September 29, 2010

Durella Laughs Last

September 28, 2010 0:00 am 
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Even though they might be insecure enough to think otherwise, the truth is that there are only a handful of indigenous artistes popular enough to be consistently 'hated' on by the Fourth Estate, printing ink costs money these days, and fortunately/unfortunately for him, Durella is one of them.



Unlike many of his overexposed colleagues however, Durella gets a flogging for misgivings in his professional rather than his personal life; uncanny similarities with an equally animated, sunglasses-clad, torso-revealing singer (D'Banj), add that to his overtly sexual lyrics and an (ineffectual) NBC ban on his music to match, and it's not hard to see why it's been an uneasy ride for the King of the Zanga, but on his second go-around Durella hits out at his detractors, going for the jugular. Soon after its release, My Life (a.k.a H'enemies) became the theme song for anyone who's ever felt 'hated' on before and the Zangalist's career was finally facing the direction of the rising sun. He who laughs last
Reconfigurated is Durella's first full body of work since releasing (and re-releasing) his debut album King of the Zanga. One thing that characterized the KotZ album was its intensity and on the uniquely titled Reconfigurated, Durella retains that same vigour, but it's the application of that energy that is far more measured this time around, the results a little more deliberate.

Durella took a gamble by handing little-known Sam Klef a sizable portion of the album's production duties, but it's a risk that paid off as the young producer steered Durella's sound in a different direction. The invigorating Boom Boom gives Durella ample space to just wild out, the bass is heavy, the pace is relentless and the self-crowned Oba carries on without any particular skill or vocal expertise, just bucket loads of charisma. It's that charisma that Durella infuses into the absolutely monstrous My Life, giving Klef's banging drums a life of their own, sadly though the CD version of the hit song is wretched in quality.

The other producer with a large footprint on Reconfigurated is K. Solo, and with the exception of the painfully mundane Baba God, the ace producer is able to make his client sound nothing like Timaya for once.

The biggest surprise in K.Solo's kitty is the dance floor-ready Don't Go Funny featuring the aforementioned Timaya where K.Solo takes a break from his trademark kpalongo style to deliver an edgy beat which Durella is perfectly at home with. That song gave birth to the popular phrase  'Is that why we're here' as the Mushin-bred artiste once again influences urban culture with his infectious lingua. Reconfigurated does go 'funny' once in a while though, like when Durella makes the ill-advised decision to ruin Hustle with 16 bars, and then there's that abysmal remix for My Life with Terry G.

After all is said and done, Durella and TC Records contrived to smuggle a good album into stores when Reconfigurated had everything it needed to land with a bang! With the momentum his well-received singles helped him generate, you can't help but wonder whether Durella just squandered a wonderful opportunity to launch his career into orbit.

Chidinma Wins Project Fame Season 3

September 28, 2010 0:00 am 
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After several weeks of hard work; the training and grooming from the faculty team, harsh criticisms from the judges and the in-house quarrels amongst the housemates, a winner has finally emerged in the third season of Project Fame West Africa. Amid tension, fear, hopes and high expectations Chidinma was tonight pronounced the winner of Project Fame West Africa season 3.

The last six contestants  Kesse, Ochuko, Eyo, Tolu, Yetunde and Chidinma lined up after their performances for the night, waiting for the breaking news. The comperes, Benjamin and Adora delayed the announcement as usual, raising the fright even more. Their eyebrows were blinking per second. They breathed in and out almost every minute  the tension is heightened.


The studio was quiet for few minutes as the validated voting result, enclosed in an envelope was handed over to the hosts. Even the Joke Silva led faculty crew looked tensed. Eventually, Chidinma Ekile who drastically improved in the cause of the show was pronounced the 2010 Project Fame star as she was presented the cheque of N2.5m and keys to a brand new Toyota RAV4. She's also entitled to a recording contract.

It's the first time a lady is winning the contest. And Chidinma's win makes it the third time a Nigerian is coming tops.

Gifted Ghanaian singer Kesse Frimpong was named 1st runner up winning- N1.5m and a Toyota Corolla while Eyo Eminue made the 2nd runner up position and went home with N1m and a Toyota Yaris.

Fan-favourite Yetunde (a.k.a. Omo Ibadan) was named third runner-up.

