Abuja TimeWednesday, May 18, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
America guards Obama’s grandmother
America has sent an elite team of agents to protect President Barack Obama’s grandmother in Kenya.
White House sources said security had been heightened at her Kogelo rural home following the killing of al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.
Also more police officers have beeOn deployed to man Mama Sarah Obama’s in homestead western Kenya following fears of a terrorist attack in retaliation for the killing of Osama by US Special Forces.
According to the local police boss, Stephen Cheteka, officials decided to beef-up security for the relatives of the US president after receiving threats of a planned terrorist attack three days ago and that his men would work with the American security officials.
“We received reports of plans to attack the home of Mama Sarah Obama three days ago and we immediately put in place adequate security measures,” Mr. Cheteka said.
The police boss added that the home would be under round-the-clock surveillance, adding that all visitors would be subjected to a thorough screening.
He, however, assured the public that there was no cause for alarm as the family of Mama Sarah Obama had been well informed of the security measures.
Local leaders, led by former Siaya Mayor Obiero Otare, expressed fears that the Kogelo home of the Obama granny could be the target of terrorist attack, especially now that reports indicated that terrorists had penetrated into Kenyan territory.
“Security must be beefed up at the home and the surrounding environs lest we become the next target of terrorists,” observed Mr. Otare.
White House sources said security had been heightened at her Kogelo rural home following the killing of al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.
Also more police officers have beeOn deployed to man Mama Sarah Obama’s in homestead western Kenya following fears of a terrorist attack in retaliation for the killing of Osama by US Special Forces.
According to the local police boss, Stephen Cheteka, officials decided to beef-up security for the relatives of the US president after receiving threats of a planned terrorist attack three days ago and that his men would work with the American security officials.
“We received reports of plans to attack the home of Mama Sarah Obama three days ago and we immediately put in place adequate security measures,” Mr. Cheteka said.
The police boss added that the home would be under round-the-clock surveillance, adding that all visitors would be subjected to a thorough screening.
He, however, assured the public that there was no cause for alarm as the family of Mama Sarah Obama had been well informed of the security measures.
Local leaders, led by former Siaya Mayor Obiero Otare, expressed fears that the Kogelo home of the Obama granny could be the target of terrorist attack, especially now that reports indicated that terrorists had penetrated into Kenyan territory.
“Security must be beefed up at the home and the surrounding environs lest we become the next target of terrorists,” observed Mr. Otare.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Kano state, Residents Panic over Osama Death
The ancient city of Kano was once again plunged into confusion yesterday, following reports of the death of Osama Bin Laden, the world’s most wanted man and the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade centre (WTC) in New York.
As the news hit into the city, non-indigenes living in violence-prone areas fled their homes to take refuge in military and police barracks.
There was pani in Kawo, Tishama and Badawa as well as other suburbs, as residents ran helter, skelter for their dear lives.
As apprehension reverberated through the length and breadth of the city, non-natives, besides those who fled to barracks, were seen dashing towards safe areas, particularly Sabon Gari, largely inhabited by non-indigenes.
It was learnt that children and their mothers were the first to flee their homes, in what has been described a desperate move to avoid a repeat of the post election violence in which several people were killed. Now, nobody wants to be caught unawares.
Worried by the situation, the Commissioner of Police on election duty in the state, Mr. Dan’Azumi Doma, assured the people that there was no cause for alarm, as the police have made adequate security arrangement to handle any possible threat to lives and properties.
Doma said in a telephone chat with The Nation “The police are on red alert and I advise the people to return home because there is no cause for alarm.”
There was however, no report of violence in any part of the city, a development that made the people who earlier fled in the morning, to return home in the evening.
As the news hit into the city, non-indigenes living in violence-prone areas fled their homes to take refuge in military and police barracks.
There was pani in Kawo, Tishama and Badawa as well as other suburbs, as residents ran helter, skelter for their dear lives.
As apprehension reverberated through the length and breadth of the city, non-natives, besides those who fled to barracks, were seen dashing towards safe areas, particularly Sabon Gari, largely inhabited by non-indigenes.
It was learnt that children and their mothers were the first to flee their homes, in what has been described a desperate move to avoid a repeat of the post election violence in which several people were killed. Now, nobody wants to be caught unawares.
Worried by the situation, the Commissioner of Police on election duty in the state, Mr. Dan’Azumi Doma, assured the people that there was no cause for alarm, as the police have made adequate security arrangement to handle any possible threat to lives and properties.
Doma said in a telephone chat with The Nation “The police are on red alert and I advise the people to return home because there is no cause for alarm.”
There was however, no report of violence in any part of the city, a development that made the people who earlier fled in the morning, to return home in the evening.
Islamic scholars criticize bin Laden's sea burial
Muslim clerics said Monday that Osama bin Laden's burial at sea was a violation of Islamic tradition that may further provoke militant calls for revenge attacks against American targets.
Although there appears to be some room for debate over the burial — as with many issues within the faith — a wide range of senior Islamic scholars interpreted it as a humiliating disregard for the standard Muslim practice of placing the body in a grave with the head pointed toward the holy city of Mecca.
Sea burials can be allowed, they said, but only in special cases where the death occurred aboard a ship.
Bin Laden's burial at sea "runs contrary to the principles of Islamic laws, religious values and humanitarian customs," said Sheik Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand Imam of Cairo's al-Azhar mosque, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning.
A radical cleric in Lebanon, Omar Bakri Mohammed, said, "The Americans want to humiliate Muslims through this burial, and I don't think this is in the interest of the U.S. administration."
A U.S. official said the burial decision was made after concluding that it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. There was also speculation about worry that a grave site could have become a rallying point for militants.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters.
President Barack Obama said the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial, and the Pentagon later said the body was placed into the waters of the northern Arabian Sea after adhering to traditional Islamic procedures — including washing the corpse — aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
But the Lebanese cleric Mohammed called it a "strategic mistake" that was bound to stoke rage.
In Washington, CIA director Leon Panetta warned that "terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge" the killing of the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Bin Laden is dead," Panetta wrote in a memo to CIA staff. "Al-Qaida is not."
According to Islamic teachings, the highest honor to be bestowed on the dead is giving the deceased a swift burial, preferably before sunset. Those who die while traveling at sea can have their bodies committed to the bottom of the ocean if they are far off the coast, according to Islamic tradition.
"They can say they buried him at sea, but they cannot say they did it according to Islam," Mohammed al-Qubaisi, Dubai's grand mufti, said about bin Laden's burial. "If the family does not want him, it's really simple in Islam: You dig up a grave anywhere, even on a remote island, you say the prayers and that's it."
