Herdsmen killings: Southern, middle belt leaders warn Buhari against state of emergency in Benue State

The southern and middle belt leader’s forum has warned the presidency against declaring state of emergency in Benue State.

The Forum also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for killings in the state and other parts of the country.

The southern and middle belt leader’s forum has warned the presidency against declaring state of emergency in Benue State.

The Forum also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for killings in the state and other parts of the country.

The leaders revealed this to newsmen after a meeting of southern and middle beltleaders in Abuja.

They said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has not lived up to the expectations of his office by keeping mute on the killings, visiting neighbouring Nasarawa and Adamawa states, while ignoring Benue.”

“Soldiers drafted to Benue state under Operation Cat Dance, were allegedly circulating leaflets, calling Tiv cattle rustlers, which clearly suggests that the operation is ostensibly meant to turn victims into villains and decimate their capacity for self-defence.”

“President Buhari to stop the killings in Benue and other parts of the country by disarming herdsmen and fishing out culprits for prosecution.”

“Any plot to declare a state of emergency in Benue State, as being canvassed by some sponsored group, as such a move in the Western Region had dire consequences in the past.”

The meeting had in attendance Chief Clark, who led the south-south delegation; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, at the head of southwest delegation; Chief John Nwodo, southeast, and Bala Takaya.

#BBNaija: Tobi reclaims Head of House.

Tobi Bakre has emerged the new Head of House on the ongoing Big Brother Naija ‘Double Wahala’, winning the title for the third time.

The housemate beat fellow contenders Miracle, Anto and Cee-C to win the title.In addition to his win, Tobi also gets to enjoy the luxury room with his strategic partner, Alex.

Tobi won the title in the first and second week while he was still paired with Cee-C.However, there were no evictions during his previous reign, so he did not get to use his power, which allows him to save a nominated pair and replace with another.

During his previous tenures as the HoH, the housemates lost their wager.Tobi had come under fire for his relationship with former strategic partner Cee-C.

Cee-C’s hold on Tobi triggered negative reactions from viewers who called for prayers to free him form Cee-C’s alleged manipulation.The hastag #PrayforTobi became the trending topic on various social media.It seems viewers prayers’ were answered when `Biggie’, changed the pair during the reshuffling in the house, leaving Cee-C to be paired with Lolu while Tobi was paired with Alex.Tobi’s win comes after Miracle’s successful reign as the Head of House.

This season tagged ‘Double Wahala’, housemates are competing for prizes worth 45 million naira.

Chinese girl rides bicycle from Morocco to Lagos in 5 months

A Chinese female cyclist, Huang Shuang, who rode from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria, within five months, says she is convinced that one can achieve anything one determines to do.

Huang, also known as CICI, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos on Monday that she was inspired to embark on “cycling around the world’’ after riding around her country.

The cyclist said that her experience in China motivated her to begin global cycling in America where she covered about 5,500 km in two months.

“I am glad that I have also been able to ride from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria. This is an indication that irrespective of our sex, we can achieve anything we set out to do.

“The whole idea about my cycling started when, one day, I decided to embark on a cycling trip around my country, China.

“After the trip around China, I was motivated to take my first cycling around the world to America, where I covered about 5,500km in two months.

“Now, I am in Lagos from Morocco, after I flew from America to France, where I cycled around Europe for four months, before taking a ferry from Spain to Morocco,’’ she said.

Huang said that she always travels with money, noodles, tent, sleeping bag, clothes and bicycle repair accessories.

The cyclist, who left Morocco for Lagos on September 6, 2017, said her trip was fascinating though she experienced tiredness, robbery, accidents and had had to sleep under bridges and in gas stations.

Huang told the news agency that she crossed the desert within six days and was well received by many African villages.

The cyclist said sometimes, she happily ate local meals made by the villagers.

“I have happily sung and danced with children in different African villages and communities where I passed the nights or stopped to cook.

“I have seen the most beautiful sunset, the most stunning mountain views, breath-taking lakes and virgin forests across Africa.

“My trip has also exposed me to many African children still living in poverty, hunger, without education and basic amenities,’’ she said.

The Chinese said she would be cycling to about 33 countries in the next three years, adding that she would continue her cycling from Lagos to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, East Africa and some other countries.

