The Nation Newspaper

Tag: drops

  • Posher drops new single ‘Raindrops’

    Fast rising musician, Duncan Bayem, better known as Posher, has dropped a new single titled ‘Raindrops.’

    According to the artiste, ‘Raindrops’ is a hip-hop song that aims to spark up his fans’ emotions.

    “It basically talks about seizing the moment and the opportunity to express our feelings to that special person we love, but lack the confidence to approach,” he said.

    “The love song talks about falling in love and the act of loving someone.”

    Speaking further, Posher said that a raindrop is a metaphor for the fear that grips one like a cold downpour when they suddenly see that special person you are in love with.

    This is coming few weeks after the artiste released a song in March titled ‘Baby girl’, a song which he said was to satisfy the urge of Nigerians to have a song that they can dance to.

    ‘Raindrops’ was produced by 4AM.

  • Inflation drops to 13.34 per cent

    Nigeria’s inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped from 14.33 in February to 13.34 per cent in March year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) CPI report for March has shown.

    It stated in the CPI report released yesterday in Abuja that the figure showed 14 consecutive reductions in inflation rate since January 2017.

    However, in another survey report titled ‘Conflict In Nigeria And Food Insecurity In Conflict-Affected Areas’, the NBS noted that conflicts involving Boko Haram, herdsmen and pirates across the Northeast, Northcentral, and Southsouth between 2010-2017 significantly contributed to food insecurity.

    In its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for March 2018, the NBS noted that for the 14th consecutive month of inflation slow-down which began in February 2017, Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped from 14.33 to 13.34 per cent.

    “The CPI which measures inflation increased by 13.34 per cent (year-on-year) in March 2018; this fourteenth consecutive disinflation since January 2017 is 0.99 per cent points less than the rate recorded in February 2018 (14.33) percent.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 0.84 per cent in March 2018, up by 0.05 perm cent points from the rate recorded in February.

    “The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve month period ending March 2018 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve month period was 15.60 percent, showing 0.33 percent point lower from 15.93 per cent recorded in February 2018.

    “The Urban inflation rate eased by 13.75 percent (year-on-year) in March 2018 from 14.76 percent recorded in February, while the Rural inflation rate also eased by 12.99 percent in March 2018 from 13.96 percent in February,” the report stated.

    The NBS report on inflation also covered all items and specific food prices in various states.

    “In March 2018, all items inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Bauchi (16.38 per cent), Kebbi (16.36 per cent) and Nasarawa (16.33 per cent), while Kwara (10.30 per cent),Kogi (10.87 per cent) and Delta (11.17 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.

    “In March 2018, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Nasarawa (20.83per cent), Bayelsa (19.03per cent)and Yobe (18.93 per cent), while Kogi (11.99 per cent), Bauchi (12.60 per cent) and Benue (13.07 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation,” it added.

    In the NBS’ report on ‘Conflict In Nigeria And Food Insecurity In Conflict-Affected Areas’, the NBS’ survey indicates that the majority of households in the three geo-political zones surveyed recorded high degree of food insecurity.

    “Food insecurity as measured in the survey could be transitory; markets are the main source of food, and there is plenty of food available in the market.

    “However, high food prices are the largest concern in all three regions, which is in line with high (national) food inflation rates.

    “The relationship between household characteristics and food security vary regionally, but some patterns emerge: Larger households are more likely to be food insecure, more educated households more food secure,” NBS noted.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Maritime piracy drops to 22-year low’

    Piracy and armed robbery attacks against ships in Nigeria dropped from 188 in 1995 to 180 last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

    The IMB is a specialised division of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) established in 1981. The non-profit organisation acts as a focal point in the fight against all types of maritime crime and malpractice.

    IMB’s main task is to protect the integrity of international trade by seeking out fraud and malpractice. For over 25 years, it has used industry knowledge, experience and access to a large number of well-placed contacts around the world to identify and investigate frauds, spot new criminal methods and trends, and highlight other threats to trade.

    The Bureau in its latest report accessed by The Nation, said although incidents of maritime piracy, hostage-taking and attacks on ships remained high in Nigeria, they dropped to a 22-year low in 2017.

    According to the report, 136 vessels were boarded last year. It added that there were 22 attempted attacks; while 16 vessels were shot, six were hijacked.

    The IMB also said it received reports of 15 incidents, while 91 crewmembers were taken hostage and 75 kidnapped from their vessels in 13 other incidents. Three crewmembers were killed last year and six injured.

    However, in 2016, the Bureau said a total of 191 incidents were reported, with 150 vessels boarded and 151 crewmembers taken hostage.

    Last year, there were 36 reported incidents with no vessels hijacked in this area and 10 incidents of kidnapping involving 65 crew members in or around Nigerian waters.

    The IMB said globally, 16 vessels reported being fired upon, including seven in the Gulf of Guinea.

    “Although the number of attacks was down in 2017 in comparison with 2016, the Gulf of Guinea and the waters around Nigeria remained a threat to seafarers,” IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan said.

    Mukundan pointed out that although, Nigeria remains a maritime piracy hotspot, the Nigerian authorities had intervened in a number of incidents, which helped to prevent incidents from escalating.

