Buhari orders immediate release of N5 bn to bomb victims

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Ah-_23N2n33Yo566RD2HpnojrTdSykT5BmznUjSnYegtEh_hK0PyMJiN73txMeqnoGPVxQ8k0vBkFjLsekJPHpooHWg4cHkMMQ738idtiMYLJsRCeYUjYNSfHMdDRp1wMcvasPdhDaf/s1600/capture43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Ah-_23N2n33Yo566RD2HpnojrTdSykT5BmznUjSnYegtEh_hK0PyMJiN73txMeqnoGPVxQ8k0vBkFjLsekJPHpooHWg4cHkMMQ738idtiMYLJsRCeYUjYNSfHMdDRp1wMcvasPdhDaf/s640/capture43.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mohammed Kari as the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Commission.<br /><br />Mr. Kari’s appointment which is for a term of four years in the first instance, takes effect from Friday, July 31, 2015, a spokesman for the president, Femi Adesina, said.<br /><br />The new Commissioner for Insurance started his career with Royal Exchange Assurance in 1979. He later worked with Yankari Insurance Company until 1989, when he was appointed Executive Director in Niger Insurance Plc.<br /><br />In January 1992, he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, a position he held until March 1993 when he was appointed Managing Director of NICON Insurance Corporation. He served in that capacity until January 2000 when he resigned.<br /><br />He returned to insurance management in 2007 as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, were he served for four years.<br /><br />A Chartered Insurer and Professional IT Consultant, Mr. Kari was until his new appointment, the Deputy Commissioner (Technical) in the National Insurance Commission.<br /><br />President Buhari has also renewed the appointment of Joshua Okpo as the Rector of the Maritime Academy, Oron for a second and final term of four years.

Buhari orders immediate release of N5 bn to bomb victims

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mohammed Kari as the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Com...

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Senate passes resolution, tells FG to revoke waivers on rice, others

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqwQEFQvBUbS2OoV2ciomL9wgGpRTqrexNsTkbDFJmHe0K9ocPIp3qTJLBPDzZ4Sd1f-EtGFxq_HIR70MY6CBa8LE5pPf3HXdhYYYNQYi5VBCFnrYWhVNH1xvqG_sONZ-7KRgTVpdY6Vb/s1600/Senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqwQEFQvBUbS2OoV2ciomL9wgGpRTqrexNsTkbDFJmHe0K9ocPIp3qTJLBPDzZ4Sd1f-EtGFxq_HIR70MY6CBa8LE5pPf3HXdhYYYNQYi5VBCFnrYWhVNH1xvqG_sONZ-7KRgTVpdY6Vb/s1600/Senate.jpg" /></a></div> On Thursday, the Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to revoke all import waivers on rice and other agricultural products and ensure all outstanding revenues were collected.<br /><br />In a two-prayer motion moved by Senator Rafui Ibrahim (APC Kwara South), the Senate set up a nine-man committee to look into all waivers, concessions and grants.<br /><br />The committee, headed by Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central), is charged with the responsibility of reviewing all such related policy to recover all government revenues and block leakages.<br /><br />In his remark, the President of the Senate Bukola Saraki, said that the Ad hoc Committee was hinged on the determination of the new administration to cut revenue leakages.<br /><br />Saraki said that there was an urgent need to protect the nation’s agriculture to ensure self sufficiency rather than relying on importation.<br /><br />He expressed displeasure at the impunity with which people who owed government billions of naira continued to do businesses free as if “nothing will happen”.<br /><br />“This too must stop; this is the first ad hoc committee that will be set up for this kind of thing and the committee will not stop until every penny is recovered,” he said.<br /><br />He, therefore, charged members of the committee to be relentless in discharging their function.<br /><br />Earlier, some senators who made contribution advocated complete removal of all waivers, concessions, and grants on all products and commodities that could be manufactured locally.<br /><br />Senator Philip Aduda (PDP FCT), gave example with cement production in the country and said that for any local production to thrive, importation of such products must be stopped.<br /><br />He argued that waivers should only be given on products that were required but not produced locally.<br /><br />“There is an urgent need to review the granting of waivers, especially on finished goods, whatever is produced in Nigeria should not be granted waivers.<br /><br />Senator Eyinaya Abaraibe (PDP Abia-South) supported the motion, and noted that waivers were good at the inception but should have long been stopped.<br /><br />He said that the removal of waiver should serve as a starting point in doing away with all government policies that had hampered local manufacturing.<br /><br />Abaribe recalled that when the Federal Government banned importation of furniture, there was huge investment in the local industry but regretted that ban was lifted shortly after.<br /><br />“We should task all our committees to look inward and see to it that all policies that are inimical to the economy of Nigeria are reversed.<br /><br />Senator Dino Mileya (APC Kogi-West) advocated a drastic measure on the motion, alleging that there was collaboration between the Customs Officials, Ministry of Finance and importers.<br /><br />He said importers currently owing the government should not be allowed to clear their goods in the ports until they paid in full what they owed.<br /><br />Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto East) expressed fear that if allowed to continue, waiver on rice import alone would cost Nigeria N2.4 trillion by 2015.<br /><br />Gobir argued that the money saved from the waivers could be used to establish industries in the country to employ over 5,000 Nigerians in every state.<br /><br />He also advocated that waivers should only be granted on products that were not being produced locally.<br /><br />Senator Ali Wakili (APC Bauchi South), a former Comptroller of Customs Service, vindicated the service on the alleged collaboration, saying that the service merely implement the policies on waivers.<br /><br />He alleged that issuance of waivers, which began in the 80s became rampant under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when party faithful were flagrantly issues waivers.<br /><br />The Senate thereafter adjourned plenary to Tuesday, August 4 after which it proceeded to inaugurate all committees that had been set up during the week.<br /><br />NAN reports that the committees are Senate Selection Committee, Rules and Business Committee, Ethics and Privileges Committee, ad-hoc Committee on Publicity and ad-hoc committee on waivers.

Senate passes resolution, tells FG to revoke waivers on rice, others

On Thursday, the Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to revoke all import waivers on rice and other agricultural prod...

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Parents Of Successful Kids Have These 9 Things In Common

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPs0XeZ2_R32Y70LjtxBHgh6oXGt7Gtul003xAn7gd0XmiUZ5lAw5AAYG_No8-rr5XUY8dZr9oSMYsEsZBrom6LHvCzvYp0GCtoyVDV86LPEl19RDcswi0vsGjdbe2WY4FD90LMhhs5FH/s1600/Maj.+General+Chris+Olukolade2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPs0XeZ2_R32Y70LjtxBHgh6oXGt7Gtul003xAn7gd0XmiUZ5lAw5AAYG_No8-rr5XUY8dZr9oSMYsEsZBrom6LHvCzvYp0GCtoyVDV86LPEl19RDcswi0vsGjdbe2WY4FD90LMhhs5FH/s640/Maj.+General+Chris+Olukolade2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An unidentified school girl walk past a bus park, on the first International Day of the Girl Child, in Lagos, Nigeria<br />(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)</td></tr> </tbody></table> Any good parent wants their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults.<br /> <br /> And while there isn’t a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success.<br /> Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents.<br /> <br /> Here’s what parents of successful kids have in common:<br /> <br /> 1. They teach their kids social skills<br /> <br /> Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University tracked more than 700 children from across the US between kindergarten and age 25 and found a significant correlation between their social skills as kindergartners and their success as adults two decades later.<br /> <br /> The 20-year study showed that socially competent children who could cooperate with their peers without prompting, be helpful to others, understand their feelings, and resolve problems on their own, were far more likely to earn a college degree and have a full-time job by age 25 than those with limited social skills.<br /> <br /> Those with limited social skills also had a higher chance of getting arrested, binge drinking, and applying for public housing.<br /> <br /> “This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future,” said Kristin Schubert, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research, in a release.<br /> <br /> “From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted.”<br /> <br /> 2. They have high expectations<br /> <br /> Using data from a national survey of 6,600 children born in 2001, University of California, Los Angeles professor Neal Halfon and his colleagues discovered that the expectations parents hold for their kids have a huge effect on attainment.<br /> <br /> “Parents who saw college in their child’s future seemed to manage their child toward that goal irrespective of their income and other assets,” he said in a statement.<br /> <br /> The finding came out in standardized tests: 57% of the kids who did the worst were expected to attend college by their parents, while 96% of the kids who did the best were expected to go to college.<br /> <br /> This falls in line with another psych finding: the Pygmalion effect, which states “that what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy.”<br /> <br /> In the case of kids, they live up to their parents’ expectations.<br /> <br /> 3. The moms work<br /> <br /> According to research out of Harvard Business School, there are significant benefits for children growing up with mothers who work outside the home.<br /> <br /> The study found daughters of working mothers went to school longer, were more likely to have a job in a supervisory role, and earned more money — 23% more compared to their<br /> peers who were raised by stay-at-home mothers.<br /> <br /> The sons of working mothers also tended to pitch in more on household chores and childcare, the study found — they spent seven and a half more hours a week on childcare and 25 more minutes on housework.<br /> <br /> “Role modeling is a way of signaling what’s appropriate in terms of how you behave, what you do, the activities you engage in, and what you believe,” the study’s lead author, Harvard Business School professor Kathleen L. McGinn, told Business Insider.<br /> <br /> “There are very few things, that we know of, that have such a clear effect on gender inequality as being raised by a working mother,” she told Working Knowledge.<br /> <br /> 4. They have a higher socioeconomic status<br /> <br /> Tragically, a fifth of American children grow up in poverty, a situation that severely limits their potential.<br /> <br /> It’s getting more extreme. According to Stanford University researcher Sean Reardon, the achievement gap between high and low-income families “is roughly 30% to 40% larger among children born in 2001 than among those born 25 years earlier.”<br /> <br /> As “Drive” author Dan Pink has noted, the higher the income for the parents, the higher the SAT scores for the kids.<br /> <br /> “Absent comprehensive and expensive interventions, socioeconomic status is what drives much of educational attainment and performance,” he wrote.<br /> <br /> 5. They’ve attained higher educational levels<br /> <br /> A 2014 study lead by University of Michigan psychologist Sandra Tang found that mothers who finished high school or college were more likely to raise kids that did the same.<br /> <br /> Pulling from a group of over 14,000 children who entered kindergarten in 1998 to 2007, the study found that children born to teen moms (18 years old or younger) were less likely to finish high school or go to college than their counterparts.<br /> <br /> Aspiration is at least partially responsible. In a 2009 longitudinal study of 856 people in semirural New York, Bowling Green State University psychologist Eric Dubow found that “parents’ educational level when the child was 8 years old significantly predicted educational and occupational success for the child 40 years later.”<br /> <br /> 6. They teach their kids math early on<br /> <br /> A 2007 meta-analysis of 35,000 preschoolers across the US, Canada, and England found that developing math skills early can turn into a huge advantage.<br /> <br /> “The paramount importance of early math skills — of beginning school with a knowledge of numbers, number order, and other rudimentary math concepts — is one of the puzzles coming out of the study,” co-author and Northwestern University researcher Greg Duncan said in a press release. “Mastery of early math skills predicts not only future math achievement, it also predicts future reading achievement.”<br /> <br /> 7. They develop a relationship with their kids<br /> <br /> A 2014 study of 243 people born into poverty found that children who received “sensitive caregiving” in their first three years not only did better in academic tests in childhood, but had healthier relationships and greater academic attainment in their 30s.<br /> <br /> As reported on PsyBlog, parents who are sensitive caregivers “respond to their child’s signals promptly and appropriately” and “provide a secure base” for children to explore the world.<br /> <br /> “This suggests that investments in early parent-child relationships may result in long-term returns that accumulate across individuals’ lives,” co-author and University of Minnesota psychologist Lee Raby said in an interview.<br /> <br /> 8. They’re less stressed<br /> <br /> According to new research cited by Brigid Schulte at The Washington Post, the number of hours that moms spend with kids between ages 3 and 11 does little to predict the child’s behavior, well-being, or achievement.<br /> <br /> What’s more, the “intensive mothering” or “helicopter parenting” approach can backfire.<br /> <br /> “Mothers’ stress, especially when mothers are stressed because of the juggling with work and trying to find time with kids, that may actually be affecting their kids poorly,” study co-author and Bowling Green State University sociologist Kei Nomaguchi told the Post.<br /> <br /> Emotional contagion — or the psychological phenomenon where people “catch” feelings from one another like they would a cold — helps explain why. Research shows that if your friend is happy, that brightness will infect you; if she’s sad, that gloominess will transfer as well. So if a parent is exhausted or frustrated, that emotional state could transfer to the kids.<br /> <br /> 9. They value effort over avoiding failure<br /> <br /> Where kids think success comes from also predicts their attainment.<br /> <br /> Over decades, Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has discovered that children (and adults) think about success in one of two ways. Over at the always-fantastic<br /> <br /> Brain Pickings, Maria Popova says they go a little something like this:<br /> A “fixed mindset” assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can’t change in any meaningful way, and success is the affirmation of that inherent intelligence, an assessment of how those givens measure up against an equally fixed standard; striving for success and avoiding failure at all costs become a way of maintaining the sense of being smart or skilled.<br /> <br /> A “growth mindset,” on the other hand, thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of un-intelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.<br /> At the core is a distinction in the way you assume your will affects your ability, and it has a powerful effect on kids. If kids are told that they aced a test because of their innate intelligence, that creates a “fixed” mindset. If they succeeded because of effort, that teaches a “growth” mindset.<br /> <br /> —Culled from Business Insider