"Sea burials are permissible for Muslims in extraordinary circumstances," he added. "This is not one of them."
But Mohammed Qudah, a professor of Islamic law at the University of Jordan, said burying the Saudi-born bin Laden at sea was not forbidden if there was nobody to receive the body and provide a Muslim burial.
"The land and the sea belong to God, who is able to protect and raise the dead at the end of times for Judgment Day," he said. "It's neither true nor correct to claim that there was nobody in the Muslim world ready to receive bin Laden's body."
Clerics in Iraq, where an offshoot of al-Qaida is blamed for the death of thousands of people since 2003, also criticized the U.S. action. One said it only benefited fish.
"If a man dies on a ship that is a long distance from land, then the dead man should be buried at the sea," said Shiite cleric Ibrahim al-Jabari. "But if he dies on land, then he should be buried in the ground, not to be thrown into the sea. Otherwise, this would be only inviting fish to a banquet."
The Islamic tradition of a quick burial was the subject of intense debate in Iraq in 2003 when U.S. forces embalmed the bodies of Saddam Hussein's two sons after they were killed in a firefight. Their bodies were later shown to media.
"What was done by the Americans is forbidden by Islam and might provoke some Muslims," said another Islamic scholar from Iraq, Abdul-Sattar al-Janabi, who preaches at Baghdad's famous Abu Hanifa mosque. "It is not acceptable and it is almost a crime to throw the body of a Muslim man into the sea. The body of bin Laden should have been handed over to his family to look for a country or land to bury him."
Prominent Egyptian Islamic analyst and lawyer Montasser el-Zayat said bin Laden's sea burial was designed to prevent his grave from becoming a shrine. But an option was an unmarked grave.
"They don't want to see him become a symbol, but he is already a symbol in people's hearts."
Associated Press writers Barbara Surk in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Jamal Halaby and Sameer N. Yacoub in Amman, Jordan, and Zeina Karam in Beirut contributed to this report.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
List Of Corp Members Killed In Bauchi As Released By Nysc
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed that the nine serving corps members (CMs), all young men, who were killed by rioters in Bauchi State following the April 16 presidential election, will be given a national burial.
And speaking in Lagos Thursday, Professor Wole Soyinka, expressed dismay over last week’s violence in some parts of the North, saying it was clear to every discerning mind that the mayhem had long been conceived.
In adverts placed in national dailies and electronic media across the country today, the NYSC lamented that CMs who had added credibility to the electoral process became targets of some disgruntled people who were not satisfied with the results of the elections.
The names of the deceased are: Teidi Tosin Olawale (from Osun State, BSc Computer Science); Nkwazema Anslem Chukwunonyerem (Imo State, HND Electrical Electronic Engineering), Okpokiri Obinna Michael (Abia State, BSc Environmental Management), Adowei Elliot (Bayelsa State, BSc Computer Science) and Adewunmi Seun Paul (Ekiti State, BSc, Social Sciences).
Others are Adeniji Kehinde Jehleel (Osun State, BSc Banking & Finance), Gbenjo Ebenezer Ayotunde (Osun State, BSc, Education Economics), Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor (Imo State, BSc Medical Microbiology) and Akonyi Ibrahim Sule (Kogi State, HND Business Administration). The deceased are to be given national burials after the organisation has liaised with their parents. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be represented by governors of the states where the slain corps members hailed from.
And speaking in Lagos Thursday, Professor Wole Soyinka, expressed dismay over last week’s violence in some parts of the North, saying it was clear to every discerning mind that the mayhem had long been conceived.
In adverts placed in national dailies and electronic media across the country today, the NYSC lamented that CMs who had added credibility to the electoral process became targets of some disgruntled people who were not satisfied with the results of the elections.
The names of the deceased are: Teidi Tosin Olawale (from Osun State, BSc Computer Science); Nkwazema Anslem Chukwunonyerem (Imo State, HND Electrical Electronic Engineering), Okpokiri Obinna Michael (Abia State, BSc Environmental Management), Adowei Elliot (Bayelsa State, BSc Computer Science) and Adewunmi Seun Paul (Ekiti State, BSc, Social Sciences).
Others are Adeniji Kehinde Jehleel (Osun State, BSc Banking & Finance), Gbenjo Ebenezer Ayotunde (Osun State, BSc, Education Economics), Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor (Imo State, BSc Medical Microbiology) and Akonyi Ibrahim Sule (Kogi State, HND Business Administration). The deceased are to be given national burials after the organisation has liaised with their parents. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be represented by governors of the states where the slain corps members hailed from.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Cbn Imposes Limits, Penalty On Cash Transactions, Again!
….N150,000 for individuals; N200,000 for corporate organisations
From June 2012, individuals that make cash withdrawal or deposit above N150,000 would pay a fine of N100 per extra N1,000, while corporate organisations that make cash withdrawal or deposit above N1 million would pay fine of N200 per extra N1,000.
These limits for free cash withdrawal and deposits were part of a new policy aimed at reducing the high usage of cash in the economy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday.
The policy, which would be enforced in Lagos State, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Aba in the first instance also banned encashment of third party cheques above N150,000 across the counter
The policy was contained in a circular signed by Mr Muhammad Nda, Director, Currency Operations Department and addressed to all banks, Cash In Transit (CIT) companies and electronic payment providers.
The circular entitled: “Industry policy on retail cash collection and lodgement” stated: “In view of increasing dominance of cash in the economy with its implication for cost of cash management to the banking industry, security, money laundering, etc., the Central Bank of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Bankers Committee, is adopting policies to reduce the high usage of cash, moderate the cost of cash management and encourage the use of electronic payment channels. Consequently, the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby directs as follows:
The limits
“Commencing from June 1, 2012, a daily cumulative limit of N150,000 and N1,000,000 on free cash withdrawals and lodgments by individual and corporate customers respectively with Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) shall be imposed. To this end, individuals and corporate organisations that make cash transactions above the limits will be charged a penal fee of N100/thousand and N200/thousand respectively for amounts above the cumulative limits.
“Contravention of this policy shall attract a fine of five (5) times the amount that the bank waives as a first offender. Subsequently, the bank shall pay ten (10) times the charges waived.
“Furthermore, 3rd party cheques above N150,000 shall not be eligible for encashment over the counter. Value for such cheques shall be received through the clearing house.
Penalties
“If a bank allows 3rd party cheque encashment, it shall be liable to a sanction of 10% of the face value of the cheque or N100,000 whichever is higher.
“Banks will cease cash in transit lodgment services rendered to merchant_customers from June 1, 2012. In this regard, customers could engage the services of the CBN licensed cash-in-transit (CIT) companies to aid cash movement to and from their banks at mutually agreed terms and conditions. Contravention of this policy shall attract a fine of N1.0 million per specie movement.
