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Friday, February 19

Abuja-Kaduna train for launch May – Amaechi




The minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the Abuja-Kaduna rail project is 100 per cent completed and will be launched in May.

Mr. Amaechi announced this at Idu, Abuja, on Thursday, while inspecting the project along with the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

According to him, before the launch by President Muhammadu Buhari, the rail would be test-run in March, adding that during that period, passengers will board for free.

“The essence of my tour is to enable us assess whether we are ready for commercial activities and I think we are. I will be travelling from Abuja to Kaduna tomorrow through the rail.
“In March, they should start the test-run of the rail services for free, then the proper commercial activity will start in May, where we expect the president to flag-off the use of coaches,” he said.

He said N150 billion would be used to execute the national rail project, with another N60 billion for the Lagos-Kano standard gauge and yet another N60 billion for the Lagos-Calabar project.

“What we are doing is implementation of what we met in office. We are not among those who will abandon good ideas.

“If we see an idea that is good, we will adopt it. The Lagos-Kano project was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and we are flying with it.

“The Lagos-Calabar project was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan and we are also flying with it. What we are doing is implementing those projects that have not been implemented for so many years,” the minister said.

He further said Idu, the location of the rail, was too far from the city centre, adding that the contractor should make provisions for temporary stations in the city.

Mr. Amaechi suggested that since the Abuja light rail project was yet to commence, the tracks could be used to pick passengers from the city centre to Kaduna.

“The Abuja light rail is expected to start from Abuja and de-board passengers at Idu from where such passengers will move to Kaduna but since the Abuja light rail is not ready, we shall use their tracks to continue to pick passengers from Abuja until they are ready and then we will disengage the temporary facility.

“The role of the station is to convey passengers to Idu, where they will be transferred to the national rail line to proceed to Kaduna,” he explained.
He said the only challenge with the project was the fencing aspect.

Ex-President Jonathan’s relative who was abducted with his uncle, found dead




The body of a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Samuel Oki, who was kidnapped alongside Chief Inegite Nitabai Jonathan, the former president's foster father, has been found floating on Otuoke river, two days after they were both abducted at their home in Otueke by unknown gunmen.
According to Premium Times, the Bayelsa state Police spokesperson, confirmed this development. Some fishermen in Otuoke community discovered the decomposing body of 35 year old Samuel this morning. The whereabouts of 72 year old Pa Jonathan is still unknown.

Ogbeni Appoints Folorunsho Alakija as UNIOSUN Chancellor



The Governor of the State of Osun and the visitor to Osun State University, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has announced the appointment of
Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, as the second Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo. The pioneer Chancellor being His Imperial Majesty, the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade whose five year tenure lapsed in 2014.

The appointment, which according to a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, takes immediate effect and will be for a period of five years.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while congratulating the new Chancellor, said Mrs. Alakija’s antecedent and sterling qualities as a God-fearing woman, a person of honour, integrity and successful business woman would no doubt impact positively on the running of Osun State University.

The Governor also pointed out that the Government of Osun would look forward to a great working relationship with the new Chancellor as she leads Osun State University, Osogbo, to a new height of excellence.

In her acceptance letter addressed to the Governor, Mrs Alakija said, “It is with pleasure that I receive and accept the appointment as the Chancellor of the University of Osun State. I pray for God’s grace and strength to execute my duties as Chancellor of the University during my five-year tenure.”

Mrs. Folorunso Alakija is a businesswoman who has forayed into uncharted territories. She is a philanthropist with a sincere desire to help the needy, an icon with an infallible sense of style, a loving wife, a caring mother and doting grandmother.

Educated in Europe, she first embarked on a career in office administration and later went into banking where she remained, until she took a leap of faith and followed her creative calling to establish her own business.

The investiture of the second Chancellor of Osun State University will take place during the forth- coming Convocation ceremonies of the University.

Visit the Official Website of Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija to read her full profile.

PRESIDENT BUHARI DON BLOW #WakawakaBuhari hashtag



Nigerians on twitter are reacting to President Buhari's frequent foreign trips abroad. Though the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the frequent trips were to help correct Nigeria's bad image in the International community, many Nigerians feel its unnecessary. See more of their reactions after the cut...






