Author: Dotun Oladipo

Governors of states that make up the old Western Region today criticised the present formula for resource allocation, saying it is to their states’ disadvantage. The governors said based on the contributions of their states to the National Gross Domestic Product, more resources should have been coming to them. The governors who stated their position on the issue today were those of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; the…

 Members of the House of Representatives today expressed anger at the revelation that the children of Nigeria’s ambassadors were sent to school at the expense of the country in 2011 to the tune of N4.8 billion.  The amount far exceeded what was approved for the purpose.  The fund is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, headed by Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, said this development is not acceptable as the Ministry has again budgeted only N5.2 million for the same purpose this year.  The House said it was almost certain that the ministry…

 Eighteen bodies that remained unclaimed in the aftermath of the St. Theresa Catholic Church bombing in Madalla, Niger State have been given mass burial.  The mass burial was carried out by the Niger State Government.  Over 40 persons died in the blast over which one Kabir Sokoto was arrested.  Sokoto, however, escaped in circumstances that have cost the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, and a Commissioner of Police, Zakari Biu, dismissal from the Force and a proposed trial.  The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Shaba, said the bodies were buried since they were already…

  In continuation of his talent discovery programme, the Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has invited 30 players to the camp of the senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, ahead of the international friendly against the Lone Stars of Liberia.   The international friendly between the two West African nations is scheduled to take place in Monrovia on February 15.   The Chief Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, stated this in a statement made available to The Eagle online.   The 49-year-old former senior team captain is at present in South Africa analysing the…

 In spite of his side’s 3-1 win over Kaduna United in a midweek Nigeria Premier League match, the Chief Coach of Kwara United, Tunde Sanni, admits his team is not yet formidable.  Speaking with The Eagle online after the hard earned victory, Sanni said that the best of Kwara United will be seen soon.  “I am happy we won but I want to say this is not the best we can offer. The players are yet to blend. The new ones are yet to fully integrate into our pattern,” he said.  The former Kwara United player said that the present…

 Okey Emordi, the Coach of Nigeria Premier League side, Rangers International, says he is positive on the chances of the club to break its seeming cup jinx this season.  The immediate past handler of Enyimba International said that he has the crop of players that can deliver but the set goal will only be achieved if the management of the club plays its own role.  Emordi, who is making a fifth return to the club he once played for, revealed that the only remedy that can solve the years of not winning a trophy is for the Enugu State Government…

 Dolphins’ manager, Stanley Eguma, has rated high the club’s newly contracted striker, Ifeanyi Egwim.  Egwim made his debut for the club in midweek’s Nigeria Premier League match against Shooting Stars.  Egwim, who was at the center of a heated transfer battle between Dolphins and his former club, Rangers, was finally cleared to play for Dolphins on Sunday and came on as a late first half substitute on Wednesday, replacing Emem Eduok.  The dreadlocked striker failed to score but put the defence of Shooting Stars under pressure all through his time on the pitch, failing to score a one on one…

 The woes of the Nigeria Premier League side, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club of Ilorin continued unabated on Wednesday as the team lost by a lone goal to Akwa United inside the U J Essune Stadium, Calabar.  The defeat ensured that the Coach Eramus Onuh side is rooted to the bottom of the NPL after six rounds of matches with only one point.  Despite their doggedness, ABS bowed to the superior fireworks of their host led by Coach Solomon Ogbeide.  Akwa United scored first in the 2nd minute of play through Babale Ibrahim while ABS leveled the scoreline with a…

 Police are investigating reports that Nigerian born Newcastle striker, Shola Ameobi, has been targeted by racists in an internet hate campaign.  The club’s officials contacted Northumbria Police after the 30-year-old was alleged to have been targeted on the social networking site, Facebook.  The comments have since been deleted.  A Magpies spokeswoman said the club would always take action against people racially abusing club players.  She said: “We have liaised with Northumbria Police and the matter is now in their hands.

