1,600 cases of pipeline vandalism recorded since January – Minister

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, says Nigeria recorded 1,600 cases of pipeline vandalism since January.

Kachikwu disclosed this at the 2016 Annual Conference of the National Association of Energy Correspondents, with the theme: “Low Oil Price: Impact and the Way Forward.” The conference was held in Lagos on Thursday.

The minister also revealed that the country recorded over 3,000 pipeline vandalism cases from 2010 to 2015 and added that the impact of attacks on oil and gas pipelines was that there was no money to fund the 2016 budget.

Lawyer seeks special salary structure for teachers

Mr Jimoh Abdulrasaq, Ilorin based legal practitioner, has called on the Federal Government to place teachers in public schools on a special salary structure to improve the quality of their service.

Abdulrasaq disclosed in Ilorin on Friday that the education system in the country was parlous and needed to be improved.

He said conscious efforts should be put in place to revive the system using public schools as the engine to drive the revival in the delivery of quality education to the masses of the country.

Dispute with Ivory Coast affects oil development - Ghana, President

Ghana’s President, John Mahama, says a maritime boundary dispute with Ivory Coast had affected the development of the new TEN oil field.

Mahama said late Thursday that Ghana was nonetheless committed to a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Say What | Lagos ranked world’s 3rd worst city to live in

A report released yesterday by The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Lagos as the third worst city to live, maintaining its position at the lowest rungs of the Global Liveability index.

Several other global reports had also said that Lagos, with a population of over 22 million, would in the next few years, become the 4th mega city in the world, with a population of over 30 million.

The city placed 138th out of the 140 cities ranked in the latest liveability survey, just above war-ravaged Tripoli and Damascus. “Of the poorer-scoring cities, 13 continue to occupy the very bottom tier of liveability, where ratings fall below 50 percent and most aspects of living are severely restricted.

Tribute to O. J. Abuah,the Man Who Served 7 Nigerian Presidents - Abati

Life is all about memories. It is the only thing we are left with when flesh and spirit depart the earthly plane, and we can do no more than remember the life of the departed, through memories of times and moments shared, and their deeds in their lifetime. I received a phone call and a whatsapp message announcing the death of Justin Abuah, popularly known to all and sundry as O.J. Abuah, and the world seemed as if it had stood still for a few minutes.

Say What | EFCC nab Man who dupe wife of N6.7m

One Chike Nnaemeka has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for allegedly tricking an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps into marrying him and paying for the wedding.

Nnaemeka, aka Dr. Justified, was said to have duped his victim, Nkechi Ani, of N6.7m.

The EFCC, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Nnaemeka, who claimed to be a gynaecologist, allegedly collected the sum under different requests. The victim was reportedly introduced to him by one of her classmates at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

More than 5 million Nigerians live abroad – EU

Mr Richard Young, Deputy Head of Department, the European Union in Nigeria, says more than 5 million Nigerians are living abroad of which half of them are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Young made the statement on Thursday in Abuja at the unveiling of the National Policy on Labour Migration. He said that Nigeria and four other countries which include India, China, Philippines and Mexico had been mentioned by the World Bank as top recipients of global remittance in 2012.

We have discovered another N33trn stolen under Jonathan - APC, Chairman

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is claiming that atleast N33 trillion got missing from the National treasury during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is claiming that atleast N33 trillion got missing from the National treasury during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Oil production drops by 29 percent against 2016 Budget projection – FG

The Federal Government on Thursday revealed that the country’s crude oil production had dropped by 29 percent, as against the nation’s 2016 budget target of 2.2 million barrels per day, an indication that Nigeria’s current economic crisis might still linger for a longer time.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who disclosed this at the national conference of the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC), with the theme, ‘Low Oil Price: Challenges and the Way Forward’, stated that the nation’s actual crude oil production was at 1.56 million barrels per day, about 700,000 barrels per day below the budget’s target production.

#Rio2016: Usain Bolt clinched Third Olympic 200m Title in Style

Usain Bolt won a third successive Olympic 200m gold on Thursday to keep his hopes of an unprecedented “triple triple” alive and deliver a perfect tonic to the doping-tainted world of track and field.

