Breaking News: Singer, Banky W Loses Property to Early Morning Fire

RnB singer, Banky W, is currently battling with men of the Lagos state fire service to put off the fire that affected the property where he currently resides.

The firs was said to have started around 6am along Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, as neighbours claim the fire started due to a faulty air conditioner.

According to reports, “The fire started around 6am and all of us came out to assist Banky in putting out the fire. However, Fire service officials arrived around 7.30. So many items were destroyed including Banky’s awards. But officials of the fire service arrived over an hour late."

Thierry Henry urges Rooney to make China move


Former Arsenal captain, Thierry Henry, has encouraged Wayne Rooney to move to China, if that is what he wants to do when the season ends.

The Manchester United striker had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, but on Thursday, he ended all speculations by confirming he will be staying.

Rooney is widely expected to move in the summer and Henry says the 31-year-old does not owe anyone anything.

“I would advise him to do what he wants to do – stop listening to everybody and be happy,” Henry told Sky Sports.

“You have been a great servant and if he wants to go to China, then go to China if that’s what is going to make you happy and your family happy.

“I know people say he is going there too early and should go back to Everton – but if he goes there and things are not going well they will say he should have gone to China.

“Be happy, you gave a lot to the game. You don’t owe anyone anything. You gave a lot not only to English football but football in general, so think about it with your family, your coach and your team and do what you have to do.

“We all have an opinion of where he should go, but let him choose and let him be him. I think he deserves that.”

My dream has died – Ranieri finally speaks after Leicester City exit


Claudio Ranieri has spoken for the first time since he was fired as Leicester City manager on Thursday.

The Italian thanked the club for giving him an unforgettable adventure, but admitted his “dream has died”.

Ranieri was sacked by the Foxes, with the club sitting in 17th place in the Premier League, after winning the title last season.

Expressing his gratitude to fans and the media for their support during what he called “the greatest story in football”, the 65-year-old said: “Yesterday my dream died.

“After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League champions, all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester City, the club I love, for always. Sadly this was not to be.

“I wish to thank my wife Rosanna and all my family for their never ending support during my time at Leicester.

“My thanks go to Paolo and Andrea who accompanied me on this wonderful journey. To Steve Kutner and Franco Granello for bringing me the opportunity to become a champion.

“Mostly I have to thank Leicester City Football Club. The adventure was amazing and will live with me forever.

“Thank you to all the journalists and the media who came with us and enjoyed reporting on the greatest story in football.

“My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved – but mostly to the supporters.

“You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too. No one can ever take away what we together have achieved.

“I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will. It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you.”

Europa League: Mourinho says Manchester United vs Rostov “a bad draw”


Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho says they have been given a “bad draw” in the Europa League, after being handed a trip to Russia to play FC Rostov.

The last-16 tie means United will make a round trip of nearly 4,000 miles.

And the first leg will be played four days before Mourinho returns to Chelsea for FA Cup quarter-final clash.

“It’s a bad draw in every aspect,” Mourinho said during his press conference on Friday.

“It’s far and it’s difficult.

“It’s far and comes in a very bad period for us, and is difficult because they’re a very difficult team.

“They had a very good Champions League campaign.

“They beat Ajax and Anderlecht in the play-offs and in the group phase managed good results against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

“They got third position, leaving PSV Eindhoven out.

“I know their manager well and played him when he was at Ruben Kazan and I was at Inter.

“So it’s a very difficult team, a very physical team, so a bad draw, but after we play Southampton and Bournemouth, we focus on it and go for it.”

United play the first leg away on March 9 and the second leg at Old Trafford on March 16.

Jurgen Klopp compares Ranieri’s sack to Brexit, Trump’s victory


Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Klopp has said it was a “strange decision” for Leicester City to sack Claudio Ranieri.

He compared the sack to other major world events in recent months.

Ranieri was shown the exit door by Leicester on Thursday night, just nine months after guiding the club to their first Premier League title win.

Liverpool travel to the King Power Stadium on Monday, with assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell taking charge of the Foxes until a new manager is appointed.

Klopp told news conference on Friday, “I heard about it yesterday night.

“Am I surprised that things like this can happen? No. It’s not only football, eh? For me, there’s been a few strange decisions in 16-17: Brexit, [Donald] Trump, Ranieri…

“Do I have to understand it all the time? No. Obviously not as it happens still. I have no idea why Leicester did this. Everybody can see their situation in the league, everyone can see their situation in the Champions League, but they are not in it.

“He is a really special person in this business, a really nice guy, I have to say. I met him before when he visited me at [Borussia] Dortmund and we had a nice talk there. He’s wonderful. I don’t know enough though so maybe you should go to Leicester’s press conference and ask them why they did it.

“After this press conference, we will have our opposition meeting, so we will see how our scouts react on this. [First] game without Ranieri, I don’t think they will change it, I am not sure. Probably the two assistants will [take charge], so that’s not a change, it’s only a little different situation.

“Of course, probably the players have to show a few things and they want to — and our job is to not let them, that’s difficult enough. Things I can’t have influence on, I cannot really think about. If we play our best, we will be difficult to play against whoever, and that’s the thing we think about.”

Coutinho crowned Best Brazilian footballer in Europe ahead of Neymar


Liverpool playmaker, Philippe Coutinho, has been announced as the winner of the Samba Gold award.

The 24-year-old won the prize ahead of Barcelona forward, Neymar Jnr.

Coutinho enjoyed a brilliant 2016, where he struck 18 goals for club and country.

“It means a lot. I’m very happy to know that this past year I have been recognised by many people. It was an important year for me and I’m very happy to win this award,” he said after picking up his award.

“It was a good year. As a team, we played very well and we managed to get to two finals.

“Unfortunately, we did not win the finals win, we lost. That was a very difficult time for us to deal with the defeat [to Sevilla] but this certainly made the group stronger.

“We started the season very well, at a high level. We all played very well, so, of course, 2016 was a good year. In the end I got injured, I missed a few games at the end of the year, but it was a positive year.”

Tonto Dikeh - No one knows how many STDs I treated in my deceitful marriage


After confirming that she has separated from her husband, Oladunni Churchill, popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has opened up on some issues she had to deal with in marriage, even as she said her marriage to her estranged husband was full of ‘lies, deceit and scam.’

Recall that the ace actress confirmed the separation while responding to questions from her fans on Instagram. 

In her latest Instagram post, the mother of one responded to a comment by one of her followers who begged her to stay back and work things out in her marriage, saying she was willing to take all the blames for venturing into the short-lived marriage.

The follower, @bestguy, begged @tontolet, to fix her marriage, disclosing he was very happy when she got married. He also went further to say that the actress shouldn’t ‘let people laugh at her.’

But in her response, Tonto, said everyone can laugh at her as long as she didn’t end marriage in a body bag.


She went further to reveal that no one knows how many STDs she had treated and the pain she felt in her marriage.

Oprah Winfrey – Why I have no regrets for being childless


Media Mogul, Oprah Winfrey says she has no regrets for not having children with her partner of thirty years Stedman Graham, because she doesn’t have the ‘patience’ to be a parent.

The 63-year-old philanthropist said she always saw herself as mother of the world’s children despite pressure from people to get children.

