ONE WORD

The police in Rivers on Tuesday said that cultists and thugs that had lost patronage from politicians were behind the upsurge in killings in the state. DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt. Omoni said the police were aware of the upsurge in crime in the state, stressing that the command had put in place adequate measures to tackle this. He stated that the killings were not strange to the police as politicians who had armed the cultists and thugs had now turned their backs on them. “The issue is these boys have lost patronage from their paymasters, so they want money via crime by asking for royalty and all manner of payments from residents of the community. “We cannot allow that to fester, we will arrest them and bring them to justice. “This has really put the boys into some kind of confusion, and we are capitalising on that. “We have penetrated

The timetable for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, (WASSCE), has clashed with that of the  Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). JAMB But on Tuesday JAMB  assured candidates sitting for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) that they would not be denied the opportunity of sitting for the examination. Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head of Public Relations, JAMB, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos following fears concerning a clash in the timetable of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and UTME. According to the timetable, WAEC students who are expected to write Animal Husbandry on April 11 by 9:00 a.m. are also expected to sit for the UTME on the same day. The affected students are those expected to write Animal Husbandry in the 2019 May/June of WASSCE for school candidates, which begins on Monday across secondary schools in the country. At least 1.8 millio

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Governor-elect of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday attended the funeral of Pastor Adetokunbo Olorunnimbe, at the City of David Sanctuary, Redeemed  Christian Church of God(RCCG), Victoria Island, Lagos. VP Osinbajo Late Olorunnimbe was the Chief-of-Staff and Chief Private Secretary, to the General Overseer, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. Reports have it that Olorunnimbe died on March 30, at the age of 60. In an exhortation, Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, Assistant General Overseer in charge of Training and Education, said that Olorunnimbe loved humour and left a lot of laughter behind. Odeyemi said that the deceased never allowed his achievements to derail him.  “He was simple; full of passion for the Lord, full of compassion for the life of the less privileged. “He never shirked his responsibilities; he knew his labour was not in vain; unsurpassed, he did his best; he was always steadfast,” he said. Oh his part, Sanwo-Olu said that the dece

Lagos State Government has urged Lagosians not to despair over the abduction of the Director of the State Fire Service, Mr Rasaki Musibau, assuring that all hands are on deck to ensure that he returns safely with other victims. Musibau and six others were abducted by unknown gunmen on Saturday night at about 8pm on Iwoye Bridge, along Itoikin-Epe Road. Briefing newsmen on Tuesday after the State Security Council Meeting chaired by the Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu again confirmed Musibau’s abduction with others, but assured that security agencies were working round the clock to rescue them safely. Muazu, who briefed journalists alongside heads of other security formations in the State, expressed optimism of positive result soon but declined to give further details on the ongoing operation to rescue the victims. “I confirm that there was an incident of kidnapping involving the State Director of Fire Service and all the secu

Bank of America Corp said on Tuesday it would raise its minimum wage to 20 dollars (about N7,200) per hour over a two-year period. On May 1, the minimum hourly wage will rise by 2 dollars to 17 dollars, the bank said. “The increase will occur in increments. On May 1, 2019, the minimum hourly wage will increase to 17 dollars and will continue to rise until it reaches 20 dollars in 2021. “This is part of the company’s commitment to being a great place to work and delivering sustainable, responsible growth through competitive benefits and programs that support the diverse needs of its 205,000+ employees. “We are raising our minimum wage because we believe that to best serve our customers and clients, we need the best teams,” said Sheri Bronstein, chief human resources officer at Bank of America. Bank of America joins other Wall Street banks that have raised hourly wages following U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to cut corporate tax rates in 2017.  JPMorgan Chase & Co has

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd.) as Chairman of the North East Development Commission (NEDC). The Upper Chamber also confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Alkali as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NEDC alongside nine members. This followed presentation of report by Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Sen. Abdul Aziz Nyako on confirmation of nominations into the board of the commission. The other nominees are Musa Yashi-Execitive Director Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammed Jawa-Executive Director Administration and Finance, Omar Mohammed Executive Director Operation. Others are David Kente-member representing North East Zone, Asmau Mohammed, member representing North West Zone, Benjamin Adanyi member representing North Central Zone. Still others are Olawale Oshun-member representing South West Zone, Dr T. Ekechi member representing South East and Obasuke Mcdonald-member representing South South.

