Buhari working on affordability of rice for Nigerians – Gov. Bagudu

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and the Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Rice and Wheat Production, has assured Nigerians of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s determination to ensure rice availability and affordability.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bagudu gave the assurance when he spoke to newsmen after meeting with the Rice Distributors Association of Nigeria and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday.

According to Bagudu, from the contributions of all the stakeholders, it is apparent that what Nigerians want is actually not about making subsidy available for rice production.

“The mandate given to this taskforce which is under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is to ensure Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in rice and wheat production.He said that making rice affordable and accessible such that Nigerian produced rice could be as competitive as those of the imported ones was the yearning of Nigerians.

“But so far, the stakeholders within the value chain, either as farmers, distributors or millers are not talking about subsidy.

“What they are saying is help us tell Mr. President that we will like to have our rice at a competitive price with the so-called imported ones.

“That has to do with affordability, and I can tell you that Mr. President is committed to that,’’ Bagudu said.

The governor explained that the stakeholders were patriotic and interested in selling Nigerian produced rice because it is nutritious and will help to provide employment for the Nigerian populace.

On smuggled rice, Bagudu said the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control and Standard Organisation of Nigeria, had responsibilities to discharge and that government would intensify efforts in that regards.

He restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria attained self-sustainability in food production.

“All the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory can grow rice to help to contribute to the President’s mantra of `we must grow what we eat and eat what we grow’.’’

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Trucks of fertilizers disappeared under previous govts – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari again on Friday took a swipe at his predecessors, saying trucks conveying fertilizers disappeared “miraculously” in transit under previous governments.

Buhari spoke while granting audience to members of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He promised that his administration would continue to provide adequate security in order to sustain the programme.He expressed delight that contrary to what happened under previous governments, none of the 3,333 trucks that participated in the fertilizer programme of his administration in 2017 got missing.

The President said, “Unlike in previous governments where trucks conveying fertiliser would miraculously disappear in transit, in 2017, none of the 3,333 trucks that participated in this programme went missing.

“I want to assure all participants of the PFI that, we will continue to provide adequate security so that this programme, and its positive impact on Nigeria, is sustained.

While acknowledging the partnership among the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and state governors to ensure Nigeria feeds itself, Buhari urged them to continue on the track.

He urged stakeholders to continue to support programmes like the PFI and work together to ensure that the country never returns to the dark days of import dependence.

He added, “The rains are upon us. Farmers in the Southern part of the country will be planting soon. We must all do our bit to ensure fertiliser is readily available.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Finance and Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority should immediately engage the Governors Forum to conclude their orders.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should conclude the planning for all government programmes for the 2018 season to ensure synergy. “

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Detained Independent Bureau Chief's Life In Danger, Says Newspaper Management

The management of Daily Independent has disclosed that the publication's Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Tony Ezimakor, who has been detained by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) since Wednesday, is hypertensive and has been denied access to his medication.               

The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Thursday. Signed by Mr. Don Okere, editor of the paper, the statement said Mr. Ezimakor arrived to honor an invitation by the DSS at about 10.30pm on Wednesday and was shunted from one office to the other and asked to wait for a particular officer, who was said to out of office.                              

He was subsequently detained.

The management said it has made efforts through the newspaper's lawyer, Mr. Douglas Ekhator, to see the detained journalist, but has been luckless so far.

"One thing is certain: Mr. Ezimakor was not given his medication though the lawyer who took it to him late Wednesday.

"We hereby alert the world to this real and present danger that Mr. Ezimakor is a high blood pressure patient and apart from taking his drugs, needs to see his doctors at very short notice," the statement said.

It warned that the DSS is endangering Mr. Ezimakor's life. According to the newspaper, the detained journalist's wife said her husband left home on Wednesday without medication and had no meal.

"She lamented that her husband’s health must be in grave danger, especially as DSS operatives have denied him access to his prescribed drugs," the statement added.

The management of the newspaper called for the immediate and unconditional release to prevent the deterioration of his health.

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Zuckerberg sells $482m Facebook stock in February

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, sold nearly 500 million dollars in the company’s shares in February to fund his philanthropic investment vehicle, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), regulatory filings showed.

