Suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike. a. k.a Evans, faces second arraignment at an Igbosere High Court on Lagos Island amid watertight security.
More details later…
Tag: Nigerian news
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What REALLY does Happy Weekend Sir mean?
Quite frankly, what really is the meaning of HAPPY WEEKEND Sir or Ma in Nigeria?
I’m sure some of us enjoyed our weekend with families and friends; we most likely would have met a person or two wishing us a happy weekend.
Does it mean different things to different people, from different places, in different professions or for different reasons?
Does this popular phrase which heralds the beginning of the weekend have hidden and coded connotations behind it?
It became more popular when Show Dem Camp ( SDC ) released the song – “Happy Weekend” in 2014.
When your Pastor or Imam tells you…HAPPY WEEKEND SIR, it most likely means God bless you and your family…enjoy your weekend!
However, if a policeman, a security man, a secretary or Personal Assistant to the Director you are seeking a contract from or some other persons and personalities tell you – HAPPY WEEKEND Sir, does it really mean something else?
So we ask the question: WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HAPPY WEEKEND Sir or Ma?
Feel free to give us your opinion.
Happy weekdays to you all!
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UN appeals for $434m in Rohingya aid conference
The UN gathered donor countries in Geneva on Monday to shore up 434 million dollars in aid for the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis that has been unfolding between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, one of Asia’s poorest countries, has taken in some 580,000 minority Rohingyas who have fled alleged atrocities in Myanmar’s Rakhine state since August.
The sum is calculated to fund UN operations until the end of February in Bangladesh, which has kept its borders open, despite being one of Asia’s poorest countries.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi said: “It’s a pretty grim situation.
“The needs are massive.”
Refuges in and around the Bangladeshi fishing town of Cox’s Bazar have faced food and water shortages, lack of shelters and inadequate sanitation facilities, raising the risk of disease outbreaks.
Nearly six out of 10 refugees are children, many of them arriving malnourished.
The Rohingyas are a marginalised Muslim group in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
They have been struggling with poverty and discrimination, including the denial of citizenship rights.
In August, Myanmar security forces launched an operation against attacks by Rohingya militants in Rakhine.
UN human rights investigators have concluded that the burning of villages, persecution of community leaders as well as killings and rapes amount to a systematic effort to drive the Rohingyas out.
Beyond appealing for funds, UN leaders urged the international community to get involved to stop the violence and discrimination.
“This is not an isolated crisis,” UN emergency aid chief Mark Lowcock said, pointing to decades of “persecution, violation and displacement.
NAN
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UPP, APDA call for fair play in Anambra election
Dr Sylvster Igwilo, Chairman of United Progressives Party ( UPP ) in Anambra said that the party was confident of winning the Nov. 18 governorship election in the state if every stakeholder play by the rules.
Igwilo made this known in Awka on Sunday that the party’s candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka was the most qualified from the array of candidates in the race.
He said Chidoka had better plans for the people of the state and have been addressing issues that bordered on the common man in his campaigns.
Igwilo warned other parties to comply with the efforts aimed at minimising irregularities during and after the Nov. 18 governorship election.
“My party is quite prepared for this election, we know it is not going to be easy and as you know, UPP has the most credible candidates among all others in the race.
“Chidoka is well known and accepted by the people, a former Minister and FRSC Corps Marshal who is interested in the state and how to put back on track economic prosperity and sustainable development.’’
Igwilo said the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) was doing well compared to the previous years in terms of preparation for elections.
According to him, if things are to go by the assurances INEC has given, then the election would be free and fair.
“My appeal is that other party chairmen should play by the rules, their agents should be properly identified with passport to enable us know who is who.
“There are some people that are not serious about this election. they are just interested in what they will get through sharp practices,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Adaeze Okafor, candidate of the Advanced People Democratic Alliance ( APDA ) raised alarm at what she described as increasing monetary cost of the election.
Okafor said it was as if the election was a do-or-die affairs from the way some candidates of the big parties were going about in their campaigns.
According to her, candidates and their supporters should see election as opportunity to serve and not avenues for amassing wealth.
She noted that some of the issues raised in the campaigns so far had not addressed the wellbeing of the ordinary people of Anambra but an attack on persons.
