MINISTERS TAKE HOME

Barely three weeks in office, President Muhammadu Buhari has shocked Ministers with poor salaries and austere allowances.

He has also imposed dos and don’ts on the ministers including travel restrictions.

Most Ministers were said to be embarrassed by the perks of office accruable to them in office.

The only leverage the Ministers will enjoy is the privilege of flying in a Business Class on trips.

These conditions of service for Ministers were contained in a letter  given to them during the week by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal.

The letter said: “I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,  has  appointed  you as  a  Minister in  the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

“The appointment takes effect from 11th November, 2015 under the following Terms and Conditions of Service as contained in “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders(Salaries and Allowances, etc) (Amendment ) Act 2008.”

“I am to add that your tenure terminates at the end of this Administration unless otherwise decided by Mr. President. Please accept my heartiest congratulations and best wishes on your appointment.”

The SGF’s letter gave the details of the perks which the ministers will enjoy in office as long as they last in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

While the substantive minister will earn N2, 026, 400 Annual Basic Salary($8,514.285), Minister of State is to get N1.8million($7,563.025) per annum.

Other  highlights of the conditions include: Estacode Allowance($900 per diem); Duty Tour Allowance(N35,000); Utilities Allowance(Telephone/ Electricity/ Water)–30% of Annual Basic Salary (N607,920); Domestic Staff Allowance(75% -((N1,519,800) of Annual Basic Salary; Medical Facilities (in accordance with NHIS Policy);  Special Assistant (To be provided in kind); Security (To be provided in kind); Air Travel (By Business Class); Newspaper Allowance (15% of  Annual Basic Salary-N303,960).

The letter said: “As a Political Office Holder, you must obtain permission from Mr. President before you travel out of Abuja. If the trip is official, Ministers are entitled to a Duty Tour Allowance of N35,000 per diem. However, all private journeys will attract no Allowance.

“Severance Allowance of 300 %of Annual Basic Salary payable after full tenure of office with government. The allowance will be pro-rated after a minimum of two years tenure.

It added: “200 % of Annual Basic Salary (N4,052,800) will be paid to you to enable you to acquire accommodation of your choice in line with monetization policy.

“Furniture  Allowance. 300 %(N6,079,200) of Annual Basic Salary will be paid once in every four years. The allowance will be paid annually at the rate of 75% (N1,519,800) of Annual Basic salary.

“Motor Vehicle Fuelling Maintenance Allowance. 75% of Annual Basic Salary (N1,519,800) for the maintenance of your vehicle(s) as Government no longer provides chauffeur  driven vehicles to Political Office Holders/Public Officers for house to office running.

“Annual Leave (30 calendar days for each leave year or calculated on pro-rata basis, with 10% of Annual Basic Salary(N202,640) as leave grant); Personal Assistant Allowance (25% of Annual Basic salary to enable you to employ a Personal Assistant of your choice).”

Investigation however revealed that some of the ministers were uncomfortable with the salary and allowance package because it might not be able to pick their bills.

The package has caused rumbles in the cabinet because while Nigerian ministers earn $8, 514.28 Per Annum (N2,026,400),  their counterparts in Ghana are on $50,000 (N11,900,000) and those in South Africa (the highest paying in the continent) were said to be taking home  about $302,521 per annum.

A reliable source said: “Most ministers have been sad since they received their letters of appointment because the salary and allowance package was a far cry from where they were coming from. We hope that ministers will eventually not steal if they have to serve this nation on hungry stomach.

“We have ministers in this government who left high-net worth job of $10,000 to $20,000 per month, how will they settle their bills? Some ministers have headed corporate. You can imagine a minister managing about $3billion portfolio now getting $8,521 per Annum.

“Some ministers have children in Ivy League universities where they are paying as much as $40,000 to $60,000 per annum. How will they be able to cope to meet up with their responsibilities?”

WHAT IS IN YOUR MIND? ... SAY YOUR MIND WE ARE AT HOME.

POPE FRANCIS IN UGANDA

Pope Francis landed in Uganda Friday on the second leg of a landmark trip to Africa, with choirs and dancers waiting to greet him, an AFP reporter said
Francis arrived in Uganda after three days in neighbouring Kenya, where vast crowds turned out to an open air mass, and where the pontiff lashed out at corruption and wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor. Francis travels to Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday.

