2006 in Retrospect

January 2: Twenty-five banks meet CBN target: The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) releases the list of 25 money deposit banks that met the re-capitalisation requirement of N25 billion at the expiration of the deadline of December 31, 2005.

January 5: NAFDAC bans 30 Indian, Chinese, Pakistani firms: For indulging in unethical practices, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) banned 30 Indian, Chinese and Pakistani firms' products in the country. The agency's Director-General, Prof. Dora Akunyili, said the menace of fake drugs is being tackled from the very source, which was often the country of manufacture.

January 6: Court Halts probe of Ladoja: Justice S.O. Akinola of an Ibadan High Court granted and ex-parte order sought by seven of the state's lawmakers loyal to Governor Rashidi Ladoja against the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Fulani Adeniran and a recently constituted seven-man panel, prohibiting them from investigating allegations of miscount against the governor.


Stranded pilgrims return home: Hundreds of intending pilgrims to 2006 Hajj in Saudi Arabia returned home sullen, as they could not be conveyed to the holy land due to the unavailability of aircraft.
January 8: World Forum names The Guardian's Debo Adesina "young Global Leader": The Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspapers, Debo Adesina, was named a "young Global Leader in 2006" by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Adesina, a serial winner of the Editor of the Year awards in Nigeria, thus joined 175 world citizens from 50 countries that the forum selected to collectively shape the future.


Presidency disowns Gbenga Obasanjo's comments against VP: Gbenga, one of the sons of President Olusegun Obasanjo, stirred the hornet's nest with his reported comments on Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The Presidency described the comments, published in a weekly newsmagazine, as unfortunate and regrettable. The president's son was quoted in the news magazine as saying that the Nigerian business sector was rooting for an extension of Obasanjo's stay in office because investors were afraid that Vice President Abubakar would buy up the entire country if the latter eventually succeeded his boss.
January 9: Government distribute HIV drugs free: Federal Government began free distribution of anti-retroviral drugs nationwide. President Obasanjo ordered the distribution of the drug in 2005. Chairman of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NCA), Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin, disclosed the take-off of the donation.

January 12: House removes Ladoja, court voids panel: As early as 8.36am, Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja ceased to be governor of Oyo State following his impeachment. The 18 lawmakers loyal to the former governor's estranged godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, thus brought to a conclusion their long-drawn impeachment bid.

January 14: Rimi's wife murdered: Following the murder of wife of former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, President Olusegun Obasanjo directed the Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, to fish out the people behind the killing. Immediately, the police swung into action and arrested 13 suspects and placed N5 million as prize for information that could unearth those behind the act.

January 16: Panel proposes 30 years age for aircraft: The presidential task force on aviation has proposed a 30 years age limit for aircraft flying in the country's airspace. The presidential task force on Aviation Industry with Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike, as the chairman was constituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo in response to series of plane crashes in the country since around October 2005.


Oil workers threaten to pull out of Niger Delta: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) in a joint statement said they would withdraw their members from working in the Niger Delta, "if the restiveness and consequent harassment and violence" were not curtailed.
January 20: Baby, Mother, Grandmother die in collapsed Lagos building: Less than two hours to the time of discharge from a clinic, a nursing mother, her baby and the grandmother perished in a three-storey building that collapsed on Mosafejo Road, Amukoko area of Lagos.

January 24: Nigeria loses N625 billion yearly to oil theft, says Africa body: The Commission for Africa (CFA) has urged the Federal Government to stop the yearly theft of an estimated N625 billion worth of the country's oil resources. It said this was the only way to bring redemption to victims of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.

January 25: Suspected thugs attack Afenifere convoy in Osun: Violence broke out in Osogbo when the motorcade of Afenifere leaders, who were on a two-day sensitisation visit, was attacked by some unknown persons. Immediately, the police arrested the state's secretary of the AD, Wale Afolabi and others found with him at the state's party secretariat.

January 27: Osemawe of Ondo, Adesonoye dies at 76: His Royal Highness, Oba Festus Ibidapo Adesanoye, the Osemawe of Ondo, died, aged 76. A former consultant to The Guardian, Oba Adesanoye was born in 1930 in Ondo, Ondo Local Council of Ondo State.

