State House Press Release: PRESIDENT JONATHAN ATTENDS BURIAL OF LATE ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan departs Abuja Saturday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the burial of late Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi.

The President is expected back in Nigeria on Sunday, September 2, 2012.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 31, 2012.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES BRUCE ONOBRAKPEYA AT 80

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated world renowned printmaker, painter and sculptor, Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya, who turned 80 yesterday.
The President, describes the Urhobo-born highly celebrated artist as a pacesetter and irresistible influence on generations of artists in Nigeria, and commends the creativity, presence of mind and realism which Onobrakpeya has brought to bear on his cerebral works which he has had the rare honour of displaying at famous arts exhibition centres all over the world.
 "Indeed, Bruce Onobrakpeya has been a worthy Ambassador portraying not only Nigerian culture and history in living colours but, also the entire black race,"  President Jonathan said.
President Jonathan also singled out for special praise, the
Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation which has been used to encourage the growth of arts and culture and impart skills in budding artists. He enjoined younger Nigerian artists and students of Dr. Onobrakpeya to emulate the unparalleled devotion to work, discipline and patriotism which the great art teacher exhibits and typifies.
The President wishes Dr. Onobrakpeya good health and many more years of remarkable service to his fatherland and humanity. 
REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)
August 31, 2012.

Vandals burst NNPC pipeline at Arepo village

Lagos – Officials of the Fire Service and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were on Thursday evening battling to put out a fire that broke out from a bust pipeline at Arepo village in Ogun.
The fire was allegedly caused by suspected vandals who burst the pipelines on Thursday to siphon petroleum products.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the South West Zonal Public Relations Officer of NEMA, said that more resources and equipment were being mobilised by a combined team of the agency as well as Federal and Ogun State Fire Service.
He said that some dead bodies were sighted at the scene but the actual figure could not be confirmed.

Nudity saga: KSB challenges Wande Coal, Don Jazzy

Contemporary gospel singer, Kenny Saint Best, has publicly told MAVIN Records boss and respected producer, Don Jazzy, and his prized artiste, Wande Coal, that if they do not stop parading nude girls in their music videos, ‘God will stop you.” The Kennis Music artiste had posted a series of tweets lampooning the duo shortly after the release of Wande Coal’s new video, Go Low. Maintaining that the quasi-nude dancer in the video was a thumb down for her, KSB avers, “My dear brother, Wande Coal, the mercy and favour of God are the elements that brought you this far not nude girls in your video.” Now addressing the duo, she continues, “You are bringing nudity back to Nigeria videos to increase cases of rape in our society. Please, stop it.”

Further, KSB warns, “We don’t want rape cases o. Please, Wande Coal and Don Jazzy, stop this nudity before God stops you.”

Indeed, rape is a sensitive issue in the Nigerian society and elsewhere but taking on these artistes especially on Twitter where they have a groundswell of fans and followers was perhaps KSB’s greatest undoing as she inadvertently opened a floodgate of hate tweets. Mum was the word from Mavin Records.

Data of SSS agents leaked on Internet

THERE are indications that the safety of agents of the State Security Service has been compromised with personnel records of current and former operatives leaked on the internet, Associated Press reports.

The leak, sources said, was already creating panic among SSS operatives  and other employees of the  agency.

 About 60 agents, including the Director-General of the SSS, Ekpeyong Ita, and other serving and former employees, reportedly had their names, mobile phone numbers, contact and bank account information listed on the internet.

Paralympics: Nigeria’s Adesokan wins first gold, breaks World record

Yakubu Adesokan struck the goldmine yesterday in a refreshing manner in Powerlifting where he also sent the World record crashing with his amazing 178 kg lift in his men’s 48 category which was over three times his body weight.
Adesokan’s feat was celebrated by the country’s flagbearers in London Thursday as they hoped to win more medals. And back home, it was a double joy for the country that watched gleefully on television as the Falconets dumped Mexico 1-0 in a nail-biting quarter-final thriller to berth into the semi-final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup semi final.

