Best ways to spend Easter in Maiduguri

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, has been boycotted by a number of visitors for a couple of years as the area is considered a red zone.

With Easter weekend slated for Friday, March 25th to Monday, March 28th 2016, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has some ‘egg’cellent holiday ideas that will keep visitors as well as locals  in Maiduguri smiling ear to ear.

Film Marathon

The perfect thing about running a film marathon is that you do not have to go to a cinema. Dig out all you favorite movies, then invite some friends over so you can spend time watching them back to back. The film marathon could stretch for as long as two days, you just need to make sure you have your steady power supply, food in your fridge and soft pillows to make yourself  a comfortable spot. This activity is safe for people who are not keen on exploring the city or just going outside based on the fear of terrorists.

Food banquet

Food is essential to any holiday and what better way to make the most of your Easter by having a food banquet. For most Christians who are observing the lent, the fasting period ends with the holiday and so they have the chance to pamper their taste buds and fill their stomach with all it missed out on during the fasting period.  You could cook up a platter and invite friends or you can make it a solo party; the idea is to cook a large variety of food and eat till you drop. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to a buffet at one of the classy restaurants around town- this activity will be best enjoyed by a foodie.

Football match

Maiduguri is home to the El-Kanemi Warriors (a popular football team) and has an active local football league. While the players were advised to dump their El Kanemi stadium in 2014 for fear of insurgents, the team has recently returned and there will be most likely be matches slated for the holiday period. If you are a football fan, a good way to make your Easter exciting would be to attend one of these matches and get your adrenaline pumping.

Picnic at the Kyarimi Park

Originally established in 1970 as a forest reserve, before becoming a large wildlife sanctuary and a botanical park, the Sanda Kyarimi Park is one place still provides residents with some semblance of leisure despite the insurrections in the locale. The oldest and largest zoo in Nigeria, it attracts thousands of visitors per year, but continues to be a sanctuary for people who want to relieve themselves of the day’s stress in the city. Spend a couple of hours off your Easter holiday visiting this location. You could certainly carry your food basket and a mat for picnic or you could decide to tour the park and visit other nearby picnic zones such as Alo Lake and Zambiza game reserve.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer Jovago Nigeria

Mobile: +234 7033853356   Skype: live:nkemndemv

Best Happy Birthday Message, Special Happy Birthday Text To Friends And Loved Ones

Here is a collection of our happy birthday messages which you can send to your friends, loved ones, boyfriend, girlfriend and more.
Please feel free to use them and do share using the share buttons at the end of the post.

*Birthday is the most special day in one’s life, enjoy it to the fullest.

*The sun is shining more brightly to wish you happy birthday.

*Wish you an outstanding and fabulous happy birthday.

*Happy birthday to the most beautiful person on the earth.

*Let your happy birthday be full of all the colors of the rainbow.

*Age hasn’t spoiled you. Happy Birthday.

*I hope that today is the beginning of a great year for you. Happy Birthday.

*A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are – even if you are getting older. Happy Birthday.

*A great friend and a happy birthday, that is what you are and what I wish for you.

*A happy birthday to a person who in dog years would already be dead.

*A lighter? We’re going to need a flamethrower to light up your candles.

*A true friend remembers your birthday but not your age. Happy Birthday.

*Age is a number, but life is the calculator.

*Another year has passed and as you celebrate your birthday this year and turn a year older. May you have all that you wish for come true. Have a happy birthday!

*Another year has passed but rather than count the years, let me just say how much we count on you. Happy Birthday.

*Another year older. Well at least we are growing up to be what we should be – the two hottest babes around. Happy Birthday Gorgeous.

*As King David said, May you prosper wherever you go and in whatever you do. Happy Birthday.

*Being young is a privilege. Being attractive a genetic gift. Being cool, that is all you. Happy Birthday.

*Best birthday wishes ever, yeah that is my birthday wish for you.

*Best wishes for a happy day filled with love and laughter. Happy Birthday.

*Birthday greeting, birthday greeting, generic birthday greeting. Sorry but that was all I could afford.

*Birthdays are special occasions and they call for special celebrations. Let us celebrate you birthday today!

*Birthdays come and go, so you need to Go Go Go. Happy Birthday.

*Blowing out another candle should mean that you have enjoyed another year and made the world a better place than when you blew out fewer candles. Make every day and every candle count. Happy Birthday.

*Celebrate your birthday today. Celebrate being Happy every day.

