Abuja - Kaduna Railway Project ready for Flag-Off

The minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, carried out a final check on the Abuja – Kaduna railway, declaring the project, ready for flag-off by President Muhammadu Buhari, come July 26.

‎Speaking at the Idu station of the rail line in Abuja, the minister, who was accompanied by the national chairman of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie Oyegun‎, said,
“we are ready to go. From the things we have seen today (yesterday), we are set to go. This test run exercise has been on for over a month. We said it was going to run for two weeks but we allowed it for six weeks so that everybody can use it.”

While revealing the time the rain lines will start commercial business, Amaechi said, “We are targeting that from Tuesday after the president must have flagged off the Abuja-Kaduna rail, we will then begin to charge passengers.”

The minister who sought the opinion of the passengers before fixing the fare said, “They suggested 500 on economy and I will do that".

“One of the reasons why we did not commission earlier is because we wanted the train to run for at least a month and check if there will be any problem but we have done that for over a month and there was no problem.”

On the challenges of getting passengers, he said, “the passengers have found solution to their problems and they don’t need to be transported to Idu before they board the train to Kaduna. People on their own have devised a means of boarding the train from Kubwa and Kubwa presently has the highest number of passengers. The train presently has the capacity for 330 passengers.”

Source: Leadership Newspapers

First Nigerian Gay Pastor speaks about his views

LGBTs have been advised to stop hiding their true identities by Nigeria’s first gay pastor, founder of secret gay church, House of Rainbow, Rowland Jide McCauley.

On his Facebook page, he called on homosexuals, transgenders, and more to accept themselves and come out of hiding.

Using a Bible verse which he used to back up his advice, “Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your God who is in heaven.

Black Clergy or Faith leaders especially in Africa who are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender or intersex, I see you only at the back of the battle for equal human rights, theological correctness in the church or in your faith communities.

You need to rush forward with a theology of visibility, you need to say I am here I am gay and I am fabulous. The same goes for all the gays in any form of ministry in the church.

Let’s get one thing right. We all need allies in solidarity. I am for building alliances. Feminist movement will cherish alliances from men, black movement welcome alliances from white people, gay people welcome alliance from straight folks etc.

What I don’t understand is the laziness of fighting our own battles when we suddenly step back and allow our alliances to carry the burden of our issues almost alone, many are making far more sacrifices than we do. This is a fact. When we stand together, we support our allies and together we bring changes,” he added.

Luck runs out on human skull sellers

Luck ran out of four young men reportedly engaged in trading human parts, they were arrested yesterday by operatives of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of Akwa Ibom State Police Command, when the suspects went looking for a buyer of a human skull in their possession.

The suspects are Emmanuel Edet Ikot, 17,  from Edeabasi, Oron; Ubong Udong, 18; Bright Effiong Okon, 19 and Okon Ita, 20, from Orukim.

The alleged leader of the group, Emmanuel Edet, denied the accusation, saying he only stumbled on a human skull while working at an uncompleted building for a man (names withheld) in Oron.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, Delia Nwawe, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner, Mr. Murtala Mani, said the suspects were arrested by officers of the CID of the command in Mbo Local Government Area on receiving an alert from vigilant youths in the area.

He said with the arrest of the suspects, they would be charged to court following investigations.

Leader of the gang, Mr. Emmanuel Edet, said; 

“I was paid to cut grass and clean up an uncompleted building by one man in Oron.

“As I was clearing the place, I stumbled on a human skull. I then rushed to inform my friends of what I found and in the company of those my friends, we went to pick the human skull.

“After picking it, we decided to sell it, but we did not know of any possible buyer. So, it was suggested by one of us that we take it to a native doctor in Mbo. The four of us went together but on our way, we were held by the youth leader of Mbo.

“After the skull was found on me, he called the police to arrest us. That is why we are here. I have not sold human parts before.”

JAMB New Guidelines

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, has said that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is acting beyond its powers when it released the admission guidelines for Nigerian universities.

ASUU chairman at the university, Dr. Deji Omole, said that only the Senate in Nigerian Universities can create admission modalities and determine which suits their institution.

Reacting to the 2016 admission guidelines recently released by JAMB, Omole said that Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, are confused and inconsistent. The reason being that, at first a decision was made to ban the collection of payment through the conduction of Post-UTME, but these new guidelines involve a structure which requires payment of screening fees that is designed favour the children of the rich against the poor.

