Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Mourinho's No Hypocrite

In one sense, Jose Mourinho is football’s greatest hypocrite.

He introduced the term "parking the bus" into English football nearly a decade ago, as part of a complaint about Tottenham’s defensive tactics. He’s now regarded as the ultimate exponent of that approach, best epitomised by his Inter Milan side’s all-out-defence approach at the Camp Nou in 2010, but also obvious throughout his career.

He also complained about
West Ham playing "19th century football"
when they dared to defend deep at Stamford Bridge -- again, despite the fact he has prescribed the same thing in contests against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. This particular criticism is, in truth, factually inaccurate anyway -- in the 19th century the dominant formation was the pyramid, 2-3-5, and the concept of keeping multiple players behind the ball is a distinctly modern invention.

In another way, though, Mourinho is consistent with his beliefs. He dislikes playing against parked buses because he knows there’s no obvious solution, and as someone who prioritises winning over style, he logically utilises this system when required. His complaints are nothing more than his usual wind-ups (to describe them as "mind games" gives him too much credit) and born out of frustration at the opposition stifling his team’s play.

It’s arguable that Chelsea’s past couple of months have done more to encourage the use of "parking the bus" than any team in recent footballing history, for Mourinho’s side have shown the value of bus-parking in both a positive and a negative sense, from their perspective. It’s hardly a novel concept for Chelsea to defend deep on the edge of their own box and repel any attacks. The difference with this Chelsea team, however, is that they struggle against deep defences themselves.

Should Mourinho fail to win the league -- which seems likely at the moment -- it will be because Chelsea failed to break down deep defences like Aston Villa, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, dropping nine points from contests against bottom-half sides, despite dominating. Chelsea depend on counter-attacking football, and without a reliable penalty-box poacher, or indeed a naturally incisive midfield playmaker, they’ve come up short. Parking the bus blunts counter-attacking as well as tiki-taka.

Watch Chelsea over the past month and the message is clear. They excel defensively when parking the bus. They struggle going forward when the opposition parks the bus. Why play another way?

What has been confused recently, however, is the difference between parking the bus and playing on the break. The two can be combined, certainly, but playing one style isn’t necessarily the same as playing the other.

Chelsea have done both. For example, their 1-0 victory at Manchester City in February was one of the most controlled counter-attacking performances of the Premier League season, even if it lacked the sheer brutality of some of Liverpool’s fine victories. Chelsea defended deep, certainly, but they broke forward with multiple players -- Samuel Eto’o darted into the channels, Eden Hazard’s acceleration was terrifying, Willian’s sprinting a constant menace, Ramires’ energy exhausting just to watch and Branislav Ivanovic constantly attacked from right-back, too, eventually scoring the game’s only goal.

Just because Chelsea counter-attacked at the Etihad, though, it doesn’t mean all their defensive performances have been counter-attacking displays. In the 2-0 victory over Liverpool at the weekend there was probably an intention to break quickly, but they played poor initial passes out of defence, and some of Demba Ba’s lay-offs were poor. There was only a significant threat on the counter once Chelsea went 1-0 up, and Liverpool needed to advance more -- and when Willian was introduced. For long periods, though, it’s difficult to say it was a counter-attacking display when there weren’t any counter-attacks to speak of. It was, quite simply, a defensive showing.

Equally, a side can counter-attack without necessarily defending deep. Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Arsenal saw Mourinho instruct his players to press powerfully when Arsene Wenger’s side played the ball into midfield, before immediately knocking the ball in behind the defence for Eto’o and Andre Schuerrle to run onto.

In Mourinho’s first spell in charge of Chelsea, Joe Cole astutely observed that counter-attacking doesn’t necessarily mean sitting deep. “You can counter-attack by winning the ball in midfield, too,” he said. The key is about breaking into space, and because Arsenal leave space at the back when building up play in midfield, Chelsea could counter-attack without defending on the edge of their own box -- Olivier Giroud’s lack of pace contributed to their freedom to push up.