WANT TO STAY FIT; READ

Greeting to you all
Hope you had a wonderful night rest.

There is something very vital I will like to share with
you today. These are :

Ways to easily and naturally END your Mid-night
cravings for Fatty food. 

Often times, I have heard from some people
telling me they can’t  end their cravings for
sugar … another one will say, she usually wakes
at night to eat.  Hmmmmm! 

Well, if you too have similar story…then I’ve got a
secret to share with you now.

There are two secret Natural appetite suppressants
that I will reveal to you today. 

The First one I will share with you is the Nut. 

Nuts are known for being a healthy snack food but
they're also a great appetite suppressant...Trust me!
Most nuts are high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids, fiber and vitamin E. Rely on nuts to fill you up,
promote healthy skin and help keep you healthy.

Try eating almonds, walnuts, peanuts or natural
peanut butter.

The second one is the Garcinia Cambogia.
What makes Garcinia Cambogia stand out from
hundreds of other natural weight loss boosters is
its dual action to both help control the appetite
and prevent fat from being formed and stored in
the body.

Let me stop here today, I will continue from here
tomorrow.

Do you know that you can easily get this amazing
 plant – Garcinia here in Nigeria?

  If you have any query just send  us mail enlogven@gmail.com

or call 08170052303

Stay at home ...we are at home. 

BOKO HARAM NO DEAD LINE YET

Nigeria says it cannot meet President Muhammadu Buhari’s December deadline to crush Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising in the northeast.
Air Commodore Yusuf Anas of the Center for Crisis Communication said on Thursday the deadline was “not tenable.”
He warns Nigerians to not view December as a “sacrosanct date when all suicide bombings will end.”
Forces from Nigeria and neighboring Chad earlier this year drove the extremists out of areas they had proclaimed an Islamic caliphate. Recently, the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops have reported destroying numerous Boko Haram camps and freeing more than 1,000 kidnap victims.
In June, Buhari ordered the military to crush the insurgency by December, but the extremists have pushed back with village raids and urban suicide bombings that have killed more than 1,500 people.

MOURINHO EXPECT ARSENAL EXIT

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would like to see Olympiacos progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at Arsenal’s expense.

The two sides are set for a thrilling Group F finale on 9 December, with the Gunners needing to beat Olympiacos by two goals – or a one-goal win, scoring more than three times themselves – if they are to progress.

Mourinho has a close relationship with the Greek side’s Portuguese coach Marco Silva and is eager to see them win the battle to progress as a result.

He told reporters: “I would always like English teams to qualify, first.They [Arsenal] are in a group where a kid friend of mine is the manager of Olympiacos and it would be fantastic for the kid’s career to go through.

STAY AT HOME... WE ARE AT HOME

POPE IN AFRICA, CELEBRATE MASS

Pope Francis on Thursday called for respect for women and family values when he led thousands of Christians in celebrating his first Holy Mass in Kenya.

The Pope spread the gospel, calling for deep respect for the elderly and love for children during his homily, which also focused on the need to preserve family unity.

“Our faith calls for us to defend the dignity of the men and women for the good of the family.

WOMAN CHARGED FOR ABANDONING CHILDREN

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 40-year- old mother to one month community service for abandoning her two little children at a railway crossing in Ilupeju.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, gave the order following the guilty plea of the mother and her appeal that the court should be lenient because one her children was sick.

“You are hereby sentenced to one month community service at the Children Center, Idi Araba, Lagos, where you must perform any duty assigned to you for two hours each day for the next one month.

“Under the child right law, it’s an offense to abandon your child to the government to care for them,’’ Osunsanmi said.

She added that the convict should report at the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation center after serving her sentence.You are to report to the WAPA office at Alausa, where you will be trained to be self-sufficient and how you are to appropriately care for all your children. They are your responsibility,” Osunsanmi said.

The chief magistrate also ordered that the children be kept in the government children’s home.

