Dangote Shuns Ribadu, Saraki Others On Twitter

I think the right caption should be 'Dangote Shuns All Nigerians on Twitter...

Barely 72 hours after Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, joined Twitter, thousands of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora have extended a hand of fellowship to him by subscribing to his tweets. As at Friday morning, the President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, had attracted a followership of well over 30,000 users on the social network.

Surprisingly, despite the huge reception he received on Twitter, Dangote has yet to deem it fit to reciprocate the gesture by subscribing to the tweets of any of these Nigerians following him on the social platform.

Three Killed Sixteen wounded In Plateau Church Attack

The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the Christmas celebration in Plateau State was shattered on Wednesday when two persons were reportedly killed while 16 others were wounded when a group of gunmen invaded the Church of Christ in Nations on the eve of the New Year at  Maiakworigold Maikatako village in Bokkos Local Government Council of Plateau State.
One other person was said to have been killed in Manguna area of Bokkos Local Government of the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were said to have stormed the COCIN Church Maiakworigold Maikatako  and started shooting sporadically. The two people were killed on the spot while the 16 people sustained various degrees of injuries in the ensuing stampede.
The third victim in Manguna area of the same local council area was said to have been killed by the retreating gunmen.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Augustine Bim, told newsmen that during the service to usher in the New Year, some gunmen stormed the church and started  to shoot at different directions.

Mob In Ondo State Sets Driver, Vehicle Ablaze After Fatal Collision With Motorbike

An angry mob in Omi town, Ondo State set a driver and his bus ablaze on New Year’s Eve after a fatal accident involving the bus and a motorbike along the Irele-Omi Road.
The motorbike rider and two of his passengers died in the accident which also injured several other passengers.
Some eyewitnesses and survivors said the motorbike rider attempted to pass a vehicle, but found the passageway too narrow, leading to a crash that killed him and two others on the spot. One witness said the rider was pinned to the spot while his two passengers were thrown into a nearby bush.
Angered by the accident, a mob of irate residents of Omi town, home of the victims, set upon the bus driver and beat him to death before setting him ablaze inside his bus.

FG Denies Plans To Increase Pump Price Of Petrol

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources said on Thursday the government does not plan to increase the pump price of petrol, which is currently N97 per liter.
In a press statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Danladi Kifasi, the Ministry described such fears were unfounded.

Asasri Dokubo Writes OBJ, Calls hin 'Chief Assassin'

The leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo Asari, on Thursday called former President Olusegun Obasanjo the “Chief Assassin of all times” in response to the former leader’s recent letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a letter to Obasanjo, Dokubo, who has previously sworn that there will be hell on earth if Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015, rebutted Obasanjo’s claim that Jonathan is training a special killer squad to hit 1000 supposed opponents of his government.
Asari also claimed that Obasanjo was responsible for his recent arrest in Benin Republic, and that he had wanted him dead when he was President, but failed after several unsuccessful plots.
“I want to remind you of the startling move you made on my life during the momentous days, leading to the historic Isaac Boro celebration on the 16th of May 2005,” he recounted.  “At that time the Bayelsa state Government was under Chief D.S.P. Alamieseigha. Chief DSP Alamieseigha had warned that the 1million man march the NDPVF was organizing to protest the injustice of the Nigerian state against the Ijaws and other oil bearing nation should not hold and would not be allow into Bayelsa state because of a security report that emanated from you that I didn’t know at the time. The report or plot to truncate the march was grave and dangerous, as the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State Chief D.S.P. Alamieseigha, told me the Bayelsa State Government couldn’t guarantee our security – my security.

Minna - Residents Groan As Government Enforces Ban On Okada

Minna- Many commuters in Minna, Niger, were on Thursday stranded following the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most people in the city had a difficult time accessing the buses and the tricycles provided by the state government to cushion the effects of the ban.
The buses and tricycles charged between N30 and N50 per drop, which most of the residents said were affordable.

Nigeria Has The Capacity To Overcome It's Challenges - Kalu Idika Kalu

Former Minister of Finance,  Dr Kalu Idika Kalu said on Wednesday that Nigeria has the capacity to  overcome  its economic and social challenges with its abundant human and natural resources.
 Kalu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ohafia, Abia state.
He was speaking on the sideline of the 100th year of Nigeria’s nationhood following the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates in 1914.
``We should thank God that we have survived to this point as a conglomerate group of nationalities. So often we try to blame the British.
``We’ve had ups and downs but I think we should be humble enough we cannot blame God who designed all of these things.
``We should always ask ourselves what we did to move forward from where the design was handed to us.
``It is just plausible that Nigeria today with the conglomerate of wisdom, of skills, of energies, of talents that we should be way, way ahead of where we are today.
``We should be honest in identifying what were the problems.