The disappointing thing about Chelsea’s first leg against Atletico is that both sides are, on their day, excellent at pressing in midfield and breaking quickly in spectacular fashion. Atletico are capable of packing their own box, but are much better when springing into life higher up the pitch, using the ball quickly and attacking directly. This type of contest between the two sides would be fascinating, but presumably only an early goal in the second leg would allow this.

Stylistically, football moves in cycles, often based upon fashion rather than logic. The obsession with possession was inspired primarily by Spain and Barcelona’s triumphs in 2008 and 2009, just as Porto and Greece’s successes in 2004 prompted negative football.

If Atletico wrap up La Liga, Chelsea triumph in the European Cup and the World Cup is won by an outsider playing reactive football (perhaps Uruguay), there will be another shift. Next season, we could see multiple sides playing counter-attacking football. Or, because replication of a strategy used by superior sides often forgets to copy their best attacking moves, more teams will simply park the bus.

Nigerian man pleads guilty to terror charges in the United States

33 year old Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi (pictured above) yesterday Tuesday April 29th pleaded guilty to terror charges in a US court. The Nigerian citizen is accused of providing material support to an al Qaeda affiliate, and participating in its media and recruitment campaigns, Reuters reports.

US prosecutors said that, from January 2010 to August 2011, Babafemi left Nigeria to Yemen twice to meet with some leaders of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP.
"The defendant traveled to Yemen to put himself at the disposal of a violent terrorist organization that has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to inflict bodily and economic harm on the US and its citizens," A U.S. Attorney said in a statement.
Prosecutors also say the al Qaeda leaders paid Babafemi, also known as 'Ayatollah Mustapha' almost $9,000 to recruit English-speaking people from Nigeria that would write for their online magazine called 'Inspire'. He was extradited August last year from Nigeria to the US.

Sentencing for the case has been scheduled for August 27th. Babafemi faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. So they are basically locking him for editing and getting writers for the al Qaeda magazine.

Photo: Singer Niyola goes bare in new video

The EME First Lady released a pic from her recent music video shoot for new single, Love To Love You, which shows her with no clothes on, though she covers her modesty with her hands. The video was shot by Kemi Adetiba and will soon hit your screens. What Rihanna will cause in this world. lol

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Daddy Freeze Rolex Presidential spotted at Club Ultimate


Like we said guys, Gulder Cub Ultimate keeps bringing in the big names! Last weekend, we spotted Daddy Freeze wearing his Rolex Presidential at the biggest clubbing event in the history of the “Coal City”. This is actually the same one Jay Z rapped about “The big face rollie, I got two of those”

Abducted school girls allegedly married off for N2,000, moved abroad

OK, here's seriously hoping that this is not true. But according to reports, the 234 girls abducted at Government Girls College on April 15th may have been married off for N2,000 each and may also have been removed from the Nigeria to neighbouring countries like Chad and Cameroon.

Daily Trust reports
Most of the 234 Borno schoolgirls in Boko Haram captivity have been ferried abroad to Chad and Cameroon after they were married off to sect members on N2,000 bride price each, an elder told Daily Trust yesterday.
Dr. Pogu Chibok, who is the leader of the Chibok Elders Forum, told Daily Trust yesterday that latest information available to them indicates that most of the girls have been taken to the neighboring Cameroon and Chad by their captors.
He said before they were ferried in canoes across the Lake Chad, a wedding ceremony was conducted at a town on the border with Cameroon where they were married off to Boko Haram militants. Continue...
He said N2,000 was paid as bride price on each of the girls to the specific Boko Haram members who took them from their school and who had assumed “ownership” of the students.

“They ferried them in canoes to Cameroon and Chad republic after they were wedded off to Boko Haram members who bidded (sic) and paid N2,000 each as dowries on their heads,” Bitrus said.
“The dowry was paid to their captors, the very people who abducted them from their school. One of them who married one of the girls took her to a border town close to Cameroon where villagers saw her.”

