Sustaining the progress recorded under the Federal Government amnesty programme for former members of armed militant groups in the Niger Delta is important for lasting peace in the oil producing region. Timi Alaibe, the outgoing special adviser to the president on Niger Delta affairs said yesterday in Abuja at the formal handover ceremony to his successor, Kingsley Kuku, that he…
2 February 2011 Real Madrid will face arch rivals Barcelona in a mouthwatering Kings Cup final after Jose Mourinho's Madrid side defeated holders Sevilla 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday to reach their first final since 2004. Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first Real goal deep in stoppage time to add to an 81st minute strike from German…
3 February 2011 The second edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) begins in Sudan on Friday with the host country taking on Gabon in Group A in Khartoum. DR Congo enter the tournament as defending champions, having beaten Ghana 2-0 in the final of the maiden competition in Cote d'Ivoire in 2009. The 16 competing teams have been split…
The coordinator, International Cancer Week Initiative, Ifeoma Okoye, on Wednesday said that about 40 percent of cancer cases are preventable. Addressing journalists on the forthcoming World Cancer Day coming up on February 4, Mrs. Okoye said that cancer could be prevented by focusing on how to reduce the risk of developing the terminal disease. She said that the ICW, in…
The State Security Service in Rivers State yesterday announced that it arrested seven men suspected to be militants and kidnappers. The Rivers state director of the service, Douglas Dogo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the men were arrested at different locations in the state on January 21 following a tip-off. According to him,…
The member representing Anambra West in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mike Ofor has warned that anybody caught harassing contractors in the local government will be dealt with. Mr Offor said this yesterday at Aguleri, a community in Anambra West local council while meeting with traditional rulers from the area. He said he will support the killing of any…
9ice and Wande Coal at D’Yard To commemorate Valentine’s Day, D’Yard Entertainment, an events center, is organizing a concert tagged “Rock D’Yard”. The event, which will feature two of Nigeria’s hip-hop artists 9ice and Wande Coal, takes place on Friday, February 11 at D’Yard Complex, Surulere, Lagos. Speaking about the concert, the chief executive officer of D’Yard Entertainment, Gbolahan Lawanson…
Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited has announced the appointment of Kelvin Balogun as the company’s new chief executive officer, effective February 1, 2011. Mr. Balogun succeeds Islay Rhind, who will be retiring from The Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Balogun, who becomes the first Nigerian CEO of Coca-Cola Nigeria, joined the company in October 1999 as strategic planning business development manager. In February 2002,…
Positive sentiments returned to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday after the market had recorded losses in the last five trading days. The Exchange market capitalisation of the 201 First-Tier equities closed higher yesterday at N8.607 trillion after opening the day at N8.541 trillion, reflecting 0.77 per cent increase or N66 billion gains. Meanwhile, the market had lost over…
It is difficult to resist the temptation of writing about the unfolding turmoil in the Maghreb region. The events in Tunisia, Egypt, and other countries that up until recently seemed untouchable by popular revolt is instructive in many ways. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we appear to be sitting on the ringside, buffered by the dessert, maintaining largely deserted streets, and probably…
The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has told security operatives in the state to flush out all miscreants in the state. He said this yesterday in Benin City while launching the newly reconstituted state security outfit, ‘Operation Thunder Storm.' According to Mr Oshiomhole, "there is only one common enemy against whom we must direct all our forces, namely those who…
A group called the Elders Forum of West District of Ogun state yesterday rejected the governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, Ibikunle Amosun. The Elders want a candidate from the Yewa zone of the state, claiming that it is the zone's turn, and Mr. Amosun is not from Yewa. Addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the…
The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday insisted that the state government must pay its members the full Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) before it will reverse its decision to embark on a full scale strike when its one week warning strike expires. The state chairman of the Association, Philip Ugbodaga said that they want the…
Jasper Uche, the Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area in Abia state, said that the council will soon open a cashew processing industry in the area. He revealed this on Sunday in Umunneochi, that the industry will be sited in Mbala community.Mr Uche explained that the industry will utilise the abundant but neglected cashew nuts at Mbala, as…
Six of the country's banks are ready to conclude the processes for their recapitalisation in the next two weeks. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) director of banking operations, Sam Oni, disclosed this at the end of the Bankers Committee meeting held yesterday in Abuja. He noted that with the progress recorded so far with the regulators intervention with the ongoing…