ENYA'S GIST BLOG

The Outgoing U.S.A  President Barack Obama has given himself a pass mark,by telling Americans that he has done well in office as president in the last eight years. Mr. Obama, who made the remarks at his final press conference of the year, justified his actions on issues ranging from the economy to Syria, and from the Russia hacking scandal to the passage of Obamacare. “I am very proud of the work I’ve done. I think I’m a better president now than when I started,” Mr. Obama said. The president said his administration is a historic success, in spite of a rough beginning. “When I came into office, 44 million people were uninsured. Today, we have covered more than 20 million of them. For the first time in our history, more than 90 per cent of Americans are insured.” The president recalled the economic turmoil that raged when he took office in the teeth of the worst recession in decades in 2009. “As I was preparing to take office, the unemployment rate was on its way...

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended member countries of the ECOWAS for adopting a single biometric identity card meant to facilitate free movement of persons within the sub-region. The president gave the commendation at the ongoing 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority and Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, in Abuja on Saturday. He expressed optimism that the single biometric identity card would also facilitate the establishment of a single currency in the sub-region. Mr. Buhari noted that considerable progress had also been made in the areas of industrial policy, mineral exploitation, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, telecommunications and energy. “The adoption of a single biometric identity card is also commendable and will facilitate the establishment of a single currency, while engendering Free Movement of Persons. “Considerable progress has also been made in the areas of industrial policy, mineral exploitation, agriculture, environment, in...

The results of 13,488 private candidates, out of the 172,699 who sat for the 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), have been withheld. Olu Adenipekun, Head of National Office (HNO) of the WAEC, announced this while releasing results of the Nov/Dec diet of the examination on Friday in Lagos. Mr. Adenipekun said the results were withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice. According to him, the results withheld represent 7.81 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination. He said that the cases of malpractices were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course, for consideration. The HNO added that the committee’s decision would be communicated to the affected candidates thereafter. Giving a further breakdown of the results, Mr. Adenipekun said that 176,621 candidates registered for the examination, o...

The anguish of the parents of a four-year-old victim of ritual killing has been compounded by the death in police custody of one of his suspected murderers. The police claimed that the suspect, Fidelis Bossman, a Togolese, was taken ill and died during interrogation. But the father of the victim, Johnson Habila Magaji, said he suspected the claim was a sinister attempt to pervert the course of justice. The minor, Psalm Johnson, was reported missing on October 15 from his parents’ Kuruduma 2, Ugwan Hausawa residence in a rural suburb of the Asokoro Extension in Abuja. A petty trader running a kiosk in the neighbourhood, however, provided a crucial clue when he recalled seeing little Psalm in the company of Boniface Sani, a young man who lived with his parents in the same compound as the Johnsons. Boniface acknowledged that little Psalm had been with him. “He claimed however that when he wanted to visit his friend in another part of the village, and because it was ...

The Federal Government has budgeted N110 billion for the smooth implementation of its Presidential Amnesty Program in the Niger Delta and the rehabilitation of the North East region devastated by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency. President Muhammadu Buhari announced this in the 2017 budget estimates at the National Assembly, Abuja. He said that the allocation for the Presidential Amnesty Program had been increased to N65 billion in the 2017 budget while N45 billion had been set aside for the rehabilitation of the North East region. According to him, the amount earmarked for the North East would complement the funds domiciled at the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative as well as commitments received from the multinational donors. “Provision has also been made in these estimates for activities that will foster a safe and conducive atmosphere for the pursuit of economic and social activities. “In this regard, the allocation for the Presidenti...

Forty per cent of men aged about 40 years are living with prostate cancer and many are unaware of their status, an expert has said. Ovunda Omudu, Head, Department of Surgery at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering a lecture on cancer to officers and ratings of the Nigeria Navy Ship Pathfinder in Port Harcourt. Mr. Omudu, a trained Urologist, said the disease had killed many due to several factors including poor awareness, knowledge, ignorance and manpower. According to him, treatment for the disease is equally very expensive as it cost between N90,000 to N110,000 per one injection administered to a patient every three months. “Prostate cancer is one of the leading killer diseases in men in Nigeria and the second cause of cancer deaths in men worldwide. “Here in Nigeria, we do not have a national budget designated for prostate cancer as obtainable in some western nations which meant that treatment lies solely on th...

