Shocking revelation emerged on Wednesday why the board of the State Universal Basic Education Board was dissolved and former commissioner for Education, Ekpenisi Omorotiomwan sacked.

We have gathered that dead teachers including those that have retired, sacked or absconded from duty were still “collecting” salaries.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who made this disclosure at an education summit to find solution to the problem in primary education in the state, said he discovered that the wage bill for teachers in the state was static.

He said money for the salaries of retired teachers and those that died was not accounted for. The governor, who caused uproar in the hall when he announced that teachers were paid higher wages than their counterparts in the civil service threatened to publish the teachers’ salaries.

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SHOCKING: Farmers Shun Fertilizers, Rely On Sacrifice For Land Fertility

Cultivating a fertile soil is certainly the secret to yielding a jumbo harvest by farmers. As such, fertilizer is overly used by all and sundry to enrich the soil for bumper harvest, but farmers in Kigbe, a community in Yebu ward of Kwali Area Council of the FCT make do with bumper harvest even without fertilizers.

The residents are among the few that cling to culture, which many communities have abandoned in the face of modernized farming.

While other farmers thronged for fertilizers to enhance their farm produce, all Kigbe farmers need do is to prepare a sacrifice of a duck fowl and pounded yam.

The traditional ruler of the community, Yusuf Adamu, who made this revelation to Aso Chronicle recently, said the cultural land fertility process was inherited from past generations. He stated further that the sacrifice is connected to a masquerade, ‘Gbunu’, noted for its power by the residents.

He said the sacrifice, usually carried out during rainy season, is done by a group of elders. According to him, the duck fowl will be slaughtered and the pounded yam prepared in a shrine. As part of rites, before the elders proceed to the shrine to slaughter the duck fowl, they appear half naked and trek to fetch a Fadama soil, which will be added to some concoction. Thereafter, they will proceed to the shrine to slaughter the duck fowl to appease the gods. The concoction is taken to a spot where two road paths meet.

The elders alongside the masquerade will now come back to the shrine and cook the duck fowl with a pounded yam at the shrine in which after some days, all the farm land in the community becomes fertile and suitable for farming.

“It is after the sacrifice you will see that all the farm land in this village becomes fertile as farmers will now go to cultivate their farms and at the end, we make a bumper harvest without bothering to go and look for fertilizer. Beside I can’t remember the year any farmer in this community set his eyes on fertilizer,” he said.

The traditional ruler, who also spoke on some of the challenges facing the people of the community, however identified lack of access to good road network as one of the major challenges especially on the abandoned Kwaita-Yebu road.

He said the Kwaita-Yebu road is one of the roads that link the community to many neighboring communities in both Kwali and Kuje area councils, but has been abandoned for years by the FCT administration under the satellite towns’ development department.

He called on the authorities of Kwali Area Council to come to the aid of the community.

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Jonathan's Convoy In Nasarawa Auto Crash, 14 Injured

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Shehu, has on Tuesday confirmed that the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan was involved in an auto crash the day before, leaving 14 persons injured.

According to the eyewitnesses, three confessional policemen, three mobile policemen, one member of the civil defence corps, as well as one official of the state branch of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and six civilians were "seriously injured".

Mr Shehu claimed the state government had since released funds for the treatment of all the victims. He added that some of the victims have been discharged but those who have serious fracture were still at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

According to him, the accident happened when the vehicle of a prison officer ran into the convoy of the president and collided with one of the riders, who somersaulted and thereafter ran into the crowd.

"They are all responding to treatment at the hospital. Some have fractures on their legs.

"The prison officer sustained minor injury. He is still in police custody while investigation is ongoing," he said.

It will be recalled that the president was in Lafia for the inauguration of the newly constructed Federal High Court and Ta'al Model School constructed by the present administration in the state.

He was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

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Rihanna Wins Her £3MILLION Legal Battle

Rihanna has won her High Court legal battle against fashion chain Topshop over T-shirts bearing her image. The singer sued the high-street store’s parent company Arcadia for £3.3million over the T-shirts, which featured a photo taken of the star during a video shoot in Northern Ireland in 2011.

Topshop had disputed the claim, but Mr Justice Birss today ruled in favour of the singer in the High Court after a hearing in London.

He said Topshop's sale of a Rihanna T-shirt had been an act of "passing off", and that a "substantial number" of customers were likely to have bought the T-shirt of a "false belief" that it had been authorised by the singer.

The judge added that was damaging to her "goodwill" and represented a loss of control of her reputation in the fashion sphere.

He said it was for the singer not Topshop to choose what garments the public thought had her endorsement.

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JayZ & Beyonce Visit KimK & North West, While Kanye Is Out to Milan

Power couple, JayZ and Beyonce, visited Kanye West’s daughter North West while daddy is in Milan.

Never too busy for friends! Beyonce and Jay Z took time out of their busy touring schedules to make a very important stop at Kris Jenner’s home in Calabasas, Calif. on Sunday, July 28, to pay a visit to Kim Kardashian and baby North West, a source confirms to Us Magazine.

Though best bud Kanye West wasn’t home at the time (the rapper is currently in Milan, Italy), both Jay and Bey spent the morning with Kardashian, 32, who has not been seen out in public since giving birth to her tiny bundle of joy on June 15.

That’s a very nice of them, and we are sure Kanye will really appreciate their visit

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My Ex-Hubby Was Not Building Me Any House - Funke Akindele

And it gets messier as Funke Akindele and Ex Husband soil each other’s image in public. In a recent interview with Encomium magazine, Funke Akindele's ex husband, Keyinde Oloyede Almaroof, said that he was building a house for his wife before she ended the marriage.

Well Funke Akindele has sort of replied her husband's interview. Here is what she said...

In a recent interview with Encomium magazine, Funke Akindele's ex husband, Keyinde Oloyede Almaroof, said that he was building a house for his wife before she ended the marriage. He revealed that it's a one-storey building (uncompleted) located off Adeniji Jones in Ikeja, adding that the rejection of the building was one of he reasons for their split. READ IT HERE

 

in a revealing chat with E-247 magazine, Funke Akindele sort of replied her husband's interview...