The victory in his favoured event was Bolt’s 13th individual world or Olympic sprint title from a possible 14 since he took athletics by storm at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The 29-year Jamaican timed 19.78 seconds for gold, Canadian Andre de Grasse taking silver with 20.02sec and France’s Christophe Lemaitre winning bronze (20.12).

Budget Padding: Abdulmimin Jibrin seeks court order to stop suspension by House

A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja to restrain the leadership of the House of Representatives from suspending him.

Jibrin, representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, urged the court to set aside the decision of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and Uzoma Abonta pending the determination of the case.

NABTEB releases May/June 2016 examination results

The National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) on Thursday released the May/June 2016 examination results, in which it declared that of the 69,472 candidates that enrolled for the examination nationwide 38,280 recorded five credit passes, including English and mathematics.

Disclosing this in a briefing with journalists in Benin, Edo State, on the release of the results, the Prof. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Isuigo-Abanihe, NABTEB Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, said the exercise was carried out in 1,530 centres nationwide.

NABDA boss says Nigeria produces 1.1mmt of fish annually, consume 3.2mt

Lucy Ogbadu, Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), has revealed that Nigeria produces a paltry 1.1 million metric tons of fish annually but consumes about 3.2 million metric tons annually.

This leaves a huge gap of two million tons in the supply of fish and fish products.

Ogbadu spoke at the graduation ceremony of 38 females who received training on fish spawning and breeding in Kano on Wednesday.

Team Nigeria #Rio2016 Kits finally Arrive with Just 3 days Left

With just three days left to the end of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Team Nigeria took delivery of the much-awaited kits after most of the athletes had concluded their events with some already back to their bases.

A top official of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria who disclosed this to a source on Thursday said the kits which arrived Wednesday night would no longer serve any purpose because “most of the athletes have left after concluding their events”

Uber to launch First Self-Driving Car service in Pittsburgh

Uber said Thursday it would deploy driverless cars for its ride-sharing services in Pittsburgh this month, pushing the envelope for the use of self-driving technology.

Uber said the program would begin with the cars carrying company “co-pilots,” engineers and safety personnel, after testing the cars in the western Pennsylvania city without passengers for months.

At the same time, Uber also announced Thursday two other moves to further solidify itself as a trailblazer in driverless cars:

Unclad Statues of Donald Trump attracts dozens of onlookers in US

An artists’ collective took credit for exposing Donald Trump to unflattering scrutiny on Thursday, saying it was responsible for a life-size nude statue of the Republican presidential candidate that turned up in a New York City park.

Copies of the orange-tinted likeness – featuring a massive belly, small fingers and missing some genital parts – were simultaneously unveiled in downtown Manhattan’s Union Square Park and public places in four other U.S. cities.

Top Olympic official busted naked for $3.1million scam

A high-ranking Olympic official was arrested while naked in his son’s Rio de Janeiro hotel room.

Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, has been charged with selling tickets for prices higher than face value, in a scheme that could have profits of more than $3.1million.

Hickey, 71, is accused of conspiring with some six others to sell the illegal Olympic tickets.

Man abandons matrimonial home after impregnating 'sister'

A Lagos housewife seeking divorce has narrated to the Igando Magistrates’ Court how her husband eloped with a woman he introduced to her as his sister after impregnating her.

The petitioner told the court that her man, Ezekiel Obeji, abandoned her and disappeared with his supposed sister.

Narrating her ordeal she stated:

Nasarawa State Government appoints new First Class Emir

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Thursday announced the appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Osana-Hayatudeen as the new Emir (Osana) of Keana in the state.

Al-makura announced this at a meeting with the state’s Traditional Council in Lafia following the death of the occupant of the stool, the late Osana of Keana, Sen. Emmanuel Elayo in May.

They want to pull me down, Former President Jonathan cries out

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday cried out over plans by some misguided people to pull him down at all costs by linking him with the Niger Delta Avengers.

Jonathan in a statement released by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, said the reports that the Federal Government was probing him based on the allegations made by a faction of the Avengers as untrue.

