Gist Arena

The Federal Government has regressed its decision to upgrade some colleges of education to universities of education. The Punch report. Consequently the provosts of the affected institutions have been directed to resume in their offices immediately. Recall, the Federal Government had earlier approved the upgrade of Federal College of Education, Kano; Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri to universities of education. There was agitation bordering on the same issue last week. The agitators were members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities. Their mission was similar: the protesters were kicking against the Federal Government’s alleged plan to reverse the upgrading of the institutions. The former President Goodluck Jonathan, at the twilight of his administration, had upgraded these colleges of education to ...

Despite the security challenge the country is facing, Nigerian security agents, especially those working at the maritime and the aviation sectors, where cargo are processed, may have not really come to terms that sensitive areas of the ports, “entering and exit”, should be the exclusive preserve of Nigerian citizens, like it is done in other countries. Two years ago, a container laden with explosives and dangerous weapons were intercepted by the Nigerian Customs. Only God knows what would have happened if those weapons brought in by some foreigners were not intercepted by the NCS. But still, the shipping industry and business of cargo clearing today in Nigeria is said to be dominated by the Lebanese, Indians, Chinese and South Africans, to the extent that they enter, at will, places like Customs Processing Centre (CPC) that Nigerians cannot access even in Cotonou. Many years after the approval of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage Act 2003 and ...

Immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Dr. Sule Lamido, has said that those who masterminded his recent incarceration wanted to humiliate and crush him. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/my-prison-experience-by-sule-lamido/#sthash.Umalx8jU.dpuf Sule, who spoke exclusively to Sunday Vanguard in Kano, said that his travails over alleged money-related crime had rather emboldened than break his spirit and resolve to be involved in the Nigerian project. According to him, though the main goal of his traducers was to humiliate, destroy and crush him, he had decided to forge ahead in the strong belief that a leader must pass through good and tough times in the course of service. He, however, admitted that the joy of leaving office and settling down with his family was temporarily shattered by the trauma of seeing himself and his two sons in prison. Asked what he told his two sons in prison, Sule said he made them to realize that he was a governor and...

Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Saturday made adjustments to the home-based team in preparation for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania. According to a statement on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website, the team is also preparing for the Sept. 8 international friendly against Niger Republic. “Nigeria will travel to Dar es Salaam to face Tanzania on Sept. 5 to consolidate her winning start. “This has necessitated the early camping arrangement for the Super Eagles players based at home. “Three days after the Tanzania clash, the Eagles will face Niger Republic in Port Harcourt,’’ the statement read. Oliseh, after an intensive opening week of training in Abuja, reshuffled the team as a result of injuries. He said this was in line with his weekend proclamation to work together with U-23 Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, to ensure success. “ The preparations have moved into a higher level after...

 The way he loves his daughter ...If his baby mama tries to keep her away,when she grows up,she'll despise her...

The presidency has said that official portfolio was yet to be assigned to Aisha, the wife of president Muhammadu Buhari, overruling what hitherto was known as “First Lady’s office”. Apparently renaming it “Office of the Wife of the President”, the presidency however stated that Mrs. Buhari would, for now, be saddled with women and youth related issues in the country. The Presidency was reacting to allegations in some Nigerian media that the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has moved into the First Lady’s office in the Aso Villa. Describing the allegation as totally false and fictitious, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with Mrs. Buhari making use of the office space reserved for the First Lady, she had not done so in her capacity. Shehu stated that under president Buhari, the office shall be completely different from what obtained in the past, ...

Two masquerades were arrested on Saturday in Ovoko community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State for robbing a trader along the Nsukka-Obollo-Afor Road. A police officer in Nsukka who pleaded anonymity told DAILY POST on Saturday that the police moved into action when the victim, Mr. Chinonso Ezewaji reported the matter at Nsukka Police Area command. He said when two of the masquerades were arrested, others ran way.According to him, “when the police team reached Ovoko, along Nsukka–Obollor-Afor Road, where the masquerades were operating, two of the policemen in the bus pretended as if they wanted to give the two masquerades money; they stretched their hands to collect it and that was how we hand-cuffed them and others ran away. “Eight masquerades have been on that road since morning tormenting road users; the two of them we arrested have denied involvement in robbing the trader, but they have given the names of the culprits“When we searched one of t...

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who chaired a special committee set up by the National Economic Council, NEC, in this interview with Sunday Vanguard insists that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration plundered the nation’s economy despite the defence being put forward by the former Minister of Finance, and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. As a matter of fact, the Governor who is a member of the National Economic Council, NEC, made further disclosures revealing that under the watch of Okonjo-Iweala, the Federal Government spent the sum of N140billion on consultancy for the Second Niger bridge. He said the money was sourced from the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, illegally, asserting that the Igbos must hold the former President responsible since such amount was expended with no bridge on ground. He insists that the nation cannot succeed in the war against corruption unless people are prosecuted, stressing that “If Nigerians know what these p...

