Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuka, has explained why his son missed Tuesday’s Super Eagles training session, ahead of Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Saturday. Iwobi, who plays for Arsenal in England, was one of only five players who missed the team’s first session at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday. He arrived on Tuesday, but could not participate in the session, which had 20 players in attendance, but took part in the evening session on Wednesday. “Arsenal played a game on Sunday and the way it works at Arsenal is you have media obligations and then the warm down. “It was an early kick-off but then you’ve got the media, the warm down and it was practically impossible to head off straight to the airport. He could also have cramp,” Chuka stated. Iwobi senior insists he has trained his son not to take his duties lightly. “Alex is a very disciplined young man and I’d be the last person to encourage him to disobey camp rules. “If Arsenal had played on Saturday, Alex would have been here by Monday and he’d have taken part in training. It was logistically impossible for him to have got here by Monday. I left London with him on Monday for Abuja and we left immediately for Uyo. We got to Uyo as soon as possible; there was no resting in Abuja or anything. We spoke with the team officials about the situation and they agreed with us,” he added.

Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has admitted that he was the player who threw a slice of pizza at then-Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, at Old Trafford in 2004. The incident happened after Arsenal lost their 49-game unbeaten run against United. There was friction between the two sets of players and it spilled over into the tunnel, where a piece of pizza was anonymously hurled into Ferguson’s face. Fabregas has long been suspected of being responsible, but nobody from either side of the scuffle has ever fully accused the Spanish midfielder, a teenager at Arsenal at the time, of casting that fateful slice. But speaking on an upcoming episode of Sky One show ‘A League of Their Own’, Fabregas was asked directly by host James Corden, if he threw the pizza at Sir Alex. “Yes,” the now-Chelsea player sheepishly replied. “All of a sudden, I heard noises [in the tunnel] and I thought what’s happening? So I go out with my slice of pizza and I saw Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown. Everyone pushing each other.” “I was like I want to get involved but I don’t know how to and I just threw it. Once I saw who it was hitting… well, I didn’t mean it. I apologise Sir Alex, I really didn’t mean to do that!”

‘I Won’t Encourage My Son To Break Super Eagles Camp Rules’- Alex Iwobi’s Father

Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuka, has explained why his son missed Tuesday’s Super Eagles training session, ahead of Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Saturday. Iwobi, who plays for Arsenal in England, was one of only five players who missed the team’s first session at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday. He arrived on Tuesday, but could not participate in the session, which had 20 players in attendance, but took part in the evening session on Wednesday. “Arsenal played a game on Sunday and the way it works at Arsenal is you have media obligations and then the warm down. “It was an early kick-off but then you’ve got the media, the warm down and it was practically impossible to head off straight to the airport. He could also have cramp,” Chuka stated. Iwobi senior insists he has trained his son not to take his duties lightly. “Alex is a very disciplined young man and I’d be the last person to encourage him to disobey camp rules. “If Arsenal had played on Saturday, Alex would have been here by Monday and he’d have taken part in training. It was logistically impossible for him to have got here by Monday. I left London with him on Monday for Abuja and we left immediately for Uyo. We got to Uyo as soon as possible; there was no resting in Abuja or anything. We spoke with the team officials about the situation and they agreed with us,” he added.

Big Brother Africa Star, Beverly Osu Confesses To Falsifying Her Age

Nigerian actress, Beverly Osu has come out to confess that she has lied several times about her age in the past. Osu revealed that when she was still a video vixen and everyone thought she was 19, she was actually just 15. The Nollywood actress spilled this secret in one of her birthday post on her social media where she also let out that she lied about her age during her stay in the Big Brother Africa House. She is presently settling for age, 30.