January 28: New Oyo Speaker rejected by colleagues: The Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of the Federation disowned the newly-elected Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, arguing that only constitutionally-elected Speakers should be allowed to attend their meetings.

January 30: Militants release kidnapped oil workers: Nineteen days after they were taken away, four foreign workers of Royal Dutch Shell were returned hale and hearty by their captors. The four hostages were released to a delegation led by the Secretary to the Bayelsa State government, Dr. Bola Igali.


FEBRUARY

February 2: Bakassi Boys get death sentence over murder: Four members of the Bakassi Vigilante Group were sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Chidi Uwa of the Umuahia High Court, after finding the accused persons guilty of the murder of Chukwudozie Nwadukuwu and Okechukwu Madueke at the Safari Restaurant on Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, on July 9, 1999.

February 3: Bakassi indigenes want own Republic, write United Nations: Over seven million people of Southern Cameroun, into which Bakassi falls, have demanded an independent Republic of Ambazonia from the United Nations. The demand was contained in a letter copied to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Tony Blair of Britain, Jacques Chirac of France, Paul Biya of Cameroun and Secretary General of the United Nations, titled "Comprehensive Road Map for the Settlement of the bakassi Conflict."

February 13: Obasanjo warns police officers against strike: President Obasanjo, who met with the top hierarchy of the Force at the State House, Abuja, reminded the Police that they belonged to the paramilitary force and should not venture on a strike. A group claiming to be acting for junior officers slated February 20, for what it called "mother of all strikes" "to protest to alleged poor working conditions of police officers in the country.

February 14: Oyo boils as Adedibu's loyalist reclaims NURTW office: Ibadan witnessed another orgy of violence as heavily armed rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) engaged each other in struggle to reclaim the secretariat. The struggle was over the leadership of the state branch of the NURTW, which the faction loyal to Lamidi Adedibu eventually won.

GSM operators sign text-messaging treaty: In a major break-through, fifteen major telephone operators signed instant messaging treaties which would enable subscribers on those networks send unhindered messages to each other and chat with each other at very minimal costs. The innovation was one way of bridging the digital divide.

February 16: Katsina shuts farm over bird flu: Another poultry farm was shut down in Katsina State over suspected bird flu infection. Officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture supervised the destruction of the chickens suspected to have died from the virus.

February 20: Police strike, a partial success in Lagos: Threats of sticks and the application of carrots helped to water down the planned strike by the junior cadre of the Nigeria Police. In Lagos, there were isolated cases of absence of policemen from duty posts.

February 21: Reprisals over Maiduguri riots: Onitsha, the commercial nerve center of Anambra State was thrown into sectarian violence when youths went on rampage at the sight of the dead bodies of their kith who were killed in religious riots in Maiduguri, Borno State.

February 26: Pope, Leaders condemn religious riots in Nigeria: Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, while decrying the sectarian riots in Nigeria and Iraq, said God would punish those who killed in His name. A newspaper cartoon in Denmark was reported to have demeaned Prophet Muhammed, which sparked off a crisis in the northern parts of Nigeria, leading to the killing of many Christians in Maiduguri, Borno State. Reprisal attacks followed in Onitsha, Nnewi in Anambra State and Enugu where northerners were killed.


MARCH

March 2: Ogunlewe sacked: Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe was relieved of his job as Federal Minister of Works. He declared that he was not completely out of the Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and threw his weight behind Obasanjo's alleged third term agenda.

March 3: Eulogies as Beko lies in State: At the lying-in-state of the human rights activist, Dr. Bekololari Ransome-Kuti at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, the hospital's Medical Director, Prof. Onatolu Odukoya said that the deceased lived a life worth celebrating. The late Beko, who started his career as Medical Officer at the Lagos State Ministry of Health in 1965, died at the age 65.

March 4: Fresh crisis brews in Daily Times: The management of the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) petitioned the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate an alleged withdrawal of N220 million from the accounts of the firm without authorization.

