Abuja Bloggers

(CNN) -- Oh Brad. So strong. So virile. So capable of wielding a sword in Troy, destroying zombies in World War Z, and seducing leading ladies with just the tilt of a cowboy hat in Thelma and Louise. "He's a real man's man," gushed fiancé and mother of his six-children, Angelia Jolie. But that alone is not what makes him such an important role model for men today, says one of America's most distinguished feminists and international affairs professors, Anne-Marie Slaughter. It's his ability to share breadwinning and caregiving with his partner. Which has a lot more to do with empowering women than you might think. A real man's man? Brad Pitt shares the care-giving with Angelina Jolie. Getty Images "Think of Brad Pitt in Troy, he's a real guy, no question," said 55-year-old Slaughter, President of the New America Foundation , and former Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department. "But he's ...

The Oyo State Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology says it will collaborate with the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, among other tertiary institutions, to develop science and technology in the state. The state Commissioner for Industry, Science and Technology, Dapo Lam-Adesina, stated this while inaugurating the ministry’s website in Ibadan. The website, he said, would enable the state government and the schools to accomplish better technological achievements. The commissioner said, “The scope and focus of this ministry have a lot in common with our tertiary institutions. This ministry cannot alone claim to be successful if it does not link up with the likes UI and Ibadan Poly because they have a strong research mechanism in science and technology. That is why we are working with them and other agencies in the development of science and technology. “We have developed a research strategy that will involve the two institutions and the state ...

The All Progressives Congress has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan’s comment against Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima during the Presidential Media Chat on Monday, calling it unwarranted, unpresidential and petty. In a statement on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Jonathan was wrong “to have threatened, no matter how subtly,” to withdraw from Borno the troops battling against Boko Haram insurgents. The party asked the President to apologise to the people of Borno State and to all Nigerians for what it described as “presidential indiscretion.” It believed that the threat, which was in response to the statement credited to the governor that the soldiers, battling the terrorists,  needed to be better equipped and more motivated, “showed clearly that President Jonathan does not have a full grasp of what is expected of him as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.” APC added, “Mr. Presid...

Some unknown gunmen have abducted President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Chief  Inengite Nitabai, in Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Otuoke is the home state of President Jonathan and Nitabai is the President’s adopted father. Nitabai, who is said to be the compound chief of Jonathan’s family, was abducted by 10 suspected kidnappers about 9pm on Sunday. It was learnt that when the gunmen stormed the residence of the 70-year-old Nitabai, they initially met one of the victim’s children. A reliable family source, who craved anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the boy, whose name he gave simply as Silas, quickly ran into the house to alert his father and other members of the family because it was strange to see visitors at the time of the day. The source explained that six of the assailants, however, forced their way into the house, while the remaining four stayed outside. He said the suspected kidnappers ordered Nitabai, his wife, Owiya, Nitabai’s in-law, Akinobebh Jin and N...

This is the era of sex marketing. If you turn right, sex leaps into your face; if you turn left, sex jumps at you. In the street, in the shopping mall, in the church, in the office, on your computer and phone, and even in your living room, sex chases you around. Sex – subtle or barefaced – has become all-pervasive in our society. Our society has become so sex-charged that the safety of our children is no longer guaranteed. Before, the rule was that during the children’s belt on TV, materials with adult content were not shown. These days, the only things that are not shown on our TV from morning to about 10 pm are commercials of alcoholic beverages. Any other thing goes. At such periods, TV stations are competing on which will show more Mexican soaps featuring deep kissing and erotic scenes every five minutes. Almost all the stations dedicate about two hours per day to music videos with bikini-clad girls dancing with men with lewd abandon. Then there are the so-called...

The Nigerian Communications Commission said in Abuja on Tuesday that it would take necessary measures to protect the nation from being a dumping ground for fake cell phones. The NCC Public Relations Officer, Mr Reuben Muoka, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Muoka said the commission was conscious of the health implications of fake cell phones on the populace. He, therefore, said the commission would ensure that only certified phones and phone accessories found their way into the nation’s markets. NCC was partnering with the Nigerian Customs Services and the Phone and Allied Dealers Association of Nigeria to that effect. “Checks have revealed that major dealers in the Nigeria ICT market also engaged in the sale of unapproved phones. “The NCC condemns this in complete terms because of its health implication and effects in the quality of services delivery. “Worried by the ugly trend, the regulatory authority in partnership with NCS and PADAN has...