LUTH is on Fire!

An HIV/AIDS laboratory, called AIDS Prevention Initiative (APIN) Lab, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Thursday evening caught fire.

The lab, which is funded by the USAID, was completely razed.

However, the nature of the fire was still unknown as at the time of filing this report.

Conflict of Interest led to sack of Barth Nnaji

Rumour has it that attempt by Minister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji to buy two of PHCN's Generation Companies for himself may have led to his sack by President Jonathan.

Prof Nnaji has substantial shares in Geometric Power one of the companies bidding for purchase of PHCN's Afam Power Station and Enugu Distribution Company.

Presidency got wind of the development that the Minister had through back door sold the companies to himself.

Nigeria is a regional power in West Africa and yet cannot boast of 5000MW for her population of over 150 million people. High level corruption has eaten deep into governance which led to infrastructural decay over the years. Poverty is at its highest level as over 70% of the population are impoverished.

Nigerians are looking up to President Jonathan to deliver on dividends of democracy and to rid the society of corruption.

Nigeria’s Falconets struggle into World Cup semi

Nigeria’s Under 20 Female team, the Falconets, have qualified for the semi-final of the FIFA world cup taking place in Japan.
They defeated Mexico 1-0 in the quarter final of Japan 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and progressed to the semi final stage of the competition.
The Edwin Okon-tutored side scored the only goal of the pulsating match in the 109th minute through Desire Oparanozie, who nodded the back breaking winner beyond goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Thousands face expulsion as UK university loses visa status

LONDON  (AFP) – The British government has stripped a London university of its right to sponsor visas for overseas students, leaving thousands of students facing possible deportation.

London Metropolitan University had its Highly Trusted Status — which allowed it to sponsor visas for students from outside the European Union — revoked by the UK Border Agency on Wednesday over alleged failings in its procedures.

The move means current overseas students have 60 days to enrol on a course elsewhere, with more than 2,000 students facing deportation if they fail to find another university, according to the National Union of Students (NUS).

Police parade Ogun Pastor over Human Skull

The police in Ogun on Tuesday paraded Pastor Michael Oyewole (29) and Mathew Akiode (30) at the command’s headquarters Eleweran, for allegedly exhuming human skull in Sabo, Abeokuta.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, told journalists that Akiode was caught committing the offence in the midnight.
Okoye added that after Akiode’s arrest, the suspect confessed that he was sent to get the skull by the pastor.
He said, “We got information about somebody who was digging a grave and we swung into action. He did not know he was being watched while removing the corpse.

Conflict of Interest led to sack of Barth Nnaji

Rumour has it that attempt by Minister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji to buy two of PHCN's Generation Companies for himself may have led to his sack by President Jonathan.

Prof Nnaji has substantial shares in Geometric Power one of the companies bidding for purchase of PHCN's Afam Power Station and Enugu Distribution Company.

Presidency got wind of the development that the Minister had through back door sold the companies to himself.

Nigeria is a regional power in West Africa and yet cannot boast of 5000MW for her population of over 150 million people. High level corruption has eaten deep into governance which led to infrastructural decay over the years. Poverty is at its highest level as over 70% of the population are impoverished.

Nigerians are looking up to President Jonathan to deliver on dividends of democracy and to rid the society of corruption.

Power Minister Prof. Nnaji Resigns

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF MINISTER OF POWER
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has accepted the resignation with immediate effect of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.
President Jonathan thanks Prof. Nnaji for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
 Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 28, 2012

A C N to Jonathan: What more proof do you need to sack Okupe

The Action Congress of Nigeria has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to tell Nigerians and the world at large why he is yet to fire Dr Doyin Okupe his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs in the face of incontrovertible evidence that his top media aide did in fact swindle the Benue State Government of a whopping sum of N886 million as confirmed by the Benue State Government.


