Edo to relocate Army barrack in the state

The Edo State government has revealed that it will synergize with the 4th Brigade Headquarters in the state to relocate its barracks at Ikpoba Hill to a more conducive place.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state disclosed this after inspecting the barrack in Benin on Sunday.

The governor, who was accompanied by the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen Ibrahim Garba, expressed displeasure with the dilapidated facilities at the barracks saying that it was imperative for officers and men of the Army live in an ideal environment.

He also said that the Army needed better facilities to strategize and tackle the security challenges in the country.'

“As you can see this is not an ideal place for military men to live. We are going to work with the Brigade to look at other properties and other barracks to see how we can get land to relocate most of these facilities, including the schools and health facility.

“I don’t think it is in the interest of the nation that our Army officers and men live under these conditions,” he said.

Governor Obaseki also added that his administration was collaborating with Institutions to provide an affordable social housing scheme that would allow Army officers and men live in decent accommodation.

The governor also inspected facilities at the Ekenhuan barracks of the 4th Brigade where he noted that some facilities at the Ikpoba Hill barracks would be relocated there.

Among facilities inspected were the Army Day Primary and Secondary schools, the Medical Centre, residential quarters and water facilities.

Obaseki, however, expressed worries over the vandalism of school facilities in the barracks noting that he would recall the contractors handling rehabilitation in the school, as the Brigade Commander had promised to reinforce security.

The governor condemned encroachment by neighbouring communities into the barracks’ land, noting that the ministry of Lands, Urban and Regional Planning would be mandated to get back the lands to the Army.

He ordered that properties built around a moat in Orovie community, close to the Army barrack, should be demolished, as there was an existing law, which kicked against such acts.

EDSTMA Officers Training for successful candidates

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki is at it again.

EDSTMA Officers Training for successful candidates commences on Wednesday, 21st June, 2017 to 28th June, 2017 at Imaguero College, Sapele Road, Benin City. 

Below are the lists of successful candidates:

S/N SURNAME FIRST NAME GENDER
1 EJIBEKE ONIMISI MALE
2 OYEDELE ALABA MICHAEL MALE
3 ADEZELI SUNDAY PETER MALE
4 BALOGUN IBRAHIM OFUJE MALE
5 EKUNDAYO AUGUSTUS BOSEDE FEMALE
6 SAMSON ONIMISI BELLO MALE
7 AMINU BLESSING OCHECHE FEMALE
8 AGBABI CYNTHIA FEMALE
9 DANIA KENNEDY ESHOVO MALE
10 BANJE OZAVESHE ANTHONY MALE
11 ABUKARE MONDAY MEBAIZO MALE
12 ADANINI O. ELIZABETH FEMALE
13 OLANIYO KUDIRAT CHARITY FEMALE
14 SULE GEORGE SURU MALE
15 OKOMAYIN SHAKEDE JOHN MALE
16 OKOMAYIN O. PETER MALE
17 SANNI A. GODWIN MALE
18 ALUFAH GREGORY BABATUNDE MALE
19 ADEWALE GLORIA EKOHIMI FEMALE
20 SUNDAY EMIUNO LUCKY MALE
21 AKPEJI ASIPITA STEPHEN MALE
22 AMUWO KAZEEM ABIODUN MALE
23 BALOGUN RICHARD MOGBO MALE
24 DAUDU SIMON MALE
25 SULEMAN AHMED MALE
26 USMAN KAREEM MALE
27 TOYIN ASHOFOR FEMALE
28 IKPONMWAN O. VINCENT MALE
29 IGBINAZAKA ANTHONY MALE
30 EDAIYI LOVETH FEMALE
31 IJEREMEN OTALOIGBE LAWSON MALE
32 EGUAVOEN IDUNMONYI ELVIS MALE
33 OBASEKI PEACE OSAYEKEM FEMALE
34 JAMES JULIET FEMALE
35 OYEGUE SYLVESTER MALE
36 ODIA BLESSING FEMALE
37 OSAJE N. EZEKIEL MALE
38 SMART ATOE MALE
39 ADEYANJU F. DAVID MALE
40 IGBINOGHODUA ORE PALMER FEMALE
41 OKOJIE OFURE VICTORIA FEMALE
42 IMADONMWONYI OSAHENRUMWEN DOHERTY FEMALE
43 AIWEKHUE OSAZEE EMMANUEL MALE
44 ODEMWINGIE I. ISHAQ MALE
45 OGIEGOR MONDAY MALE
46 AMADIN WISDOM OSAMUDIAMEN MALE
47 AJIBADE KINGSLEY IMAKHE MALE
48 SUBERU DONALD OJO MALE
49 ALASHE FELIX SUNDAY MALE
50 OKODUWA MAGNUS EHIMARE MALE
51 IKHIFA DEBORAH OMONYE FEMALE
52 OGBINOGHO MATTHEW MALE
53 OSARA IDEFUARE JENNIFER FEMALE
54 MUHAMMED ABDULHAFIZ MALE
55 ADABA HAMZAT MALE
56 EDU ONOIRIBHOLO YVONNE FEMALE
57 IBHAGBOSORIA PIUS EHIKHUEMEN MALE
58 INATIANBOR E. ONOGHONGHOAN FEMALE
59 AKHIGBE SYLVESTER MALE
60 OKODUGHA ANTHONIA OSEME FEMALE
61 OSEHUMEN EMMANUEL OSEHON MALE
62 JANET SUEMAN ITIWI FEMALE
63 OSEGHALE DARLINGTON MALE
64 AKHATOR AUSTINE ARNOLD MALE
65 IKHUOMOBHEGBE JUDE MALE
66 OKODUWA SARAH FEMALE
67 OTOIBHILI O. BLESSING FEMALE
68 ABURIME PIUS OBEHI MALE
69 OKOJIE EGHONGHON JOY FEMALE
70 OBOBHARIA DEB EWANOSE FEMALE
71 MIKE AMENAGHAWON MALE
72 OBADAN MERCY FEMALE
73 OWOLABI M. ROLAND MALE
74 OAHIMHIN JUDE IKAHOKHUE MALE
75 ELIGHI MERCY FEMALE
76 AGU A. JOY FEMALE
77 AIGBONKHAN BENARD MALE
78 EICHIE MARY AGBOI FEMALE
79 YARO DANLADI MALE
80 ALIHIAGA EVELYN FEMALE
81 ALASHE OLUMIDE SAMUEL MALE
82 BALOGUN ENEYUFUO FRANCIS MALE
83 GARUBA SUNDAY VINCENT MALE
84 KOLAWOLE GODFREY KEKEDU MALE
85 OKEJE MONDAY SEWUNDO MALE
86 IYERE AKHERE FAITH FEMALE
87 OBOH OSEMEKHIAN LINUS MALE
88 AHIANTE SUSAN EGHONGHON FEMALE
