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Many Yoruba leaders boycotted the interactive session organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in Akure, the Ondo State capital, because of their lack of faith in the process, it was learnt yesterday. Also, some stakeholders complained about lack of information on the meeting and the “short notice”, stressing that they needed more time to prepare their memoranda. Others said that their groups and associations were not invited by the committee headed by Dr. Femi Okunrounmu. The meeting, in the view of many, failed, as it was attended mainly by Ondo State stakeholders. Many political leaders from Ogun, Osun and Lagos states told our correspondent that they were still studying the process. They hope to submit memoranda at next month’s interactive meeting in Lagos. Some All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains said they were waiting for their party’s position on the proposed conference before taking any action. The Interim Chairman of the APC in Ekiti State, ...

Ekiti honours Sasha, Jimoh Aliu, Micho Ade, Odunlade Adekola, Foluke Daramola, Moji Olaiya, 8 others The first phase of the redeveloped Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ekiti State was inaugurated on Saturday, almost 10 years after it was abandoned. The ceremony featured the public presentation of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s latest book, “Regaining the Legacy” and the decoration of Ekiti Cultural Ambassadors. Fourteen Ekiti indigenes, who have distinguished themselves in various aspects of arts, were decorated as Culture Ambassadors. They include Yinka Ayefele, Peter Fatomilola, Jimoh Aliu, Prof. Ojo Bakare, Elemure Ogunyemi, Peju Ogunmola and Akin Onipede. Others are Michael Omoshinlade (Micho Ade), Funmi Ajila, Moji Olaiya, Odunlade Adekola, Foluke Daramola, Akinade Ibuoye (Gaze Baba) and Yetunde Ibrahim, popularly known as Sasha.It was attended by a crowd of tourists and residents. Fayemi said the redevelopment was done because his government “cannot allow the God-given endowment to be a...

Citing “poor security provision”, among other reasons, hundreds of youths in Zamfara State attacked Acting Governor Sanusi Rikiji. Rikiji, Speaker of the House of Assembly, who is standing in for holidaying Governor Abdulaziz Yari, was attacked on Saturday in Birnin-Magajiin, headquarters of Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area of the state. Rikiji was in the area to condole with the families of three Fulani youths allegedly killed on Thursday by youths of Tudun-Kuya village in the local government. The suspected killers were believed to be members of “the Fulani killer gangs’’ said to be terrorising villages in various parts of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the youths used stones and sticks on their visitors and it took the combined efforts of the police escort, the military and State Security Service (SSS), personnel who shot into the air to disperse the mob. Zamfara police has started investigation into the attack. Police spokesman Lawal Abdullahi, who des...

Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has lost his elder brother, Alhaji Garba Dangote, who died Thursday after a brief illness. Dangote confirmed that his death came very suddenly as he suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday, and gave up the ghost some hours later. The 80-year-old like his younger brother, was a businessman and the first son in the family. Alhaji Garba was buried in accordance with Muslim rites yesterday in Kano. He is survived by a wife and children

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaks on the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, how it will benefit the opposition, the plot to impeach Tambuwal, among other issues, in an interview. These are not the best of times for the country's majority party, the PDP. What do you think? It is a welcome development; it is one of those strange things in life where something that appears to be negative is actually welcome. It tells you the depth to which the People Democratic Party has taken Nigerians, and naturally, they welcome it with implosion. It is good for our democracy because I believe that it will take us away from the downward slide that we are experiencing in Nigeria. For something to be good, sometimes you need to spoil it before you repair it. I believe that with the current happenings in the PDP, the opposition will only be strengthened. We are actually excited about it, so long as the split is handled in a very mature way and it d...

