THIS RAILWAY PROJECT IS CLOSE TO PRESIDENT BUHARI’S HEART, SAYS AG. PRESIDENT OSINBAJO

Being remarks by His Excellency, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the Ground-breaking ceremony of Segment II of the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernization Project, in Ebute-Meta, Lagos on March 7, 2017

PROTOCOLS:

I am extremely pleased and honored to be here this morning for the ground breaking ceremony of the Lagos-Ibadan section of the Lagos -Kano standard gauge railway project.

This is an epochal moment in our national life in many ways.

First, it signals the determination of our President & Commander-in- Chief, President Muhammadu buhari to modernize the national rail system in keeping with his promise to the Nigerian people. If there is a project close to the heart of the president, it is the rail project which he promised the nation upon assumption of office. The President himself made a visit to China, and reopened the negotiations on the Chinese support for this project.

PRESIDENT BUHARI FELICITATES WITH CHINA ON ITS NEW YEAR

Before he proceeded on a short vacation last week, President Muhammadu Buhari had felicitated with China on its Lunar New Year, which begins on January 28. Here is the text of the message:


Message from President Muhammadu Buhari for the Chinese Lunar New Year

The Year of Rooster for the celebration of the Chinese Community in Nigeria and all over the world will commence on 28 January this year. As you spend the next days sharing time with families and friends, on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I want to express my warmest greetings to you on celebrating the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese Lunar New Year.

John Mikel Obi: The Boy that Never Became a Man

All these attempts to pass off Mikel as a legend is just laughable. Mikel is neither a legend at club level or at national team level. At club and national level, he could be missing and the show would still go on. Whatever legendary status he almost had perished with his performance as one of Siasia's young talents. After that, his career never really picked up.
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When he joined Chelsea, we all had high hopes for him. But he never grew up. He became that benchwarmer who was only used when a player was injured or when a new signing was taking too long to adapt to the style of play. That's not a legend.

RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA'S IRRELEVANT OVERBLOATED ACADEMIC CURRICULAR -THE FINLAND EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE

By Moshood Olajide

News emanating from Finland months ago has it that she is ready to do away with the conventional traditional education system. That, there won't be subjects. Students will have to study phenomenons, events, ideas and ideals that relate to their academic aspirations only. The implication of this is that - a Geography undergraduate will not do Biology like the doctors; rather he will concentrate fully on Climate Change management and Geomorphology. A student of International Relations too will not do Philosophy more than the Philosophers; rather, he will concentrate on the theory of diplomacy and power tussle in the International Political system. An Architecture student will not do Mathematics more than the Mathematicians, rather, energy will be focused on the poor land scape viewing of most cities including its urban renewal arrangement.

The problem with the Nigerian education system is that it is too rigid to adapt to the rapidity of an advancing and dynamic system of intellection especially with the over bloated curricular been taught in most Nigerian Universities with no relevance to the day to day happenings in the modern world.

Donald Trump, Brexit and Other Lessons From Conservative Parties’ Politics

Conservative parties, be they called the Tory Party, or Republican Party, or Likud Party, have for the most part of the early 20th century to present advocated policies that seemed unreasonable but the world continued to vote them into office. These policies are often presented to the public lased with patriotic cinnamon sugars. And the public has consumed them with passion.

At the formative stages of the European Union, the conservatives urged Britons not join as Labor and other progressive parties pushed for joining European Union. General Charles De Gaulle’s opposition to Britain’s membership did not help but it was mostly internal British debate that stopped Britain from joining until after ten years (1975), when a twotoone flavor was negotiated and referendum held. Even after joining, the Conservative Party was still lukewarm in the association. It was this attitude that led some conservatives to propose that a referendum be held to exit. The leadership of the Brexit was mostly Conservative Party membership although the conservative PM campaigned against the exit. And when he lost he resigned and the new PM has proclaimed, loud and clear, that Brexit means Brexit and no attempt would be made to renter through a back door.

Election funding: Zenith Bank begs Fayose (PHOTOS SPEAK)

When we are online we need to be objective, many folks ran with the story surrounding Gov Fayose

Same Zenith Bank management team are in Ado Ekiti today to beg the Governor

Let us be circumspect when we are commenting on issue we know nothing about

The post is not to absolve anyone, but we implore our security agencies to be diligent in their duties and should desist from media war.

