Fashola Unveils N30 Billion Tallest Hotel In W/Africa

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, unveiled the tallest hotel in West Africa, the Intercontinental Lagos built at a cost of N30 billion.

The hotel located at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, is a 23-storey building with 358 rooms, 37 suites and a presidential suite.

The Intercontinental Lagos, a subsidiary of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) is owned by the Milan Group.

Fashola said the new hotel showed that the economy of the country was witnessing growth daily but without corresponding employment.

Fashola said “The new sector is the tourism sector. This is the only virgin sector in the country, and it will help address the challenges of unemployment in the country.”

The governor said the new hotel had helped to create new 650 direct jobs in the state.

He noted that with the construction of more hotels and hospitality outfits, more direct jobs would be created as well as numerous indirect jobs.

Chairman, Milan Group, Ramesh Valechha said the hotel will change the landscape of Lagos and boost the hospitality industry in the state.

He noted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed on March 31, 2004 while it took two years to complete the design work before the conceptualisation of the project began.

He stated that the Lagos State Government, Skye Bank and Wema Bank were in support of the project.

Valechha disclosed that the building of the hotel cost over N30 billion while 650 jobs were created for Nigerians.

The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akiolu 1; ex-governor of CBN, Joseph Sanusi, and other dignitaries.

PDP Issues 14 Day Ultimatum To Fashola To Declare Assets

The Lagos State Chapter of the PDP has come out to accuse the Lagos Governor, Fashola, of high level corruption in governance, stating that the governor ploughs the state’s proceeds into personal businesses, one of which is the newly commissioned 23 Storey Hotel building which has cost 30billion Naira to complete.

The Party averred that it strongly believes that Governor Fashola has about 60 percent financial contribution in the completion of the 23 Storey, N30 Billion worth hotel. “That indeed accounted for why he personally commissioned the Hotel”.

The Party states that it is convinced now, more than ever before, that the governor and his predecessor have indeed plunged the State into unnecessary high debt for their own selfish interests only.

“Every day we hear Lagos State Government collects huge loans. Presently the State is indebted to the tune of over a trillion Naira in local and foreign debts. This is in spite that the State now realises at least N23 billion as IGR every month, yet Lagos residents are not enjoying improved cheap social-welfare services. What we see instead, are: new hotels, shopping malls, airlines, banks, private housing estates, construction companies; that are linked to the Governor or his predecessor”

The Lagos State PDP “consequently reiterates her demand that Governor Fashola must make publicly declare his assets”.

The party further noted that it has “given the Governor 14 days within which to make public his assets or the masses shall be mobilised for a protest to demand same”.

Blackface lands N52m deal

Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo popularly known as Blackface Naija an ex member of the defunct Pop group Platashun boiz has signed a N52 million deal with Franchise Events Limited.

*Blackface

The deal also consists of a car and a house that has changed Black Face Naija’s status and makes him the record label’s biggest act. Black Face Naija who has found it difficult to break into the mainstream of the Nigerian music industry has been given a fresh opportunity to prove himself once again.  According to our sources,  Franchise Events Limited spokesperson said, they decided to settle for Blackface because of his versatility , staying power  and his brand of music.

READ What Jim Iyke Has To Say About His 'Deliverance' At TB Joshua's Church

Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke took to twitter to speak about his deliverance and why he went to the church in the first place a few hours after his deliverance at TB Joshua's Synagogue Church Of All Nations went viral.

See tweets below

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/48430.html

Nollywood stars turned Pastors (1)

Although, many have criticised their decisions to embrace Christ, blaming such decisions  principally on  the turn of events in their lives, it is not out of place today to come across celebrities  who have become preachers of the Word.

From Eucheria  Anunobi to Zack Orji, Ndidi Obi, Pat Attah, Ernest Azuzu and many others, it has been a steady influx of fire-brand celebrity  Pastors into the Vineyard of God. But the question on the lips of everyone is whether these celebrities have found true happiness after all, and if they do, how much has the pulpit paid off, in place of dumping their flourishing careers in acting for the work of God. Like the Biblical saying, “When we come to the Word of God and we pray over His Word, when His Word shines on us, we are exposed and emptied of any other thing.”

Zack Orji

Zack Orji

Ex-President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Zack Orji can be described as “a gentleman without blemish.”  This, no doubt informed his decision to become a worker in the Vineyard of God. Zack Orji ordained a full-time evangelist by Bishop Emma Isong of Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI).

He is said to have dedicated his time to preaching the gospel of good tidings across the nations of the world. The veteran actor has been spotted in such cities as Abuja, Nasarawa and Makurdi where he is engaged in various evangelical activities. But this, however, has not stopped him from storming the celebrity hangout, in Surulere to fraternize with his friends and colleagues in the movie industry.

Eucharia  Anunobi

In fact, Eucheria Anunobi’s conversion was the most talked about conversion to Christ in recent times. The actress who ruled the screen in the early 90s with her role in the film “Glamour Girls” has been trailed with many controversies and scandals, most of which bothered on her relationships and crashed marriage. But after many years of being in the news for the wrong reasons, Eucheria shocked her fans when she announced she had given her life to Christ. Few months after the announcement, UK was ordained at the Fresh Oil Ministry, Egbeda, Lagos, as an evangelist.

*Eucharia displaying her certificate after her ordnation

Interestingly, with her ordination which was performed by Pastor Psalm Okpe, Eucharia willed the power to preach as a pastor and she’s doing so, without looking back. Those in the know said, she already counsels youths in the church and travels at random to spread the gospel of salvation.

This, however, has not taken away some of the traits that made her fans term her “a bad girl” before her transformation. She is still flashy and daring. Just weeks after the ordination, Eucheria bought a brand new  BMW X5. Severally, she has refuted reports that she has abandoned her acting career for the work of God. Instead, she pointed out that she would be choosier in accepting roles in movies.

