The effect of insecurity on the Nigerian economy

Nigeria’s nominal Gross Domestic Product, GDP, now stands at $509.9 billion, making the nation’s economy the largest in Africa and the 26th in the world, according to the results of the rebasing exercise of the federal government.

The GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. It is an internationally recognised indicator for measuring the size of an economy in a given period of time. 15years-of-demo

Boy confesses to razing houses in Borno village for N2,000

A young man, named, Ibrahim Tilitili was said to have been paid the sum of two thousand Naira (N2,000), to burn down few houses at Mandara Girau village in Biu local government area of Borno state.

Ibrahim, Chibok by tribe and resident of Mandara Girau village confessed that one Mallam Sani also a resident of the Village gave him the amount and instructed him to set some of the houses in the village on fire.

Jonathan’s Democracy Day Speech

1.I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country.

2.Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
President Goodluck Jonathan

D’banj in France for the 2014 world music awards

Dbanj is currently in Monaco to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix & is seen balling with international stars including Newcastle United’s manager.

Churches, Mosques Now to Pay Tax - CONFAB Delegates

DELEGATES at the on- going National Conference  Tuesday voted that henceforth, Churches and Mosques will be paying tax to the federal government, just as they also agreed that Federal and state governments should no longer fund Christian and Muslim pilgrimages to the Holy  lands.

5 More Abducted Chibok Schoolgirls Escape

Five of the abducted Chibok girls have reportedly escaped from their captor, the Boko Haram insurgents.

One escaped recently while four others escaped last week but it was not made public in the interest of their safety.

The National Chairman of the Kibaku Area Development Association, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, who confirmed the news refused to reveal the identity of the girl who recently escaped, saying it could endanger her life.

Dr. Pogu was quoted as saying, "The girl is currently at a location I cannot disclose. But I can assure you that she is safe," while also revealing that four others escaped last week.

Also confirming the news, TheCable’s standby source in Chibok said it is true that one girl escaped.

After over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from Chibok, Borno state, some of them managed to escape and have since been re-united with their families.

Some have spoken to journalist, narrating their terrible ordeal in the Sambisa forest.

Gunmen Attacks Benue state University, Rape 20 Female Students

 

Some persons suspected to be cult members, on Sunday, invaded the female hostel of Benue State University, Makurdi, rapping no fewer than 20 female students in the process.
It was gathered that the gang members stormed the Technical Block of the female hostel about 10.00pm, beating and molesting the girls, before carting away their valuables.
It was reported  that armed men successfully carried out the operation without interference by the university security operatives .

Would You Allow Your Daughter To Wear A Leggings Out? Qatar Thinks Not!

With the 2020 Olympics approaching, Qatar has started laying down some house rules for intended oloshos and guests that will be visiting the country, one of the most controversial ones are for ladies not to wear leggings in public, I kinda agree firmly with this one, I mean how does a well cultured woman go out in leggings? is it to get air into the military zone? Its a thumbs up for me, what do you think?

Police Detain Three Women For Fighting In Public Over A Man

The biblical prediction that in the last days, seven women will cling to one man seems to be playing out already as three women, Joy Morkoha, 37, Blessing Ugboh, 26 and Tina Osakwe, 25 have been remanded in prison for fighting in public over a man.




Their fate followed the orders of  Mrs F.O. Abegunde of the Ijeshatedo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, western Nigeria.
They were arrested by the police at Shobowale Street Ilasa, Lagos and charged with disturbing public peace.

"We Were Stopped From Attacking Boko Haram Members By Our Commander" - Soldier

A Nigerian soldier currently serving in Borno state has alleged that members of the Boko Haram attacked Gamboru Ngala in their presence but that their commander instructed them not to repel the insurgents.

Fashion Madness from Ghana Meets Naija Concert 2014

Last night’s much talked about Ghana Meets Naija mega concert was one of a kind—with great performances which patrons enjoyed through out…

Another Bomb Goes Off Near Football Viewing Center In Jos, Plateau State

Less than a week after multiple explosion killed over 200 people in Jos, the Plateau State capital, another round of explosion has gone off in the city Saturday night, residents and a security official say.

American Idol Season 13 Finale Recap

Jena Irene or Caleb Johnson? That was the primary question looming over tonight’s American Idol Season 13 finale, but it certainly wasn’t the only one.

Other crucial debates you might’ve had with your Idol viewing club:
Related: The Fabulous Life of Jay Z and Beyoncé, A Must Watch Video
1. What was more abyssmal: J.Lo’s vocals or her scanty blue Chistmas-tinsel dress during her performance of her new single “First Love”? (Trick question: The International Court of Justice at The Hague determined that what comes out of J.Lo’s mouth when the beat drops does not qualify as singing! #UhHuhIWentThere)

John Legend Sings ‘All of Me’ During Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's Wedding Reception

It started with Lana Del Rey performing three songs at the couple's wedding rehearsal at the Palace of Versailles in France on Friday night. The next day, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the bride as she walked down the isle at Fort di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. And later that evening, the newly married couple danced to John Legend singing his Billboard Hot 100 hit “All of Me.”