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has branded Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala ‘a dictator’ for her insistence that Federal Government would not release an extra kobo to fund education. Members of the union who staged a peaceful protest at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on Friday, chanted songs and displayed placards condemning the posture of the Minister. Some of the placards carried by the lecturers read “Okonjo-Iweala, take it or leave it is a dictator’s stance on labour industrial negotiation”, “Responsible government respects agreement” and “No nation can develop without genuine commitment to education”. Speaking with journalists after the protest, Acting Chairman of ASUU ESUT chapter, Uche Omeje, said they were protesting because the federal government has refused to implement an agreement it freely went into with ASUU in 2009 as well as their memorandum of understanding of 2012. “They have been dragging their feet and we are not happy. ...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as a cheap and ludicrous strategy’s decision by the Federal Government to use market women, religious leaders and even students to put pressure on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its strike without resolving the issues that caused the action in the first instance. In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the strike, which is now in its fourth month, would have ended by now if the Federal Government had pursued its negotiations with ASUU with half the energy it has been using to rally various groups to protest against the union. It described as particularly ridiculous the crowd-for-hire protest in Abuja on Monday by the so-called National Market Women Association, in which their leader vowed to chase lecturers out of Nigeria and replace them with ‘’jobless Nigerians’’. ‘’This infantile statement by the leader of the apparently misguided market w...

Varsity teachers remained adamant last night, saying their strike would go on, despite the government’s shifting of its position. The strike has been on for four months. More cash has been pledged for projects on the campuses. Besides, the earned allowances due to the teachers have been increased from the initial N30 billion offer, which the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rejected. The teachers are insisting on the 2009 agreement, which they say President Goodluck Jonathan was part of. Besides, they say, they do not trust the government. According to a circular by the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, to the staff of the school, quoted yesterday by the news website, Sahara Reporters, the government has pledged to spend N200 billion on the universities in the 2014 budget and the same amount annually for the next three to four years. This is in addition to the N100 billion already made available this year, but which ASUU ha...

resident Goodluck Jonathan has paid a surprise visit to the Super Eagles' training session at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa on the eve of Sunday's World Cup qualifier with Ethiopia. Jonathan, who was on his way from the ExtraordinarySummitof the Heads of Government of the African Union, shook hands with the players and had a talk with the team management, including assistant coach. He assured he will always be an avid supporter of the team. "Surely you will make it, the spirit is there," the President said. "I wish you success. It is a determining match. Definitely we have been going to the World cup, but this year, we are not just going to the world cup, we will make an impact. The world will begin to know that we have arrived as a nation. "We give you all the encouragement required. Thank you for what you are doing for us," Jonathan added. Aminu Maigari, President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), thanked the President for encouraging t...

Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has alleged that there was a grand design to disunite the north and ensure the zone does not present a common and united front on national issues. He stated this yesterday at the formal commissioning of Liberty Radio in Kaduna. The governor said that unless the north and northerners wake up, the zone will soon go extinct. He further expressed worry that Northerners were being used by external forces to divide the zone. The governor said, “Today, I will disappoint many of you. Having come from this part of the world (the North), we honour and respect agreements and because of that, on September 15, the G7 governors and Mr. President agreed on a ceasefire; that no more public discussions of the problems that are at stake and I am not going to talk about them, because I have to honour the agreement. “We have to respect the office of Mr. President; we have to respect the President. But I must say that the struggle of the G7 governors is nobl...

For the second time, the secretariat of the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje temporarily located at the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge in the highbrow Asokoro area of Abuja has been sealed off. On September 9, the Police allegedly acting on ‘orders from above’ had sealed off the first secretariat of the faction located on 4, Oyi Crescent, off Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard, Maitama. Explaining the reason behind the latest action, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration said the abuse of the Abuja Master Plan occasioned by turning the Lodge into a party office necessitated the closure of the Lodge. A statement issued by the Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi said, “The entire Governor’s Lodges in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan to be for residential purposes but not for political party secretariat as Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge is currently being used. “T...