“This arrangement shall be in force in Lagos State, FCT, Port Harcourt, Kano and Aba in the first instance. The arrangement shall be extended to other parts of the country at a date to be determined by the Bankers Committee.”
“To achieve interoperability of local currency POS transactions, no card scheme, foreign or local, shall operate exclusive acquirer agreement or contract in Nigeria with effect from June 1, 2011. Any payments scheme, processor, switching company, service provider or
bank that contravenes this policy may be suspended for a minimum of one (1) month by the CBN as a processor, switching company, service provider etc in the first instance. The license may be withdrawn by the CBN if the contravention is repeated.
“This policy shall apply to both private and public sector transactions. All financial institutions including Deposit Money Banks, Savings and Loans, Mortgage and Microfinance Banks shall comply accordingly.
“Compliance with the policy shall be monitored by the Banking Supervision Department and the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department with appropriate sanction applied to erring institutions.
“While the Central Bank of Nigeria will make general announcements and carry out public awareness programmes individual banks are expected to do same. The affected customers of banks should be informed in good time by the banks with clear advice on alternative electronic payment channels available to them.”
From June 2012, individuals that make cash withdrawal or deposit above N150,000 would pay a fine of N100 per extra N1,000, while corporate organisations that make cash withdrawal or deposit above N1 million would pay fine of N200 per extra N1,000.
These limits for free cash withdrawal and deposits were part of a new policy aimed at reducing the high usage of cash in the economy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday.
The policy, which would be enforced in Lagos State, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Aba in the first instance also banned encashment of third party cheques above N150,000 across the counter
The policy was contained in a circular signed by Mr Muhammad Nda, Director, Currency Operations Department and addressed to all banks, Cash In Transit (CIT) companies and electronic payment providers.
The circular entitled: “Industry policy on retail cash collection and lodgement” stated: “In view of increasing dominance of cash in the economy with its implication for cost of cash management to the banking industry, security, money laundering, etc., the Central Bank of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Bankers Committee, is adopting policies to reduce the high usage of cash, moderate the cost of cash management and encourage the use of electronic payment channels. Consequently, the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby directs as follows:
The limits
“Commencing from June 1, 2012, a daily cumulative limit of N150,000 and N1,000,000 on free cash withdrawals and lodgments by individual and corporate customers respectively with Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) shall be imposed. To this end, individuals and corporate organisations that make cash transactions above the limits will be charged a penal fee of N100/thousand and N200/thousand respectively for amounts above the cumulative limits.
“Contravention of this policy shall attract a fine of five (5) times the amount that the bank waives as a first offender. Subsequently, the bank shall pay ten (10) times the charges waived.
“Furthermore, 3rd party cheques above N150,000 shall not be eligible for encashment over the counter. Value for such cheques shall be received through the clearing house.
Penalties
“If a bank allows 3rd party cheque encashment, it shall be liable to a sanction of 10% of the face value of the cheque or N100,000 whichever is higher.
“Banks will cease cash in transit lodgment services rendered to merchant_customers from June 1, 2012. In this regard, customers could engage the services of the CBN licensed cash-in-transit (CIT) companies to aid cash movement to and from their banks at mutually agreed terms and conditions. Contravention of this policy shall attract a fine of N1.0 million per specie movement.
“This arrangement shall be in force in Lagos State, FCT, Port Harcourt, Kano and Aba in the first instance. The arrangement shall be extended to other parts of the country at a date to be determined by the Bankers Committee.”
“To achieve interoperability of local currency POS transactions, no card scheme, foreign or local, shall operate exclusive acquirer agreement or contract in Nigeria with effect from June 1, 2011. Any payments scheme, processor, switching company, service provider or
bank that contravenes this policy may be suspended for a minimum of one (1) month by the CBN as a processor, switching company, service provider etc in the first instance. The license may be withdrawn by the CBN if the contravention is repeated.
“This policy shall apply to both private and public sector transactions. All financial institutions including Deposit Money Banks, Savings and Loans, Mortgage and Microfinance Banks shall comply accordingly.
“Compliance with the policy shall be monitored by the Banking Supervision Department and the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department with appropriate sanction applied to erring institutions.
“While the Central Bank of Nigeria will make general announcements and carry out public awareness programmes individual banks are expected to do same. The affected customers of banks should be informed in good time by the banks with clear advice on alternative electronic payment channels available to them.”
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Narrow Escape By NYSC Corpers In Bauchi
THEY never knew that evil was on the way. All was calm in the neighbourhood, although the news had been broken that rioters were on the rampage in the city.
Suddenly, it got noisy and rowdy outside the building where no fewer than 50 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members huddled together, feeling safe, away from the madness that had seized the city by the throat.
Angry youths protesting the results of the presidential election stormed the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) Secretariat in the heart of Minna, the Niger State capital.
They forcibly locked the Corps members in and set the building on fire.
But the leader of the Corps members, fondly called Papa by his colleagues, found the strength to break down the door and set his colleagues free.
“Some had burns,” one of the lucky boys and girls told The Nation at the Army Barracks, where they are taking refuge.
He said they were initially few at the “Family House”, as the secretariat is called by NCCF members, but many rushed in to escape the rioting near their homes in other parts of the city.
“We were taken by surprise. We couldn’t retrieve anything from the fire,” he said, pleading for anonymity so that, according to him, his relatives would not panic over his safety.
The building was smouldering yesterday.
The irate youths also burnt the NCCF 18-seater bus, which was bought two months ago, and a motorcycle belonging to the fellowship.
The development has forced the NYSC to direct all Corps members in Chanchaga (Minna) Local Government Area to relocate from their homes to the Nigeria Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) barracks on the outskirts of the city.
Two NYSC officials were taking care of about 200 “refugees” at the barracks. Religious organisations have sent relief materials to them.
The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres burnt by the youths who said they were protesting the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the presidential election.
If the “Minna 50” were lucky, not so four of their colleagues and two police officers in Bauchi. They were killed by rioters.
Christian Association of Nigeria {CAN} chair Bishop Musa Tula said more than 20 people died in the violence unleashed on innocent people by those he suspected to be political thugs.
Several churches, cars, homes and business houses were burnt.
The police said over 200 suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence in Bauchi metropolis, Misau and Azare Dambam.
Banks and government businesses in the state capital have closed. Three churches, including Gospel Life Church and Deeper Life Church in the state capital, were burnt. Another one in Bara, Alkaleri Local Government Area, was burnt.