Huang said her cycling was also informed by her desire to interact with children in African communities before inaugurating a free lunch for them in 2018.

She said she hoped to raise some money for the benefit of about 2,000 children.

Nollywood Can Boost The Export, Economic, GDP Of Nigeria With Foreign Technical Support-Paul Adefarasin

House On The Rock pastor, Paul Adefarasin after watching the movie Black Panther, has declared the need for the Nigerian film industry to plan for the future.

Adefarasin spoke on the strength of the Nigeria film industry at a special screening of Black Panther movie, organized by the US Consular Mission.
In his words :

“The Nigeria film industry is recognised in the global economy as the third largest movie industry in the world. But it is very important that we seek more technical support and more integration with movie industries in America, Europe and in India. I think we can continue to improve our acting skill and make the movie industry grow and continue to hit the silver screen, not just at home but also abroad in foreign markets, and thereby continue to boost the export, economic growth and the GDP of our nation.

We need more film houses in the country, significant infrastructure and national planning. This is a big market; the Nigeria population will be over 400 million in the next 20-25 years (3rd biggest national population in the world) that the global film industry will be most interested in. so, I’m excited for it. The movie industry in the cultural space is also an important space. Culture drives our value system and is a space I am interested in. we want to see the cultural space beginning to drive the value judgement of freedom, justice, righteousness and industrialization.

I am scared about our growth! It’s going to take a lot of planning on the part of the government and increase in the GDP so that we ensure a stronger economy that can facilitate the amenities and infrastructure to cope with such a large population. It’s actually an emergency. So, we need to urgently plan for the future.”

On his review of the movie, in a post he put on his Instagram page, Pastor Adefarasin wrote:

“The plot, effect, contrivance and even the comic relief were all thoroughly engaging and intelligently executed. The depiction of our strength and capabilities as a race was awe inspiring, as was the representation of the African culture, beauty and talent. We enthusiastically celebrate our Nigerian, African and African American brothers and sisters for their groundbreaking accomplishments with this project.

If you have not seen this movie, I think you should go and see it … do so with pride. Take your kids along (if they are within the permitted age) because it is experiences like this that empower us and expand our consciousness, showing how successful, powerful and influential that we as African States, and people of African descent can be”.

Ambode finally signs N1.046Trn budget appropriation bill 2018 into law.

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has signed the N1,046,121,181,680, 2018 appropriation bill into law.

The governor, appended his signature to the budget,termed, Progress and Development”, this morning, at a brief ceremony, held at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode


Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly had barely a month ago passed the appropriation bill after consideration for Governor’s assent. The governor had initially presented the appropriation before the state house of assembly last year December for consideration and subsequent approval.

Nigerians Dying Of Poverty, Suffering – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has expressed concern over the suffering and hardship facing the Nigerian masses and called for well-meaning leaders to salvage their precarious condition.

He also lamented that the corporate existence of Nigeria was being threatened by selective administration of justice, marginalisation, and vendetta against perceived political opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

This is just as he decried the level of poverty in the country, adding that many Nigerians are dying in silence with nobody standing up for them.

Fayose, therefore, called on people of good conscience not to allow their voices to be silenced because of possible political antagonism or persecution.

He spoke in Lagos on Friday night while being conferred with the award of Man of the Year by the Silverbird Group. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor was quoted as saying that the major step to take to solve the problem was in going back to the basics and restructuring the country.

Fayose, who fielded questions from newsmen after the event, said he would not allow anybody to drown his voice or silence him no matter what it would cost. “A lot of people we know to be vocal have lost their voices. Some have taken cover under the beds of their wives. We are in a perilous time and I appreciate those who are still standing for the people at this time. For me, I will remain a man. Some people have kept quiet because they fear that they may be persecuted,” he said.

“But should we all keep quiet when people are oppressed and suppressed and blatantly marginalised? Look at the level of poverty in the country, it is sickening. The standard of living has gone down. And how do we explain a situation where some people are treated as slaves and others as princes. This country belongs to all of us. It is in serious need now and we must salvage the situation,” he added.

On the call for restructuring, Fayose said he aligned with the call made many years ago by the late Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu that the country must be restructured. He noted that the issues that led to the civil war were yet to be resolved many decades after.

