How To Insure Your Phone's Screen in Nigeria

Slot Systems Limited, in conjunction with Industrial And General Insurance Plc (IGI), has introduced a new insurance product which protects mobile phones against damage to screens. Under the insurance policy, the cost of replacing any damaged or smashed screen of mobile phones that are insured will be borne completely by the insurance company.
The drivers of this initiative, SLOT and IGI, said it was aimed at saving owners the stress associated with the replacement of cracked or shattered screens of mobile phones - A value-added service and a first-class after-sales support offered by SLOT. Customers are therefore encouraged to take advantage of the insurance policy which provides cover and compensation in the event of any damage to the screen of their precious mobile phones and a cost-effective way to protect our valuable phones for a modest premium.To get your phone screen insured, simply walk into any SLOT store nationwide, Purchase a phone and pay additional 5% of the phone cost to get your screen insured for 1 year.
The screen insurance option is also available on the Slot Mobile App.
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The devices covered by the insurance include Apple, Blackberry, Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, and Microsoft. T/C's Apply.For more info call: 01-4663633

Obasanjo wants to run my govt – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, described former President
Olusegun Obasanjo's attacks on him as the consequence of his failure
to surrender his administration to the former leader.Responding to the
tirades of the former president last week, President Jonathan said
Obasanjo was so bent on controlling his protégées that he would not
mind installing the devil in power so long as he can control
him.Meanwhile, it was learned at the weekend that the Presidency and
the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP, have decided to pull back from
earlier plans to sanction Obasanjo over his perceived anti-party
activities. Besides, there were indications that Obasanjo's support
among some northern governors, who deferred to him in the past, may be
waning. One serving northerngovernor in the PDP known as an Obasanjo
associate, weekend, flayed the former president for crossing the line
in his attacks onthe president and party.Jonathan and
ObasanjoAddressing journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, Director, Media
and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi
Fani- Kayode stressed that soon after Jonathan won the 2011 elections,
the former president tried everything possible to control and
teleguide him, adding that he asked the President to do a number of
things that were simply wrong and unacceptable to a government with
plans for the people.Why Obasanjo is attacking JonathanHe said: "After
Jonathan came to power, Obasanjo not only tried to control and
teleguide him, but he also asked him to do a number of things that
were simply wrong and unacceptable. It is for President Goodluck
Jonathan himself to divulge those things and I am sure that he will do
so at the appropriate time."Needless to say President Jonathan refused
to be teleguided and told what to do though at all times he showed
Obasanjo maximum respect and accorded him all the privileges, access
and courtesies that are due to a former Head of State and a father and
mentor. This continued to be the case even after Obasanjo consistently
attempted to undermine his government and ridiculehis efforts."Yet
President Obasanjo could not be appeased and was not satisfied. As far
as he was concerned, he must either control Jonathan or Jonathan had
to go. That is why he decided to secretly support the APC and became
their 'navigator in chief'. He was determined to pull the whole house
down rather than allow Jonathan to return to power. This is simply
because he believes that if he cannot control someone, that person
must be destroyed. Control and domination is an obsession for
Obasanjo. That is the bottom line. He is prepared to put even the
devil in power provided he can control him," Fani-Kayode, who also
served President Obasanjo as a senior special assistant (public
communication) and later Aviation Minister said.Genuine
democracy"Obasanjo does not want genuine democracy. He only pretends
towant it. What he wants is control and a stooge in power. It does not
matter what type of government it is as long as he controls it and it
is headed by his puppet. It can be a military government, acivilian
one, a democratic one, an interim government or a government of
National Unity. To Obasanjo, it does not matter as long as he can
control it. That is his objective. That is why he hatesJonathan so
much and that is why he wishes to stop him at all cost."The bottom
line is this: President Obasanjo's grouse with President Jonathan is
personal and it has nothing to do with Nigeria. He should leave
Nigeria out of it and let us all be. If he has a personal score to
settle with Jonathan, he should not do so at the expense of the peace
and stability of Nigeria."If he wants to stop Jonathan, then let him