Ooni Of Ife Can’t Wed The Single Mother, Emmanuella, It’s A Taboo – Palace Source

Contrary to rumours making the rounds in most media that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi is planning to unveil a new Olori in person of one Emmanuella Ropo. The Boss Newspapers can authoritatively report that the revered monarch is not making any such plans, more so, as the person involved is already a mother. The act, according to the palace source, is a taboo. Our source revealed that contrary to Ife tradition, the woman in question, Emmanuella, runs a kid’s related boutique and fun shop. Investigations further revealed that whoever wants to be an Olori in Ife kingdom must be a woman with no string of motherhood attached. Emmanuella, unfortunately, is reported to be a mother and has been in more than two amorous relationships. However, unconfirmed reports have it that she’s personally interested in having the monarch pronounce her a lover, but the Kabiesi doesn’t know her in person, and sources from Ife have said that the picture being paraded was just a privilege shot by itinerant photo takers, and does not preclude any relationship. TheBoss learned that the rumour is being peddled by some of her friends who have a close relationship with her estranged lover, known simply as Femi. It was said that they actually orchestrated the scandal to frustrate Emmanuella’s future relationships after she allegedly jilted him. Palace source told TheBoss during the Olojo Festival that the way things are at the moment, the monarch will unveil his Olori in no distant time, and at the appropriate time, taking into consideration that once beaten twice shy. Emmanuella’s first marriage to one Joshua Adewale, an oil dealer, produced two girls before she hooked one Femi and had her third child – a boy. It is also on record that she had been spotted with a popular Abeokuta-based Fuji musician, Alhaji Sefiu Alao Adekunle aka Omo Oko, who lost his wife last December, as well as a senior customs officer whose daughter got married recently at Oniru, in Lagos, and one Engr. Toye, who is allegedly a friend of the Ooni. Consequently, palace source maintained that the Ooni cannot get involved with her.

Reps Issue Bench Warrant For The Arrest Of Magu Over Refusal To Appear Before It

A bench warrant for the arrest of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been issued by the House of Representatives. Following his refusal to appear before it to answer questions regarding a petition filed by the former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the House of Representatives committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday issued a bench warrant on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, The Independent has reported. The bench warrant will force him to appear before the committee. While issuing the arrest warrant on Wednesday, the committee noted that four letters of invitation had been sent to the EFCC chairman with acknowledgement copies without Mr. Magu attending the hearings which have held three times. The motion for the bench warrant was moved by Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), and seconded by Hon. Brown Randolph also from Rivers. Chinda said: “It’s not only for the workings of this committee but for any other institutional body.‎ So I move that the EFCC chairman be issued a bench warrant to appear before this committee to explain his role so that we can conclude this investigation”.‎ It would be recalled that the former first lady petitioned the House wherein she alleged incessant and unwarranted harassment of her person, businesses and family members by security agencies.

There Is No Need To Bring Diezani Back To Nigeria – Attorney General Of The Federation

The Attorney general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has said that embattled former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison Madueke will not be permitted to return back to Nigeria to face corruption charges. The AGF stated that Diezani is currently facing charges of Money laundering in the UK and that it was important for her to face the charges there than to come back as a mere witness to a case here in Nigeria. Madueke had filed a suit to be joined to a corruption case levelled against her associates so that she will be able to testify and defend herself in a Nigerian court. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Malami said; “The truth of the matter is that the government is doing something especially on issues of corruption and litigation in Nigeria and outside the country. Considering the fact that there is an existing understanding between Nigeria and other countries especially the United Kingdom on the recovery of stolen funds, you cannot say government is not doing anything. If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that. As things are now, there is no need for that since the UK government is already investigating her and government will not take any decision that will jeopardise what the UK government is doing. The issue is not about fair hearing now, we are talking about investigation first and it is not within Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke’s power to ask the federal government to bring her to testify in any case in Nigeria.” Some quarters believe that the former petroleum minister is attempting to escape being convicted abroad due to their strict justice system unlike that of Nigeria that has a poor record of incarcerating high profile individuals.  

