Supersand Eagles Hit Seychelles 10-1.

NIGERIA yesterday began its quest for a third African Beach Soccer Championship title on a blistering note, beating hosts, Seychelles, 10-1. But the victory did not come as easy as the result suggests.

Going into yesterday’s game, Nigeria was tipped to over run the hosts, but the winners did not reckon with the determination of Seychelles to prove the bookmakers wrong oin front of their fans. But despite all their efforts, Seychelles left the sand with their heads bowed.

The game started on a slow note, with the Seychellois pursuing the Nigerians all over the pitch. This made it initially difficult for the Supersand Eagles to get into their groove, but when they eventually made the break through, the goals flowed.

The Super Sand Eagles will next face Egypt today, hoping to secure another win and more points, while Seychelles will face another tough opponent, Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria opened the goal feast through Emeka Ogbonna and made it two through Ikechukwu Ibenegbu before the end of the opening frame. Emmanuel Ohwofera made it three midway through the second period and added two quick goals in the final minutes of the period through Ohwofera and Abu Azeez.

Seychelles raised the roof soon after Nigeria’s fifth goal when substitute Robin Mathiot’s long distance shot bounced off the inside of the crossbar to put the scores at 6-1. The second twelve minutes finished with Nigeria up 7-1.

The final frame saw the Seychellois massed in their defence to stop Nigeria from increasing the tally, but that did not stop Ibenegbu from netting the eighth goal after a solo run. Two more goals from Victor Tale and Abu made scores 10-1.

Nigeria will now meet Egypt, who met with Cote d’Ivoire yesterday.

Google to ban sexually explicit content on its blogs.

Google said Tuesday it would ban sexually explicit content or “graphic nudity” on its Blogger platform, asking users to remove the material by March 23.

In an update to its policies, Google said it would still allow nudity “if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts.”

The update said users with sexually explicit content may remain on the platform as a “private” blog that can only be viewed by the administrator and persons with whom the link is shared.

Users will also be able to export the blog to another platform if they don’t want to remain on Google, the policy said.

Until now, Google’s policy had banned certain illegal activities including child pornography or pedophilia.

The update by Google comes a year after Twitter-owned Vine made a similar change to ban explicit video clips.

Google’s new policy elicited complaints over Twitter, with some calling it censorship.

Violet Blue, who pens the human sexuality blog tinynibbles.com, tweeted, “Censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression.”

Another blogger, Carin McLeoud, said, “google’s email about adult content on blogger treats adult content as though it harms people and nothing comes from it.”

Twitter user Matt Adlard wrote, “Has #Google gone too far with its self styled #censorship on peoples Blogs?? Are we not adults to decide our own fate and what we watch??”

 

Nigerian pastor arrested for impregnating 20 women in his church.

Timothy Ngwu says he has 13 children with five wives and his mistresses

Police arrested him for abusing members of congregation ‘on will of God’

He was reported to authorities by his wife who grew sick of his adultery

Arrested pastor claims the married women’s husbands agreed to affairs

A mother-of-eight claims Ngwu impregnated her – and then her daughter

A 53-year-old pastor who reportedly impregnated 20 members of congregation claims the Holy Spirit ordered him to have sex with them.

Nigerian police have now arrested Timothy Ngwu for abusing the young girls and women at Vineyard Ministry of the Holy Trinity.

Ngwu’s abusive behaviour was finally reported to the police by his estranged wife Veronica who grew tired of his adulterous behaviour – and reportedly impregnated her young neice.

 

A spokesperson for the Enugu State Police command told Naij.com he claims to be obeying the ‘spiritual’ urge to carry out the will of God, ‘irrespective of whether the woman is married or not.’

 

Ebere Amaraizu added: ‘When the woman is delivered of the baby, the child remains in the ministry with the mother for life.’

 

Ngwu told the same website he has 13 children with five different wives and the mistresses God’s ‘prophetic’ will told him to acquire.

 

He also claims he never had sex with any married woman unless their husbands consented to the Holy Spirit’s request.

Calista Omeje and Assumpta Odo both left their husbands to live with the pastor based on these holy commands.

 

Mother-of-eight Odo said Ngwu impregnated both her and her daughter, whose age is not known

And Calista – who has 10 children with her husband – said the pastor impregnated her but the baby died. She also revealed that she ‘gave’ her daughter to him.

 

The pastor’s brother – who did not want to be identified – said he had warned both Ngwu and his family about the self-proclaimed clergyman’s behaviour for a long time but they refused to listen.

 

He claims the arrest is ‘God’s wrath falling on his brother’, adding: ‘God’s anger has befallen my brother, we have severally appealed to him to stop what he was doing but he refused.

 

‘He has colonised our compound, bearing children with recklessness. He accused us of being jealous of him because he is doing the will of God.’

 

Pointing at the church’s compound, he continued: ‘Look at these buildings here… He has converted all of them to himself in the name of vineyard.

 

‘He sacked his betrothed wife who has three children for him and embarked on impregnating married women and young girls. Look at the whole compound littered with children of different sex and age.’

