#BokoHaram: Chad sentences 10 members of Boko Haram group to death

Chad's capital N'Djamena, less than 100 kilometres from the Nigerian border, was hit by a series of suicide bombings in June and July that killed more than 40 people.

Yesterday, the chief prosecutor said that 10 members of the Islamist militants were sentenced to death on terrorism charges.

The verdict was announced in a closed court room just two days after the trial began and nearly a week ahead of schedule. The people who were sentenced included a 30-year-old Cameroonian Mahamat Moustapha, also known as Bana Fanaye (shown in the above picture), who was declared by Chad as the mastermind behind the N'Djamena attacks.

Earlier this week, he pleaded guilty to charges against him, which also included allegations of fraud and drugs and weapon possession, judicial sources said.

Chad along with Nigeria is leading the 8,700-strong regional military task force against Boko Haram. Chad's President, Idriss Deby, has strengthened local anti-terrorism laws and has said that Boko Haram can be destroyed by year end.

#Noise: Lagos shuts down churches over noisy worship

The chaotic megacity's environmental protection department said it had sealed off 22 premises on Wednesday after receiving dozens of calls a day, according to local newspaper reports.

Neighbours of one church - Jesus Our Lord Divine Catholic Prayer Ministry - said they were constantly disturbed by a congregation of mainly pregnant women, young mothers and their children.

Adebola Shabi, head of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, confirmed that officials receive around 50 telephone calls and 20 text messages a day complaining about noise, mostly from churches, the New Telegraph said.

With the enforcement so far, the agency has sealed 55 premises meanwhile, churches would be allowed to reopen after paying fines starting at 50,000 Naira.

#Tunnel: See the world's longest tunnel

The Swiss newspaper Tribune de Genève reported that the Swiss Gotthard Base Tunnel is set to be the longest railroad tunnel in the world at more than 35 miles long. Constuction of this project is almost completed and tests are set to begin by October 1st.

The tunnel, which started excavation in 1999, will speed travel times across the Swiss Alps, ultimately connecting Zurich and Milan with trains moving at top speeds of more than 150mph. Since the project first started, more than 31 million tons of earth have been excavated, and eight workers have died.

After the October tests, the tunnel will be just about ready to ferry its first customers: officials are planning an official opening for June 2016, with about 1,000 people eligible for the maiden voyage of the railroad.

#Nigeria: Congratulations!! Bisi Kolawole becomes first female Nigeia Police PRO

 What a man can do, a woman can do better!!!

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has appointed acting ACP Olabisi Alofe Kolawole as the new Force Public Relations Officer.

The appointment makes B the first female police officer to be appointed as National Police spokesperson of the Police Force.

According to a statement by CSP Abayomi Shogunle, deputy Police PRO, the appointment is geared towards harnessing the enormous potentials among Nigerian female police officers.
 

Bisi who holds a first degree in law, from Ogun State University and a Masters degree in Police Leadership and management from University of Leicester, United Kingdom replaces CP Emmanuel Ojukwu who is now the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command.

#Nigeria: Efritin.com becomes the first classifieds platform within 21 days after its launch

The organization recently confirmed that it currently has 128,000 listings on its platform with over 100 staff in only 8 states in Nigeria.
 

This accomplishment can be attributed to the platform’s thorough verification process of sellers that gives buyers a safer platform to transact on.

Sellers are physically verified within 48 hours of an advert placement before the product goes live on the site’s network.

The verification process may be seen as a way to reassure Nigerians, especially after several people have reported various circumstances of online scams and fraud in the past.

Inspiring!! A black girl flies Cross Country at age 15

Kimberly Anyadike was born in 1994; her parents are both from Nigeria. She's the youngest black female pilot who flew from Compton, California to Newport News, Virginia. It was a journey that covered 2, 342 miles which she completed in 13 days; she's the first Africa American teen to fly across the United States.

She was accompanied by safety pilot Ronnell Norman and Major Levi H. Thornhill; a certified commercial pilot and a retired U.S. Air Force pilot respectively.

Disgrace!! Drunk Policeman falls into gutter

Today, at about 12 noon, a traffic officer attached to Onipeye junction was so drunk that he fell inside that dirty gutter along Ife road, Ibadan.

Cristiano Ronaldo advertises Monster headphone

Following the Youtube by Ronaldo - ROC Live Life Loud on the 3rd of August, 2015; Cristiano Ronaldo, the soccer superstar wants to sell you his headphones.

 

Ronaldo has partnered with a consumer electronics company Monster to launch ROC Live Life Loud; a new company and brand offering an "exclusive lifestyle electronics collection curated by Ronaldo." These include headphones (either on-ear, in-ear, or over-ear) and a floating Bluetooth speaker. Brand prices ranges from $169.95 to $299.95 on choice of specifications.

         

 

The company's success was helped by endorsements from celebrities, and although Ronaldo might not exactly be a household name in the US, he's a megastar abroad. In fact, by some accounts he's the world's most popular athlete, with 37 million followers on Twitter and 105 million on Facebook (making him the most liked celebrity on the social network). However, it seems he's still capable of going completely unnoticed, with a viral video made to promote the new brand showing him disguised as a homeless person.

 

Nigeria!! MTN moves for repayment of its debt

MTN, The Africa largest wireless carrier with operations in 22 countries is said to have commenced talks with The Central Bank of Nigeria for early repayment of almost $600 million of debt it owes some Nigerian banks so as to save its image from possible damage.

This move was aimed at reducing further exposure of the naira which has weakened against the US dollar.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Group, Sifiso Dabengwa, said "We have already been negotiating with the lenders but the challenge has been getting the central bank to approve that we can accelerate the payment; It would help alot in terms of dealing with the currency fluctuations". -Bloomberg

Nigeria!! Publishing names of bad debtors in newspapers is the way forward - Expert

A financial expert, Dr Uche Uwaleke, on Wednesday commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CNB) for directing commercial banks to publish the names of bad debtors in newspapers. He said, This people had been given ample time to pay their debts and they refused to pay, so they do not have any excuse for non compliance.

I think the directive by the CBN is a step in the right direction, it is the way forward.”

Refusal of banks to collect foreign currency from customers would curb illicit flows of currency associated with Nigeria’s banking sector.He said the measure would reduce money laundering and shore up the value of the naira, especially in the black market.

If you notice, we are already beginning to feel the effect because since the introduction of this measure, naira in the parallel market seems to be appreciating.
Before this measure was taken, the parallel market rate was around N250 to the dollar but now the rate is between N209 and N210 with an official rate of N197.
So we are seeing a situation where in the near future the margin will keep on narrowing down to bridge the gap,’’ he said.

In his viewpoint, The CBN should continue to watch and react to circumstances as they arise