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Over 4,800 illegal connections attached to crude oil pipelines – Kyari Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has described oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region as a calamity. Kyari said there are over 4,800 illegal connections on crude oil pipelines in the region and warned that this could frustrate the projections of the Federal Government. Speaking on Friday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Appropriation on the proposed budget for 2024, Kyari said that the daily oil production would depend greatly on the security situation in the oil rich Niger-Delta region. He described the act of vandalism and oil theft going on there as a calamity and completely abnormal. “The situation we have in Niger Delta in terms of security is a calamity. We don’t have that anywhere in the world. To engage non state actors as last resort as solution is abnormal. But we have to respond abnormally. “You h...

‘Public schools in United States are free,’estranged husband replies after ex-wife called him out over child support  Justin Dean, the ex-husband of popular Nigerian dancer, Anita Chukwumfumnaya Obidi, also known as Korra Obidi, has said that public schools in the United States are free after he was allegedly accused of failing to pay his child support. This is coming after Korra made a video urging him to pay his daughter’s school fees. Justin, reacting to the video, claimed that children in the US were entitled to free public education. He added that he employed a preschool teacher to work as a nanny to instruct his children. He said, "Public schools are free, how do they work in the United State of America, or in every state in America I believe. When you buy a house it's not like in Africa that you can just buy a house and it’s yours forever. "You have to pay taxes on that house which is called property taxes, those property taxes go to fund public programs such as ...

Don’t use my Name to seek for Approval for your over bloated Contracts - Orji Caution Ako Obioma The Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Chinedum Orji has warned Ako Obioma to stop seeking for approval of his over bloated Government Contracts from the current Government in the state with his name. In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Chief Jude Ndukwe while reacting to the allegations by Ako Obioma accusing Rt Hon. Chinedum Orji of highjacking his father’s Government and that of the immediate past Governor of the state Okezie Ikpeazu. He urged Obioma to pray to pray to God to have a child that will honor him. See full statement below...  Ako Obioma and the Rants of a Crooked Contractor. Our attention has been drawn to the incessant infantile tirades of one of Abia’s most infamous and crooked contractors, Ako Obioma against the person of Rt HonChinedumEnyinnayaOrjiFNSE. While we would have loved to continue to ignore him, it is however pertinent to put the ...

I Won’t Surrender My Mandate To Sabotage, Intimidation, Blackmail - Fubara Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed that no level of sabotage deliberately staged in some quarters will compel him to abandon his mandate to serve, protect and advance the fortunes of the state. Fubara, who said he would not relinquish the mandate he received from the people to intimidation and blackmail, insisted that he would follow the path of peace, saying that needless crisis would not benefit the state. The governor spoke when he declared open the 115 and 116 combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt on Thursday, December 7. Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to serve with humility, sincerity of purpose, and accountability. He said: “Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the governor. “I assure you that I will not ...

  Abiodun Eulogies Alaba Lawson, Says Legacy Will Be Sustained  Ogun State Governor,  Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Friday said that the late Iyalode of Yoruba land, Chief Mrs. Alaba Lawson left a  legacy that would be a reference and an inspiration to generations yet unborn. Abiodun stated this at the funeral and outing service held at the African Church, Cathedral of St. James, Idi-Ape, Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, even as he noted that the late educationist life and times are inspiring narrative of great accomplishments. According to the governor, as the first female president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), former Chairman, Board of Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Fellow and Council Member, Institute of Directors, Chairman Board of Trustees, Nigerian Quality Infrastructure Forum, among others, the deceased dedicated her life to serving the nation, Ogun State and the society at large. He adde...

Court Jails Three Internet Fraudsters in Kaduna Justices A.A Bello and A.A Isiaka of the Kaduna state High Court, sitting in Kaduna,  have convicted and sentenced the  trio of Abubakar Isma'ila Buba , Solomon Olobatoke and Emmanuel Thomas  to different jail terms. They were jailed on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences, upon their arraignment by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.    Buba’s charge reads: That you, Abubakar Isma'ila Buba”(a.k.a Jane Deity), sometime in October, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud and attempt to cheat when you had in your possession fraudulent documents containing false pretence wherein you represented yourself as one Jane Deity on a (Google Chat), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punis...

