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Saturday 2 January 2016

Health Diet: What Will Be Good For Our Health In 2016

Healthy eating and healthy living are inseparable. Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eat at least one vegetable or fruit at every meal. Keep cut-up raw veggies in the front of the fridge and fruit on the counter where you’ll see it.
Have healthy dips on hand, like hummus, peanut butter, and low-fat yogurt. Load extra veggies into your sandwiches, pizzas, salads, soups, and omelets. Pureed veggies like butternut squash can thicken soup and other dishes and add nutrients to them. Mix cauliflower puree in with mashed potatoes.
vegetable
Eat healthy…
Reduce fast-food temptations
 Keep fruit or nuts with you to tide you over until you get home or to work. If you can’t resist, choose lower-calorie options like grilled chicken or low-fat chili. And look for fruit or veggie options like a salad (watch the dressing) or plain baked potato as a side. Order regular or small sizes, and avoid value meals. Sip water or diet soda instead of sugary soda.want to snack healthier.
Eat a healthy snack a day
 Instead of reaching for cookies or chips, enjoy a small handful of nuts or low-fat yogurt (watch for added sugar). Take advantage of fresh fruit in season. Oranges and grapes are especially good because they take time to peel and eat. Snack only when you’re really hungry — not just bored or stressed — and only eat one serving.
Avoid mindless eating
 Eat only when you’re actually hungry. When you feel satisfied, before you feel full, stop eating, even if there’s still food on your plate. Don’t sit in front of the TV or computer when you eat. Multitasking leads to overeating. Pay attention to your food.
Snack less at work
 Get unhealthy snacks out of your office — or at least out of plain sight. You’ll eat less if you don’t have food within easy reach. If you tend to graze mindlessly at work, don’t keep food at your desk. Keep it far away from where you sit. The distance makes you think each time you grab a bite. Take time for a real lunch break, away from your desk.
Eat smart at restaurants
 Just like eating at home, planning can help you make smarter choices in restaurants. Find one that serves a children’s menu or smaller portion sizes. Don’t let yourself get so hungry that you overeat. Have a healthy snack beforehand. Or start with a clear (not creamy) soup or salad. Cut your meal in half and take one half home. Or split an entrée with a friend. Ask the waiter not to bring any bread or tortilla chips to your table.
Eat less sugar
 Give up one soft drink a day. Cutting just one can of regular cola means losing more than 30 grams of sugar or about eight teaspoons from your diet. Replace sugary drinks with diet soda, water or unsweetened tea. Other ways to cut sugar include taking fresh fruit or fruit canned in water. Choose unsweetened cereals.
Eat breakfast every day
 If you’re too rushed in the morning to make breakfast, take it with you to eat at school or work. Portable breakfast items can include breakfast bars, containers of yogurt, instant oatmeal packets, or pieces of fresh fruit. Even if you don’t like typical breakfast foods, it’s important to eat something in the morning to fuel your body.
Don’t overeat
 Think small. Trade your large plates and silverware for small ones. Research proves that people eat less on a smaller plate. Use a tablespoon, not a serving spoon, to dish out portions. Think about what you put on your plate to make sure you really want it. Serve from the pot on the stove instead of the table, so second helpings aren’t right in front of you. Eat slowly so your body has time to tell your brain you’re full. Happy new year!


Vanguard

What Do You Have At Stake To Be Great By Adefemi

As life begins from inside with great passion for success, human exists to make impact either successfully or aggressively. When we look beyond our predicaments as human being, we will always do great exploits. I have come to realize that success is a passion and as well a drive. Do you want to succeed? That's a great question that everybody must ask themselves at every stages of their lives. When we think about our challenges as humans, I believe there must be great passion about what we can do because thinking too much can affect progress from within. It is better to identify the problem and device a means to tackle it headlong. Every human has been destined for greatness all we need to do is to keep the fire burning with positive energy. I see better future ahead and one thing that is very very important is that we must fear GOD with passion and stay loyal, focus on our goals. There is greatness lies within us. Stay blessed.
By Adefemi

Friday 1 January 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ESTEEMED READERS

In everything I give glory and adoration to almighty God for his mercy over my life and my entire family. Sometimes I look at myself and the best thing I can say is thank you God because he has been so good to me. He knows my struggles and he has been my comforter. As we enter this new year, I pray that what ever we laid our hands upon shall turn to glory and success. We will not die untimely death and God in his infinite favor will shower his mercy and blessing upon us. All our wishes will be granted by God and this year will be a successful year for us. Congratulations to each and everyone all over the world. I love you all.

