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Manufacturers are crying that cost of production keeps rising. The development, which assumed ascendancy in the last six weeks, has been traced to, amongst other factors, the continuous fall in oil prices in the international spot market, and the slide in the foreign exchange rate of the naira, when compared against the dollar and other hard currencies. The fear among stakeholders in the Organised Private Sector (OPS), some of who spoke in confidence, is that the unfolding development snowballs into a major economic crisis, if no steps are taken urgently to stem the tide. Besides the falling oil prices on which the nation relies for over 85 per cent of its federally revenue, an official of one of the special interest groups pointed out, the devaluation of the naira and the non-inclusion of raw material inputs in sourcing foreign exchange from the bi-weekly Royal Dutch Auction System (RDAS), have grave implications for manufacturing, which depend on inputs from overseas. The of

A 50- year- old man, Sunday Okoro, was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Shomolu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos over an alleged attempt to murder one Dele Olukayode. The Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody, until he secures his bail either through the High Court or on the advice of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The prosecutor, Mr Thomas Muhammed, had earlier told the court that the defendant allegedly poured a liquid substance suspected to be a petrochemical, on the complainant and set him ablaze after an argument. Muhammed said the action of the defendant endangered the life of the complainant, who he said, was currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos. He said that the offence was committed on December 11 at about 10.30 a.m. at No. 56, Jagunmolu Street, Bariga in Lagos, stressing that the offence contravened Section 228 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The p

Nigerians got some bad news yesterday – more taxes are coming. It is all to shore up the shortfall, Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday. “We’ve tried to broaden the tax-base,” the minister told reporters shortly after laying the budget before the House of Representatives. She said the Federal Government had also “closed many loopholes and leakages”. The Minister, who also laid the budget proposal before senators, added that the economy would be driven mainly by the non-oil sector, considering the global oil price slide. “We’ve speeded up audit, we’ve closed some exemptions all of these will bring additional revenues into the coffers,” she said. The 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented to the National Assembly shows that Federal Government’s net revenue projection from non- oil sector is N2.075 trillion after costs and deductions for 2015. Net oil revenue was put at N3.955 trillion after

Yemi Osinbajo, frontline teacher, preacher, lawyer and administrator, is All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate, it was announced yesterday. Osinbajo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former attorney general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos, emerged through a meticulous process, Gen. Buhari said in Abuja, adding that he picked a man of unimpeachable integrity to assist him in rescuing Nigeria. Also yesterday, APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke of his being offered the job, which he declined in the interest of the party and as a patriot. Gen. Buhari, who spoke while presenting Osinbajo to Nigerians at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, described his running mate as a friend of the less- privileged. He said: “The challenging process of rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. One of the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of the vice-presiden

Former governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki has hailed the sacrifice and contribution of former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the development of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and democracy in Nigeria. Dr. Saraki, a chieftain of the APC, welcomed the emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari. Saraki, in an electronic mail, said: “The emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo – a Professor of law; a well-ranked academic; a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); and a committed pastor of unquestionable integrity from South-West Nigeria further attests to the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to fairness and equality. “Most importantly, I would like to commend the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the sacrifice and contribution to the development of APC and democracy in Nigeria. No doubt, from his precedents as a forward-thinking Governor of Lagos State, a

Fifty-four of the 59 soldiers standing trial for mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny have bagged the death sentence. They are to face the firing squad having been found guilty of the offences. The General Court Martial, which has been sitting since October, however, discharged and acquitted five of the soldiers. Delivering the judgment at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja Wednesday night, chairman of the GCM, Major General Musa Yusuf, said the soldiers reserved the right to appeal the verdict at a higher authority. The 59 soldiers were among the troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over a number of Nigerian towns and villages in Northeastern Nigeria. The soldiers were accused of refusing lawful orders to fight, an offence the military authorities described as conspiracy and mutiny. The first batch of soldiers that were tried for mutiny also bagged the death sentence for shooting at their

