US First Lady Michelle Obama said Thursday she was "proud" that a woman might be elected president of the United States this year, during a speech in Madrid to promote education for girls.
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Mr Onyekachi Ubani, a former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, says the Certificate of Return given to Mr Uche Ogar of the PDP as the governor-elect of Abia by INEC is in order.
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I am a P. A. to the Managing Director of a big company and whenever we have the Annual General Meeting, we often book rooms into the venue of such meetings for effective co-ordination. A few weeks ago, we had last year’s AGM and a few of us got a bit drunk as the meeting went rather well. You can imagine how shocked I was when I woke up the next morning to find my boss in my bed! He’d been flirting with me for months even though I told him I wasn’t interested.
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The Lagos State Football Association (FA) on Thursday said it was set to be part of the Youdan Trophy tournament in Sheffield, U.K. in August
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John Alechenu, Abuja
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has vowed not to surrender the state to politicians who are sponsoring criminals to create a sense of insecurity.
Ortom made the vow in an interview with Journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
He explained that his administration was aware of the activities of desperate politicians who were using cultists and other miscreants to try and divert attention from his administration’s quest to recover stolen public funds.
According to him, the administration is poised to ensure the security of lives and property in the state because it recognises the critical role security plays in attracting investors and by extension development.
He equally announced that he has sent a bill to the State House of Assembly in order to provide a legal frame work for the operation of ranches and to outlaw grazing.
Ortom said, “There are some political undertones to the security issue. People are being instigated to go into kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism and all that; just to create tension. All these things are as a result of our quest to recover stolen funds from past administrators.
“All these things are being instigated to divert attention and create confusion but I want to assure you that there is no way I can surrender the state to criminals, I am going to take them headlong.
“Cattle are raised in America, in Europe in Asia even on African soil. I have been to Swaziland they ranch their cattle, their major export earner is beef but they ranch their cattle. Why should we refuse to do the same thing?”
The governor explained that Benue State does not have land for grazing, adding that Nigeria’s population is now far greater than what it had in the 1950’s when areas were designated for grazing.
Ortom appealed to the federal government to partner with state governments to encourage herdsmen to embrace the modern culture of ranching to prevent incessant clashes with farmers in order not to endanger the nation’s food production.
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Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to only accept the list of Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states from the Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party.
Justice Okon Abang, delivering ruling in an interlocutory application filed by two governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states, granted an injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law to any other persons or group than the Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the party.
The plaintiffs in the suit in a PDP governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Chief Benson Akingboye, and one of his counterparts in Edo State, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma.
Justice Abang ruled that his restraining orders against the INEC and the PDP would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016, filed by the plaintiffs.
INEC is the 1st defendant while PDP is the second defendant.
The Federal High Court’s restraining order came barely 24 hours after Justice Valentine Ashi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, delivered a judgment sacking all national officers of the party who assumed office on the basis of an illegal amendment of Article 46(7) of the party’s Constitution.
Sheriff, who is in a battle for the control of the party with the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party that was recently set up at a national convention in Port Harcourt, benefitted from the said illegal amendment of the party’s constitution.
Consequently, the former Borno State governor is believed to have been sacked by the Wednesday’s court judgment.
But ruling on the interlocutory application on Thursday, Justice Abang directed INEC and the PDP and their agents to “recognise, deal with and accord all facilities required by law “(regarding the gubernatorial elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to the Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC”.
Justice Abang further directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primary elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates of the PDP for the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC.”
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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
Amidst renewed violence in the Niger Delta, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appealed to traditional and opinion leaders in the troubled area to appeal to the people of the region to be patient with his administration.
He promised that his government would properly utilise the nation’s resources to rebuild the country, including the region.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving a delegation of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group led by the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari promised that under his watch, Nigeria would witness judicious utilisation of resources.
“We intend to rebuild this country so that our children and grand-children will have a good place they can call their own. A lot of damage has been done, so I want you to tell the people to be patient.
“When you get together with other leaders, please pacify the people. We will utilise the resources of Nigeria with integrity and rebuild the country,” the President told his guests.