Arsenal need the right striker to get the best out of 'devastating' Ozil - Lahm

The Germany playmaker received plenty of criticism during his first season in England but his international team-mate says that he needs a top-class forward to play behind
EXCLUSIVE
By Thomas Unsworth

Philipp Lahm is confident that Mesut Ozil will be "devastating" for Arsenal next season - if the club can sign the right striker this summer.

Ozil lifted his first silverware as a Gunners player on Saturday when his side beat Hull City in the FA Cup final at Wembley but his debut season in English football was marked by widespread criticism.

Following some below-par displays over Christmas and into the New Year, the €50 million signing was accused of lacking fight in some quarters but Bayern Munich utility man Lahm says that the playmaker's talent is obvious and just needs to be properly exploited.

"Anybody who has played with Mesut will tell you how intelligent he is as a player," Lahm told Goal. "His vision is probably the best I have ever seen and that is why it is so important to have the right striker ahead of him.

"He is a dream for strikers and you saw that with [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Karim] Benzema when he was at Madrid. If Arsenal can find the right striker who is fast and makes intelligent runs - then Mesut will be devastating next season."



Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was criticised by many of the club's fans for his failure to sufficiently bolster his squad in January, leaving France striker Olivier Giroud unchallenged as the only quality striker on the books.

Yaya Sanogo has failed to make a positive impact since being introduced to the side after Christmas, while Wenger has lost patience with Nicklas Bendtner following the Dane's latest controversial off-pitch incident.

Wenger sent scouts to assess Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa earlier in the season but the Frenchman will not be following up that interest with a summer bid. The Brazil-born Spain international has agreed a deal to join Chelsea.

Mom of Boy Killed Inside 'Poison Hotel Room' Launches Foundation

A South Carolina mother whose son died from noxious gas poisoning inside the so-called “poison hotel room” has launched a foundation with her family to get carbon monoxide detectors in every home and hotel room.

“What it means to me the most is just to get information to people of the importance of having detectors,” Jeannie Williams told ABC News. “If you have any kind of gas appliance or heating, detectors should be there to be safe and protect your family.”

RELATED: Poison Hotel Room: Mother Speaks for First Time Since Son's Death

In June 2013, Williams and her 11-year-old son Jeffrey Williams, from Rock Hill, S.C., were incapacitated by carbon monoxide while staying in Room 225 at the Blue Ridge Plaza Best Western Hotel in Boone, N.C.. Jeffrey died from the noxious gas poisoning.

The state launched an investigation after the young boy’s death and discovered that an elderly couple who had died while staying in Room 225 a few weeks before the Williams’ stay also had lethal levels of carbon monoxide in their blood. The case around the “poison hotel room” gained national attention.

Investigators eventually determined that the hotel pool heater's exhaust pipe was damaged and said it was leaking lethal levels of carbon monoxide from its location in the drop ceiling just below Room 225.

Hotel manager Damon Mallatare has since been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths and with assault inflicting serious bodily injury for harming Jeannie. Mallatare said he had no knowledge of the damaged pipe until the state's investigation and pleaded not guilty. Three other employees of Mallatare’s hotel management company have also been barred from plumbing, heating or fire sprinkler contracting work by a Superior Court judge.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, The Jeffrey Lee Williams Foundation’s launch marks a milestone in the Williams’ family saga since last year's tragedy.

“Since Jeffrey's death we received letters from people all over the country who have had similar instances where they've lost loved ones due to carbon monoxide in hotel rooms,” Jeffrey’s father Jeffrey Williams Sr. told ABC News. “It's my duty to make sure that his short life that was cut short by numerous people's negligence, that his father puts the effort into make sure that other people don't have to deal with the same thing.”

Through her family’s work, Jeanne Williams said the University of South Carolina in Columbia is equipping each of their dorm rooms with detectors.

Williams said she and her family also have plans to speak at public events in the future, including the South Carolina State Fire Marshal Conference.

“We still have lots more to do,” she said. “I just know that Jeffrey would be excited about it and would have wanted the same thing, to support this if it had happened to someone else.”

Challenges Await Pope Francis as He Embarks on Mideast Trip

Pope Francis says this weekend's trip to the Holy Land is "strictly religious" - "[a] pilgrimage of prayer," he called it - but it will also be a huge political and even physical challenge for him.

Starting on Saturday, Francis, 77, will visit three separate lands - Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Israel.

In a little more than 48 hours, he will say two Masses; give 13 speeches; have meetings with dignitaries and refugees; and greet thousands of people in several motorcades.

Related: Pope Francis wants to #bringourgirlsback.

.

It will be a grueling journey for a man who lost part of his lung as a boy. And there have been some concerns about Francis' health. He canceled several events in recent months because of fatigue or illness.