She noted that it does not matter if a child comes from your womb but all that matters is love shown to all children.

“When people were pressuring me to get married and have children, I knew I was not going to be a person that ever regretted not having them, because I feel like I am a mother to the world’s children.

“Love knows no boundaries. It doesn’t matter if a child came from your womb or if you found that person at age two, 10 or 20.

“If the love is real, the caring is pure and it comes from a good space, it works.

“For me it was perfect, because I didn’t want babies.

“I wouldn’t have been a good mom for babies. I don’t have the patience.

“I have the patience for puppies, but that’s a quick stage!

“If I had kids, my kids would hate me.

“They would have ended up on the equivalent of the Oprah show talking about me; because something in my life would have had to suffer and it would’ve probably been them.”

She added that training 172 girls in her boarding school in South Africa is more rewarding as she is a mother to all of them.

“It is more rewarding that I would ever have imagined.


“I was doing this to help them, but it has brought a light to my life that I can’t explain,” Opray added.

Tonto Dike says expensive gifts flaunted on social media were all lies


Popular actress, Tonto Dike has reacted to comments on social media accusing her of being ungrateful to her husband after collecting so many gifts from him.

The mother of one said her ex-husband is many things you can think of but not gay.

Tonto had earlier today revealed how she tolerated all pains and Sexually Transmitted Diseases while married to her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchhill.

She has also revealed that all the items posted on her Instagram page@tontolet, including the lexus 570 jeep and jewelries, purportedly bought by her husband were all false.


The reaction latest reaction came after a fan called her out for shaming her husband despite expensive gifts received from him.

Tonto said she used her platform as a popular star to lie about the gifts to make her ex-husband, Churchill, the man he is today.

“Because I posted stuffs saying my ex-husband bought for me does not make it true.
“I used my platform to lie to make him the man he is today
“So don’t come at me with the bullshit of enjoying this man’s money
“I have not started talking I will bear it all but there is time for everything.
“I care now for the STDS because I’m no longer naïve, I’m a mother who wants to live long for her child
“I am not a saint and cheating isn’t the only reason I took the forever walk.”
The light-skinned actress further said she is too blessed to ask fans to have pity on her.
In reply to a fan’s comment, she said, “Love, I am not looking to be pitied, too blessed for that.
“I’m just strong enough to teach other women that no marriage Is worth dying for.”
The fan @debbyjelly_ wrote: “Tonto not needed no one will pity you, they all cheat.
“A man has cheated on his wife because of you too.
“So why tell the world what they are used to settle and be peaceful.
“Enjoy your home darling.”

Mandela caused Xenophobia in South Africa – Seun Kuti


Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has reacted to violent acts against Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.

The musician stated that the late South Africa President, Nelson Mandela, should be blamed for the xenophobic attacks.

Seun made his feelings known in a Facebook post on Friday.
He wrote: “Hey Black South Africans aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? Has your spirit of revolution completely destroyed by your rudderless ANC to the extent that you have become cowards who bully fellow Africans? Fellow Brothers?”

“Ok answer me this. If every Nigerian is deported out of South Africa there will be no more crime in South Africa? There will be no more injustice and inequality? Mandela once again thanks for your rainbow nation. Thanks for teaching your people to love whites but forgot to tell them to embrace blacks.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said that talks are ongoing with South Africa on how to protect Nigerian citizens against xenophobic attacks in that country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed that the acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa had met with the country’s foreign affairs top officials on the renewed attacks on Nigerians.


“We have communicated to South African government that steps should be taken to prevent attacks,” he said.

Nigerian Woman Sends Birthday Wish To Her Husband’s Side Chic

A woman named Atinuke got the internet buzzing  after she did one of the most ridiculous things ever.

Her husband’s sidechick  turned 29 and she decided to pen a well written piece to her on her birthday through relationship expert Joro thanking her for making her husband happy, making him work harder, and motivating her to be a better woman.

She also added this – ”I have come to realize you’re not going to leave my husband alone and he’s not going to leave you’ – every woman’s nightmare.

This however provoked reactions to Nigerians.


Read the piece below:

Seun Egbegbe Is All Smiles As Court Grants Him N5 Million Bail


Nollywood producer, Seun Egbegbe and one Oyekan Ayomide  have been granted bail of N5 million by the Federal High Court in Lagos for defrauding some Bureau De Change operatives at Gbagada in Lagos.

Ruling on their bail application today, the presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo said they should be remanded in prison until they fulfill their bail conditions.

“Both accused should be granted bail of N5million with two sureties each in a sum of N2.5million. That is four sureties altogether. One of the sureties must be a civil servant who has attained level 16 while the other surety must be a land owner in any part of Lagos metropolis. The landowner must submit Certificate of Ownership of the landed property and while the civil servant must submit his international passport to the court. The four sureties must swear to an affidavit while the house and office addresses and telephone number will be verified by the court” she said.

Both men have been in police custody since February 2nd.

Tonto Dikeh Confirms To Being A Victim Of Domestic Violence

Tonto Dikeh who has been holding in a lot about her marriage to Oladunni Churchill has taken to social media to reveal shocking secrets from her failed marriage.

In yet another post on Instagram, Tonto Dikeh replied a fan who asked how she lost so much weight.
She said:

“How? It was very simple having a husband who cheats on a roll and uses you for a punching bag and suffering gross verbal abuse sun up to sun down in my hone.

I am sure any woman would lose weight. I look pretty because I am serving a living God who never sleeps.”

See below:


Pastor Adeboye retires as General Overseer of RCCG, Obayemi named successor

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has reportedly retired as the Head of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Nigeria.

Just last year, the church slammed those calling for the 74-year-old to retire as head of RCCG.

Pastor Johnson Odesola, Special Assistant to Pastor Adeboye on Administration and Personnel, said at the time that the church’s constitution did not state that anyone above 70 years should not lead the ministry.

He said: “Whereas the constitution provided that the deputy and assistant general overseers are appointed to retire at 70 and enjoy their retirement benefits for life, there is no such provision for the general overseer.”

Pastor J.O. Obayemi has been named as Adeboye’s replacement.
Obayemi was a deputy in charge of Finance and a member of governing council, before his appointment.

‎The Church in further clarification through a press statement signed by Leke Adeboye, on Saturday explained that Pastor Adeboye remained the GO of RCCG Worldwide.

Leke Adeboye, the GO’s son and Personal Assistant said “the clarification is coming on the heels of misrepresentation of Pastor E. A Adeboye’s announcement at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving held at the redemption camp”.

He said that the Church in Nigeria was now to be led by Pastor Joseph Obayemi.
The statement clarified that “the latest development is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all registered churches, mosques, and CSOs.

“The regulation stipulates that heads of nonprofit organizations like churches now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations while in retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families”.

The statement also reiterated that Pastor Funsho Odesola will now serve as the new Church Secretary, while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu is the new Church Treasurer.

It advised all members of RCCG “to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning.”

Wizkid’s Baby Mama & Son, Boluwatife Are Having the Time of Their Lives in Florida


Wizkid’s baby mama, Shola and son, Boluwatife are away on a vacation in Florida.

Shola shared lovely photos with her son on social media and tagged one; ‘Vacation with the best guy!Yass!’