March 7: Varsities can withhold certificates, Supreme Court rules: The Supreme Court ruled that a University had the right to withhold the certificate of any student found not to have fulfilled all the conditions for the award of such honour. The highest court gave the verdict when it dismissed the suit brought before it by one Patrick D. Magit, against the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.


NPAN wants newspapers removed from VAT list: The newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) called on the Federal Government to remove newspapers and magazines from the Value Added Tax (VAT) list.
March 8: Nigeria, Liberia discuss Taylor's extradition: President Obasanjo and his Liberian counterpart, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, began discussions on the status of the former Liberian President who was on exiled in Nigeria since 2003.

March 9: Mantu panel Okays three terms for president, governors: The Senator Ibrahim Mantu-led National Assembly panel re-working the 1999 Constitution recommended that the tenure of the President and governors be three terms of four years. The panel was, however, not categorical on when the arrangement would take effect.

March 13: Lawyer's boycott paralyses courts: Stillness pervaded all courts of record across Nigeria as lawyers upheld the directives of their umbrella association, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to boycott the courts for two days. The NBA said that the boycott was only one of the several measures to draw attention to serial disobedience of court orders by the Executive at all levels of government in the country.

March 17: Obi takes oath in Awka: Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), took the oath of office at a ceremony in Anambra State as the new governor of the state. He took over the baton of administration from Dr. Chris Ngige, who held the office of governor since May 29, 2003. The new governor wrested the office from Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a long legal battle.

March 19: Crude Oil production falls by 26 per cent: Nigeria's oil production capacity dipped further following an explosion at a pipeline belonging to Italian multinational, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The nation's production capacity was cut to 631,000 barrels daily or 26 per cent slash in the capacity.

March 20: Madam Janet Omotogor Ibru dies at 97: The Osadjere family of Ovwor in Ughelli South Local Government and the Ibru family of Agbarha in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State announced the passing away of Chief Janet Omotogor Ibru on Wednesday, March 5, 2006. She was born in 1909 and was survived by several children.

March 22: NIDB House collapses in Lagos: The top eight floors of the 22-storey Banks of Industry (BOI) on Broad Street, Lagos, collapsed, leaving one person feared dead and 27 others hospitalised. The building, which was gutted by fire 72 hours earlier, housed about 30 business organisations. March 24: Census extended by two days: The Federal Government extended, by two days, its census exercise at the request of the National Population Commission (NPC).

March 25: Obasanjo releases Charles Taylor: The Federal Government formally acceded to the request by the government of Liberia to return former President of Liberia, Charles Ghankay Taylor to Liberia so that he could be tried for crimes against humanity, allegedly committed by Taylor and his government in the 1990s. Taylor ruled Liberia from 1995 to 2003, and came to Nigeria in August 2003, bringing to an end Liberia's 14-year civil war.

March 28: Taylor missing, government arrests guards: There was uncertainty about the whereabouts of former Liberian President Charles Taylor who disappeared from his Calabar home. The Federal Government ordered the arrest of the security operatives who guarded his home at the time of his disappearance and about 20 of the security operatives were arrested.

March 29: Taylor in the net faces trial in Sierra Leone: Taylor was arrested by security forces at Gamboru Ngala, a Nigerian border town with Cameroun. He was found allegedly escaping with his wife and son at 2.20am. He was thereafter flown to Abuja, from where he was taken first to Liberia, and shortly after to Sierra Leone where he was to face war crimes charges at a United Nations (UN) war crimes court.


Nigerians witness fifth solar eclipse: Most Nigerians took time off to watch the solar eclipse. Thousands with eye-wears and through water-filled containers watched as the moon's shadow covered part of the Sun.

APRIL

April 1: Washington Times tackles Nigeria over $500,000 debt: A debt- collection agent was reported to be mounting pressure on the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States, over a $500,000 outstanding payment, which the Federal Government was said to owe the Washington Times since 1999. The debt was in respect of a package of two supplements on Nigeria totalling 50 pages, which covered topics in such areas as oil, gas, solid minerals, agriculture, education, finance and investment.

