Lagos Socialite, Willie Anumudu’s $150m Auto Assembly Plant Set To Take Off

One of Nigeria’s leading auto sales company, Globe Motors, says it has concluded plans to roll out its $150 million (N29.55 billion) automobile assembly plant in Lagos.
Chairman of Globe Motors Holdings, Mr. William Anumudu, told journalists in Lagos that the assembly plant has the capacity to produce 6,000 vehicles annually at the initial start. He added that over 10,000 jobs would be created indirectly as a result of the multiplier effect of the plant and that the company would start with the production of Semi Knockdown parts (SKD) and later graduate to completely knockdown parts (CKD) for Hyundai, Higer and a Globe Motors brands.

He further explained that the company would be assembling three brands of automobiles including Hyundai (Korea), Higer (China) and its own brand, adding that Globe Motors has signed agreements with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of these brands to produce the vehicles for Nigerians using global standard.
Anumudu, who commended the federal government for coming up with a policy for the auto industry, said “We have made a lot of progress in the new plant. We keyed into the government’s auto policy, though, we were hesitant at the beginning, but we have realised it is the way to the nation’s economic development.”
On funding, he said, the company has keyed into the Real Sector Support Fund of the federal government, an intervention fund that is administered by the Central Bank of Nigeria and has received positive response to its funding request.
He noted that the success of the nation’s automotive sector would go a long way in ensuring the country’s development pointing out that all developed countries of the world have thriving automobile industry which boosted their economy.

Baby Abandoned Inside Well Rescued In Niger | Photo

It was a poor sight on Thursday morning in Niger state as residents woke up to the shock of an abandoned newborn baby.
Emotions ran high as residents rallied to rescue the baby from the 6ft-deep well.

The baby was seen floating alongside trash in the well.

Although, no clear confirmation from police authorities have been established, the baby was said to have been rescued alive.
See photos below…baby well1
baby well
Photo credit: Facebook Rariya

ECOWAS Court Charges Ghana $250,000 Fine Over Unlawful Killing Of Nigerian

Hon. Justice Micah Wrights of ECOWAS Community court on Wednesday in Abuja, handed down a $250, 000 fine to Ghanaian government over the right abuse and alleged unlawful killing of 15 years old Ogukwe Obioma.

The Judge while delivering the judgment, established that Ogukwe Obioma the Nigerian teenager studying in Ghana, has his right violated abused which lead to his eventual death.
In a suit, no ECW/CCJ/APP/03/14 filed by Mr Ogukwe the father of the late student, wants the court to compel the government of Ghana to undertake a proper investigation to reveal the circumstances that lead to the death of his son.
He also asked the court to compel the government of Ghana to compensate his family with the sum of $ 10,000,000 for the violation of the right of his late son.
However, the presiding Judge maintained that the court cannot hold the government of Ghana responsible for the death of the young Nigeria.
The court then said that since the government of Ghana failed to provide adequate investigation as well as detailed report on how the boy died, the court would have no choice but to indict the Ghanaian government.
Micah then said that “the $10,000,000 request by the family of the late boy was unrealistic and outrageous, he then slammed a fine of $250,000 on the Ghanaian government.
The Counsel representing the Ghanaian government when approached by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), for comments over the judgment, he however declined. The family of the Plaintiff were absent at the court.
Source: BreakingTimes

CBN Floats The Naira; What It Means For You!

The Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) announced a new foreign exchange Policy direction on Wednesday after a year of ineffective ‘trial and error’ type policies.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon, the CBN revealed that it had finally succumbed to common sense as it will now let the foreign exchange rate be determined by the market forces. Before now, the CBN maintained strict control of Forex rates, resulting in an official rate (which existed for businesses favored by the Government) and a parallel market rate which has soared all year.
In the simplest terms, the implication of the new policy is that the CBN will allow demand and supply to determine how much the Naira is worth against major currencies and will only intervene in the market occasionally.
Surprisingly, the 41 items for which Forex access was banned last year will still remain banned. The CBN has now introduced a “two way quote” in which buyers and sellers will be able to state the prices and quantities they’re willing to sell (Think of it like the Nigerian Stock Exchange).
As it stands, the market price for the Naira will remain at N197 until Monday morning when the market determined price will take over

LASEMA Confirms Death Toll Of Third Mainland Accident

Thursday night claimed at leaat seven lives.
Although there had been no official confirmation as at the time of that report, LASEMA has now provided details.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that an accident on Third Mainland Bridge and another at Ketu Alapere had left six people dead. Twenty three people were also injured in both auto accidents.

