Jonathan Nominates Obanikoro, Six Others As Ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of seven new ministers to the Senate for  confirmation, African Independent Television [AIT] is reporting.

Among the nominees are a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Kenneth Kobani, a former National Treasurer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, and a former Senator, Patrick Akwashiki.

Mr. Obanikoro was one of the biggest casualties of the gubernatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], after resigning his ministerial position on October 15 to vie for the party’s ticket in Lagos for the 2015 election.

Ebonyi State Governor’s Son Arrested By EFCC

Elechi Nnanna Elechi, the son of Ebonyi State governor, Martin Elechi, was on Thursday, January 29, arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Elechi, who reportedly arrived the commission’s head office in Abuja, was invited for questioning over allegations of laundering worth millions.

Secondary School Students Found Floating On Osun River Dead

The residents of the Ijetu area of Osogbo have been thrown into mourning following the discovery of the corpses of two pupils on the Osun River.

It was gathered that a woman had gone to the river to fetch water when she found the corpses of the two pupils floating on the river.

A resident of the area told our correspondent on Thursday that the woman dropped her bucket and ran back to the community where she raised the alarm.

Chadian soldiers recapture Nigerian town from B’Haram

Chadian soldiers have smoked out the Boko Haram insurgents out of Malumfatori town in north-eastern Nigeria, a top security source said.

One of our correspondents gathered on Thursday that the recapture of the town, which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, followed two days of fighting between the insurgents and the soldiers.

Boko Haram Regrouping For Massive Attack On Maiduguri

Nigerian security sources say they have seen signs that Islamist Boko Haram militants may be planning a massive attack on Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, less than a week after Nigerian soldiers repelled a daring attack and handed the insurgents a costly defeat last Sunday.

Security and local sources told SaharaReporters that Boko Haram terrorists appeared to be regrouping to overrun the strategic northeast city before commencement of Nigeria’s general elections due to start on February 14.

Protesters Stone Jonathan’s Convoy In Yola Over Failure To Crush Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was today stoned in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, a Yola-based source told SaharaReporters.

Jonathan was in the state in continuation of his presidential campaign that is widely being resisted following his 2011 promise that he will be a one-term president.

Gunmen attack bank ATM, one feared dead

Gunmen on Wednesday attacked the Automated Teller Machine of a branch of the United Bank for Africa in the Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti, carting away an undisclosed amount of money.

It was learnt that one person was killed, but the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said no life was lost in the attack.

An eyewitness said he saw a lifeless body being conveyed to the morgue, but could not say whether the victim was a worker or a customer of the bank.

Customers, who went for transactions, were turned back. Other banks in the state capital hurriedly shut their doors as the news filtered into town.

We Saw Helicopters Dropping Arms, Food For Boko Haram – IDPs

Displaced residents of Monguno, in Borno State, which was recently taken over by Boko Haram, have said they saw helicopters dropping arms and food items for the insurgents in the bushes.

The IDPs, who said they spent about 48 hours in the bush running towards Maiduguri, expressed worry that the Boko Haram sect was not the only ones involved in the insurgency, but that there are many foreign fighters and some external supports.

Leader of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Monguno, Muhammed Sani,50, said he had, on several occasions, spotted unusual delivery of items in big wooden boxes by air, and sacks being dropped in the bushes around Marte and Monguno where Boko Haram terrorists were camped.

Pipeline vandals kill two policemen in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed that two policemen were killed in a shootout with pipeline vandals at Owutu area of Ikorodu.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

NAN learnt that the vandals in their numbers had gone there to vandalise pipelines and steal petrol on Sunday night.

They were said to be operating in the area when officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps intercepted them.

Sharia police arrest 12 men accused of planning to wed in Kano

Sharia police arrested 12 men accusing them of attempting gay marriage in Nigeria's second city of Kano, though 10 were later released, a spokesman for the board overseeing Islamic rules in the area said on Tuesday.

Gay marriage, same-sex relationships and membership of gay rights groups were banned in January 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan despite Western pressures over gay rights and threats of aid cuts to those passing laws that persecute homosexuals.

