CBN: why Naira is appreciating

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday that the currency’s appreciation against others  was the result of its market monitoring and intervention.

Its spokesman  Isaac Okorafor refuted the claim that illegal sale of foreign currencies at ridiculous rates was responsible for the change in Forex policy.

Okorafor, who spoke in Sokoto, also explained that the appreciation of the Naira was in no way connected to the allegations of illegal sale of foreign currencies.

“I want to state categorically that there is no relationship whatsoever between the allegations that dollar was being sold at 61 kobo and the current appreciation of the Naira. 

What led to the appreciation of the Naira was that the CBN did an intelligence on the market and realised that what was driving the demand on the Bureau De Change (BDCs) and parallel market was speculation.

“We reasoned that since there is a lot of pressure on the two segments from people seeking to buy foreign currencies for BTA, tuition and medicals, that if we successfully addressed that, the pressure will come down.

“Also, before now, the level of our reserves was not enough to make us comfortable enough to really do the kind of intervention that is required.

“We decided to do so now because we are a bit more comfortable with our level of reserve,” he said.

Okorafor said since the new Forex policy, the CBN had intervened with about 591 million dollars in the market, which had led to Naira gaining strength.

“Let me also state as proof that when we placed 500 million dollars in the market, only 370 million dollars was taken.

“That tells you that the real demand is 370 million dollars. When we placed 230 million dollars in the market, only 221 million dollars was taken. 

Anybody who has gone foul of the law and the security agencies have caught up with him, should go and face his or her case and stop causing confusion among participants in the market,” he said.

Man is buried alive by wife, friends and family for three days to raise awareness for addiction and depression sufferers

Everyday you hear a new one. The latest is the story of John Edwards who allowed himself to be buried by his friends and family so as to raise awareness for those suffering from addiction and depression.

John chose Ash Wednesday to be 'laid to rest' because that is the start of lent and the day on which Christians are encouraged to die to self.Just before being buried, John who was formerly an addict kissed his wife goodbye then was lowered into the coffin placed under the streets of Belfast, outside Willowfield Parish Church after which the lid was placed and dirt poured on it.

From the grave, John will be live streaming advice to addicts and those suffering from depression and broadcasting stories of hope. Broadband internet and electronics were fixed in the coffin to make it possible for him to communicate online with people. While

The former addict founded the charity Walking Free, which helps people who are suicidal and those with addiction. He will live stream help and advice to addicts from inside his coffin.

"I'm a former addict and I've been clean and sober for 25 years. I'm making a very large coffin, I'm burying it in East Belfast and I'm going to live in it for three days," John told Belfast Live prior to his burial. 

“I know this is a radical move but people are continually contacting me who are either suicidal or who know friends or family who are. My plan is to speak to them from the grave before they get there and show them hope.”

More photos below. ..

3 Months After He Couldn’t Trace The Sender, Man Returns The ₦900k He Was Wrongly Paid, To EFCC

EFCC has urged the general public to be good and patriotic citizens by reporting any money deposited mistakenly into their various accounts.

The Commission stated this when Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde, an academician, columnist and writer returned a draft of N900k, to the Gombe Zonal office of the EFCC. The amount was mistakenly paid into his account.

Three months after his account officer could not trace the origin of the strange alert, Dr. Tilde reported the case to the EFCC. Investigation by the EFCC however revealed that the amount belongs to a law firm that was counsel to Federal Ministry of Justice in a case that involved a former staff of Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Further investigations revealed that the clerk of the firm made a mistake in writing Dr. Tilde’s firm account number when submitting bank details to the client’s Ministry. Dr. Tilde raised a draft of the said amount in the name of EFCC EXHIBIT ACCOUNT and brought same to Gombe zonal office. The beneficiary firm has since been contacted.

Jonathan, PDP Govs meet over crisis in party

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday met with governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the leadership crisis rocking the party.

Although agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that the festering leadership crisis in the party was top on the agenda.

Governors that attended the meeting included Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Benedict Ayade (Cross River); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo.

