Naija Talk Show & Gossip, Nigeria Nollywood

'Apart from football, music is another thing I had passion for while I was growing up in Jos. I have so much emotional attachment to music. It lifts my soul and makes me happy. The arrival of MMM Records (Matured Money Minds) has gone a long way to show the deep love I have for music. I want to contribute my little quota to the growth of the music industry in Nigeria. I'm a good song writer and singer. If I wasn't a footballer, I would have done well as a singer or a disc jockey (DJ)' - Mikel Obi

Pastor Paul Adefarasin's led House on the Rock church building, Rock Cathedral, which has gulped about N3 billion to erect, has been finally completed. The church which sits on 32, 000 square meters, will sit at least 10, 000 thousand worshipers in the church auditorium and another 10,000 within the church premises and may be declared open for use in December 2012.  The Rock Cathedral, also known as Millennium Temple, took almost 8 years to complete and is situated along the Lekki Epe Express way, close to Liberty Hall.

This is a story published by UK Daily Mail yesterday morning. They are accusing Bishop Oyedepo's Winners Chapel of exploiting their worshipers and receiving over £16 million in donations from them. A church run by a controversial multi-millionaire African preacher has been accused of ‘cynical exploitation’ after its British branch received £16.7 million in donations from followers who were told that God would give them riches in return. Followers are ferried in double-decker shuttle buses to the church, handed slips inviting them to make debit card payments, and are even told obeying the ministry’s teachings will make them immune from illness. Today’s Mail on Sunday revelations about the Winners’ Chapel movement have prompted the Charity Commission to review the charitable status  of the church – one of the fastest-growing in the UK. Winners’ Chapel is part of a worldwide empire of evangelical ministries run by Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher David Oyedepo, who has an estim...

Labour Party’s Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was yesterday declared winner of the governorship election held in Ondo State on Saturday. He defeated his closest rival, Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a total vote of 260,191 to 155,961. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, scored 143,512 votes to come third in a contest that proved several bookmakers wrong. Many predicted that the contest would be a close one between Mimiko and Akeredolu. At 1pm the state returning officer of the election and vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola, formally declared the LP candidate and incumbent governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, winner, “having scored the highest number of votes as required by law”. He said Mimiko won 13 local government areas across the three senatorial districts, while ACN won three and PDP two.

Nigeria’s foreign external reserves last week hit $42 billion as international rating agency, Fitch put the country’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’ respectively with a Stable Outlook. The reserves had been rising consistently  over the past few months in line with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy’s aims at building  the reserves to $50 billion before the end of the year (2012), so as to serve as cushion for the  economy in case of any global economic recess. The presidency and the legislative arm of government are currently at odds over what the oil benchmark should be with the National Assembly settling for $78 per barrel benchmark against the finance minister’s benchmark of $75. According to Fitch, “The combination of a tighter fiscal stance, the reduced petroleum subsidy and a tightening of the subsidy payment system and other foreign exchange transactions, have resulted in a month-by-month increas...

The Vice President, Health, Safety and Communication, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Tony Attah, in this interview with ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, speaks on the rising wave of oil theft in the Niger Delta region. What is your take on the rising cases of oil theft in the Niger Delta region? This menace is one that has been around for a very long time and, working with you, we have shown you a few things in the past.  Imo River over-fly is in  terrible situation. Also, around the Bodo-Bomu axis, we have a very similar situation going on. There you have lots of illegal refining activities, which are damaging the environment. This particular one is worthy of mention because of the scale. A lot of times, we try to tell the world about the environmental devastation the country is experiencing; it’s too much to bear. I don’t know how much of the information that go out. So, this is a classical one; you have seen that vessel, you have seen the size. If not that it caught f...

The senator accused by the Joint Task Force (JTF) of harbouring a top Boko Haram commander in his personal residence in Maiduguri, Ahmed Zanna, told a select group of senior reporters in Abuja yesterday that the arrest was actually effected in the residence of a former governor of Borno State. “Contrary to the claim of the JTF, the boy, Shu’aibu Bama, was arrested in a house at Rabi Street, off Damboa Road,” said Zanna. As to why the JTF would seek to frame him up as he claimed, the senator, who represents Borno Central in the Senate, said:  “It obviously was as a result of an interview I granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last week asking for their withdrawal from the state because they are not working according to the rules of engagement. “I noticed that they are just killing innocent people, killing them unnecessarily, harassing their families, extorting money. All these have been going on and I became so concerned. Particularly, the killing and burning ...

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has condemned the devaluation of the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)  at N200 billion, saying the power firm is worth N2 trillion. NUEE general secretary Comrade Joseph Ajaero, who made this comment at a press conference in Lagos at the weekend, called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the devaluation, even as he lamented that the country was facing a rip-off. He said: “It is only a prodigal son that would sell the house of his father that gives N300 billion yearly for N200 billion, and those who devalued PHCN assets wanted to scrap what belongs to Nigerians. “The warning is that if you take an aspect of the asset worth N2 trillion and sell for N200 billion, and the entitlements of workers is about N500 billion, government has to look for the excess to pay the workers. “We want to sound this note of warning to Nigerians that would say the union is proving difficult because after paying...

