LONELY

The Lagos State Government has recovered N13 million paid into accounts of dead colleagues and overpaid salaries of staff in its ministries and parastatals. This is just as it had demolished 12 buildings in the state in a move to prevent occurrence of building collapse. This was contained in a document obtained from the state government on activities of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) during the third quarter of 2017. It was disclosed in the document that the recovered N13 million belong to deceased staff, those that had stayed beyond their stipulated retirement date and those who were over paid monthly salary. A breakdown of the recovered funds as revealed in the document showed that N7 million was recovered from terminal entitlement of the affected staff. It read in part: “Some of the staff stayed beyond their dates of retirement, some have passed on but some funds were paid into their accounts. However, N6 million was recovered from overpaid salaries of v

THE deadline for customers of Microfinance Banks (MfBs) and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) without Bank Verification Number (BVN) linked to their accounts has elapsed today, January 1,2018. If the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) earlier in the year is anything to go by, such customers will be unable to make withdrawals from their accounts henceforth. The BVN enrolment is a brainchild of the apex bank and the Bankers’ Committee, a body of banks’ managing directors and the CBN. This is coming as the initial deadline set for July 31, this year was extended. The new directive indicated that by December 31, 2017, all customers of financial institutions operating in the country are expected to have had their BVN. The CBN, again, assured Nigerians that the BVN is geared towards financial system stability, while ensuring Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) customers are identified and known, so as to prevent those that will use the banking system as a platform to carryout

The Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson has called on Nigerians to support and pray for President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. According to the governor, leaders across partisan boundaries must do more to deliberately unite the country. Dickson, who made the call in his new year message, said he “believes 2018 provides a rare opportunity to put the country on the path of mutual co-existence and stability for the President.” He said “people should stand firmly behind the Buhari-led administration, remain steadfast in God and pray for peace and stability of Nigeria. “It is when the leadership delivers selfless services backed with the fervent prayers of the citizenry that the country will attain its pride of place in the comity of nations.” Dickson added that his administration was sensitive to the yearnings of Bayelsans and will never let them down. He congratulated Nigerians in general and Bayelsans in particular over what he referred to as ‘triumphant entry’ into 20

Arsenal will look to close-in on the top four with a win when we take on relegation-threatened West Brom at the Hawthorns this afternoon. We head in to the game off the back of a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace but sit four points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool after they came from behind to beat Leicester City yesterday. However, we can climb above Tottenham in to fifth position and move to within just one point of Liverpool if we take three points back to north London from the Hawthorns today. We’ll face a West Brom side who’ve endured a nightmare campaign and currently sit bottom of the Premier League table having not won any of their last 18 games so they are fighting for their lives. But Alan Pardew’s men held Everton to a 0-0 draw last time out and could move out of the bottom three with a win this afternoon so it’s certainly tight at the wrong end of the table. Team news We will have to make-do without the services of Aaron Ramsey as the midfielder continues to nurse a

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many filling stations in the commercial city have shut down with the exception of the NNPC Mega station at Hotoro area and the few stations owned by a popular marketer, AA Rano. A few other stations still offering the product to the public are ignoring NNPC sanctions by jacking prices from N145 per litre to between N210 and N220 per litre. But their supply is not always reliable. As a result of the development, tens of unemployed youths have taken to the risky business of selling fuel on major streets in the metropolis. While they sell four litres for between N1,100 and N1, 200. AA Rano filling stations and the NNPC Mega filling station sell at the approved government price of N145 per litre, but motorists have to endure long queues to fill their tanks. Mohammed Bashir, a resident of Kano, who could not brave the queues, said he had parked his car at home, as he could no longer afford to buy fuel at the black market price. “I need

