Gist Arena

Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, says Nigeria, at this point, has no choice but to borrow — to invest in the Nigerian economy. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Abuja, Adeosun said the federal government is very conscious and conservative about its borrowing, so as not to leave a heavy debt burden for future generations. “We have a very conservative borrowing programme, and we must borrow; because to do rail — the rail that we have now was done in the colonial era — there has been really significant upgrade,” she said. “We have urgently to do rail to enable agriculture and solid minerals to be competitive, so I really don’t see that there is any option than to borrow. “We will borrow sustainably; we would borrow conservatively to make sure that we don’t burden future generation.” Adeosun however added that the government would be different in its approach to borrowing this time, and would not borrow to fund recurrent expenditure. Rather, it will...

A young man identified as Iyke Ogbonnaya,27, was allegedly murdered by Nigerian police on Sunday, August 7 at about 10.am. According to his brother Kalu Ogbonnaya, who shared the photos on Facebook, his brother was killed following a fight that broke out in their area. He wrote; "My fellow Nigeria, you people should see what the Nigeria police has don 2 my beloved brother Iyke ogbonnaya, I thought dey said the police is our friend but dey are not dat's for sure, see how dey brutally killed my brother over two fighting oh! @ mini okoro police station, 27yrs on sunday 7 August 2016"

US-born Nigerian professional rower, Chierika Ukogu made history today after qualifying for the semifinals of the Women’s Single Sculls Rowing event at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics. Congrats to her!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released popular blogger, Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, otherwise known as Abusidiq, who it arrested on Monday. Friends of the blogger, whose controversial arrest attracted criticism, confirmed to our correspondent that he regained his freedom around 6pm. The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday said the blogger was “for offences bordering on cyber stalking”, adding that he had been offered administrative bail and would be released to his elected sureties. He, however, spent the night in custody after reportedly failing to meet the bail conditions. Considered pro-All Progressives Congress, the bloggers arrest divided Nigerians with some claiming he should be left to his fate and others condemning it, warning that it was violation of his rights. Some others were puzzled by what the EFCC meant by ‘cyber stalking’, claiming that the real reason for his arrest was a story he published...

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration will continue to accord agriculture premium importance through programmes and initiatives designed to motivate the citizens to produce enough food to feed the nation. Speaking at a farewell meeting with Mr. Hoang Ngoc Ho, the out-going Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the State House on Tuesday, President Buhari said the high profile of agriculture in the priorities of his administration was primarily to achieve food self-sufficiency, economic revival and jobs creation. “We are hoping to motivate fellow Nigerians to work hard in this regard. We will continue to work closely with other countries to re-orient Nigerians towards their active involvement in the sector. We believe that the impressive agricultural developmental strides achieved by countries such as Vietnam, especially after the 1975 war, will be replicated here,” the President said. President Buhari congratulated Vietnam for ...

Abubakar Sidiq Former Senior Special Assistant to the ex- president, Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe was embarrassed on Twitter by political blogger, Abubakar Sidiq on the 16th of July over his alleged role in the $2.1 million arms deal scam involving former National Security Adviser, Doyin Okupe. Doyin Okupe during the bitter altercation with Abubakar Sidiq cursed him. He prophesized that Mr Sidiq will end up in Kuje prision. Fastforward to August, 2016; Mr Sidiq was arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over "Cyber Stalking". He is currently being locked up in the EFCC cell pending on when his bail conditions will be perfected. Read how the dirty drama played out between Sidiq and People's Democratic Party chieftain, Doyin Okupe played out:

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, reserved its judgment on appeal challenging the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State from office over alleged tax fraud. A five-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, adjourned the matter for judgment after it heard six separate appeals that arose from verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja that removed Ikpeazu.  Trial Justice Okon Abang had on June 27, ordered Ikpeazu to immediately vacate the governorship seat, even as he directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue fresh Certificate of Return to Mr. Sampson Ogah who came second in the gubernatorial primary election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, conducted in Abia State on December 8, 2014.  Justice Abang said he was satisfied that Ikpeazu perjured by giving false information in the Form CF001 and documents accompanying it, which he submitted to both PDP and t...