Buhari also said the gazette on the Niger Delta amnesty programme by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration was being studied with a view to determining what had been fulfilled, promising that whatever is left would also be addressed.
“I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all, “the President said.
He sympathised with investors who borrowed money to invest in the Niger Delta and have not recouped their investments due to insecurity.
He reiterated his appeal to those who perpetrate violence to embrace peace and give government a chance.
Diette-Spiff said the group was made of peace builders, dedicated to peace and stability in the region.
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The Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF) has provided free meals to over 15,000 people as part of its 2016 Ramadan programmes in Ibadan.
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Reactions have continued to trail the announcement, last week, by e-commerce giant, Africa Internet Group, AIG to subsume all its entire ventures under the Jumia brand.
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Four priests of the Catholic diocese of Lyon in eastern France have been relieved of their duties for sexual abuse, a diocesan source said Thursday.
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Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria in collaboration with some financial institutions has concluded plans to provide financial support for interested students on low interest education loan.
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Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has resigned his post after the national team crashed out of Euro 2016, Spanish sports dailies AS and Marca reported Thursday.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Thursday that he is joining Manchester United, ending intense speculation about where the 34-year-old Swedish superstar forward will be playing next season.
Ibrahimovic, who was a free agent after ending a hugely successful stay at Paris Saint-Germain, becomes the second signing of new United boss Jose Mourinho after that of highly rated Ivory Coast centre-back Eric Bailly from the Spanish outfit Villarreal.
“Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United,” he wrote on Instagram and Facebook, complete with a picture of the United badge, as comments approving of the move — one of the biggest of the summer so far — flooded in.
Ibrahimovic reunites with Mourinho, after they enjoyed a good relationship while together at Italians Inter Milan, in what is likely to be the last major move in a career spanning five countries, starting with Malmo.
The towering Swede, who hit 62 goals in 116 international matches, had toyed with questioners for weeks about where he would be going and it will be his first time playing in the Premier League.
Ibrahimovic, who quit international football after Sweden crashed out of Euro 2016, has also played at Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan during a career in which he has become as well known for his colourful personality as his prowess in front of goal.
He had also been linked with a return to AC Milan and his agent had suggested that Major League Soccer in the United States was another potential destination.
Ibrahimovic will bolster a forward line at Old Trafford that looked desperately short of ideas, depth and talent last season under Louis van Gaal.
Wayne Rooney could well play deeper next season, in midfield, while French starlet Anthony Martial had to carry the United attack despite his tender years until youngster Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene late on in the campaign.
Van Gaal paid out heavily for his fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay, but he failed to deliver and spent the second half of the season on the bench.
Ibrahimovic said weeks ago that he knew where he would be playing football next season, but kept the football world guessing — typical of his mercurial personality.
“Yes, I have made my choice,” Ibrahimovic tantalisingly told a press conference at a training camp near Stockholm for the Swedish national team ahead of Euro 2016.
He said then that he had decided “long ago” but dodged all questions about whether that team was Manchester United, where Mourinho has replaced van Gaal after the Dutchman’s troubled two-year reign at Old Trafford came to a bitter end.
Asked a direct question about whether he had received an offer from United, Ibrahimovic’s hesitancy in answering spoke volumes.
He drummed his fingers on the table, smiled and eventually replied: “Let’s see what happens.”
“There are concrete offers from England, Italy… all countries. There are even some from outside Europe,” he said.
“There are many, many alternatives.”
But when asked whether he was tempted to work again with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic said only that they had worked well together at Inter Milan, where the Swede played from 2006 to 2009.
“You want action, you bring Mourinho. I believe he’s the man to bring them back to the top. Wherever he went he won,” the Swede said of Mourinho taking over at United, where he will be tasked with bringing back the glory days sorely missing under van Gaal.
There was no immediate word from United on Ibrahimovic.