In a stunning move, he will ride in an open car, unprotected by bulletproof glass, during the trip.

The Vatican flag, raised over a Palestinian refugee camp alongside the Palestinian flag, is a sign that Pope Francis will inevitably be drawn into the old conflicts here.

"This is the cross that we bear as Palestinians," said John Hanna of the Holy Land Ecumenical Foundation.

Staying clear of politics will be one thing for the pontiff but there will be no avoiding a lockdown security operation currently in Jerusalem.

Shops throughout the old city will be shut down and sealed. The owners are not happy and said the pope's visit was bad for business.

"We're not allowed to open the stores," Adan Dakkar said.

But Pope Francis will be trying to break through the political and security barriers to reach people with a message of hope.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey Suspects Some VA Allegations Will Be Proven True

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff believes some of the allegations of malfeasance plaguing the Department of Veteran's Affairs - the very organization meant to offer care to veterans - will be proven true, and if so, those individuals responsible need to held to accountable.

"Well, it is outrageous, if the allegations actually are documented and proven, and I suspect some of them will be," Gen. Martin Dempsey told ABC's Martha Raddatz during an exclusive interview for "This Week." "They've got to be held accountable. I think that [Eric] Ric Shinseki has made it very clear that they will be held accountable."

Dempsey said that embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, a retired, four-star general, would not be exempt from potential consequences.

"At some point, you know, the chief executive, the chairman, whoever it is, has to take responsibility for the entire organization and its performance," Dempsey said.

Multiple VA hospitals are under investigation for allegedly attempting to cover up long delays in treatment for veterans. The allegations have caused a political firestorm.

Dempsey on Memorial Day

Dempsey also talked about what Memorial Day meant to him.

"In a couple of weeks we'll celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landing, 25,000 lost in one day. But what it reminds me of is that history will repeat itself on the issue of conflict," he said. "The issues that are beginning to be resolved are not ending … We're going to have a challenge with extremism in the unsettled and ungoverned spaces that run from, you know, Afghanistan to Nigeria for a very long time."

20 Contenders for 2014's Song of Summer 2014

What will be this year's "Blurred Lines" or "Call Me Maybe" — the most inescapable song of the summer? Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has two prime contenders: her own smash "Fancy" and Ariana Grande's "Problem," on which she is featured. The 23-year-old newcomer may very well wind up with two of the top five songs of summer 2014. She would be the first female solo artist to accomplish that feat.

Katy Perry, who had the top song of the summer for both 2008 ("I Kissed a Girl") and 2010 ("California Gurls") is back in the running with her new song, "Birthday." Snoop Dogg, who was featured on "California Gurls," is the hunt with another song on which he is featured, Jason Derulo's "Wiggle."

Here are 20 leading candidates to become this year's song of the summer. (I omitted songs that have already been riding the chart for more than 12 weeks.) At the end of each entry, I show where the song ranks this week.

.

Girl Killed by Train During Heated Argument With Her Father

Brittney Silva was tragically hit and killed by an Amtrak train as she walked on train tracks near her home in San Leandro, California. Brittney was talking on her cell phone when this horrible accident occurred at Hesperian Boulevard at 5:55 on Monday evening. An eyewitness attempted to warn her but she could not hear because she had ear buds in both of her ears.
Brittney had been using her earphones while engaging in a heated argument with her father as she walked on the tracks toward home. She was no stranger to the danger that could occur on train tracks because the Amtrak trains passed by her home every day. According to Brian Crist, her stepfather, the teen was distracted and upset. She had gotten lost in the escalated conversation.
Witnesses told police that the crossing arms of the railroad had functioned properly at the time the accident took place. The southbound Capitol Corridor train stopped several hundred yards after hitting the girl and none of the 83 passengers aboard the train were hurt. Brittney’s body was found 50 yards south of the tracks. The pink phone her stepfather had bought her was found close by.
Cynthia Silva, Brittney’s mother, said she has told her children over and over again to keep one ear bud in and one out so that they can hear what is going on around them. Cynthia said this goes for all of the kids out there walking down the street either talking on the phone or listening to music. She believes if her daughter had listened and did what she said, she would have heard the train coming down the tracks.
The teen’s younger sister, Melody, said everyone loved Brittney. She was very nice, respectful and always gave her great

Ladies, Can You Rock This Kind Of dress Just To Be Noticed?

 

Ladies these days think the only way they could trend is by going out dressed like a mad woman exposing some vital parts of their body and this trend is getting more

popular these days that younger women now feel that it is the correct way of doing things, this is absolutely very wrong. See what these two ladies are wearing and speak your mind.
If you are a lady can you dress like this? if you are a guy can you allow your girlfriend to dress like this? check out the photos below and say your mind.

Kalu Uche’s Wife Shares New Stunning Beach Photos!

Wife of the Nigerian forward Kalu Uche took to social media to share new photos of herself chilling out in a big company, together with her beloved star husband.