 

‘All members of the vineyard are fools, how can a woman abandon her husband for another man in the name of worshiping God and practice adultery? I cannot get myself involved in this matter.

‘Let them sort themselves out with the police but I want the ministry to be shut down completely,’ he added.’

 

Five hope-and-change takeaways from Nigeria’s election.

You probably saw the headline — a successful transfer of power in Nigeria. For the first time since its independence, Africa’s most populous and economically powerful country voted an incumbent president out of office, defying all expectations. At a time when democratic good news is hard to come by, what went right in Nigeria? A majority of Nigerians got sufficiently fed up with government venality and fecklessness to do what it took to make their voices heard and force change. The difficulties they surmounted would have daunted most Western voters. Here are some key takeaways from a historic event.

• Democratic determination. Despite fears of violence, presumptions of vote-rigging and an election day delayed by six weeks, turnout was unprecedented. Millions of people were up at dawn, waiting for officials to arrive — often hours late — to open the first phase in an infuriatingly convoluted process. After being accredited in the morning, voters had to return in the afternoon to cast their ballots. And they did, especially young people. Many stayed at their polling stations to observe the count and tweeted or emailed pictures of final tally sheets to newspapers.

This massive participation seemed to be Nigerians’ answer to the possibility of vote-fixing by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, as though they were determined to swamp any advantage gained by foul play.

The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, won praise for resisting blatant political pressure. Though inconvenient, biometric identification cards the INEC insisted on to accredit voters did deter fraud.

• Corruption. Even for a country whose name has become synonymous with corrupt practices, Jonathan’s administration stood out.

In 2013, a Western official in the capital Abuja remarked, “Jonathan has not been as clever as his predecessors. He and his circle have been taking too much oil money before it gets into the national budget.”

“This is just looting,” said Ibrahim Hamza, a state employee in the northern city of Kano, “like with bulldozers.”

Indeed, in the most spectacular in a string of corruption scandals, the then-governor of the central bank identified a $20 billion shortfall in oil revenue a year ago and was fired. The controversy flared up again during the campaign. Under pressure, the finance minister published snippets of a long-delayed audit and admitted to a shortfall of “only” $1.8 billion, but he refused to release the full report.

The plunging price of oil, Nigeria’s main export, exacerbated the larceny. Foreign currency reserves bottomed out, civil servants went unpaid and the national currency had to be devalued.

Tired of being denied the economic prosperity that oil wealth should bring them, a majority of Nigerians were looking for a leader who would make rooting out corruption his main goal. Perhaps even more than the Boko Haram insurgency, this issue galvanized voters.

• The virtues of severity. A 72-year old former army officer who ruled the country 30 years ago may seem an odd choice to symbolize change. A legendary ascetic, the newly elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, subjected Nigerians to a “discipline campaign” during his brief dictatorship. It famously included whipping people into line at bus stops and attempting to kidnap a former minister in London to stand trial in Nigeria. But that history didn’t deter voters. It may even have attracted them.

Many hope Buhari will crack down on both corrupt officials and the Boko Haram insurgents who have kidnapped and killed their way across the country’s northeast. But Nigerians also seem ready for a dose of discipline themselves. They speak ruefully about their own ambiguous behavior in the face of corruption, about how “our old African values have disappeared.”

• Nationwide appeal. Nigeria is often depicted as split along regional and religious lines, Muslim north against Christian south. But Muslim Buhari’s running mate was a Christian pastor from the vibrant southern commercial capital of Lagos. Speaking to the grievances of all, their truly national ticket swept almost the whole country, minus the oil-rich southern tip and an eastern enclave.

• International pressure. Unprecedented international focus on this election, especially by English-speaking Nigeria’s two key trading partners, Britain and the United States, contributed to its success. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and his British counterpart, Philip Hammond, as well as others, repeatedly condemned potential political violence or efforts at vote-rigging, and later urged Jonathan to concede defeat. He did so quickly and unconditionally, probably warding off the type of bloodshed that marred the past two Nigerian presidential elections.

Now U.S. officials should support Buhari as he takes on the tasks of weeding out corrupt officials, reforming political practices, diversifying economic activity and establishing an army of whose conduct Nigerians can be proud. Taken together, those changes represent the best strategy for defeating the Boko Haram insurgency and offering Nigerians the prospect of a decent life.

DSTV: MultiChoice to face contempt charge.

The Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, John Ugbe is to face committal proceeding for allegedly disobeying the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos which restrained the implementation of a new subscription regime of Digital Satellite Television, popularly known as DSTV by the company.

Apart from Ugbe, the company’s Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma, is also to face the committal proceeding.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos had on April 2 restrained the company from implementing the new subscription regime, pending the determination of a suit filed by two subscribers – Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji.

The plaintiffs in the motion on notice in support of the application for committal for contempt are seeking an order committing the two Multi Choice officials to prison for disobeying the court’s order.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order mandating MultiChoice to render accounts of all excesses charged in tariffs (in contempt of court) with particulars of such subscribers and crediting their account against the next renewal and/or remitting such excesses back to the customers.

