News Headlines Today 1. PRP, ADC, LP team up to form a new Mega coalition party for the coming 2023 election in Nigeria. https://punchng.com/jega-utomi-groups-others-team-up-against-apc-pdp-unveil-party-oct-1/?amp 2. Yoruba Nation: (NINAS), (IOO) dissociates from October US rally. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/yoruba-nation-ninas-ilana-omo-oodua-dissociates-from-october-us-rally/ 3. Despite Obasanjo's debt cancellation, President Buhari is termed 'more prudent' than the ex-President as borrowing is a major concern dictating Nigeria economic. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/borrowings-despite-obasanjos-debt-cancellation-buhari-more-prudent-pgf-dg/ 4. The Asset Management corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) siezes ex-kwara gov Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed's mansion over N5 billion debt. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/amcon-seizes-ex-kwara-gov-ahmeds-house-over-n5bn-debt/ 5. Why we can't yet name, shame sponsors of terrorism- Malami https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/why-we-cant-yet-name-shame-sponsors-of-terrorism-malami/ 6. Collection of VAT: The Federal Government says the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will continue to collect value added tax (VAT) following the ruling of the court of Appeal on the matter. https://www.sunnewsonline.com/collection-of-vat-by-firs-remains-fg/ 7. CBN sets to roll out e-naira https://www.sunnewsonline.com/cbn-sets-to-roll-out-e-naira/ 8. NOTHERN ELDERS: We regret not supporting Jonathan in 2015 https://thenationonlineng.net/northern-elders-we-regret-not-supporting-jonathan-in-2015/?amp=1 9. VAT row threatens Federal Government N8. 36 trillion 2022 revenue target https://thenationonlineng.net/vat-row-threatens-fed-govts-n8-36tr-2022-revenue-target/?amp=1 10. Borno begins campaign for repentant Boko Haram members https://thenationonlineng.net/borno-begins-campaign-for-repentant-boko-haram-members/?amp=1

Olamide has what it takes to build a solid music empire in Nigeria/Africa. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/21/africa/olamide-nigeria-music-label-spc-intl/index.html (CNN)-Unless you are listening to one of the nine albums he's released since 2011, you won't hear much from Olamide. The 32-year-old recording artist, born Olamide Gbenga Adedeji in Bariga, Nigeria, doesn't do many interviews and told CNN that even before the pandemic he had cut down on his public performances. But the man also known as Baddo has a career that speaks for itself. Aside from a catalogue that racks up millions of streams and views, he has a record label that has been a springboard for several fellow music stars from Nigeria. In 2020 he signed a deal with US-based music company Empire to take what he has done to new global levels. CNN recently spoke with him at Empire's headquarters in San Francisco. The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. CNN: You decided to start your own label pretty early in your career. What gave you that mindset? Olamide: There were no doors opening up. So, I had to set up my own building and my own door. I started getting a little change from doing gigs and I just thought I might as well just stack up this money and build my own thing instead of flexing and balling with this money. Let me grind now and smile later, you know? CNN: Name some of the people you've signed to your label over the years. Olamide: I signed the likes of Adekunle Gold, Chinko Ekun, Viktoh, Lil Kesh and now Fireboy DML. I love music and I love to see people that can actually do music very well being heard. CNN: You've signed artists who were relatively unknown but then became successful. What's the key to doing that? Olamide: I paint pictures a lot in my head so I could see beyond the raw form of these guys. CNN: Have you ever guessed wrong? Olamide: Yeah, it's very difficult to make some people see the potential that they've got sometimes. Every now and then I battle with that though ... I battle with trying to convince most of these guys to see lots more in themselves like I could. CNN: Is there a difference between Olamide the artist and Olamide the label executive? Olamide: When I'm in my CEO mode, like I don't joke man. And they know, like business is business, we have to get it right. It's either we go all in or don't do it at all, you hear me? People might not really know how business-minded Olamide is. Because I don't really talk too much. CNN: So let's talk about the Empire deal that you signed in 2020. Olamide: The offer was right and it's the type of deal that gives YBNL [Olamide's record label] the room to also coexist without losing our identity. It's a joint venture, so it's not just Empire owning YBNL or owning Olamide's brand and all that. So, it's like we are coming together as two different entities to come together as one. CNN: Your music does well, if not better than a lot of the other big names out of Nigeria, but you seem to get less press. Do you think you deserve more or do you just purposely like to stay under the radar? Olamide: What's key for me is pushing my brand to the extreme and getting the paper [money] right. So, anything else that comes after that is extra. If I see any opportunity to push my brand to the extreme, I would definitely do that, and (any) opportunity to make more paper, I will definitely do that. But blow my trumpet? Nah, that's not me. It's business and there's something called healthy competition and all that -- but my only competition in life is the man I was yesterday. So, I don't really bother (myself) about who I'm better than, or who's better than me. I'm more bothered about if I can be way better than I was yesterday. That's the most important thing for me.