Read what Funke told E24-7MAGAZINE after the cut:

 

- See more at: http://topeorekoya.blogspot.com/2013/07/funke-akindele-my-ex-hubby-was-not.html?showComment=1375257017398#sthash.aEqmBpFC.dpuf

In a recent interview with Encomium magazine, Funke Akindele's ex husband, Keyinde Oloyede Almaroof, said that he was building a house for his wife before she ended the marriage. He revealed that it's a one-storey building (uncompleted) located off Adeniji Jones in Ikeja, adding that the rejection of the building was one of he reasons for their split. READ IT HERE

 

in a revealing chat with E-247 magazine, Funke Akindele sort of replied her husband's interview...

Read what Funke told E24-7MAGAZINE after the cut:

 

- See more at: http://topeorekoya.blogspot.com/2013/07/funke-akindele-my-ex-hubby-was-not.html?showComment=1375257017398#sthash.aEqmBpFC.dpuf

That place is not for me, I have been through hell and back.

I was abused emotionally and verbally. Really, I felt we could work things out when the trouble started two months after the marriage.

But I made up my mind and shut the door of the marriage at him when the trouble was coming to me too much.

I stooped to conquer him; buried my fame and name to make him my husband, but it did not work. At a point in time, I asked if it’s not the same man that was all over me before we married.

He nearly got me off my career. He called me severally; I did not pick his calls but when he realized my silence was tormenting him, he took to Facebook.

It’s alright.

Ask him when did he come to my house last? He left me here in my rented apartment with nothing and he will just dash in and dash out. He gets abusive, caustic anytime we have a misunderstanding and often told me to my face, he’s going to his wife in Oshodi.

He sent me SMS that he has seen a buyer for his house at Adeniyi Jones for N40million. He asked me if he should sell it and that if he does, he will buy me a new car and a rent me a new apartment.

Why now? I don’t need all that, I want my sanity. I respect him to the end but he chose to treat me that way. He said he wanted to clip my wings.

After Funke ignored him, he sent her another text abusing her and calling her names.

“So you can see that he does not mean well for me,” Funke re-iterated.

Funke and Kehinde rarely spent substantial time together even at the peak of their marriage.

Both kept to hectic schedules by virtue of their chosen professions.

While Funke is often involved in back-to-back shooting on movie sets, Kehinde jumps from one construction site to another; pressing buttons for his political ambitions; and keeping dates with his wife at home and other women by the side.

Besides, Kehinde’s disturbing and haunting pasts have repeatedly stared Funke right in the face, and according to impeccable source, Funke learnt shockingly that her once beloved hubby was expelled from the University of Jos almost as soon as he was matriculated as a student of the ivory tower.

His admission, was faulty right from the beginning and since that first attempt at tertiary education went awry, he shut his door at education.

When he returned from Jos, he found strength in his entrepreneurial skill coupled with the influence and support of his mother, a market leader and successful businesswoman; he became an estate developer, building chains of shops in Oshodi market.

Gradually, he crept into politics and his popularity soared that he became a well-known grassroots politician and a great mobilizer.

To shore up his image, he found in Funke who has become monstrously popular with her movie, Jenifa and the sequel, The Return of Jenifa, a ready tool.

He convinced the favourite actress to lead him to the Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he had assaulted many years ago during the market women leadership tussle between his mother, AlhajaAlmaroof and the late Iyaloja General Alhaja Abibat Mogaji.

After he atoned for his ‘sins,’ he joined the train of well- wishers that went to London to felicitate with the former governor when one of his sons graduated from a university in London.

Kehinde’s lost bid to win the contract to rebuild Oshodi market really threw him off balance and that probably made him to turn the heat on his latest wife, Funke who wanted his attention.

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ASUU Strike: Bear with Us, FG Urges Students, Parents

The Federal Government is anxious about the distortion in school calendar as a result of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities saying that it is committed to the speedy resolution of the crisis for the sake of Nigerian students.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku told state House correspondents at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting that government was committed to “serious negotiations” with the university lecturers.

The Minister appealed to the students and parents to bear with government and show more understanding as efforts are being made to resolve the contending issues very soon.

 “The Federal Government has been far more worried than you think concerning the strike in tertiary institutions, because of the disruption of the school calendar and so government is concerned and very worried and since the onset of the strike government has been negotiating with ASUU through the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Ministry of Education.

“As at today we know that these negotiations are going on and it is our expectation that this strike will not get more protracted and that an understanding will be reached soon enough to enable our students return back to school. Government is very worried and concerned every time the school calendar is disrupted, it has its cost to the nation, particularly the idle time our children spend at home can lead to a lot of social difficulties.

“We don’t want school calendars to be disrupted and a lot of series of discussions have been going on and we believe we should record some progress soon enough for these schools to open and the Minister of Labour and education will be giving quarter briefing on the progress of these negotiation and I know that it has never cease.

“So we are appealing to our people particularly parents and children of this nation to bear with us, to show more understanding and we pray that this type of strike will not re-occur, because the public school system suffers a lot of damage with the perennial strikes. The universities have been relatively stable since the advent of this Administration. The outraged strikes that we inherited we have tried to resolve them, and if you notice in the last two years there has not been a lot of strikes until this unfortunate one and I believe we will overcome it and in the end both parties will appreciate the need to keep the school calendar stable for the progress of our country. So government is working hard to ensure we reach an agreement to resolve this problem so that or schools can re-open” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council Wednesday approved a contract of N2.99 billion for the rehabilitation/construction of the Calabar-Ugep section of the Katsina-Ala/Ogoja/Ugep/Calabar road.

The earlier section of the road which is already 80 per cent complete, was awarded for N4.6 billion, thus bringing the total contract sum for the entire road to N7.5 billion

Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, explained that the contractor, Piccolo Brunelli, which handled the first phase, was asked to continue with the extension since it was already on site and had done a very good job.

Yuguda recalled that “the first phase of the project aimed at addressing the heavily distressed sections of the road while other sections not captured in the original contract scope of works would be addressed when funds became available.

“This is to ensure that government and the public get the full benefits of the investment made on the roads in terms of improvement of the level of service” he said.

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FAAN Apologises To Oshiomhole Over Closure Of Benin Airport

Authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apologized to the Edo State Government and air travelers over the incident which led to the closure of the Benin Airport on Tuesday.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi who led other management staff which included Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Mr. Kolawole Adefomiwa, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Adeboye Festus, the Chief Security Officer and Mr. Ayodele Sunday, Airport Manager, Benin City said “we deeply regret the events of yesterday and we will like to find out how we can avoid a situation like this arising in the future, because it is neither in the interest of FAAN nor in the interest of Edo State Government for the Airport to be closed down, because there was a lot of hardship and serious economic consequences as a result of the shutdown and there is need to settle this matter.

