Names Of Those Buhari Submitted For Ministerial Posts

General Muhammadu Buhari has submitted to the security agencies for screening 40 names being considered for ministerial appointments .

According to Daily Post, the names were submitted by the president-elect about a week ago.

Tinubu, Amaechi, Buhari meet

The Department of State Services, the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the National Intelligence Agency are the security agencies screening the potential ministers.

The names listed by the president-elect were mostly former PDP men who had defected to the APC, leading people to question where is the change.

The names being screened include Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the former Osun state governor and ousted PDP national secretary; Chief Bode Mustapha, the former PDP national auditor; an All Progressives Congress stalwart from Ogun state; and Engineer Segun Oni, the former Ekiti state governor and APC deputy national chairman (South West).

Others are Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti state; Dr. Abba Ruma, a former minister for agriculture and water resources; and Chief Kanu Agabi, a former minister of justice.

The list continues with Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River state; Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos state; and Yinka Folashade Oredola, a pharmacist from Ondo state.

Others on the list are Rotimi Akeredolu, a former gubernatorial candidate in Ondo state; Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state; Engineer Funsho Kupolokun, a former group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation; Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of Kano state; and Bisola Adegbenro, a senator-elect from Ogun state.

Also on the list are Isaiah Danjuma, the son of General TY Danjuma from Taraba state; Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation; Kehinde Lawanson, a former executive director of First Bank; and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), former minister of justice.

The rest of the names will be published when security agencies confirm the names to newsmen.

Buhari ran on the platform of change but critics have asked whether working with the old guard even with a new system can guarantee change? If you agree or disagree with this, leave your comment below.

HEALTH: E-Cigarettes are healthier compared to ordinary cigarettes – say Health Authorities

Health authorities have stated that E-cigarettes are healthier compared to the ordinary cigarettes and that there is no need to worry about the misconceptions that are widely believed about e-cigarettes.  A large number of people believe that dangers from e-cigarettes are no different compared to the ordinary cigarettes. A recent report released by Action on Smoking and Health states that there has been an increase in the use of e-cigarettes. In Britain alone, the number of vapers has reached 2.6 million.

At the end of 2014 Britain had only 2.1 million vapers and in a matter of just five months, the numbers have bulged to 2.6 million. Notably, most of the new e-cig smokers are those who were used to the regular cigarettes earlier.

This report also shows that experts have succeeded in spreading the awareness of e-cigarettes. Many people are still trying to quit smoking with the help of tobacco. On the other hand however, many people have also started to believe that e- cigarettes are no less harmful compared to the regular cigarettes.

Last year just about 15% people regarded e-cigarettes to be lethal for health. But that proportion has now ascended on account of false studies. At present some 22% people believe that e-cigarettes are also harmful.

The rapid spread of this false perception about e-cigarettes poses big threat to smokers. The major motivation to move from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes comes from the claim that they are less harmful to the smoker and more environment friendly.  But by spreading the misconception, many smokers have been discouraged from making the shift to e-cigarettes and continue with the traditional cigarettes that are more hazardous.

Source: TIMES GAZETTE

HEALTH: The secret to a great sex life revealed: Two cups of coffee a day

Drinking just two cups of coffee could boost your sex life by over 40 per cent

Scientists may have solved this age old riddle

Drinking just two cups of coffee a day could dramatically improve your sex life, a university study has concluded.

A study by the University of Texas has found that men who drank two cups a day where 42 per cent less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction compared to men.

For an article for the American science journal PLOS ONE, scientists studied 4,000 men drinking caffeinated drinks including coffee, tea, fizzy and sports drinks and found the result was the same regardless of weight, age or blood pressure.

Scientists believe it could be because the caffeine triggers a chemical reaction that increases blood flow to the penis by relaxing muscles.

But two cups might be the limit as the researchers also found the result dipped slightly to 39 per cent for men drinking three a day.

It also appears to have no effect on men already suffering from diabetes.

Prof David Lopez, of the University of Texas, Houston, said: “Even though we saw a reduction in the prevalence of erectile dysfunction with men who were obese, overweight and hypertensive, that was not true of men with diabetes”, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Previous research has already suggested the caffeine can boost sex drive in women.

In a 2006 experiment on female rats by Southwestern University in Texas, scientists found drinking coffee stimulated the parts of the brain that signal sexual arousal. But this effect could possibly was only be seen in women who did not drink coffee regularly.

