MTN season of surprises: N50M house for grab

As part of its continuous effort in making this yuletide a memorable one for Nigerians through its on-going ‘Season of Surprises’ campaign, leading ICT and telecommunications company, MTN, is set to put a smile on the face of a lucky  Nigerian, as the company will give out a house worth N50m in the next few weeks.

Riding on the MTN sponsored TV game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (WWTBAM), a special episode of the series, tagged ‘Who Deserves To Be Surprised’ (WDTBS)’, has been created to serve as a platform through which the lucky Nigerian will emerge.

Airtel One Mic: Monja, Wenegha emerge winners in Abuja and PH

A Theatre Arts Undergraduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Ekundayo Monja, has emerged winner of the North Region final of Airtel One Mic, a musical talent-hunt competition for tertiary institutions created by leading telecom service provider, Airtel Nigeria.

The competition, which was held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, featured five other finalists, comprising two students each from University of Abuja, Nassarawa State University and another from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in keen contest for the star prize of a brand new KIA Picanto and a recording deal.

MTN commences draws to select winners in Cash Quest promo

In a bid to consolidate on its on-going Season of Surprises campaign, Nigeria’s leading telecommunications and ICT Company, MTN, has launched another massive customer reward promo.

Tagged MTN Cash Quest, this latest promo is a platform through which a millionaire will emerge daily, from 4th December, 2014 till 13th March, 2015.

Jonathan to reappoint Obanikoro as minister for conceding defeat in Lagos PDP governoship race

Obanikoro

Any time from now, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant and former Minister of State for Defence may be returning to Abuja as a top cabinet member.

This was part of a deal personally brokered by President Goodluck Jonathan, for Obanikoro to discontinue his legal challenge of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary result for Lagos State.

FG replaces 48 damaged steel columns on Eko Bridge to prevent collapse

One of the damaged stell columns on Eko Bridge

Julius Berger Construction Company have replaced all the 48 steel columns of the Eko Bridge damaged by fire in 2008 to prevent collapse of the bridge, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, has said.

Eke said the columns were installed on a span damaged by fire in 2008 to make the bridge stable pending complete rehabilitation of the bridge.

How man abducts 5-Year-old boy in Ogun, moves him to Abuja

A suspected child kidnapper, Bola Adesina who abducted a 5-year-old boy, one Ahmed and attempted to ferry him from Ogun State to Kaduna State, was nabbed after the boy raised an alarm in a vehicle in which he was travelling with his abductor.

LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that Adesina, an Okada rider based in Shagamu Ogun State, carried Ahmed in his Okada on a commercial ride in the town but later loaded him into a luxurious bus travelling to Abuja for onward delivery to his client based in Kaduna, one Iya Oyibo.

Christmas: Recreation parks in FCT record low turnout

Low turn out at one of Abuja parks

Operators of some recreation parks within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have complained of low patronage as Nigerians celebrate the Christmas.

Mr Abdulatif Olaosebikan, the Head, Programmes and Events, Parks and Recreation Department, FCT Administration, attributed the low patronage to the security situation in the country.

He advised all Nigerians to be security conscious and to support the Federal Government in the fight against insurgency.

Non-performing loans in banks still minimal, says UBA boss

Oduoza

The Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Phillips Oduoza, on Friday said the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the banking sector was still minimal.

Oduoza said that NPLs had not reached the five per cent threshold set by CBN for the sector.

He said that as long as banks were still doing business, the NPLs would rise, adding the authorities were working hard to ensure stability in the financial system.

The 2013 Annual report of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said the volume of NPLs increased by N38.05 billion or 13.30 per cent to N324.14 billion in December 2013 from N286.09 billion in 2012.

Incredible: Ceiling collapse exposes panty thief

A Chinese man who stole hundreds of pieces of ladies' underwear had his secret exposed after an emergency exit ceiling where he had been storing his hoard collapsed, state media reported.

The man, surnamed Tang and in his 30s, admitted to having mental problems since he was young and that he did not know how long he had been obsessed with women's undergarments, reports said.

Christmas tragedy: Man drowns in Lagos pool

Tragedy struck on Christmas day in Lagos when, Sodiq Ojomo, working with a catering service, drowned in a swimming pool at an event centre.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, disclosed this on Friday while reacting to the service activities for the year.

Fadipe said that the incident occurred at No. 3/5, Durosinmi Etti Street, Victoria Island.

Alao-Akala appoints Balogun, ex-commissioner as Campaign DG

Alao-Akala

Former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala and the Labour Party governorship candidate in Oyo State has appointed Dr Kola Balogun as director-general of his campaign organisation.

This is contained in a statement signed by Abraham Ojo, Alao-Akala’s media aide and made available to Mega StarNews in Ogbomoso on Friday.

Muslim youths protect Christians during Xmas service in Kaduna

More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers were part of those protecting Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in Kaduna, says Pastor Yohanna Buru.

Buru, a cleric of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South, disclosed this in an interview on Friday in Kaduna.

He confirmed that over 200 Muslims were at his church to help protect the faithful from any attack during the church service.

Kano APC picks BUK Deputy VC as Ganduje’s running mate

BUK Deputy VC, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar

The APC in Kano State has nominated the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as the party’s governorship running mate.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Baba Dantiye, said on Friday in Kano that Abubakar, until his nomination, was the university’s DVC (Academics).

``The decision to pick Abubakar as the running mate of the gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, was taken after series of meetings and consultations by the party’s stakeholders in Kano,’’ he said.

