Nigeria’s entertainment industry has again been hit by yet another death. Obiajulu Nwaozor, who is better known as MC Loph met his untimely death earlier today while driving in his recently-acquired SUV on the notorious Benin-Ore expressway. Street Journal gathered that he was traveling to Anambra State in the Eastern part of the country for his traditional wedding when the accident that claimed his life occurred.

MC Loph, famed for his hit single "Osondi Owendi" featuring Flavour N'Abania, has been gaining buzz across the East and other parts of the country over the past 12 months.

His wife to be too was said to have been in the vehicle with him.
MC Loph, the only son in a family of four became an instant celebrity when he did a remix of Osita Osadebey’s Osondi Owendi, an award winning song that enjoys airplay till date. Though his songs tilted towards Highlife, he classified them as Afro-Hip Hop as they contained elements of Rap. He graduated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology.

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NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X

Nigeria yesterday, successfully, launched one of the most advanced earth observation satellites (Nigeriasat-2) of its kind that is commercially available in the imaging world into the orbit at exactly 8:12.am Nigerian time in Russia.

Nigeria Sat-X, which was built by Nigerian engineers trained at the same time the Sat-2 was being built as a demonstration that Nigeria can build and launch its satellite was launched alongside NigeriaSat-2.

With the launch of the two satellites, NigeriaSa-1, which has since overstayed its life span in orbit would be replaced.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja shortly after showing the live coverage of the launch site, in Russia to the audience, the project manager of the NigeriaSat-2 and X, Mr. Francis Chizea, said that NigeriaSat-2 and X, have five years life span, just like NigeriaSat-1, and “will continue the work which NigeriaSat-1 is doing, but is more advanced in technology.”

Explaining further, Mr. Chizea, noted that the satellite was designed for five years, just like NigeriaSat-1. “It is still in the orbit functioning and providing images as it used to be. They are two different satellites on their own; Nigeria Sat-2 is a higher resolution satellite, carrying 2.5m resolution camera on board.

“It also has 32m camera on board, because we expect that very soon, Nigeria Sat-1 will expire, and stop working. So to ensure that there is data continuity, we also have that 32m camera in Nigeria sat-2. It is a more advanced space craft. Whatever Nigeria sat-2 is doing in the orbit now is to carry out earth resolution that Nigeriasat-1 has been carrying out for the past 8 years, but with 32m camera, it has better grand meter set, which we never had before. Now, we can have our own high earth resolution data from our grand station whenever we want it.”

On the economic implication of the satellite, he said, it is not just launching of the satellite that matters but to improve the socio-economic life of Nigerians, adding that data from Nigeria-sat-2 will be used for various applications “in agriculture, urban mapping, environmental monitoring, etc. nigeriasat-2 is one of the most advanced satellites of its kind that is in the orbit today.”

Explaining why the satellite is the most advanced of its kind, Chizea pointed out that the Nigeriasat-2 unlike any other satellite can image lots of images, “for example, it can image a still image, under a very low skill which was not possible in Nigeriasat-1. Nigeriasat-2 is very agile, you can image and offload at the same time to the grand station, this is the facility that is not available in satellites of its kind. It can carry out images from security, pipeline monitoring to coastal monitoring, depending on what we have on ground.”

On the Nigeria Sat-X, he said, the space agency is in control of it is, as it is in its early stage operations. He said that SSTL Satellite company in Russia, trained the engineers and as well built Sat-2.

Also speaking, the acting director-general of National Space Research and Development Agency, who is also director of policy, planning and research, Mrs. Augusta Iheanacho, said the agency is particularly delighted because, “it is our engineers that built Nigeria-Sat-X, using Surrey’s facilities far away in the UK.”

She, however, appealed to the federal government, that since Nigerian engineers were able to build and launch Nigeria Sat-X, they should be given all the necessary support to launch same achievement in Nigeria.

“If only we had the critical infrastructure we need to be able to build our own satellite in Nigeria. Like I said, the critical infrastructure will required is the assembling, integration and testing and designing centres, we promise Nigeria, that henceforth, we will be able to build our own satellite in Nigeria, without outside assistance,” she added.

THE TWO ORBIT
Nigeria launched two observation satellites into orbit yesterday, and authorities said they hoped to use the equipment to monitor weather in a region seasonally ravaged by disasters.

Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into orbit yesterday morning from a Russian launch pad in the town of Yasny, President Goodluck Jonathan said on state-run television.