Parents Of Successful Kids Have These 9 Things In Common

An unidentified school girl walk past a bus park, on the first International Day of the Girl Child, in Lagos, Nigeria (AP Photo/Sunday Ala...

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Shell Sets To Axe 6,500 Jobs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuDZyeVJ6Eb_i8LA_RqbJBqL-SKa-DcEq2K9NICAmDPHHHwDTHsF6J5ybV1dc2P2zfGOMFKAcVt_Zk1c3JpRfk2M3OcpBstyBZC57hW_upefd3YUNcZcBaMUTx5teyCQSggcpLMIwgZxQ/s1600/shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuDZyeVJ6Eb_i8LA_RqbJBqL-SKa-DcEq2K9NICAmDPHHHwDTHsF6J5ybV1dc2P2zfGOMFKAcVt_Zk1c3JpRfk2M3OcpBstyBZC57hW_upefd3YUNcZcBaMUTx5teyCQSggcpLMIwgZxQ/s1600/shell.jpg" /></a></div> Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) has reveal it will axe 6,500 jobs this year and step up spending cuts, to deal with an extended period of lower oil prices.<br /> <br /> Besides, the company announced on Thursday in London the sale of a 33 per cent stake in the Showa Shell refinery in Japan to Idemitsu, for about $1.4 billion.<br /> <br /> The Anglo-Dutch company also said it was planning more asset disposals, bringing total asset sales between 2014 and 2018 to $50 billion.<br /> <br /> “We have to be resilient in a world where oil prices remain low for some time, whilst keeping an eye on recovery,’’ Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said.<br /> Shell<br /> Shell said it anticipated 6,500 staff and direct contractor reductions in 2015 from a total of nearly 100,000 employees.<br /> <br /> Lower oil prices have contributed to a 37 per cent drop in the oil and gas group’s second-quarter profits.<br /> <br /> And the group said it would reduce 2015 capital investment for the second time this year to $30 billion by 20 per cent from a year ago.<br /> <br /> Big oil companies have cut 2015 spending by 10 to 15 per cent from 2014, to cope with a halving of oil prices over the past year to below $55 a barrel LCOc1.<br /> <br /> Rivals BP (BP.L) and Total (TOTF.PA) announced further cuts this week.<br /> <br /> Shell said its operating costs were expected to fall by $4 billion, or around 10 per cent, in 2015 as part of a broad efficiency drive to boost its balance sheet.<br /> <br /> It also expects $30 billion of asset sales between 2016 and 2018, on top of a total of $20 billion in disposals for 2014 and 2015 combined.<br /> <br /> Shell, however, have planned to return to the line of profit by pushing ahead with its proposed $70 billion acquisition of BG Group (BG.L).<br /> <br /> Shell hopes to complete its BG deal by early 2016 and is still awaiting key regulatory approvals from the European Union, China and Australia.<br /> <br /> But Brazil, the United States and South Korea have formally cleared it.<br /> <br /> The deal is expected to generate pre-tax benefits of around $2.5 billion per year, starting 2018.<br /> <br /> The tie-up will turn Shell into the world’s leading liquefied natural gas company and one of the largest deep-water oil producers, with a focus on Brazil.<br /> <br /> Shell maintained its quarterly dividend at 47 cents per share and is committed to rewarding shareholders with at least the same pay-out in 2016.

Shell Sets To Axe 6,500 Jobs

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) has reveal it will axe 6,500 jobs this year and step up spending cuts, to deal with an extended period of lower...

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Major General Olukolade announces retirement from the army

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06Wc0wKHPnEwm9LF13W7BDb0WcOdvbQFG9LIFkxG_KLf2p20Tr8oLZAPV4pecgM53C6zxmTyHy_MCxcmOpzuF0KRHuZ6qrwrHH_oAQvOfG2wbfU0CyqkorY3JGX0uWWnFiw1mOd9RBXiF/s1600/Ayodele+Fayose3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06Wc0wKHPnEwm9LF13W7BDb0WcOdvbQFG9LIFkxG_KLf2p20Tr8oLZAPV4pecgM53C6zxmTyHy_MCxcmOpzuF0KRHuZ6qrwrHH_oAQvOfG2wbfU0CyqkorY3JGX0uWWnFiw1mOd9RBXiF/s400/Ayodele+Fayose3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Major General Chris Olukolade, the man who has been the spokesman of Nigeria’s military high command for several years, is set to retire from the Nigerian military.<br /><br />He announced his retirement himself in Abuja today at the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), in Abuja. Olukolade had chaired the forum, but today handed over its leadership to the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu.<br /><br />Olukolade said he ought to have left the service since Nov 2014 when he applied for voluntary retirement but was not obliged by the Army Council which extended his stay on the grounds that it was not proper for him to go at that time.<br /><br />He thanked members and their agencies for the support and understanding they accorded him while he chaired the forum since its formation in 2013.<br /><br />He also solicited the same level of support for his successor.<br /><br />He said the aim of the forum was to deepen the collaboration and understanding among the security and response agencies in information management and communication.<br /><br />In his acceptance remark, the new Chairman of the forum, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu extolled the sterling leadership qualities of Olukolade which was the main pillar behind the successes recorded by the forum.<br /><br />He assured the former Chairman of his determination to carry on from where he stopped and to even strive to move the forum to another level.<br /><br />Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Centre for Crisis Communication, retired Air Commodore Yusuf Anas also commended Olukolade for his positive contributions to national development.<br /><br />The membership of FOSSRA is made up of spokespersons of Military, Security, Intelligence and Response agencies.

Major General Olukolade announces retirement from the army

Major General Chris Olukolade, the man who has been the spokesman of Nigeria’s military high command for several years, is set to retire f...

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Fayose says he was once a danfo driver

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xXciPphfigpAAqa74XszVvjbG8UYsqK2u-j7k-M-LIMtgakasMfngsrdub9_dMdzU64ANLcTnWRVu088A-OM6zzczlTg7lJ7pFmIYM3b7VXpPfm2gQe-j8EkMOHVvb7gswt0WpA3YAzJ/s1600/Ayodele+Fayose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xXciPphfigpAAqa74XszVvjbG8UYsqK2u-j7k-M-LIMtgakasMfngsrdub9_dMdzU64ANLcTnWRVu088A-OM6zzczlTg7lJ7pFmIYM3b7VXpPfm2gQe-j8EkMOHVvb7gswt0WpA3YAzJ/s400/Ayodele+Fayose1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has appealed to members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria against allowing themselves to be used by kidnappers to perpetrate evil.<br /><br />Speaking on Thursday during the swearing-in of the new State Executive of the union in Ado Ekiti, the governor, who said he was once a ‘danfo driver’ appealed to the drivers to be orderly and not to be desperate.<br /><br />He said, “Please, I want to commend you for contributing immensely to the development of the state’s economy, but don’t allow yourselves to be used by evil doers. You can see that some kidnappers were paraded recently. Information from them revealed that they have been using some of your members.<br /><br />“I was once a driver like you. I used the money I got from driving to sponsor myself for HND at Ibadan Polytechnic, but I did not get desperate. All I’m saying is that being a driver you can make it in life. You will become what you want to become in life with hard work. Don’t join evil gang for you to get rich overnight, try and rise through the ladder like we did.”<br /><br />He cautioned drivers against reckless driving, reminding them of the ‘don’t drink and drive’ rule.<br /><br />“Though I am part of you, if you breach the law, I won’t save or spare you. You will be arrested and prosecuted by the security agents,” he said.<br /><br />The governor, who recalled that he united the two unions — RTEAN and National Union of Road and Transport Workers — during his first term, said the occasion was a sign that good things were coming to Ekiti.<br /><br />“We should emulate this kind of occasion. This is very good. We will always identify with this kind of achievements. You are doing a good job for this country. I don’t want to be the enemies of drivers, I want to be your friend.”<br /><br />He also thanked the unions for standing by him during the failed impeachment plot against him by the former 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers.<br /><br />Fayose, who had earlier spoken at the 2015 Annual Conference of the Institute of Strategic Management, appealed to leaders to focus attention on how to banish poverty that is killing the potential of many Nigerians.<br /><br />Speaking on the theme, ‘Strategies for Poverty Alleviation’, Fayose said his desperate bid to banish poverty in the land had propelled him to pioneer the stomach infrastructure concept that had become a brand in the country.<br /><br />“In tackling poverty, the first thing to do is to empower the people. But before empowerment, you must make them look healthy through provision of food. Let them get access to you as a leader, this will give them a sense of belonging and relief.<br /><br />“Some of the projects being executed by MDGs centred on poverty alleviation. Poverty has become a serious issue in Nigeria. That was why my government made the payment of salaries the first thing, because this will keep the people and the economy going.<br /><br />“I receive close to 200 to 300 calls and messages daily on stomach infrastructure thing. Though 90 per cent of it is about money, we should not shy away from the fact that the concept has become a way of life in Nigeria as a good weapon to tackle poverty among the common people.”