Thursday 31 December 2015

None of my ministers is corrupt – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, made a robust defence of the integrity of all 36 ministers in his cabinet challenging anyone with a contrary view to present evidence against such a minister.
Speaking in his first media chat, the president said the first gains of the war against corruption would become evident by the end of March, next year, even as he accused erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) of having allegedly committed atrocities against Nigeria through reckless disbursement of billions of government funds.
The president made his first dismissal of the agitation for Biafra stating that Igbo were in strategic position in the cabinet including holding the petroleum and labour portfolios besides the stewardship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Media Chat 4: L-R SA Media to President Buhari Mr Femi Adesina, Premium Times Editor Mr. Ibanga Isine, Anchor/Media Practitioner Mr Kayode Akintemi, President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr Ngozi Ayaegbunam, Daily Trust Editor Mannir Dan-Ali and SSAP Mallam Garba Shehu shortly after the Presidential media chat at the State House in Abuja on 30th Dec 2015
 President Muhammadu Buhari,  and the panel of journalists during the President maiden presidential media chat at the State House in Abuja yesterday.
President Buhari also assured of the administration’s readiness to implement the N5,000 monthly transfer to vulnerable Nigerians even as he said the campaign promise did not emanate from him but from his then running mate, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. He also frowned at the allocation of N47.7 billion for the purchase of vehicles by the National Assembly even after the lawmakers had collected car loans from the government.
The president, who expressed his readiness to negotiate with any credible leadership of the Boko Haram sect for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls also disclosed his readiness to consider a ban on the use of hijab should the trend of bombing through young veiled girls continue.
Noting the dire economic conditions facing the country, President Buhari was, nevertheless, against the immediate devaluation of the naira even as he revealed that N1.5 trillion had been recovered into the federation account through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account.
The president also spoke on the fate of the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, saying that he had allowed the Kaduna State government and the military authorities to take the lead in the investigations. He affirmed that the cleric had over time overstepped his bounds to the distress of the communities he lived.
On the panel that interviewed the president yesterday were Kayode Akintemi, Channels TV; Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbulam, Media World International; Munir Dan Ali, Daily Trust and Ibanga Isine, Premium Times.
On the ministers
“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have.
“I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make that mistake.”
Asked if he would sack any of the ministers if he or she is charged to court for corruption, he said:
“No, I will insist that the case go through the courts.”
On the location and condition of the Chibok girls, he said he would be prepared to negotiate with credible elements in the Boko Haram leadership if there is precise intelligence that could help return the girls to their parents. He, however, affirmed that presently he did not superior intelligence on the fate of the girls.
“We are still keeping our options open. If a credible leadership of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them without any pre-condition. This we have made absolutely clear. But while they are keeping the Chibok girls, they must not get away with the idea that we will not attempt to secure the rest of Nigeria.
“We have no firm intelligence on where they are physically and what condition they are in. But what we believe from our intelligence, they keep taking the girls around, they are not keeping all the girls in one place, we don’t know how many divisions they made of them and where they are.
On the crisis in Kaduna involving followers of the Shite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, he said:
“I expect the Kaduna State Government to set up a judicial inquiry because it happened in Kaduna, in one of the cities and it has been there for the last twenty years from what I have been reading from papers. They will occupy a federal highway, sometimes from Kano to Kaduna. This is what I heard.
“We have a system of investigation, the military that was involved too have a tradition of investigation and I am the head of the federal government, I have to wait for the official report before I can come out as head of the federal government and make a statement. So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their report of inquiry. Meanwhile it does not mean that the police, the SSS and other directorate involved are not doing their own part of constitutional role.
Frowning at the activities of the group, he said:
“Unfortunately it is very serious. How can any group proclaim statehood in a state? I don’t want to speak about it in details now, I better leave it still after the report of the inquiry but there are a number of clips I saw, where some excited teenagers were visually hitting the chest of a general, mounting road blocks and threatening them with missiles.
On the contentious issue of subsidy, the president said that by the end of the next quarter that there would be no more talk about subsidy in the price of petroleum.
Money recovered
“Money has been recovered but whatever we recover, has to end up in court because I feel personally that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by the submission made to them in terms of documentation and the documentation includes the bank statement of where our money was lodged, when it was lodged and how much. Whether it is petrol from NNPC or Customs and Excise or money directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Told that he was limited in his disclosure of his assets, the president said that he had declared his assets at least four times in the past.
 The president expressed reservation on proposals by the National Assembly to commit N47.7 billion to purchase new vehicles after members had collected car loans from the government.
N5,000 monthly stipend for the less privileged
“When my VP was quoted, how can I come here and disown it? First, I believe in getting facts, how many are involved? How are we going to do it? Is it state by state or geo-political zone by geo-political zone? In trying to get the bottom of the problem, a lot of work has to be done and if it is undertaken, we have to look at it very well.”
On Dasuki, Kanu and others
Asked on the alleged flouting of court orders by the state on the issue of Dasuki and detained Biafran agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, he said:
“Technically, if you see the kind of atrocities those people committed, if they jump bail? I am sorry to say this publicly…the former president just wrote to the governor of the CBN and said give N40 billion to someone while you have two million Internally Displaced Persons, what kind of country do you want to run?
“The one you called Kanu, do you know he has two passports? One Nigerian, one British and he came to this country without using any passport? Do you know that he brought sophisticated equipment into this country and started broadcasting for Radio Biafra? There is a treasonable charge against him and I hope the court will listen to the case.
Biafra and marginalisation of Ndigbo
“They say they are marginalised but they have not defined the extent of marginalisation. Who is marginalising them? Where? Do you know? Choosing a minister is not a matter of ethnicity, it is a matter of the constitution. I am limited by what the constitution says that there must be a member of the executive council from each state. There is a lot of partisan politics in it. Who is the Minister of State for Petroleum? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the governor of the CBN? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the Minister of Labour? Who is the Minister of Science and Technology? What do they want? I stood elections and I won, I am limited by the constitution, I have a member of every state in the Federal Executive Council and I have to listen to them when I sit as chairman. That is the limit the constitution gave me”.
Asked if he would consider banning the use of hijab in the face of the continued use of veiled girls in suicide missions in the Northeast, the president said:
“Placing ban on hijab is not enough. However, if this continues it will be banned. Because it is for the safety of the people generally.”
Vanguard