The former president described the purported probe said to have emanated from intelligence reports as laughable and a figment of the imagination of the authors.

#Rio2016: United States swimmers to be charge for false crime alarm

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro have recommended that U.S. Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen face charges of false reporting of a crime, the Federal Police of Brazil said.

The recommendation follows assertions by Brazil’s police today that Lochte, Feigen and two other U.S. swimmers who said they were held up at gunpoint in Rio were not robbed.

One or more of the U.S. Olympic swimmers vandalized a bathroom at a gas station after the four left a party early Sunday, according to Rio’s Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso. The athletes broke mirrors and damaged other things in the bathroom, police said.

Twitter suspends 235,000 accounts link with Terrorist

Twitter suspended 235,000 accounts that promoted terrorism over the last six months, as part of a continuing effort to keep people from using the social network for extremist causes, the company said Thursday.

“The world has witnessed a further wave of deadly, abhorrent terror attacks across the globe,” Twitter said in a statement. “We strongly condemn these acts and remain committed to eliminating the promotion of violence or terrorism on our platform.”

Arsene Wenger in talks to sign Jose Gimenez for £56m

Arsenal have started talks with Atletico Madrid over the signing of 21-year-old Uruguay centre-back Jose Gimenez. (Daily Mail)

However, Arsenal will have to pay Jose Gimenez’s release clause of 65m euros (£56m).

Federal Lawmakers Disagree With Ajaokuta Steel Concession Process To Private Firm

Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives have disagreed with the Minister of State for Solid Minerals on the process that brought about the recent modified agreement signed by the Federal Government with Global Steel Holdings Limited for the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe.

At an investigative hearing in the National Assembly, Members of the House Committee on Privatization said stakeholders were not consulted prior to the signing of the agreement.

Kelechi Iheanacho extends contract with Manchester City

Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a two-year contract extension with the club.

The 19-year-old scored 14 times last season even though 25 of his 36 appearances were as a substitute. And new manager Pep Guardiola has rewarded him with a long-term deal on much improved terms.

How a Ghost Slapped Rochas Okorocha at State Government House

Contrary to speculations in the social media that Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, encountered a ghost who slapped him at the Government House and consequently flown abroad for treatment. He denied this allegation, describing it as false and wicked.

Gov Okorocha, who reacted through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, maintained that he had embarked on the foreign trip to woo investors to the state.

Cambodia | Nigerian Arrested for Cocaine Possession

A Nigerian has been sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of drug trafficking after police alleged he had tried to enter the Cambodia with more than five kilograms of cocaine from Brazil.

Lieutenant General Mok Chito, deputy chief of the National Police’s anti-drug commission, said 35-year-old Romanian national Varadi Adrian Calin was detained at Phnom Penh International Airport after disembarking from a flight from Brazil. Officials found 4,961.69 grams of Colombian cocaine in his bags.

After interrogating him, police searched for and arrested Chukwue Meka, 35, who they say was in charge of smuggling the cocaine from Cambodia to Thailand.

See the first #Rio2016 Olympian to be stripped of a medal for doping

The first Olympic medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics has been stripped, according to the Associated Press, and the honor goes to … drum roll, please … Kyrgyzstan weightlifter Izzat Artykov.

The International Olympic Committee stripped Artykov of his bronze medal in men’s weightlifting after he tested positive for strychnine, per Olympics Journalists’ Association president Steve Wilson.

UNILAG Student escape death after Suspected Cultist attacked him

A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), identified as Bayo from the department of Economics Education, escaped death by a whisker after he was shot by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night, August 17. 

According to a report on The Nation, Bayo was immediately rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital after the attack. 

Adeosun reveals that some people exported stones to claim Export Grant

She spoke during a meeting with the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), in Abuja. 

Her words, “On paper, why will you cancel Export Grant? The EG is set up to encourage export business. 

“However, in a situation, where we do not have control, we open up doors for the kind of abuse, which are only imaginable. We have people exporting stones, describing them as high valued goods, collecting an import credit and using that to import fish.”