The move is not a surprise, being part of Zuckerberg’s plan to expedite stock sales to fund the initiative he set up in December 2015 with his wife Priscilla Chan.

Two security filings on Thursday showed that Zuckerberg sold 685,000 shares worth 125.4 million dollars in the last three days of February.

Zuckerberg said in September he would sell 35 million to 75 million shares of Facebook over the next 18 months.This had taken his total sales in the month to about 2.7 million shares worth 482.2 million dollars.

That would amount to up to 13 billion dollars, based on Facebook’s current share price.

The Silicon Valley billionaire has said he will donate 99 per cent of his Facebook shares to CZI – worth about 45 billion dollars when the initiative was formed.

He sold about 1.6 billion dollars of the company’s stock in 2016 and 2017, according to technology website Recode.

Zuckerberg’s foundation is similar to those set up by Microsoft Corp founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, and the Buffett Foundation, formed by billionaire Warren Buffett.

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Zuckerberg sells $482m Facebook stock in February

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, sold nearly 500 million dollars in the company’s shares in February to fund his philanthropic investment vehicle, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), regulatory filings showed.

The move is not a surprise, being part of Zuckerberg’s plan to expedite stock sales to fund the initiative he set up in December 2015 with his wife Priscilla Chan.

Two security filings on Thursday showed that Zuckerberg sold 685,000 shares worth 125.4 million dollars in the last three days of February.

Zuckerberg said in September he would sell 35 million to 75 million shares of Facebook over the next 18 months.This had taken his total sales in the month to about 2.7 million shares worth 482.2 million dollars.

That would amount to up to 13 billion dollars, based on Facebook’s current share price.

The Silicon Valley billionaire has said he will donate 99 per cent of his Facebook shares to CZI – worth about 45 billion dollars when the initiative was formed.

He sold about 1.6 billion dollars of the company’s stock in 2016 and 2017, according to technology website Recode.

Zuckerberg’s foundation is similar to those set up by Microsoft Corp founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, and the Buffett Foundation, formed by billionaire Warren Buffett.

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299 Nigeria's Voter Cards Retrieved From Foreigners, Says INEC Chairman

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has revealed that 299 Nigeria voters card have been seized from foreigners.

The electoral commission head said that the retrieval was done in collaboration with Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

Mahmood, who revealed this while speaking at Social Media Week Lagos 2018, said as part of its determination to achieve credible election in 2019, the commission is conducting a mop action to retrieve voters card from ineligible persons.

Nigeria's Voter CardsInformation.com

He said the commission is aware that foreigners parade themselves as Nigerians having fraudulently obtained voters card.

On INEC’s preparation for 2019 election, Mahmood said the commission has created more registration centres to enable all eligible voters get registered.

He added that the total number of registration centres across the country now is 1,446.

Mahmood also stated that the commission would create a level playing field for every political party in the general election while applications of associations wishing to transform into political parties are being considered.

“As at today, March 1, 2018, we have 108 applications from associations seeking registration to become political parties. We are bound to apply commission of the law to register association that meets the requirement,” Mahmood said.

He defended the INEC against accusation that too many parties are being registered, insisting that the commission is acting in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the country.

He said, “I've been hearing that we have so many political parties and we are registering more. I say the more the merrier and the commission would continue to register more political parties.”

He, however, noted that any party that does not apply for registration six months before general election date would not be able to participate in the general election.

The INEC boss said he was also about increasing participation of women and youths in the country's politics, as he revealed four parties currently have women as their national chairperson.

Mahmood assured Nigerians that 2019 elections would be free and fair.

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EFCC Arraigns Man For Stealing $56, 000 From Bishop Oyedepo's Book Store

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, arraigned one Chimezie Chuta before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on one-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of $56,000.00 (fifty-six thousand United States Dollars).

The offense is contrary to Section 285(7) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.

The defendant, a former employee in the publishing unit of Dominion Book Stores, an online bookstore belonging to The Living Faith Church Worldwide, allegedly hacked into the company's mail and diverted payments for some goods bought by online customers to his personal account.

The defendant, who was said to have been an active member of the Living Faith Church Worldwide for six years, sometime in 2013, proposed to the church to build an online digital media store that would showcase all of Bishop David Oyedepo’s books and audio messages online to enable members of the church in the Diaspora to buy them and also receive digital copies.

