NAF deploys F7 Supersonic, Alpha jets to Mali

…As Senate okays deployment of troops  *Why we are joining the fight in Mali —COAS  *FG seeks EU, US, Canada’s support
ABUJA — Following the directive by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Armed Forces to commence the deployment of 900 troops to participate in the military operation to liberate Mali from Islamist rebels, the Nigerian Air Force, yesterday, commenced moves to deploy two of its fighter aircraft and a transport aircraft for the combat operations.
The aircraft are the F7 supersonic jet fighter, the latest and most modern in the NAF inventory, and the Alpha jet fighter aircraft aka ‘Dudu Bird’ which fast tracked the surrender of the rebels in both the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars.

Super Eagles Team Lineup for African Cup of Nations 2013

Forwards: Ahmed Musa ( CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

 Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria);

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (SC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

World Cup security plan to cover Africa Cup

Football’s Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off this weekend, will enjoy the same kind of security as the World Cup in South Africa three years ago, organisers said Thursday.
“For this tournament, the operational security concept as was applied during the 2010 FIFA World Cup is being followed, on a reduced scale,” said Elias Mawela, who heads the country’s top security operations, Natjoints.

Ebonyi communities give Police 7-day ultimatum to rescue kidnapped children

THREE villages in Ishiagu Community of Ebonyi State have given a seven-day ultimatum to the police in the state to rescue seven children allegedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the area.
The villages include Oyumte, Ayaragu and Ekembe.
The villagers who went on a peaceful protest to press home their demand over the incident later marched to Ivo Divisional Police headquarters where they charged the police to unmask those behind the dastardly act to avoid unnecessary crisis in the LGA.
Vanguard investigation revealed that some unknown gunmen had on December 23 and 24, 2012, unleashed mayhem on the three villages, abducting seven children within the age bracket of 3 and 5 years old.
The protesters, who were in their hundreds, comprised mostly aged women and youths.

The Glitches At D’Banj’s Koko Concert

Wasn’t D’Banj’s Koko concert which held on December 27, 2012 supposed to knock us off her rocker, wishing the night never ended as it promised to offer fun to last us into the New Year? But it seemed the Koko Master hit the blank this time, ending a rather awesome year on a roller-coaster ride of shame.
Though everyone applauded the artiste for the choice of venue which was the Eko Atlantic City but when you come to terms with the distance you have to trek to get to the heart of the concert, you would realise walking some 20km stretch isn’t a balmy way of starting a night of fun, especially one you paid through your nose to have.

*D’banj

First Lady in Pink

This is what First Lady Patience Jonathan wore to the church service at Aso Rock on Tuesday January 1st. I kinda like the combo...:-)

EFCC seizes Sylva’s property

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday seized 48 choice property belonging to the former Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timpre Sylva, who is being prosecuted at a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged misappropriation of N6.46 billion state funds when he was governor of the state.
The interim forfeiture of the property followed an order by the Justice A. R Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja obtained on December 28, 2012.
Assets belonging to the former governor against which a forfeiture order was obtained by the EFCC are: a mansion at 3 River Niger Street, plot 3192 Cadastral zone AO, Maitama District Abuja; nine units (comprising six one bedroom and 3 two bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; and 2 units duplexes at 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja.

Most Married Men Prefered Their Girlfriends To Their Wifes, Why?

A Married Man Left His Wife At Home To meet his girlfriend, on getting to the girl's place, the gate was locked so he tried jumping over the fence and was cut by police, he was charged for robbery.
What could have be the reason for his action?

Lagos civil servants fail to resume

Lagos State government yesterday recorded a low turn-out of civil servants who ought to resume en masse after the New Year Day celebration.
Vanguard gathered that the civil servants who turned up at the state government secretariat only attended the annual thanksgiving and prayer session held at the early hours of the day at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat.

26-Yr-Old Mother killed By Gunmen

Unknown gunmen yesterday murdered a 26-year- old woman at Taraku in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State while her one year baby boy is also battling for  life after being inflicted with serious injuries by the attackers.
Sources said that the deceased, Sewuse Tyoor and her son were attacked last night in their sleep by the assailants.

Actress Bisi Komolafe Will Be Buried On Friday

This photo of the actress was taken a few days before her death on Monday December 31st. Bisi battled with an undisclosed illness that kept her in and out of hospital for more than three months.

A close friend of the actress confirmed that Bisi was a few weeks pregnant before the illness started, and that the pregnancy had to be terminated at the hospital to save her life when her condition got worse.

Bisi will be buried on Friday January 4th in Ibadan. May her soul rest in peace...Amen.