  • Inflation drops to 15.91%

    Inflation drops to 15.91%

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has dropped to 15.91 per cent in October  from 15.98 recorded in September.

    The NBS made this known in its “Consumer Price Index (CPI), October, 2017 Report’’ released  yesterday in Abuja.

    The CPI, which measured inflation, increased by 15.91 per cent (year on Year) in October 2017

    According to the bureau, this is 0.07 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in September (15.98) per cent.

    It said the index made it the ninth consecutive decline or slowdown in the inflation rate, though still positive in headline year-on-year inflation, since January.

    According to the report, increases have been recorded in all the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the Headline Index.

    The NBS  said there was an average headline year on year inflation for the first five months of the year (January to May 2017) which stood at 17.45 per cent.

    It said average headline year on year inflation for the next five months of the year (June to October 2017) also stood at 16.01 per cent.

    The report further said the values indicated disinflation from June to date, compared to from January to May 2017.

    On a month-on-month basis, the report noted that the headline index increased by 0.76 per cent in October 2017, 0.02per cent points lower from the rate of 0.78 per cent recorded in September.

    The report said this development represented the fifth consecutive month-on-month contraction in headline inflation since May 2017.

    It said average headline month-on-month inflation for the first five months of the year (January to May 2017) stood at 1.54 per cent.

    The NBS said the average headline month-on-month inflation for the next five months of the year (June to October 2017), stood at 1.06 per cent, indicating disinflation from June to date, compared to from January to May 2017.

    “While average month on month food inflation for the first five months of the year (January to May 2017) stood at 2.01 per cent, average month on month food inflation for the next five months of the year (June to October 2017), stood at 1.27 per cent indicating a general slowdown in the rise in food prices from June to date compared to from January to May 2017, though the rate of price increases has remained generally higher on a year on year basis,” NBS said.

    Headline inflation was highest in Bauchi state (23.87 per cent) while the lowest was recorded in Kogi state (9.83 per cent). Food inflation was highest in Kwara state at 26.27 per cent and lowest in Kogi state at 11.61 per cent.

    The federal government set the inflation benchmark for 2018 at 12.4 per cent in the proposal submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 7.

  • Inflation drops but food prices rise

    Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday showed that  inflation again dropped to 15.98 per cent from 16.01 per cent for the month of September.

    It is the eighth consecutive time the country’s inflation rate is dropping this year.

    However, all major food sub-indexes increased by 20.32 per cent year-on-year during the period under review, an increase from the 20.25 per cent recorded in August.

    The report also showed that on a month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 0.78 per cent during the month, 0.19 per cent lower than the 0.97 per cent recorded in August.

    The report reads: “This  (inflation rate drop) was 0.03 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in August (the 16.01) per cent making it the eighth consecutive decline in the rate of headline year on year inflation since January 2017.

    “Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yield the Headline Index.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 0.78 per cent in September 2017, 0.19 per cent points lower from the rate of 0.97per cent recorded in August.

    “The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve-month period ending in September 2017 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 17.17 per cent, showing 0.16 percent point lower from 17.33 per cent recorded in August 2017.

    “The Urban index rose by 16.18 per cent (year-on-year) in September2017, up by 0.05 per cent point from 16.13 per cent recorded in August and the Rural index increased by 15.81 per cent in September down from 15.91 per cent in August.

    “On month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 0.84 per cent in September 2017, down from 0.99 per cent recorded in August, while the rural index rose by 0.74 percent in September 2017, down from 0.95 per cent in August.

    “The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index decreased from 18.15 per cent in August to 17.87 per cent in September, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in September was 16.52 per cent compared to 16.58 per cent recorded in August 2017.

    “The rise in the index was caused by increases in prices of potatoes, yams and other tubers, milk cheese and eggs, bread and cereals, coffee tea and cocoa, soft drinks, fish, meat and oil and fats.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the Food sub-index increased by 0.87 per cent in September, down from 1.14percent recorded in August.”

  • Rap sensation, Zeak drops new single, ‘Afam Bu Zeak’

    Rap sensation, Zeak drops new single, ‘Afam Bu Zeak’

    Sensational Nigerian rapper, Anuebunwa Francis Chijioke Nwabueze, better known as Zeak has released another single, Afam Bu Zeak, under the auspice of his record label, SSYMA Records.

    According to the artiste, Afam Bu Zeak, which is produced by Dalukes and mastered by Emmashyne, is a rap song which chronicles his experiences and embodies everything about his identity and his drive of ambition and excellence.

    “My music is a feeling that keeps you warm. I speak words that give you ginger; words that motivate and inspire you and I drop lines that give you satisfaction. My style of rap is an experience you will never forget, and all of these are reflected in the single, Afam Bu Zeak.

    Afam Bu Zeak means ‘I am Zeak’ in Igbo language and the artiste uses the track, which is set to drop in the later part of the month, to introduce himself, his art and especially his love for the rap game to his fans.

    Zeak started out as a professional footballer and was his team’s power singer chanting them through journeys of victories and defeats until an injury he sustained stopped him permanently from playing football officially.

