Nedu Echianu's Blog

Watford have sold Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo to Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai for £20m. Ighalo, 27, joined the Hornets in 2014 fromItalian side Udinese and helped Watford win promotion to the Premier League in the 2014-15 campaign.

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Francis Bolaji Odesanya, is dead. Punch newspaper reports that Odesanya died Tuesday morning in an undisclosed hospital abroad after a brief illness. He was the 37th Rivers State Commissioner of Police, having succeeded Mr. Foluso Adebanjo on July 12, 2016. Odesanya joined the force on February 2, 1986, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the ranks to his current position of Commissioner of Police.

Finding and keeping love in today’s world is hard enough that you can sometimes wonder if dating abroad truly is all sunshine and fairy tales as we have been told.  The idea of finding love in a foreign land has been idealized far too often by both travel bloggers and expats alike but the brutal truth is that it is hard to start and maintain a long term relationship when you travel. A major difficulty associated with long-term travel is the perpetual singleness that goes with it. You are never in one place long enough to build a lasting relationship with someone, when you are always on the move. Just when it’s about to blossom, it’s time for you or them to go.

BRIEFING BY THE COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS, COL. HAMEED IBRAHIM ALI (Rtd) ON THE SEIZURE OF ARMS BY OFFICERS AND MEN OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, FOU ZONE A, IKEJA, ON MONDAY 30TH JAN. 2017 Gentlemen of the press. It is my pleasure to brief you on the recent gains of Nigeria Customs Service anti-smuggling operations. On Sunday 22nd January 2017, the Roving Team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft Container with Number: PONU/825914/3along Mile 2 Apapa road.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria commends the judiciary and Nigerians over the recent rulings by Justice Lateefa Okunnu at the Ikeja High Court, that  sentenced the Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, Mrs Adaoha Ugo-Nnadi to 10 years in prison for defrauding the Federal Government of N754 million in oil subsidy transactions and that of a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking for the forfeiture of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) to the Federal Government until investigation and trial of suspects are concluded. These are good signs of our speedy recovery if we faint not and we urge the anti-graft agencies to investigate other people involved in the subsidy fraud, other financial crimes and bring them to book. Hurts that while Nigerians are groaning and asking for the basic things like food, infrastructure, job, etc. some greedy Nigerians under the guise of oil marketers are milking the country dry.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has advised all humanitarian agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the Northeast region of the country to always liaise with government agencies to help ease administrative bottlenecks in the cause of their duties. The Senate President,  while receiving the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Ertharin Cousin, who led other members of WFP to the National Assembly, urged humanitarian agencies to always collaborate with security agencies so as to ensure their safety at every point during their stay in the country.

The numerous fans of Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, will now have the opportunity of watching the player as digital television service provider, StarTimes, has concluded plans to beam live the Chinese Super League. Mikel joined Tianjin TEDA from Chelsea in the January transfer window to team up with former Chelsea mate, Oscar and other top stars like Carlos Tevez, Obafemi Martins, Gervinho, and Demba Ba.

The video is after the cut...

The first female Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele has been sacked by 20 out of the 26 members of the assembly over alleged N15m fraud. Other leaders of the assembly were not spared by the aggrieved lawmakers who wielded the big stick last night.  Their sack is coming barely a month to the end of the tenure of the Dr Olusegun Mimiko administration in the state. Vanguard reports that the removal of the Speaker was carried out by 15 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and five member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) late last night. 

In an apparent move to douse the fears of some Nigerians who believe or have been forced to believe by fake news sites that the President is dead, state House released these photos of President Buhari and his wife when she paid him a visit in London.

  Last 3 home games:  2-3 Swansea  0-1 Southampton  1-2 Wolves  Next 3 home games: Chelsea Tottenham Arsenal LOL... Not going well for Liverpool...

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress APC in Kogi State have accused the state governor Yahaya Bello of squandering over 200 billion naira of federal allocation to the state in one year while also lamenting massive poverty prevalent in the state which they attributed to the Governors poor leadership style. At a press briefing in Abuja, Senator Dino Melaye in company of five former Senators, twenty five out of thirty five state executive members of the party, issued the governor a four week ultimatum to settle the arrears of pensioners and pay workers who he said have been owed 80 percent of their salary since January 1 2016. He insisted that the Governor is working against the interest of the party in the state and urged the anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on the Governor and his cronies who he accused of acquiring exotic cars and choice houses in Abuja while the people suffer.   

