Troops arrest four Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri

The troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested four suspected members of Boko Haram at the Maiduguri Cattle Market.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement that three of the suspected terrorists were arrested in the morning on Wednesday with the assistance of the Civilian Joint Task Force.

According to him, the suspects were Abba Go Dallagio, Abba Fanned and Alhaji Nwariye.

Also arrested was one Alhaji Ajid Umar, said to be an agent and spy for the group in the market.

He said the suspects told the military that they entered Maiduguri through Mafa with 200 cattle for sale.

Usman said that the suspects also admitted that they belonged to the logistics unit of Boko Haram in charge of selling cows for the group in order to sponsor its activities.

He said the troop had isolated a total of 193 cows in connection with the four suspects in the market

According to him, 170 of the cows were traced to the self-confessed spy, Umar, and 23 to the other three members of the logistics unit.

He said, “On Wednesday morning at the cattle market, Maiduguri, Borno State, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, with the assistance of Civilian JTF, arrested three suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

“The suspects include Abba Go Dallagio, Abba Fanned and Alhaji Nwariye. During preliminary investigation, they claimed that they entered Maiduguri through Mafa with about 200 cows for sale at Maiduguri cattle market.”

EDO ELECTON: APC GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OBASEKI DECLARED WINNER BY INEC

Heavy rain in Edo as INEC declares APC's Godwin Obaseki winner, Obaseki jubilating in the rain.
Obaseki has been declared the winner of September 28  governorship election in Edo State. He was returned elected by the Returning Officer, Prof. Kayode Soremekun.
 Details shortly...

NAIRA HITS GREATEST FALL 472/dollar

The naira slumped to a new all-time low of 470 to the dollar on the parallel market on Wednesday, posting its biggest daily decline since the Central Bank of Nigeria adopted a flexible foreign exchange regime.

The local currency stood at 452 to the dollar at the close of trading on Tuesday, down from 445 against the greenback on Monday.

The naira closed flat at 312.99 against the dollar at the interbank market on Wednesday, according to data from FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.

what the naira should be doing, adding, “For me, it may not really reflect naira’s performance. But basically, it is a demand and supply dynamics.”

According to him, the volatility in the parallel market will continue as long as the 41 items excluded from the official forex market remain banned.

“Around this time, a lot of people are paying school fees abroad and we see a lot of demand for forex for other sundry expenses or obligations. So, all of these will put pressure on the naira at the parallel market,” he added.

Noting that the naira had been relatively stable in the official market, Ezun said, “But the parallel market will always respond to liquidity, which is not available. The parallel market will help you to assess the level of liquidity in the market.

“So, if liquidity is high, we will see it in the parallel market. But as we speak today, there is no liquidity in the market, and that is why we keep seeing that volatility in the parallel market.”

The Ecobank analyst said the naira might hit 500 against the dollar in the coming days.

He explained, “The only way out is when there is dollar inflow into the market, and this is one of the reasons the CBN says it is not willing to cut the Monetary Policy Rate now. The idea is that why you are still trying to woo foreign investors into your fixed-income market, you should continue to be able to assure them of returns on their investment.

“What the CBN can do is to use monetary policy to keep encouraging inflows into the market.”

Edo Election: Don't Take Results Circulated On Social Media Serious - INEC

The electoral umpire issued this statement warning the public not to take results from the elections that are being published on some social media platforms serious. The state governorship election held yesterday and results are still being collated.

Edo Election: APC Party Chairman Oyegun Loses In His Polling Unit Again

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday lost to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in his polling unit in the September 28 governorship election.

Odigie-Oyegun, who registered in Ward 2, Unit 2, in Oredo Local Government Area, voted at about 10:45am.

The national chairman had also lost his polling unit in the 2015 Presidential election in the state.

At the end of voting, sorting and counting, the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, scored 78 votes while the ruling APC trailed behind with 69 votes.

Odigie-Oyegun, however, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, describing the turnout of voters as a pleasant surprise.