    He reveals that as an artiste, his core inspirations are drawn from the everyday happenings of life with his influences cutting across rap, hip-hop and reggae with greats such as Bob Marley, Fela, Dr Sir Warrior and Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Sarkodie and Duncan Mighty.

    With this new single, Zeak says that he hopes to redefine the face of indigenous rap music and take it to a higher level.

    He released his hit single, I am sorry using the moniker Baby Boy, a name which evolved into the Zeak brand. The track which was created in collaboration with hip-hop producer, Major Bangz hit the airwaves in 2016 to critical acclaim.

  • APC aspirant drops bid to back Abraham

    a fellow governorship aspirant on the platform of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Paul Akintelure, has declared support for a frontline aspirant, Olusegun Abraham.

    Akintelure, at a delegates’ meeting at the weekend in Odigbo Local Government, identified Abraham as a true party man and the potential governor, who will transform Ondo State.

    The aspirant, who told the party’s delegates he had decided to drop his ambition, stressed that “any delegate’s vote not cast for Abraham in the primary is a wasted vote”.

    “The reason why I am here today to support my brother, Olusegun Abraham, is out of true interest for the people of Ondo State. I and some other fellow aspirants are resolved to embrace what’s best for our state ahead of the election.

    “We will defeat the PDP, and all of us must present the best shot at achieving that,” said Akintelure.

    He added: “To achieve an Ondo that works, I assure you that Abraham is the way. Every well-meaning delegate should see the importance of voting for an aspirant, who has the highest and most-fitting competence quotient to transform Ondo State, especially our economy, from penury to buoyancy.”

    When asked why he is stepping down to back Abraham, the APC chieftain hinged the reason on his interest in the people’s welfare.

    He said: “The truth is that it can be quite painful to drop my ambition to serve my people to support my brother.”

     

  • Power generation drops to 2,000Mw

    Power generation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) on Tuesday  dropped to about 2,000 Mega Watts (Mw) from a peak generation of 4,300MW early in the week.

    The decline followed a partial system collapse at the Shiroro Power Station, The Nation learnt .

    It was also gathered  that due to the collapse, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reduced the allocation to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) from 450MW to 245MW yesterday .

    However, the situation yesterday worsened to the extent that  allocation to the Abuja Disco stood at about  181.77Mw.

    A source said there was a partial system’s collapse on Tuesday at Shiroro, which brought down generation to about 2000MW from the 4300 peak that was attained earlier in the week.

    This brought down AEDC’s allocation on Wednesday to about 245MW from its normal baseline of about 450MW.

    “At about 7.34am today, (yesterday the allocation rose to about 327MW, but caved

    in again at 9.48am to 181.77MW. The situation deteriorated to 131.77MW as at 1.25pm,” a source said

  • Power supply drops to 2,834.30Mw

    Power supply drops to 2,834.30Mw

    Power supply that was 3,137.67 Megawatts (Mw) on April 20 has dropped to  2,834.30Mw, statisctics posted yesterday on the website of the Federal Ministry of Power has shown.

    The ministry said it was the record of the electricity market as at April 26.

    It also said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could only evacuate 2,834.30Mw  out of the   2,896.91Mw leaving a wheeling gap of 62.61Mw.

    In the period under review, the ministry said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) dipped to  a peak generation of 2,896.91Mw, resulting in a decline of 194.2Mw from April 20.

    Commenting on the power situation in the country, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi blamed inadequate power supply to gas shortage and pipeline vandalism.

    According to him, low quantity of power supply  is also responsible for lack of metering in the market.

    He said: “Two things are holding back  aggressive metering; financing and quantity of power. If you are selling 60,000Mw, you have more money to finance metering. But if you are, because of pipeline vandalism and others, we are selling 3,000Mw, then you have less revenue for metering.

    “Let’s be realistic, if we are generating 3,500 or 4,000 Mw, there is no way. We don’t have adequate power for reasons you know. Some of them gas. We are still building the power plants. So even if you have 6,000 Mw you will not still have 100 per cent power supply. “

  • Solid star drops new single, ‘be strong’

    Solid star drops new single, ‘be strong’

    Cashing in on the mood of the country as it gears up for general elections, Achievas Entertainment artiste, Solidstar, has released a new song titled Be Strong. In his typical style and unique use of language, the artiste encourages Nigerians to believe in themselves and be strong.

    “See Nigeria na my country, I no go lie my brother… Plenty money dey but dem hide am for agbada. When plenty people are crying, dying, chai they gat no food to eat, no place to sleep. Everywhere dey hot, people no fit live in peace. No place to work. Me I must to talk. It is very obvious but still yet, I no send,” the artiste croons.

    A slow tempo song, Be Strong is a fine blend of reggae and hip hop. Solidstar also encourages people not to “let the situation start to make you joko (sit put).”

    Real name Joshua Iniyezo, the artiste is a Nigerian Hip hop, R&B, dancehall, afro-pop singer, producer and songwriter. He sings in English, Pidgin English and other Nigerian languages. He came into limelight after the release of his hit single, One in a Million which features international superstar, 2Face idibia.

    The artiste’s new song is produced by Lil Prince.