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has pledged that the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Bill currently before the National Assembly would be given accelerated passage to enable Nigerians living outside the country the opportunity to participate in events within the country.  The  Nigerians In Diaspora Bill when passed would facilitate the establishment of the Diaspora Bond for the in-flow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Nigeria among other benefits. 

The following is a statement from the media team of the Senate President Bukola Saraki on rumours of a plot to take over the Presidency from Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari who is away on medical leave.

Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’s Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose and Apostle Johnson Suleiman of The Omega Fire Ministries World wide after the foiled arrest by DSS Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’s Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in the early morning on Wednesday foiled an attempt by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting Apostle Johnson Suleiman of The Omega Fire Ministries World wide in Ado Ekiti.  Johnson Suleiman The firebrand Pastor was alleged to have been preaching against Islamizing Nigeria and asked members of his church in Auchi, Edo State to resist the killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who he alleged of targeting Christians for decimation. 

The Senate adhoc committee on mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East of Nigeria led by Senator Shehu Sani had late last year, indicted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Babachir Lawal for ensuring that a company which he has interest in is awarded contracts by the Presidential Initiative in the North East. However, President Muhammadu Buhari through a letter which was read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Bukola Saraki cleared the SGF of all the allegations which led to the following remark by Senator Sani, the video is after the cut, please watch....

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has directed the National Broadcasting Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting in South Africa of the ongoing Big Brother Naija Reality show. In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said the NBC should determine whether Multi-Choice, by shooting the show in South Africa, has breached the Nigerian Broadcasting Code in any way, as well as the issue of possible deceit, since the viewing public was never told that the event would be staged outside Nigeria.

The attention of Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a misleading publication by a section of the media, concerning a supposed dismissal of 59 officers by the Comptroller General of   Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd). This misleading report quotes   a circular dated 19th January 2017, signed by the Ag. Comptroller   (Discipline). Obviously, the originator of this story came across an otherwise internal communication and without verification, went to press with a story that is capable of causing panic, fear with negative consequences on the morale of the workforce.

N ostalgia, thats the feeling right now, thinking of the good old days when this Soap was on National TV, an episode of the Soap is after the cut...

Every year, we make a list of all the things we will love to do and how we would love to make a change. But of all these goals, the hardest to cross off the list might be that you wished you had travelled more. The New Year affords you another opportunity to gift yourself a lasting memory of some of the most captivating cities in the world. Making a list is just never enough, you have to make appropriate plans as well. Planning allows you get rid of nervous tensions or anxiety, avoid overspending and make the most out of your travel experiences.

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has terminated the appointment of about 48 senior officers in the service in its ongoing reorganization. A circular dated January 19, 2017 and signed by Ag. Comptroller in charge of Discipline, Ganiyu I.A was addressed to all Zones, all Customs Area Command and units. According to the circular, about 45 officers were dismissed, 11 retired while the appointment of three we're outrightly terminated.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday called on Government agencies at all levels to integrate Nigerian Engineers, technicians and artisans in their workforce when embarking on construction projects as a way of utilizing  local capacity and conserving scarce foreign exchange. Saraki who make the call in his remarks before he formally flagged-off the construction of the Dauran-Birnin, Tsaba Birnin and Magaji Kauran Namoda Roads in Zamfara State, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, also called on all government agencies to use locally made equipment where possible.

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has described the invasion of the premises of Premium Times in Abuja and the subsequent arrest of its Publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi and the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu by armed police men on the night of January 19, 2017, as an unacceptable assault on freedom of the Press. Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement today (January 20, 2017), that the attack on Premium Times as well as the harassment of other journalists in recent times are completely antithetical to democratic values and norms at the core of which are the rights to free speech and media freedom.

…Says He’s Right Man for the Job The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, on his emergence as the new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum. Ekweremadu, who described the Forum as an important group within the party, expressed confidence in the ability of Fayose to rally the governors elected on the platform of the party, teeming PDP faithful, and supporters to hold the fort in opposition. A statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Deputy President of the Senate, Uche Anichukwu quoted him as saying : “Governor Fayose is a strong voice in the opposition. He is an unapologetic PDP faithful and has the audacity, political sagacity, and benefit of experience from his number of years as a Governor to provide quality leadership for the Forum. I, therefore, nurse no doubts that he is the right man for the job.

