Nigeria faces cash crunch - Minister of Finance

In a recent interview with CNN's Richard Quest, Nigeria Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said this will be a difficult year for Nigeria financially because of the cash crunch we are experiencing, but said with the financial assets the current administration has been able to build over the years, our cash flow will improve over time. 

Read statement after cut....

Pres. Barack Obama Praises President Goodluck Jonathan For Conceding Defeat

America President, Barack Obama has praised President Jonathan for conceding defeat in the recently held presidential election. In a statement released today, President Obama said President Jonathan has placed Nigeria's interest first , this he said is commendable. Read the full statement below... 

The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles. By turning out in large numbers and sometimes waiting all day to cast their votes, Nigerians came together to decide the future of their country peacefully. I commend President Goodluck Jonathan and President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari for their public commitments to non-violence throughout the campaign. President Jonathan has placed his country’s interests first by conceding the election and congratulating President-Elect Buhari on his victory.
I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term, and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture. I urge President-Elect Buhari and President Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the election outcomes, focus on unifying the country, and together lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition. Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Attahiru Jega, deserve special recognition for what independent international observers have deemed a largely peaceful and orderly vote.

I commend INEC for its extensive efforts to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process. Looking ahead to the gubernatorial elections on April 11, it is imperative that national attention turn to ensuring isolated logistical challenges are overcome and peace is protected, even in the most hotly contested races. On behalf of the American people, I extend congratulations to the people of Nigeria and to President-Elect Buhari and look forward to continuing to work with the newly-elected government on our many shared priorities.

Lagos State Governor reverts LASU schoo fee to N25,000

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday reverted the tuition fees being paid by students of the Lagos State University, LASU, to the old rate of N25, 000.

This came as armed security operatives shot teargas canisters at the members of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU-LASU, who gathered few metres away from the entrance gate to protest their unpaid salaries.

The administration of Fashola had in 2011 hiked the fees to between N193,000 to N350,000, which led to massive protests by students, leading to the reduction in the fees from between 34 and 60 percent few months ago.

But during the 19th convocation ceremony of the school at its campus in Ojo area of Lagos, Fashola succumbed and announced total reversal of the school fees to the old rate of N25, 000.
The total 100 percent reversal of the fees elicited wild jubilation among students and parents, who commended the governor for doing the right thing.

 “Our students have also shown that they can choose this path of conflict resolution. They have reached out to me for a revision of their fee, which I have acceded to, in consultation with the State Executive Council for reduction between 34 per cent and 60 per cent across board. In spite of this reduction, the students have again demanded for further reduction. And they have done so in the most civilised way. And because of this, we had to consult extensively and we have come to the conclusion that the current economic situation of the country compels a reduction to the old tuition fees for the institution.
“And this was a response to the yearning of parents, guardian, senior citizens of the country. I believe that with this, it will lead to the end of the activities of the busy bodies who have sorted to use a genuine issue of how to fund tertiary education in our country to gain public recognition. While other well meaning citizens of the state were busy making efforts on how the issue could be better resolved, they were busy instigating students and making mischief.
“Our students have shown that they value their education and will not fall prey to fear weather and self-seeking people who masquerade as their friends, but whose objective is to use the students’ genuine demands for their own selfish agenda. For me, we must now move on to the developmental work students’ arcade, which was ongoing in this great institution. This administration is determined to ensure that no child who seeks education is left behind.”  the governor said

The governor commended the academic and non-teaching staff for their effort in ensuring that despite the nine months strike, they rallied round the Vice chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa to ensure that the students graduated yesterday, saying they ensured that academic activities went on in the hit of the strike.
But Vanguard gathered that the students, two months ago, sent another letter to the governor demanding total reversal to the old tuition fees paid before the increment in 2011.

President Goodlock Jonathan Calls For More Global Action Against Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan who is currently in the United States with 50 other world leaders at the ongoing U.S. African Leaders Summit in Washington DC . Has called for more effective global action as well as implementation of all the existing international protocols against the dreaded terrorist group

More Than 100 killed, As Boko Haram Takes Over Gwoza Town In Borno State,

Heavily-armed men, who are suspected to be the members of the Islamist  Boko Haram sect, launched an acttack on Gwoza town, Borno State, yesterday August 6, 2014, Wednesday.

According to the sources of SaharaReporters, the operation has been completed successfully, as the terrorists were able to capture the settlement, killing more than 100 of its residents in the process.

A baby born with 4 ears, no genital dies in Nigeria

A baby born in Makurdi, Nigeria on Thursday with 4 ears lobes and no genitals  is  dead, a hospital official said.
The baby was delivered by Mrs Mbanengen Emmanuel at about 5:30 p.m at Yima Hospital, located in International Market area, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. John Dzike, on Friday said that the baby died “few hours after delivery”.

Dzike said the baby also had its intestines exposed at the lower part of the abdomen.
According to him, it is the second time a baby with such type of complications was delivered at the hospital this year.

He explained that the defect was caused by malformation during pregnancy.
“This is a case of congenital malformation. Some women use un-prescribed drugs during pregnancy, that is why it is very important to attend ante-natal clinics, especially in the first 12 weeks.
“Diseases like virus, chicken pox, and mumps which are viral, can cause congenital malformation,” Dzike explained.

He advised pregnant women to always attend ante-natal clinics and avoid self medication.
Efforts to speak with the mother of the baby proved abortive as she declined comment.