April 2: Fifty years after, Ondo town gets monarch: The Ondo State government presented instrument of appointment and staff of office to Oba Samuel Abiodun Ajisafe of the Ikota Community in Ifedore Local Council of the state, ending a 50-year absence of a monarch in the town.

April 5: FEC Okays spending of N700 million grant on avian flu: The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved details of the projects to be executed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Avian flu, with about N700 million (50 million) grant from the world Bank. The grant was received through the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) on behalf of the three ministries affected. These were Agriculture, Health and Information.

April 6: War in the Presidency, Atiku vows to open can of worms: Opposition to the alleged third term plot has urged the National Assembly to reject the planned review of the 1999 Constitution. Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was present at the meeting, vowed to open up a can of worms if "pushed further".

April 9: Parents of crash victims sue government, Sosoliso for N30 billion: Parents of the 61 students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, that died in the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso plane crash in Port Harcourt went to court claiming N30 billion as damages.

April 11: Industrialists flay CBN over N177 billion trapped funds: Members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), under the aegis of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), expressed disappointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s handling of the N177 billion depositors' funds trapped in the 14 failed banks.

April 12: 65 workers die of hunger over non-payment: No fewer than 65 workers at Nigeria's pioneer cement factory, the Nigeria Cement Company Plc (NIGERCEM), Nkalagu, reportedly died of stress and starvation since production stopped in 2000.

April 18: EFCC cautions on confidentiality clause in banking: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has faulted the confidentiality clause in banking services in the country, pointing out that it could be exploited to facilitate money laundering.

April: 23: Nigeria names custodians for foreign reserves: The Central Bank of Nigeria announced the appointment of a global custodian for the nation's foreign reserves. Nigeria's foreign reserves were put at about $35 billion. It was expected to rise to about $N50 billions by the end of 2006.

April 25: Uproar in Senate over alteration in Amendment Bill: Inside the Senate Chambers, deafening screams of "thieves," "rogues" and other unparliamentary words were uttered as some Senators accused their colleagues of slipping an illegal clause into the Constitution Amendment Bill. The offending clause was allegedly noticed in a new version of the National Assembly journal that was released. But for the Senate President, Ken Nnamani, who saved the situation, it would have degenerated to physical confrontation.


MAY

May 2: Nigeria gets N23.4 billion aid to fight HIV/AIDS: Nigeria has received aid worth N23.4 billion from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDs, as President Olusegun restated his administration's commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDs and Tuberculosis. An additional $68 million grant was to go on efforts on tuberculosis eradication. The grants were to run for a five-year period.

May 3: Obasanjo presents Belgore to Senate as new Chief Justice: President Obasanjo has written the Senate to confirm Justice Salihu Modibo Alfa Belgore as the succeeding Chief Justice to retiring Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais.

May 5: World Scholars ask Obasanjo to go in 2007: A group of international scholars, led by Prof. Ali Mazrui, joined Nigerian stakeholders and other interest groups advocating respect of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on tenure of office of elected public officials. They, therefore, urged President Olusegun Obasanjo and the affected state governors to relinquish power in 2007.

May 7: Plane lands on Abeokuta road: Barely seven months after a Bellview Airlines plane crashed at Lisa in Ogun State, another disaster was averted at Itori, also in Ogun State, where a 10-seater craft made a forced landing on the highway. The accident, involving a 10-seater Brazilian plane with three crew members on board, was attributed to bad weather. The light aircraft was on a mapping exercise at the time.


Presidency reimburses Lagos N1.6 billion for road repairs: The Federal Government reimburses the Lagos State Government to the tune of N1.6 billion, for repairs carried out on federal roads in the state. However, Lagos State Government, Bola Tinubu, insisted that the state was being owed more than N3 billion.
May 10: Government Okays N1.83 billion for army: The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N1.83 billion for the procurement of communication equipment for the Nigerian Army. It also endorsed the purchase of ammunitions, communication equipment and transport vehicles for a battalion of the army inducted for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMISS).

May 13: Ilado Explosion: President orders patrol of pipelines: President Obasanjo has ordered increased security around Nigeria's pipelines following the May 12 explosions at Ilado, Lagos, that killed about 200 people.