“I was moved by what the late Chief Ojukwu said many years ago and never knew his wife would be the one to present this award to me. We should go back to the basics or we are going nowhere. We are one and the same and no section must be marginalized,” Fayose posited.

While charging leaders to make laws for the good of the people, adding that the law prohibiting open grazing in Ekiti State had come to stay. He said anybody who crosses the line would be dealt with.

While presenting the award to Fayose, former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, described Fayose as an irrepressible governor of the people.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, said all the award winners were men and women who deserved to be so recognised.

Baruten Local Government in Kwara State have silently denounced to the Republic of Benin.

Residents of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State have denounced their Nigerian citizenship.

They said they now to belong to the Republic of Benin.

The residents attributed their decision to long neglect of the local government in terms of basic infrastructure by the Kwara State government.

In a statement made available to journalists, Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat of Kwara Must Change accused Kwara politicians of deceiving residents of the local government with promises during electioneering campaign.

He said since the creation of Kwara state over 51 years ago, no single meaningful project has been done in the local government by either state or federal government.

Hamzat said some members of Kwara Must Change residing in the local government confided in the group that they have since lost hope in the Kwara State government and have silently denounced their Kwara State citizenship due to absolute neglect.

”I am from Baruten local government, in Gwanara district specifically. We call ourselves citizens of Benin Republic because we are not sure if we are part of Kwara state. From Gwanara, we travel to Saki in Oyo state for medical treatments and some even die on the road while going’’. ‘’Others go to Benin Republic for medical treatments too, because we really lack everything at Baruten especially Gwanara district’’.

Read Hamzat’s full story below:

Kwara Must Change wishes to bring to public attention, the unfortunate situation in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State that has made the people denounce their beloved Kwara State.

Baruten is a Local Government in Kwara State sharing border with Benin Republic, but unfortunately, there is no road leading to the Local Government from Kwara State.

When going to Baruten, one has to travel a long distance to neighbouring Oyo State before connecting back to Baruten Local Government. However, apart from Oyo State, one can as well travel to Benin Republic and come in through the other axis.

Although, Nigeria’s border road to Benin Republic located in Gwanara district of Baruten Local Government is stinkingly terrible, notwithstanding, one can still use it at grave discomfort.

According to the people living in the local government, since the creation of Kwara state over 51 years ago, no single meaningful project has been done in the local government by either state or federal government.

A few days ago, some members of Kwara Must Change residing in the local government confided in us that they have since lost hope in the Kwara State government and have silently denounce their Kwara State citizenship due to absolute neglect.

‘’I am from Baruten local government, in Gwanara district specifically. We call ourselves citizens of Benin Republic because we are not sure if we are part of Kwara state. From Gwanara, we travel to Saki in Oyo state for medical treatments and some even die on the road while going’’. ‘’Others go to Benin Republic for medical treatments too, because we really lack everything at Baruten especially Gwanara district’’.

This is why Kwara Must Change is forced to ask the Kwara State government if Baruten Local Government is no longer part of Kwara State. If they are part of the State, why is Kwara State government not responsible for those living in Baruten and why are they completely abandoned over the years?

It is important to note that, the Kwara State governor, Senator representing Kwara North and other office holders often go to Baruten during electioneering campaigns. When they go there, they make all sorts of promises, but after getting into office, they forget the people.

We contend that, If government cannot build ordinary road into Baruten local government, how would they provide schools, medical facilities and other infrastructural developments?

Kwara Must Change is hereby calling on the Kwara State government to tell the people of Baruten their fate, whether or not they remain part of Kwara State and Nigeria in extension.

CBN Governor says MPC may cut interest rates before July

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria says the Monetary Policy Committee may start cutting interest rates in the first half of the year as inflation eases.

Godwin Emefiele said once inflation gets to low double digits “and high single digit happens, then it should be easy for the MPC to begin to look at easing.

He added that while inflation slowed to a 20-month low of 15.4 per cent in December, it’s still above the CBN’s six per cent to nine per cent target band.

The CBN Boss stressed increases in the price and shipment of oil, Nigeria’s biggest foreign-currency earner, and improved investor confidence means the central bank can build its reserves to $60bn in the next 12 to 18 months, from $40bn currently.