Cut Her/Him Some Slack Is it okay to end the intimacy you shared with a friend and bring it down to just being an acquaintance? Answer that, and if you think that might be easier on the two of you, why not! Save yourself some drama. This also gives you time to be reasonable. Then again, maybe a chat with your buddy could help them notice their flaws (if any) and help them change for the better. A Face-To-Face Conversation In a time when social networking sites have gained so much relevance, breaking up gets a new avatar — via an email or a message! Not only is this an act of escapism, it’s downright cheap too. It is important you explain to your friend, in person, why you decide to not keep in touch anymore; a friend deserves that much. Make a plan to meet your friend and tell her/him why you decided to take this call. Be frank, however hard it may be. Hear Them Out Everyone has a stand and what you can do as a friend (or an exfriend) is hear that out. It’s okay to stick to yours and b...

With divorces throwing many a marriage apart, there are those who feel that this institution is in urgent need of an overhaul if it is to remain relevant and not become the sham modern marriages are increasingly ending up as. While many lament that monogamy is all but dead, we feel that it’s still too early to write off the institution, or even reinvent it. It’s worked in the past, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t now. What we might need to do instead is to find ways to make our marriage work, rather than wait for it to flounder and then take recourse in the excuse that it wasn’t meant to work anyway. 1. Know that the romancé and passion of the early days will sooner or later fizzle out. Instead of moping for that lost passion, recall the early days of your dating/courtship/wooing/chasing. This will instantly re-establish the connect that brought you both together, and you’ll fondly look back at those days and moments. You may not be able to summon that kind of passion, but you c...

The Sokoto State Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Malam Abubakar Sadiq Yabo, has been killed by unknown assailants in Yabo local government area of Sokoto state. Yabo, who was also the Chairman of the Sokoto State Project Monitoring and Verification Committee, was said to have been trailed to his residence in his hometown in Yabo town by unknown assailants who strangled him to death. According to family sources, the assassins did not take anything in the residence apart from his mobile phones. Confirming the incident, spokesperson of Sokoto State Police Command, Al-Mustapha Sani, informed reporters that investigations had already commenced to unravel the mystery behind the murder. He also debunked allegations that the deceased was kidnapped, saying the police did not receive any report declaring him missing. Source: Information Nigeria

According to new reports, former Niger Delta militant and current leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, is now a proud owner of a university in Benin Republic. The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Muhajid Asari-Dokubo has joined the swelling rank of private university proprietors with his establishment of a university in the neighbouring Republic of Benin. Mr. Asari-Dokubo, who already owns a soccer academy in the West African country and another one in Abuja, said the university, which will be known as King Amachree African University, KAAU, had already been accredited to commence degree programmes beginning September 2014. He told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview in Abuja that the proposed university, named after his ancestor, was a product of his two existing institutions in Benin Republic, namely King Amachree Automobile/ICT Royal Academy and King Amachree Arts Academy. Both of them, he added, currently award Diploma to their stude...

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has announced the suspension of its week-long strike. The suspension of the strike is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by the association’s National Secretary, Mr Promise Adewusi. It said that the decision to suspend the strike was informed by the Federal Government’s compliance with the association’s demands. “Following substantial compliance to our demand for the payment of August and September salaries of our members which is the reason for our current national strike action, we hereby suspend the strike and direct all our members to return to their duties with effect from Monday, the 14th of October, 2013.” The statement thanked members of the association for their solidarity, adding that the non payment of the salaries of its members for work done would not happen again. (NAN)

A bloody clash between rival factions of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ogun state ensued on Thursday, with at least 40 persons sustaining various degree of injury. The fracas, occurred around 4pm at the state Secretariat of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties that fused into APC at Leme along Abiola, Abeokuta. The party’s Secretariat which has been repainted in APC colour was damaged while some cars parked in the front were not spared as members of the factions used guns, cutlasses, broken bottles as well as other dangerous weapons freely during the clash.

The Federal Government on Friday declared Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 as public holidays to commemorate Eid-el- Kabir celebrations. The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, made the announcement on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement in Abuja. The statement, signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Fatima Bamidele, urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for the peace and unity of the nation. The statement quoted the minister as congratulating Muslims on the occasion. It also urged Muslims and other Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan in his sustained efforts to raise the country to its next level of development. The minister wished Nigerians a rewarding and peaceful celebration.

