Video Director: Clarence Peters

Music Producer: Cobhams Asuquo

Artists: Bez, Praiz

Nigeria not a dumping ground, Minister tells investors
The Nation
Nigerians must get value for the money used to patronise products, he said.” He congratulated SCOA Nigeria Plc for the progress since its establishment in Kano in 1929. The company, Umar said, has become foremost multinational company, with thousands …

EFCC Storms Kaduna Refinery - Nigeria Business News
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are now in Kaduna to investigate the activities of the Kaduna Refining and …

UK boosts healthcare in Nigeria with N5bn
The Nation
At the stakeholders’ meeting which had participants drawn from the pharmaceutical companiesunder the aegis of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Nigeria (PMG MAN) in attendance, PATH2 management said the key objectives of the meeting was to …

End of the Road for PHCN
THISDAY Live
He brought to the fore reports in the newspapers that some manufacturing companies in Nigeriawere moving to Ghana. He said the manufacturing companies in Nigeria were already folding up and were relocating to Ghana because of the country’s acute power …

Cashless Lagos and its many challenges
Vanguard
We have progressed in forging effective partnership with telecommunication companies with the cooperation of the Nigerian Communications Commission while ensuring that structural impediments such as un-interoperability of payments networks of …

Nigerian national held with cocaine worth Rs 35 lakh
IBNLive.com
Adebola Prosper, hailing from Lagos in Nigeria, was apprehended from Rajouri Garden yesterday, Sanjay Bhatia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. Prosper came to Delhi in October last year on a business visa and started living with …

Survey shows Nigeria’s unemployment rate at 23.9% in 2011
BusinessDay
Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 23.9 percent in 2011 compared with 21.1 percent in 2010 and 19.7 percent in 2009, reveals the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The “Nigerian unemployment report 2011” prepared by the NBS shows that the rate …

Lessons for East Africa from Nigeria fuel crisis
Business Daily Africa
Nigeria has four refineries owned by the National Petroleum Company with an installed capacity of 445000 barrels a day. Its demand for petroleum is about 325000 barrels a day, which implies that if the refineries were processing at full capacity there …

Photocredit: Greekshares

“17 banging tracks, that is set-up to brighten up your listening ears… this Mixtape features a decent amount of collaborations from other artists out-with the 166 family clan… and, as a collective work this is probably their best work till date…. Music Hustle is a collection of some cover beats and some originally produced jams.. One thing for certain is that the family still do what they do best which is keep their vocal delivery to the higest caliber, to deliver a fullfilling 17track all-round cd for your listening pleasure. . .”

Soundcloud Link: http://snd.sc/wMgbzn

4Shared Link: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/W0clGAmy/166Family_Mixtape__Music_Hustl.html

LAGOS, NIGERIA (January 25 , 2012)

READY, SET, GO! THE NIGERIAN IDOL FINAL SPEEDS UP AS TOP 30 SHOW ENDS

Last weekend, Nigerian Idol returned from a recording break with all the action and music that makes it Nigeria’s biggest music reality show.

Beginning from the results show, Ibinabo Romeo, Honey Adum and Lynda Giami made it into the final stages of the competition. The live recording also saw the last ten from the Nigerian Idol top 30 fight for a chance to get into the final stage of the competition. On the judges’ table, popular lyricist ‘IllBliss’ who was guest celebrity judge joined Jeffrey Daniel, Yinka Davies and Charly Boy.

“This final top 30 show has been a superb experience for all of us,” said Director Peter Bode. “The contestants understood what was at stake and they outdid themselves. We are proud of every single one of them and we expect that the viewers will continue to vote in their favourites.”

The show got off to a spectaular start with the upbeat performance of Nsikak Umoh who crooned ‘I want it that way’ by Backstreet Boys to the delight of the audience. Phunky Sings was next with an unforgettable version of Vanessa Williams ballad ‘Save the best for the last’. Sanzye gave a good show with her take on George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’. Sly 1 got the audience moving with with the reggae hit by Jimmy Cliff ‘I can see clearly’. For Stephen Onochie, it was a charged rendition of Peabo Bryson’s classic, ‘Celebrate my love’ which compelled Yinka Davies to join him in a soulful duet. Diwari ‘s performance of ‘Total Eclipse’ by Bonnie Tyler was emotional and remarkable, while Menim channelled a powerfully sensual Anita Baker with her presentation of ‘Sweet Love’. Another Love song made its way to the stage with the Diana Ross classic ‘Endless Love’,
which was sweetly performed by Sophyn. A.Y.O performed one of 2011’s biggest songs, ‘Grenade’ by Bruno Mars that had the audience sing-along.

The night of amazing performances was brought to a fitting end with Mecinda’s dramatized and powerful performance of the 90’s hit by Brandy
‘I wanna be down’, the audience and judges gave the diva-with-the-attitude a standing ovation for her outstanding effort.

