There was pandemonium in Nekede, Imo state, on Friday the 12th of January as one ex-student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede was shot dead by members of a rival cult group. 
The victim who was simply identified as Mr. Justice was shot on the head at a popular bar named 50-50 along Poly road at about 5pm as tension between the black axe and vikings confraternities escalated. A source, said that Mr. Justice who hails from Abia State was a member of one of the cult groups while he was still a student of the institution. The source added that supremacy battle between rival groups have left at least 3 persons dead in January. 
The source privy to the incident said that the Police Command in Owerri, had on Wednesday, arrested one of the suspects to the murder. She said that the suspect was picked up by the command at about 6am on Wednesday at a popular hostel close to the school. 
The public relations officer of the institution declined a request for comments on the matter
Pandemonium as cult clash leaves one dead in Nekede. (Warning! Graphic Images)
NPFL: Go-Round FC gets First league win, as Rivers United loses away in Jos.
Go-Round FC of Omoku on Wednesday in the match day 2 of the NPFL, got their first league win of the season at Krisdera Stadium, Omoku, Courtsey of a 17th minute Adelani Adeseun’s strike.
The home team capitalized on a communication breakdown between keeper and defenders to score from close range.
With few chances created, Go-Round FC went into the break with a 1:0 lead.
5 minutes after resumption, Nwachukwu’s cross-field pass freed Okon but he shot wide with just Ojo Olorunleke to beat.
Second half substitute, Christian Pyagbara, had the opportunity to equalize for the visitor’s, Akwa United after going through on goal but shot wide.
In the 67th minute without pressure, Stanley Nwabali cleared a back pass onto the path of Victor Mbaoma who shot wide with no one between the
posts.
Go-Round’s Stanley “Obasanjo” Worlu, shot from 30 yards which beat goal keeper Olorunleke but bounced off the goalposts, was the last chance in the game as the Omoku side got their first NPFL win in history.
Elsewhere, neighbors Rivers United bowed to the superiority of league Champions, Plateau United in Jos as the ‘pride’ of Rivers lost by 2 goals to nill.
A Superb technique by Plateau captain Elisha Golbe to bend in a free kick in the 31st minute and a Emeka Umeh expertly finish from a Tosin Omoyele’s pass made the difference for the Jos based side.
Portharcourt shuts down for Rex Lawson.
It was happiness galore as artists serenaded fans with songs upon songs of the legendary Rex Lawson. 
The popular Garrison Junction in Portharcourt was locked down as fans trooped in from every part of the world to witness the first edition of Rexlaw Bration. 
Age did not matter. Those who were not born before the legendary Lawson died and had probably heard of him and his unique songs from their parents and relatives came in their numbers. 
The artists too were comprised of old skool performers and young artists making wave around the country. 
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Portharcourt branch, put the show together to remember Lawson and his songs but more especially, his contributions to entertainment in Nigeria and Africa. 
Rex Jim Lawson was born in 1935 to an Igbo and Kalabari parents. He began singing at an early stage and played with notable bands of that era in Portharcourt before launching his own career. 
He is most remembered for crying on stage due to the emotional laden lyrics in his songs. 
Lawson’s career was cut short when he died in a car accident on his way to a show in Warri at the age of 36.
Lawson lives and have become an inspiration to many artists across the country and beyond. 
Dr. Martin Luther King Remembered
Today at theportcitynews we look to honour the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream of justice and equality in America and in effect the entire democratic world. Over 50 years ago Dr. King inspired a generation to come together to stand for freedom in the face of segregation and discrimination. Today we celebrate that spirit because every generation inherits its own injustices and Dr. King is a reminder that each of us can make a difference for the communities and causes we care about most with burning passion.
A man whose dream clearly articulated what gives meaning to our individual and collective life, the need to stand strong for equal right,justice and respect for rule of law.
We can,one for all and all for one make a difference in our local communities and spheres of influence about causes that we care about without resort to violence.
Fighting corruption,injustice,criminal vices that beset our communities, giving direction to the strayed and confused among us. Volunteering to offer a hand of peace,understanding and cooperation for our common development without prejudice to tribe,ethnic origin,religion and social affiliations.