“I want to assure Your Excellency that FAAN is a good corporate citizen, I am convinced that there was a misunderstanding and I want to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding so that it does not happen again.

“If we have any obligations, we will meet them, and I hope that in the future if there are issues of misunderstanding, we will be able to talk about them quickly without them leading to delays and inconveniences to the public.  So, sir we are here to reassure you of our respects and desire to be good corporate citizens and partner with the State Government to deliver services to the people of Edo State”.

In his response, Governor Oshiomhole noted that tax law was a federal law which the state Government is only trying to implement. He noted that the tax which FAAN defaulted on was the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) which even the President and Governors pay.

Oshiomhole said the State Board of Internal Revenue got a proper Court Order to seal the FAAN Manager’s Office, noting that the FAAN Manager on his own decided to seal up the Airport to gain public sympathy.

The Governor said the problem with Nigeria is not immunity, but impunity as people often violate the law and get away with it.

He insisted that anybody who works and lives in Edo State must pay tax in contribution to the development of the State.

The Governor said a way to avoid a re-occurrence of the ugly incident was for FAAN to comply with the law.

He however, expressed his displeasure with the FAAN Manager Benin Airport, Mr. Ayodele Sunday for dramatizing the issue, saying “I hope in future, this sort of thing does not happen”.

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Eight-month-old Baby Sold Three Times Before Plateau Police Interrupted

Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday paraded four women suspected to have passed an eight-month-old baby among themselves in a serial sale starting with the baby's grandmother, who sold the baby to the first buyer.

While the baby's grandmother, Mrs. Kate Anwacha sold the baby for N200,000 to the first buyer named Eucharia Anyeagbu, she in turn sold the baby for N330,000 to a second buyer, Rita Madubuko, who also sold the baby at N500,000 to one Grace Nnadozie.

The State Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, while parading the suspects before newsmen in Jos Wednesday, said "the trafficked baby girl, Chiamaka Obinna was recovered a week ago, July 24, at Awka, Anambra State, through intelligence efforts of detectives from the 'A' Division of the Nigeria Police, Jos."

Olakpe explained further that the baby's grandmother, who had custody of her, sold her to the first buyer five days earlier, July 19, after sending the people around her on errands. 

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Fashola Picks Gbeleyi As New Finance Commissioner

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has nominated the Director-General of the State’s Office of Public – Private Partnerships (PPP), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi as the new commissioner for finance.

If the nomination is approved by the House of Assembly, Gbeleyi will succeed Mr. Tokunbo Abiru who recently resigned from the State’s Cabinet.

Mr. Gbeleyi at the moment is Fashola’s Special Adviser on PPP, the agency driving the government collaboration with the private sector to tackle the state’s infrastructure challenge.

Gbeleyi is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA).

He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School, the London Business School, Lagos Business School and an MBA holder from the International Graduate School of Management, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Spain.

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Fabricated or Not? Magazine Publishes the Photo that May Threaten Lionel Messi’s Marriage

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Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s best soccer player, may have to work on his off-the-field defense – at home – after two Argentine publications published photos showing the married soccer superstar gallivanting with an alleged stripper.

The Barcelona striker was allegedly pictured on the cover of Argentina’s Pronto magazine with a blonde dancer in a Las Vegas nightclub. In the photo, his hands were wrapped around her waist and his face was pressed against her chest.

The headline on Pronto read: “The Photo That Puts Lionel Messi’s Marriage At Risk.”

The magazine says the photos were taken during Messi’s visit to Sin City in early July as a guest at a party hosted by Brazilian legend Ronaldo at the Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Resort.

Pronto says the photos are not doctored, and were taken off a cell-phone.

The Argentine gossip publication said Messi’s relationship with his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, 22, is now in ‘crisis,’ according to Pronto sources.

“There is nothing to suggest anything more happened (between Messi and the dancer) but still Antonella is furious,” the source tells Pronto. “She can’t believe he has been so stupid and feels very let down by Leo. Whether she’ll give him the red card or not remains to be seen but it’s fair to say the sofa at their home may be getting a lot of use at the moment.”

The photo is the latest scandal for Messi, one of the best soccer players of his generation.

Messi paid $13 million in back taxes to the Spanish government last month and is looking to settle an alleged $5 million debt that led to tax fraud accusations. The payments covered his image rights for 2010 and 2011, Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia reported. The Spanish paper suggested the player is looking to reach an agreement on millions more he allegedly owes the government.

The payment could help Messi and his father, Jorge, avoid a court appearance Sept. 17 in Gava. Father and son, along with their financial advisers, have denied accusations that they illegally funnelled money to offshore accounts to avert paying taxes. 

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Online Commentator Arrested by Nigeria Police, on Behalf of Billionaire Emeka Offor, Released on Bail

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Boniface Okonkwo, a South Africa-based businessman who was seized and detained by the Nigeria Police for more than a week over an online comment he made regarding fraudulent Nigerian businessman and People's Democratic Party (PDP) big shot, Emeka Offor, has finally made bail.

Lawyers from Femi Falana chambers, who served as the defendant's attorney at a Magistrate court in Abuja, told the newsmen that Mr. Okonkwo was let out of police detention after they made a spirited defence of his liberty.

The Magistrate judge, Lamido Kabir, had initially played hide and seek in the case, letting the police detain Mr. Okonkwo over the weekend claiming he was unavailable to hear the case after the suspect was brought to court last Friday.

However, on Monday, the Magistrate gave stiff bail conditions requiring Mr. Okonkwo to provide two sureties, including a traditional ruler and a person with landed property in Abuja.

Yesterday, he was let go after meeting the bail conditions.

Mr. Okonkwo was arrested on July 13 by a dozen well-armed Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives in Lagos, just four days after arriving from South Africa.  Mr. Okonkwo's arrest reportedly emanated from the office of the Inspector General of Police office, who gave the order because of a petition penned by Offor who claimed that Okonkwo "criminally defamed" him in an online commentary in a community listserv of the Orafite community.

Okonkwo, who also hails from Oraifite community, criticized the billionaire for reportedly donating $1.3 million to Rotary International for polio eradication while Oraifite lacks basic amenities and the people suffer abject poverty.

Okonkwo was seized in Lagos but was later moved to a police cell on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. He was denied access to lawyers and relatives, and spent more than two weeks in detention.

