Mohammed Barkindo Appointed As OPEC Secretary-General

A former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Barkindo, has been appointed as the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). He replaces Libya’s Abdalla El-Badri, who had completed full terms. Barkindo was the NNPC GMD from 2009 to 2010. He has also been an acting Secretary-General of OPEC in 2006. The Federal Government nominated Barkindo for the position citing his qualification and experience.

FG Scraps Post-ume b

Pegs cut-off at 180

The Federal Government Thursday scrapped the conduct of post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into higher institution.
The government explained that all tertiary institutions were at liberty to conduct screening for candidates seeking admission into any school.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said this on Thursday in Abuja after declaring open the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.

19-Year-Old Wizkid Impersonator, Ifeoma Nelly Pictured

We have been able to lay our hands on the alleged photo of 19 year old Wizkid impersonator, Ifeoma Nelly who was able to dupe unsuspecting Wizkid fans, both home and abroad of several millions of naira. Police say Miss Ifeoma, who is a 200 level student of Industrial Chemistry in Delta state university (DELSU) sported a low cut, talked and dressed like a man. It took them time before they were able to believe that she was female. She was set up at a hotel where she came to collect part payment of 25 thousand dollars from some Australians who wanted to feature Wizkid on a show in their country. When she stepped in with her companions, they swooped in on her and arrested the teen scammer. Before then she had been posing on Facebook as Wizkid. She even registered her number as the singer and was able to successfully dupe people of almost 13 million naira. Imagine, just 19 years old and already so criminally minded.

Ogoni Clean-up: Jonathan Made A Mistake – Traditional Ruler

The President of the Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa has declared that former President, Goodluck Jonathan made a terrible “mistake” for ignoring the UNEP report.
The paramount ruler of the Ogoni kingdom, King Giniwa said this while making his remark during the launch of the Ogoni clean-up programme held in Gokana Local government area of Rivers state.

While describing Jonathan as an easy-going man, the Paramount ruler expressed shock that Ogonis were neglected during his administration.

Fani-kayode Still In Custody For Fresh Allegation – EFCC

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said on Thursday that it was investigating the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2015 election, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, for fresh allegation.

The anti-agency said the fresh allegation was different from the case of the N800m which the former Minister of Aviation allegedly received as campaign fund from the $2.1bn meant for procurement of arms.

On the Road to Raqqa

  The road to Raqqa, capital of the phony ISIS/ISIL/Daesh “Caliphate”, will continue to be a riddle wrapped inside an enigma at least until the US Presidential elections. Let’s examine why.

by Pepe Escobar for Sputnik news

The loose combo known as Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish YPG alongside its women’s brigade, the YPJ, are trying to advance against Daesh north and now also west of Raqqa.The key target is Tabqa, west of Raqqa. Tabqa is crucial because it links Raqqa with Daesh positions near Aleppo — where an embryonic Mother of All Battles is gearing up. Conquering Taqba itself will be no mean feat as it implies the SDF forces crossing the Euphrates River, which happens to be a red line imposed by Turkey’s Sultan Erdogan.

Russia Not Afraid to Defend Arctic Region From Prying NATO Powers

Russia is strengthening the defense of its sector of the Arctic by developing an Arctic version of its Tor missile defense system, and reports suggest that a ‘family’ of high-pass armored vehicles is also under development. Speaking to Sputnik, a military expert argues that these measures are a direct response to NATO actions in the region.

An Arctic version of the missile system for surface-to-air defense, Tor, is set to enter testing in Autumn 2016, a representative of the manufacturer, Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, part of Russia’s Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer, told the Russian media.

Syrian Army is Getting Ready for a Triumph Similar to Liberation of Palmyra

The Syrian Army plans to advance on the city of Deir ez-Zor in the country’s east, the last large Syrian city completely blocked by Daesh jihadists. In its analysis of the upcoming operation, Russian online newspaper Vzglyad says the success of the operation in Deir ez-Zor may be seen in the same light as the liberation of Palmyra.

Russian Military Receiving New Improved Combat Air-to-Air Missiles

According to the general director of the Duks designing company, Russia’s new short-range maneuverable combat air-to-air missiles based on the R-73 short-range missile have begun being delivered to the military.


– Russia’s new short-range maneuverable combat air-to-air missiles based on the R-73 short-range missile have begun being delivered to the military, the general director of the Duks designing company told Sputnik.
“Deliveries have begun,” Yuri Klishin said.

Lithuania, Poland NATO Drills Aimed at Rising Tensions on Russian Border

Russian Foreign Ministry opposes Lithuania and Poland NATO’s military exercises and states that they can destabilize regional situation.


NATO’s military exercises in Lithuania and Poland destabilize the situation in the region and have the goal of continuing the aggravation of tensions along the Russian border, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said Thursday.

Nigeria Plans to Boost Oil Production to 2.2Mln Barrels Per Day by Year-End

Nigeria plans to increase its oil production to 2.2 million barrels per day until the end of 2016, Oil Minister Emmanuel Kachikwu said Thursday.

— Nigeria plans to increase its oil production from the current level of 1.6 million barrels per day up to 2.2 million barrels per day until the end of 2016, Oil Minister Emmanuel Kachikwu said Thursday.

The End of M.A.D. — The Beginning of Madness

by Eric Zuesse

John Helmer, who explains military-strategic matters better and more knowledgeably than just about anyone, headlined on May 30th, “The Red Line Crossed, In the Cross-Hairs, At Trigger Point”, and he opened:

First there was the red-line announcement. On Friday [May 27th] in Athens there was the cross-hairs statement. By the month of October, the month before the US presidential election, there will be the trigger point.