This is what Stephanie wrote in the caption to her photos:

Behind The Scenes Pictures From Zen Photo Shoot With The CEO Dancers

Here are a few behind the scene shots from ZenMagazineAfrica photo shoot with the CEO dancers. The CEO dancers are made up of Ezinne Asinugo, Soliat Bada and Nqobilé Ntshangase. They are Africa’s hottest female dancers and are presently one of the most popular in the UK after their run on Simon Cowell’s Talent show Britain’s Got Talent.

She’s hot and sexy, do you agree? Check out pictures of Dillish Matthews

After her victory on BBA House, Dillish hasn’t stopped pushing that’s why Mr Flavour never sets his eye off her. The famous and beautiful star decided to share this sexy pictures of hers to remind us what she still looks like.. What do you think about the pictures below..

Former Malawian Minister commits suicide after losing election

A former Deputy Minister of Local Government, Godfrey Kamanya (pictured above) reportedly committed suicide today May 22nd, barely a day after the Malawi elections results started filtering in showing that he'd lost the parliamentary seat he was competing for in the 2014 Tripartite elections.

Behind The Scenes Pictures From Zen Photo Shoot With The CEO Dancers

Hearing the moving story of Isiuwe Daniel Isiwoso, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member currently serving at the State House would move the stone hearted to pity.

At 14 years, by either fate or design, his collision with a man leaving the Mosque after Jumat prayer led to  his blindness and it  almost ruined his lofty ambitions.

Clash of the Titans! UCL Final: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid [24/05/2014]

 

Atletico Madrid are in search of their second trophy in Lisbon at 7:45pm after clinching the La Liga through a superb run of performances. They are likely to be without their star striker Diego Costa, Nevertheless, Simeone is confident his players are prepared for the challenge that lies ahead.

50cent explains why he didn't attend his son's high school graduation

A week after he was criticized for not attending his oldest son's high school graduation, rapper 50cent says there's a good reason why he wasn't there. He said aside from not being invited, he was busy at a movie location...

In an appearance on BET's 106 and Park yesterday, 50 Cent explains;

FALSE ALARM ON POLICE RECRUITMENT FORM

The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to the activities of some faceless and spurious groups, who had been trying to deceive the public into believing that the Commission is recruiting Cadet Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Police, and in the process extorting money from them through sales of recruitment forms.

These Twins Aren't Conjoined, But They Have Shared Everything.. Including A Boyfriend (VIDEO)

Upon hearing the remarkable story of adopted identical twins Amy and Becky Glass, 46, from New Jersey, you might think they are conjoined.

Update On The Woman Who Turned Into A Bird In Lagos

This elderly woman escaped lynching on Wednesday after she was said to have turned into a human from a bird that was flying with two other birds in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State. Mystery!

An eyewitness, Chike, said he was sitting in front of a compound with his girlfriend when they saw three black birds flying. He the birds were involved in a fight and as he was watching, suddenly, one of them fell into a moving van belonging to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company while the other two flew away.

“The bird suddenly turned to an old woman of about 80. People were shocked as they saw the woman rolling on the road and blood gushing out from her forehead.

The Latest Fashion For Ladies

This must be "Show Me Your Hips Dress" or what do you think!

Girl forced to watch father, brother killed by Boko Haram tells her story

Deborah Peter was 12 years old when gunmen from the Nigerian terrorist group burst into her home in northern Nigeria and shot dead her father, a Christian pastor, and her 14-year- old brother Caleb, and then forced her to lie with their corpses.

She was attacked in 2011, well before Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 250 schoolgirls and young women in April finally drew international attention and condemnation.

More investment is on its way coming to Nigeria

The United States Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Penny Pritzker, Thursday, said more US investments are coming into Nigeria, describing the country as a destination of choice for American investors.

Pritzke, who disclosed this during a bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, in Lagos, said Nigeria currently has enormous investment opportunities which US investors were willing to explore.

Mexico coach bans WAGs at W/Cup

Mexico national coach Miguel Herrera has banned all his players from indulging in love making, alcohol or smoking at next month’s World Cup, insisting they are not in Brazil “to party”.

Herrera, whose team has been drawn in a difficult group alongside Croatia, Cameroon and hosts Brazil, wants his squad to remain focused at the task at hand.

Chibok schoolgirls sighted in Chad

The location of the abducted girls — North-East of Kukawa —  opens a new insight into the logistic orientation of Boko Haram, responsible for thousands of deaths in a five-year long insurgency.
President Goodluck Jonathan said the group had killed at least 12,000 people so far. This figure did not include the hundreds killed in a car bomb, Tuesday, in Jos and the about 10 murdered on Sunday in Kano in a suicide bombing.

United Nations blacklists Boko Haram as terror group

US ambassador Samantha Power hailed the move as “an important step” in support of Nigeria’s efforts “to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities.” The United Nations blacklisted and imposed sanctions on Boko Haram as an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group Thursday, a month after it claimed the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls.