Following their abduction, the schoolgirls were thought to be first taken to the Boko Haram camps in the notorious Sambisa Forest. Reports later said villagers had seen the girls being conveyed in trucks to other locations.

Bitrus said yesterday: “So many sources have informed us that the girls have been taken to Cameroon. Many villagers said they saw the girls being transported in trucks and then in canoes.
“On Sunday they were taken to Dikwa area where they (Boko Haram) have a camp there. From there they took them to Marte, then Monguno before they were finally ferried in canoes. It was yesterday we got this latest report of them being married off to the insurgents by their captors.”

He said sources in Cameroon told them that most of the girls were now being held at “an area where the Boko Haram operates in Cameroon.”

On whether military authorities were informed about the movements of the girls, Bitrus said: “The military was alerted on Tuesday about two weeks ago when some villagers saw many of the girls being transported in trucks, some with even their school uniforms. The villagers tried calling the senator representing the zone but they couldn’t get him so they went to Bama barracks where they reported the matter.

“At the Bama barracks they were told that they must put it in writing, that that is the military tradition. At that time if the military had intervened they would have stopped them from reaching their destination.

“And the fact that for nearly two weeks we have been talking about this and nothing is being done, then there are questions we have to ask. Nobody did anything.”

Bitrus sobbed as he spoke to our reporter yesterday.
“What is happening with the Nigerian nation? I think we demand some answers. Today it is happening to these unfortunate girls from Chibok, tomorrow it may be somewhere else and that is why all Nigerians must rally around us on this,” he said.

“If these captors are trying to achieve a political point, I think the best thing is for us to try to make sure that they don’t succeed but from all indications they are succeeding due to inaction of government. It is helping these people in achieving their objectives.”
Earlier yesterday, Bitrus spoke to the BBC Hausa radio saying “parents of these girls have been angry that despite the existence of government, there has not been concrete effort from government on the matter.

“Female parents have been crying day and night, because nobody knows what government is doing about the whole issue. All that we read in the papers is that Nigerian Army have done this or that.”
When contacted over claims that the military was informed of the movement of the schoolgirls, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, told Daily Trust: “The concern and anxiety from all quarters is quite understandable. Please be assured that as much as the forces may not disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, every information received on the subject is duly analyzed and acted upon as necessary.

“No information is being ignored in the concerted effort to ensure the safety and freedom of the girls. Just pray for the successful outcome of all efforts please.”

Culled from Daily Trust

Photos: Cool FM Abuja’s DJ TTB weds Gwen Nebedum

Cool FM Abuja in-house DJ, Tochukwu Charles Ananti popularly known as DJ TTB married his girlfriend Gwendolyn Nebedum in a traditional wedding ceremony that held April 19th in Anambra state. Their white wedding will hold in July. Congrats to them.

A very sad day for Nollywood. Reputable director Amaka Igwe passes on @51


 Reputable producer, writer, director and a leading player in the Nigerian motion picture industry, Amaka Igwe has passed on. She died last night April 28th in Enugu after an asthma attack. Mrs Igwe had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for pre-production preparations for a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred.

She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital after initial intervention had failed but sadly died before getting there.

Mrs Igwe is survived by her husband of 21 years Charles Igwe, three children, an aged mother.

Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher.

She is the founder of BoBTV Expo, founder and CEO of Top Radio 90.9FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks.

A visionary and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and film, she hit national limelight as the writer and producer of award-winning TV soap 'Checkmate' and its off shoot 'Fuji House of Commotion'.

Her Nollywood projects include RattleSnake and Violated - two critically-acclaimed movies that set apart Amaka Igwe Studios in the much-criticised Nollywood industry.