30 Billion Gang:- Davido Release Full Dates & Venue For His Upcoming Africa Tour ( See Details)

The baddest has been killing all continents from back to back… Now this is an opportunity for us all to witness the energetic performance of the baddest. See time and venue below:-

‘I Hope To Return Quickly For Chelsea’- Injured Striker Morata Says

Chelsea forward, Alvaro Morata has committed himself to recovering quickly from the hamstring injury that forced him to pull out of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers.Chelsea forward, Alvaro Morata has committed himself to recovering quickly from the hamstring injury that forced him to pull out of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers. Morata was injured in the first half of Chelsea’s 1-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester City last weekend. It was feared Morata might be sidelined for up to a month, but Chelsea hopes he will be available sooner. On Tuesday, Morata posted a social media photo of himself in a Chelsea training top, with a target emoji ahead of Crystal Palace, the champions’ next opponents on October 14. “I have no time to lose! Working hard towards recovery! Crystal Palace,” he tweeted. The 24-year-old, who has scored seven goals in nine appearances since joining Chelsea in the close-season, initially joined up with Spain before their World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel. But he withdrew from international duty after an MRI scan showed “a grade II myofascial injury in the hamstring muscles”

Senate Moves To Scrap Post-UTME (Full Story)

THE Senate had begun moves to scrap the post Unified Matriculation Examination, UME as it yesterday mandated its committee on Tertiary Education to meet with relevant stakeholders, especially the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and come up with recommendations on how to achieve the set goal. According to the Senate, the move has become imperative because the introduction of the post – UME examination has to a large extent failed to remedy the problems associated with the JAMB, adding that its continued existence has posed more challenges for the Nigeria educational system. The Senate has also called for the development of a strategy that would ensure the efficiency and integrity in the conduct of JAMB examination. The resolutions of the Senate Tuesday followed a motion by Senator Umaru l. Kurfi, APC, Katsina Central and entitled, “The Need to revisit the regulatory conflict between Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Universities in offering admission in Nigeria.” In his presentation of the motion, Senator Umaru l. Kurfi said that “The Senate: Notes that the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) was established in 1976 and saddled with the responsibility of streamlining and co- ordinating admission practice as well as determining who is admitted into universities and other tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria; “Further notes that that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) is the Federal umbrella organization which oversees the administration of University education in Nigaria, and prior to 2005 , the truly criteria needed for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions was for such candidate to have minimum admission requirement and possess a certain score at his or her JAMB examination. “Aware that the laudable objectives of JAMB began to suffer progressive denudation shortly after its inception as some universities admitted students outside the list sent by JAMB and rejecting candidates with admission letters from JAMB on the ground that they had to comply with their own internal quota and catchment calculation, coupled with the issue of malpractices that plagued JAMB examinations. “Further aware as scores of successful JAMB candidates turned out ill equipped for university education, the Federal Government, in 2005, under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo , introduced the policy of Post-UME screening by Universities which made it compulsory for tertiary institutions to screen candidates after JAMB results and before offering admission; “Worried that while this new development was aimed at addressing the problem of student quality, it reintroduced and entrenched many of the problems it sought to eliminate through JAMB; “Cognizance that while the executives introduced the Post-UME policy as a remedy to the decay in educational standard in higher institutions of learning, there have been public outcry of extortion from candidates despite the rigorous test they pass through at JAMB; “Disturbed that as the integrity of the post -UME examination is open to question as the pecuniary motive of the respective institutions comes so visibly to the fore that there is little pretence about maximizing the income flows through these internal examinations; “Regrets that the introduction of the post – UME examination has to a large extent failed to remedy the problems associated with the JAMB and as such, its continued existence has posed more challenges for the Nigeria educational system.”

Landlord moves to evict Lai Mohammed’s ministry over alleged failure to pay rent

The Federal Ministry of Information under the supervision of Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been given a one-week notice to vacate its Abia State Division office for its alleged failure to pay rent for two years. The landlord of the property, through his lawyer, Adizua Okoroafor, served a quit notice on the ministry. Punch newspaper reports that the quit notice was backed by an order of the Umuahia North Magistrates’ Court, which authorised the landlord or his assignee to approach the court to seek an order to eject the ministry. An official of the ministry, who confirmed the receipt of the quit notice on the condition of anonymity, said the rent of the office complex had not been paid since the current Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, took over the running of the ministry. He said: “Since Alhaji Lai Mohammed was appointed as the Minister of Information and Culture, he has not taken the welfare of the Ministry of Information seriously. He is using the money of the Ministry of Information to run the Ministry of Culture, but Culture is under Information. “We have never seen such a situation where a minister will hide in the Ministry of Culture and abandon the Ministry of Information and that is why we are having this issue of non-payment of our rent. Our rent has not been paid for over two years and we are suffering it now. “We don’t even know what comes next. Our landlord has threatened to eject us any moment from now, and he started a court action against us. “Our staff members have been advised to take their personal belongings from the office because we may come to work one morning and find out that the office has been locked up.”

