SmallPickin

Timaya ft. M.I. - Life Anagaga

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:24:00 +0000

New hot track from the Ebgeri Papa 1 of Bayelsa State and it features the Pyeri boy!

Happy Independence Day Nigeria

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Nigeria is 49 today. I took the privilege to create a video, well me and bossman. Just havin fun.
Hope u have been enjoying the previous videos on youtube. More to come. Been busy with mad stuff thats why you hardly see anything on the site.

But keep checking back. More funny videos, more entertaining stories. Lets go there. #LIGHTUPNIGERIA

Alhaji Dance Mix

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:48:00 +0000

This one na Zeus? lol

HOT NAIJA ANIMATION

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:33:00 +0000

I won't lie this really blew my mind

Bro. Franklin VS. Terry G

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:27:00 +0000

My nu video. Whatchu think??

DON JAZZY: 27 YEARS EARLIER

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:26:00 +0000

I saw this picture somewhere online and I found it to be very hilarious.

Wale - Chillin (feat. Lady GaGa)

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to Yoruba Nigerian parents in Washington, D.C. Naija here we come :).

M.I. Album Listening Party

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Album release party for M.I's acclaimed album, Talk About It, which was released in December 2008. Cameos from Kel, General Pype, Banky W, DJ Jimmy Jatt.

9JA ARTISTS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN YANKEE RAPPERS

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:51:00 +0000

$100,000..chai. I'm definitely in the wrong hustle :)

VIDEO: Kanu and Son In Peak Milk ("Meek") Advert

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:19:00 +0000

papilo!!!

VIDEO: 3 Naija Babes doin the Stanky Leg

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:03:00 +0000

Dem give me kokolet anyamator LOL. Ceck out the chick in white pants. cottdamn!!!!

VIDEO: Tuface and Annie Macaulay

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:02:00 +0000

hmmmmm.....

VIDEO: KnightHouse feat. Sauce Kid and Teeto "Da Finest"

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:58:00 +0000

the beat is madd

United States Deports 60 Nigerians

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:41:00 +0000

United States of America has deported 60 Nigerians for committing various offences ranging from stealing, credit card fraud and immigration misdemeanors.
The deportees, consisting of 53 men and seven females, were brought into the country through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Lagos, by 2.00 p.m. yesterday, by private aircraft chartered by the American authorities.

The deportees were accompanied by law enforcement agents from the United States.
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) source said 14 of the deportees were repatriated based on drug related offences, while others committed other immigration offences, ranging from illegal permit to fake visas.

They were received by Immigration officers, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other law enforcement agencies.

The 14 drug offenders were whisked away by NDLEA officials for scrutiny, while immigration officials took those with illegal immigration papers into custody.
Those cleared of any criminal offence were transferred to the hajj camp side of the international airport, from where they were allowed to go to their homes.
According to the immigration source, the issue of deportation had been a daily recurrence at the international airport where Nigerians are regularly deported from Libya, Egypt, Italy, Rome, Europe and America.

Source

[BLOGGERS COMMENT: "I hope the shola shola boys made thru with cash before they cleared them if not...]

VIDEO: Jamie Foxx "Blame It"

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:43:00 +0000

these folks looked like they had too much fun on the set

VIDEO: Ruggedman "Banging"

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Ruggedman released a video for his modenine diss. I can get down to this in a club

Nigerian Residents Fleeing to Ghana To Escape Hardship at Home

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:54:00 +0000

More Nigerians are fleeing to countries like Ghana and Vietnam to escape the harsh economic realities back home, even as some big businesses are gradually folding up and relocating.

The Nigerian paper, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, learnt that Nigerians now seek refuge in far-flung countries hitherto not considered as lands of "green pasture". Countries like Vietnam, Mozambique, Ethiopia and China are fast replacing the traditionally favorites like the United Kingdom, Libya and the USA. Most of the people leaving are pointing to the lack of electricity and insecurity as the cause of their exodus. Those abroad are also vowing that they won’t return home until conditions become better.

