Featured Articles and Top News
Updated daily
March 12, 2010

---

• Farida, Iwu may go soon •As Jonathan plans to overhaul EFCC, INEC •Col Umar, law professor may emerge new heads
  BARRING a last minute change of mind, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has concluded plans to carry out “a clinical operation” in both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tribune

• COUP PLOT: Gowon, IBB, others to lose benefits
  THE Senate, on Thursday, approved the retirement benefits for all former Nigerian presidents, except those who came to power through the barrel of the gun. Tribune
   
• Jos crisis: Plateau govt lied - GOC •Says, ‘no official called me’ •US calls for comprehensive solution •Women protest in Jos, Abuja
  AS controversy continues to rage over the manner the military handled the recent Fulani invasion of villages in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division, General Saleh Maina, has denied the allegation Tribune
   
• Senate approves five Advisers for Jonathan
  The Senate, on Thursday, approved the request by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment of five special advisers. Tribune
   
• Yar’Adua: We Acted to Save Our Democracy, Say Govs
  Governors have reacted to mounting criticisms against their position on the status of ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, maintaining that their decision to oppose his removal from office was taken in the interest of the nation's democracy. ThisDay
   
• I Got Only Text Messages before Jos Massacre, Says GOC
  The General Officer Comman-ding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division, Jos, Plateau State, Major-General Saleh Maina, has denied getting any calls from Governor David Jonah Jang before last Sunday’s massacre in Dogon-Nahawa, but confirmed that he got text messages forewarning him on the attacks. ThisDay
   
• Sokoto Guber: CJN Queries A’Court President, 5 Others
  The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, has queried the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, and five other Justices of the court handling various cases involving the 2007 governorship election in Sokoto State. ThisDay
   
• Dangote Retains Ranking in Forbes Rich List
  With a net worth of $2.1 billion, billionaire businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote is the only Nigerian that made it to this year’s listing of 500 richest men by Forbes Magazine. ThisDay
   
• Women in black protest Jos violence
  Dressed in black and wielding wooden crosses, thousands of women marched in Jos yesterday to express grief at a new bout of sectarian carnage and anger at the failure to stop it. The demonstration in the flashpoint city, capital of Plateau State, coincided with the start | The Sun
   
• Jos crisis: Why we struck –Fulani Settlers
  Five days after the massacre in Jos, the Fulani settlers alleged to have carried out the attack have given a detailed explanation as to why the sad incident occurred.
  Speaking to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Fulani leader and secretary Sultan’s Farmer/Cattle Rearers Conflict Committee, Sale Bayari, | The Sun
   
• No retirement pay for Gowon, Buhari, IBB, Abdulsalami, Shonekan –Senate
  The Senate yesterday passed a Bill barring all former military heads of state and presidents that got to power through undemocratic means from benefiting in a new remuneration package for former | The Sun
   
• Yayale, SGF, in trouble
  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed is now sailing on troubled waters. He may thus end up as another casualty in the ongoing purge within the Federal Government whose last victim was the former National Security Adviser, Major-General Sarki Mukhtar .| The Sun
   
• Plateau women storm Abuja, protest killings
  HUNDREDS of Plateau women, yesterday, staged peaceful demonstrations in Jos and Abuja against Sunday’s mayhem at Dogon Nahawa where hundreds, mostly women and children, were murdered. Vanguard

Business
Nigeria business Today

---

• Forum to boost Nigeria-US business, FG
  MINISTER of Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa has said that the forthcoming USA-Nigeria Business Forum will not only boost business between the two countries but also improve diplomatic relations between them. Vanguard

• Superbrand Nigeria launches 2010/2011 edition programme
  Superbrands Nigeria, an independent authority and arbiter on branding, has commenced the identification of the strongest brands in the country for the year 2010/2011. Vanguard
   

• Unilever re-assures investors, projects 10 % earnings
  Unilever Nigeria Plc. has re-assured its shareholders of substantial returns for the second quarter of 2010. The food and confectionery giant, in a performance document released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday, projected 10 per cent earnings across board. According to the projection for the second quarter, which ends on June 30, 2010, the company estimated its profit after tax to hit N2.74 billion or 10.03 per cent growth. Vanguard
   

• How Nigeria’s economy can grow, Varsity don
  Renowned economist,Professor Nnaemeka Ikpeze has warned that unless a serious approach was adopted in ddressing some critical challenges facing the nation’s economy, nothing would be achieved even after the year 2020. Vanguard
   

