BUHARI SETS UP A BRING BACK OUR GIRLS COMMITTEE

Intense outrage in the Nigerian social media space greeted news of the appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman into the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee of Nigeria’s President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

Hadiza Bala Usman is the Founder of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign which was purportedly initiated to mobilise public support for the rescue of about 276 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok Town, Borno State, Nigeria on April 15, 2014.

The campaign, which has been criticized by observers for advancing the partisan interests of Nigeria’s incoming ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had one of its frontline activists, Nigeria’s former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili making the 2015 TIME 100 list for her advocacy efforts.

In 2014, Chief Audu Ogbeh, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) openly acknowledged the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as an offshoot of the All Progressive Congress (APC), a statement for which he later apologized after massive public criticism and outrage.


At the time, Dr. Ezekwesili had also frowned at Audu Ogbeh’s statement, declaring: “I am neither covertly or overtly a member of the APC, PDP or any other party. It is false and wrong to say @BBOG_Nigeria is led by members of the APC.”

But contrary to Dr. Ezekwesili’s assertion, Hadiza Bala Usman, Founder of #BringBackOurGirls is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a fact for which she has come under harsh public criticism against the background of her recent appointment by the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

“I have NEVER denied being a member of APC. I have been political and will always be political but standing up someone’s pain is in my DNA”, Ms. Usman declared via her Twitter page on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their anger over her supposedly non-partisan role in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as Founder, and equally her new political appointment by President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari which betrays the partisan involvement of her campaign for the missing girls all along.

PRESIDENT-ELECT BANS AIT FROM AIRING HIS ACTIVITIES

President-elect ‎Muhammadu Buhari has barred the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities, citing issues of “ethics and standard” that need to be sorted out with the broadcast medium. Acting on orders on Monday, security operatives at the Defence House, where Buhari is currently resident, would not let the AIT‎ crew into the building. Buhari received the Cuban and Switzerland ambassadors as well as other guests, but AIT was denied coverage. Speaking on the issue Garba Shehu, spokesman of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, said: “AIT has been asked to step aside based on security and family concerns. “In addition, Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics. “We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter, but for now the station has been asked to stay aside because, like I said, there are some family and security concerns. They have been asked to step down their coverage until we resolve the matter with them on ethics and standards‎. “You can quote me that I said that we have asked them to step aside and that we are resolving the the issues of ethics and standards with them.” ‎Prior to the March 28 presidential election, AIT aired a series of documentaries considered to have disparaged Buhari, his late wife and late daughter, as well as other prominent faces in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

20-year old Nigerian shot in the UK

20 year old Nigerian young man, Ola Raji, was stabbed to
death last week Tuesday while cycling through an estate in
Peckham, near a community centre founded in memory of
murdered schoolboy, Damilola Taylor.

According to reports, Ola was shot three times and stabbed
by two men who ambushed him around 10.30pm. The men
fled after the attack and Ola later died in hospital.

Ola Raji was a pupil at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School
in Camberwell and went to college. Police are now looking
for his murderers.

Many flee Ondo state because of unknown ailment

Many residents of Ode Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government area of Ondo State, are now fleeing the town following the rise in the number deaths from the strange ailment that hit the place on Wednesday.

The state government on Friday confirmed that 17 persons had died from the disease, an increase from the 12 that were originally confirmed. Some sources said the death toll resulting from the disease was as high as 30.

While the government said the cause of the ailment was not known, other sources from the community blamed the death on some people that defiled the shrine of the community deity known as Malokun.

According to the source, strange death was caused by some people who incurred the wrath of the deity when they stole some artifacts from the shrine.

Stating that the government had put necessary machinery in motion to control the disease, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said samples collected did not show that the victims died of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Mimiko, who said the state had witnessed a major health challenge said the causative agents, diagnosis and cure are also yet to be determined.

While stating the he was saddened by the losses and the attendant fear of what looks like an epidemic, he said the government can only bring words of consolation to the families of the deceased just as he assured the people of the state of the government's resolve to find solution.