Omole added that the 'newly' released point – based scoring system is not new as it was innovated and used at the University of Ibadan for five years and abandoned.

He said, “JAMB is acting beyond its mandate which is to conduct and release results. The Senate of universities has the right to determine the model or guideline to adopt to admit their students from the pool of candidates sent to it by JAMB.

“Each university has standards which are not subjected to the whims and caprices of any government appointee. JAMB does not have the powers to tell universities how to conduct their screening. It is a way to cover up their inadequacies because JAMB’s credibility as an examination body is yearly being queried.

“JAMB and its handlers are confused. Last year, they arbitrarily placed students in private universities to satisfy the needs of their cronies. These were mainly children of the poor who had not chosen those institutions. In the just concluded JAMB examinations, they awarded candidates with extra 40 marks without any justification.

“Now, those with two sittings results will be shortchanged and those awaiting results will be disadvantaged. There will be rise in result racketeering at WAEC again as people will be purchasing grade ‘A’ since that is what will guarantee admission.

“More miracle examination centers will spring up and JAMB and the minister would have succeeded in entrenching corruption and further kill university education in Nigeria. ASUU stands by university autonomy. JAMB cannot determine admission guidelines for universities, rather JAMB must be overhauled to make their results believable and trusted.”

Student Stabs Landlord to Death

A Student of the Abia State Polytechnic has allegedly stabbed his landlord to death following an interruption by the landlord while he was having sexual intercourse.

The suspect identified simply as Abel, a student of the Abia State Polytechnic, is reported to have stabbed the victim in the stomach before fleeing the scene.

PUNCH Metro reports that Abel, a final year student of the department of Architecture, reportedly murdered the landlord of one of the lodges at the Immaculate area of Aba, Abia State over a disagreement involving a female visitor at the lodge.

The landlord reportedly banned female visitors from spending the night in the lodge, a rule Abel flaunted, challenging the landlord to a fight, during which he stabbed the victim in the stomach. The unidentified landlord is reported to have died on the spot.

A witness identified simply as Beatrice, revealed to PUNCH Metro that the caretaker of the lodge had been the first to notice the female in the lodge, which he in turn reported to the landlord.

The news reports reveal that the Landlord had barged into the room, meeting Abel and his girlfriend, naked, which had led to the scuffle.

She said:

“The incident happened around 9pm on June 29. The deceased had made a rule that no student living in the lodge should bring a lady to pass the night there. He also made it a rule that every visitor, be it male or female, must leave before night falls.

“However, the suspect brought home a female guest in the evening and both of them went inside his room. The caretaker of the lodge saw them and waited for them to come out, but they didn’t. He then put a call through to the landlord, who hurriedly went to the building around 9pm.

“On arrival, the landlord barged into the student’s room where he met both the lady and the student naked. Instead of excusing himself, he attacked the student with punches. The lady quickly grabbed a wrapper and ran out of the room into another student’s room in the lodge.

"As the confrontation continued, the student stabbed the landlord with a knife, put on his boxers and fled that night, leaving the landlord dead in his room".

The police have reportedly launched a manhunt for Abel, whose picture has been posted in strategic positions all over the school.

Source: http://www.pulse.ng

Beware! Riot in Maryland.

A Hawker who was killed by an incoming BRT vehicle at Maryland has caused riots at the Maryland.

The Hawker who was running away from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials was hit by the incoming BRT vehicle unknown to him.

His fellow hawkers on seeing that he had been killed, started throwing stones at the BRT vehicle, the driver and the passengers took to their heels.

The scene caused a standstill at the Independence Bridge, Maryland as commuters were stranded and couldn't advance further.

No lives were further lost as Security Agencies were at the scene to maintain peace and order.

What do you think about this?

Was it the fault of the KAI officials, or that of the hawker or that of the BRT driver?

Kindly leave your comments below at the comment box.

ROBBERS ATTACK VIGILANTE GROUP AND KILL THEM.

Robbers have reportedly killed three members of the Benue state vigilante group during an attack on Okpoga community in Okpokwu local government area.

The sad incident reportedly took place during the early hours of today June 26.

Residents of the community reveal that the robbers, reportedly about 15 in number, had attacked their homes while shooting sporadically.

