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http://ift.tt/2sdqweV Total Nigeria Plc has restated its commitment not to withdraw or divest its Africa business, but to continue to strengthen and grow its market share within the continent. Besides, the firm also unfolded plans to consolidate its solar business by developing solar solution hybrid for manufacturing industries with their existing power generation system, which could to either electricity or generators. The Chairman of the company, Stanislas Mittelman, while fielding questions from journalists at the end of its 2016 yearly general meeting, in Lagos, at the weekend, said Total has no intention of withdrawing its business from Nigeria or Africa. He noted that Africa, and France, constitute its core business activities especially the downstream business, adding that Total would continue to invest in the Nigerian and African businesses to grow its market share and boost profitability. “International competitors made strong choices years ago to withdraw from Nige...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J …Give three-day ultimatum for ransom payment; Threaten to relocate students …Feed victims only noodles By Evelyn Usman lagos—Kidnappers of six Senior Secondary School students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, in Epe area, have threatened to relocate the abducted students to another creek outside Lagos and Ogun states , if ransom was not paid in three days. Besides, they have adopted selective negotiation with parents of their victims. Vanguard reliably gathered that two of the parents were contacted at about 1 am and 3am yesterday, during which they reduced the ransom to N20 million and N15 million respectively for the release of two of the students, after much negotiation. Passionate plea by one of the parents to pay N2 million Naira fell on deaf ears as the abductor insisted that the affected parent could afford the N20 million ransom charged, owing to the nature of his job. The second parent as gathered, was not given any opportunity to negotiate a...

http://ift.tt/2rNhH8o < Previous 1 of 10 Next > The herbalist The tortoise and candles recovered from the herbalist A taxi driver seeking charms to boost patronage has allegedly lost N4 million to a herbalist, David Abiodun. The victim, Adebayo Omoniyi, 38, lost the money to the herbalist, who promised to prepare a charm that would attract rich and famous clients to him. Abiodun was arrested by operatives of the Zonal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (ZCIID), Onikan, Lagos State. It was gathered that the operatives apprehended him in his shrine at Atan, Sango, Ogun State, last Thursday. The suspect, who is an indigene of Omu-Aran in Kwara State, was said to have collected N350,000 from cab operator as first installment in other to prepare the ‘favour charm’ for him, but Abiodun denied the allegation. According to police source, “the herbalist said after working for one Kazeem, he introduced his friend, the cab operator to him f...

http://ift.tt/2qPkJvC Patience Jonathan Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday suspended proceedings in the hearing of an application seeking permanent forfeiture of $5.7 million belonging to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience. The judge stayed proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal filed by Mrs. Jonathan challenging the order of temporary forfeiture of the money. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is praying the court to order that the cash be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The court on April 26 made an interim order forfeiting the money based on an application by EFCC, which said the money was suspected to be proceed of crime. Justice Olatoregun had also ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Limited account number 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited. The commission said the money is also linked to Mrs. Jonatha...

http://ift.tt/2qPpPrH Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom yesterday assented to two laws earlier passed by the Benue State House of Assembly, to end herdsmen and farmers crisis and to stop kidnapping, abduction and cultism among other criminal activities. The laws are; A Law to Prohibit Open Grazing and Rearing of Livestock and provide for the Establishment of Ranches and Livestock Administration, Regulation and Control and for Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2017 and “A (bill for a law to make provision for the prohibition of) Law for Prohibition of Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities in the state and for Purposes connected therewith, 2017. Performing the ceremony at the Stakeholders meeting held at the Benue People’s House Makurdi, governor Ortom, said the two law are intended to put a stop to criminal activities in the state and bring about peace to create a good atmosphere for investors to invest in th...

http://ift.tt/2qFEchU Nourou Nourou Macki Tall, is the Country Representative, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO); he spoke with MATHIAS OKWE, and JOKE FALAJU, in Abuja, on a wide range of issues. These include the FAO Nigeria Country Framework Programme, which is winding down this year; the next plan of action; the FAO intervention in the North East humanitarian crisis; the joint United Nations agencies’ initiative to end constant farmers/pastoralists clashes and the new increased yield farming technologies to ensure food security in the country. Could you brief us on the portfolio and the implementation of the Nigeria Country Framework Programme that is gradually rounding up and the next step? The Nigeria Country Programme Framework (CPF), is an agreement between the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and the Government, which indicates the main area of cooperation for achieving agricultural development and food security for the country. Some key achievements that ...

