John Boyega Treats Harrison Ford To Some Local Nigerian Food In London

In celebration of his new role in the blockbuster movie Star Wars, John Boyega took co-star Harrison Ford to a restaurant for some Nigerian food.

File photo of John Boyega and Harrison Ford.

The 23-year-old British-born Nigerian actor treated the American movie star to a meal at a Nigerian eatery in Old Kent, South East London.

According to The Standard, the mini celebration happened just after Boyega landed the role in the seventh episode of the American epic film.
Boyega reportedly told The Standard that he took the 73-year-old American actor around town to the neighbourhood he lived as a little boy.
He added that: “In order to break Harrison into the London culture I took him to the Old Kent Road to have some Nigerian food – and he loved it.”
Ford had the local Nigerian egusi soup and pounded yam and some cocktail in addition.
John Boyega was born in Peckham, London to Nigerian parents. He started acting at the age of five and ended up reading Performing Arts in Southern Thames College, Wandsworth.

NLC Tackles Buhari, Kachikwu on Fuel Pump Price, Subsidy Removal

NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba

•   Labour leaders eulogise Ubani 10 years after

   
   Paul Obi in Abuja

      The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, over the planned increase in the pump price of petroleum and subsidy removal by the federal government.

      Kachikwu at the weekend, had said the price of petrol would return to N97 per litre against the present N87 per litre by January 2016.
 
NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who was speaking at a symposium organised in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the death of  Chima Ubani, said Buhari should be wary of the likes of Kachikwu who misled and derailed former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on the issue of subsidy.
 
Therefore, Wabba said the congress would meet in its relevant organs as well as hold consultations with civil society and other organisations and professional bodies to discus the way forward.

    He said the recent figures disclosed which was stolen by the political elites is enough shock to contend with for a long time.

    The NLC boss also called for the extension of the anti corruption war to both states and local governments as well as other strata to unravel the huge funds stolen from the nations’ treasury.

   “The NLC wishes to state that Kachikwu represents the same forces that have misled past governments on issue of removal of subsidy and deregulation of the downstream operations of the petroleum industry.

   “The position of  the congress on the issues clearly remains unchanged, we make bold to however caution President Buhari to be wary of the likes of Kachikwu whose sweet tongue on the issue of subsidy removal had derailed former presidents from achieving their lofty goals.”

   Convener of the symposium for the late Ubani, John Odah, eulogised the legacies of Ubani,  particularly in holding leaders accountable.

   Odah stressed that union members across board must strive hard to ensure that  the aspirations of Ubani remain alive.

   Also speaking, the founding President of NLC,  Ali Ciroma, lamented a situation where politicians stole billions of dollars, while pensioners are being owed several months.

   Ciroma further decried that as a pioneer president of the congress, he has not been paid over 13 months of his pensions.

   The guest speaker at the event,  Dr Ogaga Ifodowo, bemoaned the deterioration of activism among students and other social groups around the country.

  Ifodowo also blamed President Olusegun Obasanjo over the dwindling fortunes of Nigeria, arguing that the former president is the architect of Nigeria’s current predicament.

Obama Appoints Nigerian as Deputy National Security Adviser

 Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo

The Herald
US President Barack Obama has appointed a Nigerian, Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo who served in top roles at the Treasury Department, to succeed Caroline Atkinson as his deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

According to The Herald newspaper, Adeyemo, 34, has served in the Obama administration since 2009. He joined the White House’s National Economic Council as deputy director. He was the Treasury’s lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal.

A statement by Obama read: “For the past four years, I have relied on Caroline Atkinson, most recently as my deputy national security advisor for international economics, as we’ve navigated pressing challenges to the global economy.

“As my representative at the G-7 and G-20, she played a key role in coordinating our response to international financial crises, worked with our allies to devise and implement targeted economic sanctions to advance our national security goals, played a vital role in our economic engagements with China, and helped to achieve breakthrough agreements on climate that will strengthen our economy and our security.

“I’ve relied on, and benefited from Caroline’s knowledge and judgment and, as she concludes her tenure on my national security team, I am deeply appreciative of her service.

“I am grateful that Caroline’s work will be carried on by Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo, who has served in my administration since 2009. At the Treasury Department, he was part of the team that helped coordinate our response to the global recession, laying the foundation for renewed growth at home and abroad.

“He helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he’s been our point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the Trans Pacific Partnership. I will be calling on Wally’s intellect, judgment and dedication as we sustain America’s global economic leadership, which reinforces our national security, and as we work with allies and partners around the world to create jobs and opportunity for all our people.”

Adeyemo holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and another degree from Yale Law School.