They are also seeking an order mandating the Managing Director and the Public Relations Manager to copy an official written undertaking to be filed at the registry of the court to obey all the orders made in the matter post final determination.

When the matter came up on Thursday, MultiChoice’s lawyer, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), informed the court that different applications to discharge the order and to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter had been filed.

Onigbanjo had further explained that the order was made a day after MultiChoice started the implementation of the new rates, and that the order was brought to the attention of his client on April 8.

The lawyer further argued that a party that had challenged the jurisdiction of the court with respect to an order was not bound to obey the court’s order.

Onigbanjo further noted that the status quo as at the time the order was made had been maintained by his client.

Responding, plaintiffs’ lawyer, Osasuyi Adebayo, faulted Onigbanjo’s claims on why the court’s order had not been complied with.

He said the application for injunction was filed before April 1, and that the court’s order had not foreclosed the suit.

“The court has made the order. Whether rightly or wrongly, the defendant is duty bound to obey it”, he said.

The matter was consequently adjourned to May 5, for the hearing of all pending applications.

The plaintiffs, who are also lawyers, had dragged MultiChoice to the court to challenge the increase in the subscription rates.

In the restraining orders, Justice Aneke ruled: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the first defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the first defendants’ services.

“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”

In the class action suit marked, FHC/L/CS/404/2015, the plaintiffs are urging the court to order the second defendant, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to also implement Pay Per View where subscribers choose the programmes they want and pay as they watch, which is being implemented in some other parts of the world.

It will be recalled that, MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, had in March, announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria.

Thus, the subscription fee of DStv Premium, Compact plus, compact, access, Family and extra view bouquets were all set to increase, as is the price for GOtv Plus and GOtv bouquet.

Justifying its action, MultiChoice explained that the price increase was necessary for it to continue offering the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers.

Mysterious disease that kills patients within 24 hours leaves at least 18 dead Ondo state.

A mysterious disease that kills patients within 24 hours has claimed at least 18 lives in a south-eastern Nigerian town, the government says.

“Seventeen people have died of the mysterious disease since it broke out early this week in Ode-Irele town,” said Ondo state government spokesman Kayode Akinmade.

The disease, symptoms of which include headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, killed the victims within 24 hours of their falling ill, he said.

Laboratory tests have so far ruled out Ebola or any other virus, Mr Akinmade added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it had information on 14 cases with at least 12 dead.

“Common symptoms were sudden blurred vision, headache, loss of consciousness followed by death, occurring within 24 hours,” spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.

Another WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, told AFP that according to a preliminary report, all those affected began showing symptoms between April 13 and 15.

Mr Akinmade said health officials and experts from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to search for answers.

“There is no patient of the disease in any hospital and the disease has not spread beyond the town,” he said.

Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, told AFP that he and his officials went on a “field visit” with the WHO, UNICEF and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“This was basically a case search to unravel the cause [of the disease],” he said.

Mr Jasarevic said blood and urine samples had been taken from two victims and cerebrospinal fluid from another.

“All samples have been sent to Lagos University Teaching Hospital this morning, and results are still pending. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

Xenophobia: 50 Nigerians affected in South Africa.

The Nigerian Union in South Africa has said it has concluded arrangements to resettle 50 Nigerians affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks.

The President of the union, Ikechukwu Anyene, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday.

Mr. Anyene said the Nigerians were displaced at Jeppes Town, near Johannesburg.

“We met about 300 Nigerians in Jeppes town, near Johannesburg, who fled for their safety and about 50 of them do not have any place to stay.

“We are making arrangements with the Nigerian mission in South Africa to get them a place to stay for their safety.

“The Nigerian union has also presented relief materials to those affected by the attacks and we are in touch with various branch chapters of the union in the provinces on their safety and security,’’ he said.

According to him, Nigerian shops and businesses in Durban and Johannesburg have been looted and some burnt.

He said that two shops belonging to Nigerians in Durban were looted and they lost goods worth 400,000 Rand.

“In Jeppes Town, near Johannesburg, five shops were looted and one burnt while the estimated loss is put at One million Rand.

“The incidents have been reported to the police and we are still taking stock of attacks on Nigerians,’’ he said.

Mr. Anyene reiterated the union’s call to the Federal Government to put more pressure on the South African government to halt the attacks.

The Nigerian foreign minister had however claimed on Thursday that Nigerians had so far not been attacked, saying it would only evacuate Nigerians only if the situation gets worse.

“With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria, no Nigeria​n ​has so far been affected,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali said Thursday in Abuja.​

​”They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa.

“They have also confirmed that the South African authority has moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in South Africa,” Mr. Wali said.

Mr. Wali said it will move to evacuate Nigerian citizens if the xenophobic attacks get worse.

“If it gets worse it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty serious.

​”We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment.

“We are monitoring the situation and will now take action according to the situation that develops,” he said.

Xenophobia in South Africa dates back to 1994 and are mainly targeted at citizens of other African Countries.

In May 2008 a series of xenophobic attack left 62 people dead.