• Nestle restates commitment to youth’s economic empowerment
  Nestle Nigeria Plc, has reiterated its commitment to youth empowerment and economic development, as it announced the launch of the second edition of its talent-hunt show that is designed to engage the youths in the country in meaningful productive activities and grow its businesses Vanguard
   

• Falasinmu becomes AP’s Chief Executive, Otedola, now Chairman
  Tunde Falasinmu has been appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of African Petroleum Plc (AP), a position formerly occupied by Mr. Femi Otedola. Vanguard
   

• Asset Management Corporation Bill passes second reading
  A bill for an act to establish the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCN) passed through second reading at the Senate on Wednesday. Leading the debate on the bill, Senate leader, Teslim Folarin, said the AMCN was conceived by the Federal Government as part of the on-going reforms of the banking sector Vanguard
   

• AfDB earmarks $2b for agric in Africa for 5 years
  The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Wednesday in Abuja that it had earmarked $2 billion for the development of agriculture in Africa in the next five years. Vanguard
   

• Non-oil exports key to economic development, NEPC
  FOR the nation to be long to the league of 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020, Nigeria must as a matter of urgency diversify her economic base by developing and promoting its non-oil exports, the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. David I. Adulugba has said Vanguard
   

• More companies to leave Nigeria — NESG
  The Director-General of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Frank Nweke Junior, has predicted that, more multinationals would relocate from the country, as a result of high level of insecurity and dearth of infrastructure. Tribune
   

• Oil Licence Renewal: FG Insists on Investment in Refineries
  The Federal Government has insisted that international oil companies seeking renewal of their acreages must first demonstrate serious commitment to investing in private refineries. ThisDay
  
  Click here for more business links

Editorial

---

• Amaechi vs. Omehia: And the Reasoning please?
  Anyone who read our article on the Amaechi vs. Omehia titled The Supreme Court: Supreme in all things but Remedy! will in no doubt notice that our bone of contention with the Supreme Court was never about the conclusion they reached. Our problem has always been the remedy they fashioned to compensate the winning side in this case, Amaechi. NigerianNews Editorial
   

• Removal of Ribadu: The Triumph of Aondoakaa and his Ruse of Law
  December 31, 2007
  While the plot was being hatched, those who now cry foul on the removal of Nuhu Ribadu were busy celebrating the demise of the previous government. While the celebration went on, the evil geniuses in our midst were busy perfecting their next move of their escape from Alcatraz! NigerianNews Editorial
   

• The Supreme Court: Supreme in all things but Remedy!
  October 29, 2007
  We must first congratulate this Supreme Court for they have done it again! We congratulate you for your consistent inconsistencies. We congratulate you for consistently turning the face of logic upside down to the applause of those who should know better. If your inconsistencies are not embarrassing, we would  have also congratulated you on your undemocratic imposition of Rotimi Amaechi who was never voted for by the people of Rivers State. This is a first in the annals of representative democracy!! NigerianNews Editorial
  
  More editorial Opinions

Special Columns

---

• Tunde Adenodi's Current Column
  
  President Goodluck Jonathan: "The fierce urgency of now"
  by Tunde Adenodi.
  March 02, 2010
  In 1963, Dr Martin Luther King made his famous “I have a dream speech” on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. He talked about the ‘fierce urgency of now” in the context of segregation, discrimination and economic emancipation of the black race. I do not expect Jonathan to be a Martin Luther King. His antecedents do not support such a conjecture. But he cannot afford to be a … uhm… a Shehu Shagari or Tafawa Balewa or indeed, Umar Musa Yar‘Adua.  NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Adenodi
   

• Madaki O. Ameh's Current Column
  
  THE SAD POLITICS OF YAR’ADUA’S ILL HEALTH
  by Madaki O Ameh
  February 10, 2010
  With the passage of concurrent motions by the two chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly on Tuesday 9^th February 2010, finally empowering the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to assume the elusive title of ‘Acting President’, it is hoped that one of the darkest phases of Nigeria’s democratic history will finally be on its way out, with what is left being the healing of the deep wounds created in the process. NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Ameh
   