Northern Sociopolitical Group Called for Thorough Investigation to Kaduna Bomb Attack The Northern Coalition of sociopolitical Groups has called for thorough investigation into the bomb attack that led to the killing of more than One Hundred civilians and urged Nigerians to stop given Religious or Ethnic Coloration to the incident. Deputy National President of the Group Alhaji Balarebe Lawal Zaria made the call while briefing newsman on the ongoing investigation about the incident which occurred in Tudun Biri Village Kaduna State. Alhaji Balarabe Lawal Zaria stated that it was too early for any one to start pointing accusing when investigations about the circumstances surrounding the bombing were still ongoing.  According to him, the call from some quarters demanding the sack of service chiefs was unnecessary and could sparked up tension while what Nigeria wants now is peace and tranquility. "The group and few other people who have embarked on campaign of calumny should please st...

Abia Pensioner d!es while rushing for Verification in Umuahia  Today Friday 8th December 2023 was a sad day for Ozu Abam Community in Arochukwu LGA as Elder Mrs Ada Egbuta a Retired primary school teacher met her untimely death It was gathered she was On her way to get Verified when she was hit by a bike and she hit her head on the main road  She was Confirmed D£Ad by the Management of the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia. May her Soul Rest in Peace.  

PRESS RELEASE  SECOND NATIONAL PARA-GAMES KICKS-OFF DECEMBER 8, 2023 IN ABUJA The Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh has  said that arrangement has been concluded for the successful hosting of the Second Edition of the National Para-Sports Festival scheduled to take place between  8 - 16 December, 2023 in Abuja. The Minister who disclosed this today in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, stated that the  Second Edition of the Para-Sports Games is aimed at giving people with disability (PLWD) in sports a sense of belonging and opportunity to exhibit all potentials in  them. Senator Owan Enoh stated further that the cardinal objective of the  Games is the promotion of keen and healthy competition amongst Para Athletes under an atmosphere of sportsmanship and friendly interaction with a view to enhancing and strengthening national unity, peace and stability in the country as well as in the identification of Pa...

PRESS RELEASE  WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTER CHARGES NIGERIAN GIRLS ON SKILL ACQUISITION The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has called on Nigerian girls to develop themselves through skill acquisition with a view to reducing the number of out of school children and early marriages while also securing a good future for themselves  The Minister made the call Thursday, during the 'Talk on Importance of Personal Care and Stress Management Among School Girls' organized by the Malaysian High Commission in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in Abuja. She stated that through skill acquisition, young girls will develop capacity that will make them productive and entrepreneurial, thus empowering themselves for self-reliance in order to make better homes while also contributing their quota to the growth and development of the nation  Kennedy-Ohanenye explained that this informed the Ministry's dogged commitment...

 North Korean defector Kim Kyu-li is desperate to find out what's happened to her younger sister Cheol-ok.  The siblings separately managed to escape the country in the late 1990s at the height of the catastrophic famine, but shortly after 14-year-old Cheol-ok arrived in China, her older sister tells us she was forced marry a much older Chinese man via a broker. Kyu-il, now lives in London, and has hardly had any contact with her sister since but earlier this year she learnt that she'd been detained by the Chinese authorities and deported back to North Korea.  She's been telling her story to Newsday. BBC More photos below. 

The British poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.  The son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse, he was born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham.  He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write. But despite this, he published his first book aged just 22 and ended up becoming a familiar face on TV, credited with bringing Dub Poetry into British living rooms. His work often addressed political injustice. May his soul rest in peace,  Amen. One more photo below. 