Iraqi forces battling IS enter militant-held Mosul airport

Special forces and police try to retake the airport and a nearby military base to push into the west of the militant-held city.

US-backed Iraqi forces have fought fierce battles with Islamic State fighters as they try to retake control of Mosul's main airport from IS.

The assault, backed by jets, drones and gunships, is part of the ongoing campaign to retake full control of the city from the jihadist terror group.

Iraqi police forces attacked the disused airport, on the southern approach to the city, which they want to use as a base to launch a final onslaught on the west of Iraq's second-largest city.

Sky's Alex Rossi, who is reporting from outside Mosul, said an Iraqi colonel told him their forces are inside the perimeter of the airport and pushing into the international airport buildings, but they are still coming under fire from extremist fighters.

However, the officers believe they should be able to take the airport within the next 24 hours.

Earlier Alex told us how the attack on IS placements began: "All morning we've seen helicopter gunships flying over strafing those positions with rockets."

Special forces led the assault on the Ghazlani military base adjacent to the airport, moving in from the south and engaging extremists in fierce fighting near the edge of the site.

As usual, the advance was slowed as engineers - with special forces troops - had earlier cleared roads and removed IEDs (improvised explosive devices).

The latest advance comes days after the operation to liberate western Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, led by the regular Iraqi army and federal police, began on Sunday.

The battle for that part of the city is expected to be especially difficult, as the old, narrow streets mean forces will need to leave the protection of their military vehicles and engage in close-quarters fighting.

The operation is likely to be complicated by the terror group's use of IEDs and the estimated 750,000 civilians still living there.

Aid organisations had feared an unprecedented exodus before the start of the fighting in the east four months ago but a significant majority of residents stayed at home despite reporting very difficult living conditions and low food supplies.

Mosul is roughly split in half by the Tigris river, with government forces winning back control of the east in January following months of fighting.

Bridges across the Tigris have now been destroyed by IS and the jihadists in the west are all but besieged.

100,000 Iraqi troops, alongside Kurdish fighters and Shi'ite militias, are involved in the campaign to retake the city where IS declared its self-styled caliphate after sweeping into vast areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Kanye West set `for a glam war’ with Kylie Sis-in-law

Kanye West, an American rapper has filed legal documents for his own line of makeup’ that will compete with sister-in-law Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kits.

West, a 21 Grammy awards winner, is married to reality star Kim Kardashian, Jenner’s half-sister and already has a successful music career and fashion with his Yeezy line.

According to a Thursday report from TMZ, the Paranoid singer has ‘’filed legal docs declaring his intention to produce DONDA brand makeup, perfumes, lotions and other cosmetics.’’

Donda is the name of West’s mother who passed away in 2007, the day after receiving multiple cosmetic surgeries.

The rapper’s move could be seen as bringing on competition for Jenner, 19, who has become a massive success in the family with the launch of her makeup line, Lip Kits which has made a fortune.

In October, Money Nation, a Web site that describes itself as a personal finance resource, estimates that Jenner has made 8.7 million dollar from branded merchandise. Jenner recently branched out with her line of eye shadow.

But because Jenner is still a teenager, she may be safe in her younger demographic while West aims at a higher age group. His wife Kim, 36, has also dabbled in the makeup business with sisters Khloe and Kourtney.

They launched Khroma several years ago which then turned into Kardashian Beauty. Kanye in 2016, was hospitalised as a result of a ‘nervous breakdown’.


Please help us beg our landlord over our rents, tenants tell court

Two tenants- Samuel Uguru and Alom Chioma, on Thursday pleaded with a Masaka Chief Magistrates’ Court, Nasarawa State, to help beg their landlord to exercise patience in respect of their rent arrears.

The landlord, Audu Hassan, dragged the defendants to court over N12, 500 each of them owed him as five months rent arrears.

Pleading before the court, Uguru, 35, said that he could not meet up with the payment of his house rent because he lost his job.
“I was a casual staff with an organisation I wouldn’t want to disclose. They recently stopped me from working with them. I am a graduate of Geography Education, BSc to be precise.
“This predicament made me to withdraw my son from school and to send him to the village.

“I’ve just picked up a teaching job and I’m hoping that when they pay me, I will settle my landlord with half of the salary and balance him later. “But if he says he does not want me in his house, he should give me three months more to vacate his house,” he said.

Chioma, the second defendant, however, told the court that she had never had any issue with her landlord for the past 10 years she had been staying in the compound. “I have, however, not been doing anything currently and my husband left me the moment I took in for the baby I’m carrying now,” she said.

The plaintiff, Hassan, however, said he would only give both tenants one week to vacate his premises. He stressed that they should go with the arrears as he was no longer interested. “Both are yearly tenants.

Their house rents expired since September 2016, but they had refused to renew their rents of N12, 500 each,” he said. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga, pleaded with the plaintiff to exercise little patience with the defendants and give them one month within which to look for alternative accommodation. He adjourned the case till March 23 for report.


You must account for alleged missing $246m, Senate tells NAPTIMS

ABUJA – THE Senate Thursday asked the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPTIMS to account for $ 246m dollars which forms the balance from the 2016 budget set aside by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of Nigeria, NNPC for gas infrastructure.

According to the Senate, the NNPC had released a total of four hundred and forty six Million Dollars to NAPTIMS for the development of gas infrastructure in 2016, just as only $132 million dollars was extended.

This was uncovered the outstanding amount when the Group Managing Director of NAPTIMS, Dafe Sejebor appeared before the Senate joint committees on Gas Petroleum, Upstream, Downstream and Gas during the 2017 budget Defence of the NNPC’ s Upstream sector in Abuja.

The Joint committees asked NAPTIMS to provide details of the outstanding amount in the next sitting for proper clarification to approve the 2017 budget proposal of the NNPC’s Subsidiary.

NAPTIMS is the Upstream and Corporate Services Unit, CSU in the Exploration and Production Directorate of the NNPC. Speaking on Thursday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resouces, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, PDP, Akwa Ibom North East took as swipe at the company for unilaterally moving funds from one budgetary subhead to another subhead without recourse to the National Assembly, said, “It is the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to vire funds from one subhead in the budget to another.

So it is wrong for the company to have moved funds meant for gas infrastructure projects to another subhead.”

Accusing the company of abuse of due process when it presented its 2016 budget performance to the committee, Senator reminded the company that a budgetary balance of $1.8 billion was carried over from 2015 to 2016, while the sum of $ 3.8 billion was provided for in 2016 out of which it spent $4.2 billion leaving a huge balance, adding that $ 422 million was allocated in the 2016 Budget for gas infrastructure projects out of which it spent $ 318 million.

Asked to explain the reason for the debit balance in view of information to the contrary, Engr. Dafe Sejebor said that the budgetary balance was used to settle outstanding joint venture commitments.

The committee then ordered the company to furnish it with details of shortfalls of funds allocated for gas infrastructure projects. In line with the decision of the Honourable minister of state for petroleum to ensure cost efficiency in the budgetary allocations in the oil and gas sector, the committee said it would allocate $12 billion to the Gas Industrial park project while it will not support any allocation to the Brass LNG. Efforts by Dafe Sejebor to convince the Lawmakers that due process was followed in the expenditure of cash proved abortive.


