The Circus From Last Night – Tinuke Arigbabu

 After my routine Sunday evening basketball with my friends, I got home and settled to watch Mr. President’s promised Presidential media chat (An idea, which by the way, I totally welcome). I was excited thinking this would be an opportunity for him to redeem himself and remind us why we gave him our votes in 2011.

At the beginning of the chat, I was irritated at the fact that the audio quality was annoyingly poor and the picture quality was terrible too. Our dear NTA needs to step up. That aside, Mr. President was asked a number of questions, which to my surprise he waved off like they were nothing.

IGP Promotes 39, Redeploys 62 Senior Officers

Following the recommendations of the IGP, the Police Service Commission (PSC) on 27^th September, 2013, approved the promotion of 39 Senior Police Officers to their next ranks. This is in line with the vision and mission of the present Police Administration to motivate and inspire personnel of the Force for greater efficiency and better service delivery, through the pursuit of a robust and a comprehensive welfare regime.

Iron Your Clothes Today, PHCN To Begin Nationwide Blackout Come October 2

PHCN 

Please make sure you iron your clothes for the week o because the already epileptic power situation in the country may worsen as Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers have threatened nationwide blackout by October 2 if the federal government goes ahead to handover the assets of the company to private investors today without the conclusion of payment of workers entitlements. The industrial action follows the expiration of the ultimatum issued by the workers to government to resolve all labour issues ahead of the privatisation of PHCN.

Over 11 Million Barrels Lost in 3 years to Crude Theft

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that it lost as much as 11,753,217 million barrels (mb) of crude oil to activities of illegal crude theft and oil bunkering within the last three years.

NNPC in a closed-door presentation to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), stated that the losses were recorded between 2010 and 2012 at its various pipelines notably the Escravos/Chevron Nigeria (ESC/CNL)-Warri trunk line, which has the highest cumulative figure of 6,415,052mb in the years under review.

IG Places Policemen on Red Alert for Independence Day

Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, IGP

As part of efforts by the police to ensure a hitch-free Independence anniversary, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Sunday placed officers and men of the force, as well as other special operatives, on red alert nation-wide.

Consequently, the IG directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Command Commissioners of Police, including the Maritime Command to ensure adequate and effective deployment of all operational tools and manpower within their commands, and to pay special attention to shopping malls, public parks and beaches, highways and other critical infrastructure and sensitive areas in order to guarantee the safety and well being of the citizenry.

Outrage Boko Haram Slaughter 60 Students in Yobe

IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

Anger Sunday trailed the killing of 40 students of College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State, by gunmen suspected to belong to the outlawed Boko Haram sect. Scores of others were also injured in the early morning raid on the college by the gunmen who attacked the institution while their victims were sleeping.

Another set of gunmen from the sect also killed seven others in Benisheikh, in Borno State, which was attacked two weeks ago during which 150 persons were killed in an ambush on the highway.

SIMON KOLAWOLE: Nigeria Is Changing But We Know Not

Simon Kolawole Live!: By Simon Kolawole, Email: simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com

Growing up, I was moulded by certain prejudices. I was conditioned to view different parts of Nigeria in stereotypical ways. However, a time came in my life when I began to question these inherited sentiments.

I desired a mind of my own, to judge things empirically and come to conclusions by myself. I intensified my research into the history of what we now know as Nigeria, from pre-1914 amalgamation to the present day. I want to gladly announce today that contrary to the received wisdoms, prejudices, biases and stereotypes, Nigeria has changed significantly over the decades.