Observers say the case demonstrates how Nigeria’s public institutions are often and routinely deployed by the rich by the rich and well-connected against the truth. 

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ICT Savvy Youths, A Good Step In Addressing Unemployment - Experts

With the rising levels of unemployment and under-capacity utilisation in the country, one model that has been identified as critical in addressing the challenges is the application of Information and Communication Technology to the day-to-day life processes.

These applications cut across direct use of ICTs by the citizenry and the opportunities and benefits ICTs provide to empower people.

In as much as the current government is making efforts to build structures that will drive this motive, players in the private sector also have key roles to play to make this dream realisable.

One segment that had enjoyed good attention in this light, is the Small and Medium Enterprise of business establishments.

Speaking at the first Annual Electronic Commerce Conference hosted in Lagos recently, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said ICT was a catalyst for economic growth in Nigeria, and one area that had proven its worth is the e-Commerce ecosystem.

The sector, she argued, had the capacity to significantly extend the reach of wholesale and retail trade in the country, leading to accelerated economic growth and job creation.

According to her, using ICTs to build capacities in business is very unique and key as it can bring together many sectors and players, all working for economic gains. Citing the e-Commerce model, she said one transaction had the potential of adding value to participating entities in the wholesale and retail trade sector, financial services sector, transport sector, postal sector and telecoms sector.

These, however, according to the Minister, were some of the areas businesses and people could be directly impacted courtesy ICTs. Players in the ICT sector, sometimes, leverage on their Corporate Social Responsibility programme to indirectly impact lives of the citizenry as well as businesses.

A recent development in this regard is the Business Next Titan Reality TV Show put together by telecoms operator, MTN Nigeria.

The show is seen by many as an attempt to encourage entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths with the goal of reducing unemployment in the country.

The event attracted the best minds in Nigeria, including professionals, entrepreneurs and trailblazers in commerce and other sectors.

Commenting on the initiative, the Chief Enterprise Solution Officer, MTN, Mr. Babatunde Osho, said belief in the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians informed the creation of the idea.

He stressed the need for Nigerian youths to continue to push forward in pursuit of worthy goals in spite of challenges, saying the benefits accruable from the show cut across participants as well as wider spectrum of Nigerians who are viewers, owing to the fact that it exposed business ideas and ideal managerial skills. The initiative had successfully empowered some young entrepreneurs with mental and financial wherewithal to take calculated business risks.

With the global economy shrinking, with business people finding it increasingly difficult to get funding for their businesses, especially small business owners, empowering SMEs had become very critical. The situation is even alarming in Africa, where such businesses are just gaining scant attention.

In the face of an overwhelming youth unemployment population standing at a staggering 60 per cent level, with the youth accounting for 70 per cent of Nigeria’s 150 million population, ICTs, either directly or indirectly, remain a reliable tool of respite.

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Curbing Excessive Spending Habit

Obsessive spending can result in serious debt problems and a sense of mixed up budgeting priorities, such as taking care of wants before needs rather than tending to needs and savings first and budgeting appropriately for wants. These difficulties can result in bigger long-term problems such as relationship issues or the inability to pay back debts that are owed.

People, who have an uncontrollable spending problem, always have a feeling to spend excessive amounts of money on items and services that are unnecessary in their lives in an attempt to accomplish an inner emotional desire.

The money spending problem may be as obvious as spending large amounts through mesmerising shopping for unnecessary items in hopes that they can find their happiness or sense of self worth through that purchase.

If you recognise this problem within yourself or within someone you know, here are some ideas for the compulsive spender to use for recognising where the problem stemmed from and how to overcome their addiction to compulsive spending, according to experts.

Track your spending and emotions

Keep track of your purchases or transactions and how much you spend. Realise how you feel before you decide to make a purchase or go gambling, how it feels when you’re thinking about making the transaction, how you feel immediately after the transaction, and how you feel about the transaction later in that day, the day after, or a week after. At the end of each week, add up your total transaction amounts and consider how much of your emotional needs were actually fulfilled.

Understand the cycle of spending addiction

The reason why compulsive spending is considered an addiction is due to the cycle that all addictions form. The cycle tends to start with a situation that leads to a feeling of emptiness, incompleteness, or negative self worth. This feeling, which stems from prior and unresolved issues, leads the compulsive spender to believe that if they had something, it would fulfill them in some way and make them feel more complete and worthy. Upon the time of the transaction, the compulsive spender will feel elated, powerful and fulfilled. But then the financial issues arise and the item no longer leaves them feeling sated, thus the negative feelings begin to rise again, putting them back at the beginning of the cycle. The cycle repeats itself over and over with a life of its own. The cycle can only be stopped when the compulsive spender does something to redirect the patterns and throw the cycle off of the addiction track.

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Ombatse Cult Massacre: Parents Stage Protest, Demand Justice

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 -- Yesterday, the parents of the ten State Security Service (SSS) operatives killed May 7, 2013 by the Ombatse cult in Alakyo, Nasarawa State, staged a protest up in front of the Federal High Court building in Lafia where Vice President Namadi Sambo was due to commission. The protesters demanded justice and claimed they would never forgive the 'killer-cult'.

It would be recalled that two months after the security service operatives were killed, the director general of the State Security Service (SSS) Ita Ekpenyong declared the SSS had 'forgiven' the culprits.

Yesterday, the parents of the slain men were seen crowding as early as 9am, carrying placards and chanting slogans, claiming there would be 'no forgiveness for the Ombatse cult.' They lined up along the road where Vice President Sambo's convoy would pass on its way to the court premises.

Sambo, who was accompanied by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and Information Minister Labaran Maku, an indigene of the state, was greeted by the protesters' shouts: "We want justice, we want justice for our children!"

However, security agents prevented the protesters from coming anywhere near the complex during the event.

Sambo left the venue at about 12:21 pm to be once again greeted by the protesters. 

The inscriptions on the signs read, 'Pls Help, Help, Mr. President, We Need our Children Dead/Alive,' 'We Are In Deep Pain, Mr. President, Pls Intervene,' and 'All We Are Saying, It's Been 12 Weeks Since Then'.

The protesters, mostly elderly people, lamented the Federal Governments' apathetic stance towards their children's murder by the Ombatse. They expressed shock as the Government had not said anything or acted to demonstrate compassion for the relatives' of the slain SSS operatives.