attempt to do so through the democratic process and through the ballot
box and not through foul and unconstitutional means. We said it
before and we will say it again: Gone are the days that any president
canbe teleguided and controlled because we have all come of
age."President Olusegun Obasanjo's allegations are serious and
grave.They are also reckless. He has raised issues and made assertions
that are capable of derailing our democracy and creating chaos in the
land. It is vital that we consider his motives for this latest
outburst and his credentials as a leader and an elder statesman."The
truth is that he knows that President Goodluck Jonathan will win next
month's presidential election and that is why he wants to destroy the
credibility of the whole process right from the outset."What he is
trying to say in his latest contribution is that if President Jonathan
wins, then the election must have been riggedright from the outset.
This is not only wrong but it is also unfair and uncharitable. If
President Obasanjo has any evidence to prove his weighty allegations,
he ought to present it before the Council of State and take it up
there."He should also report to INEC itself and present the data of
whatever sinister plan he believes that President Jonathan has to stay
in power 'by hook or by crook' to them. He should tell INEC whatever
it is that Jonathan is doing in order for him to stay in power by all
means and he should give them all the details. That should be the
starting point."Postponement of pollsAsserting that the postponement
of the election was not a sufficient reason for Obasanjo to lampoon
Jonathan given that polls have been postponed in the past, the
president's campaign image maker faulted the comparison between
Jonathan and former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo.He said:
"President Obasanjo spoke about President Laurent Gbagbo and he
claimed that President Jonathan was attempting to do a Gbagbo in
Nigeria. The question that must be put to him is this: "Who got Gbagbo
out?" Was it not Jonathan's government that played a key role in
ensuring that democracy was fully established in the Ivory Coast and
did he not play a key role in ensuring that the Gbagbo 'stay in power
forever plan' did not work? If anyone doubts this, they should ask
President Alhassan Outtara of Cote D'Ivoire the role that Jonathan and
Nigeria played in helping to restore democracy and stability back to
his country."They should also find out the role that former President
Obasanjo played in attempting to keep President Laurent Gbagbo in
power at all costs and the deep friendship that exists between the two
men. It is a matter of fact and public record that when hewas
President of Nigeria, Obasanjo, perhaps more than any other African
Head of State with the exception of President Jacob Zuma of South
Africa, propped up and supported President Gbagbo and it is an irony
of fate and history that he is now condemning the actions of his old
friend and accusing others of trying to emulate him."Again it is
ironic that President Obasanjo has accused President Jonathan of
having a grand plan to stay in power at all cost and by all means yet
it is the same Obasanjo that tried to stay in powerfor a third term
even though the Nigerian constitution specificallyforbade it. He tried
all he could to change the constitution but the whole thing failed and
he was compelled to leave power."We continue to hold Obasanjo in high
esteem but his recent actions and utterances are beyond the pale. He
has been unfair to Jonathan, to Nigeria and even to himself. Most
importantly thedays of intimidating others with his harsh words and
overbearing influence are long over. Obasanjo is not God. Only God is
God andHe alone determines the fortunes of men and the destiny of
nations."Will of the peopleFani-Kayode continued: "We sincerely hope
that Obasanjo appreciates the gravity of what he is attempting to do
and we shall continue to pray that God will guide him and deliver him
from whatever it is that makes him want to destroy all those that love
him the most. Whether he likes it or not, democracy has cometo stay
in Nigeria and the will of the Nigerian people will be done in next
month's presidential elections and thereafter. We believe that it is
God's plan and not even one million Obasanjos can stop it."PDP backs
outMeanwhile, the presidency and the PDP may have opted not to tackle
Obasanjo on the development and rolled back plans to sanction the

CBN Re-Introduces Bank Charges For ATM Withdrawals

In the directive, CBN stated that the first 3 withdrawals in a month
on other bank ATMswill be free but subsequent ones will be charged at
N65 per transaction.It will be recalled that banks were charging N100
per transaction on ATM machines before the Central Bank cancelled it
Under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's watch in December 2012 and made it free.
Now it's back with a reduction of N35.When it was cancelled, the banks
still paid each other when the transaction was made without passing on
the costs to the customers, This made many of the banks ensure that
their ATMs were always working to prevent their customers from going
to other banks.