Mimiko said amidst conflicting and confusing information, the investigating team of experts sent by government to the area gathered that all the casualties died within hours of affliction. In all, 17 deaths have been confirmed in Ayadi Community and Ode Irele township and all the
deaths were preceded by symptoms of sudden blurred vision, headache and loss of consciousness.

"It must be said that the team was despatched to the communities affected and the General Hospital as well as other health facilities,
to gather needed information about the nature, scope and circumstances of the outbreak..

"I must state that the symptoms in this situation are not peculiar to any known epidemic and so have remained largely confounding.

"Specifically, it must be stressed, the symptoms observed in the two communities of Ayadi and Ode Irele bear no resemblance to those
associated with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)", he said.

LOL....SEE THE NEW JOB REQUIREMENTS

I was going through webpage and searching for firms that needs planning consultants, lo and behold I stumbled upon an Abuja based firm interested in such professionals. I clicked and opened the portal but to my dismay read that the firm needs light skinned females (I am a dark skinned male). Question now is, has it gotten to this level in Nigeria where employers now stereotype based on skin colour? Or are the business planning consultants now doing ashawo works for their paymasters or their customers? (Quote) (Report) 1 Like (Like) (Share)

For sports news, visit www.naijaball.com

APC Zones Senate Presidency To N'central, Speaker To N'east

Arising from a meeting in Abuja Thursday night, the national leaders and national caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have officially zoned the office of the Senate President in the 8th Senate to the North central geo-political zone, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives was zoned to the North-east geo-political zone.

A source at the APC meeting which lasted till the wee-hours of Friday told THISDAY that the party leaders accepted in principle a prototype office sharing formula that would accommodate all vested interests within the party.

The source said: “After deft negotiations, the leaders agreed to cede the position of the Senate President to the North-central and that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North-east. They also endorsed a zoning arrangement that would see the South-west producing the Deputy Senate President and South-south, Deputy Speaker.”

With the agreement yesterday, the current minority leader in the Senate, George Akume from Benue State and Senator Bukola Saraki from Kwara State are expected to engage each other in a fierce contest for the Senate Presidency.

It was learnt that the position of the Speaker was earlier allotted to the South-west but had to be moved to North-east following a strong lobby by leaders from the zone who argued that such arrangement was necessary to compensate them for the massive support for the party during the election.

Apart from the sharing arrangement for the principal positions, the APC meeting which had personalities like the former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu and some governors in attendance also considered the issue of ministerial appointments.

In line with THISDAY exclusive story yesterday, the APC leaders also zoned the office of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT) to Adamawa State, where the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is set to clinch the position that was hitherto held by the former governor of Osun State and former national chairman of the party, Bisi Akande.

The source hinted further that the party zoned the office of the Majority Leader of the Senate to the South-west.

However, South-east did not get any position in the current allocation but according to a top notch APC member, the zone will be compensated by other appointments to ensure some balance and equity. In all the eight senatorial seats in the zone, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the seats. This has made it impossible for the zone to aspire for any principal office in the senate.

The same thing happened in the zone for the House of Representatives. No single member of the House of Representatives from the zone is from the APC. PDP won all the National Assembly seats in both arms of the National Assembly. In fact, in the Presidential Election, the APC did not score up to 15 percent in any of the states in the southeast.

Another source at the Abuja meeting said the APC chieftains could not however conclude deliberations on the ministerial appointments as it was decided that stakeholders in the states and zonal levels should go back to the areas to hold consultations on the matter.

It was resolved that the state chapters of the party would each nominate three persons for ministerial consideration and are to submit same to the party through the Vice Chairmen and Deputy National Chairmen on or before Tuesday next week.

The source added that another meeting of the party leadership is scheduled to hold on Tuesday where they hope to harmonize issues and finalize discussions on the recommendations to be presented to the National Executive Committees (NEC) of the party.