Fayose says he was once a danfo driver

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has appealed to members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria against allowi...

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Microsoft unit fires 85% of Nigerian workers

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QrXXCRZEkBmbMSdTkW8lbnP1yCflAXI3vqhDukvawapCuVedQYwnJMEnUqbkMJHFz48nhPB962-eJBj_JfdhI9nwj-EYINRRMFY5WZ5sYT_nrAJhvqRJYOstMQ3hVNpXnseVn7vcXrI7/s1600/Microsoft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QrXXCRZEkBmbMSdTkW8lbnP1yCflAXI3vqhDukvawapCuVedQYwnJMEnUqbkMJHFz48nhPB962-eJBj_JfdhI9nwj-EYINRRMFY5WZ5sYT_nrAJhvqRJYOstMQ3hVNpXnseVn7vcXrI7/s1600/Microsoft.jpg" /></a></div>  On Thursday, Microsoft sacked 34 (85 per cent) of the 40 employees in the Nigerian office of its phone division.<br /><br />The sacking came 24 hours after the company’s latest Windows 10 was made available in Nigeria and 189 other countries.<br /><br />Although, Windows 10 is now available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 operating systems or with new personal computers and tablets, industry experts said it would leave about 15 million Nigerian payments cards prone to hacking.<br /><br />Employees at the Nigerian office were silent on the matter, but a source said that the downsizing was part of the global decision of Microsoft to streamline its phone division.<br /><br />The source said the sacking was in line with the massive layoff of workers “sweeping through the global offices of Microsoft’s phone division.”<br /><br />The Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft, Satya Nadella, had said in a memo to all Nigerian employees in late June that the company needed to make some “tough choices” in areas that were not working.<br /><br />The memo had stated that 7,800 jobs would be cut from the mobile division working on Windows Phone hardware.<br /><br />The e-mail from Nadella to all employees, which was made available to our correspondent, read, “We are moving from a strategy to grow a standalone phone business to a strategy to grow and create a vibrant Windows ecosystem, including our first-party device family.<br /><br />“In the near-term, we’ll run a more effective and focused phone portfolio, while retaining capability for long-term reinvention in mobility.<br /><br />“Microsoft was committed to our first-party devices, including phones, but needed to focus its phone efforts in the near term.”<br /><br />According to him, the company will also write off $7.6bn from the acquisition of Nokia, despite it only paying $7.2bn for the company in 2014.<br /><br />“The future prospects for the phone hardware segment were below original expectations due to the new plans,” he added.<br /><br />Nadella said that the news would “surely leave an unclear future for Windows Phone.”<br /><br />Although he said that in the near future, the company would run a “more effective” phone portfolio, he added, “But that doesn’t exactly throw the company’s weight behind the platform.”<br /><br />Nadella said that the move would not give partners reassurance that the platform was a good choice to build new hardware or apps for the future.<br /><br />“Microsoft is also pushing ahead to release Lumia flagships this year and is still actively developing Windows 10 mobile,” he added.

Microsoft unit fires 85% of Nigerian workers

 On Thursday, Microsoft sacked 34 (85 per cent) of the 40 employees in the Nigerian office of its phone division. The sacking came 24 hou...

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Buharism: Nigeria’s power supply now at 4656mw

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPle2I5-jOwIk8pkFLnAm__uUxnuQRZ7N0wDX_UxWYmxZs93IfrkTTnEUYmOkvoE1wvuODBUlNsg6uvsIy3OZmWn2oTzAqX-dkt_t6Kegz2fXm_GMZxO0UZ3i6VCMCLfs8sAf1nr6AqIOV/s1600/capture36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPle2I5-jOwIk8pkFLnAm__uUxnuQRZ7N0wDX_UxWYmxZs93IfrkTTnEUYmOkvoE1wvuODBUlNsg6uvsIy3OZmWn2oTzAqX-dkt_t6Kegz2fXm_GMZxO0UZ3i6VCMCLfs8sAf1nr6AqIOV/s320/capture36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Wednesday stated that the National Grid Transmission has recorded another peak of 4662 megawatt (mw) of electricity.<br /><br />Its General Manager, Public Affairs, Seun Olagunju, in a statement, said the new peak was attained at 08.00pm on Tuesday.<br /><br />The statement recalled that TCN management had announced the attainment of the previous peak transmission of 4656mw on 15th July this year.<br /><br />Power generation and transmission have been recording new peaks above 4500 mw following improvements in gas supply to the generating stations as well as equipment/infra-structure upgrade and enhanced human capacity of system operators.<br /><br />TCN assures that it would continue to work at enhancing the capacity to transmit more power to the electricity distribution companies.<br /><br />It would be recalled that during the immediate past administration, electricity output crashed to an all time, historic low of 727 mw.

Buharism: Nigeria’s power supply now at 4656mw

Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Wednesday stated that the National Grid Transmission has recorded another peak of 4...

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Nigeria’s population set to overtake US, says UN

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN6GSSOZsOcVSv0eXTbW2yjuoAVsKMGadIHpPzvmXHU4DbSL2CZP6jtumPokIzUhnyNU53_V9ZMx5qDEgAjhRIVsKDvcFVtj0vfiv9ut5yyoafjPSNTLQXa1DsD_d5E5AaCwCLDqRgYzp/s1600/capture35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN6GSSOZsOcVSv0eXTbW2yjuoAVsKMGadIHpPzvmXHU4DbSL2CZP6jtumPokIzUhnyNU53_V9ZMx5qDEgAjhRIVsKDvcFVtj0vfiv9ut5yyoafjPSNTLQXa1DsD_d5E5AaCwCLDqRgYzp/s320/capture35.jpg" width="315" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> In 2013, the World Bank put the population of Nigeria at 173.6 million while an estimation by the United States government put its population at 321,396,145 (2015) but that is expected to change by 2050, a United Nations report says.<br /><br />According to the United Nations World Population Prospects report the world’s population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and India would become the largest country.<br /><br />Population<br /><br />In 35 years’ time, there will be an extra 2.4 billion people in the world owing to high fertility rates in a handful of countries. The report said between 2015 and 2050, half of the growth will be concentrated in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Indonesia and Uganda.<br /><br />The UN predicts that the figure will rise to 11.2 billion by 2100. The number of people living in 28 African countries is also expected to double, and by 2100 several countries will see a fivefold increase in their population.<br /><br />Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia are all expected to see their populations boom by at least a factor of five.<br /><br />Children under 15 years currently make up 41 per centof the population in Africa, while those aged between 15 and 24 years account for a further 19 per cent.

Nigeria’s population set to overtake US, says UN

In 2013, the World Bank put the population of Nigeria at 173.6 million while an estimation by the United States government put its popul...

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No plan to challenge Cameroon’s ownership of Bakassi Peninsula

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGG1oZ_KHOIZoMcDWYqYzUF8vGG0wsc4Uyo2Jf4QZEKv39NjQOn57YSfm38ctTUPvn12M66hqgSV5aH6cKZE1Fp7UWReqCT9wAvJdwHcJHwmG0cMqymk984-JVEvNnxtfDiLrNWf4YMy0/s1600/President+Muhammadu+Buhari1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGG1oZ_KHOIZoMcDWYqYzUF8vGG0wsc4Uyo2Jf4QZEKv39NjQOn57YSfm38ctTUPvn12M66hqgSV5aH6cKZE1Fp7UWReqCT9wAvJdwHcJHwmG0cMqymk984-JVEvNnxtfDiLrNWf4YMy0/s640/President+Muhammadu+Buhari1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Nigeria will abide by the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bakassi Peninsula, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.<br /><br />President Buhari said his administration would ensure the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, which regulates the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.<br /><br />Mr. Buhari spoke at an interactive session with Nigerians living in Cameroon during his two-day working and friendly visit to the country, a statement by Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesperson, said.<br /><br />“Since Nigeria allowed the case to go to court (ICJ), and we lost, we have to abide by it, ” the President said in response to a question from a Nigerian on the issue.<br /><br />Nigeria had on October 9, 2012, finally conceded the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in line with the judgment of the International Court of Justice awarding the area to the Central African country.<br /><br />But even that did not put paid to speculations speculations that Aftica’s most populous country might seek a review of the ruling.<br /><br />The then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said in a statement at the time that the committee constituted by government and a firm of international lawyers retained by government came to the conclusion that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail“ and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.<br /><br />“In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government is of the informed view that with less than two days to the period when the revision will be statute barred (9th October, 2012), it would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) -(5) of the ICJ Statute,” Mr. Adoke said in the statement.<br /><br />“Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.”<br /><br />President Buhari’s comment has now dampened expectations by some Nigerians that subsequent Nigerian administrations might again try to wrestle the oil-rich peninsula from Cameroon.<br /><br />On the plight of some 40,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, who were<br />forced to flee their homes because of Boko Haram terrorists, the President said the Federal government would ensure their safe return and rehabilitation in the shortest possible time.<br /><br />“We also have about 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and we have a programme of rehabilitation and reintegration into the society for them, which involves providing shelter and schools to the displaced persons.’’<br /><br />President Buhari, who is on his maiden visit to the country after his<br />inauguration on May 29, said his administration had yet to articulate a foreign policy for Nigeria beyond what was captured in the All Progressives Congress (APC) party’s manifesto.<br /><br />“However we will make our embassies more efficient and improve our relations with other countries,’’ he said.<br /><br />The President urged Nigerians in Diaspora to be law abiding in their<br />host countries and told representatives of the over 4 million Nigerians living in Cameroon to continue to live in peace and harmony with Cameroonians.<br /><br />Responding to a question on the voting rights for Nigerians in Diaspora, the President promised that his administration would revisit the issue, which would require legislation from the National Assembly.<br /><br />Later in a prepared text read to the Nigerian community, the President pledged to do everything possible toward bringing positive change to Nigeria.<br /><br />“Despite the numerous challenges confronting us, the future of our country is bright.<br /><br />“You all know very well that your fellow Nigerians are resilient, hardworking and patriotic.<br /><br />“These qualities have always seen us through our most difficult national challenges and they will do so now.’’<br /><br />On the fight against Boko Haram, the President assured Nigerians that the current security challenges are not insurmountable.<br /><br />He said Nigeria was working with all her neighbours, including Cameroon, to fight and stand firmly against all forms of terror and trans-border crimes.<br /><br />He appealed for patience and vigilance l from Nigerians to ensure that youths are not lured into joining “misguided groups.’’<br /><br />“We are determined to end this callousness against our innocent citizens.<br /><br />“The defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and all those who live in the country are out top priorities.<br /><br />“We shall explore all reasonable options to enable us to bring this rebellion to an end,” he vowed.<br /><br />President Buhari will depart Cameroon for Abuja on Thursday after addressing a joint press conference in Yaounde with his host, President Paul Biya.