Wednesday 30 December 2015

WAILING WITH COMMONSENSE By Adefemi Pcfr

My introduction to this piece will be first to enlighten a lot of people. According to a well structured online dictionary, WAILING is to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain. 2. to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
The question is simple! Are you wailing inside or outside? Is everybody wailing or pretending? A graduate of 10years still looking for job in a country of plenty resources.. Are you not a wailer? You have been working effectively and no progress are you not wailing? Official price of petrol is 87naira on pump price but you are buying it at 120naira thinking you don't have option are you not wailing inside? You have children abroad but they cannot use their master cards due to one policy or the other are you not wailing inside?
The deep question is that... Is everything in your life, this country okay with you? Be sincere to answer the question. Depends on how you answer it all I know is that EVERYBODY IS WAILING just that some are wailing than the other. Remember animal farm by George Orwell. "All animals are equal but some are equal than the other" may be I'm right?....... Read the book.
Many political drama and abracadabra, at the initial stage it was just like paradise of hope rather it was full of deceits by the committee of hypocrites. Is there exception? Hmmm! Time will tell.
It started in 1999 When OBJ seized the allocation of Lagos state because Bola Tinubu created LCDA. Tinubu called OBJ many names
but today OBJ us actually the navigator of Tinubu's political ship in 2015.
Rtd General Buhari now our amiable President in 2015 truncated elected government in 1982/83, in fact there was serious issues of 53 suite cases which as at that time Atiku was still in custom.. Hmm what happened next? Ask Google but today both are chilling together in the same ship.
Femi Fani Kayode a loquacious intelligentsia was once a minister of aviation under OBJ and later he moved to APC which was widely celebrated. Immediately he raised the issue of Muslim/Muslim ticket towards 2015 election, oh boy he was tagged and black mailed but today he is back to PDP as a normal vociferous vocalists.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki now Senate President and a great part of 16 years government of PDP is now a great leader in Changed APC of holy Mary. Smiles
Ayodele Fayose the Present Governor of Ekiti State a.k.a Oshokomole 1. Was a staunch PDP from blood but he had issue of Poultry with OBJ and went into exile. He helped Fayemi of ACN now APC single handedly to victory in Ekiti State election over Segun Oni. Today Segun Oni and Fayemi are in the same APC.
Oh no what of Oyinlola and Aregbesola in Osun State? Many lost their lives just because  they are followers of these two. Infact Oyinlola a great PDP to the blood is now a formed loyalists in APC and is chilling with Aregbesola. What of those that lost their lives? May their souls rest in peace.
Ehhhh Amaechi of strong character and a sharp friend of Goodluck Jonathan the former  President. A full blooded PDP and part of solid 16 years of their government. Yes he had issue with Goodluck over NGF election, Excess crude account and Soku oil including Jonathan's wife but today he is an honourable minister in APC.. Smiles Remember that Wike the Present Governor may be to be removed of Rivers State was a staunch Amaechi close pal.
Only difference among them that is not switching like a switch is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR a graduate of University of PortHarcout, a lecturer, an administrator, a leader per excellence, a teacher and come politician was formerly a deputy governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President and President till he lost in 2015 and simply left the podium of Aso Rock for another intake without sharing nor shedding blood. Infact going strolling nor going into tribunal. He is a full blooded PDP and part of 16years of their government but he was loyal and I believe is still loyal. Anyway thanks to Baba OBJ for actually been an instrumental. That is a fact.
There are so many factors to bring out but what prompt this piece is that for those that still believes so much in Goodluck Jonathan despite the alleged bandwidth of propaganda against his person on Chibok girls, Boko haram and labelled corruption, I so much believe that if all these things are true! All I ever wanted is that let Justice prevailed but if they are all cheap blackmail just to score political gains over his person, I pray 🙏 that may he continue to enjoy great prosperity and recognition all over the word and his haters will have no option than to say sorry they made mistake in future.
Yes, no perfect human being on earth and all those supporting the present President Buhari have great rights to do so but they must gives room for constructive criticism and stop been hypocritical.
It is good to Wail and Chilled but know the basic reasons why you are wailing. Everybody wails but some are seriously wailing inside their heart because of hypocrisy. Free yourself from the shackles of timidity's and be free to express your concern opinions. You are free to Wails.
The bottom-line of my piece is that shine your eyes if at all you must follow any politicians and be a person of realist. Politicians are all the same. Do not kill yourself for them rather ask for their son's and daughters to join you. Smiles
I wish each an everyone Happy New Year and 2016 will be a year of multiple of favour, blessing and unlimited success.
Adefemi Pcfr Wailer, Chiller, Realists,

