Ministerial Screening: Senate Has Power To Set Conditions – Presidency

With just four days to the Tuesday date for the screening and possible confirmation of the ministerial nominees, the Presidency has said the Senate is empowered by the constitution to set its criteria and conditions for the screening of prospective ministers.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, stated this on Friday while speaking with reporters in Abuja.
The Senate has set October 13, 14 and 15 as the dates for screening of 21 ministerial nominees submitted to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘Cholesterol In Egg Prevents Heart Disease, Breast Cancer’

Stakeholders in poultry farming on Friday gathered to mark the World Egg Day to promote consumption of one-egg-per-day, saying cholesterol in egg prevents heart disease, breast cancer.
The stakeholders which include: farmers, students, markets and egg merchants expressed the believe that that an egg has many nutritional benefits like protein, vitamins, and cholesterol, which can reduce the risks of heart diseases.

Ministerial Slot: S/South APC Backs Amaechi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South South region has thrown its weight behind the nomination of the former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as minister despite opposition from the PDP led government in the state.
The National Vice Chairman in charge of the zone, Prince Hilliard Eta said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, the party said despite opposition from some of the senators from the state and the state governor, Nyesom Wike, it will stand solidly behind the governor to become a Minister.

Enyeama’s Retirement Sad – Oliseh

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has said Vincent Enyeama’s retirement from the national team is very sad, as he finally opened up on the incidents that have shaken the Super Eagles since Tuesday.
Enyeama, the country’s most capped player, announced his retirement via Instagram on Thursday after alleging insults to his mother as well as being thrown out of the national camp by hotel security in Verviers, Belgium.

No Rift Between Buhari, Saraki – Enang

The Senior Special Assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters ( Senate ), Senator Ita Enang, declared on Friday that there was no rift between the leadership of the National Assembly and his principal.

Enang who spoke with journalists in his office, said the fact that the president and the leadership of the National Assembly led by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had a fruitful deliberation at the presidential villa recently showed that there was no ‘war’ between them.
He said,

Subsidy Making Us Run At A Loss, Says NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed that it is running at a loss due to unrealized subsidy claims.
The government-run corporation in its August 2015 report revealed that it ran at a loss in July and August, losing N51.71bn and N60.67bn respectively.
The NNPC said the “monthly operational report is one of the initiatives of the corporation in its on-going restructuring efforts to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in the conduct of its business”.

Fuel Subsidies ‘Must End’, Says World Bank

Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank has called on world leaders to put an end to fossil fuel subsidies.
The president who spoke at the at the opening press conference of the 2015 World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Lima, Peru, said to earnestly combat climate change, fuel subsidies must go.
“Climate change affects every nation and every person, but it hits poor people the hardest. The world must cut emissions and invest in greater resilience now,” he said.

George Dissociates Self From Former Sure-P Employees’ Grievances

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George has dissociated himself from the grievances of former Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Sure-P employees describing the publication that linked him with their grievances as outrageous, cruel and outrightly libelous.
Speaking with journalists, George said ‘“it is a wild thrashing in the wind, a desperate grasping for scapegoat. But this idiocy will never work”.

Buhari’s Government Is Nigeria’s Opportunity To Make Progress – Britain

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday explained why his administration was determined to end the Boko Haram insurgency as quickly as possible.
He said significant improvements in national security remained the topmost priority of his administration because other socio-economic initiatives cannot be successfully implemented without adequate security in the country.


According to the special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the president said this at an audience with Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, who paid him a visit at Aso Rock, Abuja.

Photos: Another trailer with container falls in Lagos

This happened at Ijora bus stop this morning. More photos after the jump

I Was Hired to Carry Out Terrorist Attack - Bangkok Shrine Bomber (Photo)

Adem Karadag, who carried out a deadly blast in Bangkok in August, told his lawyer he had been hired by another suspect to conduct the attack, local media reported Friday.

People line up as they leave their slippers near a wanted poster for the main suspect of a deadly bomb blast in Bangkok, Thailand, put up by local authorities at Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar August 25, 2015

Twenty people, mainly foreign tourists, were killed and 125 others were injured as the result of an attack on August 17 on the Erawan Shrine, a Hindu site in central Bangkok.

Ekiti govt warns of possible fire outbreak as petrol tanker loaded with petrol falls and spills content

The Ekiti state government has called on residents living along Osin/Itapa Ekiti axis of Ifaki - Omuo road to be cautious as a tanker loaded with petrol had an accident along that road and spilled its content into the bush it veered into. Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to Governor Ayo Fayose gave the warning in a press statement. The statement after the cut...