Suspected Boko Haram Islamists killed 43 people on Tuesday when they attacked secondary school students as they slept in the latest school massacre to hit Nigeria’s troubled northeast. The raid occurred at about 2.00 am and targeted the Federal Government College in the town of Buni Yadi in Yobe State and bore the hallmarks of a similar attack last September in which 40 died. The attackers reportedly hurled explosives into student residential buildings, sprayed gunfire into rooms and hacked a number students to death. A senior medical source at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Yobe’s capital Damaturu said the gunmen only targeted male students and that female students were “spared”. “So far, 43 bodies have been brought (from the college) and are lying at the morgue,” said the source, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to discuss death tolls. The state’s police chief, Sanusi Rufai, who confirmed the attack and had given an earlier death toll of...

Today at its Mobile World Congress event, Nokia announced that BlackBerry Messenger will be released in the “coming months” for its Windows Phone devices. At first, BBM will be exclusive to Nokia’s Lumia devices but will likely be released for all Windows Phone devices after the first six months, just like previous Lumia exclusives. If Nokia were to pre-install BBM on its Lumia devices it could be a powerful driver of new users to BlackBerry’s messaging service, which the company desperately needs as it struggles to compete with other messaging services such as Line and Whatsapp.

Nokia is officially launching its very first Android devices, known as the X and the X+, on stage at its annual Mobile World Congress press conference. We were all taken aback by the second ( and third ) device (since only one leaked), but either way it’s still incredible to see Nokia take this particular approach. The X will have a 4-inch, 840 x 480 IPS screen, 512MB RAM, 4GB of storage expandable storage via microSD slot and 3-megapixel camera, while the X+ sports the same specs but more RAM (768 MB) and an included 4GB microSD card. You won’t be getting Google’s apps or Play store, however as both handsets will be based on the forked AOSP Android OS. Nokia says that’ll have the advantages of the Android ecosystem, but with a “differentiated experience.” So far, Here Maps, MixRadio, Skype and Outlook are being featured on the Nokia Store. You can access the Nokia and third party stores using the devices, but not Google Play, obviously. We’ve heard Swif...

So many years ago, Eedris Abdulkareem was the man about town; the artiste on top. Any concert without him was certainly a ‘no concert.’ His fame was unrivaled. His songs were like the national anthem. He was loved by all and even became an Olympic torch bearer. But at the snap of a finger, Eedris’ fame dwindled and even came down to zero level; nobody wanted to touch him with a long pole. Since the much talked about fight with America’s 50 Cent during a Star Mega Jamz concert organised by Nigerian Breweries years ago, Eedris’ name sort of got deleted among the A-list artistes. But does the young man care about it? No! He, in fact, told Saturday Beats recently that he doesn’t regret the fight, claiming it was what revolutionalised the music industry in Nigeria today. “I am the reason everybody is getting paid today. I am the reason everybody is doing great videos. If I didn’t fight then, everybody would have been treated like dirt.” But when Saturday Beats reminded him how he eventual...

Equities fell on Friday as investors continued to react negatively to the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi. The market capitalisation fell by N167bn to close at N12.301tn, bringing the total decline in equities value since the announcement of Sanusi’s suspension on Thursday to N353bn or 2.80 per cent. The market capitalisation had declined by N186bn or 1.47 per cent on Thursday to close at N12.468tn. Analysts had explained that news of the suspension at a time when the market was trying to stabilise from the effects of quantitative easing tapering by the United States and a huge sell-off in the emerging market was not well received by investors. Also, the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s All-Share Index, which fell by 580.9 basis points on Thursday to close at 38,816.19 basis points, shed an additional 520.45 basis points or 1.34 per cent on Friday to close at 38,295.74 basis points. The total decline for both days stands at 1101.35 basis poi...