While addressing journalists shortly after casting his vote, he said, “I am pleasantly surprised because this is the best turnout I have ever experienced. I hope it presumes that something good is about to happen.”

He also noted that interest of the residents in the process of electing their leaders, showed that democracy had become widespread.

Odigie-Oyegun added, “People are keen to express their democratic options and democracy has become totally widespread. It is a very good thing. It has been peaceful so far.”

APC CRISIS: Atiku backs Tinubu, slams Oyegun for Ondo APC primary

A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress for overruling the recommendation of its appeal panel on the Ondo State governorship primary.

The appeal panel had recommended the cancellation of the APC governorship primary in Ondo State, where a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, emerged the winner.

The National Working Committee of the ruling party, however, ignored the panel’s report and submitted Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the APC candidate for the November 26 governorship election in the state.

Atiku, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by his Media Office, urged the NWC of the party, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to promote  the rule of law and due process in the conduct of its affairs.

This, he said, was germane to the unity and stability of the party, adding that the leaders should stop breaking their own rules.

The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had, in a statement, criticised Odigie-Oyegun for rejecting the recommendation of the appeal panel on the Ondo primary of the party.

Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, who called for the resignation of the national chairman, said Odigie-Oyegun was promoting injustice in the party by manipulating the Ondo primary.

In the statement by his media office, Atiku stated that it was imperative for the national leadership of the party to respect internal democracy and democratic tenets, warning that “you cannot break your own rules without creating problems.”

Atiku added that the NWC was supposed to be an impartial umpire in the arbitration of crisis among its members in any given election.

He noted that since the APC found veritable reasons to review the outcome of the governorship primary, and was able to establish valid grounds to cancel the exercise as well as call for a fresh one, the decision to deviate from the panel’s decision was a negation of due process and “an unfashionable hollow in democratic best practices.”

The former vice-president stated that it was wrong for the APC to have set aside a resolution its own organ reached on the crisis.

He advised the leadership of the party to do a soul-searching on why problem arose and escalated.

According to Atiku, the party leadership should always be guided by respect for the rules, fairness, equity, neutrality and respect for democratic consensus.

The former vice-president, however, urged aggrieved members of the APC in the Ondo election to exercise restraint in seeking redress to the crisis.

He asked the leadership of the party to retrace its steps and restore confidence among the conflicting parties in the state for the overall benefit of the ruling party.

One of our correspondents learnt that a meeting of the party leaders and some governors would take place next week.

It was gathered that the meeting was part of moves to resolve the crisis caused by the Ondo State primary.

A party leader, on Wednesday, said, “I can tell you we will meet on the crisis, possibly on Wednesday (next week). Our leaders will also reach out to Asiwaju.”

There were reports on Wednesday that the party mandated the Progressives Governors’ Forum to intervene in the crisis.

According to the report, the party and the forum had mandated the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to meet Tinubu.

Tambuwal was said to have been contacted by the party leaders on Tuesday to mediate in the dispute between Tinubu and Odigie-Oyegun.

It was learnt that the governor would meet the APC leader on Saturday as part of efforts to resolve the crisis in the party.

It was reported on Wednesday that the crisis was one of the issues discussed at a meeting Tambuwal and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

The media aide to Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, however, said he was not aware of any planned meeting between the former governor and Tambuwal.

“I thought that when Tambuwal was asked if his meeting with Buhari had to do with the matter of the Ondo APC, he said he did not know,” Rahman said while parrying the question.

Meanwhile, a member of the appeal panel set up on the Ondo governorship primary, who spoke on condition of anonymity with our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed sadness over the flouting of rules in the party.

He said, “I am glad our leaders have started speaking out. We cannot continue to have a situation where the proper things are jettisoned under the guise of expediency.

“That former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is standing up to be counted is something we should be happy about.”

A 35-Year-Old Man Killed After Throwing Party For Winning Lottery

A 35-year-old man, Ejike Onyejekwe, has been killed in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State.

Report says that the victim, who lived on 21 Road, K Close, FESTAC, was stabbed to death after winning a lot of money from a lottery.