89 OKEVWIE ETIN-OSA MALE
90 UGELE LUCKY MALE
91 EDOBOR OFURE RITA FEMALE
92 ENEOGWOR IGHILE MOSES MALE
93 OMIEMHONKHERE IGNATUS MALE
94 OKODUGHA HENRY OSEMUDIAMEN MALE
95 FRANCIS O. IYOHA MALE
96 OGBEBOR INNOCENT MALE
97 AMUNE FRANK SIMME MALE
98 BALOGUN AJAYI MALE
99 AJULO BEAUTY ETANAMI FEMALE
100 ESEIGBE WISDOM OGBEIDE MALE
101 IYARE CHRISTOPHER EBHOTA MALE
102 ALADEMEYIN IDOWU JOHN MALE
103 ESE OMOYEMWEN FEMALE
104 OAIKHENA PRUDENCE EHIS FEMALE
105 ODIAGBE AUGUSTA AKHERE FEMALE
106 PHILIP DAVID MALE
107 ELIJA JOHN OSIKHOTSELIMHE MALE
108 AGBABINA DANIEL MALE
109 MOUGA AGHOWUYA
110 AKHIGBE JEFF IDIALU MALE
111 UGIAGBE OSAKPOLOR MALE
112 AYEMHOBA ANGELA CLARA FEMALE
113 ETHAKPEMHE MIKE INENEMHO MALE
114 OKHAI EMIKE VICTORIA FEMALE
115 OMOAKA DAVID SUNDAY MALE
116 SADOH JOSEPH OYIAREKHUA MALE
117 EKHASEMOMHE ISAAC AZEGBOBOR MALE
118 OSESE EMMANUEL TISENAKHE MALE
119 MOMOH JACOB MALE
120 ALOYE AFOR CHARITY MALE
121 IKO HANNA FEMALE
122 OZAGHA ISAAC MALE
123 UBATEMHO ALEAKHUE INNOCENT MALE
124 ALIU STANLEY MALE
125 ODOKUMA ALENOGENA SAMUEL MALE
126 NABOYA ERUAGA
127 ANETEKHAI IZUAGBE MALE
128 OKPO BONIFACE MALE
129 ILEGOGIE IWARUE MALE
130 OLORUNDA THANKGOD MALE
131 YAMAH ADAMU PAUL MALE
132 ARUNA FRANCIS MALE
133 BIOSE QUEEN FEMALE
134 MARTINS MOMOH MALE
135 DADA MARIAM FEMALE
136 SIDI WINIFRED O. FEMALE
137 OMOGBEME TIMOTHY OJO MALE
138 ABU ISAAC ITHOBOUDU MALE
139 SULEIMAN VICTOR MALE
140 EMOKHOR INNOCENT MALE
141 ADEBISI BLESSING OMOLAYO FEMALE
142 AMUNE ANTHONY DELE MALE
143 ATTARI JOHN ARUMELA MALE
144 AMUNE O. PAULINA FEMALE
145 ILUORE JANE FEMALE
146 ULOKO MARY NANCY FEMALE
147 IMHODIBHE MARIA FREDA FEMALE
148 BELLO ANESI MALE
149 MOMODU EZEKIEL MALE
150 JOHN OSIKHOISELIMHE MALE
151 ZAKARIYAHU SANI MOHAMMED MALE
152 AGENE OMOALUKHE PRISCILIA FEMALE
153 AKHAMIE FIDELIA FEMALE
154 SHAIBU LUKMAN ABDULAI MALE
155 SALIU YESUFU OZOMIEGUA MALE
156 AKHARAMHE QUEEN OGIEMHOSI FEMALE
157 MOMODU LAMETU FEMALE
158 ELOGIE RAYMOND MALE
159 JACOB OTOTO MALE
160 KADIRI HAMZAT MALE
161 OMOMOH EPHRAIM MALE
162 USMAN CLARISTA BAGUDU FEMALE
163 IBRAHIM AHMED MALE
164 STEPHEN OYARELEMHI MALE
165 ALELE BRIDGET FEMALE
166 OKORUWA ITOHAN FEMALE
167 EZIGHI MERCY FEMALE
168 AIGBOKHAN BENARD MALE
169 AGBATA PHILOMENA FEMALE
170 EROHUBIE OSAHON KELVIN MALE
171 ORIAKHI ODION JOSEPH MALE
172 AIFUNA OMOROGIUWA CHRISTABEL FEMALE
173 ADUDU OMORUYI ARNOLD MALE
174 OROBATOR JENNIFER UNUBON FEMALE
175 EDALE BLESSING FEMALE
176 BOB - ITUAH OKOROR MALE
177 OBASUYI IZIEGBE MALE
178 OSAWE NOSARIEMEN LOVETH FEMALE
179 ADESUNLOYE CHOICE FEMALE