Organisers of this year’s Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2013 have released their nominees for the awards with Flavour, Olamide, Sound Sultan, D’banj and Chidinma billed to go head-on-head for the most prestigious award of the night, the Video of the Year. Many videos on the list were the handiwork of celebrity film maker Clarence Peters but he would have to compete against Squareball, Sesan, Mattmax who have been nominated in the Best Director Category. The awards is scheduled for November 15, 2013 at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre, Lagos. Below is the full list of nominees: Video of the Year Flavour – Ada Ada Olamide – Duro Soke Sound Sultan – Natural Something D’Banj – Don’t Tell Me Nonsense Chidima – Emi Ni Baller Best Afro Hip Hop Video Ill Bliss – I Am Sorry Splash – Church Agbasa Olamide – Durosoke MI – Chairman Phyno – Man of the Year Best Hip Hop Video Eedris Abdulkareem – I Go Whooz You Pryse – Eleto Boogey – Sanctum Ice Prince – VIP Yung6ix – First Class Best Afro Po...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has ignored the FG's 'No Work No Pay' policy and vowed to continue the strike. The federal government's decision to stop paying the lecturers' salaries was confirmed by the university lecturers after their Thursday meeting. Rising from ASUU's zonal conference in Abuja on Thursday, the union responded to the 'No Work No Pay' strategy by stating that it had resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effects of the policy. "The Federal Government has through the National Universities Commission, directed universities to stop the payment of our salaries effective September this year and since then our salaries have not been paid,"Clement Chup, ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, said. "Part of (our) welfare strategy, involve distributing food items, giving out soft loans and cash advances to members,"he added. The union is currently on an over three-month-old industrial action over the f...

As the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, enters the fourth month, there are strong indications that the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the "No Work, No Pay" rule. It was gathered from a reliable source at the National Universities Commission, NUC, that the government has passed a directive to the various universities governing councils to stop payment of salaries of the striking lecturers. The ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, Mr Clement Chup confirmed this yesterday after a zonal conference of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, which took place at the Gwagwalada campus to review the nationwide strike. He said his colleagues were yet to receive their September salaries. According to him,"we have resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effect of the strike, particularly to contain the various attempts by government to break the resolve of the union. The Federal Government has through the National Universities C...

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Monday commenced its governorship campaign at Ekwueme Square in Awka. The party’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, who anchored the event, said it was time for the people of Anambra to vote for a worthy successor to Gov. Peter Obi. Umeh also officially presented Chief Willie Obiano and his running mate, Dr Nkem Okeke, to the party faithful. He said that the pair was the best among other contestants for the Nov. 16 governorship election. He said that APGA remained the only party with sincere interest of the Igbos at heart, adding that Obi had used his mandate to enrich the lives of Anambra people. Also, addressing the crowd, Chief Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), said the party was united and determined to uphold the legacies of the late national leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegu Ojukwu. He reminded the crowd that the baton of leadership which his father handed over to Obi had to be extended to a worthy candidate in the person of Obiano....

Mr Mcphillips Nwachukwu, Vanguard’s Arts Editor is dead. He died at Golden Cross hospital, Festac Town, Lagos after suffering a choking cough in the early hours of Sunday, September 29, 2013 at the age of 47. Nwachukwu returned from South Africa on Friday September 27, where he had gone for medical check up. Before his death, Nwachukwu was observing his annual leave and was due to resume work yesterday. A poet, writer and frontline journalist, he was the Arts Editor of Vanguard Newspapers till his death. Nwachukwu hailed from Ezuhu Umuhu, Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State. He is survived by brothers, sisters, wife and a daughter. Born in 1966 in Mbaise, Imo State, Nwachukwu had a degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where his flair for creative writing was first nurtured. He also had a master’s degree in English from the University of Lagos, and was doing his doctorate degree in the same institution. The management has opened a condolence register for him at ...