Twon – No Surrender ft. Olamide

RapperTwon(real names: Peter Udejimba) currently signed toAcro Germane
Recordsdropped his first single titled"Samba"which he featured Chuddy
K is back with a banging new track featuring YBNL boss.Armed with his
unique style the fast rising rapper is set to take over the music
scene with theOlamideassisted"No Surrender"produced byMacVans.
Download, share and enjoy.

http://tinyurl.com/n7lorme

Anti-Ebola vaccine and drugs arrive

Rona Ambrose, Canada's health minister, revealed on
Wednesday that Canada is sending about 800 to 1000
doses of an experimental vaccine known as VSV-EBOV to West
Africa to help the World Health Organisation to fight the
Ebola epidemic. The vaccines would be distributed through
the WHO in West Africa, to Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia
and Guinea. The VSV-EBOV vaccine was developed at
Canada's national microbiology laboratory in Winnipeg,
Manitoba.
In addition to this, a consignment of experimental Ebola
drug arrived in Liberia by plane on Wednesday, to treat
two doctors suffering from the virus. The drug, Zmapp,
arrived in two boxes on a commercial flight from the United
States of America. This drug has shown good results when
tested on non-human primates such as monkeys and apes,
but human trials of the drugs have not yet begun.
On records, Zmapp has only been administered to three
humans. The first two are the US aid workers, Dr. Kent
Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who contracted Ebola in
Liberia, and were flown to and treated at the Emory
University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. These two
Americans have showed significant improvement. However,
the third person to receive Zmapp, Miguel Pajares ,a 75-
year-old Spanish priest who contracted Ebola while in
Liberia, died in a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, August 11.
The go-ahead to allow the use of Zmapp despite the fact
that it has not been tested on humans was the result of an
emergency WHO meeting which involved a panel of 12
advisers and four resource persons, consisting of mainly
doctors and professors. According to WHO, the panel
concluded that "it is ethical to offer unproven interventions
with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as a
potential treatment or prevention."
Also, Dr. Marie-PauleKieny, assistant Director-General at the
WHO, said, "If these treatments can save lives, as the
animal studies suggests, should we not use them to save
lives?"
If the usual protocol in testing vaccines and drugs on
human populations before they are certified fit for human
use is carried out, the earliest we may have to wait will be
2015. The reason for this is that the time needed to fully
release the vaccine into the market is quite lengthy due to a
thorough process guarded by strict bioethical procedures.
Stages of vaccine development and testing include
Exploratory stage – which involves basic laboratory
research that often lasts two to four years. During this
phase, federally funded academic and governmental
scientists identify natural or synthetic antigens that help
prevent or treat a disease.
The preclinical stage - which involves the use tissue culture
or cell culture systems and animal testing to assess the
safety of the candidate vaccine and its ability to provoke a
desired immune response. Animal subjects may include
mice and monkeys. These studies give researchers the idea of
the cellular responses they might expect in humans. Studies
will also suggest a safe starting dose for the next phase of
the research as well as a safe method for the administration
of the vaccine. This stage often lasts for 1-2 years.
Investigational new drug application – A sponsor, usually
a private company, submits an application to the
regulatory bodies. The sponsor describes the manufacturing
and testing processes, summarises the laboratory reports,
and describes the proposed study. Once the IND application
gas has been approved, the vaccine is subject to a three-
phase clinical studies on human subjects.
The Phase 1 trials – is the first attempt to assess the
candidate vaccine in a small group of between 20 and 30
people. The goal of phase 1 trials are to assess the safety of
the candidate vaccine and to determine the type and extent
of immune responses that the vaccine produces. A promising
phase 1 trial will progress to the next stage.
Phase 11 trials – will involve a larger group of several
hundred individuals than the phase 1. The goal of the
phase 11 trials are to study the candidate vaccine's safety,
immunogenicity, proposed doses, schedule of immunisation
and method of delivery.
Phase 111 trials – will include thousands of people. The
goal is to access the vaccine safety in a larger group of
people because certain rare side effects which may not
surface in smaller number of people, but may occur in one
out of every 10,000 people.
After a successful phase 111 trial, the vaccine developer will
submit a biologics licence application to the country's body
that is responsible for protecting the public health by
assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and
veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices,
nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit
radiation. The regulatory body will inspect the factory
where vaccine will be produced and also approve
vaccination labelling. The final stages are manufacturing,
quality control and distribution.
The standard WHO practice in assessing new medicine
involves these series of trials in humans, to ensure the
medicines are safe for use. However, the severity of Ebola
has made WHO to by-pass these stages and give a green
light for the use of these experimental drugs on humans.
Vaccination is the best strategy to containing this deadly
infection. It would also provide a medical tool to
discourage the use of the Ebola virus as an agent of bio-
terrorism.
Have a great weekend.