An investigation revealed that the project was approved by the church absolutely free of charge on a contract basis.

It was further revealed that the defendant handed over all the relevant materials to the ICT Department of the church.

However,  the defendant was alleged to have later gone behind to hack into the computer server of the church to perpetuate the fraudulent act.

The one-count charge reads:

“That you, Chimezie Chuta, sometime between the months of August 2013 and August 2016, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being a staff of Dominion Book Stores stole the sum of $56,000 (Fifty-six Thousand United States Dollars), property of Dominion Bookstores, a publishing unit of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, through the Dominion Bookstores online platform dominionlinestore.org.”

When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Gabriel Akaogu, asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, the defense counsel, R.E. Osige, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Dada adjourned the case to March 7, 2018, for hearing of bail the application and commencement of the trial.

EFCC operatives

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You Can't Win Election On Twitter, Facebook, Others, Gov. El-Rufai Advises Nigerian Youths

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has called on Nigerian youths to stop discussing  about politics only on the social media, but to also get involved in ‘real life’ politics.

El-Rufai who spoke in Kaduna on Thursday said Nigerian youths must actively participate in politics if they want to take over political power from the current leadership.

The Governor noted that this is more so, since the current crops of Nigerian leaders are not ready to relinquish powers to the youths.

Nasir El-Rufai

“This is imperative because no election can be won on twitter, Facebook or any social media‎ as the elders currently in power will not hand over power to the youths for the sake of it, they have to work for it.”

He accused the elites of being responsible for the challenges Nigerians are facing, even as he noted that most of Nigeria’s political elites are ‘self-centered.’

“Youths have to be involved in the ongoing political process in order to ultimately take over political power from the current leadership if they are serious about it.

“The Nigerian elite is corrupt, selfish, self-centered and largely divided. Like I said, there is a need for consensus of the Nigerian elite”, the governor said.

El-Rufai also urged Nigerians to put pressure on their leaders if they want good governance.

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Nigerian Govt Says New Minimum Wage Will Address Poverty

Mr. Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has said the new national minimum wage being formulated by government will address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the increasing rate of poverty in the country.

Mr. Mustapha said this on Thursday, at an award event to celebrate 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Abuja.

The Federal Government had informed Nigerians that the new minimum wage would be announced in September.

Mr. Mustapha eulogized NLC, noting that the organization has become indispensable in in the country. He said: “The importance of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the affairs of any government cannot be overlooked. It is the soul of the government because without the workers, be they civil servants, private sector workers or even pensioners, there will be nobody to man the system.

“That is why this administration takes the welfare of the Nigerian worker as priority by putting so much effort into the resuscitation of the economy. I must underscore the fact that the primary objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is to diversity the economy, grow skills, create wealth, gain infrastructures, ensure food security and provide jobs.

“The federal government is conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities. It is in this regard that the tripartite minimum wage committee was inaugurated to review the national minimum wage.

“The committee is determined to complete its assignment before the end of this year and I am confident that the outcome of their assignment would address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.”

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ICYMI: Robbers kill driver, set bus ablaze

Some suspected robbers of Iceland cult have reportedly attacked a commercial bus belonging to the Akwa Ibom Transport Company, killing the driver while no fewer than eight passengers escaped with bullet wounds.

It was learnt that the incident happened around 1.22pm on Wednesday at the Edem Akai end of the Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak highway, Akwa Ibom State.

A bystander, Udoesen Philips, said the AKTC bus driver attempted to escape when the hoodlums, about six in number, opened fire on the bus at close range.PUNCH Metro gathered that the passenger bus, which was returning to Uyo from Etim Ekpo, was caught in a hail of bullets fired by the militants, who blocked the major road.

According to him, a woman and three other passengers, were hit by the bullets.

“They blocked the road and started robbing every vehicle. The AKTC bus ran into them. The driver was trying to escape when the militants started firing at close range.

“One woman and three other passengers were hit by bullets. The intensity of the pump-action rifle, AK-47 and other weapons, sparked fire and engulfed the bus with the driver.

