Move over Beyonce, Sister Solange Knowles 'A Seat At The Table' Album is now No.1 on Billboard 200 Charts

The Drunk inlove hit maker, Queen Bee has to move over as Sister, Solange Knowles has landed her first no. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with her musical masterpiece, 'A Seat At The Table.' Not only is this a win for Solange, but her no. 1 also adds her and Beyoncé into an elite group of solo siblings to have no. 1 albums in the same year, via Billboard. Previously, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson managed the feat, as did Master P and his brother Silkk the Shocker. Beyonce has logged six previous No.1's,most recently with 2016’s Lemonade.Notably, Solange and Beyonce both earned No. 1s in the same calendar year, just as Michael and Janet did in 2001 (with Invincible and All For You, respectively).Congrats to Solange.

Corruption?Judges arrested Released on Bail...DSS Prepares to Charge them to Court

Following a public outrage by Nigerians, the Department of State Security(DSS) has released all Judges arrested days ago, kept in their custody.According to reports, all seven judges were released on self-recognition on Sunday. “They reported this morning (Monday) 10am and they have all gone back home. They will be coming back tomorrow," the source said, adding that everything went well and civil.“They were released on bail on self recognition based on the fact that given their standing in the society, they cannot run away.The investigation continues and preparation to charge them to court is ongoing” he added.

Militicians?Nigerian Politicians think winning Election is 'Do or Die' Affair,Nation's Electoral Arena now bloody battlefield...Prof Jega Spite Fire

Ex Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, says the biggest challenge confronting the electoral body is the reckless mind-set of politicians, who believe that winning an election is a do-or-die affair.Through this mindset, Jega said Nigerian politicians had turned the nation’s electoral arena into a bloody battlefield characterised by political thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes and assassinations while creating fear in the minds of voters.Jega, who presided over INEC during the 2015 general election, said the situation was so bad that it took INEC a lot of effort to allay the fear of voters and revive their interest in the process before they could come out to vote in 2015.The ex-INEC helmsman declared that all attempts by the country to reform the electoral process would be a waste of effort except politicians changed their reckless mindset.Jega spoke in Lagos on Saturday at the 50th birthday ceremony of the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN).He delivered a paper entitled, “Challenges and prospects of sustainable credible elections in Nigeria.”Jega said, “INEC, as an election management body, faced perhaps its greatest challenge containing the predisposition and reckless mindset of Nigerian politicians. I quite often say that Nigeria has a special breed of politicians – ‘militicians’. They generally tend to believe that political power, through election, has to be captured and this has to be done by hook or by crook; by any means necessary. For many, winning an election is literally a do-or-die affair. That is why the Nigerian political arena increasingly resembles a bloody battlefield with maiming, killing, burning, assassinations and unimaginable destruction of lives and property.

Terrorism?Nigeria's Presidency hail S'African Judgement Sentencing Henry Okah to 20 yrs in Prison

The Presidency has expressed satisfaction over the South African Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision to confirm the conviction of Henry Orkah to 20 years in prison.A presidency official, who preferred not to be named, confirmed this development to State House correspondents in Abuja on Saturday, according to Metrowatch.The court, on Oct. 3, found Orkah guilty on two out of the 6-count charges relating to the Warri bombing labeled against him. The Court also upheld the 12-year sentence for his role in the Abuja bombing, that claimed many innocent lives.The convictions that were upheld are those in respect of the Warri bombing, relating to Okah’s providing finance and equipment without which the bombings would not have been executed.The source stated that already the Nigerian government had written “a measured letter” to the South African government, hailing the judicial decision as a big step forward towards removing terrorism from the continent.“South Africa has projected itself an enduring partner to Nigeria in the war against terrorism. 

Drama:NDDC Boss Semenitari call out Bayelsa State Govt over Internal Road Re-construction Claims

