Moulders increase block prices by between 11% and over 30%

The new price regime for blocks is expected to come into effect immediately after the moulders call off their 5-day strike today. They went on strike following the recent increase in the prices of cement from N1,500 to between N2,400 and N2,500.

The moulders suspended operation the previous day to protest the latest increase in the prices of cement, granite and other construction materials, with a hint of their plan to raise the prices of blocks unless the prices of cement and other moulding materials were reversed.

Washington 'Does Not Plan to Give Turkey Full Control' Over Raqqa Operation

The United States will not carry out a ground operation in Raqqa without Turkey's involvement, but Washington "does not intend to give Ankara full control over such an offensive," Turkish MP Mithat Sancar of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) told Sputnik.

The latest development in northern Syria

By Aram Mirzaei

With Multiple interventions and multiple offensives, the situation in northern Syria is messy to say the least. There are several frontlines with different parties struggling for the same piece of territory.

Thieves Rob Drake Carting Away Jewelry Worth Around $3m

 Drake goes ballistic after thieves robbed his tour bus, carting away jewelry worth around $3m

Drake was performing at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, last night, when a thief or thieves made it into one of his tour buses and stole a briefcase that contained millions of dollars in jewelry, TMZ reports. The rapper was super upset when he learned about the incident.

Man Arrested In Ghana For Forging Chief Of Staff’s Signature To Dupe Investor

38-year-old Dennis Ndukwu is in the grips of the Osu District Police Command for posing as the secretary of Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to defraud a foreign investor, Le Van Khiem, to the tune of $150,000.

Protesters Storm UN Office In Abuja

Some protesters on Monday, September 5, stormed the United Nations office in Abuja. The protesters under the aegis of ‎Center for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), a civil society organization said it was out to the Un of possible plans by Amnesty International to colonise Nigeria again. The group in their scores while delivering a petition to the UN said Nigeria can solve its problems.

EFCC Arrests Ministry Of Environment Staff For Fraud

The long arm of the EFCC has caught up with a serial fraudster named Tariah Otumba Fred, a staff of the Federal ministry of environment, Bayelsa state.

Fred is said to be a notorious fraudster and heads a syndicate that specializes in in forgery, extortion, obtaining money under false pretence, impersonation and other fraudulent activities.

Killer Of Corper Onuh, Arrested By SARS In Bayelsa State

Killer of Corper Onuh, Arrested by SARS, Bayelsa State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Bayelsa Police Command today Monday paraded a notorious cultist and killer known as Fela over his alleged involvement in the June 2016 killing of James Onuh, a Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, in Obele, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. Fela, the suspected killer was also indicted in another killing which took place earlier this year also in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. One source claimed Fela was lured out of hiding out by men of the Anti-Robbery Squad of the Police. ‎When contacted on the development, the spokesman of the State Police Command, Asimin Butwat, said the matter is undergoing further investigation. "Though I can not yet confirm the details, Fela was the one who killed the Corper," the spokesman stated. It would be recalled that Mr. Onuh, a NYSC member serving with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Works, was in June killed by gunmen in Obele, Bayelsa State. Mr. Onuh, a civil engineering graduate of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, died when gunmen, suspected to be cultists, accosted him close to his residence and shot him at close range.

Cross River's Fraud Specialist Arrested (pic)

 Police Arrest Man Who Specializes In Scamming And Defrauding People In Cross River State (Pics)

By Ifere Paul,

The police in Calabar has bursted a ring of hardened criminals who specializes in scamming and defrauding people in Cross River State, Brainnews NG gathers.

The ring leader, one Mr EFFIONG NSA EFFIONG has been collecting over 35-40 thousand naira from unsuspecting public.

Oil Swap: Cracks In FG’s Direct Sale Of Refineries’ Crude

Cracks have emerged in the direct-sale purchase contracts for refineries crude between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the refiner-contractors, threatening the $1billion revenue targeted by government.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that the arrangement, which government entered into in February, began to have issues in July with considerable improvement in refineries’ efficiency.

Teenagers Arrested In Lagos For Kidnapping Expatriates, Oil Theft (photo)

Olaleye Aluko and Adewale Ogungbemi

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four teenagers for alleged involvement in oil theft and the abduction of two expatriates in the Epe and Igando area of the state.

Our correspondents learnt that the four suspects – Michael Loko, 19; Oluwatomi Obosi, 19; Francis Cyprian, 19; and Olatoye Semiu, 18 – were nabbed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

Ambode seeks redeployment of some Task Force officers

Some Lagos State Task Force officials harassed, assaulted & detained some men and women in the early hours of September 3rd, in Lekki, Victoria Island and other places on the Island in Lagos State. These young Nigerians suffered from what can be described as a shocking abuse of power.