Our correspondent gathered that Onyejekwe, to celebrate the winning, bought drinks for his friends and threw a party last Thursday and Friday.

It was learnt that on Friday evening, he was heard arguing with an unidentified person on the phone.

He allegedly told his friend he was going to see the man, but never returned.

His corpse was allegedly discovered the next day on one of the estates.

A resident, who did not want to be identified, said the chairman of the estate called the attention of residents to the corpse on Saturday.

He said, “I was sipping tea around 7am when I heard the chairman blowing a whistle. I thought it was strange, but my wife called my attention to the surging crowd on the estate.

“I went downstairs and saw the corpse on the road. Like everybody, I was alarmed. We could not tell how the corpse got there or who he was. He had multiple stab injuries in the head. We all resolved that the case should be reported at the FESTAC Police Station.”

It was learnt that some of the victim’s friends later identified him.

The corpse was said to have been deposited in a morgue, while the police arrested and detained the chairman of the estate and his secretary; they were later released.

A source told PUNCH Metro that the victim won a lottery few days to his death.

He said, “The man won a lot of money in a lottery and from last Thursday to Friday, he was asking his friends to drink at his expense.

“He was called on the phone that Friday evening and he went to meet a man. I suspect that a gang stabbed him and used an object to hit him in the head. There were bruises on his knees and it appeared they dragged him on the floor as well.

“When the police were removing his corpse, blood was dripping from his mouth and nostrils. He was murdered in cold blood.”

A friend of the victim, who did not identify himself, said his relative had visited the community.

“I can’t say why he was killed. Nobody knows. He just returned from a visit to the village,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

She added that the police had already arrested two suspects in connection with the death.

She said, “The chairman of one of the estates reported that at about 7am, he woke up and saw the victim lying lifeless with injuries on his head and body. The corpse was deposited at the Isolo General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. Two suspects, Suleiman Ahmed and Ibrahim Yusuf, were arrested and the case transferred to the SCIID for further investigation.”

Nigerian makes history in UK varsity

IGNATIUS Akpabio has joined the distinguished and inspirational line of young Nigerians proving that we are some of the best in the world. In a tradition of excellence that is well-earned, Akpabio topped an international faculty of post-graduate scholars to clinch the prestigious British Petroleum (BP) prize for the best project on the course at the School of Computing Science and Digital Media’s annual awards ceremony, 2016, of Robert Gordon University, RGU, Aberdeen, UK. Akpabio who hails from Akwa Ibom State says this of his outstanding performance: “I feel very excited to have won this prize as I didn’t expect it and I’m very grateful to the best project supervisor anyone can have, Dr Iain Pirie, for being very supportive during the implementation of my MSc project.” IGNATIUS Akpabio IGNATIUS Akpabio Of the Nigerian dream, he says that is why he is returning home despite offers to stay abroad. For young Akpabio, “Oil and gas being the major source of GDP in Nigeria means that the future of the country might well depend on the sector. I’m a strong proponent of the ‘Nigeria of Tomorrow’ therefore, in every possible way I want to contribute my quota to the development of my country. Coming from an IT background, I would like to use IT to develop and improve the oil and gas sector.” He was full of appreciation for his lecturers especially Dr David Lonie and Dr Angela Siegel, who made him find “software development very interesting and this enabled me to excel in both modules.” Akpabio’s exploit is proof that, in the words of Professor Chinua Achebe, what is holding the nation’s development back is leadership. Our people are bright as stars and are proving it in the most competitive international contexts. All that is needed for these young ones is to come home and turn Nigeria into the paradise of our dreams is just the enabling environment. These young achievers come from all corners of this potentially great country. Yes, given the right environment, these young Nigerians will turn our tears into joy.