http://ift.tt/2oS35az Bisi Akande • Agenda is to hurt our region, Yakassai insists • It’s the way out, say Onadipe, Akande, The controversy over whether or not to restructure the country continued at the weekend with two elder statesmen, Malam Tanko Yakassai and Chief Bisi Akande as well as former Nigerian Ambassador to China, Olusola Onadipe expressing divergent positions on the matter. The persistence of the calls for restructuring requires a decisive move by all the citizens to resolve the issue amicably instead of allowing it to breed ethnic suspicion and hostility. In an interview with The Guardian, Yakassai said the north was uncomfortable with the idea of restructuring the country. “We are suspicious that the motive is to deprive the north in two important areas – representation at the National Assembly which is on the basis of population, and because there are more states in the north than in the south, when it comes to revenue allocation on the basis of equality ...

http://ift.tt/2pIYenQ Security guards at the school said no casualty was recorded amongst members of the university community, adding that the suicide bomber died when he detonated his IED vest.STRINGER / AFP Barely 48 hours after three suicide bombers attacked the University of Maiduguri; another bomber on Saturday detonated his explosive outside the perimeter fencing of the school. Some reports claimed the male suicide bomber breached the premises of the school attempting to bomb a students’ hostel, while another source said the explosion occurred behind the Demonstration Secondary School of the university, at the back of E.T.F hall, a hostel full of students. Security guards at the school said no casualty was recorded amongst members of the university community, adding that the suicide bomber died when he detonated his IED vest. The Borno State police commissioner, Damian Chukwu, who said the incident happened at about 10 a.m., added that the bomber hid near the...

http://ift.tt/2rxx2KH PHOTO: http://www.adelove.com As Muslim faithful across the country prepare for the 2017 Ramadan fasting, the Ummah has been urged to promote unity among Nigerians during the holy month. The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) made this call in its resolution after the third yearly general assembly of the group in Ibadan. MUSWEN, in a communiqué signed by its President, Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola, insisted that Muslim scholars and preachers should not use the holy month of Ramadan for hate preaching, rather to promote unity. “Ramadan presents a golden opportunity for the masses of Muslims to learn about and practice Islam in the best way possible; Muslim scholars and preachers, therefore, have an obligation to use their knowledge to unite and not divide the Ummah,” it stated. MUSWEN, an umbrella body for all State Muslim Councils/Communities and organisations in the South West region of Nigeria had over 300 delegates and invited digni...

http://ift.tt/2poERkY Chidi Okoroafor The leadership and entire membership of the Assemblies of God Nigeria led by Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, the General Superintendent, yesterday held a special thanksgiving service at the Church National Headquarters at Plot R8, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu. The service with the theme: “God of Great Wonders,” was organised by the church to thank the Almighty Creator for giving them victory at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja on February 24, 2017. A statement by the National Press Secretary of the church, Barrister Joel Ejiofor, said: “The Executive Committee of the Church thought it wise to hold this special thanksgiving service unto God because of the great wonders God did on February 24, 2017 at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja where the case brought against the Church by its former and dismissed leader, Paul Emeka in 2014 was laid to rest. The Supreme Court while ruling against Paul Emeka said, at page 69-70 of its judgment, ‘I ...

http://ift.tt/2rxBWHH depressed man. PHOTO: healthyblackmen.org1 The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the economic hardship in the country. The group made the call on the heels of rising cases of suicide in the country, which it said, has its roots in the hard times being experienced by most Nigerians. About 788,000 suicide deaths were recorded globally in 2015 and depression was responsible for more than half of all suicide attempts while about seven million Nigerians live with depression President of SOFPON, Dr. Akin Moses, who briefed journalists on World Family Doctors Day 2017 yesterday in Abuja, said about 53.5 percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line compared to other African countries, which have a lower percentage. He also disclosed that negative events such as bereavement, job losses, financial difficulties, divorce, loneliness and child abuse, among others could t...