In the current attack, at least five people have been killed and hundreds forced to flee their homes in one of South Africa’s worst outbreaks of xenophobic violence in years.

Whatever happened to Diezani Alison-Madueke?

 Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

News went round last Tuesday that no fewer than six countries have already refused to grant an asylum request by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The news which emanated from a report contained in the Business Council for Africa, BCA current monthly report, however failed to mention the six countries.

The report said that about US$ 1 trillion is the latest estimated figure of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone.

Dated March 2015, the report focused extensively on Nigeria’s general elections. The report said the flamboyant Nigerian Petroleum Minister, who has been levelled with several allegations of corrupt practices but who has enjoyed the cover of President Goodluck Jonathan, would soon be coming under the scrutiny for the first time in her ministerial career.

“Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that six countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” the report said.

BCA also recalled President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption, especially one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and that his administration will pursue all public offices and individuals who are believed to be guilty of corruption.

It was observed that despite the assurance by Buhari that he would not probe the past governments, it is now believed that Buhari’s anti-corruption fishing net may include ministers currently serving under President Jonathan.

It was gathered that Alison-Madueke’s departure from Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other former government officials, as Buhari’s anti-corruption drive will be far-reaching.

BCA described the March/April 2015 polls as “the most credible elections in Nigeria’s history”, but said they could not be called the most incorruptible.

The report also said the elections are the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP and President Jonathan allegedly so freely and openly spent on trying to secure his re-election.

“The stories and reports from throughout the 36 states of the amount of money distributed by the PDP to rulers, church leaders, unions and youth leaders among others in an endeavour to favour the voters towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said.

BCA further said that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history.

However, Alison-Madueke has debunked the insinuations that she is trying to seek asylum.

She said she was not seeking asylum in any part of the world, as claimed by her traducers. Madueke, who spoke through the Group Public Affairs General Manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,  Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said  she is never contemplating relocating from Nigeria.

Alegbe said the minister only went for a short vacation outside Nigeria and that she would soon return to her job.

He said the claim that the woman had been denied asylum by six countries was not only a fabrication aimed at confusing some gullible persons, but deliberately targeted at smearing the minister and her office.

Alegbe said: “I want to say that the minister of petroleum has never contemplated going on asylum in any part of the world and has never applied for any. The minister has only gone for a short vacation abroad and will soon return to Nigeria, having no reason to leave her job and country for any other place.”

Diezani K. Alison-Madueke,  born on December 6, 1960, is the first female president of OPEC. She was elected at the 166th OPEC Ordinary meeting in Vienna on November 27, 2014. She was appointed Nigeria’s minister of Transportation onJuly 26, 2007. She was moved to Mines and Steel Development in 2008 and in April 2010, she was made Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Alison-Madueke has held three significant positions in the federal government. She was appointed Transport Minister in July 2007. On December 23, 2008, she was named as Minister of Mines and Steel Development. After Vice-President  Jonathan became acting President in February 2010, he dissolved the cabinet on  March 17, 2010, and swore in a new cabinet on April 6, 2010 with Alison-Madueke as Minister of Petroleum Resources.

One of the most controversial policies introduced under Alison-Madueke is the government’s plan to remove state subsidies on fuel prices. She had supported the discontinuation of the subsidy on the grounds that it “poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy, [and] encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure.”

In June 2008 Alison-Madueke was the subject of a Senate probe after it emerged that as Transport minister she had paid N30.9 billion ($263 million) to contractors between December 26 and 31, 2007.

However, she has never been charged or tried for these allegations and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. She was alleged to have spent billions of dollars inappropriately on private jets whilst many Nigerians suffered. She is also alleged to be intimately close to President Jonathan and is responsible for a missing $20 billion. She is also widely accused of reckless spending of government funds. In September 2008, there was an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Alison-Madueke at her house in Abuja with her son Chimezie Madueke.

In October 2009, the Senate indicted Alison-Madueke and recommended her prosecution for the alleged transfer of N1.2 billion into the private account of a toll company without due process and in breach of concession agreement.  However, the allegations have never been taken to law, and the minister has maintained her innocence.

Ecobank wins Best Corporate Bank Nigeria 2015 Award.

ECOBANK Nigeria has been named Best Corporate Bank Nigeria 2015 by a London based Global Banking and Finance Review Online/Magazine, a reputable banking and finance performance review platform.

Presenting the award to Ecobank in London, Production Coordinator, Global Banking and Finance Review, Mr. Noel O’Leary, said the choice of Ecobank from the various nominations was in recognition of its various initiatives targeted at economic transformation of Nigeria and the Africa continent.

He noted that Ecobank has been in the forefront of international trade financing, adding that the bank clearly stands out in various area of expertise within banking and finance globally.

Explaining the rationale of the awards, O’Leary pointed out that the awards were created to recognize companies of all sizes which are prominent in particular areas of expertise and excellence within the financial world. In his words “the awards reflect the innovation, achievement, strategy, progressive and inspirational changes taking place within the global financial community.”

Responding, Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Folake Aboderin, said the series of international awards won by the bank in recent times underscores the contributions of Ecobank to the economic development of Africa continent.