After Nyanya Blast, Lagos NURTW Moves To Install CCTV At Motor Parks

To forestall tragedies at major motor parks in Lagos,
Nigeria's commercial nerve centre, the Lagos State Chapter of
the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) is
finalising plans to install Circuit Camera Televisions (CCTV) at
its motor parks.
According to Chairman of the union, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede,
security officers would, in addition, be appointed for the parks,
while appoint security officers would also be formally trained
on best methods to secure the parks.
"The union has agreed to appoint a chief security officer in
each of its units across the state to beef up security, so as to
prevent such experience in Lagos," Agbede said in reference to
the blast in Nyanya Motor Park on April 14, which resulted in
the death of more than 80 people and injuries to at least 124.
"We have agreed to install Circuit Camera Televisions (CCTVs)
in every park in the state to ensure that we capture everything
that is going on in our parks. We agreed to appoint a chief
security officer in all units, who will go for security training at
a government appointed centre."
Agbede added that parks would be fenced with electric wiring,
while the Lagos State Security Committee and the NURTW
would periodically embark on collaborative visits to the parks
to ensure compliance with the plan.
He assured the public that the union would not rest on its
oars, and that despite already having metal detectors in place,
extra efforts will be made to generally bolster security at the
parks and specifically forestall loss of lives and property.
"As we pray for protection against bad incidents every day,
we must take action on our part to guard against them," he
said, urging all members of the union to compulsorily comply
with the new security directives.

Police recover 2-yr-old boy’s severed head in Ibadan

ABEOKUTA — SECURITY agents in Ogun State are living up to
their billing as they have arrested at least eight people whose
crimes border on murder, kidnap and human rituals.
The state police command yesterday said it had recovered
the head of a two year-old boy which was severed by a
suspected ritualist at Ofada in Obafemi-Owode Local
Government Area of the state.
Also, the Police said they had arrested four suspects in
connection with the killing of a suspected person of unsound
mind known as Kazeem Akindele, at Kugba area, Abeokuta
for allegedly attempting to kidnap a 19-year-old lady.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa
Adejobi, in a statement said the severed head of the boy was
recovered in Ibadan.
The boy, whose mother was raped by the suspected ritualist
identified as Mamodu Bashir Ibrahim, was beheaded last
Thursday when his mother, who had him strapped on her
back, went to ease herself in a bush.
Adejobi had said detectives attached to the Department of
Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta arrested the
suspect who fled the scene immediately he perpetrated the
act.
Boy's head recovered in Ibadan
He said: "The suspect took the investigation team to Mokola
area of Ibadan, Oyo State where the head was recovered in a
bag in the bush, Tuesday.
"The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Mr Ikemefuna
Okoye, has, however, directed the detectives to intensify efforts
to uncover the buyers and those who engage in such dirty
deals in our society."
4 suspected killers of kidnapper arrested
Speaking on the killing of the suspected kidnapper, Adejobi
said: "The deceased was attacked by the suspects and other
angry youths in the area who are at large currently. The
Commissioner of Police had ordered the arrest of the fleeing
suspects who embarked on that jungle justice that led to the
death of the mad man.
"The suspects arrested include Fausat Ogunbiyi, Mariam
Yahaya, Blessing Joseph and Nurudeen Adebayo. These
suspects will be charged to court as soon as the command
concludes its investigation."
…another nabbed for kidnapping 9-month-old boy
Also, men of the National Security & Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, in Ogun State, yesterday, said it had arrested a 32-
year-old man, Olusegun Kehinde, for allegedly kidnapping a
nine-month-old boy.
The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the state,
Olanrewaju Kareem, in a statement said the incident
happened, Wednesday, at 1, Elegbede House, Ore-meji Street,
Ijeun-Titun area of Abeokuta.
Kareem further said the suspect during interrogation claimed
to be a farmer who was just passing by.
He said: "Men of the corps on patrol of PHCN facilities within
Abeokuta arrested the suspect as a result of alarm raised by
the child's mother, Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, when she saw her
nine month-old baby, Malik Ogundeyi, with the suspect.
"According to Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, the child was kidnapped
when he strayed away while the mother was busy washing.
She explained further that she left the baby in the passage
while she left to pour used water at the backyard.
"The suspect claimed he lives at Okanlawon's compound,
Oke-Ijeun, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun
State during interrogation."
Two ritualists caught with human parts
Meantime, two persons suspected to be ritualists were,
Wednesday, caught with a human skull and other body parts
at Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Nemesis caught up with the suspects, who narrowly escaped
death as the irate mob attempted to lynch them before the
intervention of policemen.
An eye witness told Vanguard that the suspects were caught
in a place near Iko Gateway Grammar School and were
subsequently mobbed by the people of the area.
According to the source, one of the suspects was caught with
a bag that contained human parts. He later led the people to
their den where some scary things were uncovered.
"Some of the things we saw were coffin, decomposed human
skull, pictures and human hair, among others.
"The people wanted to roast them but they were rescued by
the policemen who arrested and took them to their police
station at Idi-Iroko."