Nigerian Senate orders Fashola to remove speed bumps on federal highways

The Senate on Tuesday ordered the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to remove speed bumps on all federal highways in the country. The resolution was following a motion jointly sponsored by Senators Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue) and Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra). The Upper Chamber also asked the minister to cause owners of petrol filling stations to build a service lane of not less than 50meteres on both sides of their stations to avoid customers turning directly to and from the highways. Moving the motion, Gemade noted with dismay thousands of speed bumps recently erected on almost all federal highways nationwide to control speed of motor vehicles plying the roads. Speaking in favour of the motion, Joshua Moltobok, from Gombe, said that if such bumps ”must be erected, they should be done professionally.” “Most of these bumps are erected at short distances creating problems for motorists. Heavy-duty trucks find it hard to manoeuvre on these roads and this causes accidents. If there is a need to install these road bumps, it must be done professionally and at reasonable intervals,” he said. However, lawmakers, Godswill Akpabio, PDP-Akwa Ibom, and Ike Ekweremadu, PDP-Enugu cautioned against the total removal of the speed bumps. “We cannot totally eradicate speed bumps because of highly congested communities and schools on the highways. In this case, there is a need for control. Where we need to have bumps, there is a need to have signs like ‘one kilometre ahead’ so as to reduce accidents,” Akpabio noted. After the hot debate, the Senate directed the ministry to remove all speed bumps indiscriminately erected off federal highways nationwide and to regulate and standardise erection where speed bumps must be located.

2019: INEC declares Fayose’s campaign illegal

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has warned politicians and political parties to stop campaign, ahead of the 2019 general elections. He said the ban on campaign was still on and until it was lifted, it was illegal for any party or politician to commence campaign. Yakubu stated this at the quarterly Consultative Meeting with the media in Abuja on Tuesday. Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, had last Thursday declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2019, contrary to Section 99 of the Electoral Act 201 (as amended). The section says: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day.” But the INEC chairman warned politicians and political parties against jumping the gun. Yakubu said: “We want to draw the attention of political parties and candidates that are already going round the country campaigning for 2019 that INEC, the only agency responsible for the release of timetable and schedule of activities, hasn’t done so. “And anything that anybody does is illegal under the law. We should wait for the timetable for the campaign. “The release of timetable does not mean the commencement of campaign.”

APC chieftain, Mustapha exposes Buhari’s real enemies

Former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ogun State, Bode Mustapha, has exposed President Muhammadu Buhari’s real enemies ahead of 2019 general elections. According to him, “those who are urging Buhari to recontest do not love him. They are his real enemies, who only pose as his friends. “ In an interview with Sun Newspaper, he said: “It is also my candid advice to President Buhari that with the complexity of almost 300 nationalities and the enormity and challenges of this nation, President Muhammadu Buhari should become another Nelson Mandela. Let him run for one term and let someone take over from him. “For any Nigerian or group of Nigerians, who has been in this country for the past one year calling on Buhari to re-contest, such a person or group must not only be sycophantic, but have their own hidden agenda which is not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. “Anyone who genuinely has the interest of Nigeria at heart and indeed Buhari will not ask him to re-contest. With the state of his health and age, he will not be the best for Nigeria and Nigerians. President Buhari has come to stabilise and help Nigeria to fight the monster called corruption. “To an extent, he has succeeded in doing this among other achievements; he should not listen to those sycophants who want him to re-contest or their own selfish reasons.”