Ekweremadu the drama

Last week, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu set out to act what typifies a Nollywood film by causing the publication of a so-called “attempt to assassinate him.” Ekweremadu in a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu said the attempt occurred at about 10:00am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Headquarters junction on his way to the National Assembly.

He claimed   the suspected assassins operated in an unmarked, tinted, brand new, white-coloured   Mercedez Benz AMG E63 and were chauffeured by a man who looked like someone from the  Middle-belt.

He said the development had already been reported to the security agencies. What has been the outcome of the investigations? Nigerians would want to know because this is a country where people would   arrange for their kidnap to give certain impressions to certain people.

The story appears well scripted but has some loopholes. For instance, the Senate President has a police escort   with guns attached to him for his protection. Were they not in the convoy where a car made several efforts to ram into his car?   What were the policemen with guns doing? Were they also watching the movie or were they under instruction not to apprehend the intruders? Without being a policeman you do not need any formal training to be able to apprehend the intruders referred to as “assassins” in the Ekweremadu story line.

What is needed is to fire at the tires of the intruders car to demobilise it and then easily arrest the intruders and make them confess who sent them to assassinate the Deputy Senate President. Did the policemen attached to Ekweremadu claim that anybody prevented them from apprehending the suspected assassins? This gives away the alarm as a cock and bull story that has no merit whatsoever except the commencement of a cheap blackmail against the ruling party.

Again, to say that the suspected assassins   driver was dressed in clothes like persons from the Middle belt presupposes that Northerners want to eliminate an Igbo man who is the nation’s number five citizen. Again, this fabrication does not hold water because it only seems to whip up ethnic sentiments that some Nigerians would gullibly fall for. Interestingly, this could be read in between the lines of the press statement of Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths.

To lend credence to this line of reasoning, 24 hours after Ekweremadu flew the kite, his kinsmen, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to ensure a thorough investigation into the alleged attack on the Deputy Senate President. The President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, raised an alarm that “the highest Igbo political office holder is being hunted for elimination, warning that killing of the Deputy Senate President portends danger for the country.

According to them, any harm on Ekweremadu amounted to a declaration of war against Ndigbo which must be resisted at all costs. They also   said they   were prepared to provide security for their son   to ensure his safety. Haba Ekweremadu! He has positioned the youths of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to pick up the false alarm from where he let it off. This kind of mess happens only in a country like Nigeria. Ekweremadu is positioning as the mouth piece and leader of Ndigbo and possibly positioning for Igbo presidency. Otherwise why would he embark on this intellectual voyage of scripting this movie?

Who wants the life of Ekweremadu? Why would anybody want to kill him? Since the APC government took over from the clueless PDP administration, how many people have been assassinated in Nigeria? Ekweremadu is only   making mountains out of mole hill. He is just on an expedition of cheap blackmail against a party he is reaping from   without sowing.

Ekweremadu needs to be thoroughly investigated by the Inspector General of Police.   Why the sudden escalation   of the agitation for Biafra few weeks   into   the coming on board of the APC Federal   Government? Nigerians must keep a watch on Ekweremadu. He certainly have something up his sleeves.

MTN knows soon

President Muhammadu Buhari may eventually be the one to decide the fate of MTN Nigeria over the N1.04 trillion ($5.2 billion) fine slammed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for violating regulatory orders.

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who spoke to Technology Times, said that final decision on the N1.04 trillion fine will be taken by President Buhari at the appropriate time “in public interest.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the Alliance 4 Affordable Internet Nigeria Coalition conference in Lagos, Shittu reiterated government’s determination to ensure that final decision taken on the fines will be in the public interest.

“The issue is now before Mr. President. He will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time. I think Nigerians will expect that Mr. President would do the best to ensure that the public interest is guaranteed,” the minister said.

Responding to questions on alleged conflicting signals on government’s stance on the fine, the minister said: “I don’t think there is any conflicting position on where government stands on the MTN issue.

READ WHAT'S HAPPENED IN RIVERS STATE

Rivers State Police Command on Saturday said the kidnapped Registrar of Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Mrs. Lilian Davies has been rescued by the police.

Mrs. Davies was kidnapped on November 17, 2015, while on transit along Bori-Yaghe road.