• Frisky Larr's Current Column
  
  The Fuss and Fight over Turai: Is she the real Problem?
  by Frisky Larr
  March 4, 2010
  Abuja is in the grip of fear. The naked fear of a military coup! So reminiscent it is of the comedy of the Philippines in the late 1980s that I am forced to sing déjà vu! It is a perfect duplication of history. The history of pre-announced military coup d’etat that keeps a nation in suspense and awe!.NigerianNews Special | |Read more articles by Larr
   

• Kay Soyemi's Current Column
  
  That CIA Report on Nigeria – Fact or Fiction?
  by Kay Soyemi
  December 01, 2008
  Dr. Thomas Fingar, the Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), recently presented and discussed his report titled the “Global Trends 2025” and among many other things, has predicted a bleak future for Nigeria if certain identified indicators were not addressed before 2025.  NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Soyemi
   

• Atsar Terver's Current Column
  ECHOES:Commentary on burning public issues
  
  The Enemies of Electoral Reform and El-Rufai’s Silly Outburst.
  by Atsar Terver
  June 09, 2009
  When former President Obasanjo recently declared in his characteristically reckless manner that he was not aware of any ongoing electoral reforms in the country, not many may have read the evil intentions pregnant in those words. Coming at a time the Uwais Report on Electoral Reforms was being widely debated by the public, such a declaration from a former President meant either of two things, namely that he was truly ignorant of political happenings around him or that he was just expressing cynical apathy. The later seems more plausible for a former head of state that he is.  NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Terver
   

• Dotun Oyeniyi
  
  ARE OUR LEADERS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE’S SULTAN?
  by Dotun Oyeniyi
  I have a fervent admiration for the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.  We have not seen any Sultan like him in our recent history.  Unlike most of our traditional rulers, the Sultan is not one to frequent the corridors of power or churn out chieftaincy titles to the men in power in pursuit of vain glory or monetary rewards in return.  His utterances, since asscending the Sultanate, have always been incisive, frank, non-patronising of those in government and clearly pro-masses.  NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Oyeniyi
   

• Joe Chikunie
  
  SOCIO-POLITICAL CRAVINGS, EFFORTS AND REALIZATIONS AS PANACEAS TO BAD GOVERNANCE.
  by Joseph Ifeanyi Chikunie
  E. C. Ejiogu is a political sociologist, Saharareporters online blog columnist and public commentator. He recently wrote a good piece entitled, “My happiest day”. Essentially, he revels in the Save Nigeria Group’s success at meeting with the Acting President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan where they tabled the position of the body on very sensitive political matters. NigerianNews Special | Read more articles by Chikunie

  Other Special Columns

Interview

---

• AN INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF OJO MADUEKWE, THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER IN PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA’S CABINET
  
  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe, was recently in the United States as a participant in the 'Nigeria Meets The World Conference' organized by ThisDay, and the United Nations General Assembly session. He spoke exclusively with NNews at the New York Millennium Plaza. NigerianNews Interview

Guest Columns

---

• Jos Crises: An Old Problem taking a New Dimension
  by Dr. Yushau Balarabe
  Any sensible person that has anything to do with Nigeria must have been disturbed with high level of animalistic barbarism, and display of total hatred among the people that were hitherto living peacefully for hundreds of years. In particular, for those of us from Jos, and Plateau state in general, it has been a depressing, frustrating and confusing time. NigerianNews Guest Column
   
• The Bond Between Tinubu & Fashola
  by Suage Badey
  Contrary to the rumours that were circulating in the newspapers after Barr Babatunde Fashola won the Lagos State 2007 gubernatorial elections (under the Action Congress (AC) platform) that his predecessor Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu would be a thorn in his flesh, dictating and calling the shots irrespective of the incumbent’s feelings and ideas, events have proven them wrong as Asiwaju who saw in Fashola the qualities of good leadership has remained on the sidelines watching with delightful satisfaction that he didn’t go wrong afterall. NigerianNews Guest Column
  
  Read more Guest Columns articles

Sports
Gateway to daily sports update

---

• For NigerianNews Sports
  for regular sports click here March 12, Sports

Nollywood
The Nigeria's Hollywood

---

• Top Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda reveals: Violence drove me out of marriage
  Celebrated Nollywood star actress, Monalisa Chinda has consistently maintained a deafening silence since her five-year marriage to ex husband, Segun Dejo Richards crashed in July. In fact, while her ex was busy granting interviews on the split union|The Sun
   

• Ede Mi Out At Last
  After much expectation, the latest effort from the stables of Okiki Films - Ede Mi, has finally been released. Daily Independent
   

