BAMY BLOG

With backyard barbecues and fireworks, Americans celebrated Independence Day by participating in time-honored traditions that expressed pride in their country’s 242nd birthday. But this quintessential American holiday was being marked with a sense of a United States divided for some, evidenced by competing televised events in the nation’s capital. From New York to California, July Fourth festivities ranged from the lively and to the lighthearted, with Macy’s July Fourth fireworks and Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest. The day’s events also were stately and traditional, with parades lining streets across the country and the world’s oldest commissioned warship firing a 21-gun salute to mark the 242 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For some Western states, however, the holiday was a bit more muted as high wildfire danger forced communities to cancel fireworks displays. Here are some highlights of Wednesday’s festivities: OLDEST WARSHIP The

The federal executive council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved a contract of N206 billion for the construction of 11.9 kilometre link roads for the 2nd Niger Bridge across Anambra and Delta states. Lai Mohammed, minister of information, disclosed this to state house correspondents at the end of the meeting. He said the contract which include provision of associated infrastructure for the bridge, was awarded to Julius Berger, the civil construction giant. The work is expected to be completed within 42 weeks. Mohammed said though the public private partnership (PPP) arrangements of the previous administration for the 2nd Niger bridge had failed, the Buhari government has opted to complete it. He said council also approved contracts for the provision of consultancy services and mining exploration at the cost of N12.7 billion, as well as the rehabilitation of road in Enugu at the cost of N11.58 billion. Mohammed said FEC also approved a

FirstBank has announced plans to launch its first digital lab in order to provide “faster and more efficient” banking products to its customers. The launch will take place on July 5, at the lab’s location in “Yabacon Valley,” in the Yaba area of Lagos. According to the bank, the digital lab –the first of its kind — is designed to rapidly stimulate innovative solutions to real-life challenges. It is designed to serve as a platform for FirstBank to collaborate and advance with the rapidly evolving Financial Technology (FinTech). A statement from the bank said the lab is an innovation hub that will contribute more fully to the FinTech space in Nigeria and technology at large. “In a bid to satisfy its customers within the country’s budding, technology-savvy massive online population, the FirstBank Digital Lab will bring together technologies and methods to transform ideas into feasible solutions in record time,” the statement read. “FirstBank over the years has led the Niger

Olam Hatcheries Limited, a subsidiary of Olam International Limited, an agri-business multinational, on Wednesday, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ceva Santé Animale S.A, an international veterinary health research company. The signing ceremony took place during the France-Nigeria business forum in Lagos. According to a press statement by Ade Adefeko, vice president, corporate and government relations, Olam Nigeria, the MoU would help boost poultry production in Nigeria. “As part of the agreement, a joint committee made up of experts and managers from both companies will explore four potential areas of collaboration and technical cooperation,” Olam’s said in a statement. “This includes an upgrade of of Olam’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (“Lab”) at Kaduna, development of new private labs in other regions of the country, manpower training of Olam’s employees on proper vaccination techniques and establishing core research projects both loc

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says only 49.98 percent of the candidates who wrote its 2018 school certificate examination obtained credit passes and above. Olu Adenipekun, the council’s head of national office, gave this information on Wednesday at a news conference to announce the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Lagos. Adenipekun said a total of 1,578,846 registered for the examination in Nigeria, and out of the number, 1,572,396 of them sat for the examination. He said 786,016 candidates, representing 49.98 percent who sat for the examination, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects including English Language and Mathematics. He said the performance, when compared to what was obtained in the same examination in 2016 and 2017, showed a decline. “If we should compare the performance of candidates for this year’s examination under this category with that of 2016, which was 52.97 and in 2017; 59.22, we are s

The senate has directed its constitutional review committee to put in place a process in view of amending the constitution for the creation of community and state police. The resolution of the upper legislative chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored by Jonah Jang, senator representing Plateau north, on Tuesday. Jang had drawn to the attention of the senators to the recent killings in Plateau. The Plateau senator said there is a need for the federal government to take decisive action against the widespread killings. On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki reiterated that there is an urgent review of the country’s security architecture. “These are acts of criminality and we should not encourage any other colouration to it, be it religious or otherwise. This is criminality. And as such, we have a role to ensure that we must address this criminality to see how we can fight it,” Saraki said. “We have spoken on many platforms and made suggestions to the Executive on the

The Federal University Lokoja, Kogi, has expelled 13 final year students for alleged examination malpractice. Angela Freeman-Miri, the vice-chancellor of the university, made this known while addressing journalists in Lokoja. Freeman said all the students were from the department of economics. She said the students got into trouble when one of the question papers allegedly leaked to them was extended to others who informed the authorities. She said their expulsion followed laid down process, saying each of the students was given the opportunity to defend himself against the allegations. “They were made to face the students’ disciplinary committee. The examination misconduct committee sat at different times to look into the allegations against them,” Freeman-Miri said. “The reports of the two committees were later sent to the 47th senate meeting of the university which eventually approved their expulsion.” Responding to the allegation of unfair treatment by Lydia Lawal,

