Video - Nigeria's demand for luxury goods increases

As Nigeria's economy grows -- 6 percent this year -- so does the wealth of some of it's citizens. The wealthy few no longer have to shop abroad for their luxury staples because those brands are setting up shop in the African country to tap into the top spenders.

Related story: Video - Nigeria's increased GDP contradicts lack of improved standard of living

Government reacts to open letter by former President Obasanjo criticizing administration

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's office has hit back at ex-leader Olusegun Obasanjo for a "provocative" letter condemning his leadership.

In the leaked letter, Mr Obasanjo warned Nigeria could slide back to military rule because of Mr Jonathan's failure to tackle myriad problems.

It would be "morally flawed" for him to seek re-election in 2015, he added.

The presidency said Mr Obasanjo's attack was "reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous".

Mr Obasanjo's attack - the harshest since he stepped down as leader in 2007 - was a clear attempt to thwart Mr Jonathan's chances of being nominated again as the governing People's Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate for the 2015 poll, correspondents say.

'Highly unbecoming'
The PDP has been hit by serious in-fighting ahead of the election.

A powerful faction of state governors have broken away to join the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP now has fewer governors supporting it than the opposition.

In the 18-page letter widely covered in the local media, Mr Obasanjo accused Mr Jonathan of failing to deal with the many problems facing Nigeria - including corruption, piracy, kidnapping and oil theft.
"I want nothing from you personally except that you should run the affairs of Nigeria not only to make Nigeria good, but to make Nigeria great for which I have always pleaded with you and I will always do so. And it is yet to be done for most Nigerians to see," Mr Obasanjo wrote.

He added that he was speaking out because he was concerned that Nigeria was moving in the wrong direction.

"I could sense a semblance between the situation that we are gradually getting into and the situation we fell into as a nation during the Abacha era," he said, referring to ex-military ruler General Sani Abacha.

He ruled Nigeria with an iron fist from 1993 to 1998, when he died.

He jailed Mr Obasanjo for allegedly plotting a coup against him and ordered the execution of leading human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Mr Jonathan's spokesman Reuben Abati said it was "highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative" to leak the letter to the media and it was a deliberate effort to "impugn the integrity of the president".

Mr Jonathan would respond in due course to "the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and his administration", Mr Abati said, in a statement.

Mr Obasanjo, a former military ruler, won democratic elections in 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the PDP.

The PDP has won every national election since the end of military rule in 1999.

Mr Jonathan moved from the vice-presidency to the presidency in 2010 after his predecessor, Umaru Yar'Adua, died in office.

He won elections the following year.

BBC

Video - Interview with lone shipwreck survivor Harrison Okene

Ship's cook Harrison Okene, 29, was on board the Jascon-4 tugboat when it capsized on May 26 due to heavy Atlantic ocean swells around 30 km (20 miles) off the coast of Nigeria, while stabilizing an oil tanker filling up at a Chevron platform. Of the 12 people on board, divers recovered 10 dead bodies while a remaining crew member has not been found. Somehow Okene survived for 2 days, breathing inside a four foot high bubble of air as it shrunk in the waters slowly rising from the ceiling of the tiny toilet and adjoining bedroom where he sought refuge, until two South African divers eventually rescued him.

Video - Youtube releases top trending Nigerian videos of 2013

In keeping with tradition, youtube has released it's 2013 edition of Youtube Rewind. An annual list of the most popular videos uploaded to youtube. For all the most popular 2013 Nigerian videos on youtube click here.

Femi Kuti nominated for 4th Grammy Award

Once again Nigeria’s Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has been norminated in the Best World Music Album Category of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards which will place on the 14th of January next year.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences releases the list for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards last week for recordings released during the Eligibility Year October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013.
Femi Kuti’s album ‘No Place For My Dream’ was nominated for the 2014 Grammy Awards in the “Best World Music Album” Category.
Femi Kuti of Nigeria , Indian musician Ravi Shankar, French group Gipsy Kings and South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo are in contention for award in this category
The last time he was nominated in 2012 Femi Kuti had said that he will never attend the Grammys again. And that if he wins let them bring it to him in Africa.

Vanguard