Monday, January 4, 2016
Video - What Nigerians expect for 2016
Plenty of challenges lie ahead for Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy. CCTV spoke to ordinary Nigerians about their hopes for the New Year. Here's a sample of their responsed.
Tallest Jesus Christ statue in Africa unveiled in Nigeria
The Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, Augustine Ukwuoma, on Friday unveiled the African tallest statue of Jesus Christ weighing 8.5 metres (28 ft) at St. Aloysius Catholic Parish, Abajah, Imo.
The statue, made of marble, is bigger than the 20 metres (66 foot) Ramesses ii Abusimbel statue in Egypt.
Mr. Ukwuoma performed the ceremony shortly after a mass attended by the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu Diocese, Gregory Ochiagha, and more than 100 priests at St. Aloysius Parish Abajah compound on Friday.
One Obinna Onuoha, who donated the Jesus statue, had constructed 2, 000 seating capacity parish church at St. Aloysius in the year 2012.
The unveiling of the statue was used to mark the wedding golden jubilee ceremony of the parents of Mr. Obinna, Geoffrey, and Lolo Justina Onuoha.
Mr. Ukwuoma, who described the statue as magnificent, commended the Mr. Onuoha family for the gift and their benevolence to the church.
“This statue is a great symbol of Christian faith, and I pray that for the Catholics that the statue will continue to constantly remind us of what Jesus Christ stands for us.
“For other passersby, looking at the statue will also bring them closer to Jesus,’’ the Bishop said.
Speaking on the golden jubilee, the cleric used the medium to remind marital couples on the need to see marriage as a vocation through which they could positively impact on the society.
“God did not call any of us clergy and religious to be fathers and mothers, but those called into this vocation must use it to reflect God’s peace, love and unity.
Mr. Onuoha, the Managing Director of Premier Petroleum Ltd., and the donor of the statue, said he constructed the statue to fulfill a vow he made to God in the year 1997.
“Asking why I constructed this statue is like asking how do I came to this world, I am a Christian and a Catholic and Jesus statue represents my faith.
“I believe we are here on earth for different purposes and each person moves with his/her instincts, and I was motivated to do this to build up the faith of this community,’’ he said.
Mr. Onuoha, who did not mention the cost of the statue, added, “It took about three years to construct and erect the Jesus De Saviour statue at Abajah.’’
Premium Times
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Video - Nigeria begins countdown to 2016
Billions worldwide are preparing to welcome the New Year. But where in Africa should you go to party? Our correspondents across the continent have been searching for the best New Year's Eve venue. Here's where you should be if you are in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari ready to negotiate with Boko Haram for 200 kidnapped schoolgirls
Nigeria's president has said he is prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram militants to secure the release of about 200 schoolgirls.
Muhammadu Buhari said that if a credible Boko Haram leadership could be identified then he was prepared to talk with them without preconditions.
But he said he had no intelligence on the girls' whereabouts or their health.
Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitories in the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014.
"If a credible leader of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them, without any precondition," said Mr Buhari.
Attempts to negotiate with Boko Haram during the rule of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed because officials were talking to the wrong people in the fragmented militant group.
BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says this is not the first time that Mr Buhari has offered to revive talks, but there is little prospect of the militants agreeing.
The militants regard the girls as their most invaluable captives and their leader, Abubakar Shekau, said last year that most of them had converted to Islam and had been married off.
Some Nigerians on social media expressed anger at the president for saying the government had no idea where the girls were being held, saying it indicated a failure of the intelligence services.
Mr Buhari took office in May with a promise to defeat the group, and gave the military a deadline of the end of the year to end the six-year insurgency.
Last week, he told the BBC that government forces had "technically won the war" against the Islamists.
Although Boko Haram has been driven out from most of the areas it controlled in north-eastern Nigeria, it has continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
The military has managed to free hundreds of Boko Haram captives in recent months.
However, they did not include any of the Chibok girls.
BBC
Muhammadu Buhari said that if a credible Boko Haram leadership could be identified then he was prepared to talk with them without preconditions.
But he said he had no intelligence on the girls' whereabouts or their health.
Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitories in the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014.
"If a credible leader of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them, without any precondition," said Mr Buhari.
Attempts to negotiate with Boko Haram during the rule of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed because officials were talking to the wrong people in the fragmented militant group.
BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says this is not the first time that Mr Buhari has offered to revive talks, but there is little prospect of the militants agreeing.
The militants regard the girls as their most invaluable captives and their leader, Abubakar Shekau, said last year that most of them had converted to Islam and had been married off.
Some Nigerians on social media expressed anger at the president for saying the government had no idea where the girls were being held, saying it indicated a failure of the intelligence services.
Mr Buhari took office in May with a promise to defeat the group, and gave the military a deadline of the end of the year to end the six-year insurgency.
Last week, he told the BBC that government forces had "technically won the war" against the Islamists.
Although Boko Haram has been driven out from most of the areas it controlled in north-eastern Nigeria, it has continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
The military has managed to free hundreds of Boko Haram captives in recent months.
However, they did not include any of the Chibok girls.
BBC
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Video - Calabar carnival in Nigeria
Hundreds of brightly coloured dancers and drummers have been taking part in Nigeria's Calabar Carnival. [TAKE VO] Its been described as Africa's Biggest Street Party. The 12-kilometre carnival walk had participants from Nigeria's different communities, as well as some performers from abroad.
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