UPDATED VERSION OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE ON LIST OF APPROVED AND UNAPPROVED LAYOUTS/ESTATES IN ANAMBRA STATE. We refer to our earlier publications with reference PS/ML/2022/CR/134 dated 2nd November, 2022, PS/ML/2023/CR/165 of 2nd May, 2023 and PS/ML/2023/CR/229 of 21st July, 2023 respectively, and hereby state that the following Layout/Estates have been approved by the State Government. 1. Dubai Estate/Layout Phase 11, Awka Capital Territory. 2. City of Success Estate /Layout (Increase Estate Limited) Mgbakwu Awka North L.G.A. 3. Ebubedikeri Airportcity Estate/Layout (Increase Estate Limited),Umueri, Anambra East L.G.A.  4. Global International Market (Gim) Layout, Oraifite. 5. Abadom Emodi Layout, Onitsha, Onitsha North L.G.A. 6. Obioma Layout, Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka L.G.A. 7. Okpuno Umuotuzo Layout Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka L.G.A. 8. Solution Housing Estate (PART OF) Aguaba Layout, Awka. 9. Awka Millenium City Layout Phase 11 (River Irland Estate). 10. Awka Millenium City Layout Phase 11...

There are fake Naira notes in circulation, CBN alerts Nigerians The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, today alerted banks and Nigerians to beware of counterfeit bank notes, especially higher denominations now spent in food markets and other commercial hubs in the country. According to Apex Bank, it is an offense punishable by imprisonment for any person to falsify, make, or counterfeit any bank note or coin issued by the CBN. CBN disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Sidi Ali, Hakama. CBN said, “The attention of the CBN has been drawn to the circulation of counterfeit banknotes, especially higher denominations, by some individuals for transactions in food markets and other commercial centres across major cities in the country. “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20(4) of the CBN Act (2007), as amended, states that it shall be an offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years for any person to falsify, make, or co...

PDP Senator Austin Akobundu wins Again at Appeal Court The Court of Appeal has affirmed its judgment declaring PDP’s Senator Austin Akobundu representing Abia Central Senatorial District as the authentic winner of the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election in the Senatorial District The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja today dismissed the application filed by Hon. Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party, seeking the Court of Appeal to review and reverse its earlier Judgment wherein it declared Senator Akobundu as the duly elected Senator for Abia Central Senatorial District. The Appeal Court threw out the application and awarded a cost of N5million to be paid by Darlington Nwokocha to Senator Akobundu.

17-Year-Old Nigerian Boy Arrested For R^aping  Fowl, Police Begin Investigation 17-year-old boy simply identified as Mori has been arrested for allegedly r^aping a cock at Viniklang in the Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, northeast Nigeria. One Esther Dimas, a resident of Viniklang who reportedly caught him  r^aping the cock, was said to have reported his discovery to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspect. This is contained in a statement shared by the Adamawa Police Command on its ‘X’ handle on Friday, noting that the suspect was arrested because his action was against the order of nature. According to the statement, the suspect confessed that he  r^aped the cock but did not give any reason for his action.  

 Lagos Seals 19 Event Centres  The Lagos State Safety Commission has sealed 19 event centres for safety infractions in the interest of public safety.  The commission's Director-General, Lanre Mojola, disclosed this during a recent routine inspection and an on-the-spot assessment of some event centres across the state.  This was posted on the Lagos State Government's official website on Friday December 8.  According to Mojola, the safety assessment exercise is an ongoing effort to achieve the commission’s mandate of ensuring zero accidents, particularly during this yuletide season.  Mojola declared that before the exercise, the commission had earlier informed all events centre owners through their various associations of the need to adopt safety best practices at all events and duly register all events from 250 guests and above via its registration portal to obtain an Event Safety Permit.  He noted that the commission has taken decisive action to enforc...

NIPR Lauds Proposed Bauchi State Flyovers Bauchi State Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR has described the commitment of the state government to construct two flyovers in the capital as commendable. The Chairman of the institute Rabi'u Muhammad Wada who made the commendation during the institute's monthly meeting in Bauchi said the flyovers to be constructed at Wunti and Central Market would add value to the  state. Rabi'u Wada maintained that as a professional body the institute is mingful of all the  happenings at both the state and National Levels hence the need to encourage the state government on it's infrastructural development initiatives. According to him, replication of similar gesture in other towns across the state would further improve economic activities and ease transportation challenges. The NIPR Chairman assured that the institute would continue to support of the state government to deliver on it's mandate especially in areas of ...