180 EKENOMEN MACAULAY MALE
181 OSAZUWA OSARETIN MALE
182 OSAIGBOVO IJESUROBO JOSHUA MALE
183 IDELE JOSEPH OSAKUE MALE
184 OSAZUWA OSARETIN MALE
185 ESEMUEDE BESTON ALWANFO MALE
186 GODWIN EKPEN OBASEKI MALE
187 IKPONMWONSA JULIET FEMALE
188 OSAWANZE KELVIN MALE
189 OMOLURU I. EVELYN FEMALE
190 IYEKEKHEGBE IZEGBE PATIENCE FEMALE
191 ELOSIA ESE FRANCISCA FEMALE
192 SAMSON OBASEKI MALE
193 ABURE MERCY FEMALE
194 AIGBE OSARO BLESSING MALE
195 CHUKWUDI MOSES ISIOMA MALE
196 OMOREGBE JUSTICE MALE
197 OSARIEMWINDA IGIEDE NEWOTN MALE
198 OSAWARU OSAYEMWENRE ENDURANCE MALE
199 IRHIAYE IMOUKHUEDE GEORGE MALE
200 UYIGUE OSAMUDIAMEN MALE
201 EGUAKUN EMMANUELLA IMUETINYAN FEMALE
202 OBASEKI LOVETH OSARUMWENSE FEMALE
203 OTUBUN LUCKY OSAS MALE
204 OBASUYI OSARIEMEN ROSE FEMALE
205 OJIEZELE GOODNESS AREGUN FEMALE
206 OSAGIE GLORIA FEMALE
207 ONI OSAGIE MALE
208 OMOREGIE PETER MALE
209 AIGBOKHAN HASTINGS STANLEY MALE
210 OBASUYI ESOHE QUEEN FEMALE
211 AFIANMAGBON IYORE AUGUSTINE MALE
212 AUTHUR JULIUS OBASUYI MALE
213 ONOBUKOROVE ROSEMARY FEMALE
214 PIUS EZE MALE
215 IGBINOSUN OSARO UWAGBOE MALE
216 OSAMUYI OLADIMEJI M. MALE
217 EDEM EVELYN IJEOMA FEMALE
218 OBAH BLESSING IMUETINYANOSA FEMALE
219 OBAKPOLOR EFOSA MALE
220 IGHODARO OSATO OWEN MALE
221 OSAYAWE M. GRACE FEMALE
222 ALEGBE I. JOYCE FEMALE
223 EHIGUINA OSAZELE SARAH FEMALE
224 OMOREGIE ESEMWENRE MALE
225 OSIFOH T. OMOZOYA MALE
226 ADESUNLOYE OSARIEMEN BECKY FEMALE
227 OBASOHAN LOUIZA O. FEMALE
228 USIDEME OGUNSEDE EFOSA FEMALE
229 OBASEKI JOY ISIME FEMALE
230 OMORUYI JOY SANDRA FEMALE
231 ABU PAUL MALE
232 ISOKEN IRADIA OSIFO FEMALE
233 OMORUYI JULIET OSASUMWEN FEMALE
234 AMU OHIMAI ELVIS MALE
235 IRABOR MICHAEL MALE
236 ITOJE OCHUKO REGAN MALE
237 OAKHENA EROHOMOSELE DARLINGTON MALE
238 OGIDA JOSEPHINE OMOROSE FEMALE
239 OSUNBOR ENEHIKHARE HENRY MALE
240 UGIAGBE ABIEYUWA BEARER FEMALE
241 UNUFEGAN ELVIS MALE
242 USIFOH ELIZABETH BOLANLE FEMALE
243 AGBONLAHOR ESOSA FRANCISCA FEMALE
244 IKEKELE EMMANUEL ADAIGHOFUA MALE
245 OGBEBOR OSAMUDIAMEN FRANCIS MALE
246 IGHODARO OSARODION MALE
247 IKPEHAI MONDAY MALE
248 ERIAMIATOE NOSAKHARE OJO MALE
249 IHONVBERE MONDAY MALE
250 IMASUEN OMOSEFE MERCY FEMALE
251 IYARE ELIZABETH CHINYERE FEMALE
252 OGBEIDE IHAMA OSAGUMWENRO MALE
253 OKUNOGHAE AIGBE MALE
254 IKEREKHALU MOSES MALE
255 BESHIRU KHADIJAT A. FEMALE
256 DAUDA LAWRENCE MALE
257 IDEHEN SAMUEL EZEBOSI MALE
258 OVBOKHIAN SHAKA MALE
259 ADENOMO NOSAKHARE MALE
260 BALOGUN ADE MALE
261 SANNI TAJUDEEN ADEWOLE MALE
262 AIYEPADA AUGUSTINE TUNDE MALE
263 BLESSING UWAJEI FEMALE
264 EKHATOR GOODLUCK MALE
