I Never Said Fuel Scarcity Will End By April 7th - Kachikwu

Chineme Okafor in Abuja with agency report

In its bid to reduce fuel importation in the foreseeable future, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that nine companies have submitted bids for the co-location of new refineries within the complexes of its three existing refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt.

This is just at the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has clarified that he never informed the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) last Tuesday that the fuel shortages will end between April 5 and 7, but assured THISDAY in a phone conversation that concrete measures had but put in place to end them soon.

Nigeria's First 'Frozen Egg' Baby

*First in West Africa, 5,001st in the world

By Sola Ogundipe

LAGOS — Nigeria has recorded the first successful birth of a baby conceived from frozen egg of a 44-year-old woman, who had suffered infertility for eight years, making it the first in the country and West Africa.

The birth and conception of the baby, named Tiwatope, which is the 5001st in the world, were carried out by Nigerian fertility specialists at The Bridge Clinic, a Lagos-based fertility treatment centre, where the mother had her eggs frozen using the vitrification (flash-freezing) process.

Bola Tinubu: My Life As A Cab Driver And Security Guard: PM News

Many are of the opinion that former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was born right at the middle of a money-printing machine, but that is not true.

Some rumours also have it that his parents were very wealthy, so he practically worked for nothing in his life but that is also not true.

The diminutive Nigerian politician had to work his way up the ladder. He was once a cab driver and even a security guard who worked very hard to reach where he is today.

In a special publication by TheNEWS magazine, Tinubu detailed how he worked has a cab driver and a security guard. Here are excerpts from the interview.

Another Colour Revolution In Brazil: Brazilian Unrest Sign of US Maintaining its Sphere of Influence

Another colour revolution in Brazil.. BRICS countries Need permanent anti-colour revolution implimentation tactics to tackle this colour revolutions.
Russia has done it beautifully back home..

I think Brazil need an empire of over 1 million pro-goverment loyalists to counter this puppetry sponsored colour revolution.

Driver And Conductor Rape Lagos Job-Seeker (Photo)

Olaleye Aluko

The police in Lagos have arrested a commercial bus driver, identified only as Akeem, and his conductor, Sodiq, for allegedly robbing and raping a 22-year-old lady in the Costain, Iponri area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Akeem and Sodiq, along with two others still at large, had picked the victim, Mercy (pseudonym) from the Obalende area, and were supposed to head for the Victoria Island where the victim reportedly had a job interview.

Our correspondent gathered that Mercy, who hails from Otupko, Benue State, and holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education, on March 10, had been called by a friend to attend the job interview.

Stock Market Shareholders Lose N1.15trn In Q1

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which stepped into 2016 on an unfavourable note, finished the first quarter with a loss of N1.146 trillion.

Available statistics show that activities on the floor of the Exchange skewed downward, as the market, which opened high at N9.850 trillion in capitalisation and 28,642.25 in index at the beginning of trading last January, closed yesterday at N8.704 trillion and 25,306.22 index points, representing a loss of about N1.146 trillion or 11.63 per cent year to date.

Diesel Tanker Rams Into School Wall In Lagos (Photo)

A diesel tanker rammed into the walls of Corona School Gbagada, Lagos at about 10 last night. But thankfully, none of the staff or students were around when it happened. Photo credit: Nike Adeyemi

FG Declares Emergency Over Fuel Scarcity

In a desperate move to end the recurrent fuel shortages, particularly of premium motor spirit, PMS (petrol) being experienced in the country, the Federal Government has declared a state of emergency for petroleum products distribution.

This comes even as private operators in the country now have the responsibility to bring in 60 percent of the scarce commodity in the second quarter, Q2 import allocations.

A very competent source told Vanguard in confidence yesterday that for Q2, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA 44% allocation to Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA; 40% NNPC/PPMC; and the balance of 16% to Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN.

How Police Killed My 6 Months Pregnant Wife: Widower Cries Out (photo)

Widower, police bicker over woman’s death

A row has broken out between the police and the widower of an expectant mother, who died after her release from custody.