AFP
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Starting line-ups for the Euro 2016 quarter-final between Poland and Portugal in Marseille on Thursday:
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Members of Team Nigeria at the Longest Marathon Theatre Performance tagged, ''Art Must Not Die''. The photos were taken along Awolowo Road Ikeja, Lagos.Photo credit:Kehinde Gbadamosi
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With the recent referendum by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, many businesses with existing or planned investment interests in the UK have started turning to African countries.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has described the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, late Ojo Maduekwe as an ardent believer in the unity of Nigeria, saying his death had saddened him.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has solicited patience and understanding from all citizens as the administration moves to rebuild Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general.
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Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered that a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, and his co-accused would on September 27, be arraigned on the charges of money laundering involving alleged diversion of about N3.2bn belonging to the state preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Anwuri Chikere fixed the date for arraignment after rejecting a defence counsel’s application to defer it till when the Supreme Court would deliver its judgment on a pending appeal challenging the validity of the charges.
The EFCC had, in 2007, preferred the charges against Kalu alongside Jones Udeogo, and the former governor’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited.
In the amended charges of 34 counts, the accused were said to have diverted a cumulative sum of N3.2bn from the Abia State Government’s treasury while Kalu was the governor of the state.
The case had however failed to make progress as all the three defendants had separately challenged the court’s decision dismissing their notices of preliminary objection to the charges, at the Court of Appeal and later at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had on March 18, 2016, dismissed Kalu’s and Udeogo’s separate appeals and ordered them to face their trial.
But Slok Nigeria Limited’s lawyer, Mr. Solomon Akuna (SAN), had on May 16 drawn the attention of Justice Chikere to the pending appeal by his client in the case and urged the court to adjourn the case indefinitely till when the Supreme Court would rule on it.
He had said two appeals numbered; SC.215/2012 and SC.264/2012 had been heard and determined but the third appeal, SC.264A/2012, filed by Slok yet to be heard by the apex court.
Justice Chikere had then further adjourned the case till Thursday.
Akuna again on Thursday insisted that the arraignment could not take place until the apex court’s judgment was delivered.
He asked the court to further adjourn for mention of the case, but the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), disagreed with the defence lawyer and urged the court not to adjourn for definite arraignment of the accused.
Jacobs cited provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which he said prohibited stay of proceedings in a criminal trial.
The prosecutor asked the defence lawyer to go to the Supreme Court to obtain an order for stay of proceedings if he was interested in halting the trial.
The judge agreed with the prosecuting counsel and fixed September 27 for the arraignment of the accused.
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Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, has said he’s in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.
He said he’s already searching for money to refund to the national treasury, the N400m he was paid by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan for image laundering.
Metuh is currently undergoing trial for allegedly collecting the money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sabo Dasuki(retd.).
His prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, has reached advanced stage.
The N400m was said to be part of money meant for the purchase of arms to wage the war against insecurity in the North-East.
Metuh, in a statement issued by his lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) in Abuja on Thursday, said he was ready to refund the entire money.
The statement was titled, “Why our client (Chief Olisa Metuh) is offering to refund the N400 million – Counsel.”
Metuh said that his earlier proposal to refund the N400m released to him by former President Jonathan, was because he didn’t know where the money came from.
The statement said, “We want to restate that at the time the money was released to him after his presentation to the ex-President, our client had no knowledge of the source, a fact that is now obvious from the evidence of the prosecution and defence witnesses.
“Our client had every cause to believe that the money was from the ex-President to whom he made presentation, received directives and rendered report and accounts accordingly.
“When the matter first came up and Metuh was invited to the Office of the National Security Adviser in December 2015, he requested to know the source of the money and expressed his readiness to make refunds if it was from government coffers, not minding that the money had been expended as directed by the former President.
“Officials at ONSA never got back to him as they promised, until his arrest by the EFCC in January 2016.”
He said that it was during his prosecution that he got to know the source of the fund.
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The Nigerian equity market on Thursday, dropped by 0.72 per cent due to month-end accounts balancing embarked by portfolio managers.
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The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, on Thursday, inaugurated medical equipment worth $89, 662 donated by Government of Japan to help improve the health status of Nigerians.