http://ift.tt/2q9XH08 Rickey Tarfa A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos has heard how Rickey Tarfa (SAN) allegedly declined to declare his age to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Zakari Usman, the fourth prosecution witness from the EFCC Special Task Force Unit, testified that Tarfa refused to state his age seven times during his investigation for alleged obstruction of the agency’s operatives. He stated this on Wednesday during the viewing by the court of a video tendered by the commission in support of its case against the defendant. Usman was led in evidence by Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, while Oluyele Delano and Abiodun Owonikoko, both SANs, represented the defendant. The witness said the assets declaration form issued to Tarfa by the agency had a column requiring age declaration in seven places, but he refused to fill it. He said the defendant also failed to declare his assets contrary to Section 7(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act. He told Just...

http://ift.tt/2rxx2dF Abuja The National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), has said that residents in Abuja, Cross River, and Adamawa states paid the highest bus fares within city in April. NBS, in a new report released on Tuesday, revealed that the residents paid nothing less than N255.00, N210.54 and N200.00 respectively moving within the cities. Considering the current inflation rate, the data revealed that the fares have risen significantly when compared year on year, and month on month. This means that commuters spent more of their income of movement from one place to another, which also had a ripple effect on the prices of goods and services, thereby further impoverishing Nigerians. “Average fare paid by commuters for bus journey within the city increased by 5.43 per cent month-on-month and by 59.29 per cent year-on-year to N134.66 in April 2017 from N127.72 in March 2017,” NBS said: According to the agency, states with the lowest bus journey fare within the city in the ...

http://ift.tt/2qYoY97 PHOTO: ipsnews.net Gov orders officials to wear Calabar factory-made fabrics Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and a lawmaker representing the south senatorial district, Gershom Bassey, have differed on the mode of solving the Bakassi problem. While Ayade canvassed a legal option, the senator is seeking a political approach on the issue. Ayade had said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, that the state had suffered from ceding its oil wells to Cameroon. “The governor is considering taking the Federal Government to court to claim over N3 trillion for the losses, claiming that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) did not follow any laid down procedure in law. But, Basssey told The Guardian that the condition of Bakassi’s internally displaced persons at the Ikot Eyo Edem camp in Akpabuyo was “deplorable, degrading and subhuman.” He faulted Ayade’s legal option, adding: “The Federal G...

http://ift.tt/2rxBWaF The Minister also gave reasons why the price of cassava sky rocketted. According to him, the harvesting method of cassava is done manually. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said it was farmers that resisted the Federal Government from reducing food prices. The minister, who spoke during a town hall meeting in Abuja, disclosed that the farmers petitioned him accusing the government of denying them the chance to make profit. He said; “When our committee met and decided to find a way to bring down prices, I had petitions from farmers who told me, you told us to and grow food, now we are making money, you want to deny us our profit so they resisted. Ogbeh also attributed the increase in the price of food to the high cost of transportation owing to the increase in the price of diesel from N180 to N300 per litre. He said; Trailer owners were charging from Lagos to kaduna 400,000 It used to be 180,000. All these prices feed into...

http://ift.tt/2qY8EoS Pupils of Hope Fountain School for the Deaf, Ijaiye-Ojokoro, during the yearly National Handicapped Youth Rally 2017 in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN In commemoration of this year’s National Handicapped Youth Day, the Special Persons Association of Nigeria (SPAN) has called for equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. The group made the call in their belief that they have a role to play in the economic development of the country like their physically endowed counterparts. Speaking during a rally at the Salvation Army Igbobi Hall in Lagos with the theme: “Study Diligently,” President of the association, Princewill Ezenwa said the essence of the rally was to showcase the children of purpose and to make a case that persons living with disabilities were isolated. The organisers thrilled the audience to different performances by the students. “We find it necessary to make them feel involved. This association has empowered more than 40...

http://ift.tt/2p7YY5M Erhabor Dr. Gregory Efosa Erhabor is a Professor of Medicine and a consultant chest physician. He is also the founder and project director of Asthma and Chest Care Foundation (ACCF) and chairman of the Asthma National Guideline instituted by the Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS). Erhabor, in this interview with The Guardian, said the Society has developed a blueprint on how to reduce the burden of asthma in Nigeria. CHUKWUMA MUANYA Assistant Editor writes. *New roadmap provides blueprint to tackle menace Why is Asthma under-diagnosed and under-treated in Nigeria? The reason is the lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of the condition. The basic pathology in asthma is inflammation of the airways and the result is bronchial obstruction. Bronchial obstruction is the expression of the inflammation clinically. Most doctors concentrate on the expression of the disease rather than the actual cause. Moreover, there is lack of facilities in many hospitals for ...