News Updates's Blog (235)

By Philip Amiola

On December 31, 2012, while the world was enraptured with the prospect of ushering in the New Year, someone in Kogi state, Nigeria was busy scooping the brains out of his four-month-old son whom he had just murdered. Earlier in October of the same year, the nation was shaken by the gruesome murder of four promising undergraduates who were beaten to death and set ablaze over a minor disagreement. And just as I was contemplating this piece, news filtered in…

It’s customary to mark the beginning of each year with prayers for ourselves and good wishes for our closest friends and relatives. Some pray for health, for wealth, for professional accomplishments, and for such social dividends as loving relationships and blissful marriages. But we go beyond these decidedly personal dreams. We wish for our leaders to rise to our expectations.

We hope that our country would be rid of corruption. We pray that the poor should find food to eat, that our…

By Hakeem Baba Ahmad

“It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.” - Gore Vidal.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan says 2013 will be the year of his greatest impact. Most Nigerians will hope so. Leaders of the opposition and skeptics who hope he will disappoint again will pay for their hostility with higher costs for diesel for their generators, higher costs to protect and secure life and limbs, and uncertainties over whether a President who performs badly…

TUNJI AJIBADE | credits: File copy

It might as well be. But this index is not from Transparency International. The figures are similar though, and they are familiar, to Nigerians, that is. 131st. It was what Nigeria ranked lately in a survey about the ease of doing business. International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank…

Most readers of The Nation newspaper probably missed a short letter to the editor written by Mr Ehimare Godfrey from Benin City and published on Page 20 of this newspaper’s October 31 edition. In it, the writer complained that since his representative, the excitable and bombastic Hon Patrick Obahiagbon, left the House of Representatives, neither the Oredo Federal Constituency, which he used to represent, nor the entire National Assembly had come up to scratch in excitement and boisterousness…

On Monday night, 18 people were reported to have been shot dead by robbers at Kabaru village in the Dansadau emirate, Maru local government area of Zamfara State. Since last year, more than 60 people have lost their lives in robbery attacks in that emirate alone. Each attack costs dozens of lives rather than a few. In October 2011, about 19 people were reported killed by armed men at Lingyado village. And at Dangulbi, 27 people lost their lives as robbers moved from house to house…

By VICTOR OMOREGIE

A visitor to the corporate headquarters of Vanguard Newspapers, off the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway in Lagos, will not but notice the ambiance of communal life-style that pervades the environment. From your first encounter with the Security Guards to the General Manager, it is always a feeling of friendliness and comradeship.

This attitude is exemplified by the transparent humility as epitomised by Mr. Sam Amuka, the publisher of Vanguard Newspapers.…

OCTOBER 21, 2012 BY AUSTINE UCHE-EJEKE

With the explosion of technological advancement of China, one cannot but wonder how the world would look today without the intervention of China. To a considerable extent, China has helped most people and countries to have what otherwise would have been impossible for them, were they to rely on advanced countries.

Products and items imported from China include phones, electronic gadgets, computers, laptops and accessories, clothes,…

The recent massacre of four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students tagged criminals by the people of Aluu in Rivers State, who became the prosecutor and the judge overnight in their own court of law has left many Nigerians and foreigners in a stupor with pangs of anger and righteous indignation. It had been shock, grief and lamentation since the judicial killings took place. Before the unfortunate incident, forty students were killed at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in…

The 2012 Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Index rating of Governance in Africa that was published recently underscores the shambolic state of governance in virtually all African countries. Expectedly, Nigeria got poor ratings in human rights’ issues and political participation, transparency and accountability.

Quite shameful too, the Foundation’s Prize Committee found none of the continent’s former leaders worthy of winning the £3.2m reward for excellence in African leadership. The…

OCTOBER 22, 2012 BY YUSHAU A. SHUAIB 

While addressing the nation in a broadcast over the unprecedented flood disaster that ravaged many communities in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan’s eyes and head movement, betrayed the fact that he was reading from a prepared text, though there was no sign of a speech on his table.

His stiffness said it all. He neither gesticulated nor moved parts of his body as he is wont to in normal discussions and addresses to the rhythm of…

Tunde Fagbenle

I have given Chinua Achebe’s latest and highly inflammatory book, There Was A Country (A Personal History of Biafra), the first reading, so to say, poring through its 333 pages all night long to achieve what must be a record for this legendary slow reader.

I had to. The portion of the book that has been the subject of serious acrimony, particularly in the global social media,…

In early April, a few members of US President Barack Obama’s advanced security team were involved in a sex scandal during the American leader’s visit to Colombia. The scandal, which broke out in the picturesque beach resort city of Cartagena, greatly embarrassed Obama and led to a string of disciplinary measures involving about 12 secret service agents. But in late April, during the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, Obama tried to make light of the Colombian incident. After making…

Written by Endurance Akoro Sunday, 22 July 2012

The former residence of Fela Anikulapo-Kution Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, is to be turned into a museum

His works have kept his memory alive 15 years after his death. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late legend of Afrobeat music, is also soon to be further implanted in the minds of his admirers with the establishment of a museum in his honour.

The site of the museum is his former residence on Gbemisola…

Written by Anayo Ezugwu Sunday, 22 July 2012

Mohammed Morsi, Egyptian new president’s order restoring the country’s dissolved parliament, sets the stage for confrontation between him and the Supreme Council of the military

Egypt’s political crisis has moved from fist fight to a rather more calculated mind game. Mohammed Morsi, Egyptian president, has gone contrary to the rulings of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt by reconvening the parliament which was…

Written by Victor Ugborgu Sunday, 22 July 2012

The ban on the use of motorcycle for commercial transportation in Enugu sends many people out of job and puts transportation system under acute stress

The controversy trailing the ban of commercial motorcycles popularly call Okada in Enugu metropolis by the state government is still raging two weeks after the action was taken. Residents of the metropolis have been complaining that the state government did not give them enough…

Written by Obong Akpaekong

Sunday, 22 July 2012

The family of the murdered Akpabio brothers rejects the setting up of a security committee to investigate the multiple murder incident and demands explanation for the release of a suspect earlier arrested

The committee set up by the Akwa Ibom State Security Council to investigative the March 25 murder of three brothers of Helen Ukpabio, the Calabar-based film producer and founder of Liberty Gospel Church and two other youths…

Written by Tobs Agbaegbu Sunday, 22 July 2012

Many highly placed Nigerians who own some of the companies indicted for fuel subsidy offences are likely to be arraigned in court this week

The stage is set for what is expected to be the trial of some of the biggest names in the Nigerian corporate world. They are those whose companies were indicted in the report of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy payment scandal. Mohammed Adoke, attorney-general of the…

Mr.Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu,a business mogul and philanthropist.Hail from Umuchima, Ideato South Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State.The CEO of Blue Diamond Logistics Ltd a subsidiary of Uzotex International Ltd, Uzotex Foundation,Super Diamond Products,Fru Maranatha Logistics Ltd and Good Governance Initiative.



More accolades came the way of Professor Chinua Achebe and Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Blue…

Written by Emmanuel Uffot   Thursday, 19 April 2012

As the April 26, deadline given by Nigeria to British airlines to end discriminatory ticket fares draws closer, there is general anxiety that Nigeria and Britain are spoiling for a major face-off

The Nigerian Government and its British counterpart are heading for a major face-off that could harm their age-long colonial relationship if by April 26, British Airways, BA and Virgin Atlantic Airways, VAA, fail to end the…