Boko Haram now hiding in Sambisa Forest- Buhari



President Buhari says Boko Haram members are now hiding in Sambisa forest after they were chased away from all the Local government they hitherto held captive before he came into office. Buhari said this while addressing members of the diplomatic corps during a reception he organized in their honor at the state house yesterday February 18th
"It is worthy to note that when I assumed office on May 29th 2015, Boko Haram had full control of fourteen (14) Local Government areas in the North East, but today, the group holds no territory in Nigeria.

They are hiding in Sambisa forest and occasionally undertake cowardly attacks on innocent citizens in soft targets"he said

Pope Francis says Donald Trump's behaviour 'is not Christian', Trump fires back saying Pope's comments are disgraceful



Pope Francis has said that U.S Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border if voted into office is "not Christian." The Pope said this on Thursday while speaking aboard his papal plane after visiting Mexico and when asked about Donald Trump's plans if he's elected into office.

"A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," he said

According to reporters who were on the plane with the pontiff. The pope stressed that he was not suggesting whom American voters should vote in the election:

"I am not going to get involved in that. I would only say that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that."he said

Upon hearing the Popes comments, Trump fired back quickly with a strongly worded statement.

'If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS’s ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been President because this would not have happened. ISIS would have been eradicated unlike what is happening now with our all talk, no action politicians. ' 'The Mexican government and its leadership has made many disparaging remarks about me to the Pope, because they want to continue to rip off the United States, both on trade and at the border, and they understand I am totally wise to them. The Pope only heard one side of the story - he didn’t see the crime, the drug trafficking and the negative economic impact the current policies have on the United States. He doesn’t see how Mexican leadership is outsmarting President Obama and our leadership in every aspect of negotiation.' 'For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith. They are using the Pope as a pawn and they should be ashamed of themselves for doing so, especially when so many lives are involved and when illegal immigration is so rampant.''

As word of the Pope's comments about Trump spread on social media, Trump's social media director, Dan Scavino, posted this tweet:

Olugbo-in-Council debunks Oba Akinruntan's EFCC arrest




There were reports online yesterday that the traditional ruler had been arrested for money laundering but his chiefs say this is not true. Read the press statement below...


The Olugbo-in-Council which is the Highest Traditional Body of Ugboland in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have debunked rumours of the arrest of the Olugbo of Ugboland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Frederick E. Obateru Akinruntan, CON.


Speaking through the Secretary of the Kingdom, Chief I. A. Demehim, the Olugbo-in-Council, asserts that the reported arrest of the Highly Revered Monarch, who is the Paramount Ruler and Prescribed Authority of Ugboland as well as Founder of the Multi-Billion Dollar Obat Group is completely false. According to High Chief Isaiah Demehin, “the news report by Sahara Reporters which is also being peddled by several soft sell bloggers that Kabiyesi was arrested by EFCC for MoneY Laundering is not only laughable and false but also a sacrilege to the traditional stool of our land.

The Olugbo is domiciled in Ugbo, and Kabiyesi was dutifully attending to traditional matters as well as the needs of his subjects on Friday” Furthermore, Chief Isaiah Demehin stated that it is pitiful that such a blog as widespread as Sahara Reporters would tell a lie against a Monarch while throwing away all ethics which places the onus on them to confirm from the Palace of the Olugbo which is always filled with throngs of people and activities which the Olugbo presides upon by himself or cross check their write up with the EFCC as a mark of professionalism.

In conclusion, he stated, “I wish to advise our journalists to always cross-check their facts and stop embarrassing innocent persons. It is especially sad that any journalist would embark on a path to destroy the great image of Nigeria’s Doyen of Industry who has contributed immensely to the socio economic and human capital development of Nigeria. Our Monarch is a great father and would not join issues with any media house, however, I think it is dutiful of any journalist that is sound to learn how to accord honour to revered traditional stools, and avoid being used by disgruntled persons to tarnish the images of global icons as the Billionaire Monarch whose business conglomerates have transformed Ugboland and Nigeria as a whole.

Nigerian troops rescue 195 hostages from Boko Haram



Nigerian troops have rescued 195 Boko Haram hostages and killed a number of "terrorists" in raids on villages across the restive northeast, the army said on Thursday.