2nd Jos Bomb Blast Captured On Camera…

A local television station in Nigeria captures the moment a second bomb ripped through a bustling bus terminal and market frequented by thousands of people in Nigeria’s central city of Jos.

I can’t wear skimpy dresses again' – Mercy Johnson

Well known for her skimpy and sexy dress sense, Mercy Johnson Okogie says getting married has influenced her style positively and that she laughs when looks back at some of the dresses she wore before she got married.

Grinning Wenger and touchscreen toys

When referee Lee Probert blew his whistle for the last time on Saturday at Wembley, he effectively ended the 2013/14 season in terms of competitive football for England’s top clubs.

The all-Premier League FA Cup final had come to an end and we were left to contemplate a match that had accurately reflected the league season that ended six days earlier: surprising, wide-open, occasionally controversial and ultimately decided by some stunning individual skill which helped a fading giant of a club rediscover its mojo.

Drenched in champagne, grinning uncontrollably, Arsene Wenger celebrated in a way we hadn’t seen for… well, for nine years. Silverware was finally heading for their Emirates Stadium and for once we weren’t left debating whether a top four finish really should represent a successful season for the Gunners.

It’s important to remember, however, that Arsenal actually spent more time (128 days) at the top of the Barclays Premier League table this season than any other club – without ever really looking like winning it once February rolled around. That tells us something about Arsenal, but more about the brilliance of the title race: the lead changed hands 25 times and we went into the last week of the season with three teams capable of winning, into the last round with two in the hunt.

Okay, so it was a brilliant season. That much you have heard over and over. So here are a few final thoughts on 2013/2014, based on comments and opinions I heard uttered in our studio during the season both on- and off-air.

No-one begrudged Manchester City the title. Forget all the hypocritical talk elsewhere of the club “winning the lottery” and its breaches of spurious Financial Fair Play rules, pundits take City for what they are: a wealthy club but one which nonetheless can be difficult to manage due to raised expectations. Manuel Pellegrini is universally admired but very few, if any, of the pundits would have chosen him as their manager of the season because they felt he had superb options at his disposal in terms of strikers and the remarkable Yaya Toure.

In truth, most of the people who sat opposite or alongside me wanted Liverpool to win. Some had played with or against Steven Gerrard and wanted to see him lift the trophy. Others were old enough to remember the glory days at Anfield and nostalgically yearned for a return to them. The majority simply thought Liverpool had played the best football.

Just one note of caution: while Liverpool’s return to the Champions League stage has to be a good thing, our pundits, to a man, expressed reservations about their ability to defend properly in that competition. They must buy well defensively this summer.

In my opinion, the best thing about the season just gone was that I got to sit and watch the experts use our touchscreen analytical “toys” to examine the ways in which the managers of teams like Liverpool, Everton and Southampton were producing exciting, flexible attacking football. I’ll be honest and admit I get a bit fed up seeing goals being deconstructed simply from the perspective of defensive failings.

This refreshing emphasis on attacking flair took Liverpool’s football to a level not seen since Fernando Torres was at his best. Liverpool’s return to eminence also added greater edge to the traditional rivalries with Manchester United and Everton as well as their more recent one with Chelsea. Thus, the league as a whole benefited.

But for his tactical masterclass at the Etihad in orchestrating Chelsea’s win over Manchester City, Jose Mourinho didn’t get a lot of love from the experts on his return to the Premier League. They expected more from him.

It was also another season that saw club owners continue to push the panic button and sack managers at an alarming rate. A positive by-product of this phenomenon was our ability to get the likes of Tony Pulis and Malky Mackay into the studio for guest punditry stints.

Viewers clamored for Sir Alex Ferguson to make an appearance (and even David Moyes in the immediate aftermath of his sacking) but these things really aren’t as simple to arrange as that. Without a doubt, the most impressive addition to our punditry roster was Roberto Martinez, whose tactical insight and ability to “telestrate” or “touchscreen” his thoughts made him a brilliant guest.

The most frustrating period of the season came when our very own Alan Curbishley went to Fulham to advise them but was powerless to prevent a series of disastrous decisions by the club and two of its three (three!) managers this season. Having worked with Alan for many years now, I knew that he knew exactly what was needed (and which players had to be bought) to save Fulham from the drop but instead they threw £11 million away on Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou when Shane Long was available and willing to join them.

This past weekend, for the first time in what seemed like ages, I was at home watching football rather than talking about it. A few fans got in touch saying how they missed us and wondered how they were going to get though the summer.

Thank you, that’s very flattering. Well, the good news for me is that I will be back in a TV studio, discussing line-ups and tactics very soon. I will be anchoring SupertSport’s Fifa World Cup coverage from their studios in Johannesburg this summer and African viewers can also expect to see one or two familiar faces from our Premier League broadcasts popping up on screen.