• We Don't Sleep Around In Nollywood -Kemi Alagbara
  Kemi Alagbara may be viewed by many people as a pretty up and coming Nollywood face, but there is more to her than that Daily Independent
   

• No more foreign-based lover
  January 11, 2009
  The last time we spoke to Mercy Johnson was in August. She was so enthusiastic about her boyfriend abroad and like every 25 year old, Mercy learnt that love does not always seem the way it appears. | The Sun
   

• Trouble in Nollywood
  December 27, 2008
  Until few years ago, the world knew only two flourishing film blocks. Then it was Hollywood of the United States and Bollywood of Indian. The Nigerian Nollywood joined the fray 16 years ago and showed much promise| The Sun
   

• Ghanaians eclipse Nollywood stars
  Just like many alien invasion movies we’ve watched, the film industry in Nigeria, better known as Nollywood, is fast experiencing its own kind of ‘alien’ invasion | The Sun
   

• In Abuja, stakeholders chart new course for Nollywood
  At the recently concluded fifth edition of the yearly Abuja International Film Festival, organized by NAFIFO group, the future of Nollywood, was the dominant topic of discussion among the participants| The Sun
   

• Nigerian Movie Industry Has Improved Tremendously
  Steve Gukas has made a name both in broadcasting and film production. For twenty years running, Gukas has directed and produced films that have won the Daily Independent
   

• 'Why I left banking for Nollywood'
  With almost a decade experience and romance with Nollywood, consummate movie producer and linguist Vivian Ejike, is still not relenting on her oars, especially in the areas of churning out movies| The Sun
   

• Nollywood actress, Winifred…
  She belongs to the new generation actresses whose entry into Nolly wood had brought some breath of fresh air into the industry.She is every man’s desire and what her fellow women aspire to be. |The Sun
   

• The Press, Responsible For Our downfall - Toyin Aimakhu
  Some in the Nollywood circle, especially actresses, prefer acting nude but this is not applicable to Toyin Aimakhu. Speaking with GBENGA OLUMIDE at LTV8 recently, she explained why she can’t act nude...Tribune
   

• Aromire To Get Befitting Burial
  News of the death of popular actor and producer, Muyideen Alade Aromire, seems to have escalated the injury the Nigerian entertainment industry has experienced following the death of many artistes. Daily Independent

• Alade Aromire is dead
  The curtain fell suddenly, finally, on one of the leading lights and pioneer of Yoruba home video industry, Muyideen Alade Aromire. Aromire was the first Nigerian to own a vernacular pay television channel, Yotomi TV. |The Sun

• Nollywood is not improving – Zack Orji
  Zack orji is one of Nollywood’s biggest talents, and is considered the movie biz’s most prominent celebs. Trust Entertainment caught up with the star. Daily Trust

• I Left Banking For Nollywood -- Blessing Effiong-Egbe
  Life as a model was fast and fun, short-lived but got to a reasonable and fulfilling stage. I started out in Nigeria in 2001 with the Silverbird International Fashion show Daily Independent
   

• I'm Old Enough To Get Money Anywhere
  Fathia, estranged wife of popular actor, Saheed Balogun, is a notable actress and producer in Nollywood.She spoke to Patrick Uwalaka about her career and new work Asa, Daily Independent
   
• Nollywood Will Crash Soon, Says Oba Funso Adeolu
  Not many would have forgotten Funso Adeolu, Chief Eleyimi,...Daily Independent
   
• Scandal in Nollywood
  Though the gladiators are artistes, what is currently playing out in Nollywood is by no means a movie. So, it is no make-believe. It is a scandal of worrisome dimension and it is real life. | The Sun
   
• Don’t be fooled, there’s sexual harassment in NOLLYWOOD — Arinze
  How long have you been in the movie, music industry?Ehmm, this is about the 24th year I’m in the industry...Vanguard
   
• It’s stupid to sleep with a producer, expect a role
  Believe it or not, Ijeoma Imo is one of the most beautiful girls that pass through the industry called Nollywood....Vanguard
  
  Read More Nollywood

NIGERIA PERISCOPES THE WORLD
Gateway to World News Today

---

• All Nigeria Periscopes the World
  For all your international news.
  
  Click here: March 12, International

Press Release

---

JRC PRESS RELEASE
Press Statement from the Joint Revolutionary Council Press Release

 Click here for Previous Day Focus