Newsroom Late Edition Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008

Race to join Nigeria resumes

Twenty teams will line up in the final phase of African Zone qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. With Nigeria safely through, the scrap to finish top of the other 11 pools or claim one of the eight best runners-up berths will intensify this weekend. MORE>>>

Nigeria refuses to back down against Mugabe

JOHANNESBURG – Nigeria said it does not owe Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe any apology over its position regarding the June 27 run-off elections, adding that it remains convinced the status before the run-off vote was a more inclusive basis for power-sharing negotiations. MORE>>>

Siemens’ new energy contracts and Yar’adua’s zero tolerance for corruption

President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s special relationship with the Germans was initially thought to be based on his personal health condition as his medical history is very comprehensive in German hospital (s). MORE>>>

I foresee a major crash in Nigeria newspaper industry – Prof Leo Anyanwu

The future of Nigerian newspaper industry hangs on the balance, says Professor Leonard Anyanwu, a professor of Economics and Management Consultant at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the United States of America. MORE>>>

‘My soccer boots will do the talking’ — Benni

BAFANA Bafana got their biggest boost ahead of their 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria at the EPRU stadium on Saturday when star striker Benni McCarthy said he was fit and ready to play. MORE>>>

News Desk Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Nigeria signs energy deal with Russia's Gazprom

LAGOS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Russian gas giant Gazprom has signed an oil and gas exploration agreement with Nigeria, a deal which could strengthen its position as a supplier of natural gas to Europe and North America. MORE>>>

Nigeria opposition want clarity on Yar'Adua's health

LAGOS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria's opposition called for clarity on the state of President Umaru Yar'Adua's health on Wednesday, saying his absence from the country for more than two weeks was adversely affecting the workings of government. MORE>>>

This Spam Is Brought to You By the Letter "A"
If your e-mail address begins “ajolie@” or “mphelps," your inbox is likely overflowing with messages sporting subject lines that read “Your Lady Will Become Crayzed” (sic) or “Urgent Request for Business Relationship from Lagos, Nigeria.” MORE>>>

Gunmen kidnap toddler in southern Nigeria: military

Nonso Sharon Ijeoma was abducted on Tuesday, according to Lieutenant Colonel Musa Sagir, the spokesman for the military Joint TasK Force responsible for security in the troubled Niger Delta. MORE>>>

Nigeria protest treatment in SA

Cape Town - Nigeria's Super Eagles are protesting the treatment meted to them at the airport on their arrival in South Africa on Tuesday. MORE>>>

Umaru Yar'Adua's health and running a Country

Moments after he sneaked out of the country for what was thought to be a "lesser Hajj" pilgrimage, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has thrown the entire press and the country into a net of confusion with all sorts of uncertainties.

More than two weeks ago the president reshuffled his service chiefs and embarking on the trip to Saudi Arabia, the country has been left guessing about the condition of his health and when he will be back to the coutry to continue the work he was "elected" to perform.

The latest report from Paul Okolo in Nigeria based on what This Day is saying indicates the president's return might be delayed due to a series of tests performed at a Saudi Arabia hospital.

The question here is, with all the natural resources and human capital Nigeria boasts of, how come there hasn't been an established standard hospital in that so-called nation to attend to an ailing president? Why should he be flown abroad for medical attention? Is Saudi Arabia better off in terms of science and technology when it comes to structuring a fabricated nation?

Whatever happens we hope the truth will come to light.

PHOTO OP: Ethiopian Supermodel Liya Kebede

Ethiopia's supermodel Liya Kebede will be joining my girl Oluchi Onweagba, Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford in This Day's Africa Rising Festival on October 14, 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The show will feature a cast of models, designers and actors.

