Nigerian Army kills 9 Boko Haram members in fresh attack – Spokesperson | Thisdaylive

The Army on Wednesday said its troops, Operation Lafiya Dole, killed nine suspected terrorists at Bulabulin, Borno.
Sani Usman, acting Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement that the troops had also wounded several others in the fight which lasted for about an hour. Read more

How to Develop a Social Media-Crisis Strategy | Entrepreneur

It may be difficult to imagine that a comment on social media, or ad campaign, graphic, misquote or argument could cost your organization immeasurably in terms of sales and brand favor. Read more

Justice minister stalls Saraki, Ekweremadu’s forgery trial | The Nation

The scheduled commencement of trial in the alleged forgery case against Senate President Bukola Saraki and three others was yesterday stalled. Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami was yet to make available the documents needed for the prosecution. Read more

APC Chieftains Commend Buhari Over Umana’s Appointment | Leadership

Elder statesmen and major chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing the APC leader in the state and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 general election, Obong Umana Umana as the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority of Nigeria.
In their separate reactions to the confirmation of the appointment by the President, the elders congratulated Obong Umana on the appointment, describing it as well deserved. Read more

Bill Advocating State Police Passes Second Reading | Thisdaylive

House wants local production of army, paramilitary uniforms

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed through second reading, a bill seeking to allow for the establishment of state police as a way to ensure effective community policing in Nigeria. Read more

FG, States’ Revenue to Dip Further as NNPC Seeks to Use Royalties, Taxes to Fund JVs | Thisdaylive

In a move certain to raise eyebrows reminiscent of the outcry over the proposal on the sale of the country’s strategic oil and gas assets, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that it is working on new modalities that would allow it to fund its joint venture (JV) cash call obligations in the future, as well as pay off the arrears on the JVs from oil and gas royalties and taxes. read more

Obasanjo: FG Needs to Spend Less, Earn More, Borrow Way out of Recession | Thisdaylive

 

Backs asset sale through IPOs as Senate rejects proposal

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta

 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday made a number of recommendations to the federal government as the surest way of getting out of the current economic downturn, saying that the government needs to spend less, earn more, and borrow its way out of the recession. Read more

Edo Decides: All Set as Security Agencies Deploy 26,900 Personnel | ThisdayLive

• Accreditation, voting to take place simultaneously, says INEC
• APC, PDP continue to trade accusations over plot to rig poll
• Electoral body: Falsifying results not possible

read more

Fashola dispels fears over possible nation-wide power shut-down | VanguardNg

Lagos- Against an earlier statement of possible shut-down of the country’s power supply over cash liquidity and gas supply difficulties in the power sector, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has faulted such claims, describing it as “inflammatory and insensitive to Nigeria’s national security.” Read more

Your husband can influence conception (2) | VanguardNg

Balance This is not the place to go into the details of psychology or how your unconscious mind can influence you without you realizing it. If you have been following me for a while, you know you can’t just focus on your body, you have to focus on your mind and emotions because they drive your hormones. Read more

BIAFRA: Let my people go, Prophet Nwoko tells Buhari | VanguardNg

ENUGU—RENOWNED Spiritual leader and activist, Prophet Anthony Nwoko has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari over his unrepentant position towards Biafra restoration,, warning him that the ‘ways of man is different from the ways God.” Read More

Ondo Poll:We are flying PDP’s flag, says Sheriff’s faction | The Nation

Apparently hopeful of securing the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)for the November 26 poll in Ondo state,scores of members under the leadership of Ali Modu Sheriff from the 18 local government areas of the state yesterday converged on Akure for a stakeholders meeting. Read more

Ekiti lawmakers incur Fayose’s wrath for visiting ‘foe’ | The Nation

 

•Speaker: they’ve not been removed
Ekiti State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Olusegun Adewumi and Information Committee Chairman Gboyega Aribisogan may have run into trouble for allegedly meeting with those perceived as an enemies of Governor Ayo Fayose, it was learnt yesterday.

They were accused of meeting with Senator Buruji Kashamu,  former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary Temitope Aluko,  Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, activist, lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and a new entrant into Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Yinka Akerele last Saturday in Lagos. Read more

Court to rule on Jonathan’s wife’s $15.5m October 7 | The Nation

A former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify the guilty plea by four companies linked to Jonathan’s wife, Patience.
The companies on September 15 pleaded guilty to laundering $15,591,700 (about N5billion) when they were arraigned. Read more

Edo: APC, PDP test strength | The Nation

 
Police deploy dogs, gunboats, helicopters

The sniffer dogs from the K-9 units were brought in from Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to augment the ones in Edo for enhanced security.
The police also deployed surveillance helicopters and gunboats across the waterways and crime-mapped places.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Habila Joshak, said no fewer than five policemen would man each of the 2,627 polling units across the state to prevent invasion. Read more