The 2014 national budget proposal weathered three stormy sessions before the bill passed the second reading a few days ago at the Senate. SUNDAY ABORISADE considers the various issues debated. Unlike their House of Representatives counterparts, members of the Senate, two weeks ago, decided to consider the 2014 budget proposal presented to them by the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, last December although they expressed divergent views on whether it should be passed or returned to the executive because of certain anomalies discovered in it. A careful observation of the debate, while it lasted, showed that the Peoples Democratic Party senators commended the budget and urged the upper chamber to consider its immediate approval, while members of the All Progressives Congress in the senate, condemned the document and called for its rejection. They maintained their different positions despite the appeal by Senate President, David Mark, to members to “see the budget from ...

An Ilorin Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday remanded a 21-year-old woman, Elizabeth Eze, for allegedly stabbing her brother, Francis, to death over an argument. The prosecutor, Sergeant Balikisu Adu, told the court that the accused stabbed her brother on the chest with a knife, following a fight over a plastic bucket on February 10, 2014 at Chikanda in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State. She said that the accused was arraigned on a charge of culpable homicide, a crime that contravenes Section 221 of the Penal Code. Adu objected to a bail application for the accused on the ground that the court cannot grant bail in the case. Magistrate Nuah Ajide, who refused to grant the plea of the accused, ordered her to be remanded at the Okekura Prison, Ilorin.

ABUJA- CHAIRMAN, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF and Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi has summoned an emergency meeting of the governors to take a position on the suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. In a statement Friday by NGF Director- General, Asishana Okauru,  the Monday meeting though an emergency one is the third  NGF Meeting  in 2014 and will be chaired by Governor Amaechi at the Rivers State Governor’s lodge, Asokoro in  Abuja at  8pm prompt. *CBN Gov Lamido Sanusi It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday suspended the apex bank governor over alleged cases of impunity, incompetence, non-challance , fraud, wastefulness, and noncompliance with provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007. The NGF meeting which has only two agenda according to the statement read, “Removal of the CBN Governor; Dwindling Revenue to States; AOB.”

The life of a 17-year-old student of Bowen University, Opeyemi Odusanya, has been cut short by some cult members in Lagos. It was gathered that the undergraduate was murdered for allegedly rejecting sexual advances from some youths in the area and also for “being too proud.” PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim was a 300 level student of Biochemistry at the university. Police authorities told our correspondent that Opeyemi was stabbed to death by the cultists at her parents’ house in the Alakuko area of Lagos on February 3, 2014. Police sources told PUNCH Metro that investigations had revealed that the culprits were residents of the area. A police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “In the afternoon of February 3, 2014, the deceased went to buy airtime for her telephone. As she was returning, a group of cult members trailed and entered the house with her. “Opeyemi was alone at home when the guys entered. They instructed her to turn on the generator so...

The concerted efforts of the Nigerian security forces and their Nigerien counterparts yielded results on Tuesday with the discovery   of a Boko Haram training camp in  Niger Republic.  A security source said that the discovery was made by the Nigerien security forces, who had been collaborating with the Nigerian security agents in the fight against terrorism. The source stated that the discovery of the camp of the insurgents was conveyed to Nigeria in a security report on Tuesday. The Nigeriens, who were believed to have interrogated some of the insurgents,  said  Boko Haram devoted the camp to a specialised training for the use of long range anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. Investigations revealed that the insurgents were focusing on the use of a dangerous weapon they had acquired, the AA 12, which is one of the world deadliest shotguns. One of its versions could also be used to shoot down fighter aircraft. The source said that...

An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday granted an order for an interim forfeiture of three expensive cars belonging to a 28-year-old undergraduate, Lawrence Orimogunje. Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo granted the order while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which had charged Orimogunje with forgery and possession of false documents. The affected cars are a Nissan Infinity G35 with registration number EP150 ABJ, a Chrysler 300 with registration number OLD – 01 and a Range Rover Sport with registration number OLD-03. In his ruling, the judge held that Orimogunje’s lifestyle was not commensurate with what he was earning as a student of Lead City University, Oyo State. Lawal-Akapo said conclusive proof was therefore not needed for the order to be granted. He said, “Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act of 2004 empower the commission to confiscate any property suspected to have been acquired through fraudulent means.” The judge consequently di...