“When I heard the gunshot, I escaped into Edem Akai Primary School on my motorcycle and watched the drama from afar. After robbing the passengers, they stopped an oncoming Toyota Camry, seized it from the owner and escaped with it.

“They took the untarred road through Udianga Enem into their base in Okoyo village, while others followed the stolen car with the motorcycles that they came with,” Philips said.

It was gathered that the hoodlums also robbed nearby shops, including one owned by one Udoma Ekah, as the owners ran to safety.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Ogbeche, confirmed the incident, but said he had yet to be fully briefed by the Area Commander and the Etim Ekpo Divisional Police Officer.Policemen, who usually blocked the Ikot Nya section of the highway, were said to have fled in their van.

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Boy narrowly misses death as classmate shoots him during argument

A 16-year-old pupil and his father have been arrested after the former shot his classmate during an argument within the school premises.

The boy shot his 18-year-old classmate in the bathroom at the Denga Tshivhase High School, situated in Phiphidi village in South Africa.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said the incident took place on Friday, February 23.

He added, “An additional charge of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition has been added after it came to light that the father did not have a licence for the said firearm.Mojapelo says the boy and his 37-year-old father will face charges of attempted murder and negligence in keeping a firearm respectively.

“The firearm has been confiscated and further police investigations are already underway to determine its origin and whether it had not, at any stage, been used to commit other offenses.

“The police are making an appeal to parents and guardians to contribute tangibly towards School Safety Programmes by making sure that searching their children’s school bags before they depart to their respective schools becomes a daily routine.”

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Police Promotion Scandal: Leaked Phone Conversation Exposes Buhari's Chief of Personal Security In Promotion-Solicitation From PSC Chair Mike Okiro

 A leaked phone conversation exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters reveals a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP) Abdulkarim Dauda, soliciting promotion from the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Mike Okiro.

DCP Dauda, who is the Chief Personal Security to President Muhammadu Buhari, is overhead on the tape first soliciting promotion for the Police Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), Jimoh Moshood.

Mr. Okiro, who has been in the eye of many recruitment, financial and promotion scandals, tells the DSP he is working on the matter, and then promises to elevate DSP Dauda himself to Commissioner of Police.

“This boy came to me begging me to talk to you, to plead with you, about his promotion,” Dauda says as he introduces the matter, identifying the subject as “Jimoh, Force PRO”.

Mr. Okiro also has good news for Mr. Dauda, telling him: “Even your own, I am putting you for CP.”

The short exchange powerfully summarizes the practice of patronage in Buhari’s government, with the President himself now routinely mocked for clannishness and nepotism. 

Mr. Okiro has been accused of various illegalities in conducting recruitment and promotion exercise for the Nigeria Police Force.  In 2017, this website reported how the PSC under Mr. Okiro favors cronies and top shots in the police at the expense of well-educated young officers in the Inspectorate cadre, as well as the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force.

A source had told Saharareporters at the time that the PSC boss disregards the regulation for promoting in-service officers to the position of Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP), preferring to recruit through direct entry, which is regarded as a calculated attempt to favor cronies.

Section 39 of Part IV (Appointments) of the Police Act and Regulation provides: "When vacancies in the establishment of Assistant Superintendents of Police cannot, by reason of unavailability of suitable candidates, be filled by promotions from within the Force, the Inspector-General shall so inform the Nigeria Police Council and may request it to arrange for the posts to be filled by direct entry”.

A police source told Saharareporters that the PSC deliberately disregards the clause of “unavailability” and “suitability” as conditions for filling the ASP cadre by direct entry.

It would also be recalled that in 2016, the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a coalition of 49 civil society organizations, called for the sack of Mr. Okiro for lack of integrity, citing various allegations of corruption brought against him by police officers.

In the petition, which was sent to President Buhari, the coalition said the PSC under Mr. Okiro had been riddled with widespread infidelities.

In specific terms, NOPRIN drew the attention of the President to the dodgy nature of the police promotion exercise, which has continued to attract increasingly loud dissent from officers, who allege that promotions are influenced by favoritism, corruption, and other extraneous considerations.

Concerning recruitment into the Force, NOPRIN said: "Many (applicants) did not have the basic qualifications and presented either fake certificates or the certificates of others. Most of them paid various sums of money in bribe to be recruited. This explains why there are many armed robbers, kidnappers and sundry criminals within the police force".