The story has been told of the mysterious women who take up a spot at a popular junction in Abuja to beg with their triplets. Madam Chidoka Okoro, her triplets and her niece who assists her holding an umbrella   Often, Abuja’s pedestrian bridges are taken over by hordes of beggars some carrying children on behalf of whom they appeal for help. But at Dei-Dei Bridge, our reporter writes that three mothers of three sets of triplets have been taking turns to beg on the bridge raising questions about who they are and the triplets they carry.   Pedestrian bridges in Abuja have become a draw for different kinds of spectacles and people, from traders with colourful wares to beggars from far and near who eke out a living from the alms they receive from generous passers-by.   At the bridge that straddles the 10-lane Kubwa-Zuba expressway at Dei-Dei Junction, a peculiar kind of spectacle has been quietly playing out, unobserved by the multitude who use the bridge often as

[FILE PHOTO] Dangote Sugar Refinery Dangote Sugar Refinery has announced a profit before tax of N34.6 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2018. A breakdown of the result released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated that while gross profit stood at N39.7 billion, the refinery earned revenue of N150.4 billion. According to a statement from the company, seasonal sugar production at Savannah Sugar was 12,375 tonnes; full year refinery production at Apapa 564,785 tonnes, while Group sugar sales volume was 581,504 tonnes. The Chief Operating Officer, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Ravindra Singhvi, said: “Though we maintained our market leadership position in the sugar sector, year 2018 was very challenging due to the impact of unlicensed sugar, smuggled and sold in our key markets nationwide, and the logistics challenges brought about by the continued Apapa traffic gridlock. “The gridlock constrained availability of trucks required daily to evacuate

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA — THE battle for leadership of the 9th Senate got tougher, yesterday, with former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, vowing to continue with his Senate presidency aspiration despite pressures from the ruling  All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders. Ndume and Lawan Currently, there are three front-runners for the Senate presidency — Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North-East), Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South). There are pressures on Goje and Ndume to drop their ambitions and back Lawan, who has been endorsed by APC leaders and President Muhammadu Buhari. National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, said penultimate week that the APC has the majority in the Senate and does not need the support of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to produce any of the principal officers. The National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC is yet to zone the other princi

Flight operations have fully resumed at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport Owerri, Imo state after a fire outbreak that razed part of the arrival terminal of the Airport. When The Nation visited the Airport yesterday, passengers were seen queuing to get their boarding pass, even though the number of passengers was minimal compared to what it used to be before the fire incident. The Nation findings, disclosed that the Executive lounge of the airport was completely razed and has been cordoned off. The Airport Manager, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, said that the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained as investigation is still ongoing. According to her, flight operations have fully resumed, adding that the fire incident didn’t affect any critical infrastructure or equipment. She said, “we are following Airport contingency plans to make sure that flight operations resume at the airport and it has resumed. We are sorry for what happened, there was no casualty, the fire department w

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled hearing for May 27 this year in a suit seeking to among others, bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from further use of transparent ballot boxes, permanent voters’ card and related devices for elections. The suit, filed by a firm – Bedding Holdings Limited – is intended, among others to enforce two pending judgments given by the Federal High Court on June 5, 2012 and January 28, 2014 which affirmed the firm’s exclusive patent rights over some inventions that formed the core of INEC’s electoral operations. Bedding identified the inventions on which it has patent rights to include: “the Transparent Ballot Boxes (TBB), Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes (ECI’BB), Direct Data Capturing Machines, Electronic Card Reader (ECR), its derivable Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and Proof of Address System Scheme (PASS) Embedded with the Concept of the Coded Metal Plate and the Process and Application of these product

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved with immediate effect the dismissal of nine senior Police Officers for gross misconduct. The Commission said it also approved the reduction in rank of six officers for different cases of misconduct. According to a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the decisions were part of the outcome of its 5th plenary meeting which held in Abuja on 26th and 27th of March, 2019 and presided over by its Chairman, Musiliu Smith. Ani said the Commission also approved the punishment of severe reprimand for ten officers while one officer, CP. Austin Agbonlahor was exonerated. The Commission said one of the dismissed officers, SP Adamu Damji Abare will also be prosecuted while SP Abdul Yahaya Ahmed and another SP who also had his promotion from SP to CSP withdrawn before his dismissal. The Commission said it has requested the IGP to provide it with information on the punishment awarded to other officers

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed while speaking at the Mo Ibrahim governance weekend in Abidjan, has revealed that a woman will replace President Buhari in 2023. The former Minister of Environment and UN Deputy Secretary-General who was asked when Nigeria will have a female president, said in response that by 2023, a woman will replace President Buhari. She replied by saying: “2023, Insha Allah”. When asked if she would be running, she said: “Look, all of my life has been as a public servant and as one that serves, so that is not a problem for me. “But let me be truthful here, I have always thought that I am appointable and not electable. I think the political system that we have in our country, I believe in democracy, but I think the model for us, where we are is an incredibly difficult environment to say you would come to office through the will of the people. “I think the manipulation of democracy is a very serious issue in our countries. We have a population,