Pres. Jonathan Says Knows Nothing About Those Abuja Posters

President Goodluck Jonathan today denied having a hand in the campaign posters that flooded the streets of Abuja yesterday January 1st, announcing his readiness to contest in the 2015 elections. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said those behind the posters didn't do it with the president's permission

Pastor accused of raping 12-year-old girl

A pastor, Alasco Sobowale, has been accused of raping a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Epe, Lagos State. The pastor was said to have allegedly had carnal knowledge of the girl at their home located at 10, Togodo Street, Temu Town.

The victim’s aunt, Mrs. Ngozi Anjorin, said the incident occurred on December 15, 2012

Anjorin said the victim only spoke Igbo Language and had recently arrived Lagos from Imo State. She said Sobowale, who also speaks Igbo, allegedly lured her niece to the toilet around 9pm and had sex with her.

She said, “My niece was sent to Lagos about two weeks before the incident so I could send her to school because she doesn’t speak English Language. She only speaks Igbo and only I and the pastor, who is our neighbour, speak Igbo.

P-Square and crew fly to Abidjan

They are performing at a concert tonight with Chris Brown.

Cleric Begs Jonathan To Save Us From Death On East-West Road

The deplorable state of the East-West Road resonated yet again, weekend, at the funeral ceremony for the former National Security Adviser, late Gen. Andrew Azazi, with the Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to fix the ailing road to curb rising spate of accidents and loss of human lives.
Already, a section of the road, which straddles states of the oil-rich Niger Delta, is on the verge of being washed away around  Okosi Bridge in Bayelsa State by river erosion.

How To Get More Sleep?

 “Better is a handful of rest than a double handful of hard work and striving after the wind.”  Without proper sleep, your performance will nosedive!

•  “If I don’t get enough sleep, I’m out of it. I have trouble focusing on anything!”—Rachel, 19.

•  “At about 2:00 p.m., I get so tired that I could almost fall asleep in the middle of a conversation!”—Kristine, 19.

Chidinma Won Kora Award Best Female Act, (West Africa)

The Kedike crooner just won the Best Female West African act at the Kora  in Abidjan. Massive congrats to her!

OBJ Says Boko Haram will soon

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has predicted an end for the dreaded Boko Haram sect,  saying, Nigeria will soon enjoy peace and tranquility.
Obasanjo also expressed optimism that Nigeria would be ranked among the greatest countries of the world in the nearest future.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo lamented that  Nigeria’ could not manage its abundant resources. .
Obasanjo who was thanking God for His mercies over the country, said despite the bombings and other dangerous activities of the sect, he believes, the country would achieve peace.

Surviving the First Year of Marriage

 Keys to Family Happiness

He says: “I am surprised to find that my wife and I are so different! For example, I like to get up early, but she likes to stay up late. As for her changes of mood, those baffle me! And another thing—when I cook, she becomes so critical, especially of the way I clean my hands on the dishcloth.”

She says: “My husband is a man of few words. But I’m used to my family. They talk a lot, particularly at mealtimes. And when my husband cooks, he uses the same cloth to dry the dishes and to clean his hands! That irritates me! Why are men so difficult to understand? How do people make a marriage succeed?”

IF YOU are newly married, have you faced similar challenges? Does it seem that your mate suddenly has acquired faults and foibles that were absent when you were dating? How can you reduce the impact of the “everyday troubles that married people will have”?—1 Corinthians 7:28, Today’s English Version.

First, do not expect that just because you exchanged wedding vows, you and your spouse become instant experts at married life. You might have acquired valuable social skills when you were single, and they might have improved while you were dating. However, marriage will test those skills in new ways and will likely require that you gain new ones. Will you make mistakes? Certainly. Can you gain the skills you need? Absolutely!

The best way to improve any skill is to consult an expert on the subject and then to apply the advice he gives. The foremost expert on marriage is Jehovah God. After all, he is the One who created us with the desire to marry. (Genesis 2:22-24) Note how his Word, the Bible, can help you overcome challenges and acquire the skills you need to make your marriage last beyond the first year.

10 injured,Four killed in accident along Benin-Ore Expressway

At least four people were killed and 10 others injured when two vehicles collided along the Benin-Ore Expressway, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has said.
The dead include two men and two women while the 10 injured were four men, four women, and two children.

*File photo: Wreckage from a car accident

The FRSC said the accident involved a truck with registration number XW 471 ABC and a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XA 911 AAH.
The accident occurred at Igbogui Village on the Benin-Ore Expressway on Saturday evening.
“The corpses and the injured have been taken to Shiloh Medical Clinic, Igbogui. Clearing of the road is ongoing,” the FRSC said on its facebook post.