Murtala Muhammed’s Daughter Appointed Into Harvard School’s Leadership Board

The Women’s Leadership Board of the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States of America has invited Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode onto its Board.

Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode, a lawyer, administrator and philanthropist, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation.

The Women and Public Policy Program is a centre of the Harvard Kennedy School that specialises in groundbreaking gender research, teaching, training and policy translation. Comprised of leaders from the most senior levels of business, government, academia, and the non-profit sector, members of the Women’s Leadership Board and the Women and Public Policy Program aim to create gender equality and improve the lives of women and men around the world, focusing on rigorous, high-impact research that furthers a shared mission of closing gender gaps in the areas of economic opportunity, political participation, health and education.

By her membership of the Board, Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode joins a dedicated group of women who have committed to deepening their participation in gender research and to interface with high-level policy and decision-makers to deploy interventions and Women and Public Policy Program expertise to close gender gaps in their spheres of influence.

The news of this appointment was well received by Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode who is one of the few Africans on the Board.

The Harvard Kennedy School is a globally reputed institution and I feel honoured to have been selected as a member of such a prestigious and illustrious Board. I will surely contribute my best to make Nigeria proud,” Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode said.

“The contributions of the Women’s Leadership Board support the creation of a more gender-equal world using a two-pronged approach: the short-term strategy focuses on providing women with the skills and tools to successfully navigate existing systems, while the long-term strategy identifies effective policies that can create long-lasting structural change.”

The Murtala Muhammed Foundation of which Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode is the founding CEO was established with a humanitarian mission to improve the living conditions of Africans through the reduction of poverty and the elimination of conflict, while promoting self-reliance of African people and communities. This mission has been practically implemented by the foundation through numerous humanitarian programs covering core thematic areas such as education and capacity development, disaster risk reduction, good governance and policy compliance among others.

Inaugurated in 2001 to promote the ideals of the late General Murtala Muhammed, Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode’s father, the NGO works closely with government, international organisations, local and international NGO’s, religious institutions, professional organisations and relevant stakeholders, to address social issues both locally and internationally through building partnerships for development.

The Women’s Leadership Board members are nominated by existing Women’s Leadership Board members or Harvard Kennedy School officials, and evaluated by the Women’s Leadership Board executive committee and Harvard University.

Individual members are invited based on demonstrated leadership and professional accomplishments. All members possess a shared dedication to supporting the mission, growth and impact of the Women and Public Policy Program.

The Russian Foreign Ministry Wants to Truth Squad ‘Fake News’

For years, Russia has been seen by some as a major source of fake news. Now Moscow wants to get into the truth squad business.

On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry launched a new initiative on its website: “Examples of publications, retranslating false information about Russia.”

Here is how the Russian Foreign Ministry debunks the fake news:

The article in question is presented in a screenshot, and then plastered with a red stamp reading, “Fake. It contains false information,” with a line below reading, “This article puts forward information that does not correspond to reality.”

Rather unhelpfully, that’s it — there is no effort to specify in what way the article’s information corresponds or not to reality. (Some Western efforts to correct misleading claims made by Russia are rather more information-packed. NATO, for example, offered point-by-point rebuttals of Russian claims after Moscow’s 2014 invasion of the Ukraine.)

At a Wednesday briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “We don’t expect there to be a shortage of material for this section.”

At time of writing, however, there were but five articles, including a piece by the Santa Monica Observer titled, “Vitaly Churkin 5th Suspicious Death of Russian Diplomat in 3 Months.” (The Russian U.N. ambassador did, in fact, die on Monday.)

The term “fake news” has made real news for the past several months, and has been levelled by everyone from BuzzFeed about factually inaccurate stories made up by Macedonian teenagers, to newspaper editors upset at criticism of their coverage, to President Donald Trump, who confusingly labels as “fake” negative stories based on real leaks. (“The leaks are real, but the news is fake,” he clarified.)

The phrase “fake news” has now lost so much of its meaning that the term, to use the Russian Foreign Ministry’s parlance, no longer corresponds to reality.

France Is Training Eagles To Take Down Drones To Fight Terrorism


The French military is developing a new, unusual defense weapon to combat terrorism. Four golden eagles, d’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis are being trained to attack drones that enter into restricted French air space according to the Washington Post.

Terrorists are beginning to experiment with drones in Iraq and the French presidential palace has had numerous drones fly within its restricted air space in recent years. Terrorists are reportedly using store bought drones and turning them into weapons. Jean-Christophe Zimmermann, a French air force general, told Reuters the military chose to use eagles for defense to avoid using guns.

If a drone appears in a crowded area, using guns to bring it down becomes extremely risky. A properly trained golden eagle poses no threat to humans and can take down the enemy drone in a safe way. Due to the recent terrorist attacks in France, officials are experimenting with protection mechanisms that are not as life threatening to humans as weapons.  

About a year ago, the four eagles were placed on top of a drone to hatch and kept there during the early feeding period. As soon as the eagles began drone-defense training, they were rewarded by eating meat attached to the top of a drone. Everything they have been exposed to is anti-drone oriented.

Earlier this month, d’Artagnan was in a French military control tower and spotted a practice drone 200 meters away. The bird covered the 200 meters in 20 seconds and rammed into the drone, causing it to fall into the grass.

The eagles will be equipped with special equipment on their heads and talons to prevent any damage a drone could do to their body. The use of eagles to take down drones was first used by Dutch police last year, according to the Washington Post.

The French Air Force have already ordered a second set of eagles to train. Eagles are known as ferocious attackers and are extremely powerful. Peter Nye, an employee of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation told Journey North in a Q&A session that eagles can fly up to 50 km/hr and have four times better eyesight than humans.

The grip of an eagles talons is 10 times stronger than that of an adult human. While the decision to officially use eagles as a defense mechanism is still a few months away, the training is going to be elevated. “Soon they will be casting off from peaks in the nearby Pyrenees Mountains,” said a French air force commander in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

Bin Laden raid architect McRaven says Trump media attack threatens democracy

Former Navy Adm. William McRaven, left, shown in this Feb. 7, 2012, file photo, and President Trump

The retired admiral who designed and oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden says President Trump’s superheated charge that the mainstream news media is the “enemy of the American people” is not just wrong, but also could pose a dire threat to American democracy. Reporters, however, must get their facts right, cite reliable sources and be aware of their own biases and pride.

“The president said the news media is the enemy of the American people,” William McRaven said Tuesday. “This sentiment may be the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime.”

The former Joint Special Operations Command leader, now chancellor of the University of Texas system, made the remarks at the inaugural event of the Communication and Leadership Speaker Series at UT’s Belo Center for New Media. McRaven graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a degree in journalism.

“I will tell you as journalism majors, as Americans, you should challenge that sentiment and that statement every opportunity you can,” he continued. “We must challenge this statement, and this sentiment, that the news media is the enemy of the American people.”

McRaven went on, “I have traveled all around the world. I’ve been to 90 different countries and I have talked to the press in almost every one of those countries. We have the finest press in the world, bar none. Bar none. And it is the single most important institution for this republic.”

But challenging the notion that the press is the enemy of the American people means that “you have got to have the facts right, you have got to make sure that your sources are solid,” he said. And “you have to be careful about your bias,” he said.

And reporters must be aware of “your hubris as journalists,” he said.