Popular Nollywood actor, Charles Inojie is currently preparing for his wedding. The traditional marriage ceremony between him and his fiancee, Obehi Obhiseh, will come up in Benin on November 17.  The Theatre Arts graduate has starred in movies such as Open and Close, American Visa, Money Riot, and Hotel Crisis.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Zack Orji, will on October 27 receive the 2012 Planet Africa Entertainment Award. He will be presented with the award at the Diversity and Planet Africa Awards gala, which will take place in Toronto at the Roy Thomson Hall. The awards are given out by the Planet Africa Group, publishers of Planet Africa magazine.

 Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, yesterday (October 17) attended the premiere of the movie, Amina, which took place in London, at the Empire Leicester Square. The actress attended the premiere in a dramatic print gown from the fashion brand, Iconic Invanity. Her hair was done by Avos, while her makeup was done by Kemi Kings.

Popular actress, Stella Damasus has released a song titled Love Me Quick. The actress has been an entertainer and performer for more than 17 years, and this is the first song that she will be releasing from her studio recordings. This song comes on the heels of Tonto Dikeh’s release of two songs of her own.

The Lagos State Government yesterday said it would no longer allow the use of vehicles with number plates from other states of the federation for commercial transportation in the state.  It also advised residents with private vehicles to change to the state’s number plates to reflect the fact that they are living in Lagos.  The Director, Vehicle Inspection Office, Mr, Gbolahan Toriola, said the measure was meant to achieve “sanity, standard, safety and security” as stipulated by the road traffic law.  Toriola spoke at the vehicle inspection safety campaign organised by the Ministry of Transportation in conjunction with the Political and Legislative Bureau for commercial drivers in Ikeja.  He said, “There is nothing wrong in bringing commercial buses from other states. But if you must use it in Lagos, you have to change the colour and re-register it with us so that we have your information in our database.  “This is a standard procedure. As a matter ...

For those who weren't able to watch the video or watched it but didn't hear what was being said clearly, here's the fight transcript:  Nicki: “You think I’m playin’? You think this is all a joke? This is a joke? This is a joke? This is a joke? Say one more disrespectful thing to me! If you say one more disrespectful thing to me: Off with your head! Off with your head! Off with your head!  Mariah: Excuse me. I am not being disrespectful. Nicki: Don’t call me a bitch! Don’t call me inadequate! You’re going to get set! Just fall back! You don’t know shit! You just sitting there while she running down her resume every five minutes. Every time you take a shot at me, I’m going to take it back and if you got a fucking problem you better handle it! Nicki: I told them I’m not fucking putting up with your fucking highness over there. Figure it the fuck out. Figure it out. Figure it out! Mariah: “Oh Why, why, why do I have a three year old sitting around me?” Nicki: “...

There were recent reports that Square Records was planing to sign Ghanaian act, Predy X, to their label as a replacement for May D.. According to the report, a Square Records publicist told an online publication that after finding out about the versatile Ghanaian singer from a top producer, the label assessed him and decided to sign him...but Square records CEO, Jude Engees Okoye just said on Twitter that the report is false.

How can one man run 16 companies? Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim answered that question in a recent interview:  All we do in my group is acquire and get professionals to run it. What is wrong in that? We are running 16 companies. We are in Insurance, Hotels, Media, Banking, Property, Furniture, Oil and Gas, Aviation. Jimoh at the age of 46 accounts for about 21,000 people working for my group in more than 13 countries. I have British, Americans, Indians, Bulgarians as staff working in my group. My private jet is run by Americans.  I have 8 hotels which makes me the highest hotelier in Nigeria. I run over 2,000 rooms. No be joke! If they don't know how Jimoh Ibrahim is doing all these things, they must come and stay with me for one week. They wonder how I run these companies? Let them go and read books on how to run a corporation. Let me give you my time table for tomorrow. Lagos to Abuja to attend a board meeting. Leave there to Ghana to attend a meeting with bank of Ghana....

 Over a hundred houses demolished along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Billions of Naira down the drain! Will these home owners get any compensation? Also, why did the government allow these structures to get to this level if they were illegal?

Title: Turning Point Director: Niyi Towolawi Cast: Igoni Archipong Jackie Appiah, Oge Okoye, Patience Ozokwo, Ebbe Bassey, Enyinna Nwigwe, K.D Aubert, Todd Bridges, Joe Estevez, Ernie Hudson, and Cynda Williams Synopsis Ade (Igoni Archibong) is a playboy Nigerian-American investment banker working at a successful firm in New York City. He is in a relationship with keen-to-marry African-American Stacey (KD Aubert). Her family (Ernie Hudson, Cynda Williams) had been cautious of this “African” but begins to warm to him due to his professional success and charm. However, Ade’s manipulative mother (Patience Ozokwo) back in Nigeria would rather her son gets serious and dumps “that girl with no traceable roots” in favour of a wife from within her social circle. He is tricked into visiting Nigeria only to discover an arranged marriage had already been conducted on his behalf with a complete stranger. Reluctantly, Ade accepts the new wife, Grace (Jackie Appiah), since she is beautifu...