Why Lai Mohammed Must Be Fired Immediately Opinion By Femi Aribisala

This is opinion article written by Femi Aribisala. He said Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf was the Minister of Information in the dying days of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. Nicknamed “Comical Ali” by British tabloids, al-Sahaf made a fool of himself during the Iraqi war by constantly fabricating victories of the Iraqi army, even as territory after territory fell to the American-led allied forces.
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 What was so ridiculous about him was that his lies were so blatant, only fools could believe them. Even when American tanks rolled into Baghdad, Comical Ali declared: “There is no presence of the American columns in the city of Baghdad at all. We besieged them and we killed most of them. Today, the tide has turned. We are destroying them. The Americans are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks.”
Comical Lai
 Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, is Nigeria’s home-grown “Comical Ali.” It would not be unfair to fashion him as “the Minister of FABU.” Barely two months of assuming office, Mohammed has established himself as an instrument of cheap propaganda and disinformation. On internet blogs today, he is now generally referred to by his traducers as “Liar Mohammed.” Without a doubt, he has earned this sobriquet by his penchant to be extremely economical with the truth.
 Lai Mohammed’s tall tales have now reached epidemic proportions. It is a contradiction in terms that a government that claims to be anti-corruption, and a president that boasts to be a man of integrity, should have a “Comical Ali” as its face and spokesman. It is doubtful that Mohammed can stop being himself. However, if President Buhari is interested in redeeming his now battered image, he needs to admit he made a big error of judgment in appointing Mohammed as a minister.
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 Lai Mohammed must be fired immediately. Barring which, the only honourable thing left for the Honourable Minister to do is to resign. A Minister of Information should not be allowed to become a Minister of Misinformation.
Fictitious Victory
 On December 23, 2015, Mohammed told a meeting of editorial heads of media houses in Lagos that the Nigerian military has met President Buhari’s deadline to defeat Boko Haram before December 31, 2015.
 Said Mohammed: “Today, I can report that the war against Boko Haram is largely won. Today, I can report to you that the entire 70 plus kilometres stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki which leads to Cameroun and the Central African Republic are in the hands of our gallant troops. They have so degraded the capacity of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack.”
Rather than call his minister to order, President Buhari backed him up in the bid to white-wash the gaffe of predicting Boko Haram would be defeated before the end of the year. He told the BBC: “Boko Haram has reverted to using improvised explosive devices. They have now been reduced to that. But articulated conventional attacks on centres of communication and populations… they are no longer capable of doing that effectively. So I think technically we have won the war because people are going back into their neighbourhoods. Boko Haram as an organised fighting force, I assure you, that we have dealt with them.”
The president conveniently forgot he had said at his inaugural address that: “We cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.” We have heard nothing about the Chibok girls. Nevertheless, the president now says Boko Haram has been technically defeated. Are we therefore to conclude that the Chibok girls have also been technically rescued?
Boko Haram Response
 The victory declarations of Lai Mohammed and President Buhari turned out not only to be palpably false, but outrightly dangerous. Just two days after Mohammed’s declaration, the Boko Haram who he says “can no longer carry out any spectacular attack” attacked Kimba in Borno State. They killed 14 hapless people and razed the village to the ground. According to eye-witness reports, “not a single house was spared in the arson.”
One day later, a coordinated fighting unit of Boko Haram infantry attacked Maiduguri. They came in a military convoy, precisely the manner the president boasted is now impossible. They then dug in for a pitched battle against the Nigerian army. Thereafter, two female suicide-bombers detonated explosives in the Jiddari area of Maiduguri, with casualty figures yet to be determined.
 There is no doubt these attacks were direct responses to APC’s vain propaganda. Boko Haram decided to give the lie to the bombastic statements that it has been defeated, either technically or in actuality. To drive home the point beyond reasonable doubt, the insurgents chose to attack Maiduguri, the very command and control epicentre of Nigeria’s military operations in the North-East.
