Lagos State Present Biggest State Budget Ever In Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), delivering his speech during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. With him are Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (behind) and the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Adebowale Sanni (left).
The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday presented the 2017 budget proposal of N813 billion to the House of Assembly, assuring that the budget would be judiciously implemented to continue the infrastructural renewal and the enhancement of Lagos as one of the foremost tourism and investment destination in Africa.

Mr. Ambode, who tagged the budget “The Golden Jubilee Budget” as it coincides with the State’s 50th Anniversary, said it would focus on physical infrastructure, while social sectors especially health, education, youth and social development would get adequate attention.

“In the course of the 2017 Financial Year, we shall carry out fundamental reforms on all our modes of transportation – Roads, Water and the Walkways. In this wise, a Public Transport Infrastructure Bond will be issued in the course of the year,” Mr. Ambode said.

“The State Government will embark on the Urbanisation of the Marina axis, Waterways Channelization, establishment of more Parks and Gardens as well as the Community Sports Centres and Stadiums in different locations across the State.”

The 2017 budget saw an increase by N150 billion from the 2016 budget.

The budget is also the biggest for any Nigerian state ever.

Giving the key components of the budget, Governor Ambode said recurrent expenditure would gulp N300. 535 billion while N512.464 billion would be dedicated to capital expenditure, representing a Capital/Recurrent ratio of 63 percent to 37 percent.

According to the governor, road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance would be one of the key focuses of the budget, adding that efforts would be geared towards roads that will open up the hinterlands, improve connectivity in the State and reduce travel time.


He listed some of the road projects to include Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road from Oshodi, Agric-Isawo-Owotu-Arepo Road in Ikorodu, Igbe-Igbogbo Phase II- Bola Tinubu Way in Ikorodu, Ijegun Imore Phase II Amuwo in Ojo axis, Oke-Oso-Araga-Poka in Epe, Epe-Poka-Mojoda in the Epe axis and the completion of the Abule-Egba, Ajah and Pen Cinema flyovers.

The governor also said that within the course of the budget implementation, his administration would enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to execute some road projects including Oke Oso-Itoikin dualisation Project in the Epe axis, Okokomaiko-Seme Road Project in Badagry axis and Ikorodu-Agbowa-Itoikin-Ijebu Ode Road Project in Ikorodu axis, just as he disclosed that the Phase II of the 114 Local Government Roads project as well as the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge would also kick off in 2017.

“We will fully implement the Medical Health Insurance Scheme and deploy e-Health/ e-insurance Health Service solutions; and complete the on-going upgrading and extension work in the State General Hospitals and Ayinke House in Ikeja. Work will commence on our Medical Park in the 2017 fiscal year,” Mr. Ambode said.

On the revenue expected from federal allocation, the governor said a conservative approach was taken owing to the falling oil prices, which according to him, was about $41.98per barrel at the time of finalising the budget.

He, however, expressed optimism that the state would get an increase in Federal allocation through the 13 percent derivation from Oil and Gas in 2017.

“In view of our financing gap, we shall continue to sustain deficit financing in the short-to-medium term; enhance revenue growth throughout the year on several initiatives including automation and efficient revenue administration,” the governor said.

Giving a sectoral breakdown of the 2017 Budget Estimates, Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade, said the governor earmarked N205.85 billion for General Public Services representing 25.32 percent of the budget, N36.43 billion to Public Order and Safety, representing 4.48 percent, while Economic Affairs received a lion share of N295.84 billion representing 36.39 percent.

In other sectors, the commissioner said Environment got N56.31 billion, representing 6.93 percent, Health got N57.29 billion representing 7.05 percent, while Education got N92.4 billion representing 11.37 percent of the budget.

The Commissioner also said the budget would be funded from a total revenue estimate of N642.849billion while the balance of N170.150billion would be funded through a N100bn Bond Issuance program and a combination of internal and external loans.

Receiving the Budget, Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, commended Mr. Ambode for keeping faith with the 2016 budget in the area of implementation, adding that Lagos has witnessed a quantum leap in the last one year.

