Nigeria at 56: Army releases 348 suspected Boko Haram members in Borno, Kano declares Tuesday public holiday to start new Islamic calendar and other major headlines you missed today!

Dear KFBers, we have got loads of interesting stories in tonight's #MajorHeadlinesYouMissedToday Nigeria's first female Vice...

Dear KFBers, we have got loads of interesting stories in tonight's #MajorHeadlinesYouMissedToday

Nigeria's first female Vice Chancellor, Grace Alele-Williams, honored with a Chieftancy title by the Olu of Warri

Nigeria’s first female Vice Chancellor and Professor of Mathematics, Grace Alele- Williams was honored with a chieftaincy title of the Utienyin Iwere of Warri kingdom by the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwole’s the first in Warri yesterday September 30th.



Arinze, Edochie, others mourn elder Martins Njubuigbo


 Some Nollywood actors have expressed sadness over the death of veteran actor, Martins Njubuigbo, popularly known as elder Maya. 

The late Njubuigbo died of a liver-related ailment. Segun Arinze, popularly known as ‘Black Arrow’ said on Saturday in Abuja, that Njubuigbo was a great actor. “He was amiable and very jovial; we will sure miss him. “Like Shakespeare said, ‘the world is a stage’; Njubuigbo has come, done his beat and taken his exit and the curtain has fallen. Martins Njubuigbo “All I can say is good night elder Martins Njubuigbo; may God grant the family the heart to bear the lost,” Arinze said. 

Another veteran actress, Mrs Rita Edochie said he was a good artist, “too bad that it happened. “May God comfort the family and may his soul rest in perfect peace with the Almighty creator,” Edochie said. 

Mr Babatunde Obalana, the National President of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, said the demise of the actor was unfortunate. “He will surely be missed; may his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.”

 Mrs Chiwendu Egwu, a housewife and an addent fan of the late actor, said he was a perfect character interpreter. 

According to her, he can act any character assigned to him and that he would be greatly missed by his fans all over the world. “We cannot ask God why it happened; we just pray for his soul to rest in peace and the family to bear the lost.” 

The late Njubuigbo, also known as Elder Maya and Baba Jumoke featured in blockbusters, including ‘Died Wretched,’ ‘Battle of Mussanga, among many others.

Another Nollywood veteran, Tunde Alabi, seriously ill, leg set for amputation 



 For those who have been watching TV since the days of the Village Headmaster, the name Tunde Alabi, will certainly ring a bell, as he was one of the regular characters in the now rested TV series. But the trending news on the old thespian is that, he’s laying critically ill at the Lagos General Hospital, with one of his leg set for amputation in other to save his life. 

Mr Alabi, who is said to currently have no home, money or anybody to help him, except for few colleagues like Paul Julius is even on the verge of being evicted from the hospital because he has no money to sustain his stay in the hospital and for further treatment. 

According to sources close to him, the veteran actor has been battling diabetes for years with no treatment because of lack of money. All efforts to seek for help from different quarters have proved abortive. 

However, in the bid to safe the thespian life, actor and movie director, Paul Julius and a few others have decided to cry out for help. 

Speaking about the veteran actor, Mr Paul Julius said “If there’s a better word to use in place of veteran, then that should come for this old war horse in the world of make –believe. Uncle Tunde Alabi has been on the acting scene since the glorious days of television drama in Nigeria and he’s today one of the last of that octopus called The Village Headmaster, a television drama that was the in – thing in its days on National Television. 

His role in the now rested soap opera ‘PALACE’ produced by Ralph Nwadike was one that viewers will not forget in haste. This thorough-breed professional of the old order who is equally at home with the youngsters of today, impacting knowledge and valuable experience into them whenever he has the opportunity is currently down with ailment which has put his right foot in danger to the point of amputation if urgent help is not given. 

He’s laying helplessly at the General Hospital, Lagos waiting to lose his right leg or even worse. 

He has done his part in putting smiles on faces and happiness in the lives of millions home and abroad, it’s our turn to help him. Nothing is too small…HE will appreciate your candid help. 