265 IGHAVONGBE JEFFERSON OROBOSA MALE
266 OSAZUWA SARAH FEMALE
267 OKORO VICTORY CHUKWUDI FEMALE
268 IMARHIA ESTHER FEMALE
269 IGENE IRIAGBONSE SOPHIA FEMALE
270 OGU A. JOY FEMALE
271 OMORUYI FREDERICK EGUAVOEN MALE
272 OSAYANDE JUDITH FEMALE
273 OKWUEGBE KOSEYEM PERPETUAL FEMALE
274 AKWAKWA OGHENEIGBUMI FEMALE
275 ODIGIE OMORUYI TURBMAN MALE
276 ERAGBON MURPHY MALE
277 EMOKPAE OSAMUYI HENRY MALE
278 IFALUYI THOMPSON MALE
279 AIBIEYI STELLA FEMALE
280 ODIDIE GODSPOWER MALE
281 LIBERTY EFE MILLER MALE
282 AMADASUN KINGSLEY MALE
283 IMAFIDON VICTOR MALE
284 AGBONLAHOR BLESSING FEMALE
285 UWENBOR OSAEFE RUFUS MALE
286 ADESUNLOYE OLUWAYEMISI ELIZABETH FEMALE
287 AKPEJI SUNDAY PETER MALE
288 AGBOOLA CAROLINE OLUWATOSIN FEMALE
289 OSARIEMEN JULIET FEMALE
290 TUTUWEI EBITEBE FEMALE
291 UKPEMI SOLOMON S. MALE
292 UWA OKUNDAYE MALE
293 EMOTOGHAN OGIDIGBA MALE
294 AMANA VINCENT ESHOVO MALE
295 ADEBAYO KEHINDE JULIUS MALE
296 AYO MONDAY AMUNE MALE
297 SHAIBU MUSARI MALE
298 IGBAFEN PORTIA ADELOKUN FEMALE
299 IKHELOWA LATEEF MALE
300 UGBOMOIKO IYABO BLESSING FEMALE
301 OJEAGA RITA IDAYRHUE FEMALE
302 IGELUGBO IKHOYA SUNDAY MALE
303 IMAKU OGBEWE DAVID MALE
304 OGIZA JENNIFER FEMALE
305 SIMON CHRISTIAN MALE
306 AUGUSTINE FRANCA IJIEMEN FEMALE
307 HARUNA GLADYS NANA FEMALE
308 DANIA GOODLUCK AUGUSTINE MALE
309 GARUBA JAMES OYONUDE MALE
310 ORILOYE MARTINS MONDAY MALE
311 ALONGE IYABO FEMALE
312 JOHN ARELE LIBERTY MALE
313 OYAKHIRE SAMUEL MALE
314 AIDELOJE PATRICIA OMON FEMALE
315 OVIOSUN GODWIN MALE
316 ODE CHRISTIANA FEMALE
317 IKHARIA ROSEMARY FEMALE
318 SOLOMON ALAO MALE
319 IKPOKPO EDUKPE OSCAR MALE
320 GEORGE OPEOLUWA MALE
321 IMORGAN FELIX MALE
322 PELEMOH ERIC OJO MALE
323 ENOBAKHARE ODOLEVBO HARMONY MALE
324 EMOKPAE OSAGIE MALE
325 OMOROGBE BECKY FEMALE
326 IYAMU JOY IVIE FEMALE
327 AGBONGBAMIEN OSAMUYI EDWIN MALE
328 AIGBE PAT ERIAGBONYE FEMALE
329 OBASS PHILIP MALE
330 OSAGIEDE IME LUCKY MALE
331 OSARUGUE OSARETIN MALE
332 OKUNDIA ANDREW EGHOSA MALE
333 AIRAODION I. EMERSON MALE
334 AIGBOKHAE PATRICK U. MALE
335 ASIBOJA CLETUS AGBONTAEN MALE
336 IDUWE BLESSING ESEWI FEMALE
337 IGBINEWEKA ABIEMWENSE FEMALE
338 IGIEHOR EHIS TORNADO MALE
339 NAPOLEON AIMIENORIAGBON MALE
340 OGIEMADE GODFREY OSAS MALE
341 OBANOR ESOSA GIFT FEMALE
342 OBASEKI JOSEPH IZIEGBE MALE
1 OCHEI OYOWOLE HAPPINESS FEMALE
2 ESHAREFASA JOSHUA URUEMUNDE MALE
3 NWABUWE ONYECHUKWU KELVIN MALE
4 OLUMARO MABEL LAWRENCE FEMALE
5 UBAH INNOCENT CHINENYE FEMALE
6 ADOH JENNIFER CHIOMA FEMALE
7 JAMES IRENE CHINASA FEMALE
8 CHIDOBI NGOZI AGNES FEMALE