With as many as 130 players from Premier League clubs likely to be involved in Brazil, I will feel very much at home. But the beauty of a World Cup is the way in which it takes us on a football journey into the unknown and I can’t wait to embark on that journey with you guys in a couple of weeks. See you there!

“Stealing Is Not Corruption” – ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta recently agreed to a statement made by President Jonathan during his May 4th media chat that, stealing is not corruption. According to the him, most acts credited to corruption have no relationship with stealing.

The ICPC chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, said this when a delegation from the Council for the Regulation of Engi neering in Nigeria visited the commission in Abuja to forge inter-agency partnership against corruption. Nta noted that most Nigerians, including the educated, did not quite understand what constituted corruption and stressed that it was wrong to classify theft as such.
While addressing members of  the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Mr Nta said there is a difference between stealing and corruption  and it is wrong to classify theft as corruption. He said that we should refer back to what we were taught about stealing and corruption in school

    “Stealing is erroneously reported as corruption. We must go back to what we were taught at school to show that there are educated people in Nigeria. We must address issues as we were taught in school to do”.

Jim Iyke Trades Words with Friends Over Failed Relationship with Nadia Buari

Few days after the sweet love affair between Nigerian actor Jim Iyke and Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari crashed, the Anambra born entertainer has started trading words with friends, accusing them of being responsible for the breakup of his relationship with Nadia. One of such persons is US based singer, Emma Agu, who Jim is accusing of being the mastermind behind the break up. According to Emma, Jim called him early today and accuse him of being responsible of his failed relationship with Nadia, insisting he let the cat out of the bag concerning his trip to US to visit his acclaimed ex-girl friend, Keturah Hamilton, after lying to Nadia that he traveled to Miami. Please read the entire gists below…

Emma aired his grievances this way:

”The most sickest creep and a criminal that walk the face of the earth (Jim Iyke) called me some minutes ago and called me all kinds of names. He is accusing me of destroying his relationship with Nadia Bauri.

“This overrated son of a bitch with his amateurish acting skills thinks his name can bring any good to a writer or a blogger. The man with a tainted name, a rogue who has burnt every bridge he stepped on is trying to hold me responsible for whatever misfortune that has befallen him in the last 72 hours.

“So this montebank sneaked into New York around 5am 3 days ago and did everything to keep it a top secret until the bubble bust right in front of him. When I got the hint that James was in Keturah’s house, I thought Keturah was lying. The girl said James came claiming that his relationship with Nadia Bauri was over. She also said james (Jim) came to pick her up for Nigeria. I told her this guy might be lying.

“As a brother and one this crook calls ‘a confidante,’ I sent him an email which he never replied. He wanted to make sure Keturah never told me about his arrival to the extent he threw me under the bus. He lied against me and told Keturah stuff that got both of us into a heated argument. So I smelt a rat and decided to find out from Ghana who is telling the truth.

“When I got in touch with Nadia’s manager, he maintained that Nadia was aware Jim went to Miami and insisted that he (Jim) was no way near Keturah’s house.

“Nadia’s manager subsequently called him, he lied that he was in Miami. I was on the phone with Keturah Hamilton when Nana( Nadia’s manager) sent me a text message saying Jim was in Miami.

“I never believed Keturah that Jim was in her house until she showed me a proof. It became very apparent that Jim iyke lied to both Keturah Hamilton and Nadia Bauri. Nadia Bauri decided to pull the plug off their ever restless relationship.

“Some hours ago, Jim called to insult me. Saying maybe I want to be famous. This writer started enjoying limelight, stardom and fame while Jim was maybe in Secondary School. He said I was the only man on earth he respected till today.

“I have him on tape and will play it to my world audience by 8AM New York time, which should be 1PM Nigerian Time. I need everyone out there to listen and find out why Jim Iyke should be taken off the streets. The guy can never change. That deliverance by TB Joshua never worked. It was a fluke.

“This guy is bipolar , a psycho who needs to see a doctor. I will get him arrested for making threats to my life. There’s a huge difference between living in America and Nigeria. I will teach him how to live in America.
For everyone’s information, Jim Iyke is babysitting Keturah Hamilton’s dog while she is in LA with her lover.

“I have been expecting Keturah to give me the number with which Jim called since he blocked his number when he called. I will track him down right away.

“This guy is a monumental disappointment, fraudster, liar and a cheat. Why is he so mad? The reason is simple. He is looking for a scapegoat. Jim should hold himself responsible for whatever happened to his relationship with Nadia Buari. On the other hand, Keturah Hamilton is no more available. The girl has moved on.

Nadia Buari Allegedly Dumps Jim Iyke Over Anger Issues

Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari has reportedly ended her engagement/relationship to Nollywood bad boy, Jim Iyke. According to the report by GhanaCelebrities.com, the sexy actress couldn’t cope with Jim Iyke’s temper issues. Buari had reportedly tried to cope and hoped she might have been able to change him, but to no avail. “The relationship has ended and if you see them together again, then they are trying hard to play the media. She just can’t take his temper anymore so she has ended it. It is not worth it for her and all that she thought Jim could do for her career did not also materialize” a source told the website.