In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed the party said with the statement credited to the Benue State Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission must urgently institute a thorough investigation of these allegations.

Children of Anger's Reply to Reuben Abati

A twittering, child of anger's reply to Reuben Abati
Normally I do not pay heed to people who go on and on about irrelevant issues BUT I believe for this piece THE JONATHAN THEY DO NOT KNOW, you Reuben Abati deserve a response.


First of all,I would personally appreciate it if you refrained from using derogatory words to refer to me and the rest of Nigerians on twitter, facebook and bbm. It would be better if you referred to us as Ma'am or Sir since we collectively pay your salary. I would hate to remind you again that every dime you get at the end of the month is because of the toil and sweat of those you notoriously referred to as "the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics,

Address by President Jonathan at the NBA Annual Conference

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

At the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, Held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja
Monday, 27th August, 2012

The Jonathan They Don't Know by Reuben Abati

 "They" in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan. This army of sponsored and self-appointed anarchists is so diverse; many of them don't even know why or how they should attack the President.
     The clear danger to public affairs commentary is that we have a lot of unintelligent people repeating stupid clichés and too many intelligent persons wasting their talents lending relevance to thoughtless conclusions.

Okupe Lawyers Admit He Did Fraudulent Contracts With Imo And Benue

New presidential attack dog, Dr. Doyin Okupe, road construction contracts from the governments of Benue and Imo States and got substantial payments, his lawyers have admitted.
On his behalf, the Lagos law firm of Yemi Gbonegun and Co said today that the rural road construction contracts were awarded in 2004 and 2005 to companies in which Dr. Okupe has substantial interests and served as Chairman, but denied they were awarded to him personally.

Facebook Tragedy: How we killed General's daughter

According to the suspects, "we met her on the facebook on our Blackberry. We invited her to come to Lagos to buy goods at cheap prices.

"When she got to Lagos, we took her to a hotel in Festac. We thought she had a lot of money, but she said she didn't have any money. We gave her Reflon tablet in her Ribena drink. After this, we slept with her for 12 hours in that hotel. We discovered that the tablet did not work quickly on her.

"We then attacked her, tied her up and used cellotape to cover her mouth. After that, we beat her to tell us where she kept the money.

"When we didn't get any money from her, we tied her mouth and strangled her and then we abandoned her in the hotel and fled."

The suspects and the General's daughter became friends on Facebook and were exchanging messages and phone calls.

She told them she was coming to Lagos. They met her at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja from where they ushered her into a hotel in Festac town, Lagos.

Briefing journalists on how policemen were able to arrest the suspects, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Abubakar Manko, said detectives made use of the close circuit television, CCTV, at the hotel where the crime was committed to identify them.


The late Miss Cynthia Akuzogwu Udoka

The Area Commander, Area 'E' Police Command, ACP Okoro added that the suspects who are undergraduates of Nigerian universities were nabbed through the call logs of the telephone conversations they had with the late Cynthia who was a post graduate student of Nasarawa State University.

When the suspected killers strangled Cynthia, they deposited her corpse at the mortuary of Isolo General Hospital in Lagos.

ACP Okoro stated that many ATM cards, about 23 SIM cards, different identity cards were recovered from the suspects.

Police sources said the two suspects will soon be arraigned in court to answer a charge of murder.

Meanwhile, the late Cynthia's best friend, Aishatu Ene Ella, has paid a glowing tribute to the deceased.

