BREAKING NEWS: DSS thwarts planned attack on Abuja US, UK embassies

                                

The Department State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects alleged to have perfected plans to attack the United States and United Kingdom embassies in Abuja.

A statement, Wednesday by DSS official Tony Opuiyo said the Service busted the ISIS linked Boko Haram members based in Benue State and the FCT.

He said: “The group had perfected plans to attack the UK and American Embassies and other western interests in Abuja.”

He added that: “during the operation to thwart this plan, five key suspects, namely: Isa Jibril, Jibril Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, Halidu Sule and Amhodu Salifu, were arrested.”

Nigeria loses N9bn annually to illegal fish importation

                         

The Association of Indigenous Seafood Stakeholders says the country loses N9 billion revenue annually to illegal fish importation and smuggling.

The association’s national chairman, Mr Lamina Rasheed, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Rasheed said that the members of the association paid import duty of 14 per cent, which amounted to millions of naira to the Federal Government while the illegal importers paid next to nothing through the land borders.

According to him, it is difficult to compete with them in the market because these illegal importers slash their prices to the detriment and loss by the genuine fish dealers.

He frowned at the development which he said had discouraged so many genuine importers and local fish farmers across the country.

The chairman appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action toward setting up a task force that would stop the illegal importation of fish and other sea foods into the country.

Source: Guardian.ng

Russia warns US over Syria

                            

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov began a meeting with his US counterpart Rex Tillerson in Moscow with a warning -- do not strike the Syrian regime again.

The two top diplomats are sitting down together in Moscow on Wednesday for what are expected to be painstaking talks, after a chemical attack in northwestern Syria plunged the old Cold War enemies to a new low.

To read more on the news,visit http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/12/politics/russia-syria-tillerson/index.html

8 Indians Rescued From Somali Pirates, Officials Say

                           

Somali troops on Wednesday rescued eight Indians who had been taken hostage two days earlier by pirates near the coastal town of Hobyo, officials said.

“Our forces have on Wednesday morning rescued eight Indian crew who had been held hostage by Somali pirates in El Hur area,” the Hobyo police chief, Bashir Elmi, said. “We have also arrested four pirates in the operation.”

Somali pirates have waylaid several ships in the past month, raising fears that piracy has regained a hold in the Indian Ocean. The resurgence has been attributed to several causes, including drought, famine, corruption, a surge of smuggled weapons and the influence of the Islamic State militant group.

The recent attacks, including the hijacking of an oil tanker in March, are believed to have been carried out by buccaneers from central Somalia or Puntland, a semiautonomous region in the country’s northeast.

According to Chief Elmi, the hostages were taken after a clash on Monday between Somali forces and pirates over the Indian boat MSV Al Kausar. The pirates withdrew but took the eight hostages, leaving behind two other crew members.

“All the crew, including the captain, are now safe and healthy,” said Abdullahi Ahmed Ali, the mayor of Hobyo, who is also known as Abdullahi Fat.

Tanzania: Bank Tips Traders On 'Loans to Invest'

                             

Tanzania Postal Bank (TPB) again appealed to entrepreneurs and investors to come forward and take loans from it and investment on 'flourishing opportunities' in Mwanza City.

The remark was made here by Tanzania Postal Bank (TPB) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sabasaba Moshingi, saying the bank is in a good position financially, and only what they require are investors processing their papers effectively and getting funds to invest in the city.

He urged traders and investors to see the importance of exploiting the chance in order to transform the economy from solely relying on agriculture to industries by 2025.

While making a presentation on the importance of loans from the financial institutions at the Mwanza Business Forum, he said NMB bank will soon list its shares in the Initial Public Offering (IPO), and urged the residents of Mwanza to buy them, when listed as part of investment.

He pointed several benefits from the institution, including marketing a number of its products on 'Group Lending' which has been designed to financially support Small Scale Entrepreneurs (SSE) to grow in the business.

On his part, NMB bank's Acting Head of Corporate, Mr Nsolo Mlozi, said the Business Forum will continue to enlighten the public on the role of financial institutions in the country. He said his bank is fully prepared to ensure that business and investment flourish in the area with their support, besides opening up other branches there.

Construction of Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge rail begins April 14

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) says that the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail would begin on April 14.

Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this, on Wednesday, in Lagos.

Okhiria advised those who had encroached on the NRC land to start packing their belongings, to avoid their property being destroyed by bulldozers.

“Those that are due for compensation will be compensated because it is part of the contract.

“But those who encroached on the land have to leave the premises as soon as possible because the constructions will begin on Friday.

“We intentionally did not give permits to so many people because we know that one day, the land will be required.

“So we have already mapped out those places we need to remove and they are aware. We have told them to remove their valuables before the bulldozers start work,’’ he said.

The MD said the projects would bring lots of socio-economic development to communities and major town along the axis.

Source:Sun News

Big Brother Naija misleads our youth,and glorifies immorality – Mike Bamiloye

                                   

The General Director of the Mount Zion Faith Ministries,a Christian movie production house, Pastor Mike Bamiloye, has frowned at the just concluded Big Brother Naija television reality show.

In a post on his Facebook, the movie maker stated that the show glorified immorality among African youths.

Recall that the reality show which lasted for three months came to an end on Sunday with Efe emerging as the winner.

Bamiloye noted that he hopes Nigerian pastors won’t use Efe’s victory to make reference as work of God’s grace.

The post titled “BBN, painfully still on my mind” reads, “What does this teaches our youths now? Glamourizing and glorifying immorality before the cameras of the world fetch you millions and make you celebrity overnight.

“I hope some Pastors will not begin to make reference to this as a work of God’s Grace.

“They kiss, they romance. Before the cameras of Africa. And they were honoured and glorified. At times, the glories of the world make the children of kingdom looks stupid.

“I hope some kingdom children will not begin to envy this kind of worldly glories.”

Source:Dailypost.ng