He described the event as "another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technology."

The satellites could have a variety of applications, authorities said, which include monitoring disaster-prone areas in a country that stretches into Africa's Sahel, a belt of land on the Sahara Desert's southern fringe that sees extreme weather conditions. It experiences severe droughts in the dry season and devastating rainfall in the wet season. Floods last year displaced about 500,000 people nationwide, with most of them in the Sahel region.

Authorities said NigeriaSat-2 can detect anything wider than 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), such as cars. That means the satellites also could be used for military and intelligence purposes.

The satellite launch also spotlights Nigeria as a main African player in space technology development, rivaling countries such as South Africa and Algeria, which also have space programs. Despite the strides Nigeria's space technology industry has made in recent years, it remains largely dependent on other nations' technology.

NigeriaSat-X was built by a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists at Surrey Satellite Technology in the United Kingdom, while NigeriaSat-2 was built in collaboration with the UK company's team, said Felix Ale, a spokesman for the National Space Research and Development Agency.

Nigerian officials hope this launch goes better than the country's last. In May 2007, Nigeria launched its first communication satellite, built by a Chinese team and launched from a Chinese pad. NIGCOMSAT-1 was expected to provide phone, broadband Internet and broadcasting services in Africa's most populous country, but it was lost in space just over a year later. Authorities said a replacement satellite will be launched before the end of the year.


THE SATELLITE IS A BLESSING TO AFRICA
Gajere Nduke, director of the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), says the successful launch of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X is a blessing to Africa. Nduke, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said Nigeria would reap the benefit of investing in the satellites.

`Being the first satellite in Africa with this kind of high resolution, I am sure the West African Sub-region and Africa will be able to use it for development,’’ Nduke said. He added that the satellites would help the country to adequately plan its various sectors and be used to outsource its natural resources. The director promised that the centre would make good use of the satellites for the development of the country.

``Because of the high resolution of the satellites, NCRS is going to use it to map Nigeria into 1:25,000 scale,’’ Nduke added. Meanwhile, the Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Seidu Mohammed, has said that the successful launch of the two satellites had consolidated the country’s position as a budding space nation.

Mohammed, in a statement signed by Felix Ale, NASRDA’s Head of Media and Cooperate Affairs, said that defending the country’s sovereignty was not only a political issue, but also scientific. He added that the efforts of young Nigerian engineers and scientists in building NigeriaSat-X had brought a lot of prestige to the country. (NAN)

NIGERIA'S GROUND STATION CAN'T RECIEVE SIGNALS FROM LAUNCHED SATELLITE.
Nigeria launched satellite - Two days after Nigeria launched two satellites into space for security and environment monitoring purposes, indications are that the ground station in the capital city of Abuja lacks the facilities to receive images from one of the satellites.

Two Nigerian-built satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, were launched Wednesday in Russia, where they were built by Nigerian engineers

But the private Guardian newspaper reported Friday that the ground station in Abuja was equipped only to receive images from NigeriaSat-2 for which it was built, not for NigeriaSat-X.

The implication is that Nigeria will have to rely on the UK-based Surrey Space Technology Ltd for information from NigeriaSat-X.

The paper however quoted Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Council (NARSDA) as saying the ground station can handle information from NigeriaSat-X.

NARSDA spokesman Felix Alle was quoted as saying: “Our facilities can receive images and monitor the operations of NigeriaSat-X. The engineers are currently doing telemetry, a process that involves sharing software with the satellites. The satellites are currently receiving all the software that we are sending to them.”

In 2006, British satellite firm Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) signed a contract with NARSDA for the supply of the NigeriaSat-2 Earth observation satellite, related ground infrastructure and a training programme to further develop an indigenous space capability in Nigeria.

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D'banj has released new single titled oliver twist on Friday, August 12, 2011. The song is produced by Don jazzy as his first official single since signing with Kanye west’s G.O.O.D music.

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Mohits Dr. SiD

It’s the kind of stuff you’d expect from an entertainer. Yet, fans were beyond surprised and excited when Mo’Hits star Dr. SID ended a brief performance at the launch of MTV‘s Big Friday Show last Friday August 5, with a dive in the pool.

The MTV team had transformed the venue, Rehab, in Victoria Island Lagos; erecting an exquisite roof over the pool at Rehab, with the stage right on top of the swimming pool.

