Nedu Echianu's Blog

KweséSports on Friday launched its services in Nigeria, and to celebrate the momentous announcement, Colin Udoh selects his top 12 Nigerian sports people of all time. Feel free to agree, or agree more. Okay, so we meant disagree, but you get the picture. Who did we miss out here and who should not be here?

Fierce... Lol

It is the festive season and it is the period when many people travel from point A to point B. For those who prefer taking flights when traveling, you may not know that flying tampers or messes with your body. Yes, it does. In line with this, Jumia Travel, identify 5 things traveling does to your body so that you will be prepared to tackle this bodily reaction on your next flight. You will feel dehydrated Dehydration is one of the obvious signs of flying. You will feel your skin drying up as well as your hair getting rough. This is because according to research, your body feels comfortable when humidity is between 40% and 70%. However, when you are in an airplane, humidity falls between 10% and 20%. TO stay safe, drink plenty of water before, during and after your flight. Jet lag You will probably be used to Jet lag if you regularly. If is a well-known effect of flying. Jet lag means when you are very tired or disoriented after a long haul flight. To prevent jet lag, you shoul

A middle-aged man suspected to be one of the fleeing fighters of the Boko Haram sect has been arrested by officials of a security agency recently established by the Abuja Municipal Area Council popularly known as AMAC Marshal in the Federal Capital Territory. A statement issued on Tuesday night by the spokesman for the AMAC Marshal, Kingsley Madaki, said the suspect who gave his name as Usman, was nabbed at 4.30pm at Utako Market. According to him, the suspect was apprehended “with a Qur’an and a chaplet on his neck while trying to lobby people in the market.”

It is a common saying that ‘timing is everything,’ but when it comes to sex, especially when it’s just for pleasure, that phrase may not readily apply.       Pleasurable sexual intercourse can be done at anytime and anywhere, because all that is important to enjoy it in that instance is the consent and cooperation of the other person, and in a favourable atmosphere. In fact, there are times that it is after the romp in the sack that some couples soon realise the inappropriateness of where they did it. It can be that spontaneous.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on Nigerians to show love to their neighbours at Christmas, as that remains the fundamental message of the yuletide. He stated this in Enugu in his Christmas message at the weekend when his wife, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, made Christmas presents of N10,000, a bag of rice, and a wrapper to each of 250 widows, drawn from the five Local Government Areas of Enugu West Senatorial District. The Senator, who said Christmas would be empty without acts of love as shown by Christ, also observed that love was also engrained in African cultures.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, commended the Nigerian armed forces and President Muhammadu Buhari for the success of Operation Lafiya Dole in the notorious Sambisa Forest. Saraki, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, expressed delight at the news of the defeat of Boko Haram in Sambisa, stating that it was a great way to wrap up an eventful year.

How to be safe from kidnapping as the trend is on the rise. Please note, It's good to have a sense of security and safety. 1. Never use car stickers that says where you work, especially if you have a prestigious job, don't let show off kill you. 2. Avoid making your financial status public, don't be the one that jumps to front of the church to make donations or the one pastor raves about.

“Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth, sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever,” Richelle Goodrich once said. Unfortunately, it won’t last forever. But you can make it worth remembering when you do things you never did before, or go places you’ve never been before this season. With only a few days to Christmas, every fun-loving person should be thinking of an amazing place to be with loved ones, aside the traditional trip to the village for extended family reunions. From the place where nature is at its perfect form, to classic and ultra-modern environment, we present you a list of 10 unique places carefully selected from across the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria to spend the Christmas vacation.

