Gov. Umar Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, has approved the release of N300 million for the payment of gratuity to retirees and death benefits to families of deceased civil servants in the state. Mr Thomas Ogiri, the Head of Service (HoS) in the state, made this disclosure while addressing newsmen on Monday in Lafia. Ogiri explained that the fund was sourced from the Paris club remittance fund which accrued to the state. He said the gesture was to alleviate the sufferings and pains of citizens in view of the current economic realities. According to Ogiri, beneficiaries include, widows and widowers, the…
Author: David Folami
The Donald Trump administration has completed plans to sell Nigeria high-tech aircraft to combat the Boko Haram menace in the war ravaged northeast region of Nigeria. According to the Associated Press, the US Congress is expected to receive formal notification from the executive within weeks, regarding the sale. The arrangement will call for Nigeria to purchase up to 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft with sophisticated targeting gear for nearly $600 million, one unnamed official in the Trump presidency, told AP. The U.S has been wary of selling weapons to Nigeria in the past, owing to fears over human rights…
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala says he’s not looking to be “the new Messi,” playing down comparisions between him and his fellow Argentine ahead of his side’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Barcelona. “People should know that I am Dybala and I want to continue to be so,” the Juventus forward told Italian daily La Repubblica. “I understand the comparisons and expectations on me from the Argentines, but I don’t want to be the new Messi or the Messi of the future. “There is only one Messi, like [Diego] Maradona. No one has ever told me that I am his heir.”…
We have reached the business end of the Champions League, and there’s a tasty-looking quarterfinals in store. Barcelona, fresh from their incredible, miracle comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, face Juventus in their first leg, while attack is likely to be the order of the day in Monaco vs. Borussia Dortmund. And then there’s Leicester — yes, Leicester! — in the last eight and facing a trip to last year’s finalists Atletico Madrid. The Foxes saw off Sevilla in the round of 16 — can they upset the odds again here? Completing the ties, European royalty face off as 11-time winners Real…
When the end of the season rolls in, Jose Mourinho, far from the cameras, will doubtless conduct a very intense and private inquest. The main question will be just what went wrong. How, in a season which featured 21 unbeaten league games and counting, his team transpired to be so far from title contention? During that reflection, he may ponder how the Europa League, which was probably no more than an afterthought in August, has recently become this season’s last real chance of redemption. Though he is of course no fool, there is a very good chance that he underestimated…
MTV Base is set for a new season of Lip Sync Battle Africa, with a face-off between dancehall king Patoranking and Chocolate City first lady Victoria Kimani. According to the producers, the second season of the show promises more more mic drops, more shade thrown and more sultry poses for viewers to savour as celebrities and entertainers from Nigeria and across the continent dance, dab and diss to a soundtrack of chart-topping hits – all while striving to earn the Lip Sync Battle Africa winner’s belt. For the new season, more than 30 of the continent’s hottest celebrities and entertainers…
Celebrity couple, Funke Akindele and her husband, JJC Skillz hosted friends and colleagues to a backyard party. The duo threw a little party at their mansion in Lekki, Lagos over the weekend. JJC Skillz children who are currently on vacation in Nigeria were also in attendance. JJC Skillz shared some photos on his Instagram page with the caption, “The Bellos at my birthday house party fun times with family and friends another surprising day full of fun and dance God bless you queen for putting together such an awesome experience.”