IGNATIUS Akpabio has joined the distinguished and inspirational line of young Nigerians proving that we are some of the best in the world. In a tradition of excellence that is well-earned, Akpabio topped an international faculty of post-graduate scholars to clinch the prestigious British Petroleum (BP) prize for the best project on the course at the School of Computing Science and Digital Media’s annual awards ceremony, 2016, of Robert Gordon University, RGU, Aberdeen, UK. Akpabio who hails from Akwa Ibom State says this of his outstanding performance: “I feel very excited to have won this prize as I didn’t expect it and I’m very grateful to the best project supervisor anyone can have, Dr Iain Pirie, for being very supportive during the implementation of my MSc project.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/nigerian-makes-history-in-uk-varsity/ IGNATIUS Akpabio has joined the distinguished and inspirational line of young Nigerians proving that we are some of the best in the world. In a tradition of excellence that is well-earned, Akpabio topped an international faculty of post-graduate scholars to clinch the prestigious British Petroleum (BP) prize for the best project on the course at the School of Computing Science and Digital Media’s annual awards ceremony, 2016, of Robert Gordon University, RGU, Aberdeen, UK. Akpabio who hails from Akwa Ibom State says this of his outstanding performance: “I feel very excited to have won this prize as I didn’t expect it and I’m very grateful to the best project supervisor anyone can have, Dr Iain Pirie, for being very supportive during the implementation of my MSc project.” IGNATIUS Akpabio IGNATIUS Akpabio Of the Nigerian dream, he says that is why he is returning home despite offers to stay abroad. For young Akpabio, “Oil and gas being the major source of GDP in Nigeria means that the future of the country might well depend on the sector. I’m a strong proponent of the ‘Nigeria of Tomorrow’ therefore, in every possible way I want to contribute my quota to the development of my country. Coming from an IT background, I would like to use IT to develop and improve the oil and gas sector.” He was full of appreciation for his lecturers especially Dr David Lonie and Dr Angela Siegel, who made him find “software development very interesting and this enabled me to excel in both modules.” Akpabio’s exploit is proof that, in the words of Professor Chinua Achebe, what is holding the nation’s development back is leadership. Our people are bright as stars and are proving it in the most competitive international contexts. All that is needed for these young ones is to come home and turn Nigeria into the paradise of our dreams is just the enabling environment. These young achievers come from all corners of this potentially great country. Yes, given the right environment, these young Nigerians will turn our tears into joy.

Edo election: Etsako, Esan &Ikpoba results

Etsako West (AUCHI) Ward 2, Unit 1 PDP 94 APC 176, ACPN 5
 Ward 11, unit 11 APC 239 PDP 54 Invalid 470
Esan West Unit 11 APC 69 PDP 158 21 invalid
 Ikpoba Okhai Ward 2, Unit 12 APC 92 PDP 85
 Akoko Edo ward 5 unit 3 APC 177 PDP 75

‘Amaechi didn’t betray Jonathan’

THE Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said that contrary to the belief by the Peoples Democratic Party, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, did not betray former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The State APC explained that it was Jonathan that betrayed Amaechi when he (Amaechi) was the governor of Rivers State, adding that the minister has no disagreement with Jonathan on personal issues.
State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, who was reacting to a statement credited to the leadership of the PDP in the state dismissed the claim that Amaechi betrayed the Niger Delta people and the former President.
Finebone pointed out that the former President betrayed Amaechi through the state of the East-West Road during his (Jonathan) tenure.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known to all that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as governor of Rivers State never had differences with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over personal matters.
“Whether on the vexed issue of NLNG Train 7, which the former President refused to approve or the matter of Soku Oil Wells and others that were taken and handed to Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Abia States and many other touchy issues, Amaechi was only driven by the oath of office he took to protect lives and property of Rivers people as governor. No more!
If really the issue is about betrayal, it was indeed former President Goodluck Jonathan that betrayed Amaechi, Rivers people and Niger Deltans.
“His betrayal is typified by the state of the East West Road during his administration, the Bomu-Bonny Road, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Soku Oil Wells, refusal to refund N105bn spent on Federal Roads by the Rivers State Government and many other issues too numerous to be listed here,” he added.
Finebone also disagreed with the state PDP on the claim that the minister had a political ambition for 2019.
He said, “Rt. Hon. Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi does not harbour nor has he told anyone that he is nursing any political ambition come 2019. That is not how the Minister is wired politically.”