Praying Santa... LOL

* Three persons arrested, Ugochinyere on the run DSS Press Release: The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that it has uncovered a sinister plot by the Rivers State Governor Nyesom WIKE to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies by provoking a violent breach of peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, today, 22nd December, 2016 and beyond especially at this yuletide season. To achieve this, the Governor had secured the services of one IKENGA Imo UGOCHINYERE, a Personal Aide to the Senate President, Bukola SARAKI (Sen), to mobilize some hoodlums to execute their plan. 2. The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light. It is also intended to divert public and international attention from the ongoing Police investigation into the unwholesome role played by the Governor and some of his cronies in the

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has, once again, stressed the need for decentralized policing and economy if the country must wriggle out of its numerous security and economic challenges. He also stressed the need for respect for the rule of law and ensure inclusive governance. He made the assertions at the South East Economic and Security Summit held at the Government House, Enugu, on Thursday.

The Nigerian government on Wednesday released the postings of the 47 career Ambassadors recently appointed by President Buhari. The lists of the Ambassadors, who are currently undergoing a four-day induction in Abuja, are as follows: Abia: Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba (Togo), Adamawa: Salisu Umaru (Senegal), Paragalda Ilyasu Audu (Turkey), Akwa Ibom: Inyan Udo-Inyang (Gabon), Anambra: Okeke Vivian Nwunaku (Spain), Nonye Udo (Austria).

The Federal Government has approved a new policy on whistle blowing that aims to encourage Nigerians to report financial and other related crimes to relevant authorities. The highlight of the policy is that whistleblowers whose revelations lead to recovery of money will be entitled to as much as 5 per cent of the recovered sum. The new policy was approved Wednesday at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council , chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa.

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has been released from prison. Vanguard reports that he was released a few minutes past noon upon a court order. His media aide, Mr. Tony Elumenor confirmed the release.  Ibori was sentenced by a United Kingdom court to prison for 13 years and served out his term midnight yesterday. Expectation of his return home to Nigeria, however, remains murky as friends and associates many of who are gathered in London deliberate on the future of the former governor.

A religious group, “Rooted in The Word Ministries’’, has urged South East governors to review and enforce the Eastern Nigeria Law of 1956 abolishing the Osu caste system in Igboland. The leader of the group, Bishop Emeritus of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Samuel Chukuka, made the call at an interactive session with newsmen on Wednesday in Awka.

In his continued quest to provide a platform for the promotion of Made in Nigeria products in order to boost Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country, Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has informed of his plan to launch 'Made in Nigeria Challenge' in January 2017. Saraki, in a statement signed by Bamikole Omisore, his special assistant on New Media, stated that the 'Made in Nigeria Challenge' initiative will afford entrepreneurs in the country opportunity to connect manufacturers that produce alternatives to imported products.  The initiative, the Senate President stated, will not only assist upcoming entrepreneurs but open door of opportunities for established local manufacturers to compete in international markets.

The Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 102 bags of plastic rice branded “Beat Tomato Rice” with no date of manufacture. The Customs Area Controller of F.O.U. Comptroller Mohammed Haruna, on Tuesday in Lagos said that the commodity was stored for distribution as Yuletide gifts for the public. Haruna said that officers of the unit intercepted the plastic rice along Ikeja area on Monday, adding that a suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.

MD of FAAN Saleh Dunoma  The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has assured members of the public, especially passengers and airline operators, that necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all its airports to ensure hitch-free movement of passengers and cargo during the forthcoming yuletide holidays. A statement signed by Henrietta Yakubu (Mrs), the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said a part from the statutory security and safety measures already in place at the airports, Management has also charged all Airport Managers to employ measures to ensure that only those that meet requirements have access to all restricted areas at the landside, terminals and airside.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has urged the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to conduct a public hearing into declining electricity generation in the country that currently stands at 3000 megawatts capacity. Also, the public hearing is expected to verify the claims and counter claims of non-remittance of revenues between the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) as well as uncover how the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disbursed the N213 billion intervention fund to the power sector. 

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday congratulated the outgoing Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed, on her appointment as the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary General. Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that Mohammed's appointment at the UN was a testament of her competence, and an acceptance by the global community of her ability as a reformer.