The other two contestants, Tolu Adeshina and Ochuko Ogbu-Sifo didn't completely lose out of the competition as the top six contestants are expected to release a group song, produced by one of Nigeria's leading producers; a well as a video.

Ultima boss Femi Ayeni tells us the Academy is committed to pushing and supporting all six finalists
Iyanya was the winner of the debut edition MTN Project Fame (season 1) in 2008. Shortly after his historic win he released a single and eventually an album which ushered him into the hall of fame of Nigerian musicians.

Mike Anyasodo emerged the second winner of season 2 in 2009. With his debut album in the pipeline, he has released several singles including the recent 'Fine Fine Lady' which is receiving massive airplay on TV and Radio stations in the country.

Now it's Chidinma's turn to rock stardom, with her already acquired platform. Hopefully she would be the next big thing happening to the Nigerian music industry in a matter of months

Jonathan Assists Flood Victims

September 29, 2010 0:00 am 
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President Jonathan has approved the release of N1 billion and N750 million as�Federal Government grantsto Sokoto and Kebbi state governments, respectively as part of governments assistance to alleviate the sufferings of victims of the flood disaster that ravaged the two states.

A release by the Special Adviser to the President on Media And Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro said the grants are to be expended on reconstruction of damaged roads, culverts and bridges; scour inspection and survey of piers and abutments of the severely eroded bridge across theSokoto River; and urgent after-flood protection study of the affected areas.

He said the flood disaster was described by experts as a once in a 500-year event, hence the federal government is leaving no stone unturned to protect the impacted areas.

The president urged the Sokoto and Kebbi governments to ensure judicious use of the grants to alleviate the plight of the flood victims.

Nigeria will have Additional 4, 000 MW In 2012-FG

September 29, 2010 0:00 am 
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The National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its meeting with a promise that the nation will have an additional 4, 000 megawatts of electricity by the year 2012 when the independent power projects are fully commissioned.

Briefing state house correspondents on the decisions of NEC, the Niger state governor Dr. Muazu Aliyu said that in the next three or four months, the Mambilla and Zungeru hydro projects will also come on stream to give an additional 700 megawatts of power.

The council also gave a directive that state and local governments can go into generation of at least 5 megawatts of electricity to complement whatever the federal government is doing. The current power generation capacity of Nigeria stands less than 4, 000 mw of electricity, a far cry from the quantity of power needed to move and develop the economy.

The council at its 27th session presided over by the Nigerias Vice-President, Architect Namadi Sambo appealed to governors to assist on the issues that will facilitate the completion of the projects.
Council also revisited the sale of federalgovernment property contending issues and has set up a committee to look into the sales and work out the clashes with the state government.

The council moreover used the occasion to congratulate Nigerians on the attainment of 50 years as a nation and disclosed that special honours will be awarded to prominent Nigerians to commemorate the season.

Kidnap Saga: Banks Shut In Aba



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Business activities in the commercial banks in Aba, the Abia state capital have been disrupted following the menace of kidnapping in that city and its environs in recent times.
The latest in the series of the kidnappings is the abduction of the fifteen pupils of Abayi International nursery and primary school on Monday, September 27 in a school bus to school.

After two days of the incidents widely condemned in its entirety, the fear-gripped residents of the commercial centre of Abia state have yet to come to the reality of the moment, even as banks operating in the town have shot and withdrawn their service to the banking public.


According to reports reaching Channels Televisionon Tuesday September 28, all the banks shot aftermath of the kidnap saga have remained shut leaving their beleaguered customers revving over their predicament.

Also, in solidarity to the Abayi International School and Magnet Secondary School whose pupils abduction triggered the round of trepidation around the state, some schools have closed down as a protest against the abduction of the students.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, GeofferyOgonna and his boss, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, the Abia police command would do everything possible to free the children from their abductors.

Meanwhile, the police command says that the kidnappers have reduced the twenty million naira ransom to three hundred thousand naira.

2011: ANPP woos IBB, Buhari


Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida
Photo: Sun News Publishing


As the ding-dong among presidential hopefuls in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) moved further yesterday to open its door wider for the former military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) being speculated to be eyeing the party’s platform to realize his ambition, should he fail to get the PDP ticket.