Nigeria's population is roughly split between predominantly Christians in the south and Muslims in the north. As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment extends across the religious divide.

Graphic pics: Student's head cut open during clash between APC and PDP members in Ekiti state

A student of the Ekiti state University suffered severe cut on his head during a clash between the APC and the PDP in the state on Saturday January 24th. While the APC allege that the clash broke out after the National Vice-President, External, National Association of Nigerian Students, Tosin Ogunkuade was arrested by the state police for speaking during its presidential campaign, the state Governor in his defence said the people arrested were thugs of the APC who wanted to cause trouble in the state. The youngman with the cut is currently receiving medical attention. The pic is bad.

See more pics after the cut...

Cambridge University provides More Details On Buhari’s WASC Results

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, UCLES, now Cambridge Assessment, has provided further details on the West African School Certificate, WASC, results presented by Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Candidate in the February 14 presidential election.

In a new post on its website, the university confirmed result grades for the examination in 1961 were issued in numbers, not letters, as suggested by critics of Mr. Buhari who have dismissed the results he presented as fabricated. See their post in full below...

Former Super Eagles coach Musa Abdullahi passes on

Former Assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Musa Abdullahi died on Sunday January 25 after years of battling from stroke. He died in his home state of Kogi.

Abdullahi assisted Coach Fanny Amun to lead Nigeria to a second FIFA Under-17 World Cup title in Japan in 1993. He also coached the Nigerian under 17 and 20 teams.

AIT Online Presidential Poll Live GMB currently leading

Photo credit to Nairaland

There is an online presidential poll by AIT going on. Vote now http://www.aitonline.tv/elections This is the screen shot of the latest as of 8:53am

Soldiers Fire At Borno Governor’s Convoy

SAHARA REPORTERS
Nigerian troops in Maiduguri today opened fire on the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State as the governor approached a military garrison near the airport to visit wounded soldiers.

Security sources told SaharaReporters that the governor’s protocol unit was to blame for the problem, as they had failed to notify the military authorities about Mr. Shettima’s intention to visit the military facility.

An aide to the governor told SaharaReporters that Mr. Shettima, who was unharmed in the encounter, returned to his office unruffled.

Nigerien kidnappers demand $100,000 for Ogun schoolgirl

This was curled from Punch Metro-plus

A Niger Republic-based kidnapping syndicate has demanded the payment of $100, 000 as ransom for the release of its 15-year-old victim, Precious Okoro.

The victim’s father, Nwaigwe, explained that Precious was kidnapped around Songotedo, in the Ajah area of Lagos State, where she had boarded a commercial vehicle en route to her school in Ikenne, Ogun State.

He said he never knew his daughter had been abducted until two weeks later when the school management contacted him to say Precious had not reported in school.

INEC rejects seven gov candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the governorship candidates of seven parties.

The parties and the states affected according to the commission, are the Peoples Party of Nigeria in Delta State; Labour Party in Niger State; the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State; and the Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo State.

Others are the United Democratic Party in Rivers State; and the Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Former Nigerian goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare has died

Former Nigerian International goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare has reportedly lost his battle with cancer. The ex-Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper who had been receiving treatment at a Spanish hospital was said to have died yesterday January 26th.

Agbonavbare, who was a member of Nigeria’s U-21 Mexico 1983 Flying Eagles, lost his wife three years ago to breast cancer.
See photo of WILFRED at the hospital after the cut...

Fighter jets pound B’Haram locations in Monguno

Gunshots boomed again in Monguno, Borno State on Monday as   troops, backed by fighter jets, launched a major offensive to recapture the city from militant islamist sect, Boko Haram.

“The operation resumed on Monguno this (Monday) morning through air bombardment to dislodge the insurgents,” a Defence Headquarters source told Reuters news agency.

The source made this known as the death toll from the foiled bid by the sect to capture Maiduguri is believed to have risen from 65 to 100.

The sect had launched   simultaneous attacks on   Maiduguri, Monguno, Kodunga and Gubio on Sunday. While its fighters were repelled in Maiduguri, Gubio and Kodunga, they overran Monguno after soldiers who   engaged them in gun battle retreated.