The bodies of the three members of the local vigilante group have now been deposited in a mortuary while three others escaped with serious injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Okpoga.

KUJE PRISON BREAK

The Service confirmed that two inmates being held for culpable homicide had escaped, but Okah was not one of them

The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has officially clarified rumoured jailbreak and escape of suspected mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombings, Charles Okah, from Kuje prison.

In a statement issued on Saturday, June 25, by spokesman of the service, Francis Enobore, he confirmed that two inmates being held for culpable homicide had escaped, but Okah was not one of them, and their escape was not via a jailbreak.

“Contrary to speculations that there was a jailbreak in Kuje Medium Security Prison and that Charles Okah had escaped from lawful custody, I wish to state that Charles Okah is still in the prison safe and sound,” he said.

“However, two inmates were reported to have escaped from the prison at about 1930hrs, though not through jailbreak. The inmates in question were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and have no relationship with Charles Okah in what ever manner as it’s being speculated. Efforts are on in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant bodies to recapture the fleeing prisoners.

“The Controller General of Prisons, apart from immediately dispatching a team to the Prison to carry out preliminary investigation, was also personally on ground to have a first hand information about the incident. He directed the team to do a thorough job and expeditiously too in order to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape noting that any staff found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement said.

It had been reported that Okah, alongside another inmate scaled the walls of Kuje prison on Friday night and were being hunted by security operatives.

Source: http://www pulse.ng/

PRO-BIAFRAN SUPPORTERS STORM LONDON HOSPITAL IN SEARCH OF BUHARI

The Members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) recently stormed the Royal London hospital white chapel,where President Muhammadu Buhari was allegedly expected on June 16 Thursday.Pro-Biafran Supporters who  were seen holding posters and flags,claimed that Buhari was receiving treatment in that same hospital.

However,Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that he spoke with the president over the phone and that there was no need for Buhari to rush back to Nigeria.He also stated that the president is in perfect condition and needs more time to rest.

NURSES STRIKE: LUTH PLEADS FOR NIGERIA INTERVENTION

The management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, yesterday, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the hospital’s striking nurses to embrace dialogue and return to work.

Mr Kelechi Otuneme, LUTH’s Head of Corporate Services, made the plea in Lagos.

According to reports nurses and midwives in the hospital, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, had on June 10 commenced an indefinite strike.

“We call on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on our nurses and midwives to let them embrace the tested democratic norms as the only means of conflict resolution in the present dispensation,” Otuneme said.

According to him, the reasons the striking workers gave in a letter they wrote to the hospital management for the strike are not tenable.

“Some of the reasons include non-promotion of 71 members of their association in the 2015 promotion exercise and non-payment of teaching allowance to LUTH nurses,” he added.

Otuneme said the hospital management had made several entreaties to the nurses to embrace dialogue, but they were not yielding.

“In 2015, LUTH interviewed and recommended for promotion over 200 nurses, including many that had been stagnated for several years due to various policies of the previous governments.

“A list of 600 successful LUTH workers, including these nurses, was forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) for approval, with suitable recommendations that they should be promoted.

“The ministry, however, excluded 71 nurses without the BSc Degree in Nursing because of the existing provision made by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

He said: “It stipulates that a nurse must possess a BSc Degree in nursing to advance beyond Level 12 of the current salary scale.

“The association stridently insisted that LUTH management should ignore the directive of the FMOH and promote the 71 nurses.

“They were advised and assisted to seek direct and further clarification from the ministry.”
Otuneme said the ongoing strike was basically because officials of the association were among the 71 people who failed to obtain the requisite degree.

“It was due to the fear of being overtaken by their better-qualified younger colleagues, especially now that the 2016 promotion examinations are about to commence.

“However, LUTH management cannot and will not disobey constituted authority to pacify striking nurses who know very well that the final decision to promote our workers or not rests with higher authorities.

“Non-payment of teaching allowance to LUTH nurses is a mischievous allegation as everyone knows that nurses are paid directly from Abuja through the IPPIS government platform.

“Salaries and allowances such as uniform, teaching and so on are computed and paid directly to each nursing staff by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government recently requested for a compilation of all outstanding salaries and allowances from all institutions and our figures were promptly submitted,” he said.