As our elections approach and we seek good governance and endearing democratic culture for our society,We ought not to be bystanders in the issues that determines our destiny and peaceful co-existence and future. Democracy is not a spectator sport we need more than ever before to participate and entrench good governance.
If you have come to believe that angry posts on social media( Facebook,Twitter, YouTube) et al are the only way to make a difference I am pleased to let you know there is a better way to connect. Whether you are interested in freedom, the arts, education, politics,entrepreneurship, inequality, technology, citizenship, zoning, restructuring ,voting , the environment or sports there is an organization out there where you can put your time and talent to good use for the benefit of all to see.
The portcitynews offers you the platform to air your views and passion for your beloved community just as Dr. Luther, we offer you the olive platform to let people know your views and informed opinion on how to make a change in your society without resort to savagery and violence. No one on earth is entitled to an uninformed opinion .
Portcitynews salutes the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, We thank you and other activists alive and gone for the personal sacrifice for the promise lands you all have been granted the vision to see and we earnestly look forward to for our future unborn generation, where equal opportunities, peace,justice and respect reigns.
Wike must run again – Rivers Non-Indigenes
Rivers state non indigenes have asked the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to run for another term in office.
The group, under the Aegis of Non indigenes in Rivers State, paid a solidarity visit, on Wednesday, to the Governor at the government house in Portharcourt.
The leader of the group, Hon Onowu Emeka Anyasodike, who is also the Commissioner of Special Duties said that based on the Governor’s track record, it is imperative that he runs for another term in office.
The group promised the Governor of their total support for being the best Governor to the Non Indigenes in the history of Rivers state.
The Governor, on his part, promised that his administration will do everything in its capacity to carry everybody resident in Portharcourt along.
Abducted lawmaker found dead.
Taraba state has been thrown into mourning following the death of one of the lawmaker’s of the state’s House of Assembly.
Mr Hosea Ibi before his untimely death represented the Takum II Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker was abducted by gunmen in December 2017 and was held hostage until his lifeless body was discovered in a refuse dump in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr David Misal, on Monday in the state capital said that the lawmaker’s corpse had been found.
Misal, who said the corpse was found in Takum Local Government Area of the state, noted that the lawmaker must have died about three days before his body was discovered.
The State Police Command had earlier confirmed Ibi’s abduction by unknown individuals on December 31, 2017, in Takum where he was to usher in the New year.
Go-Round Fc qualifies for NPL.
Go-Round Football Club of Omoku has qualified for the next season’s Nigeria Premier League race.
The club which was at the government house Portharcourt on a goodwill tour met with the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday.
The Governor who addressed the players and management of the club, also announced the donation of a Toyota Coaster Bus to ease the transportation needs of the club.
Governor Wike also donated the sums of 50 million Naira to the club for qualifying and another 10 million for the supporters of the club.
The club will join the state-owned Rivers United in the Nigeria premier League.
Federal Government Insists On Hold On Incremental Electricity Tariff-Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola
The embattled Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, defended the decision of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to hold back the implementation of up to three consecutive tariff reviews owing to factors he articulated on Channels Television early morning show yesterday in Abuja.
He said it would be difficult to allow the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s power market charge new rates on electricity they supply to their customers across the country because the country does not have an accurate record of electricity consumers in the Discos’ networks or enough customers that are metered by the Discos. Fashola, stated that in as much as the tariff was important to the commercial operations of the electricity market, the government would want to see that it is fair, and would do this by properly dimensioning the market.
He further posited that it was impossible to have a fair tariff in an electricity market that has just about seven million households as its recognized customers out of Nigeria’s 180 million people, adding that proper consumers’ enumeration was required to establish the true basis for calibrating tariffs in the sector. He also noted that the Discos would have to improve on their deployment of meters to consumption points, and that until these were done, approving a cost reflective tariff for the market looked difficult.
The portcitynews believes that this may come as a temporary relief to consumers who are more often than not frustrated from lack of proper metering and estimated bills are forwarded to them monthly whilst they experience power outages yet still get to clear these outrageous bills at the end of the month or get disconnected and at the end of it all coerced to pay re-connection fees too.
Nigerian stock surges in 2018.
The world-beating rally in Nigerian stocks may not be over yet.
The main equity index in Africa’s biggest economy has surged 12 percent this year in dollar terms, the most among 96 major bourses tracked by Bloomberg, pushing it to the highest level since 2008. Dangote Cement Plc, controlled by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and the largest company on the exchange, has climbed to a record high.
