Despite not visiting Borno and Yobe states in the last two years since the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency, President Goodluck Jonathan has been described as having a strong passion on how to bring back peace to the two states and the rest of the Northeastern subregion of the country.

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Thursday in Kaduna said only 15 per cent of candidates sitting for its examinations in 2013 would use the Computer Based Test.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Thursday congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election, telling him the Middle East’s future “hinges on” resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Mr Obidigbo Okorie, Chairman, Carpentry and Wood Design Market, Bridge-Head Markets, Onitsha, has urged the Anambra government to investigate the fire that gutted a major part of the market on Thursday.

A few days ago, this gist hit social media like some wild speculation, today, however, we can confirm it’s true, Paul Okoye, the more laid-back of the P Square twins and long time girlfriend Anita are going to be parents soon.

Ben Agande, Abuja.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Maduekwe, Thursday attributed the unrelenting attack on her office to those she said had been frustrated from continuing with their nefarious deals in the petroleum sector of the economy.

In an interview in Abuja on Thursday the minister said those who have no skeleton in their cupboards need not be afraid of the reforms in the sector as it was meant to benefit all Nigerians.

“A vast majority of Nigerians are happy with Mr. Jonathan for the far reaching decisions his administration has taken to stabilise the sector.

“Those fighting the government in the media are  doing so because we have been able to frustrate their efforts in strangulating the economy through their devilish black market and questionable profiteering at the expense of the Nigeria people.

 
 “I would not want to join issues with those criticising me because they are crying foul that through us Mr. President has broken the old order where things are done without coordination. 

What is hurting them is that we have put policies in place where they can no longer cheat the government and cause untold hardship for millions of our Nigerians” she said.

According to her, no amount of blackmail would stop her from continuing to pursue the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the oil and gas sector.

She reiterated that the few individuals angling for her sack were doing so because she has refused to continue the ‘business as usual’ tradition in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

She vowed  that never again will the government allow the return of the age-long cartel in the country’s oil and gas sector, adding that  despite the unjustified criticism and unfounded allegations against her, her greatest joy is that majority of Nigerians in the sector appreciate the good work her ministry and agencies under her are doing to reposition the oil and gas sector.

According to her, operators and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart need not be afraid of her leadership style, except those that have skeleton in their  cupboard.

While commending the cordial relationship between her and top officials of the Ministry including those of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Pricing and Marketing Company (PPMC), Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other parastatals of the Ministry, Mrs Allison-Madukwe explained it was the harmonious relationship that has brought about the high level successes by government in the sector.

She solicited the corporation of Nigerians, oil companies and other investors at all times in order to achieve Mr President’s objectives for the sector, and commended the leadership of various union in the sector for standing by President Jonathan in the ongoing reforms of the sector.

A police corporal, Jeremiah Yusuf, lost four children in a fire incident  at  Tudun-wada Quarters of Gusau, Zamfara, on Wednesday.

The death toll following the collapse of a six-storey mall in the Ghanaian capital Accra climbed to nine on Thursday, with at least 67 people so far pulled alive from the rubble, a military official said.

Workers of Zaria Industries Limited on Thursday protested the closure of the company and non payment of their salaries for six months.

DELTA State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a bill stipulating death sentence for kidnappers and terrorists.

The bill, known as “Law to Prohibit Terrorism, Kidnapping, Hostage-taking, Cultism, Use of Bombs and Explosives and Other Matters thereto”, was unanimously passed by the 28 members of the House after consideration in a committee of the whole, presided over by the speaker, Victor Ochei.

Olatunde Akande is the Principal Partner, Carson Capital Limited, a development consultancy with focus on Small-Medium Enterprises-SMEs and agricultural development.

Gunmen in an unmarked Golf Volkswagen vehicle, yesterday, killed two Chinese nationals at a road site project in Benishiekh town in Borno State, just as two bomb blasts targeting soldiers rocked Mubi in Adamawa State, killing at least two civilians, according to the military.

Manchester United became the third club to reach the Champions League knockout stages aft er coming from behind to beat Braga 3-1 and ensure they also top their group on Wednesday.

A team from Israel is expected in Ghana on Thursday to help search for survivors or victims after the collapse of a six-storey mall, with three deaths confirmed and 51 people rescued alive so far.

By Wole Mosadomi Minna—One time Military Governor of Katsina State, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd.), has said Boko Haram Islamist sect was fighting a good cause, lamenting, however, that it was spoiling its case by killing innocent Nigerians. Onoja said he would have joined the sect if they had started killing election riggers, who carry ballot […]