A 55-year-old trader, Saidat Abu, on Thursday told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos that her husband was a flirt who impregnated her younger sister on two occasions. She said this while responding to a suit filed by her husband, Momodu, alleging threat to his life by his wife. Mrs. Saidat, who alleged that her husband did not only commit adultery but incest, said: “My husband was having an affair with my sister, he impregnated her and aborted the pregnancy on two occasions. “I decided not to fight him in order to save my marriage.” The mother of two also described her husband as a wicked and callous man. “My husband took me to the hospital and connived with the doctor to remove my womb so that I will not be pregnant again. “After destroying my womb, he is now telling me that he wants to marry another woman so that he can have a son that will inherit his property. “He also told me he wants to sell our house so that he can settle our daughters and rent an apartment...

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to Gambia to help resolve the political impasse in the West African country, several media have reported. Sahara Reporters stated that the Nigerian leader will join his Liberian counterpart, Ellen Sirleaf, to persuade Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to concede defeat. Presidential aide Garba Shehu on Monday evening confirmed Mr. Shehu said there would be an official briefing to reporters on the matter. Mr. Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat to opposition candidate Adama Barrow, later reneged; saying he would order a fresh election. Observers and international organisations like ECOWAS, the UN and the U.S. have all asked Mr. Jammeh to respect the wish of Gambians and relinquish power after 22 years in office. Mr. Buhari is expected to help persuade Mr. Jammeh to leave office and would also meet with Mr. Barrow to try to seek a soft landing for the outgoing dictator.

The dead body of Anthony Okeyim, a colonel and Commandant, Command Secondary School, Ibadan, was on Monday found at his apartment located within the school’s premises. Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Ibadan, said the force was treating the issue as a suspected case of murder. “I can confirm to you that the deceased was found dead in front of his apartment around 6.30 a.m. on Monday. “We are treating it as a case of suspected murder,’’ Mr. Ajisebutu said.  gathered that the deceased was reportedly strangled to death by suspected assassins who attacked him in front of his official quarters. “The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, had visited the school immediately the case was reported. “Police investigation had begun and the investigating team is working with the Military Police investigating team. “We have also beefed up security around the area,” Ajisebutu said. A ...

The Code of Conduct Bureau says it may be forced to arrest and possibly prosecute at least 19 ministers and heads of agencies in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for non-compliance with procedures of declaring their assets. The 19 federal government appointees, according to a statement issued by the CCB Chairman, Sam Saba, have so far not honoured invitations to appear before the Bureau to clear their asset declaration claims. The bureau however praised some top officials of the Nigerian government like the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for promptly complying with the asset declaration protocol within the stipulated time. The CCB boss said the bureau has invited some serving ministers and heads of agencies among others over “issues” pertaining to their asset declaration requirements, but most of them have failed to respond. The asset declaration defaulters, according to CCB include Kemi Adeosun (Fi...

An Ibadan-based businessman, Joseph Benjamin, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, demanding the probe of the immediate past IG, Solomon Arase. Mr. Benjamin, who is accused of lying to the police, after he accused Zinox Computers of contract fraud, accuses Mr. Arase of criminal conspiracy in his travail. Mr. Benjamin is currently standing trial before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Court 14, Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a one-count charge of “false petitioning” with intention to mislead in a case of alleged identity theft, impersonation and criminal conversion of contracts. In the petition filed on his behalf by his lawyers, Bob James & Co., Mr. Benjamin, who is the managing director/chief executive of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, accused Mr. Arase of conspiring to fabricate false evidence the police are using to try him, while shielding the real offenders in a N170.3 million fraud against his company. In 2013, Mr...