Jonathan worse than Abacha, Gov

Amaechi threatens to lead a protest on Saturday
The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan is worse than late Head of State, Sani Abacha, in terms of human right abuses.
Mr. Amaechi, who spoke, Sunday, in Port Harcourt, was reacting to reported attack on some members of the Save Rivers Movement by gunmen suspected to be militants.
The attack took place at Bori town in Khana Local Government Area. Witnesses said two people were shot. They said the attackers, who were masked, shot directly at people sitting inside vehicles including those belonging to government officials as well as Channels Television.
"There is serious danger for democracy, because what you are seeing here is close to what Abacha was doing. This is an Abacha's government. Lives were being lost, people were being shot, and journalists were being arrested. This is even worse because governors were not arrested under Abacha," Mr. Amaechi said.
Mr. Amaechi said he was speaking because he was involved.
"You are a journalist, I don't know whether you were born when Abacha was alive, if you were, then compare what is going on now and what was happening under Abacha regime, Just compare," the governor said.
One of the witnesses simply named as Peter also said the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii, and the Chief of Staff to Tony Okocha, escaped death by the whiskers during the incident.
The two members of the SRM, who sustained gunshot injuries on their legs, were rushed to the hospital on motorcycles.
Sunday's incident came a week after the police officers reportedly shot rubber bullets at members of the SRM in Obio/Akpor.
A serving Senator, Magnus Abe, who was reportedly shot with a rubber bullet, has been flown to a London hospital for treatment.
The Bori attack took place at the open field of All Saints' Anglican Church and there were reports that the attackers smashed vehicle windscreens with their machetes.
Narrating the incident, Peter said, "The attackers came close to our vehicles and shot straight at some of the vehicles. We would have been killed if not for the fact that we ran into the bush."
Mr. Amaechi accused the Commissioner of Police in the state, Joseph Mbu, of being behind the attacks and taking sides with his political opponents.
He stated that he would be travelling to Bori on Saturday to hold a political rally there and sympathise with the victims. He also dared Mr. Mbu to "attack" him.
"I will be there next Saturday. When they say former President (Olusegun) Obasanjo is lying about snipers and one thousand names, they said Nigeria Police has no rubber bullets. Where did rubber bullets come from? Is it one of the snipers that shot at Magnus Abe? Could it be that they were aiming it at me? But for the first time I will want to expose myself, I will be there. I will be there on Saturday, let them come and shoot," Mr. Amaechi said.