Editorials Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Masaba, the man with 86 wives

INCREDIBLE things constantly happen in Nigeria but perhaps none is as bizarre and engaging as that of Mohammed Bello Abubakar Masaba who married 86 wives. The man from Bida, Niger State, is father to over 170 children. [GUARDIAN]

Improving the road, rail sectors

The Federal Government recently unveiled a three-year plan to improve Nigerian roads. Under the plan, the government is also revisiting the railway modernization project initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. [DAILY SUN]

Babatunde Jose

The grand old man of the pen profession, who passed on on Saturday, August 2, this year, rose from the lowest rungs as a technical trainee at Daily Times of Nigeria, Lagos, between 1941 and 1946 and reached the topmost rung of the leadership ladder of the then conglomerate as its Managing Director (1962-1976) and chairman (1968-1976). [DAILY CHAMPION]

News Desk Tuesday, September 2, 2008

US documentary filmmaker arrested

A Niger Delta military spokesmanm, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said the military handed the American to state security operatives for questioning after arresting him for filming troops at the waterfront in the southern oil center of Port Harcourt. MORE>>>

Kidnapped Israeli oil worker freed in Nigeria

An Israeli executive who was kidnapped last week from his house in Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt was released by his abductors, yesterday. MORE>>>

Resurgent Russia flexes muscles in Africa again

RABAT, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Russia is reviving an interest in Africa that collapsed with the Cold War and its growing appetite for deals in African oil and gas is an added cause of unease in energy-hungry Western Europe. MORE>>>

Millennium celebration in SA strengthens relations: Ambassador

Addis Ababa, September 2 (WIC) – The celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium in two cities of South Africa would help strengthen the people to people relations of the two countries, Ethiopian Ambassador to South Africa underscored. MORE>>>

What's been around Town

The Summer is gone and not much of the heatwave as predicted. I had fun and it was a real blast, from hanging around my neck of the wood and doing my own little thing, I mean the Hollywood hype kind of stuff to all that Summer jams and live concerts coupled with all that politicking, aggressive campaign stuff, Barack Obama and John McCain.

I have stayed away from the politics of the day, really focussing on the Summer jams which spiced me keeping my body and soul together. The reason is not far fetched. There are many other issues of the day that takes up my time especially when one has to be responsible one way or the other putting things into perspective that way the body and soul stays intact without being apart. And when the soul leaves the body it surely becomes a long story.

Anyways, it's all good. I enjoyed all the concerts so far including the comedy clubs. I did visit the Downtown Comedy Club a couple of times this Summer and it was a good company. The club is owned by OG of Saturday Night Live, Mr. Garrett Morris. It's a place to hang out on Fridays and Saturdays if you really want to crack up your ribs. Good place and great comedy.

The African Marketplace Festival which is currently vibrating on the playgrounds of Dorsey High School is another carnival of interest. I will write in detail soon. It has embraced people from all walks of life and Reggae OG Gregory Issaacs will be playing live on Labor Day to bid farewell to the festival. I will be there live and I'm quite sure it's going to be another hell of a show.

Oh, by the way, I'm still a political junkie and do not know, neither do I have a comment on the McCain Veepee pick. Without a doubt Obama made the right choice as the long hurdle to the White House begins. It's all about change and the American people can't wait anymore longer.

Sounds like a political junkie? You bet!

WORLD CUP: Super Eagles Meets Bafana Bafana

Much has been talked about the elite squad of Bafana Bafana as South African national coach Joel Natalino Santana predicts the Nigerian squad are "beatable" when both teams meet on September 6 to slug it out in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native needs to work harder to avoid a Bafana Bafana drop out from the Nations Cup in 2010 which would be held in Angola. South Africa is behind and if they should lose to Nigeria, their chances for a 2010 Nations Cup may slip away.

South Africa has not beaten Nigeria in any major tournament but Coach Santana is assuring South Africans that he can make it happen.

On the other hand, replacements has been made on the Nigerian squad by Coach Shuaibu Amodu due to injuries. Christian Obodo replaces John Mikel Obi while Joseph Akpala replaces Obafemi Martins.

The game would probably be quite close but I think Nigeria has a better chance and would take it at the games crucial stage.