According to a statement by the Command’s PRO, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, she was rescued at the bush around Kaani in Khana Local Government by special tactical outfit set up by the Commissioner of Police to tackle the menace of kidnappings in the state.

The rescue team during the operation has a fierce gun duel with the kidnappers resulting to the death of four kidnappers.

“One AK47 rifle, one locally made pistol, one magazine, 25 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and five cartridges were recovered at the scene after the operation.

“Criminal elements in the state are advised to relocate from Rivers State as the police are determined more than before to take the onslaughts to their hideouts.”

SHOCKING NEWS IN KOGI STATE

The Governorship election in Kogi State was held on Saturday the 22nd November 2015 and at the end of the election the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Prince Abubukar Audu had won in 16 Local Government Areas and was leading in the total number number of valid votes cast in the election. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the election inconclusive and ordered supplementary election to be held in a date to be announced in due course.

According to INEC the reason for declaring the election inconclusive was because the differences in the votes scored by two leading candidates in the election was less than votes expected in some areas where election was cancelled. While Nigerians were waiting when INEC would fixed the date of the election the unexpected happened. The authoritative online news agency, Sahara Reporters in a breaking news this evening announced the death of Prince Audu. The pertinent question is what become of the election that was held on the 22nd November 2015 in view of the death of Prince Audu? It is submitted that the death of Prince Audu has rendered the Kogi State Governorship election held on the 22nd November 2015 but which was declared inconclusive null and void. It has ipso facto also rendered the supplementary election which INEC had announced would be conducted to determine the winner of the election held on the 22nd November 2015 otiose. It would have been otherwise if Prince Audu had been declared the winner before his death. In such a circumstance, the Deputy Governor elect would have naturally stepped into the shoe of the deceased Governor elect.

https://www.today.ng

BOMBING IN CAMP

A suicide bomber has killed at least seven people in a transit camp in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The National Emergency Management Agency sources said the explosive was reportedly detonated by a female suicide bomber evacuated to the capital city alongside other displaced persons from Dikwa local council.

Locals of the area trapped by Boko Haram insurgents before its liberation were being screened for onward movement to official makeshift camps in Maiduguri when the incident happened.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Boko Haram is largely suspected to be responsible.

The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past.

The attack came on a day that the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, reiterated his commitment to ending the activities of Boko Haram in the northern part of the nation.

WHAT TO DO FIRST IN THE MORNING

The way you start your morning can affect your health. After all, it's the morning that sets you up for the rest of the day. Therefore  starting off on the wrong foot may cause you to make poor health choices later on. So . . . what does a successful morning look like? There seems to be a common thread among healthy people as to how they start their day. Let's look at the five things healthy people do every morning — and how to incorporate them into your morning routine:
1. Expose yourself to bright light. Wake up and get outside. Research shows that people who are exposed to bright light early in the morning had lower BMIs regardless of diet or exercise. Another great benefit to bright morning light exposure is it encourages earlier nocturnal melatonin release, so you'll be able to go to bed more easily at night. How much light do you need?

2. Drink 2 cups of cold water, right after you wake up. It sounds pretty simple, but a glass of water in the morning has myriad incredible health benefits:
It boosts metabolism. One study by German researchers showed drinking cold water right after you wake up increased metabolic activity by 24 percent for a full 90 minutes. That's an effortless way to lose more weight.
It kick starts your brain. Your brain is 75 percent water. When it's hydrated, it can work right. Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain function, including thought and memory process.
It flushes toxins. Imagine not drinking anything for a full 8 hours. That's essentially what your body has been doing as it sleeps. Drinking water in the morning helps flush your body of toxins that build up at night. It can also energize your muscles.
3. Express gratitude aloud. Gratitude has specific health benefits worth enjoying every morning. Gratitude researcher, Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. has scientifically proven the link between gratitude and happiness: "In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events."
4. Meditate for at least 5 minutes. Meditation experts have long recommended that you begin your day with meditation. It's referred to as the time when you're closest to your "source." I like to think it's the only time of the day that you'll have a clean slate. Though 30 minutes of meditation is ideal, just 5-10 minutes can help lower stress and anxiety. Starting your day in a stress-free state allows for more focused concentration, clearer decision making, and productivity.
5. Move your body. Ever start the day feeling sluggish? The fastest way to boost your a.m. energy is to start moving. You'll rev your metabolism and release serotonin, the "feel good" hormone into your body. This will also help relieve stress and increase your overall emotional state.
One study from Kansas State University and published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found big benefits for people who workout just after fasting (aka: a whole night without food). They found no difference in caloric output between workouts following a fasted or fed state. But individuals who fasted prior to exercising burned a greater amount of fat than those who ate their last meal up to an hour and a half before exercising.