Scientists have long argued whether to much coffee is bad for you with some arguing drinking more than four cups a day is dangerous as it causes restlessness, tremors, irritability, insomnia and stomach pain.

But in March a separate study on 25,000 middle aged men and women suggested that drinking three to five cups a day could reduce the chances of heart disease or stroke.

The research showed the people who drank the least- and the most- coffee showed the most signs that their arteries were clogging up- which dramatically increases the likelihood of a heart attack.

Source: The Independent

When Tunde, Wunmi Obe Hosted Top Celebrities To Exclusive Album Listening

Tunde and Wunmi Obe

NIGERIAN music industry’s first couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, otherwise known as T.W.O, hosted the crème de la crème of the Nigerian entertainment industry last weekend to a spectacular exclusive listening party for their latest studio album, T.W.O PLUS.

The event, which held at their plush Lagos residence, had in attendance several celebrities including Afrobeat icon, Femi Kuti, Nollywood actresses Funke Akindele and Kate Henshaw; popular musicians 9ice, Dare Art-Alade and dancehall legend, Ras Kimono.

Besides, DJ Jimmy Jatt’s eclectic mix of old school and new school songs which guests happily swayed to, the gig also treated guests to a rich mix of barbecue, champagne and assorted cocktails and drinks.

An animated Tunde commented shortly after the event: “We are very grateful for this amazing turn out and the support our colleagues have shown us.”

About the album, he said: “T.W.O. has grown and evolved over the years, both as a sound and as a brand and this album is a celebration of all that is great about T.W.O. as well as a venture into a fresh sound because we have always prided ourselves on our ability to be musical innovators.

Jonathan says he will be a peace advocate after leaving office

Abuja –  President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said he would be an advocate of peace in the country after leaving office.

The president said this when The Apostolic Church Nigeria, FCT Field, presented him with the “2015 Epitome of Peace Award’’ at the State House in Abuja.

Jonathan thanked the church for honouring him and said that he would appreciate if more Nigerians would join him in advocating for peace in the country.

“And one thing that I have decided to do after leaving office, is to make sure that I will be talking to all faithful of all religions, Christians, Muslims and other religions the need for Nigerians to live in peace.

“Because, when there is crisis in any part of the country, nobody can practice his own belief.

“When there is crisis anywhere, people cannot go to the mosque, you cannot go to the church.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES RADIO STATION IN ABUJA

“So we need peace in this country, no matter our religious persuasions, no matter our beliefs.

“And that will be one of my main commitments when I leave office.

“To reduce discrimination in this country based on religious divides or ethnicity.

“And I believe that I will have so many apostles to follow me to do that.’’

The president said that so many people had done things to project and keep the nation together which had gone unnoticed.

According to him, his recognition and honour by the church is to encourage him to do more for Nigerians.

He said the church noticed him not because he was the president, but because of a little action he took to save lives.

He thanked the group for the memorabilia it gave to him and said he would keep them in his Presidential museum of library for posterity.

Earlier, the Superintendent of the Church, Apostle John Buzu, said that the church chose the president for the award in recognition of his “outstanding leadership qualities, great strides, impactful contributions and laudable achievements’’.

Buzu said that Jonathan had proved to be an excellent leader and wonderful asset to the country.

“Our beloved president, you have distinguished yourself as a selfless servant leader with a large heart and a great sense of commitment towards the wellbeing, development, unity and progress of this nation.

“Your personal and leadership character have so endeared you to the hearts of well-meaning Nigerians and friends of the international community.

“We have collectively watched and observed you to be a humble leader with a simple and humane disposition to all manner of persons, irrespective of age, background, status, tribe, race or colour.

“You have exhibited a true servant-leader attitude with the willingness and readiness to always serve objectively at any level of responsibility and governance.

”You are a genuine and an icon of peace,’’ the clergyman said.

Buzu thanked Jonathan for expanding the political space in the country and expressed the hope that such legacy would be sustained. (NAN)

Power situation could get worse, FG warns

The Federal Government yesterday warned that the power situation in the country could get worse if the labour unions’ strike is not called off.

Addressing state House Correspondents after briefing Vice President Namadi Sambo on the power situation in the country, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali said the achievements recorded in the power sector are being eroded by the combined effects of vandalism and strikes.

According to him,

“Prior to the current constraints we have been encountering we have generated between 4,800 megawatts at the beginning of the year with a potential to get up to 6,000 megawatts based on the available gas and hydros. Besides, pipeline vandalization which has continued to have very negative impact on the power supply situation in the country, the on-going strike by labour unions in the oil and gas sector has added additional toll.