According to her, “Ecobank has become a major player in the economy. We play in all the segments of the economy – oil and gas, telecommunications; we facilitate and promote international trade across the various regions, financing importers and exporters. As a bank, we are glad that our efforts in this direction are being recognized globally.”

She also used the opportunity to explains the various ways the bank is promoting commerce and integration with various products such as Rapid Transfer, preferential cards, among others.

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online news portal providing informative and independent current news for the banking and finance industry.

Boko Haram: Sambisia forest on brink of falling in army offensive.

Nigerian terror group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold has been invaded in an offensive by the Nigerian army backed by neighbouring countries.

The attack occurred in the Sambisa forest, on the border with Cameroon, where the insurgents have recently expanded their activity.

A Chadian army official told Reuters that allied Chadian and Cameroonian troops were ready to attack Sambisa from the other side.

Intelligence officials believe that Sambisa is the location where more than 200 schoolgirlswere kept captive after being abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014.

Originally around 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, a village in Borno state, were kidnapped by the terrorists. Shortly after, some 50 girls managed to escape but the rest are still missing amid reports they are being raped, forced to marry their abductors and used as suicide bombers.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the 2014 general election to former military chiefMuhammadu Buhari, was often accused of not having done enough to find the girls and halt the terrorists, who have killed thousands of people since their insurgence started in 2009.

Jonathan recently told the UN that Nigeria does not need the help of foreign countries to defeat the terrorists and that the international community should focus on providing aid to the thousands of people displaced due to the insurgence. As per UN’s latest estimates, at least 1.5 million people, of whom 800,000 are children, have fled their homes to escape violence.

Once he became Nigeria’s president, Buhari vowed to defeat Boko Haram, which recently pledged allegiance to Islamic State (Isis) terror group. Buhari also promised his country would do everything to bring the Chibok girls home.

The Nigerian military is being aided by troops from Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Before starting the Sambisa offensive, it had managed to push the insurgents out from several areas they previously controlled.

Seven Energy begins gas supply to Calabar NIPP.

Calabar NIPP

Seven Energy International Limited (“Seven Energy”), the indigenous Nigerian integrated gas Company has commenced the supply of gas to the 560 MW Calabar National Integrated Power Project (“NIPP”). The commercial delivery of gas to Calabar NIPP commenced in March 2015, and is being executed through Accugas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seven Energy. When operating at full capacity Calabar NIPP will increase national power generation by over 10%.

Gas is being supplied to the power plant from Seven Energy’s Uquo gas processing facility in Akwa Ibom State through the Seven Energy pipeline network. The gas supply will enable the power plant to complete commissioning and start delivering electricity into the national grid.

Commenting on the achievement, Phillip Ihenacho, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy, said;“Delivering a cost effective and reliable gas supply is critical to providing sustainable power supply into the national grid to meet the government’s reform objectives and to facilitate industrial development. I am delighted that our ability to deliver an indigenous gas solution, from end to end is now being recognised by a broad range of industrial and power sector customers. Not only will the gas we supply drive enhanced power generation, but when combined with improvements in transmission and distribution it will also facilitate industrial and commercial developments which will have a far reaching impact throughout the community, stimulating industry and generating employment as a result.”

Steve Tierney, Managing Director, Accugas said “The Calabar NIPP is a major power plant in Calabar and a further endorsement of the quality and reliability of our services. Our strong capability across the region with ownership of gas reserves and pipeline infrastructure have enabled us to commercialise our gas assets, delivering a solution that the market has been demanding for many years. We are ready and look forward to adding more customers to our network across the south east of Nigeria, bringing affordable and reliable gas to a wider audience.”

Seven Energy has continued to champion an industrial gas revolution through the development and production of natural gas, and, critically, its commercialisation through investment in processing and distribution infrastructure, where the Company has invested over $1 billion in the south east region of the Niger Delta in the last 5 years.

With significant capacity built into its distribution infrastructure, the Company is capable of providing a long-term supply of gas to additional off takers for power generation and for local industry.

Since the commissioning of the Uquo gas processing facility in 2014, Seven Energy has begun the supply of gas to other off-takers such as the Ibom Power Company, Notore Chemical Industries Limited and the United Cement Company of Nigeria, also in Calabar.

Man treks from Lagos to Abuja to meets Buhari

President-Elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday received Suleiman Hashimu, the man who is reported to have walked from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate’s victory in the March 28 election.

Buhari, who expressed delight about the man’s feat, said he, like most Nigerians, heard about the trekker’s journey and the goodwill he enjoyed along the way.

The President-Elect said, “I heard so many stories that you wore out about half a dozen pair of shoes. But I also understand that there were people who were quite generous to help you to pay for more pairs of shoes. Thank you very much indeed.

Hashimu, who says he is from Buhari’s native Katsina State, said he embarked on the journey to fulfill a vow he made to God two years ago that if Buhari won the 2015 Presidential elections, he was going to make the journey by foot.

He also presented a gift to Buhari and took a series of photographs to celebrate the occasion.

