PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

     Today, it was a pleasure to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari to a Joint Session of the National Assembly to receive the 2018 Budget, in accordance with Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.-SARAKI. Speech on the 2018 budget-Saraki ON THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY EFFORTS “I must commend Mr. President, the Economic Management Team, my Distinguished colleagues and Honourable members of the House of Representatives as well as all Nigerians, for working together to make the necessary sacrifices to get the economy out of recession. Without doubt, this recovery benefitted from greater policy coordination, prioritization and passage of economic reform bills, but more importantly, the resilience of the Nigerian people.” ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2018 BUDGET “It is pertinent to note that the implementation of the 2018 Budget – how it is implemented - will be a defining element of this Administration. We must therefore continue to work toge

     The Ogun State Treasury Board Meeting on 2018 Budget estimate will hold between Thursday November 9 and Friday November 10, 2017 at the Conference Hall, Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. A release signed by Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina, said the meeting would consider the 2018 Advance Proposals and Draft Estimates submitted by Ministries, Department and Agencies of government in the State. The release added that the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun would preside over the two day meeting, which begins at 12noon on Thursday and 9.00am on Friday, adding that members of the State Executive Councils, Special Advisers, Accounting Officers and other relevant officers from MDAs were expected to be at the event. She enjoined all participants to be seated 30 minutes before the commencement of the event each day.

   Very inspiring story of a lady who thought she had lost everything because of fire burns.One of My reporter Chinenye Genevieve sent in the story and photos with the caption ''  "At the age of 4, I was in a house fire. I remember being trapped by a room full of fire than being pull out of the window by my big toe. I was in the house with my mom and 3 brothers... two brothers (age 2 and 6) did not make it out. I was sent to one hospital where they weren't able to do any thing for me, then flown to another. By the time I made it there, my heart had stopped. My mother had been told her 3rd baby died. After a few minutes, I was given another chance at life. And I don't take it for granted at all. I was burned over 60% of my body, lost my 4 fingers, lost my hair that isn't able to grow back again. ''.More photos below.

        The Lagos State Government has commenced channelisation of four commercial ferry routes out of the thirty already identified as part of activities to scale up water transportation and give a quantum leap to tourism in the State. Speaking on Tuesday after an extensive inter-agencies inspection tour of ongoing projects in and around the State inland waterways, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya said the four routes currently being channelised would be followed with another two, while work on the remaining twenty-four would be implemented in phases within the next four years. The routes are 10km Ebute Ojo to Marina, 7km Bayeku to Ajah, 16km Ijede to Marina and 6km Ijede to Badore.All the routes are with 40metres width and minimum of four metres deep into the waters.While noting the import of the exercise, Akinsanya said the inspection tour was essentially a follow-up to last Sunday's commissioning of three boats by Governor

       The EFCC today, Tuesday November 7, 2017 arraigned twenty nine persons on one count count charge before Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari of Federal High Court, Ikoyi in an alleged case which borders on conspiracy and illegal dealings in petroleum products. The Nigerian Navy in Apapa, Lagos, handed over the suspects to the EFCC. They include six Benin Republic nationals namely: Houffo Ojidenu, Hounssa BegaKola, Paul Atungbe, Hunssa Achilit, Honfo Emil and Honfo Djoelit. They are among the first set of suspects arraigned. They were arrested on 7th September, 2017, by the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft patrol team. While the team was on routine patrol, they intercepted a wooden boat laden with 140 empty drums with six (6) crew members on board along Lagos Anchorage Area alongside MT Matrix 1, which was already arrested by the Nigerian Navy. The Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft subsequently transferred the wooden boat and six crew members to the EFCC for further inve

         The government of Jersey Island has insisted that the Abacha loot would not be released to Nigeria if a third party representation is brought into the picture. The Honourable Minister and Attorney General of Jersey Island, Robert J. MacRae QC disclosed this on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 during the on going 7th Session of Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, holding in Vienna, Austria. MacRae spoke at a side meeting with the Nigeria delegation led by acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.The Jersey Attorney General expressly stated that negotiations in respect of repatriation in respect of the USD300 million being part of the Abacha loot between Nigeria and Jersey Island involving the United States of America, USA, "must be government to government cooperation". The EFCC was accompanied at the meeting by four members of the Nigeria delegation.

      The newly commissioned Fish statue at Epe.  . Special Adviser, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola representing His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the unveiling of the Fish statue at Epe.More photos below.