The Line: Nigeria by 2

News Desk Thursday, August 28, 2008

FG douses anxiety over Yar'Adua's health

THE Federal Government moved, yesterday, to douse public anxiety over the state of health of President Umaru Yar’Adua following his failure to return home from Saudi Arabia where he is performing the lesser hajj, and said there was nothing unusual about the delay in his return. MORE>>>



How to end Niger Delta crisis, by Anyaoku, Uduaghan, others

AN overhaul of the nation's security system, election of credible leadership, a better anti-corruption crusade, dialogue with militants and sincerity on the part of the Federal Government in addressing the problems affecting the Niger Delta MORE>>>

Clampdown on MAssob members

Leader of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has raised alarm over an alleged harassment and intimidation by state security operatives in the South East zone ahead of August 28 sit-at-home order. MORE>>>

Gunmen kill UNIBEN deputy registrar

The deputy registrar, killed late on Monday, was the husband of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State and former member of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ighodalo. MORE>>>


Militants kidnap Isreali

An Isreali construction worker has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt Rivers State, but no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction. Identified as Mr. Ehub Arny, the Israeli was kidnapped in his residence in Port Harcourt by four unknown gunmen. MORE>>>

Hanging out with Filmmaker Pascal Atuma on the set of 'My American Nurse II'

About a month ago I had sat over lunch with Pascal Atuma and his attorney at Veronica's Kitchen, in Inglewood, California. We had met to discuss on a series that would probably run about five parts within the next couple of years.

The first part of the series has just been released on DVD and Pascal had brought along with him a copy for me, and talks on part II had commenced as we sat on the corner doing justice to the orishirishi soup and pounded yam at Veronica. I first watched the movie at its premiere on the Crenshaw thoroughfare at Magic Theaters.

Though the movie started shooting about a week ago, Pascal called me to visit the set at Calabar Finger-Licks Restaurant in Gardena last Sunday. Quite busy with the Sunday activities, the African Marketplace Festival and the carnivals of African drums at Leimert Park's "Black Township," I still gave it a shot and popped up at Calabar Finger-Licks Restaurant where the actors, crews and extras milled around the set.

Pascal had told me the second part will be coming up much better when it's released sometime next year. The stars on the set included Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Aloma Wright.

More jabs to come on the set as Shehu's (Pascal Atuma) wife tries to gain ground in the US with all sorts of uncertainties coupled with domestic violence calls.

News Desk (Late Edition) Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Nigeria, Iran negotiate MoU on nuclear power, BASA

The Nigerian-Iran Joint Commission has listed for discussion nuclear power for peaceful purposes, oil and transportation, as the third session of the commission opened in Abuja on Tuesday. MORE>>>

Nigeria sets ambitious renewable energy target

Renewable energy presently contributes less that one per cent of the country’s energy mix profile. Victor Fodeke, Head of the Nigeria Special Climate Change Unit said Tuesday in Accra that the move was aimed at addressing Nigeria’s "awful" energy situation. MORE>>>

Cybersecurity forum: A wake up call to fight online fraudulent activities

At the end of the just concluded 1st National Conference on Cybercrime & Cybersecurity held in Abuja last week, stakeholders in the Nigerian Information Communications Technology Industry were worried over the rising online fraud in the nation’s economy MORE>>>

The Ndidi stock exchange (NSE)

The on-going investigation on her is in connection with her leadership of a group that is suspected of trying to fleece Nigerians in the name of American Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Barrack Obama. MORE>>>

N'Delta youth activist arrested, jailed in US, deported

NIGER-Delta youth activist and president of the Federated Niger-Delta Ijaw Communiites (FNDIC), Chief Bello Oboko was arrested and thrown into the Atlanta Central jail, in the United States for 10 hours and later deported back to Nigeria on August 23 by American security agents MORE>>>

Dariye loot: British lawyers collect £500 per hour

EACH hour spent by the British lawyers of the Federal Government in processing the repatriation of the loot recovered from former Governor of Plateau Sate, Chief Joshua Dariye, cost Nigerian tax payers £500 (N117,500), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission MORE>>>