The accident on Third Mainland Bridge claimed five lives when a commercial bus ran into a stationary truck.
Investigation conducted by LASEMA’s Emergency Response Team at the scene revealed that the commercial bus hit the faulty truck while on top speed.
“Five victims, adult males, were trapped and removed from the vehicle dead by the Agency Emergency Response Team while six adult males were rescued alive with severe injuries and were taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre (Trauma Centre) and Gbagada General Hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS.
“The dead bodies were also evacuated by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU to Mainland Hospital Mortuary, except the commercial bus driver whose body was released at the request of the family members and friends through the intervention of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who was present at the scene of the accident,” said LASEMA General Manager, Michael Akindele.
The second accident occurred at about 3.35 a.m. on Thursday at Alapere, when a Volkswagen commercial bus with 18 passengers lost control and somersaulted.

Awawa Cult Gang Members Arrested In Agege

This three members of the very notorious Awawa cult group who terrorize residents within Agege and Dopemu axis were arrested at Dopemu area of Lagos by Lagos Task Force.

Source: News Helm

Two Docked For Having s*x In Public Place In Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja Police Command on Wednesday arraigned one Vincent Chikwukume and Nnandi Ujunwa before an Abuja Grade 1 Area Court for allegedly having s*xual intercourse in a public place.

According to the prosecutor, A.Z. Dalhatu, policemen on routine surveillance of Abuja at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II at 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday caught the accused persons having s*x inside a car parked by the roadside.

Dalhatu added that when the police subjected the accused persons to interrogations, the defendants came out of the car and assaulted one Sergeant Okpe John attached to the police patrol team.
The duo, arraigned under Sections 79 and 267 of the Penal Code, pleaded not guilty.
The presiding judge, Abubakar Sadiq, granted the accused bail in the sum of N30, 000 each with two sureties who must be on Grade Level 10 in the Federal Civil Service.
The presiding judge, however, refused a court application by the defence counsel, Nnameka Ezeani, for the release of the car in which the act was allegedly committed.
The judge said the issue of the car was not mentioned in the first information report presented to the court, therefore, lacked the capacity to order for its release.
Sadiq adjourned the case to July 13 for mention.
Source: Dailypost

PDP Crisis: Makarfi Steps Aside, Agrees To Work With Sheriff

In a rare, yet commendable move, the caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has agreed to step aside for Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to continue in office as national chairman of the party.
Makarfi was appointed by the PDP Governors Forum, National Assembly caucus of the party and other stakeholders to head a caretaker committee, pending the election of new officers for the party.
The appointment of the caretaker committee followed the dissolution of the Sheriff-led National Working Committee, a move that was resisted by the embattled national chairman.
Following last week’s formal handover of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP to the Makarfi-caretaker committee, Sheriff, who was reportedly out of the country at the time, stormed the opposition party’s headquarters along with his supporters to “takeover”.
The former Borno State governor brandished a court order affirming his authority as national chairman of the PDP.
Reacting to the development, Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that if he was fully briefed on details about the crisis in the party and the status of Sheriff, he would not have accepted to head the caretaker committee.
“If I knew that there was a court order empowering Sheriff as the Chairman, I would not have taken the position because my interest is to see that PDP did not disintegrate. If the court said Sheriff is our leader, we will all follow him”, he said.

The Federal Government has said that it has kept its words by commencing job creation across the country in fulfillment of its campaign promises. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday at the South-South Town Hall Meeting organised by his ministry. He said that construction and ancillary workers have started returning to work in droves as contractors are mobilized back to the various road construction projects across the country. ”As more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work.” The Minister also said the recruitment of 500,000 teachers had commenced through the online portal ‘npower.gov.ng’, while listing other direct job creation and training schemes that are ongoing now as the N-Power Knowledge, which is training 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which is training another 75,000 Nigerians in building services. According to him, the Federal Government is exploring the agricultural sector for massive job creation through the repositioning of the River Basin Development Authorities. “Still talking about jobs, an agreement has been signed to reposition the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months. The agreement between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic includes the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice. This programme is complimentary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