Similarly, just one month ago, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) sent a petition to the federal government kicking against the illegality of Mr. Okiro’s role as chairman of the PSC, citing the dissolution of the PSC board on December 29, 2017.

Mr. Okiro was the Inspector General of Police from 2007 to 2009 and was appointed the PSC chairman by former president Goodluck Jonathan.  He has remained in the position despite various allegations of misconduct against him.

Mr. Dauda, on the other hand, was appointed by President Buhari as his Chief Personal Security Officer in 2016.

Only last month, Mr. Okiro disclosed that Okiro disclosed that over 150,000—more than half of the Force’s total enrolment—are attached to VIPs and unauthorized persons in the country.  This is contrary to a directive issued by the president when he assumed office.

 Okiro's PSC board has been dissolved by President Buhari but Okiro refused to quit as chairman of PSC, using his illegitimate stay to perpetrate scams.

Transcript of the conversation:

Mr. Okiro: My brother how na

Mr. Dauda: How are you sir

Mr. Okiro: Fine o… I am visiting your matter today

Mr. Dauda: Okay. I’ve been trying your line, I can’t reach you for the past three, four days now

Mr. Okiro: Ha! Ha!

Mr. Dauda Yes Sir … Errm… Thiis boy came to me begging me to talk to you, to plead with ou about his promotion

Mr. Okiro: who...

Mr. Dauda: Jimoh Force PRO

Mr. Okiro: Okay, Okay, we are working on that

Mr. Dauda: Okay. Thank you very much sir

Mr. Okiro: Even your own, I am putting you for CP

Mr. Dauda: Thank you very much. I appreciate sir

Mr. Okiro: Yes

Mr. Dauda: Thank you sir

Mr. Okiro: Yea, thank you

Mr. Dauda: May God bless you

Mr. Okiro: Yea…  okay

Mr. Dauda: Okay!

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IPOB explains reasons for attacking Igbo leaders, apologises

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Thursday explained why its members attacked Igbo leaders at a rally in Enugu on Tuesday, offering apologies for the incident.

The group also said it was averse to the philosophies of the late pioneer president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State, by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group accused the late Azikiwe of causing the problems of the Igbo in Nigeria.

It said the late former president was “patriotic to a fault,” an attribute it maintained worked against Igbo interest.

The group said Azikiwe’s attitude “brought untold shame, misery and consumed over three million Biafran lives and still doing so till today.”

The group noted that if the late Azikiwe had behaved like some of his contemporaries, Biafra would have been an independent country by now.

Powerful, in the statement, apologised to Igbo leaders who were allegedly molested by some Biafra agitators in Enugu on Tuesday.

“The statement partly read,” The leadership and family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide wish to clarify the events that took place at Eastern Consultative Assembly gathering in Enugu on Tuesday.

“It’s is regrettable and unfortunate under the circumstance because it happened in the presence of the two most distinguished and respected elder statesmen we have in Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Chief Mbazuluike Amechi.

“Regardless of who was involved, we are all indigenous persons from Biafra. So, we view and have always viewed our highly regarded elders like Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Chief Mbazuluike Amechi as our own.“For this, we respectfully and unreservedly apologise to both elders and the leadership of ECA for how the ceremony came to an end.

” What transpired at the said gathering was not a protest against them or ECA, but an indication of the level of loathing, anger and resentment against everything Nigeria among right thinking indigenous persons from the East.

“It should not be forgotten that the said event was going smoothly but for the occasional boos that accompanied any mention of Nigeria.

“Chief Mbazuluike Amechi was cheered to the rafters after his speech, though this aspect has received little or no press coverage.

“What precipitated the collapse of the event was the announcement of an award for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who is seen by all as the sole architect of the monstrous One Nigeria project that have brought untold shame, misery and consumed over three million Biafran lives and still doing so till today.”

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Fear of poverty made me think out of box, D’banj reveals

Nigeria’s music star and entrepreneur, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj has said that fear of poverty made him think out of the box to create wealth, urging youths to follow suit.

D’banj said in Lagos on Wednesday that Nigerian youths must go the extra mile, be creative and have a new perspective to be relevant and make wealth.

