Ooops! Lady Gaga bares her boobs while on a pizza run
Wednesday 24 June 2015
Yesterday's bank robbery attacks were led by a woman- Eyewitnesses
A bank official, who narrated how the robbery took place, said the ecstasy displayed by the robbers was only comparable to “what you see when a footballer scores a decisive goal.”
As some of the gang members held everyone in bank hostage while looting additional cash from the strong room, others were doing the same at the First Bank branch in the area.
Satisfied with their bounty, the gunmen stormed out and challenged policemen, whose station is opposite the First Bank branch, to confront them.
Even though no policeman was in sight, they displayed more bravado by setting three Sports Utility Vehicles which they drove to the banks, on fire. Before this, they had removed the number plates of the vehicles.
Even though no policeman was in sight, they displayed more bravado by setting three Sports Utility Vehicles which they drove to the banks, on fire. Before this, they had removed the number plates of the vehicles.
A young lady was said to have led the over one hour attacks which bore semblance of the March 12 robbery in Lekki, Lagos.
Four persons, including a teenage apprentice vulcaniser, simply identified as Rilwan, were injured by the robbers who fled through a jetty in the area.
It was learnt that the bandits, numbering about 16 invaded the banks, located directly opposite the Ipakodo Police Division, at about 9am and started shooting indiscriminately.
They were said to have opened fire at the police station to scare the officers, after which they proceeded with their operation.
It was also learnt that the robbers used dynamite to shatter the rotor doors of the two banks to gain entrance and order members of staff and their customers to lie down.
It was gathered that some of the gunmen were outside the banks firing into the air for over an hour.
Some security operatives, comprising policemen and soldiers, arrived the area around 1.30pm after the robbers had fled.
Punch correspondent, who visited the Ikorodu General Hospital, where the injured victims were taken to, met an employee of the Zenith Bank and a customer,who gave his name simply as Segun.
Ikechukwu Oyenso, who witnessed the incident said,
The banker (name withheld) and Segun sustained injuries after hitting their heads on glasses while the teenage vulcaniser and the fourth victim, an okada (motorcycle) rider, were hit by stray bullets.
The bank official narrated the incident to sympathisers and our correspondent who found his way into the hospital.
He said the robbers carted away over N80m from Zenith Bank which “a bullion van was to transport out of the bank.”
The banker said:
“They shouted, ‘open the door, open the door’, but none of us answeredthem. Suddenly, we heard an explosion and the glass went down. I was wounded by broken glasses.“One of them entered and when he saw about N20m that we had arranged to put inside our ATMs, he shouted, ‘Area, Zico see money. See money wey we dey look for.’ He started dancing. He pulled a lady among us and ordered her to pack the money inside the bags they brought. After packing the money, the robbers ordered her to lead them to the strong room.“When the lady opened the strong room, the robber that shouted in the ATM room exclaimed again, ‘Eheeeee, Area, Zico give me bags! Give me bags. Come and see money wey we dey look for. They packed everything in the strong room; more than N60m. We were expecting a bullion van to move the money before the incident happened.”
Segun, said,
“I was at the ATM section of the Zenith Bank to withdraw money. Suddenly, there were gunshots. Two of the gunmen came in and one of them threw me on the floor. He wanted to shoot, but his colleague told him to leave me.”
Ikechukwu Oyenso, who witnessed the incident said,
“I was at the First Bank at exactly 9am to use the ATM. It was my turn when we suddenly heard gunshots. I saw two of the robbers shooting directly at the police station and the policemen ran away.“Some gunmen came into the First Bank. A guy stood outside and two entered the bank.“They used dynamite to destroy the door of the bank. They entered the banking hall and ordered everybody to lie down. These guys looked young. They were dressed in black and they wore caps. They did not use masks. They robbed for over an hour. It was terrible.”
Another eyewitness, Ademola Fashola, who said he hid somewhere around the jetty area while the robbers escaped narrated this:
“I came to withdraw money from the First Bank ATM, but I changed my mind and headed for Ipakodo, near the jetty. I was there when I heard the gunshots. After they had robbed the banks, the gang leader, a woman, walked while their cars moved towards the Origin Gardens (the jetty area). She dared the police to come out and ordered her gang members not to shoot anybody. She is not up to 20 years. I saw five of them. They dragged the bags that contained the money inside the jetty. I heard one of them calling somebody to pick them. He was shouting ‘Taofeeq, Taofeek, come and pick us now’.”