Governo Rabiu Kwankwaso Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has called on the federal government to tackle the insurgency in the country. Kwankwaso, who is also an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, made the call on Wednesday when he visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State in Ibadan. He described last week bomb blast at the Central Mosque, Kano, as unfortunate. “The federal government must brace up to tackle the insurgents, who are attacking and killing innocent Nigerians everyday,” he said. The governor, who said that his administration had beendoing a lot to tackle insecurity, stressed the need for more concerted efforts to defeat the insurgents. “When I was sworn in 2011, I did a lot to support security inthe state. “You know security is not only about police, State Security Service (SSS) and other agencies, but there is job, food and health security too,’’ he said. He promised that if voted as the president of the country in 2015, he wou

Akinwunmi Ambode, the candidate handpicked by All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Bola Tinubu, has won the Lagos State gubernatorial primary. As many as 10 of the candidates vying for the opportunity left the venue angrily, and it is unclear if the large-scale disaffection that compelled them to take that action will precipitate further crisis within the APC in Lagos that might lead to the party losing the key state. Although, the primary elections had just been officially concluded with vote counting starting about now, Mr. Ambode is projected to win with a landslide. Ambode’s victory did not come as a big surprise because he had been anointed by the APC leader. A source told Abiolainfo yesterday that Ambode attended a candidate meeting and bragged that he had already won and that today’s primaries would be a mere formality. The victory of Ambode over Supo Shashore, a candidate preferred by the current governor, Babatunde Fashola, re-asserts Mr. Tinubu firm control of the st

It was a defeat of the power of evil secrecy Thursday as security agents arrested a suspected female suicide bomber who would have blown up the General Shuwa Memorial Hospital, Maiduguri and killed the health workers and the patients they labour hard to treat. The suspected bomber, a fairly old woman, who was said to have been confronted first by the hospital’s security guards, was arrested after it was discovered that she hid an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a food flask she was carrying. According to the hospital authorities, the suspected terrorist disguised as a relation of a female patient who had come to present food at the maternity ward. But when she was stopped at the gate to open the two food flasks she was carrying before she could be allowed to proceed to the ward, she refused to open one of the flasks. One of the hospital’s security guards narrated the story to journalists: “When she was asked to open the other flask, she refused, swearing that she will not open

Over the years, many points of view have been put forward as to what causes one person to be attracted to another. These have come from scientists, relationship experts and everyone in between. And while some of these views can sound accurate and as though they reflect reality, it doesn't mean this is actually the case. Women are said to go for one thing and men for another and one doesn't need to look very far to see there are always exceptions. Nevertheless, if one matches up with what is classed as attractive everything could be fine but if they don't, it could make them believe that they are therefore 'unattractive'. The first person is likely to end up feeling good about themselves and the second person could end up feeling hopeless. Physical Appearances While it is possible for one to change their behaviour or how they come across to others, the same can't always be said about their appearance. And as it is one's appearance that is often said to

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has ordered the immediate reduction of the tuition fees being paid by the students of the Ekiti State University from N50,000 to N30,000. The governor also directed the school to allow the students pay the fees twice. Fayose, who gave the order while featuring on a radio/television programme: “Meet your governor,” on Saturday, said his administration would also ensure an enabling atmosphere for teaching and learning in all state-owned institutions in the state.

FIVE out of every 100 people in Lagos is living with HIV and AIDS, the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) stated yesterday. Its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tokunbo Dabiri, explained that the high ratio is not unconnected to the large population of the state. She spoke at the World AIDS Day programme in Lagos organised by LSACA. Describing Lagos State as cosmopolitan, Dabiri added that it is also the melting pot accounting for about 21 million inhabitants. “This is why the disease is common in the state,” she noted. She urged residents, who have not been tested to do so to confirm their status, adding: “ The statistics the state is presently working with is 5.1 per cent. It can be more if we all know our status. The national figure, however, is 3.4 per cent. ” Latest Estimate of Lagos Population: 21 million (via Wikipedia) Number of HIV/Aids patients in Lagos based on 5.1% prevalence rate from the article = 5.1% of 21 million = 1.071 Million