Hoodlums block access road, torture landlord for complaining

The police in Lagos State have launched a manhunt for a suspect, identified only as Olaiya, who allegedly led about 25 hoodlums to torture a landlord in the Makoko, Yaba area of the state.

Our correspondent learnt that Olaiya and the hoodlums went to Rafiu Street last Wednesday to construct a fence on a portion of the road and the landlord, Rafiu Ogundele, reported to the police that the construction was illegal.

Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that Olaiya and the hoodlums invaded the street on the following day around 11am and tortured Ogundele for reporting him at the police station.

The landlord’s phones, money and jewellery were also said to have been carted away.

It was gathered that the landlord was brutalised by Olaiya, because he had gone to report the latter to the police at the Adekunle division.

It was gathered that the hoodlums caused panic in the area, as they harassed residents, saying that they had sold the road linking the street and the fence would be built.

Our correspondent learnt that Olaiya, an ex-convict, fled the area after Ogundele was injured.

The landlord is said to be receiving treatment in a private hospital in the area.

When our correspondent visited Ogundele on Tuesday, a younger brother, identified only as Oladimeji, said the hoodlums smashed his brother’s skull and also damaged one of his eyes.

He said, “Our street is directly behind the Celestial Church of Christ headquarters, Makoko. Olaiya brought the blocks for the fence on Tuesday. He said he had sold the road serving the residents of the street, and my brother said that was not possible.

“When Olaiya did not listen, my brother and I went to report to the police at the Adekunle division on Wednesday. I am surprised that on Thursday, around 11am, the man brought hoodlums to my brother’s apartment and beat him up.

“The area boys were armed with cutlasses and bottles. My brother’s offence was that he told Olaiya not to sell the access road and construct a fence on it.

“They smashed his skull and stole his phones, wallet and jewellery. He is still in the hospital. The torture was also reported at the Adekunle division. Olaiya and his hoodlums have fled the area since the day of the incident. I also contacted the Rapid Response Squad. The hoodlums injured my brother’s eyes.”

A landlord, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Akorede Community Development Association, Nureni Adejumo, said constructing on the road serving the street was unacceptable and the CDA had written a petition to the police.

He said, “The hoodlums took everyone by surprise. The leader is a son of a land owner here. But he sold the road serving the street. He is the son of a land owner. When I asked him why he did that, he said I should not meddle in his affairs.

“The road serves as a link to Igbeyinadun and other streets. The hoodlums came on Thursday and beat up one of the landlords. It was God’s intervention that he did not die.”

Efforts to speak with Olaiya as of the time of the visit were not successful as he was said to be unavailable.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, had yet to reply to a text message sent to her phone on the incident.

Nigeria already getting out of recession –Adeosun

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has said the country is already getting out of the economic recession, given the pragmatic approaches the Federal Government is taking to reverse the trend.
She said this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists at the end of a two-day National Council of Finance and Economic Development conference held at the Green Legacy Resort, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
It was held in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance with the theme: ‘Enhancing revenue generation and obtaining best value for money in expenditure.’
Commissioners of finance from the 36 states across the country were in attendance.
She noted that since the problems have been identified, and steps are already being taken to block waste, the road to recovery was sure.
She said, “We are already getting out of recession because of the actions the Federal Government is taking.
“We are investing more in capital than we have ever invested. We are sorting out infrastructure, we are stopping wastage and so the signs of recovery are already there.”
She explained that agriculture and solid minerals are already starting to grow, as they are responding to government’s policy initiative.
Adeosun said stakeholders from 36 states across the country had brainstormed for two days while resource persons also delivered papers, adding that the economic recovery would be driven at the state and local government levels.
She advised finance commissioners and the accountant-generals in the states to compute their balance sheets, which would show their assets and liabilities.