10 things you need to know this Wednesday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers: 1. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to call Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru to order over alleged act of insubordination that has now humiliated him. In the letter, titled ‘Re: Matters of insubordination and lack of adherence to due process by the GMD NNPC – Dr. Baru,’ Kachikwu alleged that the NNPC boss had repeatedly sidelined and disrespected the board of the national oil firm, including him. 2. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has warned politicians and political parties to stop campaign, ahead of the 2019 general elections. He said the ban on campaign was still on and until it was lifted, it was illegal for any party or politician to commence campaign. 3. The House of Representatives has threatened to push for the scrap the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).It also mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reduction of JAMB cut-off mark. 4. A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Attorney General of the Federation to repatrait her back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. She said she would like to appear in court in Nigeria to defend a criminal charge, bordering on alleged laundering of N450m, where her name had been mentioned. 5. Two members of the National Union of Electricity Employees were on Tuesday beaten during a protest by the union against casualisation, indiscriminate sacking and reduction of salaries by the management of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Kainji/Jebba Hydro Power Plant. The victims, Mr. Suleiman Mohammed and Mr. Yusuf Garba, were reportedly assaulted up by some senior security personnel of the company. 6. Former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has insisted that the current Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, was cloned in London. Asari said his claim was based on the fact that the president struggled to deliver his Independent Day speech. The former Militant leader opined that while the president was reading his speech, it would be observed that the “man they have in Aso Rock” was “trying to mimic” the original Buhari. 7. Relatively, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the address made by President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of the Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary as a long speech of empty accusations. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, the party said the level of emptiness portrayed in the nationwide address was too grave to be ignored. 8. A former Director General of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Prof. Benjamen Ogunmodede, was on Tuesday sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, for mismanagement of funds. Two workers at the account section of the institution, Zacheus Tejumola and Adenekan Clement, were jailed along with Ogunmodede. 9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had discovered two properties belonging to a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu (retd.), illegally acquired in the United Kingdom with funds that he allegedly diverted from the Nigerian Air Force. The commission told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday that investigation by its operatives revealed that Amosu purchased the foreign properties with the help of a Bureau De Change company, Right Option Oil and Gas. 10. Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi were unavailable in Tuesday evening training, ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Uyo. Iwobi who arrived late to camp was given permission to sit out of the drills by Gernot Rohr, but Moses was yet to arrive as at the time of the training.

Biafra: Governor Obaseki speaks on IPOB

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has urged the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to adopt non-violent solutions in pressing home their demands. Obaseki made the recommendation on the occasion of the commemoration of the International Day of Non-Violence. He advised the ‘dissenting’ group to come to the roundtable, maintaining that “when everything else fails, non-violent approach has proven to be reliable as it allows for continuous dialogue, realignment of interests, open and frank conversations, endurance and forgiveness of human mistakes and the conviction that our perceived critics today, could become our most dependable allies and partners after honest discussions. “While several tactics such as restiveness, arms struggle, bombings and hate-laden speeches, are being adopted to push home these demands by the various agitators, evidence shows that the best option to resolving such feelings of perceived marginalisation, disaffection or discontent, is rooted in non-violence.” Obaseki further said that the late Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence and in whose honour the day was celebrated left a model for contemporary leaders to follow. “Gandhi contributed to global leadership models with his passive resistance or non-violence teaching, and with it, he led Indian people to independence, without applying the principle of an eye for an eye,” the governor said. He stressed that “non-violence is still a viable and potent conflict resolution model even today, and should be explored by thought leaders and opinion moulders instead of the rush to unconventional tactics that leave in their wake, deaths, sorrow, regrets and debts.” The commemoration of the International Day of Non-violence was established by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 2007 and it is an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness. According to the UN, “the resolution reaffirms the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.”