“While the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari had asked the party to discuss the issue of ministerial appointments and to advise him as appropriate, he has insisted on retaining the transition committee list. Buhari had in choosing members of the transition committee made sure that each of them is tested expert in the various sectors where they will serve. He was said to be very conscious of their level of integrity and honesty,” added the source.

A top member of the APC who spoke to THISDAY last night on condition of anonymity said: “All the positions said to have been shared are yet to be firmed. Nothing can be confirmed until the final meeting next week.” He advised that all reports about sharing of positions should be disregarded until next week when a final decision would be taken.

Photos: Pastor Adeboye meets UK Prime Minister, David Cameron in London

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye pictured with UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, in London today April 17th. Pastor Adeboye is in London for a religious programme called 'The Festival of Life' taking place this night at the London Excel Center which David Cameron attended. See more photos after the cut...

DAVID WEST: BUHARI DOESNT NEED YOUR ADVICE OKONJI IWEALA

A former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, has replied the Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her advice on how the incoming administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari can increase revenue, saying the new president does not need her expertise.

David-West, who spoke to our reporter in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Friday, said Buhari is highly experienced in the art of governance, stressing that he knows what to do to manage the economy well.
He said that while Okonjo-Iweala supervises a Nigerian economy where a United States (US) dollar exchanges for N190, Buhari, during his days as the Head of State, supervised an economy where N1 exchanged for US$1.5.

His words: “I read Okonjo-Iweala’s advice to Gen. Buhari on how to raise revenue with interest and amusement. I don’t think that Buhari needs any advice from her on the subject. He is not new on the terrain. He is a very knowledgeable person on how to move the economy forward. I don’t believe he needs advice from Okonjo-Iweala.

“When Buhari was in charge, oil was $30 per barrel. It even went down to $15 per barrel. Yet, he managed the economy very well. Oil price is now double that price and they are complaining that oil price has fallen.

“Buhari can manage the economy better than Okonjo-Iweala. He never took International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan neither did he flirt with IMF. He refused to devalue the Naira in spite of the problem the country was facing from different areas. $1.5 exchanged for N1. But during Okonjo-Iweala’s time, it is N190 to $1.

“Finally, it was N2 to £1. During Okonjo-Iweala’s time, it is N240 to £1. Buhari did not import fuel; he was exporting whereas Okonjo-Iweala imports fuel with bogus subsidy running to trillions of Naira. And she has not been able to arrest anyone involved in subsidy scam let alone get a refund from any of them.

“Nigeria is the only country in the world where Okonjo-Iweala is the Finance Minister and coordinating the economy where provision is made for fraud in the annual budget by way of subsidy. So, Buhari does not need her advice.”

HOW BUHARI CAN CREATE 2 MILLION JOBS WITH BPO

Unemployment is a huge problem in Nigeria, the last uncontroversial rate from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for 2011 shows 23.9% of the population is unemployed. However, unemployment amongst the youth is much higher.

This dire situation makes it imperative for government and citizens to seek viable solutions to this problem. This article is my contribution in this regard and it focuses on Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) as a means towards generating employment in Nigeria. 

According to Wikipedia, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a subset of outsourcing that involves the contracting of the operations and responsibilities of a specific business process to a third-party service provider.

Statista estimates that the global market size of business process outsourcing in 2014 amounted to 28.5 billion U.S. dollars.

This business has huge potential for creating hundreds of thousands to millions of jobs in Nigeria if the government implements the appropriate policies and enters into partnership with the private sector including foreign investors to create tech hubs. 

The kinds of jobs that would be created include: call center agents, data entry officers and analysts. Nigeria's Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector has grown astronomically since the introduction of GSM in 2001 and the country now has 100% telephone penetration according to the National Communications Commission (NCC) meaning that virtually every Nigerian has access to a phone and as technology advances; the skill set of users keeps improving including many educated but unemployed youths. 