The leader of the protesters, Dr. Nandul Durfa, 64, father to a late operative called Timman Durfa, said the gathering mobilised by making telephone contacts with each other and then met in Lafia on Sunday evening to agree on the inscriptions for their placards.

"We mobilised ourselves by phone. We have been in touch with each other since the incident. I called Madaki and Nimsel. They then placed calls to contact others like Gobir who came from Awe in Nasarawa, and Madam Mrs. Godiya Makama who came from Nasarawa-Toto, also from Nasarawa State," he narrated.

"There were others who are not parents, but representatives of parents of deceased. They too showed up. Altogether, we are about 17," the man accounted.

Durfa said they decided to organise the protest because government had not done anything to the Ombatse killers.

"We are saying it is now three months since that incident and government has not done anything to give us confidence in them.

"Our children were sent on an operation to save other Nigerians, and they were not given any protection. We can't see them alive; we can't see their corpses," he lamented.

Durfa said the SSS authorities "only sent us death certificates of our children. There were no corpses sent to us. We want the corpses of our children. They should go to that village and retrieve those corpses and hand them to us, so we can bury our children."

Saidu Isah Gobir, another elderly protester who also lost his son, said he travelled to Lafia to tell the President or his representative that he disappointed them over the murder.

"They have kept quiet as if nothing happened. We lost children in that operation; that they must know. We are angry. All we are told is that the SSS has announced forgiveness. We don't want to hear that," he decried.

Another protester, Nimsel Nanyal, 57, who held a placard with the inscription "Pls Mr. President, I's Now We Want Fresh Air," told the reporters that he received a death certificate for his son and has waited three months to hear about government's steps towards giving his son justice but has been disappointed so far.

"I am disappointed that security men were killed and government cannot give them justice," he said.

"In Britain, one soldier was killed on the street, not in the line of duty as our children, and the British Prime Minister was everywhere making statements. He even attended the burial. Here, we were sent certificates, and that is all," Nanyal added.

It would be recalled that the so-called Ombatse killings happened when the militia members waylaid a detachment of police and SSS operatives sent to Alakyo, near Lafia, to arrest the cult leader following incidents on violence blamed on the group.

Dozens of policemen and ten SSS men were killed, and most of the corpses burnt by the cultists.

Yesterday's protest comes three weeks after wives and other family members of the slain operatives created a scene at the Government House in Lafia disrupting the singing of the Nation Anthem during a visit by some governors.

Governors Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa), as well as Senator Abdullahi Adamu, were on a sympathy visit when the incident happened.

The Nasarawa State Government has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the killings, with Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan as chairman. The panel suspended its sitting yesterday because of the visit by Sambo. It is due to continue taking submissions today.

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Angelina Jolie is Hollywood's Highest Paid Actress (See Forbes Top Ten List)

Angelina Jolie is Hollywood's highest paid actress according the Forbes.com, and she pocketed an incredibly robust $33 million between June 2012 and June 2013.

The 38-year-old star has topped Forbes Hollywood's Highest Paid Actresses list after pocketing $33 million between June 2012 and June 2013, which is $13 million more than she earned last year.

According to Forbes.com, the screen beauty - who hasn't been seen on the big screen for three years since 2010's thriller 'The Tourist' - will make her comeback next summer in Disney's 'Maleficent' for which she will make $15 million.

Angelina, who in the interim directed and wrote Bosnian War movie 'In The Land of Blood and Honey', earned $9 million more than the second-ranked actress on the list, Jennifer Lawrence.

The 22-year-old actress helped the first movie in 'The Hunger Games' franchise bank $690 million at the box office and while she was paid under $1 million for the first film, production company Lionsgate will be paying her substantially more for the sequel 'Catching Fire'.

Kristen Stewart, who topped the list last year with $34.5 million, has dropped to third place with $22 million.

The 23-year-old made her main fortune playing female lead Bella Swan in the 'Twilight Saga' series and has been doing smaller productions since the vampire saga finished.

Jennifer Aniston takes the fourth spot with $20 million and Emma Stone makes the top five with an estimated $16 million.

Hollywood's Highest Paid Actresses according to Forbes top 10:

1) Angelina Jolie - $33 million

2) Jennifer Lawrence - $26 million

3) Kristen Stewart $22 - million

4) Jennifer Aniston - $20 million

5) Emma Stone - $16 million

6) Charlize Theron - $15 million

7) Sandra Bullock - $14 million

8) Natalie Portman - $14 million

9) Mila Kunis - $11 million

10) Julia Roberts - $11 million

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How I Predicted The Death Of The Mother Of The First Lady! Tinubu Be Careful - Pastor Chris Warns

The General Overseer of Mountain of Liberation And Miracle Ministry, Pastor Chris Okafor has said he predicted the death of the mother of the first lady which recently happened.

It was said that the man of God predicted that, there will be death in the President's household, and it was meant to take away someone close to them mysteriously but could be averted if they showed interest.

He has also advised Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to beware because some of his strong opponent have vowed to ensure that he will not see May 29, 2015.

Lastly, this one is for the people of Anambra State. Senator Chris Ngige is going to rule you again, the Pastor said.

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SPOTTED: Oprah Winfrey Having Dinner With Tina Turner And New Husband (PHOTO)

Recently, a picture of Oprah Winfrey having dinner with Tina Turner and her new husband, Erwin Bach surfaced online.

See photo below..

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Exodus: Sen Ohiare, 1000 Others Dump PDP For APC

Over one thousand (1,000) ruling Peoples' Democratic Party's (PDP) devotees of central senatorial district of Kogi State, with Senator Muhammed Salami Ohiare in the forefront, have over the weekend defected to the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Ohiare had, at a press conference, explained their decision to seek alternative platform: "We have waited too long for better life to be ushered into this country in general and Kogi State in particular, but like an 'abracadabra', the more we expect it, the further it is made to elude us."

Stressing the fact that Kogi State situation is 'most pathetic' in terms of putting concrete infrastructures on ground, he further said, "It is most disheartening that a party, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), that ruled this state for four years can still point to greater achievements than the one that has been in power for almost triple same period."

Ohiare, a former governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007, expressed his regret that other states created in the same period as Kogi are enjoying 'better infrastructural provisions'. He added that the lives of the Kogi people have been 'wasted in endless expectations'.

Speaking on the reasons to leave the PDP and call on his comrades to do the same, he described the situation metaphorically: "If you are travelling in a vehicle that either breaks down often or too slow to take you to your destination for an important and urgent purpose, the wise thing to do is to disembark from it and take a healthier and faster vehicle."

