Gist Arena

Found this report on  Mail Online  and they titled it  "Nigerian doll created by man who couldn't find a black toy for his niece is so popular in his country that it's outselling Barbie" . Never heard of these dolls but they are lovely and it's an interesting read. Find below... A man who couldn't find a black doll in the shops as a gift for his niece decided to take matters into his own hands. In 2007, Taofick Okoya, 43, created his own doll that Nigerian girls could identify with by recreating their skin colour and style - and it is now so successful that it is outselling Barbie. The doll, which is called Queens of Africa, comes with traditional outfits and accessories and costs around £4.50. The dolls' look is modelled on three of the country's biggest tribes and aims to promote strong feminine ideals, like love, peace and endurance. The doll is now so popular that, according to Reuters, it is selling up to 9,000 units a mon...

Find the INEC press statement released today below... The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday, 8th February 2015. This supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday, 31st January 2015, and is intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the February 2015 general elections. Continue... INEC hereby calls on duly registered persons not to delay in going to collect their cards before the expiration of the new deadline. The Commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective. Kayode Robert Idowu Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman

Normalcy has since returned to Maiduguri following this mornings attack by Boko Haram members. Nigerian troops killed many militants and recovered several vehicles and rifles from them.  

The 15 year old girl, Paulina Ojeka Ogwuledwu, who went missing in Ogba on January 14th  has been found. According to the girl's uncle, Pastor Akinlade, she returned home on Friday January 30th with the intent of parking her things to go live with a man she'd met at a bus park. When interrogated, Paulina said she'd gone to live with him in his house in Ishaga Lagos after she ran away from home. She's currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Presidential media aide Reno Omokri took to twitter to ask people to retweet in favour of GEJ or Favourite in favour of Buhari on two questions he put out. Well, the opposition won. Lol. Politics!

Photo of the Chadian Mi-24 helicopters used to fight Boko Haram members in Gamboru, Bornu state earlier today. Photo credit: AFP

F ormer CBN Governor Charles Soludo has replied Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's  response  to his viral article. Interesting read. Find below.... I read some of the responses to my article, “Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the Election”, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I am glad that the debate has finally taken off. I have decided, for the record, to re-enter the debate if only to set some records straight and hopefully elevate the debate further. Whom do I respond to? First, let me thank Gov Kayode Fayemi for his very mature and professional response on behalf of the APC. It forms a great basis for deepening the conversation. Pat Utomi, Oby Ezekwesili, Iyabo Obasanjo, and thousands of other patriotic Nigerians have raised the content of the debate. Femi Fani-Kayode made me laugh, as usual. The Gov. Jang faction of the Governors’ Forum played the usual politics, although I know what...

Damboa has suffered repeated attacks from members of Boko Haram.  

A suicide bomber at about 1.20 this afternoon blew himself up inside the residence of a PDP House of Representative candidate in Potiskum, Yobe state, killing 6 people. According to reports, the suicide bomber made his way into the residence of Sabo Garbu, the PDP candidate for the Potiskum / Nangere Federal constituency in Yobe for next month's general elections and detonated the bomb. Many supporters of the politician were at his residence when the bomb went off killing at least 6 people. They are now entering politicians homes? More later.

Former CPC vice presidential candidate and founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare has declared that he earnestly yearns for a better Nigeria where good governace, equal distribution of the nation’s resources amongst others for all citizens. The former running mate of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) made this remarks while ministering during the inauguration and commissioning of Grace and Glory Chapel in Ikeja, Lagos, while giving reasons why he rejected a car gift for his 60th birthday. Pastor Bakare said he was not interested in becoming a local champion in a city of the blind, recalling that, some persons brought him a 2015 model of Rolls Royce during his 60th birthday which, he said, he out rightly rejected, adding that he was not in need of such exotic car while majority of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty. “I want to see good governance. I want to see discipline. I want to see equitable distribution of resources. I want to see the poo...

In this interview, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, clarifies his position on his statement suggesting that he is in support of the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Babangida also speaks on the murder of Dele Giwa in 1986, the Interim National Government, ING, Sani Abacha’s coup and the loss of his long time companion and wife, Maryam. Aired last Wednesday on Channels TV, the interview was an episode in the current affairs programme, STWK (Straight Talk With Kadaria), anchored by Kadaria Ahmed. Excerpts: Do you support President Jonathan’s attempt at re-election? Firstly, I appreciate the fact that he came to visit me and, during our discussion, I found him to be a man who believes in the unity of this country and I did allude to that and I said I found him to be someone who has a very strong belief about the unity of this country. Those of us who fought the civil war – I still carry a bullet so I have a permanent r...