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One-time Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, says the party and the country have lost a gem with the death of Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
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The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French government to sponsor 13 Nigerian students to study in France.
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THE House of Representatives Special Ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution Thursday said it has adopted the report of 2014 National Conference as part of its working document.
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Belgium have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Wales after defender Jan Vertonghen was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury.
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Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has described the death of literary icon, Captain Elechi Amadi as a monumental loss, and that he has left very big shoes that will be difficult to fill.
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An Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday adjourned former Gov. Orji Kalu’s alleged money laundering trial till Sept. 27
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34 year old, Aaron Chervenak, from Los Angeles, traveled to Vegas just so he could say ‘I do’ to his smartphone.He married his cellphone at The Little Vegas Chapel in Nevada last month in an attempt to make a point about society’s growing devotion to and reliance on their smartphones.
Aaron said in a video documenting his peculiar wedding.
‘If we’re gonna be honest with ourselves, we connect with our phones on so many emotional levels,’ ‘We look to it for solace, to calm us down, to put us to sleep, to ease our minds, and to me, that’s also what a relationship is about.’ So in a sense my smartphone has been my longest relationship,’ he added. ‘That’s why I decided to see what it was like to actually marry a phone.’
A Facebook user shared the photo…could that be magic or what?..
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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commiserated with the families, government and people of Abia, Delta and Rivers States on the deaths of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Nikki Tobi; and a literary icon, Elechi Amadi.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said he received with profound sadness, the death of Maduekwe, who also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada.
“In all his years of service to Nigeria as a diplomat, minister, politician and ambassador, President Buhari says that Maduekwe was an ardent believer in the unity of Nigeria and gave all to that pursuit,” the statement said.
The President also noted that as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Maduekwe’s relentless call to citizen diplomacy and for Nigerians to be treated with dignity across the globe would continue to inspire other patriotic people to promote a positive international image of the country.
Buhari also paid tribute to Tobi, describing him as a brave jurist who served Nigeria creditably and brought his many years of training, knowledge and wisdom to the Bench.
The President also joined the literary and academic community in mourning Amadi whose writings and postulations as a novelist, poet and playwright, he said, introduced many generations of the world to the vibrant Nigerian culture.
The statement added, “In paying homage to the Man of Letters, visionary and venerated elder who dedicated his life to values of peace, equality, dignity and the reading culture in Nigeria, the President believes that the passing away of Amadi is as much a loss to Nigeria and Africa as it is to the world.
“The President affirms that the outpouring of grief and tribute across Nigeria and beyond is a testament of the high degree of respect and acceptance Amadi commanded around the world.
“He prays that God will grant the souls of the departed citizens eternal rest and comfort their families, friends and admirers.”
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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, on Thursday lauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for arresting and investigating the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbir Ikyange, and three principal officers of the assembly.
Ortom spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The principal officers of the assembly were invited to Abuja on Tuesday over alleged misappropriation of N750m meant for the purchase of cars for members.
Others invited by the commission included the Deputy Speaker, James Okefe; and the Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi.
While lauding the EFCC over the development, the governor said his government would never shield anybody who is found to be corrupt or wanting.
He said, “Yes, it (the arrest of the lawmakers) is a good thing, it is part of the process. They are under investigation by the EFCC.
“From day one, I brought up a slogan that ‘if you chop money, money will chop you’. We have to be careful and I have sent signals to all that nobody is above the law.
“If you do it wrong, you will go your own way. As far as I am concerned, they are under
investigation. Let us see the outcome we would have.
“As far as I am concerned, my government will not shield anybody who is corrupt and who is found wanting. Myself as governor and every other lieutenants are open to scrutiny; there is Freedom of Information Bill and people are allowed to get information from these sources.”
The governor however warned against peddling false information against government officials.
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A High Court sitting in Abia State has asked all judiciary officers, including the Chief Judge and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in the state not to swear in Uche Oga as governor of Abia State.
The order was given by Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu on Thursday.
The order read, “Upon this motion ex-parte pursuant to section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice, after hearing O.O Nkume, counsel to the applicant.