Thanks and God bless “ Julius said. Name: TUNDE OBAFEMI ALABI Bank Details: UNITY BANK PLC Account No. : 0005647181




Nigeria at 56: Army releases 348 suspected Boko Haram members in Borno

In the spirit of Independence anniversary celebration, the Nigerian military has handed over 348 suspected members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram to the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima.
The General Officer Commanding 7 division Nigerian Army, General Victor Ezugwu said the handing over of the cleared suspected terrorists arrested during counter insurgency operations in Borno state was the fifth since his assumption of command.
According to him, “The process ensures that those captured while participating actively or passively in creating sorrow and mayhem in the society are screened out for necessary judicial recourse.”
He said the division had dully investigated all suspects who were arrested at various camps and found 348 to be innocent.
“The cleared suspects are made up of 114 male, 107 female, 127 children and 115 under aged (5-10 years old, while 12 are 11years and above.
“I am therefore here today to once again enforce the magnanimity of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by presenting the cleared suspects to His Excellency, Governor of Borno state, Hon. Kashim Shettima for rehabilitation and reintegration back into their respective LGAs”, he said.
He said other suspects who were not released would be handed over to the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services for further action.
“Amongst them are 6 foreigners who illegally entered Nigeria. They consist of 4 Cameroonian, 1 Chadian and 1 Jamaican. These foreigners would be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for deportation”, he added.





Nigeria’s foreign reserves drops to $24.59bn


Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves has dipped further.
As at September 28, the reserves plunged by 3.37 per cent, according to latest Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, report.
Now $25.45bn, the amount declined 19 per cent from exactly a year ago.
The country’s external reserves stood at $24.8bn in September 21 this year.
The CBN has been selling the dollar to support the currency, but the naira hit a fresh all-time low of 490 per dollar on the black market on Friday.
The foreign exchange reserves fell by $600m in two weeks before shedding $1bn in four weeks, the CBN statistics showed then.
Specifically, the reserves fell from $25.8bn on August 16 to $24.8bn on September 16. It decreased by $600m from $25.4bn recorded on August 31 to $24.8bn on September 16.
The spate of decline in the external reserves follows the CBN’s almost daily interventions at the interbank/official foreign exchange market in recent weeks, as chronic dollar shortage continues to weigh on the economy.
In its efforts to defend the naira and prevent it from falling further at the official interbank market, the central bank has been selling dollars there more frequently.
The naira had fallen to an all-time low of 365.25 to the dollar at the interbank market on August 18 before making a gradual recovery.
At the interbank segment of the market, the naira hovered around N310.




Kano declares Tuesday public holiday to new Islamic calendar 

 Kano state government has declared Tuesday, October 4th as Public Holiday to mark the beginning of the new Islamic calendar 1438 A.H. The Islamic New Year is on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar.
The state government had on Friday, 30th September, 2016 organized a prayer session at the Government House Mosque in Kano, to usher in the new Islamic year, which coincided with activities marking the nation’s 56th anniversary celebration. 

In the same vein, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accompanied by top government officials, visited some hospitals in the state capital to show sympathy with the sick and to prayer for their speedy recuperation, in line with Islamic etiquette. Governor Ganduje urges Muslims to use the period of the holiday, especially the blessed days of the 9th and 10th of the month of Muharram to ease the socio – economic challenges facing the country and to strengthen our leaders to steer it to greater heights.





CBN boss, Emefiele confirms wife’s release





The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele has thanked the Federal Government and security agencies for the rescue of his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele.
The CBN boss in a statement released in Abuja on Saturday by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, stated that the CBN governor’s wife was rescued very late Friday night.

Emefiele was qouted as saying: “I am grateful to security agencies for their gallantry in bringing my wife back home within 24 hours in compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“My gratitude to the Delta and Edo State governments, friends and well-wishers, who through their actions, prayers and goodwill, helped to bring this harrowing experience to a joyful end.

“I reaffirm my resolve to continue to serve the nation diligently with all his heart without any fear of intimidation,” the statement added.
Margaret was released by the kidnappers on Saturday at Ugoneki community in Edo State following pressure from security forces.
Margaret after her release reportedly found her way to the highway.

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