The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MONTH

  • Julius Berger returns to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway this month

    Construction work would resume this month on the Section 1 of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Federal Government has mobilised the contractor, Julius Berger Plc, to return to site, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, confirmed the development after inspecting road projects in Lagos.

    Eke said that the project was over 50 per cent completed before the contractors left site due to debts owed it.

    Section 1 of the project awarded Julius Berger spans from the old toll gate plaza at Ojota end of the highway in Lagos State to the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun.

    Messrs Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) was hired by the Federal Government to reconstruct Section 2 which spans from the Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan in Oyo State.

    Eke said: “Recently, we got approval for the augmentation because at a point, Julius Berger could not make claims for works already executed.

    “So, now that we have the approval in our hands, construction work will soon resume fully on Section 1 of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The project is more than 50 per cent completed.”

    According to him, the President Muhammad Buhari-led administration had been able to clear the debt owed by previous administrations on road projects.

    Eke said that this would pave the way for the completion of the various ongoing road projects.

    The controller also said that construction work had resumed on the two pedestrian bridges on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

  • ‘Fed Govt to present budget next month’

    Submission of 2018 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in October will be sacrosanct, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang has said.

    Enang, who gave the assurance when he appeared at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said the Federal Government was committed to the deadline.

    According to the presidential aide, the government was working assiduously to ensure that the deadline was complied with to take the country back to the annual budget cycle of January to December.

    Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have made their budget inputs and submissions to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, he said.

    His words: “The ministers are already appearing before the ministry and defending their submissions.

    “It is intended that in the next few days they would have completed the exercise and have the total of the budget as well as get ready with the final draft.

    “Everything is being done to ensure that we keep to the date.’’

    He added that in presenting the 2018 proposal in October, “the National Assembly will consider it between October and November and by December, it would have been passed.

    “The current budget will end in 12 months and having been signed on June 12, 2016, the budget is legally to run between June 12, 2017 and June 12, 2018.

    “But the intention of the government is to make sure that the implementation date and assent will be for January 1, 2018 so that we will return the budget to the conventional January.’’

    He said the National Assembly was committed to doing its bit to ensure that the budget is passed in time after presentation by the Executive.

  • Dstv observes Africa Month with local content

    Dstv observes Africa Month with local content

    Television content provider, DStv will be taking subscribers on a voyage to discover the finest materials from the continent in celebration of Africa Month. From Africa Magic channels straight to Maisha Magic Bongo, subscribers will be treated to exciting movies, series, reality shows and so much more all through the month of May, its management says.

    Nollywood screen diva, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde returns with the second season of her reality show, Omotola, The Real Me which airs every Sunday at 7:30pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

    Africa Magic Family follows the investigation surrounding the mysterious death of Alfred and how his death changes his daughter’s life forever on Emerald, Mondays to Fridays at 7pm. Also, The Johnsons shows just how they cope with what life has to offer them. It shows Mondays to Fridays at 8pm.

    On Africa Magic Epic and Africa Magic Urban, subscribers will be spoilt for choice with the list of movies featuring both established and upcoming Nollywood stars. The movie Mad Couple starring Mercy Johnson will air on Sunday, May 8 at 7pm on Africa Magic Epic. Screen beauties Tana Adelana and Annie Macaulay team up in the movie Eight which airs on Africa Magic Urban, Sunday, May 15.

    While on Maisha Magic Bongo (DStv channel 160), the marriage institution can be quite tricky with its ups and downs. The show, Sakata la Ndoa brings the full interpretation of marriage on Wednesdays to Fridays at 5:30pm while the exiting adventure of Malaika on High Heels airs every Sunday .

  • El-Rufai wins CGPI governor of the month

    El-Rufai wins CGPI governor of the month

    • Kogi, Akwa Ibom at the bottom

    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State has been adjudged governor of the month for September by the Lagos-based Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS).

    He scored a total of 72 per cent based on such variables as Payment of Salary, New Projects, Education, Security and Leadership by example.

    He is trailed by Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State both of whom scored 62% each.

    The governors of Kogi and Akwa Ibom states came last with 25 per cent each, according to the  CGPI coordinator, Mr. Olumuyiwa Ayoola.

    Ayoola said the study is based on a comparative analysis of governors performance tagged CIAPS Governors Performance Index (CGPI) monthly.

    Each of the governors is monitored and studied from their first day in office and the findings were graded and compared to other governors across the country.

    Commenting on the CGPI report, CIAPS Centre Director and CGPI Chair, Prof Anthony Kila, stated that the “CGPI is a useful tool for democracy and good governance as it allows government to be objectively measured against their peers and compels all in power to be mindful of accountability.”

    The variables used for measuring governors, performance this month takes into account that most governors are new to office whilst some have been there for a longer period of time.