Mr. Obasa, while assuring the governor that members of the House would give the 2017 fiscal document due diligence for the benefit of Lagosians, called on the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to furnish the House with all the necessary documents to enable it fast-track the budget approval process.

The Lagos Speaker also seized the occasion to call on the Senate to reconsider the Special Status Bill for Lagos State, saying there was no better time to accord the State such recognition

Senator Of The Year Award

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday, November 23 decorated Senator, Dino Melaye with Senator of the Year 2016 award. The award ceremony held at Abuja.

Senator Dino melaye the controversial senator from kogi state was awarded the best senator for the year under review 2016

Meet Marine Le Pen: Lady That Might Be France Next President

With Donald Trump victory at the polls and Britain vote to exist the European Union, nothing seems to be surprising in today's world politics and no ideology is to harsh to win the populist trust.
France will determine who will carry on as its next president next year and one candidate is in the heat of ring with her anti-immigration reforms agenda, and her popularity gradually increasing since she last contested the presidency election.
Meet Marine Le Pen

Born 5 August 1968 a French politician who is the president of the National Front (FN), a national-conservative political party in France and one of its main political forces. An attorney by profession, she is the youngest daughter of longtime FN leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. She is the aunt of Marion Maréchal-Le Pen.
Le Pen joined the National Front in 1986 and has been elected as a regional councillor (1998–present), a Member of European Parliament (2004–present), and a municipal councillor in Hénin-Beaumont (2008-2011). She was a candidate for the leadership of the FN in 2011 and won with 67.65% (11,546 votes) of the vote, defeating her opponent Bruno Gollnisch and succeeding her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, president of the party for nearly forty years. She then became the second president of the party.
The next year, she placed third in the presidential election with 17.90% of the vote, behind François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Described as more democratic and republican than her nationalist father, she has led a movement of "de-demonization of the Front National" to detoxify it and soften its image, based on renovated positions and renewed teams, also expelling controversial members accused of racism, antisemitism, neo-Nazism, or pétainism including her father. An important moment was when she said that the Holocaust was the "height of barbarism" while her father had famously said it has been "a detail in the history of World War II". She has also relaxed some political positions of the party, advocating for civil unions for same-sex couples instead of her party's previous opposition to legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.
Le Pen was ranked among the most influential people in 2011 and 2015 by the Time 100. In 2016, she was ranked as second-most influential MEP in the European Parliament by Politico, just behind the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.

The French will hold the first-round vote in April for a president who enjoys even greater executive powers than the US commander-in-chief, including the authority to send the country to war without parliamentary approval.

Polls currently show Le Pen making it past the first round to the May 7 run-off, where she is expected to face off against a conservative candidate from the centre-right.

While the country's two-round electoral system makes it difficult for outsiders to cause an upset, observers believe that the Trump and Brexit earthquakes have shown that old certainties can no longer be relied on.

Le Pen, who is currently polling at around 25-28 percent, has gleefully seized on Trump's win as proof that nothing is "set in stone".

Trump "made possible what had previously been presented as impossible," she said in a recent BBC interview.

She was among the first European politicians to congratulate the Republican on his win last week and has praised his opposition to free trade, globalisation and the "warlike interventions that are the source of the huge migratory waves that we are suffering".

In Berlin, Valls pleaded for a new approach to globalisation to respond to the kind of "anger" that led to the Brexit decision and the US election result.

"I am for a globalisation that serves the people," he said.

His comments echoed those of US President Barack Obama, who was also in Berlin on Thursday as part of a European farewell tour aimed in part at reassuring allies about transatlantic ties under Trump.

In a speech in Athens on Wednesday, Obama acknowledged that globalisation had fuelled a "sense of injustice" and needed a "course correction" to address growing inequality.

Dangote Refinery will Render Our Refinery Useless -Ibe Kachikwu

Ibe kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, says refineries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will become “scraps” by the time Dangote refinery comes on board.

Aliko Dangote, billionaire businessman, has projected that his refinery will commence operations in 2018.