An eye witness that went by the name Saheed said,
“Where I hid, I saw them carrying bags of money into the jetty. That short woman held the gun, while another guy took the money inside the jetty. When they were about to escape, they removed the number plates of their three cars, poured fuel on them and shot at one of them, which erupted in flames.“Along that waterfront are naval officers. Where were they then?”
Chinese ankara chases Nigerian brands out of market
Despite the N100bn previously pumped into the textile industry, the Federal Government lifts the ban on importation of fabrics, BUKOLA ADEBAYO reports
It was a busy Monday morning for the salesgirls at Kudy Fabrics. Though it rained heavily, many customers had a field day at the expansive shop at the popular Balogun Market in Lagos. Interestingly, for the many that converged on the outlet, it was colourful foreign Ankara prints or nothing.
The scenario at a nearby shop, Dano Fabrics, as well as many others in the market, was also not different. Like at Kudy Shop, many of their customers were demanding foreign materials, which, of course, were in abundance. Curiously too, the prices for these foreign materials are relatively affordable – some going for between N1,500 and N2,000 for six yards.
However, a harmless demand for a Nigerian wax by our correspondent seemed to have altered the hilarious situation at Kudy Shop. In fact, one of the salesgirls there looked at our correspondent with contempt for daring to demand a local fabric.
“No, we don’t sell any Ankara print that is made in Nigeria here,” she said unapologetically. But sensing that the girl must have offended the sensibility of a potential customer, the owner of the shop, Madam Kudy, called our correspondent aside and gave her some tutorials in the trade.
She said, “Don’t stress yourself, my sister. You can walk the length and breadth of this market. I can assure that you will not get any Ankara print made in Nigeria. The local textile companies are dead. They are not producing anything. What we have in common are the Asian products, particularly the China-made Ankara. In fact, we take designs of Ankara materials from Ghana, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire to China and ask manufacturers there to manufacture for us.”
Asked why they travel to China and Korea, among other Asian countries, to produce African fabrics, Madam Kudy explained that prints from such countries were cheaper to produce when compared to those from African countries.
She added, “We sold quality Hi-Target and Akosombo Ankara fabrics from Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire at reasonable prices until about three years ago when materials from these Asian countries hit our market. Although these Asian products are not good, their prices are also attractive. I must tell you, price is a defining factor in this business.
“For instance, customers who want to buy Ankara prints in bulk for marriage or funeral ceremonies do not care so much about quality. What they consider paramount is the cheapness of the fabric. In fact, this informed my including China-made Ankara materials in my stocks. Now, these Chinese products are the major fabrics that I sell. Nonetheless, I always let my discerning customers know the difference between one product and another. Even at that, many of them go for cheaper products regardless of their quality.”
Obama
As the ‘seminar’ continued, an elderly man, who, according to Madam Kudy, was one of the major textile importers, showed up in her shop.
Madam Kudy said, “Oga Matthias, she is looking for Nigerian wax.” As if it were a well-crafted script, Matthias, who looked like a septuagenarian, took over the story from Madam Kudy.
The business executive, who claimed he had been trading in African prints since about 20 years ago, said he switched to China-made Ankara prints in 2007 when local textile companies stopped production.
He said, “I stopped stocking local fabrics when it was difficult to get them from the manufacturers. They were only producing based on orders they got. They could not meet our demands because they were folding up. Despite this, these local products were expensive. For instance, while Ghanaian wax sold for N2, 000, its Nigerian equivalent went for between N5, 000 and N6, 000. Again, the high cost of production caused this.
“The Chinese manufacturers also came in at this point; they were importing Ankara fabrics of the same design but lesser quality at a cheaper price. We had no choice but to move with the tide.”
Once upon a vibrant industry
The Nigerian textile business was one of the most vibrant industries in Africa in the 1960s.It was also one of the biggest employers of labour, especially coming after the agricultural sector. Traders from Ghana, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire, among others, came to Nigeria to export the high-quality African print popularly known as Ankara. Apart from Kaduna Textile Mill, there were the United Nigeria Textiles, Enpee, Aswani and the Asaba Textile, among others, that held forte in the market then.