Group urges govt. to wash hands off sponsorship of pilgrimages

Nigerian on pilgrimage

A group, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has urged the three tiers of government to wash their hands off the yearly sponsorship of thousands of Nigerians to religious pilgrimages.

The Chairman of CLO, Anambra Branch, Comrade Aloysius Attah, said that a sum of about N14.93bn goes into such exercises annually.

He contended that Nigeria, being a secular state, should desist from such sponsorship, especially now that the country’s earnings are gradually dwindling by the day.

``We call for the total scrapping of government funding of religious pilgrimages in Nigeria.

“I am 100% in support of Buhari,” Says Pastor Bakare

Watch Video of Pastor Tunde Bakare's declaration for Buhari

In an exclusive interview with SaharaTV, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the serving Pastor and Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly Church in Lagos, has debunked insinuations being circulated on social media that he opposes the presidential candidature of General Muhammad Buhari.

Bakare ran with Buhari in 2011 on the presidential ticket of the Congress For Progressive Change.

He explained that the audio tape being circulated was a talk he gave immediately after the last governorship election in Ondo state in 2012, saying he made it clear for those who cared to listen that he supports Buhari’s ambition any day.

PDP in Ekiti slams Tinubu, APC for copying stomach infrastructure initiative

Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ekiti State on Monday berated All Progressives Congress (APC), for mimicking Gov. Ayo Fayose's ``stomach infrastructure’’ initiative.

Secretary of the party in the State, Dr Tope Aluko, who made the criticism in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, added that the aping amounted to ``hypocrisy at its peak.’’

He said Fayose’s stomach infrastructure initiative was fully adopted by the APC National Leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

We will defeat Buhari at the polls in 2015, says PDP scribe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said President Goodluck Jonathan would defeat Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate at the polls in 2015.

The National Secretary of PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, stated this in Abuja on Monday when chairmen of foreign chapters of the party visited him.

``They have passed through a motion and endorsed their perennial candidate, we have beaten him three times, we are going to beat him once again’’, Oladipo stressed.

UNIOSUN runs 32 accredited programmes, to commence 8 postgraduate courses

Prof. Bashiru Okeshina, Vice-Chancellor of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), said 32 programmes of the University had so far been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He said the NUC had also approved eight postgraduate programmes for the university and that the programmes would commence in the 2014/2015 academic session.

Okeshina made this known while addressing newsmen on Monday in Osogbo on the achievements and challenges of the university in the 2013/2014 session.

Guber ticket: Labour Party denies granting waiver to Maku

Maku

The Labour Party (LP) has said that it had not granted waiver to the immediate past Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, to get its Nasarawa governorship ticket for the 2015 elections.

The LP National Secretary, Kayode Ajulo, made the statement in Lagos while responding to questions from journalists.

"Going by the primary conducted by our party in Nasarawa State, Hajia Aisha Mbaka, a woman who falls into the category of those exempted by the party from paying any nomination or expression of intent fees, emerged, being the sole aspirant.

Gombe Bomb blast: Police restrict movement around Motor Park

Gombe bomb blast scene

Following the bomb blast that killed many people and injured several others in the early hours of Monday, the Police have restricted movement around the Dukku motor park, Gombe.

The police spokesman in the state, DSP Fwaji Atajir, disclosed that policemen were deployed to the park to protect lives and property.

“Some people abandoned their shops and ran for their lives during the blast, and so, we deployed our men to protect lives and property.

World Bank to support Nigeria's power sector with 1.7bn dollars

Nigerian power plant

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on Monday said that the World Bank would support the Nigerian Power Sector with 1.75 dollars (about N294bn) over the next four years.

 The bank’s Country Energy Task Team Leader for Nigeria, Mr Eric Fernstrom, disclosed this at a Capacity Building Programme on Post Privatisation Monitoring for Power Sector.

In a statement by the Head, Public Communication of the enterprise, Mr Chigbo Anichebe, in Abuja, it said the programme was jointly organised by the bank and the enterprise to ensure that the reform objectives were realised.

Sokoto, Bayelsa, others record highest adolescent marriage - NGO

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), No to Violence Initiative (NOTVI), on Monday said Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Yobe and Sokoto states have the highest percentage of adolescent marriage in Nigeria.

The NOTVI National Advocacy Officer, Armstrong Ukwuoma, said the states also had the highest number of females who gave birth at ages below 18 years.

Ukwuoma said that the information was obtained from a recent report released by the African Health, Human and Social Development Information Service.

4,000 PDP members defect to APC in Sokoto

More than 4,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State have defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The new members were received into the APC fold in Isa by Gov. Aliyu Wamakko.

Wamakko, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, commended them for their action.

``APC is the party to beat across Nigeria during the 2015 general elections,’’ he said.

Christians must participate actively in 2015 elections, says cleric

Baba Aladura Abidoye

The Spiritual Leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Abidoye, has called on Christians to actively participate in the forthcoming general elections.

Abidoye gave the advice on Sunday in his sermon at the ordination of some members of the church’s Ilorin District Headquarters.

He said the active participation of Christians remained the only way they could contribute immensely to the development of the country and decide who would rule them.

Carpenter jailed for house breaking, theft

A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, has sentenced a 23 -year-old carpenter, Abdulrahman Haruna, to eight months imprisonment for house breaking and theft.

The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, sentenced the accused to three months for the first-count charge and five months for the second-count charge with no bail option as he admitted committing the offence.