A Nigerian British-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has won the 2013 ‘Best Actor’at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, for his role as Solomon Northup in the movie ” 12 Years a Slave”. In the movie, directed by Mr Steve McQueen, Ejiofor , 36, played the role of a blackman who was kidnapped and sold into the American South slave trade in 1841. He clinched the “Leading Actor” award, beating fellow nominees Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Jordan Belfort in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, Christian Bale in `American Hustle’, Bruce Dern in ‘Nebraska’ and Tom Hanks in ‘Philomena’. While receiving the award on Sunday night in London, Ejiofor expressed appreciation to the organisers of BAFTA and also paid tribute to the Director of the movie McQueen. “You really brought us all through it; you had the real vision to tell this remarkable story.” “The extraordinary life that he had, and to tell this story in a way to make it of such value, of such worth to all who...

Nigeria's Boko Haram 'in village massacre' Nigerian soldiers patrol in the north of Borno state close to a Islamist extremist group Boko Haram former camp, file image from 2013 Northern Nigeria is under emergency rule, but attacks have intensified Continue reading the main story Nigeria under attack Military divisions Terror badge of honour? Afraid to go to school From preachers to slave raiders Suspected Islamist militants have raided a Nigerian village and murdered dozens, according to witnesses. The gunmen reportedly rounded up a group of men in Izghe village and shot them, before going door-to-door and killing anyone they found. Officials said they suspected the Boko Haram group was behind the attack. Boko Haram, which claims to be fighting to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, is notorious for extreme violence and indiscriminate attacks. Bodies in the streets The senator for Borno state, where the attack took place, told the BBC's N...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday enjoined Christians to participate actively in politics, saying they should not leave the nation’s governance to those he described as “evil ones.” Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, warned Christians against being indifferent towards politics. The ex-President told the congregation at the fifth anniversary thanksgiving service of the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King, a religious arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, that they should not shy away from partisan politics for the good of the entire country. “I want to say here that Christians should participate in politics. We should not leave politics in the hands of the evil ones who cannot offer this country any good,” he said. Earlier in his sermon delivered on the occasion, the former president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention,  Dr. Ola Akande,  described Obasanjo as a rare and special gift to Nigeria. Akande noted that the likes of Obasanjo...

Mavin Records artiste, Tiwa Savage, has been arrested by the police for allegedly humiliating a policeman who apprehended her for violating some provisions of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law. Savage, often referred to as Mavin First Lady, was said to have argued with the policeman, who flagged her down for flouting traffic rules in front of Eko Hotels and Suites Victoria Island, on Saturday. Savage, who was recently signed a brand ambassador deal with Forte Oil, allegedly came down from the vehicle she was driving in and confronted the policeman. During the ensuing argument with the cop, Savage, who was said to have been infuriated by the development, allegedly removed the cap of the policeman. The first African female Pepsi ambassador, was reportedly whisked away to the Victoria Island Police Division for humiliating and assaulting the policeman. A policeman at the station, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said Savage was released shortly aft...

The reaching of an agreement between Bank of Industry and The National Youth Service Corps, according to the chief executive officers of the two bodies, was a step to inculcate in the corps members entrepreneurial skills and culture which will make them to be self-reliant after their service year. However, I consider this type of arrangement belated for the youths that have spent four or five years in the universities and polytechnics. Training a large group of youth under the same banner of NYSC by BoI will make the programme ineffective in tackling unemployment and improving on the economy. The best way to foster entrepreneurial skills acquisition and development amongst the youth is to establish a long-lasting connection between the bank and the respective universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. This will drive a strong desire for change in attitude of the students and youths with the existence of varieties of incentives for students and youths with sound business p...