Unmanned drone (allegedly) crashes in Borno village

More pics after the cut...

Buhari ’ll lead military to fight B’Haram – Osinbajo

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) will lead the military to the North-East to fight the Boko Haram insurgents if voted into power on February 14, his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), said on Monday.

Osinbajo expressed concern over deepening insecurity in the country and accused President Goodluck Jonathan of reneging on his promise to protect Nigerians.

Fielding questions from a group of youths at a town hall meeting in Abuja, the APC vice presidential candidate said Buhari as President and Commander-In-Chief would lead by example.

Fire ravages two-storey building in Aguda

Fire broke out this morning at about 3.22am in the Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos. The fire ravaged a two-storey building, and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

According to an eyewitness report, fire services responded to the emergency call and were able to put out the fire. Thankfully, no life was lost. More pics and a chilling story after the cut..

Michika in Adamawa state currently under attack by Boko Haram

Boko Haram members are currently attacking Michika in Michika local government area of Adamawa state. According to eye-witnesses, the sect members arrived at about 2 this afternoon and immediately started killing people and burning down houses.

LindaIkeji's Blog

Riot Between Ekiti State Student and the management of Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education in Noforija, Epe Lagos State ( MOCPED)

Updates from TRENDTOPIX

It will be recalled that the Management of Ekiti State University (EKSU) has accused the leadership of one of its affiliate colleges,
Michael Otedola College of Primary Education
(MOCPED), Epe of failure to present the results of students of the College to the Senate of EKSU for approval which would enable the affected students obtain certificates.

Campaign Bill Boards Of President Jonathan Destroyed In Benue

Defence HQ updates on situation in Konduga, Maiduguri

Jonathan’s aides stranded as B’Haram attacks Maiduguri

Nine soldiers and 56 insurgents are believed to have lost their lives in an attempt by Boko Haram to capture Maiduguri, Borno State on Sunday morning.

The   attempt by the sect to capture the town began at about 12.30am and could not be suppressed by a combined team of soldiers, Air Force personnel and vigilante groups until about 11am.

It was gathered that hundreds of heavily armed insurgents   tried to enter the state capital through Jinikin-Moronti along the Jos-Kano Highway and close to the   1,000 and 707 housing estates in the city.

But as gunshots boomed less than four kilometres to the city, another   set of militants launched   attacks on Mongunu,   Kodunga and Gubio , also in the troubled state.

Boko Haram Sacks Monguno Barracks, Fate Of 1400 Soldiers Unknown

 Top security officials just confirmed to SaharaReporters that Islamist fighters today overwhelmed the 243 battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed at Monguno Barracks. The insurgents killed an undetermined number of soldiers and wounded the brigade commander of the barracks.

Our sources said soldiers who put up resistance to the invading insurgents were killed, adding that many soldiers then ran in different directions. They disclosed that 1,400 soldiers were stationed at the barracks at the time of the attack, adding that military authorities were not aware of their exact whereabouts or how many of them had been killed. “We still don’t know what has happened to them [soldiers], but we know that Boko Haram now controls the barracks and Monguno town,” one officer based in Abuja confirmed.

Boko Haram Raping Women, Enslaving Locals In Baga—Escapee

A woman who escaped from Baga, a town in Borno State that recently fell under the control of Islamist terrorists Boko Haram, has told the BBC that the insurgent fighters are indiscriminately raping girls and middle-aged women trapped in the besieged town.

Boko Haram militants overran Baga after sacking a multi-national military base that had the task of defending the town. It is believed that the Islamist fighters may have killed as many as 2000 residents.

Welcome to Nairabaiz: Sign Up For a Bonus package

Welcome to Nairabaiz: Sign Up For a Bonus package: You are Here, This offer is only but for a limited time. If I were you I would act as soon as possible by following the instructions be...

Nigerian Government Reduces Price Of Gasoline, Petrol Now N87 Per Liter

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria tonight approved reduction in the price of gasoline from N97 ($0.52) to N87 ($0.47) per liter .

 The announcement, generally perceived as a political stunt, meant that Nigerians will pay less per gallon of gasoline.

 Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke broke the news to journalists at the State House.

Below is the full statement from Nigeria's Petroleum minister:

JAMB make 7bn from 1.4m registrants

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination has garnered N7billion from 1.4million registrants who have purchased forms to write this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Daily Trust reports.

JAMB’s Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, had told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday that the examination body was impressed with the high number of candidates who had registered for the March 4 examination.

Ogun schools shut as teachers begin strike

Public primary and secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were on Friday shut as members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools embarked on a strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the strike was in response to the inability of the state government to meet the demands of the teachers.

The Secretary of the NUT in Ijebu-Ode, Mr. Olajide Ogunleye, said the action was in compliance with the state unions’ directive as communicated to all chapters.

500 shops razed in another Lagos fire

No fewer than 500 shops have been razed in another midnight fire at the Berlin Market, Marina on the Lagos Island on Friday.

Property estimated at millions of Naira were lost in this latest incident, which is coming barely 24 hours after two men lost their lives and many rendered homeless in a similar fashion in the Ijora Bardia and Iwaya, Yaba areas of Lagos State on Thursday.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the shops were constructed in rows and occupied about two acres of land in the area.

Bird flu hits Lagos, Kano

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday announced that there had been unusual high mortality in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Kano and Lagos states.

The ministry said the bird’s blood samples forwarded to the National Veterinary Research Institute tested positive for H5 Strain of Avian Influenza virus, otherwise known as bird flu, adding that another confirmatory samples were sent to the International Reference Laboratory in Padova, Italy for further characterisation.

Avian influenza, known informally as Avian flu or bird flu, refers to influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. Influenza, commonly known as ‘flu’ is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus.

Updates from Biu: 78 Terrorists Perish In Biu

The number of Boko Haram terrorists who perished in their ill-fated attempt to capture a military base in Biu, Borno State has been put at 78.

It would be recalled that in the early hours of Wednesday, hundreds of terrorists, including foreign nationals, were repelled in a determined effort by Nigerian troops from expanding their operational bases and capturing weapons.

Jonathan Visits Maiduguri

President Goodluck Jonathan has just landed in Maiduguri Airport in a surprise visit to the hotbed of Boko Haram's insugency which has claimed thousands of lives. Sahara Reporters Media

The Chief of Defense staff, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh and National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki arrived the airport in a separate aircraft.

Governor Kashim Shettima arrived the airport to receive the president.

20 years after, Basketmouth vists Alma Mater, shares photos

The comedian took to instagram to share pics from his visit to his secondary school, United Christian Secondary School Apapa Lagos, 20 years after he finished from there. He shared a picture of him sitting 'in same corner, in same classroom' he sat 20 years ago. See Another pic after the cut...

Parents at school gate to pick kids after bomb scare in Abuja

Frantic parents pictured at the gate of Government Secondary School (GSS), Gwagwalada in Abuja following a bomb scare at the School yesterday January 14th.

Police in Imo Defuse Bomb Close to the state's INEC office

Men of the Imo state Police command this morning defused two bombs planted close to the Imo state INEC secretariat in Owerri the state capital. According to reports, the bombs were planted in front of the Owerri Capital Development Agency OCDA and were discovered after a loud noise emanated from that area at about 9.30am today. Policemen are said to have cordoned off the area.

Photo of Boko Haram suicide bomber killed after vest failed to detonate

Military repel Boko haram attack in Biu, 5 terrorists captured

Trailer Crush Customs office building in Mile 2, Lagos

Post from Linda Ikeji's blog

A trailer this morning rammed into the Nigeria Customs Service command building in Mile 2 destroying a car and a motorcycle. The trailer veered off the road after 2 LASTMA officials allegedly dragged the steering wheel of the truck with the driver. Thankfully no life was lost. More pics after the cut...

Photos: Buhari and President Jonathan hug and hold hands

For those who want to kill themselves over politicians in Nigeria...lol. The president and APC presidential candidate pictured hugging at the 2015 election sensitization workshop on non-violence in Abuja this morning.

See a pic of Jonathan, Buhari, Oyegun and Mu'Azu holding hands after the cut...