 Clearly, the defeat of Boko Haram only exists as figments in the imaginations of APC propagandists. Having won the election by manipulating the press, they now seek to govern by employing a cacophony of jobless youth whose charge is to post “SAI Buhari” comments on as many internet blogs as possible. They also have the mandate to attack anyone who refuses to buy the many-splendored FABUS of the APC government.
 APC’s bogus propaganda is partly responsible for the deaths and destruction in Kimba, Aladuwari and Maiduguri, the full extent of which are yet to be determined. The false victory procession of APC chieftains provoked the Boko Haram to contradict them at the cost of Nigerian lives. It is way too early to call for the impeachment of Mr. President. But it is high time to call for the retirement of Lai Mohammed. We must not allow this local “Comical Ali” to continue to use Nigerian lives to score cheap political points.
 While the APC was busy celebrating the fictitious death of Boko Haram, the New York-based Institute for Economics and Peace declared in its latest Global Terrorism Index that Boko Haram “has become the most deadly terrorist group in the world.” The day before Mohammed’s bombast, UNICEF declared that Boko Haram has succeeded in keeping over one million children out of school, warning that this is likely to add fuel to the insurgency by radicalising the youth in the North-East.
Campaign Recantations
 It was Lai Mohammed who told Nigerians the promises of the APC during the election were actually not from the APC. The APC denied its key presidential campaign documents: “My Covenant with Nigerians” and “One Hundred Things Buhari Will Do in 100 Days.” Buhari himself presents one of the documents in the first person, saying: “The covenant is derived from the manifesto of my party, the All Progressives Congress. It however represents my pledge to you all when I become your president.”
But once he became president, Mohammed denied them. He swore that: “Buhari never promised to do anything in 100 days, that’s the honest truth.” However, when APC Senators were forced to vote against their own campaign promise to provide N5,000 monthly to 25 million unemployed Nigerians, Mohammed declared that the government already has 1.4 trillion naira recovered from banks through the TSA ready to fulfil the promise. He said we should expect it in the 2016 budget.
 These are his words: “The non-implementation of the payment policy so far is due to the fact that it was not included in the 2015 budget. The Muhammadu Buhari administration has been busy putting in place measures that will make it possible to start the implementation of this project.”
This has turned out as usual to be another tissue of lies. The 2016 budget has now been announced, and there is nothing about the N5000 stipend for the 25 million unemployed.
Presidential Doublespeak
 The government of President Buhari is replete with contradictions and doublespeak.
 At the APC South-East rally in Owerri, Buhari declared he would make the naira equal to the dollar if voted into office. He continued: “It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than 230 to one dollar. This does not speak well for the nation’s economy.” How does it speak for the economy now that the value of the naira has dropped under Buhari to 280 to the dollar?
 Buhari said: “Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra-judicial murder at the hands of the police.” What then are we to say about the extra-judicial massacre of over 300 Shiite Muslims in Zaria at the hands of the Nigerian army under this Buhari administration?
 Buhari said during the campaign: “You are all my people; I will treat you all as mine. I will work for those who voted for me, voted against me and those who didn’t vote at all.” Then he said after the campaign: “The constituents (that) gave me 97 percent cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5 percent.”
On his election, the president said: “Our long night is over and a new dawn has come… Democracy and rule of law will be put in place.” “I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.” But under his administration, democracy and the rule of law has continued to be violated. The DSS ignores court verdicts with impunity, as happened in the case of Dasuki and Kanu.
 Justice Muazu Pindigi was summarily replaced by Justice Ambrosa as chairman of the Rivers State governorship petitions tribunal and PDP’s victory was quickly annulled. Pindigi said: “The Supreme Court has said that for an election to be annulled, the petitioner has to prove that elections didn’t hold at the polling units where the winner was returned elected. I’m not sure that the Ambrosa’s judgment arrived through that route.”
During the election, Buhari declared the maintenance of the presidential fleet of aircrafts a colossal waste of money. He said: “For me, when we come into office, all these waste will be blocked and properly channeled into our economy.” However, since he became president, not a single plane has been sold. Billions of naira continue to be spent as the president has gone on one international junket after the other.