The meeting, which was being held in Jonathan’s private office, located in Maitama, Abuja was said to have started about 6pm and was still in progress as at 8.45pm.

FG appoints new directors for NCAA

The Federal Government on Monday approved the appointment of five new directors and one General Manager for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

They are – Group Captain Edem Oyo-Ita  (Director of Air Transport Regulations), Ahmed Abbas Sanusi  (Director of Human Resources and Administration), Bilikisu Adamu Sani (Director of Finance and Accounts), while  Odunowo Tayyib Adetunji  was appointed Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards.

Engr. Ita Awak was appointed Director of Airworthiness Standards, while Lawrence Matthew Kwajok was appointed General Manager, Air Navigational Standards.

The spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said all appointments take immediate effect.

Ugwuanyi flags off empowerment programme for Enugu traders

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday flagged-off an empowerment scheme, in which 1,200 genuine traders of the state will be empowered annually to grow their businesses.

The scheme comes with a package of N60 million annually, with the state government releasing N5 million monthly to be won by 100 lucky winners through an open digital raffle draw.

Each winner by implication will get N50,000 for investment into his or her business. Ugwuanyi, while flagging off the scheme, noted that the gesture is “yet another effort by the state government to boost economic activities in the state and improve the lot of the ordinary members of the society in line with our promise to deploy government resources and services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen, to make a living, create wealth and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment.”

The governor added that, “the state government will provide the sum of N5 million every month to support the scheme, while the winners will be drawn from 37 selected markets spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, with the population of traders in each market also taken into consideration.”

He added that the venue of the draw will also rotate among the three senatorial districts of the state, saying that winners of the lottery are expected to invest the money into their various businesses and help promote all round economic growth in the state. In his remark, the President – General of Enugu State Amalgamated Market Traders Association, Hon. Temple Ude, while applauding the governor, noted that “Enugu State now has a leader that not only provides enough food for his people, but also creates programmes that develop the state and empower the traders.”

There’s no travel ban on Nigerians – US envoy

The United States has said Nigerians will not be banned from entering the country contrary to speculations of many.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria , Ambassador W. Stuart Symington who said this yesterday during a press briefing in Abuja, stated that the US holds Nigeria in high esteem and would not ban its citizens

from coming to US. He said the connection between our two countries has been strong and will continue to be strong tomorrow.

He refuted the claim that Nigeria visa status has been reduce to one year. He said that nothing has really changed in the Visa policy for Nigeria, stressing that the two years multiple entry status is still valid for Nigerians.

He said U.S will not discriminate against any Nigerian based on religion or tribe. He however stressed that should there be any visa denial for any individual it should not be constricted to discrimination.

Trump had signed an executive order barring citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the country for 90 days and also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days.

It's not true that our borders aren't safe' - Angelina Jolie reacts to Trump's travel ban, see details here..

Actress Angelina Jolie in a recent op-ed for the New York Times has weighed in on President Donald Trump's immigration ban, accusing him of ignoring facts about how refugees get into the U.S.

"It is simply not true that our borders are overrun or that refugees are admitted to the United States without close scrutiny. Refugees are subject to the highest level of screening of any category of traveler to the United States' she wrote.

Angelina works with the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees. She's also adopted 3 children born outside the country and she says she understands security from terrorism is of the utmost importance, but thinks "our response must be measured and should be based on facts, not fear." 

In the article, she never mentions Trump by name, but says she'd want any president to work with people of all faiths around the world to make all nations more secure.

FEMI KUTI CONDEMNS 2FACE’S PLANNED NATIONWIDE PROTEST

Femi Kuti – the eldest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti – says he’s not in support of 2face Idibia’s nationwide protest planned for Monday, February 6.

Amidst his weekly performance at the Afrika Shrine last night, Femi disclosed that organizers of the 2face protest had come to request the use of the Kuti’s historical venue on Sunday, February 5, while they prepare for the widely reported protest march.

‘I hear say they want to do protest here, they even choose the day Sunday, Sunday is my day,’ he started.