Amaka Igwe studied Education/Religion at the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). She had a Master's Degree from the University of Ibadan. She had her early education at All Saints School (Now Trans Ekulu Primary School), Girls High School Awkunanaw, Enugu and Idia College, Benin.

She worked as a lecturer at the Anambra State University of Technology and briefly in oil and Gas, before settling for the motion picture industry.

Photo: See how beautiful & sexy Jackie Appiah looks on Glitz Africa's new mag


Wow, isn't she just so beautiful on that cover page? I must say "Girl, you rock".... But this days so many celebrities are getting married, I think it's time we heard from you too. Don't rush it though.

Barcelona footballer "Dani Alves" responds to racism in an incredible manna

Barcelona star Dani Alves responded to a racist taunt in the most incredible way during a match day before yesterday Sunday April 27th

While playing for his team against Villareal, a spectator threw a banana at him as he tried to take a corner kick. What do you think Dani did? He casually picked up the banana, peeled it, ate the banana, threw away the peel, and then completed the kick...

This move has left many people in shock and Dani is getting a lot of praise for how he handled it.

This is not the first time the Brazilian footballer will face racism on the pitch. He complained about it last year after being taunted by monkey chants from sections of the crowd during a match at Real Madrid.

Racism in football is becoming an issue in Europe and enough is not being done to stop it. Dani is a star! Hopefully, he made the person who threw the banana feel like stupid!

Monday, April 28, 2014

Photos: Peter Okoye buys 2014 Bentley GT worth over N30million




Wow, Peter Okoye one of P-square just bought himself a brand new Bentley GT worth over 30million...

“I Didn’t Sing Only Me Because of Mikel Obi” – 2Face Idibia Insists

At the Star Music Trek concert in Orlu, Imo on Saturday 26th April 2014, the Nigerian music star spoke on stage about reports that his song “Only Me” was directed at Chelsea football star Mikel Obi.

It was reported that Annie Macaulay-Idibia‘s better half, tried greeting Mikel at an event, but was ignored completely. After the song was released, insiders went on to say it was his way of hitting back at Mikel.

“I know some people have been saying I sang this song because of Mikel Obi, I just want to clear the air on this-I didn’t. I didn’t sing this song because of him.”, he emphasized.

Tiwa, Teebillz and some selected guests having fun on a speed boat

The fun is not over yet, Tiwa, Teebillz and some selected guests who attended their wedding went cruising on a boat in dubia...
Keep refreshing the page for some more pics.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

UK, US joins search for abducted school girls in Borno state

According to a report by Punch, the UK and US government have joined the search for the 234 abducted schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram men.

On Friday April 25th, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said the UK had begun talks with Nigeria over the incident. (Some mothers of the abducted school girls pictured above)
"The appalling abduction in northern Nigeria on April 14 is a stark reminder of the threat of sexual violence faced by women in conflict prone areas. I am very concerned that the majority of the girls are still missing. I spoke to Nigerian Foreign Minister, Wali, about this case on 18 April, and we are talking to Nigerian authorities about how best to assist in their efforts to secure the girls’ release and bring those responsible to justice.” Hague said. Continue...
Punch is also reporting that on Friday, the Nigerian Government also enlisted the intelligence services of the United States in the search for the abducted girls.
A competent security source said the Federal Government would rely on the higher technology of the US and UK to facilitate the search for the missing girls.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, stated that there would be no physical presence of operatives of the Western agencies in the operation to rescue the girls.
The source stated, “The whole emphasis is on intelligence gathering; and that is why the Federal Government is contacting the US and the UK to assist in the area of intelligence gathering. Another thing you must know is that several arrests have been made, and a lot of efforts are being made.
“The security guard at the school in Chibok is being quizzed and some people from the community too have been arrested,” the source said.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Giggs will turn to Ferguson for advice as he turns a rookie manager for Manchester United

Ryan Giggs will have a hotline to Sir Alex Ferguson and will turn to his mentor for guidance during his brief reign as Manchester United's interim manager.

