Africa's Richest Man Aliko Dangote Suspends Production Of Tomato Paste

Dangote Tomato Processing Factory, a newly commissioned company owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has suspended its operations due to the unavailability of its most important raw material – fresh tomatoes. The Managing Director of the factory, Abdulkadir Kaita, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday that several tomato farms in in Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina and Kaduna states (all located in Nigeria’s northern region), were affected by Tuta Absoluta, a leaf mining moth and common tomato pest, which destroyed all the tomato farms – a situation that has resulted in scarcity and higher prices for the commodity.

Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (L) shakes hands with Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote (R) at the London Global African Investment Summit at St James’ Palace in London on December 1, 2015.

Kaita however said that production would resume during the next irrigation season.
Dangote Group, the Nigerian conglomerate owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, launched the $20 million tomato processing facility in Kano state, northern Nigeria earlier this year. The tomato processing plant has a daily production capacity of 1,200 metric tones per day, and will primarily buy tomatoes from farmers in the Kadawa Valley in Kano state and will pay them a guaranteed price of about $700 per ton of tomatoes.

PDP Chairman Sheriff Speaks: Our Battle for 2019 has Started

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that the battle for 2019 general election had started in earnest. This came as former Senate President, David Mark, bagged fellow PDP members to stop the in-fighting, otherwise the party would be defeated again.

Sheriff also distanced himself from the comment made by Inuwa Bwala, his media aide, regarding the call for Sheriff to step down.

Bwala had referred to the stakeholders, who made the demand as “self-styled” elders, threatening to report Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information and leader of the group, to the EFCC for allegedly defrauding the PDP to the tune of N500million.

But reacting at a media briefing in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, Sheriff said: “As a well cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party.”

He added that it was not in his character to join issues with respected elders, noting that he never authorised any of his aides to react to issues raised by the aggrieved elders.

Sheriff said the elders deserved the right to complain about issues they considered inimical to the progress of the PDP.

He explained that the present leadership of the party was poised to lend a listening ear to all shades of opinions, with a view to strengthening it to face the challenges ahead.

He added, “Under our leadership and the support and encouragement of stakeholders and supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back in 2019.”

Update! Nigerian Soldiers Capture Niger Delta Avengers Leader

Battle ready soldiers stormed Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom again in wee hours of Sunday in search of the so called Niger Delta Avengers’ members.

After members of Niger Delta Avengers bombed another oil facility belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Nigerian Military to capture the culprits by all means.

Following this serious presidential order, the Military stormed the area with full force.

An Army officer who spoke anonymously stated that “Members of Nigerian Army captured five members of Niger Delta Avengers, one of which is believed to be one of the leaders of the dreaded group. Following the bombing, we established a wide perimeter and initiated a high security search.

“The suspects were taken into the custody of the Nigerian Army in the area... They have been relocated to the 19th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Koko, Warri North.”

‘Stay away from Urhobo land’
Meanwhile, the National Leader of Urhobo Nationality Council (UNC), Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has asked the Niger Delta Avengers to keep away from Urhobo land, saying the ethnic group would not sit and watch people from other nationalities vandalize national assets on its territory for private reasons.

Olorogun Egbo stated: “Our position is that we shall not allow our territories to be used as launching pads for criminal elements out to destroy our national assets.

“We advise anybody, who has issues with the security agencies bordering on criminal breach of trust and financial misfeasance, to summon the courage to face the charges, rather than plunging innocent inhabitants of the riverine communities into untold hardship.”

Tiwa Savage, Peter Okoye Attend Davido's Daughter's B/Party

Davido organised a small party for Imade Adeleke, his daughter with Sophie Momodu, as she turned one on May 14 2016. Few friends and celebrities were there to celebrate the baby girl. More pics...

Female Banker Missing: N500,000 Cash Offered for Information to Locate Her

Married banker, Bukola Olowookere, who's a children teacher at a Church, Place of Mercy Parish, Area 26, Zone 3 of Lagos province 61 has been missing since May 5th after she left work for home.