Always stay at home... we are at home.

BLACK FRIDAY AT ENLOGTEC

Wondering when Black Friday 2015 is and what time the epic holiday sales start in stores? If you are looking for the best Black Friday 2015 deals, most of the ads have already leaked or been released online for favorite retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. But trying to keep track which stores’ sales and deals start at which time can be a chore. To help our holiday shoppers arrive at the right store at the right time to get the awesome doorbuster deals on computers, electronics, toys, clothes and other goodies, we’ve put together a list of sales times and store hours for the most popular retailers offering Black Friday price cuts.
Not surprisingly, most retailers are beginning their sales early on Thanksgiving evening. In fact, most are kicking the season into high gear starting around 6pm Thanksgiving night (J.C. Penny’s is even beginning at 3p.m.!) Check out our listing of popular stores and their sales hours below along with some additional links to Black Friday 2015 Deals coverage iDigitalTimes has provided during the month of November.

BLACK FRIDAY AT ENLOGTEC

 Enloghomes is bringing  to you all the expectation of black Friday sales which will be up on www.enlogtec.com.  wondering  when Black Friday 2015 is and what time the epic fast sales start at enlogtec stores? If you are looking for the best Black Friday 2015 deals,  we are giving  you the   released online for favorite retailers that enlogtec.com is shooting at its new and returning customers Target and Best Buy. You do not have to keep late watching. All you need to do is just log in to your favorite online store click and buy. To help our esteemed  shoppers arrive at the right item at the right time, we make sure that the button direct you  to get the  best at a click. Awesome doorbuster deals on computers, electronics, toys, clothes and electrical and other goodies,
.
Not surprisingly, we shall be 24 hours all through the day
. In fact, we are kicking the season into high gear starting around 6pm Thanksgiving night  www.enlogtec.com  Check out our listing of popular items most featured goods.  Sales hours will be extended along with some additional gift for returning customers on  Black Friday 2015 Deals date 26th  November 2015..

we are at home .. go no where.

BAYELSA GUBER RACE KNOW MORE

The race for the Creek Haven Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has narrowed down from 20 candidates to 10 following the withdrawal of 10 candidates from the race.

The 10 candidate have in a surprise move, thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, saying he is best suited among all the aspirants to take the state to the next level.

The candidates led by APGA’s flag-bearer, Chief Christopher Enai, made this known on Thursday when Sylva’s campaign train stormed Ekeremor, the local government area of the Minister for State (Agriculture), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Their withdrawal from their parties was accepted by the sstate APC Chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe and the entire town was agog as party faithful and sympathisers were treated to music by popular Ijaw musician, Barrister Smooth as Sylva and his entourage arrived.

HOW MANY WORDS CAN A BABY READ?

19-month-old Baby Carter has learned more than 300 words and can even count all the way up to 50.

His proud mother LaToya Whiteside, reveals that he has been recognizing words since he was seven months old.

She said: ‘My 19-month-old son can read. He knows his ABCs (phonetically and recognize the letters when written).

‘He can count to 50 and reads over 300 words. He reads signs everywhere we go so I’m sure he knows more than even I am aware.

‘My son started recognising words and signing when he was just seven months old.

‘He began sounding out words I had never shown him at around 12 months.”

Babies can only speak around six words by the time they reach 18 months but this baby can speak 300 words.

WOMEN IN THE WORLD

The Women in the World India Summit is taking place on November 20, 2015, at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. This internationally recognised, powerful live event, co-hosted by Anand Mahindra, Barkha Dutt, Nita Ambani, and Shabana Azmi, will feature a stellar line-up of international and Indian names including Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett; Madhuri Dixit; Nandita Das; Smriti Zubin Irani; Iranian female race car driver Laleh Seddigh; the founder of Nigeria’s “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign, former World Bank Vice President for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili; an Israeli and a Palestinian mother working together to find peace, Robi Damelin and Bushra Awad; William Dalrymple; HSBC’s Naina Lal Kidwai, and many other extraordinary global women of influence.

we are at home ...stay at home

HEARD OF TINA BROWN?