Indeed, identifying with operators, owners, employees and their relatives of those in the sector then could be likened to identifying with modern-day Nigerian politicians. They had influence in their neighbourhoods because their trade was booming.
Today, the once-flourishing industry has collapsed such that over 80 of the 100 textile industries that used to dot the major cities of Kano, Katsina, Lagos and other parts of the country no longer exist.
Findings by our correspondent, who visited the popular textile markets in Yaba, Ikeja and Lagos Island, revealed that the rarest fabric to get in these places is the one made in Nigeria. In fact, the dominant products available are the China-made African prints.
Kaduna Textiles Mill
A textile dealer in the popular Tejuosho Market in Yaba, Mr. Shina Odunsi , confirmed this, saying that the game has changed in the business. According to him, Chinese manufacturers now put Nigerian logos and designs on foreign fabrics to entice perhaps more Nigerian traders and customers.
Odunsi said, “They have changed the game now. The worst thing is that they fake our designs. At the edge of the Chinese fabrics, you will see, ‘Made in Nigeria’, or ‘Made in Ghana’, with the logos of the relevant country on the Ankara. When these poor-quality fabrics start running, buyers will naturally assume that they bought poor quality fabrics made by Nigerians. They have bastardised the market and spoilt the names of the companies producing the materials.
“It is only in Nigerian market that one can buy fake Kentefabric, (a popular Ghanaian fabric) made in China. Now, I stock both China-made and the ones from other African countries, so I can tell my customers the difference and they can choose based on their budget.”
However, rising to the importers defence, Matthias said though they made more profit importing and selling Ankara fabrics from China, they were not happy with the trend.
He added, “We are not happy with the quality because customers and retailers are always complaining that Chinese fabrics do not last. In fact, I have lost many customers because the Ankara fabrics they bought did not last. Most of the colours run after the first wash.
“We were not getting these complaints when textile companies in Nigeria were manufacturing the prints. Then the Nigerian products were some of the best in the world. They were durable and of the best texture compared to the English wax from London and the Veritable Hollandaise from Holland in Europe.
“I do not even wear any of the fabrics I import because I know they are not of good quality. They are cheaper but their quality is poor. If we go back to manufacturing, I will prefer to trade in Nigerian fabrics to avoid all these complaints.”
‘FG’s policies crippled textile industry’
The first poster that a visitor sees at the secretariat of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association and Nigerian Textile Garments and Tailoring Employers Association in Ikeja, GRA, is a banner warning importers of print fabrics to avoid counterfeit ones.
Like in every other business in Nigeria, counterfeiting is a major challenge that stakeholders are battling with in the textile industry.
The Director-General, NTMA/NGTEA, Mr. Jaiyeola Olarewaju, who corroborated this, said the textile industry took a turn for worse when the Federal Government lifted the ban on importation of African prints in 1997.
Olarewaju said before the Federal Government took the decision, which he described as ‘tragic’, over 100 textile companies were in operation.
He said, “Before 1997, there was a ban on the importation of textile materials but by January 1997, the Federal Government lifted the ban. Unfortunately, they did so without any discussion or information to the stakeholders; but those who were close to the government then knew.
“Three months after, foreign fabrics flooded the markets in the country. The association complained but the authorities told us there was nothing they could do as they just signed the World Trade Organisation Agreement, which stated that countries must allow free trade in their territory. The authorities said they could not go back on that commitment.
“We realised that the policy would have a serious effect on the industry. By 2002, more than 60 textile companies had closed up. More than 70,000 workers had lost their jobs. In 1996 – before the ban – we had 136,000 workers, but after the action, things began to degenerate woefully.”
Though the Olusegun Obasanjo-led government returned the ban on printed fabrics in 2002, Olarewaju observed, it was too late as importers only devised other means of smuggling the materials into the country.
“Despite the return of the ban, companies kept closing up. The reason was that the damage was already there. But for now, companies producing African prints, which many know as Ankara, are not more than four. They are producing under serious constraints because the infrastructure is not there.
