TELL IT

View RSS feed

I would like to bring to your attention, the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our Armed Forces and Security Services to enable them more forcefully to confront this (Boko Haram) threat”.  “For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1bn, including government to government arrangements for this upgrade”. The above is an excerpt from a letter dated July 15, 2014 to the National Assembly from President Goodluck Jonathan on the urgent need to contain the Boko Haram insurgency, which has allegedly claimed over 13,000 lives since the insurgency began in 2009, and which according to the ‘Human Rights Watch’ has also led to about 2500 deaths this year. jonathan-boko1Inspite of President Jonathan’s anxiety, the National Assembly delayed consideration of the content of the letter until Parliament resumed from its extended recess almost two months after receipt of the President’s URGENT loan request...

As the September 30 election into the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation draws near, outgoing First Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh sees himself in a pole position ahead of other contestants for the NFF presidency. Umeh and Maigar Umeh and Maigar Umeh has the uphill task of warding off what is expected to be stiff contests from the likes of Amanze Uchegbulam, Amaju Pinnick, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Shehu Dikko and Dominic Irofa to the NFF hot seat. But the Anambra FA Chairman said he is not cowed by the calibre of the other contestants, pointing out that he had the advantage of being the incumbent Vice President. “As the incumbent Vice President, I should be the number one candidate then others will follow,” Umeh said in Lagos yesterday. He hopes to ride on the back of the achievements of the Aminu Maigari-led board to the secure victory at the poll, pointing out that “we as a board were very lucky because we surpassed the achievements of all...

He has never done anything else but business. His experience traversed from tel e-communications to shipping and now publishing, properties and computers. Okey Tobi-Williams Dimoji is popular in his line of business with headquarters in Anthony Village , Lagos where a street is named after him. The graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka is currently undergoing his P.hd programme in the same University after an eight year sojourn in the United Kingdom where he ran a shipping business. Here, he talks about his business experience. Excerpts. What is your business story? Tobi-Williams Dimoji Tobi-Williams Dimoji Really, I have a media background. Both my first and second degree were in Mass Communication. I started my business with telecommunications. Before the advent of GSM, we were a leading telecommunication company in Nigeria. The company then was called, ROYAL STRIDE Nigeria LTD. I would say that we laid the foundation for the take off of GSM in the country. Of course...

Shina LOREMIKAN is a seasoned human and workers’ rights activist who has struggled on social-based issues, including democratic and constitutional processes, for over two decades alongside prominent civil rights activists such as Barrister Femi Falana and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, etc. The Coordinator of the Campaign Against Impunity, he has also worked as the Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR), and is with the Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria. In this interview, he tackles one of the important concerns of the consumer in Nigeria… You have been on a campaign against pirate marketing in the alcoholic beverages industry, which involves two of the biggest players in the sector. What is your concern with this? Thank you very much. It’s good that you observed that this act of pirate marketing involves two heavyweights in the alcoholic beverage industry, with one seeking to gain an edge over the other through unfair practices. Naturally, in m...

Mr. Emeka Ajoiyi is the Country Manager, Inbisco Nigeria Limited, the commercial arm of Mayora Group. Noted for his remarkable business inclinations which came to light at a very young age, Ajoiyi was determined to reach the skies. Shortly after his university education, he ventured into entrepreneurship, then manufacturing of a good number of food products in the country. His voyage into manufacturing of quality food products in Nigeria endeared him to many other notable food products manufacturers across the world. In this chat with Vanguard, he opens up on his journey into manufacturing, what he thinks about the sector, why he became Country Manager, Inbisco Nigeria Limited, and lots more. Excerpts: Background Mr. Emeka Ajoiyi Mr. Emeka Ajoiyi After obtaining his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu in 1997, Ajoiyi went on to the University of Calabar where he obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management. ...

Beautiful and sexy Nollywood actress, Nazareth Jesse Bako, who has featured in over 50 films added a year on Monday, September 15, but chose Sunday, September 14 to entertain a few friends at a soiree she intended to keep as close and simple, as few friends and close associates like her Godfather. According to her, she wasn’t expecting anything elaborate and definitely wasn’t expecting anything grand. But when the likes of Kcee, Harrysong, Gordons and others showed up, she knew she had an occasion on her hands. And was she happy about it? She was gleeful, but quick to add that it was her Godfather the singers came to see and confessed that the relationship between her and Kcee or Harrysong is anything but close. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/kcee-harrysong-surprise-nazareth-jesse-birthday/#sthash.vMw4PGdz.dpuf

After a successful two weeks in cinemas ‘Being Mrs Elliott’ the highly anticipated movie from Nollywood actress, director and producer, Omoni Oboli has lived up to expectations in the cinema with high box office sales. Speaking on the acceptance rate of the movie at the cinemas, Omoni said “the rate at which the movie was accepted is overwhelming. It was really worth all the sleepless nights and hard work, just to see the way ‘Being Mrs Elliott’ was accepted. During the premiere, the cinema release, I felt so loved and appreciated. According to her “I couldnt have done it without all lovers of Omoni. Doing something I had not done before was a bit scary. But seeing the love, acceptance, encouragement, prayers and calls, I know that I am on the right path. Even at the cinemas, people were always telling me “Omoni, you did well”, “congratulations” “way to go girl”, and I am indeed grateful.” - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/something-new-bit-scary-omoni-oboli-confes...