Candidates are to come with:
*A pair of black trousers
*A pair of white shorts
*A pair of white canvass
*A pair of black shoes
*2 white T-shirts
*4 passport photos.

Time: 7am - 6pm daily.

Signed: Management.

I regret aborting my first child

Nollywood Actor, Jude Orhorha, in a chat with Saturday Beats, disclosed that he regrets aborting his first child

Here's what he said;



“I am regretting the fact that if I had my first baby when I was about 22 years old, I would know how old the child would be now. A girl who got pregnant for me in 1992 aborted the child. Back then, there was no GSM so she stayed away from me. After the abortion, she then came back to meet me to tell me that her mother said she should not keep it and when I asked her what she meant, she opened up to me. She is Igbo but I am from Urhobo.

She said that her mother said she should not keep the baby because I did not have money. Back then, it was the Igbo marketers who were selling spare parts that were making waves. They were the ones who had money. In the late 80s and early 90s, there was nothing like Nollywood but only those that were selling electronics.

It was the guys that sold spare parts that were making money and they dated all the Igbo girls, both the ones in school and the ones at home. So if you were not selling spare parts, you were not regarded as a rich person. The girl left me because her mother told her not to date me anymore. Unfortunately, there was nothing like mobile phones; if not I am sure she would have called me. She just left for about two months. When she told me, I broke up with her immediately because I am a Catholic just like my mother,” he said.

“My mother frowns at anything that has to do with abortion and I was staying under her roof; so there is no way the girl would have aborted the child. I broke up with her immediately. I have not seen her ever since but I learnt she is in London now. Even when I travelled to London, I did not see her even though I searched for her in UK. However, I have forgiven her because the incident happened in 1992.”

UBA seeks potential ambassador

https://ubagroup.com/campusambassadors

NASA predicts heavier rain in Nigeria

NASA scientists in a new study of climate change said the latest predictive climate models underestimate future levels of precipitation in Nigeria and other places in the tropics. The tropics are a region of the Earth surrounding the equator. The tropics are also referred to as the tropical zone and the torrid zone.

NASA data suggests the tropics will host fewer tall, high-alittude clouds as global warming continues, boosting rainfall totals in the region.

Under different circumstances, fewer clouds would likely translate to less precipitation. But tall tropical clouds help trap heat in the atmosphere. Without fewer of them around, the air above the tropics is expected to cool. Cooler air means more rain.

But the confusing changes don’t stop there. The increase in rain is expected to reheat the atmosphere. As raindrops condense, they transfer energy to their surroundings, warming the atmosphere. The cycle of heating and cooling encourages large-scale air flows.

In the tropics, the pattern is known as the atmospheric general circulation. Scientists have measured a narrowing of the cycle as Earth has warmed in recent decades, depressing the number of high-alittude clouds. An increase in rainfall is expected to encourage the cycle’s narrowing pattern.

Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory designed a number of models to replicate the loss of high altitude clouds measured by NASA satellites over the last several decades. The models that best matched NASA’s dataset predicted an acceleration of rainfall in the region.

Researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

“This study provides a pathway for improving predictions of future precipitation change,” lead study author Hui Su, a researcher at JPL, said in a news release.

Stand a chance to win N750k in 'Lagos at 50' photo contest

To participate, Lagosians are to take a picture of themselves in their favourite iconic locations in Lagos State.

Sean Diddy Combs now world’s richest entertainer

Rapper and music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was named the world’s highest-paid entertainer on Monday, ousting pop singer Taylor Swift who fell to 49th place on the Forbes annual list.

Beyonce moved into the second spot with $105 million, courtesy of her best-selling “Lemonade” album and world tour, while British author J.K. Rowling ($95 million) moved back into the top three thanks largely to her “Harry Potter” spinoff movie franchise “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

Combs, 47, earned an estimated $130 million in the 12 months ended June 1, 2017, Forbes said. It attributed the big payout to his Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour, earnings from his Sean John clothing line, and his partnership with Ciroc vodka.

Last year, Combs came in 22nd on the list in a year when Swift bested all-comers with $170 million after her best-selling “1989” album and world tour.

This year, the 27-year-old country singer-turned-pop star, with no new album or tour, saw her paycheck dip to $44 million, Forbes estimated.

Newcomers in 2017 include model Kylie Jenner, the 19-year-old half-sister of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who earned $41 million, and U.S. radio and television personality Steve Harvey with $42.5 million

Forbes compiles the list estimating pre-tax earnings, before deducting fees for managers, based on data from Nielsen, touring trade publication Pollstar, movie database IMDB.com, and interviews with industry experts and celebrities themselves.

The world’s top 100 celebrities earned a cumulative $5.1 billion – about the same as last year, Forbes said.

The full list can be seen on www.forbes.com/celebrities

FG tags 2017 budget on economic recovery, growth

The Federal Government has christened the 2017 Budget which was signed into law on Monday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as “Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth”. 

Osinbajo said the name reflected the commitment of the administration to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and the annual budgets. 

According to him, it is designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession unto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.

“The budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion. 

“The projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing,’’ Osinbajo said.

He assured those who had expressed concern about the growing public debt that “we are taking several actions to grow government revenues as well as plug revenue leakages.

“This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures’’. 

The acting president noted that the economy was already signaling a gradual recovery as growth was headed towards positive territory. 

He said that the first quarter GDP estimated at -0.52 per cent compared favourably with -2.06 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 

He also said that inflation was declining to 17.24 per cent from 18.74 per cent as at May 2016. 

Osinbajo also observed that the country’s external reserves rose to US$30.28 billion as at June 8, 2017 from US$26.59 billion as at May 31, 2016.

“We are also gradually instilling confidence in our exchange rate regime.

“This improvement in GDP growth and other macro-economic indicators is largely attributable to our strategic implementation of the 2016 Budget as well as stronger macroeconomic management and policy coordination.

’’ The acting president also expressed confidence that the 2017 Budget would deliver positive economic growth and prosperity “that is self-sustaining and inclusive’’. 

Accordingly, he said that the 2017 budget will be implemented in line with the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. 

He said that over the 2017-2020 plan period “we are focusing on five key execution priorities”, namely: stabilising the macroeconomic environment; agriculture and food security; energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products. 

He also mentioned improved transportation infrastructure and industrialisation through support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs). 

“The 2017 budget includes provisions that reflect these priorities.

“To demonstrate our commitment to following through our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the 2017 budget allocates over N2 trillion to capital expenditure, principally infrastructure.

“We are committing over N200 billion to improve transport infrastructure such as roads and rail; over N500 billion for investments in works, power, and housing. 

“And N46 billion is for Special Economic Zone Projects to be set up in each geopolitical zone,’’ he added.