“If people say they cannot get African print in the market, it is a fact. The textile companies cannot meet the demand. Worse is that the prices of the African prints produced in China are cheaper even when they are of poor quality. Nigerians will prefer to buy those cheap ones notwithstanding their sub-standard texture.
“I saw an African print with a Nigerian logo for N1,000 in the market. That is China-made because there is no way you can get a Nigerian wax at that price due to its quality.”
Olarewaju, who also said that Nigeria was at present experiencing a crisis of quality in the textile industry, noted that over 80 per cent of the fabrics in the market came from China.
“The Chinese textile manufacturers are squeezing the textile industry. About 80 per cent of the printed fabrics in the country are not from Nigeria. They are smuggled into the country. So, it is Asian countries that are enjoying the boom in the use of African prints, not Nigeria. In 1997, we had about 136,000 workers now we have less than 20,000.”
How far-reaching is the government intervention?
To restore the textile industry to its lost glory, the Federal Government in 2009, through the Bank of Industry, instituted a N100bn Cotton Textile and Garment Intervention Fund to assist moribund companies come alive again.
Olarewaju, while commending the initiative, lamented that the bailout would not do the needed magic because the authorities had yet to address the impact of its textile policies on local manufacturers.
According to him, just as the ailing sector is struggling to find its feet this year, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on the importation of all cotton and textile materials. He likened this move to an open invitation for “destruction” as this would open more doors for Chinese textile manufacturers to take over the market.
Olarenwaju noted that the bailout would not remedy the damage that the lifting of the ban would cause over the next few months.
“The bailout has helped since it started coming in 2010 but we have a huge challenge of where to sell even the small quantity we produce now. The Chinese fabrics have taken over the market.
“We used to take local African prints to Cameroon, Niger Republic, Chad and other West African countries to sell but nobody dares to go to such places now. Even we have lost the northern market in Nigeria due to insecurity and we have lost the southern market to the Chinese. Now that they have lifted the ban, then what protection is there for local textile industries?”
But on the short term, Olarewaju said, the government should return the embargo on the importation of African prints and insist that all its agencies should patronise local textile companies to help to generate funds that would keep the factories afloat.
Recommending the enforcement of a 35 per cent levy on imported fabrics by the Customs Service, Olarewaju said it was necessary to ensure that the cost of locally made fabrics were at par with the fabrics coming in from China.
“All the government agencies, the police, immigration, and unity schools must buy their uniforms from local industries. Nobody should go to China to manufacture them. It will boost production and increase the public’s confidence in Nigeria fabrics.
“We are hoping that this present government will realise the damage this lifting of the ban will cause and reverse it. The volume of foreign textiles, especially African prints, coming into the country is alarming,” he added.
Protecting the African prints
Despite the ridicule the local prints face in Nigeria, there remains an international craze for African prints, especially by many creative top designers and fashion houses.
Top Hollywood, music and run-way divas, such as Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, Agbani Darego, Kelly Rowland, Academy Award-winning Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o, and the American First lady, Mitchelle Obama, have embraced the African Ankara prints fabrics in recent times.
Nowadays, there is an infusion of the beautiful African fabrics into almost every accessory ranging from bags to shoes. Indeed, designers now use African fabrics to make exotic smart phone covers.
Experts said there was the need to explore the growing international love for the African prints such as Adire – also known as Kampala, Aso Oke and Akwa Ocha for economic gains as well as to ensure their protection by law.
A legal practitioner and partner with Jackson, Etti & Edu, Uwa Ohiku, who specialises in Intellectual Property Law, said it was high time Nigerian textile companies were protected by law.
She said with such a law, designers of African prints could seek redress in court whenever there is an infringement in their designs rights.
Ohiku said, “The Nigerian textile industry is gone. All the Adire designs that originally belonged to the Ogun State communities have been ‘stolen’. I don’t even think they can get them back again because the Chinese came, took those designs to their country and began to reproduce them en masse.
“Many other African print designs that were originally from Nigerians are gone now because there was nobody protecting that traditional intellectual property. Knowledge must be protected no matter the industry.”
Pregnant Kim K also steps out in see-through outfit
Kim K's sister Kylie Jenner stepped out in a see-through white outfit to the Mailonline event hosted by John Legend's model wife- Chrissy Teigen , Kim who didn't want to be outshined donned a black see-through outfit like Kylie's.