Following a recent documentary by Al Jazeera, in which it was alleged that her piece of property in Abuja worth $18m and her jewelry worth $2m, have been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, immediate-past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted in a statement.
Read below
“My attention has been drawn to a report by Al Jazeera, which was released on Monday as a testament to the effectiveness of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its war against corruption. “In the video report, which has been widely circulated in the social media, there are claims about me owning a property in Abuja allegedly worth $18 million.
The report, which represents everything ridiculous and despicable about professional media practice and global best practices in the war against corruption, is the latest attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. “Clips of jewelry allegedly worth over $2 million were also copiously displayed as if to feed the cravings of an audience gratified with the notion that every wealthy Nigerian is corrupt. “
This will not be the first time calculated attempts have been made to demonise and damage my reputation in the public space. Many times, my detractors have gotten away with these irresponsible smear campaigns because they have become accustomed to my characteristic approach of silence in the face of these callous attacks.
“The latest in the string of propaganda attacks launched against my person since I left government as Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister is this Al Jazeera report, which without any court conviction anywhere in the world attempts to dress Diezani Alison Madueke in the garb of a common criminal.
“This, to say the least, is the height of journalistic brigandage and a sheer mockery of Nigeria’s anti-corruption war before the eyes of the world who are watching and asking if the war against corruption is a circus show where suspects are prosecuted and sentenced on the pages of newspapers and video blogs without anything as remotely in the semblance of a trial in the courts of law.
“When did it become a crime to own a property in Nigeria? When did it become a crime for a woman of my status to have in her possession, jewelry? Jewelry, which women all across the world, including the woman selling tomatoes in Bodija market have in abundance in their closets? In which court of law, anywhere in the world was I prosecuted by the EFCC and found guilty of corruption? “With all sense of modesty, I say this only for posterity and for the records. I have strived within my means and the blessings of God to live a decent and accomplished life.

I studied architecture in England and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, United States of America in 1992. When I returned to Nigeria that same year, I joined Shell Petroleum Development Corporation. “In 2002, I obtained an MBA at Cambridge University, United Kingdom. In April 2006, I was appointed by Shell as the company’s first female Executive Director in Nigeria. In July 2007, I was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as Minister of Transport. “The next year in December 2008 I became Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
In April 2010, I was appointed as Minister for Petroleum Resources and served in that capacity till May 2015. During this period as Petroleum Minister, I had the honour of serving Nigeria and representing her in the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) where I was elected first female President. “All through my career, I have strived to maintain a record of hard work, integrity and excellence, giving my best to society, because my parents raised me in the consciousness that a man or woman’s greatness is defined not by the amount of wealth they have acquired but the impact of their service to God and humanity. “Coming at such a critical time in my life when I am battling cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on its face like tribal marks, a clearly malicious attempt to victimize an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated plot to validate and give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under Nigeria’s new regime.
People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their loved ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at this time. “This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who will go any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda. What happened to our shared humanity?,” .
I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people who have breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the wrath of the law. But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of law, equity, fairness and justice. I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned and those behind this reckless action know it. “I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all the Almighty God who is the final judge of all.”