It was learnt that trouble started when some youths said to be CPC supporters suddenly went berserk over the results of the election.
The new police commissioner deployed to the state to ensure a hitch-free election, Ammama John Abakasanga, told reporters yesterday that over 200 suspects had been arrested.
He said four Youth Corps members were killed in Itas Gadau during the election. He added that no fewer than 20 other Corps members were still missing.
The Commissioner said the police rescued 20 of the 51 corps members in Itas Gadau, Jamare and Dabam local government areas.
The rescued Corps members are at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bauchi.
But the NYSC secretariat in Bauchi yesterday kept quiet over the corps members.
Abakasanga said a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Police Division, Jama’are Local Government Area and a woman Corporal were killed in Giade. The Divisional Police Officer and DCO of Dabam Local Government were injured. They are hospitalised.
The police boss said his men recovered three ballot boxes and 10 locally made guns from the suspects, who include two under age children.
There were looting and burning yesterday by youths who seized shops, business premises and the streets as early as 7a.m., attacking innocent citizens.
Residents of Igbo quarters, Zango, Railway and most parts of the metropolis fled to the Army and Police barracks as the arson continued.
The INEC offices in Bauchi, Jamare, Misau, Dabam and Itas Gadau were torched.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Senator Iliya Audu, told reporters that all the offices were looted before being set ablaze.
Audu said at the INEC office in Bauchi, 500 laptops, 16 power generating sets, cabinets and burglary proof belonging to the commission were stolen before the building was set on fire.
No fewer than 6,000 persons have been displaced, Abubakar Adamu, Bauchi State Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, said.
According to Abubakar, about 23 others, who are injured, have been hospitalised.
On the over 6000 displaced, the Red Cross boss said: “No food or any kind of aid has been supplied to them. They desperately need food. And the State Emergency Management Agency is yet to respond, despite their knowledge of these people’s situation.”
He said residents who ran away for fear of being attacked were returning to their homes.
Suddenly, it got noisy and rowdy outside the building where no fewer than 50 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members huddled together, feeling safe, away from the madness that had seized the city by the throat.
Angry youths protesting the results of the presidential election stormed the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) Secretariat in the heart of Minna, the Niger State capital.
They forcibly locked the Corps members in and set the building on fire.
But the leader of the Corps members, fondly called Papa by his colleagues, found the strength to break down the door and set his colleagues free.
“Some had burns,” one of the lucky boys and girls told The Nation at the Army Barracks, where they are taking refuge.
He said they were initially few at the “Family House”, as the secretariat is called by NCCF members, but many rushed in to escape the rioting near their homes in other parts of the city.
“We were taken by surprise. We couldn’t retrieve anything from the fire,” he said, pleading for anonymity so that, according to him, his relatives would not panic over his safety.
The building was smouldering yesterday.
The irate youths also burnt the NCCF 18-seater bus, which was bought two months ago, and a motorcycle belonging to the fellowship.
The development has forced the NYSC to direct all Corps members in Chanchaga (Minna) Local Government Area to relocate from their homes to the Nigeria Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) barracks on the outskirts of the city.
Two NYSC officials were taking care of about 200 “refugees” at the barracks. Religious organisations have sent relief materials to them.
The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres burnt by the youths who said they were protesting the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the presidential election.
If the “Minna 50” were lucky, not so four of their colleagues and two police officers in Bauchi. They were killed by rioters.
Christian Association of Nigeria {CAN} chair Bishop Musa Tula said more than 20 people died in the violence unleashed on innocent people by those he suspected to be political thugs.
Several churches, cars, homes and business houses were burnt.
The police said over 200 suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence in Bauchi metropolis, Misau and Azare Dambam.
Banks and government businesses in the state capital have closed. Three churches, including Gospel Life Church and Deeper Life Church in the state capital, were burnt. Another one in Bara, Alkaleri Local Government Area, was burnt.
It was learnt that trouble started when some youths said to be CPC supporters suddenly went berserk over the results of the election.
The new police commissioner deployed to the state to ensure a hitch-free election, Ammama John Abakasanga, told reporters yesterday that over 200 suspects had been arrested.
He said four Youth Corps members were killed in Itas Gadau during the election. He added that no fewer than 20 other Corps members were still missing.
The Commissioner said the police rescued 20 of the 51 corps members in Itas Gadau, Jamare and Dabam local government areas.
The rescued Corps members are at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bauchi.
But the NYSC secretariat in Bauchi yesterday kept quiet over the corps members.
Abakasanga said a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Police Division, Jama’are Local Government Area and a woman Corporal were killed in Giade. The Divisional Police Officer and DCO of Dabam Local Government were injured. They are hospitalised.
The police boss said his men recovered three ballot boxes and 10 locally made guns from the suspects, who include two under age children.
There were looting and burning yesterday by youths who seized shops, business premises and the streets as early as 7a.m., attacking innocent citizens.
Residents of Igbo quarters, Zango, Railway and most parts of the metropolis fled to the Army and Police barracks as the arson continued.
The INEC offices in Bauchi, Jamare, Misau, Dabam and Itas Gadau were torched.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Senator Iliya Audu, told reporters that all the offices were looted before being set ablaze.
Audu said at the INEC office in Bauchi, 500 laptops, 16 power generating sets, cabinets and burglary proof belonging to the commission were stolen before the building was set on fire.
No fewer than 6,000 persons have been displaced, Abubakar Adamu, Bauchi State Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, said.
According to Abubakar, about 23 others, who are injured, have been hospitalised.
On the over 6000 displaced, the Red Cross boss said: “No food or any kind of aid has been supplied to them. They desperately need food. And the State Emergency Management Agency is yet to respond, despite their knowledge of these people’s situation.”
He said residents who ran away for fear of being attacked were returning to their homes.
Singer Eva set to release new single.
The song is fun and bouncy as it is sexy and thoughtful.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Nigerian international Adefemi dies in car accident
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ATHENS (Reuters) - Skoda Xanthi's Nigerian international Olubayo Adefemi has died in a car accident, Greek police said on Monday.
The 25-year-old defender lost control of his car on the Egnatia motorway while driving from Xanthi to Salonika in the Kavala region of Northern Greece.
The former Rapid Bucharest player was on his way to finalise details of his wedding when the accident happened, police said.
Adefemi signed for Xanthi last summer and made 24 appearances for the club, scoring twice. He has also played three times for Nigeria.
"The Super League and the entire Greek football family would like to express its deepest condolences and sympathy for the family of Olubayo Adefemi who died tragically in a car accident," league organisers said in a statement on Monday.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Jonathan's Govt Drops Nuclear Power Plans
Nigeria dumps nuclear power plans
Nigeria may have foreclosed any plans to explore nuclear energy as an alternative source of electricity power generation.