"I Know Why Actors Are Dying In Nollywood"- Prophet Chris

Prophet Chris Okafor is the General Overseer of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry.  Below is what he told Encomium magazine about the recent deaths in Nollywood.

"This year I gave a prophecy concerning the entertainment industry that there is going to be series of death, and they never asked me for a solution.
One problem is that they like to go to churches where they do paparazzi and the rest. They don't want to come to the truth and that is why they are dying this way.
If they come to me, I will tell them the mystery why people are dying in Nollywood just like I've been
able to tell Nigerians why electricity can't be stable in Nigeria.
I know why they are dying. Let them come to me".

TB Joshua Reveals What APC Will Suffer In 2014 And More

Renowned Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua has declared 2014 as a year of ‘crossing the bridge’, prophesying it to be a year of destiny where corruption would be corrected in Nigeria as corrupt leaders would go down.

It was an electric atmosphere in The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) where large crowds thronged to usher in the New Year 2014. T.B. Joshua came out around 11pm to deliver his much anticipated prophetic message in a broadcast beamed live via the churches popular television station Emmanuel TV.
He first counseled believers to stay steadfast in faith despite the challenges that would arise in the coming year.“We are tempted so that we may pray the more. Afflictions are meant for our spiritual benefit,” he encouraged the congregants and television viewers.

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Cause Kidney, Liver Diseases--Expert

A public health physician, Dr Baba Ahmed, said in Abuja on Thursday that the lack of vitamin D could cause chronic liver or kidney disease.
Ahmed, who works with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), expressed the view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that the function of vitamin D was to maintain serum calcium and phosphorus concentration within the range that supported neuromuscular function.
The neuromuscular system is the combination of the nervous system and the muscles, working together to permit movement.
According him, vitamin D deficiency is commonly noticed early in children than in adults.
He said the lack of Vitamin D in children resulted in rickets,  while the deficiency in adults led to osteromalacia.

Cholera Kills 7 In Kano

 
No fewer than seven persons have died from cholera at Badawa-Galadima ward in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, an official of the council has said.
The Head of Health Department of the local government, Alhaji Ma’azu Doka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  on Wednesday in Kano that 68 patients were now receiving treatment.
Doka said 29 of them were at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Kano, while the remaining 39 were outpatients.

NUPENG Says It Hasn't Shelved Planned Strike

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it has not shelved its proposed plans to go on strike over the planned sale of the country's refineries.
A statement from the President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, on Wednesday in Lagos, said the union’s position was still that the decision to privatise the four refineries was hastily taken.
It said it would therefore still be resisted by NUPENG.
``The attention of the union was drawn to some stories that NUPENG has suspended the strike. The union states that the report is erroneous and full of distortions of facts," the statement said.

Oyo State: Gov. Abiola Ajimobi Grants Amnesty To Five Condemned Prisoners

 
Gov.  Abiola Ajimobi of  Oyo State  has granted amnesty to five condemned prisoners, total release and state pardon for four convicts who are on life imprisonment as well as amnesty to 12 convicts who are on various terms of imprisonment for misdemeanors.
In a statement issued by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ojo Adebayo , the amnesty was in commemoration of the New Year an
According to the Attorney General, the amnesty was an exercise of the governor’s power to grant prerogative of mercy to convicts as conferred by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 under section 212(1) of the Constitutio
The five condemned prisoners granted amnesty are Bashiru Popoola, Mukaila Salawu, Obinna John, Idowu Emmanuel and Wahab Alao.

Obasanjo Imposed Jonathan On Nigerians, It's His Responsibility to Help Rid The Country of him - Femi Fani Kayode

ABUJA- Former Nigerian Aviation Minister Femi Fani Kayode says it is former president Olusegun Obasanjo's responsibility to help rid the country of President Goodluck Jonathan since he imposed him on the Nigerian people. He said this in defense of the former president's open letter to the president. "He more than anybody else has the responsibility- if he doesn't want to be judged harshly by history to ensure that Goodluck Jonathan does not come back in 2015", he said.
Speaking on Sahara TV Mr. Kayode was full of praise for Former President Obasanjo calling his action courageous. "This is a man I've known for the past 11 years. He is not the type of man that will say something that he doesn't mean". Mr. Kayode said he believes the letter was written out of deep concern for the country.
On the alleged 1000-man hit list referred to in the letter, Mr. Kayode said he believes Mr. Obasanjo speaks with conviction and that the government has been challenged in the letter to deny the allegation.

MEET ABUJA BABY OF THE YEAR 2014

A BABY GIRL DELEIVERED BY MRS BLESSING SUNDAY AT 3:07 A.M. IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA TEACHING HOSPITAL, GWAGWALADA IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY (1/1/14).
Wishing her family all the best in bringing her up. Congratulations to the Sunday family!!