Mr Solomon Wilfred is claiming that his wife, Vivienne, who was six-week pregnant, died from “emotional stress” after her ordeal.

But the police denied that she was kept in custody, saying she was “released immediately her husband said she was pregnant and has health challenges”.

Russian Hero Who Died Liberating Palmyra Is Dad-to-Be Alexander Prokhorenko

The Russian Special Forces officer who was killed during the operation to liberate Palmyra from the Daesh terrorist group has been named as 25-year-old Alexander Prokhorenko, who ordered air forces to strike his position after he was discovered by Daesh terrorists.

Lagos Chief Severely Flogs Pregnant Bread Seller (Graphic Photo)

The police in Lagos have arrested a chief in the Ijegun area, identified only as Ajiroba, for allegedly assaulting a bread seller, Bukola Olasunkanmi, in the Isheri-Oshun area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Olasunkanmi, who was seven-month-old pregnant, was allegedly flogged several times by the chief and his thugs because she mediated in an argument involving some levy collectors and another bread seller at the Ijegun bus stop.

Olasunkanmi, who sustained injuries, was first rushed to a private hospital, and later taken to the Igando General Hospital.

Watch the Tesla Model 3 Live Debut Here

Tesla is going to unveil its new new Model 3 sedan tonight at 8:30pm PT and you can watch the reveal live. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has already said that this will be “part 1 of the Model 3 unveil,” with the second more comprehensive reveal coming closer to production.

Part 2, which takes things to “another level” says Musk, will be closer to production. So far, Tesla maintains that the car will begin production at the end of 2017.

Watch the Tesla Model 3 Reveal Live Stream Right Here

There are plenty of Model 3 rumors already circulating around the internet, including a 0 to 60 mph time of four seconds and a range of over 300 miles. So far, Tesla has only officially said that the car will cost less than $35,000 before incentives and will have a range of over 200 miles.

Protests Erupt After Minnesota Cops Who Killed Jamar Clark Not Charged

Prosecutors announced they would not press charges against two police officers involved in the shooting death of the 24-year-old unarmed African-American last year.


Clark was shot by the police on November 15, 2015, and died at Hennepin County Medical Center the following evening. Witnesses maintain that he was handcuffed when he was shot in the head above his left eye, but prosecutors determined that evidence proves Clark was not handcuffed and that he reached for an officer's gun prior to the shooting.

Rejected Erdogan Uses Private Dinner to Shame Obama Administration

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was denied a formal meeting with President Obama during his Washington visit, he was granted an audience before a number of DC think tanks and used the opportunity to bash US foreign policy.

While it was initially reported that Erdogan would not meet with Obama during his five-day visit to the US capitol for a nuclear summit, later indications were that he would conduct a face-to-face with Vice President Joe Biden. Erdogan would also meet with Obama briefly for an informal "conversation."

Russia to Answer Asymmetrically to NATO Major Build–Up in Europe

Russia will not passively watch the US and NATO build-up in Europe and will provide an asymmetrical response, which will be highly efficient, not elaborately expensive and calibrated in accordance with Russia’s understanding of the extent of the military threat, Russian envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said on Wednesday.

The comments come in response to the recent Pentagon announcement that it is readying a more robust US military presence in Eastern Europe.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon revealed its plans to position American troops, tanks and other armored vehicles full-time along NATO’s eastern borders to deter so-called "Russian aggression," in what would be the first such deployment since the end of the Cold War.

Assad's Moral Victory: How Palmyra Battle Exposed Washington's Hypocrisy

Those who repeated the "Assad must go" mantra and swore to eradicate Daesh, failed to expel the Islamist organization from Iraq and Syria in the course of a year-long operation. It is "evil" Assad who has dealt a lethal blow to the Islamic State and liberated Palmyra, Martin Berger writes.

The liberation of the historic site of Palmyra, an invaluable 'pearl of world civilizations' is the biggest victory in the fight of the Syrian government against Daesh, freelance journalist and geopolitical analyst Martin Berger writes in his recent article for New Eastern Outlook.