Nigeria's best known potter who was awarded a Doctorate and was made MBE in 1963 for the level of detail and skill she utilized while making her pots. Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925-1983) popularly known as Dr Ladi Kwali was born in 1925 in Kwali town in the present Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,Nigeria. Probably she is the best known of the Abuja potters. Making pots was women’s work in Kwali and the entire Gwari villages, therefore Ladi came to Abuja (the then Suleja) with knowledge of traditional Gwari pottery.  She did not at first take to the idea of using wheels and kilns and the other paraphernalia of the European potter, but proved to have a natural ability to throw. She was picked from her traditional home Kwali to the then Abuja the present Suleja because of her natural ability in making pots.  The Abuja Pottery Training Centre was established 1950 by an English potter, Michael Cardew, who was sent to the Abuja area by the then colonial government, ostensibly

Forbes Magazine just published its annual ranking of Africa's 50 Richest People, and former Abia state governor and business man Orji Uzor Kalu and former MD of UBA Tony Elumelu are listed as billionaires. And Nigeria has also overtaken South African in the number of wealthiest. According to Forbes, among the list of Africa’s 50 Richest, Nigeria claims 13 spots while South Africa has 11 billionaires. Africa’s 50 richest are also wealthier than a year ago. Their combined net worth of $110.7billion is 6.7% more than in Nov. 2013. The minimum net worth needed to join this elite group rose to $510 million, up from $400 million a year ago." There are three new billionaires on the list: Orji Uzor Kalu of Nigeria, Tony Elumelu of Nigeria and King Mohammed VI of Morocco." Forbes reports.

Over the past one month,there have been threats and counter threats between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris over the EPz project. Things went bad when even the president of the federal republic of nigeria GEJ was barred by an individual (tompolo) from commissioning the project until his side of the bargain is met."suprisingly the president gave in to his threats",that action/body language of the president and the minister of petroleum resources(both ijaws) speaks volumes. It seems the tax payers money that is been spent on amnesty program on the "militants" is a waste,cos the guns are back in the creeks so are the so called "warlords"(laffs). Now back to the crux of the ''mara'', the itsekiris claim the location of the epz is wholly sited in 2400hectares in OGIDIGBEN which ofcos is an itsekiri town and also the deepsea port 300hectares is located 14km away in a town called kpokpo which is also an itsekiri land,which was burnt d

The father of a 14-year-old child bride who allegedly murdered her husband said Thursday he was appealing to a Nigerian court to spare his daughter from being sent to the gallows. Wasilat Tasi'u is on trial for the murder of her 35-year-old husband, Umar Sani, who died after eating food that Tasi'u allegedly laced with rat poison. "We are appealing to the judge to consider Wasilat's plea," her father, Isyaku Tasi'u, told The Associated Press on Thursday. On Wednesday witnesses told the High Court in Gezawa, a town 60 miles outside Nigeria's second largest city of Kano, that Tasi'u killed her husband two weeks after their wedding in April. Three others allegedly died after eating the poisoned meal. The prosecution, led by Lamido Soron-Dinki, senior state council from the Kano State Ministry of Justice, is seeking the death penalty. The case calls into question the legality of trying a 14-year- old for murder under criminal law and the

The Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, on Saturday said Nigeria’s Muslims will not be intimidated into abandoning Islam following coordinated bomb and gun attacks on the city’s central mosque that left at least 120 people dead. “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers,” the emir said during a 20-minute-visit to the mosque shortly after his return to the country. The mosque adjoins his palace in the city. Sanusi was out of Nigeria on Friday, when the deadly assault on the mosque occurred. Last week, the emir — who is the country’s second most senior Muslim cleric — made a call at the same mosque urging civilians to take up arms against the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. But during his visit, he implicitly dismissed widespread speculation that the attack was in retaliation to that call. “From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Sanusi said in Hausa, the domin