Revealed: Jonathan Spent $4M To Lobby Bring Back Our Girls Campaign Says US Laywer

Information reaching is that A U.S.-based human rights lawyer and humanitarian worker said on Tuesday that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan spent more than $4 million on lobbying against the Bring Back Our Girls movement last year, after Boko Haram abducted hundreds of schoolgirls from the northeast town of Chibok.
 In an interview with a Nigerian newspaper, Emmanuel Ogebe said the Jonathan administration’s response to the kidnapping was a “colossal failure.”

“The Jonathan-led-government had spent over $4 million fighting the Bring Back Our Girls campaign and almost fighting the veracity of the abduction, saying it wasn't true,” Ogebe told Premium Times Tuesday. “The response was a colossal failure, it was an unmitigated disaster.”
Boko Haram militants descended on a boarding school in northeast Nigeria on the night of April 14, 2014. By morning, the militant group had herded 276 schoolgirls into trucks and vanished behind the forest brush in the town of Chibok. Some of the girls have managed to escape on their own since then, but over 200 are still missing, and government search efforts have been unsuccessful despite a global social media campaign and pleas from international leaders.


 http://www.ibtimes.com/goodluck-jonathan-spent-over-4m-lobbying-against-nigerias-bring-back-our-girls-2242344
 


Petrol to sell for N86/litre from January, 2016 – FG

*Marketers to sell at N86.50;
*New price regime to last for 3 months
 *We’ll resist fuel subsidy removal with all our might — NLC
By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Michael Eboh
ABUJA— The Federal Government, yesterday, stated that effective January 1, 2016, Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, would be sold at N86 per litre by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Retail stations, while other oil marketers would sell at N86.50 per litre.
The Nigerian Labour Congress said, however, that it would resist with all its might, any attempt to remove fuel subsidy.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, also announced the first quarter 2016 PMS import allocation of three million metric tonnes to the NNPC and other oil marketers.
On the review of the price of petrol, Ahmed said the reduction in the price of the commodity was due to an implementation of the revised components of the Petroleum Products Pricing Template for PMS and household kerosene.
According him, the revised template, which would be reviewed on quarterly basis and which would soon be presented to oil marketers, is geared towards ensuring an efficient and market-driven price that would reflect current realities.
He said: “Since 2007, while crude oil price had been moving up and down, the template remained the same. This had made it necessary for us to introduce a mechanism whereby the template would be sensitive to the price of crude oil.
“However, the template is not static, as there would be a quarterly review and if there is any major shift, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources would be expected to call for a review, either upward or downward, depending on the market condition.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/petrol-to-sell-for-n86litre-from-january-2016-fg/

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Top 10 Countries With the Highest Salaries in 2015

Do you ever wonder which country pays its workers the highest salary? Have you ever thought that you’re not truly being paid what you’re worth? Let’s take a quick look at the top 10 countries where people enjoy the highest level of disposable income. What is disposable income? It’s the amount of money that a household gains each year after taxes and transfers, so it basically represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. These averages are based on the OECD research calculated for single workers without children. Do you think your country is on the list? Let’s find out!
#10 France
Well, the infamously discontent French made it to the top 10 list! France is ranked the world’s seventh largest economies. To explain why the French per capita GDP is lower than that of the United States, the economist Paul Krugman stated that “French workers are roughly as productive as US workers”, but that the French have allegedly a lower workforce participation rate and “when they work, they work fewer hours”. That may be due to the 35-hour workweek law introduced in 1999. By the way, the French receive $28,799 a year after all taxes, which are 49.4% on the average. This is the second largest tax wedge across the OECD countries.
Click the link below to read more
http://topmensmagazine.com/top-10-countries-with-the-highest-salaries/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=highestsalariesallco&utm_term=naij-naij

APC Suspends Senator Shehu Sani for Criticizing El-Rufai's Policies

Information reaching According to PREMIUM TIMES, In a letter to the senator dated December 27, the party said the suspension is for a period of 11 months. The letter was signed by the Secretary of the ward, Ahmed Abdulhamid, the Public Relations Officer, Auwal Mai Anguwa, and ex-officio member, Aminu Alilan.
 Offences listed against Senator Sani include: uttering statements that allegedly “violate the rules of engagement of the party, factionalizing the party, and engaging in anti-party activities by criticizing the policies of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.”
 “Hardly a week passes by that his group will not be on air criticizing and challenging the enduring legacies of Mallam Nasir ElRufai, that his statement on national issues is not in conformity with that of the state government and government of Kaduna State''.

Arsenal Defeats Bournemouth 2 Nil


Mesut Ozil inspired Arsenal to reclaim top spot in the Premier League, at least for 24 hours, as they won their first league meeting with Bournemouth.
After a tense opening, Ozil's corner was met with a firm header by defender Gabriel for his first goal in English football.
Ozil made it 2-0 after the break from a slick one-two with Olivier Giroud.
BBC