While responding to questions from reporters shortly afterwards, Hashimu explained that from Lagos, he passed through Kwara and Niger States before arriving Abuja after 18 days.

He said, “I passed through Kwara State, Niger State to Abuja. I trek from 6am to 6pm. I start by six anywhere I find myself by 6pm, I pass the night there. I spent 18 days.

“I found myself in the bush once and had to trek till 9pm to a nearby village. I am based in Ibadan. I started my journey from Berger in Lagos.”

In response to critics, who doubt his claims, he said, “I made this promise between God and myself. I don’t want people to believe me. Believe me or not, that is why I did not leave any evidence on the ground.

“I made a promise between me and my God and I think right from Ilorin in Kwara State, I did not walk five kilometers alone; I always trek with people.”

Meanwhile, Buhari also received in audience non-returning members of the House of Representatives, who went to remind him of a promise he made before the elections that he would not abandon them.

Spokesman for the group, Mr. Afam Ifeanyi, said they came to congratulate the President-Elect on his electoral victory and remind him about his promise not to abandon them.

A New Solution That Stops Snoring and Lets You Sleep.

If you’re like most Americans you probably don’t get eight hours sleep each night.

But, if you also constantly feel exhausted, experience headaches for no obvious reason or have high blood pressure, you could have a more serious problem.

That’s because these can all be the result of snoring—which is, in turn, the most common symptom of a potentially serious health problem—obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

While most people think of snoring as a minor annoyance, research shows it can be hazardous to your health.  That’s because for over 18 million Americans it’s related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). People who suffer from OSA repeatedly and unknowingly stop breathing during the night due to a complete or partial obstruction of their airway.  It occurs when the jaw, throat, and tongue muscles relax, blocking the airway used to breathe.  The resulting lack of oxygen can last for a minute or longer, and occur hundreds of times each night.  

Thankfully, most people wake when a complete or partial obstruction occurs, but it can leave you feeling completely exhausted.  OSA has also been linked to a host of health problems including:

Acid reflux

Frequent nighttime urination

Memory loss

Stroke

Depression

Diabetes

Heart attack

People over 35 are at higher risk.

OSA can be expensive to diagnosis and treat, and is not always covered by insurance.  A sleep clinic will require an overnight visit (up to $5,000).  Doctors then analyze the data and prescribe one of several treatments.  These may require you to wear uncomfortable CPAP devices that force air through your nose and mouth while you sleep to keep your airways open, and may even include painful surgery.

Fortunately, there is now a comfortable, far less costly and invasive treatment option available.  A recent case study published by Eastern Virginia Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine concludes that wearing a simple chinstrap while you sleep can be an effective treatment for OSA.

The chin strap, which is now available from a company called MySnoringSolution, works by supporting the lower jaw and tongue, preventing obstruction of the airway.  It’s made from a high-tech, lightweight, and super-comfortable material.  Thousands of people have used the MySnoringSolution chinstrap to help relieve their snoring symptoms, and they report better sleeping, and better health overall because of it.

10 Shocking Oscar Outfits 2015

10 KELLY OSBORNE

Every year hundreds of A-list celebrities gather in Hollywood for the crème de la crème of movie award ceremonies – the Oscars. This 2015 was no different to any other before certainly as far as the dress code. There were great dresses and the not so great; of course there were also the downright awful. There have been 87 Oscars ceremonies in total, this year it was held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Centre in February and featured no less than 24 Oscars won by the top influential industry names.

More than 37 million viewers tuned in to watch the event so it will come as no surprise that everyone who attended wanted to look a million dollars – they were all very much on show. However, as with every celebrity event, the best dressed can sometimes be the worst dressed! Here’s our rundown of the 10 worst dressed Oscar outfits this year.

Was it the vivid purple hair or the unflattering tablecloth dress that puts Kelly on our list?  Kells, you always know how to shock and actually, we know this dress was meant to be a more “sensible” choice than of late but really, the skirt looks like it belongs on a dining room table or perhaps on a Flamenco dancer.  Plus the hair doesn’t work you would have looked much better with a sleek up-do or at least kept it simple with a blonde or dark brown style.  There’s always next year.

‘Even in my ill-health, I still Smoke, Womanize and Drink’ – Actor, Olumide Bakare

Olumide Bakare 

Popular Yoruba Actor, Olumide Bakare in a chat with Encomium Magazine has revealed that even in his ill health which he has been battling with since 2013, it hasn’t stopped him from smoking, womanizing and drinking.

According to the 63 year old actor, he has lived with these habits since his youthful days and it will be difficult for him to just do away with them

“I have not out-rightly stopped but I have slowed down. I don’t know how to tell lies. I still smoke and drink. I still find time to sleep with women. But the truth is that I am not doing all these things as before. And the fact still remains that I am not properly married” 

When Asked if he was taking any precautions to curtail his habits, the actor said;

“Let me tell you one thing about life. God doesn’t care about habit but your heart. How clean is your heart to God and people around you? How do you sail across the ocean of your life and all that? All these are what God cares about. It is not about whether you smoke or drink. Even those who don’t smoke and drink, worse things happen to them. I am a very straight forward person I have been in all these habits for about 45 years and I want to tell you, no shaking” he said

Lagos To Provide Wi-Fi To All Its Residents.