COUP ATTEMPT FOILED IN SUDAN A coup attempt in Sudan “failed” early Tuesday, state media reported, as the country grapples with a fragile transition since the 2019 ouster of longtime president Omar al-Bashir. Top military and government sources told AFP that the attempt involved a group of officers who were “immediately suspended” after they “failed” to take over the state media building. “There has been a failed coup attempt, the people should confront it,” state television said, without elaborating.  Senior member of Sudan’s ruling body, Taher Abuhaja, said “an attempt to seize power has been thwarted.”  Another senior ruling body member, Mohamed al-Fekki said: “Everything is under control and the revolution is victorious.”  Traffic appeared to be flowing smoothly in central Khartoum, AFP correspondents reported, including around army headquarters, where protesters staged a mass sit-in that eventually led to Bashir’s ouster in a palace coup.  Security forces did however close the main bridge across the Nile connecting Khartoum to its twin city Omdurman. – Two years under transition – Sudan is currently ruled by a transitional government composed of both civilian and military representatives that was installed in the aftermath of Bashir’s April 2019 overthrow and is tasked with overseeing a return to full civilian rule.  The August 2019 power-sharing deal originally provided for the formation of a legislative assembly during a three-year transition, but that period was reset when Sudan signed a peace deal with an alliance of rebel groups last October. More than two years later, the country remains plagued by chronic economic problems inherited from the Bashir regime as well as deep divisions among the various factions steering the transition. The promised legislative assembly has yet to materialise. The government, led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, has vowed to fix the country’s battered economy and forge peace with rebel groups who fought the Bashir regime. In recent months, his government has undertaken a series of tough economic reforms to qualify for debt relief from the International Monetary Fund. The steps, which included slashing subsidies and a managed float of the Sudanese pound, were seen by many Sudanese as too harsh. Sporadic protests have broken out against the IMF-backed reforms and the rising cost of living, as well as delays to deliver justice to the families of those killed under Bashir. On Monday, demonstrators blocked key roads as well as the country’s key trade hub, Port Sudan, to protest the peace deal signed with rebel groups last year.

SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES, 21/09/2021 PUNCH FG liable withholding our salaries, we’ve appealed ruling – NARD Dollar hits N575 two days after Aboki FX update suspension Nigerian diplomat’s assault in Indonesia closed, recalled envoy returns to Jakarta VAT for brothers: Stop illegality first, Wike tells FG, Gombe fears stoppage IPPIS responsible for non-payment of unity school teachers’ salaries – FG Presidential panel sells seven-storey FRCN Lagos building for N100m It’s compulsory for Nigerians to accept e-naira, says CBN Two states with cholera vaccine as 2,404 deaths recorded in 72,910 cases NMA laments as doctors, health workers flee Nigeria in droves JUSUN alleges non-implementation of agreement, summons NEC meeting Kogi oil-producing status: Enugu’s exclusion from 13% derivation injustice, say Ohanaeze, state Southern Middle Belt Alliance tackles NEF over voters’ claim, 2023 presidency APC’ll be divided if it zones Presidency to North – Okorocha Herders with guns risk 21-year imprisonment as Sanwo-Olu signs bill Ondo seals Shoprite for violating environmental law Apapa gridlock persists, Lagos blames NPA, MAN laments losses Father arrested for impregnating 19-year-old daughter, suspect blames devil Fulani have killed 50 residents, burnt 254 houses, Kaduna monarch cries out Katsina cripple arrested counting ransom cash paid by threatened victim After four-year remand, Lagos pastor, accomplice re-arraigned for beheading boy (www.punchng.com) THE NATION Southeast pupils to sit for missed WASSCE Buhari to push global COVID-19 vaccine equity at UNGA76 Nigerians demonstrate for unity in New York VAT row: Fed Govt directs remittance by firms to FIRS Resident doctors reject court’s return to work order INEC to display details of newly registered three million voters Forex controversy: Emefiele will not resign, says CBN Fed Govt may unbundle NRC soon, says MD Govt: We are not interested in naming, shaming terror sponsors Fed Govt urged to resettle 1.5m victims of herdsmen attacks CAN condemns attacks on worshippers in Kogi Rivers APC spokesman resigns Diri urges Shell to clear blocked canals Agency, Enugu lawmakers clash over inducement allegation NDDC contractors back interim administrator Tight security as schools resume new academic session in Abuja Amotekun foils 35 kidnap attempts (www.thenationonlineng.net) VANGUARD EFCC arrests 30 cybercrime suspects at Kwara State University COVID-19: FCT leads with 121 as NCDC registers 393 infections, 6 deaths –NCDC NCDC reports 1,182 suspected cholera cases in one week NNPC says, natural gas export sales fetched $38.56m in May 2021 Customs to deploy drones at Seme border — ACG Nigeria records 20,000 cases of snake bites, 2,000 deaths annually INEC suspends online pre-registration of voters Join govt to subdue housing deficit in Nigeria, Osinbajo tells financial market experts Buhari extols late Abdulaziz Udeh Aisha Buhari Cup: Falcons, Banyana battle on final day Kumuyi to hold 5-Day ‘Divine Solution Global Crusade’ in Abuja Sept 24-28 Execution of Sugar Master Plan can save Nigeria $700million yearly — Dangote Akwa Ibom widow gets house gift from governor’s wife Monday sit-at-home records usual total compliance in Onitsha Sit-at-home: Angry Villagers beat to death suspected IPOB leader in Imo Gunmen kill 3 policemen, injure 2 others in Anambra Abia community, sympathisers mourn at burial of 4 under-aged siblings Police arrest 5 persons in Katsina suspected of supplying bandits with petrol Joining APC’ll diminish your political stature — PGF DG warns Jonathan Gunmen abduct would-be couple in Ekiti state Man beats son to death in Kano Kwara Police arrest 2 ritualists with human head (www.vanguardngr.com) When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts. - Larry Ellison