In one of the episodes of KUWTK, Kylie complained that Kim liked to copy her style and she just did, lol. More photos after the cut..
Ky
Baddest Record Breaker: Davido’s Ft. Meek Mill “Fans Mi” Video Hits 1M Views In 10 Days On Youtube
The year 2015 seems to be Davido’s year as he also acknowledged some weeks back.
David Adedeji Adeleke aka Davido is presently the happiest artist right now. Few hours ago, he announced on his Instagram page that his highly acclaimed most expensive video of his career, ‘Fans Mi’ in which he features American rapper, Meek Mill, has hit one million views in just 10 days after its official release!
The HKN boss is really having the best time of his life this year. First he had a daughter, bought a hoe in Atlanta, graduated from the university. He also renewed his multimillion naira contract with telecommunication outfit, MTN.
Davido is competing with other African male act at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards. He is expected to release his full sophomore album later in the year as an earlier release date was postponed.
As if he Knows what the year has in stock for him, Davido, some weeks back said: “God is Great, New Life, New Beginnings, New Album, It’s our Year.” He said this when announcing the birth of his beautiful daughter.
Microsoft engages 150 SMEs with end to end business mobility solution
Empowering business organizations on how best to achieve more in the digital economy, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services ( MMDS) in Nigeria has engaged no fewer than 150 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business owners with its end to end business mobility solution at the at an event tagged, Night of Business Unusual.
At the capacity building event, Microsoft also shared with the business owners its products and services that can enable them and their businesses do more and be more productive on the go.
Earlier in his welcome address, Kabelo Makwane, Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria shared with participants new trends in technology including social, cloud, mobility and big data.
Giving insights to Microsoft strategy for the future with emphasis on mobility and productivity, he said that, “We would be re-inventing productivity and business processes to achieve more on the go.Technology is moving at a fast space. We live in a social world, where there are about 6.8 million devices that are out there.
”We communicate with these devices whether smartphones, tablets, you name it. It has become a part of our daily lives creating a platform for businesses to explore.”
He surmised that Microsoft’s global strategy was to create more opportunities while explaining that the company’s focus is to be the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world.
Also speaking, Ade Ajayi, Business Group Director, Microsoft Office Division, Microsoft Nigeria in his presentation on Driving Productivity for SMEs, said Microsoft that developed solutions that enable small and medium sized businesses to collaborate effectively.
“Every small business really wants to grow and Microsoft is investing in technologies to enable them do this. We have a cloud environment that allows you respond to your customers regardless of where you are so you no longer have to be bound by physical environments. It is Microsoft’s priority to make sure small and medium sized businesses are safe either online or offline.”
“The world is changing and you need to adapt to how you do business. We have solutions that allows you drive connection to your business. Office 365 enables SMEs get the competitive advantage by understanding your customers and making meaningful connections to build long-term relationships. With SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business, you can easily share documents – from invoices to orders for new materials with customers and partners.’’
Speaking on Microsoft Lumia in Business, Mario Okonya, Business Sales Lead, Microsoft Mobile Device and Services explained that the world is changing into a world where people’s first interaction is with their mobile device as mobile as become the new normal.
He projected that 350 million people will do businesses with their mobile phones by year 2016, adding that leading businesses globally are reimagining their businesses with Microsoft business mobility solutions.
‘’Regardless of which Lumia device you choose, you will still get same Windows experience across all the devices. ’’
Bidemi Ladipo, Head Enterprise Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria spoke on how Etisalat and Lumia were mobilizing businesses and helping them achieve great feats through seamless online connectivity and Microsoft Office 365 offerings.
Speaking on The Epix Tablet: Affordable Productivity was Amit Sagar, Executive Director, Midcom Group, Nigeria.
He said “the Epix tablet which was recently introduced brings affordable technology of Windows with all productivity tools to Nigeria”.
To thrill guests at the night of business unusual and give them a first-hand experiences with Lumia devices, raffle draws were held and several Lumia devices were given out to guests.
Photos: Python eats itself to death by swallowing Prickly Porcupine
It had swallowed the prickly porcupine and was lying beneath a rocky ledge where it had been trying to digest the meal and died there. See more photos after the cut...
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