oNgozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister who served under Gooodluck Jonathan’s administration, expressed support to President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort to end corruption in Nigeria.
Okonji-Iweala, recently appointed as the chairman-elect of the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, made a claim on September 30 when she spoke in the United States as a guest lecturer, Premium Times reports.
The ex minister characterized corruption as the biggest hindrance to the country prosperity adding that Buhari was confronting it in the right way.
“The new president of the country who is just taking office has made it the central plan of his administration to fight corruption to root it out, and he sets about restructuring some of the key agencies where things are happening, setting example.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
“I think with that when you see example in one place, it sends the message about what should happen in other places. I think this is being confronted head on. And I think and hope that with what is going on and what we tried to do in the previous administration, bringing more transparency to way of doing business.”
The official lamented over massive illicit financial flows saying they should be blocked for Nigeria to achieve its post-2015 development agenda.
Okonjo-Iweala also spoke about her joining Jonathan’s government after working with that of Olusegun Obasanjo.
“When the opportunity came to go for it for the second time, I went, perhaps unwisely, but I went because no one will fight this corruption for us, we have to do it ourselves… But having left government, I have come under attack with people saying she’s done this or that, trying to join you in the group of the corrup Prominent F Nigerians
Regarding Buhari’s decision to head the Petroleum Ministry, she said:
“I think the president has the prerogative to do a lot of things, and this is not the first time in our country. President Obasanjo was also the president of petroleum resources in his time. I am not saying this is the best way or best practice but I am just saying for our circumstances it is not the first time.
“If that will bring more clarity, more openness, more transparency to the way the oil sector is done no problem, it’s ok. But if it will not, we have to ask questions.”
It should be recalled that Okonjo-Iweala has been several times accused of being involved in the cases of public funds embezzlement.
According to one of the allegations she stole $1 billion while serving as the finance minister. There were also allegations that her family was planning to open a multi-million dollar hospital in Abuja. The official denied the reports.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH..KUNLE AFOLAYAN CRIES OUT..READ WHY
Kunle Afolayan at AMAA 2015
In an interview with NollywoodNewsNow, Kunle Afolayan disclosed that he has had enough awards and he is looking forward to when his cast and crew would benefit from these awards.
He said “I feel great, I feel good that these awards are coming but what I’m looking forward to is for my crew and cast to benefit from these awards. I have had enough of awards, now, for me, it’s about making films for the people. Yes, reasonably, the awards add to the marketing and publicity of the film but my technical crew put a lot into the productions.”
The Air France ambassador further disclosed that if he had his way, he would submit his films for awards but still excited that Sadiq Daba was recognized.
In an interview with NollywoodNewsNow, Kunle Afolayan disclosed that he has had enough awards and he is looking forward to when his cast and crew would benefit from these awards.
He said “I feel great, I feel good that these awards are coming but what I’m looking forward to is for my crew and cast to benefit from these awards. I have had enough of awards, now, for me, it’s about making films for the people. Yes, reasonably, the awards add to the marketing and publicity of the film but my technical crew put a lot into the productions.”
The Air France ambassador further disclosed that if he had his way, he would submit his films for awards but still excited that Sadiq Daba was recognized.
Kunle Afolayan said “If I have my way, I won’t go out to submit my films for awards, because whether we like it or not, awards come with a lot of politics. So, if you can’t handle the shock, don’t go there. Today, I’m excited. Sadiq Daba was overwhelmed to get the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and I want to commend the organizers of the AMAA for a beautiful outing here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. No doubt, it’s a better edition and with the partnership with Facebook, the mileage was good and the experience spectacular. It’s a unique experience.”
It could be recalled that Kunle Afolayan’s movie “The Figurine”, bagged five major awards at the African Film Academy and also experienced tremendous success in Nigerian movie theaters.
It could be recalled that Kunle Afolayan’s movie “The Figurine”, bagged five major awards at the African Film Academy and also experienced tremendous success in Nigerian movie theaters.
UNILAG BED BUG SAGA...NIGERIANS RE-ACT
Today, students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Lagos shut down their school in protest of the continuous presence of bedbugs and mosquitoes in their hostels.
A good number of the students had come out in the early hours of Monday to express their disgust over what they called “proliferation of bedbug-infested mattresses in the halls of residence.”
Some of the aggrieved UNILAG students outside their hostels, with their mattresses hung on the gate.
The protesters shut the school gates for several hours, making vehicular movement to and out of the school campus difficult.
They were also said to have hung their beds on the school’s main gate, grounding activities on campus.
Some Nigerians have taken to social media to lend their voice to the issue. Read some of their tweets below.
Those against the protest.
Trust Nigerians to make fun out of the situation. Below are some funny tweets.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Timeline And Aftermath Of Najj Stampede
The religious ritual which is sacred for Muslims all over the world turned into a tragedy as hundreds of faithfuls died on September 24 in Mecca stampede.