By creating tech hubs that benefit from tax breaks and stable electricity supply from off-grid Independent Power Plants {IPPs), the government can easily create jobs to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria. If each tech hub has at least 1,000 workstations, employees could work 6-hour shifts meaning one workstation can accommodate 4 employees in a day.

100 tech hubs could be open across the country with Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Onitsha Owerri, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Jos hosting them in the first phase. This could be expanded to ensure that there is at least 1 tech hub in every state of the federation within a year.

Training would be done to bring job applicants to the standard required to do these jobs. With 4,000 jobs created at every tech hub multiplied by 100, we have 400,000 direct jobs created with about 100,000 related jobs to be created as well from the process of building, maintaining and sustaining the tech hubs. This is an estimate for just the first year, in 4 years, 2 million jobs could be created as the industry expands and services are provided to foreign companies. 

This idea is viable and feasible as countries like India and The Philippines have benefitted from BPO, I hope the in-coming government of General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) will work towards implementing or at least modifying it as it seeks to deliver new jobs to the unemployed which is one of its key campaign promises to Nigerians. 

Omawunmi set to wed tomorrow

When on Friday, 16th January 2015, Bottom Belle crooner Omawumi Megbele had her court wedding in Lagos, it came as a surprise to many as she secretly tied the knot with Lagos big boy Tosin Yussuf who is her daughter’s father. The couple have between them a daughter and are expecting another addition in the family soon as Omawumi is heavily pregnant. The bigger news is that come tomorrow – Saturday, 18th April 2015 – all roads lead to Warri in Delta State where Omawumi and Tosin will have their traditional wedding.

Unidentified Disease Shakes Ondo State

Following the outbreak of the yet-to-be-identified disease in Irele, Ondo State, our medical team decided to go on a fact-finding mission to Irele General Hospital.

According to the medical doctor overseeing activities in the hospital, Dr. Sanni A.A, 5 patients were admitted with symptoms including headache, passage of loose stool, sudden onset blindness, difficulty with speaking and hearing. On examination, all the patients were said to have elevated blood pressure and signs suggestive of raised intracranial pressure.

All the admitted patients are males, middle-aged, and all developed the illness at about the same time.

2 of the admitted patients died while the remaining 3 insisted on being discharged against medical advice. They eventually left the hospital on the 15th of April. Following their exit, unconfirmed reports have it that one of them died at home.

Dr. Sanni also talked about rumours of other mortalities within the town and that efforts are currently being made to collate the actual number of casualties.

From our interaction with the medical team in the hospital, there is speculation that a seed (yet to be identified) probably consumed by the victims could have resulted in symptoms indicative of poisoning.

Blood and CSF samples were taken from the victims that presented at the hospital and have been sent to LUTH for comprehensive assays.

Personally, my conclusion following our trip to Irele General Hospital is that it is not likely that a contagious disease is on the break although one can never say never!

Furthermore, the signs and symptoms of the admitted patients are not entirely in keeping with those of Ebola Virus Disease and other ailments in the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever spectrum. However, definitive conclusions can be made once the investigation results are available.

In conclusion, the calm observed in the town is not reminiscent of the looming disaster we heard about before setting out.


Dr. Soyombo Ayomikun

Medical Department,

Omotosho Electric Energy Co. Ltd

Ondo State.


Dr Soyombo tweets from @alabaster85

Credits: Mrs Agagu O.F., Dr. Sanni A.A

Maryam Babangida died with the glory attached to the office of the First Lady - Aisha Buhari

Speaking in a recent interview published byTribune, incoming First lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari said the glory associated with the office of the First Lady, in her opinion, died with former First Lady, Mrs Maryam Babangida.

"First of all, as you said that the current First Lady is receiving bashes from all corners of the country. The former first lady, late Mariam Babangida, may her soul rest in peace, introduced the office of the first lady, but I am beginning to think that she died with the glory of the office. I think I will prefer to be called the wife of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria than the First Lady of Nigeria" she said.

missing kids found!