Budget: Nigerian government to roll over capital projects to 2018

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has disclosed Federal Government’s intention to roll over at least 60 per cent of 2017 capital projects to 2018 fiscal year. According to her, the decision was based on advice of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Finance to the executive on how to make the budget more implementable. Adeosun made this known when she appeared before the Senate Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Abuja. The minister noted that there was no stoppage in terms of capital releases and projects. Adeosun said: “we had a rollover from the 2016 to the 2017 budget. There was no stoppage in terms of capital spent as projects simply continued. “In the way in which we allocated the fund, the prioritisation was according to the objectives of the economy and growth plan. “We were focused on project completion. So, we prioritised projects that were nearer to completion that were critical in the first releases of capital. “We need more of your support. We have a number of resolutions that we need to complete international borrowings.” Earlier, Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Danjuma Goje, had said that the two ministers were at the National Assembly to brief the committees as well as Nigerians on the implementation of the 2017 budget. “It is very important bearing in mind that the budget was passed by the National Assembly in May and signed into law by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on June 6, 2017. “We are now four months into the implementation of the budget. Nigerians need to know how far we have gone and what we are going to achieve. “We have heard from the Minister of Budget and National Planning that they intend to submit the 2018 budget this month. “By implication, if they bring it this month, they will expect the budget to be approved before the end of the year,” he said.

Nigerian government set to concession Ajaokuta Steel Company for second time

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi has said the Federal Government is set to concession the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State for a second time The Minister made this known during an interview with State House correspondents after he and the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, met President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, the government had appointed an adviser for the firm and had also appointed a new leadership at the expiration of the tenure of the last. He added that efforts were on to ensure a solution to the sale of the Aluminium Smelting Company in Ikot Abasi. The minister said, “The President asked for an update on Ajaokuta and the Aluminium Smelting Company in Ikot Abasi. I came to brief Mr. President on the development to ensure that these companies are back to life. “I told him about the efforts that Mr. Vice President has been making in ensuring that we have a definitive solution to the sale of Aluminium Smelting Company in Ikot Abasi, and that we also move forward in the resolution and agreement reached on Ajaokuta Steel so that we get ready for the second concession. “We have appointed an adviser, we have appointed a new leadership there because the term of the last leadership has expired. Those were the things we updated Mr. President on.” While stating that mineral resources had been contributing significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, Fayemi said his ministry had already exceeded its target for the year. He added, “Mineral resources have contributed significantly to the GDP and revenue. This year alone, we have exceeded the target given to us. “If you look at the Bureau of Statistics report, you will see that the two sectors that have contributed immensely to the GDP are agriculture and solid minerals.” Akeredolu said he used the opportunity of the meeting to ask the Federal Government to take advantage of the natural resources in Ondo State. He said although the state had a seaport, it needed a deep seaport.

Kogi strike: Bello has condemned workers to wheelchair – Labour

The organized Labour in Kogi State says the hardship inflicted on workers by Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration has condemned civil service to the wheel chair They also called on civil servants in the state to be steadfast as their resolute determination to continue the strike action embarked upon 11 days ago had exposed the propaganda of the state government. In a statement jointly issued by the leadership of the state chapters of the NLC, TUC and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC); Olakunle Faniyi, Kolawole James and Isah Abubakar, Secretaries of NLC, TUC and JPSNC respectively, Labour said there was no going back on the industrial action until government met their demands. They encouraged workers to brace up for the hard times that lies ahead in the course of the present struggle for their right. “More hard times lie ahead because this government had vehemently refused to open the door of negotiation with organised labour. “Therefore, be prepared for worst because in the state broadcast to mark 57th independence anniversary, government has not seen any reason to open dialogue with organised labour over the catalogue of workers’ demands that led to he ongoing strike action. “For the umpteenth time, we are calling on government whose responsibility it is to initiate or open door of dialogue because it is the only approach to resolving disputes amicably for the state to move forward. “There is a saying of our elders that ‘It takes only one day for truth to overtake falsehood of over two hundred years’. That is exactly what is playing out in our current struggle. “All the efforts of the combined team of Government appointees and permanent secretaries have not been able to suppress the truth of the abysmal condition of workers in Kogi State under this administration. “It has not suppressed the truth that workers in Kogi State are distressed, it has not suppressed the truth that civil service in Kogi State has been condemned to the wheel chair. It has not suppressed the truth that LG administration has been knocked down and put on a stretcher. It has not suppressed the truth that some top civil servants have not been cleared and paid for several months “Workers would not say all is well when it is not, neither would they say it is not well when it is well. For now it is not well and we are standing to say with all boldness that it is not,” the statement read. Labour directed members to continue to stay away from work and be law abiding. They appealed to government to tow the line of dialogue as a sine-qua-non to resolving the industrial dispute so that the state can make progress.