The comments were first reported by the Austin-American Statesman and confirmed to Yahoo News by the University of Texas System Office of External Relations.

McRaven was referring to Trump’s Feb. 17 tweet in which the president said: “The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!”

It’s not the first time McRaven has taken on Trump. In late January, the retired officer released a statement sharply critical of the president’s executive order barring refugees from the United States for 120 days and blocking immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for three months.

“I believe that the talent, energy, and ideas flowing into the United States of America — and to UT System institutions — from countries around the world are among our greatest strengths,” McRaven said in a statement. “The men and women who show up at our shores and our doors — ready to study, work, and participate — make us stronger, smarter, more competitive, and more attuned to the rest of the globe.”

Man who lost N7 million to Lagos fire wails: I’m finished


Mr. Simeon Ibike, a father of six, is at the moment in serious pain. He lost goods worth over N7 million to the Oko-Baba Sawmill fire that occurred in the Ebute-Meta area of Lagos on Sunday evening.

He told the reporter that the world had crumbled on him. According to him, he had a big container, which he used in selling assorted building materials. His shop was described as one of the biggest in the area. But all became ashes in less than three hours.

Ibike, who looked shattered, said all his family members, including his four children in the university, depended on the business for survival. He lamented that he could not salvage a single item from his container.

He said he had gone to church on that fateful Sunday to pray to God and thereafter proceeded to a town hall meeting with his kinsmen, without any premonition that he would soon become impoverished by one single disaster.

He narrated that by the time he rushed to the scene, after a neighbour alerted him through a telephone call, it was rather too late. His shop was already in uncontrollable flames.

He confessed that he couldn’t help, as tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. Daily Sun learnt that the man wanted to jump into the fire but was rescued by sympathisers.

Ibike was also a victim of a fire incident at the same area two years ago.

“It is painful that everything I have laboured for in the past 20 years is gone finally. The one that happened in 2015, I was able to rescue some of the goods. But I couldn’t rescue anything, not even a single pin this time around. It was a family business. I don’t know what to do next because I don’t have any money or goods somewhere else to continue the business,” he lamented.

It was gathered that no fewer than 200 makeshift houses and shops were razed by the inferno, with thousands of people rendered homeless. The fire extended to a nearby mechanic workshop on Osholake Street and partly damaged two Sport Utility Vehicles.

According to an eyewitness, efforts made by the different emergency management teams that stormed the place almost immediately helped in curtailing the spread of the fire. No lives were lost in the incident.

The uncontrolled fire was blamed on the fact that the houses were made of planks and other materials, which made the environment easily inflammable. It was gathered that this was about the sixth time the area was being gutted by fire.

The fire was said to have started about 5.30pm when electricity was restored to the area. The fire affected parts of Kadara, Coal and Sholake Streets.

An eyewitness, Tunde Akin, told Daily Sun that there was a spark from some electricity cables followed by thick smoke on Kadara Street. He said the fire spread quickly, defying the residents’ efforts to put it out. The intensity of the inferno was not unconnected with the harmattan, it was gathered.

When the reporter visited the scene yesterday morning, a cloud of smoke still drifted to the sky, even as occupants struggled to pack the remnants of their burnt goods and property.

Refrigerators, television sets, cooking utensils, sleeping foams, cushion chairs and other household items were burnt by the fire. Some of the occupants were also said to have lost physical cash to the disaster.

Ibike pleaded with whoever could come to his aid, to assist him with some capital, to enable him start his business afresh, and to save his family members from the looming hunger.

He said: “I’m not a lazy man and I’m still young. If anybody or the government can help me financially to start all over again, I won’t mind. I already have the customers, who come to patronise me within and outside Ebute-Metta.”

Also affected is Mr. Tunde Olawale, who told the reporter that he had lived in the area since 1992 and had unfortunately witnessed five fire outbreaks. He works as a guard at the local government secretariat.

“I have spent 25 years here. I gave birth to all my five children inside this hut. At the moment, my wife and three of our children are living with me. I was not at home when the fire started, but my wife and the children were able to pack some of our property before the fire spread to our end.

“I pay N1, 500 monthly for the little space that I occupy. There are many landlords here. They collect the money per year and it is based on how large the space the tenant occupies is. Some pay N2, 000 while others pay N2, 500. It is the tenant that will build the place by himself to his or her taste.”

Mr. Gbolahan Tajudeen, who owns a mechanic workshop in which two vehicles were affected, expressed gratitude to God that the SUVs were not completely burnt.

He was also grateful that some youths were around and swiftly helped him push the vehicles away to a safer place.

“If not for the youths, the two vehicles would have been completely gone. If the owners come, I believe they will understand, knowing that the fire didn’t start from my shop,” he told the reporter.

A mosque built in the middle of the settlement was also razed. All that was left standing at the worship centre was a megaphone hung to a pole.

Daily Sun gathered that people from all tribes and religions cohabited in this forsaken slum in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.  Some people from Togo and Benin Republic, who could not afford to rent a more decent apartment, also stayed in the area.

Also lamenting was a 60-year-old man, Sule Mustapha, who said all that he was left with were the native clothes he wore at the time the fire broke out.

“Everything I had got burnt. It is some people that gave me money to buy food. I don’t have anywhere to sleep today or tomorrow. I could not rent a house outside here because of agent and agreement fees. But here, I only paid N1, 500 to the owner of the land and built a small place, and my wife and I moved in five years ago,” Mustapha said.

Opposite the scene was the Oke-Odo Junior Secondary School, facing Osholake Street, but the government-owned school was not affected by the fire.

One of the victims, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said the emergency teams didn’t arrive the scene on time, even though residents had placed distress calls to them immediately the fire started.

But the spokesperson for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye told the reporter on the telephone that different response teams got to the scene and succeeded in putting out the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. He said though a lot of damage was done before his team arrived, further havoc was averted.

Farinloye revealed that 57 incidents occurred in the last four days in Ogun and Lagos, claiming five lives and property worth millions of naira. He advised Nigerians to embrace safety consciousness all through the dry season.

Tiwa Savage debuts international collaboration with American rapper, Remy Ma

Mavin Records `first lady’, Tiwa Savage has debuted her international campaign with a ‘single’ collaboration with Grammy-nominated American rapper Remy Ma of Fat Joe’s rap crew, Terror Squad.

Tiwa Savage collaboration would be on the Remy Ma and Fat Joe joint album entitled “Plata o Plomo”, currently on the works.

“She is huge, she is like the African Rihanna type, you know,” Fat Joe said referring to Tiwa Savage.

The Nigerian singer in 2016 signed a major management and distribution deal with Jay Z’s label Roc Nation in the USA.

A move that made her joined the likes of Rihanna, J. Cole, Big Sean, Emeli Sande, Shakira and other American top singers who are currently signed to the entertainment company.

The “African Rihanna”, as she was popularly called by her American fans, was then tipped by industry watchers to begin the international phase of her career.

She recently attended the annual Roc Nation Brunch, and was pictured with Diddy, Jay Z, DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Kelly Rowland and others in the U.S.

The “Eminado” crooner released her sophomore album in December 2015, and a deluxe version went live in 2017.