No plan to challenge Cameroon’s ownership of Bakassi Peninsula

Nigeria will abide by the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bakassi Peninsula, President Muhammadu Buhari said on ...

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American Business Council elects GE’s Lazarus Angbazo as President

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkvGAnhOPxnr7gU7UzG496b1hgbjA7dDcGynQKUNvCp2yzXaCa40sgwPSZjLIPaQj87PrAxCTRtCYpemQkYt7w7rWL1SKzMEqLYizna7MYV6OI5i1Zixu325SGsFQ-gEceIzb7ZJQVTFN/s1600/Lazarus+Angbazo+new+President+of+American+Business+Council+%2528ABC%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkvGAnhOPxnr7gU7UzG496b1hgbjA7dDcGynQKUNvCp2yzXaCa40sgwPSZjLIPaQj87PrAxCTRtCYpemQkYt7w7rWL1SKzMEqLYizna7MYV6OI5i1Zixu325SGsFQ-gEceIzb7ZJQVTFN/s320/Lazarus+Angbazo+new+President+of+American+Business+Council+%2528ABC%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The President and CEO of GE Nigeria, Lazarus Angbazo, has been elected president of the American Business Council (ABC) in Nigeria.<br /><br /> American Business Council was set up with the core objective of promoting the development of commerce and investments between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Nigeria while also providing a forum in which American business executives in Nigeria and other business executives with American interests may identify, discuss, and pursue common interests affecting their activities.<br /><br />The ABC was conceived as more of a “think tank” rather than the duplication of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) with which it has a synergistic relationship with the President of NACC invited to all ABC functions and activities, including Board meetings.<br /><br />Membership of the ABC includes but is not limited to Coca Cola, IBM, Schlumberger, NCR, Pepsi, KPMG, Capital Alliance, Dubri Oil, Mobil, Procter and Gamble, Intel, Motorola among others.<br /><br />The ABC has since its inception in February, 2007, focused on 3 broad areas where it hopes its impact would be felt in the medium and long term development of Nigeria and they include Education, Infrastructure and Institution Building.<br /><br />Lazarus Angbazo’s election thus fits perfectly into the over-all aim of the council since GE is in the forefront of helping to rehabilitate Nigeria’s infrastructure from oil and gas to health and power amongst others.<br /><br />Speaking on his election, Lazarus Angbazo said “It is an honour to have been elected by my peers to serve. The focus of the ABC, aside from promoting business between the US and Nigeria, remains to aid Nigeria’s development in Education, Infrastructure and Institution Building. These are areas where GE has unique expertise and I will work with members of the board as well as of the standing committees to make this happen.” Dr Angbazo takes over from Dick Kramer who has led the American Business Council since its inception in 2007.<br /><br />Lazarus was born in Nigeria, and graduated with a First Class Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the Ahmadu Bello University. He then earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from The University of Iowa, as well as a Ph.D. in Corporate Finance from New York University.<br /><br />As President and CEO of GE Nigeria, Lazarus Angbazo is responsible for developing and expanding the growth of GE’s businesses and functions in Nigeria. Lazarus was appointed the President and CEO, GE West, East and Central Africa in October, 2008. His responsibility was expanded to include Commercial Growth Leader for the Africa Region in May 2011.<br /><br />Lazarus joined GE in 2004 and held several leadership positions within the GE Capital business in the US From 1997 to 2004, he worked for JP Morgan Chase, New York, where he held senior positions in corporate mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and credit portfolio management. Between 1992 and 1997, he was Assistant Professor of Finance at Purdue University, and also served as Research Director at Fannie Mae in 1996.

American Business Council elects GE’s Lazarus Angbazo as President

The President and CEO of GE Nigeria, Lazarus Angbazo, has been elected president of the American Business Council (ABC) in Nigeria. Ameri...

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PH and Warri refineries begin work, to produce 335, 000 barrels daily

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX03B2JWbD48H0SkXVPq2_qKHolBCrvNlBpnUT5goEditKDk7ndCEymzUzeeJOaRR6fNuYjmVz8ETg82PqcGhL_JNrluMZDNshREey4IPuoRghZ6er3GCC9D_P48YlY6YplVyDDrA_kcuO/s1600/Dr.+Joseph+Dawha%252C+Managing+Director%252C+NNPC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX03B2JWbD48H0SkXVPq2_qKHolBCrvNlBpnUT5goEditKDk7ndCEymzUzeeJOaRR6fNuYjmVz8ETg82PqcGhL_JNrluMZDNshREey4IPuoRghZ6er3GCC9D_P48YlY6YplVyDDrA_kcuO/s640/Dr.+Joseph+Dawha%252C+Managing+Director%252C+NNPC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have commenced preliminary production of petroleum products after successful test-runs.<br /><br />The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja on Wednesday said that the refineries will produce 335, 000 barrels daily.<br /><br />The statement explained that this followed successful re-streaming after a nine-month phased rehabilitation by in-house engineers and technicians.<br /><br />It stated that PHRC was ramping up its operation to about 60 per cent of its 210,000 barrels per day name plate capacity.<br /><br />According to the statement, WRPC production is projected to hit 80 per cent of its installed 125,000 bpd capacity.<br /><br />It stated that the PHRC was projected to boost the nation’s local refining capacity with a product yield of five million litres of petrol per day.<br /><br />It added that Warri Refinery would contribute 3.5 million litres of petrol to local refining capacity.<br /><br />The statement explained that NNPC adopted the phased rehabilitation after the Original Refinery Builders (ORB), who were initially contacted for the project, came up with unfavorable terms.<br /><br />It explained that a decision was taken in 2011 to rehabilitate all the refineries using the ORB of each of the refineries. “We were impelled to switch strategy after the ORBs declined participation and nominated some partners in their stead who came up with outrageously unfavorable terms,” it stated.<br /><br />It stressed that the nominated partners, as sole-bidders, came up with humongous price offers after two years of thorough and exhaustive scope of work definition and price negotiations.<br /><br />It explained that the proxies were also unwilling to provide post rehabilitation performance guarantees. “The phased rehabilitation strategy entailed phased and simultaneous rehabilitation of all refineries using in-house and locally available resources in line with the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Content Law.<br /><br />“It also involved the use of Original Equipment Manufacturer representatives to effect major equipment overhaul and rehabilitation.”<br /><br />It stated that the phased rehabilitation, which started in October 2014 after the required funding stream was established, created a 70-per cent reduction in costs.<br /><br />It said this had helped largely in mitigating the financing challenge of refinery rehabilitation.<br /><br />It stated that with the successful re-streaming of the PHRC and WRPC, attention had moved to the 110,000 barrels per day Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC).<br /><br />According to the statement, the KRPC is billed to come on stream soon.

PH and Warri refineries begin work, to produce 335, 000 barrels daily

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have commenced preliminary production of petroleum...

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FG goes after ‘super rich’ civil servants