He spoke at the 2018 Social Media Week Lagos which began on Monday.

The music star said that fame might not bring wealth but thinking out of the box will.D’banj spoke on the topic; “Changing the Game: Artistes are leaders”.

“The fear of being poor made me think out of the box to create wealth for myself and remain relevant.

“Fame will not guarantee you money; fame will not give you wealth, but it can give you what you need if you channel it properly.

“Channelling your fame properly to create wealth is another advantage that stands you out,” D’banj said.

He said that it was high time artistes created brands for themselves and be ambassadors of their own brand.

Mr Uzoma Dozie, Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, said that the bank would invest in artistes if information and data are available on their revenue flow.

Dozie called for professionalism in the music industry especially as more people would be going digital.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Social Media Week Lagos is currently in its sixth edition with the theme: ‘Closer’.“What you do to inspire people and how you do it matter,” he said.

The event which will end on March 2 is featuring discussions covering the future of the media, tourism, governance, gender inclusion, entertainment and emerging ideas and trends across the globe.

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Nigeria sues Alabama university

The Nigerian government has dragged a university in the United States, the Alabama State University, to court for allegedly mishandling the scholarship meant for students’ rent, books and food.

According to a BBC report, Nigeria also accuses the university of charging them for accommodation they did not use and lessons they did not take.

It admitted that the Nigerian government was owed $202,000, saying it had been deposited into an account.But the university has denied the allegation, telling local media it had “adhered to and complied with every instruction and direction given to the university by the Nigerian government regarding that agreement.”

But Anthony Ifediba, who represents the students, said they believed the university might have withheld as much as $800,000.

He told the Montgomery Advertiser that the Nigerian government had paid Alabama State University about $5m, which was meant to cover tuition and living costs for all the students.

He said, “I hope it will sober the Alabama State University up, and its new president, to realise that what these students are talking about is very serious and it’s having an adverse effect on them legally and I’d imagine public relations-wise.”

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Google introduces new job search feature

The global search engine, Google, on Wednesday announced the introduction of a new feature that allows job seekers to find employment opportunities.

The company said job seekers in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria would be able to use the new job search experience to easily find opportunities suited to them.

Job seekers will be able the use their phones or computers to search on Google for a job, letting them explore, research and find relevant local job postings, Google stated.According to Google, the new product is part of its existing commitment in Sub-Saharan Africa, through its Grow with Google initiatives, to improve economic opportunities for job seekers and employers.

Speaking at the launch in Nigeria, the Google Country Director, Juliet Chiazor, said, “Finding employment is still very difficult for many people. This new job search experience will help the millions of Nigerians searching for new opportunities. We believe that the web allows anyone, anywhere, of any age, to grow their business, learn the skills they need to get a job, to grow in their career, become an entrepreneur or developer.

“This new job search tool will be a key driver for connecting job seekers to open opportunities, helping more people to grow with Google.”

To optimise the feature and make it more useful, Google said it was working with partners, such as Jobberman, NGCareers, MyJobMag and other job resource websites in Nigeria.

According to it, these collaborations will ensure that Google is able to present job posting content accurately as soon as it is posted to the exact people that will find it most relevant.

Chiazor added, “The launch of this new jobs’ search experience is part of our broader commitment to improve economic opportunities for job seekers and employers through Google technologies in partnership with the broader employment industry.

“Google is committed to providing useful, accurate and relevant information based on your search queries and helping you connect to your next job. In this way, we hope to make a contribution towards matching job seekers with jobs, and taking steps to tackle the skills gap.”

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Military employs fishermen, farmers to search for missing Dapchi schoolgirls

The military has employed the services of local fishermen and farmers in the search for the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls, the head of counter-insurgency operation in the North East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas, has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of helipad, office complex and residential quarters for officers and airmen at the newly established 171 Nigerian Air Force Detachment in Monguno town by the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno on Tuesday evening, Nicholas said over 200 hours have been spent by crafts combing the Theatre for the schoolgirls.

He said both the NSA and CAS have been flying round the Theatre to contribute to the ongoing search for the girls.Nicholas said the National Security Adviser and Chief of Air Staff came down to add value to the ongoing search for the missing Dapchi schoolgirls.