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Boss has taken a swipe at Bayelsa State Govt after it took credit for internal emergency road repairs and rehabilitation on 14 roads in Bayelsa State, including the capital, Yenagoa. A statement by its Special Adviser on Media and Communication Mr. Bekee Anyalewechi said, the Commission has described as untrue and shocking recent claims by the Bayelsa State Government that it was intervening on the roads.According to the statement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in reaction to claims made by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Obuebite Jonathan, on Saturday during a radio programme, in Yenagoa, that the ongoing emergency repairs on roads in the state were the handiwork of the state government, is untrue.She stated that “the ongoing emergency road repairs and rehabilitation covered the 9 mandate states of the Commission and wondered why that commend the interventionist agency for the bold step which would be a huge relief to it, the Bayelsa State Government decided to turn the truth head-down.“Such deliberate falsehood erodes public trust in authorities”,Ibim said, emphasising that the emergency work was meant to relief the government of some infrastructure burden.“The Commission had expected that the Government of Bayelsa State would, in best practice, emulate its Cross River and Akwa-Ibom States counterparts in commending the Commission.“Or, where it lacked the courage to attribute credit to NDDC, would keep quiet than spreading misinformation,” Semenitari added.”Semenitari expressed disbelief that though the Government knew the truth, it chose to hide it from the public noting that such style of governance erodes confidence in government and ridicules the tenets of probity.“NDDC saw gaps in road infrastructure across its 9 mandate states and the urgent need to intervene and after a management meeting, decided to act as to procure relief to motorists and other road users.“So the option of emergency road repairs came handy as it would afford immediate remedial solutions, relieve states of financial burden and enhance inter and intra-city communications. Under this intervention, hitherto impassable roads have become usable routes thereby boosting economic activity and improving livelihood of the people.”The Commission listed the 14 roads in which it is intervening in Bayelsa to be the Oporuma-Sabageria-Polaku road in Opokuma local government; Odi-Trofani road; Otiotio Road, Yenagoa; DooGood Street, Yenagoa; Goodnews Street, Azikoro, Yenagoa; Shepherd Vine Road, also in Yenagoa.According to NDDC, other roads in which its intervention is ongoing in the state capital are Capt. Ayeni Street; Saptex Road, Yenizue-Epie; INEC Road, Kpansia; Jasmine Suite Road, Kpansia; ErepaRoad ; and NIIT Road.Others it listed are the Dimrose-Green; Villa-Custom Link Roads 1 & 2, Biogbolo; and Tolda Road, Ekeki, all in Yenagoa.NDDC emphasised that while it was not engaging the Bayelsa State Government in any verbal war, it was necessary to leave the public with the correct information, saying “it is critical for good governance.

IMF predicts Nigeria will be out of Recession in 2017!!

The International Monetary Fund has predicted that the Nigerian economy will grow by 0.6% in 2017, effectively lifting the country out of an officially declared recession. In the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday, Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product is expected to increase marginally by 0.6% with Consumer Prices rising by 17.1%.Nigeria’s Current Account Balance is however forecast to slump further by 0.4% next year.According to the Bretton Woods institution, the projected increase in global growth in 2017 to 3.4% hinges crucially on rising growth in emerging market and developing economies.The institution however revised down growth projections for the last quarter of 2016 in the region to reflect the challenging macroeconomic conditions in economies like Nigeria.In Nigeria for example, this revision was based on the contracted economic activity followed by disruptions to oil production, foreign currency shortages resulting from lower oil receipts, lower power generation, and weak investor confidence.

FG Policy Partiality? Nigeria's foremost Indegenous Tomatoe Paste Manufacturer ''Erisco Foods' may shut-down in 30 days

Nigeria’s biggest toma­to paste manufacturing company, Erisco Foods Limited, has revealed it will shut down operations within 30 days, if the Federal Government failed to ad­dress salient policy issues that are frus­trating the country’s manufacturers, but favoring foreigners.The President/Chief Exec­utive Officer of Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, in a letter he addressed to the chairman of the Federal Government’s Economic Team, Vice President Yemi Osi­nbajo, said it is surprising that at a time when the country is grap­pling with recession and trying to discourage importation and encouraging local manufacture, key government agencies are do­ing everything possible to frus­trate local manufacturers.According to him, the CBN has refused Erisco access to for­eign exchange to enable it import machinery parts and raw mate­rials for the production of toma­to paste.He said the same CBN ap­proved intervention loan and fo­rex to companies mostly owned by foreigners to import the same finished tomato paste and other items like frozen fish, fish heads and supermarket items that “we don’t need at all or that we can produce better in Nigeria.The company, which has in­vestments worth over $150 mil­lion and a workforce of over 2,000, said it has been producing below 20 percent of its installed capacity since its inception because of the failure of some government agen­cies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of In­dustry, Trade and Investment and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to live up to their re­sponsibilities.

 

Special Federal Grants for Lagos State Bill by Tinubu thrown-out...Uproar unleashed in Senate

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was left in disarray after a bill sponsored by her,which sought to establish an Act to make provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State was thrown-out, causing uproar amongst members of the Senate.While the bill was highly supported by South- West senators, those from the North, South-East and South-South rejected the bill, pointing out that it would give undue advantage to Lagos as well as set a dangerous precedence in the system.As the situation tended to get out of hand, Ekweremadu decided to stop further debate on the bill and went on to put the bill to a voice vote.He did it three times and it was rejected three times and accordingly, the bill was rejected. In the course of the debate, the bill suffered serious partisan considerations from the lawmakers, splitting the Senate along geo-political divides.The uproar was triggered by uncomplimentary comments made by the Senate Chief Whip, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, when in the course of his contribution to the debate; he described the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a “rotten pampered child.”His comments irked many senators and generated mild commotion in the chamber. Adeyeye’s comment particularly provoked deep anger in Senator Philip Aduda (FCT), forcing the Chief Whip to withdraw the statement.But the withdrawal did not douse the tension, which had degenerated into a shouting match among the senators.