Otuneme said that LUTH management was committed to the maintenance of an enabling environment for the provision of service to citizens who expect nothing but the best.

Reacting, the chairman of the association, LUTH chapter, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, said that their action was due to inadequate equipment which had affected the operations of nurses and care for the patients.

“Nurses are ready to work, but there must be provision of adequate equipment, electricity, regular water supply, provision of consumables, stationeries, motivational incentives, and arrears of legitimate benefits must be paid.

“The allegation that 71 nurses concerned are union officials who failed to obtain the requisite degree is not true,”‘ she said.

“All our executive members are not affected because they are all holders of BSc Degree, but the management is trying to stagnate the nurses,” Adelaja said.

POST UTME EXAMINATION IS ILLEGAL - JAMB REGISTRAR

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Dibu Ojerinde has declared as ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘illegal’ the Post-UTME examination conducted by tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The JAMB boss added that the examination body was not responsible for scrapping the exercise adding that it was cancelled by the Minister of Education after due consultation.

He said these while featuring on Sunrise Daily, an early morning programme on Channels TV.

Noting that there is a difference between screening and test, he said that the initial agreement with institutions was to conduct screening exercise to determine their eligibility.

His words: “Nobody say you should not screen candidates. The screening involves checking of their certificates, subject combination, Jamb scores and other prerequisites to ensure that they meet up with the requirement. It is screening, not test.

“What government asked them to do right from the beginning is screening and not test. Former President Obasanjo said this when he was in power; ‘I did not ask you to conduct another exam, all I say is screen the candidates before they come in’ and that exactly is what the minister is talking about.”

Quoting some sections of the constitution, Ojerinde stressed further that the exercise is unconstitutional and has no legal basis.

“According to section 5, sub-section 1A of the constitution, the general control for the conduct of matriculation examination for admission into all the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education or whatever name called is vested in JAMB.

“Section 5, sub-section 2 also states; the board shall be responsible for determining matriculation requirements and conducting examination leading to undergraduate admission and also for admission into National Dipoma and National Certificate in Education, NCE.”

Ojerinde said that a uniform screening process will soon be developed.

Source: http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/06/14/post-utme-examination-illegal-jamb-registrar/

APC SEPARATES IN KADUNA

The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed Senator Shehu Sani for forming a splinter group of the party in the state.
On Friday, June 3, 2016, Sani and some key APC members in Kaduna state formed a group known as APC Akida (a Hausa word which means (“Our interest”).

The party said they are united, adding that they support the administration of the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The acting publicity secretary of Kaduna state APC, Salisu Wusono said "As a party, the Kaduna State APC stands united behind governor Nasir El-Rufai, in delivering service for our people. Our party was elected to lead change and bring development, not to pander to the ego of people.

“Those who think that nothing can be right if they are not the drivers and condemn laudable initiatives just because they are not treated as masters should reconsider their conduct.”

Adding that “The APC Kaduna State cannot be factionalised. We will not tolerate indiscipline. We have given people enough time to adjust to the reality that they are not in a position to hold the party or the process of change to ransom just because of their personal interests.

“Some people lost their bid to occupy the office of chairman; others were soundly defeated in the gubernatorial primaries. Despite this, the party tried to carry them along. But they stood aloof during the campaigns, some even went as far as cooperating with the PDP.

“We heard that a group of persons sat with a suspended senator to announce an illegal and unrecognized group. They are hereby warned to desist.”

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai paid a condolence visit to Senator Shehu Sani following the death of his mother, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar Sani.

Source: punchng.com

NIGER DELTA AVENGERS (NDA) STRIKES AGAIN

The Niger Delta Avengers Militant group claimed three new attacks on the country's battered oil infrastructure overnight, promising to bring Nigeria's oil production to "zero."

Early on Friday, the group said via its Twitter account that it had blown up a pipeline in Nigeria's Bayelsa state owned by Italy's ENI, hours after attacks on another ENI pipeline as well as one belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC).

"At about 3:30am our (@NDAvengers) strike team blew up the Brass to Tebidaba Crude oil line in Bayelsa," the group said on a Twitter feed it uses to claim attacks.

The pipeline is used to transport Brass River crude, which was placed under force majeure after an attack last month, to an export terminal.

Hours earlier, the group said it blew up the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba and Clough Creek-Tebidaba pipelines in Bayelsa and a Shell Forcados export pipeline. That grade has been under force since an attack on a sub-sea pipeline in February.