Missin Orekoya boys found, back home with their parents

The three Orekoya boys, Aderomola Orekoya, 11 months, Adedamola Orekoya, 4 years and Demola Orekoya, 6 years, who were kidnapped by their 23 year old nanny, Mary Akinloye, on April 8th have been found. Their mother took to her Facebook wall to share the good news. But the family didn't say how they were able to get the children back or if they paid a ransom. We thank God they are back!

BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE KIDNAP

Pics: Two young men in chains on 3rd Mainland bridge to remember missing Chibok girls

Two young men, Okocha John Ndukwe and Damilola Apoti-eri. put themselves in chains for two hours on 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lagos, this morning to depict the captivity and torture of the missing Chibok girls to commemorate one year since their abduction. More photos after the cut...

QUEEN DRAMA BETWEEN DBANJ AND DON JAZZY

Don 
jazzy's

D’banj’s Haha! Subtle drama on instagram that no one was supposed to catch but I caught it…hehe. So yesterday, ace music producer and CEO of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy posted a throwback photo of himself and Enrique Iglesias with some friends on instagram (pic on the left). There’s no big deal to the pic at first until you see what D’banj did this morning…lol. He must have seen Don Jazzy’s post because he posted the original photo which showed that he was in the photo and was cropped out by Don Jazzy in his own instagram post…
D’banj captioned his own ‘Instasize’ meaning this is the original size of the photo. Lol. Aww, love these two. Continue…
 

 

lolx.. 

CHIBOK GIRLS SIGHTED - BBC CLAIMS

More than 50 of the girls abducted by militant Islamists in Nigeria last year were seen alive three weeks ago, a woman has told the BBC.
She saw the girls in the north-eastern Gwoza town before the Boko Haram militants were driven out of there by regional forces.
Boko Haram sparked global outrage when it seized more than 219 girls from Chibok town a year ago.
The US, China and other foreign powers promised to help find the girls.

However, the girls have never been traced, and little has been heard of them since they were taken from their boarding school.

The whereabouts of the remaining girls is not clear.

'Big house'

Campaign group Bring Back Our Girls organised a silent march in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on Wednesday to raise public awareness about the abductions.


In an open letter, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai called on Nigeria's authorities and the international community to do more to secure the release of the girls.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has said the girls have been converted to Islam and married off, fuelling concern that the militants had treated them as war booty and sex-slaves.

Mr Shekau has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), which is also notorious for carrying out abductions in Iraq and Syria.

The Nigerian woman, who lived under Boko Haram's rule in Gwoza, told the BBC she saw the girls in Islamic attire, being escorted by the militants.

"They said they were Chibok girls kept in a big house," said the woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

"We just happened to be on the same road with them," she added.

'Treated better'

Three other women also told the BBC they had seen the girls in Gwoza.

Boko Haram was believed to have turned Gwoza into its headquarters after it captured the town in August 2014.
Nigeria's military, backed by troops from neighbouring countries, recaptured the town last month.


The militants were suspected to have fled to the nearby Mandara Mountains, near the border with Cameroon.
It is unclear whether the girls are with them there.
Another woman told the BBC she last saw some of the girls in November at a Boko Haram camp in Bita village, also in the north-east.

"About a week after they were brought to the camp, one of us peeked through a window and asked: 'Are you really the Chibok girls?' and they said: 'Yes'. We believed them and didn't ask them again," the woman said.
"They took Koranic lessons, cleaned their compound, cooked for themselves and they braided each others' hair. They were treated differently - their food [was] better and water clean. "

Nigeria's outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has been widely criticised for not doing enough to end the six-year insurgency in the north-east, and to secure the freedom of the girls.

Incoming President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to "crush" the insurgents.

He is due to be inaugurated on 29 May after defeating Mr Jonathan in last month's presidential elections.

Boko Haram at a glance:

Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education
Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
Launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria
Has also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
Abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls
Pledged allegiance to Islamic State

Turning the tide against Boko Haram?
Who are the militants?