After the results this week, the wild card show comes up next where the judges pick exceptional performers from the top 30 who will take to the
stage once more to sing their hearts out for the viewers’ votes. There has been a lot of speculation from fans and followers of Nigerian idol as to
what the final number of finalists on the show will be this season. Last year, it was a top 13 final even sister show, American Idol, maintains the
same format. The producers of the show have chosen to keep mum about their plans on the show, assuring viewers that it would be worth the wait.
“We cannot say at this point, what new twists and turns we have this month, said Project Manager Tiwa Medubi. Essentially, it is up to our capable judges; the viewers will have to watch out for what happens next.
We promise that it will be electrifying and unexpected, and they will definitely love it!”

Nigerian Idol is proudly brought to you by Etisalat in association with Pepsi and Sony. It is also supported by Air Nigeria, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Megalectrics (owners of Beat FM, Classic FM and Naija FM).

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The Chicago based DJ is also a member of “The Hottest Coalition of Naija DJs” and has released over 40 mixtapes in the past few years. When asked what he feels sets “ Naija Hits Dec 2011 ” apart from all other previous mixtapes, DJ Dee Money says “it features the hits songs played in Nigeria over the December holiday period….”

The 40 track mixtape features your favorite  artists like W4, Wiz Kid, Davido, Rayce and many more.

Download Link:   http://hulkshare.com/yaurhj4j1xqi

Follow DJ Dee Money on twitter at: www.twitter.com/djdeemoney

Mixtape Cover Designed: Mayowa Ilesanmi  (twitter.com/ Kirbys_mi)

24 days into the year, and I’m writing my first heartfelt piece – finally unblocked. I’m making myself a mug of hot chocolate at 4 in the morning, as a tribute to the days gone by – a relic and maybe a reminder of she who waved goodbye. Some people are victims of pain, but I choose to benefit from it. ‘Cause when you see life from the other side of pain, your untidy kitchenette begins to outclass the Ballagio Penthouse suite as you make that nostalgic mug of hot chocolate. People can offer you forgiveness for
your transgressions but if it’s redemption you seek, you have to find that for yourself – make one like a cup of hot beverage, ’cause no one can make your redemption for you.

Somehow my voice is back, yelling with creative gusto. That it took this time to return goes to prove I’m human after all, and must have done something right by the gods this time. But this voice came with a price – it came riding on the wings of guilt, pain, and an ounce of regret. It charged in like a psychotic ex girlfriend, beating the rebound girlfriend blue-black and tossing her out – it came saying, “don’t worry baby, she wasn’t right for you, and now you’ve got me to care of you, and this time I promise never to walk away if only you promise never to call her again”. Am I happy she’s back? Hell, yeah. We’re like Bonnie and Clyde – me without her is like a classic Western without John Wayne – like a cowboy without spurs on his boots.

But that doesn’t indicate the absence of hurt as I wave goodbye to the rebound. ‘Cause inasmuch as I’m glad a distraction has been gutted out of my life like an inflamed appendix, I’m worried that I’m not hurting as humans are supposed to – I’m worried that the cycle is in motion – the pattern – break up with your heart, and reunite with your mind. It kinda hurts that the end of a human relationship for me usually marks the beginning of a whirlwind romance with my muse. It seems like my creativity is a psychotic, jealous, rage-filled lover who abhors my emotional dalliances with females of the human species. Sometimes it seems like she’s all I’ve got – and sometimes in the ominous boulevards of my thoughts, I think she’s the only one that gets me.

Lovers and maybe friends will often leave you, but a soul-mate will always find its way back to you. The word, whether written or performed has always been my soul-mate; possessive she may be, but she’s always there for me – she bears no grudges no matter how often I mistreat her; yet sometimes like a woman she flies into a rage at the slightest suspicion of unfaithfulness, but one thing she never does is leave me when I need a friend. She’s my comforter, confidant, and most of all, my therapist.

But if goodbye doesn’t hurt, why do I run to the couch of my trusted therapist as soon as the train leaves the station?

~James Amuta
Photocredit: Paranthesis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAGOS, NIGERIA

Our 10-Point Demand: Enough is Enough Nigeria’s Official Reaction to the Called-Off Labour Strike

(January (24th), 2012) Lagos, Nigeria.

“Protest is beyond Labour. It is a matter for the Nigerian people.” – Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC President

In the last (3) weeks, the spirit of a Nigerian Dream birthed in the hearts of all sincere patriots was renewed. We salute the Nigerian people who have risen up with one voice to make it clear to our rulers that Enough is Enough! What we saw was not a strike made powerful on the strength of the labour unions.

What we saw was a popular but peaceful protest of the Nigerian people, many employed but even more unemployed, disadvantaged and oppressed, giving notice to a civil but clearly un-democratic government, that it will no longer be business as usual in Nigeria. The decision by the Federal Government to deploy the military to key States to stifle the constitutional right of Nigerians to peaceful protest while a key suspect in the Boko Haram killings on Christmas Day is allowed to escape speaks powerfully to the politicization of the issue and the government’s perspective on security.