She said: "In the last few days, I have seen my heart torn, stripped and broken into pieces, first by the disappearance and death of my dearest friend and secondly by the wickedness exhibited by Nigerians passing judgement on someone they never knew or met."
PM News

Jonathan pays official visit to Senegal

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO SENEGAL
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will Wednesday pay a two-day official visit to Dakar, Senegal.
The President will be received at the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport, Dakar by Senegalese President, Macky Sall. Both leaders will have a tete a tete at the Presidential Palace, Dakar, on how to deepen cordial relations and promote trade between the two key countries in the West African sub-region.
President Jonathan is expected back in Abuja on Thursday.
REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President
August 21, 2012.
‪

Jonathan mourns the Death of Ethiopian Prime Minister

PRESIDENT JONATHAN MOURNS THE DEATH OF ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER, MELES ZENAWI
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with shock and sadness, the news of the passing away of His Excellency, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, of Ethiopia.
     On behalf of himself, the Government and the people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends his deepest sympathy and condolence to the people of Ethiopia, especially members of late Prime Minister Zenawi's family.
    President Jonathan describes Prime Minister Zenawi's death as a major loss for Africa. "He was a great African statesman, who is also a friend of Nigeria, a nation-builder and a great servant of the Ethiopian people."
    President Jonathan further notes that "Prime Minister Zenawi will be remembered for his vision and integrity," adding that
  "he held strong convictions about establishing a just and prosperous society for his people, a cause to which he devoted his considerable energies, and which deservedly earned him respect and honour among a grateful Ethiopian nation."
   President Jonathan acknowledges the late Prime Minister Zenawi's vision for a united and strong Africa, a cause he pursued with remarkable honesty and passion. Indeed, his role, along with other African leaders, as the fulcrum of the African renaissance project, has ensured for him a prominent place in the annals of African history.
   "The passing away of Prime Minister Zenawi at this time when Ethiopia and, indeed, all of Africa, stand to benefit from his wisdom and experience in building a stable and prosperous continent is a great loss that will be hard to remedy," he said.
    President Jonathan assures the people of Ethiopia that the Government and people of Nigeria share in their loss. He is hopeful that the government and the entire Ethiopian nation will be comforted by the enduring legacy of service that Prime Minister Zenawi left behind.
    He prays that God will grant his soul peaceful repose.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 21, 2012

Jonathan And The London Olympics By Reuben Abati

It is no longer enough to participate in the Olympics. Nations go to the Olympics to win medals, because an Olympic victory is an effective vehicle of national rebranding and assertion. The Jamaicans have Usain Bolt. They beat the Americans in the 4x100 men's relay. They won 4 gold medals, broke two world records, and grabbed a total of 12 medals.
All that raised the level of Jamaican patriotism a few more notches. It was a case of a country re-affirming its confidence in its ability to impress the world. The Americans, forever sure of their own supremacy, were again excited by their dominance at the London 2012 Olympics.

Ecuador grants Assange asylum

Ecuador's foreign minister announced on Thursday that they would grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, defying threats by the British government to raid the Ecuadorean Embassy and extradite Assange to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in connection with alleged rape and sexual molestation cases.

"We have decided to grant political asylum to him," Ricardo Patino said at the end of a long televised statement from the Ecuadorean capital of Quito, where he criticized the U.S. and U.K. governments for failing to protect Assange from political persecution.

Man United agree Van Persie deal

Manchester United have confirmed they have agreed a deal to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

The announcement comes after an intense period of negotiations and is subject to Dutch striker Van Persie passing a medical test and agreeing personal terms.

“Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the transfer of Robin Van Persie,” said a club statement.

“The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

It is not anticipated there will be any problems with either remaining part of the deal.

Arms, arms everywhere but how, why and who?

In October 2010, a mysterious and illegal consignment of 13 containers was intercepted at the Lagos Wharf in Apapa. According to media reports, the shipment contained grenades, rocket launchers, assorted explosives and other forms of weapons of mass destruction. It had already reached the country when its suspicious labelling aroused the attention of security officials and gave the importers away. Earlier this year, three Ghanaians and two Nigerians were arrested in the suburbs of Accra with a truck load of arms allegedly en-route to Nigeria.