Biafra: Court Grants Nnamdi Kanu Unconditional Bail

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has ordered the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Security Service.

Kanu who is also the Director of Radio Biafra was ordered to be released immediately by Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

Delivering ruling in a bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Vincent Obeta, Justice Ademola also set aside an order earlier granted the DSS to detain Kanu for 90 days to enable the security agency complete their investigation.

According to him, the continued detention of Kanu after three months without trial, violated section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 constitution .

Justice ademola also said that there was no law that permits the DSS or any other security agency for that matter to detain any nigerian beyond the period stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when in actual fact there was no intention to put the person on trial .

"From the available facts before the court, it is clear that the DSS either enough materials to prosecute the applicant in a law court or yet to make up their mind on prosecution.

"Detaining the applicant for more than three months without trial runs contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and such act must not be allowed in the interest of the rule of law.

"Constitution remains the supreme law. It does not permit detention of a Nigerian citizen for a period spanning over two months without charging the citizen before the law court. This court has the duty to protect the constitution and one of the duties is to admit a citizen of this country on bail when his right to freedom is being violated," Justice Ademola said.

The Judge however frowned at the claim of Kanu that Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 (Amended) was illegal, adding that the Act is a potent legislation fashioned out to check acts of terrorism.

"It is worthy of mention that countries like America, Britain, France and others have similar legislation to combat Acts of Terrorism. It is therefore not a correct position, to say that the Act is an illegal one," he said.

 

UNICEF: 16m Babies Born into Conflict in 2015

 

  Executive Director, UNICEF, Anthony Lake

 Urges world to translate promises into action to benefit most vulnerable children in 2016

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) disclosed on Thursday that more than 16 million babies were born into conflict zones in 2015, making one in eight of all births worldwide.

UNICEF noted that every two seconds, a newborn takes its first breath in the midst of conflict, often in terrifying circumstances and without access to medical care, a figure it said underscores the vulnerability faced by increasing numbers of children.

Executive Director, UNICEF, Anthony Lake, gave this hint in a press release made available by to journalist in Abuja.

According to him, "Too many children are now starting their lives in extreme circumstances – from conflict to natural disasters, poverty, disease or malnutrition. Can there be a worse start in life?”

"More than a quarter of a billion children – or 1 in 9 – live in countries and areas in conflict and face enormous obstacles to their health, education and well-being. More than half a billion children live in areas where floods are extremely common and nearly 160 million live in high or extremely high drought severity zones. Children represent almost half of all people living in extreme poverty although they make up roughly a third of the world’s population.

He said: "More than 200,000 children applied for asylum in European Union countries in the first nine months of 2015, adding to the 30 million children across the globe forced from their homes by 2014 due to war, violence and persecution. More people are displaced now than at any moment since World War II.

"In addition to conflict, poverty, the effects of climate change and lack of opportunity are making children increasingly vulnerable and have pushed millions on dangerous journeys away from their homes.

Lake stated that "In conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, or on perilous journeys to escape fighting, newborn children and their mothers face enormous risks.
Pregnant mothers are in danger of giving birth without medical help and in unsanitary conditions. Their children are more likely to die before they reach their fifth birthdays and to experience extreme – or “toxic” – stress, which can inhibit their long-term emotional and cognitive development.

30 killed in Boko Haram attack on three villages in Borno

30 killed in Boko Haram attack on three villages in Borno

Over 30 people killed after Boko Haram members attacked Warwara, Mangari and Bura-Shika villages in Borno state over the weekend. Mustapha Karimbe, a member of the state vigilante group said many of the injured persons had machete cuts on them.

"Most of the victims were slaughtered and most of the wounded (had suffered) machete cuts,"he told AFP

Worst hit in the attack is ‎Warwara village where 20 people were killed. Six people were reportedly killed in Bura-Shika while four were killed in Mangari.

Nigeria's house rent collecting system must change - Fashola

Nigeria's house rent collecting system must change - Fashola

Nigeria Minister for Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola has called for a review in the way Nigerians pay two years house rent whenever they are seeking to get an apartment. He stated this while speaking at a press conference in Abuja recently

“The way we collect rent is something that must change. If we are collecting two years rent in advance from a salary that is going to be earned in arrears monthly, there’s an accounting mismatch. This is something many of us have experienced, you pay two years rent in advance money you haven’t earned.
Something is distorted somewhere in our accounting model. We must all resolve, property owners alike, that maybe if we changed the way we collected rent alone many houses that are unoccupied, will be occupied. I am inclined to think that if we just change the payment system for housing we will accommodate a significant number of people.”He said