Ex-Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has broken his silence over what wrecked Ghana’s 2014 World Cup campaign revealing that several failed promises by government over when the Black Stars appearance fee would be paid led to the team’s dismal showing. “Before we played the USA game, they were told that the money was in a flight coming to Brazil. After that game, it took some days for the players to ask again,” Appiah said on Metro TV. Kwesi Appiah Kwesi Appiah “Before the Germany game, they were promised again that they will get their monies right after the game and that was also not true. So they decided not to train two days to the Portugal game. “By that time, they were fed up with my continuous pleas. So they insisted. And I knew we would have challenges. “So during the Portugal game, you could see that the players were psychologically down. “The money had really pre-occupied their minds. So we actually couldn’t progress because of those external factors which was the appearance fee...

Port Elizabeth - Two South African medics were Thursday suspended after a pregnant woman they were ferrying to hospital fell out of a moving ambulance and suffered a miscarriage, an official said. The ambulance door opened while the vehicle was moving and the 19-year-old woman plunged to the ground. The drivers only realised on arriving at the hospital in the remote southeastern village of Ntabankulu, that their patient was missing. She was picked up by a passing motorist and rushed to hospital. But she had suffered multiple injuries from the fall and miscarried. The medics “were negligent and they have been suspended with immediate effect,” Eastern Cape provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo told AFP. The two are to face disciplinary action and possible dismissal, he added. “We condemn their actions in the strongest terms. We make them work as a pair so that one guards the patient while the other drives the ambulance,” he said. - See more at: http://www.vanguardng...

San Franciscon – The South Korean consumer electronics titan credited with being the first major manufacturer to blend tablet and smartphone features said it will begin taking orders for the coming model on Friday, the same day rival Apple launches its new-generation iPhone 6. “Samsung created the large screen smartphone category with the Galaxy Note and we are on our fourth generation, a category others are just entering,” Gregory Lee, Samsung’s Telecommunications America president, said in a statement. “The Galaxy Note 4 delivers a refined Note experience, and the latest technology that consumers want in their smartphone.” In what was seen by some as a direct shot at Apple, Samsung promised that anyone ordering a Note 4 by October 16 would be entitled to a trade-in value of $200 for any working smartphone. The Note 4 boasts a 5.7-inch high definition screen, improved front and rear cameras, speedy charging, and an “S Pen” to write, draw or edit on the touch screen more naturall...

By Gbenga Ariyibi Ado-Ekiti – A leading Ekiti traditional musician , Chief Peter Ogunyemi, popularly known as Elemure, 70, is dead. Ogunyemi died in the early hours of Thursday. A family source told our correspondent that the ace musician may have died of undisclosed ailment. While alive, Elemure Ogunyemi’ traversed the length and breath of the country, trilling his fans with his music usual laced with Ekiti dialect. His sudden demise on Thursday shocked residents of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital where he operate his musical prowess. The ace musician was born in Ikole Ekiti on August 23,1944. and started his elementary education at Saint Peters Catholic Primary School, Ikole-Ekiti where he finished his Standard Six. He proceeded to Lagos and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Finance in 1976. He moved down to Ekiti State finally in 1979 where he had his musical headquarters. Elemure released about 46 albums.He is Elejoka of Isaba He is survived by children and many g...

The Nigeria Police Force has faulted the report of Amnesty International, saying that torture is prohibited. In a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Ag.CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, it stated that there is a zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power, stressing there is no Immunity for impunity in Nigeria Police Force. READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW: The attention of the Nigeria Police has been drawn to an on-line publication entitled ‘Welcome to Hell-Fire’: torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria. While we do not question the freedom of Amnesty International to earn its relevance and bread, the Nigeria Police takes serious exceptions to some blatant falsehoods and innuendoes contained in that report. For one, it smacks of indecency and intemperate language to liken our dear nation Nigeria, to hell fire. That cannot be true. We believe that Nigeria is a growing nation, green and largely peaceful. While the Nigeria Police and other operators in the criminal justice sector ...