She was nominated for the Best Video award at the 2016 Headies for ‘Bad’, her song with Wizkid. (NAN)

Lawal predicts tough battle against Cameroon in Russia 2018

Ex- international Garba Lawal believes the 2018 World Cup qualifier clash between Nigeria and African champions Cameroon will be a difficult contest.

Gernot Rohr’s men will face the Indomitable Lions in a double-header on August 28 and September 2 respectively, with the three-time African kings hoping for at least four points out of six to confirm their place for Russia 2018.

Despite the Super Eagles leading Group B with six points – four points ahead of Hugo Broos’ men, the 42-year-old urged the country’s senior national side not to relent.

“I’m happy for Cameroon emerging as African champions. Nobody gave them a chance, but that’s football for you,” Lawal told Goal .

“Now we are playing Cameroon in a double header [qualifier]. We’ve played two games and got six points from them.

“I must say the coaches and players have done a fantastic job so far. But they need to remain focus and not relent. “They need to concentrate and maintain what they’ve started in the best possible way against them because one game can change everything.’’

“Cameroon are a physical side and rely solely on their physical strength. But we [Nigeria] believe in skill, mental and as well as physical aspects of the game,’’ he continued.

“Whenever they want to play Nigeria, they know they can’t match us, so they will do everything to kick and physically attack us in order to frustrate us.”

“Our players need to be ready for that because I believe the match will be very difficult, strong and competitive.

“They know it will be difficult to match us. At this point, we have no pressure and we can’t afford to get distracted except we want to throw those points away.

“He [Rohr] is a manager and the coach, and he knows better. He should keep on watching and getting his team together. He should not get carried away.”

UCL: Musa optimistic over Sevilla clash


Super Eagles and Leicester City striker, Ahmed Musa  has predicted that Leicester City will come out victorious when they face current Europa League winners Sevilla in the Champions League Round of 16, Game 1 on Wednesday night.

The Foxes may be struggling in the Premier League but have impressed in Europe, having topped their group with a game to spare.

“We are going there to do our best,” Musa told Leicester City’s official website.

“I think with the confidence we have with the boys at training ground, we are going to go there and play very well. If we can win there, I think the confidence will be back.

“It is a very good experience. It is one of the tournaments people want to play in. For the group, we are happy to be in next round. We are working very hard to try to go there and win.”

Musa is one of the most experienced players in the Leicester City squad with Champions League experience, with the striker set to make his 29th appearance in total against the Spanish side.

Work permit threatens Bassey’s Barcelona debut

ormer Enyimba International FC player, Ezekiel Bassey has disclosed that he is currently fighting the battle of his life to secure his work permit from the Spanish authorities that will enable him perfect his deal with La Liga giants, FC Barcelona.

Bassey, who made the disclosure when he visited the Glass House, the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja on Tuesday, admitted that he has passed through hell struggling to secure work permit.

He further noted that he was at the Glass House to get some documents that will facilitate the speedy issuance of the statutory permit required by Spanish authorities.

Expressing happiness over his big move, he also lamented that his inability to get the work permit has equally prevented him from playing any game for the team.

In his words: “I am here because of my work permit because my team asked me to come for it. The process is still on but it seems it is going to be hectic. However I hope to go back to Spain by next week.

“This issue is also the reason I am yet to even train with the main team. I cannot play any game also until I get the work permit. I only watch the main team’s training; but as soon as I get it, I will join my colleagues to play with them twice a week,” he noted.

The former Peoples Elephant dependable forward also expressed satisfaction with his relationship with his Barcelona teammates, stressing that they all relate like one big family, just as he described his move to Barca as exciting and a dream come true.

He equally disclosed that Barcelona fans have not forgotten the artistic display of their former Nigerian left winger, Emmanuel Amuneke in a hurry, adding that the fans over there are always asking of the former winger.

Militants kidnap Army Lieutenant in Lagos; soldiers, police invade creeks

LAGOS—Gunmen suspected to be militants that have been terrorising Lagosians, introduced a new twist to their activities yesterday, following the abduction of a military personnel at Ijedodo area of Abule-Ado, Lagos.

The identity of the abducted personnel, a Lieutenant, could not be ascertained at press time. Military personnel, belonging to Operation AWATSE, were deployed to the area to curb activities of the militants.

Vanguard News gathered that the Lieutenant was kidnapped with his service rifle while on patrol along the axis yesterday evening.

His abduction sparked sporadic shootings as a joint force by the Military and Police invaded the creeks and headed for the kidnappers den. While some teams headed for the hideout, where the abducted Lieutenant was suspected to have been taken to, others remained at strategic points around Ijedodo, Abule-Ado, Totowu, Igando and neighbouring exit points, to ensure that the kidnappers did not escape.

As at 7.30p.m. yesterday, the shooting was still ongoing with fear-stricken residents remaining indoors. When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, said: “I cannot immediately confirm that incident now.

I will brief you when I have a clear picture.” Spokesperson of 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Major Mba Leme, could not be reached for comments, as his phone rang several times but was not picked.


Gunmen abduct German professor in Kaduna, kill hunter

unmen have abducted Peter Breunij, a German professor of archaeology, and Johannes Buringer, his colleague, at Jenjela village in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna state.

Kagarko, which shares a boundary with federal capital territory (FCT), has recorded different cases of kidnapping along the area in recent times.

Breunij is said to be the leader of a four-man team from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, working in collaboration ‎with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments and other institutions on the relics of Nok culture in Nigeria.

A witness said the kidnappers left two ladies who were with the victims during the time of their abduction.

A witness, who was part of the team working with Germans, narrated how the incident happened.

“They started coming one by one, the first two came with machetes, then others came with heavy guns,” he said.

“There were many…

EFCC allegedly recovers 17 vehicles form ex-Custom boss

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday said it has recovered seventeen vehicles from the former Comptroller-General of Nigeria Custom Service Abdullahi Dikko Inde.

The Commission said in a statement that the vehicles were recovered after it was tipped off that the vehicles were stored at a warehouse on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Kaduna.

“Upon receipt of the intelligence, a team of operatives from the Kano Zonal Office were deployed to carry out the investigation,” EFCC said.

Two men – Dantala Mohammed and Ahmed Balarabe – who were discovered to be the custodians of the property, were arrested.

“The vehicles and the two individuals, who are now suspects, in the investigation were conveyed to the Commission’s zonal offices in Kaduna and Kano respectively…

Ondo police arrest notorious armed robbers , recover stolen Benz

Two notorious  armed robbers, Olajide Olayato and Amonimo Johnson known as Akebaje, have been arrested by man of the Ondo state Police Command.

The two suspects and two others, now at large invaded the home of Kolawole Emiola in Abusoro area of the state capital and forcefully made away with his Mercedes Benz C240 with Registration Number Abuja KUJ 700 KZ and three of his mobile number.

Speaking on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison, said his men swung into action and apprehended the two suspects in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

She disclosed that Johnson was a serial armed robber who has been convicted more that five times and said the two men have confessed to the crime.

The police boss said the Mercedes Benz was recovered from the suspects and also confessed to robbing one Micheal Oluwadare of Oka Akoko of the sum of N1.6 million.

The suspects…

Teenage Mom Dumps 4 Months Old Baby Under Oshodi Bridge

A four-month old baby boy dumped under Oshodi bridge, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has been rescued.