In his bid to maintain cleanliness in his state, Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal has announced a cash reward of N1 million to residents of any street in the state that will be adjudged the cleanest. Governor Tambuwal announced this today August 22nd while flagging off the state's special environmental sanitation programme. According to him, the gesture is one in a series of efforts lined up by the government to protect the health of the citizenry. He also announced that apart from the one million Naira to be given to the cleanest street, the runner-up street will get N750,000 while the third runner-up street will get N500,000.

An American doctor has sparked a fierce debate online after she suggested that parents shouldn't kiss their child on the lips at all because it could be 'confusing'. Dr Charlotte Reznick, a child and educational psychologist at Californian university, UCLA, gave a quote to The Stir .She said:  "If you start kissing your kids on the lips, when do you stop? It gets very confusing.""As a child gets to 4 or 5 or 6 and their sexual awareness comes about (and some kids have an awareness earlier - as when we notice they start masturbating at 2 or 3 sometimes - they just discover their private parts and it feels good),  the kiss on the lips can be stimulating to them." "Even if that never occurs to a child, it's just too confusing! If mommy kisses daddy on the mouth and vice versa, what does that mean when I, a little girl or boy, kiss my parent on the mouth? Her comments have sparked a huge debate as some agree and others do not!...

A teenage girl was allegedly brutally raped by a group of men and then had her eyes gouged out by her sister - all as part of a terrifying exorcism ritual.The girl, who is just 16, is now fighting for her life in hospital after the horrific ordeal.  Her family said they had believed she was possessed by the devil, and were seeking to save her. At the end of the exorcism, the teenager was pinned down as her elder sister cut both her eyes out, it is alleged.  he horrific attack happened in the town of General Pinedo, in the north Argentine province of Chaco.  Police have arrested the older sister, who claims the local pastor ordered her to remove her siblings’s eyes in order to help drive out the evil things her sister was seeing. The older girl said the devil was gaining access to her sister through her visions, and it was believed that because demons are terrified of pain, the act would drive out the devil. It is understood officers are about to arres...

A young father was found shot to death by his 2 year old son in an apartment outside Birmingham, Alabama, United States, on August 18. According to AL.com,Divine Vaniah Chambliss, 31, was watching his son while the boy’s mother was at work.At about  3.00 p.m. , the mum arrived at the apartment where she lives with her son and the couple’s daughter, who was at school. She found Chambliss unresponsive.The little boy is quoted to have told his shocked mum, “I hurt my dad,” The man in bed with a single gunshot wound to the head and pronounced him dead. The coroner’s office hasn’t yet issued an official ruling confirming that the toddler accidentally murdered his dad. But according to a police statement, that appears to be what happened. “Detectives have considered every possible scenario in an attempt to determine who shot the victim,” said the statement, which was posted on Facebook on August 19. “There is still no indication that an intruder o...

Oscar Pistorious is keen on making his stay in jail very comfortable as new details have emerged of his diva demands in jail . South Africa's Judicial Inspectorate revealed the shamed paralympian had a bath installed in his prison cell and was given a new bed after he complained the old one was uncomfortable. He has also been allowed to cook his own meals in Kgosi Mampuru II jail because he is paranoid that someone will try to poison him.  Murasiet Mentoor, the regional manager of the Judicial Inspectorate, was asked to review a number of Pistorius’ complaints about his living conditions. He told CNN: ‘He complained that he wanted a bath. They [correctional services) built a bath in his cell. He also had a complaint about his bed. And they replaced his bed for him.’Oscar was worried that the food in the prison might be poisoned and that it would affect his health,’  Mr Mentoor said Pistorius' fame and disability meant the hospital wing the only viable c...

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has discovered 22 Boko Haram members among Nigerians deported from Cameroun. The returnees were settled at the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Mubi, Adamawa, State. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Director General of NEMA, Mr, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja stated that, the Boko Haram members were identified with a peculiar mark on their backs. “The Camerounian government dumped 12,000 Nigerians at Mubi and we had to move them to transit camps and even open more camps to accommodate them. “Ninety per cent of these returnees are from Borno State with a lot of Boko Haram elements among them. “We arrested 22 of them yesterday, who were actually planning an attack, they were identified with a mark inscribed on their backs with hot iron in form of tattoos. The mark on their backs indicates that they are ready to die,’’ Sidi said.