MMM Nigeria’s number one guider, Chuddy Ugorji, has finally reacted to the Ponzi scheme’s decision to pause withdrawals for one month. Mr. Ugorji, who is quite active on social media, addressed several controversies and allegations leveled against him in a lengthy Facebook post on Friday. A graduate of Karnataka State Open University in India, he is listed as the number one guider of the Ponzi scheme in Nigeria.

Bed bugs could be a big problem when your home is infested with it. You can be rest assured that they will get to places where you have never imagined it to be. They could get under your cloths, in your beds, and they can have an effect on your health. Let’s now look at four natural ways to eradicate the bed bugs in your home.

Yahoo has discovered a three-year old security breach that enabled a hacker to compromise more than 1 billion user accounts, breaking the company's own humiliating record for the biggest security breach in history. The digital heist disclosed on Wednesday occurred in August 2013, more than a year before a separate hack that Yahoo announced nearly three months ago. That breach affected at least 500 million users, which had been the most far-reaching hack until the latest revelation.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Finance to pay the Super Falcons their  entitlements.  The Falcons, who beat  hosts Cameroon 1-0 to win the   African Women’s  Cup of Nations in Yaounde on December 3,  were forced to embark on protest in Abuja  after the Nigeria Football Federation failed to pay them their  bonuses and allowances. The eighth time African champions marched on the Presidential Villa on Wednesday to press home their demands.

Indicts SGF Babachir David Lawal for contract scam in IDP Camps... Sequel to the mandate given to the Ad-Hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, Committee visited some of the lnternally Displaced Persons (lDPs) camps in the North East and conducted a three-day Public Hearing after which the following findings/observations were made; 

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the move by the Senate to get rid of State Local Government Joint Account and also calls on the House of Representatives and the Presidency to support it. In like manner, the Congress also charges the State Legislatures to follow suit . The joint account idea was a laudable one but its implementation has been faulty. Over the years we have witnessed illegal deduction, delay in the release of funds and in some cases total diversion of local government statutory allocations by the state governors. These undue interferences have become a clog on the wheel of development at the local government level. For effective service delivery it cannot be business as usual.

The players of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, are staging a protest at the gates of the National Assembly to press for the payment of their unpaid bonuses and allowances. The new strategy by the protesting Falcons players is to directly get the attention of Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari.

Femi Falana,  Lagos Lawyer and Human Rights Activist will preside at The International Press Centres’ (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria fifth and final media (tweet) conference and dialogue series under its Media and Transparency Watch Project  on Thursday December 15, 2016 The Objective of the event is to promote media and public dialogue on the imperative of transparency, accountability and anti-corruption for good governance in Nigeria and as well enrich the content of media reports on transparency issues, among others.

…Proposes Single Term, Conduct of Primaries by INEC The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has charged the Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee to help restore the fast declining independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in order to preserve the nation’s democracy. He also suggested single term of office to reduce desperation and impunity by politicians as well as the conduct of party primaries by the INEC to reduce the life and death struggle by politicians for control of party machinery. Ekweremadu stated this at the retreat organised by the presidential Committee in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday.

MMM Founder, Sergey Mavrodi has allegedly written an open letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria explaining how the scheme works, and its benefits to investors. The letter was displayed on the page of all participants of the Scheme. Recall the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had warned Nigerians against participating in the scheme which it described as a “Ponzi”.

The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers South-East, Senator Magnus Abe, has won the legislative rerun election in his senatorial District. The Returning Officer, Prof. Gideon Onukwuisi, declared Abe winner on Sunday after announcing the result at the collation centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. Abe polled 125,938 votes to beat his opponent from the Peoples Democratic Party, Olaka Wogu, who got 25,394 votes.

Ghana's President elect Nana Akufo-Addo as a little boy met Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumeh about 59 years ago.

The North West chapter of the All Progressive Congress has quashed the suspension of Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, by the Kaduna State chapter of the party. The party said “every disciplinary measure should strictly follow the Constitution of the party”. Mr. Sani, who has been embroiled in a bitter row with Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was suspended twice by a faction of the party loyal to Mr. El-Rufai.