Former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to appearance of dead people in latest appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari. Reno Omokri said Buhari is to be blamed for the high rate of unemployment reported by NBS after giving jobs to dead people. In his tweets, he wrote “If you don’t know your age. If you don’t know that your own Vice President is Osinbajo, not Osinbade. If you don’t know that there is no nation called West Germany. How will you know that the people you appointed are dead, not living? “In short I am tired of Nigerians! You asked the man to stop marginalizing the 5% in favour of the 97% and to be fair to all. Now he has decided to be fair to both the living and the dead and the same Nigerians are complaining. Who can satisfy Nigerians! “Recently we learnt from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics that 10 million Nigerians have lost their jobs under Buhari. We never knew it was because he was giving their jobs to the dead!” Subscribe to our mailing li

Antonio Conte has admitted his pride at being able to work with Eden Hazard at Chelsea. The Belgian playmaker is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top attacking talents and he seems to be finding his best form at Chelsea again this season. Ahead of this weekend’s games, Hazard had scored five goals and made two assists in 17 Premier League games for the west London side. The 26-year-old has won two Premier League titles since signing for Chelsea from French side Lille in the 2012 summer transfer window and he won the PFA player of the year award in 2015. And Conte has admitted that he is loving working with the talented attacker during his spell in charge at the west London side. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Conte said of Hazard: “I’m proud to have him in my team and my squad. “I’m very happy to work with him, he’s a really good guy. He has a lot of space for improvement to become one of the best players in the world.” Hazard will be expecting to feature

Chelsea manager could well look to reshuffle his pack ahead of today's game against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge. Following on from Tuesday's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the festive fixtures come thick and fast with the Blues travelling to Arsenal on January 3. Given Conte may have one eye on the fixture at the Emirates as Arsene Wenger's side bid to close the gap on the Premier League champions, he may rest some key names ahead of the team's first game of 2018. Stoke, who are currently languishing around the drop zone, travel to west London with a defensive injury crisis to deal with. While Kurt Zouma can't play given his loan spell from the Blues, Ryan Shawcross, Bruno Martins Indi and Glen Johnson are also unavailable for Mark Hughes' side. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Conte said that his team are fully focused on beating Stoke despite the Arsenal game on the horizon. "I think that tomorrow we have a difficult game ag

Demands same approval to tackle environmental challenges in Niger Delta Governor Nyesom Woke of Rivers State, Friday described as illegal the approval of $1 billion from Excess Crude account by Nigeria Governors’ Forum. GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike Governor Wike who spoke with the State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja also proposed that same amount be withdrawn to tackle environmental challenges in the Niger Delta. Giving reasons why he was at the State House, the governor said he came to update the President on security development in Rivers. Reacting to the approval given by the NGF for the withdrawal of $1billion from the ECA for the fight against insurgency, he said while he had given his supports the fight against insurgency, the approval by the Governor’s Forum is illegal. According to him, “For me it is illegal, however, we are talking about fighting insurgence and no right thinking individual will say that he will not suppo

I am a 20-year-old undergraduate. Although my friends believe that I am a pretty lady by all standards, my problem is that I have very big breasts which continue to embarrass me. Kindly let me know what to do about it. Grace (by sms) If your friends have already confirmed that you are a pretty lady, then you don’t need to worry yourself about the size of your breasts. Apart from the fact that the size of your breasts could have also added to your beauty, any attempt to reduce the size of yourbreasts through surgery or medications will always result in unpleasant consequences for you. In view of this, you are best advised to leave thebreasts alone as they are.

2017 just keeps getting better for Davido as his concluded 30 Billion concert sets a new record not just in Nigeria but globally. The much-anticipated concert which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, on Wednesday, December 27, is recorded as the biggest music concert of the year as it thrilled fans across Lagos State and beyond, with the hashtag #30BillionConcert trending in two major continents; United Kingdom and United States. Davido and Wizkid Fans were treated to a great show across the world and adulation has continued to pour in for the B.E.T Award winner. This latest feat further cements Davido’s stake as one of Nigeria’s biggest artiste of 2017. Among the highlights that ensured a worldwide trend of the concert include Mohits Records reunion onstage and Wizkid’s performance with Davido. Furthermore, the widely trended concert proves that Davido has truly gone international, and his fan base is growing fast in major countries of the world. The concert which was put together

