Nedu Echianu's Blog

Just heard this shocking news and in shock right now, Nigeria ace sport journalist, Godwin Spiff Sagbama is dead?   An online source said Sagbama’s death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleague and prominent sports journalist, Ade Ojeikere. Sagbama who was the presenter of the popular programme, Sports Business on AIT network as an independent producer was reported to be down with a brain related disease.   Reports say he went through two different surgeries on the brain and things got worst instead of better. Rest in peace.

Amaju Pinnick has emerged as the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board following his victory in the election held in Warri, on Tuesday. Pinnick emerged winner in the second ballot with 32 votes, while Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi polled four votes. Dominic Iorfa had eight votes. Voting went into second round after Pinnick failed to poll two-thirds of 44 in the first round. The Delta Sports Commission chairman had scored 25 votes in the first ballot. Ogunjobi, in the first ballot, polled nine votes, Iorfa scored six votes, while Chief Amanze Uchegbulam garnered four votes. Alhaji Abba Yola and Chief Mike Umeh had no votes. The seventh candidates Shehu Dikko was absent.

Being a journalist is a 24/7 job whether we like it or not. The aspects of the news world takes over/interferes with what we like to call our “normal life.” We strive to work hard and often work crazy long hours. Yet, even when we are not working, the ways of the journalism world seem to leak over into our everyday life. 

No fewer   than 500 houses were destroyed in the Kubi and Watu villages in Michika Local Government Areas of Adamawa State as the suspected Boko Haram insurgents operated unchallenged in one of its recent attacks. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/boko-haram-destroys-500-houses-adamawa/#sthash.qKoGKQXX.dpuf About 500 houses were destroyed in the Kubi and Watu villages in Michika Local Government Areas of Adamawa State as suspected Boko Haram insurgents operated unchallenged in one of its recent attacks.  Members of the community, who spoke to newsmen on the telephone from their hideouts said the absence of military personnel in Michika and its environs was responsible for the heavy damage inflicted on them.

Army Spokesman, Chris Olukolade Another set of 60 soldiers are to be arraigned before a General Court Martial by military authorities in Abuja on Tuesday (today)   for mutiny. The soldiers allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join troops in Maiduguri for “an operation.”

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has successfully restored electricity supply to Asokoro, Garki, Apo, and Karu areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as Nassarawa State, following the completion of repair works in the Apo Transmission substation, which was affected by a fire incident caused by direct lightning strike on Tuesday, 16 th September, 2014.

The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has accused the in-coming governor, Ayo Fayose, police and other security agencies of fuelling crisis in the state after political thugs descended on two state courts in a week attacking staff and judges. The government ordered the closure of all courts Thursday, following a second attack. A curfew was imposed by the governor on Friday.

The trial of Sadiq Ogwuche, one of the suspected master mind of the Nyanya bomb blast which killed over 75 persons and injured many others, seems to have hit a rough patch as This day reports... which killed over 75 persons and injured others,

Maintaining his controversial stand that the tragic collapse of a building at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) was an ‘attack’, T.B. Joshua has released new security footage of the incident through Emmanuel TV’s official YouTube channel. The new footage from a security camera stationed in the church premises shows the bottom of the building as people walk innocently around the environment. Suddenly, a huge plume of smoke is seen coming from the side of the building, bystanders running for dear life as the collapse occurs in mere seconds.

The Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Neil Croucher has said that in order to start addressing  the metering gap in its coverage area, the company will roll out 100,000 pre-paid meters yearly.

Someone once described these so called men of God as the most dangerous people in the African continent, while i think that might be an over exaggeration, but what this South African pastor s doing to his congregation calls for concern.

Chris Olukolade The Defence Headquarters has retracted its earlier statement confirming the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls. The spokesperson for the defence headquarters, Chris Olukolade, had earlier  told online newspaper, Premium Times that a yet unclear number of the girls had been freed and driven in two Toyota Hiace buses to the Maimalari Barracks, the headquarters of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.

Reports just coming in from online news medium, Premium Times says a yet unclear number of the Chibok girls kidnapped by the extremist Boko Haram sect in April have been released, officials said. A top military source said two Toyota Hiace buses loaded with the girls were driven into the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri this evening. When contacted, Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, confirmed the development. He said the exercise was still ongoing and that appropriate statement would be made soon. The paper promised to give details later... A yet unclear number of the Chibok girls kidnapped by the extremist Boko Haram sect in April have been released, officials said. A top military source said two Toyota Hiace buses loaded with the girls were driven into the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri this evening. When contacted, Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, confirmed the development. He said the exercise was still ongoing and that appropriate statement would be mad

The Nigeria labour Congress NLC has raised alarm over plans by a private developer to frustrate its mass Housing project for Nigerian workers. It would be recalled that Congress went into understanding with a number of developers to provide affordable housing for workers.  One such understanding was with Kriston-Lally, with whom Congress signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Petroleum Minister, Allison Mmadueke There is now hope that the fuel scarcity witnessed in parts of the country due to a strike by oil workers, will now be over as the Unions involved have reportedy called off the strike, Premium Times has more on the breaking story... 

The Sun Newspaper reports that... Boko Haram has installed emirs in Gwoza and Dambua, Borno State, the two towns that fell to the Islamist sect two weeks ago, Senator Ali Ndume told his colleagues as Senate resumed from its two-month recess yesterday.This is even as the Upper Chamber urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare total war on the insurgents, advising him to mobilise all resources and efforts to that effect.

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa announced, Tuesday, that 67 of his countrymen perished in the collapsed building at The Synagogue church in Lagos. The collapsed building inside the church’s premises was a five-storey building which initially was two-storey and the church decided to add three additional floors on it.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, has said that its members would only resume on the government’s preferred date of September 22, if teachers are properly trained on Ebola prevention measures. The NUT said its members prefer an extended resumption date, preferably the initial October 13, to be sure the deadly virus poses no risk in schools.

South African police are investigating two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to bring over 9.3 million US dollars in cash into the country illegally, a spokesman said on Monday, in what might have been part of an arms deal.

The  Punch reports that... the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, has impounded 104 brands of expired hand sanitisers and fake Ebola testing kits at various borders in the country.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, in charge of the transmission of electricity from Generation  to  Distribution companies has announced that electricity customers nationwide will experience additional power load shedding from today, Tuesday, September 16, 2014. A statement from the company's management said the additional load shedding is due to drop in power generation to around 2100 Megawatts caused from drop in fuel supply to generators.  Consequently, the statement added that there is a drastic reduction in the power available for TCN to wheel to distribution load centers nationwide.

  The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri has canvassed for the withdrawal of academic certificates of proven corrupt public and private sector leaders to serve as deterrent to others in a bid to build a corrupt-free society.

Manchester United have revealed record annual revenue of over £430m although profits are down by 84 per cent. The club's financial figures for the year 2013/2014showed a record annual revenue of £433.2m but plunged from £146m to £23.8m.

  Premium Times reports that... Nigeria has recorded another Ebola case, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said Monday. Mr. Chukwu​ ​​said the new case is the fiance of one of the primary contacts of the index case, Patrick Sawyer.

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has called on the Federal Road Safety Commission to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the driver of the vehicle that allegedly ran down Dimgba Igwe, Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Company.

With military officials and the government of Borno State quietly backing away from claims that the strategic town of Bama was still in the control of Nigerian soldiers, at least 12,000 volunteers gathered yesterday in Maiduguri to offer their services in the war against the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.