Lagos state government has disclosed its plans to provide Wi-fi to each and every one of its resident in the state..

Channels reported that the Permanent Secretary of the State’s ICT Ministry, Mrs Nike Animashaun said the first phase of the Wi-Fi connectivity project would be deployed at parks located at different parts of the state.

She said the Wi-Fi would be deployed at parks in Oshodi, Alausa and Ajegunle.

“The Wi-Fi services will be in some of the parks in the state and when it is deployed, residents of Lagos State would be able to access Wi-Fi in some of the parks,”

Although she didn’t specify if the Wireless Fidelity would be free, Mrs Animashaun stated that the state government came up with the idea to stimulate and encourage the interest of children in science and technology.

Thanks Goodness I’m a registered resident of the Lagos Metropolis. Lol

Open Letter to Governor Babatunde Fashola – Scandals Rock The Making Of LASPOTECH’s 10Th Rector.

His Excellency,

Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

Executive Governor of Lagos State,

Alausa Secretariat,

Ikeja,

Lagos State.

Dear sir,

FLAGRANT ABUSE OF DUE PROCESS AND GANG UPS IN LAGOS STATE POLYTECHNIC TO SUPRESS QUALITY LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO COVER UP DIRTY DEALS

Your Excellency sir, it may interest you to know that in the last four years, the staff (Academics and Admin) of Lagos State Polytechnic have been under serious bondage owing to the leadership style of the Rector, Dr Abdulazeez Abioye Lawal and his co-travelers. The people allow this brigand to fester this much because they don’t want to toe the line of our sister Institutions who are constantly in the news for no good reason. Hence, the implosion that is about to happen.

I will start with the Rector. To Dr Lawal, everybody that might had wronged him when he was the Chief Imam of the polytechnic is his perceived enemy and must be persecuted. He will set up panels and determine what the findings and recommendations of the panel must be. If the panel exonerates, he will overrule and lord his decision on the affected staff. This is a typical case of the academic staff members that were demoted in the department of Computer science-Saheed Ololade Adelanwa PFAS/ 600, Jerry Abayomi Sarumi PFAS /669 and Ibitoye Akinfolajinmi Akinrinlola PFAS/606.

While these young lecturers are facing this harrowing experience, one Mrs Alfrida Abimbola Oshinde PFSS/601 in the department of Hospitality Management Technology and also the sister-in law of the Registrar is allowed to work and walk freely after being tried and convicted for a case of forged certificate. This is just one out of many of such double standard in the polytechnic.

Sir, regardless of the religious veil that the rector is covered with, it will amuse you to know that the financial recklessness and frauds in the polytechnic will make even NNPC go green with envy. What would anyone imagine on an internet provision that was procured with seventeen million naira and never worked for a day. Award of biased scholarships without any regards for quota system and merit. These are just to mention few.

Sir, the time bomb that requires to be detonated IMMEDIATELY is the appointment of the LASPOTECH’s 10th Rector which process is currently raising dust. It has been established amongst the staff of the Polytechnic, that truth is stood on its head. We all know ourselves, and we also understand the capacity of all the five Applicants from the Polytechnic, the results flying round are obviously not a reflection of the Polytechnic’s egg heads. The connivance of the Special Adviser on Education, Rector of the Polytechnic and the guest Rectors at the interview cast aspersion on the outcome of the process.

It is on record that, Mr Fatai Olukoga has been compromised by Dr Abioye Lawal. The same Dr Lawal fraudulently induced the guest Rectors to work in tandem with the script of fostering a stooge as the incoming Rector, to cover the huge financial mismanagement and recklessness of the duo (SAE and Rector).

Sir, you may wish to know that, Mr Fatai Olukoga took his job as your ADVISER to an alarming level that portrayed your government in bad light. Olukoga works and signs every document on commission basis. It is Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira to append his signature, 20% of every executed project, Six Million Naira for rectorship, Three Million Naira per Convocation, etc aside other ungodly gratifications during any festive period. Most times, monies are processed for him through the office of the school PRO- these are all verifiable facts.

I quite understand the fact that, it is informal to swear and such action is alien to Nigerian constitution. But I make bold to say that, all the actors in this unfolding drama should swear to heavens and worth they believe in to prove their innocence. Documents don’t also lie sir.

You may wish to investigate these conduit pipes sir; HAF-HAX TECHNOLOGY- owned by the Registrar’s husband, LASTAK- owned by the Rector and WAKO CONSTRUCTION LIMITED –owned by the Rector’s Personal Assistant.

Your Excellency sir, it should be noted that I am not interested in any candidate, but in free and fair process that devoid favouritism, nepotism or ‘godfatherism”.