Check by the Nigerian newspaper shows that influx of Nigerians into Ghana doubled after the Presidential election that ushered in a new government there. A Nigerian living in Ghana told correspondents that many of his relatives are pestering him to get them accommodation in Ghana. He said: "I’m amazed at how Nigerians are moving into Ghana these days. You know, in the past it was as if we were stupid leaving here for Ghana, but see what is happening. Each day we see Nigerians trooping in their droves."

The Ghana resident, who spoke anonymously, gave reasons why Ghana is becoming attractive: "the truth is that the society works. In Ghana, there is orderliness, not the chaos you have here. There is constant light and this is important for living. There is also security and respect for human rights. If you ask me it is the turn of Nigerians to run to Ghana like the Ghanaians did in the 80’s.

Many Nigerians are in Ghana today, intermarrying and looking for ways to become citizens. I don’t think they would want to return unless conditions change in Nigeria," he said.

Godwin Ukwu (not real name) told our correspondents that he has finished all arrangements to relocate next month. Ukwu said his friends are "making it" in Cameroon and have asked him to join them there.

He said: "I’m going to Cameroon to sell beer. My friends are there and they are making it big in their various business. In fact, last Christmas, some of them came home and told us that we are suffering here. For instance, transportation is such a huge problem there. In fact their roads are better than the ones in the East. Besides, my business is suffering as there is no light. Customers will come and they can’t drink my beer because it is not chilled. So, I’m losing customers and business is bad."

Another respondent told our reporters that if he has his way, he would flee the country.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the man who gave his name as John said that Nigeria has become "hell" for him. John is a graduate of six years and has remained unemployed. According to him, every attempt to get a government or private job has failed. He said: "if I have the opportunity, I would leave this country. In fact, in looking for people who would tell me how to get to Libya. At least, I will get a job and my life would be safer," he said.

Like most unemployed youngsters in the country, John has tried to be self employed. He said: "my uncle gave me some money recently to start something. So I got a corner shop at Kubwa (In Abuja) to start a barbing salon. Right now, the place has been demolished and I’m looking for another place, but even if I get a place, what about light and water? Through the time I had the saloon, it was generator that powered the business and that is very expensive. Even with the generator some weeks, I will have nothing doing because of fuel scarcity. I really want to leave. I love my country but I can’t go on like this," he lamented.

A source in Vietnam, told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the Vietnamese government is trying to restrict the influx of Nigerians into the country because of the huge number running there.

Libya too has not lost its appeal to Nigerians. In spite of the precarious route, Nigerians daily put their lives on the line to cross over. The journey, mostly done by foot, find Nigerians crossing the Sahara, risking arrest and deadly attacks by patrol team to get to Tripoli, the capital of Libya. Says an official of a prominent government agency concerned with human trafficking, who do not want to be mentioned, " most of the travelers are girls going to engage in prostitution. The men are often their pimps. And no matter the campaign our office is making, the truth is that the rush is still on. We can arrest them or even sensitize them, but what is clear to us is that this is an ongoing war. Sex slaves are still been trafficked abroad. Our agency is helping to stave it off. But no one should be deceived, human trafficking is not going to go away in a long time. The harsh conditions here, coupled with the lure of greener pasture is just too much temptation for many of the girls and their manager to bear. The arrest and pains they suffer during the trips is a little sacrifice they make."

An emerging trend also is that of businesses folding up. Dunlop, for instance has folded up and may be relocating to Ghana. Part of the reason for the relocation is the unstable power supply in Nigeria. Checks shows that many businesses are already rethinking their continued stay in the country.

South Africa and Ethiopia appear more appealing to such big businesses. Already, major stakeholders in tourism and hospitality business are looking downwards to South Africa- a country getting ready to host the world cup in 2010.

Source

U.S. Army Looking to Recruit Igbos

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Military officials want to attract immigrants who have native knowledge of languages and cultures that the Pentagon considers strategically vital. The program will also be open to students and refugees.