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LpNaNWQAClMeZp8QIxFswhIWtTwtH1etNz2A8eY8SjIkrZTaiHxGCjyCEaUm4yaykW3Rx0AMIDxM60lteso18tKSdhqi1jEpmD9h-fgP9pepigpX6Cohx0dr9ZYKetvS3kMNBD2-MSIt/s1600/capture69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LpNaNWQAClMeZp8QIxFswhIWtTwtH1etNz2A8eY8SjIkrZTaiHxGCjyCEaUm4yaykW3Rx0AMIDxM60lteso18tKSdhqi1jEpmD9h-fgP9pepigpX6Cohx0dr9ZYKetvS3kMNBD2-MSIt/s320/capture69.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Fedral Government’s anti-corruption operatives have been sent after ‘super rich’ public officers who have multiple properties and other assets suspected to have been the rewards of graft.<br /> <br /> According to the PUNCH, the searchlight of the anti-corruption agents was on civil servants that possess many properties in the Federal Capital Territory.<br /> <br /> Our correspondents learnt in Abuja on Wednesday that operatives in the Assets Tracing, Recovery and Management Unit of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission had been asked to haul in suspects for interrogation and recovery of ill-gotten assets in their possession.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the ICPC had strengthened the ATRMU by posting more personnel to the unit to ensure the success of its campaign.<br /> <br /> An operative at the ICPC, who confided in one of our correspondents, said the ICPC was using the anti-corruption transparency unit of the commission in ministries, departments and agencies to coordinate the ongoing investigation of the “super rich” civil servants in the country.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that the ICPC was relying on petitions from civil servants and the ACTU operatives to carry out its investigations into the activities of the affected civil servants.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the ICPC operatives’ focus had been on civil servants who have more than three properties and a fleet of cars beyond their income.<br /> <br /> Although the source did not mention the number of civil servants that had been quizzed in relation to the new move to check fraud in the civil service, it was learnt that several personnel of the civil service had been placed under watch by the ICPC.<br /> <br /> The source, who spoke to The PUNCH, said any civil servant found to have compromised his office to acquire wealth would be charged to court after the proceeds of the corrupt acts would have been confiscated by the Federal Government.<br /> <br /> The source said, “The ICPC is intensifying efforts to retrieve some of these stolen assets from those involved.<br /> <br /> “You know that the commission has a unit called the Assets Tracing, Recovery and Management Unit. This is the unit that is involved in probing those who have such assets with stolen funds.<br /> <br /> “In fact the operatives are working very discreetly on the issue but the focus of the ICPC’s probe is the civil service.<br /> <br /> “Those civil servants living a life beyond their means, their lifestyles are under watch. People are monitoring them, whistle-blowers are writing petitions and the Assets Recovery Unit is following up on them.<br /> <br /> “Another thing is that we have the Anti-Corruption Transparency Units in all the agencies; these units are being supervised by our officers. They are collaborating with whistle-blowers in the various ministries and agencies…”<br /> <br /> When one of our correspondents contacted the Resident Consultant, Media and Events of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, for his comment on the telephone, he said that he was aware of the presence of the ARMTU and its constitutional functions but asked our correspondent to call back for a response on the current investigation.<br /> <br /> However, our correspondent could not get him to comment on the story as the subsequent calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.<br /> <br /> The Federal Government has expressed its worry about the rate of corruption in the civil service.<br /> <br /> The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, had in the past urged a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, to put in place an internal mechanism to check the negative trend.<br /> <br /> The commission had in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, quoted Lamorde as citing the involvement of civil servants in the pension fraud investigations.<br /> <br /> Lamorde had said,   “You should look inward and focus on issues of welfare that may be the cause of the incessant corrupt acts. Even though this is not an excuse before the law, we should be able to ask ourselves why for example most properties in the Federal Capital Territory are found to be owned by civil servants through proxies.”<br /> <br /> The Ahmed Joda Transition Committee has also lamented the corruption and inefficiency in the civil service.<br /> <br /> The committee, in its report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that the public service was characterised by weak governance, bureaucratic bottlenecks and low professional standards.<br /> <br /> In the report, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday, the committee said that there was low productivity, graft as well as inefficiency in the civil service.<br /> <br /> It recommended that the public service should place emphasis on performance<br /> <br /> According to the committee, government should “implement a merit-based performance management system, recruitment and deployment process.”<br /> <br /> It added that government should “set clearly defined goals and targets for public officers and consequences for non-implementation.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, wife of the senate president, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, again reported at the EFCC office on Wednesday to continue her interrogation by anti-graft operatives.<br /> <br /> She arrived at the commission by 10 am and was released to go on administrative bail by 4.30pm.<br /> <br /> Administrative bail means that Mrs Saraki would make herself available at the commission any time she is required to do so.<br /> <br /> Her interrogation had commenced on Tuesday when EFCC operatives were said to have grilled her for over six hours.<br /> <br /> The senate president’s wife is being investigated for her role in the alleged sleaze that took place during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara State.<br /> <br /> She was alleged to have involved herself in the award of contracts in the state and laundering of millions of naira.

FG goes after ‘super rich’ civil servants

The Fedral Government’s anti-corruption operatives have been sent after ‘super rich’ public officers who have multiple properties and othe...

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Buhari hails Father Mbaka on 20-year priesthood

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYWCgq2PDbOFEeD0j1PmWithzwbK0CQYrQSSEYA2ZnPu6EVnVl0z4MP2MIQM4js4mX_oRmbTe4wtgnxOnC-aLrRLjMDeOs-cPgychgI4ujM03bHEQVxPlZekEil7-h5VKCL5M4wjLWLzH/s1600/capture68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYWCgq2PDbOFEeD0j1PmWithzwbK0CQYrQSSEYA2ZnPu6EVnVl0z4MP2MIQM4js4mX_oRmbTe4wtgnxOnC-aLrRLjMDeOs-cPgychgI4ujM03bHEQVxPlZekEil7-h5VKCL5M4wjLWLzH/s320/capture68.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> On Thursday, Buhari showered encomium on Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Centre on the occasion of his 20th year of priesthood.<br /><br />In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President commended the cleric for what he described as his  “extraordinary intrepidity and remarkable patriotism.”<br /><br />He described Mbaka as a great priest who is not afraid to speak truth, even at the cost of his own life or being hated by those in power.<br /><br />He said the priest is a remarkable example that religious leaders are the conscience and moral compass of the society.<br /><br />He said Mbaka rose to the occasion to add his voice in support of good governance and identify with ordinary Nigerians in the face of despair and uncertain future.<br /><br />“Though honest opinions attract hostility from leaders detached from reality, history would be kind to Father Mbaka for courageously speaking truth to power, even at great risks,” the statement said.<br /><br />Buhari, who said he was overwhelmed by Mbaka’s sincerity and patriotism, prayed to God to grant the priest more good health, long life and wisdom in the service of humanity.

Buhari hails Father Mbaka on 20-year priesthood

On Thursday, Buhari showered encomium on Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Centre on the occasion of his 20th year of priesthood. In a...

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US gave Buhari names of oil thieves

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkopxoEugJW1dBDoxHWNA7mwCwGwb5RF9AEnftKVwc2gUrTwR2MvC4Sw_adsNbvqehc5SmXoerC6juz7E8JILGweWpwVlHSEIR_bq6-UdpdItPNRawMCOFl2poyeYopF6ExJ0qBibTNaZ/s1600/capture67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkopxoEugJW1dBDoxHWNA7mwCwGwb5RF9AEnftKVwc2gUrTwR2MvC4Sw_adsNbvqehc5SmXoerC6juz7E8JILGweWpwVlHSEIR_bq6-UdpdItPNRawMCOFl2poyeYopF6ExJ0qBibTNaZ/s1600/capture67.jpg" /></a></div> he US has handed over the names of Nigerian oil thieves to President Muhammadu Buhari, a member of the President’s entourage during last week’s visit to the US confided in The PUNCH on Tuesday.<br /><br />“I can tell you that the President already has the list of names of the people engaging in the stealing of Nigeria’s oil. The list, when released by the President, will shock Nigerians. But let’s wait and see first,” the source said.<br /><br />The source said Buhari was taken aback when he saw the names on the list and that the list given to the President by the US might compel him to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.<br /><br />A Presidency source also confirmed that Buhari had such a list but that “the President has been keeping the list to himself.”<br /><br />The source, who told our correspondent about the list in the President’s possession, said the US gave Buhari two separate lists – one listing the names of top government officials who have been stealing the country’s oil, using their high offices to perpetrate the stealing; and the other containing the names of illegal oil bunkerers.<br />ADVERTISEMENT<br /><br />The President had said last week that some ministers in the cabinet of Jonathan were stealing as much as 250,000 barrels of Nigeria’s crude daily.<br /><br />The Presidency source, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said Buhari had vowed that those whose names appeared on the list would not go scot-free.<br /><br />“The President will probe all of them and make sure they return whatever fortune they had made from their thievery,” the source said.<br /><br />The source said the President was already tinkering with the idea of constituting a panel to investigate those on the list with a view to arriving at how to deal with them based on the findings of the committee.<br /><br />However, it was gathered that, unlike the usual probe panels, the President would likely set up a special security team to handle the probe.<br /><br />The PUNCH learnt that the names on the list of oil thieves are a mixture of highly placed government officials, and retired and serving military officers.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress said on Tuesday that it supported the probe of the Jonathan administration by Buhari in the light of mind-boggling corruption that had been uncovered by the Federal Government.<br /><br />“Some people have insinuated that the Buhari administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.<br /><br />The APC said billions of dollars had been skimmed off by “pathologically-corrupt public officials” in the oil sector alone, wondering how the government of the day could meet its obligations to the citizens if it refused to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials<br /><br />Mohammed’s statement read, ‘‘It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything.<br /><br />“It is even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an administration that is cleaning up its mess.<br /><br />‘‘Where does one start from? Is it the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit N3.8tn to the Federation Account or the mind-blowing stealing of 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day?<br /><br />“Is it the fact that the NNPC itself does not know how many bank accounts it had or into which ones the payments for Nigerian crude are made? Could anyone have imagined that a government minister would steal the unprecedentedly-huge amount of US $6bn of public funds as being alleged?<br /><br />‘‘How does any sane person rationalise the fact that $1bn was unilaterally and illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account just because, as the immediate past Minister of Finance has disclosed, the President ordered the withdrawal? What about the billions of naira waivers recklessly approved to dubious importers by the Jonathan administration?”<br /><br />It added, ‘‘Is it not clear now that the stealing and the profligacy – more than anything else, including the fall in oil price – helped to drastically reduce the monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about N800bn to about N400bn , thus pauperising the states and the local governments, and by extension the citizenry?<br /><br />“Against the background of the stunning revelations, what message will any government be sending to its citizens and indeed the global community by looking the other way, when it could still recover some of the looted funds for the benefit of the people?<br /><br />“This is why we are supporting the Buhari administration’s probe decision and we are calling on all Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter.”<br /><br />The APC said it was clear that the Jonathan administration had deliberately delayed giving the then incoming Buhari government the handover notes so as to avoid being asked critical questions pertaining to the looting under its watch.<br /><br />Also, the Peoples Democratic Party said it was on the same page with Buhari in the fight against corruption, but that due process must be followed.<br /><br />The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the clarification became necessary so as to remove any misconception that it was against the decision of the present administration to probe some past officials of government because they were PDP members.<br /><br />Metuh said, “The PDP supports the decision of the Federal Government to fight corruption in our country.<br /><br />“However, we make bold to state that it should not be disguised to victimise innocent citizens. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and no citizen, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, should be denied access to due process and the rule of law in the process.”<br /><br />He added, “Furthermore, we make bold to state that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. In that regard, therefore, we advise members of the APC blowing the horn ahead of the cart to keep quiet because many of them have been major beneficiaries of corruption and sleaze associated with themselves and their allies, especially one of them who as a disguised errand boy of a well-known APC leader is a major beneficiary of the largesse of perpetrators of corruption.<br /><br />“Apart from Mr. President, who for now, is not associated with any sleaze or corrupt activity in this democracy, most APC leaders are still those who as governors, ministers and labour leaders have been the worst corrupt set of Nigerians ever to bestride the political landscape of the country.<br /><br />“It is a great miscarriage of perception therefore for the APC leaders who are perpetrators of sleaze and corrupt acts to attempt to deceive Nigerians with imaginary holiness in this anti-corruption war by the President.”<br /><br />Consequently, he called on the President, as the leader of the APC to remove the log in the eyes of his party while “we support his commitment to remove the speck from the eyes of others.”