The Niger Delta Avengers on Monday said it was ready for a dialogue with the Federal Government. The militants, however, gave conditions for the peace talk. In a statement published on its website, the group said the Federal Government must suspend the purchase of crude oil from the Niger Delta region. The militants also asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to turn the proposed peace talk and dialogue to a political jamboree. The group said it only needed a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that would “make us commit to any proposed dialogue and lasting peace talk.” In the statement signed by the NDA’s spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the militants also asked the Federal Government to involve member states of the multinational oil corporations to commit independent mediators to the proposed dialogue. It said the peace talk would set up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long-term demands of the Niger Delta to bring about a lasting peace. The statement partly read, “If need be, we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repair works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that would engender genuine dialogue. “The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporations and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger Delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government has refused to use and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958. “If they refuse to heed our advice, it would result to the sinking of two of their mother vessels as examples to others. They should not undertake any repair of the pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and after the dialogue.” Meanwhile, a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has warned a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, to desist from ridiculing and discrediting him and other Niger Delta leaders. The nonagenarian specifically told Adamu to stop spreading falsehood and accusing him of not showing concern following the emergence of the Niger Delta Avengers. Clark said as a father, he had played his roles towards the maintenance of peace in the zone. Clark, in a statement by his Legal Adviser, Mr. Dotun Sowemimo, on Monday in Abuja, faulted the claim, saying he had on many occasions cautioned the militants. He, however, called on the NDA members and other groups to stop all activities that were inimical to the pipeline and oil facilities in the Niger Delta and embrace dialogue. “Chief Clark is, once again, using this medium to call on the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups to stop all activities inimical to the pipeline and oil facilities in the Niger Delta and embrace the three weeks ceasefire offered by this administration to embrace dialogue.” Sowemimo stated. According to him, Adamu lied by accusing Clark of showing lackadaisical attitude in stopping the militants from bombing oil installations. Sowemimo recalled that Clark on May 17, 2016, strongly called and appealed on the Niger Delta Avengers and any other groups of like mind, to desist, forthwith from their activities and embrace dialogue as the best means of having their grievances assuaged. According to him, Clark reiterated his support for the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he insisted that it should be fought to the end

The Federal Government has said that it has kept its words by commencing job creation across the country in fulfillment of its campaign promises.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday at the South-South Town Hall Meeting organised by his ministry. He said that construction and ancillary workers have started returning to work in droves as contractors are mobilized back to the various road construction projects across the country.
”As more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work.”
The Minister also said the recruitment of 500,000 teachers had commenced through the online portal ‘npower.gov.ng’, while listing other direct job creation and training schemes that are ongoing now as the N-Power Knowledge, which is training 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which is training another 75,000 Nigerians in building services. According to him, the Federal Government is exploring the agricultural sector for massive job creation through the repositioning of the River Basin Development Authorities.
“Still talking about jobs, an agreement has been signed to reposition the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months. The agreement between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic includes the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice. This programme is complimentary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

Photos-All the victims of Orlando gay club shooting

The Niger Delta Avengers on Monday said it was ready for a dialogue with the Federal Government.
The militants, however, gave conditions for the peace talk.
In a statement published on its website, the group said the Federal Government must suspend the purchase of crude oil from the Niger Delta region.
The militants also asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to turn the proposed peace talk and dialogue to a political jamboree.

The group said it only needed a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that would “make us commit to any proposed dialogue and lasting peace talk.”
In the statement signed by the NDA’s spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the militants also asked the Federal Government to involve member states of the multinational oil corporations to commit independent mediators to the proposed dialogue.
It said the peace talk would set up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long-term demands of the Niger Delta to bring about a lasting peace.
The statement partly read, “If need be, we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repair works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that would engender genuine dialogue.
“The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporations and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger Delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government has refused to use and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.
“If they refuse to heed our advice, it would result to the sinking of two of their mother vessels as examples to others. They should not undertake any repair of the pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and after the dialogue.”
Meanwhile, a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has warned a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, to desist from ridiculing and discrediting him and other Niger Delta leaders.
The nonagenarian specifically told Adamu to stop spreading falsehood and accusing him of not showing concern following the emergence of the Niger Delta Avengers.
Clark said as a father, he had played his roles towards the maintenance of peace in the zone.
Clark, in a statement by his Legal Adviser, Mr. Dotun Sowemimo, on Monday in Abuja, faulted the claim, saying he had on many occasions cautioned the militants.
He, however, called on the NDA members and other groups to stop all activities that were inimical to the pipeline and oil facilities in the Niger Delta and embrace dialogue.
“Chief Clark is, once again, using this medium to call on the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups to stop all activities inimical to the pipeline and oil facilities in the Niger Delta and embrace the three weeks ceasefire offered by this administration to embrace dialogue.” Sowemimo stated.
According to him, Adamu lied by accusing Clark of showing lackadaisical attitude in stopping the militants from bombing oil installations.
Sowemimo recalled that Clark on May 17, 2016, strongly called and appealed on the Niger Delta Avengers and any other groups of like mind, to desist, forthwith from their activities and embrace dialogue as the best means of having their grievances assuaged.
According to him, Clark reiterated his support for the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he insisted that it should be fought to the end