“It is ordered that an order of injunction is hereby made restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is further ordered that the 3rd defendant (chief judge of Abia State) or any other judge of the court or any judiciary officer are hereby restricted from swearing-in the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is also ordered that this order is hereby made to last for 10 days from today. The returnable date is fixed for the 8th day of July, 2016.
“Furthermore, the condition attached to this order is that the enrolled order must be served along with the motion on notice on respondents, else he order automatically lapses on 8th July, 2016.”
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah.
The order read: “an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”
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Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria said it had set aside a total sum of N2.5bn for members of the National Youth Service Corps with good business ideas.
The N2.5bn which was set aside out of the N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development fund would be disbursed to the youth corp members under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
The CBN is targeting to create a total of one million jobs through the YEDP which is the initiative of the apex bank launched on March 15 this year by the CBN Governor,Mr Godwin Emefiele.
The purpose of the program is to address the challenges of youth unemployment in the country.
Under the program, the apex bank in collaboration with Heritage Bank Plc would develop the entrepreneurial capacity of the youths as well as provide them with fund of a maximum of N3m each to operate a business
The activities to be covered under the programme are startups and expansion projects in agricultural value chain (fish farming, poultry and snail farming), cottage industry, mining and solid minerals.
Others are tourism, arts and crafts, information and communications technology and any other activity that may be determined by the CBN.
Speaking during the event at the NYSC camp in Abuja, Emefiele said the initiative would enable the CBN conserve the huge foreign exchange which had been spent in importing food items.
He said each Corp member is entitled to N3m adding that their discharge certificate as well their degree certificate would be used as collateral to secure the loan.
He said, “It is not a grant and it is a loan that must be paid. We are determined to give support to the youth and I truly must thank the National Youth Service Corps who has helped us to put together the first set of NYSC, so that we can nurture them as young entrepreneurs, not as people who go into the world looking for jobs.
“We want to nurture them as people who are developing the entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial skills, not only for their good but also for the good of the country.
He expressed optimism that the Corp member would not default in repaying the loan owing to the fact that they would not want to lose their certificate for a loan of N3m.
He added, “We do not anticipate that any of them fails. However, we have as collateral their NYSC certificate as well as their degree certificate. We know that our youths know the importance of their degree certificates as well as their NYSC certificate as collateral for this loan.
“I don’t think that somebody who has got a degree certificate or HND certificate to attain a gainful employment or a gainful life will abandon his certificate or his NYSC discharge certificate just because he wants to take a loan and not pay.”
The Director General, NYSC, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, commended the CBN for initiating the program for corps members.
He said a total of 1,500 corps members are participating in the entrepreneurship training program across the country.
He said 180 participants in the scheme are in Abuja; Plateau, 130; Katsina State, 208; Enugu State,160; Akwa Ibom 227; Osun State, 271; and Lagos State, 179.
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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday condemned the recent terrorists attacks on Ataturk Airport in Turkey, during which dozens of people from around the world lost their lives.
The President was said to have written a letter to his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyep Erdogan, a day after the incident.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President commiserated with Erdogan and all the people of Turkey on the attack on their soil by those he called evil forces who have nothing to do with Islam despite their warped beliefs.
The President wrote, “On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to convey my heartfelt sympathy to you and the people of Turkey on the shocking terrorist attack at the Ataturk Airport yesterday.
“Please extend my most sincere condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims of this tragic incident.
“We condemn in the strongest terms these criminal, cowardly attacks, wherever they might occur as an attack on all decent, democratic and peaceful people. Every terrorist attack only strengthens Nigeria’s resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with Turkey and other countries in the frontline of the war on terror.
“Our government calls on all peace-loving nations to commit themselves wholeheartedly to multi-lateral cooperation and collaborative actions aimed at eradicating the scourge of international terrorism.”
Buhari urged the people of Turkey to unite at this time and to strengthen their resolve to fight terrorism.
He described Turkey as a country that is rapidly growing and its government and people must not allow this attack to take their eyes away from the goal of progress.