Troops descended on towns suspected to be controlled by the Islamist group in the state of Borno and "rescued 195 persons held hostage," it said in a statement.

"Quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists were killed," it added, while a spokesman also listed a range of equipment and livestock seized.
Photos released by the army show a modest camp with shelters made of logs and thatched grass and shacks constructed with rusted corrugated steel.

Seized equipment included two trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles and a generator. The militants have recently been using bicycles to attack villages in the absence of better vehicles.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman added they also recovered 300 cows, 200 sheep and 130 goats rustled by the insurgents.

The offensive follows a major assault against a key Boko Haram base in Nigeria by the Cameroonian army, who seized heavy machine-guns, rocket-launchers, AK-47s, grenades and training rifles.

In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, the group has killed at least 17 000 people and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since their six-year campaign for an independent Islamic state began.

Boko Haram's continued attacks in the region come despite the government's insistence it has "technically" defeated the ISIS affiliate.

EFCC accuses lawyer of bribing judge




Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed a counter-affidavit opposing Rickey Tarfa’s fundamental rights application case he instituted against EFCC and others. In a counter-affidavit, the anti-graft agency alleged that Tarfa bribed a judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos with N225, 000.

It alleged that Tarfa, on January 7, 2014, transferred the money to the judge, which he acknowledged the payment.The counter affidavit, along with exhibits, including MTN call logs, were filed by counsel to EFCC, Wahab Shittu.The affidavit was sworn to by Moses Awolusi of the EFCC.

He averred that EFCC’s investigation of Tarfa’s Access Bank account number 0000964760 “shows that before the institution of the above proceeding, particularly on 7th January 2014, the applicant bribed His Lordship with the sum of N225, 000, a copy of the applicant’s firm’s account details showing the transfer of the sum of N225,000 from the applicant’s firm to the judge is hereby shown to me and marked Exhibit ‘O’.”

Tarfa had filed a N2.5billion suit against the EFCC on February 9 at the Federal High Court, Lagos following his arrest by the commission.
EFCC arraigned Tarfa Tuesday on a two-count charge bordering on obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice by communicating with a Federal High Court judge that was handling a suit filed by him against the commission.
Tarfa also asked the court to compel the defendants to release his two mobile handsets which he said were “deceitfully collected” from him for the purpose of destroying all information, data and other retrievable materials stored on them.

He sought an order directing respondents to release his Mercedes Benz SUV which he sad was unlawfully seized from him.

Airtel now launches a 3GB for N1000 data plan – works on all devices






Hehehe!!!

Not quite long after the introduction of the Airtel #100 for 1GB weekend data bundle , Airtel then decides to take on their rivals by launching a 3GB internet data plan which would only cost you #1000.


The newly introduced Airtel internet package isn’t a blackberry plan, unlike other Airtel blackberry plans that works on other devices. This plan is the Airtel normal internet package that is recommended for all internet enabled devices, and using the plan can last you a full month as long as you’re not a downloading or streaming addict.


What do you think? Are you a big fan of social networks, all you do is chat, download little files and browse through the internet? If so, then it’s advisable to go for this Airtel package. Maybe, whenever you wished to download some huge files or got huge task to perform online which requires voluminous data, then you can subscribe for the MTN unlimited daily plan.



**To opt-in for the Airtel 3GB for N1000 internet package, simply dial *431# . To check-in for balance, then dial *140# .**

Duration: 30days

This plan works on all devices which includes your smartphones (android, windows phone, iPhone & iPad) symbian devices, Java phones, computers and other internet enabled devices.

Enjoy!!!

E-Money Gifts Street Hawker Brand New Car And N300,000



CEO Five Star Music, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, was a year older yesterday, and decided to give back to the street to celebrate his birthday.

E-Money, reached out to a shoe rack hawker along Ikeja along, whom Kcee had met while he himself was on the streets of Lagos selling recharge card. Promise, the said guy upon being contacted was discovered to have been picked up by KAI officials.

The team immediately set out for the office where Promise was eventually released after several hours of pleading and promise to never hawk again.