Soulja Boy has gotten a plea deal for a weapons charge from December last year. The hip-hop star was initially charged with two different felonies for weapons possessions, but the charges were later dropped. TMZ reports the plea deal includes five years probation and 240 days of community labour, but will still allow Soulja Boy to travel outside of the country for work. The ‘Kiss me through the phone’ star will also not be allowed to be in possession of any weapons, including replica or toy guns. Recall that Soulja Boy was arrested for violating his probation, flashing guns and…
Actress, Yvonne Jegede has set the record straight for curious fans by insisting that her brain is her main asset, not her breast. She also replied doubters who think her big bust was a result of an enlargement surgery, stating that she has always possessed attractive boobs. Speaking in an interview with Punch News, she said, “Many people feel my big boobs are my selling point, but it is my brain. “As for the people insinuating that I did surgery to enlarge my boobs, I have always been this way. “People who know me from way back will confirm that…
After two years of embarking on the journey to transitioning from male to female, Caitlyn Jenner is finally a woman following a successful sex reassignment surgery, RadarOnline reports. Jenner’s penis has been replaced with a vaginal and she says she feels “liberated.” It was gathered that the 67-year-old celebrity transgender would tell the world about the final surgery in her upcoming memoir, “The Secrets of My Life”. “The surgery was a success, and I feel not only wonderful but liberated,” Jenner reportedly wrote in the memoir,which is due for release on April 25. Jenner, a former Olympic champion, reportedly had…
Celebrity blogger and fashion enthusiast, Noble Igwe, has confirmed the birth of his baby girl. Noble on Saturday, April 8, 2017, was a guest at Miss Vimbai’s “Celebrating Milestones with Miss Vimbai” where he made the revelation. Noble who got married to Chioma Otisi back in June last year said he welcomed a little girl called Jasmine in January this year. According to him, “My wife and I welcomed a little girl called Jasmine in January.” Noble Igwe and Chioma Otisi’s marriage reached the one year mark on March 28 2017. Recall that the couple had one of the literally…
Mr Victor Shidok, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), on Monday in Abuja said there was no plan to increase the price of petrol. Shidok said this at a joint news briefing with the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Alhaji Ahmed Bobboi. Represented by the agency’s General Manager Operations, Mr Supo Agbaje, Shidok insisted that the increase of N1 in bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20 for petroleum marketers would have no effect on the price of petrol. Also known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), there had been panic buying since…
Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has promised to uncover hidden treasures in the Southern part of the state. Akeredolu made the promise in Akure on Monday during the inauguration of the board of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC). He said his administration was resolute in addressing the various socio-economic challenges facing the people of the area. The governor also said his administration had initiated programmes aimed at fostering comprehensive development to enhance the living condition of people of the area. He, therefore, advised the people to cooperate with the new chairman of the commission to…
Ahead of the planned working visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Adamawa, the State Government has announced the diversion of traffic on some major roads in Jimeta-Yola, the state capital. Mr Martins Dickson, Special Assistant, Press and Media Affairs to Gov. Mohammed Bindow said this in a statement on Monday in Yola. The governor said that the restriction, which was to take effect on Monday, affected the Numan road around Faro junction and Gumti road leading to Jambutu from Faro. He appealed to residents and road users to exercise patience and cooperate with security agents during the period. The…
The House of Representatives on Monday summoned Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged 17 billion dollars undeclared oil proceeds. Summoned with Magu are Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele. They are expected to appear on Tuesday before the House’s Ad hoc Committee investigating the alleged theft of the oil funds. Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, announced the invitation of the three persons at the opening of the investigation on Monday in Abuja, following the…
Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan was reportedly blocked from accessing her newly unfrozen bank account. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos had last Thursday issued an order unfreezing Mrs Jonathan’s account in the Skye Bank, which contains $5.8million. It was learnt that on Monday, April 10, Mrs. Jonathan, alongside her aides went to the Skye bank’s Maitama, Abuja, branch to withdraw from the account, but she was not granted access on the ground that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a stay of execution of the court order. Citing a source at the…
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has made public his monthly salary, allowances, and security votes. El-Rufai revealed his pay slip on Monday, April 10, in response to a challenge from the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara. The details, which was released by the Governor’s media aide, Samuel Aruwan, shows that he earns N470, 521.74 monthly after total deduction. Income Basic Salary; N185,308.75, Hardship Allowance; N370,617.50, Gross Pay; N555,926.25, PAYE; N85,404.5, Total Deduction; N85,401.51, Net Pay; N470,521.74. The Governor’s security votes for 2017 is N4.556bn. This includes procurement & Installation of CCTV Cameras for Monitoring and Surveillance,…
Jamie Carragher pulled no punches in his assessment of Arsenal on Monday night, calling Arsene Wenger’s side “cowards” after their 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace. The result had Arsenal’s away fans chanting “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” near the end of the game at Selhurst Park, and former Liverpool defender Carragher took the players to task for a lack of effort, “The best description of the players was two years ago, from [fellow Liverpool legend] Graeme Souness. He said they’re a team of son in laws,” the Sky Sports pundit said. “But what father would want his daughter…
The president of the Argentine Football Association officially announced the dismissal of Edgardo Bauza as national team coach on Monday night. “Bauza is no longer the coach of the national team,” Claudio Tapia told reporters. The move had widely been expected following Argentina’s defeat to Bolivia last month, and we reported on March 31 that the AFA would sack Bauza after less than a year in charge. The official announcement was delayed while the federation worked out financial details with Bauza, whose contract had been set to run until 2018 if Argentina qualifies for the World Cup. But that is…
Claudio Ranieri has denied player power lost him his job as Leicester manager, saying they did not “kill” him. The swing in Leicester’s form after Ranieri’s exit — new boss Craig Shakespeare won his first six games — added fuel to reports that the players had forced their title-winning manager out, but he refuses to believe them. Speaking for the first time since the sacking, he said on Sky Sports: “I don’t believe rumours the players spoke to the Leicester owners about sacking me. “The players got to experience something totally different. In pre-season they played against big teams, went…