil exporting West African countries.

Recall that the Nigeria’s currency, naira, has depreciated officially by 28 percent from N155 to a dollar November last year to N197 at the close of business yesterday.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd,), to commence reforms in the aviation sector by converting the Presidential Air Fleet to passenger planes.

This seems to be the season of baby dedications.

Days ago was Mercy Johnson and her hubby dedicating their son Henry; now another celebrity has followed.

Manager, director and brother of the P-Square duo, Jude Okoye and his wife, Ifeoma, dedicated their daughter Emma today April 26th.

President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has said that Boko Haram was nothing but a religious fraud, stressing that this would be known when it denied a recruitment base the local communities.

Buhari said this when leaders of various communities from Nassarawa State led by the State Governor, Mr. Tanko Almakura paid him a congratulatory visit in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan says he is not afraid of being probed after he leaves office on May 29.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President noted that investigations will not be out of place since Jonathan’s administration also reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office.

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Friday, 1 May 2015

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Tuesday, 28 April 2015