The US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies are going to war with Russia, accelerating the inevitability that Russia will strike in self-defence. This is what the first and second statements by President Vladimir Putin warn. There will be no statement of warning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Joint press conference of with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras

Following the Russian-Greek talks, Vladimir Putin and Alexis Tsipras made a joint statement for the press.

May 27, 2016  Athens

kremlin.ru

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras (retranslated): I would like to welcome once again President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. President Putin’s visit today after so many years concludes a series of contacts and meetings at the highest level that took place over the last year and that mark a new beginning in our bilateral relations.

Man allegedly Defrauds Money-seeking Lagos Banker Of N2.5m (photo)

Samson Folarin

A herbalist, Seye Olufokunbi, has narrated how he defrauded a Lagos banker, identified simply as Lekan, of N2.5m.

The 33-year-old said he told Lekan, who worked in one of the banks on the Victoria Island, that the money was for a special soap.

Obiano Visits Site Of Building Collapse Where 1 Person Died In Anambra. Photos

Governor Willie Obiano visited Agba, Ekwulobia in Aguata local government area in Anambra state where a 2-storey building reportedly in the plastering stage collapsed yesterday morning killing one person.

Obiano while sympathising with Ndi Ekwulobia frowned at the incessant building collapse and charged the State Emergency Management Agency led by Sir Paul Odenigbo to intensify excavation works to see if anyone could be saved.

Lagos Syndicate Produces Fake Naira Notes (photo)

Olaleye Aluko

Two men who are allegedly members of a syndicate that produces fake naira notes have been arrested by the police on Oluwakemi Street, in the Ojodu Abiodun area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects – Hope Ihesiaba and his brother, Ifeanyi – were arrested by the Isheri Police Division on Saturday.

Our correspondent learnt that the police were tipped-off by a woman, who sold foodstuffs in the area, that the suspects spent fake N1,000 notes and the operatives moved in on the duo.

Teenage Girl Poses As Wizkid, Defrauds Victims Of N10.4m

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, yesterday said a 19-year-old girl, who, for long, had been posing as Music star, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun fondly called Wizkid, on social media, had been arrested.

The teenager, whose name the commissioner did not mention, was said to have duped many people, including students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), before she was arrested. Among her victims were also two people living overseas. The money was over $53,000, equivalent of about N10.4 million.

Allow EFCC Prosecute APC Members Accused Of Corruption – Okogie Tells Buhari

Archbishop Emeritus, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to ridding the country of corruption.

Okogie praised Buhari in Lagos on Tuesday at a news conference organised as part of activities to mark his 80 years birthday celebration and 50 years priestly ordination anniversary.

“I want to commend the president for his commitment to clean the polity.

Snake Bites Kill 27 In Taraba

No fewer than 27 persons have been confirmed dead in Donga Local Government Council of Taraba state. The deaths are due to various degrees of injuries sustained from snake bites ravaging the area
Hospitals and herbal homes, are battling to save the lives of several other persons affected by the attack

Donga Local Government Council area in Taraba state has been hit by snakes bites which has so far killed 27 persons, while others lie critically ill in hospitals and herbal homes. Confirming the report, the Councillor representing Suntai Ward, Filibuster Sambo, said efforts to rescue the victims failed as both the traditional and orthodox medications are not helping matters.

Sidechic Gets Bathed With Acid In Abuja By Man's Wife

Few days after the incident of a sidechic calling out her man's wife on Facebook for lack of sex skills, a more physical incident involving a sidechic has occurred in Abuja.
26-year-old Jamila Musa said she was bathes by acid by her man's wife on Sunday 29th May 2016. She is currently battling to save her sight at Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja.

Wike Plans To Sponsor Protests Against President Buhari's Visit To Ogoni - Apc

Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has concluded plans to sponsor members of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, thugs and hoodlums to protest and disrupt the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Rivers State to flag off the UNEP cleanup of Ogoniland on Thursday, 2nd June, 2016.

CCT Trial: Tribunal Adjourns Saraki's Case Indefinitely..

By Seun Opejob

The trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki which was expected to hold today at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, will no longer hold as the tribunal has adjourned the matter till a yet-to-be disclosed date.
Disclosing this on Wednesday, the spokesman of the tribunal, Ibrahim Alhassan said the shift to an undisclosed date was at the instance of the prosecution.

I’ll Do Everything Necessary To Secure Oil Facilities In Niger Delta — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do everything necessary to secure oil facilities and other government assets in the Niger Delta region.

The president gave the assurance during the democracy day lecture organised yesterday being Tuesday in Abuja by the Save Democracy Group Africa, to mark the 2016 democracy day.
The theme of the lecture is, the Change Agenda and Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy.

Buhari Inherited Burden From Jonathan, Says Soyinka

NOBEL laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has said it would take time for President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the rot he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration, he believed, left a “heavy baggage” and “burden” that may take a while to tackle.
But, the playwright urged President to sustain efforts at improving the economy. He spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The literary icon was scheduled to speak at a public lecture on the theme: Politics, Culture and the New Africa.

“Hero of the Ukraine” Nadezhda Savchenko addresses the Rada

Interesting footage today.  The “Hero of the Ukraine” Nadezhda Savchenko made her first speech before the Ukrainian Rada.  She was introduced by another bona fide Nazi, Andrei Parubii, the new Speaker of the Rada and #2 in the Ukie Banderastan.  I don’t know if that comes across to a non-Ukrainian speaker, but Parubii sounds, how shall I put it, not too bright.