Mu’azu Sworn-in Chairman of PDP, Pledges Reconciliation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday opened a new chapter in its history with the ratification, by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC), of former Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, as its national chairman.

Mu'azu, who emerged the consensus candidate after a series of meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan, governors elected on the platform of the party and other party bigwigs, the last of which ended in the wee hours of Monday, succeeded Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who "stepped aside" last Thursday.

Shortly after he took the oath of office, Mu'azu promised to set about achieving reconciliation in the party that has been enmeshed in a debilitating crisis since last year.

At the NEC meeting that was presided over by the party's Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, the president gave some insight into why the party settled for Mu'azu from about 10 contenders who were touted as being in the race.
Party chiefs, including governors, also took turns to admonish their chairman to avoid the banana peel that led to the sudden exit of some of his predecessors from office and to work for the reconciliation of aggrieved members.

The president told the party leaders that Mu'azu was chosen despite the legion of members who had indicated interest in becoming the national chairman of PDP because of his ability to build bridges.

According to him, "We needed someone who can build the party, who can reach out to the people and who is friendly with the people. Someone who can bring the party together, someone who can build bridges.

"I want to commend all those who showed interest and I can tell you that they were all eminently qualified. A lot of things have been said about the new national chairman. He is not known as someone with tribal or religious sentiments.

"Your religion should not affect your thinking. I knew you as a governor and I can say to some extent that I know you. We need somebody who can build the party and who would not resort to fighting every time."

Jonathan attributed the infighting among party leaders in some states to the reasons why PDP lost some states during elections, adding: "We lost because the leaders failed to agree among themselves."

The president, who tasked Mu'azu to reduce tension among PDP members, said it was not easy deciding on him as the party chair because many of the party's governors did not want the next chairman to come from their states to reduce friction between them and the chairman, as had happened previously.

He said: "Our governors didn't want their chairman to come from their states. We even thought of taking the office to states without PDP governors. But we are happy that history has been made today. I want to thank members of our party for what has been done today without anyone going to court to get injunctions and all that."

Also, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, urged Mu'azu to make reconciliation his primary task.

Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, told Mu'azu that the first thing to ensure his success in office was that he should avoid "the banana peel that affected the relationship between former national chairmen of the party and the governors".

He said: "Please try to avoid the banana peel that has affected past national chairmen of the party and the state governors."

He blamed those he described as political jobbers and those who do not wish the party well for the crisis in the party, especially between the governors and the national secretariat of the party.

He said it was uncommon for the governor of a PDP state to nominate one of the state indigenes as national chairman of the party, pledging a better relationship between the governors and the party chairman.

"I want to reiterate that the governors are prepared to cooperate with the national chairman," he said.
He also told Mu'azu to make the return of the five defected governors of the

Public smokers risk 6-month jail term in Lagos

The Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a bill, aimed at banning smoking in public places in the state.
This came after several months of deliberation and public engagement, mainly to sensitise and gather residents' opinions on the bill.
The 16-section bill, said that posting of signs which states "no smoking," with a picture depicting a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across, should be displayed in all "no smoking areas."
The assembly noted that the picture depicting ban of smoking in a particular public place would be prominently posted and properly maintained by the owner, occupier or person in charge of the "no smoking areas."
The bill, which, yesterday, scaled through the third reading, prohibited anybody smoking in all public places including libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants, among others.
The assembly proceeding which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said smoking in public places would attract penalties ranging from three month imprisonment to six month jail term.
It said the bill "has been sent to Governor Babatunde Fashola  for an assent," even though the development had attracted public outrage, citing infraction on fundamental human rights.
Section 4 of the bill said it shall be the duty of those who own or occupy public places to ensure that approved "no smoking" signs are displayed conspicuously at each entrance and in prominent locations throughout the premises.
The bill on no smoking in public places, also stated the penalties for smoking in a "no smoking area" will be N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not  less than one month and not exceeding three months or both.
While any person who repeatedly violates the provisions shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50, 000 or six month imprisonment or both.
The law also states the penalty for non compliance by owner/occupier of a "no smoking area" the offenders shall attract N100, 000 or 6 month imprisonment, or other non custodial punishment that the judge may deem fit.
It shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorised officer from carrying out his duties under the provision of this law.
The law states that any person who smokes in the presence of a child commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N15,000 or imprisonment for a month or both.