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The Army’s one-year pilot program will begin in New York City to recruit about 550 temporary immigrants who speak one or more of 35 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Igbo (a tongue spoken in Nigeria), Kurdish, Nepalese, Pashto, Russian and Tamil. Spanish speakers are not eligible. The Army’s program will also include about 300 medical professionals to be recruited nationwide. Recruiting will start after Department of Homeland Security officials update an immigration rule in coming days.

Pentagon officials expect that the lure of accelerated citizenship will be powerful. Under a statute invoked in 2002 by the Bush administration, immigrants who serve in the military can apply to become citizens on the first day of active service, and they can take the oath in as little as six months.

For foreigners who come to work or study in the United States on temporary visas, the path to citizenship is uncertain and at best agonizingly long, often lasting more than a decade. The military also waives naturalization fees, which are at least $675.

To enlist, temporary immigrants will have to prove that they have lived in the United States for two years and have not been out of the country for longer than 90 days during that time. They will have to pass an English test.

Language experts will have to serve four years of active duty, and health care professionals will serve three years of active duty or six years in the Reserves. If the immigrants do not complete their service honorably, they could lose their citizenship.

Commenters who vented their suspicions of the program on Military.com said it could be used by terrorists to penetrate the armed forces.

At a street corner recruiting station in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Staff Sgt. Alejandro Campos of the Army said he had already fielded calls from temporary immigrants who heard rumors about the program.

“We’re going to give people the opportunity to be part of the United States who are dying to be part of this country and they weren’t able to before now,” said Sergeant Campos, who was born in the Dominican Republic and became a United States citizen after he joined the Army.

Sergeant Campos said he saw how useful it was to have soldiers who were native Arabic speakers during two tours in Iraq.

“The first time around we didn’t have soldier translators,” he said. “But now that we have soldiers as translators, we are able to trust more, we are able to accomplish the mission with more accuracy.”

Source

VIDEO: D'banj "Suddenly"

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:16:00 +0000

too mad!!!

Global Economic Crunch: Nigeria loses N812bn - CBN moves to save Naira

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:36:00 +0000

THE Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Professor Ndi-Okereke Onyiuke revealed on Monday that Nigeria lost N812 billion to capital flight in the last two years.

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Professor Onyiuke made the revelation even as the Minister of Finance, Mansur Muktar and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo assured Nigerians that even if the international crude oil price crashed to $30 per barrel, Nigeria’s 2009 budget would not be affected.

But while the Minister of Finance disclosed that the N70 billion bailout for the textile industry would be released in the next one month, they both ruled out any bailout for banks in the face of the global economic crisis, saying that Nigerian banks were very healthy and therefore did not need to be rescued.

They spoke at a meeting with the Joint Senate Committees on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions and Capital Market and Finance.

The committees had invited the Ministers of Finance, and of National Planning, the CBN governor, Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Director General Securities and Exchange Commission, Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange and the President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, to an interactive session on the effect of the global economic crisis on the country and pragmatic solutions.

Professor Onyiuke said: “In 2007, we had N256 billion, equivalent of dollars. That was what was captured. Remember that a lot of Nigerians send in money through Western Union to relations, we do not capture that statistics, because we only take money wired through the banks, because Nigeria wants to avoid money laundering.

“We advise Nigerians and our investors to send money through wired transfer. We only have that captured by Nigerian banks, those are the statistics we have. We did not capture that sent through relations’ addresses. There was N256 billion that went out.

But in 2008, we now have N556 billion that went out as the governor of the Central Bank said. “When some of the investors had problems in their home countries, when the global phenomenon started, as they were losing money, they had to now come and sell such shares in our country and go back and shore up their economies at home. Our market is transparent; all the investors published their transactions every day. What happened was that it was the panicking that came through the foreign investors and affected Nigerians who are watching CNN all the time.”

The benchmark for the 2009 Budget is predicated on $45 per barrel but even with the current crash in the price of crude oil to below $40, both the finance minister and the CBN governor still assured Nigerians that if the crude price fell to $30, it would not hamper the operation and performance of the 2009 budget.