May 16: Fire razes Defence Building: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) building on Moloney Street, Lagos, was razed by fire. It was the third time that fire was gutting the building. The inferno, which gutted the last floor of the four storeyed-building used by the Air Force, started at about 3.00am. The Chief of Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal Jonah Wuyep, attributed the fire to electrical factors.

May 17: Reps. Drop amendment bill: The final blow was struck to the constitutional amendment bill, which would have secured an elongation of President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure in the House of Representatives with the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, declaring officially that the issue was dead.

May 18: We accept the verdict of N' Assembly", says Obasanjo: President Obasanjo reviewed the National Assembly's rejection of the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution and calmly said the outcome illustrated the majesty of democracy.

May 19: Supreme Court clears Ibori of ex-convict charge: The Supreme Court cleared Governor James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State of the allegation that he was an ex-convict. The judgement brought to an end the suit instituted in 2003 by two members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, seeking the court to declare Ibori ineligible for governorship on grounds of being an ex-convict.

May 25: Obasanjo, PDP caucus meets over successor: President Obasanjo and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met in Abuja to work out modalities for selecting an acceptable presidential candidate for the 2007 polls. The forum was attended by the PDP National chairman, Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd); the National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and the national vice-chairmen in the six geo-political zones of the country.

May 28: Pharmacists Council seals off 120 unregistered premises: About 120 unregistered pharmaceutical premises were sealed off in Lagos by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in a bid to sanitise drug distribution in the country.

May 30: Obasanjo drops Gusau, Ogomudia, others: President Obasanjo effected changes in the top echelon of the military and the nation's security apparatus. The President, who approved the resignations of National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gasau, also okayed new replacements for Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Alexander Ogomudia and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep.


JUNE

June 1: Six ministers leave Obasanjo's cabinet: President Olusegun Obasanjo effected a change in the cabinet, barely two days after similar measure in the military. Five ministers and a minister of state were affected in the reshuffle.

June 4: Militants free hostages: All the eight foreign workers taken hostages by militants in the Niger Delta on June 2 were freed. The freed workers were an American, a Canadian, and six Britons.

June 6: Gowon opposes return of ex-rulers to politics: Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) cautioned against the return of former military rulers to the leadership of the country. He also urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnic and geographical affiliations in electing their next President. Gowon spoke in Lagos at a press conference organized to sensitize the public to a 10-million soul prayer rally put together by "Nigeria Prays", a Christian organisation he established in 1996.

June 7: Ikoyi secretariat turns residential, for sale: Unable to get a good bargain on its sales, the Federal Executive Council approved the conversion of the old federal secretariat, Ikoyi, Lagos, into residential apartments for sale to Nigerians. Under a public-private partnership, the Council approved renovation and reconstruction of the complex into blocks of flats for sale.

June 9: World cup opens in Germany with pomp: The 18th FIFA World Cup, tagged "Germany 2006," got under way with an extravagant opening ceremony in Munich's Allanz arena. More than one-and-a-half billion people the world over are expected to watch the ceremony on television. Edson Arantes de Nascimento, winner of the world cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and better known as Pele, carried the World Cup trophy on to the pitch alongside German Super model, Claudia Schiffer.

June 11: Lagos airport gets new radar system: The much-expected total radar coverage of the nation's airspace (TRACON) was installed at the Lagos airport. The project cost N10 billion and covered Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano Airports. A team from Thales, a French firm, installed the radar.

June 14: Belgore takes oath: Justice Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore formally took over as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). He was sworn-in by President Obasanjo, who used the occasion to list his administration's expectations from the judiciary. Obasanjo described Belgore's choice as well-informed.

June 16: Igbo leaders reject vice-presidency: South-east leaders have renewed the region's quest for presidency in 2007. They called for the selection of a presidential candidate from either the South-East or South-South geo-political zone in the next dispension. This was made known in a 10-point document after a summit at Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, Imo State.

June 20: Crew members, others feared dead in Lagos ship explosion: An oil vessel exploded at the Berger Depot in Apapa, Lagos. The fire outbreak was said to have occurred at about 2pm from the engine room of the ship, MT Tuma, and spread rapidly to the cabin and other parts. The ship came from Cotonou, Benin Republic.