Lamenting the way government-owned refineries were functioning, Kachikwu said no serious nation will run business in that manner and make profit.

He promised to work towards reducing the cost of crude production.

Kachikuwu spoke at the National Oil Policy and National Gas Policy consultative forum in Abuja on Thursday.

“These things should have been on ground yesterday. A lot of things happening in the industry for so long and they are being taken as a norm,” he said.

“We still produce crude at $27 a barrel and sell at $40. We have to bring it below $18. No serious nation will do that and make profit.

“Refineries will have to work. If time goes by and Dangote refinery begins, we’ll have scraps.”

Asked what happened to the 2008 Gas Master Plan, Kachikwu said: “If the gas master plan was that fantastic how come we don’t have changes in that sector?
“That means something is fundamentally wrong but I believe no work ever done in life is a waste.

“People who did the Gas Master Plan and the Petroleum Industry Bill did a huge work.
“Where we are headed is to try and free the industry so that it can do its own rule, set its own prices.

“There are few mechanics that we still have to get in place properly. We can forget the fact that we still have foreign exchange challenges; we can’t forget the fact that income to government is still very tight so you need to see how you balance that but what is important is: what is the objective?

“The objective is still to fully deregulate and we have started that process. It is a continuing process and we will continue fine-tuning it until we get to where we should be.”

NAN quoted a stakeholder at the event as saying Nigerians would have to embrace full deregulation one way or the other.

“It is inevitable. The PPMC is groaning. It is not making profit as it should because it bears the burden of importing and sometimes sells below cost price,” the individual, who preferred to be anonymous, reportedly said.

“You know if the president had his way, he would like to fix the price of the bread that we eat so it can be affordable for the common man.

“However, full deregulation of the downstream sector is important so that the market can determine prices which will be better for consumers in the long run.”

Mallam Elrufai and Alhaji Atiku Already Battling For 2019 Ticket

The ambition of the former Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji A. Atiku to become president is not new to Nigerians, he has stated it obviously that he would always cherish the thought of becoming president of Nigeria. This ambition even made him to battle with the then president Olusegun Obansanjo, and for Atiku the struggle to become President is the only goal left for him.
With 2019 not far ahead and Nigerians already have an idea who will be jolting for the presidential ticket, with many seeing the no-nonsense former minister of the FCT and now Governor of Kaduna a good replica of president Buhari, and the idea that he might also be nursing the presidential ambition. For Alhaji Atiku any individual with an iota of such ambition is a threat and its strategically advise to tackle such issue before the hand.
As a good strategist Alhaji Atiku sees it best to reply the allegations made by Mallam N. Elrufai in his controversial book "The Accidental Civil Servant". Such reply became necessary because many Nigerians rebuke the thought of Atiku becoming president because his name is always linked to corruption. The counter reply by Mr Elrufai has made the fiasco a battle of words from both politicians and many sees it as the battle for 2019

The two politicians have been throwing verbal missiles at each while also  accusing each other of corruption in a deal many believed was fraught with corruption.
Mr. El-Rufai fired the first salvo through his book  “The Accidental Public Servant”,  when he suggested that Atiku, as chairman of the National Council on Privatization, NCP, meddled in the privatisation of NITEL which ultimately truncated the process.
Atiku, in his capacity as the Vice President of the Federal Republic, was chairman of the NCP, the government committee entrusted with the responsibilty  of managing the privatization programme initiated by the Olusegun Obasanjo adminstration to handle the disposal of public enterprises to interested Nigerians and other categories of investors.
Mr. El-Rufai alleged that Atiku’s meddlesomeness  suggested he had pecuniary interest in some of the deals.
But Atiku fired back saying the former minister was bitter because a particular bidder, Motorola, lost out in one of the transactions.
“The fact of the contract are like this: Obasanjo agreed with the NCP that the former BPE DG was wrong not to have disclosed his interest and that he had failed the test of transparency by not disclosing that his brother was on the board of Motorola,” Atiku told The Punch.
“You know, for instance, that it is a very serious offence to fail, refuse or neglect to disclose your interest whether directly or through someone else, in dealing with such an important transaction. But, the President in his wisdom decided that the contract be split into three, with each of the contenders, Motorola, Ericsson and the Chinese company – I think Huawei – taking a portion. As if to vindicate the NCP, by 2007 when we left office, the two others apart from Motorola had completed their own contracts. You can go and find out if they (Motorola) have finished.