The Senators, led by the chairman of the committees, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, had asked from the economic experts how the government intended to restore confidence in the economy in the face of the global economic crunch and how to protect the financial institutions.

Acording to the finance minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola: “There is no doubt that we are going to have a significant global slowdown in the economy all over the world. When the budget was was being put together, the lowest crude price was $85 and people thought we were ultra-conservative by using $45 but by January when the price came down to $40 everybody said that we should have used $30.

“All the countries that we actually looked at, like Russia, Indonessia, actually used far higher rates than Nigeria used for its budget in 2009. The most conservative estimate for crude price for 2009 is $59.

“The truth is that with the way the budget is structured, we have said so many times that even if the crude price comes down to $30 per barrel, ordinarily, the way we have worked it out, it should not affect budget implementation, it should not affect releases for budget.

“As far as we know, at this point in terms of exchange rate, in terms of interest rate, in terms of inflation rate, in terms of crude price, there are significant challenges, there are downside risks to the economy, but honestly speaking, for an economy that is still growing, it is not the way that it is being put to the market as if everything is down.”

On the efforts being made, he said a lot of things were being done, adding, “We have said it so many times. If we find out that there is a problem with the financial system we will work out modalities by which we certainly ensure that the financial system, that is the pivot of the entire economy, will not be affected, will still remain resilient and stable and we will do whatever we can to assist the financial system.

“I love it when they talk about the textile sector, that is the kind of bailout, intervention we are looking at. In the last two weeks we have had a lot of meetings with the ministry of commerce, we have set up a technical committee, they have met three times.

“The reason: it is not that we are giving them money, it is just a guarantee, so what is stopping us. There are some fundamental challenges about the way it was structured, it is difficult for it to work the way it was structured, and it may even be more than N70 billion. What we are working on now is how to immediately allow the money to be released to that sector and it is the entire sector.

“We want to look at some sectors. That is a sector that can employ more than 500,000 persons at a time and we cannot allow that sector to collapse and disappear, it is just strategic for a country that has a population of 147 million.

“That is why we are intervening. When government guarantees, even though you are not giving out the money it is as good as if you are giving out the cash, within the next one month. Five ministers are involved and we are meeting on a weekly basis. It involves, commerce, it involves agric, it involves ministry of finance and SGF office. A lot of work has gone on in the last two weeks about this.”

Meanwhile, in a desperate bid to halt the depreciation of the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has tightened rules on the foreign exchange market.

Governor of the apex bank, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, announced the new measures Monday in Abuja at a press briefing on the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

The reduced inflow to the economy, according to the committee, had constrained supply to the market thus leaving the CBN as the main source of foreign exchange.

To save the Naira and reduce pressure on the external reserves, Professor Soludo stated that the MPC had decided to directly control the exchange rate within a band of plus or minus three per cent until further notice.

In the new foreign exchange management rule that will revolved around the CBN, Prof Soludo said henceforth, the difference between the CBN buying and selling rate would not be more than one per cent, while that of the banks and Bureaux de Change would not be more than one per cent and two per cent respectively.

To ensure that banks and Bureaux de Change operators complied with the new rules on Foreign Exchange, Prof Soludo said the apex bank monitoring team would be sent out, adding that any erring operators would be appropriately sanctioned.

Reviewing key macroeconomic developments, the CBN governor said the year- on year headlines inflation rate at end December 2008 stood at 15.1 per cent compared with 6.6 per cent at end December 2007.

Similarly, the core inflation went to 10.4 per cent in December 2008 from 3.6 per cent at end 2007. On the monetary aggregates, he said broad money grew sharply by 58.02 per cent in 2008, stressing that the growth was induced largely by the rise in credit to the private sector.

Commenting on the macroeconomic indices, Prof Soludo said the economy was currently facing paradoxes as excess liquidity was co existing with rising interest rates, which in real terms and in relation to the deposit rates seemed to be high.