Overland Airlines plane from Abuja on Saturday reportedly crash-landed in Ilorin, Kwara State. Details later… Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/overland-plane-crashlands-in-ilorin/

President Goodluck Jonathan’s stranglehold on the Senate appears to have finally been broken as the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday declared support for last week’s defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Senate also vowed to team up with the House to impeach the president if doing so eventually becomes an option the National Assembly has to explore. This decision was the fallout of the closed-door session held by the PDP caucus in the Senate in protest of their losses at last Saturday's congresses of the ruling party in their various states. Most of the senators lost out because of the alleged betrayal by the president whom they said they had supported to the hilt prior to his emergence as acting president on February 9, 2009 up to this last weekend. Demonstrating their bitterness towards the president, the senators shut down the Senate a

The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took a turn for the worse on Thursday, as Chris Giwa took charge of the Glass House, the NFF headquarters in Abuja, in accordance with the order of the Jos High Court that nullified the election of the NFF board led by Amaju Pinnick as president. Pinnick has filed for a stay of execution order, which will be heard in court on Wednesday in Jos. The Giwa-led board met after the court pronouncement on Thursday and took far-reaching decisions, among which was recalling sacked Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach. A member of the Giwa board, Yahaya Adamu, told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that the board has returned to power as demanded by the court. Justice Ambrose Alagoa of the Federal High Cour, Jos, had on Thursday annulled the September 30 NFF elections in Warri, Delta State, that gave rise to Pinnixk’s board. He had also declared as null and void the NFF Elective Congress held on that day, thereby

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that his refusal to surrender the state coffers to Dame Patience Jonathan led to the problem he was having with the Presidency. He also blamed the resurgence in militancy and kidnapping on the backings the criminals were allegedly receiving from powers that be but assured that he would not renege on the oath of office to secure the state. “Remember, when I became governor, I fought militancy. Right there where you built a new house, there used to be a hole where they pass into the river and escape. The security report reached me and I came here and chased the militants away. I asked them to fence the school premises and block that hole. I have to protect you because, it is my responsibility. Some of the militants went to Lagos, Ivory Coast, Ghana etc. “Today, they are back because the wife of the President brought them back to protest against me. I refused to

A former vice president and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, may be setting a precedent as he plans to earn a token N1 as salary per annum, if he is elected president in the February 2015 election. This indication emerged on Saturday ahead of the Policy Retreat Review at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, which begins Monday. The retreat is part of the campaign strategies of the former vice president, who on September 24, formally declared his intention to seek the APC ticket, come December. The Nigerian president currently earns a basic salary of N3.5 million annually while the vice president takes N3.03 million. However, the president is entitled to other benefits/ allowances. These are regular allowances such as hardship allowance of N1.7 million; Constituency allowance, N8.7 million; leave allowance of N351,470.50: severance gratuity N10.5 million; and motor vehicle loan N14.1 million. The other

TheCable: Why should Nigerians prefer you to any other candidate in the presidential race? Buhari: We need to stabilise the system. And the beauty of democracy is competition. I honestly welcome the competition. I have tried to be elected president three times and I failed three times, and I ended up in the Supreme Court three times. I try to explain to those who are interested why I have been ending up in the Supreme Court. Not because I was hoping that the court would change the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing that it was the PDP that won, but I wanted to get it on the record that when we are trying to stabilise this system, these are part of the difficulties. We provided evidences at the tribunals. There are people who try really to see that the system stabilises, to make sure it reaches credible and international standards. That is a role I have been trying to play all along. TheCable: So what qualities stand you out from

