Get Modular Office Furniture, Modular Home Office Furniture for your luxury Office from Casa Modern. Join discussion...

E-mail Written by Victor Omoregie A substantial part of the highbrow area of Lagos State may go under in the next 50 years if the predictions of experts in oceanography are anything to go by. Join discussion...

search for doomed jet Air traffic controllers made a desperate attempt to locate doomed Continental Airlines flight 3407 before it crashed in Clarence, near Buffalo, New York state, it can be revealed. Join discussion...

The pilot who crash-landed a US Airways Airbus 320 plane in New York's Hudson River has been hailed as a hero after all 155 people on board escaped alive. Join discussion...

This may sound like fairy tale, but it is real. A Nigerian couple that migrated to God’s own country in search of greener pastures resorted to pseudo marriage to secure the green card believed to be a ticket to heaven. First, the man introduces his betrothed wife to his American darling as his sister to pave way for his marriage to the American lady. Join discussion...

Lagos tanker drivers yesterday suspended three days strike to lift petroleum. The tanker drivers embarked on strike on Wednesday to protest what it called high handedness and extortion by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). The strike suspension brings to an end three days of agony unleashed on Lagosians by this unnecessary action of the drivers. Within this time, it was like hell buying petroleum products at the filling stations as long queues returned with commuters stranded at the bus stops as bus scarcity had been the situation. Join discussion...

As the world prepares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Uburu community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, is wallowing in grief, sorrow and tears. On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, the community, renowned for salt production, had a taste of war in peace time. Join discussion...

By Timi Hyacinth Richard Branson, owner of the ‘Virgin’ international brand, for some reason best known to him, decided to tie his fortunes with the Nigerian government in a peculiar relationship to build an airline with the Nigerian label. Through a maze of controversy and unsolicited advice, the two partners managed to wangle their way into an agreement that put the Nigerian flight label back into the international market as Virgin Nigeria Airways. This gave the foreign partner an edge over local airlines and a fleeting monopoly on a few Nigerian international routes. A quick romance began: the so called virgin with the celebrated non-virgin. It was a relationship built on purported national pride and financial gain. The Nigerian partner was too attractive to overlook. Lacking beauty, this partner held a potential beyond genteel looks and fine manners. It held the perceived potential of raking in billions into the Branson Empire. The old Nigerian by-word became true in this instance: ‘money na man’, meaning that a man’s attractiveness is based on his money not his looks, moral fibre or demeanour. For the original ‘virgin’ manners could wait. In fact it could even be taught to this new suitor who was heir to a fine inheritance. It didn’t seem to matter that this ‘heir’s history was wrapped up in corruption and non-performance. A marriage of convenience would do. The ‘virgin’ would keep her so called virginity and the new suitor would celebrate a new identity. The suitor may have reasoned that a good name is better than riches, even if it was not entirely your own. And so in very un-Nigerian fashion; the suitor took on the name of his bride. However, a marriage of convenience is, as it is well known, anything but convenient. According to Wiki, a marriage of convenience “is a marriage contracted for reasons other than the reasons of relationship, family, or love. Instead, such a marriage is orchestrated for personal gain or some other sort of strategic purpose” In such instances both partners are neither innocent nor naïve since the marriage is contracted on the basis of personal interest. Sometimes marriages of convenience are a smoke screen and hide a dark secret of either or both partners. There are of course exceptions, like when the late renowned academic and writer CS Lewis at age 58, married his Jewish American friend, Joy Davidman Gresham, so that she could remain in the United Kingdom. In this case CS Lewis fell in love with Joy, but still it took a few years for them to arrive at the point where they could live together as husband and wife. Someone once said that all the marriages of conveniences they have known have ended in divorce. However, in Nigeria when they occur among the wealthy, some manage to put up an appearance of cordiality and sometimes civility. Looking at the two partners, I wonder if each had well studied the other. One claimed virginity, the other did not. However, this ‘virgin’ was no prude; otherwise she would not have contracted a relationship; an alloy of some sort in Nigerian Airspace. Is it possible that the Nigerian partner was deceived into thinking her ‘virgin’ blood could heal his peculiar ailment, an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which seems to resist all medication, treatment, surgery or revival techniques? Or were each blinded by gushing excitement; one swayed by a desire for a second chance with a new name and the other, a deriding desire to add to an ever expanding empire? Close allies of the two partners may best answer these questions. Nevertheless, as is to be expected the alliance not too long after, began to reveal visible cracks and tensions. This tension became an open secret when the ‘virgin’ decided to question the supremacy of her ‘beau’ in Nigerian courts. The forged alliance of these two partners which began a few years ago was received with mixed feelings. Like many Nigerians I did not think too much about the marriage of convenience because it came at a time when travel in Nigerian airspace presented few options. I figured that we could benefit some, from being in-laws of a bride whom we hoped would give us some more courtesy, respect and of course rebate. We hoped that the marriage would work even though it started on a wrong footing. For in-laws like me who needed to travel from Port Harcourt to the United Kingdom, our new bride offered us a complimentary flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos and back. It became so convenient that we naturally made her our favourite among other local and international brides. We were forming an old familiar habit that had kept us travelling with our late in-law the first wife who bore Nigeria’s name. She was notorious for her disrespect, inefficiency and lack of decorum, and when she died few mourned her passing. I remember an uncle consoling himself in those days when she flew the Nigerian airspace and international routes. It was fashionable then i Join discussion...