Gay-Marriage Law: US threatens to sanction Nigeria

Leading western countries piled pressure on the Federal government, yesterday, following President Goodluck Jonathan's signing of the Same-Sex Prohibition Act 2014. The latest country is the United States of America, whose Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle threatened that  the United States will scale down its support for HIV/AIDS and anti-malaria programmes in response to the Federal Government's position on the gay rights issue.
Member countries of the European Union and Canada have expressed their objection to the law but United States Ambassador to Nigeria said he was worried about "the implications of the anti-same sex marriage law which seems to restrict the fundamental rights of a section of the Nigerian population."
This came as a former Nigerian Ambassador to US, Dahiru Suleiman, yesterday, described homosexuality and lesbianism as "animalistic and degrading to humanity."
Also yesterday Christians in the northern part of Nigeria under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states an Abuja,  hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the anti-gay bill, urging him to ignore criticisms from Western nations, saying all religions in the country are united in their condemnation of same-sex marriage.
In a reaction to the recent move of government to outlaw homosexuality from this country, the Public Relations Officer of Northern CAN, Elder Sunday Oibe told Vanguard that Christians from the North and their counterparts in other religions have unanimously expressed gratitude to the president and the National Assembly for passing the Anti-Same Sex Marriage despite opposition from Europe and the US.
Speaking to news men in Abuja, yesterday, the American envoy said his interpretation of the new law was that "it could negatively affect the nation's fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic". Although the US envoy denied that his country plans to impose sanctions on Nigeria, he said:  "We and other donors are looking at the issue of funding for HIV/AIDS. As you know, we put millions of dollars in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
"Although I am not a lawyer, I read the bill and it seems to me that it may put some restrictions on what we can do to help fight HIV/AIDS in this country. These are the issues we are looking at as we consider the law."
The signing of the Same sex Prohibition Act by President Jonathan on January 7, 2014 has provoked negative reactions from member countries of EU, Canada and now the United States all of whom have alleged that the law is a violation of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians with same sex orientation.
Ambassador Entwistle said  he was aware that "the issue of same-sex marriage was very controversial all over the world, including within  the United States where 17 states out of 50 had endorsed it, but others still reject its legality". According to him, "the issue that we see and I am speaking as a friend of Nigeria is that as I read the bill, it looks to me that it puts significant restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression; in my opinion which applies especially in advanced democracies, once government begins to say something in these areas, freedom no longer applies. It seems to me that this is a very worrisome precedent."
Anti-gay diplomacy
A lecturer at Covenant University, Professor Kayode Soremekun said: "What is happening demonstrates the low level that the US treats its relation with Nigeria".
He said every Nigerian should feel insulted that the US is threatening to stop assisting us on areas where we have the resources and human capacity to contend.
Said Professor Soremekun, "even when the West had their misgivings about Russia's anti-gay law, they have not gone threatening them with sanctions and punitive action. We are not reckoned with in the international arena where we are getting assistance for HIV/AIDS, Malaria treatment drugs, polio virus crusade among other mundane issues".
He continued: "Nigeria is still a conservative society and the anti-gay law has united the ruling class and Nigerians outside government at this le

D'banj's custom made Guiseppe Zanotti sneakers finally arrive

In October 2013, D'banj shared a pic of Italian shoe designer Guiseppe Zanoti holding up a pair of his famous custom sneakers which he gifted to D'banj. (If you missed it, find it here). Three months later, the sneakers is finally here. D'banj posted the photo above and wrote - "It was real and it has landed special delivery by the Man Himself. #GiuseppeZanotti"

23yr old girl claims Davido is the father of her unborn twins

21 year old music superstar Davido is about to be a father to twin girls in a few months, if claims by 23 year old Sunshine Haye is to be believed. The UK-based beauty (she's from the Caribbean, half Jamaican) claims she hooked up with Davido during his UK tour in 2013. She is said to be about 4/5 months pregnant. (Sunshine, who is sort of a hair model, is pictured above...)