The President also stated that Nigeria will continue to cooperate with countries around the world on the war against terrorism until victory is attained.
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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met behind closed-doors with the nation’s security chiefs.
The meeting, our correspondent learnt, reviewed the military operations in the troubled Niger Delta region and the ongoing anti-terrorism war in the North East.
Security chiefs who attended the meeting included the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ayo Oke; and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (retd.); National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno (retd.); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari.
They did not speak with journalists at the end of the meeting that lasted over three hours.
Olonisakin quickly moved to his waiting car as he came out of the venue of the meeting.
When Buratai was approached for comment, he directed journalists to the CDS who had already gone out of the premises.
The Presidency did not issue any official statement on either the agenda or outcome of the meeting.
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Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The United States said it had delivered over 160 metric tons of maize, sorghum, millet, groundnut, and cowpea seedlings to over 6,000 households in Adamawa and Borno states in June, 2016.
It stated that the donation was done through the United States Agency for International Development.
A statement from the US embassy Information Office on Thursday in Abuja, said more than 60,000 internally displaced persons in the local government authorities of Madagali, Michika, Gombe, and Fufore in Adamawa, and Kaga in Borno benefitted from the effort.
It said that the USAID collaborated with the Adamawa State Ministry of Agriculture, the American University of Nigeria’s Adamawa Peace Initiative, and the Borno state government to ensure the distribution occurred ahead of this year’s planting season.
“These distribution efforts are literally sowing the seeds for recovery and resilience of IDPs; working with the Nigerian government and other partners, USAID plays an active role in helping the Northeast realize its full potential,” said Michael Harvey, USAID/Nigeria Mission Director.
The statement explained that the USAID supports several humanitarian, transitional, and longer-term development activities in northeastern Nigeria, totaling $133 million in collaboration with the government at the federal, state, and local levels.
It noted that current and forthcoming activities would improve governmental capacity and performance, strengthen food security, and provide services for IDPs.
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Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti
Leaders of Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State on Thursday protested in Ido Ekiti against alleged subtle plot by Federal Government to silent Governor Ayodele Fayose as the lone opposition voice in the country.
At the rally also attended by members of the state cabinet, the party leaders declared that they were ready to defend the governor with the last drop of their blood.
They also threatened to recall any lawmaker found working with the opposition All Progressives Congress to hatch any impeachment plot against the governor.
Addressing journalists, a party leader, Mr. Ogunrinade Adeola, said the rally was organised to sensitise the people against being used to victimise the governor.
“The people all trooped out in the last election to cast votes for Governor Ayodele Fayose because he did well in his first coming. Although they truncated his reign then, we won’t allow that this time.
“Any of the lawmakers in the state assembly that works against the governor is working against Ekiti interest and we won’t hesitate to recall the person.
“They are all in the state assembly on the benevolence of the governor, so any act of betrayal will be taken as a coup against our collective interest.”
The immediate past chairman of PDP, Chief Idowu Faleye, boasted that the APC was working to frustrate the government because the party had lost its relevance in the state.
“APC is now in the oblivion. They have destroyed their political base because they ran the state into N76bn debt. So Fayose cannot be blamed for being unable to pay workers. If former Governor Kayode Fayemi had not obtained loan in excess, Ekiti would not have run into this crisis.”
Advising President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Services against overzealousness, Faleye said the people were ready to resist any plot to remove Fayose with their blood.
“We are ready to resist any attempt to hijack powers from Fayose through the back door with our last drop of blood. We have sensitised our people and they know the truth. We will continue to expose the lies and scheming of the Federal Government against the governor.”
The Commissioner for Works, Mrs. Funmi Ogun, said the governor had been doing a lot despite the witch hunt by the APC, urging the people “to pray for him and be patient with the government. Things will get better because he is a man of the masses.”
The Chairman of Ido-Osi Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Arogbodo, said the youths were behind the governor and ready to defend him because he “is a democrat. He is the only governor that has organised local government election in the South West.”