Multi-award winning Nigerian comedian, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, has blamed former president, Goodluck Jonathan, for the economic problems currently being faced in the country. In an explosive piece posted on his official Instagram page, the comic actor also made it clear that he did not campaign for Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, during the last general election. Basketmouth further noted that despite not performing his civic duty, he was ready to vote for any other candidate that is not Jonathan in the presidential election.  “Truth of the matter is that I would have voted anyone that could speak 2 words of English against GEJ and that’s strictly based on the amount of greed and selfishness we witnessed from members of his administration in the 6 years that he sat on the rock." Below is his post titled  "Time To Clear The Air".  I usually try not to pay attention to c...

The Nigeria Football Federati "BREAKING: Mr. Gernot Rohr signs two-year contract to work with the NFF as Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles," the nation's football governing body wrote on social media. We'll be bringing you more details shortly...

Shocking footage captured in China shows the moment a young woman is accosted and beaten by a group of women. The gang was led by a woman thought to be her married lover's wife, who accused her of being a mistress. The young lady is seen lying on the ground and howling in pain as the women rain blows on her and try to strangle her with shoelaces as punishment for being a "home wrecker".  In the video, which was uploaded on China’s video-sharing application Miaopai, the victim can be seen lying on the ground covering her face as the wife and friends attempt to strip her of her clothes. They also hit her thighs and backside with a shoe until the victim is red and swollen. Such scenes are common in China where angry wives employ "mob justice" against mistresses of unfaithful husbands.

Prior to the Olympics in Rio, concerns were high about the city's reputation for violence and crime and it is fast living up to that reputation. Disturbing video posted online shows a man writhing in pain in the pool of his blood after his hand was chopped off. Details of how the man met such a predicament is unclear but reports suggest he is thief attacked with a machete by a vigilante shop owner. Other reports suggested the man had been attacked by a rival criminal for operating on his 'patch'. Rio Police have launched an investigation into the incident. Reports have it the man tried to steal from a shop in Porto Alegre but was caught in the act by the owner who chopped off his hand with a machete. Local media claim the man has a criminal record. He is said to have been taken to hospital and is understood to be in a stable condition. More photos and the video below...

Factional chairman of APC in Kano State, Hussaini Mairiga, has described President Buhari as a total failure and a disappointment to Nigerians. According to  Vanguard , Maigira said this while speaking to newsmen in the state yesterday August 8th. "From the looks of things, President Buhari has betrayed the confidence of the Nigerian masses who voted for him massively into power.” he said According to Maigira, one year after assuming office, President Buhari and his cabinet members have nothing to show for it. He said hunger and starvation is prevalent in Nigeria like never before as most families cannot feed three times a day. He lamented that while a bag of rice now sold for N16, 000, prices of other essentials commodities had tripled. Mairiga accused Presidnt Buhari's ministers and aides of lying to him about the true state of Nigeria.

Read the statement below... The Guild of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria (GPBN), the umbrella group of bloggers in Nigeria has condemned the arrest of an Abuja based blogger, Mr Abubakar Sidiq Usman by the EFCC. In a statement signed by its Ag President, Chris Kehinde Nwandu, on behalf of the Association, the Union asked the graft agency to immediately release the blogger .  It queries the action of the graft agency which is usurping the functions of the police. According to the body, the appropriate action to be taken by the agency if aggrieved is to report the matter to the police which will then carry out an investigation. The accused will be made to write down its statement and if found culpable charged to court to defend his action. While we will not condone, the action of any member, the Union said the manner with which the agency arrested the blogger is condemnable .It does not follow global practice. It therefore calls on the graft agency to f...