Tina Brown,  earlier known as Christina Hambley Brown; 21 November 1953), is a journalist, magazine editor, columnist, talk-show host and author of The Diana Chronicles, a biography of Diana, Princess of Wales. Born a British citizen, she took United States citizenship in 2005 after emigrating in 1984 to edit Vanity Fair. Having been editor-in-chief of Tatler magazine at only 25 years of age, she rose to prominence in the American media industry as the editor of Vanity Fair from 1984 to 1992 and of The New Yorker from 1992 to 1998. In 2000 she was appointed a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to overseas journalism,^[1] and in 2007 was inducted into the Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame.^] As an editor, she has also been honored with four George Polk Awards, five Overseas Press Club awards, and ten National Magazine Awards. In October 2008, she partnered withBarry Diller,  in November 2010,The Daily Beast merged with the American weekly news magazine Newsweek in a joint venture to form The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. In September 2013, Brown announced she would be leaving her position as editor-in-chief ofThe Daily Beast to launch Tina Brown Media  and pen Media Beast, a memoir of her years in the media world, slated to be published in 2016.

COWS FROM RUSTLERS TO OWNERS

The Yobe State Police Command Wednesday presented 30 recovered cows from Boko Haram cattle rustlers to their genuine owners.

Presenting the recovered cows at the Damaturu cattle market, the Damaturu Area Commander of the police, Mr. Yemi Samuel, who represented the police commissioner, Zannah Ibrahim, said he was happy the police did its rightful duty by protecting people’s lives and property.He promised that the police would continue to work assiduously for the maintenance of law and order in the state and the country as a whole

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin said: “Three weeks ago, the members of the Joint Task Force arrested three Boko Haram rustlers and recovered 159 Cows, 266 Sheep, 19 Goats and a Horse. The recovered livestock, according to him, was made public leading to the release of the 30 cows to the rightful owner

GENERATOR IMPORT BANNED

THE Federal government has banned the importation of a very common brand of generators locally called “I better pass my neighbour”.

The Controller, Federation Operations Unit Zone A, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Madugu Sanni Jubrin, who disclosed this, yesterday, said, “the smaller generators have been banned by the Federal Government because it is causing air pollution and destruction of our lungs and breathing system.

“That is why they have banned it but people are still interested in smuggling them in, that is why we intercepted them. If you go to the market, you still see them because people have imported them before the ban. So it is the leftover they had before the ban that they are selling because the law did not backdate the ban and it is not an absolute prohibition. It is prohibition by trade which means you cannot bring it in large quantity and sell to the public. That is the type of prohibition we have on this but if you buy one piece, Customs will not seize it”

AKWA IBOM EXPELS STUDENTS

Five students of Akwa Ibom School of Health Technology in Etinan, have been expelled by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the students were on Wednesday invited by the commissioner for discussion over the lingering crisis in the school caused by hike in tuition fees.

The leader of the students, Mr Joe Friday, told NAN that the commissioner invited them to his office for dialogue.

He said that they were surprised that instead of dialoguing with them, Ukpong asked them to sign an undertaking not to further participate in protest over the hike in tuition fees.

Friday added that when they refused to sign the undertaking, Ukpong said that it was an insult on his person and the ministry and told them they had been expelled from the school.

A MAN KILLS LOVER WHO CONFESS HIV POSITIVE

The decision by a 25-year-old South African woman, Maria Sephokola, to come clean to her 38-year-old lover on her HIV status has led to her death after the man went into a frenzy and smashed her with a hammer, killing her in the process, reports Daily Sun.

According to police, the deceased who was from Eersterust in Tshwane, had confessed to her boyfriend that she had been cheating on him and had contracted the HIV virus, but the confession incensed the man who got angry and used the hammer to hit her several times. After committing the murder, he fled the scene but was later arrested after a manhunt.