Berger emphasizes that the recapture of Palmyra by the Syrian Arab Army paves the way for an advance on Raqqa, the de facto capital of Daesh.

Alleged Killer of Russian Su-24 Pilot Detained in Turkey

According to Dogan News Agency, the alleged killer of the pilot of the downed Russian Su-24 flight has been detained in Turkey.  The man, who is believed to be responsible for the Russian pilot's death, is identified as Alparslan Chelik.

​According to Hurriyet newspaper, Chelik was detained Wednesday evening in Izmir. Alparslan Chelik has reportedly been fighting against the government forces in Syria.

Court orders Zuma to repay money spent on private residence

South Africa’s top court on Thursday delivered a damning verdict against President Jacob Zuma, saying he had ‘failed to uphold’ the constitution in a case over public funds spent upgrading his private residence.

Zuma “failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution as the supreme law of the land,” said Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in a ruling delivered by the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.

The court also ordered President Jacob Zuma to pay back the public funds spent upgrading his private residence, to settle the corruption scandal that has rocked the government.

Workers shut down Bristow Helicopters

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers of Nigeria, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress, on Thursday morning shut down all Bristow Helicopters’ offices in Port Harcourt to protest against what it described as the company’s discriminatory policies.

Led by NAAPEN’s Isaac Balami in company with national officials and the state Chairman of TUC, Chika Onuegbu, the demonstrators blocked the company’s plan to open operations.

Ambode orders repair of Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the State Public Works Corporation to immediately commence extensive repair work on the ever busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway so as to improve driving experience of motorists in the area.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works, Engr. Ayotunde Sodeinde, told journalists on Thursday that the Corporation has already mobilised its workers to commence work immediately on several sections of the road.

“Immediately Governor Ambode gave us the directive, we moved into the area to commence extensive work on the roads,” Sodeinde said

Declare three-year emergency on economy, group tells Buhari

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

A group, the South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria, on Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a three-year state of emergency on the nation’s economy as a matter of urgency.

The group’s President, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, made the call in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after leading a delegation to meet Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

SUBEB uncovers over 200 fake teachers in C’ River

Mudiaga Affe, Calabar
The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board has uncovered over 200 fake teachers in nine local government areas of the state.
Following the ongoing personal audit of teachers in the state by SUBEB, it was discovered that the bulk of the exposed teachers were in the nine LGAs out of the 18 council areas where the audit of teachers had been completed.
Those found culpable had fake certificates while others were ghost teachers, dead teachers whose salaries were still being drawn on monthly basis, among others.
A top official of SUBEB, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that over 200 fake teachers had been uncovered in the nine LGAs screened.

Governor Ambode abolishes monthly environmental exercise in Lagos -

Every last Saturday of each month is dedicated to a mandatory clean up of Lagos; the nation’s commercial capital and wannabe mega city.

Shops and businesses are often shuttered from 7am to 10am and vehicular movement ceases for the period.

Not any more, says Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Meet Thelma West, a 32-year-old Nigerian, the only woman in the male-dominated world of diamond business

Nigerian Thelma West is a rare gem in the diamond world as a woman in a male-dominated sector with few Africans, despite the continent being the main source of the precious rocks.

The first in her family to work in diamonds, West is used to being an outsider, having been raised in a Jewish family in a country where Jews number fewer than 50,000 out of a population of around 180 million.

Photos: Man dies from gas explosion at Niger Biscuit factory

The man pictured above, Godwin Tonte, died on Monday March 28th from severe burns he sustained after a gas explosion that occurred at his place of work at Niger Biscuit Factory located in Apapa, Lagos on Sunday March 20th. Godwin who is the only child of his parents, had gone to his duty post that morning when one of the gas in the factory exploded, which engulfed him, burning his entire body. Two others were also burnt. He was rushed to the Tincan Island Hospital in Apapa where doctors worked to save his life. He however died on Easter Monday from complications from the injury. May his soul rest in peace Amen. A photo of him in hospital before he died after the jump...