Minister of state for power, Nuhu Wya, who gave this hint in Lagos, said the country would explore other means of power generation in which it has comparative advantage.
Responding to a question at the power conference held in Lagos last week, he said with the inherent danger in nuclear power, the country had no business pursuing that source.
"Why do we have to be talking about using nuclear power? If we have so many other sources of energy that are untapped, why do we have to be talking of one that is not readily available and is a long term development plan? For you to put a nuclear plant and get it working, you are talking about eight years," Mr. Wya said.
Minister of environment, John Odey, had said the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is no longer an option but a necessity, if Nigeria is to meet her energy needs. According to him, the grid capacity built around oil, natural gas, and hydro is not only grossly inadequate but cannot meet the country's current and future energy demand.
Nuclear emergencies
However, with this pronouncement, the government may have jettisoned the idea. Following the earthquake in Japan, its nuclear plants, which accounts for about 29 per cent of the country's electricity power supply, were badly affected, raising global concern about the dangers of nuclear plants, especially for developing countries like Nigeria.
Though the country has a watchdog, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, which is supposed to regulate and ensure safety in the use of nuclear energy, its state of preparedness to handle such emergencies is still in doubt.
Mr. Wya said the country has abundant capacity in other energy sources such as hydro and thermal, which have not been fully utilised.
"We have received expression of interest from firms that want to invest in the power sector in hydro, gas, wind, coal, and solar power plants.
"We must remember that Nigeria is gas and oil economy and already has enough gas to potentially power the whole of Africa. In the same manner, government has commenced effort to balance the energy needs with the development of new sources of power from naturally evolved resources. Already, pilot scheme for solar and wind projects are ongoing," Mr. Wya said.
Potential impediments
Mr. Wya said potential impediments to the entrance of private sector investment in every facet of the power sector will be totally eliminated, in order to make it attractive to investors.
Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, said government would guide against the emergence of monopolies and manipulations in the power sector once it is privatised.
"It is normal to find collusion. A market participant can be so powerful that it can consistently act independently in keeping price above competitive level. Electricity market can lend itself to manipulation," Mr. Amadi said.
He said the commission will strive to protect consumers while ensuring that electricity tariff will be competitive enough to encourage investment in the sector.
"We will protect consumers by ensuring just and fair pricing, carry out social policies, and prevent anti-competitive practices by active participants," he said.
Nigeria may have foreclosed any plans to explore nuclear energy as an alternative source of electricity power generation.
Minister of state for power, Nuhu Wya, who gave this hint in Lagos, said the country would explore other means of power generation in which it has comparative advantage.
Responding to a question at the power conference held in Lagos last week, he said with the inherent danger in nuclear power, the country had no business pursuing that source.
"Why do we have to be talking about using nuclear power? If we have so many other sources of energy that are untapped, why do we have to be talking of one that is not readily available and is a long term development plan? For you to put a nuclear plant and get it working, you are talking about eight years," Mr. Wya said.
Minister of environment, John Odey, had said the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is no longer an option but a necessity, if Nigeria is to meet her energy needs. According to him, the grid capacity built around oil, natural gas, and hydro is not only grossly inadequate but cannot meet the country's current and future energy demand.
Nuclear emergencies
However, with this pronouncement, the government may have jettisoned the idea. Following the earthquake in Japan, its nuclear plants, which accounts for about 29 per cent of the country's electricity power supply, were badly affected, raising global concern about the dangers of nuclear plants, especially for developing countries like Nigeria.
Though the country has a watchdog, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, which is supposed to regulate and ensure safety in the use of nuclear energy, its state of preparedness to handle such emergencies is still in doubt.
Mr. Wya said the country has abundant capacity in other energy sources such as hydro and thermal, which have not been fully utilised.
"We have received expression of interest from firms that want to invest in the power sector in hydro, gas, wind, coal, and solar power plants.
"We must remember that Nigeria is gas and oil economy and already has enough gas to potentially power the whole of Africa. In the same manner, government has commenced effort to balance the energy needs with the development of new sources of power from naturally evolved resources. Already, pilot scheme for solar and wind projects are ongoing," Mr. Wya said.
Potential impediments
Mr. Wya said potential impediments to the entrance of private sector investment in every facet of the power sector will be totally eliminated, in order to make it attractive to investors.
Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, said government would guide against the emergence of monopolies and manipulations in the power sector once it is privatised.
"It is normal to find collusion. A market participant can be so powerful that it can consistently act independently in keeping price above competitive level. Electricity market can lend itself to manipulation," Mr. Amadi said.
He said the commission will strive to protect consumers while ensuring that electricity tariff will be competitive enough to encourage investment in the sector.
"We will protect consumers by ensuring just and fair pricing, carry out social policies, and prevent anti-competitive practices by active participants," he said.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Breaking News! James Ibori Granted Bail
THEWILL can authoritatively report that Chief James Onanefe Ibori has been released by authorities in Dubai.
A source told THEWILL that though he is yet to speak to him, he was released on health grounds.
THEWILL checks however revealed that the former governor was given 'a temporary reprieve' because his health had deteriorated recently as he is known to suffer from high blood pressure.
Chief Ibori was temporarily released weekend to get some needed adequate medical care as he continues to battle his extradition to London.
Ibori's lawyers had filed bail papers not long ago according to sources familair with the matter, but the full details of his release are still being kept under wraps from THEWILL.
But a source said it is not yet uhuru for the former governor and his supporters and asked those who wish the politician well to continue to say prayers for him, not just for his tribulations but most especially, for his deteriorating health.
THEWILL's attempt to get an official statement from Chief Ibori or his associates have so far been unsuccessful.
A source told THEWILL that though he is yet to speak to him, he was released on health grounds.
THEWILL checks however revealed that the former governor was given 'a temporary reprieve' because his health had deteriorated recently as he is known to suffer from high blood pressure.
Chief Ibori was temporarily released weekend to get some needed adequate medical care as he continues to battle his extradition to London.
Ibori's lawyers had filed bail papers not long ago according to sources familair with the matter, but the full details of his release are still being kept under wraps from THEWILL.
But a source said it is not yet uhuru for the former governor and his supporters and asked those who wish the politician well to continue to say prayers for him, not just for his tribulations but most especially, for his deteriorating health.
THEWILL's attempt to get an official statement from Chief Ibori or his associates have so far been unsuccessful.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Brazilian Investor Offers $100bn for 23 Power Plant
As 331 local and foreign companies submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to acquire majority stakes in Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, a Brazilian investor has proposed $100 billion to take over majority stakes in the entire 23 power plants slated for privatisation under the ongoing reform of the power sector.