E-Money in his generosity, gave Promise a brand new Toyota Corolla car, and the sum of N300,000 to get himself a new apartment. A young man who also hawked with Promise, also benefited form E-Money’s generosity.

Kcee was contacted to confirm this story and he said it was common with the team as they loved to give back to the street.

According to Kcee:

If you follow the Five Star music family you’ll know this is what we do, it’s my brother’s birthday and he decided to give back to the street and we are grateful to God for his mercies and grace upon us.
See photos:




Apply for Chevron/NNPC Scholarship Awards – 2016


Chevron Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is offering a number of University Scholarship Awards to suitably qualified Nigerian students.

Chevron/NNPC Scholarship Awards Requirements / Eligibility

E-applications are invited from full-time SECOND YEAR (200 LEVEL) degree students of the under-listed courses in Nigerian Universities:

1. Accountancy

2. Agricultural Engineering/Agricultural Science

3. Architecture

4. Business Administration/Economics

5. Chemical Engineering

6. Civil Engineering

7. Computer Science/Computer Engineering/System Engineering

8. Electrical/Electronic Engineering

9. Environmental Studies/Surveying

10. Geology/Geophysics

11. Law

12. Mass Communication/Journalism

13. Mechanical/Metallurgical & Materials Engineering

14. Human Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy

15. Petroleum Engineering

How To Apply for NNPC/Chevron Scholarship Awards

Registered existing awardees need not apply but refer to the steps outline in the invitation email.
Unregistered existing awardees should apply using the steps below:

1. Before you start this application, ensure you have clear scanned copies of the following documents;

Passport photograph with white background not more than 3 months old (450px by 450px not more than 200kb)
School ID card
Admission letter
Birth certificate
O’ Level result
JAMB Result

2. Ensure the documents are named according to what they represent to avoid mixing up documents during upload.

3. Ensure you attach the appropriate documents when asked to upload.

‡To apply, visit www.scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards and follow the steps below:

1. Click on “Apply Now” tab.

2. Click on “Register Now” to create an account.

3. Proceed to your email box to activate your account

4. Click on http://scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards to return to Scholarship site

5. Enter your registered email and password to upload your information.

6. Enter your personal information, National Identification Number (if available), educational information, other information and upload required scanned documents.

7. Ensure the name used in applications matches the names on all documentation in same order. Upload a sworn affidavit or certificate if otherwise.

8. Ensure you view all documents after uploading, to eliminate errors during uploading.

9. When asked to upload photo, upload a pass-port photograph with a white background.

10. Recheck application information to avoid errors

11. Click “Apply Now” to submit information

12. You will receive an email and a sms that confirms your application was successful.

13. Return to www.scholastica.ng, enter your Email and Password to download your profile and proceed to have your Head of Department sign the document.

14. Upload a scanned copy of the signed profile, this would be used for verification.

15. If National Identification Number (NIN) number was not available in step 6, to obtain your National Identification Number (NIN)

Visit http://ninenrol.gov.ng to register and learn more about the National Identity Number

Click “Create Account” and fill in the required fields

Login with Email and Password to complete the form

After completion, schedule a date for photo and finger print capture

Visit any of the 37 capture centres http://www.nimc.gov.ng/?q=nin-registration-centres to complete the registration process and obtain your National Identity Number
You can also do your total registration at the NIMC office

16. Return to http://www.scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards and update application with National Identification Number (NIN) to ensure completion.

Note: Multiple applications attract a disqualification penalty from the Scholarship board.

In line with our e-scholarship administration system, selected students will be invited for computer-administered qualifying tests in selected examination centers nationwide. Short-listed candidates for the qualifying test will be invited by email and SMS text messages. All applicants are therefore advised to ensure that GSM telephone numbers and personal email addresses are properly entered into the e-forms on the web site.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER VALID PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Please note that applicants for the NNPC / CNL JV scholarship are ineligible to apply for any other scholarship program sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Limited, its JV Partners, or any of its affiliates, including the Agbami scholarship program published simultaneously with this NNPC / CNL JV scholarship program.

Application Deadline Date
Closing date for receipt of e-applications is strictly 9 March, 2016.
 
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