Gist Arena

Ni**a say what? Nigerian-American singer Jidenna Theodore Mobisson says he had to bring in a lot of AK47 guns when he came into Nigeria for his fathers burial. In an interview with music channel, VladTV, Jidenna said in Nigeria, light skinned people are more likely to be kidnapped than dark skinned people as they are seen as more valuable. Who is this guy again? Sure you're a classic man? "I have had a particular type of upbringing that is not the traditional. Whatever the traditional is for a light skinned mixed African American. I am Nigerian-American and more specifically I am Igbo American, Igbo being the ethnic group where I am from and that means you are in the South East of Nigeria.   You are way from the city so it means when you go to your village you are the only person or one of the few people that look like you. In my case, our family is light. Therefore when we go to our village, when I actually buried my father I had to bring in a lot of AK47, I...

A church member of Presence Redemption Ministries has petitioned the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing how the General Overseer of her church, David Aderemi Babalola defrauded her of N5million. The contents of the petition dated July 6, 2015, to the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police and other anti-graft agencies stated how Babalola allegedly fleeced Ms. Rita Okoro of the sum of N5, 000,000 (five million Naira).  The petition, which was written on behalf of Ms. Okoro by Lagois-based rights organization, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) called on the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit, and other anti-graft agencies to immediately commence investigations into the fraudulent activities of Prophet Babalola. According to the petitioners, Prophet Babalola obtained the said sum from Ms. Okoro and her family members in the guise of assisting them to secure the release of their brother who has been in police detent...

A Muslim father charged with murdering his three daughters in apparent honour killings has said he would do it again - even if they came back to life 100 times. Mohammad Shafia, 58, cursed his daughters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, saying they were 'treacherous' as he likened them to prostitutes during a conversation that was recorded by police. The mum and one of the daughters He is on trial for their murders after they were found dead in the family car along with Shafia's first wife, Rona Amir, 50, in the Rideau Canal, located in the Kingston area of Ontario in Canada in 2009. Initially police thought the family had been involved in an accident and Shafia told them during an interview that he didn't know where they were.  However, his version of accounts did not add up and he was arrested and charged with their murder. Shafia, who moved to Canada from Afghanistan with his family, is polygamous and after his arrest was heard telli...

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed dates for the conduct of governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The commission said in Abuja on Friday that governorship election will hold in Kogi State on November 21 while that of Bayelsa State is to hold on December 5, 2015. This information was contained in a statement by INEC’s Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Dr. Chris Iyimoga. Iyimoda added that primaries for the elections shall be held on or before August 23, 2015 and September 5, 2015, respectively for the two states in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2014 (as amended). The commission added that campaigns by political parties shall commence on July 24 and end on November 29 in Kogi while that of Bayelsa will be from September 6 to December 4, 2015. Governorship elections did not hold in the affected states during the last April 11 governorship election because the tenure of the two governors ...

The presidency announced today that President Buhari and VP Osinbajo have decided to take a pay cut. They will now only receive 50% of what GEJ and Sambo received during their administration. “I write to forward the completed IPPIS registration form of Mr. President and to draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s directive that only 50% of his salary be paid to him,” the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Nebolisa Emodi wrote to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation yesterday Osinbajo also agreed to take a pay cut. Buhari will now receive 50% of his annual N14, 058,820.00.

David Hayward EARLIER this year, I was approached to do some media consultancy in Nigeria. I had just left the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) after 18 years to set up my own business, so this seemed a great opportunity. I spoke to a number of friends and former colleagues. I had heard many of stories about Nigeria, seen the reports on Boko Haram and had my own impressions of sub-Saharan Africa. The advice fell into two camps: “Don’t go, you’ll get kidnapped or catch malaria. Either way, you’re going to die,” and, “Nigeria is a nightmare. When you arrive, you’ll be swamped by hustlers trying to rip you off, steal your luggage and all your money. If they don’t get you, the corrupt police officers and officials will.” I was mainly to be based in Asaba, the capital of the Delta State, one of the biggest oil producing states is Nigeria. In an attempt to be a bit more thorough with my research than asking a few old mates, I contacted the office of BBC Med...