House of Dignity is a premium fashion brand based in the capital city of Nigeria; Abuja. HOD was conceived in 2014 but began operations in 2016. House of Dignity's philosophy is simply to ensure that clients step out in style and class regardless of their status. Also we are of the strong believe that no matter how fascinated we are with fashion trend, we should keep our sanity. Patrick U. Patrick is the founder and CEO of House Of Dignity. He is a graduate of political science from the University of Jos. He is also a one time lecturer with training and an expertise in fashion design.

19th January, 2017 Honourable  Minister, Ministry of Finance, Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Area. Abuja. NEED TO URGENTLY ADDRESS NON PAYMENT OF FEDERAL JUDICIAL WORKERS. I convey compliments from the Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and I'm constrained to write and draw the Honourable Minister’s attention to the plight of Federal Judicial Officers and Staff, whose salaries the Federal Government did not pay in the month of December, 2016. Given the sensitive nature of the work of judicial officers and staff, and as a separate arm of Government, one cannot stress enough the importance of the Judiciary in the present dispensation and the efforts of Mr. President to bring about change in our national life and root out corruption from our society.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday wrote the Senate that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will act on his behalf as President for the 10 days that he would be on medical vacation. In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, President Buhari said he was writing in line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended. According to the letter which was read at plenary today, Tuesday by Saraki, President Buhari said he will be away from Monday 23rd January to Monday 6th February. The letter read, “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away n a short medical vacation from Monday January, 23 to February 6th, 2017 and while I am away, the Vice President (Osinbajo) will perform the functions of my office. “Please, accept, as always assurances of my highest esteemed consideration.” Vanguard

Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19. Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation. The Punch reports that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States and the Barack Obama era will officially come to an end. While his net worth is nowhere near that of his successor, Mr. Obama will leave office a very rich man. Based on a recent study by American University in Washington, D.C., the Obamas could stand to make as much as $242 million once leaving the White House.

The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has dismissed as false, insinuations and reports that the Senator could be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to save his job. In a statement made available to reporters in Abuja, the Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the Deputy President of the Senate on Political Affairs, Hon. Okey Ozoani, described the reports as “a fantasy of those peddling it”.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has conveyed his deep regret over the accidental bombing of the Rann Community in Borno State. Saraki, in a statement on his social media handles said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families and victims of today’s accident in Rann Community of Borno State.  I pray that the souls of the victims may rest in peace. I wish the victims speedy recovery, and I pray that incidents like these never reoccur again.”

Tragedy struck in the fight against terror group, Boko Haram, on Tuesday, when a fighter jet involved in the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East fired at aid workers, soldiers and displaced persons in error, killing no fewer than 100 persons on the ground. Aid workers confirmed to have been killed in the bombing included the officials ofDoctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres), International Committee of the Red Cross and some refugees. But the Nigerian Air Force said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had begun an investigation into the accidental air strike.

FC IfeanyiUbah have accepted the punishment meted out on them by the League Management Company for abandoning their Nigeria Professional Football League match-day one fixture against Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday. The Anambra Warriors refused to continue play after 50 minutes of the encounter following sending off of the club's Team Manager, Jonathan Igwe by the centre referee, Folusho Ajayi and alleged biased officiating by the referee.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday condemned the bombing of a mosque inside the University of Maiduguri during which a Professor of Veterinary Medicine was reportedly among the casualties. Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicly, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, decried the loss of valuable human lives and destruction of property during the incident. He expressed concern over the rising trend of isolated Boko Haram attacks on soft targets since the liberation of the Sambisa Forest which used to be the stronghold of the insurgents by the military.

Even Cows obey the law, why can't you? LOL

The Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, Mrs. Ada Ugo-Ngali, fainted on Friday at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja after being convicted of N754m oil subsidy scam by the court. Ugo-Ngali, who had stood in the dock while Justice Lateefa Okunnu was delivering judgment in a N1.9bn subsidy scam trial in which she and three others where defendants. She slumped as the judge was about to pronounce the sentence.