Another paradox, the apex bank noted, was that the observed excess liquidity had not translated into commensurate credit creation.

In the circumstance, the MPC said it was concerned about achieving the multiple objectives of a sound financial system, price and exchange rate stability as well as ensuring that credit continued to flow to the rest of the economy.

Consequently, the committee stated that it would mop up excess liquidity in the system by actively using Open Market Operation policy while the Monetary Policy Rate, currently at 9.75 per cent remains unchanged.

On the persistently high lending rates and the wide margin between deposit and lending rates , the CBN said it would be meeting with banks’ chief executives to agree on modalities to check excesses, especially, in the light of the global economic and financial crisis.

Source

UK to declare war on Nigerian 419 scams (The Spoof Comedy)

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:27:00 +0000

The United Kingdom is going to wage an all out war against Nigerian scammers, it said today.

"We've had enough of the bastards, they are going down" Said Gordon Brown.

"We've already bombed eight internet cafes in Lagos, and many more will follow, I mean they shouldn't complain really, we are throwing money at them! You know how much these bombs cost?"

Okau Abamsa, an experienced scammer said that one minute he was making a fake certificate to fool a victim, then the next minute he was running out the cafe on fire.

"I'm only trying to make a living" Okau said while surgeons were in the process of removing a melted keyboard from his leg "I'm going to work from home now, in my mansion off of Koalom road in Bong bong province, luckily my Mercedes only suffered a broken window. I'm so poor I have to do this, I have no choice"

US President George Bush said that he feels this is the right thing to do, he knows someone who is very close to him who has been scammed by these thieves, he refused to name them, saying the person is too embarrassed to admit it, but to make one thing clear that it wasn't him, honest.

The Nigerian government refused to comment, but support the UK in it's bid to stamp down on the culprit of Nigeria's diminished reputation on the international stage.

The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.

Source

Two people stoned to death in Benue State over ritual killing

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Two people in Benue State were stoned to death by a mob for the killing of a man for ritual purposes.

The man was suspected to be have been killed by unknown ritualists. The ritualists are said to have removed his heart and left his body by the road and then taken away his motorcycle.

Youths in the area are then said to have been searching for the ritualists and arrested the two men who they then stoned to death.

Source

Mama Ajasco is Dead

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:24:00 +0000

If tears could bring back the dead, then the remains of the late actress and one of the leading screen actresses in Nigeria, Iyabo Momoh would have risen from death.

But alas and so Iyabo who made name as Mama Ajasco in the Wale Adenuga created TV show Papa Ajasco has passed on to the great beyond. Iyabo Momoh who was interred last Wednesday at her Ikorodu, Lagos home succumbed to the pangs of death on Tuesday after a protracted battle with cancer.

The disease had in the early stages retarded her once flourishing acting career and finally nailing her in the later stages and thereby depriving Nigerians the services of one of the most talent actresses in the land.

Although details of her sickness were not revealed to Home Video People, the actress who was fondly called Abeni Aworuru by her Yoruba fans, died while receiving treatment in a private hospital in Lagos.
President of ANTP the umbrella (the body she was a foremost member) body she operate from, Prince Kosoko told Home Video People that Madam Iyabo who died at the age of 53 years left behind her husband and four Children.

“Apart from myself and Oga Bello who were at the burial many of my members, cast and crew of the Papa Ajasco casts and members of the public honoured her even in death with their presence.

And as part of our tradition we will again gather at her residence on March 11 to celebrate. The event is called Artiste Night and it will witness the gathering of all our members to celebrate the life and times of Madam Iyabo.

Prince Kosoko also prayed for the repose of her soul and urged all members of the association to pray fervently against such occurrences this year.

Also reacting to the news of her death, movie producer and actor, Yomi Fabiyi, described the late Momoh as a versatile actress who encouraged the younger ones to give their best in the make-believe industry.

The late Momoh, apart from being a popular Yoruba actress, endeared herself to lovers of comedy, when she played Mama Ajasco in the Papa Ajasco and Company television series, created by Ikebe Super exponent, Wale Adenuga, a few years ago.