I gave up searching for my British Dad after endless search – Shan George

The story of Shan George in Nollywood began as early as 1996. She made her acting debut when the late Jenifer Ossai gave her a script that landed her a sub-lead role. Today, Shan George, who has starred in over 100 flicks and still counting, has emerged as one of the most prominent faces that dominated the movie scene for most of the late 1990s and 2000s.

But controversy seems to be her middle name. From allegedly describing actresses as prostitutes to staging an all girl bikini parties, and to serial marriages, the actress it would seem just can’t avoid controversies. Beyond that, light-complexioned Shan is also a hard working mother of two boys, and with over 20 movies to her production credits, Shan has surely come a long way.

Withdraw soldiers from PHCN before negotiation – NLC

The Nigerian Labour Congress says it will not negotiate with the Federal Government on the dispute between government and workers of PHCN until soldiers at the premises of PHCN’s headquarters are removed.

Head of Industrial Relations of the NLC, Mr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, who spoke on behalf of labour, said this in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the Federal Government still has 48 hours to withdraw the military personnel at the PHCN before the union will take further action.

Chris Okotie verbally attacks ex-wife Stephanie during church service

This happened in his House Hold of God Church just two days ago...during his sermon on Sunday August 12th. According to some members of his church that attended the service that Sunday morning, pastor Chris Okotie threw caution into the wind and verbally attacked his estranged wife, Stephanie Henshaw, comparing her to Jezebel in the bible and saying that he was free to judge her because of what he suffered in her hands.(He didn't say what). He was also quoted as saying that Stephanie was free to go to CNN or BBC to talk about him but he will never take her back.

Those who listened to him said he sounded so bitter and had never spoken about her like that before. Pastor Chris has also taken back the two expensive cars he gave Stephanie during their four year marriage; a Benz S Class and a BMW X6. Linda Ikeji Blog

Delta govt, FG battle over Ibori’s $15m

ABUJA — The Delta State Government has gone before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to challenge moves by the Federal Government to claim the $15 million allegedly given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the jailed former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, who left ofice  in 2007.
The state, via an application by its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the alleged money legitimately belongs to it, even as it urged the high court to issue an order, remitting the fund to the Delta State treasury.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had on July 24, filed an ex-parte motion before the same court, wherein it sought to take possession of the money, which is equivalent of N150 million.

Syria files: Wikileaks releases 2m 'embarrassing' emails

The whistle-blowing website Wikileaks says it is releasing more than two million emails from Syrian political figures, ministries and corporations.

"Ground-breaking" news stories derived from the "Syria files" will be published over the next two months, Wikileaks said.
Its founder Julian Assange was quoted as saying the material was embarrassing - not only to Syria but its opponents.
The emails are said to date from August 2006 to March 2012.
Syrian authorities have been fighting an internal rebellion for some 16 months. Some 15,800 people have died, activists say.
Intimate correspondence'

Barth Nnaji briefing Newsmen on Budget implementation

CAN secretary under fire for Jonathan resignation call

There were indications on Monday that crisis might have engulfed the Northern Christian Association of Nigerian over the call on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign.

The assocation had on Sunday called on the President to resign for   saying he could not crush the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The president reportedly said, “They are our siblings and you cannot set the army to wipe out your family”.
The Northern CAN had expressed shock and disbelief at the President’s statement despite that the sect had killed several innocent Nigerians, particularly Christians, wondering why his administration could not descend on the sect.

Fire Okupe, apologise to Nigerians, ACN tells Jonathan

The Action Congress of Nigeria on Monday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe.

In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also asked the President to hand over Okupe to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for prosecution and apologise to Nigerians for appointing him as his spokesman.

The party said the Jonathan administration, in its desperation to employ an “attack dog” to spearhead its onslaught against the opposition parties, ended up outsourcing the job to Okupe.

