Gist Arena

I thought Nigerian leaders should be on austerity measure? If true, this is really mind-boggling: President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo will spend over N4billion on food and travels in 2015, according to the details of the budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. The presidency has a total budgetary allocation of N26.6 billion (N12.9b for personnel, N11. 1 billion for overhead and N2.5 billion capital development fund) for 2015. Specifically, President Jonathan will spend N1.9 billion on travels and transport, while others under the President’s office will spend N1.3 billion on local travels and transport, and another N621,067,913 on travels and transport, internationally. According to Daily Trust, Vice President Namadi Sambo will spend a total on N42.4million on travels and transport, while others under his office will gulp N19.6 million for local travels and tr...

President  Goodluck Jonathan  is set to acquire a new private jet to be added to the presidential fleet in 2015, according to reports. The Federal Government has set aside an initial deposit of N400 million to be paid to the manufacturer of the aircraft. Provision for the new jet was made in  the 2015 budget which was presented by the Minister of Finance ,  Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to lawmakers at the National Assembly in Abuja. The Presidency has also reportedly budgeted N215,635,713 for food stuff and catering N26,663,050,469; N12,917,727,634 for personnel, N11,165,322,836 for overhead costs,N24,083,050,470 for recurrent expenditure and N2,579,999,999 on capital projects.

Babatunde Fashola and his teacher Mrs. Felicia Akinola Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) met his former Bible Knowledge teacher Mrs. Felicia Iyabode Adefunke Akinola at Birch Freeman High School. Mrs. Akinola was invited by the Governor to the State House in Alausa, Ikeja on December 22, 2014, Monday. Fashola and his teacher hadn’t seen each other for 38 years. Therefore, the reunion was very touching and drew nostalgic feelings to both of them. According to the Nation, Mrs. Akinola joined the school’s teaching staff in 1973 and went on transfer in 1989. She taught Bible Knowledge in junior and senior classes and English language and English literature in junior classes. The meeting between the Governor and his former teacher was full of emotions, joy and pride. Both engendered nostalgic reflections on the past and recalled their days as a teacher and a pupil. The meeting between the Governor and his former teacher was full of emotions, jo...

Not the real photo A 7-month pregnant woman simply identified as Feyisara was beaten to coma by a commercial motorcycle operator along Lagos-Badagry expressway, near Oluti bus stop in Lagos State for grabbing his manhood. According to Leadership report, the woman was said to have paid him a stipulated amount of money to convey her from Iyana Iba to First Gate bus stop, Maza Maza. Recounting what happened, an eyewitness who identified herself as Mama Bola explained that the pregnant woman said she had paid the okada driver to drop her at first gate but when they got near Oluti, he stopped, screaming for her to get down. “The pregnant woman, Feyisara said she had paid the okada rider the agreed amount only for him to lie that Alakija was the destination she told him. So, when they reached Alakija, he ordered the woman to get off but she refused insisting that she would get off at her destination, ” the eyewitness explained. An argument was said to have ensu...

Nigerian Gospel singer Caroline Sam, better known as Maheeda, was asked if she can feature in a porn movie if offered N30 million Naira. Self-proclaimed goddess of X, Maheeda got angry after such proposal. Maheeda expressed how she felt about the offer on twitter. Can you imagine insult, dem carry 30million naira dey ask me to do blue film! That one Na money idiot! Two of my cars ba him be that now ! — goddess of X (@MaheedaNigeria) December 19, 2014 She wrote:“Can you imagine insult, dem carry 30million naira dey ask me to do blue film! That one Na money idiot! Two of my cars ba him be that now ! To do p**n movie Na beans? If your money no go change my generation future, park well ohhh I no go do porn movie ! Oshofrey them!” Can you imagine insult, dem carry 30million naira dey ask me to do blue film! That one Na money idiot! Two of my cars ba him be that now ! Clearly Maheeda is one lady that will not stop astonishing everybody. Even with s...

Olusegun Obasanjo has a wish for the upcoming year Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has begged God to do something new in Nigeria in the coming year, 2015. Addressing the crowd at the 2014 Ogun State Christmas Carol and Service of Nine Lessons which held yesterday, December 22, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Obasanjo said Nigeria is in need of divine intervention. The former president became a praise worship singer as he prayed through songs to God to intervene in Nigeria’s woes, PM News reports. He said: “I and the governor have agreed that all what Baba Adeboye said here tonight is what all of us have said. “There is no more word. But you will assist me to sing this song, Nigeria needs something new this time around. “The song goes thus, Do something new in my life and do something new in this country.” As Obasanjo continued in his song, the whole hall was said to have gone into jubilation as shout of “Sai Buha...

The Cable News Network (CNN) has presented its list of the most inspiring women of 2014 and two Nigerians, Dr  Stella Ameyo Adadevoh  and author,  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie made the list. CNN described Adadevoh as “the Nigerian doctor [who] died this year after overseeing the treatment of Ebola patient Patrick Sawyer.” It also added that the doctor’s “efforts prevented the wider spread of Ebola in Nigeria.” Others who were honoured include Oscar award-winning actress,  Lupita Nyong’o ,  Kerry Washington  and Liberian President,  Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf  among others.