But while Giggs is a rookie manager, he played in Ferguson's United teams for 22 years and plans to consult the Scot, who retired last summer after winning 38 trophies in his 26 years at Old Trafford.
"He's given me advice and told me he's always at the end of the phone so that has given me a lot of comfort," Giggs said in a news conference. "It's good to know I can turn to the manager if I ever need him."
The Welshman said a frantic week has convinced him the United manager's office can be a lonely place.
Asked if he has sat in Ferguson's chair, he replied: "I have, yes. It's lonely! It's been chaotic, you're getting pulled from pillar to post. You go to sit in the office to write some notes down because I'm trying not to forget anything as so many things are going on. So you just sit down but it's a pretty lonely place at times. But I keep saying I'm enjoying it. It's only for a short space of time but I plan to enjoy it and that is what I am doing."
United plan to hire a more experienced manager than Giggs and the 40-year-old insists he has not thought about taking charge on a permanent basis, but knows he has the opportunity to impress in the final four games of the season.
He said: "I've got a chance to show what I can do and what I am capable of as a manager in a short space of time. That's my focus. After that is another conversation. We'll see where it take us. That is my main aim -- not five years down the line but two weeks has to be my main focus is playing against Norwich, who are fighting for their lives. I can't be looking two or three weeks ahead."
United, who are seventh in the Premier League, are enduring their worst season for a quarter of a century but Giggs is convinced it is only a blip and the glory days will return.
He explained: "This club is all about winning trophies and we've not managed to do that this season but we've had seasons like that in the past and always come back. That's the thing about this club. We always come back and we will."

No Deal In Place

Man United have denied that Louis van Gaal has agreed to become their next manager.

Old Trafford sources said during the week that the club had taken the first steps towards appointing Van Gaal, and Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Saturday that the 62-year-old had now reached an agreement with United.

However, the English club said in a statement: “We have not signed a new manager. When we have something to report, we will announce it.”

Former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Van Gaal will lead the Netherlands at the World Cup but has confirmed his intention to return to club management after the summer tournament in Brazil.

De Telegraaf said he has made recommendations to United’s owners as to the players he wishes to sign, with 100 million euros apparently at his disposal. It was also claimed in the newspaper that he would bring Patrick Kluivert with him as assistant manager and Franks Hoek as goalkeeping coach.

United are currently being led by interim manager Ryan Giggs after David Moyes was dismissed on Tuesday, with the club seventh in the Premier League and unable to qualify for the Champions League. Giggs is being assisted by his former teammates Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville.

United had denied claims that Van Gaal had met co-owner Joel Glazer four weeks earlier.