‘So I was thinking, 2face say some people come meet am say make he broadcast am, so no be him sit down for him house com plan am, I for no vex.’

‘Who be the people wey come meet you?’ he questioned.

He stated that there’s something ‘fishy’ about the protest because they planned a ‘coup’ in Nigeria without him and they decided to use the Afrika Shrine.

Femi added that they want to ‘scatter’ his venue because it’s ‘bubbling’, and it may prompt the federal government to close down one of their most valuable properties.

He assured his fans that it won’t happen because he’s not a ‘foolish man’.

Millions of Nigerians are expected to leave their homes, workplace and families to be at the National Stadium in Surulere on Monday morning as they walk through to the National Theatre in Lagos to protest against bad governance in the country.

ZIMBABWEANS URGED TO DONATE 150 COWS FOR MUGABE’S 93RD BIRTHDAY WHICH COMES UP ON FEBRUARY 21ST

Zimbabweans have reportedly been urged to donate at least 150 cattle towards their president Robert Mugabe’s upcoming birthday celebrations later this month.

Mugabe turns 93 on February 21.

The nonagenarian has been in power since 1980 when the southern African country attained its independence from colonial Britain.

Over the past years, the long time ruler has been known for extravagant birthday celebrations – which usually would cost millions of dollars.

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, this year’s birthday bash organisers said they aimed
at raising at least 150 heads of cattle to feed about 100 000 guests.

A Zanu-PF lawmaker Never Khanye said that the donations were voluntary, but that large-scale farmers in Matabeleland South, where the celebrations would be held, must donate a cow each to show appreciation of the long-time leader.
“We have set a target to raise 150 cattle for the event. We are appealing to well-wishers to do so willingly and not to come again tomorrow and say we were forced.
“All A2 farmers who got offer letters must donate a beast each for this event and those that will fail we will take it that they don’t appreciate what the president has done for them,” Khanye was quoted as saying.
Last month the ruling Zanu-PF youth league said that Mugabe’s birthday should be celebrated like Christmas Day.

The party’s national youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga maintained at the time that the veteran leader’s birthday should not be treated like an “ordinary day”.
“To us, February 21 is not just a day. To us, it is a special day we treat in the same manner Christians treat December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be blasphemous, but in my humble view, President Mugabe is second to Jesus Christ. He is our saviour, so his birthday means a lot for us the youths of Zimbabwe,” Chipanga was quoted as saying.
Source – News24wire

Trump echoes Bannon, saying media is 'opposition party in many ways'

Echoing one of his top aides, President Trump said Friday that "the media is the opposition party in many ways," dedicated to stopping his agenda.

While "I know people in the media that I have tremendous respect for," Trump told CBN News' The Brody File that a big portion of the media practices "dishonesty, total deceit and deception."

Stephen Bannon, a top adviser to President Trump.

Gerald Herbert, AP

Trump agreed with top adviser Steve Bannon, who in a New York Timesinterview also described the media as the "opposition party" that doesn't understand the country or Trump.

"The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while,” Bannon told the Times.

In the CBN interview, Trump also said the media is "much more capable" than the opposition parry, presumably referring to the Democrats.

"The opposition party is losing badly," the president said. "Now the media is on the opposition party’s side.

"And I actually said to myself, I say they treat me so unfairly it’s hard to believe that I won," Trump said. "But the fortunate thing about me is I have a big voice. I have a voice that people understand. And you see it now. We’re bringing back jobs. Ford is making a massive investment now in Michigan, General Motors is going to be making just magnificent investments, so many other companies are coming back in. But yes, the media is a disgrace, and they’ve called me wrong from the beginning. (The) New York Times has called me wrong from the beginning.”

“Don’t Marry Anyone Who Puts Password On Their Phones” See Bible prove – Ghanaian Counselor Warns

Ghanaian Counselor Adofoli, shares that you shouldn’t marry anyone whose phone is password protected, he even uses scriptural references to back himself up.