CBN: Restriction on Use of Bank Cards Abroad to Remain

Nigerian students in diaspora protest ban
James Emejo in Abuja 
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the recent restriction placed on the use of bank cards abroad will remain until the country’s foreign reserves grow to significant levels.
Commercial banks in the country reversed one of the major gains of the consolidation era when they sent text messages to their customers last week informing them that they would no longer be allowed to use their naira-denominated debit and credit MasterCard to pay for transactions or withdraw money from ATMs overseas.
The ban, which has the backing of the CBN, stemmed from dwindling foreign reserves and banks’ inability to settle dollar transactions arising from the use of naira cards abroad.
Since oil prices fell, Nigeria has witnessed a precipitous decline in forex earnings and by extension foreign reserves, forcing the CBN to impose foreign currency curbs aimed at preserving the country’s reserves.
Speaking with journalists at the weekend, CBN’s Director, Monetary Policy, Mr. Moses Tule, said restrictions were likely to be lifted when reserves increase to between $50 billion and $200 billion, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve the target.
He said the new policy was a healthy development for the ailing economy in spite of the attendant inconvenience to cardholders.
“It is healthy development; Nigerians can no longer use debit cards abroad. But we know that it is inconvenient. Right now the country is going through very difficult times because of developments in the oil market. Foreign exchange under the condition Nigeria has found itself has become a seasonal commodity.
“Seasonal in the sense that it depends on the movement of the price of oil; if oil prices are high then we build reserves, if oil prices are low then we have no reserves then we are in a crisis.
“That should not be the case for an economy as big as that of Nigeria because we should by now have sufficiently diversified the economy to a point where developments in the oil market should no longer matter.
“Unfortunately, that has not been the case and that is why sometimes these kind of decisions have to be made,” he said.
However, he said the restrictions were largely the decision of the banks rather than the CBN.
According to Tule, “The restriction on the use of debit and credit cards outside the country was not imposed by the CBN. The deposit money banks (DMBs) placed it because they have to settle whatever transactions you make with your cards with their corresponding banks in foreign currency and if the banks do not have the foreign currency to do that, then you create a liability which will crystallise on their balance sheets.”
He added: “But looking at it holistically, does the CBN sympathise with the situation Nigerians find themselves in not being able to use their cards outside the country, yes the CBN certainly does sympathise with the hardship Nigerians are facing.
“But can the CBN stop it, at the point we are in in this country, the obvious answer is that the CBN cannot stop what the banks are doing now and the reason is very obvious.
“Our priorities as a nation for the allocation or use of foreign exchange is one, for the settlement of matured letters of credit that have been opened for importation; two, for the importation of petroleum products until such a time either when we have our refineries fully operational and we are not in a position to import fuel again to ensure that the wheels of economic development continue turning and running; and three, for the importation of raw materials.
“Now, by the time we meet these given the level of current flows into the reserves – by the time we meet these three priority areas – you will discover that people who are using their debit cards overseas for shopping can never be on the priority list.
“We would then go back to the point where the foreign reserves dry up that is the position we are in today.”
On whether the CBN was considering stopping the sale of dollars to bureau de change (BDC) operators, he said: “If you read the budget speech of Mr. President, there was one sentence there where he said we must make hard choices.
“That is designed to open the growth potential of the economy and the president has said we must make hard choices. As policy makers, we are going to make those hard choices, so at the right time, the CBN will take the appropriate decision that will strengthen the foreign exchange market.”
On the push for devaluation of the naira, he said: “No matter how good a professor of war studies is, he cannot tell a general how to conduct and deploy his men.
“The general is the man on the field, he is where the battle is, he has his maps and strategy for the battle that will give him victory no matter how knowledgeable the professor is he cannot advise him in the battlefront.
“People should respect institutions, so if you have some advice to give, you can always write to the CBN governor.
“But no central bank takes decisions just because analysts either in newspapers or on television recommend that the naira should be devalued today, as policy makers have to weigh the fundamentals.
“However, the CBN is holistically looking at the issues, and as we have consistently said, we will not hesitate to take the right decision that in our opinion is in the best interest of the country and help realise the goals of government as enunciated in the 2016 budget.
“So overall that is the position of the CBN; there is a policy direction which government has given in the 2016 budget and every central bank works with the policy direction of government and we will not work outside that framework.”
Despite the explanation given by the CBN, the ban on the use of naira-denominated bank cards has not gone down well with Nigerian students in the United Kingdom, who at the weekend took to the streets to protest the ban.
Armed with placards, the protesters expressed their anger.
A lady who held a Nigerian flag displayed a placard that read: “My father is a successful palm wine tapper. He is not a corrupt thief. We need our naira ATM (card).”
Another placard read: “CBN Governor, why? Can you not advise Buhari? We need our naira ATM cards to survive.”
Another held a placard which also read: “My father is not a politician or government thief. He is only a businessman. I need my naira ATM (card).”
Nigerians in the Diaspora also protested against the spending limits imposed on their dollar-denominated debit and credit cards, reported online website, African Spotlight.
In a group photo, a lady said: “Nigerian students abroad need their naira MasterCard to survive,” while a man who wrapped himself with Nigerian flag wrote on his placard, “$1000/month on ATM/POS/online does not cover hospital bills.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/cbn-restriction-on-use-of-bank-cards-abroad-to-remain/229008/

Monday 28 December 2015

Almost 75% of fuel in Nigeria will still be imported in 2016 Says NNPC

As culled from LIB, Group Managing Director NNPC and Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, during his tour of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, yesterday, said the country will still rely on 75 per cent importation of fuel throughout the whole of next year.
 According to him:
“The future is that, Nigeria is still going to import fuel in 2016 and beyond. Best case situation is 25 per cent local and 75 per cent importation. Worse case is what we are experiencing now.
“Until we begin to get individuals who can co-relocate, we are going to be doing a mixture of local and importation of fuel to meet up demands. In the next few weeks, however, queues will disappear in fuel stations.”
The minister said that the Kaduna refinery will soon be producing more than two million litres per day capacity as soon as an Fluid Catalytic Cracking, FCC, unit is fully on stream.
 He said:
“We need to get it back to re-kit it to work well. We will do that with some level of production going on. Our concern is to have a consistent production and provision of products at all times.”
“We will not be fluctuating prices, we will take an average. Today no subsidy, in January we will look at the situation and announce it.”
In regards to privatization, he said:
“President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any policy about selling the refineries.”