Thank God my kids did not witness the robbery –Basketmouth

About three weeks ago, Nigerians woke up to a rude shock when popular comedian, Bovi, posted on his Instagram page that his colleague and friend, Basketmouth, got robbed. Many of his fans were quick to sympathise with him while others were apprehensive as nothing was heard about the humour merchant.

Ever since the incident occurred, the ace comedian had not spoken about the encounter he had with the men of the underworld till Saturday Beats reached out to him. Responding to a mail the comedian thanked Nigerians for their concern but also begged them to put the incident in the past where it belongs.

Like any doting father, he thanked God that his children were unaware of the robbery incident because they were asleep all through the encounter. Basketmouth said, “I will rather not talk about the robbery incident because it is in the past now. I just thank God nobody was hurt. My kids were asleep throughout the incident so that is something to really thank God for as the trauma would have messed them up for a while.”

The comedian who started out as a rap artiste told Saturday Beats that he has not forgotten his first love, music. He added that he would revisit the studio booth once he has the time.

And just like his colleagues AY, Bovi and Owen G, the dreadlock wearing comic act hinted that he would release a movie soon.

“I have had to put my music career to rest for now as I have a lot of projects before me but soon, I will revisit it. Also, I have been working on a movie for a while now, but due to time constraint, I have not been able to start production but I will do so soon though,” he said.

The actor who turned 38 recently told Saturday Beats that he is thankful to God for everything especially when he looks back at where he is coming from in life.

“I feel blessed because I know that the life we have can be taken for granted sometimes. I always thank God for every second, minute, hour, day, month and year I witness. Turning 38 is amazing and I pray that God will continue to bless me with more years in great health, happiness, favour and more. I thank God for everything especially when I look back to where I am coming from, it is really humbling where God has placed me and where he is taking me to. I am grateful for everything.

“I am good at making low points become high points. In everything that comes my way, I always thank God while believing that there is a reason for it. The ability to embrace everything in good faith and never backing down or getting distracted is one thing I think I am good at,” he said.

When asked what fame has robbed him of the ace comedian simply said it was his privacy but he was quick to add that he would not change anything if given the chance.

“I have been robbed of my privacy and the freedom I had. The fact that I must be very careful with everything I say and do is a bit of a pressure. However, I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. I won’t change a thing,” Basketmouth said.

Peter Okoye(MR P) to lead Olympic Milk Independence Day show

Ahead of Nigeria’s 56th independence celebration, Emory Green Limited has teamed up with Olympic milk to make the Independence Day an unforgettable experience in an event tagged ‘The Olympic Moment’ billed to hold on Saturday, October 1, 2016.

As part of the event, Peter Okoye of Psquare group who doubles as the brand ambassador of Olympic milk is expected to lead and grace the event alongside other surprise talents.

According to the convener of the event, Tokunbo Nasamu, CEO Emory Green Limited, “the event is our own way of bringing deserving couples together under one roof to have fun and as well interact with the only milk brand that is most concerned about their lifestyle. Also, couples attending are expected to participate in the bonding games and taking the ‘Today I Will’ promise to be ‘Active for Longer.”

Adele cracks 10 million US sales once again

Adele’s “25” has topped 10 million sales in the United States, her second album to cross the threshold as the English singer cements her status as the century’s top-selling artist.
The US industry body presented Adele a plaque certifying that “25,” released in November, had gone diamond platinum, or sold 10 million, at a ceremony backstage at New York’s Madison Square Garden where she just played six sold-out shows, her publicist announced Tuesday.
The Recording Industry Association of America in its latest certifications said that it also recognized that Adele’s 2011 album “21” had sold 14 million copies in the United States, the world’s largest music market.
Adele, who has achieved similar historic success in her native Britain, is the only artist to sell albums at such volume since digital music went mainstream in the early 2000s.
A handful of other albums since 2000 have also gone diamond platinum but all have been around a decade before Adele.
They include rap superstar Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” and country pop singer Shania Twain’s “Up!” in 2002 and, in 2000, teen idol Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again,” boy band NSYNC’s “No Strings Attached” and Beatles compilation “1.”
Adele has performed some of the most recognizable songs in recent years with tear-jerker ballads such as “Someone Like You” and “Hello,” winning an audience that crosses demographic and age lines.
In a rare move, she initially kept “25” off fast-growing streaming services such as Spotify, where the album finally appeared in June, seven months after its release.