The Rivers State legislative rerun elections held on Saturday were marred by irregularities, large scale violence, professional misconducts and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel, a report released by an observer group, says. The report, released by CLEEN Foundation, a civil society organization, on Sunday, fingered the Police, Army, SSS in multiple cases of violence and malpractices that characterised the exercise. “The way and manner in which the election was conducted is a validation of the outcomes of the Security Threat Assessment report, and justifies the concerns of various stakeholders that the outcome of the election will not reflect the will of the people,” CLEEN said. “There were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS in Ward 3 Bodo community in Gokana and Khana Local Government Area. This led to the shooting to death of Mr. Mbari John MeeBari. “At Ward 12, Unit 5, Abonnema, Akuku Toru, Police sho...

As Ghanaians head to the polls today to elect candidates who will govern the country for the next four years, the most common term on their lips will likely be “dumsor”. Dumsor is the term used by citizen of the resource-rich West African country to describe the acute power shortages that have recently plagued the country. Dumsor, which means off and on, is coined from the widely spoken Twi language in the country. Incumbent president, John Mahama, 58, who is seeking a second term in office is up against veteran politician, Nana Akufo-Addo, 72, who is running for president for the third time. In 2012, Mr. Akufo-Addo lost by three points to John Attah Mills in a keenly contested election. Mr. Mahama who was the vice president at the time took over leadership of the country after Mr. Mills died in office. Whilst Mr. Mahama, who jocularly referred to himself as Mr. Dumsor, is facing intense criticism for the increasing power cuts and low economic growth, he has touted...

GHANA-Popular Girls Kasa skit actress Ahuof3 Patri who broke up with her boyfriend about two years ago says her ideal man should be older than her. She said this during an interview with Nii Boye on Radio GIJ. “My ideal man has to be older than me. He has to be taller, very handsome; you know the basic characters that every girl would want from a guy. Caring, someone who is going to understand me and also understand the nature of my job.” Ahuof3 Patri, born Priscilla Opoku Agyeman, is an old student of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). She attended De Youngsters School at Kokomlemle and then continued to Swedru Secondary School before gaining admission into NAFTI in 2011. Patri also took part in the Miss Malaika Beauty Pageant in 2011 and made it to the top 10. She said she wore a long hair at the time so people hardly recollect that she was the one.

Voting is under way in Ghana's presidential election in what analysts say is a tight race between President John Mahama and veteran opposition leader Nana Akufo Addo. All seven candidates have pledged to keep the process peaceful but an opposition supporter died when a rally tuned violent on Monday. The campaign has been dominated by the faltering state of Ghana's economy and the issue of corruption. Results are expected within three days. A run-off will be held later in the month if neither of the two main candidates secures more than 50% of the votes. The candidates signed a pact last week vowing to follow electoral rules and keep the peace. But clashes broke out on Monday in Chereponi, a small northern town on the border with Togo. In addition to the reported death, six people are said to be in a critical condition as a result.  Defeat for Mr Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would make him the only single-term president since Ghana returned t...

Chocolate City first lady, Victoria Kimani, finally released her highly anticipated album titled “Safari”. “The ‘Safari’ album shows off Victoria Kimani’s versatility and definitely takes the lead as Africa’s most internationally acclaimed album with quite a few international features and production credits going to top music producers all around the world,” a statement by chocolate city said. The album, Victoria Kimani’s debut, is now available in digital stores. To whet the appetite of her teeming fans, she also released the official music video to her Sarkodie assisted track titled “Giving You” off the Safari” album.

Indian police have begun investigations after a U.S. tourist alleged she was raped by five men including a tourist guide in Delhi, officials said on Tuesday. The woman, in her early 30s, was allegedly assaulted at a luxury hotel near the central business district of Connaught Place in April. Police said the victim had returned home without lodging any complaint and contacted them through an NGO recently. “We have registered a case of rape and launched investigations into the allegations. “Our teams are making efforts to arrest the accused,’’ district police Chief Jatin Narwal said. However, he did not give further details, saying it could hamper investigations in the case. According to reports in the domestic media, the woman alleged that her tour guide had given her a spiked drink and later raped her with four acquaintances in the hotel room. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said those guilty would be brought to justice. “I have also asked th...

