Monday, December 24, 2012

Abuja Stadium Renovation Begins January



The Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the renovation of the National Stadium in Abuja will commence in January.The Federal Government has awarded the contract for the renovation of the stadium to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and has directed that the renovation begins next month.
Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeriaon Sunday in Abuja that he had relocated his office to the stadium to ‘breathe life back’ to the facility. “Of course, we have concluded arrangements with Julius Berger to bring alive the pitch of the main bowl and training grounds in January, after the holidays,” Abdullahi said.

Please Come And Spend $16 Billion In Our Energy Sector – FG Calls On Private Investors




It has been revealed that the Federal Government needs an investment of at least $16bn (N2.53tn) from the private sector to address the myriad of problems in the energy sector. This was revealed by the Project Manager, Bank of Industry/United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Femi Adaju, in Abuja at the second edition of the renewable energy investment forum.

Community Decries PHCN’s Neglect, Insensitivity





The Ireakari-Olorunfunmi Estate Community Development Association, Idimu, Lagos State, has cried out over neglect and insensitivity by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. The association said for close to one year, all entreaties to the PHCN, Idimu Business Unit, to change the community’s transformer panel and ‘upriser’ cable had fallen on deaf ears.

CBN may revoke licences of more MFBs





Indications have emerged that the Central Bank of Nigeria may revoke the operating licences of some microfinance banks in the country early next year, ADEMOLA ALAWIYE reports. With the financial sector smarting from the 2010 withdrawal of operating licences of 103 microfinance banks, indications have again emerged that more MFBs may soon lose their licences as a result of another impending cleaning exercise by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

FG Begins Work On 10 New Rail Lines





The Federal Government has announced plans to construct 10 new rail lines to cover other parts of the country currently not linked by rail. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said on Friday that already feasibility studies had commenced on seven of the proposed railway lines. Umar, who spoke in Lagos at the inauguration of the Lagos-Kano train service and resumption of fuel haulage by train from Lagos to Offa, said that the feasibility studies on three other planned rail lines would be done in 2013.

Deregistration: We Are Not Interested In Merging With Other Parties – PDP




Following speculations that the recent deregistration of political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would bring about several mergers among parties in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismissed any such possibilities as far as they are concerned, saying that they are strong enough to remain a formidable force, come 2015. This was made known by the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, who said that while the party was ready to accept the members of the recently deregistered parties as individuals, they are not ready to accept them as parties.

Fulani Herdsmen Invade Ogun Village, Slaughter One, Leave Several Others Injured



Information on the website of the Sun Newspaper has it that nomadic Fulani herdsmen invaded the border town of Oja-Odan in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday, killing a farmer and injuring dozens of others. The daring herdsmen allegedly slaughtered one Agbaose Sewotan after invading his farmlands and destroying his food and cash crops. An elder brother of the deceased, Mr. Oluwole Sewontan, said the incident occurred in the evening of Friday. According to him, “This is not the first time that our natives were slaughtered like cows on our own soil with impunity. My dear brother was killed simply because he protested the invasion of his farmland by the herdsmen.”

Petrol Shortage Worsens




Fuel shortage bit harder across the country on Sunday, few hours to Christmas. The situation, which became evident in Lagos on Friday, worsened on Sunday, with many filling stations not having the product to sell. Those with the product, had long queues of motorists awaiting attention. Also, some filling stations had also resorted to profiteering, as they sold above the regulated price of N97 per litre.

Coping With Job Loss





When 44-year-old Dele lost his job just three weeks before Christmas, his first reaction was one of panic. He had worked in a construction company for 12 years and assumed that he had a stable job for many more years. Dele was his family’s main breadwinner although his wife worked part-time. They had two children under six and the usual rent and other bills to pay.
Job loss ranks as one of life’s most challenging events and it hurts at any point during the year, but during the season of “good will to all men,” it tends to have a much more devastating effect on people when it happens at such time of the year. Some of the issues involved include adjusting your finances, looking for a new job, and coping with the emotional and social impact of your new situation. But even if you failed to anticipate this sudden change in your circumstances, here are some practical steps to take with a clear positive outlook if such happens.
Don’t panic
When you think about all your bills and the monthly expenses you have to face without a steady income, it is easy to despair. Remain calm and do not rush into any major financial decisions whilst you assess your situation. Even if you are eligible, be cautious about dipping into your retirement savings account.
It would be much easier to deal with both financially and emotionally if you’d prepared for the worst by planning ahead with an emergency fund or insurance. The importance of an emergency fund becomes glaring in situations like this. Do you have any savings? How long will it last based on your monthly bills? If you have been able to set aside say six months of your income in a high yield money market account, you will be able to settle some of your bills and relieve some financial pressure while you look for a new job. But if you have always lived from month to month, this may not be an option.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Four Kidnapped S. Korean Expatriates Freed




Four South Korean workers who were kidnapped earlier this week in Bayelsa state have been released unharmed, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday. The four workers from South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, were abducted by armed men Monday while working at a construction site in the state of Bayelsa.

