PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

           President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured stakeholders from the South East that the region will benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy. Speaking at an audience with leaders from the region led by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the President declared that 2nd Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, are receiving utmost attention from his administration. The President said counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the region. ``I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off. ``I thank you for articulating your demands and I want to assure that we are doing our best for the country. If we can stop people from stealing, ...

       President Muhammadu Buhari today, received Hon. Tony Nwoye, the Anambra State APC Gubernatorial Candidate and Bauchi State Governor H.E. Mohammed A. Abubakar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.One more photo below.

         The Permanent Secretary, Ogun Bureau of Pensions, Mr Babatunde Agbaje, said on Thursday that the state government had paid N5.1billion to its pensioners between January and August. Agbaje made this known during an oversight visit of the State Assembly Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to the Office of the State Head of Service in Abeokuta. He explained that the state government had also approved the payment of N3.1 billion as gratuities to some pensioners in the first quarter of 2017. The permanent secretary stated that the Bureau of State Pensions conducted: “I am alive exercise” for the state pensioners in May. “The physical verification exercise was targeted to screen 12,571 pensioners but only 11,153 participated recording 88.72 per cent success,” he said. Agbaje said that during the exercise, the pensioners’ bio-data were upgraded with passport and biometric capturing. He said that N27.9 million was being ...

         The Ekiti State Governor says his fulfilment of his electioneering promises is responsible for the rousing welcome accorded him at Ijero Ekiti. He made this known during an interview after the inauguration of the One point One kilometers Ijero dualized township roads with street lights. He noted that his passion for development of the rural areas across the state made him embarked on the project despite economic recession in the country. He appealed to them to protect and maintain the infrastructure. Chief Fayose urged Ijero Ekiti people to support Prof Kolapo Olushola to succeed him in order to continue the good works. The Governor also commissioned an auditorium at the College of Health Technology, Ijero Ekiti as part of activities marking his 3rd anniversary in office. Lamenting that paucity of fund had left the institution under-funded, Mr. Fayose commended the provost, Mr. Bayo Ojo for making judicious use of available resources. ...

          The Lagos State Government has announced plans to honour the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, as the weeklong activities marking his 79th posthumous birthday and the 20th anniversary of his death draw to a close. In a statement issued on Thursday by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Government said the honour is in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commitment to promote art and tourism and to celebrate iconic figures in politics, economics and culture sectors who have contributed to the image and development of Lagos State. According to the Commissioner, Governor Ambode will on Sunday, October 15, 2017, unveil a statue in Fela’s memory at the Allen Roundabout in Ikeja. The Governor will also pay a visit to the Kalakuta Museum on Gbemisola Street, Ikeja where he will join family and Fela devotees in homage to the music icon. The day will be rounded off with a Special Lagos Jump -...

          Its my pleasure to welcome you to Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service. Your presence here provides another opportunity for the Service to brief you on the continuous gains of anti-smuggling operations. On Wednesday 10th October 2017, based on credible intelligence, operatives of NCS Compliance Team went t o two open car stands along Kubwa express-way in the Federal Capital Territory and evacuated 27 Toyota Hilux pick-up vehicles suspected to be smuggled into the Country. These vehicles have estimated duty paid value (DPV) of over N432,000,000 million. We urge the owners of these vehicles to come forward with valid Customs clearance documents otherwise they will be liable to Seizure and subsequent Forfeiture to the Federal Government in-line with laws of the land. You will recall that last month, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) while briefing on interception of 18 exotic vehicles, 13 of which were bull...

        The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has urged Nigerians to actively get involved in the fight against corruption by providing information to the anti-corruption agencies. He made the call on Thursday, October 12, 2017in Abuja during the unveiling of Corruption Anonymous (CORA), a whistle blower support project held at the Yar’ Adua Centre. The launch was organized by Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy, AFRICMIL, with the active collaboration of relevant stakeholders including EFCC, to give momentum to whistle blowing, which is already yielding positive results as a strategic tool in the efforts to reduce corruption in the country.More photos below.

        Governor Willie Obiano has announced a cash reward of one million naira to the overall best teacher in Nigeria, Mr Clement Okodo. The Governor who announced the reward during a meeting of the State Executive Council held at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, also directed immediate promotion of the teacher in accordance with the promotions he recently approved for teachers and other Civil servants in the State. Mr Okodo, a primary school teacher at Central School, Abagana who hails from Abatete in Idemili North Council Area, bagged the award at the World Teachers Day celebration held in Abuja by the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. The Award organized under the President's Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards saw the teacher receive a brand new Nissan car as the prize for the first position. Governor Obiano who was represented at the ceremony by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenugha also bagged the honour of...

         Actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie is known for using her voice to champion human rights causes around the world. Her latest producing project,  The Breadwinner , tells the story of an 11-year-old Afghan girl named Parvana who dresses as a boy in order to feed her family in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where women were not allowed to work or attend school. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Harper’s Bazaar, Jolie shares her thoughts on women’s rights today and our responsibility toward each other and our environment. Bazaar  was first published in America just two years after the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. It was a world without cars, modern anti­biotics, or electric lighting. Most people did not live beyond their 50th birthday, and it was still common for women to die in childbirth.As a woman, for much of the 19th century in most Western countries, you couldn’t go to university, and enti...

            Figurative Painter and daughter of late Dora Akunyili, Njideka Akunyili Crosby is among the 24 winners of the 2017 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Typically awarded to around 20 American artists, academics, writers, and scientists each year, the grant is given to “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction,”  according to the foundation. Each will receive a $625,000 award from the foundation "as an investment in their potential," paid out over five years with no strings attached. 34-year-old Los Angeles-based Akunyili Crosby was praised by the foundation for her large-scale works that “express the hybridity characteristics of transnational experience through choices of subject matter, materials, and techniques.” Crosby’s solo exhibition at the Tang Museum in upstate New York opens this week (October 14–December 31); the Baltimor...