US gave Buhari names of oil thieves

he US has handed over the names of Nigerian oil thieves to President Muhammadu Buhari, a member of the President’s entourage during last w...

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Federal Government overrules JAMB on new admission policy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW62HlWY7p7ZiNOivLIJf3B-_2lm59ZlMGwo4h8a_FPQ4gGpYJdSvbchqM8oQyWfxiNykFeCe5wu2WAbI6nnW4Do_7socbHvyekFwL_TfQ8kuVWILsOV1jVGbbuCBtgzXFGPdEP_zQpfJa/s1600/capture66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW62HlWY7p7ZiNOivLIJf3B-_2lm59ZlMGwo4h8a_FPQ4gGpYJdSvbchqM8oQyWfxiNykFeCe5wu2WAbI6nnW4Do_7socbHvyekFwL_TfQ8kuVWILsOV1jVGbbuCBtgzXFGPdEP_zQpfJa/s400/capture66.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>  Federal Government has overruled the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on its new admission policy which recently sparked off protests in parts of the country.<br /> <br /> The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Tuesday, after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari of his ministry’s activities and challenges at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br /> <br /> JAMB had, at its 2015 Combined Policy Meeting, adopted a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations are reassigned to other universities with lower number of applicants than their capacities.<br /> <br /> Protest started at the University of Lagos when the institution’s authorities announced that only candidates whose names were officially forwarded by JAMB are eligible to participate in this year’s UNILAG Post-UTME.<br /> <br /> Nwaobiala told reporters that the decision was jointly taken at a stakeholders’ meeting that had parents and others in attendance.<br /> <br /> He said because of the dust raised by the development, the Federal Government had commenced consultation with the aim of identifying where adjustments could be made.<br /> ADVERTISEMENT<br /> <br /> He however said students that made the cut-off marks have been directed to go and write post-UME examinations in their schools of first choice since that was the bone of contention.<br /> <br /> Nwaobiala said, “This JAMB thing has been there. As the policy making body, when these issues were raised, they raised in a stakeholders meeting. We normally have what we call the policy meeting. Everything about admission are discussed with parents and other stakeholders at the meeting.<br /> <br /> “These are decisions that we collectively took. However, we have a listening hear. We have taken a lot of the issues raised into consideration and we are consulting to see the adjustments we can make here and there.<br /> <br /> “The directive has been given. All the students that made the cut-off marks have been told to go and write post-UME examinations in their schools of first choice. After, they can go to their schools of second choice. That has been the bone of contention.”<br /> <br /> On the threat by the West African Examinations Council to withhold the results of candidates in 19 states, who wrote the May/June 2015 WASSCE following unpaid examination fees by the state governments, Nwaobiala appealed to states to fulfil their promises.<br /> <br /> Copyright PUNCH.<br /> All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.<br /> <br /> Contact: editor@punchng.com

Federal Government overrules JAMB on new admission policy

 Federal Government has overruled the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on its new admission policy which recently sparked off prot...

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade dies at 85

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkoQlGMOdC8ENfOuGMFyn-4aO6JhEv61gc8ZsjQoHrQIb6yaBxJMCZ-tWMjOJhPzv9nVxRTYFMek7J88O1CAWISfidfqT6LMcdlCFL8TAccoMWPsSNIKWOo-BAH5uBASr4WEudOwtlMHi/s1600/mail.google.com.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkoQlGMOdC8ENfOuGMFyn-4aO6JhEv61gc8ZsjQoHrQIb6yaBxJMCZ-tWMjOJhPzv9nVxRTYFMek7J88O1CAWISfidfqT6LMcdlCFL8TAccoMWPsSNIKWOo-BAH5uBASr4WEudOwtlMHi/s1600/mail.google.com.jpg" /></a></div> Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died at the age of 85. Family sources say he died at about 5pm today after a brief illness. He was reportedly flown to UK in an air ambulance after he became unconscious following his illness. The late Oba is survived by wives and children. May his soul rest in peace Amen.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade dies at 85

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died at the age of 85. Family sources say he died at about 5pm today after a brief illness. H...

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The former Miss USA Olivia Culpo gets naked in new photos

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ipXMMXyKolnpFSFOSaMSi2zYxdfvYMSlTg2m47LT20ise3sIULxcASEa7IoG2n-nmBm6LH78LCVuylrpBdJdKW6LhOwx5ItZ7CfnAz4NgUjk08Qkxq9ETf9F8tunM47EuqfSn7iubFLW/s1600/4.png" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKTLTbbFKItVJ6oFZxLtPSkRvbkR4Ka8RZuq6SV9ERZ1-kLvuOJOg7Hc_DhNQcDBz3ANxMDzH_XEGGMLNFEVcmiMW3RUxI3aj3ZC5wvKzkgjKHKKMDE49RVa-lCve5L_o0ofFXpHEux1j/s1600/rs_634x803-150727144456-634.culpo-2.cm.72815.jpg" /></div> The 23-year-old former Miss USA and singer Nick Jonas ex-girlfriend, Olivia Culpo, showed off her insane body in a new shoot for Treats! magazine. It's her first nude shoot. <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "I have never done a nude shoot before. I had been asked, but honestly I did not feel comfortable because I was fearful of how it would be perceived. Once I realized this was an opportunity to express myself in a way I hadn't before, in such an organic and candid sense, the experience became more about art and emotion than me as a physical being." Olivia tells Treats!. See the sizzling photos after the cut...<br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a></blockquote> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixjEXSFdm0ndIfg47-XzhMqnGGTQfkcRAvBhww3FF0nbXrDtk42lRKJ0kGyzur0xU7DdL45fWGqDwHUk6FYVVP9t5CIr49bkE-Y0jCnnJVWNM16Vzc6dFYQFgyN0W7E3oMOY4M7p6t7hI/s1600/5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixjEXSFdm0ndIfg47-XzhMqnGGTQfkcRAvBhww3FF0nbXrDtk42lRKJ0kGyzur0xU7DdL45fWGqDwHUk6FYVVP9t5CIr49bkE-Y0jCnnJVWNM16Vzc6dFYQFgyN0W7E3oMOY4M7p6t7hI/s1600/5.png" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqGoa7ZpFKWC8TxFmQtH-znLWErm-6rQMbPGVz9ouOdZkrTCsVhN3o_1-SPKLlzMDz4IevGI-0UT4Yhyph66xZTU71LRCdqIAiM5ejlNOC7wZo0YTR0Qhb6L9OZ7UbtWaL6EnpGPGgJXo/s1600/6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqGoa7ZpFKWC8TxFmQtH-znLWErm-6rQMbPGVz9ouOdZkrTCsVhN3o_1-SPKLlzMDz4IevGI-0UT4Yhyph66xZTU71LRCdqIAiM5ejlNOC7wZo0YTR0Qhb6L9OZ7UbtWaL6EnpGPGgJXo/s1600/6.png" /></a></div>

The former Miss USA Olivia Culpo gets naked in new photos

The 23-year-old former Miss USA and singer Nick Jonas ex-girlfriend, Olivia Culpo, showed off her insane body in a new shoot for Tre...

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Hulk Hogan has been fired by WWE for his racist n-word rant

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHvRq_YOw-2OEZaeyybEjrcoqECiAEamujVT_99k3XCoS0E1k6x-ziG8wAJdkCgqCjEwBcWCgo-8-njOcEXbpjqKP5jIXcpBFCTOGq76al6i2esM6HGGzVKexcwOHarNuaqnikO_sDBVB/s1600/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHvRq_YOw-2OEZaeyybEjrcoqECiAEamujVT_99k3XCoS0E1k6x-ziG8wAJdkCgqCjEwBcWCgo-8-njOcEXbpjqKP5jIXcpBFCTOGq76al6i2esM6HGGzVKexcwOHarNuaqnikO_sDBVB/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The WWE is cutting all ties with wrestling legend 61 year old Hulk<strong> </strong>Hogan after finding out about him angrily using the n-word to describe someone who was dating his daughter.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;">WWE fired Hogan after learning of a transcript of comments made on his sex tape.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hogan is in the middle of a lawsuit over the tape released by Gawker and the n-word remarks are expected to come out once the trial begins later this year.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The transcripts of Hogan's sex tape likely stem from his ongoing lawsuit with Gawker, which published an excerpt of the tape in 2012. Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million for allegedly invading his privacy by publishing it.</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhAQ9PlBraQPVjvHA5d4bVishwVyy8GHqnARwnun9OCpcSNBuZnKjvvOEjCOVX1hukai5cI7WrCm1YTDQkPJ6BGqtbLQjku7Uv9OFZtET3V-20w3ULuEUJf0L23Uj1jk3DY9peYkCa0h5/s1600/2AC2E42700000578-3171385-image-a-111_1437602379344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhAQ9PlBraQPVjvHA5d4bVishwVyy8GHqnARwnun9OCpcSNBuZnKjvvOEjCOVX1hukai5cI7WrCm1YTDQkPJ6BGqtbLQjku7Uv9OFZtET3V-20w3ULuEUJf0L23Uj1jk3DY9peYkCa0h5/s400/2AC2E42700000578-3171385-image-a-111_1437602379344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The WWE released a statement Friday morning saying, </span><br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">"WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."</span></blockquote> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In the weak sex tape, Hogan was discussing his daughter Brooke's music career. He repeatedly used the n-word while talking about an African-American guy she was dating.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The WWE has since scrubbed all mentions of Hogan's name from its website. Hogan is also no longer listed as one of the judges on the Tough Enough TV show or present on the WWE Hall of Fame page. All merchandise has been removed from WWEShop.com.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Shortly after the contents of the tape became public, Hogan admitted that the tape, recorded in 2007, was real and said his words were 'offensive' and 'unacceptable'. </span></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Radar, the audio features him complaining about his daughter Brooke, 27, who was trying to launch a music career.</span></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">He said that 'a black billionaire guy' had offered to bankroll her, then speculated about her sex life'.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl5xc4DIxxz5exEQJiB2IQbkzlmElBDoY9e5Fuv7vvMeonXoF8pW0SkY2jlTZKhgVmd0p2IkZXBAFuGlCosSVhFI3Mi1XvqhKe-slQdjLozCmPVhbWfB_BelWLy_dKWrUR7P7asV_JkF7/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl5xc4DIxxz5exEQJiB2IQbkzlmElBDoY9e5Fuv7vvMeonXoF8pW0SkY2jlTZKhgVmd0p2IkZXBAFuGlCosSVhFI3Mi1XvqhKe-slQdjLozCmPVhbWfB_BelWLy_dKWrUR7P7asV_JkF7/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Hogan told Clem: 'I don't know if Brooke was f**king the black guy's son... I mean, I don't have double standards.</span></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> 'I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f**king n****rs. But then when it comes to nice people and s**t, and whatever.'</blockquote> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> He continued: 'I mean, I'd rather if she was going to f**k some n****r, I'd rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n****r worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!</blockquote> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> 'I guess we're all a little racist. F***king n****r.'</blockquote> </div> <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In a statement to People, Hogan has apologized for his comments, saying: </span><br /> <div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it."</blockquote> </div> <div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "This is not who I am," the statement continues. "I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."</blockquote>  </div> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Hogan also issued a cryptic response on Twitter in the immediate wake of initial reports.</span>

Hulk Hogan has been fired by WWE for his racist n-word rant

The WWE is cutting all ties with wrestling legend 61 year old Hulk Hogan after finding out about him angrily using the n-word to des...