Erica Tandoh is a 10-year-old DJ making history in Ghana. Popularly known as DJ Switch, Tandoh first became famous after winning a TV talent contest last year and has now become the youngest DJ ever to win at Ghana’s annual DJ Awards. Featured in BBC's What’s New, a new program that highlights young Africans, the young party-starter shares that she began DJing at 9 years old. "I just wanted to try my hand on it," she says of her early start, adding that she picked up the skill as quickly as she learns in school. "Being a young DJ is not that difficult." Tandoh’s energetic shows and passion for music are quite infectious, which is how she got the name for her alter-ego. "I picked the name DJ Switch because I switch up people's happiness." Though her moves on the 1’s and 2’s has made her pretty popular among locals, the petite phenom is still a normal girl as she juggles her budding career with school, dance, learning piano and playing tru

According to CNN, 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama, who scaled a building to save a four-year-old dangling from a balcony back in May, has started work with the Paris Fire Brigade. He is one of 24 new recruits for the job. Gassama’s rescue gained national attention and praise, including an invite to the Élysée Palace where he was offered French citizenship and received a certificate and gold medal for his act of courage from French President Emmanuel Macron. "I like children. I would have hated to see him getting hurt in front of me," he told a CNN affiliate of the impromptu save. "I ran and I looked for solutions to save him and thank God I scaled the front of the building to the balcony." The Malian immigrant also received a humanitarian award at the 2018 BET Awards alongside fellow recipients James Shaw Jr., Anthony Borges, Justin Blackman, Naomi Wadler, and Shaun King.

Remy Ma and Papoose have a lot to celebrate. After the rappers walked down the aisle to renew their vows, the couple revealed they're expecting a child. Remy Ma started the announcement by saying, "And although we told you all guys we were bringing you out here to renew our vows, which we are, we also wanted all of our family here when we told you guys…" Papoose then rubbed his bride's belly and said "We're going to have a baby!" According to Remy Ma's Instagram post, the star is four months pregnant. While this is the couple's first child together, they both have children from previous relationships. The happy news comes about a year after Remy Ma revealed she suffered a miscarriage. The two stars tied the knot in 2008 while Remy Ma was in jail. The "All the Way Up" star was sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a woman outside of a nightclub. She was convicted of assault, weapon possession and attempted coerci

Brian Ross, the veteran ABC News investigative correspondent who embarrassed the network late last year with an on-air report suggesting former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had been told by President Donald Trump to make contact with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign for the Oval Office, is leaving the network, along with Rhonda Schwartz, who served as the chief investigative producer for Ross’ team. “After more than two decades at ABC News, Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz have decided to leave the company,” ABC News President James Goldston said in a memo to staffers Monday. “Over the years they have built a team of the best investigative journalists in our industry, and they leave behind an outstanding group that will continue to break stories for many years to come.” But Ross’ reputation was sorely tested in December after he took to ABC in a special report and told viewers erroneously that Trump had directed Flynn when he was a candidate to make Russian co

French leader Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday visit a nightclub founded by Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti, becoming the first “real president” to enter a venue synonymous with marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music. The New Afrika Shrine located in the teeming Lagos district of Ikeja replaced Fela Kuti’s original club that burnt down in 1977, but for millions of fans it still represents the original Shrine built by the musical maverick. “The Shrine is a must-see place,” said Olivier Laouchez, the head of the TRACE media and entertainment group and organiser of the event Macron will attend, adding that Lagos is “Africa’s cultural capital”. The evening will feature concerts, fashion shows by leading African designers and a meeting with stars from Nigeria’s booming Nollywood film industry. Lagos is also giving Johannesburg — the other African cultural hotspot — a run for its money in the art world with its annual Art X event. “There is clearly something abuzz

The winner of the BBNaija ‘Double Wahala’ reality show, Miracle Ikechukwu, has obtained his Private Pilot License and Flight Dispatcher License. The 23-year-old took to his Instagram page to share the news by posting a picture of his licenses alongside birthday wishes for his mother. He wrote, “Today is also my pillar’s birthday (my sweet mum). Thank you, mother, for always being there for me through the journey. “To all my lovely fans, I thank you all for your patience and support. We made it. PPL in the bag. Happy new month,” Miracle said. During the course of the BBNaija show, Miracle, who was in aviation school prior to the show, continually expressed his desire to obtain all piloting licenses as soon as possible. He expressed his resolve during the eviction nights where he wore his piloting uniform each time he was up for possible eviction. Miracle’s total winning prize included N25m cash, a Sub-Urban Vehicle worth N12m and a trip for two valued N4.7m, Television an

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), from the custody of the Department of State Services where he had been detained for two and a half years. Delivering judgment in the suit filed by the ex-NSA in March this year, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ruled that his detention since December 29, 2015, amounted to a violation of his right to liberty The judge, who rejected the ex-NSA’s prayer for N5bn damages granted him bail in the sum of N200m with two sureties who must either be a civil servant of Grade Level 16 at the minimum in the Federal Civil Service or private citizens, who have landed properties in the municipal areas of Abuja. She ruled that the Federal Government’s contention that Dasuki was being kept in custody on the grounds of his alleged threat to national security and his alleged ongoing investigation for money laundering did not warrant “abrogating his right”. In granting him bail, the j