No hiding place for tax evaders – FIRS Chairman

Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS, Babatunde Fowler says there is no hiding place for tax evaders, 

who had refused to seize the opportunity provided by the Voluntary Asset

and Income Declaration Scheme to pay appropriate taxes.

Fowler described the VAIDS scheme as a tax amnesty programme, which taxpayers were expected to take advantage of.

Fowler stated that the VAID was targeted at every taxpayer, who had unlawfully underpaid or not paying by any means, adding that the scheme would run till March the 31st.

He said the scheme will provide opportunities for taxpayers to regularize their status relating to previous tax periods by honestly declaring previously undisclosed assets and incomes.

Ambode’s aide, Deji Tinubu is dead

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Commerce, Deji Tinubu, has passed away. It was reported

that Deji was at a novelty march being played in Epe, yesterday January 25th, when he slumped.

Deji Tinubu, who was the former Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, slumped in the field and was confirmed dead at a hospital in Epe.

According to an eye witness, “He slumped while playing football this evening at Retreat with Governor in Epe, took to the Charlet clinic but was later rushed to the General Hospital in EPE when condition didn’t improve…. unfortunately, we lost Uncle Deji Tinubu.”

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, says Adam and Eve were black people.

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, says Adam and Eve were black people created in Ile-Ife, Osun state.

Ogunwusi made the claim in a video posted on Instagram by GoldMyneTV.

He said human beings were created in Ogba Idena, also in Ile-Ife.

According to the monarch, Noah’s ark is also in the ancient Yoruba city.

The ooni said: “The Yoruba land is very powerful. Adam and Eve are of the black race. And they were created in Ife.

“Humans are the last creation of Eledumare, and were created in a place we call Ogba Idena (a garden where we became humans).

“The white men called it Garden of Eden. Ogba Idena is where Eledumare called all the angels and said let’s create humans. Ogba Idena is in Ile Ife. Even Noah’s ark is in Ife. We have three Ifes; Ife Odaiye, Ife Ooyelagbo and Ile Ife.

“All the world history is in Ife.”https://www.instagram.com/p/BeSJcVYFBic/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_legacy

China -Nigeria bilateral trade stood at $12.3bn in 2017

China says its bilateral trade with Nigeria in 2017 stood at 12.3 billion dollars.

Deputy Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lin Jing told our reporter that the trade figure recorded was from January to November 2017.

Lin added that the figure also represented a 30 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2016.

“The bilateral trade is a very important mechanism to boost our economic relationship.

“We do not have the total trade volume for the whole year, but for the total volume from January to November, bilateral trade stood at 12.3 billion dollars.

“That represents more than 30 per cent of increase compared to the same period of 2016; we believe that by maintaining our normal trade volume, our overall economic relation and cooperation will be boosted and give impetus to our overall relationship.”

Nigeria and China established formal diplomatic relations in Feb. 1971.

The envoy, however, said both countries, in 2005, established strategic partnerships to promote relations in several areas and enhance continued people-to-people exchanges.

He said such strategic partnership was fostered as a result of Nigeria’s importance to China.

“Nigeria is the biggest Chinese investment destination in Africa, the second largest export market and the third largest trading partner of China in Africa,” he said.

Agreements by both countries following the strategic partnership paved way for Chinese investment and development opportunities in Nigeria.

Lin reiterated the Chinese Government’s commitment to exhaust its efforts to promote development programmes in Nigeria.

He said plans were underway to transfer some of China’s industrial capacity to Nigeria

“There is also a concept initiated by my ambassador called made in Nigeria with China.

“I think this is a very good concept; there are many private investors in China, they have expertise, experience and surplus industrial capacity.

“They need to find the market. All these conditions we will make use of to see whether we can try something successful here.”

He further said that China’s relationship with Africa would boost economic activities, generate income and enhance foreign investment.

“We have friends in Africa and we want to further cement our friendship and we believe that by supporting each other we are going to have bigger win win scenario.”

NIGERIAN PRESIDENT BUHARI, BOLA TINUBU, BISI AKANDE MEET INSIDE ASO ROCK

Latest update as President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Also in the meeting holding inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, is a chieftain of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.

The meeting is coming a few hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo, issued a statement urging Buhari not to run for the 2019 elections.