We at Enough is Enough Nigeria (EIE) want to inform the Nigerian people, who have spoken so clearly and made such sacrifice to have their collective voice heard, that Labour took the decision to accept the Federal Government’s proposal and call off the protest without due consultation and support from a broad range of civil society groups that coalesced to create the groundswell of the popular civil action of the last week as they claimed at yesterday’s press conference. We urge all Nigerians to ensure that the unique opportunity of the solidarity and sacrifice of the last week are not lost to the unilateral and ill-considered decision of the NLC/TUC leadership.

In particular, it is important for Nigerians to honour the memory of those brave compatriots who lost their lives in the course of last week’s protests all across Nigeria. The least we should do in honour of their sacrifice is to ignore the call from the leaders of organized Labour and continue to resist “democratic slavery” until our collective voice is heard.

In this vein, we have set forth the following demands in the public space directed at the Federal Government and the Legislative Arm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

WE DEMAND:

1. The appointment of two independent international firms that have not been involved in any of the previous audits of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and other state owned entities in the Nigerian oil sector, to carry out a forensic audit of subsidy payments over the last five years. The report of this audit should be the subject of a public hearing at the National Assembly.

2. That the voice of the people must be heard in the proceedings of the Justice Alfa Belgore Commission. Therefore, a broad range of civil society groups must participate in the proceedings of the Commission as a necessary element that can confer any form of legitimacy to its expected output. The Commission’s Report must be submitted and adopted before the 2012 Budget is approved.

3. Government must publish the roadmap for the complete deregulation of the oil sector. Removal of subsidy is only one element of the deregulation process and certainly not the first step. Following the example of the power sector roadmap, the oil sector deregulation roadmap must commit to specific action and time frames and responsibility must be vested in identified institutions and individuals.

4. The latest version of the Petroleum Industry Bill must be passed into law within the minimum time provided by the Constitution and the rules of the National Assembly.

5. The vicious cycle of turn-around maintenance of government owned refineries MUST stop. The refineries should be sold or concessioned to private investors, if this last round of discussions with the original builders for TAM is unsuccessful.

6. Full disclosure of salaries and allowances at all tiers of government and a review of same with clear parameters, full disclosure of ALL presidential and parliamentary aides, advisers and assistants. We demand at least a 50% cut across the board in legislative salaries, allowances and overheads of running the National and State legislatures. The Lagos State review of remuneration in the judiciary can serve as a guide. The cost of our federal and state legislatures is an outrage. In the long term, we need to create a part-time single chamber Federal legislature that pays sitting allowances.

7. The Federal Government should take immediate steps to achieve an outright reduction of at least 25% in its bloated personnel costs in 2012 and a sustained outright reduction in recurrent expenditure of
at least 10% year on year, over the next 3 years. Of the N2.748trn proposed recurrent expenditure in the 2012 budget proposal of the Federal Government, N1.64trn or 72% represents salaries and allowances of Federal public servants. We do not yet know their exact number. Therefore, the federal and state governments must eliminate “ghost workers” and all fraudulent salary and pension payments, rationalize their head-count to minimise duplication and waste, which should include the speedy review and implementation of the Report from the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Ministries and Parastatals.

8. Massive investment in road and rail mass transit infrastructure, under government-enabled conditions but private sector ownership and management. In addition, the importation of passenger buses or CKD components for their local assembly should be made duty free and the operations of mass transit companies, partnerships or sole proprietors, should be tax free for five years, during which prices should have normalised. The same incentives should apply to rail and all other forms of mass transit.

9. That the National Assembly send back the 2012 Budget for review, in light of the duplications and criminally high line items.

10. A clear plan of expenditure on the post-January 1st ‘savings’. With the subsidy removed, at a price differential of N76 on N141, the Federal Government ‘saved’ N2.66 bn ($16.625 million) per day. As of yesterday (Day 16), it was N42.56 bn ($266 million).

Finally, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources to oversee/supervise the investigation of allegations in which her office features prominently. We expect that the honourable thing to do in this situation would be step aside from the office pending the conclusion of the investigations.

The above points represent our demands on behalf of the many silent and voiceless Nigerians that we met on the streets of Nigeria in the last (3) weeks. They demand a government that is structured for effectiveness, above board with integrity and mindful of their daily struggles for existence. We commit to remain a clear voice on their behalf and in this task we will not fail or falter.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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EnoughisEnough Nigeria (www.eienigeria.org) is a coalition of individuals and youth-led organizations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through advocacy, activism and the mobilization of the youth population as responsible citizens. The coalition includes The Future Project; Paradigm Initiative Nigeria; Education as a Vaccine (EVA); Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND); RISE Networks; Chocolate City Group and EME.

EiE Nigeria created the RSVP (Register|Select|Vote|Protect) Campaign to leverage technology, especially social media to mobilize significant participation from citizens in the 18-35 age bloc in the 2011 elections and beyond.