After getting the scoop, I contacted Davido's camp and they denied any knowledge of her allegations.

Well you see, this is not the first time popular socialites have claimed to hook up with the musician. In July 2013, a Kenyan socialite Stacey Brianar aka Pendo called a press conference claiming to have had an encounter with the star, the allegations later turned out to be false as Davido never met the star-struck party girl. So, is this now true? Sunshine's camp swear it is. And have promised to provide proof in due time.

She's even gone on to decorate a nursery for the babies- their room is Disney themed, and has already picked out names for her unborn children.

Obasanjo sends Jonathan, PDP, documents on Buruji Kashamu’s drug case

These are the six documents Obasanjo sent to Jonathan and the PDP to nail ex-political ally, Buruji Kashamu.
In a bid to nail his estranged political associate, Buruju Kashamu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sent six incriminating documents to President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support his claim that Mr. Kashamu is wanted in the United States of America over a drug related offence.
The damning documents, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, include court papers and proceedings as well as local and international newspaper clips on the allegation made against Mr. Kashamu, a chieftain of the PDP in the South West geo-political zone where the former president hails from.
Mr. Obasanjo had in a letter dated January 7 to the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, and Mr. Jonathan, threatened to withdraw his participation in the activities of the party at all levels if it not did stop treating Mr. Kashamu with reverence.
In the three-paragraph letter, the former president said on no account should Mr. Kashamu, who he described as a known habitual criminal wanted abroad for crime, be extolled as a political leader in a respectable and wholesome nation-building political party.
He said the way Mr. Kashamu was being extolled by PDP was unsavoury, insisting that politics played by any national political party must have morality, decency, discipline, principles and leadership examples as cardinal principles.
"Since I stick in my practice of party politics to the hallowed and cherished principles enunciated above, I take this opportunity to let you know that while I continue to remain a card-carrying member of PDP," Mr. Obasanjo said.
"I cannot and I will not subscribe to a wanted habitual criminal being installed as my zonal leader in the party; a criminal for whom extradition has been requested by the US Government.
"I will consider withdrawing my activity with PDP at Local, State, Zonal and national levels until the anomalous and shameful situation is corrected."
The former president sent a copy of the one-page letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, who he addressed as the National Leader of the PDP.
Mr. Kashamu has since fired back alleging that Mr. Obasanjo was crying foul because he had lost relevance in the PDP.
He detailed his relationship with the former president, including how he used to enter Mr. Obasanjo's bedroom and how he donated huge sums of money to the church and other projects the former president embarked upon.
In his reply to Mr. Obasanjo, the former PDP chairman explained how Mr. Kashamu assisted the party financially and became a rallying point of its members in the South-West zone.
Short of begging Mr. Obasanjo not to quit the PDP, Mr. Tukur said the former president still had more roles to play in the party and urged him and other leaders from the zone to build a strong consensus for that purpose.
Mr. Jonathan, on his part reportedly spoke with the former president on telephone.
PREMIUM TIMES has now obtained a copy of a bunch of documents Mr. Obasanjo sent along with his January 7 letter to Messrs Tukur and Jonathan.
The documents were marked serially and packaged to convince the president and the party that Mr. Kashamu is a wanted man with which a serious political party should have no dealings.
One of the documents, a clip of the Chicago Tribune newspaper edition of November 14, 2013, marked No 1 by Mr. Obasanjo quoted the U.S attorney's office as saying Mr. Kashamu "is still wanted on charges alleging his drug ring moved millions of dollars worth of heroin from Europe and Southeast Asia through O'Hare International Airport during the 1990s."

Anti-Gay Law Fallout: Canadian Government Cancels Nigerian President Jonathan’s State Visit

A state visit being planned by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to Canada for February has been canceled by the Canadian Government.  

 

The cancelation happened in the same week it was revealed the President secretly signed a controversial law banning gays, lesbians, and sexual minorities in Nigeria.

Sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that the Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Ojo Madueke, was told to inform President Jonathan that the state visit to Canada scheduled for February 13 and 14th 2014 has now been canceled.