Chocolat Royal was shut down some weeks ago by NAFDAC after claims that they were using expired goods at the restaurant....but it was re-opened a few weeks later. The management of the popular cafe situated in VI have issued a public statement, explaining their own side of the story. Read the full statement below

A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has granted former Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako and his son Abdulazeez bail of N350 million. Both men are standing trial for a N15billion fraud. EFCC alleges that the former governor and his son along with two others used five companies- Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Serore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited which have been traced to the governor to siphon N15 billion belonging to Adamawa state government. At the court hearing today, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them

12 oil workers were burnt beyond recognition after an oil pipeline belonging to Agip Oil exploded in Bayelsa state yesterday July 9th. According to reports, the oil workers were carrying out maintenance on the pipeline when the explosion occurred. Three others were seriously injured. The cause of the fire is being investigated. 

So says this article by Joseph Guthrie titled 'Tricking Africa?'. Read below.. When the news broke about Akon’s initiative to bring solar power to 600 million Africans, social media was awash with praise and mainstream media felt compelled to spread the word. The Senegalese-American recording artist/entrepreneur officially became the face of the plan that he had dropped hints about for a year. Upon first glance, you couldn’t really blame anyone for extending their adulation. The world’s second largest continent and its 54 nations have repeatedly been a target for imperialism, colonialism, and conquest so seeing a descendent “give back” to the people struggling to keep their heads above water was indeed a refreshing moment.  The official Akon Lighting Africa (ALA)  webpage  is a spectacle to behold: Akon’s visage and signature adorning his words in the form of a quotation “…bringing hope to millions and ultimately giving Africa a better future” greet you as the ...

According to a reader who sent these photos, South African forces are currently raiding Parklands,in Cape Town.It is said to be an area populated with foreigners,especially Nigerians.. More update later..

Four children have revealed how they were paid 2,500 each for bomb attack on Thursday in Yola. Punch  gathered that the bomb, which occurred on Thursday close to a mechanic workshop along Numan Road, was in possession of four children. The children told the police that an unknown man gave them N2, 500 to carry out the attack. It was gathered that the Boko Haram insurgent instructed them to drop the explosive at a specific place in Bachure suburb, near the Army Barracks mainly inhabited by retired military personnel. A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two of the kid messengers who were arrested by the police told interrogators that “ an unknown person gave us N2,500 to drop the explosive at the barracks.” The boys were aged between nine and 15 years. The two arrested boys said the bag containing the explosive was too heavy for them to carry, so they had to sell it to a dustbin scavenger, whom they ran into at the nearby mechanic worksh...

A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said on Wednesday that an Igbo president would help heal the civil war wounds, maintaining that he supports the idea of rotational presidency Gowon said this while delivering a lecture entitled “No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation” to mark the 6th Convocation ceremony of the Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in Anambra. He explained that the civil war was not out of hatred for the late Igbo leader Odumegwu Ojukwu or the Igbos, but was based on the principle of a commitment to a robust Nigeria. “It is wrong to conclude that the civil war broke out following the failure of the Aburi Accord but was the direct result of a unilateral decision of independence for Eastern Nigeria. “If there was no seccession, there would have been no war. “It was a reluctant war waged to unite the country,” Gowon explained. He acknowledged that many people died of hunger and diseas...

A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said on Wednesday that an Igbo president would help heal the civil war wounds, maintaining that he supports the idea of rotational presidency Gowon said this while delivering a lecture entitled “No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation” to mark the 6th Convocation ceremony of the Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in Anambra. He explained that the civil war was not out of hatred for the late Igbo leader Odumegwu Ojukwu or the Igbos, but was based on the principle of a commitment to a robust Nigeria. “It is wrong to conclude that the civil war broke out following the failure of the Aburi Accord but was the direct result of a unilateral decision of independence for Eastern Nigeria. “If there was no seccession, there would have been no war. “It was a reluctant war waged to unite the country,” Gowon explained. He acknowledged that many people died of hunger and diseas...

A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said on Wednesday that an Igbo president would help heal the civil war wounds, maintaining that he supports the idea of rotational presidency Gowon said this while delivering a lecture entitled “No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation” to mark the 6th Convocation ceremony of the Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in Anambra. He explained that the civil war was not out of hatred for the late Igbo leader Odumegwu Ojukwu or the Igbos, but was based on the principle of a commitment to a robust Nigeria. “It is wrong to conclude that the civil war broke out following the failure of the Aburi Accord but was the direct result of a unilateral decision of independence for Eastern Nigeria. “If there was no seccession, there would have been no war. “It was a reluctant war waged to unite the country,” Gowon explained. He acknowledged that many people died of hunger and diseas...