The UN on Monday launched a record $22.2 billion humanitarian appeal for 2017 to help almost 93 million people hit by conflicts and natural disasters around the world. More than half of the money will be used to address the needs of people caught up in crises in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and South Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. The appeal followed a trend of steady increases that saw requests for funds grow almost three-fold from 7.9 billion dollars in 2011. “As we speak, more people have humanitarian needs, not least because of protracted crises lasting longer and longer,” UN humanitarian chief, Stephen O’Brien, wrote in the appeal, which covers 33 countries. Several countries, including Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia have issued emergency appeals almost annually for the past 25 years and some faced worsening crises in 2017, the UN. said. In 2016, the UN sought 22.1 billion dollars, having...

The President-elect of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on Monday declared his intention to appoint Ben Carson to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Trump said this in a statement on his official Facebook page. He described Mr. Carson as a “distinguished national leader” and a “renowned neurosurgeon.” “I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities. We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up,” Mr. Carson, who initially challenged Mr. Trump for ...

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday gave dedicated telephone lines for the general public to call for any information or request for help during the ongoing Exercise Python Dance in the South East. According to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, the numbers are: Headquarters 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia- 07068688482. The others are, Headquarters 302 Artillery Regiment, Awka, Anambra- 07011115583. Headquarters 24 Support Engineer Regiment, Abakaliki, Ebonyi -09053974736. Headquarters 82 Division Garrison, Enugu- 08063282844. Headquarters 34 Brigade, Owerri, Imo- 08171609638 and 08065642870. The Python Dance, a training exercise to update troops in the South East on operational rudiments, was launched by the army on November 27 and to round off on December 27.

The importation of vehicles into Nigeria through the land borders have been banned by the Federal Government. The prohibition order covers all new and used vehicles. The ban is sequel to a presidential directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigeria sea ports only. The order takes effect from January 1, 2017. The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice, whose imports have been banned through the land borders since April 2016. Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilize the grace up till December 31, 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighboring ports.

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Monday in Lagos vowed to hold a private funeral on January 20, the day the United States President-elect, Donald Trump, will be sworn in. A visibly angry Mr. Soyinka, who was speaking about the controversy that arose over his threat to destroy his American Green Card following the election of Mr. Trump, said the private wake will have nothing to do with U.S. politics but would instead be to the death of common sense among Nigerians. “I’m going to hold a private wake on inauguration day not to mourn the decision of Americans in the choice of president but to mourn the death of Nigeria common sense,” he said. Mr. Soyinka, who told the French news agency, AFP, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday that he had destroyed the card, said he was shocked that people were asking him to present video evidence showing him destroying the card. He said the commentaries generated, especially on social media, by his threat to destroy his Gree...

A prosecution witness, Adamu Yusuf, on Monday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, how about N4.9 billion was converted into dollars by a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi. Mr. Akpobolokemi, former D-G of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, is charged alongside a former Commander of the Niger-Delta Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Emmanuel Atewe. Also charged are Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga. They are standing trial on 11-count charge of N8.5 billion fraud preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. When the case was called on Monday, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, led Mr. Yusuf, the second prosecution witness in Evidence-In-Chief. The witness told the court that during investigation, it was discovered that the said N4.9 billion was handed over to the third and fourth accused persons (Engozu and Otuaga). “At the end of our investigation, we discovered that about N4.9 billion w...

The Nigeria police have arrested three suspected kidnappers said to be responsible for the abduction of five expatriate workers of the Dangote Group. A statement released, Tuesday, by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah, said the suspects, arrested between November 27 and December 3 by the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have confessed to crime. The suspects have also confessed to the murder of Istifanus Gurama, another Dangote worker who transported a N5.6 million ransom to them for the release of their victims, the police said. The kidnap victims were said to have been set free after the suspects collected the money. The police gave the names of the suspects as Abubakar Gide, 24; Abdullahi Salihu, 22; and Babuga Adamu, 25. Mr. Gide was arrested in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state, while Mr. Salihu and Mr. Adamu were arrested in Epe Forest, Lagos state and Ajase Ipo Forest in Kwara state respectively, the police said. The suspects, according to the police statement, led th...