The current strike by both senior and junior staff unions of the NNPC, (NUPENG and PENGASSIN) has led to further reduction of the amount of gas available to most of our power plants especially in the western axis.

“As at 12.00 noon Friday, 22nd May, 2015, UTOROGU, CHEVRON ORE DO, OB EN gas plants are all shut down while UGHELL and CNL ESCRAVOS are all isolated already. On the eastern axis Shell Gas, ALAKIRI has also been shut down. This has led to the several power plants being stranded and shut down. These include EGBIN, OLORUNSHOGO I & 11, OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11, IHONVOR and SAPELE (NIPP) on the western axis and ALAOJI on the eastern end.

“The overall effect is that power supply which had started picking up steadily since the beginning of the week, following repairs of various vandalized portions of the ELP Line and the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipelines has fallen to all-time-unprecedented low of 1,327mw as at 1.00 p.m. on Friday, 22nd May, 2015. This situation could get worse if the strike action continues.

“The Federal Ministry of Power hopes, that the on-going discussion between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and, the Labour Unions, will end amicably and soonest to spare the country from such a major disruption of essential service. Indeed it is hoped the Labour Unions would help restore supply of gas to the power plants even while negotiations are on-going” he said.

NAFDAC seals Chocolate Royale over expired food products

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has sealed Lagos – based confectionaries and multinational food outlet, Chocolate Royale over what it described as “unethical practices” and non-adherent to Good Manufacturing and Hygienic Practices.

Vanguard gathered that the outlet was sealed following a tip-off and intelligence report which indicted the company of illegal importation, storage and use of expired ingredients and food products for preparing of food and confectionaries served to unsuspecting customers.

The company was also accused of operating and maintaining illegal cold-rooms at their Managing Director’s resident where large quantities of various expired and spoilt food ingredients worth millions of naira were uncovered.

The Agency claimed that it’s  action became necessary following avalanche of complaints of violation and affront of the company to the regulatory body’s regulations. Announcing the closure of the facilities located at Plot 267A Etim Inyang Crescent and the Managing Director’s residence on No 1, Karimu Kotun Street, all in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Director, Investigation and Enforcement of NAFDAC, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor disclosed that  some top officials of the company were equally arrested for interrogation for willfully obstructing the NAFDAC operatives in the course of their duties during the exercise which lasted over, nine hours.

The expired products worth over N1bn had been evacuated from both premises in six vans, Ejiofor confirmed.

He said six persons were arrested in connection with the incident, explaining  that they were held for intentionally obstructing NAFDAC officials while on official duties.His words: “The suspect will be interrogated, while the products will be sampled and taken to the laboratory for analysis, where the labels and contents will be properly analysed. And at the end of the day when the results are out, that will determine the next of action.”

Ejiofor who is also the Chairman of Federal Taskforce on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs, Unwholesome Processed Foods and other regulated products, said that the food and confectionery outlet will remain closed to allow for proper investigation.

“They will be investigated by the Federal Taskforce and NAFDAC. At the end of the investigations, files submitted will be reviewed and after evaluation, we will send them to the legal division which will advice on what next to do and if we have enough facts, then will proceed on prosecution,” he added.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii has inspected the seized products evacuated to the Agency’s Enforcement office at Apapa, assuring Nigerians that the case would be thoroughly investigated to ascertain the level of violations to aid prosecution.

Orhii who frowned at the development disclosed that apart from the products being expired, they were not registered by NAFDAC therefore should not have come into the country in the first place.

The Director General directed that in the course of the investigation, those handling the matter should request the company to furnish them with their clearing documents to ascertain if the offending products were legally cleared at the point of entry.

Reiterating that  Chocolate Royale will remain sealed and closed to the public until all the issues are fully investigated and resolved, Orhii commended Nigerians for their support for NAFDAC and urged them to help to provide more information that will assist them unravel the activities of those he described as the ‘’merchants of death’’ just as he revealed that there is a reward system in place for those who could furnish the Agency with useful information that will aid it to uncover more hideout of violators.

Chocolate Royale is a subsidiary of AIM Group belonging to a Lebanase business mogul, Mr. Amin Moussalli who is also the owners of broadcast stations; Cool Fm, Nigerian Info Fm, Wazobia Fm, Cool TV, Wee TV and Wazobia TV respectively among other business interests in Nigeria.