The CIA has confirmed an open secret:  that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help President-elect Donald Trump win the White House. The agency said the intervention was also designed to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system. U.S. intelligence agencies believed that as the 2016 presidential campaign drew on, Russian government officials devoted increasing attention to assisting Donald Trump’s effort to win the election, the U.S. official familiar with the finding told Reuters on Friday night on condition of anonymity.

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, was whisked out of the Reigners Church by his security personnel when the building collapsed, killing at least 90 worshipers with scores trapped in the rubble. Punch newspaper reports that the governor was attending the consecration of Pastor Akan Weeks as a Bishop on Saturday, when the church building collapsed.

Shocking photos of a boy, said to be 12 years old discovered tucked away inside the blocks of a building in Oduduwa Street in Ondo State. A Facebook post said the boy sang in the enclosure for the three days before he was discovered. More photos after the cut...

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised the nation to look beyond oil to secure economic prosperity for the country. He insisted the days of oil as super foreign exchange earner for the nation were numbered or probably over. Senator Ekweremadu gave the advise at the one year anniversary celebration of the Brickhall School, Abuja, founded by former Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Joy Emodi.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the President-elect of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, on his victory in the recently concluded Ghanaian general elections. Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu,  also lauded both the outgoing President, and the people of Ghana for a successful electoral process. The Senate President stated that by conceding victory,  President John Dramani Mahama, demonstrated that democracy in Africa has come of age. 

To further enhance the administration of justice in Rivers State , Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has handed over 35 Sports Utility Vehicles to the Judges of the State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal . Commissioning the vehicles for distribution to the judges at the State High Court Complex in Port Harcourt on Friday , Governor said: "What we are doing as a government is to give judiciary the support to enhance the administration of justice ". The governor said that judges require the right environment to administer justice, pointing out that effective transportation framework is necessary for judges to arrive courts on time to preside over cases.

Ghana's opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo has won Wednesday's tightly contested presidential election. The BBC reports that President John Mahama called Mr Akufo-Addo to admit defeat, a spokesman for his party said, as the Electoral Commission announced the result. Mr Akufo-Addo has promised free high-school education and more factories but critics have questioned the viability of his ambitions.

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh has rejected the result of the presidential election held earlier this month, a week after admitting defeat. Speaking on state TV, Mr Jammeh cited "abnormalities" in the vote and called for fresh elections. Mr Jammeh, who came to power in a coup in 1994, suffered a shock defeat to Adama Barrow, who won more than 45% of the vote. The US "strongly condemned" Mr Jammeh's statement.

Lol

Former Zimbabwe Football Association official Jonathan Musavengana and ex-Togo coach Banna Tchanile have been barred from all football-related activity for life by FIFA’s ethics committee on Thursday for corruption. The bans handed down by world football’s governing body relate to a number of international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010.

The Bill for an Act to Provide for the Inauguration of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, also known as Presidential Inauguration Bill, 2016, was read a second time by the Senate in plenary, Thursday. The Bill, sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, seeks to align presidential inauguration in the country with international best practices as obtained in the United States of America, USA, and many other democracies.

The Senate yesterday donated N12 million to the Nigerian Legion towards the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations. Announcing the donation while being decorated with the remembrance emblem, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the gesture was to appreciate the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in providing and maintaining peace and security in the country. Apart from the N12 million, Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mohammed Isa, said each Senator will make an individual donation to the Legion, since nothing is too much towards supporting the nation's retirees and keeping the memory of fallen heroes alive.

The Federal Government on Wednesday said investigations had shown that a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, spent over N500m between January and October 2016 despite his total annual legitimate earnings, including his allowances being N24m. This was disclosed in a document prepared by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, summarising the case of the prosecution against the Justice of the Supreme Court, who was on November 21, 2016, arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.