June 21: Obasanjo moves Okonjo-Iweala to Foreign Affairs: President Obasanjo announced the redeployment of former World Bank Vice President and Minister of Finance since 2003, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the Ministry of Foreign affairs. The veteran Diplomat anf Foreign Affairs Minister, Olu Adeniji, was re-deployed to the Ministry of Internal affairs as the Minister.

June 25: Inter-Continental leads Nigerian banks: In global rating, the Inter-Continental Bank Plc was rated as the leader in Nigerian banking sector, a subsidiary of The Financial Times of London has announced.

June 29: Court grants reporters bail in sedition trial: Two detained journalists, Messrs Rotimi Durojaiye and Gbenga Aruleba, who were standing trial for alleged sedition, were granted bail by a Federal Court, Abuja. The ruling lasted less than 10 minutes. The trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi read the charges against Aruleba of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Durojaiye of the Daily Independent newspaper.


JULY

July 1: Salvation Army 86th year in Nigeria: The Salvation Army marked its 86 years of existence in Nigeria with an ezhortation that Christians should dare the odds and go into politics.

July 3: Transcorp buys NITEL for N105 billion: The Trans-national Corporation of Nigerian (Transcorp) emerged the core investor in the communication business for a fee of N105 billion ($750 million). But the Federal Government also denied plans to privatize state-owned hospitals and other health institutions.

July 4: Bishop denounce Anglicans new plan: The Anglican Church worldwide was deeply divided over same sex relationships, with its Nigerian chapter leading a group of African clerics referred to as the "Conservatives". The Nigerian church was reported as branding its American counterpart as a "cancerous lump" which should be "excised". There had also been disagreement over same-sex couples.

July 6: UK returns N250 million seized from Alamieyeseigha: Britain returned to Nigeria about N250 million seized from former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. The amount, given in a cheque to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, represented the total sum recovered from Alamieyeseigha's person and his London home after arrest at the Heathrow Airport in September, 2005.


Italy is World Football Champion: The 18th edition of the football World Cup came to an end in Berlin, Germany, with a 5-3 defeat of France by Italy, via penalty shoot cut. That was the first time that Italy was lifting the trophy in 24 years.
July 11: Atiku denies shady deals as Adenuga regain freedom: Business magnate Chief Michael Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga regained freedom from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), whose officials had invited him for a "chat". But Vice-President Atiku Abubakar refuted reports of any under-hand financial dealing with the businessman, challenging anybody with a contrary information to present it.

July 12: CBN destroys N284.8billion worth of dirty notes: The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) destroyed currency notes worth N284.8 billion, as the apex bank stepped up actions on its" clean notes" policy, aimed at restoring the dignity of naira. July 17: Direct Nigeria, US flight resume: About two-and-half years after it was abandoned, direct air flight was restored between Nigeria and the United States. At 11.30am, the North American Airlines, and American-based firm, began its inaugural flight out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with New York as the destination.


Supreme Court upholds death sentence on Policeman: The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence passed on a Police Constable by the lower courts for his complicity in the robbing and killing of five traders along Okene and Lokoja road in 2001. The Constable, Mr. Benjamin Oyakhire and two other colleagues, Michael Jimoh and Gerson Soba accosted five traders travelling in a vehicle along Okene-Lokoja road and discovered that the passengers had with them some cash which the prosecution put at N1.4 million. They dispossessed the passengers of the money, shot one of the passengers and burnt others inside the vehicle.
July 18: 10 feared dead as building collapses in Lagos: Another tragedy struck in Lagos when a house, along Ibadan Street, Ebute-Meta, collapsed at about 7.30pm. The structure, built three years earlier, was said to comprise about 52 flats with 36 shops. According to a witness, a small boy ran out of the building when the structure was to collapse. He raised alarm that the house was vibrating, but none of the occupiers took heed of the boy's warning, until the house collapsed, trapping the residents and customers.