The Federal Government has ordered two additional coaches for the Abuja-Kaduna rail service route to solve the passengers upsurge. Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, gave the directive on Monday during the monthly inspection of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail line at Ologueru, Ibadan. Abuja-Kaduna rail in ready for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari. There was an upsurge of passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train service due to the activities of kidnappers along the Abuja-Kaduna road. Amaechi said the Nigerian Railway Corporation would move two additional coaches from Itakpe-Warri rail lines to that route. He also warned that staff caught in illegal sales of tickets would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. “We are going there to arrest anyone caught up with tickets racketeering. The long queue at that axis is because coaches are not enough. “The reason we bought those coaches was for people to sit down. But people are standing, they shouldn’t stand. But,

Barcelona strikers, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez, who are presently the best pair in Spanish football have scored more La Liga goals this season than 18 of the 19 teams they have confronted. With Barcelona sitting 11 points ahead of Atletico Madrid, they have scored 81 goals in just 31 games, 26 more than Real Madrid and 53 of those have come from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Argentinian has scored 33 times with his Uruguayan partner netting 20 so far for himself. This means the pair have scored more between them than 18 of the 19 teams they have faced this campaign. The Lethal Strikers prepare to face Ole Gunnar’s Manchester United in the Champions league on Wednesday and the Red Devils will have to think of a way to the South-American Pair. source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/04/messi-and-suarez-have-scored-more.html

Ghana-born wrestler, Kofi Kingston has become the first African champion in the World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE. Kingston after 11 years in WWE defeated Daniel Bryan to win the title at WrestleMania, 35 early Monday in New Jersey, USA. Speaking after his victory, Kingston said: “It’s so emotional. Like, you work so hard to get here and sometimes you work as hard as you can and things aren’t going your way, you know? And you don’t know if the hard work is going to pay off. “It’s paying off right now. It just feels surreal. It feels like a legitimate dream. I feel like I’m in a dream, and I don’t want to wake up.” He added that the best part of his victory was how much support everyone gave him, not just the fans but his contemporaries. DAILY POST reports that Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah (born August 14, 1981, in Kumasi, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, under the ring name Kofi Kingston. After obtaining a Bachelors Degree from

A sickened daughter has revealed how her mum kept dead babies hidden in the wardrobe for 20 years - while disguising the smell with air fresheners. Bernadette Quirk wrapped the four tiny newborns in newspaper and stashed them in a red bin - taking it with her every time the family moved home. Her horrific secret was first exposed in 1998 when daughter Catherine - then 16 - put her hand in the bin and "felt a baby’s head". The teenager and her sister Joanne Lee begged their mum to give the baby a proper burial - but the two girls were unaware their mum had hidden three other newborn girls. It was only in 2009 that their mum's full gruesome secret was laid bare, with ex-nurse Quirk later admitting four counts of concealing a birth at Liverpool Crown Court. 'YOU CAN TASTE THE SMELL' Joanne, who has now written a book Silent Sisters about the horror, told Liverpool Echo: "I’d always wanted to write a book because my life had been a jigsaw puzzle whic

The Lebanese government on Monday approved a plan to reform its electricity sector, vowing to provide power 24 hours a day from a grid notorious for blackouts. Power The decision is the most significant by the cabinet since it was formed in late January and is a step towards unlocking billions in aid pledged to Lebanon in exchange for slashing public spending and overhauling the electricity sector. Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday said the cabinet unanimously approved the plan which would improve power supply, raise electricity tariffs and reduce fiscal deficit resulting from government transfers to state-run Electricite du Liban (EDL). “This plan satisfies the Lebanese people because it will bring them electricity 24/7,” he told reporters after the session. “It will also reduce the budget deficit,” he said. Hariri said implementation of the plan was “urgent” and “could not be delayed” because it was critical to Lebanon’s economy. Energy Minister Nada Boustani, wh

Nigeria’s ex-international, Christian Chukwu is reportedly battling prostate cancer, which had seen him had surgery five days ago. Norbert Okonkwo, media officer of Enugu Rangers told TheCable that Chukwu had a successful leg surgery five days ago. According to Okonkwo, “Christian Chukwu has prostate cancer which affected his leg. He had an operation last week and discharged on Thursday but went to stay in a hotel on doctor’s advise to avoid being disturbed by visitors. “The doctor made this suggestion so that he can recuperate on time. I can confirm to you that Rangers got to know about his situation three weeks ago because the family said they don’t want it in public space”. He explained that the club management alerted the governor of Enugu State about the situation, and that the governor gave cash for his treatment. “Rangers management made a quick appointment to see the Enugu state governor which was granted and his excellency gave a million and half for his treatment