“Issues are not addressed in the campaigns, they have not said how they are going to build the people and make their lives better.
“The role of money in this election is becoming too much, some parties have set a lot of money aside to pay for votes.
“Other candidates are throwing money around in the market places as if their lives depend on the election.’’
She called on the INEC to restrict people from going close to the electorate during voting and to stop votes buying.
NAN
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Unity Bank’s capital base hits N80bn
Unity Bank Plc’s capital base has hit N80 billion, up from N31 billion in 2014, Mr Thomas Etuh, former Chairman, Board of Directors, has said.
Etuh, the immediate past board chairman of the bank said in a post-retirement interview in Abuja that the growth was recorded under his watch, between 2014 and 2017.
Etuh who retired as the bank’s board chairman a fortnight ago, explained that the bank was able to achieve the feat because of its “agric business” banking.
“You know Unity Bank is number one in agriculture, in terms of agric lending to small holder farmers; we also have a product for youths because youths own this generation.
“I came into Unity Bank in time of recapitalisation under Mohammed Sanusi as the CBN Governor and we recapitalised the bank to get it to a national bank where it is today.
“Interestingly, we are leaving the bank in the capital excess of N80 billion from the N31 billion that we met it,” Etuh said.
According to Etuh, “the successes recorded by the bank did not come without the contributions of its two major co-shareholders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
He said: “Obasanjo and Babangida came up with that name `Unity’ after the merger of some Southern and Northern banks.
“The merger means a lot for Nigeria’s unity. So, having nine banks from different entities, it behoves on the board to also merge the different banks culture into one; and that, we did to make it a national bank.
“You can see that the bank has flourished in various products which have brought it to stability, and I won’t say it was achieved singlehandedly; it was a collective effort of the board and management.
The former Unity Bank board chairman named the merged banks to include Bank of the North, Tropical Commercial Bank, Intercity Bank, African Merchant Bank, First Interstate Bank, New Nigerian Bank and Societe General Bank.
Etuh said that he retired from the bank to focus on agriculture.
“I retired to start something new in developing the frontier of the agric sector which has always been my first love.
“I have given a notice since last year that I will be retiring as the bank’s board chairman after I have spent some years.
“I am leaving the board of the bank, but am a co-shareholder, so, it means that I am still in Unity Bank. I am retired but not tired,” he said.
NAN
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SUBEB trains 7,000 teachers in Borno – Official
The chairman, Borno State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ) Alhaji Shettima Kullima said the board has trained 7,000 teachers.
Kullima in Maiduguri said that the teachers were drawn from public schools in the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said that the teachers were exposed to post crisis and best teaching methodologies with a view to reinvigorate the basic education sector.
Kullima explained that the exercise was also designed to address psychological trauma in the teachers and encourage them to improve their performance.
He said the training was conducted in collaboration with the United States’ Education Crisis Response (ECR) programme.
The Chairman disclosed that 477 teachers were killed while many pupils were affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Read Also: Unity Bank donates vehicle to Borno SUBEB
According to him, the state government is building 21 mega schools each with the capacity to accommodate 2, 000 pupils.
He said that the project in Borno was designed to decongest classrooms and provide conducive teaching and learning environment.
“The state government had reconstructed and rehabilitated classrooms and schools destroyed by the insurgents in Maiduguri and other liberated communities,” he added.
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![HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART ONE]](https://nation.kelvinbawa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Hearts.jpg)
HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART ONE]
With her head pressed tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow, she cried all night, engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage. She now feels a void, one that needs to be filled urgently before she loses her mind; she feels empty, finished and dry.
First, it was an introduction; a seemingly harmless remark of “how are you?…my name is Femi!”. In response, she gives a restrained and innocuous smile out of courtesy, and tries to add the formal appellation of “Mr…” before returning the pleasantry. But quickly, like a predator that stealthily and hastily latches onto its unsuspecting prey, he interrupts and says – “please simply call me Femi.” She holds back her smile again and said…“ok then, Femi…it’s nice meeting you!”
The breakout session was over, and everyone was required to congregate back as an audience and maintain their sitting arrangement. She politely excused herself and went to have a seat. From the corner of her eye she could see Femi…sorry, Mr Femi, staring at her; his head tilted almost permanently towards her direction.
Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART TWO]
Femi was seated four seats before her (on the same row). She could hardly concentrate on the topic being discussed by the facilitator; all she could think about was how brazenly smart and articulate he was during her first encounter with him. Femi is the quintessential ladies’ dream-guy; he had the built (tall and sturdy) that most ladies delight in, skin tone that resonates between fair and chocolate, a baritone voice that literally reverberates and echoes in the receptacles your subconscious minutes after he has spoken, a clean low-cut with a well-trimmed goatee.
Taking a cursory dive into a “not too distant past” of Amarachi (yes, that’s her name), say a year ago, you would see her pressing her head tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow. She cried all night, and engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage.
Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [CONCLUDING PART]
She just turned twenty one, and was returning home after the completion of her one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C) program to her fatherland. Her steps were literally prancing, springing and pouncing as she drew close to her family house; in fact, she was barely six feet away from the gate when she raced into the house hoping to receive an overwhelming shower of love and warm embrace from her dad and mom; she is an only child.
Her infantile excitement quickly turned sour and sore as she beheld an abusive scene of her father bludgeoning and pummeling down on her mom; his big fist tightly clenched and dashing out unrestrained blows on her. She quickly rushed to separate the duo before her father gives a KO (Knockout).
He had a brutal and bestial deportment and demeanour; a side of him she had never seen before. Her mother laid on the tiled floor drenched in tears, sweat, and something that looked like blood…Oh no…it was her blood. The situation was critical, but thanks to the swift response from the state ambulance service unit, her mom was rushed to the hospital and was operated on quickly. After two weeks she was out of the hospital.
Ever since that unfortunate incident, her once congenial and loving family had morphed into a house of commotion…heck!, a house of conundrum and confusion. Every day in the house was like a typical sad and depressing scenery from a classic tragedy movie…an unending saga of bitter and tempestuous relationship between her parents.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when her mother filed for a divorce, and her dad in his usual egoistic machismo bragged about his foray into adultery and how he regrets ever laying eyes on his wife.
Now they are divorced. Amarachi shuttles incommodiously between her mother’s newly rented apartment and her father’s house. She lays flat on the bed, her eyes looking up at the ceiling; her thoughts receding to the good times they once had as a family; like a transient smoke that quickly disappears into thin air, those times have become nothing more than empty memories…forever buried in the annals of history…her history!
With her head pressing tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow, she cried all night, and engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage. She now feels a void, one that needs to be filled urgently before she loses her mind; she feels empty, finished, and dry.
Fast forward into the seminar hall where she is conveniently seated with other participants, and of course, the charmer – “Mr Femi”.
To be continued!
By Moses Emorinken
Email: brandphase@yahoo.com
Twitter: @memorinken
Instagram: @memorinken
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Fight against corruption becoming tougher – Magu
The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has said that the fight against corruption is becoming tougher, urging all Nigerians, including children, to use every weapon at their disposal to fight it.
Magu said this in Lagos on Friday during the sensitisation forum on the plan to launch “EFCC – Creative Youth Initiative Against Corruption (CYIAC) Corruption Busters”.
He said the fight against corruption was not personal and therefore called on Nigerians, including those in Diaspora to join hands in the fight, stressing that the commission was already mobilising Nigerians outside the country for support.
“The fight against corruption is becoming tougher. We cannot fight it alone. We want to mobilise everyone in the fight; the more people in the fight, the better.
“I am determined in the fight against corruption. I urge other Nigerians not to get exhausted. Don’t expect anyone to thank you for fighting corruption. It is a thankless job.
“Whatever weapons you have, use it against corruption. Use your strategic thinking; the fight must go on with or without me, it is not a personal thing.
“The press have a lot to do in this fight. If they do more, the battle would be half solved,’’ Magu said.
The Coordinator of CYIAC, Ms Foluke Michael, said the corruption busters would be launched on Dec. 9 to mark the UN International Anti-Corruption Day.
Michael said that her platform was EFCC’s preventive project, stressing that the forum was a sensitisation programme targeted at the children, youths and women meeting global goals by 2030.
She said that the CYIAC was launched in 2016 with the pilot scheme tagged; ‘My New Nigeria; Free from Corruption’, stressing that 2017 edition would kick-start with online campaign to sensitise children, youth and women.