BUHARI SPEAKS ON MISSING CHIBOK GIRLS

President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari says his incoming government cannot promise the return of missing Chibok girls but that they would do everything within their power to secure their return. He said this in a statement he released today April 13th to commemorate one year of the girls' abduction. The statement below...

Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today. I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new Administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the Government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly.
This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home. What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my Administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. Boko Haram” means “Western Education is Sinful”. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. 

In particular we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria. Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people. We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all”.

MISSING KIDS: DEMAND DROPS TO 13MILLION NAIRA.

After initially demanding for 15 million,the househelp who ran off with the 3 Orekoya boys has demanded for 13 million,threatening to kill the kids if it’s not produced within 48hrs.
According to Punch,the victims’ father, Leke, told our correspondent that the family received a text message from the kidnappers on Friday afternoon, saying the children’s life depended on the payment of the ransom within 24 hours of the ultimatum. Although, this was later reviewed to 48 hours.

“They said we should produce the money in 24 hours or they would ‘delete’ our kids.Our major concern is our 11 months old baby who needs extra care.”

Their mother, Adebisi, said the incident had started affecting her mentally.She appealed to Nigerians of goodwill to support the family with funds, adding that the family could not afford to pay the ransom.

“I called the line of the nanny and a man picked the call. He initially demanded N15m, but after I begged him, he agreed to take N13m.
“We have been exchanging text messages and he has insisted on N13m. He has also assured us that we have no other option than to pay the money.
“I spoke with the children and they said the kidnappers were treating them well and that they were doing fine.
“I’m sure if they get the money today, they will release my children to me. All they need is the money.
“I appeal to the government, politicians in the country, Nigerians of goodwill to please help us before it is too late.
“After my children have been released to me, the police can then begin their investigation.”

The Orekoya family had posted on OLX, an online sales portal, seeking the service of a nanny for their kids.

Our correspondent reported that a 23-year-old lady, Akinloye, indicated interest by calling the family.

The family was reported to have invited her to their home on Lawanson Road, Itire, Lagos.

Our correspondent also reported that the family demanded the contact of her relatives and she was said to have given them two telephone numbers, which she claimed belonged to her brother and sister.

It was learnt that the family fixed a day in the week for formalisation and documentation of the arrangement.

The Orekoya family reportedly agreed on Tuesday to a monthly salary of N10, 000 to N15, 0000 with Akinloye, who claimed to be looking for money to continue her education.

After the family left the home on Wednesday morning, about 24 hours after she was employed, she allegedly ran away with the three kids, named Aderomola (11 months old), Adedamola (four years old), Demola (six years old).

PURE WATER VENDOR IMPREGNATES IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS

A 24-year-old water vendor, Dauda Idris, has impregnated identical twin sisters Stella and Stellamaris, aged 20.
The incident occurred in Kwamba Primary School area in Suleja, where the twin sisters live with parents and a brother while Idris often stayed with other water vendors for service in the same area.

Blueprint gathered that when the news were reviewed to Dauda by the twin sisters that they were pregnant, Idris break down and lament in the sight of crowd with shock, saying: “Oh my God I never knew both of you are twins, I have impregnated twin sisters”.

The twin sisters narrated how it all happened in six months.

“Right from our childhood days, my twin sister and I are used to playing pranks on people; our parents are no exception, especially our father. The interesting thing about us is that it is only our mother, who can tell us apart.

“As identical twin, we wear the same clothes, talk and walk the same way, wear the same hairstyle, in fact we do everything together both planned and unplanned.

“Some time back, I was sitting at the balcony when this handsome water vendor walked up to fill our reservouir with water.

“Immediately, I told Stellamaris about Idris. As weeks passed by, Idris and I became close friends, and then Stellamaris suggested that we play pranks on him since I didn’t tell him I was a twin.

“However, we agreed that we would not fall in love with him, not in the least, going to bed with him.
“This charade went on for about six months until the day I told Stellamaris that I was pregnant.