Two hundred heavily armed Marines have been moved to the U.S. naval base at Sigonella, Italy, from their base in Spain to respond to any potential security crisis for the U.S. Embassy diplomatic mission in Libya, a U.S. military official told CNN. The move happened on Monday the official said. The move, made in coordination with the State Department, was made "as a prudent measure" in the wake of the US military raid to capture Abu Anas al Libi, the 49-year-old alleged al Qaeda operative. [Breaking news alert, 7:02 a.m. ET] Libya's government said it summoned U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones for questioning over what it calls the "abduction" of Abu Anas al Libi, the country's official news agency LANA reported. Al Libi is an alleged al Qaeda operative accused of playing a role in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. [Previously published story] After interrogation on warship, al Libi's next stop could be U.S. court Abu Anas al Libi...

The mother of all campaigns is scheduled to hold today as the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) flag-bearer in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, flags off his campaign at the Holy Trinity Ground, Onitsha, a statement signed by Mr Okelo Madukaife, for Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation on Monday in Awka, the state capital, has said. Eleven APC governors and 30 senators are expected to grace the event with their presence just as the party’s national leaders; including Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have confirmed their participation at the ceremony. Ngige had at the weekend in Awka, unveiled his manifesto which contains 12-points agenda. He promised free education (primary and secondary) and upto 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees in the state-owned university. The senator, who presently represents Anambra Central in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, declared that he was coming back to finish his uncompleted projects...

The attempted merger of Muslim students wearing hijab (veil) with the Baptists High School in Iwo, Osun State, under the new education policy by the Rauf Aregbesola administration, has been resisted by Christians in the state, especially members of the Osun Baptists Conference. Gov. Aregbesola last week inaugurated a new education policy in Osun also known as the 4-5-3 education system, which he said resulted in the re-classification and merger of public schools in the state to reflect the new education system. The governor, who expressed concern over the protest, however, pleaded with the people to cooperate with the school restructuring policy, saying it was introduced as part of transformation of the education sector by his government. But yesterday, aggrieved Christians with their Holy Bibles and Hymn books trooped to the Baptists High School as early as 7:30am and dislodged the students while preventing teachers from entering the school premises. They argued that the merger if all...

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, yesterday, told the 1,000 Pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory to perform this year’s Christian Pilgrimage that there must be no single case of abscondment during the exercise in the holy land, just as President Goodluck Jonathan joins the Christian faithful on this year’s pilgrimage. Inaugurating the FCT 2013 Christian Pilgrimage delegation to the holy land, Minister of State, FCTA, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, urged the team to ensure that necessary attention was paid to the security and welfare of FCT pilgrims in Nigeria and in the holy land. He added that the 1,000 Pilgrims will cover November/December 2013 operation and March/April 2014 operation. Addressing journalists after the inauguration, leader of the team and Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda who noted that they cannot afford to fail against the backdrop that President Jonathan will be participating in this year’s programme, said that arrangemen...

**Kete Omo Ijero,U must read This*** THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LATE AJEROS ACCORDING TO THE RECORD WE HAVE IN IJERO 1. The first Ajero who found Ijero is Ajero Ogbe 2. We have 31 Ajeros who have reing so far in Ijero with the present Ajero 3. The Ruling house are the descendants of Ajero Ogbe and his younger brother Otutu 4. All Ajero that died must be buried at Ilokuno Ekiti, a town under Ijero founded by Ajero Ogbe. 5. So far two Ajero refused to be buried at Ilokuno. They are Ajero Owariberu and Ajero Eyeowa (the immediate past Ajero) 6. Ajero Atakumosa was the first Ajero to reside in Ijero Palace. The Ijero Palace was not completed before Ajero Ogbe died at Ilokuno 7. Ajero Alaworo enter to the mother hearth at Igbo Eegun 8. The Youngest Ajero to Ascend the throne is Ajero Apa (Ajero Alaworo brother) 9. Ajero Awon seized the throne from AJERO APA 10. Oge war was fought during the reign of Ajero Ajiboye 11. Ajero Afesoye introduce Emese (King Servant) during his reing 12. Ajero Onao...

