Breaking News: Traders In Ladipo Market, Lagos, Abandon their Shops and Run for their Lives as unknown G u n Men Open Fire at them in Broad daylight!

#nairaland

Alakija, Davido, Joeboy, Others At Laycon's 27th Birthday Party (video)

The reality TV star, rapper and singer, Laycon turned 27 yesterday and the richest woman in Africa was present to celebrate with him. The moment the Forbes billionnaire arrived at the party with her entourage was a huge highlight for Laycon and his massive fans.

She was also seen praying for the birthday boy while also blessing his car gift, purchased by fans.

The 30BG award winning global music star, Davido and his team were also spotted at the party.

Others spotted at the party include Laycon's bestie and fast rising music star, Joeboy, comedian Woli Agba, Laycon's management team, friends, fans and majority of the big brother naija season 5 housemates.

Celebrities and fans across the country also stormed their social media pages to shower praises on him. 

MC Oluomo Reacts To Trump's Defeat, Congratulates Biden 

Chairman of the National Union of Road Transporters in Lagos (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo has joined the growing list of leaders to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory in the 2020 US presidential election.

MC Oluomo, who is also an American citizen, in an apparent celebration of Donald Trump's loss said Biden's victory came at a time the Unites States is divided more than ever.

He urged the new President-elect and his vice to unite Americans and ensure that the will of the people prevails in their policy directions. 

I join all men and women of goodwill all over the world in wishing the 46th incoming President of the United States, Joe R. Biden and his Vice, Kamala Harris, the very best as they takeover the White House and the affairs of the country.

Congratulations also to Americans of all shades and colours for their tenacity and determination that the ideals of democracy must continue to endure.

As Biden and Harris takeover a country that appears to be divided possibly more than ever, I urge them to unite Americans and ensure that the will of the people prevails in their policy directions.

GOD BLESS AMERICA
GOD BLESS LAGOS STATE
GOD BLESS NIGERIA

#uselection

ASUU Strike: UTAS Can Be Ready In Three Weeks - ASUU 

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities has said the University Transparency Accountability Solution can be ready in three weeks if the Federal Government is committed.

Last week, the FG had told ASUU to transit to Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System pending when UTAS would be ready for use.

However, in an interview with The PUNCH, ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said there was no need to transit to IPPIS since UTAS could be ready in at most three weeks if government was sincere.

“What is left for UTAS to pass integrity test is what we have started with National Information Technology Development Agency; we have submitted documents to NITDA.

“If government demonstrates sufficient goodwill and support, we can put the final stage behind us as a matter of weeks, maybe two to three weeks at most. It is the goodwill, commitment that we are now looking for.

“Rather than focusing on that, government is insisting that there is a transition; transition for how many weeks, how many months? This last week, they still paid some of our members who are not on IPPIS. So, what platform did they use?

“We have been telling them, use the platform you have been using to pay people; why the insistence on IPPIS? That is the reason we are saying there is a hidden agenda about IPPIS.

“At the appropriate time, we will expose those who are behind it. We have submitted every document, except if they want to sit on the documents. If they don’t want to sit on the documents why are they saying we should go back to IPPIS,” Ogunyemi queried,

While reacting to the issue of the N30bn Earned Academic Allowance offered by the FG which ASUU said it would be for its members alone, Ogunyemi explained that the union negotiated for ASUU not for other unions.

He added that it was illogical for the government to say other unions would benefit from it.

#asuustrike

Anybody Caught Selling Cement Above N2,500 Will Face Full Wrath Of The Law - CPC

By Wisdom Nwedene 

The Consumer Protection Council, CPC, Abia State Chapter has warned Cement dealers not increase price of cement during and after the #endsars Protest.

The Agency said anybody that is apprehended selling cement above 2,500 naira which is the official price in Abia State will face the full wrath of the law.

A statement made available to IGBERE TV, signed by Sir Nnabugwu Chidi, Chairman of CPC also said that the commission is making it known to the general public that hoarding of products to influence the price is a crime and against the laws of the FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL (FCCPC) and such act will attract sealing of the shops, stores or warehouses and other Court action too.

The statement reads, 

"In accordance with the good governance of DR.OKEZIE IKPEAZU (PhD), the consumer protection council has frowned on the report that cement dealers in Abia State hicked the price of cement during and after the #endsars PROTEST." 

"The commission in further inquiry with major cement companies was made to know that cement did not add any price from the companies."

"During investigations, the commission found out that middle men (DEALER'S/ DISTRIBUTORS) was behind the unbearable hick of the price of cement from N2,550 Naira to N4,500 Naira."