MY PRAYERS

Your Excellency sir, I will admonish you to set up INDEPENDENT panel of inquiry to investigate all the aforementioned claims and others that I don’t have knowledge of, to save the Polytechnic from the threatening collapse
Investigate all the Special Adviser’s dirty dealings (some concealed in secrecy while some in the open) with the Polytechnic Management while the Governing Council was not in place.
Invite Philip Consulting to provide the original results of the Computer Based Test (CBT) that was conducted for all the Candidates vying for the post of rectorship.
Request for the original rough scores/grade from the league of Rectors, and question why grades were uttered
Inaugurate another panel of professionals and Academics to painstakingly scrutinize (a) the documents of the Applicants, (b) sincerely determine the states of origin, (c) adequately interview the Applicants (written & oral), (d) everything should be done in the full glare of cameras
Please, constitute a formidable and progressive Governing Council for the Polytechnic to avoid further depletion of our scarce resources and the ‘military’ like leadership style.
Sir, kindly take time to act upon the sincere petition before the pending implosion snowball into regrettable crises.

Long live Lagos State. Long live LASPOTECH.

Yours Sincerely

Signed

Adelaja Waheed ADERIBIGBE

Council Affairs Unit, Registry Department,

Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu.

Oritsefemi Goes Spiritual on Stage

Oritsefemi has a lot to be grateful for and boy does he know it! The ‘Double Wahala‘ singer recently treated the mammoth crowd to a spiritual experience at this year’s Star Music Trek inaugural concert in Calabar tagged “Calabar Rocks!” at the Calabar Municipal Garden on May 2, 2015.

The visibly emotional hitmaker, while performing his hit song “Mercies Of The Lord” sat down onstage with his head bowed and actually began recounting his personal blessings in front of the appreciative audience.

Calabar Rocks!’ which featured the talents of performers like Chidinma, DJ Snoop The Damaja, DJ Big N, Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Cynthia Morgan and many others was the inaugural concert on this year’s Star Music Trek.

Olamide Strikes The ‘Gunman Pose’ With Toke Makinwa On Set Of HipTV Interview

Toke Makinwa &Olamide

Olamide Strikes The ‘Gunman Pose’ With Toke Makinwa On Set Of HipTV Interview

The rapper and the popular OAP were on the set of a TV interview with HipTV where they struck the trending ‘Gunman pose’.

5 Reasons to Stop Negativity and How to Do It

Just like positivity, negativity has a huge power. If you don’t stop it, it may ruin your health, relationship, career, and the entire life. You may not notice the consequences of negativity at first, but you will certainly feel them at some point of your life.

I recently spoke to a person whose life is filled with negativity. She has been living such a life for many years and thought it’s a normal life. Now she realized that she could have a better life, precisely a happier life. She has two wonderful kids and a lovely husband. Moreover, she has made a good career in IT and earns enough money to buy everything her family needs or wants. The only thing is she is not as happy as she wants to be. The major reason of her unhappiness is negativity. She is not alone since many people suffer from negativity and its consequences. Check out what negativity may do to your life and how to stop it.

1. Negative thoughts affect your brain
No one is immune to negative thoughts. While most people start thinking negatively when they feel down, others let their negative thoughts ruin their everyday lives. When you feel like your mind is burdened with negative thoughts, it’s a sign you should get rid of this habit as quickly as possible. Taking a short nap, meditating and reading are among the most instant ways to stop thinking negatively. You should cultivate positive thinking on a daily basis, though.

2. Negative people drain your energy
You eat healthy, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and stay positive, then why do you feel like you lack energy every other day? The reason is you spend too much time with negative people. Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid negative people, if they are your parents, siblings or coworkers so try to limit the amount of time you spend with them. If you have any other toxic people in your life, stay away from them, by all means.

3. Negativity leads to depression
A great number of studies show that negativity is one of the major causes of anxiety and depression. When a negative thought hits your brain, try to distract yourself from it. Go for a walk, read a favorite book, cook a favorite meal or call your positive friends. Smile and laugh even when you feel down in order to fight anxiety and prevent depression.

4. Negativity is slowly destroying your health
Negativity breeds numerous health issues – from chronic fatigue and mental disorders to heart disease and cancer. Negative people or those who prone to negative thinking tend to have a shorter life, not to mention they have to visit their doctors each month.

Keep track of your negative thoughts to discover what makes you unhealthy and unhappy. Start your day with a healthy breakfast, a smile and some uplifting quotes. Consider practicing yoga and meditation to improve your mental health and do your morning exercises to boost your physical health. Focus on positive things and negativity will fade away in a jiff.

5. It affects your self-esteem
People who suffer from low self-esteem are not able to live a happy life. There are many reasons of low self-esteem – negativity is one of them. While negative thoughts may affect your self-esteem, negative people can destroy it completely. Don’t let it happen. Working on your self-esteem and self-confidence is a surefire way to stop negativity in your life. Don’t judge others and try to treat everyone, including your enemies, with respect. This way, you will be proud of yourself and other people will respect and appreciate you.

In a nutshell, getting rid of negativity is a long process. It may take a lot of time and effort and you may need to make some changes in your daily routine. If you are thinking negatively and focusing on the negative things, then negativity is what you’re going to see and feel down the road. Use the power of positivity to look and feel awesome each day. What tricks have you tried to live a more positive life?