Read below:

If you are single and thinking of marriage, then please don’t marry anyone who puts passwords or locks on their phone as a form of security to prevent you from accessing their conversations.
They can surely do this for other security measures, but you must not be the reason for this action.
I am very much aware that passwords or lock are for security purposes but one thing I don’t approve of is when a spouse becomes the reason for that security measure.
There is nothing like secrecy or privacy in marriage, let no one deceive you there is, and let no one tell you he or she is doing that to save you from getting hurt. Marriage is a holy institution, there is nothing like hiding. Marriage is made for life and one of the very things that can destroy it is acts of hiding things.
The bible says in Genesis 2:25 (TLB) “Now although the man and his wife were both naked, neither of them was embarrassed or ashamed”. What are you embarrassed or ashamed of your spouse seeing? If you can’t be truthful, honest and transparent with them, then there is no need getting married to them. It doesn’t matter how you feel about them.
Mark 10:8 (NLV) says “The two will become one. So they are no longer two, but one”. I therefore suggest to you, if he or she is hiding things from you, it simply means they don’t want to become one with you. Such a marriage won’t last.
Please share with your friends, someone out there needs this.
– Counselor Adofoli

South African Pastor Prays For Recharge Cards Into His Members Phones (Photo)

This is serious

Cameroon shuts down internet in English-speaking regions

English-speaking regions of Cameroon have now been without the internet for more than a week following recent protests in the country. This shutdown comes after the government outlawed at least two Anglophone groups - Southern Cameroons National Council and the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium took to the streets to protest over the marginalization by the French-speaking led government.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017, marks the eighth day since the authorities ordered the country’s telecommunications providers to shut off internet connections to the regions of Northwest and Southwest.
However, Cameroonians have also been receiving texts from authorities warning them not to post 'information they can’t prove' on social media.
See the text message sent to a Cameroonian below:

Man charged with carrying out four counts of rape on his wedding day

Derry Flynn McCann, 28, has been arrested and charged with four counts of rape which was allegedly carried out on his wedding day. Derry was apprehended following an attack on a 24-year-old woman in Victoria Park, Hackney, on Friday, January 13. 
The 24-year-old victim was reportedly grabbed by her assailant who demanded money from her before he dragged her into the bush and raped her.

This offence Derry is being accused of was committed on the same day of his wedding, which was held at The Vestry in Bromley-by-Bow, East London. Asides rape, Derry is also facing a robbery charge.

He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on February 16 at Snaresbrook Crown Court in Redbridge, London.

Young British people deliberate harm themselves over social media challenge

The so called 'salt and ice challenge' is the new craze but it comes with a good degree of pain as shown by these pictures. It involves youngsters placing salt and ice on their skin, causing a chemical reaction that reduces the temperature of the ice to as low as -17C.

Participants then see who can withstand the searing pain longest before sharing photos of the resulting burns, similar to frostbite, online.

The UK's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has stepped in to warn parents and guardians of the danger inherent in the craze after some teenagers were reportedly been taken to hospital with third degree burns.

The challenge went viral in American schools years ago but is seeing a resurgence in Britain. West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Dee Collins also issued a warning on Twitter, writing: 'Please warn your children and those you know not to take part in this dangerous challenge.'

One mother, from Swansea, said her son had been left with permanent nerve damage in his hands while another mother from Fife, said her daughter had been left permanently scarred by her salt and ice challenge burns.

An NSPCC spokesman said:

'It’s important for schools keep a close eye on all emerging trends and we welcome the police’s warning to head teachers.
'The rise of social media has contributed to increasing peer pressure amongst children and this "craze" is another clear example of the risks.
'The NSPCC publishes advice and guidance for parents on discussing online safety with their children, as well as Net Aware – the UK’s only parental guide to social media and gaming apps.'