"The consumer protection council is making it known to the general public that cement is to be sold at it's normal price and anybody caught selling cement above N2,550 Naira from Monday 9/11/2020 will not only get his shop, store or warehouse sealed, but will also face the Court of law with immediate effect."

"Also, the commission is making it known to the general public that hoarding of products to influence the price is a crime and against the laws of the FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL (FCCPC)
and such act will attract sealing of the shops, stores or warehouses and other Court action too."

"The Chairman of the consumer protection council in his statement advised the good citizens of Abia State to remain calm in the trial period and keep faith with the government of DR.OKEZIE IKPEAZU."

#nairaland

Obasanjo Foundation Honours Goodluck Jonathan (Photos, Video).

The Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) has formally recognised and honoured a former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who ruled the country from 2010-2015.

The Foundation, according to information available on its website, was formed because of the importance which former President Olusegun Obasanjo attach to Health, Education (especially girl-child), Youth Empowerment and Agriculture.

Igbere TV reports that the award presentation ceremony took place in Jonathan's Bayelsa home state, over the weekend, during the OOF visit to Bayelsa as part of its nationwide activities. 

Presenting the Award to the former president, OOF, led by its chief executive officer, Dr. Olalekan Makinde, said the choice of Jonathan was in appreciation of the “great works” he did for Nigeria as president.

Makinde lauded the former president for his commitments to 'project Nigeria' and dedication towards making life worthy of living for the downtrodden.

Reacting, Dr. Jonathan said it was a privilege and honour for him to receive such a “special award” from a Foundation owned by a “refined” former head of state, whom he described as his father.

This is a special award coming from my father,” he said, “Yes, Obasanjo is my father. And of course a former head of state. He is on a different level but still my father and will continue to be my father until death do us part.

“He has played his role as a nation builder, even as a military head of state, and handed over to late [Shehu] Shagari...

“And of course, he became a civilian head of state and served his two tenures and has been working for the society even after he left office. He was part of the eminent persons who intervened in South Africa...

“He(Obasanjo) has served the country, he has served Africa, he has served the nation. We respect him, adore him and pray that God should give him more years to mentor us.”

Igbere TV reports that the OOF leadership were in Bayelsa state in continuation of its visitation to states across the federation, where writing materials are freely donated to schools.

In line with its core mandate in the education sector, the OOF, in October, distributed textbooks as well as exercise books to primary school pupils in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Just recently, the Foundation in partnership with the China Consulate announced the donation of over 1,000,000 academic materials to students of public primary and secondary school across the six geo-political zones, which is still on course.

Speaking with Igbere TV, on Sunday, the OOF CEO Dr. Makinde said the Foundation will be in Abuja, Kano and Bauchi states this week, in continuation of the exercise.

Igbere TV gathered that the OOF leadership have been to Oyo, Imo and Bayelsa States were thousands of textbooks and writing materials were distributed to students of public primary and secondary school.

Based on its activities across the country, the OOF, founded by Chief Obasanjo, recently emerged as 'Humanitarian Foundation of the Year' in the 2020 Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards taking place at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, Dec. 10.

#igberetv

Liver Cancer: Babatunde Lawal Is Dead Babatunde Lawal (Permanent secretary)

Babatunde Lawal, a prominent Nigerian permanent secretary from Lagos.

Babatunde Lawal, a prominent Nigerian permanent secretary from Lagos, has died, family sources said on Monday morning in Abuja.

Mr. Lawal, who headed cabinet affairs secretariat at the office of the secretary to the government, died shortly after midnight from liver cancer. He was 56.

A spokesman for the SGF ‘s office did not immediately return a request seeking comments.

Mr. Lawal’s profile described him as an economist with a bachelor and master’s degrees in economics and strong bias in fiscal policy analysis, management and strategic planning.

Mr. Lawal joined the Federal Civil Service in October 1987 as a planning officer Grade I and deployed to the defunct Federal Ministry of Economic Planning, his official profile said. He left behind a wife and children.

#nairaland

CBN action: #endsars promoters must face the law, says presidency

The Presidency has said those who allowed the recent #endsars protests to degenerate into the destruction of lives and properties in the country must account for their actions.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), made this known on Sunday while featuring on Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.

The PUNCH had reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria froze the accounts of 20 #endsars champions while another promoter of the movement, Modupe Odele, was prevented from travelling last week and had her passport seized by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

When asked whether his principal was aware of the development, Shehu said the buck stops at the table of the President, noting that the protesters must face the law.

He said, “This country has only one president and has only one constitution. President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for his government. The buck stops on his table.

“We are a country governed by law. There is a constitution —under section 33— that clearly defines the rights of citizens to freely protest in a peaceful way but where a peaceful protest turns into riot, violence and looting, there is a law and order duty to be performed.