Audu Ogbeh Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, says 130, 000 graduate youths have been employed to offer extension services to farmers across the country. The minister disclosed this at the 24th Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON) Annual National Conference in Abuja on Monday. Ogbeh, who was represented by Mrs Karima Babangida, the Director of Extension Service Department in the ministry, said that the youths were engaged under the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government. According to him, extension service needs to be revamped to strengthen the government’s agricultural development process, especially in the commodity value chains. He said that the graduates were trained and would soon be given tablets to effectively deliver on their mandate. “Extension service has a crucial role to play in reviving the agricultural sector in the country. “Our country has enormous potential for agricultural development. “Be

Everline Namukhula, who gave birth to quintuplets in Shisokhe village, Navakholo sub-county Kakamega county Kenya, has died. The 28 year old mother passed away yesterday, Sunday, April 7, at Moi teaching and referral Hospital Eldoret, after complaining of chest pains. Late Everline, who had four other children, gave birth to three girls and two boys through a Caesarean Section, last month. The house wife was married to a deaf husband Emmanuel Wanjala, who is a casual labourer in the village. “I am so happy and grateful to God for having given me these five children at ago. I am now having a total of nine children because I have four others at home with my first born who is 10 years old in class two,” Ms Namukhula had said after delivery. She had vowed to stop further pregnancies saying she is not able to fend for the growing number of children. Ms Namukhula said she experienced labour pains and went to Navakholo sub-county hospital where she used to attend antenatal cl

It was also learnt that social and business activities in the town were paralysed for several hours as human and vehicular movements came to a halt while the robbery was going on. Entrance to the bank No fewer than six persons lost their lives in Ido Ani in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday when a gang of armed robbers attacked the First Bank branch in the town. According to a police source, the deceased included a police inspector; the Vice Principal of the Ido Ani Grammar School, Mr David Oluloro; and employees of the bank. The source said the robbers gained entry into the bank around 2.30pm by blowing off the door with a substance suspected to be dynamite and asked the workers to open the Automated Teller Machines and stole unspecified amount of money from the machines. It was also learnt that social and business activities in the town were paralysed for several hours as human and vehicular movements came to a halt while the robbery was going

Candidates for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), have already started printing their slips. It is important to reprint before the closing date, as the initial slip given to the candidates does not include the examination centre, time, date and seat number. Also, no candidate would be let into any CBT centre without the slip containing the necessary information mentioned above. Follow the procedures to successfully reprint the 2019 JAMB examination slip: Method 1: Reprint using E-mail address 1. Login to your email address 2. In your inbox, a message would appear from JAMB. If otherwise, make sure to check your spam folder for the message. 3. Download and open the message which contains an attachment which is the JAMB slip 4. Print out the file (PDF Format) using the Ctrl + P buttons Method 2: Reprint from JAMB website 1. Go to JAMB website at jamb.org.ng/PrintExamSlip/PrintExaminationSlip. 2. Log on to your profile after providing t

A 200 level female student of the Department of Food Science Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been reported dead following the strike action embarked upon by Doctors. The student, Miss Rebecca Chukwueke died after nurses and doctors refused to attend to her at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH on Saturday. Miss Chukwueke is the fourth student to die in the University of Calabar and Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH in Cross River State in recent times due to management lapses in both institutions. DAILY POST findings revealed that Miss Chukwueke was ignored at the UCTH because the Doctors and other health personel were on strike but was rushed to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital at Murtala Mohammed High Way, Calabar, where she gave up her ghost following an unknown ailment. The deceased’s colleague who declined given her name said “She was unconscious on Saturday morning at 12:27am when she was rushed to

Jonathan (Not real name) left Nigeria some years ago to escape what he said was hardship and hopelessness back in Benin, a major city in Edo State, Nigeria. Jonathan is one of the lucky who escaped abroad and made a decent living out of the toil and grind of living in Europe. He’s made the United Kingdom home after legalising his stay in the country. He didn’t disclose how he did it but he was quick to state how he can’t wait to take back with him to the UK his wife and two of his three kids. I met Jonathan on the way back to Nigeria after a brief visit to the UK. We sat next to each other on the British Airways flight to Lagos on February 28, 2019. As young black men, it wasn’t long before we connected minutes after the humming bed took to the skies. While still contemplating sleeping or watching a movie, the dark complexioned lad bellowed “Hello” and asked if I was a Nigerian of which I affirmed I was. From that point on, the conversation dovetailed into Nigeria and the stat