He continued, “I would like Nigerians to be smart enough to read between the lines. Why does the former FCT minister treat the Motorola issue with such persistent personal bitterness? Why is he making it a heavy matter? Anybody can play to the gallery and deceive the people. Transparency is a key issue of conducting any business, including privatisation. Conflict of interest is inconsistent with transparency.
“If you are a privatisation head and you have a relationship with a particular person connected with one of the companies making bids, it is a moral and legal duty to disclose that relationship or interest. Pretending that you have no relationship with the person who is rooting for a particular bidder is not altogether tidy and transparent. If he had no interest in a particular company for sentimental reasons, why is he making too much fuss about Motorola losing the bid?”
However, Atiku’s comment has sparked Mr. El-Rufai’s fury. On Monday, Mr. El-Rufai came out firing on all cylinders, pointedly accusing the former vice president of manipulating the deal.
“It is understandable that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would be enduring some unease at the disclosures made in “The Accidental Public Servant”, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s recent book”, Muyiwa Adekeye, Media Advisor to Mr. El-Rufai said in a statement on Monday.
According to Mr.Adekeye, Atiku’s media team had made a vain effort to confuse Nigerians about his “serial interference with contract award processes”  detailed in El-Rufai’s book, claiming in series of rebuttals that Atiku did not meddle in the privatisation processes.
To Adekeye, such claims are at variance with the substance of established facts that the former Vice President used his position to “seek contracts for friends.”
“Now that Atiku himself has spoken on the controversial NITEL GSM contract involving Ericsson and Motorola, it is obvious that the attempt at confusing issues persists,” the statement said.
“It is untrue that the NITEL GSM contract in question was split. Rather it was awarded to Ericsson, but at the lower price submitted by Motorola, because of Atiku’s intense lobby and smears deployed to advance Ericsson’s bid.
“Atiku and Abdullahi Yari, his then ADC, at different times spoke to El-Rufai to favour Ericsson.”
Mr Adekeye challenged Atiku to take up the “responsibility to explain why he became an Ericsson salesman, although the investigations conducted by Motorola after the debacle makes clear he was not engaged in an altruistic mission.”
“This incident,” according to Mr. Adekeye, “had diplomatic repercussions, as the American government wrote to protest this loss by an American company that had submitted the cheaper bid.”
On Atiku’s insistence that Mr. El-Rufai’s brother was a shareholder and member of Motorola’s board, Mr. Adekeye denied that it was true.
On Pentascope, Mr. El-Rufai’s spokesman said: “We see the same pattern of muddying the waters with falsehood,” pointing out that as chairman of the NCP, “Atiku gave his approval in writing on 21 February 2003 for the management contract with Pentascope to be signed.”
“The memo on which Atiku minuted his approval, BPE/I&N/NT/MC/DG/280, is dated 20th February 2003, and was initiated by the director of BPE that was covering the DG’s duties at the time.

“By virtue of the high office he then held, Atiku knows that Pentascope was not foisted on NITEL, but emerged from a properly advertised and competitive selection process.
“After the failure of the first attempt to sell NITEL, it had been decided that there was need for a management contractor to keep the momentum of preparing the company to operate like a private entity and to preserve its assets.
“Pentascope resumed in NITEL on 28 April 2003, shortly before El-Rufai left the BPE to become a minister. The Pentascope contract terms included obligations by the BPE to monitor the contract, and for the NITEL Board to set up an Executive Committee to supervise day to day operations in NITEL.
“Between the new BPE leadership that neglected its responsibilities, the NCP which Atiku chaired and which failed to supervise the BPE and the bureaucrats and politicians around the Ministry of Communications, the management contract was frustrated and terminated in 2005.
“When a former vice-president asserts that NITEL was making N100billion in profit annually, the mind must boggle that someone so unconstrained by fidelity to facts had once been saddled with significant responsibilities.”
Mr Adekeye insisted NITEL never made such huge profits as claimed by the Atiku camp, as it had never paid a single dividend to the Federal Government until the BPE compelled it to pay N3billion only in 2001.