The chairman of the LG civil service commission, Mr. Sola Omotosho, wondered why the governor was being vilified.
“Former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, criticised the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan and he was not victimised. They should let Fayose be; opposition is part of democracy,” he said.
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Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
The Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta says it has entered its third phase of sustainable reintegration of about 30,000 ex-militants in the region.
The Amnesty Office said the reintegration of the ex-agitators followed the successful implementation of the first and second phases of the programme – disarmament and demobilisation.
The Niger Delta Liaison Officer, Office of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, made this known in Yenagoa on Thursday during his visit to the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
In his entourage were Executive Director, Peace Advocates Outreach, Chief Kalaiti Jephthah-Obadiah, Chief Executive Officer, Mahogany 21st Century Event, Mr. Enyinemi Omoruzi, among others.
Kiyaramo said as part of the measures to achieve successful reintegration process, the Amnesty Office had created liaison offices to bridge the information gaps that might exist between Abuja and the stakeholders in the region.
Shedding light on the amnesty programme, Kiyaramo noted, “Our amnesty programme is very large in terms of population. It is funded by the Nigerian government as it is obtainable in other conflict areas where DDR programme is in place.
“By DDR programme, I mean Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration. When you disarm the combatants, you bring them into camps, which is demobilisation, after that you train them and when they have been trained, you reintegrate them into the society. I want to tell you that the stage we are now is the stage of reintegration.
“We are carrying out sustainable reintegration of the ex-agitators. This process involves setting up means of livelihood for them to be able to participate in the local economy.
And so, we have started giving them starters packs in different areas to enable them to reintegrate properly into the civil society in their communities.
“In doing this, we need a lot of enlightenment. We need to understand what the programme is all about. Now the phase we are, which is reintegration, we are concerned about how we could give peace in the communities. So, our major task now is peace building.”
Kiyaramo, who advocated “peace journaism”, urged journalists to key in the peace building process to enable the Amnesty Office to properly reintegrate the ex-agitators into their communities.
On his part, Jephthah-Obadiah commended the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) for opening a liaison office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
He said the ingenious action would provide the opportunity for all ex-agitators in PAP to channel all issues and grievances without risking long and expensive journeys to Abuja.
In his remarks, Chairman, FCC, Mr. Kola Oredipe, called for robust synergy between the Amnesty Office and journalists in the region to enhance reportage of the programme.
Oredipe, who said the creation of liaison offices in the region was long overdue, advocated specialised training for journalists as part of the measure to build their capacities in the reportage of crises and Conflict resolution.
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Following the Certificate of Return issued to Mr. Uche Ogah as the governor-elect of Abia State by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday, sacked governor Okezie Ikpeazu has called on the state citizens to remain calm, assuring them that he is still in charge.
Ikpeazu gave the assurance barely one hour after the certificate of return was issued to Ogah.
He said: “Fellow Abians, remain calm and law abiding. I am still your Governor.
“I have received with concern report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of Abia State, despite dependency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay.
“I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation. Unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolved the appeal, the status quo remains the same: I am still the Governor of Abia State.”
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Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, some few hours ago canceled his trip to Abia State University, Uturu, where he was billed to be a guest lecturer at the University’s maiden edition of ‘Imminent Persons Lecture’.
The postponement of the event which had received a wide publicity across the State may not be unconnected with the news that Dr. Uche Ogah had been issued certificate of return, following a judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday which sacked Ikpeazu as Governor.
The Governor reportedly rushed back to the Government House when he heard the news, while on his way to the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of the University while announcing the postponement of the imminent persons lecture, said Ikpeazu’s attention was needed at a meeting of national importance in Abuja.
Umuahia the Abia capital has remained calm since the announcement of the issuance of certicate of return to Mr. Uche Ogah, While the Ikpeazu is yet to make any statement on the development.
Details Later…
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Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission has issued Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah as the governor-elect of Abia State.
INEC Commissioner in charge of the South-East, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, performed the duty on behalf of the commission in Abuja on Thursday.