According to Ohiare, the expected accelerated development can only be attained when good governance evolves from the actions of politicians who have the conscience of bringing the greatest happiness to greater number of the electorate.

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Want To Be Better At Blogging? Try These

There is no doubt that we are in the information age, an age where everything is influenced by the correct use of appropriate information.  It is no surprise that the currency of this age is information. As expected, the individual that has the correct quantity of information at the right time has the potential to increase popularity and create wealth.

Blogging has taken centrestage with more and more individuals making an effort to drift a blog as one of the ways to establish a digital presence. Most blogs on the Internet are not optimally utilised. However, the few that have been able to stand out have become a resource centre and an avenue for wealth for their respective owners.

Here are a few of the recommendations on becoming a successful blogger -

Find your niche: It is important that you find a niche and be known for it. You could decide to blog about vehicle, health, current happenings etc. It is important to keep your information fresh and relevant.

Keep it short:  In my opinion, you should endeavour to keep each post less than 600 words.  Most readers would prefer a brief post to a lengthy one.

Define your ideal readers: Once you’ve found your niche, you need to know who your readers are. For example, if you write about child care; the ideal readers are child care givers. Tailor your writing to your readers and it would be more meaningful.

Be original: The amount of originality you put into your blog would help establish your blog and make it standout from the numerous others on the Internet.

Be interesting: Find a place for humour on your blog; make your blog interesting enough; give your readers something to look forward to on every paragraph.

Feedback: Create a system that allows you to receive comments and feedbacks from readers on your blog. It is important that you provide your audience with an opportunity to participate. Their input would also inspire the kind of content you provide.

Negative criticism:  It is important that you prepare your mind because it is very certain that you would receive some negative criticism. Some individuals will question your motive, your source etc. Learn what you can from them and move on.

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10 Things Women Want From Men

A smart woman shares the10 basic things women REALLY want from men;

1. We love the way you courted us when we met. The texts, calls, flowers, chocolates, cards, airport pick-ups, weekends away. Please don't stop this when you know you 'have us'.

2. We like security and a feeling of familiarity. Give us a chance to get to know you, before hitting on us.

3. We want to be treated as ladies. Not as unequals. We don't expect you to open every door and foot every bill, but it doesn't mean we don't find your gestures of genuine chivalry very attractive. Even the most independent woman wants to feel she is treasured and adored as an object of beauty, just as long as it doesn't go so far that the man insists on making her every decision.

4. We like to talk. This does not mean we are asking for your opinion or that we want you to magically fix all our problems. Mostly, we just need to vent. And we love it so much when you really hear us. Listen cos that's all you need to do.

5. We expect you to remember relationship landmarks. You love technology, so when we tell you our anniversary is coming, or our birthday, put it in your planner, so you remember. You remember meetings, and football scores, so remember birthdays, it's not that hard.

6. We love an excuse to get dressed up. Give us the chance to sizzle in our glam wardrobe. Don't get nervous if other guys look at us.

Remember we're on your arm.

7. Keep your promises. We like simple courtesies. Be on time, do whatever you said you were going to, and if things have changed, muster up the courage to tell us upfront.

8. Love for us begins in the mind. Just like you like the sensuous curves, we like the dinners, romance and dreamy conversation.

9. We also love sports, but it does not mean that it has to be the same game you play.

10. We don't want you to give up on guys nights. Believe it or not, we understand that you need space. We love our all-girl time as well.

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Delta Government Under Attack Over Planned Demolition, Relocation Of Market

Market women in Ughelli and civil rights groups have accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration of high-handedness as the government reportedly proceeds with a plan to evict traders from a 50-year old market that has been slated for demolition.

The state government plans to demolish the old market and relocate it to a new site in a different community.

The plan has drawn condemnation from women traders across the state as well as civil groups.The affected traders, who are mostly widows and single mothers, and youths in the area, have vowed to resist the government’s eviction and demolition plan by all means.

Over the last three days, economic and social activities have ground to a virtual halt, with stores and businesses shut down in solidarity with the Ughelli women traders protesting the planned relocation of the market. “This is the only market owned by the [Ughelli] kingdom,” one of the protesters said. “So why is it that the government now wants to close it down and move it?”

Many of the women, who are carrying out a peaceful protest, harped on the fact that the market has existed in Ughelli market for more than 50 years. They argued that customers would find it difficult to access the proposed site of a new market. They stressed that the neighboring communities, including Ekakpamre, Ufuoma, Eruemukokurie, and Effurun-Otor, trade in the Ughelli main market.

A protesting woman told SaharaReporters that the government’s plan market re-allotment program would engender poverty. “The amount of economic loss will be enormous because we women run our businesses on micro-credit and loans from micro-finance and commercial banks. And we service these loans with quick turn-over from our businesses.”

Several of the visibly angry women said the government’s plan also threatened the educational future of their children, noting that the new market location has no schools around it. “So many of us have [more than] six children each who attend various schools around Iwreko and Ekiugbo. How can we leave our stalls to go and carry our children after school hours?” 

Another protester stated that the new site is located along the East-West Road, under construction, adding that the location was hard for mothers and children to access.

Last Sunday, a large group of protesters gathered at the palace of the Ughelli monarch for prayers and consultations. A letter containing their position was presented to the monarch.

The letter called on Mr. Uduaghan to “stay action on the threatened eviction, demolition and relocation of Ughelli goods market because the adverse socio-economic consequences and impact that it will create will be too difficult for the state government to handle.”

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PHOTOS: Check Out Singer Vast's Special Woman

Singer Vast, one half of the Pop group Bracket has not been too eager to show off his beautiful girlfriend but meet Tillya, a Tanzanian Managing Director/blogger who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As you can see from the photos, Tillya is quite stylish with her looks and her ‘boy toy’ appreciates it.

"Just d smile makes me happy, of cause its not all about the big things, it’s about the little things that counts", Vast wrote about his girl as he posted a photo of her on Instagram.

In case you’re doubting, here’s what she wrote on his page this morning, "Baby ur so funny oooh, u know am sleeping but thanks for the love my darling king. i love u Vastlicious".

Vast replied, "Yeah I know but it’s already morning over there..anyways,thanks love u too".

Check out more photos of Tillya…

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Wande Coal Parts Ways With Mavin Records

Wande Coal after years of staying loyal to his bosses, Dbanj and Don Jazzy has allegedly finally parted ways with Mavin Records owned by Don Jazzy to form his own label known as Black Diamond Entertainment.