Academic Institutions In Comatose As ASUU Resumes 2016 Strike Today

The Long awaited Industrial action of the Academic Staff University Union (ASUU)  has began today, although the strike that stated today is just a warn the authorities and remind them what will happen if they continually fail to honor the 2009 federal government and ASUU agreement.
There are different agitation from all section of the country about the deteriorate state of our education system, many believe that Nigerians has lost confidence in the various Educational Institution in the country.  A situation whereby a University graduate cannot correctly express themselves in simple and correct English, a situation whereby one of the best graduating student in a University is tag UNEMPLOYABLE by an Organisation. A situation where the country can boost of the high number of Academic Doctors and professor yet no solution to the various cumbersome problem in the country, especially the deficit in the technological way of tackling socio-economic problems

In truth One is save to declare a state of Emergency in the educational Sector, and a need for bailout, because the sector is on the verge of total Failure. My Secondary School Teacher predicted in 2007 that a time will come when the University education will become meaningless, a university graduate will be useless to the society, that the failure am talking about.
Although there are various ways this cumbersome problem facing the educational sector can be managed, as expected it is an Hercules task to effectively and decisively handle the problem by a single government administration because the solution calls on all the stakeholders including the uneducated parent at home to play their part.

But the key area that will play a pivotal role in the restructuring of the educational system in Nigeria is for government to ensure the free flow of learning by putting an end permanently to the idea of strike by Academicians. This hiccups in the system can be stopped if the federal government become sincere enough not just to promise but to start the implementation of the said 2009 Agreement. Any government that would be able to ensure the smooth running of education, by way of implementing this agreement without the threat of an industrial action by the Academic Union would have surmount a great obstacle and monster preventing the system/sector from achieving its objective.

The Senate on Tuesday pledged to engage relevant stakeholders to avert the warning strike being planned by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

ASUU had on Monday announced plans to embark on a one-week warning strike over the inability of government to implement agreements reached with it since 2009.
The move by the Senate to intervene in the matter followed a motion moved by Sen. Jibrin Barau (APC-Kano North) under matters of urgent national importance.

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged the chamber to intervene and ensure that the eight -year- agreement was fully implemented.
“We must find a way of seeing to the implementation and we will look into the matter quickly.

“We will also get the relevant parties to quickly come to the table so that we can find a way of moving forward and report back to us,” he said.

While reading the motion, Sen. Jibrin Barau, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, urged government to implement all agreements.

He also urged government to as well carry out certain actions that were necessary for the wellbeing of the development of Nigerian public universities.

The lawmaker, however, commended ASUU for choosing the path of dialogue rather than confrontation as a means of resolving all the outstanding issues between it and the Federal Government.

In his contribution, Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central) noted that the history of strike in the country was a recurring decimal.
“It is a disturbing issue to parents and students. There is need to nip it in the bud. We should not allow it to escalate,” Goje said.

Goje said the motion was apt and and called on the senate to engage the leadership of ASUU in order to suspend its planned warning strike.
The Majority Leader, Sen. Mohammed Ndume, described the senate as a stabilising agent and called for the immediate intervention of the senate leadership in the matter.

Governor Obaseki Makes His first Appointment

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday in Benin announced the appointment of Osarodion Ogie as the Secretary to the State Government, as expected

Also appointed were Taiwo Akerele as Chief of Staff and John Mayaki as interim Chief Press Secretary.

Mr. Obaseki had before making the announcement, met with the state Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries.

He directed the permanent secretaries to take full charge of the affairs of their ministries, pending appointment of commissioners.

The governor solicited for maximum cooperation from the civil service to enable him discharge his mandate effectively.

