FG Proposes Payments of NNPC’s Dividends into Sovereign Wealth Fund

Nigeria - The Federal Government has proposed that some of the dividends from the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) expected to be re-organised in line with the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) should be paid into Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

This is with a view to growing the fund’s reserves and create stronger financial buffers for the country.

APC Youth Group warns Nigerians: Buhari is still President, stop the Osinbajo praises, and unnecessary conflict

A group within the ruling party called the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youths Renaissance has warned Nigerians against praising the achievements of acting president Yemi Osinbajo.

This, the group said is to avoid causing conflict between the two politicians who are the head of the present administration.

According to the group, President Muhammadu Buhari is the head of the current administration and there is nothing like an ‘Osinbajo administration’ as has been claimed in some quarters.

Obasanjo berates Buhari on the economy but lauds him in the area of anti-corruption and counter-terrorism

Nigeria - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reviewed the performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari government in the last 21 months and concluded that the government has not performed creditably well in the area of economy and foreign affairs.

He however noted that the Buhari administration has stepped up efforts on the foreign policy segment and gave kudos to the President in the way he has been piloting the affairs of the country.

IGP Idris summoned by Osinbajo over resurgence of killings in Southern Kaduna recently

Nigeria - It is understood the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Aso Rock towards the end of the week after a resurgence of violence in the area.

This followed additional security measures, including the deployment of 15,285 policemen, put in place by the Nigeria Police Force in Southern Kaduna, Punch reports.

Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defense budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

China's navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

Report says President Buhari's powerful aides bar ministers, family, friends to access him

Nigeria - Family members, friends and senior government officials who attempted to call or pay visits to President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdom are having a difficult time getting access.

According to PUNCH can authoritatively report that four aides of the president control access to President Buhari, who is on extended medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

Oh dear! Unidentified sea creature washes up on Philippines beach

The remains of a mysterious sea creature have washed up on the shore of the Philippines.

The unidentified creature, measuring 6.3 metres long and two metres wide, was found on a beach in Barangay Poblacion, Cagadianao, on the Philippines' Dinagat Islands.

Experts spot out the good and bad side of the new forex policy that is strengthening the naira

Nigeria - Commendation and knocks have continued to greet the recent new foreign exchange (forex) policy rules introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of measures to streamline the market and ensure pressure is taken off the Naira.

While some experts have commended the apex bank for what they described as a ‘bold step’ capable of addressing the forex crisis in the country, others reasoned otherwise, suggesting that the new rule would rather create opportunity for the banks and some individuals to enrich themselves through round-tripping at the expense of the country’s foreign reserves, which has just resumed growth after a long period of decline.

~Kaboom!~ Journalist blasts Health Minister Ehanire for hypocrisy citing Buhari's medical tourism in Uk

Nigeria - There was a mild drama in Asaba, yesterday, when the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, frowned and bluntly refused to answer a question posed by a reporter as regards whether President Muhammadu Buhari’s sojourn in the United Kingdom was not a form of medical tourism.

Ehanire, who had just finished inspecting the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, urged Nigerians to shun travelling abroad for medical tourism, and should rather stay in the country and take advantage of the improved health services at the nation’s medical centres.

Oh my word! Soldier kills himself demonstrating how Sambisa Forest was taken over by the Nigerian Army

A soldier in the Nigeria Army on Saturday killed himself while he was demonstrating how the army successfully captured the Sambisa forest from the Boko Haram terrorists.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident was said to have happened when a hand held grenade exploded killing the soldier and two others in Bari village, Bangi local government area of Niger state.

Oh gracious!!! Dozens injured as truck ploughs into crowd in New Orleans

Police say 28 people have been hurt after a pickup truck ploughed into crowds attending a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Of the 21 people taken to hospital following the crash, five victims are in a "guarded condition".

The incident happened during the Krewe of Endymion parade in the state of Louisiana at about 6.45pm local time.

Aviation shake up: FG recalls two sacked NCAA directors

Nigeria - The federal government has recalled two out of the nine directors who were sacked from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Friday.

Those recalled are Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, Director of Consumer Protection, and Capt. Ayodele Sasegbon, Director of General Aviation.

Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

Photos: Oh dear!!! Hohoho... Witches gather to cast spell on Donald Trump

America's 45th president, Donald Trump, may have landed in serious trouble after it emerged that witches from all over the world collaborated to cast a spell on him.

According to Daily Mail, singer Lana Del Rey also pledged her support for the people hoping to cast a spell on the American president.

Alas!!! Trump decides to skip White House press dinner

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would not attend the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, a high-profile event that draws celebrities, politicians and journalists.

"I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!", Trump wrote on Twitter.

Sad! One dead after man drives into crowd in Germany, no sign of terrorism

A man died and two other people were injured after a 35-year-old German man drove into a crowd standing near a bakery in the southwestern town of Heidelberg on Saturday, but the authorities said there were no indications that it was a terrorist attack.

The 73-year-old man who died in hospital from his injuries was also German. The two other people injured, a 32-year-old Austrian man and a 29-year-old woman from Bosnia and Herzegovina, also received hospital treatment but were then discharged, police and prosecutors said in a statement.