    Kila further explained that he hopes that the CGPI monthly reports will allow governors to sit up, improve their performances during their tenure and even enter into healthy competition between themselves for the benefit of their states and the country as a whole.

    The CGPI committee will continue to meet monthly at CIAPS to review performance of state governors in the country.

    CIAPS is the first paperless institution in Africa and it is running career-oriented programmes aimed at getting graduates and professional into jobs in their chosen professions.

  • Aminatu Papapa on nine month course

    Aminatu Papapa on nine month course

    POPULAR Yoruba actress, Bukky Adekogbe, popularly known as Aminatu Papapa, is expecting her second child with her actor husband Lukman Raji.

    The actress, who was recently spotted at an event, is said to be heavily pregnant, and according to reports, might put to bed before the end of the year.

    Though she is reportedly not to be legally married to the father of her child, they have been together for a while, a union which produced a daugther.

    Undoubtedly, she is talented in her role interpretation especially as a tout. The actress delved into the make-believe world a couple of years back under Murphy Afolabi’s caucus and since then, she has featured in several hit movies. She has also produced thriller movies, like Aminatu Papapa, Omo Oro and others.

    Bukky Adekogbe, was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Adekogbe. She hails from Lagos state.

    She attended Apostolic Primary School, Ebute Metta and later went to Oke Odo High school, Ebute Metta. She also attended College of Education, Akoka and later furthered her education at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) all in Lagos State.

    She joined the movie industry since 2005 and started acting professionally in 2011.

  • Patoranking is MTV Base Artiste of the Month

    Patoranking is MTV Base Artiste of the Month

    Following his recent string of successes, including several hit singles and industry awards, MTV Base is honouring reggae dance hall singer, Patoranking, with a month-long showcase, chronicling his meteoric rise to fame.

    Although the singer is just planning the release of his debut album, he has been so busy with performances across the continent, gaining popularity by the day as a sought-after artiste for collaboration by co-singers.

    Born in 1990 in Lagos, Patoranking who hails from Ebonyi State, started his performing arts career as a street gig and carnival dancer. He released his first single So Nice in 2009 and he followed this up with Up In The Club in 2010. In 2012, he released Iya Bisi which did well and opened up opportunities for him to work with more artistes. 2013 saw Patoranking’s release of Park Well and Tonight featuring Faze, which also did well. His first breakout hit single Alubarika came in 2013. The song, which featured acclaimed afro-dancehall artiste Timaya became a nationwide anthem, which helped Patoranking build a large fanbase and work with a number of established artists in a string of collaborations.

    In the intervening period, Patoranking has worked with big names in the music industry such as Sheyi Shay, Tiwa Savage, Skales, Runtown and Wizzy Pro on a number of collaborations. His monster track, Girlie O featuring Tiwa Savage was listed on the MTV Base Official Naija Top Ten Hottest Videos Of The Year and he won five awards in 2014.

    The 24-year-old artiste recently signed a distribution deal with VP Associated Label Group, the world’s largest reggae music distribution company, home to several international reggae stars such as Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Mavado, Busy Signal, Shaggy and Gyptian. Patoranking’s profile will be run on MTV Base throughout the month of March.

  • Ahmed Musa on vacation for one month

    Ahmed Musa on vacation for one month

    Edo State – born Nigeria international Ahmed Musa, 22,  has been permitted by CSKA Moscow to proceed on vacation.

    As a result of the winter break, the Muscovites will not resume training until the next one month, the official website of the Russian champions has reported.

    CSKA Moscow have mandated that every player in the first team must return to the Russian capital before January 11, 2015, the date the team will leave for Spain to hold a training camp.

    And two more training camps will be held before the resumption of the Russian Premier League in the first week of March.

    In the first stanza, Ahmed Musa scored seven goals in 17 matches for CSKA Moscow, who are second on the table.

  • Keshi offered N7m-a-month deal

    Keshi offered N7m-a-month deal

    Nigeria have offered coach Stephen Keshi an improved contract that will pay him N7million a month (over $44,000), a top official has exclusively told AfricanFootball.com.

    For his first contract, which ran out after the World Cup in Brazil, Keshi was on N5 million monthly and has now demanded he be paid twice that amount.

    The coach, who was not considered for the vacant South Africa post, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are expected to finalise a new deal next week.

    A top official, who has been part of the contract talks, informed that ‘Big Boss’ Keshi has said he wishes to continue as Nigeria’s coach

    “We have had meetings with Keshi and the good news is that he is willing to continue as coach of the Super Eagles,” the top official told AfricanFootball.com.

    “He is only concerned that most of the fringe benefits in his contract were not provided and demands better treatment from the Federation. I think the first step was a success and we will build on it because the (2015 Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers are not far away.”

    The Super Eagles will in early September begin the defence of the AFCON crown they won in South Africa last year.

    They are drawn in a qualifying group that has South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or Rwanda.