Vanguard

I didn’t plot against Buhari in Dubai – Atiku

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, denied being part of a conspiracy against President Muhammdau Buhari, saying the insinuation that he used the cover of a foreign medical trip to host an anti-Buhari parley was wrong.
Atiku
Atiku & Buhari
Reacting to insinuations by what he called “political mischief makers and enemies of unity,” who alleged that he has been hosting political meetings at Burj Al-Arab, Dubai, the former vice president said contrary to the rumours being bandied around by political opponents, he was currently in Dubai with his family for physiotherapy on his injured knee.
In a statement by his media office in Abuja, yesterday, and signed by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, Atiku said he was embarrassed by the deliberate falsehoods being spread against him by political opponents who are bent on causing distraction for President Buhari at a time all energies should be channelled into helping the President actualise his change agenda.
Describing rumour mongers as “ill-motivated busybodies that don’t wish the country well,” the Turaki Adamawa explained that his medical treatment is his private affair, which should not be politicised by anybody to achieve sinister objectives.
Atiku, who noted that he was entitled to enjoy his private life, including the right to attend to his health without being harassed and lied against by political opponents, said: “Contrary to the insinuations by political opponents, the former vice president says the success of the Buhari administration has been his preoccupation, and that any true APC member should have the same zeal.”
According to him, rumour mongers that seek to cause distraction in Buhari’s government do not mean well for the APC administration, adding that  with the challenges of providing good governance for the country and creating job opportunities for Nigerians, including reducing the impact of poverty, President Buhari needs all the goodwill and support in this endeavour.
He said: “Whether at home or abroad, the Turaki is preoccupied with his unassailable support to President Buhari and his administration, especially in this critical time, as it works assiduously to turn the fortunes of our dear country around and make Nigeria work for the greater good of Nigerians.
“Rumour  mongers and mischief makers are toxic to the progress of the APC and the country at large, adding that the campaigns are gone, and therefore, all energies should be constructively devoted to the success of the Buhari administration.
“This is yet another plot of the enemies of our country and democracy to divide, divert attention and distract the APC in its avowed commitment to secure the country, provide jobs for the mass of unemployed youths, build needed critical infrastructure, enthrone a regime of probity and accountability and pull the country out of the economic woods it has been consigned to by locust years of mismanagement.”


Vanguard

Former GEJ Aide Kingsley Kuku Constitutes Campaign Group


As preparation for the 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State starts, the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and the former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, has constituted a committee that  will steer the activities of his campaign ahead of the party's primary.
 The constitution of the committee was contained in a statement issued and signed by Kuku and made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo state capital.
 The group known as Kuku Support Group according to the statement would be coordinated by the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi.
 Kuku who has been recuperating in an hospital in United States of America after a kneel surgery said the formation of the group became imperative in order to make it easy for him to interact and interface with his supporters who have been concerned about his state of health.
 "l have been overwhelmed by messages from persons at home and in Diaspora genuinely concerned about my medical trip in the United States of America and trending events in our polity especially Our Sunshine State
 "By the schedule of my treatment, l am now at the concluding and very critical physical therapy stage, after which I shall return home in due course of time.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/2016-ex-jonathan-aide-kuku-constitutes-campaign-group/228945/

Sunday 27 December 2015

Ban of naira debit cards overseas: Ben Bruce urges rethink

The Senator representing Bayelsa East and philanthropist, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged the Federal government to have a rethink of the ban of Naira debit cards overseas. In a series of tweets with the hashtag #PunishpoliticiansnotNigerians, he pointed out some of the dangers of the policy to Nigerians.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday ordered commercial banks to stop customers from using their debit and credit cards outside the country.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/ban-of-naira-debit-cards-overseas-ben-bruce-urges-rethink/

Southampton Thrashed Arsenal By 4 Goals To Nothing

Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as they were thrashed by Southampton at St Mary's.
Saints full-back Cuco Martina marked his first league start with a stunning goal, curling in from 30 yards out.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott missed free headers, before Shane Long finished from close range and Jose Fonte headed in the third.
Striker Long struck the post with three minutes remaining, but managed to add a fourth through the legs of Petr Cech.
It could have been even worse for the visitors. Virgil van Dijk had a header ruled out for offside, while Dusan Tadic's dipping strike was pushed away by Cech.
◾Relive Southampton's win over Arsenal on Boxing Day
Super Saints but Gunners sinners
Arsenal had lost just one of their previous 11 league games and recorded an impressive victory over Manchester City on Monday but Arsene Wenger's side could not back that performance up with victory on the south coast.


http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/35140036