On the transmission side, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) said it would submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid to be constructed at a cost of $3.5 billion.
THISDAY gathered that this special offer by the Brazilian firm, PROINFRA, was not part of the interest expressed to the BPE by the other 331 companies.
Under the BPE exercise, Essar, an Indian conglomerate; Tata Group, also of India; and ContourGlobal of the United States were among the 331 companies jostling to have the majority stakes in the power generating companies.
BPE had revealed that 174 applications were received from investors interested in acquiring the four thermal stations and the two hydro stations, while 157 prospective applicants expressed their interests in acquiring the 11 distribution companies.
Essar was said to have expressed interest to invest over $2 billion for a generating capacity of at least 2,000 megawatts, an equivalent of two-thirds of the country’s current average electricity output.
But outside the BPE arrangement, the Brazilian investor has proposed a $100 billion special offer to acquire the majority stakes in the entire plants.
Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Wya, told THISDAY Sunday that the special offer was a demonstration of the success of the ongoing power reform and the confidence of foreign investors in the reform agenda.
Wya stated that at the various investors’ fora held in London and other cities in the world to showcase the numerous opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector, the foreign investors demonstrated an unprecedented level of enthusiasm in the reform.
“A company in Brazil offerred $100 billion to take over 23 power stations across the country and this is outside BPE bid,” he said.
Wya, who urged electricity workers and their various unions to support the privatisation process, also reminded them that they would be the greatest beneficiary of a reformed power sector.
He assured the workers that the new investors would look out for the best among them to run the plants, instead of bringing workers from outside the sector.
“Nobody, no wise business man, will do that; no wise business man will like to let off anybody. Nobody will come and say that he wants to sack anybody. I, for one, will not do that and I believe that I am a successful business man. I will not do that because without human resources, whatever machines you put in place will be in vain,” he said.
The minister also stated that discussions were still ongoing over the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), adding that no final decisions had been taken to hand over the plants to the core investors.
“We want to be as transparent as possible. We don’t have any hidden agenda. This is one thing with this administration. What we want is to ensure that we improve power supply in this country for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he added.
BPE had between December 13 and 20, 2010, published advertorials in local and foreign media inviting prospective core investors to express interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.
It also invited prospective core investors to express interest in the four thermal power stations and as concessionaires for the two hydro power stations. The initial deadline for receipt of the EoIs, which was Friday, February 18, this year, was extended to Friday, March 4, 2011, following representations by prospective investors, who attended the five-city Electric Power Investors’ Forum that attracted world class investors willing to participate in the privatisation exercise.
Meanwhile, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has said it will submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
The Indian state-run power giant was among the three companies shortlisted by the BPE during a 2007 bidding round for the management of the Transimis-sion Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The other two were Canada's Manitoba Hydro and Electricity Supply Board of Ireland.
Under the power roadmap, electricity generation and distribution would be privatised, while the Federal Government will continue to own the national grid but its management will be privatised.
PowerGrid said in a report on its website yesterday that the Nigerian government had called for revised offers for the management of the national grid, after enhancing the scope of the project.
A senior executive of the company was quoted in the report as saying the deal would be finalised in the next two to three months.
“We expect to bag the deal in next two to three months,” said the unnamed company executive.
Top executives of the company last month met with Wya to restate the company’s interest in the management of the TCN.
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, who led the delegation of representatives from PGCIL and India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to Wya’s office in Abuja, said the delegation had come to restate its commitment to work for the improvement of Nigeria’s transmission system for faster economic transformation.
He said: "India and Nigeria could be economic talking points of the globe in the next decade if they work together and appropriately deploy their surplus natural and human gifts.”
PGCIL had said on its website recently that it was the lowest bidder amongst the three parties that submitted offers for management of Nigeria's transmission company.
"We had been short-listed two to three years back, but there had been delays and now we have been named the lowest bidder," PGCIL Chairman S K Chaturvedi said.
PowerGrid Corp. had in 2007 won a three-year contract to manage Nigeria's electricity transmission network. The arrangement then, would see Nigeria pay the company $5.1 million in fees to manage the ailing network, which had suffered from decades of neglect. Ireland's state-run ESB International was the runner-up bidder, at $7.6 million, while Canadian Manitoba Hydro entered the highest bid at $8.5 million.
However, the Indian utility company was declared the preferred bidder as sources said, government was interested in seeing the ailing company managed by foreign experts with technical competence.
"PowerGrid Corporation of India is hereby declared the preferred bidder," said a member of the NCP, Mohammed Hayatudeen, at an official bid opening ceremony conducted in 2007.
The deal, which was subject to approval by the NCP, had been delayed due to the non-implementation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Act, which was passed in 2005.
The Act set up a sector regulator, stripped the PHCN of its monopoly and unbundled its grid into six generation companies and 11 distribution firms.
To revive the power sector, President Goodluck Jonathan, in August last year, launched the power roadmap. The PHCN’s generating plants as well as 11 distribution companies were slated for sale to private investors.
In a related development, the BPE has issued the requirement for the next stage of the privatisation process. The BPE boss, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, said on receipt of Information Memorandum and Request for Proposal, pre-qualified bidders would be given access to physical and e-data room; would be able to carry out physical due diligence; would be issued with draft copies of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO); would be encouraged to submit comments on MYTO; and Bidder comments on MYTO would be subject of conference to be organised by sector regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
She pointed out that the objectives of the electric power sector reform were to increase electrification; ensure cost reflective tariffs; attract private sector investments into the sector; create competitive electricity market; induce investments in new power generation facilities; rehabilitate existing power generation facilities; improve efficiency by increasing collections; reduce costs and technical and non-technical losses; and improve customer service. The BPE said the firms would be shortlisted and the requests for proposal sent to the successful ones.
The core investor sales to be carried out through international competitive bidding will cover the 11 electricity distribution companies in the country.
They are Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
The Federal Government had stated that the national electricity grid would be jointly financed with the private sector and development agencies. The BPE said once the bid was finalised, the management of the new super grid, expected to boost electricity generating capacity to over 14,000 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2013, would be handed over to the successful firm by the end of the year.
On the transmission side, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) said it would submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid to be constructed at a cost of $3.5 billion.
THISDAY gathered that this special offer by the Brazilian firm, PROINFRA, was not part of the interest expressed to the BPE by the other 331 companies.
Under the BPE exercise, Essar, an Indian conglomerate; Tata Group, also of India; and ContourGlobal of the United States were among the 331 companies jostling to have the majority stakes in the power generating companies.