Zimbabwe offers workers land instead of bonues amid stagnated economic

Zimbabwean authorities have offered residential land to government employees instead of the usual annual bonuses following the country's stagnated economic. According to a Reuter report, the country’s labour unions rejected the proposal, saying the land offered was not of much value. The residential lands are seen as unattractive, with most of them lacking basic amenities such as roads, electricity and sewerage.
Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union in Zimbabwe, Raymond Majongwe described the government’s offer as 'madness' and said the union members rejected it.
However, the Zimbabwe’s public sector workers are said to paid an annual bonus equivalent to a month’s salary every November and December but the government which spends more than $250 million monthly on salaries has not revealed when the 2016 payment will be made.

Donald Trump threatens to send the Feds to Chicago if the killings don't reduce, takes a swipe at CNN

So far in Chicago, Illinois, there have been 228 shootings with 42 dead this year alone. US president Donald Trump who has always complained about the frequent shootings and deaths of people in the city took to his Twitter account to warn the city, targeting its Mayor, Rahm Emanuel who is  democrat, to do something about it or he will send the feds. Then he congratulated Fox News and mocked CNN. Read what he tweeted after the cut..

"In January, we're seeing a substantial increase from the prior year. I'm very concerned that that trend might continue. We're seeing a significant increase in our penetrating trauma, mostly GSWs," said Dr. Leslie Zun, system chair for Emergency Medicine, Sinai Health System.

That increase has yet to be calculated, since the month is not over yet. Dr. Zun hopes the violent trend to the new year will slow down.

"We need to do more. We need to look at other ways to reduce the violence in our community, the gun access," Dr. Zun said.

Note: Chicago is a gun free city.

17-year-old girl pleads guilty to stabbing woman multiple times, 'ust for the fun of it'

Pearl Moen, a 17 year old teenager, stabbed an innocent 23-year-old woman, just 'for the fun of it'. The teenager hid in the bushes inside Hyde Park in Austin, Texas, then jumped out when her victim approached, stabbing her 21 times with a knife with the intention of killing her.

An entry in Pearl's diary hours after the attack revealed that Pearl didn't know the victim and the victim hadn't done anything to her. She wrote that she simply attacked her because she wanted to know how it felt like to kill someone.
Pearl went on to describe herself as a 'homicidal psychopath' who has a 'deep hatred towards people'.

“I stabbed an innocent woman to death earlier today (well yesterday since it’s 1 a.m.) … It was absolutely fantastic,” she wrote. 

“Murder gives me a high unlike any other. It feels like this crisp unreality, flashing and sparkling, adrenaline and shock, fight or flight mode.” 

"How do I even go about describing it. The whole thing was unreal." 

"I’m so proud of myself. I stabbed her like 20 times. "Maybe more. I wasn’t counting. 

"She screamed & grabbed at me saying 'What the f***?! Help. Leave'."

Luckily the victim survived the attack.

Pearl remained at large for three months until police were called to a disturbance at Moen's family home. When the Police arrived, Pearl's mum told officers that she thinks her daughter matched the description of the person who attacked a woman 3 months prior. She also told them that her daughter liked to collect knives and had even joked about the stabbing incident a couple of times

During a search of Moen's bedroom they found the diary with the detailed confession and even drawings of the attack. She also made reference to having lost a gold ring in the incident which matched one found by police at the scene.

The victim

In an interview, the victim who required several months to recover from the incident showed the scars on her shoulder and arms and said she thought whoever stabbed her was probably sorry they did it. But after learning of the pride Pearl took in stabbing her, it felt unsettling to her.

Last week, Pearl pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, though she's likely to get out before she's 25 if she serves her sentence with good behavior.

Source: Washington Post

11-year-old girl gang-raped twice by 'seven' underage boys in India

An 11-year-old girl was gang-raped by seven boys, aged between 14 and 16 years, in two separate attacks in her village of Mawten, India. The first attack took place in a field in December 2016 and the second attack took place on January 13 2017 at her home.

The seven boys, who have all confessed to the crime, are believed to live in the same village as the victim. Police confirmed that six of the accused were detained after the girl's family reported the crimes to the police in a written complaint.

A case has been registered against each of the seven accused who have now confessed and they have all been sent to a juvenile home.