He expressed confidence in the civil service, and pledged that his administration would build a more stronger, vibrant, trusted, competent and reliable workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

“I have no doubt about the capacity of the civil service, but we will also need to clear the clog on the wheel of progress,” he added.

The governor said the administration would re-evaluate the recruitment process into the service to ensure that merit and objectivity were not compromised.

Thoughts Of A 15year old Girl

Never you poison your future with the paint of the past

Every experience ypu go through is meant to prepare you for your future

Never loose focus on who you are and where you are going to

Speed breakers may slow you down but they are meant to prepare you for the straight sweet smooth sail

It is normal to feel defensive when conflict arises or when been criticized over the conflict. Rather than always being defensive admit your mistake and seek forgiveness

When you allow a situation weigh you down, you get an overdose of depression tablet

Temtation are designed to test your resistence, it does not mean that you automatically fail just because you were given the grade your answer, before he determines if you passed or failed

God spared My life beacause he had a purpose for me. He wants me to tell you that you can overcome the pain, you can make it, you can tell the devil "To Hell With You".

2016 Headies Award List: No Mavin Artist Was Nominated

THE HEADIES AWARDS 2016 : COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES


We are pleased to reveal the Nominees list for 2016 Headies. You have the opportunity to vote for who walks away with the most prestigious award in the entertainment Industry.

COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES:

(YEAR IN REVIEW: JULY 2015 – JUNE 2016)


BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
PRAY FOR ME – DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR
LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
ORENTE – ADEKUNLE GOLD
SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING – BRYMO

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

DJ COUBLON ‘GOOD TIME & RABA’
PHEELS – ‘PICK UP & LAGOS BOYS’ – OLAMIDE
LEGENDURY BEATS – ‘FINAL – BABA NLA’ WIZKID
YOUNG JOHN – ‘MAMA’ – KISS DANIEL
MASTAKRAFT – ‘FADA FADA’, ‘CONNECT’ – PHYNO
OSCAR HERMAN-ACKAH – ‘PRAY FOR ME’ – DAREY

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

EMERGENCY (D’BANJ) – UNLIMITED LA
MARY (SEYI SHAY) – MEJI ALABI
SOLDIER (FALZ THA BAD GUY) – CLARENCE PETERS
MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
BAD – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. WIZKID – SESAN

BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

NEW ERA – KISS DANIEL
WANTED – WANDE COAL
KLITORIS – BRYMO
4. Unclad – DAREY
SEYI OR SHAY – SEYI SHAY

BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
SUPER WOMAN – WANDE COAL
PRAY FOR ME – DAREY
ADUKE – TJAN
SMILE – SHAYDEE

BEST POP SINGLE
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)

MAMA – KISS DANIEL
FINAL (BABA NLA) – WIZKID
PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE
EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
FADA FADA – PHYNO FEAT. OLAMIDE
MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR

BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE
A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. NO KISSING’ – PATORANKING FT SARKODIE
BODY HOT – PRAIZ FT. JESSE JAGZ & STONE BWOY
JAGA LOVE – JESSE JAGZ
OLOWO – CYNTHIA MORGAN
PAM PAM – KETCHUP
TIMAYA – I LIKE THE WAY

BEST RAP ALBUM
A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.

EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE
POWERFUL – ILL BLISS
STORIES THAT TOUCH – FALZ
LIL’ KESH – YAGI

BEST COLLABO
A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

SOLDIER – FALZ FEAT. SIMI
REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE
OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
WAIT – SOLIDSTAR FEAT. TIWA SAVAGE
NO KISSING – PATORANKING FEAT. SARKODIE
MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR

BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.

EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE
ASAMALEKUN – REMINISCE
JAGABAN – YCEE
CHUKWU AGOZI GOGI – ILL BLISS
AGU JI NDI MEN – A-Q
SHOW YOU SOMETHING – BOOGEY

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

BRYMO – SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING
DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR – PRAY FOR ME
SHAYDEE – SMILE
WANDE COAL – SUPER WOMAN
RIC HASSANI – GENTLEMAN

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

SIMI – LOVE DON’T CARE
SEYI SHAY – RIGHT NOW
ARAMIDE FEAT. ADEKUNLE GOLD – LOVE ME
OMAWUMI FEAT. ANGELIE KIDJO – PLAY NA PLAY

NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.

YCEE
TEKNO
MR. EAZI
HUMBLESMITH
ARAMIDE
HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION

A voting category for the best new artist

House Of Representatives Set To Ban MMM In Nigeria

The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately go after the promoters Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, otherwise known as ‘MMM’ in Nigeria.


Lawmakers strongly opposed the investment scheme, which lately gained popularity among Nigerians in the wake of the current economic recession in the country.


MMM promises 30 per cent return on investment for any money put into the scheme within 30 days.


The investment scheme has a Russian origin and “involves directing clients to make money available for an anonymous person with a promise of 30 per cent return within one month.”


But, members described the scheme as a “scam” and warned Nigerians not to be carried away by the “mouth-watering” returns on investments.


Lawmakers warned that the “trick” used by the operators was to attract as many Nigerians as possible to invest substantial amounts of money before the bubble would burst.


The House directed the EFCC, security agencies and the CBN to take urgent steps to halt the scheme before many Nigerians would become victims of the scam.


It also asked its Committees on Banking/Currency and Financial Crimes to investigate the activities of MMM Nigeria Scheme, “with a view to saving Nigerians participating in the scheme from you financial ruin.”


The Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, Mr. Saheed Fijabi, had in a motion, drawn the attention of the House to the growing popularity of the scheme among Nigerians.


Fijabi, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Oyo State, represents Ibadan-South/West Federal Constituency.


“The scheme entered the Nigerian circle in 2016, capitalising on the high level of unemployment and poverty to deceive unwary Nigerians into falling prey to their antics”, Fijabi stated.


He said the fact that MMM was not regulated by law or approved by the CBN as a secure business venture, made Nigerians more vulnerable.

Donald Trump Elected President Against All Odds

With The News That Hilary Clinton has called Donald Trump to congratulate him and Concede defeat, its now official that Donald Trump the 70year old self made billionaire in now the 45th President of the United states.
Donald John Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday in a stunning culmination of an explosive, populist and polarizing campaign that took relentless aim at the institutions and long-held ideals of American democracy.
Donald Trump of the Republican Party won the election by winning Key states of the federation that are an essential battleground for winning the presidential, Trump won key states like Florida, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, and the controversial Pennsylvania 
 As at the time of this report, D. Trump as already accepted victory with 57,800,734 votes which amounts to 48% of the entire vote. While his arch rival of the Democratic Party,Hilary Clinton the favorite candidates got 57,154,345 which is 47% of the entire vote
This ended the much contested race to the White house and the victory of Mr Trump begot the end of the energetic legacy of the President Obama administration. and the end to the political career of Mrs Hilary Clinton. A woman who many think was going to be the first female president of America. 

President Buhari Economic Flaws

Its been two years now since we entered this era of change in Nigeria, and the major description the average Nigerian can attributes to this 'Change-era' is the economic RECESSION.
Now am not claiming superior knowledge over the president and its team running the affairs of this country, since the president was victorious in his 4th bid to become president, he has said he has superior knowledge over any Nigerian that dares criticizes him. Although there may be an iota of truth by what the president mean by that, but he should recall that his victory in the poll was a victory for the common Nigerian, and running a great country like this needs collective effort from all sector of the country. And No One Man can claim to be Smart enough To Govern this country without Mistakes.

Having said that, I understand the guilt in ones heart when he hears the word 'Mistakes'. For any individual, making wrong choices should not be a thing to be ashamed about, making the wrong decision can also help you make take the right choice, it all depends on how you go about it. Embracing your mistakes and study it to see why such mistake occurs and put in place measures for it not to happen again. I think this is the secret how great men like Albeit Einstein were able to develop their success formulae. The worst thing that can easily destroy a man path to greatness is admitting never to make mistakes, or not seeing the at all even when it is obvious.