The couple had reportedly been together for four years but on Sunday morning, the suspect reportedly phoned his brother to tell him what had happened before fleeing and was later arrested at Marikana squatter camp.

Temba Police Constable Herman Moremi said: “Apparently the victim confessed to her lover that she had been cheating all the time they were together. She told him she was infected with HIV.”
The late woman’s mother told the Daily Sun that if she had listened to her family never to move in with the man, she would not have died in such a dreadful manner.

BOMBING BLAST KILLED TWO SCORE IN TOLA

More than 30 people were killed Tuesday when a bomb blast ripped through packed crowds in Yola, northeast Nigeria, just days after President Muhammadu Buhari visited declaring that Boko Haram were close to defeat.

The explosion happened at about 8:20 pm (1920 GMT) in the Jambutu area of the Adamawa state capital, although it was not immediately clear whether it was caused by a suicide bomber or an improvised explosive device.

“So far, we’ve recorded about 32 dead and about 80 injured,” said Sa’ad Bello, the Yola coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency.

The Red Cross and state police gave a slightly lower toll of 31 dead and 72 injured.

The blast bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has previously attacked Yola with suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices in recent months.

Buhari this month was in Yola to decorate soldiers for bravery in the counter-insurgency as well as visit a camp for people displaced by six years of violence that has left at least 17,000 people dead.

He told troops he believed Boko Haram “are very close to defeat” and urged soldiers “to remain vigilant, alert and focused to prevent Boko Haram from sneaking into our communities to attack soft targets”.

Red Cross official Aliyu Maikano and residents said the area targeted was a lorry park which also houses a livestock market, an open-air restaurant and a mosque.

The area was immediately cordoned off but poor power supply in Yola meant the rescue effort was conducted in near darkness.

“Victims could be lying all over the place,” Maikano said.

– ‘Deadliest group’ –

Tuesday’s blast was the first in Nigeria this month, indicating the army’s strategy to cut off the Islamists’ supply lines and target their camps was paying off.

Buhari has set his military commanders a deadline of the end of next month to crush the rebels, who have increasingly taken to attacking border areas of neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

But the Yola explosion also shows the difficulty in completely neutralising the threat, particularly in crowded urban areas.

On Monday, the army said it had foiled an attack using high-powered assault weapons and bombs in the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri, as well as having uncovered a bomb-making factory.

Yola had been seen as a relative haven from the bloodshed across the northeast and last year housed hundreds of thousands who fled their homes as the militants advanced into Adawawa state.

The military declared the state “cleared” earlier this year.

But in October, 27 people were killed and 96 injured in a blast at a mosque in Jambutu, while in September, seven people died and 20 were injured by a bomb left at the displaced persons camp visited by Buhari last week.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at one of Yola’s main markets in June, killing 31.

There have also been multiple raids in the north of the state, near the group’s Sambisa Forest stronghold across the border in Borno.

The blast came as Boko Haram was named in the latest Global Terrorism Index as “the most deadly terrorist group in the world”, having killed 6,644 people last year.

The index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, said the Islamic State group, to which Boko Haram has pledged allegiance, killed 6,073.

It highlighted “the major intensification of the terrorist threat in Nigeria” and said it had “witnessed the largest increase in terrorist deaths ever recorded by any country

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PIPELINE FIRE IN DELTA SEE PICTURE

A massive fire yesterday erupted on a 24-inch pipeline believed to belong to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The facility was also believed to convey crude oil to the Warri Refinery.

The pipeline laid a stone throw from the Army Barracks in Effurun, Uvwie Local Council, near Warri, Delta state.

Unconfirmed report said two persons were feared killed in the raging blaze when their residences were razed.

SENATORS IN SHOUTING MARCH

A mild drama played out between Senator Kabiru Marafa, who has been critical of the leadership style of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and a first timer, Adamu Wakili (APC Bauchi Central) at the Senate Press Corps after Marafa walked out of the Chambers in protest that the Senate president ruled him out of order when he reopened debate on how the Senate Standing Committees were formed.

Marafa, who rushed to the Press Corps, intending to address the press on the matter, was immediately interrupted by Wakili, who followed him too

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