Kcee has expressed disappointment that his brother and chairman of Five Star Music, E-Money is being dragged into the Skiibii death scandal.Speaking on Wazobia FM, Kcee said   “I’m disappointed with people on social media who said that my brother, E Money, used Skiibii for money rituals. What gets me even angrier is that now that he did not die, they are saying his head was too strong for the juju and that is why immediately I came into the country I decided to use this medium to clarify issues.” “I was on tour with my producer, Soso Soberekon in Norway when the purported rumour of Skiibii’s death broke. Somebody called Soso to confirm the news and Soso called his boy who confirmed that Skiibii col­lapsed and was rushed to the hospital but he did not know what exactly was happening but it’s like Skiibii was dead and so he told the caller that skiibii was actually dead. “I later got in touch with my brother, E-Money, who said he had instructed that Skiibii be transferr...

The Catholic community in Lagos is yet to come to terms with the tragic death of Rev. Francis Alex Okafor. The man drowned during a send-forth party organised in his honour at the Ibeshe Beach in Oriade Lo­cal Council Development Area of the state. Eyewitness account said, while Rev. Okafor and some of his guests were swimming, a strong current came and carried him, together with some of the people. Divers who were immediately mo­bilised were able to rescue three of them, while Rev Okafor could not be found. Two days after, his lifeless body was found floating at the edge of the sea. Rev. Okafor who was in his 30s, was ordained Deacon on July 4, 2015, and was subsequently posted to St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Agboju, Lagos for the mandatory six weeks apostolic work. Describing the incident as a rude shock, Mr. Percy Okuofo, president of Redemption Youth Vocation Ministry (RYVM), the group which organised the ill-fated send-forth, told  Saturday Sun   that the late ...

The presidency has said that official portfolio as Nigerian First Lady was yet to be assigned to Aisha, the wife of president Mohmmadu Buhari.The Presidency was reacting to allegations in some Nigerian media that the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has moved into the First Lady’s office in the Aso Villa. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with Mrs. Buhari making use of the office space reserved for the First Lady, she had not done so in her capacity. “President Buhari promised that there would be a clear difference between the role played by his wife during his tenure and that played by many previous First Ladies. “All that ostentation, ubiquitousness and arrogance we have come to expect from the office are over and done with. Change has come. “The ideal platform from which she will be useful to Nigeria’s women and children is still being...

Christopher and Emehelu Two artisans were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for cocaine trafficking.The suspects, Emeka Emehelu (39) and Aduaka Christopher (38),were apprehended while returning from Brazil. Emehelu is an automobile technician, while Christopher is a baker. Emehelu, who hails from Enugu said,  “I am married with four children. I left Nigeria a year ago for Brazil. As a result of my poor living condition in Brazil, I spent one year without seeing my family in Nigeria. “I accepted to smuggle cocaine for a N1.2m fee. I wanted to use the money to establish a business for my wife, who has been struggling to take care of my family since I left Nigeria.” Christopher a baker also explained he smuggled cocaine because he needed money.He said,  “I would have made N2m from this trip. I was supposed to smuggle the drugs to Nigeria and share the proceeds with my sponsor. “Unfortunately, I could only swallow five...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) have further thrown their weight behind cashless policy with the ongoing Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS). Speaking during the redemption of prizes in Lagos for the first three winners, representative of the Banking Payment System Department of the CBN, IsahAbubakar, said the apex bank will keep giving the desired support for the EPIS project. He said cash-less banking will help in revolutionizing Nigeria’s economic development and enhancing efficiency in business. He praised the process used in selecting the winners. He said the cash-less banking initiative is helping to promote financial inclusion and getting banking to the grassroots. “The CBN is behind the incentive scheme and will support any project that takes banking to the grassroots,” he said. The winners include AdeyinkaAdejuwon, who banks with GTBank, and was the first prize winner. He went home with N100,000; the firs...

A family arrives at the doctor’s office, waiting to follow up with the doctor after their daughter underwent a bone marrow transplant operation. While waiting outside the office, they notice a dark-skinned man waiting as well. But rather than sit next to the dark-skinned man, the family chooses to sit away from the man. In fact, the father even stands so that his wife and daughter can avoid being near him. But watch as they are shocked when the doctor reveals a stunning revelation. Watch the video below

On July 8th, I reported about a woman - Mrs. Ebire Ejor (nee Amungo), the wife of a PDP chieftain in Rivers state, Chief Ngowah Ejor, who was murdered by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt. Read  here . Above is the woman who was unfortunately killed. After the cut, you will find a petition by Amungo family on her suspicious death. Read it below ... Suspicious death of Mrs. Ebiegberi Ejor: Amungo Family Petitions IG of Police.  The Amungo Family of Adubabiri compound of Southern Ijaw local government of Bayelsa State have called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to appoint a seasoned police officer to investigate the suspicious death of Mrs. Ebiegberi Ejor (nee Amungo). In a petition signed on behalf of the family by Dr. Ebimo Amungo, and delivered to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the family said they have lost faith in the ability of the policemen of the Rivers State Police Command to find the true and probable cause of the death of Mrs. ...