*Celebrate your birthday, go have lots of fun, everybody should enjoy it and have tons of fun. Happy Birthday.

*Congratulations on being even more experienced. I’m not sure what you learned this year but I hope that you had fun. Happy Bday.

*Do you know what people in China do on their birthday? They get older too. Happy Birthday.

*Do you want to look back in life and think about what a great life you’ve had? Then you better start working towards it right away! Happy Birthday!

*Don’t count the years, count the wishes and all the cheers.

*Don’t look for a heaven in the sky, try making one here.

*For all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday.

*For your birthday, I just want to say; I hope you can see, how special you are to me. Happy birthday my love!

*Forever young and good-looking. That’s all i wish you for.

*Forget how long you’ve lived. Look at how much you’ve accomplished until now and how far you’ve got to go. Happy Birthday!

*Friends may come and go, but birthdays accumulate.

*Get up. Stand up. Stand up for your birthday fun.

*Good things happen when you just go for it. Happy Birthday.

HAPPY SALLAH CELEBRATION

During the festival of Eid
which is called "Small Sallah" Nigerian Muslims gets excited
and starts their preparation from months ago. On this day
people greet each other saying “ Bakra Da Sallah” that is
“greetings on Sallah” in the language of Hausa. On this
occasion people dressed in new and trendy clothes visits
mosque to offer “Salat” Eid. After that they greet each other
and embracing them. After this they go to their homes to
enjoy the meals prepared by the lady of the house.
Like other cultures Eid in Nigeria has its own flavor however
the basic elements remain same. In Nigeria, people love to
eat amala, rice etc. also dishes made of meat are very much
appreciated. This festival brings joy for the children. They
look wonderful in their new clothes and shoes and they go
to visit their neighbors and relatives along with their parents
where they are offered various sweets and snacks. Also on
the occasion of eid their School gets closed for two days so
no homework. Also there are parties organized by the elders
where they bring their children along and all the children
have fun together.
In Nigeria also Eid is observed as a reward for completing
the Ramadan with full devotion and dedication. Therefore,
people of all caste and color celebrate this occasion with
huge excitement and happiness. Also on this day non-
Muslim friends visits their Muslim friends to wish them
happiness and enjoy in their festivities. On the next day of
eid, some people also fast and they get huge rewards by
Allah for fasting this day.
Eid is the festival of happiness and people enjoy it by eating
and meeting other people which makes them all happy.

Biggie's Blog wishes all her viewers a happy Sallah Celebration, have fun and stay blessed....

Boko Haram: Police Ban Sallah Celebration

This would not be a good news to those who were
preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan fast
tomorrow Friday July 17 in Kaduna state as the state
Police Command has placed ban on all forms of social
activities at parks, events and recreation centres.
This ban is coming on the heel of a security alert by the state
security outfit, code-named ‘Operation Yaki’ that the state
might come under attacked on Sallah day by terror group,
known as ‘Surasuka’ or ‘Masushara’, The Punch reports.
Col Yakubu Yusuf(retd.), the coordinator of the outfit, said
security operatives had been placed on a high alert, but
cautioned residents to be vigilant during the period.

He warned residents against accommodating or harbouring
strange fellows as the Boko Haram terror group had
changed their tactics of attacks.
This revelation was made by the state commissioner of
police, Umar Shehu, while speaking to newsmen in Kaduna
saying places where fun seekers normally gathered for
relaxation in the state like Gamji Gate Amusement Park,
Galaxy Park and others would be closed down during the
celebration.
Shehu said: “Praying in Eid Ground is a sign of ending the
Ramadan and after the prayer, it is expected that everybody
returns back to his house.
“We have banned all social gathering and all operators of
such centers have been instructed to lock up the venue
because of the present security situation in the country and
anybody who violates the order, will be arrested.

“The state command also wishes to inform the residents that
operation order/strategies to checkmate activities of
criminal have been put in place.
“The command has deployed both conventional and mobile
policemen as well as undercover operatives to man and
monitor vulnerable points with a view to ensuring tight
security across the state.
“The command urges parents/guardians to be vigilant,
monitor and warn their children/wards and not allow them
to be used by mischief makers.
“More so, use of okada/street begging and hawking are still
in force, all in the bid to ensure that Kaduna residents have
a crime and violence free Eid-El Fitr celebration .”
The Emir of Zazzau, who is also the Chairman of Kaduna
State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has
also cancelled the traditional Durbar that’s usually held after
the Sallah prayers..