Hundreds of lives have been lost, rivers of tears have been shed, a series of accusations has been made.
Naij.com follows the traces of the recent incident, from the very beginning.
Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
Millions of pilgrims arrived in Mecca. Already at dawn on Monday the Grand Mosque was teeming with joyful pilgrims wearing white folds of cloth prescribed.
The Hajj began on Tuesday with pilgrims circling the Kaaba, a cuboid building also known as the “House of God” at the center of Islam’s most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca. From there they were set to visit Mina before proceeding on to Mount Arafat.
2. Stampede
The dire news about the stampede was reported on Thursday from Mina, the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca, when pilgrims started trooping to the Jamarat as early as 3am local time. It was clear from the very start that the death toll would be estimated in hundreds.
According to the final update, the disaster claimed at least 769 lives and left nearly 1,000 injured.
Some prominent Nigerians, including professor of Islamic studies Tijani El-Miskin and Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, the first female editor from the northern part of the country, died in the tragedy. In general 54 Nigerians were said to have lost their lives in the incident.
4. Who is to blame?
It was the second major loss of life during this year’s Hajj season. On September 11 a construction crane crashed down on the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 111 people.
Many came down on the authorities of Saudi Arabia over the Hajj development. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted:
“Instead of blaming this and that, the Saudis should accept the responsibility and apologise to Muslims and the victims’ families,” Khamenei was quoted as saying on his website.”
Witnesses also accused Saudi authorities of the lack of organisation. The pilgrimage hosts, however, not only denied responsibility, but also blamed “some pilgrims with African nationalities” for what had happened.
5. President Muhammadu Buhari reacts
The Nigerian leader did not play the blame game, but simply extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.
6. In photos
Friday, September 11, 2015
UNILAG DOCTORS ABANDONED MY SISTER TO DIE..SISTER TO UNILAG ELECTROCUTED STUDENT
Fresh reports say that doctors’ negligence was responsible for the death of Oluchi Anekwe, the student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, who died on Tuesday after being electrocuted, and not just the electrocution.
According to the victim’s sister, Nkem Anekwe, the refusal of the institution’s medical centre to attend to Oluchi as soon as possible was the real reason the first-class student died on Tuesday, September 8.
The Punch reports that the same high-tension wire that caused the death of Oluchi also fell on her younger sister, Uju Anekwe, when they were returning from an evening mass on Tuesday, but the latter survived.
Academic activities at the university have been grounded since the incident happened, as the students of the institution took to the campus to express their displeasure over the mishap.
On visiting the family of the deceased on Thursday, Nkem, a lawyer, stated that both women were initially rushed alive to the medical centre, and Oluchi’s death was as a result of late treatment.
“It was not only Oluchi that the wire fell on; it also injured Uju. I got to know about the incident at about 8pm. I quickly rushed to the university’s medical centre. When I got there, Uju told me that she and Oluchi had held each other’s hands as they walked to the hostel.
“The wire fell on Oluchi’s left arm, and the two of them were electrocuted. Oluchi lost consciousness immediately, while Uju managed to call out to passersby to help them.
“Both of them were rushed to the medical centre. The officials on duty requested their identity cards and said they would not do anything until the cards were brought. When I got to the centre, Oluchi was alive, as her eyes were open and her body was warm and normal, but only her left arm was stiff. I asked the medical personnel if any first-aid was given to her, but they did not reply me,” she said.
The father of the deceased, Chief Basil Anekwe, while expressing his disgust at the incident, said the family was at a loss.
Siblings of the late Oluchi. Photo credit: The Punch
According to him: “On Sunday, when I saw Oluchi, she said I should send her some money for upkeep. On Tuesday, I was planning to send about N30,000 to her, when I learnt about the incident. I was initially told it was a mere accident.
“I am only glad that my daughter did not die returning from a party or an offensive place; she died returning from the presence of God. The university delegation this morning brought a letter to me from the VC.”
Remains of the late Oluchi will be taken to the Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state on Friday, September 11, for burial.
Jeremiah Olatinwo, the coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in a statement, stated: “The NANS shall be taking up this case alongside the University of Lagos Students Union to see to it that Oluchi’s family is compensated for the damages caused by the electricity distribution company.
“The unfortunate injury to Oluchi is an injury to all Nigerian students and we will not keep quiet in the face of the threat to our fundamental rights to life.
“We call on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Senate Committee on Power to sanction the electricity distribution company for its noncompliance to safety and health guidelines in its distribution and transmission.”
Contrary to the reports of negligence by the university, the institution’s public relations officer, Olagoke Oke, said workers were at the scene to attend to the injured women.