He said: “What this means is that nobody is sitting down, sleeping over it. It means that the government is serious in rescuing these abducted girls. Primarily, that is why the NSA is here to see things for himself and add value to what we are doing.

“Having said that, the NSA has also introduced us to some locals — fishermen and farmers — who have very good knowledge of this terrain to work with us in terms of intelligence to contribute to the search efforts we are making.

“The Nigerian Air Force has been airborne since the last three days and we will also declare additional platforms to do this exercise. As I speak, many areas have been covered, over 200 hours have been spent flying, combing the whole Theatre in search of the girls.

“Additionally the ground force are there in various places searching in various places identified.”

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Court jails pastor who sprays insecticide on followers for healing

A South African court has fined a self-styled prophet who sprayed his followers in the face with insecticide as a supposed cure for illness.

Pastor Lethebo Rabalago was found guilty by a court in the northwest town of Limpopo of five charges of grievous assault and contravening chemicals laws .

He used “Doom”, a household insecticide on his followers, earning the sobriquet “Prophet of Doom”.

Lawyer Edmund Lubusi said Tuesday his client would pay the money.The Sowetan daily reported Wednesday that the presiding judge jailed Rabalago to four years or a 21,000 ($1,700) fine.

“We have made an arrangement that my client will pay 3,000 rand in instalments every month until the fine is fully paid,” Lubusi told the paper.

Photographs of Rabalago spraying volunteers at his church in Limpopo spread on social media in 2016.

The pastor claimed that some people were healed of various medical complaints after he had sprayed them.

However some suffered the effects for several months.

Rabalago said at the time he was “glorifying God” by spraying his congregation at the Mount Zion General Assembly (MZGA) church.

“Everything here on Earth belongs to God. Petrol belongs to God. Doom belongs to God,” he said.

Brand Tigers, which manufactures the spray, had issued a statement calling on Rabalago to halt his ritual healing and stressing the dangers of using their product on humans.

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CBN warns against investment in virtual currencies

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday night cautioned Nigerians to be wary of investments in crypto-currency, stating that virtual currencies are not legal tender in Nigeria.

The apex bank in a statement issued in Abuja, stated that crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, and exchanges such as NairaEx were not licensed or regulated by the CBN.

It added that since they are not protected by law, these investors may not be able to seek legal redress in event of failure or collapse of the business.The statement signed by the Bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, emphasized that dealers and investors in any kind of crypto-currency in Nigeria were not protected by law.

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2019: Imo deputy gov reportedly rejects Okorocha’s senate offer

Imo state deputy governor Eze Madumere disclosed why he turned his principal Governor Rochas Okorocha’s offer down
- Madumere said his zone has not produced a governor since the return of democracy in 1999
- The deputy governor, however, said he has made up his mind to contest for the office of the governor in 2019
Imo state deputy governor Eze Madumere has reportedly rejected his principal, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s offer to contest for the Imo east senatorial election in 2019.
The Nation reports that Governor Okorocha asked his deputy to contest for Senate instead of the governorship election to pave way for the Chief of Staff and his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, who he has endorsed as his successor.
It was learnt that Madumere rejected the the governor's offer because the Owerri zone where he is has not produced a governor since the return of democracy in 1999.
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The deputy governor, however, insisted that he has made up his mind to contest for the office of the governor in 2019.
He made this known in a statement signed by his chief press secretary Uche Onwuchekwa, he has chosen his path towards realizing “God’s given vision to better the lot of Imolites”, adding that his fate “is in no man’s hands.''
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Describing the Okorocha’s offer as an act of betrayal, the deputy governor, argued that ''IfJesus Christ could be ill-treated by those he called his friends and was later betrayed by Judas, how much more a mere mortal like me.''
He said that he has been “molested, betrayed and insulted” by those he nurtured to “become relevant in life”.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that Governor Okorocha stated that he won't aspire to be a senator in 2019.
The governor made the comment when about 5,000 members of the Rochas Mandate Movement held a solidarity rally for him in Owerri, on Friday December 15.
The governor's statement is coming at a time most of his colleagues gearing up to leave their respective government houses are preparing to contest for senatorial positions.

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