We can say in all modesty that we needed a change in this country, that the past administration of the PDPs brought lots of mind bugling corruption which Nigerians were not comfortable with, especially the immediate past administration led by Goodluck Jonathan. There is a lot to be said about that administration but that's not the reason i created this topic.  As an economist, I have watch and admire from afar the caliber of Economist that was close to all the past PDP led government. Regardless of how the government turned out become. you can take away the various outstanding economic policies that Dr Ngozi Iweala formulated during her tenure as minister of finance, I opted to study Economics in school instead of the much anticipated law because of the brilliancy that rediated around the then governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria Professor Charles Soludo. His clever plan to strengthen the naira and make it One of the World valuable currency was a genius plan, his prudent and intelligent operational guidelines was able to stabilize the Banking Industry in Nigeria.To a large extent his successor Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Now also known as the whistle blower now Emir of Kano was very wonderful in his tenure considering the fact that he filling a big shoe left by the professor of Economics. The Emir studied Islamic Law and deviated from his Original Economics, this characterize major part of his tenure as he was seen trying to introduce the Islamic Banking,

Today Nigeria is faced with the much forecast-ed Economic recession, and who better to drive the Nation out of this than a renowned or any other Economist. The recession we facing as a country is the by-product of all the excess and wrong judgements we have made as a Nation especially our leaders, From the military rule to the advent of our democratic government, all cumulated us to this very economic state.
The president, M. Buhari  has repeatedly said, No economist has been able to explain to him how we got here as a Nation, where are the industries we built during our boom. Economist will always provide a working alternative models and theories, and try as much as possible to explain them, If such idea those not take effect and the president does not understand this, that doesn't mean Economist has failed this country, rather its the Politicians cum political factors that have failed the economist.
I wonder how we will get out of this Economic situation when there no economist in the present President cabinet, The function of an Economist cannot be taken likely, because a simple economic policy that go wrong affects the lives of millions of people.
A situation where the Hon. Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun is an Accountant
The Present Governor of the Central Bank studied Finance
The Minister for Budget and Planning is a lawyer
Even the chairman of the Economic committee who happens to be the vice president is also a renowned professor of Law.
No matter the magnitude of achievement they have in their various areas of expertise, they cannot give what they do not have, the best they can do is to explain the problem
Little wonder why most of the economic policy that the administration is  dishing out lacks theoretical background, and no clear economic blueprint on how to get ahead from this present mess
What The president should do in this regard is to make use of our Academic Institution, There are enlighten certified economist in our various Higher Institution. Make use of them, Set up an Elite Think Tank. Am not Talking about Notable Political Elite, Am referring to those Academical elites especially those sound Economist that would even be willing to work for free. They should brainstorm the best alternative model on the best path out of this economic situation.

Failed Coup In Burkina Faso

Authorities in Burkina Faso say they have foiled an attempted coup to topple the government, accusing ousted former leader as the mastermind.
According to Africa Review The news was broken a few minutes ago in a tweet that did not provide details.
A local news website in the west African country reports that “30 former members of the presidential guard (RSP), who were behind the failed coup in 2015, were planning various actions to destabilise the country”, quoting Interior Minister Simon Compaore.

 

 

The 30 were fomenting attacks on home soil in an operation that was due to be launched on 8 October, it reports the minister as saying at a press conference.

 

He added that the plan was to target the presidential palace and the headquarters of the gendarmerie in the capital, Ouagadougou, and the detention centre where last year’s failed coup leaders were being held.
They also intended to create a mutiny in the army barracks and launch a rebellion using social media, Mr Compaore added.

Invention that Shocked The people Of Anambra

A young man pulled a massive crowd with his local invention yesterday at Nkpor town in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state. The young man built an aeroplane model using scrap materials and locally sourced items. The "invention" was showcased at the market square for people to see his work.

While some criticized him for building "scrap using scrap", others have hailed him for his attempt which they say will get better under the right circumstances.