Nedu Echianu's Blog

President Muhammadu Buhari  Friday  in Abuja directed the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, to facilitate the immediate release of the N5 Billion pledged by the Federal Government since August 2014 for the Victims Support Fund (VSF). 

What are you looking out to buy? Wears, jewelries or groceries? Whichever your choice is, there are some tactics required to ensure you get the best value for your money. Especially if you are not shopping in a boutique or supermarket where everything is price tagged.

A twitter user just dropped this statistics without a source, do you agree?

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the State Security Service, SSS, to order, and to ensure the agency does not harass electoral officials. The PDP said the new director general of the SSS, Lawal Daura, had been a card carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and must be cautioned. The party made the call in a statement Wednesday.

Reports just coming in says a  bomb explosion has rocked a crowded motor park in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The Federal government has named Major General Iliya Abbah to lead the new multinational task force to fight Boko Haram Islamists, the military said on Thursday. Major General Abbah, who previously headed military operations in the oil-rich Niger Delta, will head the new force, the military spokesperson said. The new force replaces the regional offensive that has scored a number of victories against the jihadists since February.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the allegation by the PDP that the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, is a card-carrying member of the party (APC), calling the accusation absurd and frivolous.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday interrogated Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for about six hours over alleged corruption. Mrs. Saraki was invited by the commission for questioning over alleged shady contracts during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara between 2003 and 2011.

Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied being behind the putting up of Billboards which pictured him in a handshake with US President Barack Obama while President Muhammadu Buhari looked on in admiration.  The Picture of the Billboard had gone viral on the social media which led to the governor receiving a lot of condemnation from the public. However, a press statement from the Governor's Chief Press Secretary has insisted that he was not aware of the Billboard.

The sorrowful face of former R and B super star, Bobby Brown as he leaves the Hospital following the death of his daughter, Kristina. May her soul rest in peace.

The Kwara State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Monday, alleged that its members’ signatures were forged in the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC against Mrs Toyin Saraki.

A minister under the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan has been accused of stealing about $6 billion of Nigeria's resources and stashing it in an American bank, Premium Times has details...

According to The Nation  Newspaper, negotiations are on between the Presidency and the Boko Haram sect for the release of the abducted 219 Chibok school girls and to ensure the return of peace in the North East...

This is Ariaria "International" Market in Aba, Abia state South East Nigeria. It is a popular market not just in Nigeria but in the west African sub region, but the current state of the market is nothing to write home about. The place is over flooded, and there's constant stagnant water, forcing shop owners to abandon their shops. The people in the area say it's due to bad road and bad drainage system. They are begging their government to look into the situation. More photos after the cut...

Sacked Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has demanded a compensation of a billion Naira (more than $400 million) from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for defaming him. Last week, it was reported that Keshi had dragged the NFF to court for “wrongful dismissal and defamation”. A top source told said “Keshi’s lawyers have demanded for a billion Naira from the NFF as compensation for defaming their client.” The letter from the Kaduna-based law firm was received by the NFF on Friday. Keshi was sacked by the NFF on July 5 after the NFF disciplinary committee investigated various allegations against him. This was four months after the 53-year-old coach signed a new two-year contract after his initial three-year deal with the NFF ran out at last year’s World Cup in Brazil. Vanguard

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 20 terrorists at Faljari, along the Dikwa-Maiduguri Road, the Army has said. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who made the comment in an electronic mail on Sunday, said the troops also destroyed the camps of the insurgents at Faljari village along Dikwa-Maiduguri road, Borno State on Sunday.

The police in Yobe have confirmed that the suicide bomber who killed 15 people in an explosion in Damaturu, Yobe State, was about 10 years old. The police spokesperson, Toyin Gbadegeshin, who addressed journalists in Yobe, said the girl detonated the explosive device at the gate of the market, killing herself and 14 others.

Reports say a suicide bomber has killed 14 persons and injured at least 47 others after she detonated her Improvised Explosive Vest, IED, at the entrance of a crowded market in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State. A journalist based in the city is reprted to have told online newspaper, premium Times that the bomber, believed to be female, detonated the bomb at the entrance of the popular Sunday market at about 9:25 a.m. “She chose the most crowded part of the market, which is the entrance to detonate the bomb and so far 14 persons have been confirmed dead and 47 others injured,” he said. He said the casualty figure was confirmed to reporters by the spokesperson of the Police in the state, Toton Gbedegesin. He also said the dead bodies and the injured have been taken to the main hospital in the city. “The Hospital is currently besieged with people trying to identify their loved ones,” he said.

Sandra Ikeri drops her second write up for Nedu Echianu's Blog, enjoy...

Nigeria has the highest number of examination irregularities among the five member countries of the West African Examinations Council, the Head, National Office of the Council, Charles Eguridu, has said.

The crisis in the All Progressives Congress APC led National Assembly seems to have taken a new twist as a lawmaker loyal to Ahmad Lawan, the APC preferred candidate for the position of Senate President has insisted that Senate President Bukola Saraki and his peoples Democratic Party PDP Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu will be impeached at the resumption of plenary on the 28th of July.

The Presidency on Friday said there was no plan to disrupt a meeting of top ex-Niger Delta militants previously scheduled to hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Saturday (today). The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed this following apprehension that the meeting could lead to another violent protest in the Niger Delta.

Premium Times reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has summoned Kingsley Kuku, a former special adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, for questioning.

The Presidency has denied  reports where it was quoted that Boko Haram was targeting the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s house.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday disclosed that security reports have shown that Boko Haram insurgents were preparing to adopt a new strategy of using scavengers to dump refuse laden with bombs at his residence. Mr. Osinbajo disclosed this during the National Economic Council meeting, after governors from the Northeast and Northwest presented updates on the issue of insurgency and other criminal activities like cattle rustling and banditry in both regions.