 On the heels of the 18th African Union Summit, the African Union Commission and the World Bank held high-level consultations at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, on January 31, 2012.  The meeting was part of regular consultations on the partnership between both organisations.  It was chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission, H.E. Dr. Jean Ping, who was accompanied by the Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, while the World Bank Delegation was led by the Vice-President for Africa, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili.  The purpose of the meeting was to follow-up on the theme of the Summit – Boosting Intra-African…

 The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, has said that the non-provision of fund for capital projects in Ajaokuta Steel Company in the 2012 budget will not be acceptable to the Senate.   Abatemi-Usman, who is equally a member of Senate Committee on Steel, stated this when the Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada, appeared before the committee for the defence of his ministry’s budget.  A statement signed by Abatemi-Usman’s Special Assistant on Media, Michael Jegede, quoted the Senator as saying:…

 As news spread that “Soul Train” legend Don Cornelius died Wednesday morning of a gunshot wound at the age of 75, fans and friends took to Twitter to express their grief in a stream of condolences that continued Thursday.  The “Soul Train” host would sign off the show with the words “Wishing you love, peace and soul” and many, including musician Rob Thomas and actor/rapper Ice Cube, honoured Cornelius’ memory by tweeting his trademark phrase.  Others, like actress and TV personality Holly Robinson Peete, chimed in with memories of Cornelius as a friend.  “Don was a friend, supporter, neighbour a pioneer. We will miss…

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life? There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’. Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years…

 Have you ever wished you could just quit your job and follow your dream? While reality gets in the way for many, there are some who have taken the chance and ditched their steady paychecks in order to turn their business ideas into reality.  Success is by no means guaranteed, but for the lucky ones the decision to say “I quit” has been handsomely rewarded. With hard work and determination, they’ve been able to turn their ideas into booming businesses.  The following people quit their jobs and went on to make millions, whether it was creating personal wealth or revenue…

 The Nigeria Labour Congress has given kudos to Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the palliative measures announced by the state government to cushion the effects of the recent increase in the price of petrol from N65 per litre to N97 per litre.  In a commendation letter signed by the state’s NLC Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, the union expressed its sincere appreciation for the palliatives announced by the governor in a statewide broadcast.  The letter read in part: “The State Council is particularly proud to note that the Comrade Governor is again the first to announce and implement the relief package in…

 Five members of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, including its Chairman, Mrs. Cecelia Adelusi, have been sacked by the order of a High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.  The court also ordered the cancellation of the local government election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, since the electoral body that should conduct it has had five of its members stripped of their roles.  Justice John Adeyeye, who gave the orders on Thursday, said it was based on the fact that the five members of ESIEC were card-carrying members and apologists of the ruling party in the state,…

 Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has charged the State Civil Service Commission to reinvigorate the service and bring it in line with modern-day realities.  Speaking at the swearing-in of two new members of the commission, Oshiomhole said that competence should come into play when looking at the issue of promotion, adding: “No one should be promoted just because he has been on a certain level for years.  “It is your lot to look at issues of promotion dispassionately.”  The governor, who noted that the appointments of Dr. Friday Eboreime, former Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, and Mr. Matthew Esewe, former…

 The British Department for International Development on Thursday appraised the work of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and disclosed that its activities are crucial to the growth and development of Nigeria.  The Permanent Secretary, DFID, Mr. Mark Lowucock, while on a courtesy call to the Acting Chairman, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, expressed his agency’s   desire to continue to work with the EFCC in its task of fighting graft.  Lowucock said: “The work of the EFCC is fantastically important for Nigeria.  “Britain is keen in supporting Nigeria in all the programmes.  “We are collaborating with Nigeria, especially with the EFCC,…

 The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has re-affirmed his commitment to impact positively on the lives of citizens by utilising money accruing to the state on meaningful projects.  The governor, who made this known when he hosted members and leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the three senatorial districts of the state, market women and youths of the party to separate luncheon, thanked them for their contributions in strengthening the party in the state in the past year.  While appreciating the members of the party for their contributions in the development of the state, Oshiomhole, according to…

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Iloduba Emmanuel before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos for allegedly defrauding some persons to the tune of N310,000.  Emmanuel was arraigned before Justice Adewale Abiru on a nine-count charge of fraudulently collecting over N310,000 from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise that he was going to help them secure jobs with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.  When the charges were read to him in court, Emmanuel pleaded not guilty.  Counsel to EFCC, Ben Ubi, then asked the court to fix a date for trial.  However, Dawodu Owolabi,…