The party is also exploring ways of opening discussions with its estranged former presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, now of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). It has also raised a contact team.

The party, which had penultimate Sunday, during its national convention amended its constitution to grant automatic waiver to former presidents and head of state just joining the party to fly its party’s flag in the 2011 elections.

Yesterday, a six-man team was raised by the party to move round the country to liaise with persons, groups and other interests, who might be interested in joining the party to come in.

Described as Contact Committee headed by the ANPP’s immediate past chairman of Board of Trustees, Alhaji Gambo Mogaji, new National Chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, said the ANPP has become new and now in search of meaningful people to come on board to realize their ambitions to turn the nation around by jointly fighting the ruling party.

One of the members of the committee confided in Daily Sun that Generals Babangida and Buhari were some of the people being targeted in the renewed bid to restore the lost glory of the party and make it a potent force in the politics of Nigeria.
He explained that the new leadership was not averse to entry into the party, of anyone including former members, who have left or new ones.
When asked whether the development was in furtherance of the party’s constitution amendment, he was not forthcoming, but simply said the membership drive is one of the agenda of the new leadership.

In his first official function, Onu while inaugurating the committee, said the new ANPP was desirous of making new friends “so that together, we can build a new Nigeria. Our old friends will remain dear to our heart. But we need to compliment their friendship in such a way that together, both old and new, can march in greater strength and stronger unity in the pursuit of the good life for all Nigerians.
“Fellow party men and women, Nigeria needs the ANPP. Nigerians need the ANPP even more and we cannot afford to fail because if we do, Nigeria and Nigerians would be in trouble.”
Onu maintained that multi-party democracy was in danger and unless the opposition unites with the majority of Nigerians, “victory will be certain for those who do not and cannot win elections.”

While mandating the committee to comb the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond in its drive for members for the party, he disclosed that the committee had two months to work and submit its report to the party so that the leadership would know what action to be taken next.
Chairman of the committee, Mogaji, said the task was onerous, but that they would do their utmost best to achieve the purpose for which the committee was set up.
He explained that the committee would reach out to aggrieved members who had left the party and new ones and called for support of all for the members to succeed.
Other members of the committee include, Dr Yusuff Musa, Ibrahim Hassan, Admiral Amusu, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Livinus Nwambe.

NAPTIP to Engage ECOWAS on Trafficking

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says thousands of Nigerian girls who are victims of human traffickers are forced into prostitution in neighbouring Mali.

The Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mr. Chudi Egede told a news conference in Abuja that between twenty thousand and forty thousand girls were discovered in hotels managed by madams from Edo state.

Mr. Egede said that when NAPTIP team visited Mali, Nigerian girls sat outside hotels on wooden platforms soliciting for sexual services from men walking along the street.

According to NAPTIP, most of the girls are victims of human trafficking from Edo and Delta state who dreamt of greener pasture in Europe.

According to NAPTIP, these girls are forced into the thriving sex trade in Mali where prostitution is said to be legal.

According to Mr. Egede, the victims are trafficked through Lagos Cotonou  Benin Republic  Burkina Faso and Sokoto  Niger Republic  Burkina Faso routes to Mali, a situation encouraged by the free movement of persons among Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) member nations.

While the anti-trafficking agency cannot expect any change in the ECOWAS  Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECAS) treaty for free movement, they however intend to co-opt and increase the responsibility of member nations and protect Nigerian citizen.

Besides Mali  with a total population of thirteen million, which is now identified as the largest receptacle in Africa for victims of trafficking from Nigeria, other countries which the agency is set to include in its rescue plans are Libya, morocco and Spain.

September 22, 2010

POP CHAMPAGNE

September 16, 2010

Njeze Highlights Security Consciousness at ACI Conference

Fidelia NjezeMinister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze has said Nigeria at the moment is implementing new security measures, especially at the nation's international airports based on the five key points of the Abuja security roadmap.

The roadmap includes; developing and enhancing aviation security, introducing a culture of compliance and maintaining aviation security human resources and infrastructure.

Mrs. Njeze spoke at the opening ceremony of the 19th Airport Council International (ACI) Africa Conference holding in Abuja the nation's capital city.

September 01, 2010

Raw Video: New Video of Trapped Chilean Miners

Justin Bieber ft. Slikz -Jump

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