“The online campaign will be followed by the launch of CYIAC APP and nationwide registration portal on Nov. 1 for participants between ages 9 and 14 for category 1, and 15-25 years for category 2.
“Participants will also be required to submit essays, short stories or creative ideas online based on the theme: `Imagine the World free from corruption’ between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15,’’ she said.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Chairman, a steering committee for Movement Against Corruption said both organisations had endorsed CYIAC as a vehicle to reach out to children, youths and women.
“The idea to involve young people in advocacy and fight against corruption is a movement in the right direction.
“Corruption must be destroyed from the root in Nigeria if the sufferings of the masses will be alleviated,’’ she said.
Some Youth Corps members, civil society groups and secondary school students in Lagos selected as CYIAC Ambassadors using arts, painting, dance and music to speak against corruption, were part of the occasion.
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Average price for petrol drops, kerosene increases – NBS
The average price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) dropped by 1.2 per cent year-on-year, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ), has said.
According to a report on the NBS website, the Bureau also listed states with the highest and lowest average price of petrol in comparison with the approved government price of N145.
“The average price paid by consumers for PMS decreased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year and increased by 0.1 per cent month-on-month to N144.5 in September 2017 from N144.4 in August 2017.
“States with the highest average price of PMS were Yobe N149.7, Bayelsa N147.1 and Taraba N146.1, while states with the lowest average price of petrol were Abuja N142, Osun N142.8 and Ondo N142.9,’’ the NBS said.
On Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), the Bureau said the “average price per litre paid by consumers for kerosene increased by 17.28 per cent month-on-month.
“It decreased by -8.38 per cent year-on-year to N264.48 in September, 2017 from N225.52 in August, 2017.
“States with the highest average price per litre of kerosene were Plateau N316.67, Yobe N294.44 and Kaduna N294.12.
“States with the lowest average price per litre of kerosene were Abia N240.56, Edo N240.00 and Ekiti N233.33,’’ the NBS said.
NAN
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NYSC has achieved mandate, says Gowon
A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says he is proud of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) for achieving its mandate in its 44 years of existence.
Gowon made the statement in Abuja on Friday when the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, and other top management staff of the organization paid him a courtesy visit at the Yakubu Gowon Centre on his 83rd birthday.
He said that his administration fought to establish the NYSC in 1973 after the Nigerian civil war, to use it as a tool to promote national unity and integration of the country.
Gowon said that the organization had achieved beyond its mandate, contrary to some opinions.
According to him, some people have shown their determination to kill the NYSC.
“They are saying it should be scrapped. They believe that the NYSC has out-lived its usefulness and so is no longer relevant to the society.
“The scheme has done a lot to bring about national unity and integration.
“There is no community you go to today where corps members are not serving and the support they bring to local communities is great.
“The reason my government established the NYSC was to initiate reconciliation among Nigerians after the civil war.
“We also sought to establish it for Nigerians to know each other more; promote national unity and encourage the NYSC to offer services to communities around them.
“We fought to establish it and I am proud of the scheme and all it has achieved and continue to do for the youth and the country.
“The NYSC should not be taken out of the constitution. Although some persons have said it should be scrapped.
“If you listen to public opinion, you will find out that corps members are against the scrapping of the scheme.
“This is because they understand and know its relevance and importance to their development and future,’’ Gowon said.
He advised the scheme to operate an open-door policy where it can entertain suggestions from past and serving corps members on how to move the scheme forward.
Earlier, Kazaure said the management of the scheme was on the visit to identify and celebrate with Gowon on his birthday.
He lauded Gowon’s efforts in establishing the scheme, stating that corps members were in all parts of the country, carrying out their national service.
The director-general said the corps members were bringing growth and development to communities and helping to foster unity and integration.
“The NYSC says thank you for all you have done for the scheme; 44 years after, the scheme is still standing strong.
“We will keep the scheme alive to continue to bring about unity and development for the youth and the nation.
“On behalf of the NYSC, we wish you a happy birthday,’’ Kazaure said.
The NYSC was established on May 22, 1973 during the Gowon administration.
The company was established in a bid by the regime to bring foster rehabilitation, re-construction and reconciliation after the civil war.
Gowon turned 83 years on Oct. 19.
NAN