Pat Attah

Pat Attah? That play boy actor who broke the hearts of many ‘Nollywood babes’ during his time, and left as soon as the ovation was loud. The once-upon-a-dreadlock-turned clean cut actor, is currently based in Hamburg, Germany where he’s winning souls for Christ. Those in the know said, he does not preach in churches, rather he is now very much a born-again.

*Pat

Many knew him before he left the shores of the country  as one who was close to the ladies and in love with the bottle. Today, reading his posts online, one would acknowledge the fact that Pat is a new creature in Christ. He often uses social network sites including Facebook to deliver his sermon and messages to those who care to read them. But what we don’t know is how he has been faring over there.

Liz Benson

Elizabeth Benson, popularly known as Liz Benson used to be the toast of many lovers of Nigerian films and TV series. Her journey into stardom began when she appeared on the set of the popular television soap opera, Fortunes, in 1993. Liz Benson played the part of Mrs. Agnes Johnson in the soap, which ran for about two years on the NTA. After that, she acted in various TV series and many movies.

*Liz Benson

In 1994, her role in Glamour Girls, a very successful home video that focused on prostitution, literally changed her fortunes. The movie shot her into prominence and soon, she became a subject of many scandals and controversies, forcing her to disappear from teh scene, in order to rebrand herself. But as luck would have it, she got married to her  Bishop Great Emeya husband in 2009, at the Rainbow Christian Assembly in Warri, Delta State. She has since been ordained an evangelist in the church. Presently, she runs the church with her husband.

Charles Okafor

Charles Okafor who staged a comeback to Nollywood recently in Uche Jombo’s film, “Misplaced” after disappearing from the radar is also one of the actors that are winning souls for Christ. He used to act alongside Saint Obi, Zack Orji and Richard Mofe Damijo and has made a name for himself before  disappearing from the scene.

The UNIPORT trained actor  who starred in such films as  Forest of Promises, Ocean Deep, Across the River, Between Love, Boiling Point, and Executive Connection, worked briefly with the Security and Exchange Commission, before resigning to go into full time acting. Recently, he was spotted at a filling station around Isolo area of Lagos, and from the way, he looked, the handsome actor has surely given up the things of this world.

Okey Ogunjiofor

Okechukwu Ogunjiofor is known to be the founder of Nollywood. He produced the film,  Living in Bondage which gave birth to Nollywood.  With the explosion of this movie in 1992, Nollywood prides itself today as second to the largest movie industry in the world after 20 years of its existence. But this man who started this innovation engage himself more in other aspects of movie production. He hardly features in movies but appears on special arrangement. He has since reconciled himself with his maker. Today, he is not only  a preacher of teh Word, he is also House of God. He is also a motivational speaker and unknown to many, Paullo as he’s fondly called by his fans is an author of many Christian literature.

Blackface lands N52m deal

Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo popularly known as Blackface Naija an ex member of the defunct Pop group Platashun boiz has signed a N52 million deal with Franchise Events Limited.

*Blackface

The deal also consists of a car and a house that has changed Black Face Naija’s status and makes him the record label’s biggest act. Black Face Naija who has found it difficult to break into the mainstream of the Nigerian music industry has been given a fresh opportunity to prove himself once again.  According to our sources,  Franchise Events Limited spokesperson said, they decided to settle for Blackface because of his versatility , staying power  and his brand of music.

‘Witches didn’t make me cut down stadium trees’

The National Stadium Surulere, Lagos is fast losing its ‘eco-beauty’ as the trees that once made the complex a greenery spectacle are being chopped down and sold for firewood.

During the week the almond trees near the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Olympic Committee secretariats were hacked down by chainsaw wielding workmen who after cutting the tree piled them in bundles for onward delivery to firewood vendors. This is not the first time the trees at the stadium will suffer such environmental condition. It was gathered that the National Sports Commission Liaison officer, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme ordered the ‘assault’ on the trees on the suspicion that they were meeting places for witches and wizards.

However, she explained yesterday that there was no spiritual bend to the axing of the trees. Rather according to her, she was only obeying directives from her superiors.

“We are chopping down the trees because they are blocking the view of the CCTV cameras installed at the stadium. The engineers have told us to cut them so that the CCTV will get a clearer view of the area of surveillance. I did not do on my own volition, but just obeying directives.

Hacking away… One of the trees being sliced by a hired hand at the National Stadium in Lagos.

“Other trees that did not obstruct the path of the CCTV were cut down because they are threatening to to pull down the walls of the fencing.

“If you go around the stadium you will see that other trees not standing in the way were not touched.

“I am not adverse to making the stadium beautiful. You will recall that when I first came I cut down some of the trees. This was because they were overgrown, but they are now fully regrown and giving the stadium a level of beauty,” said the NSC official.

But a closer look at the CCTV device revealed that it was not in working order. It was as good as dead, but according to Oreweme, the Cameras will be fully operational in no distant time and they will be commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of the trees were planted in 1973 when the Stadium was commissioned for use by former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon.

BREAKING NEWS: Several Students Dead As Boko Haram Attacks College Of Agriculture In Yobe State

Scores of students have been killed in yet another attack by terrorist group, Boko Haram, in Yobe state. 
The insurgents attacked the College of Agriculture Gujba, 50 KM south of Damaturu, the state capital yesterday night and killed several students.
A staff of the school who confirmed the attack to Channels Television said several dead bodies are still being recovered from bushes, hostels and classes in and around the school as scores were killed in the attack.
The source also revealed that surviving students are at the moment making efforts to re unite with their families in fear of further attacks by the insurgents.

The security agencies are yet to confirm the incident.
More details soon…