“It is not true that the negligence of officials caused the lady’s death. The UNILAG workers were on ground, and they were with her till the very end,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has lent her voice to those blaming the federal government and the institution’s management over the death of the 22-year-old.
HORROR:: SEE WHAT POLICE DISCOVERED IN A ROOM IN ANAMBRA.
The Anambra state police command has made a shocking discovery in a room along Olisa Onyeka Crescent, Commissioner’s quarters, Ifite, Awka.
Newsday reports that police discovered four already decomposing bodies in a room on Tuesday, September 8. The team of police officers, led by the state commissioner of police, Hassan Karma, alongside an ambulance and some morticians, broke the door of the room and discovered four female dead bodies. The women died in the room without any injuries or signs that suggested any struggle leading to their deaths.
One of the dead women was identified as the occupant of the room, Chinwe Obi, an employee of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission INEC, Awka. According to reports made available by tenants and the landlady of the house, Mrs Obi had only stayed in the room for 11 months. She lost her husband on Friday, September 4, in the same room. The other three women were said to be church members who came to sympathize with Mrs Obi.The owner of the building, Ify Onyebumuo, told newsmen how she was telephoned by one of the tenants who said Mrs Obi has not been seen in the house since Saturday. She further revealed how the tenants had told her of the strange awful water dropping out from Mrs Obi’s room, adding that Mrs Obi had not picked up her phone since Sunday.The caretaker of the building, Ignatius Machie, said he was also contacted by some tenants who told him they suspected people had died in the room. Machie confirmed that the deceased’s husband who died on Friday had been taken to the mortuary before the unfortunate tragedy.Confirming the incident, CP Hassan said Mr Obi, who lives in Cotonou, died in the same room when he visited last Friday. He said that the other three women whose identities had not been disclosed were her fellow church members who came to sympathize with her over the death of her husband. Hassan said that though the police were still investigating the mysterious deaths, it is suspected that generator fumes or food poisoning might have caused their deaths.
The commissioner disclosed that the remains of soup in a pot found in the room had been taken for investigation, while their bodies taken to a mortuary in Awka were also being examined.
Meanwhile, about 200 students who wrote the post-UTME at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra state, reportedly collapsed due to exhaustion while writing the exam on Monday, September 7
Friday, September 4, 2015
PHOTOS: Trailer Skids Off Ojuelegba Bridge, Lands On Cars
PHOTOS: Trailer Skids Off Ojuelegba Bridge, Lands On Cars
bassey lawrence 1hour ago.
A terrible accident occurred at Ojuelegba in Lagos state as a heavy duty container skidded off the Ojuelegba bridge and landed on two private cars, crushing occupants in the vehicles.
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| team lorenzo reporters |
Container crushes occupants of private car as it skids off Ojuelegba bride
There’s massive traffic in the area and a large crowd has gathered already.
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| team lorenzo reporters |
Heavy duty container crushes two cars
According to Gidi Traffic, the number of casualty is still unknown.
crowd gathers at the scene of the accident
See more photos below:
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| team lorenzo reporters |
Trailer skids off Ojuelegba bridge
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| team lorenzo reporters |
Container lands on white Nissan car
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| team lorenzo reporters |
Container crushes black car
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| team lorenzo reporters |
There’s been countless number of truck accidents in Lagos and other parts of the country. Some weeks back, an accident occurred involving a fuel tanker and a trailer along Ikorodu road, Lagos. A fuel tanker carrying petroleum product was involved in an accident at Mobil junction close to Anthony bus stop along Ikorodu road.
BUHARI AND OSINBAJO DECLARES ASSET..READ DETAILS.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, have declared their assets.
Buhari and Osinbajo
A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Garba Shehu said that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had the followings:
– N30 million to his name;
– one bank account, with the Union Bank;
– five homes, and two mud houses in Daura;
– two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt;
– own farms, an orchard and a ranch.
The total number of his holdings in the farm include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees.
The president uses a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the federal government in his capacity as the former head of state.
The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.
President Buhari “had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank”.
The statement further added that the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), had the following assets:
– a bank balance of about N94 million and USD900,000 in his bank accounts.
– 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi; 2-bedroom flat at Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England;
– a law firm, known as SimmonsCooper;
– shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.
The presidency had earlier denied that President Muhammadu Buhari promised during the election campaign before the April general elections earlier this year to declare his assets if he became president
Thursday, September 3, 2015
CHRIS OKOTIE IS BEHIND MY MARRAIGE CRISIS...EMEKA IKE
Popular Nollywood actor and producer, Emeka Ike, has accused Rev. Chris Okotie of Household of God Church, as the one behind the ongoing crisis in his marriage.