President Buhari has made it known that he will not treat those who voted for him the same way he will do those who did not vote him into power. During a question and answer session in the US yesterday, President Buhari made this known. When a female white journalist asked the president how he intended to deal with issues in the Niger Delta, particularly Amnesty, bunkering and inclusive development, the president said;

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday confirmed that he had started receiving some documents which indicted some former ministers and other top government officials of massive fraud, including oil theft.

I saw this piece of news on the Street Journal and I'm so elated to share it with you....

The wife of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said she will respond to an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and assist the commission with its inquiries over corruption allegations against her.

About 30 people have lost their lives and 67 others injured by multiple bomb explosions that occurred at Dadin/Kowa and Dukku motor parks of Gombe State Wednesday, a Red cross official has confirmed. Premium Times reports that Abubakar Yakubu, who is the Secretary, Red Cross Society , Gombe State, told journalists that bodies were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FHT) Gombe and Specialist Hospital mortuary.

The United States isn’t exactly blameless in the continued rise of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said. Speaking on Wednesday in Washington DC where he addressed a section of the audience at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as part of his four-day trip to the U.S, Buhari frowned at the use of the ‘Leahy Law’ by the US government  to deny Nigeria weapons based on unsubstantiated human rights abuses by the Nigerian military.

Attention of the Senate President’s media office has been drawn to a malicious fabrication by an on-line publication (Sahara Reporters) aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his young bride flanked by Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha to the right and Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al Makura to the left. They are all in the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a four day state visit to the United states.

The daughter of former President Umaru Yar’ Adua and wife of former Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, Zainab Dakingari, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraud to the tune of N2billion perpetrated during her husband’s tenure as governor of the Northwest State.

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the gay marriage offer by the United States of America, stating that sodomy is against the law of Nigeria and abhorrent to her culture. The spokesperson of the president, Femi Adesina said that the issue of gay marriage was discussed during Buhari meeting in the US but he rejected the offer. The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday. PMB was point blank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture. — Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) July 22, 2015 Recalled that Nigerians have expressed fear that Obama might pressurize Buhari to sanction gay marriage in Nigeria in order to get the support of the United States. Civil Society Organisations, also urged Buhari not to listen to the US government on issues of Gay rights, so as to protect the laws and values of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu  Buhari Tuesday in the United States vowed that his administration would trace the accounts of individuals who stashed away ill-gotten oil money, freeze and recover the loot and prosecute the culprits. Reacting to questions from members of Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO) in the United States and Canada at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC on the third day of his visit, the President lamented that “Corruption in Nigeria has virtually developed into a culture where honest people are abused.”

Suspected Boko Haram militants burned down houses, including the family home of Nigeria’s new army chief, in Buratai, Borno State, on Tuesday. The attack came two days after the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, vowed to compel the insurgents to beg for peace.

During his inauguration on May 29, President Muhammadu Buhari made a statement which continues to echo in the minds of Nigerians: "I belong to everybody and I belong to no one..." From his recent interview with CNN's Christianne Amanpour, Buhari seems to leave no one in doubt about his intentions especially in fight against corruption.

Reports say, Nigeria’s secret Police also known as the Department of State Services (DSS) has released a former Chief Security Officer to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan detained since Thursday last week. A family source is reported to have told online newspaper, Sahara Reporters that Mr. Obuah was released by his former employers around 10:30 pm Tuesday, Nigerian time. Earlier on Tuesday, Obuah was presented to the public to douse rumours that he had died in detention. After declaring that he was “hale and hearty,”.

Sharks football club of Port Harcourt has unveiled its new set of Jerseys, the shirt sponsor is a company known as Eunisell, the company's twitter handle says it is  Africa's leading specialty fluids management company. More photos after the cut...

Spot the difference, Former President Goodluck Jonathan during a state visit to the United States (left) and Current President Muhammadu Buhari also in a state visit to the US (right)...

In continuation of his four day tour of the United States, President Muhammadu Buhari in a meeting with President Barack Obama made another blunder while speaking about his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) referring it as the All Nigeria’s People’s Congress. The video is after the cut...

Gordon Obua, former chief security officer to former President Goodluck Jonathan, says he is not dead, contrary to widespread rumours.

Australian surfer Mick Fanning is counting his blessings after escaping unharmed from a shark attack at the World Surf League’s J-Bay Open in South Africa. During the middle of Sunday's finals against fellow Australian Julian Wilson, the defending champion was attacked by a shark.

President Muhammadu Buhari has just arrived the  Joint Bas e Andrews International Airport, Washington DC, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with US President, Barack Obama. Buhari’s arrival to the US was announced by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who tweeted: “Pres. @MBuhari has just arrived the Joint Base Andrews Int’l Airport, Washington DC for tomorrow’s meeting with Pres. Obama #PMBmeetsOBAMA”

A couple of days ago I brought you a story of a South African pastor who in a deliverance session in his church, fed his congregation with live snakes, if you didn't see the story, check it out here . The latest news indicates that Prophet Penuel Mnguni of End Times Disciples Ministries has been arrested. Reports say he was arrested on Sunday and is likely to appear in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of cruelty to animals. Earlier in the week, the South African branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (SPCA) had warned the preacher to keep his hands off live animals.

The Department of State Services DSS has said that the search conducted on former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki's residences was to prevent treasonable felony against the state.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have extended the date for resumption plenary sessions, which was earlier scheduled for Tuesday, July 21. Members are now expected to resume July 28.

The perceived harassment of officials in the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan seems to have continued unabated with the arrest and detention of Gordon Obua, the former Chief Security officer to Jonathan. Online newspaper The Cable reports...  

Check out this woman's epic reaction on Facebook to a children's party organised by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari to mark the Eid el Fitr...