The advance will probably be sustained thanks to rising prices for oil, Nigeria’s main export, and as investors look to increase their holdings of what remain among the cheapest stocks in Africa, according to the asset management arm of South African lender FirstRand Ltd.
“For investors wanting more exposure to consumers in Africa and Nigeria, in particular, the outlook is good,” said Paul Clark, a money manager in Johannesburg at Ashburton Investments, which owns Nigerian stocks including Seplat Petroleum Development Co. “The banking sector is probably the most attractive at the moment, especially the tier-2 lenders.”
Here are three more charts assessing what may lie ahead:
Foreign investors have been crucial in driving the market higher. The New York-based Global X MSCI Nigeria ETF attracted record weekly net inflows last week. That helped to increase the exchange-traded fund’s market capitalization to almost $90 million, double the level in May last year.
Even after the gains, Nigerian valuations are the least expensive among the major African equity indexes. Nigerian stocks trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.1, while South Africa’s are at 14 and the MSCI Emerging Market Index is at 13.
That suggests there’s further upside, according to Cape Town-based fund Allan Gray. While foreign investors turned negative on Nigeria after following the 2014 oil crash and subsequent recession, the economy picked up last year and growth is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to accelerate to 2.1 percent in 2019.
“For long-term investors, Nigerian equities were a screaming bargain,” said Nick Ndiritu, co-manager of Allan Gray’s $389 million Africa equity fund, which doesn’t include South Africa. “Investor sentiment has turned more bullish on Nigeria and a re-rating of the Nigerian stock market is now under way.”
Still, there are some warning signs. The 120-day correlation between Nigerian stocks and Brent crude is now around the highest in two years. If oil prices reverse their 45 percent climb since June, Nigerian assets could take a hit.
That’s one reason HSBC Holdings Plc has a negative outlook on the stocks. The U.K. bank also says Nigeria will have to free its currency further. While the central bank eased some capital controls last year and opened a trading window for foreign portfolio investors, it continues to operate several exchange rates.
“Nigeria’s multiple exchange rate system is likely to remain a key drag, keeping long-term investors on the side lines,” HSBC analysts David Faulkner, John Lomax and Kishore Muktinutalapati said in a note on Jan.
Curled from Bloomberg.
Again, Nigeria ranks low in the Global Gender Gap report.
Nigeria has yet again ranked low in the Global Gender Gap Report.
Nigeria took 122nd position in the World Economic Forum Report behind other African countries like Gambia and Burkina Faso.
The report which was based on four key subindex that includes: Economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment, studied and surveyed the gaps between men and women in a total of 144 countries.
Key variables for the study were derived from the four key subindex and matched with data from different international organizations like the world Bank, world health organization and Unesco.
The indicators where chosen by focusing on gaps rather than level which captured gaps in outcome variables rather than gaps in input variables.
It also ranked countries according to gender equality rather than women empowerment.
The study accessed resources and opportunities in the countries captured rather than actual levels of the available resources and opportunities in those countries and evaluated countries based on outcomes rather than inputs or means.
It provided a snapshot of where men and women stand with regards to some fundamental outcome indicators related to basic rights such as health, education, economic participation and political empowerment.
In the Global Index, Nigeria ranked 122 out of 144 countries. However, it ranked 37 out of 144 countries, above France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Spain in Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex.
African countries like Burundi, Botswana and Rwanda were ranked 1st, 6th and 7th out of the captured 144 countries in the Economic Participation And Opportunity subindex.
In the Educational Attainment subindex, Nigeria was ranked 135 out of the 144 captured countries as against Botswana which took the 5th position.
In the Health And Survival Subindex, Nigeria was ranked 94 while Burundi, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia topped the list.
Nigeria was also ranked 136 in the Political Empowerment Subindex for women while Rwanda came third.
In Africa, Nigeria was ranked 26 in overall gender gap index behind Gambia and Burkina Faso.
Iceland took the first position in closing 87% of its overall gender gap followed by Norway at 83% and Finland at 82%.
Rwanda took the 4th position in the Global Gender Gap with 82%, slightly behind Finland. This is mostly due to continued progress on its economic participation and opportunity subindex.