Renowned cleric, Primate Elijah Ayodele, is the founder and spiritual leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, with headquarters in Lagos. In this interview by KEHINDE OYETIMI, he speaks on what Nigeria and the rest of the world should expect in 2018. Politics and the polity All Progressives Congress (APC) governors will have issues such that there will be attempts to break up the party. PDP is dying gradually and the party needs a lot of prayers. There will be crisis in the party. Some PDP governors will work for the APC. PDP has not really addressed its issues. Crime, insecurity, immorality, herdsmen clashes will continue. The $1billion earmarked to fight terrorism may not make much difference. Terrorism has come to stay in Nigeria. Except the root of what is causing terrorism is addressed. The economy still has many issues to be addressed. Nigeria will still borrow. Some banks will experience issues and this will affect the economy. Access, GTB, Diamond, Stanbic IBTC b

Reno Omokri, erstwhile aide on New Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the 17 achievements of the federal government listed by the Presidency on Friday. DAILY POST had reported that the federal government listed among other things Nigeria’s exit from worst recession, naira stabilising against dollar, bumper harvest, especially in rice, payment of pension, among others. But according to Omokri, the achievements were an embarrassment for the Buhari administration. In a post published on his Facebook page, Omokri said: “The Buhari government released a list of 17 of its greatest achievements a few hours ago and after reading it, I was embarrassed for the regime. “The Buhari administration counts exiting a recession that it put Nigeria into as its greatest achievement of 2017! This government is the definition of cluelessness! We exited recession by growing at 0.5% meanwhile our population grew by 2.6%. Do the math and pray that 2019 is the end of this nightmar

Antonio Conte has revealed that forgotten man Baba Rahman could still have a future at Chelsea. Signed by Jose Mourinho in August 2015 from German club FC Augsburg, the 23-year-old has yet to kick a ball under the Italian since he took over in west London last summer. The Ghanaian was sent on loan to Schalke at the start of last season, yet, despite impressing early on, an anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up in Africa Cup of Nations curtailed his season. With Rahman back at Chelsea as he steps up his recovery, Conte has said the left-back could play a part for the Blues despite reports suggesting Fiorentina want to sign him on loan. "It's a good question," Conte told the media. "This player is coming from a bad, bad injury. "He's struggling a bit to recover the best form. "To be honest, I don't know what's happening with Baba. "For sure, from the human aspect, I'd like to give him an opportunity to come back stronger lik

Eden Hazard’s father has sensationally revealed his son is stalling on signing a new Chelsea contract to find out whether Real Madrid want to sign him in the summer. The Belgium international has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid in the last few years and Zinedine Zidane’s side are expected to step up their interest at the end of the season. Madrid have endured a difficult campaign so far and Florentino Perez will look to remodel the club’s offensive options in the summer as a result. Hazard has just over two years remaining on his existing Chelsea deal but Antonio Conte’s side are desperate to resolve his long-term future with a huge new contract. However, Chelsea’s worst fears appear to be materialising after his father, Thierry, told newspaper Le Soir that his son his waiting for Madrid. “Eden has rejected a contract extension so he can, if necessary, deal with interest from Real Madrid, where he likes what he sees,” he said, via AS. “At this moment in time

As the year 2017 remains two days to go, the federal government on Friday listed its achievements called ’17 Highlights from 2017’ newsmen report. Among the achievements include, Nigeria exists from worst recession, naira stabilising against dollar, bumper harvest, especially in rice, payment of pension among others. This was made known to newsmen through the Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity. Read the full achievements listed by Femi Adesina: Nigeria exited its worst recession in decades. After five quarters of negative growth, the economy bounced back into positive territory. Agriculture was one of the stars of 2017, posting consistent growth levels even throughout the recession. Also, Inflation fell for ten consecutive months during 2017 (February to November).  The Naira stabilised against the dollar, after the Central Bank introduced a new forex window for Investors and Exporters. The stability has attracted billions of dollars in portfolio invest