Lagos - A Nigerian man has been arrested for selling his wife to black magic practitioners who wanted to sacrifice a virgin, police said Thursday. The deal in the central Nigerian state of Plateau was cancelled at the last minute, however, when the ritualists realised she was married. “The man lured his wife to a bush under the pretext of fetching firewood and sold her to two ritualists for 800,000 naira (about $5,000), Plateau state police spokesman Abuh Emmanuel told AFP. He said the man from Kwalla town lied to the ritualists that the woman was a virgin and had been given part of the money. “When the ritualists discovered that the woman was the man’s wife, they asked her to go because she could not be used for the sacrifice,” he said. Emmanuel said the man and his two accomplices were arrested after the woman reported the incident to the police. “The suspects are in our custody and will be taken to court for criminal conspiracy and an attempted murder,” he said. Belief in b...

Lagos – Nigerian preacher TB Joshua on Thursday broke his silence over a building collapse that killed 80 at his Lagos megachurch but denied lack of cooperation and stuck to his theory of possible aerial sabotage. The popular televangelist, known as “The Preacher” or “The Man of God” to his thousands of followers in Nigeria and around the world, also indicated that other overseas nationals were involved. TB Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse TB Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said that 67 of his compatriots were killed when a guesthouse for foreign followers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down last Friday. The death toll from the tragedy climbed after 10 more bodies were pulled from among the twisted metal and shattered masonry of the building on the sprawling SCOAN compound. Joshua had not directly commented on the deaths and had only published Bible quotations on his ...

FG releases list of National Award recipients 2013/2014 The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the award of National Honours to the following Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, in various categories as listed below: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION LIST OF 2013/2014 NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD RECIPIENTS 2013 AND 2014 NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD S/NO NAMES STATUS CLASS OF MEDAL AIR MARSHAL ALEX SABUNDU BADEH CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF CFR MAJ. GEN. KENNETH MINIMAH CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF CFR REAR ADMIRAL USMAN JIBRIN CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF CFR AIR VICE MARSHAL ADESOLA AMOSU CHIEF OF AIR STAFF CFR ALHAJI SULAIMAN ABBA ACTING INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE CFR HON. JUSTICE BOLARINWA O. BABALAKIN FMR. SUPREME COURT, JUDGE CFR HON. JUSTICE ABUBAKAR BASHIR WALI JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, (RTD) CFR HON. JUSTICE IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT CFR HON. JUSTICE CHRISTOPHER M. CHUKWUMA – ENEH JUSTICE OF...

Abuja – The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, on Thursday in Abuja urged Nigerians not to panic over the current fuel scarcity in the country. Wogu made the call while speaking with newsmen on the ongoing strike by the oil and gas sectors. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday shut down operations nationwide. The unions had shut down operations nationwide over alleged irregular funding of their pen­sion scheme, which had led to about N85 billion deficit. Other demands of the workers are the call for immediate steps to carry out Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the four refineries as agreed between government and the two unions and restoration of crude supply to the refineries The minister said that talks were still ongoing with the management of the Nigerian National Petro­leum Corporation (NNPC) and the in house unions of PEN­GASSAN and ...

Ikeja – The Acting Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Benedict Adeyileka, on Thursday said that more than 60 per cent of the aircraft operated by Nigerian airlines were on lease. Adeyileka spoke in Lagos through NCAA’s General Manager, Airworthiness & Standard, Mr Kayode Ajiboye, at a seminar organised by Aeroconsult with the theme “Sustaining Safety in the Nigerian Aviation Sector’’. He said that most airlines preferred aircraft lease financing to reduce their operational cost. Adeyileka said that many Nigerian financial institutions also preferred to support business aviation at the expense of commercial aviation. “According to financial institutions, their argument is that business aviation has less risk when compared to commercial aviation,” he said. The NCAA chief noted that one of the major challenges for airlines in the country was that lease rates were paid in U.S. dollars while passengers’ fares were in Naira. Adeyileka advised the airli...

Obasanjo, Tambuwal absent at NEC meeting By Henry Umoru. 18-9-14 ABUJA- AHEAD of his formal declaration for his return bid and the Party’s National Convention fixed for December 6, the National Executive Committee, NEC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Thursday adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole Presidential candidate for 2015 Presidential election. Rising from its 66th NEC meeting Thursday at Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the Party, the party’s highest body explained that the move became imperative because no serious party would change a winning team like President Jonathan who has performed with his transformation agenda which has changed the face and well being of Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan wave to the crowd shortly after the conferment of se -lo-lia (Star of the Nation) on him during the courtesy visit to the king for the burial of the first Lady's mother , Madam fynface Oba in Okireka , River state ...yesterday President Goodluc...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2015 election. The decision was announced at a NEC meeting chaired by Adamu Mua’zu, the national chairman of the party, and attended by Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and deputy speaker of the federal house of representatives, Emeka Ihedioha. PDPJonaGovernor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, who stayed away from the meeting of the PDP governors on Wednesday, was present at Thursday’s NEC meeting. Lamido, known to be interested in contesting the 2015 presidential election, did not oppose the endorsement. Jonathan is yet to officially declare interest in seeking reelection. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/2015-pdp-adopts-jonathan-sole-presidential-candidate/#sthash.DtL87NRl.dpuf