Kaduna tremor: Earthquake likely in Nigeria, Senate warns

The Senate has called on the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant government agencies to begin to take proactive measures on the repeated earth tremor in some parts of Kaduna State.

The measures, the Senate said, included educating Nigerians on what to expect and how to react when tremor occurs.

While adopting a three-prayer motion sponsored by Senator Danjuma La’ah (APC, Kaduna-South) titled ‘Earth Tremor and the Preparedness of Nigeria to Deal with its Intending Consequences,’ the Senate urged all stakeholders to take the earth tremor being recorded in parts of the country seriously.

The lawmakers also urged NEMA and security agencies to intervene through public enlightenment and drills to be prepared, saying minimal resources would be required at the warning stage.

The Senate mandated the Committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to make a fact-finding tour of the affected communities and report to the chamber.

La’ah, while moving his motion, stated that he was saddened that the tremor had left in its trail a traumatic experience to the inhabitants of Kwoi and its environs. He added that the tremor had also caused serious cracks in buildings, thereby making their habitation fearful and dangerous.

The Senator recalled that the first widely reported occurrence of an earth tremor in Nigeria was in 1933. He said other tremors were reported in 1939,1964, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2006.

La’ah further recalled that following the tremor that occurred on September 11, 2009 which was recorded in Oyo and other parts of the South-West and with the recent ones in Bayelsa and Kaduna states, researchers had warned that the incidences were signs that Nigeria was no longer immune to earthquake.

According to the senator, the Lagos-Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode fault system was another belt where an earth tremor was witnessed in July and August 1984, stressing that these fault system could serve as a zone of weakness for the propagation of shocks from far away plate boundaries.

Recession making heart failure patients discharge selves –Cardiologists

Many heart failure patients resort to discharging themselves because they cannot afford the admission fee, which runs into several thousands of naira, cardiologists have said.
The experts are therefore advocating a healthier lifestyle among Nigerians to prevent the disease.
The advice came on Tuesday during a briefing to commemorate the World Heart Day in Lagos.
Speaking at the event organised by Novartis, a Consultant Cardiologist, Pro. Amani Ubakwem, noted that heart failure patients require four hospital admissions in a year, with each costing thousands of naira.
“Between 20- and 30 per cent of all hospital admissions are related to heart. These are people in the middle age category. A lot of them are artisans or junior civil servants. More than two thirds of our patients are depressed. Some stop taking their drugs and some discharge themselves.
“There is no single approach to winning this war. If you meet 10 Nigerians, probably three of them are hypertensive. So, we have to live a healthier life by cutting down on the risk factors. We have to cut down on our salt intake, do more exercise and eat fruits and vegetables.
“The government can also help by subsidising drugs for the patients. All the heart failure patients cannot be seen in tertiary hospitals and even if we attend to them, they still have to continue their care at the primary health care centre.
“But how do you continue your care if the people there do not have basic equipment? We need to defend the health system,’’ she said.
In her remarks, another Consultant Cardiologist, Prof. Jane Ajuluchukwu, urged Nigerians to eat and live right. According to her, many bitters and natural herbs contain chemicals that could weaken the heart muscles.
“It is not everything that is natural that is healthy. Nigerians are boiling pawpaw and mango leaves. They are taking all kinds of bitters which could contain chemicals,’’ she said.