New oil, gas discoveries underscore Africa’s untapped energy potential

From Cote d’Ivoire to Ma¬laysia, new
The Total-operated Saphir-1XB ex¬ploration well on Block CI-514 proved the presence of liquid hydrocarbons in the deep offshore west of Ivory Coast.
“Drilled in an abrupt margin play, this first well is the first discovery in the San Pedro Basin, a frontier exploration area in Ivory Coast,” said Marc Blaizot, senior vice president, exploration at To¬tal. “Having confirmed the presence of a petroleum system containing light oil, we will next evaluate this very promising find and focus on its extension to the north and east.” Global oil giant Shell, which an¬nounced an exploration discovery offshore Malaysia, said the successful ‘Rosmari-1’ well is located 135 kilome¬tres offshore in Block SK318, and was drilled to a total depth of 2,123 metres.
The well encountered more than 450 metres of gas column. “With further exploration planned, the finding is a positive indicator of the gas potential in an area of strategic interest for Shell,” the company said.
“This adds to Shell’s sequence of re¬cent exploration successes in Malaysia, with these discoveries expanding the company’s heartlands positions,” said Iain Lo, chairman Shell Malaysia.
In Senegal, Australian energy com¬pany FAR Ltd. reported that one of its partners in the country, operator Cairn Energy, has spud the first well on the acreage. The first well in a two-well pro¬gram, the FAN-1, will test a stacked fan structure with the potential to contain approximately 900 million barrels of oil.
The FAN-1 well is a pure exploration well and, even if successful, will not be completed as a commercial produc¬tion well.
Earlier this year, Tullow Oil Plc made two new discoveries in Kenya, boosting prospects for turning East Africa’s larg¬est economy into an oil exporter.
The UK oil explorer doubled its Kenyan resource estimates to more than 600 million barrels after the Amos¬ing and Ewoi wells found crude. The company plans more than 20 wells in northern Kenya over the next two years.
In Nigeria, Afren and Lekoil recently made a significant light oil discovery at the high-impact Ogo-1 well located at Oil Prospecting Lease 310, located adjacent to the Lagos shoreline. Oil was also discovered at the Aje field located at Oil Mining Lease 113, which lies in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 113 in the Benin Basin, about 43 kilometres offshore Lagos, by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum and Chevron Nigeria.
oil discoveries were disclosed last week, highlighting the immense oil and gas resources in Africa increasingly attracting investment from international oil companies.

Friday, April 25, 2014

For mortgage industry operators and prospective home-owners in Nigeria, anxiety and expectations are high, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will in a few weeks to come (in June) announce the names of the primary mortgage banks (PMBs) that have scaled the recapitalisation hurdle.

For the operators, expectation is even higher, as the new Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) will in the same month, commence refinancing mortgages to be originated by the successful PMBs, leading to more liquidity and a robust mortgage industry in the country.

BusinessDay had exclusively reported that out of about 83 PMBs, only 40 were able to meet the minimum recapitalisation conditions handed down by the CBN as at December 31, 2013 deadline.

Of this number, seven met the N5 billion capital requirement to operate as national mortgage banks, while 33 qualified for operation at the state level, having met the N2.5 billion expected capital to function in that capacity.

Corroborating this report in a telephone interview with our correspondent recently, Femi Johnson, president of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) disclosed that the CBN had already written to the 40 successful PMBs, adding that about eight others have had to downscale, to operate as micro finance banks.

Our earlier report quotes CBN sources as saying that the recapitalisation exercise had gone on successfully, pointing out that what seemed a little delay in announcing the successful PMBs was deliberate, to allow a couple of PMBs which have real estate development subsidiaries, to divest from those subsidiaries, so that the announcement would be seamless and final.

The first quarter of this year witnessed what analysts described as a revolution in Nigeria’s mortgage industry, as the period saw the coming on stream of the Federal Government mid-wifed but private sector-led NMRC and the pace-setting Lagos State Homeownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS) on January 16, and February 3 respectively.

These were preceded a month earlier by the completion of the recapitalisation of the PMBs that has produced 33 PMBs which would operate at the state level, and seven others that would operate at the national level with N2.5 billion and N5 billion minimum capital base respectively.

“The anxiety on the June deadline is not misplaced because we have antecedents in this country; the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has operated for decades in this country, along with the National Housing Fund (NHF) without any impact on homeownership or housing delivery”, Oluyemi Madamidola, a mortgage expert, told BusinessDay in Lagos.

Continuing, he said, “as a country, we are not in lack of good ideas; what we lack instead is the will to implement the ideas. The launching of the NMRC and the recapitalisation of the PMBs happening almost the same time, is a brilliant idea, but how this plays out to our benefit is another kettle of fish”.

The high expectation among prospective homeowners is premised on the assurance by the Federal Government that NMRC would pull down lending rates for housing from the current spread of 20 to 23 percent to the low double digits or, at least, to a high single digit.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the minister of finance, said at the launching of the company in Abuja that “this company is being set up to help lower the funding cost of mortgages and promote affordability and availability of good housing to working Nigerians by providing mortgage lending banks increased access to liquidity and longer term funds in the market”.