During the post Mohit era which saw Dbanj and Don Jazzy parting ways to form their own record label, Wande Coal pitched his tent with the super producer, Don Jazzy and released a number of hits under the Mavin blueprint.

With the likes of Wizkid and Iyanya running their own label and making it bigtime, Wande Coal finally summoned the courage to untie himself from the apron strings of Mavin to become his own boss.

His new single ‘Kilaju’ produced by Maleek Berry, which dropped yesterday was released under his Black Diamond imprint.

A member of his new team who pleaded anonymity confirmed the split saying WC’s twitter bio says it all, while attempt to reach Don Jazzy was not possible as at the time of filing this report.

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PHOTOS: 2 Swiss Trains Collide, Dozens Injured

Two commuter trains collided head-on Monday evening in western Switzerland, injuring dozens, officials said.

One locomotive's driver was missing after the crash, police said, and search crews were trying to pry open the train's crushed cab.

At least 40 people were injured, five of them seriously, Swiss Federal Railways spokesman Reto Schaerli told CNN.

The collision happened in the village of Granges-près-Marnand, about 8 km south of Payerne, around 6:45 p.m.

Rescue teams at the scene included paramedics, firefighters, police and an air rescue helicopter, police said.

Authorities are investigating what caused the crash.

"At the moment, we don't have any ... information how this collision happened," Schaerli said.

The trains were on a route between Payerne and Lausanne, a city on the shores of Lake Geneva, Schaerli said.

The crash will interrupt train service between Payerne and Moudon -- a city near the line's halfway point -- until at least midnight, Schaerli said.

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Mass Funeral For Italy Bus Victims

A funeral has been held near the southern Italian town of Pozzuoli for the 38 victims of Sunday's bus crash.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta was among about 4,000 people at the service, which was held in a sports hall.

Bishop of Pozzuoli, Gennaro Pascarella, urged the authorities to clarify the causes of the accident, saying: "We must ensure this never happens again." The coach lost control on a viaduct near Monteforte Irpino, hitting several other cars and plunging into a ravine.

In his homily, Bishop Pascarella appealed for support for the bereaved families. "Political and religious institutions should not leave our brothers alone, especially those who have found themselves without any economic support,'' he said.

Families and friends of those killed in the accident crowded around the flower-draped coffins, lined up in front of the altar.

"We feel terrible. We all know each other here. We are all a bit like brothers and sisters," said one man, Franco, who said he had lost a friend in the accident.

Before the ceremony, relatives of the dead wept and clutched the coffins, placing flowers, photographs and other memorabilia for their loved ones.

One coffin was adorned with a photo of the deceased's wedding day, and a scarf in the colours of the football team, Napoli.

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Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur Hunt For Nigerian Striker

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are among the Premier League clubs being linked with a move for Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor.

The 21-year-old scored ten goals for VVV Venlo in the Eredivisie last season, but couldn't stop his side from sliding out of the Dutch top flight.

His form was rewarded with an international call-up from the Super Eagles, and he nearly joined CSKA Moscow back in January.

However, a move to Russia failed to materialise, and now the Daily Star claims Premier League clubs are keen on bringing the player to England.

Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle United are the clubs mooted by the paper, which also claims that Chelsea were keen on signing the player before his move to Holland in 2011.

The Gunners have already added a striker this summer, with Yaya Sanogo moving to the Emirates Stadium from Auxerre.

However, Arsene Wenger remains relatively light in the position, and would love to add some additional depth to Arsenal attack.

Tottenham Hotspur are another side short of attacking options, with Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor the only strikers available at White Hart Lane.

Andre Villas-Boas had been chasing Christian Benteke earlier in the summer, but after missing out on the Belgian, he now appears keen to bring a player dubbed 'the new Benteke' to north London.

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Michael Jackson's Doctor Planning To Reveal ‘Explosive’ Secrets After Prison

Conrad Murray is reportedly threatening to reveal ‘explosive‘ secrets about Michael Jackson and his family on TV when he is released from prison in October.

The disgraced former doctor – who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after delivering a fatal dose of Propofol to the King of Pop in June 2009 – has reportedly been fielding multi-million dollar deals to tell-all about the late singer and his family when he is granted an early release from prison in October.

Murray has warned the ‘Thriller‘ star’s family that if they continue to push him ‘to the limit’ by slating him in the press and in their wrongful death lawsuit against concert promoters AEG Live, he will not hesitate to dish the dirt on Michael’s relatives – which he claims could ‘tarnish’ their reputations.

In a statement obtained by the Daily Star newspaper, he said: "Though I have encountered so much sorrow and I have a great deal of explosive information that is fodder for tarnishing images, I’ve remained loyal to Michael and to foes over the past four years.

"I will continue to be faithful and endure unless and until I’m pushed to the limit and endurance is no more."

The jailed physician has angered Michael’s family by refusing to aid his motherKatherine Jackson’s $100 million lawsuit against AEG – who she claims is responsible for the star’s death by negligently hiring Murray – and has insisted he won’t give evidence in the trial.

Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that Murray will receive early release from prison in October for good behaviour.

Murray – who lost his medical license when he was found guilty – was jailed in November 2011 and will leave prison having served just under half of his four-year sentence.

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Jailbreak Frees Hundreds

Taliban militants have freed 248 prisoners in an assault on a prison in north-west Pakistan, officials say.

Militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and bombs blasted down the walls of the jail in the town of Dera Ismail Khan and streamed inside, reports said.

A gun battle lasting several hours went on into the early hours of Tuesday. At least 13 died, including six police.

Correspondents say it is a huge embarrassment for authorities.

The attack was similar to an assault on a prison in nearby Bannu in April last year, in which almost 400 prisoners were freed.

The Taliban assault comes on the day parliament is electing a new president. We will never know if the timing was deliberate, but it has hugely embarrassed the government, and once again highlighted the ability of the militants to strike at will.

Suggestions the authorities had advance warning of the attack, but did not act on it, only make matters worse.

No high-profile Taliban members were being held at the Dera prison, but at least 30 militants freed in the assault are described by the authorities as "hardened" Taliban fighters. The attack rekindles memories of a 2012 jailbreak in the nearby city of Bannu in which about 400 prisoners escaped, including Adnan Rashid, a radicalised former member of the military who recently wrote an open letter to child activist Malala Yousafzai explaining why she was attacked by the Taliban.