US Election: Trump Debate Sniffles Go Viral

Donald Trump’s case of the sniffles during Monday night’s presidential debate with Hillary Clinton has gone viral on social media, spawning jokes and ironic asides about a candidate who has made his opponent’s health an issue.
Hashtags like #Sniffles, #TrumpSniffles and #Trumpsniffing proliferated after the Republican sniffled repeatedly in the opening minutes of the widely watched matchup.
Comedian Stephen Colbert joked that Trump “sounded like he was fighting off a cold with cocaine.”
Clinton’s debate comment about her opponent’s “Trumped-up trickle down” positions was immediately linked to his runny nose.
Others asked about Trump’s health. “Sounds like pneumonia to me,” tweeted former Democratic congressman John Dingell.
Pneumonia knocked Clinton off the campaign for a few days trail earlier this month, after Trump had repeatedly raised questions about her health and stamina.
“Geezus, Trump is going to make HRC sick again!” tweeted Carla Ingraham, paying on his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
In an interview with “Fox and Friends,” Trump said he didn’t have a cold or allergies. “There were no sniffles,” he said.

Trump launches harsh new fat attack on ex-Miss Universe(Fresh From Presidential Debate)

Fresh off his presidential clash with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump doubled down Tuesday on criticism of a former Miss Universe he accused of getting too fat, comments that could repel women voters.
Alicia Machado, who won the crown in 1996, has accused Trump -- whose company owned the Miss Universe pageant until last year -- of calling her "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping," and publicly humiliating her over her post-victory weight gain.
The morning after Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, invoked Machado's experience as an example of how the brash Republican billionaire treats women, he lashed out at the beauty queen.
"She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem," Trump told Fox News television Tuesday.
"She was the worst we ever had. The worst, the absolute worst," he added. "She was impossible."
During their first presidential debate Monday night, Clinton raised Machado's case in an exchange over Trump's assertion that the Democratic candidate did not "look presidential."
Excoriating Trump for his treatment of women, she recalled that he had called Machado "Miss Piggy," and "Miss Housekeeping" because she is Latina.
"Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado. And she has become a US citizen, and you can bet she's going to vote this November."
Trump appeared startled by the accusation.
"Where did you find this?" Trump asked Clinton three times.
Shortly after the debate, Clinton's campaign released a video in which Venezuela-born Machado says she was scared of and intimidated by Trump.
"He'd yell at me all the time. He'd tell me 'You look ugly,' or 'You look fat,'" she says.
"He bears many grudges, and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him."
Trump is seen in 1990s footage saying Machado "weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds (53 kilograms) and she went up to 160 or 170 (72.5 or 77 kg). So this is somebody that likes to eat."
Throughout his campaign Trump has faced intense scrutiny over his treatment of women, and Clinton assailed her rival on the issue.
"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and somebody who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women don't deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men," Clinton said.
Machado, following the debate, tweeted insults in Spanish at Trump, calling him #ratanazi, or "Nazi rat."
During a news conference call Tuesday, speaking in a mix of Spanish and English, the former beauty queen heaped even more contempt on Trump for his past mistreatment.
"He doesn't remember me, he doesn't remember many things that he did to me, or that he told me," Machado told reporters.
"It was evident that maybe he doesn't remember an 18-year-old girl, whom he insulted and offended and mistreated a thousand times. But I'll always remember."
Meanwhile, some of her remarks to reporters -- and others written on her @machadooficial Twitter account -- gushed support for the Democratic nominee.

"She is ready and able to be president," Machado tweeted.

DISCLAIMER: ‘TINUBU BOMBS BUHARI’, A COMPLETE FALSEHOOD

In the past 48 hours, we have noticed the churning out of falacious and outright malicious stories in the social media concerning Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
We want to state that the stories are patently false and we urge unsuspecting Nigerians to ignore the lies being spread and the wicked stories about what Tinubu purportedly said or did. The stories being churned out are being done by some fifth columnists who seek to drive a wedge between these leaders. One of such stories is the one entitled ‘Tinubu Bombs Buhari,’ which is fit only for the trash can and a figment of the writer’s imagination.
Asiwaju Tinubu remains a staunch APC stalwart and supporter of the APC government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu is preoccupied with assisting to find solutions to the present challenges now confronting us as a nation and nothing will distract him from doing this.