A GWERU man left Chiredzi people shocked when he was caught having sex with another woman during his wife’s funeral service. Circumstances are that the accused Luscious Chiturumani stayed in Gweru with his wife Sibongile Mthetwa who allegedly died after a short illness. Since Chiturumani had not fully paid the bride price, it was then decided that the deceased be buried in Chiredzi, her parents’ rural community. On arrival the deceased’s husband was accompanied by a woman whom he claimed to be his sister and he was accorded full respect as a son-in-law of the family. The two were then given a courtesy room for them to rest as a family and they then retired to bed earlier than other people as visitors. More people were expected to join them in the room but none did and they took advantage of the situation and woke up to some early morning sex. Cla ims are that just before 6am someone smoking outside leaning on the window heard some funny sounds emanating from the room which the two

The Croatian Football Federation are in advanced talks with their Brazilian counterparts over a pre-World Cup friendly, according to reports. Novilist newspaper claims the Croatian national team will play a friendly match against five-time world champions Brazil by the end of May or the beginning of June next year. The newspaper added that the leadership of the Croatian Football Federation have agreed on the conditions for the friendly to take place, and what is left is the venue and date. It is certain that the Croatia-Brazil friendly will take place in England, Stamford Bridge and Anfield are among the stadiums being considered for the event. Ahead of their first game in the mundial against Nigeria, Croatia have lined up confirmed friendlies against Peru in Miami and Mexico in Dallas on March 23 and March 27 respectively.

A member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Obiora Okonkwo, has commenced contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Recall that Okonkwo was declared by a Federal High Court in Abuja as the senator-elect to represent Anambra Central Senatorial District. In the uncontested judgement of December 13th 2017, Justice John Tsoho also ordered the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to immediately inaugurate Okonkwo to take over the Anambra Central Senatorial District seat in the Senate. However, Okonkwo on Thursday initiated the contempt suit due to alleged disobedience of the court’s December 13, 2017 order directing the INEC chairman to issue the Certificate of Return to him as the winner of the Anambra Central Senatorial seat. The Form 48, the notice for consequences of disobedience of the order of court marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/14 was caused to be issued through the registry of the court by Okonkwo’s counsel,

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has described Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Pat Utomi, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Femi Falana and others as hypocrites for keeping mute as scarcity of fuel continues to bite harder across the country. According to them, during the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan, they were vocal and took to the streets at the slightest provocation but had remained motionless even when fuel price has risen to N145 from N85, yet Nigerians can’t see it to buy. Onuesoke said since they had shown themselves as activists in 2012 during the tenure of Jonathan, they should equally speak out against the present hardship the masses were facing with respect to scarcity of fuel. He made the appeal after purchasing fuel for N420 per liter in Abuja yesterday, adding that what was happening presently in Nigeria with respect to fuel scarcity showed that the APC-led government did not have anything to offer. He said: “What are the Soyink

Former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday’s described Buhari as unfit to rule Reno Omokri queried what time President Buhari has to govern since doctors ordered him to sleep longer hours. In his tweets he wrote “At 74/75, Buhari’s doctors have ordered him to ‘sleep longer hours’ in order to fully recover. “So what time does he have to govern effectively? When he was not sleeping ‘longer hours’ Buhari was not able to improve Nigeria. Is it now that he is sleeping on duty that he can?”

Predicted Chelsea Line-up To Face Stoke City In The Premier League Chelsea returned back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on the Boxing Day in the Premier League. Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso scored for the Blues as we moved a point closer to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, who were held for a 2-2 draw by Burnley at Old Trafford. Stoke City, like many of Chelsea’s opponents over the past month, are not exactly in good form, but we cannot be complacent and should face this challenge tactfully. The last time the two sides met in September, it turned out to be a forgettable day for Mark Hughes’ side at the BET365 stadium, as Morata inspired our club to a thumping 4-0 victory by scoring his first-ever Chelsea hat-trick. Hughes will hope to avoid similar circumstances on Saturday and aim to give Antonio Conte’s side a few headaches at Stamford Bridge. Team News Chelsea are again without David Luiz, who is continuing to recover from a serious k