“Everyone witnessed the massive looting of public and private properties particularly in Lagos, Calabar, Plateau, Taraba and some other states, even the FCT.

“Now, the laws of the country must be allowed to decide, to rule on wrongdoing on the part of anybody.

“I am not particular about any celebrity or promoter but this country has been harmed enormously and people should be prepared to account for what they did.”

He added that some politicians who promoted the #endsars demonstrations including those of the Peoples Democratic Party should “publicly denounce” the attendant destruction caused by the protest.

#punchng

#endsars: A warning to Buhari's handlers
Atiku will Accept Animadversion not Cyberbullying. 

Segun Showunmi
I wonder what is to be gained in responding to a sinking government and its minions on Twitter who are obviously moving against the run of play. 

That Atiku Abubakar’s name is associated with everything in Nigeria at this time is fantastic. We must not for fear of Buhari allow ourselves to be bullied. Waziri Atiku Abubakar will not walk on eggshells in a country he has served in numerous capacities, both as a public servant and a political leader, sacrificing so much to build a pan-Nigerian acceptability across tribe, gender, religion and generational divides. 

These did not come by happenstance; they are primed on a vision that indeed, our country must and should work for all and that a leader must strive to be a leader for all. In all the politics of Atiku Abubakar, even the strongest of his detractors would agree that he is never garrulous, bitter, vindictive or destructively violent. He has never been. 

That he has borne so much with the dignity of a statesman cannot be contested; but let it be said loudly and clearly that he will not be made to walk on eggshells in this country. 

At a time where all opinion leaders are soberly thinking of how to douse the somewhat lingering tension and reassure the youths of Nigeria that tomorrow holds a better promise, those with the responsibility of solving today’s challenges are in their characteristic manner looking for enemies where none exists. 

A Nigerian problem of the gravity of the violence that has left all agape must not be reduced to political rabble-rousing of the hangers-on of Buhari. Doing otherwise would be spitting on the graves of the victims. No worthy patriot would engage in that at this time.

When we campaigned in the last election, we were very clear that one of the main issues before Nigerians, based on well-researched evidence, was the quadruple issues of very high unemployment, a greatly divided country, an urgent need to open up more opportunities for prosperity, and of course, an unacceptably high dose of insecurity. 

We campaigned passionately, and we believe the election was rigged against us, but as democrats, we took the very high moral ground of going to court. We are not convinced that we lost on truth, no, we are not. But the verdict came and we accepted it knowing full well that our country was in too fragile a state to endure anything untoward. Otherwise, a good number of our people wanted a long-drawn agitation; some wanted a situation that the country would be made volatile and ungovernable, but Waziri would have none of those.

He believed, in doing these, the sacrifices of democrats; a few of them who lost their lives to the struggle to enthrone civil rule in our country, would be lost, and that this would not be in the overall interest of our country. 

We therefore moved with the Nigeria First attitude, placing our opinions on national issues in a manner that has earned great admiration from other democrats the world over. We acted according to our conviction that no ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We have managed our rhetorics in as civil a way as possible, never inciting nor shaming anyone. However, rather than get reciprocated goodwill, those uncivil, undemocratic, near irresponsible rivals have continued to embarrass themselves in the glare of the entire world. 

Humanity must continuously strive to achieve a mindset of good over evil, and moderation in tone of narrative for we have seen what angry narratives can do and we all must do all within our means to avoid anything that can make a fluid situation combust. 

I suppose it is fair to say that we are not like you guys. We don’t jump in front of citizen advocacy and protest like you all did with Bring Back our Girls, Enough is Enough and the numerous other protests you all funded, energised and actively participated in before the 2015 election circle. 

The truth is that the then leader of the country was and remains an excellent example in democratic behaviour. The same cannot be said of you and your group. You cannot handle a protest of that nature; you react with high-handedness to everything. For you, every problem is a nail, as such, the only solution you know is a hammer. 

At this time, a worthy leader in his final term would be healing the country and bringing everybody to the table to discuss the future, but no, not you and your irritating paid agents. 

Look, the issues that young Nigerians are agitating for are not the types that go away. Truth be told, they are things we all see, and shamefully it has taken young Nigerians to force the issue. We must make good currency of it by embarking on the necessary reforms in the true sense of the word, not chasing shadows, looking for those to blame. And if you must blame, please do not blame Atiku Abubakar. He has held himself up better than Buhari when the roles were reversed!

NB: Animadversion means that when a man accepts a public place, he ought to acknowledge that he will be subject to public scrutiny and should act with magnanimity

#nairaland

It was indeed a great time learning from the gurus at #enugudmm. Digital marketing was made easy.

#enugu #nigeria