Apart from ‘crashing’ interest rate on mortgage loans, NMRC is also expected to deliver about 750,000 homes annually, which can only mean that home ownership level would increase with the multiplier effect of creating jobs and increasing national productivity, which would translate to increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that will ensure greater well being for the people and improved standard of living, all leading to economic growth.
Nigerian billionaire and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is building a 200-billion CFA francs ($421.35 million) cement factory in Niger capable of producing 1 million tonnes per year, state radio in Niger announced on Thursday.

President Mahamadou Issoufou formally started building work on the factory on Wednesday at Keita, around 600 km (375 miles) northeast of the capital Niamey and it is expected to take 18 months. When finished the factory will employ 3,000 people.

Niger, with a fast-growing population of 17 million people, is one of the world’s poorest countries. It has some of the lowest government revenues per capita in Africa despite the start of oil production in 2011.
“This is an important event after the railway project started on April 7 last year. This cement factory will contribute a lot to the economic development of Niger,” Issoufou said at the ground-breaking ceremony. “Niger is for now a cement importer but when this project comes on stream it will become a cement exporter.”

Dangote Cement, owned by Africa’s richest man Dangote with a personal fortune of $25 billion, has cement plants spanning Africa, from Senegal to South Africa.

The company saw its 2013 profits increase by 40 percent to 190.76 billion naira ($1.16 billion), from 135.64 billion naira a year earlier.

Niger has just one cement factory currently. Built in 1964, it produces 540,000 tonnes a year and is a joint venture between the government and private partners.

Last April, Niger started building a railway from the capital to Parakou in Benin as part of a wider West African railways project.

Photo: Naval officer allegedly kills bus conductor in Oshodi over bribe


Just saw this photo and the report on this guy's Facebook page confirmed it. Why is this happening? Even one policeman was beaten up yesterday for shooting a driver and now this... ?

P-square and brother Jude Okoye tweets reconciliation massages




P-square now seem to be back together as brothers after a long term fight, the two Hip-hop stars are back together in a peaceful home once again. Their elder brother Jude Okoye was not left out as well, he too also tweeted saying that 'Family is everything'. I agree with you big bro, family is truly everything, we all are happy for you.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Chris brown is to be locked up till June as his trial is delayed, *so sad*.

This is what they call witch hunting..lol. When people say someone in your village is doing you, this is what it looks like. They're doing whatever they can to break him. Now feeling really sorry for him. Chris Brown will stay in jail until June after his D.C assault trial was delayed for months. His lawyer applied for bail yesterday but a judge in L.A turned him down.

His trial was supposed to start yesterday April 23rd but was delayed because his bodyguard, Chris Hollosy, who has already been found guilty of assault, wanted immunity to testify on Chris' behalf, saying that he and not Chris punched the fan. But he wasn't granted immunity and so he is refusing to testify while he appeals his verdict. Chris Brown's trial is now on hold until after Hollosy's appeal concludes...and this will take months. Chris Brown faces up to four years in prison if found guilty.

The singer reportedly broke down in court when he was told his bail application was denied. Now he's being sent back to California on Con-Air in chains to await his trial date. Please h
jang in there, Chris!

Darey Art Alade and CoolFM's Freeze to host Gulder Club Ultimate

Two of Nigeria’s leading entertainers have been announced as the host for Gulder Club Ultimate in Enugu. Singer, broadcaster and host Darey will join popular presenter Freeze of Cool FM 96.9 to host two nights of clubbing magic at the Polo Park Mall in Enugu. Well we say a big congrats!!! to you.


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Photos: Borno state governor visits school where 200+ students were attacked




Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, today paid a visit to the Girls Government College, Chibok, where over 200 girls were abducted on April 14th, to have an on-the-spot assessment of the attack

While in the school, parents of the missing students told the governor that contrary to media reports that 129 girls were abducted, that the actual number is 234. They said the 129 girls earlier reported were science students who were in the school writing their WAEC exams, while the remaining 106 students were Arts students who were at their hostels when the attackers arrived.

