President Jonathan’s performance in transport sector is unprecedented --- PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday in Abuja said the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan in the transport and aviation sector was unprecedented.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said the party and well-meaning Nigerians were happy with the on-going transformation in the sectors.

According to the statement, the transformation in the two sectors has supported greater economic productivity across the country.

Northern yam farmers to raise N5bn for Buhari’s presidential campaign

A group of yam farmers cutting across some northern states in the country has pledged to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s campaign in the 2015 general elections with N5 billion.

The group disclosed this in a statement in Jos on Tuesday.

Rev. Jacob Musa, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the farmers under the name ``Buhari-Osibajo Presidential Appeal Campaign Fund (BOPCAF), said that farmers from 10 states of the federation were planning the fund raiser.

Don’t despair, Atiku urges Nigerians in New Year message

Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians not to despair or lose hope because of the current challenges facing the country.

This is contained in a New Year message released by the former vice-president’s media office in Abuja and signed by Malam Garba Shehu, Atiku’s Head of Media.

The statement stated that no matter the challenge, democracy offered the people the opportunity to use the power of their votes to bring about the desired change.

2015: Ambode pledges to take Lagos to next level

Ambode

The APC governorship candidate in Lagos state, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, has disclosed that he would raise the performance bar of Gov. Babatunde Fashola, if elected into office.

Ambode made the pledge while speaking at a meeting with artisans and tradesmen at Ikeja.

The meeting was facilitated by the state government.

He said his long-standing experience in the state’s civil service had equipped him with the wherewithal to take the state to the next level.

NICON says appointment as sole underwriter of Students Welfare Insurance Scheme followed due process

Jimoh Ibrahim

The management of NICON Insurance Ltd, on Tuesday said its appointment as the sole underwriter of Students’ Welfare Insurance Scheme was done under due process.

A statement by the Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs of NICON, Mr Ade Adesokan, made the disclosure in Lagos.

The statement said that the scheme was presented to the Federal Ministry of Education and due process was followed before its appointment as the Underwriter.

2015: LP denies endorsing President Jonathan

The National Chairman, Labour Party, Mr Abdulkadri Abdulsalam, has said that the party had not endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

Abdulsalam, who gave the clarification in Abuja, said the rumour had gone viral on social media.

He said the rumours had no base or truth.

Shettima presents N175bn budget for 2015

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Tuesday presented a budget proposal of about N175 billion for the 2015 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly in Maiduguri for approval.

Shettima said that the proposal, tagged `Budget of Fulfilment', comprised N62 billion recurrent and N113 billion capital expenditures.

He explained that the budget would be financed through N98 billion Statutory Allocation, N39 billion Internally Generated Revenue and N38 billion Capital Receipts.

PDP House of Rep candidate dumps party, joins APC over Osinbajo

Ayisha-Osori

In a dramatic twist that has left most political watchers astonished,  a People Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representative candidate, Ms Aisha Osori, has denounced the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) after emerging winner under the PDP.

Osori made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the APC national secretariat.

Osori had emerged winner at the just concluded AMAC/Bwari federal constituency primary in the Federal Capital Territory.

Benue Govt. plans to spend N98.6 billion in 2015

Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue has presented the 2015 appropriation bill of over N98.6 billion to the Benue House of Assembly for consideration.

The bill shows a drop of 11 per cent in the 2014 appropriation estimates of N130 billion.

Suswam made the presentation on Tuesday in Makurdi during the assembly's plenary session.

SEC approves UBA's rights issue

SEC approves UBA's rights issue

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday approved the proposed rights issue of N13 billion for existing shareholders of UBA Plc.

Mr Obi Adindu, Communications Adviser to SEC Director-General, who confirmed the approval said that the rights issue opened on Dec. 29.

Adindu said that the commission also approved UBA’s application for a bond issue that would commence at a later date.

GES: 11, 500 wheat farmers to receive fertilisers, seeds in Kano

No fewer than 11, 500 wheat farmers in Kano State will benefit from the Federal Government’s fertilisers and other farm inputs during the current dry season farming.

Alhaji Adamu Shehu, the Acting Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.

Shehu said the federal government had started distributing the commodity under its Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) to the registered farmers in five designated centres across the state.

Blame mass failure in November/ December examination on students poor reading habit, says Woman leader

A woman leader, Mrs Francisca Obasuyi, has identified poor reading habit among students as the major factor responsible for mass failure in the last November/December external examinations.

Obasuyi, former President of the Catholic Women Organisation, Ijegun branch, Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the advent of computers, phones and internet had distracted the children from studies.

`` The problem is that they don’t have the habit of reading, unlike those days when our parents bought story books for us.

Five frozen to death as Balkan countries endure cold snap

At least five were dead amid a Balkans cold snap that included a massive blizzard in Bulgaria and Serbia, authorities said on Tuesday.

The interior ministry's emergency situations department said in Belgrade that three people were found frozen to death in Bulgaria, along with two in Serbia.

It said this followed the storm which struck over the weekend, bringing deep subzero temperatures, massive snowfall and gale force wind.

2015 Lagos Gov Prophecy: PDP rebukes APC over attack on Primate Olabayo, describes Osinbajo’s strategy deceptive

The Lagos State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for disparaging a Christian cleric and man of God, Primate Olabayo, who recently prophesied amongst others that the PDP would win Lagos State Governorship election in 2015.

 

The PDP described the sacrilege attack on the Man of God as an attack on all Men of God of the Christian Faith and which must be condemned by all adherents of the Faith.

It was of the opinion that the outburst was a sample of the peak of hostility the Lagos APC could go especially against any individual, group or interest they perceive as pro PDP.

Gynaecologist counsels Nigerians on dangers of fat belly

Largely, most Nigerians regard men who have protruding bellies as being sign of good living.

But on the contrary, a Gynaecologist, Dr Fred Achem, has  advised Nigerians to be well informed on how to reduce belly fats to avoid health risk associated with it.

Achem, who works with the Feropod Hospital, Abuja said that too much intake of fats, carbohydrates and animal protein would reduce the functions of the vital organs in the body.

The gynaecologist said that belly fats crop up due to accumulation of fats in the abdominal region of the body, thereby causing discomfort for the person involved.