The naked baby who was packed inside a bag, was rescued by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force while his 18-year old mother, Timilehin Adeshina, was arrested.

Task Force Chairman, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi said the boy was rescued by the enforcement team of the agency at Oshodi, adding that the mother was arrested while running away.

Egbeyemi disclosed that the teenage mom confessed that she dumped the baby because she could no longer take care of him, adding that none of her family members was willing to accommodate her and her baby.

The Junior Secondary School drop-out, said she incurred her mother’s wrath because she could not identify the man who impregnated her among the different men who slept with her.
The Ogun State indigene who lost her father…

Importation of Indian gari, Nigerian paradox

REPORTS of imported gari packaged as “Ïndian gari” displayed and sold to the public in a Lagos supermarket, came as a rude shock and complete surprise to millions of Nigerians.

Previously, it was unimaginable that Nigeria could ever get to the point of importing gari, a popular West African staple food made from cassava tubers. 

Nigeria is not only the world’s largest producer of cassava, producing in excess of 45 million metric tonnes per annum and accounting for over 80 per cent of the world’s output. According to the World Bank, indigenous research institutions and the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria is also prided as the world’s largest exporter of the commodity.

A number of profitable cash crops have kept Nigeria on the world map of exports for decades regardless of the country’s neglect of agriculture.

Cassava is one of the most notable. Along with sorghum, cotton, rice and cocoa, cassava is one of the crops identified as a prospective foreign exchange earner for the country under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) with Nigeria becoming the largest cassava processor globally.

According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS agricultural survey, 33 states of the Federation are currently cultivating cassava, but with the latest development that could be interpreted as an indication of a lack of value addition of natural resources, Nigeria continues to remain an economic paradox.

Blessed with excellent soil for cultivation and agriculture-friendly weather, Nigeria perpetually spends a fortune on food imports, even for finished food products from crops cultivated locally.

Excellent soil for  cultivation 

From available records, an estimated 600 million tonnes of food is imported into the country annually. In 2015, the country imported over three million metric tonnes of rice. Nigeria spends about N75 billion importing rice every year and is currently the world’s second highest rice importing nation after China. Between 2006 and 2015, Nigeria imported 24 million metric tonnes of rice valued at N1.77 trillion. In five years, Nigeria imported some 14.7 million metric tonnes of milled rice valued at N1.15 trillion. 

Once a power broker in sugar exports, Nigeria now spends in excess of N60 billion annually to import sugar, N165 billion goes to the importation of wheat and N105 billion on fish. But importation of cassava or any of its products is inexcusable for Nigeria, because where cassava is concerned; Nigeria is in a class of its own. 

Food is what cassava is mostly used for. Over 800 million people world-wide depend on cassava for food and the consumption in West Africa is more than 120kg per annum/per capita. For more than a decade or so, Nigeria has been exporting cassava chips to the People’s Republic of China under the Presidential Initiative on cassava with plans to engage the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, to ensure that more of the gari consumed in the country is processed by cassava processing companies. 

Catastrophic effect  on agriculture 

It is widely acknowledged that despite the millions of tonnes of cassava being produced in Nigeria, the gari that is made in Togo, Cameroun and other neighbouring countries, is often adjudged better than the one made in Nigeria, hence, some Nigerians tend to opt for foreign gari, but the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) reports that Nigeria’s cassava is superior – based on research.

The comparative advantage of cassava like similar crops in areas where the nation is strong, are subsequently lost. Worse still, there is little or no effort to improve this advantage so that more can be reaped from the natural resource. 

This development is obviously due to the fact that over the decades, governments relegated agriculture in the heyday of the oil boom. This had a catastrophic effect on agriculture that currently gets less than three per cent of the entire national budget. 

The demand for gari and its varieties is increasing geometrically in the country. The importation of gari is expected to worsen an already bad situation if allowed to continue. As the demand is rising the clamour for modern farming and food processing technology as well as the expanding international market for cassava and it processed forms creates bigger openings for bigger business ventures and bigger profits. 

The opportunities that cassava based businesses have are vast but Nigeria has not harnessed them adequately even though the awareness and capacities have been available for several years. Cassava is truly a national food with an urban market presence and a ‘food of choice’ even in the face of alternative food options in urban areas. 

A versatile commodity with numerous uses and by products, cassava consumption is waxing even stronger as it fights to retain its position as a Nigerian food staple with industrial potential.


PEAK MILK LAUNCHES ‘CHEF IN YOU’ CONTEST

Growing up in Nigeria, one of the few times Peak Milk was mentioned was in the morning during breakfast, when tea would be paired along with bread. Well, that has changed with the arrival of 'Pecadomo.'



All hail the queen! In case you're just hearing that, 'Pecadomo' is a creative initiative of using Peak Milk in the preparation of essential meals like rice, pounded yam, fufu, eba, amala, semo, eggs and pap; beyond the conventional bread and tea.

The unique benefit is that consumers don't have to wait till tea time to experience Peak Milk because Pecadomo has helped in situating critical nutrients needed in the body at every culinary touch points. That means your eba, semo or rice could be more nutritious than ever! Wow!!!

However, pecadomo comes with an extra advantage. It empowers individuals to become their own chef! This hence inspired Peak Milk to launch the 'Chef In you contest' which challenges individuals to showcase their culinary side and stand the chance of winning fanciful prizes, ranging from cash to branded paraphernalia.

Participation is simple; just record a one (1) minute video showing you cooking one of your mother's special recipes using Peak Milk Powder in the cooking process. Optionally, the video should show you eating with your mum, and talking about your relationship. Upload the video on the Peak Milk page on Facebook or Instagram, with the hashtag #ChefInYou Contest and tag @PeakMilk (@peak_milk for Instagram. Kindly note that multiple entries are not allowed as either of the same or different Facebook name/Instagram account and would be disqualified if detected.

Tonto Dikeh’s Hubby Signs singer Praiz as His Ambassador

Actress, Tonto Dikeh’s hubby, Olakunle Churchill, has tried not to allow his family challenges affect his business empire as he continues to ensure that things go smoothly as he hopes for bigger opportunities.
Click for Full Image Size
Churchill may have not had things rosy but he still cares for the Nigerian youths and how he can contribute his quota at ensuring that he creates lots of job opportunities in the country and also food supply.

He has just welcomed singer, Praise Adejo, into his foundation as an Ambassador for Agriculture and Mining for the Big Church Green Agriculture and mining 2017 project aimed at empowering 36,000 youths across the country.

According to him, “The Management of Big Church Foundation congratulates Praiz Adejo and welcomes him on board as our Ambassador for Agriculture and Mining for the Big Church Green Agriculture and mining 2017 project aimed at empowering 36,000 youths across the country. 1000 in each of the 36 states of the federation.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you as our Ambassador. His signing is pivotal for the development of a sustainable system that is dedicated to the empowerment of youths in the Agricultural sector e.g Loan schemes, Start Up Resources and Resources that continually helps them to learn and Improve and with his (Praiz) enthusiasm we would definitely make for a positive move forward. Congratulations Praiz.”

Yoruba actor, Femi Adebayo, Holds Secret Wedding



Femi Adebayo, a Nigerian actor and movie producer, on Saturday married Omotayo Sanusi, in a quiet ceremony.