Eid-el-Kabir: Mark, Bankole, Fashola, By Our Correspondents Published: Monday, 8 Dec 2008 The President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark has appealed to the adherents of religious groups in Nigeria to live peacefully with one another in the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir. Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Photo file FASHOLA Mark made the appeal in a goodwill message to Muslims who are marking the on Eid-el-Kabir festival on Monday (today). He urged the Muslims to emulate the good teachings of Prophet Mohammed which he said, harped on good neighbourliness, sacrifice, tolerance, love and charity to one another. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, also urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, obedience and perseverance as they celebrate sallah. Bankole, in a message on the occasion, urged Muslim faithful nationwide to reflect on the import of the celebration as a mark of God’s love for all. The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Affairs, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, explained that the occasion should be seen beyond mere festivity but that which symbolised great spirituality. The development came as seven state governors: Babatunde Fashola (SAN), (Lagos); David Jang (Plateau); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun); Dr. Olusegun Agagu (Ondo); and the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, urged the people in the country to live in peace. Fashola also urged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, sacrifice and mutual love in order that the nation might achieve the security, peace and healthy environment needed for development. Fashola, who said this in his 2008 Eid-el-Kabir message to the people of the state, also called on Nigerian Muslims to renew their commitment to the tenets of Islam. The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said the values of tolerance, sacrifice and love for Allah and fellow human beings were more relevant and necessary than ever before in the nation and the world today. He pointed out that everyone had a stake in a peaceful and prosperous world where they could raise families, earn their livelihoods, worship their creator in diverse ways and realise the purpose for their existence. Saraki has identified tolerance and compromise as essential requirements for sustaining the tempo of progress and peace in the State. Saraki stated this in his Eid-el-Kabir message to all Muslims in the State. He urged Muslims to step up their spiritual devotion and rededicate themselves to the injunctions of love and perseverance as exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim through the sacrifice made. Meanwhile, Jang and his immediate predecessor, Chief Joshua Dariye, have called on the Muslim community in the state to use the occasion of the Sallah to seek genuine reconciliation in the aftermath of the crisis that engulfed the state. Jang, in a statement by the Director of Press Affairs, Mr. James Mannock, sued for forgiveness, tolerance and fear of God among the people of Plateau. Uduaghan also said the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir should be used for serious and thoughtful reflections on the causalities of Jos chaos. He challenged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for continued peaceful co-existence in the country, saying that Nigeria could not afford to continue in the path of suspicion, hatred and needless bloodletting. Meanwhile, Aliyu has called on Muslims in Niger State to adhere strictly to the teachings of Mohammed and imbibe the culture of living peacefully with all Nigerlites irrespective of religious, political and tribal affiliations. The governor, in a broadcast to mark the year 2008 Id-El Kabir in Minna on Sunday, however, reminded all religious bodies that the state government was not biased in its position that all law abiding citizens in the state irrespective of religion, tribal, political and social status, had equal stake in the business of the state. Oyinlola also hinged the development of the country on sacrifice on the part of government and the masses. A statement containing the governor’s Eid el Kabir message, on Sunday in Osogbo, advised Nigerians to emulate Prophet Ibrahim, who was prepared to sacrifice his only son to Allah. Meanwhile, Agagu has urged Muslims to emulate Mohammed as they celebrate Eid-el-Kabir. He said this in his goodwill message to Muslims in Akure on Sunday. Agagu also called on Muslims to use the period to pray for peace and progress of the country. Also, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Lawal and the governorship candidate of the Action Congress during the April 14 2007 election in the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have tasked Muslims as they mark Eid-el-Kabir. Lawal speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of the festival, including display of humility, showing gratitude to Allah for his kindness and favour, as well as seeking d Join discussion...

Monday, April 21, 2008 NIGERIANS, 'BRUTISH' AIRWAYS & RESPECT PT. 1 British Airways, or as I rather call them, 'Brutish' Airways, recently threw over 130 Nigerian passengers off a flight that was scheduled to leave Heathrow Airport for Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. One Nigerian passenger, Ayodeji Omotade, was even banned from flying on Brutish Airways for life, just for coming to the defense of a fellow Nigerian that was in fear for his life. The result, is that Nigerians around the world have started a petition to get an apology from British Airways and encouraged a boycott. It is important for consumers to demand and receive a certain level of customer service and for an entity like British Airways to ignore this fact and disrespect Nigerians is unacceptable. As such, I support the efforts to get better treatment. However, I believe that a more long-term approach must be employed so as to teach entities like Brutish Airways and others that disrespecting Nigerians will no longer be tolerated. Join discussion...