Because the attacks were on infrastructure for oil streams already under force majeure, the immediate impact on Nigeria's exports was limited. The country's oil minister said on Thursday its production was close to 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd).

ENI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the SPDC, which operates the Forcados line, said the company was "investigating reports of an attack on its pipeline in the Western Niger Delta."

STUDENTS OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC AUCHI RIOT

There was a serious riot at Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State earlier today. According to some students of the school, the protest started when three students were allegedly shot dead by security officers. They were all protesting against the management for denying them access to write exams because of non-payment of school fees. In the process of the protest, three of them were shot while some were badly injured.

Others reacted by going on a rampage, destroying school properties, setting tyres and cars ablaze, blocking the school gates and roads. The police have also reportedly invaded the current LT rowdy premises of the institution, spraying tear gas in the air to disperse the rioting students. The situation is seriously getting out of hand and concerned students are appealing to the government to quickly caution the Security Officers present at the scene of the riot, in order to prevent further loss of life.

Check out more photos below.

Written and Edited by Ebby

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WIZKID: LIST OF WOMEN IN POP STAR'S LIFE

Nigerian pop superstar Wizkid, 25, has had a very colourful love life since his career officially kicked off in the year 2010.
Since his emergence into the scene Wizkid has dated quite a few popular women in his successful career. With the singer now the father of a second boy it is the right time to list the women who have been with Wizkid.

1) SOPHIE RAMMAL.

She was Wizkid’s first popular girlfriend. In 2010 she was the video vixen in his debut music video ‘Holla at your boy’. They broke shortly after Wizkid’s career blew up. Sophie Rammal tried her hands on music in 2014 when she released a track called ‘Run That’ under the moniker Lebanon Ruff. It seems she abandoned her career though. In January 2016, she got married.

2) SOLA OGUDUGU

At the age of 19 she met Wizkid and soon enough was pregnant for him. Sola Ogudugu is the pop star's baby mama. "I remember the day I found out I was preggers! After 5 months… Damn!!! I Swear I died and rose again!" she revealed in 2015 to Y Naija. Wizkid and Sola have a cordial relationship and the pop star is much involved in the life of their son Boluwatife.

3) TANIA OMOTAYO

Wizkid started dating the lovely Tania Omotayo circa 2011. Tania is the woman who has been associated with Wizkid for the longest time. For most parts their relationship was on and off for years. In January 2016, Wizkid revealed that he was no longer in a relationship with her.

4) BINTA DIAMOND DIALLO

In January 2016, Binta Diamond Diallo revealed that Wizkid was the father of her new born baby son. Wizkid has denied this but Diallo has remained adamant. Two days ago she revealed a paternity test which states that Wizkid is the father of her son. The timeline of their relationship is blurry but it most likely that they were in a relationship last year.

5) TONTO DIKEH
The Nollywood actress appears in Wizkid's life appears in between his first popular girlfriend Sophie Rammal and Tania Omotayo. It was heavily rumoured that Tonto Dikeh was dating the budding star. It was the gist in town for months.

MAY 29, ANOTHER REASON FOR NIGERIANS TO HOPE.

  

MAY 29, ANOTHER REASON FOR NIGERIANS TO HOPE.

Some date are very significant in the hearts of people. For example, no American will ever forget September 11, 2001, no Ghanaian will ever forget March 6th, 1957, just as no Brazilian will ever forget June 29, 1958, in the same mode, May 29th strikes a chord in the heart of every patriotic Nigerian, you know why? Because 29th May,1999 marked an end to autocracy and tyranny in Nigeria, it spelled a New dawn for Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.

Democracy Day is a public holiday in Nigeria . It is held annually on May 29 . This public holiday commemorates the restoration of democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria , when the newly elected (Olusegun Obasanjo) took office as the President of Nigeria in May 1999 ending multiple decades of military rule that began in 1966 and had been interrupted only by a brief period of democracy from 1979 to 1983.

Is there hope?

Of course, this date is one that is memorable to Nigerians because we honestly hope that if Nigeria could be saved from the clutches of tyranny and military rule, then we will be delivered from corruption, insecurity, instability problems that we are currently faced with. Nigeria might not be where it ought to be but the truth is Nigeria isn't where it used to be. Over the years we have seen different people at the helm of affairs with a unified motive of building 'Project Nigeria'. Today also marks one year of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in office.