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People actually thinks angel fall from the sky not knowing its artwork

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdh7Oy3GsSbxfz5VIQ9H5ietmJU38HZO-Pj9HnZdxeDN3UtHYeXxCA3KA3vvvITBVlbUtpsBe_oRXRC7lUGNddglYJM1ssbzbr1cjLtnMYsY4FZyl4EJMfKrWXfUmdDzW7P-m6kNV2ciZ/s1600/11011955_10153038841498951_151229090580319671_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdh7Oy3GsSbxfz5VIQ9H5ietmJU38HZO-Pj9HnZdxeDN3UtHYeXxCA3KA3vvvITBVlbUtpsBe_oRXRC7lUGNddglYJM1ssbzbr1cjLtnMYsY4FZyl4EJMfKrWXfUmdDzW7P-m6kNV2ciZ/s1600/11011955_10153038841498951_151229090580319671_n.jpg" /></a></div> People actually think this is a real angel that fell from the sky...lol. They were actually arguing about it on Facebook and very serious. See more photos after the cut and find out the real story..<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvziI2LRnea0hqCaBxpo7_uwqMLJmvscRvju-8dxiGFhTMRFwHqHCxSmOgTrsCiznSEwZW4lAXFmghI0_C5KaMtqaacDD8Azl5qNyfHO6aGKdlaWwHYwh8edsY_20b-JcwN9Z8QqX8UFs-/s1600/11143463_10153038841493951_1956371900263328914_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvziI2LRnea0hqCaBxpo7_uwqMLJmvscRvju-8dxiGFhTMRFwHqHCxSmOgTrsCiznSEwZW4lAXFmghI0_C5KaMtqaacDD8Azl5qNyfHO6aGKdlaWwHYwh8edsY_20b-JcwN9Z8QqX8UFs-/s1600/11143463_10153038841493951_1956371900263328914_n.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJYjkQVRxXU2TOea7OqKn6SRsdz9Eifn3rHOp4ohNP0Q686vYj0QjQ9peNXUqZWoAk_SuJlfbWqfn6OwXc8rlfDQjpqjbNt7073CKBHrCd4i0UnbiiJGv7XSUREOEoTP-Pt-rg6wfUiP4/s1600/11229822_10153038841433951_4386987711110679607_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJYjkQVRxXU2TOea7OqKn6SRsdz9Eifn3rHOp4ohNP0Q686vYj0QjQ9peNXUqZWoAk_SuJlfbWqfn6OwXc8rlfDQjpqjbNt7073CKBHrCd4i0UnbiiJGv7XSUREOEoTP-Pt-rg6wfUiP4/s1600/11229822_10153038841433951_4386987711110679607_n.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyJNc2AWwJikF2unGifuKkDbY09oFCs0bwkpXgRb_FFhLh0pHSaFX60c-WXcz4XUJP_v1XTbU2TmnsAz215cktSe7AaBGRMEo6mylEmQ0vwqxH-rVOKzADFOHg7RVtYPF1eDASI6lZbBl/s1600/11800623_10153038841483951_8944824093424603191_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyJNc2AWwJikF2unGifuKkDbY09oFCs0bwkpXgRb_FFhLh0pHSaFX60c-WXcz4XUJP_v1XTbU2TmnsAz215cktSe7AaBGRMEo6mylEmQ0vwqxH-rVOKzADFOHg7RVtYPF1eDASI6lZbBl/s1600/11800623_10153038841483951_8944824093424603191_n.jpg" /></a></div> It's actually an artwork from two artis<span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0">ts from Beijing, China named Sun Yuan and Peng Yu are famous for creating their installation arts. But their new creation will really make you question whether it is real or not. </span><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text3:0" /><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text4:0">They created a sculpture of a fallen angel in the image of an</span></span><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text0:0"> old woman who has her wings yet the feathers were missing. Some says that the angel might be dead or sleeping. </span><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text1:0" /><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text3:0" /><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text4:0">The artists created this amazing structure from fiberglass,stainless steel, silica gel and woven mesh. All credits goes to the talented artist. </span><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text5:0" /><br data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text7:0" /><span data-reactid=".5.1:5:1:$comment1004830439536071_1004937139525401:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text0:0:$text8:0">This incredible structure gained praise and criticism from the people who have seen it. Controversial talks and debates arise from this sculpture..." </span></span></span></span></span></span>

People actually thinks angel fall from the sky not knowing its artwork

People actually think this is a real angel that fell from the sky...lol. They were actually arguing about it on Facebook and very s...

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Barack Obama comes for African leaders who have refused to leave power

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3zQYBn182rX4_F0jBsMpcq-Pd7vGhHKAo-2u-zvLzEqpkhbE0xCtenjqDhpJOM2vy6-I5UU3lTBd5gpVO66f80uzkXaVl79bkNpmoEr9WKC1zqgGyuBOmHWAKngLBbXvG1LvXPK_JHXj/s1600/mail.google.com.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3zQYBn182rX4_F0jBsMpcq-Pd7vGhHKAo-2u-zvLzEqpkhbE0xCtenjqDhpJOM2vy6-I5UU3lTBd5gpVO66f80uzkXaVl79bkNpmoEr9WKC1zqgGyuBOmHWAKngLBbXvG1LvXPK_JHXj/s1600/mail.google.com.png" /></a></div> During a speech for African leaders at the African Union Headquarters in Ethiopia yesterday July 28th, President Obama asked African leaders to leave office whenever their tenure comes to an end and shaded the heck out of Mugabe and Burundi president. He said that...<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> "I am in my second term. Its been an extraordinary privilege for me to serve as President of the United States. I love my work but under our constitution I cannot run again. I actually think I am a pretty good president. I think if I ran I could win. But I can't. So there is a lot that I will like to do to keep America moving but the law is the law and no one person is above the law. Not even the president. And I will be honest with you.<br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> I am looking forward to life after being president. I wouldn't have such a big security detail all the time. It means I can go take a walk. I can spend time with my family. I can find other ways to serve. I can visit Africa more often. The funny thing is I don't understand why people want to stay so long especially when they have got a lot of money. When a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife as we have seen in Burundi. Sometimes you hear a leader say well I am the only person who can hold this nation together. If that's true, then that leader has failed to build their nation. You look at Nelson Mandela. Madiba like George Washington forged a lasting legacy not only because of what they did in office but because they were wiling to leave office, transfer power peacefully. Just as the African Union have condemned coups and illegitimate transfers of power,the AU and other strong voices can also help the people of Africa ensure their leaders abide by term limits under their constitution. Nobody should be president for life" he said.   </blockquote>

Barack Obama comes for African leaders who have refused to leave power

During a speech for African leaders at the African Union Headquarters in Ethiopia yesterday July 28th, President Obama asked African...

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One of the son of Muammar Gaddafi and eight others sentenced to death over war crimes

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTozwWGJ_HhQ7YF1Ci_3ASa1Fxj2qLTetg-eR-JNJ-sA-A9tt16eh4whewxEmBeaiKzL1kT0nby2F5hLJy0cF5ROptX9k3UaH8Lbc_PtdxxwgLi29OVD934CuaWnigTqFFYkKPEnOguZs/s1600/seif_1830769c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTozwWGJ_HhQ7YF1Ci_3ASa1Fxj2qLTetg-eR-JNJ-sA-A9tt16eh4whewxEmBeaiKzL1kT0nby2F5hLJy0cF5ROptX9k3UaH8Lbc_PtdxxwgLi29OVD934CuaWnigTqFFYkKPEnOguZs/s1600/seif_1830769c.jpg" /></a></div> A court in Libya has sentenced one of the sons of former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and eight others to death over war crimes committed during the 2011 revolution.<br /> <br /> Saif al-Islam and others were standing trial for suppressing protests during the political uprising in Libya in 2011 after Libyans revolted against the government of Ghadaffi who was killed in October 2011. Saif al-Islam was not present in court and gave evidence via video link. He is being held by a former rebel group from the town of Zintan that have refused to release him.

One of the son of Muammar Gaddafi and eight others sentenced to death over war crimes

A court in Libya has sentenced one of the sons of former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and eight others to...

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Gov. Oshiomole alleges that a minister in GEJ's govt stole $6billion

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmtx2V2QAA7wEVaxHKdbGS4q9K6HCiZDT6mhM8Bc6dmAMPyY_Pw0-VRGh0RHWzgc0a4wLCYrhiQYxWo6OuUQqYfclmZemWhxEwrdH5eH47Xju0fIJKZ0XYnLX22b1Gfm9ifqBUEBNKS-f/s1600/mail.google.com.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmtx2V2QAA7wEVaxHKdbGS4q9K6HCiZDT6mhM8Bc6dmAMPyY_Pw0-VRGh0RHWzgc0a4wLCYrhiQYxWo6OuUQqYfclmZemWhxEwrdH5eH47Xju0fIJKZ0XYnLX22b1Gfm9ifqBUEBNKS-f/s400/mail.google.com.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomole has alleged that a minister that served in former president Jonathan's administration stole a whooping $6billion. Governor Oshiomole made the allegation while speaking to state house correspondents after a meeting with President Buhari today.<br /> <br /> He said American officials made the alleged fraud known to the Buhari led delegation during the state visit to the US last week.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "PDP destroyed the country. I mean from the lips of American officials; senior officials of the state department. They said one minister under PDP cornered as much as $6billion, and the man said even by Washington standard that is earth-quaking,” he said. </blockquote> Governor Oshiomole said if not that Nigerians are patient people, anybody who carried the PDP badge would have been stoned. He said PDP members ought to feel very unsafe ...<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "We are a very patient people. If we were not a patient people, anybody wearing the tag of PDP ought to feel very unsafe because you are all victims- all of us here,” he said.</blockquote>

Gov. Oshiomole alleges that a minister in GEJ's govt stole $6billion

The Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomole has alleged that a minister that served in former president Jonathan's administration...

