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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Owei Lakemfa IT was 1990. A bloody  coup attempt had taken place on April 22. At a point, nineteen journalists were detained in connection with the coup but after negotiations with the  Chief Intelligence Officer of the Babangida regime, Brigadier General Haliru Akilu, some had been released. However, the regime had made it known it would put some of them on trial. It was no empty threat. Back in 1976, following a similar coup attempt on February 13, a media worker, Mr. Abdul Karim Zakari of the Federal Radio Corporation had been tried, found guilty and executed along with 36 soldiers and two policemen. The journalists negotiating team had been kept in a waiting room at the State Security Services, SSS, for hours. At a point, we thought we might have been detained. Finally’, we were ushered into a conference room filled with the security chiefs in the country including Defence Intelligence, SSS, Directorate of Military Intelligence ,DMI, and Permanen...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Onozure Dania A  chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and former Security Adviser to Bayelsa State Government, Chief Prekeme Kpodoh, has described as “unnecessary” and  “misplaced,” the criticism that  trailed  the comment by  Governor Seriake Dickson that the six years of former President  Goodluck Jonathan were a waste. According to Kpodoh, though the comment by  Dickson shocked many coming from a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governor, the position of Dickson was the truth and a confirmation of the earlier positions that the Jonathan administration was a wasted opportunity for the Niger Delta region. Kpodoh, who was reacting, yesterday in Yenagoa to the controversy triggered by the comment by Dickson during the May 16, Isaac Boro Day, said: “I have studied the various criticisms and concluded that those castigating the Bayelsa State governor are shying away from the truth.”         ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Stories by Peter Egwuatu Indications have emerged that the Nigerian stock market is likely to record mixed sentiments by investors this week   following the renewed bearish activity last week, which led to the regress in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE All Share Index and market capitalisation, by 28 bases   points (bps)   each to 28,113.38 points and N9.72 trillion respectively. Coming off three consecutive weeks of modest gains, momentum slowed on the NSE as persistent profit taking across Consumer Goods depressed gains across other key sectors. Stock Watch: Since losing 549bps in recent weeks, FBN Holdings went on a four-session gaining streak, rising 572bps in the process. The stock has gained 19.70 per cent Year to Date, YtD, currently trading at ¦ 4.01. Access Bank Plc, Zenith International Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc closed the market as the top three equities (measured by volume) accounted for 998.849 million shares worth N10.412...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Emma Amaize WARRI—THE Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities, FNDIC, and Gbaramatu Rebirth Initiative, GRI, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, yesterday, announced May 15 as Gbaramatu Freedom Day and almost simultaneously, commenced activities to mark the day. They also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to redress arbitrary electoral ward adoptions for elections in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state since 1999. President of FNDIC, Chief Bello Oboko, and Coordinator of GRI, Moses Yabrade, in a joint statement, said: “May 15 has been set aside as Gbaramatu Freedom Day to condemn the scourge of slavery and request authorities to uphold and promote acts of freedom in Warri area.” The groups noted that in its report of activities from August 1998 to December 1999, INEC accepted that the exercise of electoral constituency delineation did not hold in Warri South-West LGA in Delta State, adding that Ijaw people of Gbaramat...

http://ift.tt/2pOfxHh …We can’t raise $100m to build modular refinery – Niger Delta Illegal Refiners By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South THE  disclosure by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on March 24, that the Federal Government would build modular refineries in oil producing areas as part of measures to address the development challenges arising from years of neglect came as a shot in the arm with Niger Deltans, including the illegal oil refinery operators themselves, embracing the idea. Osinbajo, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, also promised that thermal power stations would be sited in the oil communities, adding that arrangement was being concluded with the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, NSWF, and industry experts on the take-off of modular refineries. Since then, there has been no clear-cut course of action from the federal government on how the modular refineries will be established, but the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachik...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Rotimi Ojomoyela …..I caught Gowon, Kam Salem, Akinwale Wey on camera in 1967 – Pa Davis, 83-yr-old former cinematographer I was also the cinematographer that shot the inauguration of Lagos State as one of the 12 states just created by then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in May 1967, with IGP Kam Salem; Navy chief, Vice Admiral Akinwale Wey, among others in attendance.” With these words, Chief  Ganiyu Davies, a veteran journalist and former NTA Chief Cameraman, relieved the creation of Lagos State 50 years ago. Davies, 83, also recalled a documentary film on road development titled, Changing City, he shot  for LEDB, now Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), with the main actor, Orlando Martins, to develop Lagos Island, Apapa and Oluwole area of Lagos. He paid glowing tributes to Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (retd), the first Military Governor of Lagos State, who, according to him, set the pace for other governors who came af...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J •Offers attractive features Dana Motors, sole representative of Kia Motors in Nigeria has finally unveiled the award winning all new Kia sportage compact sport utility vehicle. The new sportage which is the fourth generation, boasts remarkable improvement over the previous models, with array of modern features. Though its introduction into the Nigerian market was delayed, the compact SUV was worth waiting for by every standard well packaged, powerful engine exceptionally good looking and trendy. Speaking at the unveiling, at Kia  Victoria Island, Lagos Office,  the company’s vice president, Business Development, Mr. Olu Tikolo noted that the new sportage has earned many accolade  for  its outstanding qualities. According to him, Nigerians deserve the best product money can buy at a time like this. Competitive business “At a time like this, we put a lot into consideration knowing that we are in competitive business. We are bringing a car...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J It is public knowledge that President Muhammadu Buhari did not make the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday. For three consecutive Wednesdays, the president did not show up for the FEC meeting and Nigerians have begun to ask questions with some offering answers that suits their interpretations of the occurrence. Those genuinely concerned have advised the President to take his time and rest so that he would fully recover before continuing with task of governance , but some with selfish intentions, have advocated a drastic measure that would suit their interests, calling on the President to resign. Information Minister Lai Mohammed, not one to shy away from giving an accurate report of the condition of the President, has explained that there is nothing to worry about and that the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces has only decided to take a rest from official functions on the advice of his doctors. While addressing State Hou...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J ABUJA—THE Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Fulvio Rustico, has said his country was ready to partner Nigeria to combat the menace of human trafficking. Mr. Rustico disclosed this when he visited the Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, in Abuja yesterday. He said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in Italy, Laura Bodrini, will soon visit Nigeria to get first-hand information to address the problem. The envoy said the speaker would visit Benin City, Edo State, reported to have the highest number of human traffickers in the country. Rustico said he was in NAPTIP office to intimate Mrs. Okah-Donli of the planned visit of the lawmaker, with a view to making an informed decision on how to partner with NAPTIP to combat the menace of trafficking. “It is necessary to share experience with NAPTIP on human trafficking management and have an overview of the phenomenon as well as nature of human traf...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Jimitota Onoyume Eku community in Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State, will be agog this weekend as St Mathias Anglican Church hosts the 12th Synod of the Diocese of Warri, Anglican Communion. Venerable Jonathan Okekporo, who  spoke on the synod billed to hold from May 6 to May 10, gave the theme as “Fulfilling the law of Christ, Galatians 6 : 2.” He called on sons and daughters of the council to be part of the five-day event. Okekporo also said the various sessions that had been drawn up for the synod would help participants build their Christian lives, adding that the programme will start from 7 a.m., to 5p.m., daily. Mr Victor Avwadoma, who also spoke on the synod, said it will be the first time the community will host the annual event of the Warri Diocese of the Anglican communion. Adding that St Mathias Anglican Church was excited about it. “You can see the excitement about the event in the church and the community. Everybody is happy. ...