Top management team of Zenith Bank Plc on Thursday evening came to beg the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, over the involvement of the bank in the funding of the June 21, 2014 governorship election of the governor.

PRESS RELEASE: Nigerian media, most vibrant in Africa – Minister

Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the Nigerian media as one of the most vibrant in Africa and indeed across the world, while assuring that the government will not do anything to stifle press freedom.

Speaking at the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, the Minister said the Nigerian media did not achieve its vibrancy by accident, saying apart from the fact that it derives its powers to function directly from the nation’s Constitution, the Nigerian media has come a long way.

President Obama mourns dead in Hiroshima where a U.S. atomic bomb killed thousands instantly 1945, calls for world without nuclear arms

US President Barack Obama on Friday became the first incumbent U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, site of the world's first atomic bombing, in a gesture Tokyo and Washington hope will showcase their alliance and reinvigorate efforts to rid the world of nuclear arms.

Even before it occurred, the visit stirred debate, with critics accusing both sides of having selective memories, and pointing to paradoxes in policies relying on nuclear deterrence while calling for an end to atomic arms.

The two governments hope Obama's visit to Hiroshima, where a U.S. atomic bomb killed thousands instantly on Aug. 6, 1945, and some 140,000 by the year's end, underscores a new level of reconciliation and tighter ties between the former enemies.

WHY WE MUST WORK TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN PRODUCTION OF MOST ITEMS ON OUR IMPORT LIST - PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Buhari and the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Koozechi

President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed Wednesday in Abuja said his administration is fully committed and determined to do all within its powers to achieve the rapid diversification of Nigeria's economy in the shortest possible time.

Speaking at a farewell audience with the outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Koozechi, President Buhari said he was convinced that with greater diligence, hard work and patriotic determination to achieve self-sufficiency, Nigeria can produce most of the items currently on its import list.

"We made a terrible mistake by becoming a mono-product economy hinged on oil and we are now in a volatile situation, due to the crash in oil prices.

SUBSIDY REMOVAL: WORSE TIMES LOOMING? GOD FORBID!

The deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry proposed by the Jonathan administration offered great promise of economic prosperity for the Nigerian nation. Basically, it would certainly have ended the "fantastic corruption" surrounding the fuel subsidy transactions thereby raising amounts available to the FAAC to share among the three tiers of Government over the years. If the policy was backed by necessary strategic legislative frameworks such as the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), great numbers of jobs would have been created and our nation would have been saved the new trend of militancy represented by the Niger Delta Avengers... Nigerians deserve apology from the champions of anti-deregulation campaigns that led to the unfortunate postponement of that policy.

Why China denies U.S. aircraft carrier Hong Kong port visit

China has denied a U.S. aircraft carrier entry into a Hong Kong port, according to Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Bill Urban.

"We were recently informed that a request for a port visit by a U.S. carrier strike group, including the USS John C. Stennis and accompanying vessels, to Hong Kong was denied," he said. 

"We have a long track record of successful port visits to Hong Kong, including with the current visit of the (command ship) USS Blue Ridge, and we expect that will continue."

Osun is best investment destination for the Chinese -Aregbesola

...As investors eye mining, agric.


The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated his administration’s commitment to continuously improve the economy of the state by focusing on agriculture for self sufficiency of the state.

The Governor also stated that his government would not relent in its effort to harness all resources the state is endowed with for an enhanced economy.

He said these are the reasons why Osun remains the best destination for investors who might also coming in from China as a result of the recent trade investment agreement between Nigeria and China.

Aregbesola gave the assurance while addressing a gathering of business investors at a dinner party organised by the state Government in honour of Chinese investors at the Government House in Osogbo.

Nigeria's Questionable Nationhood and the Fulani aka National Grazing Bil

*Just want to add my own comments on the possibility that such a bill exists.


*The Muslim North is primitive compared to the rest of Nigeria.

*Nigeria is primitive compared to the West.

If Nigerians were to take over the West and run it the way they run Nigeria, and the West were to move to Nigeria, the West will become underdeveloped and Nigeria will become developed, so stated my father.

To continue to accommodate leadership from a region that can hardly lead itself is too seek continuous underdevelopment.

It is not necessarily racist to describe a people as primitive.

A good number of African societies , to a large extent, are confused. They were thrust by colonialism into a world they still don't fully understand. They are often like children learning to walk because of the social dislocations that created their contemporary societies.