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Check out the current suituation of Ariaria international market in Aba (photos)

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTy7SRPsTQ_3jAOHzkCZ8w1d8MGroH5y17aWpbTsLceSLpZ8QdB5nd4pNHeORl89r6LcMLOeRyBh_AJRxQMGlk_fbi0utp4ZNBgNm_VmDQPXhXtkKR5uvDF1J73r05a4MOgPC5LfTEJ4wJ/s1600/a.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBb_MD77_lVuEsJQkHKGvQVE_OHY-jQj6_JWu8tcT32ddHVD30nZI3x5OhDGKF3Xhh8Diy_m_ovwSRMz48xFlHTLNf7xceGJ50oG8P9usk55GP213KDWOeu-avJQoH6N3GLx3HNtnUtpd/s1600/b.jpg" /></div> Ariaria international market is a popular market in Aba. Abia state. And as you can clearly see, it's a mess right now. It's overly flooded, and there's constant stagnant water, forcing shop owners to abandon their shops. The people in the area say it's due to bad road and bad drainage system. They are begging their govt to look into it for them. More photos after the cut...<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmT2Ic_jdHv1DMgX7RFMkp7O5n-29khZPPHNDl6F8dmO4krldDlYEn5Neo8BF-zEkFXa25-OoH49e564whjI0jH6A74XKiwBw-YufPqBZpQSY0vaOHwEDyUXhX9G9ADtow_Mx_ULHH16f/s1600/c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmT2Ic_jdHv1DMgX7RFMkp7O5n-29khZPPHNDl6F8dmO4krldDlYEn5Neo8BF-zEkFXa25-OoH49e564whjI0jH6A74XKiwBw-YufPqBZpQSY0vaOHwEDyUXhX9G9ADtow_Mx_ULHH16f/s1600/c.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vyejyfArvs1ewLQ4cYzZiKrfP347xP-USkdFUXN6qjf9wANkKZQonawZaEJ_8kUzJpdF-5N3llbGoCaEBu3zHmtQKHr6m_Kx7kL1MkB6TyfWmql4z433XbMSBOZx7WvihhYYeh52Mvzs/s1600/d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vyejyfArvs1ewLQ4cYzZiKrfP347xP-USkdFUXN6qjf9wANkKZQonawZaEJ_8kUzJpdF-5N3llbGoCaEBu3zHmtQKHr6m_Kx7kL1MkB6TyfWmql4z433XbMSBOZx7WvihhYYeh52Mvzs/s1600/d.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrZJjSf_tI4tW7utqPCARz1cCm1dMqvZpnnOJAMAeSxu3yudpSVW9a08v59rzmnlPPC4eURa4cxIdDMNhl4JSy7bJUdkDQj6V370Dlo0BJJJsHU7-NXjo2RiaAaYGfYgoDY7fWniTJj_R/s1600/e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrZJjSf_tI4tW7utqPCARz1cCm1dMqvZpnnOJAMAeSxu3yudpSVW9a08v59rzmnlPPC4eURa4cxIdDMNhl4JSy7bJUdkDQj6V370Dlo0BJJJsHU7-NXjo2RiaAaYGfYgoDY7fWniTJj_R/s1600/e.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8j2WhSE9QE8LRHFILpZ2bJQrV78wdq8KnC6Hau9St0xAlDwfRFZ4awhyphenhyphenMRSHX8blbo1YSulzMbeBd-0IvInH6x1CvokukJ452Ocanz3a_6Xvb9MN8U_z3tGmfGd3hOSae01k0krPu4is/s1600/f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8j2WhSE9QE8LRHFILpZ2bJQrV78wdq8KnC6Hau9St0xAlDwfRFZ4awhyphenhyphenMRSHX8blbo1YSulzMbeBd-0IvInH6x1CvokukJ452Ocanz3a_6Xvb9MN8U_z3tGmfGd3hOSae01k0krPu4is/s1600/f.jpg" /></a></div>

Check out the current suituation of Ariaria international market in Aba (photos)

Ariaria international market is a popular market in Aba. Abia state. And as you can clearly see, it's a mess right now. It's...

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Pics of Barack Obama in Kenya in 1988, 1992, 2006

<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcZooj81KjxTOGsEPobSZyiUjAW24SmdGT8o8kC32h0sZlfF0z5BWJS2nd9YbtmDjW3GbfnfK5ZmTHfHZPLYhDnbU2ealbTrYwPZI_sX9ZsMM2FNTrd-Z7OFW8zMwjXpVhS3oVTRaAAiB/s1600/11745575_10152994427928314_4214867486371713704_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcZooj81KjxTOGsEPobSZyiUjAW24SmdGT8o8kC32h0sZlfF0z5BWJS2nd9YbtmDjW3GbfnfK5ZmTHfHZPLYhDnbU2ealbTrYwPZI_sX9ZsMM2FNTrd-Z7OFW8zMwjXpVhS3oVTRaAAiB/s1600/11745575_10152994427928314_4214867486371713704_n.jpg" /></a></div> US President Barack Obama visited his father's homeland a few times in the past; in 1988, 1992, 2006 before his visit yesterday. His first visit was in <span class="text_exposed_show">1988. He was on a journey of self-discovery to know more about his heritage and his father, who split from his mum 2 years after he was born.</span><br /> <br /> <span class="text_exposed_show">On his second trip in 1992, he traveled with Michelle, who was his fiancee at the time. They married a few months after that visit. He wanted Michelle to meet his paternal grandmother & other extended family members.</span><br /> <br /> <span class="text_exposed_show">He then visited in 2006 as a US senator. He </span>moved around relatively freely and visited his father’s grave and his grandmother’s tin-roof house. Two years later, he became the president of the United States of America. (he's pictured with his grandmother above). More photos after the cut...<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /><br /> <div class="text_exposed_show"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOaYXrNKoOnwwnv8Uo1u5Ca3jsD76ci_UHCZexTm_fwoxkqPn27Mc1kBfFcl1cCx4iWTAgOhl1sKVn_fKHoemSUn9Qf-FnDzu4sG7NaqZWVipOEAUUpe8N22Nz_ZfvrKNpOwsh2-yrSNz/s1600/11220117_10152994428228314_2767518253205126444_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOaYXrNKoOnwwnv8Uo1u5Ca3jsD76ci_UHCZexTm_fwoxkqPn27Mc1kBfFcl1cCx4iWTAgOhl1sKVn_fKHoemSUn9Qf-FnDzu4sG7NaqZWVipOEAUUpe8N22Nz_ZfvrKNpOwsh2-yrSNz/s1600/11220117_10152994428228314_2767518253205126444_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvBAubgY2vCKIPa7GoXmwYc-TD1nCSmIy0evGnL_nATKPInr75GcEjo3IY4QpAvu-EF32il60qZw1d9eRz0HnE0s19hJoRd0-Owcc16J9VT7bjXxJBWx-vv6XsdHUOgbc1JX-ZG9zQuH_/s1600/11755902_10152994427968314_2061652761039579692_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvBAubgY2vCKIPa7GoXmwYc-TD1nCSmIy0evGnL_nATKPInr75GcEjo3IY4QpAvu-EF32il60qZw1d9eRz0HnE0s19hJoRd0-Owcc16J9VT7bjXxJBWx-vv6XsdHUOgbc1JX-ZG9zQuH_/s1600/11755902_10152994427968314_2061652761039579692_n.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCda4OHUgJRqGt_f3j9XGCnGlwDrXR9V9NfILe8vf4J0uRS7xoQdS_v4eprCf1QnUP8R76ZmfAYUtcz8EXjsj9pI2coCRv4n4cLM87bdiei-DBOPETQu4JalMACpxS1vQHtOvaahyphenhyphenT_yx0/s1600/11800055_10152994427903314_8812773670114694664_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCda4OHUgJRqGt_f3j9XGCnGlwDrXR9V9NfILe8vf4J0uRS7xoQdS_v4eprCf1QnUP8R76ZmfAYUtcz8EXjsj9pI2coCRv4n4cLM87bdiei-DBOPETQu4JalMACpxS1vQHtOvaahyphenhyphenT_yx0/s1600/11800055_10152994427903314_8812773670114694664_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA8Cla56opO44j1yCGv2cPtVQrbUSzuZMRt4tN3f88d-NEtosdzmlKoDG9mp2marhRSeTZDtIYhWVm1c5QK_Sbpf8DGZWB_hFVIMZwshIX2TGuJCIbueb43WMkIhHdn9UrYdzUwJYgkob/s1600/11760338_10152994428783314_9134129465083866181_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA8Cla56opO44j1yCGv2cPtVQrbUSzuZMRt4tN3f88d-NEtosdzmlKoDG9mp2marhRSeTZDtIYhWVm1c5QK_Sbpf8DGZWB_hFVIMZwshIX2TGuJCIbueb43WMkIhHdn9UrYdzUwJYgkob/s400/11760338_10152994428783314_9134129465083866181_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALfiHN5ec8EULHt-tiYNCgmjwt4uUnguRlrRZ1zu56jHS-ByW0cqxj-aOSv6IYcrgZmV18RhYIOHT-It6nSekKdjg2ZRmz8NAD-icAd_d8i3mLQ5Rax8VVT3qqJxypksZLf27OK9yOJB/s1600/Barack_Obama%2527s_Kenyan_relatives.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALfiHN5ec8EULHt-tiYNCgmjwt4uUnguRlrRZ1zu56jHS-ByW0cqxj-aOSv6IYcrgZmV18RhYIOHT-It6nSekKdjg2ZRmz8NAD-icAd_d8i3mLQ5Rax8VVT3qqJxypksZLf27OK9yOJB/s400/Barack_Obama%2527s_Kenyan_relatives.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncrPqoYlsC2k9Dqfio-WnTlSowlJr-kPKt7PnnCGt3S4kHsahzkc4j0RqZkJOcEUKgPY-3tU_Kzjta9SNwXg46qSCxrXW4Y6A14uZmsPh4Fi91Z8ad9XgoKGNmVS3OtZg-ZepmgnLdImj/s1600/article-2290803-1886149F000005DC-204_634x404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Pics of Barack Obama in Kenya in 1988, 1992, 2006

US President Barack Obama visited his father's homeland a few times in the past; in 1988, 1992, 2006 before his visit yesterday....

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