Cally Air: Cross River Floats Airline

As part of its tourism investment drive, the Cross River State government has concluded plans to float an airline.

Governor Ben Ayade revealed this in Calabar when he hosted a consortium of Indian investors.

According to him, the airline to be called Cally Air would be managed by Dana Group under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Cancel Primary Election In Ondo - APC Leaders

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have called for the cancellation of the party’s primary held last Saturday in Akure.

The leaders made the demand in a petition to the chairman of the Election Appeal Committee.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), emerged the winner of the election to pick the party’s ticket for the November 26 governorship poll.

Made in China G20 and its geoeconomic significance

by Pepe Escobar for RT

What has just taken place in Hangzhou, China, is of immense geoeconomic importance. Beijing from the start treated the G20 very seriously; this was designed as China’s party, not the declining West’s. And much less Washington’s.

Iran’s Leader issues message on 2016 Hajj pilgrimage

(Saker note: note the *very* harsh words of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei against the Saudi Wahabis)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most MercifulAnd all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and Allah’s greetings be upon our Master, Muhammad (PBUH), and upon his Immaculate Household and chosen companions and upon those who follow them rightfully until the Day of Judgment.

Herdsmen Turn National Stadium , Abuja To Grazing Reserve

Itinerant herdsmen have invaded the $300 million National Stadium Complex in Abuja, turning it into a grazing reserve for their cattle. This is in spite of an existing order prohibiting open grazing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an order the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is empowered to enforce.

The herdsmen, who usually invade the stadium in groups to feed their cattle, sometimes overwhelm the stadium security officials who try to stop them from their activities, especially at the Package B section of the stadium.

Surviving Airlines Are Only Doing National Service Due To Govt Policies – Arik

Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, chairman of Arik Air, one of Nigeria’s surviving airline, says the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) do not favour local airlines.

Arumemi-Ikhide, who prides himself as the founder of West Africa’s largest airline, also said Nigerian airlines “are just offering national service”, stating that the fares are the lowest in the world.

Ubi Franklin partners with GSR to sign a PPA with the Cross River State government .

 A Power Purchase Agreement has been reached between the Cross River State government and GSR-Gesellschaft für strategische Risikofinanzierung mbH in partnership with SIJ Global and MMMG boss, Ubi Franklin.

The agreement is for the finance, construction, operation and transfer of 10 photovoltaic plants in the state under a Public Private Partnership, in line with the governor's promise to make the state become the first to have a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply across all local government areas.

Nigerians Rate Buhari Poor In Economic Management – Vanguard Poll

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

Vanguard Media online opinion poll has revealed large scale disapproval of the economic management policies by president Mohammadu Buhari, even as economists and institutional analysts clamor for policy changes.

The poll asked respondents how would they score Buhari’s government on economic management so far, on three rating scales: Fantastic; Bad; Average.

Bridging the Differences: What's Behind the Russia-US Talks on Syria

Amid the reports that Russia and the US have failed to bridge the differences on the Syrian issue at the bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, Reuters has revealed the details of a possible deal on the resolution of the ongoing conflict.

President Putin has met with his US counterpart on the sidelines of the September 4-5 G20 Summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday. Talks between US President Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin lasted longer than planned, as the two leaders discussed Syria and Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

US Congressman writes Kerry, accuses Buhari of autocratic tendencies –

The letter written by Tom Marino, a Republican, to Secretary of State, John Kerry, reads in part: “Dear Secretary Kerry, I am encouraged by the personal interest you have taken in aiding Nigeria. However, I believe there are a number of warning signs that signal “Pres. Buhari might be sliding towards former autocratic tendencies.”

Melaye urges Buhari to stop barking and start biting by sacking Adeosun, Emefiele, Udoma

In a statement today, Sen. Melaye said the President must shake up his cabinet, and accused some members of cabinet as lacking the capacity to deliver on the mandates of their ministries and agencies.

He said the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; and the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, should be axed for the economy to be effectively rebooted to deliver on the change agenda of the present administration.

I got my victim through 'come and marry' method —Suspected fraudster

Muritala Oladipupo, 37, was arrested in a mosque in Ibadan on August 28 after his victim, Mutiat Azeez, told the police that he defrauded her of N700,000 when she was deceived into believing that he was an Islamic preacher who could help her with prayers to solve spiritual problems, Tribune reports.

Girl Who Masturbated With A Fanta Bottle Commits Suicide In South Africa

According to the deceased’s boyfriend,a 21-year-old girl from Mpumalanga was left with no option but to take her own life after a video of her mastur_bating found its way to the social media without her knowledge.

The boyfriend added that the girl (name withheld) was shocked to learn of the video’s virality on Facebook after one of her friends alerted her to search a certain Facebook group where the video was being circulated.