"A tanker carrying petrol had an accident between Osin/Itapa Ekiti axis of IFAKI - Omuo road a few hours ago. Petrol in the tanker has spilled on the bush that the tanker veered into. People living around this area should note this and avoid any act capable of igniting fire. Motorists using this road should also note.
Lere Olayinka SA Public Communications and New Media

Senate gives conditions for screening ministerial nominees

The senate at today's plenary session resolved that all ministerial nominees must have the endorsement of 2 senators from their state before they could be granted a pass during their screening.

Chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee on Media and Publicity, Dino Melaye who announced the new conditions today, said the upper legislative arm will also adopt other constitutional provisions and conventions for screening nominees.

Buhari rules out 2nd term for Lamorde

There is speculation that the tenure of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde may not be renewed after his current 4 year tenure.
According to a top Presidency source on Thursday, President Buhari would not renew Lamorde’s tenure after it expires..

Woman enters guilty plea in death of newborn son at work

Remember the Detroit lady who gave birth in a restroom at her work, stuffed her new born son into a plastic bag and left his dead body at her desk? Well, the 26-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her newborn son. The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Kimberly Pappas entered the plea Wednesday during a court conference. It comes with a sentencing agreement of 9 to 20 years in prison. Police say the baby was discovered on March 31 at Pappas' desk, shortly after his birth in the restroom of a Redford Township business. The cause of death was suffocation. Pappas, of Wyandotte, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 26 in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Wife stabs police husband to death

A woman, Wunmi Omowa, allegedly stabbed her police husband, Israel, to death during an altercation at the Olu Foam area of Akure, Ondo State. A police source said the couple had a misunderstanding which turned into a fight. The inspector’s wife allegedly rushed to the kitchen and returned with a knife which she stabbed her husband in the neck with. According to reports, she realsied what she had done, ran out to neighbours screaming for help, however, the victim died on his way to the hospital due to immense loss of blood. A neighbour, said nobody knew the cause of the fight. He added:“Wunmi must have stabbed her husband in the neck to avenge the beating she got from the deceased on the fateful day because she had bruises on her face. “She called us to help her rush the deceased to a private hospital, but he eventually died. The Police was contacted and Omowa was subsequently arrested for murder. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, explained that the deceased died as a result of loss of blood. Joseph said the late Inspector was attached to the Mopol 17 of the Mobile Police Force in Akure and was a member of the Fast Strike Squad on routine patrol in the state. The PPRO said, “We have commenced investigation into the death, while the suspect has been arrested.”

Photos: Nigerian Army confirms attack on military base in Gaidam, reinforces troops

A statement from the Directorate of Army Public Relations signed by its acting director, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman on Thursday, October 8, confirmed the attack on a military base on Wednesday, October 7, which left three soldiers dead. The statement below:
The Nigerian Army wishes to confirm an attack on Sector 1 of 27 Task Force Brigade located at Gaidam, Yobe State, yesterday Wednesday evening. The attack was successfully repelled by the troops and the reinforcement sent.

EFCC arrests 2 men with 556 ATM cards and travellers’ cheques

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, has arrested 2 men identified as Jonathan Odu Isikwei and Paschal Onuora Udeh with 108 ATM cards and 448 travelers' cheques.
Jonathan Odu Isikwei was found with 448 travelers’ cheques, while Pascal Onuora Udeh, 34, was arrested with 108 ATM cards on his way to China.

Alleged child abuse incident

According to Instagram user - mikanodemaria, who tagged @LindaIkejiOnline on Instagram, he witnessed a very young girl being used for hard labour by her relative. According to him, 'I saw a 5year old girl who was forced to carry this heavy thing. Please if you know her parents tell them her aunty is killing her in PH. They should come and get their daughter'

Remi Tinubu Finally Addresses Saraki As ‘Distinguished Senate President’

A Former Lagos First Lady and Wife of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has addressed Dr. Bukola Saraki as “distinguished Senate President.”This happened when she stood at Thursday’s plenary to speak for the first time at the eighth Senate.

The Tinubus are widely believed not to support the emergence of Saraki as senate president in June, and the defeat of Ahmed Lawan whom the APC hierarchy supported for the exalted position. During her swearing in into the eighth Senate, the former Lagos First Lady was reported to have refused to shake hands with Saraki who shook hands with the other senators sworn in along with her.
The new development may be a signal of new things following the bitter upset the ruling party’s leadership endured over the refusal of Saraki to toe party’s directive in the election of senate leadership.