182 of the girls are still missing while 52 of them have escaped from the Boko haram captivity.

Monday, April 21, 2014

There's nothing interesting about marriage, except that it saves you money. Says -2Shotz

Talking about what marriage has taught him in a recent interview with Punch, rapper 2shotz, who got married exactly one year ago, said there's really nothing interesting about married life except for companionship and the money it saves you...
"I have learnt a lot of things they just never tell you. There is no interesting thing about being married except for the companionship and it saves you some money. You no longer have to eat out and you don’t have to spend money on a couple of girls. Now, it’s just your wife. It also prevents you from doing some things that are either promiscuous or unnecessary".
His wife Precious also explained how they met on Twitter. People are really finding love on social media. Continue to read what she said...


Precious: I met him on Twitter. I can’t remember who followed who first, but I remember he put up a picture of his apartment and I commented without knowing who he was. He thanked me and we got talking. We moved the conversation from Twitter to phone, then to Skype. I was in Ireland, came to Nigeria for Christmas and we met in person.

How would you describe being married?
Precious: It has been good and different because you have this person who is always telling you what to do. It took me time to get used to having to submit wholly .In Ireland, I started making my own money at age 16 and by the time I was 18, I had my own apartment. I had become used to being independent.

Is there anything you would like to change about each other?
2shotz: Her mouth. You know how women talk, they are never satisfied.
Precious: That I don’t like certain things about him does not mean I can’t live with it. But I will like him to be less stubborn. He is an Igbo man who is deeply rooted in the Igbo culture which makes him think in a certain way. At times, he is not willing to bend the rules just to make it happen. I am just learning the values and tradition of my people.

P-square are really at war!

Wisdom Samuelhttp://Wisdomsamuel.blogspot.com
 is insisting that the twin brothers are indeed at war and it’s even gone worse than we think!

“It’s either Bayo (their publicist) is clueless as to what is happening in the Okoye household at the moment or he thinks the best thing to do for now is to deny that there’s anything going on.

I wrote that the twin brothers Peter and Paul engaged in physical combat on Wednesday. If this was false, Peter is a social media person, he would have immediately denied it. He didn’t! Unfortunately P-Square fans, things are even worse than I reported yesterday. According to my findings, Peter Okoye wants out of P-Square and they have even gone as far as inviting a lawyer to divide their fortune.”she wrote.
See what an insider revealed below:

“Now, let me make this clear. This report is based on what’s been happening with the brothers up until right now Saturday April 19th. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, next week or next year but as of right now, Peter Okoye doesn’t want anything to do with P-Square.

First, Peter Okoye has moved out of Squareville mansion in Omole where he lived with his brothers for years and now lives in Lekki Phase 1 with his wife Lola Omotayo and their children.

Yes they fought this week. Peter even left a mark on Paul’s left eye. But the fight wasn’t during rehearsal, which rehearsal? Peter has refused to do anything P-Square for weeks now. Forget that he was at his brother’s wedding, things are not good between them right now. They were even invited to perform at president Jonathan’s wedding but they didn’t go, Peter wants out.

He said Paul and Jude are sidelining him. That if they push out 200 songs, 199 would be songs Paul did. That people are now calling him a dancer in P-Square. Peter is really angry. He’s even the cool and friendly one between the brothers but he is not himself right now. And then he accused his brother Jude of disrespecting his wife.

Peter and Jude haven’t spoken in weeks. Peter said Jude has been disrespecting Lola for years and he was done tolerating the BS. In fact Peter said that not only is Lola older than Jude, but that she’s also pregnant and Jude was upsetting a pregnant woman. If you notice Jude didn’t attend their wedding last year despite the fact that he was in Nigeria.

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