       The Lagos State Government, through the Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), has commenced verification exercise for retired teachers who live abroad through Skype to confirm their “I Am Alive” status. Speaking on the verification, the Permanent Secretary (TEPO), Mrs. Sewanu Amosu, disclosed that the exercise which is the first of its kind, was necessary to eradicate the stress involved in having  the retirees travel to Nigeria before they can be verified. She said the process, which was made possible by the Director of Information Communication Technology, (ICT), TEPO, Miss Yinka Fashola, commenced last week and is still ongoing. Mrs. Amosu also informed that the verification exercise for TEPO retirees in Nigeria will commence on Wednesday, 8th November, 2017 at TEPO headquarters, Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja and six other education districts across the state. The decentralisation, according to Mrs. Amosu, would eradicate the problem of some retirees

       The Customs Area Controller for Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara Area Command, Compt. Nasir A. has in a Media briefing on the 1st of November 2017 presented an account of activities of the Area Command since May 2017.   In the briefing, Compt. Nasir, revealed that the Command was able to effect a total of 103 seizures with a combined DPV of N161,337,003.00 (One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Three Hundred and T hirty Seven Thousand, Three Naira), within the period under review. A Total 39 (Thirty nine) Motor Vehicles with Duty paid value of N83,640,076.00 (Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand, Seventy Six Naira Only) were also seized by the Command within the period under review. 23 (Twenty Three) of these Vehicles were arrested in the month of October alone.552 Bags of 50kg (size) foreign Rice, and 1,290 bags of 25kg size foreign rice with Duty Paid Value of N27,988,655.00 (Twenty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred Fifty Five Naira Only) wa

         Am a Chelsea fan any time any day.Yeah I knew Chelsea was playing on Sunday and I am so happy my blue gown with flakes of black on it was not for nothing as it turned out Chelsea won Man United 1-0.On sunday I wore a short blue dress that is above my kneels,I carried a black purse,wore a net block heels,white pearls,silver and black bracelets.I bought this dress about a year ago,it became useful on Sunday and guess what,everybody loved the gown,they said I looked as if am going to Visit the White house any time soon LOL sometimes the most simplest outfits might turn out to be the best.More photos below.

       Anambra State Government on Sunday marked the 84th Posthumous Birthday of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu . The icon, general and freedom fighter was born on the 4th of November, 1933 in the northern Nigerian town of Zungeru to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Nnewi businessman and one-time richest man in West Africa. He joined the Nigerian army in 1957, rising to become its first indigenous Quartermaster.

       As sign of respect for Nigeria's fallen heroes, President Muhammadu Buhari today at the e-Nigeria Conference, directed that all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), others to wear the emblem.

       The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has today despatched a special message of assurance, encouragement and commendation to troops of the Nigerian Army engaged in various operations both within and outside the country. This is contained in a letter sent to various formations and corps Commanders, as well as Commande rs of the various training institutions of the Nigerian Army on Sunday 5th November 2017. In the letter, Lieutenant General Buratai showered encomiums on the troops for the unflinching loyalty, perseverance, courage and dedication to duty which brought about the desired success in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other criminal activities. He also paid glowing tribute to those troops stationed outside the shores of our great nation. The COAS has also assured troops especially those on Operation LAFIYA DOLE of their welfare. This is coming from the good news of the release of funds for the paym

      In a viral video the 48 year old rap star made and posted on his social media for his birthday,he declared that he should no longer be called P.Diddy but ''Love,Brother Love''.The photos above and below are clips from the video. "I have some very very serious news," he said in a Twitter video. "I been praying on this and I decided - I know it's risky because it could come off as corny to some people... I decided to change my name again.". Explaining the decision, he said he is feeling like a different person to any of the people previously designated in his lengthy list of titles. "I'm just not who I am before, I'm something different," he continued, "so my new name is Love aka Brother Love. "I will not be answering to Puffy, Diddy, Puff Daddy or any of my other monickers but Love or Brother Love.".More photos below.

         Ibadan Zonal office of the EFCC, 6th November 2017, arraigned one Afolabi Ojo (a.k.a. Kemisola) before Justice M. A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on a 3-court charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense and possession of false documents.   The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.  In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Cosmos Ugwu prayed the court for a trial da te and urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. Justice Onyetenu adjourned the case to 21 November, 2017 for ruling on bail and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesshe prison pending the ruling of his bail application. Afolabi, a student of the Polytechnic of Ire, (Ire-Poly), Ire, Osun State, was charged to court following a petition from a complainant who alleged that sometimes in June, 2017, while window shopping on Instagram, she came across some slippers and shoes on a page “Best Classic Store” owned by on