Photo: Man Excretes 90 Wraps Of Cocaine In 2 Weeks




A suspected drug trafficker recently excreted 90 wraps of a substance believed to be cocaine in 14 days.
The suspect, Peter Onyeagba, 40, allegedly tested positive for drug ingestion after his arrest at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos during an inward screening of passengers on a Kenyan Airways flight. He was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, confirmed the arrest. He said, “Onyeagba is the longest observed drug suspect since January 2012. He began excretion the day he was arrested and took two weeks to complete observation. Some others conclude the evacuation of ingested drugs in three days, while a majority last for a week. This is the longest observed case since January.”

Angry Youths Set Suspected Okada Thief Ablaze In Nasarawa




Apparently some suspected thieves are more innocent than the other or how else can one rationalize the craze for dispensing jungle justice on ‘petty’ thieves while those alleged and known to have looted the public till still walk freely on the streets like peacocks? 

Friday would mark an unfortunate day for a man suspected to be a motorcyclist thief, when he was set ablaze by angry youths at a workers’ village, along Kilema Doma road in Lafia, Nasarawa State, while allegedly trying to snatch a motorcycle, popularly called okada in the area.

How Anenih, Alison-Madueke, Others Robbed Nigeria Of N234bn Meant For Road Construction - PREMIUM TIMES






By Ogala Emmanuel
Despite his indictment, Mr. Anenih has now been appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the NPA board. Tony Anenih, recently re-appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, does not have a clean past in managing public funds, a 2009 senate report said.

In December 2009, a damning report detailing how Mr. Anenih, a former works minister and then leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly mismanaged billions of naira meant for the rehabilitation and construction of Nigerian roads, was listed for debate – for the third time in a row – by the Senate.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

PHOTO: Baby Girl Born With Skin Covering Eyes




Ten-month-old Liaoliao was born with skin covering her eyes. Only about one hundred patients in the world suffer from the condition called cryptophthalmia (It is a rare congenital anomaly in which the skin is continuous over the eyeball with absence of eyelids).  When Liaoliao was born this February, her family faced the shocking news that her eyes were covered with skin, and she had no eyelashes or eyebrows.

NOT GOOD! "I Named Tuface, Yet He Cheated Me" - Blackface



Tell us more about your new album?




My new album is entitled Defender. This is the first time I will have a song that is the title of my album. I was thinking of the name to call the album and I have no other better name than Defender and the song happens to be one of my best tracks in the album.

Imo state reveals plan to redesign Owerri master plan





The Imo state government has disclosed plans to redesign the Owerri Master plan in order to develop and beautify the state capital to a master piece which can be compared to developed capital cities around the world.The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr Uche Nwosu disclosed this to journalist during a news conference in Owerri, the Imo state capital. He said the Owerri Master plan which has been designed since 1976 has lost its beauty over the years due to the increasing population experienced in the city.

Suicide Bombers Attack Airtel and MTN Offices in Kano



Suicide Bombers Attack Airtel and MTN Offices in Kano

Two suicide bombers attacked a branch of Airtel and MTN Communication offices in Kano state, early Saturday morning, killing a yet to identified number of people. A source close to joint security forces in the state, told Channels Television that one suicide bomber hit the premises of Airtel on Mallam Kato Square , killing one unidentified person.

Globetrotting governors in Nigeria’s risky airspace




The lavish and immodest lifestyle of Nigerian governors can be measured by their penchant for frequent and often needless foreign travels, writes CHUKWUDI AKASIKE. In the Second Republic, governors showed a high level of moderation compared to the current crop of governors who are not only stylish, but also take pleasure to the extreme while in office. While some state chief executives in those days were satisfied riding on horses, today’s governors not only fly in airplanes, they acquire private jets for their regular expensive trips.

Jonathan has no reason fighting his benefactors –Dokubo-Asari




Former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, spoke with select journalists on some national issues, including the alleged face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and his estranged political godfather, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. FRIDAY OLOKORwas there

Fat Joe Faces 2 Years Jail Term For Tax Evasion




American rapper Fat Joe appeared in a New Jersey courtroom yesterday (Dec. 20) and pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Records show that Joe, real name Joseph Cartagena owes about $700,000 for unpaid taxes dating back to 2007 and 2008. Fat Joe has had a couple of legal issues in the past. On September 8, 1998, Fat Joe and Big Pun were arrested on assault charges for hitting a man with a baseball bat and stealing the man’s gold chain on June 14 that year. 

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