Bayelsa @20:Dickson Ignores Opposition, opts for Infrastructure Dev

Despite acts of destabilisation orchestrated by members of the opposition party, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, said he would remain focused on addressing the basic challenges, particularly in the areas of education, security and critical infrastructure. He gave the assurance on the sidelines of the Independence celebrations in Yenagoa, where he also decried the activities of some political actors in the state to discredit his administration for selfish reasons.Dickson cited instances, where such politicians "collude with detractors to

Just In:Operation Delta Safe Repels Militant Group, Bakassi Strike Force in Akpabuyo-Cross Rivers State

In line with the mandate of 'Operation Delta Safe' to protect oil and gas infrastructure and deter/prevent militancy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other forms of criminality within the Niger Delta region. Troops of Sector 4 Operation Delta Safe deployed at Efut Isighi at about 1:00am on 30 September 2016 engaged the Bakassi Strike Force in gun battle that lasted for more than 2 hours. The militants who were in military camouflage uniforms carrying charms and amulets were spotted at Ekpere Effiong creek in Akpabuyo during a special operation by own troops. See more photos after cut....The operation led to the killing of 7 members of Bakassi Strike force militants and

Edo Guber Poll:As APC Godwin Obaseki celebrate Victory, PDP's Izeyamu rejects result...Party calls for Eriyo Arrest

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki has been returned winner of the Edo governorship election held Wednesday.Immediately the final result was declared at about 4:30 pm, people took to the streets with brooms celebrating the APC and Obaseki’s victory.After his acceptance speech, Obaseki left to join the people in celebration at the ring road round about, Benin City.He polled 319,483 votes representing a little over 50 percent of the 613,244 votes cast.Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 253 172 votes to come second. Meanwhile, the PDP candidate Ize-Iyamu has described the outcome as a ‘sham’ saying it did not reflect the huge turnout of voters in the state.He alleged that the result of the election was written at the State government house in Benin, ahead of the election, with connivance of some INEC officials and the security agencies. Also, Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the PDP has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to order the arrest of one Mr. Osakpanwam Eriyo.The committee in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye alleged that Eriyo a partisan of Governor Adams Oshiomhole had invaded Oredo Local Government Area with his team during the collation of results, forcefully removing all the result sheets for the area. 

Female Victims of Boko Haram Terror Sell body in exchange for Food at North-East IDP Camps!!

After the diversion of money meant for feeding IDP's by officials, many women in internally dis­placed persons camps in northeast Nigeria, have now resorted to selling sex in exchange for food, soap, and money, says Thomson Reuters Foundation.Tired of watching her five children go hungry in a camp for people flee­ing Boko Haram in north­eastern Nigeria, Amina Ali Pulka decided to befriend a young man who worked in the kitchen.Desperate due to the lack of aid distributed at the Bakassi camp in the city of Maiduguri, the 30-year-old had sex with the man in ex­change for extra food to give to her children.Aid agencies have warned of starvation, malnutrition and dwindling food supplies for the displaced in Borno State.“At times, the food is not enough so the women re­sort to giving themselves for food and money,” said Hassana Pindar of the IMC, which runs support centres for women in the camps.In addition to mothers desperate to provide for their children, many teenage girls in Bakassi camp are sleep­ing with men in exchange for food, said IMC volunteer Fatima Alhaji. Recall, hundreds of IDP's in North-East camps recently protested over the scarcity of food and deliberate neglect by officials, asking President Buhari to deal decisively with those found culpable.

Edo Guber Election:There were Votes for Cash & Cash for Votes....Says TMG

On Wednesday, September 28, 2016, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) deployed 100 citizen observers throughout the Edo State to observe the gubernatorial election. TMG Observers were deployed across the 18 local government areas (LGAs) of Edo State.  TMG observers witnessed the entire Election Day process from setup of the polling unit through the announcement and posting of the official results. Accordingly, TMG observers called the Information Center to report their observation findings at the end of the exercise. Summary of findings...

Oops!!Parts of Abuja to go without Water as board proceed with maintenace Operation

The FCT Water Board has advised residents of parts of the territory to store water as the board would shut down water supply to carry out repairs on some facility within the territory.Mallam Hdu Bello, Director FCT Water Board, who made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the maintenance work would last for two days.He said that the board decided to carry out maintenance work following report it received of damage of some pipes within the territory.He listed the affected areas to include Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Airport road and residents within the National Open University.Bello said that the board would shut down water supply to residents of these areas to facilitate the repair.