The University of Jos Nigeria (UNIJOS) has suspended one of its academic staff who was allegedly caught cheating while writing an examination on May 4 Benedicta Daudu, an associate professor of law and former head of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law of the Faculty of Law in UNIJOS, was allegedly caught copying from a prepared answer during an examination for a Master’s degree in Research and Public Policy in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the same university.  what some staff and student described as a plot by the university to cover up the matter. After the report, Mrs. Daudu’s membership of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption was immediately suspended. Insiders at UNIJOS have now told PREMIUM TIME that the lecturer has been suspended from work, and from the masters programme. “I can confirm to you that the Senate Disciplinary Committee found her guilty of the allegations, and has suspended her from the Masters programme...

Calabar Carnival festival in Nigeria, also tagged " Africa's Biggest Street Party", was created as part of the vision of making the Cross River State in Nigeria, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourists all over the world. The carnival which begin on every 1 December and last till 31 December has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.  The Calabar Carnival has come a long way..it all started 2004, when the governor of Cross River State,Mr Donald Duke, had a vision of making his state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and in Africa. [1 The Carnival presents a perfect platform from brand visibility for consumer and market awareness. "According to Osima-Dokubo, the carnival aimed to include more aspects of local heritage and culture and at the same time strengthen the capacity of the locals to ...

The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, on Thursday, donated 160 vehicles to security agencies in the Cross River in the bid to curb the state of insecurity in the state and ensure a smooth and crime free 2016 carnival. Ayade disclosed that the gesture by the state government is a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to protect Cross Riverians and other Nigerians living in the state from criminal elements and totally secure the state from criminals and persons with intentions to cause trouble at this festive period in Cross River. To this end, he called on all Nigerians and fun seeking people to come to cross River at this period as the government have put in all measures that would protect them from mischief makers and ensure they enjoy themselves in the state rather than traveling abroad at this period of recession. Speaking at the presentation of the vehicles to service chiefs of security agencies in the state, governor Ayade said that the ...

 TEAM IMPACKT. is a Team of some individuals who are talented and who have the passion of motivating Teenager in the way of the Lord. Note: Teens are between childhood and adulthood, no longer a child but not yet an adult.   Our mission: To Educate every parents and guardian's to consciously raise their children and wards to be what God has designed them to be according to proverb 22 vs 6, " Start children off on the way they should go and even when they're old they will not depart from it. Helping the young ones to understand God purpose for their life and winning back to God the teenagers that have lost track of their relationship with God through immorality, disobedience and world pleasures. By God empowering us and Holy spirit comforting us. You can like us on our facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/Team-Impackt.  

UTOPIA, N.B. — A multimillionaire Toronto technology entrepreneur has been so far unable to sell his one-of-a-kind, 10-bedroom Atlantic Canada vacation mansion, complete with private beaches, a custom go-kart track and a baseball field. Lorne Abony's mammoth Utopia, N.B., mansion has been on the market for nearly two years, and comes with a hefty price tag: $9.65 million. "You have to see it to believe it," said Fredericton-based realtor Scott MacTavish , who has been working to sell the luxurious property. "It's out of this world, as you would expect for a $9.6 million asking price. When you get there, it's like you're in another world." According to the listing, there are three homes on the property totalling about 27,000 square feet — the main house and two guest houses — and more than 100 acres of "unspoiled natural beauty" on Lake Utopia. It was built by Abony about four years ago in Charlotte County to have a ...

A young mum has said she is furious after being called to a meeting at her daughter’s primary school because the youngster can’t stop laughing at her teacher’s name. Priscilla Terumalai was called to the meeting at Mayville Primary School in Leytonstone, east London, after daughter Annalise was unable to stop giggling at teacher Miss Butt. Mrs Terumalai had previously met Miss Butt at a parent’s evening where she told the teacher that her daughter found her name amusing, although it was not considered to be cause for concern. But only days later, Mrs Terumalai was hauled in front of teachers including the head of year and the school manager to explain her daughter’s behavior. ‘When I received a call from the school, I was appalled at how pathetic and petty it was. I wasn’t making fun of her name at all. I wasn’t happy about being reported’, she said. Now, Mrs Terumalai is demanding that her daughter to be moved to another class – although her atte...