BPE had revealed that 174 applications were received from investors interested in acquiring the four thermal stations and the two hydro stations, while 157 prospective applicants expressed their interests in acquiring the 11 distribution companies.
Essar was said to have expressed interest to invest over $2 billion for a generating capacity of at least 2,000 megawatts, an equivalent of two-thirds of the country’s current average electricity output.
But outside the BPE arrangement, the Brazilian investor has proposed a $100 billion special offer to acquire the majority stakes in the entire plants.
Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Wya, told THISDAY Sunday that the special offer was a demonstration of the success of the ongoing power reform and the confidence of foreign investors in the reform agenda.
Wya stated that at the various investors’ fora held in London and other cities in the world to showcase the numerous opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector, the foreign investors demonstrated an unprecedented level of enthusiasm in the reform.
“A company in Brazil offerred $100 billion to take over 23 power stations across the country and this is outside BPE bid,” he said.
Wya, who urged electricity workers and their various unions to support the privatisation process, also reminded them that they would be the greatest beneficiary of a reformed power sector.
He assured the workers that the new investors would look out for the best among them to run the plants, instead of bringing workers from outside the sector.
“Nobody, no wise business man, will do that; no wise business man will like to let off anybody. Nobody will come and say that he wants to sack anybody. I, for one, will not do that and I believe that I am a successful business man. I will not do that because without human resources, whatever machines you put in place will be in vain,” he said.
The minister also stated that discussions were still ongoing over the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), adding that no final decisions had been taken to hand over the plants to the core investors.
“We want to be as transparent as possible. We don’t have any hidden agenda. This is one thing with this administration. What we want is to ensure that we improve power supply in this country for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he added.
BPE had between December 13 and 20, 2010, published advertorials in local and foreign media inviting prospective core investors to express interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.
It also invited prospective core investors to express interest in the four thermal power stations and as concessionaires for the two hydro power stations. The initial deadline for receipt of the EoIs, which was Friday, February 18, this year, was extended to Friday, March 4, 2011, following representations by prospective investors, who attended the five-city Electric Power Investors’ Forum that attracted world class investors willing to participate in the privatisation exercise.
Meanwhile, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has said it will submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
The Indian state-run power giant was among the three companies shortlisted by the BPE during a 2007 bidding round for the management of the Transimis-sion Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The other two were Canada's Manitoba Hydro and Electricity Supply Board of Ireland.
Under the power roadmap, electricity generation and distribution would be privatised, while the Federal Government will continue to own the national grid but its management will be privatised.
PowerGrid said in a report on its website yesterday that the Nigerian government had called for revised offers for the management of the national grid, after enhancing the scope of the project.
A senior executive of the company was quoted in the report as saying the deal would be finalised in the next two to three months.
“We expect to bag the deal in next two to three months,” said the unnamed company executive.
Top executives of the company last month met with Wya to restate the company’s interest in the management of the TCN.
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, who led the delegation of representatives from PGCIL and India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to Wya’s office in Abuja, said the delegation had come to restate its commitment to work for the improvement of Nigeria’s transmission system for faster economic transformation.
He said: "India and Nigeria could be economic talking points of the globe in the next decade if they work together and appropriately deploy their surplus natural and human gifts.”
PGCIL had said on its website recently that it was the lowest bidder amongst the three parties that submitted offers for management of Nigeria's transmission company.
"We had been short-listed two to three years back, but there had been delays and now we have been named the lowest bidder," PGCIL Chairman S K Chaturvedi said.
PowerGrid Corp. had in 2007 won a three-year contract to manage Nigeria's electricity transmission network. The arrangement then, would see Nigeria pay the company $5.1 million in fees to manage the ailing network, which had suffered from decades of neglect. Ireland's state-run ESB International was the runner-up bidder, at $7.6 million, while Canadian Manitoba Hydro entered the highest bid at $8.5 million.
However, the Indian utility company was declared the preferred bidder as sources said, government was interested in seeing the ailing company managed by foreign experts with technical competence.
"PowerGrid Corporation of India is hereby declared the preferred bidder," said a member of the NCP, Mohammed Hayatudeen, at an official bid opening ceremony conducted in 2007.
The deal, which was subject to approval by the NCP, had been delayed due to the non-implementation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Act, which was passed in 2005.
The Act set up a sector regulator, stripped the PHCN of its monopoly and unbundled its grid into six generation companies and 11 distribution firms.
To revive the power sector, President Goodluck Jonathan, in August last year, launched the power roadmap. The PHCN’s generating plants as well as 11 distribution companies were slated for sale to private investors.
In a related development, the BPE has issued the requirement for the next stage of the privatisation process. The BPE boss, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, said on receipt of Information Memorandum and Request for Proposal, pre-qualified bidders would be given access to physical and e-data room; would be able to carry out physical due diligence; would be issued with draft copies of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO); would be encouraged to submit comments on MYTO; and Bidder comments on MYTO would be subject of conference to be organised by sector regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
She pointed out that the objectives of the electric power sector reform were to increase electrification; ensure cost reflective tariffs; attract private sector investments into the sector; create competitive electricity market; induce investments in new power generation facilities; rehabilitate existing power generation facilities; improve efficiency by increasing collections; reduce costs and technical and non-technical losses; and improve customer service. The BPE said the firms would be shortlisted and the requests for proposal sent to the successful ones.
The core investor sales to be carried out through international competitive bidding will cover the 11 electricity distribution companies in the country.
They are Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
The Federal Government had stated that the national electricity grid would be jointly financed with the private sector and development agencies. The BPE said once the bid was finalised, the management of the new super grid, expected to boost electricity generating capacity to over 14,000 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2013, would be handed over to the successful firm by the end of the year.
Nigerian soccer player Wasiu Sanni and wife sentenced to seven years for smuggling cocaine
A FORMER Nigerian soccer player and his wife had their young daughter with them when they were caught smuggling cocaine into Brisbane, a court heard.
In the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Commonwealth prosecutor Kylie Ward explained most of the submissions in the case were done in writing because of the language difficulties for both Wasiu Sanni, 52, and his wife Mutiat Sanni, 52.
Ms Ward, in her written submissions, said Mr and Mrs Sanni raised the interest of Customs Officers when Mr Sanni could not name any of the Australian cities they intended to visit.
She said a drug detection dog gave a positive reaction to Mr Sanni and a bag containing child’s clothing.
Ms Ward said the Sannis were later taken to hospital where 74 pellets of white powder were collected from Mr Sanni, and 77 from Mrs Sanni.
It was discovered that in total Mrs Sanni was concealing 913.1 grams of powder, which was 53.7 percent pure cocaine for a total weight of the drug at 490.3 grams.