Alleged fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Kalu, two others

About eight years after the case was stalled, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday recommenced the trial of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu and two others.
Kalu, his ex-aide, Jones Udeogo, and the ex-governor’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, were re-arraigned on a 34-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja Read more

Nigeria’s Senate Opposes Sale Of National Assets | Channels TV

 
Federal lawmakers in the Nigerian Senate at the beginning of legislative proceedings for the week passed a recommendation opposing the sale of government’s assets.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had last week in his address to lawmakers recommended that the executive should raise capital from the sale of the nation’s assets and other sources to shore up reserves. Read more

Mature beyond his years: Chelsea turn shows Alex Iwobi is ready for Super Eagles place | Goal.com

The Arsenal youngster has set about establishing himself in the Gunners first team and, having done that, will turn his attentions to Nigeria

It is Alexander’s world, and we are living in it by his own benefaction. Only 20, he has ascended the throne of a great forebear, and his encroachment beyond the fringes of public consciousness continues apace. ... Read more

Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Rio, Zola, Hamman Hail “Fantastic” Iwobi | Complete Sport

By James Agberebi:
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea greats, Dietmar Hamann, Rio Ferdinand and Gianfranco Zola, have all showered encomiums on Nigeria youngster Alex Iwobi following his five-star performance in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday at the Emirates.

Iwobi was the standout performer in Saturday's London derby as he bagged the Man-of-the-Match award.

The 20-year-old was involved in Arsenal's second goal which was scored by Theo Walcott.

Writing in his Paddy Power blog, Hamann described Iwobi as a ... Read more

Recession: Fed Govt lists conditions for assets sale | The Nation News

 

Peterside, Soludo, NLC offer recipes

MORE facts are coming up on the Federal Government’s plans to sell some assets in a bid to push back the recession that has hit the economy.
Certain conditions must be met before the sale, which is expected to boost Nigeria’s foreign reserves – a critical factor for potential foreign investors. Read more

APC criticises Fayose for crackdown on banks | The Nation Nigeria

 
•Party: action threatens economic survival

EKITI  State All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Ayo Fayose for his crack down on some banks.

The party said such an action constitutes a threat to the economic survival of the Fountain of Knowledge.

It described the governor’s action as “a wrong signal to the investing community and a recipe for job losses among workers in the bank, majority of who are Ekiti indigenes.” Read more

Nigeria to get $1b AfDB loan to bridge budget gap | The Nation Nigeria

Nigeria will overcome its problems, says Buhari
 

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured that Nigeria has the people and the resources to surmount her economic problems.

He gave the assurance while receiving President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, at the State House in Abuja.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said: “God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it.
“We will get out of our problems. read more

Naira Now N445/$ on Parallel Market | ThisdayLive

by Obinna Chima

The naira sustained its decline on the parallel market as it slipped to N445 to the dollar yesterday, lower than the N440 to the dollar it closed on Friday as pressure and activities of speculators continued to hurt the nation’s currency.

But on the interbank FX market, the spot rate of the naira depreciated marginally to N308 to the dollar, as against the N307.79 to the dollar it closed last Friday.

The President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Read more

We’re broke – Pinnick | Vanguard News

Super Eagles players understand they will have to wait to be paid outstanding bonuses as the football federation’s financial issues continue. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) wants to avoid a dispute ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia on October 9. The NFF insists payments will be made when government releases its funding. Read more

How I got N1.6b from Jonathan’s aide, Dudafa | Vanguard News

By Soni Daniel

A witness in the ongoing trial of a former personal assistant on Domestic Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Warimpamoowei Emmanuel Dudafa Monday told the Lagos Federal High Court presided by Justice M.B. Idris how he received a total sum of N1,667,162,800 from the former presidential aide between 2013 and 2015 through five different companies. The companies are Pluto Properties and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property, Rotato Interlink Services, Seagate Property and Ebiwise Services Limited. The witness, Murtala Bashir Abubakar made the disclosure when … read more

Buhari Not Keen on Asset Sale, For Soludo, It Will be a Historic Mistake - ThisdayLive

-  NLC threatens nationwide protest
 - AfDB announces $2bn support facility

Tobi Soniyi and Paul Obi in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos

As the debate over the proposed sale of national assets rages, THISDAY can exclusively confirm that President Muhammadu Buhari is not in the least bit keen on the disposal of Nigeria’s strategic assets as a means of shoring up foreign exchange reserves and/or ending the economic recession in the country.

Buhari’s position which he has kept very close to his chest, came to light just as a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, faulted the proposal that has been flaunted by members of the federal government’s Economic Management Team (EMT) and has received the blessing of the National Economic Council (NEC) and Senate President Bukola Saraki, among others, read more