New Hurdle For Amaechi, Fashola As Senate Rules That Two Senators Must Endorse Each Nominee

Every ministerial nominee must be endorsed by at least two senators from their state, the senate ruled on Thursday after deliberating on the procedures for the screening which commences on Tuesday.
Except there is last-minute realignment of forces, some of the ministerial nominees may not scale through.
Rotimi Amaechi (pictured), former governor of Rivers state, has been openly antagonised by the three PDP senators from his.
It is also believed that Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos state, may be affected by the proviso, which is not new but had been used in the past to disqualify certain nominees.
Fashola is not thought to be a nominee of Bola Tinubu whom the three APC senators from Lagos state are loyal to.

Wike In ‘Last Ditch Effort’ To Stop Me, Says Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, says Nyesom Wike, his successor, is trying all within his powers to stop him from becoming a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
Denying the allegation that N53 billion got missing from the state’s treasury under him, Amaechi described the panel which Wike mandated to investigate him as “invidious”.
Wike received the report of the commission on Wednesday and promised to effect its recommendations “immediately”.

UK Offers To Assist Nigeria Tackle Boko Haram

The United Kingdom has offered to further assist Nigeria in its quest to end the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect by December.  The British Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Nicholas Houghton, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday shortly after a closed-door meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Houghton said he was sent by his government because the United Kingdom shares an interesting security situation with Nigeria.

Blatter Says FIFA Ethics Committee Did Not Follow Code On Suspension

FIFA President Joseph Blatter on Thursday said he was not given an opportunity to be heard by the organisation’s Ethics Committee before it provisionally suspended him for 90 days.
“Blatter is disappointed the Ethics Committee did not follow the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,’’ Blatter’s lawyers, Lorenz Erni and Richard Cullen, said in a written statement.

You Leave As A Hero – Enyeama’s Wife Back His Decision To Quit Super Eagles

Wife of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Promise Enyeama, has taken to Instagram to support her husband, after he announced his decision to quit international football on Thursday.
Vincent had a bust-up with coach Sunday Oliseh this week, after he arrived at the Eagles camp in Belgium.

The Lille shot-stopper was permitted to report late, following the burial of his late mother in Akwa Ibom. When he tried to explain during dinner, Oliseh reportedly ordered him to sit down.
There was an exchange of words and Oliseh called security officials to throw him out.
Although the NFF intervened in the situation and Enyeama stayed back, he has now decided to quit international football.

Supreme Court Favours Kagame’s 3rd Term Bid

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Rwanda’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of President Paul Kagame third term bid, dismissing the suit of the main opposition party, which sought to prevent changes in the constitution.
Following the report of a nationwide consultation which started on July 20, 2015, 24 senators unanimously voted for an amendment of the nation’s constitution to allow Kagame run a third term.
The report, which was presented in August, said only 10 Rwandans opposed the removal of the constitutional term limit.

Buhari Chose Quality Hands As Ministers – Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent nomination of ministers, whom he described as “quality hands” needed by the country to achieve its desires.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at an event to launch an autobiography, ‘This is My Life: The Journey So Far,’ written by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Emmanuel Emovon, said, “People may have political issues but in terms of the quality of those people, I have not seen any of them that anybody can dismiss as not worthy of his nomination.

Fasehun Asks Yoruba To Confront Fulani Herdsmen

Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Frederick Fasehun, has described the destruction of Chief Olu Falae’s farm in Akure by cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen as an embarrassment to the Yoruba race, while also calling on the people of Yorubaland to defend their territories.
The farm of Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was destroyed barely two weeks after the herdsmen kidnapped him and detained him in the bush until a ransom was paid, releasing after four days.

Breaking: Lionel Messi To Stand Trial For Tax Fraud In Spain

Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi and his father Jorge are to stand trial on three counts of tax fraud that could carry prison sentences, a Spanish court confirmed on Thursday. In a court filing, the judge in charge of the case rejected a request by the public prosecutor to try only the footballer’s father.

EXCLUSIVE: Dogara-Led House Ranks “Juicy” Committees As Reps Scramble For Them

Members of the House of Representatives are intensifying their lobby for what they consider lucrative House committee positions, ahead of an announcement of committee membership by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
Barring any last minute change, Mr. Dogara will announce 95 House committees, and will appoint same number of chairpersons and deputies — the highest number yet in the history of the National Assembly — in what is seen as an attempt to ensure the committees go round the House’s 360 members.