She was later sacked alongside the former Boy Alinco, Adebayo Bankole, and the current Papa Ajasco, Abiodun Ayoyinka, for alleged breach of contract.

Source

IBB: The Real Reason I Annulled June 12

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:58:00 +0000

For the first time since the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late business mogul, Bashorun MKO Abiola, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has given a reason for the annulment. He said he was compelled to nullify the election because of security threats to the enthronement of a democratic government at the time.

Babangida made this disclosure yesterday on a TV programme, Moments with Mo, anchored by Mo Abudu and broadcast on MNet channel of DSTV.
Babangida, who described the annulment as “unfortunate” and revealed that he would launch a book on the saga next year, said having been on the steering wheel of government at the time, he and the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) knew that the new democratic government to be installed would sooner than later be toppled through another military coup deta’t, which he said his government wanted to avoid.

According to him, his regime had decided that it would be the last administration that would ascend the seat of power through coup, adding that it would make no sense to install a democratic government that would be truncated within another six months.

He, however, admitted that the June 12 presidential election was free and fair and also the best of all elections ever conducted in Nigeria’s history.
“June 12 was accepted by Nigerians as the best of elections in Nigeria. It was free and fair. But unfortunately, we cancelled that election. I used the word unfortunately, for the first time. We were in government at the time and we knew the possible consequences of handing over to a democratic government. We did well that we wanted ours to be the last military coup deta’t. To be honest with you, the situation was not ripe to hand over at the time.

“Forget about the wrong things that happened in politics. The issue of security of the nation was a threat and we would have considered ourselves to have failed, if six months after handover, there was another coup. I went through coup deta’t and I survived it. We knew that there would be another coup deta’t. But not many people believed what we said. They could have allowed me to go away and then they (coup plotters) would regroup and stage another coup. This is how coups are staged - one man will always come to complain. And he will try to convince you about his complaints,” Babangida said.
He said security threats to the advent of democracy at the time culminated in fresh plans to conduct another election within another six months after June 12 annulment, with better strategy, but which he said he could not achieve as a result of the hostility which accompanied the cancellation. According to him, another election was conceived to come up in November 1993.

He revealed further that he was determined to conduct another election which culminated in the constitution of an Interim National Government (ING), which he noted was eventually toppled by a military coup staged by General Sani Abacha.

Babangida implied that what happened to the ING was eventually the fate that would have befallen the civil rule which his regime would have handed over to.

The former military president said the whole concept of his regime’s plan to hand over to a civil government was aimed at effecting a lasting change which could put paid to rigging. This notion, he said resulted in the decision to register only two political parties, the Social Demoratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). “When there are two things, you have an option – this or that or nothing. We tried to regulate the number of political parties. We knew what to do,” he said.

Babangida, who expressed fears that his revelation might put him in trouble, was not categorical about his presidential ambition come 2011. Instead, he played around it, saying he was not getting younger, adding that he would rather make himself available to make certain corrections whenever he deems fit.

Source

Kidnapped Nigerian boy freed in Niger Delta

noreply@blogger.com (d'counselor) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:56:00 +0000

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A nine-year-old Nigerian boy was freed on Friday, a week after gunmen kidnapped him and killed his sister as they walked to school in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt, security and industry sources said.

The boy was released unharmed early Friday, a security source said. Gunmen shot his 11-year-old sister when she tried to prevent the kidnappers from taking him last week.

No ransom was believed to have been paid for his release.

"I can tell you that the young boy was released early this morning and is now with his parents," said Grace Olowo, branch chairwoman of oil workers' union PENGASSAN in Rivers State.

The children's father works for Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) in the Niger Delta, the heart of Nigeria's oil and gas industry.

Violent crime has surged in the Niger Delta since militants, who claim to be fighting for a fairer share of the region's natural resources, launched a campaign of sabotage against the oil industry three years ago. (Reporting by Austin Ekeinde in Port Harcourt and Randy Fabi in Abuja; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Source