Yes! I betrayed Goldie – Prezzo

Believe it or not, Kenyan rapper and first runner-up in the just concluded  Big Brother Star game, Jackson Makini alias Prezzo is feeling sober following his over-criticized  relationship with Nigeria’s housemate, Goldie which went soar after the latter was evicted from the reality show few weeks ago.
Goldie, after leaving the Big Brother Star game house  had accused  the Kenyan rapper of betraying the  trust she has in him, saying that Prezzo was the least housemate she expected to nominate her for eviction.

Time, CNN suspend Fareed Zakaria

Time magazine and CNN have suspended columnist and TV host Fareed Zakaria for plagiarizing several paragraphs from another writer and using them in one of his columns in Time.
In a statement issued on Friday, Zakaria, 48, said he made “a terrible mistake,” adding, “It is a serious lapse and one that is entirely my fault,” The Associated Press reported.

Insurgents suffer heavy losses in Syria

The Syrian army has attacked armed groups’ positions across the country, inflicting heavy losses on insurgents fighting against the government.
According to Syrian authorities, the army has inflicted huge losses on armed groups in Aleppo's al-Eda'a and Saif al-Dawla districts on Friday as heavy fighting between government forces and armed groups continues in several other neighborhoods, including Bustan al-Qasr, Halak, Bab al-Hadid and Darat Azzeh.

Female banker crushes LASTMA official

A female banker, Yinka Johnson, on Friday crushed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Hameed Balogun, while driving against the traffic in the Ajah area of the state.

This came three weeks after another official of the agency, Mustapher Adeleke, was crushed by a bus driver, who was driving against traffic.

The incident was recorded a week after the Governor Babatunde Fashola signed the new traffic law.

Space failures costs Russia prestige, cash Medvedev

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev yesterday said the country was losing prestige and money due to botched space projects after it junked two satellites in the latest launch failure to dog the once-pioneering industry.
The failure of a workhorse Proton rocket after launch on Monday caused the multimillion-dollar loss of Indonesia’s Telkom-3 and Russia’s Express-MD2 satellites, according to Russia’s space agency.

Ghana buries ex-President John Atta Mills

Mortal remains of Ex-President Atta Mills

US to support Nigeria on Security - Clinton

Hillary Clinton

THE heightening of security in Abuja on Thursday notwithstanding, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, shelved many of the activities scheduled for her and left Nigeria for Ghana.

She later held a meeting with the Ghanaian President, Mr. John Mahama, at his residence in Accra. She is billed to participate in the state funeral for the late President John Attah Mill.

Clinton, on the last lap of her nine-nation African tour, departed the country shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Council, but she shelved scheduled meeting, with civil society groups and anti-corruption campaigners billed for the US Ambassador’s residence in Abuja.

FG decides on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway next week

President Goodluck Jonathan

Federal Government will take a final decision on the concessioning of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway next week.

The expressway had earlier been concessioned to Bi-Courtney Highway Services.

However, years after the concessioning, work has not started on the road, which daily claims lives through auto crashes and robberies.

The situation led to the call by stakeholders, including Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and other South-West governors to call for the revocation of the concession agreement.

Speaking with State House correspondents on Thursday after making a presentation to President Goodluck Jonathan on the budget performance of his ministry, Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said government would take a decision on the road because of its importance to the economy.

Usain Bolt powers right through the barriers of history

 
There he goes again. Usain Bolt last night became the first athlete in history to retain the Olympic 100m and 200m titles: a feat that has eluded the greatest names in track and field. The world’s fastest man has run right through history’s barriers.

“I’m now a legend. I’m also the greatest athlete to live,” Bolt declared, with some justification. With his bow and arrow celebration, he would probably win the archery as well. And the long jump. And anything else that calls for speed.