“While we were contemplating on whether I should have an abortion, Stellamaris also discovered she was pregnant. “God, how can two sisters be pregnant for the same man?”

“My mother found out that we were both pregnant. She asked us who was responsible for our pregnancy as abortion was out of the way.Stella added saying “I could not tell her the whole truth but promised to take her to the house of the man responsible”.

Igbo Community Takes Cultural Festival To Lagos

Igbo Community Takes Cultural Festival To Lagos

Sponsored post. Forget it – The Igbos are not leaving Lagos anytime soon. Threaten to drown or deport them, it’s clear these enterprising Nigerians are here; to stay for good.

Claiming their place in the most commercial state in Nigeria, last weekend as #AkioluGate was unraveling, the people of Arondizuogu, a popular Igbo community in Imo state Nigeria were celebrating their most significant festival- The Annual Ikeji Arondizuogu Festival at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

The festival, which is normally celebrated in far away Okigwe town Imo state, attracted over 10,000 Igbo indigenes and their families and friends at the Lagos state monumental venue.  The Igbo community raised their flag as they took over the stadium with their cultural music, masquerades and other festivities all day long.
 
One of the high points of the festival was the sampling of Ace Roots drink, which had many attest to the low sugar content of the drink, ‘It is my first time tasting this drink and I am in love with it already. From the taste alone, I can tell it has low sugar, which is good for me’, Pius Ihediem, one of the guests who sampled the drink said. 

Apart from the usual festival elements, this year a new common factor was noticed as almost all the guests were holding a cup of the new Ace Roots herbal mixed fruits drink. The drink, which is rich in herbal content of 14 African herbs and spices with only 6 per cent alcoholic content, was undoubtedly the drink of the day at this year’s festival.

Reacting to the sponsorship, President of the Movement for Arondizuogu Progress (MAP) Mazi Eric Ikoro, thanked Ace Roots for the sponsorship adding that the it was instrumental to the success of the festival, ‘We are very grateful to Ace Roots for this initiative. With this gesture, the drink has really proven to be truly African
 
The people of Arondizuogu have proven yet again that Nigerians are never reluctant to embrace their roots irrespective of their place of residence.
 

Arondizuogu is an annual socio-cultural and religious festival staged in different parts of the world to celebrate thanksgiving, propitiation and feasting. 

STILL ON THE NANNY ISSUE

A nanny, Mary Akinloye, who allegedly kidnapped three kids in the Surulere area of Lagos State has demanded N15m from the victim’s parents, PUNCH Metro has learnt.

Our correspondent learnt that the family was contacted on Thursday by the suspect and others, who were suspected to be members of her group. They were said to have demanded the N15m as ransom.

PUNCH Metro had reported on Wednesday that the Orekoya family had posted information on OLX, an online sales portal, seeking the service of a nanny.

Our correspondent reported that Akinloye indicated interest and gave the Orekoyas the contacts of two people who she said were her relatives.It was reported that the family agreed to formalilse documentation with the purported relatives before the week ran out.

After the 23-year-old resumed for work on Tuesday, she was said to have taken the three children ─ Aderomola (11 months old), Adedamola (4 years old), Demola (6 years old) ─ out, while their parents were away.

She had since not returned. A family friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N15m on Thursday.

The information was confirmed by another friend who put up the post on a social medium, Facebook.
He said, “Is it a crime to employ a house help? The kidnappers have demanded N15m.”

Efforts to reach the family were abortive as they continued to reject calls made to their lines.
They also did not reply to three text messages sent to them on the matter.

The Police Public Relations, Kenneth Nwosu, said investigations were on.
He said, “Investigations are on and that is all I can say for now.

“There are things you do that can jeopardise investigation.
“What is important in a case like this is to ensure that the children are returned hale and hearty. There are information you may have and if you disclose it, you could break the line of communication. So, we are still on the matter to ensure the safe return of the kids.”