$15M?Protesters storm Lagos Court against Media Trial of Ex First Lady,Patience Jonathan

Some group of protesters under the umbrella of Association of Media Professionals Against Corruption and Instability on Tuesday morning stormed the Federal High Court Lagos to protest against what they described as media trial of Patience Jonathan, a former first lady of Nigeria.They stated their support for the fight against corruption but rejected EFCC and Buhari's Selective Approach.The protest is taking place at a time the court is sitting on the matter involving a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, who is being arraigned before Justice Babs Kuawumi over another 17 counts charge preferred against him by the EFCC.Dudafa is also currently facing N5.1b alleged fraud alongside two other people.He is also facing another charge over alleged $15m fraud.But the former first lady had since claimed that the $15m belongs to her.

Drama:APC dolls out free local delicay 'Akara' in bid to woo Voters as Guber Elections holds Wednesday

Riding on the back of Recession bedeviling Nigeria, the ruling party APC has hilariously figured out a new strategy to woo voters ahead of edo State Guber Election, as they have set up free  'Akara' collection points around the state for intending Voters. It was reported that, the APC is said to be giving out free bean cake at strategic locations to citizens across the state.

Pipelines will go 'Boom' if our conditions are not met,Warns Undocumented ND Ex Militants

Ex-militants in the Niger Delta region under the aegis of Undocumented Third Phase Ex-Agitators have threatened to shut operations of major oil companies in the area if the Federal Government fails to include them into the ongoing amnesty programme. In a statement by Gen. Prince Eyeyon, leader of the group, they expressed dissatisfaction over the level of suffering and hardship they have gone through since they embraced peace and surrendered their arms and weapons to the Federal Government under the third phase of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.They explained that on August 27, 2011, Kinsley Kuku, former coordinator of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme, documented them but only paid some of them and left others unpaid.The group alleged that the process of their documentation by Kingsley Kuku, the former coordinator, and Brig. Gen Paul Boro (rtd), present Federal Government Amnesty Director, was unacceptable, adding that they had exhausted all avenues for their names to be documented to collect their stipends as directed by the Federal Government but have not received a dime.“We request for the immediate documentation of all the undocumented ex-agitators of the Third Phase of the Niger Delta Ex-Militants. We must undergo skill acquisition programme and receive full payment of all our monthly allowances from August 2011 to date, else we would be forced to shut down operations of major oil firms in the Niger Delta region,” the statement added.

Change?Naira falls to all time low against Dollar @ N445 to $1

The Naira yesterday fell further against the dollar, as it exchanged for a record low at N445 per dollar in the parallel market.With inflation running at 17.6 percent and oil trading $46 per barrel, acute shortage of foreign exchange has taken its toll on the currency.Traders said that speculators and strong demand from parents buying dollars to pay school fees abroad are putting pressure on the Nigerian currency, though the president of the association of bureau de change operators, Aminu Gwadabe, said the rate is not a true reflection of the market.“The market is being driven by speculators who are taking advantage of the poor implementation of central bank policy requiring banks to sell dollars to bureau de change operators to ease pressure in the market,” Gwadabe told Reuters, adding that most commercial lenders are reluctant to comply with the directive.The central bank’s instruction accompanied its licensing of 11 new international money transfer operators last month in its efforts to boost dollar supply.The Naira exchange rate on the official interbank market was flat at 305 to the dollar.

#Edodecides:INEC,Police state readiness for Guber Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigeria Police have declared their readiness for the rescheduled governor­ship election in Edo State holding tomorrow.The police said that it had deployed 25,000 officers in Edo and restricted vehicu­lar movements during the election.The movement restric­tion is with effect from mid­night of Tuesday to 6pm on Wednesday except for vehicles on essential duties.The Force Public Rela­tions Officer, Mr Don N. Awunah, noted that secu­rity measures have been taken to ensure hitch-free election, adding that the police officers were drawn from various tactical teams, including mobile force and counter terrorism unit.The others are the Explo­sive Ordinance Disposal, Special Protection, and Ma­rine Units as well as Police Air wing.Awunah said in a state­ment released in Abuja on Monday that police helicopters, gun boats, Ar­moured Personnel Carri­ers, police dogs and tech­nical platforms would be deployed.

Legendary Goalie,Peter Rufai ditches retirment for Celebrity football match

Nigerian football legend Peter Rufai came out of retirement to join the likes of Victor Agali, Victor Ikpeba and more in the Winihin Jemide Series Legend edition celebrity football match against Nigeria entertainment top shots.The 53-year-old, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, kept a clean slate and made series of breathtaking saves that fans want him back in the Super Eagles.If wishes were horses, Rufai might be wearing his gloves once again for the three-time African champions who begin their quest for a place in Russia 2018 Fifa World Cup against Zambia in October.