Drogba eyes Chelsea return

Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba, who lifted the Turkish Cup earlier this week with Galatasaray, has confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, with a possible move back to Stamford Bridge on the cards.

The 36-year-old, whose final act in a Chelsea shirt came when he struck the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final in Munich, would be welcome back with open arms by the Blues faithful were he to go back to Stamford Bridge.

Reports have circulated in the past few months that Drogba could return to Chelsea in a player/coaching capacity, reported the Daily Express.

But his time at Gala is nigh after he announced his impending exit via Instagram.

Confab Delegates Reject Tenure Extension For Pres. Jonathan

Delegates attending the National Conference have said they will not extend the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan and other elected government officials.

A member of the conference from South-South Chief Okon Osung, who is making the proposal, had on Friday said he had already distributed the proposal to some delegates, including all the 24-members in the Public Finance Committee, headed by a former Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero.

Some delegates have said it’s uncalled for and that it must be disregarded by their colleagues. One of them, Chief Paul Enebeli, who was a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, said there was no need for the call and that it was not part of the mandate given to them by President Jonathan.

He said, “There is no need for any tenure elongation. It is not part of our mandate and it is a thing we should not dabble into. That will bring more confusion into the country and I will ask my colleagues to please not dabble into it.”

Another delegate, Prof. Isaac Albert, who said he was astonished when he read about the call, described the action as uncalled for.

“We are here to strengthen the country and not to further cause confusion. We should ignore the call, which I know is part of the personal agenda of some people,” he said.

West Africa leaders vow to wage "total war" on Boko Haram

 Nigeria's neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, and Western officials, met in Paris to flesh out a plan enabling them for the first time to share intelligence, coordinate action and monitor borders.

Although Boko Haram has been fighting for five years, carrying out bombings and attacks on civilians and the security forces, the kidnapping last month of more than 200 girls from a school in the northeast has focused world attention on them.

"Boko Haram is no longer a local terrorist group, it is operating clearly as an al Qaeda operation, it is an al Qaeda of West Africa," Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan told a news conference in Paris following the meeting.

"We have shown our commitment for a regional approach. Without West African countries coming together we will not be able to crush these terrorists," he said.

Outrage over the mass abduction has prompted Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan - criticised at home and abroad for his government's slow response - to accept U.S., British and French intelligence help in the hunt for the girls.

British Foreign Minister William Hague, speaking before the start of a meeting, said the Nigerian military was not organised in a way to deal effectively with the group, and offered military advisers to help structure them. [ID:nL6N0O305L]

"There is determination to tackle this situation head on ... to launch a war, a total war on Boko Haram," Chad's President Idriss Deby said. The countries agreed to launch coordinated patrols and rescue operations, share intelligence, put in place a mechanism to prevent weapons' smuggling and monitor borders.

Intelligence services and army heads would also meet soon to come up with a region-wide strategy to fight terrorism.

"The threat is serious and dangerous for the region, Africa and Europe," French President Francois Hollande said, although no concrete operational measures were announced.

SPREADING INSTABILITY

With 6,000 French troops operating in either Mali to the northwest or the Central African Republic to the east, Paris has an interest in preventing a deterioration in Nigeria's security.

Like its Western allies, Paris has ruled out any military operation saying it was primarily for Nigeria to take the lead, although Hollande said Rafale fighter jets based in the Chadian capital N'Djamena - just 60 km from the Nigerian border - would be used for reconnaissance missions.

Paris fears Boko Haram could spread north into the Sahel and beyond Cameroon into the Central African Republic. Boko Haram has already targeted French interests in Nigeria, kidnapping a French family in northern Cameroon last year.

Suspected Boko Haram rebels also attacked a Chinese work site in northern Cameroon on Friday, killing at least one Cameroonian soldier, and at least 10 people are believed to have been kidnapped, the regional governor said. [ID:nL6N0O304J]

"We have affirmed our solidarity and determination to vigorously fight Boko Haram," Cameroon President Paul Biya said. "They have committed one more attack, attacked businessmen and this comes after the French hostages were kidnapped. As we speak we are searching for an Italian priest and a Canadian nun. The problem has become regional, if not a Western problem."

The group has killed more than 3,000 people in its war to establish an Islamic state in mostly Muslim northeast Nigeria.

Biya said he would send more means and troops to the north, but that Boko Haram had been picking soft targets and outnumbering his troops. Nigeria has complained the far north of Cameroon is being used by Boko Haram militants to shelter from a Nigerian military offensive and to transport weapons, and has urged Cameroon to tighten border security.

Jonathan said there was a "misconception" in the relation between the two countries over crossing each others borders and that this would now be ironed out.

"The main outcome is that the region is now aware of a problem that for a long time was considered an internal Nigerian problem. Abuja has accepted to go beyond its borders," a Western diplomatic source said.