It is, therefore, germane that the present administration takes another look at the campaign promises it made to Nigerians before the 2015 General Election; promises on which wings the party rode to power, and seek to fulfill them. In politics, promises are covenants; the electorate has kept its part by voting the party into power, it is now the duty of the party in power to satisfy its own part of the bargain.

One year after coming to power, it is time for the APC to stop blaming its failure to fulfill its obligations on the past administration. A government that cannot chart a course for itself within one year and use that platform to fulfill its promises to the people has only itself to blame. Therefore, while we celebrate 17 years of uninterrupted democracy and one year of President Muham­madu Buhari in office, and while we urge Nigerians to keep exercising patience, The Authority calls on the government to wake up and accomplish its statutory obligations to the people.

If it fails to shape up now, the Buhari administration might discover, to everybody’s chagrin, that the next 12 months might be a bridge too far.

We Nigeria experience another paradigm shift? Yes.

Will it come soon? Only time will tell.

HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY

#Signed

OGUNNUBI MICHAEL ADEBAYO

NAUS Ogun Axis coordinator

(08094413542)

BADMUS BUKOLA MIKAIL

Deputy Coordinator

(07068790370)

AKEJU SAHEED

General Secretary

ADESANYAN ADENIRAN ANTHONY 

P.R.O

ECHATAH PATRICK OYAREHUA

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity

FG TO START PAYMENT OF #5000 TO THE POOR- OSINBAJO.

Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the Federal government will commence the payment of #5000 to the porr citizens in Nigeria once the 2016 budget is signed by the President.

The VP further disclosed that the government is also planning to train a minimum of 100,000 young Nigerians in technology.

THE NIGERIAN STUDENT FASHION AND DESIGN WEEK 2016.

The 4th edition of the Winasbet sponsored Nigerian Student Fashion & Design Week is here again with Winasbet, one of Nigeria’s leading online sport and betting company returning as the title sponsor for the 3rd year. NSFDW has promoted over 150 young designers since inception, some of which have gone on to become established and prominent names in the Nigerian fashion industry.

The event continues as a collaboration of BlackNBold Fashion House, a leading fashion promoting company, Africa Fashion Week London, the producers of the biggest African Fashion Week in Europe & Nigeria and Mahogany International, world renowned producers of fashion weeks across the world. The team behind NSFDW has over 20 years of local and international fashion show production experience.

The Winasbet Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week aims to discover new talent and give opportunities to those that would not normally be able to afford to participate at the major Nigerian Fashion Weeks. Winasbet Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week is aimed at brand new or emerging designers that want to use these shows as a platform to either launch themselves or a brand new collection that they have to the student market.

The Most Creative Designer will receive sponsorship to showcase at the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, a year mentorship with a renowned fashion designer, a top pr company and financial support. More benefits available in the designers pack.

The fashion week is scheduled to hold this July at the Indoors hall of the University of Lagos and it will attract press, buyers and fashionistahs from around Nigeria who want to see the new trends that are being developed by the designers that NSFDW will feature.

To request press accreditation email:press@nsfdw.com

For Sponsorship, designer/exhibitor pack, press enquiries, photography or general

enquiries: info@nsfdweek.com or call 07031607412, 07053934970, 07034823549
Website: www.nsfdw.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nsfdweek

Instagram/Twitter: @nsfdweek

UNCATEGORIZED Buhari Orders Arrest of Dasuki and Others Fingered in Arms Contract Report

On the authority of Mr President, a 13 man committee was set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date. While the committee which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.

As part of the findings, the committee has analyzed interventions from some organizations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies.

So far the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Hundred Naira and Eighteen Kobo (N643,817,955,885.18).

The foreign currency component is to the tune of Two Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand US Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($2,193,815,000.83).

These amounts exclude grants from the State Governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police. It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement.
The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; Fifty Three (53) were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.
Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East.

The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfillment of tax obligations to the FGN.

Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00. The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.
Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, 2 companies, were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.
The findings made so far are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were wasted daily.

In light of these findings, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organizations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts.

This is a press statement from the presidency

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God bless our gallant soldiers God bless PMB God bless APC God bless Nigeria God bless you