For the first time, scientists have created human lungs in a lab — an exciting step forward in regenerative medicine, but an advance that likely won’t help patients for many years. “It’s so darn cool,” said Joan Nichols, a researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “It’s been science fiction and we’re moving into science fact.” If the lungs work — and that’s a big if — they could help the more than 1,600 people awaiting a lung transplant. Lungs are one of many body parts being manufactured in the lab — some parts, such as tracheas and livers, are even further along. “Whole-organ engineering is going to work as a solution to the organ donor shortage,” said Dr. Stephen Badylak, deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. The researchers in Galveston, Texas, started with lungs from two children who’d died from trauma, most likely a car accident, Nichols said. Their lungs were too damaged to be used for transplantation,...

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday charged Nigerian youths to develop themselves mentally for national development. Ajimobi gave the task during the presentation of the award of Pillar of Youth to him by members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Ibadan. “I count it as a great pleasure to be honoured by a body that is national in outlook and truly youthful in membership, Oyo state people and myself are happy about it. “But I want to advise that the youths of Nigeria need a lot of improvement to be great and this requires mental development. “I want you to be resolute because leadership requires mental development and you must also endeavour and strife to be men of honour,” he said. The governor also reminded the body that honour would only come to those who deserved it. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NYCN, a Lagos chapter of the body was led to Ibadan on the presentation ceremony by its Chairman, Mr Babatunde Adeleke. Adeleke had earlier said that A...

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has claimed the accusations regarding his race row with Patrice Evra were totally untrue. The Uruguay international was given an eight-match ban in Dec. 2011 after the Football Association found him guilty of racially abusing the Manchester United left back. However, the Uruguayan says the two occasions he has bitten players are the only things he regrets, insisting the Evra mess was a drama that the media and FA exaggerated. “I’ve made two mistakes in my career: when I was playing for Ajax and I bit (Otman) Bakkal and what I did with (Branislav) Ivanovic (against Chelsea). Those were my mistakes and I asked for forgiveness,” Suarez told Sport890. “All the other things were like a movie that people in England believed in. Evra? That’s what I’m talking about. It wasn’t true. I was never accused with real evidence but that’s something people forget.” Suarez admits it has been difficult for Liverpool to “protect” him during his controversies but has been buoy...

As the 24th Nigerian Universities Games kicks off, the use of mercenaries and non-bonafide students by the public universities as athletes has been highlighted as a reason why some private universities will no longer participate in the games. The Director of Sports and Socials, Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State, David Ayeni, stated so in an interview with our correspondent in his office. Ayeni said, “Babcock and some other private schools won’t be going to NUGA because we have noticed that the public universities have been using non-bonafide students and mercenaries as students. This act is a slap on our faces as it even does not encourage fair competition and it also does not result in the production of the right athletes for the country.” He added that to stem this, the private schools have started their own games which is called the Nigeria Private Universities Games, NPUGA. “NPUGA began in 2003 and was founded by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Un...

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scheduled this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for April 12 and May 17. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, said on Thursday that paper-pencil test would hold on April 12 while computer-based test would hold on May 17,2014, across 2,000 centres. Ojerinde stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory. According to him, the examination will be paper- pencil-based as well as computer-based. “We are ready for the examination even now; however we will give them time until April 12. “We are going to do the PPT on April 12 all over the country, but the CBT will start on May 17, and it will continue for 12 days. “In any case, we are prepared; we have 300 centres for CBT while we have 2000 centres for PPT. “This is the last time we are going to do PPT; it will be all CBT next year, we want education to move forward, one of the ways of moving it forward is to eradicate...

A ministerial nominee from Osun State, Oyewale Adesiyan, on Thursday made spirited effort to clear his name from the accusation that linked him to the murder of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige. Ige was assassinated in his Bodija home, Ibadan on December 23, 2001. The drama started when Senate President David Mark asked Adesiyan to give more personal information that were not included in his curriculum vitae which he submitted to the Senate. The nominee commended the senators for the opportunity offered him to stand before them to speak as a ministerial nominee. He noted that he was one of those wrongly accused to have had a hand in Ige’s death. He said, “It may interest you distinguished senators to know that I am one of those wrongly accused to have had a hand in the death of my mentor, Chief Bola Ige. “It was all political blackmail because I knew nothing about the death of Chief Bola Ige. I was detained for three and half ye...