A Google account manager, 27 year old Vanessa Marcotte's dead body was found naked and burnt in a wooded area of Massachusetts, US, on Sunday night August 7th near her mum's house in Princeton after she went jogging. Police believe she was sexually assaulted before she was set on fire at the crime scene. Detectives believe the incident was a homicide and are now searching for suspects in the mystery case.. A state police source told News Center 5 that Vanessa had burns on her hands, feet and part of her head. Internet search giant Google has paid tribute to Vanessa, in a statement the company said; "Vanessa Marcotte was a much loved member of the Google team, working in our New York office for the last year and a half, and known for her ubiquitous smile, passion for volunteer work and love of Boston sports.  "We are deeply shocked and saddened, and our thoughts are with her family and friends." More photos of Vanessa ...

As the alleged budget padding saga in the House of Representatives continues, EFCC operatives has extended its investigation to the Senate's committee on Appropriation. A member of the House of Representatives,  Abdulmumin Jibrin who was last month sacked as Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, had petitioned the antigraft agency over allegations of budget padding.

Coach of Nigeria's Olympic football team, Samson Siasia has revealed that he and his boys are not thinking about the quarter final, and are taking their journey in the football event one game at a time, starting with the last group game against Columbia. "I think for me and the boys all we are doing now is taking it a game at a time, we are not bothered about the team we will be playing in the quarter finals, let's play Colombia first and from there we will think of our opponents at that stage.' he told theNFF.com “The issue of the team I will prefer to play in the quarter final stage doesn't arise now; what is uppermost in my mind is getting my boys focused for every game." Speaking on his defence –line that has been termed as being the weak link in the team, Siasia said:  “As you all can see, today my defence line didn't concede any goal, yes myself and my technical crew worked very hard to correct all the lapses we not...

25 year old gay Rio Olympics stadium manager Marjorie Enya proposed to her rugby player girlfriend Isadora Cerullo on the rugby pitch on Monday evening after the Rugby final. Isadora said 'yes' as the pair kissed amid cheers from the crowd. Dressed in her Olympic volunteer uniform, Ms Enya asked her girlfriend Isadora Cerullo, 25, to marry her After Isadora accepted, Enya's fellow local volunteers clapped, cheered and waved love heart balloons.  According to BBC Sport reporter Luke Denny, Ms Enya said  'She is the love of my life,' she said of her partner. 'I wanted to show people that love wins'. Same sex marriage has been legal in Brazil since 2003.  More photos below...

The Oyo state police command has paraded four suspects in connection with the death of a member of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Gideon Aremu, who was shot dead at his residence in Alakia, Egbeda Local government area in Oyo state on July 1st at about 11pm. One of the suspects, Ayobami Adedeji, an ex-convict who was freed last year, said himself and his gang members were only out to steal from the lawmaker but had to shoot him after they thought he recognized one of them.  "We left a popular drinking joint at Beere, where we smoked Indian Hemp to our satisfaction. We did not have the lawmaker in mind when we took off from Beere. It was when we were looking for who to rob that we saw him in his car. We stopped him as he was about entering his premises and robbed him of his phone and money. We had only one gun. Alhough I was the one that collected the items, I did not know how much money we took from him. I was given only N40,000. Then Abbey just poin...

Suleman Hashimu, the man who trekked from Lagos to Abuja in support of President Buhari last year is going for the 2016 hajj. He shared the photo above on his Facebook wall and wrote "Salam, dear families and friends. InshaAllah dis afternooni we will begin our journey (hajj) to the holy land of mecca. Please forgive us if we've made mistakes, pls pray for our safety traveling going, during and coming back, wasalam..".

Seyi Tinubu, one of the sons of APC chieftain Bola Tinubu and his new wife Layal J. Holm had their court wedding and engagement party yesterday August 8th. Preparations are now underway for a destination wedding in Lake Como, an upscale resort area in Italy.

The court wedding of Seyi Tinubu, son of APC National leader, Bola Tinubu, took place in Lagos yesterday August 8th. Among the guest were Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, Oyo state governor Abiola Ajimobi, Alaafin of Oyo, Ooni of Ife and his wife Olori Wuraola and many others. More photos below