You don't need fancy exercise equipment or an expensive gym membership for losing weight. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and swimming are great for weight loss . Regardless of whether one is just a little overweight, fat, or morbidly obese - losing weight is the one thing that really tops the list of priorities for most people. Every second person you know is on some kind of a 'losing weight' programme - either with the help of a control diet or with a combination of diets and exercise. Though most do not need to obsess about their weight, it is the obese who really need to do something about it. Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon, recommends some practical tips on how to prevent obesity... - Recognise that obesity is a disease. In fact, in the US obesity has reached epidemic proportions; while most epidemics can be defeated with a pill or vaccine, obesity requires people to change the way they eat and live, making it harder to defeat. Obesity is a major risk fact...

Many women crave sex during pregnancy while others dread it. The good news - or bad news, depending who is looking at it - is that sex during pregnancy is extremely safe and desirous for most men and women. Sex on a regular basis is safe as long as the pregnancy is proceeding normally - but you might not always want to. Emotions and hormones often take a toll on one's sex drive and can cause fatigue, nausea and potential adverse pregnancy outcomes. Miscarriages, preterm labour and excessive bleeding from sex is rare but still very important conditions to be aware of. Sex is generally not the cause of miscarriage as it is usually related to genetics and other chromosomal abnormalities - not due to anything you do or don't do. However, poor lifestyle management such as an inadequate diet and lack of exercise can result in excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, hormonal imbalances and additional labour complications. These can increase the risk a large baby and the need of C...

Fear has gripped the family and associates of the first civilian governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, over the state of his health. Rumours were rife on Monday that he had passed on. However, the Executive Secretary of Solomon Lar Foundation, Mr. Major Adeyi, said that Lar was not dead, but was presently on life support. He said, "Baba (Lar) is not dead, but the truth is that he is on life support. He was discharged from the hospital last week and even read his message to Nigerians on the occasion of Nigeria's 53rd independence on online version of most newspapers. but two days later, he had a relapse and was rushed to the hospital. As I am talking to you now, he is on life support." Lar, who is also the pioneer chairman of the People's Democratic Party has been undergoing medical treatment in a London hospital for the past one year.

30 suspected Boko Haram members have reportedly been killed by the Nigerian Army yesterday. It was reported that the troops from 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, launched separate preemptive attacks on Boko Haram enclaves at Ajigi, Kafa and Izza villages of Bama and Damboa council areas of the state, killing no fewer than 30 suspected members, including an Amir (leader) of the sect. Also killed were unspecified members of the group at Izza village in Bama town just as five Hilux vehicles mounted with anti-air craft guns and one 18-seater bus with foodstuff belonging to the terrorists were destroyed. In a statement yesterday, spokesman in Maiduguri, Captain Aliyu Danja said: "Our troops launched separate attacks on Boko Haram enclaves in different parts of BornoState, where we killed 30 of them in Ajigi and Kafa villages of Damboa Local Government Area. "Those killed were suspected to be the group of terrorists that fled Damboa town, following an encounter with the secu...

THE National Sports Commission (NSC) has promised a special package to reward the Super Eagles, if they eventually book a ticket to the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil. The Director-General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye told SportingLife in Abuja yesterday that the Eagles need all encouragement from all and sundry to win the remaining two play-off matches and pick the World Cup ticket. he said that is why the NSC has also prepared a special package for the team that would be revealed when they eventually win the ticket for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. “Mind you if the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup, we have a special package for them. We will surely do something special for them. We are already preparing the special package for them because we are sure that the team will qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. We are ready for the team in terms of compensation and encouragement. “I know that Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi knows his onions and is capable of leading this team to ...

Former Education Minister Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili yesterday decried what she called the upsurge of violence against women especially in the North. Mrs. Ezekwesili, who spoke at the begining of a two-day roundtable with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the media and community gatekeepers, said the situation was scary. The roundtable was organised by Women Arise. Citing a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the former minister said that cases of wife battery were prevalent in the north and central regions with the Southwest, having the lowest rate. “In the UNFPA report, it was revealed that 50 per cent of violence against young persons in Nigeria is carried out against people who are below 15 years of age. “The statistics show that violence against women is most rampant in Northcentral while the Southwest including Lagos has the lowest cases,” Mrs. Ezekwesili said. She noted that the growing culture of violence in Nigeria is exacerbated by the patriarchal nature of the...