Highlighting that, the source said Nigeria, which sits on the 15-member U.N. Security Council, had agreed in principle to ask for Boko Haram and its key members to be placed on a U.N. sanctions list, as has been the case with other militant groups such as al Qaeda. [ID:nL6N0O30L0]

"The world is aware of these young school girls who were abducted, but quite frankly Boko Haram has been creating havoc for sometime," U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told Reuters.

"We are all coordinated, we are all focused, this doesn't stop at borders, terrorism does not know borders and so we're going to work in a collective manner to get the job done."

“Ex-convict Ibinabo not fit to lead AGN” – Clarion Chukwura

About a week after Actors’ Guild of Nigeria president Ibinabo Fiberesima issued a statement addressing the constant attack from actress Clarion Chukwura, saying she was only trying to destabilize AGN, Clarion is not relenting and has fired back. In an interview with Punch today, Clarion said Ibinabo is an ex-convict and therefore not fit to lead AGN. “I am not on the same level with Ibinabo professionally, educationally or in any other form. I find that she is deliberately misleading the public and wanting to push the issues at stake under the table with her so-called open letter. I will not allow her to do that. “Item ‘U’ of the electoral guideline of AGN disqualified her. No convicted person can stand for election in any post. She was convicted for manslaughter and she was given a jail sentence which she served. There is a court injunction stopping Ibinabo from parading herself as the AGN president. This is the copy of the judgment. I have it. Manslaughter has no option of fine. Her sentence was reduced from seven years to five years and we all know she went to jail. The judgment reads in part, ‘there is proof that she drove recklessly and caused the death of Dr. Sura Giwa contrary to the road traffic laws of Lagos State.’ She was drunk. How could this person be the face of AGN?” “The court injunction of 2011 and 2013 was forwarded to the presidency. The criminal conviction of manslaughter was sent to the presidency. The president is supposed to be a symbol of the supremacy of the rule of law. He disregarded the law in recognising Ibinabo as president of AGN. The president is now saying there is no law in this country. So the AGN has become an ethnic grouping. This is a professional body of actors. It is not a Niger Delta solidarity platform,” she said. The actress said she wouldn’t have joined Ibinabo’s party to Aso Rock even if she had invited her, saying, “Some actors have even explained to me why they followed her. They said they were taken there on a fraudulent arrangement for her to use and get what she wanted. Would she really have approached me for a thing like that?” Clarion alleged that Ibinabo had been going from one state government house to another to “beg” for money. “I have the data of every government house she has been to. No single chapter has seen a dime for running the guild. She went to Ondo State and she was given N500, 000. What chapter did she inaugurate in Ondo State? The guild wasn’t set up to go begging from one state government to another.” Clarion said Ibinabo couldn’t have clocked 40 years as she claimed in her letter because, “In 1989 when she was running Pyramid Club in Lagos, she was 22. How can she say 25 years later that she is just turning 40? I have known her a long time. I know what I am saying when I say she is not a professional actor.” When reminded that Ibinabo had featured in some movies, Clarion said, “That is not what makes you a professional actor. You have market women in the East who have acted in one or two movies; that doesn’t make them professional actors. I will be 35 years in this industry soon. This is the industry that has made me everything that I am. I will not stand by and watch it destroyed. People have placed their trust in me. I am an activist. People believe that I will bring justice to bear on this issue because I am afraid of nobody.” Concerning Ibinabo’s allegation that Clarion just registered as a member of the guild few weeks ago, the veteran actor said, “I joined the AGN in 2002. I was part of the process that brought in Zach Orji as the president of the guild and thereafter Ejike Asiegbu. When it was time for Ejike to leave, the whole thing degenerated. A caretaker committee was formed with KOK as the chairman and I as the vice Chairman. These are my identity cards. I even have a membership certificate which was signed by Segun Arinze who was the national president and Ifeanyi Dike as the BOT chairperson. “I went to pay N5000 into the guild’s account as my dues for this year. She should provide any proof showing that I just got registered.” Clarion also used the opportunity to fire back at Ifeanyi Dike, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the guild who she claimed had maligned her in some publications recently. “The BOT led by Ifeanyi Dike has been the same board since the incorporation in 1999. According to the constitution, they were to serve 10 years and leave for a new board to replace them. People had become aware that the BOT members are not men of integrity and the guild wasn’t moving forward. “They refused to leave and a court injunction was obtained in 2011. I have a copy of the injunction as you can see. The court injunction prevented them from holding any election. But they ignored the injunction and allowed themselves to be financially induced by Ibinabo to run for the election.” Clarion said she wasn’t attacking Ibinabo just because she (Clarion) wants to contest for the AGN presidency. “The first step is the dissolution of the BOT. When the time for election comes, there are several credible people who are prepared to run for the post. I will give my support to any credible candidate who wants the viability of every chapter. I will pass my plans and ideas to that person. It is not about me wanting to be president. I will gladly work and support the new person in an advisory role.”