Emeka Ike and wife
The veteran actor in a statement revealed he’s crying out because of the “desperate desperation” of pastor Okotie to destroy his family. Recall that for a while now, the actor has been having issues with his wife, Suzanne, with the wife filing a divorce suit before a customary court in Lagos. Suzanne is seeking dissolution of her 12-year-old marriage over alleged assault from her husband. The actor claimed that pastor Okotie got his wife a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to pursue her case, gave her N500,000 for her mother’s burial and even bought her a blackberry passport phone!
Pastor Okotie
In the actor’s statement, Emeka Ike said he is writing the statement to let the whole world know the “devil” behind the plot to destroy his home, after all efforts to beg his wife to drop the divorce bid failed. Read the statement below:
”I want people to look into this issue critically. I’ve never beaten this woman in my life. When she ran out of home, I called my pastor and they took us for counselling. For one week, I was begging her every day; I would go home alone and she would go home alone as well.
At a point, pastor asked us to write five things we like and dislike about each other. The pastor said that maybe we could work it out. I wrote mine, she wrote hers and she never said there that I used to beat her. I still have that document with me. She gave me what she wrote and I gave her what I wrote. If I used to beat her, she could not have left it out from that then. Any man that beats a woman is a coward. I know that someone somewhere must have done something to her. How can I beat a woman I adore so much? I love my family and this is very unfortunate. Her children have been begging her to come home, and she has refused.
I am pretty sure my wife is acting confused; she is acting as if she is under a spell, which is psychological and then she is acting under blackmail. There was a time I accused her of bringing men to my house. I mean, which woman will wake her husband up in the middle of the night and said to him, share your property I want to get my share now from what you have? Tell me, which woman will do that if not acting under a spell?
There was a time I traveled and she closed down my school and sent all the students away. So, there is a lot to it, other than the allegation of battery against me and I want the whole world to know. My name is precious to me and I don’t want anything to drag it in the mud. Pastor Chris Okotie just absolved my wife into his church without making any effort to get in touch with me. If as a pastor, your church member is having issue with her husband, and you failed to do anything to resolve it, what kind of pastor are you? When I called him, he refused to pick my call. He also failed to react to a text message I sent to him. Is that a man of God? Even, if you have a police case, they will make effort to hear from you before taking a position, not to talk of the church.
When we went to court, I told my wife that I’m interested in amicable settlement of the matter, and that I still want her back. But she refused. Even, if you don’t want me, what of your children, I asked her and she still would not listen to me. I want the whole world to know because there is a lot of misinformation out there. The lawyer which Okotie hired for my wife is also frustrating every attempt I make to resolve the matter peacefully.”
However, when pastor Okotie’s media consultant, Mr. Ladi Ayodeji, was contacted, he denied knowledge of the development. He said: “This is news to me…This is completely news to me, but I will bring it to the attention to the pastor and I will get back to you.”
Days ago, Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwura, who recently bagged an award at the just concluded City People Entertainment Awards, came out to defend the controversial Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike. She said he is not a troublemaker.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Heartbreaking Photos Of The Victims of Air Force Flight Crash
Heartbreaking Photos Of The Victims of Air Force Flight Crash
bassey lawrence
See heartbreaking photos of victims of the ill-fated Air Force flight crash.
Board Technician of the flight, Warrant Officer Etim (upper left), Pilot of the ill-fated crash, Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara (upper right), Air Hostess, Air Craft Woman Naomi Adekunle (lower right), Late Mrs. N. S Hassan, wife of Wing Commander N. S Hassan (passenger). (lower left)
Late Mrs. Hassana Musa, wife of Wing Commander I. B Musa (passenger) (middle left).
Late Mrs. Hassana Musa, wife of Wing Commander I. B Musa (passenger) (middle left).
The victims of the ill-fated Abuja-bound aircraft which crashed into a residential quarter at Ribadu cantonment in Kaduna are: Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara (pilot). He is survived by a young wife, who got married to him only last year.
wife of Wing Commander N. Hassan, who has left behind four young kids.
wife of Wing Commander I. B. Musa
, Warrant Officer Etim
and Air Craft Woman Naomi Adekunle.
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna shortly after take-off. The owner of the house on which the chopper crashed, Lt. Col. Grema, told the press that he narrowly escaped death in the air crash.
“I came out of my house few minutes before the aircraft fell on my bore hole,” he said, adding that “I had not quite shut the door to my house when I heard the noise arising from the crash.”
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft similar to those crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna shortly after take-off.
It’s still a question what the wives of the commanders did on board of the military aircraft. According to some unconfirmed reports they were travelling to Abuja for their private purposes.
A selfie of a co-pilot who tragically died on Saturday, August 29, as a result of the Nigerian Air Force helicopter crash in Kaduna, has been circulating in the internet.
The aircraft crashed about 10 minutes after take-off en route to Abuja yesterday morning. All the seven people on board died, which was confirmed by the NAF authorities. The victims of the accident were the pilot, the co-pilot, two engineers and three passengers.
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