There are far more African billionaires than previously thought, Ventures magazine said yesterday in a report on the continent’s mega-rich, but the number of Africans living in extreme poverty has also shot up. Previous Africa-rich-lists named as few as 16 billionaires, but Ventures said its exhaustive research had identified at least 55 on a continent where the wealthy often fiercely protect details about their fortunes. The pan-African business magazine said it was able to uncover dozens of new billionaires by using “on-the-ground knowledge” to overcome hurdles that may have “hampered” other researchers. Of the 55, 20 are Nigerian, including several oil barons, while South Africa and Egypt boast nine and eight respectively. Ventures’ supported reports by Forbes which listed Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote as Africa’s richest man with a fortune of $20.2 billion (15 billion euros).Dangote, who made his fortune in cement, heads a multi-interest empire, profiting from products including flour an...

The Commissioner of Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), Captain Usman Muktar, has said the report of the investigation into the cause of the Embraer 120 aircraft belonging to Associated Aviation may take one year. Muktar said the release of the accident report is dependent on a variety of variables, which include the circumstances surrounding the crash. Speaking on a television programme monitored in Lagos, the AIPB boss said investigations have also commenced on why the pilot of the Kabo Air Boeing 747 aircraft conveying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia landed on a different runway , as opposed to the runway prescribed for him by air traffic controllers. The spokesman of the Bureau, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, said the aircraft carrying Saudi Arabia bound pilgrims was believed to have burst tyres on landing. “AIB investigators have been dispatched to conduct investigation into the circumstance surrounding the incident with a view to determining the probable cause,” the statement said....

The assets confiscation hearing of former Delta State Governor James Ibori came to an abrupt end yesterday, as the Judge, Anthony Pitts, granted the crown prosecution’s request to adjourn for retrial. The prosecution said it needed time to get more evidence against the former governor after both the prosecution and defence have made their submissions in the hearing. Judge Pitts said: “I feel that this case inevitably requires decision that is probably based on proper evidence. This matter must proceed in a way to make proper decision. It seems to me to hear some more evidence. I need to be in a much better position more than I am now to make a better position. I am going to adjourn this proceeding till early next year.” The lead counsel to the former governor, QC Krolic said: “The making of confiscation determinations is governed by different procedural requirement from trial procedures and different standard of proof to be applied. “When it comes to trial and sentencing, the court is ...

The All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate in the November 16 poll in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, will launch his campaign today. APC chieftains are expected to attend Ngige’s campaign launch, which is holding at the Holy Trinity Ground, Onitsha. The Labour Party’s (LP’s) standard- bearer, Ifeanyi Ubah, launched his campaign over three weeks ago at the same venue. Ngige came up with his manifesto of 12-point agenda in Awka at the weekend. The senator, who promised free primary and secondary education and 50 per cent reduction in school fees in the Anambra State University, said he was coming back to complete his unfinished projects. APC’s campaign launch has created fears among supporters of other parties. The Nation learnt that Imo, Osun, Edo and Nasarawa governors will attend the event. Others expected are the Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, a National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Interim National Publicity Secret...

Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar must apologise for brutalising and teargassing newly- recruited Universal Basic Education (UBE) teachers in Port Harcourt, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said yesterday. In a letter to the police boss, the congress sought a “firm assurance from the Police to conduct itself in the future in line with civilised norms and rules of engagement.” The NLC asked the police to conduct an investigation into “this despicable and ignominious conduct”, stressing that there should be an evacuation of the police from Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat for workers to resume work. The congress asked Abubakar to order the posting of Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu out of Rivers State as commissioner of police for free and unfettered investigation. It criticised his excesses and his inability to inspire confidence in the contending parties in the state. Last month, about 13, 0000 newly recruited teachers who went to the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt on the i...