Paris Deal: Nations sign climate deal, vow to speed up implementation as the world mark Earth Day

So much for Earth Day just being about symbolic actions.
At the United Nations on Friday, representatives of 175 nations came together to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change, setting a record for the most signatories to any international agreement on the first day it was open for signature.

According to calculations from the World Resources Institute, these countries together represent 93 percent of the world's manmade greenhouse gases.

The Paris Agreement, which was negotiated in December, would for the first time commit all countries of the world to taking action to reduce their emissions of global warming pollutants.

It also contains provisions for developed nations to aid developing countries in transitioning to cleaner technologies, such as solar and wind power.

The agreement is viewed as both a milestone in international environmental diplomacy and as a starting point to rein in global emissions of planet-warming emissions.

FG to fund youths in Agriculture with $300m

As a way of bridging the funding challenge in the agriculture sector, the Federal Government has announced plans to invest $300 million to fund youths in the sector, adding that 20 per cent of an initial grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the Islamic Bank is to be channeled to support the development of women and youth in Agriculture at a total cost of N100m annually for a five year period.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Minister of state for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri while fielding questions from newsmen at a media briefing to declare open the Empowering Novel Agri-Business Led Employment, ENABLE, conference in Abuja.

Oduduwa Voice Radio Says Biafra is 89% Free-Read the Full Report on ABW

Release by Oduduwa Voice Radio

Yes to many Nigerians, nothing is intrinsically wrong or genocidal if Buhari, as the current president of Nigeria, on behalf of his own geographical North and people, who only could monster mere 5% of general revenue to the central purse of Nigeria, decided to use, as he have been doing, the armed forces, Dss , the police and other relevant security agencies to killing people, who are contributing parts of the remaining 95% of which Buhari parts of Nigeria are getting the largest chunk of shares under a draconian federal allocations and useless unitary-Federalism.

Now the International community via series of events and policy statements had rollout series of reports indicting all security institutions in Nigeria of being used by the ruling Government to subvert the will and positions of those who chooses the right of self-determination, rejecting their continuous staying in an unholy marriage created by foreigners and where their lives is endangered and cheated and their natural resources stolen by laws they were never parts of the making via non-conduct of a national referendum to give the social contracts sane credibility.

President Buhari needs more time to sign 2016 budget - minister

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari needs more time to check the 2016 budget bill before signing it, a government minister said on Wednesday, signaling further delays before the legislation takes effect.

The budget for Africa's top oil producer has been held up for months as Buhari had to withdraw his original bill, which set spending at a record $30 billion, in January, due to an unrealistic oil price assumption and flaws in the draft.

Lawmakers approved an amended bill last month but said last week they would hold new talks with the government to discuss "areas of concern" after local media reported disputes over details.

"On the 2016 budget we are still talking," Udoma Udo Udoma, minister for budget and national planning told reporters. He declined further comment.

US Presidency: Donald Trump revealed as Russia's preferred choice

There is only one country which would like to see Donald Trump enter the White House - and it’s not the US.

According to a new survey from YouGov for the Handelsblatt Global Edition, Russia is the only major economy in the world that prefers the Republican, yellow-haired candidate over Hillary Clinton.

The survey polled more than 20,000 adults in every G20 country. The results show that Mr Trump leads by 21 points in Russia, while Ms Clinton claims more than 21 points over her rival in 15 other countries.

The same survey shows that 79 per cent of Russians are dissatisfied with their economic situation - only second to South Korea - yet 74 per cent of Russians vote for their president Vladimir Putin as the most trusted leader.

President Buhari's Foreign Trips - My Takeaway By Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

In making this public intervention, I seek to highlight the benefit of global relationships and cooperation in a world that is changing daily as a result of globalization and transborder economics, social and even criminal activities where no one is safe, except all are safe, and to leave the dispassionate observer his opinion after deep reflection on the value, or lack of it, of the President’s foreign trips.

This way I hope every Nigerian who cares about our country will have some information about what their President is doing about the things that concern them.

First I will start with context.

President Buhari meets with Governor of Guangzhou, visits Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, departs China and Arrives in Abuja today

President Muhammadu Buhari meets with Governor of Guangzhou, visits Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, departs China and Arrives in Abuja on 15th/16th April 2016.                       

President Buhari arrives Guanghzou ahead of his meeting with Governor of Guangzhou Province H.E. Zhu Xiaodan on 15th April 2016