RCCG, Adeboye deny colour messages

A message making the rounds on BlackBerry messenger, social networks and as text messages advising people not to wear red, blue, pink or purple has been repudiated by the Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

The message broadcast on social networks reads : ”Pls no one shud put ? red 2mao, includin U̅_??̊???̊ pants, bra, handky, wrist watch, beads, e.t.c. Dis news iz from d redemption camp. Our blood shall never b used 4 rituals in Nigeria. Don’t neglect dis msg. Spread d news 2 everyone.But He dat dwel in d secret place of d most high shal abide under d shadow of d almighty…No Shakin for U&Me.” In a Facebook post, Adeboye urged people to disregard the messages as they did not emanate from either him or the church. “Please inform all your friends and family members that I, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, did not send any message out informing you not to wear a particular colour and do not have any issues with whatever colour. “No message stating you should not wear a particular color was ever authorized by The Redemption Camp or my office. Please be mindful and careful of erroneous messages. “If you want a true change in your life be at The Redemption Camp, This Thursday at7 pm, Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 7 pm. To ensure no one uses your blood for anything.” Source: Vanguard

Kogi church, mosque killings: Suspects arrested in Edo

THE police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested three suspects in connection with the Monday and Tuesday gun attacks in Okene, Kogi State, in which a total of 24 persons, including two soldiers, were killed.

The Kogi State Police Command said the suspects were arrested at a hide-out on Idare Hills of Okene following a tip-off and after a brutal gun exchange between the police and the suspected criminals.

Among the arrested is a 50-year old woman. The suspects were said to have opened fire on sighting the policemen in their hide-out with the leader of the suspects sustaining gunshot wounds.

Tension in Okene as police, soldiers search for stolen weapons

There was palpable tension in Okene, Kogi State as policemen and soldiers searched houses for weapons stolen from two soldiers by gunmen on Tuesday.
A gang og gunmen had on Tuesday killed two soldiers and taken away their weapons after a failed attempt to attack the Okene Central Mosque.

I wont forget Martins - Bacary Sagna

French defender, Bacary Sagna, has been one of Arsenal’s best performers since he joined the Gunners in 2007 from Auxerre.

But apart from being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in the 2007/08 and 2010/11 seasons, he has been unable to win team honours with the English giant in his five years from Highbury to Emirates.

The Gunners are yet to win a major silverware in seven years since they defeated Manchester United on penalties to win the FA Cup in 2005.

So, when Sagna and his teammates learnt that they would be playing Birmingham City in the 2011 final of the Carling Cup, they heaved a sigh of relief. However, the trophy drought continued!

BBA Stargame finalist, Talia Apologises

Zambian-born Big Brother Africa Star Game finalist, Talia Hayward, has appealed to her fans and compatriots to forgive her for her public sex show with fellow housemate, Keegan, of South Africa.

Within 90 days, Talia dated Keegan and an Angolan housemate, Seydou.

She was watched by the whole world, including her parents and younger sibblings having sex with Keagan on live TV.

Keegan 21, emerged winner of the US$ 300,000 grand prize of the seventh edition of Big Brother Africa reality show which ended on Sunday.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES NEW CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LAGOS

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES NEW CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LAGOS
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins on his formal installation yesterday as the Archbishop of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Lagos following his appointment to the position by Pope Benedict XVI.
As he assumes the high ecclesiastical position worthily held for almost four decades by
   Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, President Jonathan wishes Archbishop Martins continued Divine guidance and blessings.
The President prays that God Almighty will grant Archbishop Martins the good health, fortitude, courage and
  wisdom he requires to successfully lead the larger laity and clergy of the Catholic Church in the Arch-Diocese of Lagos.
President Jonathan assures Archbishop Martins that the Federal Government will continue to work with him and other religious leaders to promote religious tolerance, inter-faith harmony and peace in all parts of the country.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 5, 2012

Communique on President Jonathan's visit to Jamaica

 

1.         At the invitation of the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, paid a State Visit to Jamaica from 2^nd- 3^rd August 2012, to celebrate the 178^th Anniversary of Emancipation and the 50^th Anniversary of Independence of Jamaica.  The President was accompanied by Her Excellency Patience Jonathan, First Lady of Nigeria.