And during his performance, SID, a usually calm performer, started taking off his accessories one after the other. Shoes off, wrist watch off, mobile phones out and all – and he joked with fans about jumping in the pool. Of course they dared him!

And the rapper-turned-singer showed he was not joking when he dropped the mic and took a dive. When he came out, it was to a resounding applause. A fan was so impressed he hugged him tight, himself getting drenched in the process.

It was difficult for any other performer, that night, to top SID’s performance – and there were quite some big names, who themselves, delivered impressive sets – Wizkid, Samklef, Ice Prince and others…

The event was hosted by Basketmouth (who hosts the Big Friday Show on STV) and Yvonne ‘Vixen’ Ekwere.

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Danny Young and Terry G

The news going around town now is that self-proclaimed ‘Akpako Master’ and pop star Terry G has allegedly ‘stolen’ his colleague and client Danny Young‘s song and released it as his. Danny Young has come out to accuse the award wining singer/producer claiming Terry G stole his song and reproduced it as his.

Today, Danny Young who still sounded distraught and disappointed, told Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) in a phone conversation that the story is true. ‘Yes it’s true and I’m getting tired of the whole thing, please speak with my management, they’ll give you all the details’.

And Danny Young’s manager who goes by the name Kay La La, narrated the whole story to NET in a phone conversation.

‘Danny Young had attended an event held at Elegushi beach, Lagos. He met up with reggae singer Rock Steady who was at the time recording his songs and told Young that he would like for him to be on his album. Days later, Rock Steady and Danny Young hooked up and Terry G’s studio where the former was recording. Terry G asked Danny Young to feature on a new song which also featured Rock Steady, they recorded and called it a day.

Weeks later Young visited Terry G and asked him to feature on a song his was recording titled ‘Eli Jah‘ for his upcoming album ‘Rebirth. They played the song in Young’s car and Terry G loved it. He readily wanted to feature on it but suggested he changed a few instrumentation. Being skeptical of the idea, Danny Young decided not to give him the song data. After repeated attempts to get Terry G on the track, Danny Young’s crew got tired of Terry G’s evasions and traveled to Jamaica then Dubai for shows only to see Terry G’s version of the song titled ‘Jah Hailo’ posted on the blogs on arriving Nigeria’.

Danny Young immediately recorded and released his own version and in the second verse is heard accusing Terry G of stealing his song.

Repeated attempts to talk to Terry G and his management proved abortive as phone calls placed through were not responded to. They were also yet to respond to SMS enquiries as at press time.

This wouldn’t be the first time Terry G is getting into messy waters with an artiste over rights infringement. He has, in recent past, been accused of unauthorised copying/sampling. And that’s just one aspect of the many controversies marring his otherwise brilliant career. Off-and-on altercations with the likes of Mallam Spicy, AY.Com, Side One and Kelly Hansome have also fuelled his image as a bad boy – something his management are now keen on washing off….

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From left to right: Don Jazzy, Jay Z and Kanye

When we found out Mo’Hits C.E.O and hitmaker Don Jazzy was signed to Kanye West‘s record label G.O.O.D Music,we were ecstatic and even more elated when it was announced that he was featured as a co-producer in the Jay Z and Kanye West collaboration ‘Watch The Throne‘, a track titled ‘Lift off” which features Beyonce.

Well, ‘Watch The Throne‘ dropped yesterday Monday, August 8, 2011 on iTunes and in stores and as expected is gaining massive buzz especially through the online media. Looking at the digital booklet that comes along with the album, it states Don Jazzy is an additional producer as well as an additional vocalist.

‘Lift off‘ is nothing short of a brilliant song. The instrumentation however overshadows Kanye’s verse even though his energetic delivery should be commended. We’ll give Jay Z his props nevertheless even though he hardly says much. You could bet Don Jazzy is responsible for the chords on the joint! Listen up

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Super Eagles player Obafemi Martins has lost his elder brother Oladipupo Olarotimi Martins fondly called Ladi this morning, Tuesday, August 9, 2011.

The 28-year-old was said to have died of a heart attack at an undisclosed hospital in Ajah area of Lagos State.

Ladi was also a fooball player and played for popular football clubs like Inter Milan, Reggiana and Partizan Belgrade but retired in 2009 from the University of Ado Ekiti football club after continuous heart complications.

He was buried according to Muslim rites this afternoon at the Victoria Court Cemetery, Kilometer 36, Lagos – Epe Expressway, Eputu, Lagos. The burial was attended by a few family members and friends.

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