Keshi PIcks 23 Man Squad For CHAN: See Full List

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi on Tuesday in Abuja released the list of 23 players who will represent Nigeria at the third edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CHAN event is billed for Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2014 in three South African cities.
The list has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six forwards, with 2013 Golden Eaglets’ star goalkeeper Dele Alampasu making the cut.
The team’s first-choice goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, as well as team regulars such as defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Francis Benjamin also made the list.
Former junior internationals Abdullahi Shehu and Christian Pyagbara also made it, joining Alampasu on the list of the new crop of young players graduating to the senior team.
Agbim, Kwambe, Benjamin and Egwuekwe are an integral part of the main Super Eagles team.
Pyagbara and Shehu played for the Flying Eagles at the African Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, both in 2013.
Alampasu was selected as the Best Goalkeeper as Nigeria’s under-17 side won a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup title in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria face hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A of the 2014 CHAN.
It is a championship reserved for senior players plying their trade in the domestic league of their countries.
The Full List:
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Rangers International); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Dele Alampasu (Abuja Football College)


Defenders: Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Ikechukwu Gabriel (Bayelsa United); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba International); Erhun Obanor (Bendel Insurance FC)


Midfielders: Ugonna Uzochukwu (Rangers); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC); Ikenna Hilary (Sunshine Stars); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Joshua Obaje (Warri Wolves)


Forwards: Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers); Gbolahan Salami (Shooting Stars); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Aliyu Ibrahim (Nasarawa United); Christian Obiozor (Rangers); Ifeanyi Ede (Enyimba International)

-NAN

Full Text Of President Jonathan's Message to The Nation

NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE NATION FROM PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR
DECEMBER 31, 2013
Dear Compatriots,
 I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons, including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s centenary celebrations. I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.
 Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria.  For us therefore, today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another. It is a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about Nigeria.
Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength.  We pay tribute today, as always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the heroes and heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country what it is today.
As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly not a mistake but a blessing.  As we celebrate 100 years of nationhood, we must resolve to continue to work together as one, united people, to make our country even greater.
I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to the progressive development of our country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance in our fatherland. Despite several continuing domestic and global challenges, for us in Nigeria, the year 2013 witnessed many positive developments which we will strive to build upon in 2014.
We have diligently carried forward the purposeful and focused implementation of our agenda for national transformation in priority areas such as power, the rehabilitation and expansion of national infrastructure, agricultural development, education and employment generation.
You may recall that our 2013 Budget was on the theme, “Fiscal Consolidation with Inclusive Growth”, and I emphasized the need for us to “remain prudent with our fiscal resources and also ensure that the Nigerian economy keeps growing and creating jobs”. I am pleased to report that we have stayed focused on this goal.

Our national budget for 2014 which is now before the National Assembly is specifically targeted at job creation and inclusive growth. We are keenly aware that in spite of the estimated 1.6 million new jobs created across the country in the past 12 months as a result of our actions and policies, more jobs are still needed to support our growing population. Our economic priorities will be stability and equitable growth, building on the diverse sectors of our economy.

VIEW POINT WISHES ALL OF YOU A PROSPEROUS 2014

First Lady Solicits More Prayers For Peace

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, urged Nigerians, particularly women, to re-dedicate themselves to pray for peace, progress and development of the country.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ayo Adewuyi, Media Assistant to the First lady.
``I urge you to further put to the benefit of the nation, those virtues of intellect, determination, resilience, hard work, and care - the hallmarks of Nigerian women.
``Please strengthen your family bonds, because once the family is united and at peace, the society generally enjoys peace and progress’’, the statement said.
It quoted the wife of the President as praying that ``2014 will be a year of peace, prosperity, development and many good things in Nigeria.’’
It restated the first lady’s devotion to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people, particularly women, the indigent and the vulnerable.
It said that the first lady’s NGO would continue to initiate programmes that will make women become aware of their human rights and obligations.
``I seek your support and partnership for the rebirth and transformation of a new and improved Nigeria in 2014 and I wish you all a happy, prosperous and fulfilling New Year’’, it said.
-NAN

FGN Committed To Fighting Corruption Through Public Service Reforms

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to tackle corruption in Nigeria through systemic reforms both in public service and other sectors of the economy.
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said this at a briefing to chronicle the activities of the Federal Government in 2013 in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that though corruption was deep-rooted in the country, the Jonathan administration was tackling it through reforms aimed at making the system less prone to abuses by office holders.
``I cannot deny that there is corruption in Nigeria. I believe that there is corruption in Nigeria; our system needs a lot of reforms.
“The problem is that our attitudes over time have been so ingrained and I keep making the point that laws alone can’t stop corruption; it’s a matter of conscience.