The Dera jail attack comes a month after the police said they had arrested a group of militants who were planning to launch a similar attack on Karachi Central Jail. This is indicative of an emerging Taliban strategy to break jails instead of negotiating the release of their prisoners by taking hostages, which they have done in the past.

Reports also suggest intelligence had warned of an impending attempt on the jail two weeks ago.

This latest assault demonstrates the weakness of the Pakistani state, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Karachi.

The state appears not to have the capacity, and some would say the will, to rein in hardened militants, he says.

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Mobile Shawarma Palace: Heaven on Wheels…

Mobile Shawarma Palace; heaven on wheels…

Healthy living is a subject that is believed to be anathema to the concept of fast food.

Long have fast food outlets been a pariah for those who love to eat and live healthy, as the general belief is that they tend to serve foods lacking in major minerals and are coincidentally highly fatty in content.

With the choice of Shawarma however, one can easily get a unique blend of health and fun in an oblong wrap of pita.

Mobile Shawarma palace is a unique and innovative fast food concept that offers quality meals at an excellent value and on the go.

Bringing traditional Middle Eastern food to the modern Nigerian lifestyle is a concept our denizens agree we have mastered in a genuine and efficient way, making it easy for all customers to enjoy the goodness of our very own Shawarma which is simply a little piece of heaven right here on earth.

You haven't had a shawarma until you've tasted MSB's shawarma, it elevates fast food to the level of haute cuisine.

Mobile Shawarma Palace takes both mobile and online orders and delivers in a fast and efficient manner anywhere within the Lagos axis. It is simply healthy meals on wheels.

To order, go tohttp://mobileshawarmapalace.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59

Or call the hotlines on: 01-8445107, 08190458165,08091186756

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We Are Losing N1.85trn To Crude Oil Theft And Sabotage -NEITI

Nigeria lost over 146 million barrels of crude oil estimated at about $11.794 billion (about N1.852 trillion) to theft, deliberate sabotage, and pipeline vandalism between 2009 and 2011, the latest audit report by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) released on Monday revealed.

NEITI Chairman, Ledum Mitee, who was speaking at the public presentation of reports, which covered the audit of oil and gas industry for the period 2009 and 2011, and the solid mineral industry for the period 2007 and 2010, said the amount lost represented about 7.7 per cent of about $143.5 billion (about N2.253 trillion) realised as total revenue from equity crude oil sale, royalty, signature bonuses and taxes during the period.

Mr. Mitee said the figure captured only those incidents reported by three multinational oil companies operating in the country during the period, including Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The reports presented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinator for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, showed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and two other agencies are to refund over N8.138 billion to the Federation Account as fuel subsidy over-recovery collected from petroleum products marketers between 2009 and 2011.

The figure is made up of about N4.423 billion collected from some marketers, which is yet to be remitted to the Federation Account by the PPPRA, while NNPC and two other companies are yet to refund N3.715 billion collected for a similar purpose during the period. In addition, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the NNPC was also yet to reconcile the remittance of another N8.62 billion it received, including dividend payment by the Nigeria LNG Limited, which is yet to be remitted to the Federation Account since 2009.

The report presented in Abuja, is the first comprehensive audit of the country’s extractive industry by NEITI since Nigeria signed on to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) principles in 2003. In the latest report, Mr. Mitee said Nigeria’s total crude oil production increased by 4.8 per cent over the 2006 figure to 2.5billion barrels in 2008, made up of 780.9 million barrels in 2009; 894.5 in 2010, and 866.2 million barrels in 2011.

The report showed that contrary to the claim that about N3 trillion (made up of N1.4trillion to the NNPC and N1.6trillion to other fuel marketers) was paid to importers of refined petroleum products as subsidy, there was a disparity of about N175.9billion between claims paid from the Federation Account and disbursements by the PPPRA during the period.

Similarly, while the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) reported a total subsidy payment of N2.825 trillion, the PPPRA said it disbursed N3 trillion to marketers, apart from an un-reconciled difference of N1.04 billion reported following disagreements by some marketers over the N2.56 billion ascribed to them by the PPPRA in 2010, against N1.52 billion recorded for them as payment. In addition, the report noted that subsidy payments of N198 billion through NNPC in 2009 increased to N416 billion in 2010 and N786 billion in 2011, with subsidy payment through PPPRA increasing from N208 billion in 2009 to N278 billion in 2010 and astronomically to N1.12 trillion in 2011.

Noting a decline in government crude oil productions, crude lifting, and revenues accruable to the Federation Account, the report attributed it to inadequate funding of Joint Venture operations, and recommended an urgent review of the Modified Carry Arrangements in the context of government adequate funding of JV operations.

On refineries, the report noted that the industry suffered a combined loss of over $866 million (about N135.962 billion) to the Federation Account as a result of over 80 per cent of crude oil allocated to local refineries being exported abroad for off-shore processing, crude oil and product exchange, because all the four refineries were operating below their installed capacities. On the controversial OPL 245, the report noted the lack of transparency, accountability and due process, particularly in the Bid Process and Signature Bonus payment, pointing out that while Shell claimed it paid about $207 million as Signature Bonus on the oil block, in addition to $2.004 million paid earlier, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) was unable to provide additional information to contradict the claims.

The Report demanded the urgent review of the existing agreements in the industry with the JV companies to reverse the loss of over $1.7 billion between 2009-2011 as a result of relying on an Memorandum of Understanding that expired in 2008 in transactions with Nigeria, resulting in a difference between NNPC and covered entities positions reported by the auditors as revenue losses to the Federation. Other recommendations included the need to set up a committee to review and agree on a new fiscal regime and governance framework for the oil and gas industry and define clear roadmap for the implementation, while pushing for urgent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly.

Ms, Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the reports, reiterated the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan administration to uphold transparency and accountability in the extractive industry, adding that the value of the reports was not in their presentation, but in the implementation of their recommendations. In her presentation, NEITI Executive Secretary, Zainab Ahmed, said the quality of the two reports by two indigenous consultancy firms, Sada Idris & Co, for oil and gas, and Haruna Yahaya & Co. for solid minerals, was a confirmation of the capacity of indigenous firms to compete favourably given the right environment and level playing ground.

The Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, Sada Mohammed, expressed delight at the report, saying his ministry had already constituted a standing committee to review the issues about revenue generation from the sector and ensure that the recommendations were understood and adequately implemented.

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