The action of the commission followed judgement by a Federal High Court, which ordered the commission to withdraw the certificate of return given to the Governor of the state, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and give it to Ogah.
Both Ogah and Ikpeazu contested the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in the state.
While Ikpeazu came first at the primary, Ogah came second.
However, Ogah went to court, saying that Ikpeazu deceived the party by allegedly presenting incorrect tax papers during screening.
The court upheld his submission during the trial.
The commission said it decided to present the certificate of return to Ogah as directed by the court.
Nwuruku told journalists that the court directed the commission to issue the certificate with immediate effect.
He said, “The situation is we are simply obeying the court order. The court said with immediate effect, we should issue him certificate of return, and that is what we have done.
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Ihuoma Chiedozie, Enugu
A policeman who was beaten to coma by a mob in the Nsukka area of Enugu State on Tuesday has been confirmed dead.
Spokesman, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement.
But he did not disclose the identity of the policeman, who accidentally shot, and killed a motorcyclist, before the mob descended on him.
The police spokesman identified the motorcyclist was one Festus Onah.
Amaraizu said the incident that led to the policeman’s death is being investigated.
However, he said preliminary findings revealed that “the problem came up as a result of the resistance of the occupiers of the building material site, who allegedly and violently resisted government relocation order and started stoning heavily on the officials” of a taskforce which was set up to move traders to the permanent site of the building material market.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that the policeman was part of the Nsukka Building Material Taskforce, which was set up to regulate the building materials business in the town.
The taskforce was mandated to compel traders to move to the permanent site of the building material market.
Members of the taskforce, including the unnamed policeman, were mobbed by an angry crowd while trying to force a popular cement dealer at the beach junction area of the town to pay a fine for not moving his business to the permanent site of the building material market.
In a bid to disperse the crowd, which took sides with the cement dealer, the policemen in the taskforce started shooting into the air.
However, the policeman mistakenly shot a motorcyclist, who was passing through the scene of the altercation.
The unfortunate motorcyclist died on the spot.
The crowd thereafter descended on the policeman, who went into a coma before he was rescued by his colleagues.
The policemen also evacuated the corpse of the motorcyclist.
It was gathered that the corpse was deposited in an undisclosed mortuary.
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June 30, 2016
Paul Okoye’s wife took to her IG page to reveal why she quit her 9-5 job…but many Nigerian says she she did that because her husband is a millionaire….Read what she posted and some comments below;
Chi-Chi Nwa Africa
Marriage has been overrated. It’s unnecessarily over rated. It’s just too much of headache with how things are now. Even ordinary relationship is a huge burden, huge headache and heartbreaking, let alone marriage. When you can’t stand each other as boyfriend and girlfriend, how would you live together under the same roof when you get married?
People need to know themselves seriously. When I say seriously, I mean spiritually before getting married. People only know themselves physically, not spiritually, so they end up getting bored with each other. And they will say they don’t want to get divorce because of what society would say after investing so much on the marriage.
They stay in that marriage and later it may become very irritating and they start fighting. Before they know it, everything becomes violent. You hear people say all sorts of things. You’re the one who allowed people to get to you and start telling you you’re getting old. You’re the one allowing them to convince you that you’re getting old, you need to get married. Everyone will surely get old. Who won’t get old? So, when people say I am getting old, get married, I would tell them that’s the only thing they know. People carry marriage like a flag.Asked if it means she's not going to get married, she said;
No, people should only try to be nice about marriage to make me interested in it. Don’t tell me actresses don’t stay in marriage. Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva have been married for long and they’re still in the marriage. Nothing happened to their union. Omotola and her husband have been married for long; they’re still very much together. She got married at a young age which is good. What I am trying to say is that going into marriage needs a lot; you don’t just go into it. My elder sister got married at 26 and she’s doing fine in the marriage with her husband. Now, tell me why won’t I want a family like that? But these days, people are just too much into social media, that’s why marriages are crashing. Marriage these days is not based on happiness and genuine love. Let me ask, who is that poor person that has married a billionaire son? So, why won’t marriage crash when it’s not based on happiness and genuine love?
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