A N500,000 cash reward has been offered by the Parish to anyone who has any information that may lead to her whereabout. Please contact Mr. Kayode Olowookere on +2349083961518 if you have any confidential information on her whereabout or Pastor Ajayi Olubunmi on +2348033007739 or the nearest police station. Thank you.

Military arrest masterminds of Chevron attacks, the Niger Delta Avengers

The Nigerian Army says they have arrested some suspected members of militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who are allegedly responsible for the attacks on oil pipelines such as the Chevron oil platform which was attacked two weeks ago.‎

The arrest of the suspected masterminds was disclosed in a statement released by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar yesterday night.

“This is to confirm the arrest of some suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers. Investigation is currently on gGoin. Military will continue to do its best to guard strategic facilities and provide security to lives and property”.

He noted that the military actions is in line with our rule of engagement, adding that the arrested suspects are behind the recent attacks at the Chevron oil facilities.

Is she now the main chick? Anna Banner visits baby daddy Flavour at home (photos)

The mother of one visited her baby daddy today and shared photos from outside of his house... and she looks really happy...

Same house...

MBGN Tourism 2014, Chinyere Adogu shares lovely new photos, writes about self love

Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria (Tourism) 2014, Chinyere Adogu, shared beautiful pictures of herself via Instagram and captioned the pics, 'If You Can't Find Joy And/Or Comfort In Being Alone, Reevaluate Yourself. #SelfLove'.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy named Premier League Player of the Season

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been named the Barclay's Premier League Player of the Season. Leicester lifted the league trophy last weekend, marking the first time that the club has won a top-flight title in their 132-year history.

29-year-old Vardy has been pivotal in the Foxes' surprise title win as he has scored 24 goals this season, just one fewer than the league's leading scorer Harry Kane.

He also holds the record of scoring in 11 consecutive top-flight games, beating Ruud van Nistelrooy's 10-game record, which he set while at Manchester United.

Source: Sky Sports News/Sports Mole

Photos: Nigerian man nabbed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with drugs hidden in ceremic horse sculptures

A Nigerian man was on Thursday, May 12 arrested with RM2mil worth of drugs hidden in seven horse statuettes. The 28-year-old was picked up at about 3pm at an apartment in Taman Prima Tropika, Seri Kembangan by narcotics and Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group officers. 

 

Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said 12.1kg of syabu (Methamphetamine) were found in 28 packets hidden in the horse statuettes.He said the success came from intelligence gathered by the department and police's Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group.

"Following information gathered by our officers, police carried out an operation at the Sria Permai apartment in Bandar Putra  Permai about 3pm on Thursday and nabbed a Nigerian man. The suspect, aged 28, was caught while he was unloading boxes containing the horse replicas which, when checked, contained four packets of drugs each inside. Tests conducted confirmed that the drugs were methamphetamine," he told reporters during a press conference at the department's office in Bukit Aman, today.

The drugs were smuggled from China through a shipping cargo services. Comm Mokhtar said the man, who tested negative for drug use and has a valid passport, has been travelling in and out of Malaysia since 2014.

"We believe that he is a member of a Nigerian syndicate that has been bringing in drugs via sea cargo for local consumption and export to Western countries.

"These syndicates have in the past smuggled in drugs stored in water filters, women handbags, ink cartridges and portable air conditioners into the country. If these "horses" had been released to the public, the drugs would have been made accessible to about 600,000 users.

"Don't take the authorities for a ride," warned Comm Mokhta.

The packets of the drug were cemented into the statuettes to avoid detection at immigration and security checkpoints.

The Nigerian man is being remanded for 14 days to facilitate investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Moktar sad between Jan 1 and May 12, the department arrested a total of 97 Africans who were involved in drug- smuggling activities.

Source: New Straits Times