Nigeria Youth Movement Forum (NYMF) President in person of Mr. Abiola Adeoye brief the press conference about the vision of the organization, He said;   Every nation on earth is embedded with a form of culture, human resources and youth movement, which depicts norms, values, beliefs, and future of the nation. Culture, therefore influences in some unique ways and a nation’ policies, transfer of knowledge, skills, conservative capabilities of the elders and periodic orientation of the youth in preparing them for the future through education and training goes a long way in preserving a nation and making its youth vibrant. We intend to stand as a force and a voice for millions of Nigerian youth and bridge a gap between the present leaders,  successful entrepreneurs and various individuals from every walk of life, who have done extremely well in lifting the nation higher around the world through their doggedness and determination for success. We are known as a movement that preaches pea

PLEASE STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE BELOW PROCEDURE >1. load the N200 glo airtime on the glo sim u want to activate the cheat on,if u are on glo bounce,u will be given 30mb free without touching the airtime >2. Then quickly dial *127*124*1#,it will tell INVALID APPLICATION >3. U just ignore it and dial *127*0# to check ur mb,u willy see ur 500mb but u will not be able to use it immediately. >4. Now remove ur sim for 30 minutes and put it back .You can now start using ur 500mb +30mb(if u are on bounce) =530mb >> Insert ur sim in any 3g network phone and use till u get tired NOTIFICATIONS: 1. The above tweak last for just 1week. 2.How To Migrate To Glo Bounce just Dial *170*4# NOTE: Only a single recharge of N200 and above earns you the free 30MB which is valid for 7days. You won’t get the 30MB by N100 twice. FAQ : Can it work on other Plans apart from bounce? Ans: yes it can. But 30mb no b amala,so just migrate n load N200 to flex 30mb. But if u dnt hv

The CDC just confirmed the first case of Ebola in the United States, according to Reuters. The patient was placed in "strict isolation" at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas earlier today. A patient in a Dallas hospital has been confirmed to have the Ebola virus, News 8 has learned. In a statement issued Tuesday night, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas said the patient was admitted based on symptoms and "recent travel history." The hospital, located at Greenville Avenue and Walnut Hill Lane in northeast Dallas, said it's complying with all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Texas Department of Health to ensure the safety of other patients and medical staff. A press conference to discuss the case is scheduled for 5:30 pm. At least 3,091 people have died from Ebola since the West African outbreak was first identified in Guinea six months ago. Last week, the CDC warned that between 550,000 and 1.4 million people

In unity we will always triumph, irrespective of any challenge facing us. Let us stand together at all times, Nigerians. Happy Independence Anniversary! Drop Your Wishes For Nigeria

Group releases video of Steven Sotloff's purported death, days after mother addressed leader pleading for son's life. The Islamic State has released a video of the purported murder of the US journalist Steven Sotloff, days after his mother pleaded with the group's leader to spare his life. The armed group released the video what it said was the 31-year-old's death on Tuesday. Internet monitors who have seen the video confirmed its content. Sotloff had been held hostage in Syria by the group since August 2013. In the new video the group also threatened to kill another captive David Cawthorne Haines, a Briton. A US spokeswoman said Washington was trying to authenticate the "sickening" footage. British Prime Minister David Cameron said it depicted an "absolutely disgusting, despicable act." The death comes two weeks after the group released a video showing the murder of James Foley, another US journalist, which a masked member of the Islamic S

Tiwa won Best Female pop artist at the NEA Awards in New York.For the main award show,she rocked all white and dark lips and she rocked the cream coloured outfit for the after party.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, on Friday said the Federal Government planned to recruit 5,000 officers into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over the next five years. Moro said this in Abuja at the 2014 Comptroller-General’s annual conference and stakeholder’s forum in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the service. The two-day conference organised by the service is themed: “Effective Border Control Systems and Procedures for National Security”. He said recruitment was aimed at enabling the service to increase the number of officers manning the country’s 4,400 square kilometer borders. “The fact that we have fewer than 23,000 immigration officers manning our very long stretch of border means there is need to add more men into the service. “We owe Nigeria and Nigerians the duty of securing our borders in spite of the security challenges the country is facing now,” he said. He said due to the extensive responsibilities of the service, the ministry was committed