July 23: Sosoliso plane crash survivor, returns from South Africa: Miss Kechi Okwuchi, one of the survivors of the December 10, 2005, Sosoliso plane crash in Port Harcourt, returned to Nigeria from South Africa where she was receiving medical treatment. She was accompanied on arrival by her mother, Mrs. Ijeoma Okwuchi.

July 24, Government deploys more troops in Anambra: A joint team of the military and police officers were deployed in Nnewi area of Anambra, which was gripped by violence. The deployment was at the instance of the governor. Mr Peter Obi, who had to grapple with multiple incidences of violent eruptions in one month. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haz Iweandi confirmed th

FASHION

It’s no longer news that outfits which most women now wear for evening outings, are weird dresses that often cover just the two nipples, leaving the boobs to scream for space and attention. Haven’t you observed that? These are wears that fit so tightly to their bodies and expose their curves.

To be realistic, such wears are really offensive to decent minds. Some people feel that a woman should not be seen in such clothes.

For instance, an architect, Olajumoke Adenowo, who is also the visioner of Hidden Treasures and Awesome, a non-governmental organisation that has the interest of women and youths at heart, says that a woman is never fashionable when she is half nude.

Wondering what an architect has to do with fashion? Adenowo says, “Just as a building is a statement on its inhabitant, your dressing too is a statement. This means that your fashion speaks volumes about you. Many times, a woman may not have the opportunity to open her mouth before someone makes up his mind about her.”

But is it fashionable to, at least, flaunt the boobs a little? The architect disagrees, “It’s totally misguided to feel that dressing half-nude is attractive. What does a woman gain when she bares her boobs in public? Nothing! Decent men don’t find that attractive. I have had the opportunity to counsel a lot of men; most of them don’t find such dressing attractive. To responsible men, it is purity that matters. Purity is more attractive to a man, especially when he has a long-term relationship in mind. And when I say purity, I mean decency. Let’s dress more decently. Let’s cover all that should be covered!”

Unfortunately, some mothers and those old enough to be grandmothers are seen in such wears. “Yes, that honestly surprises me. I have seen them too. The recent one was at the airport; it hurts really, because I’m a woman,” she states.

But some are in vogue, for instance, the bandless jeans. Adenowo says, “Hip size or low waisted jeans are not for everybody. I think a woman should study herself and wear what suits her. Let’s not forget that an outfit that looks good or cute on a 12-year-old, may look gross on a 30-year-old.”

Mid-rib tops have refused to bow out of the fashion world. Adenowo says women with big tummies should give such tops a wide berth.“Those tops should be worn by girls with a flat tummy, if they must be worn at all. Women with big a tummy should not slip into such tops. Why have a big belly and still expose it?

“Fashion has given out a wide scope of things women can choose from, but learn to choose what suits your style and shape. It doesn’t have to change according to what is on the catwalk every season. Just decide on what suits you and leave those ones that flaunt the boobs because it’s not fashionable really. I don’t think it’s fashionable to be dressed in such wears. Style or fashion is far better than being half-nude.”

What you all feel guys and gurls?

African Players Learning Fast

Ham forward Carlton Cole is ready to switch his international allegiance from England to Nigeria.

Cole, a summer signing from Chelsea, has 15 Under 21 caps to his name, but he has failed to make the step up to the full England side.

The striker feels his chances of ever making it into the England side are slim and he is ready to represent the country of his father.

"Maybe it will be good to play for The Super Eagles because I'm not right enough for England," Cole told Goal!

"If I get the call from Nigeria, I'll sit down and discuss my future, weigh up all the options and will seriously consider playing for them."

This looks real.If i were Austin i will snap him up immediately.Its however wise of African players to look at the long term when deciding to play for other Countries.Most of them are used and dumped like Emeka Olisadebe(Poland),John Fashanu(England),Shola Ameobi(England)Fashanu spoke of the ills of plying pro football with other nations and one kid who has refused to learn is Gabriel Agbonlahor.We sure are a force to reckon with in world football.I cant stop loving Africa.What do you all think.
Africa Rules

Why Me.

We have nice musicians back in Africa.I get inspired by listening to them.Hopw you like do.Do you think Africa will dominate the Entertainment industry soon?Fill me in.

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