The Yoruba indigenous actor had in attendance, only “immediate family members and very close friends”, says Biodun Adegoke, a celebrity stylist and the actor’s business manager.

Adegoke, in a statement, quoted the actor to have said he decided to marry without the expected fanfare and fuss, in order to protect his wife’s privacy.

“The decision is best for us as I have been on the lane before and my wife has never been. I have to protect her privacy at all cost”, said Adebayo.

Jide Kosoko – How I became a polygamist


Till date, if you ask Jide Kosoko what his only regret is in life, the actor would tell you that it is being a polygamist. However, not many people know how the thespian became a husband to many wives.

While chatting with Saturday Beats, the actor said that he became a polygamist through powers that were beyond his control.

He said, “If I have to be frank, I regret being a polygamist. I must confess. I did not really plan it and it was designed beyond my power because I never planned to marry so many wives.

I first married one wife but she was not part of the job I was doing and in those days, you needed a very trustworthy assistant. That pushed me to marrying the second wife.

I stayed with them until I lost them both eleven months apart in the same scenario – childbirth.”
Kosoko said he wouldn’t have married again but, “A doctor of mine advised against it.

He said I was still young and needed to take a wife. I looked at the situation critically and realised that a lot of my friends were coming to my apartment with their girlfriends and I saw myself as becoming irresponsible and my house was a free house.

Some of those of my friends were married yet they still brought their girlfriends to my house. I felt if I had a wife, all that would not happen so I tried to get another wife.

I was romancing two women with the mind of settling down with one. But eventually, the two entered. That was how I became a polygamist.”

When asked if he would consider giving marriage another shot, Kosoko said it would be madness if he does that.

“It would be madness if at this stage, at 63 years old, I would be thinking of having a new wife. I have over 12 children I am taking care of and I have some of them that are grown up and are taking care of me as well.

My wife died and left me with two teenagers and I have to take care of them,” he said.

Telcos may block Skype, WhatsApp calls, target N20tn revenue


With the economic crisis in the country hitting businesses hard, telecommunication firms are opting for drastic measures to boost revenue, OZIOMA UBABUKOH writes Telecoms companies in the country are hoping to address concerns over revenue loss from international calls and hit a revenue target of N20tn by blocking subscribers from accessing Skype and other Over-the-Top services. The PUNCH learnt on Sunday.

It was reliably gathered that subscribers might also be prevented from performing certain functions like voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Facebook, among other OTT services.

Skype is a proprietary Voice-over Internet Protocol software for calling other people on their computers or mobile phones.

Phone calls using the Skype software can be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks; and calls to other users within the Skype service are free-of-charge, while calls to landline phones though reasonably priced, are charged via a debit-based user account system.

“It is an aggressive approach to stop further revenue loss to OTT players on international calls, having already lost about N100tn between 2012 and 2017,” a manager at one of the major telecos in the country said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the manager said, “If we fail to be pro-active by taking cogent steps now, then there are indications that we may lose between N20tn and N30tn, or so, by the end of 2018.”

The source added that the increasing rise of the OTT players, who provide voice and Short Message Services, or apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, BlackBerry Messenger and Viber, was eating deep into the voice revenue of telecommunications companies in the country by more than 50 per cent.

A United Kingdom-based research and analytics company, Ovum, stated in a report recently that $386bn loss would accrue over a period of six years – between 2012 and 2018 – from Nigerian customers using the OTT voice applications.

“Generally, the main fear of the telecoms operators here will be that customers will increasingly use Skype as a substitute for conventional international calls,” the Principal Analyst at Informa Telecoms and Media, Matthew Reed, said.

Telecoms operators in the country said that international calls made up a critical part of their revenue because of Nigeria’s large expatriate and Diaspora population.

The apprehension over shift from voice call, according to them, is worsened by the steep decline in voice revenue.

The operators stated that at the start, they were looking to offset the fallout of intense competition by closing gaps that were spurring revenue leakage in the business.

They blamed the Nigerian Communications Commission for not properly regulating the sector in order to protect and keep them in business.

But reacting to the development, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said, “We don’t have any evidence of that. We do not regulate the Internet.”

The Managing Director, TechTrends Nigeria, Mr. Kenneth Omeruo, said, “I am not aware of this development but globally, operators and network equipment makers don’t really embrace Skype.

“They liken Skype to an individual who takes undue advantage of other people’s generosity without giving anything in return. Globally, there is this apprehension among telecoms operators that Skype only steals their customers, while they invest billions of dollars to build, expand and upgrade networks.”

Major operators in the country’s $38bn telecoms market such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat said if the NCC failed to take decisive actions, they would keep struggling to counter a trend in which the prices of basic voice and data services were declining.

For instance, MTN Nigeria said that the OTT content services had a “cannibalising effect” on network operators’ voice and data revenue, because they provide “free” services, which duplicate those already provided by network operators such as voice calls and the SMS.

According to the firm, a ready example is WhatsApp, which provides free instant messaging services as an alternative to text messaging services provided by mobile network operators.

“It (WhatsApp) has also launched a free voice service,” the Public Relations and Protocol Manager, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Funso Aina, said, adding, “The point to note in this argument is that the OTTs allow users to send unlimited texts, images, video and audio messages free of charge, using their current data plans.”

According to him, the problem is that these services are provided using network infrastructure of the operators, but without commensurate compensation to operators.

Aina added, “At the same time, they are denying operators of revenue to grow their networks, thereby impacting on service delivery and long-term sustainability.

“For instance, to date, MTN has invested over $15bn in building its network in Nigeria. You can now imagine an OTT leveraging the network to deliver its content without investing a kobo locally. The impact on revenue is huge.

“Furthermore, because these entities are not licensed, and because they have not built any infrastructure locally, they do not have the same costs as the licensed operators.

“They do not pay taxes, they do not employ any people locally, and indeed, they have no local presence whatsoever, meaning they do not make any contribution to our economy and their services are denying those who make contributions of income.”

The MTN public relations manager stated that it was the view held by most within the industry, but noted that “at MTN, we are looking to find win-win solutions for all stakeholders.”

Aina, however, dismissed the allegation that some telecoms operators had continued to dispute a view that they were making enough money from their higher paying data services to offset the loss of voice and messaging revenues.

He explained, “Every service is provided at a cost, and we cannot subsidise one service through revenue from another; so, the argument as to whether loss of revenue from one is being offset by another is really not a fruitful argument.

“The important thing is that services must be produced efficiently and all stakeholders, including our customers, must get fair value for their investments.”

A research showed that in the United Arab Emirate, Etisalat and Du had recently lifted a ban on Skype services.

Both telecoms companies had announced that their subscribers could now download the application online and make Skype-to-landline or mobile calls, which were not previously permitted.

Many telecoms operators worldwide, including some companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Spain, prohibit their mobile phone customers from downloading Skype’s software, or outlaw the use of voice over the Internet phone services in their standard sales contracts.
Other carriers have imposed fees to undermine Skype’s attraction. Moreover, barriers to Skype software and similar Internet calling services are coming under increasing scrutiny as the Internet goes mobile.

In 2013, the number of Internet-ready mobile phones surpassed the number of computers in the world for the first time, according to Gartner, a research firm.

Source: Punch News