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Mr Sanni had 946.6 grams, with a purity of 55.7 percent being 527.2 grams of pure cocaine.
In the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Commonwealth prosecutor Kylie Ward explained most of the submissions in the case were done in writing because of the language difficulties for both Wasiu Sanni, 52, and his wife Mutiat Sanni, 52.
Ms Ward, in her written submissions, said Mr and Mrs Sanni raised the interest of Customs Officers when Mr Sanni could not name any of the Australian cities they intended to visit.
She said a drug detection dog gave a positive reaction to Mr Sanni and a bag containing child’s clothing.
Ms Ward said the Sannis were later taken to hospital where 74 pellets of white powder were collected from Mr Sanni, and 77 from Mrs Sanni.
It was discovered that in total Mrs Sanni was concealing 913.1 grams of powder, which was 53.7 percent pure cocaine for a total weight of the drug at 490.3 grams.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
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Mr Sanni had 946.6 grams, with a purity of 55.7 percent being 527.2 grams of pure cocaine.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Nigeria Sets Sights On Natural Gas
ABUJA, Nigeria, March 25 (UPI) -- Foreign investments of around $25 billion in Nigeria will boost the country's natural gas sector under plans outlined by the country's president.
A cornerstone of the investment plans is a $3 billion deal between Italian energy company Eni and Nigeria's Oando to process gas from the Niger Delta, said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigeria, to increase domestic supplies, aims to end the practice of flaring off gas from oil fields. The gas processing plant in the Niger Delta could be online as early as 2012, though foreign oil companies working in Nigeria said 2013 is a more realistic date for the halt to gas flaring.
Nevertheless, Jonathan said his country was positioning itself as a major gas state.
"It is our expectation that by 2013, we would have positioned Nigeria as the regional hub for gas-based industries of fertilizers, petrochemicals and methanol," he was quoted by the Platts news service as saying.
British energy company BP estimates Nigeria as of 2009 held around 185 trillion cubic feet of gas. Jonathon said there is an undiscovered potential of nearly 600 tcf.
Nigeria is set for presidential elections April 9.
A cornerstone of the investment plans is a $3 billion deal between Italian energy company Eni and Nigeria's Oando to process gas from the Niger Delta, said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigeria, to increase domestic supplies, aims to end the practice of flaring off gas from oil fields. The gas processing plant in the Niger Delta could be online as early as 2012, though foreign oil companies working in Nigeria said 2013 is a more realistic date for the halt to gas flaring.
Nevertheless, Jonathan said his country was positioning itself as a major gas state.
"It is our expectation that by 2013, we would have positioned Nigeria as the regional hub for gas-based industries of fertilizers, petrochemicals and methanol," he was quoted by the Platts news service as saying.
British energy company BP estimates Nigeria as of 2009 held around 185 trillion cubic feet of gas. Jonathon said there is an undiscovered potential of nearly 600 tcf.
Nigeria is set for presidential elections April 9.
New map that shows which countries have men with the biggest and smallest...'you know what'..*cough*
Ah ah Naija men where una name for the list on the left? How can Ghanaian men upstage you guys like this? Which kind of yawa is this? lol
Meanwhile Congolese men, we hale o. Asian women, my condolences...lol
But seriously, who conducted this research and how did they reach such conclusions?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Top female Rapper (@kelonline), Kelechi Ohia "KEL", Enmeshed In Exams Fraud
The final year undergraduate of the citadel of higher learning who was enmeshed in a double-shuffle's romance scandal a couple of months back was penalised for her involvement in the examinations fraud.
“She was asked by the examiner to stand up for one hour while others were busy writing their papers. The shame that followed thereafter was too much to bear, as popular as she’s, no one ever imagined she would involve herself in such a dirty act. It’s so obvious that she has to reseat for the paper, that is if she won’t be asked to spend another year.” One of her course mates revealed to us.
Kelechi is the third born in the family of four, she hails from Umuhia in Abia State. Kel has featured in so many songs with prominent Nigeria’s artistes. To mention but a few is Danny Young.
Effort to reach Kel for her comment was futile,however, we were able to reach her manager, Miss Osagie and she told us that there is no iota of truth in the story. when we now told her about the papers she was writting when the bubble burst, she remained calm for few seconds and ended the call with 'i have no more comment'. We shall inform you of the goings as event unfolds.
Meet Nigerian 28-year-old ‘rocket Inventor’
Two solid-fuelrockers launchedby ShehuBalami in Kaduna
Since year 2000 when he was still in secondary school, 28 year old Shehu Balami, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has been researching into rocketry trying to make rocket that will fly, although he initially made many smaller models that instead of flying, exploded due to very low power and lack of enough thrust to drive the rocket. He said that after making the smaller models that, he started making some horizontal tests produced enough power to drive the rocket and it was then he started to believe that he could actually make a rocket that can fly. “My family especially my mother encouraged me to continue even when the rockets were not flying,” he said.
“The first successful rocket I made that flew was to demonstrate before my work project was titled “Design and construction of an amateur solid propellant rocket” after producing it, it flew and that was how i eventually got it in 2008,” he stressed, adding that, the project was the best in his department in year 2008.
In February, 2011, the young-engineer apart from the rocket he produced as his project work, he invented and launched two solid-fuel rockets along the new Kaduna Millennium City road in Kaduna state.
Speaking at the site of the launching, Balami explained that he started working on the rockets since February, 2010, and had wanted to launch them in October, 2010 to celebrate Nigeria at 50 but could not because of financial constraints. He said that was the reason for designing the rockets in Nigeria national col-our: green white green.
He disclosed that he developed interest in rocketry since he was a child not only with the aim of building them but to enable him build space satellite for Nigeria in the future. “I have a special passion for anything that flies be it aeroplane or rocket and that was the reason why I started researching into rocketry, and in fact it informs the choice of my project topic in the university,” he stated.
The two rockets Balami launched flew impressively well into the space at normal speed but could not reach the calculated distance of 1.3 Km due he identified as scarcity of unadulterated materials in the local market.
“The rockets I launched did not reach the calculated height of 1.3km, it could be from the potassium nitrate which I suspected might have been adulterated because I did not change the mixture i used for the previous ones that flew well,” he added.
The rockets numbers are J03 and J04, explaining that the ‘J’ stands for his mother’s name Jummai because of her contributions and encouragement towards the realization of his dream and aspiration of inventing a rocket that could fly.
According to him the components of rocket include: fuel (potassium nitrate, sulphur, and carbon), mild steel for the casing, the fins were also made of mild steel while the nose was made of plaster of Paris (POP). The calculated speed of the rocket was 660km/h, takeoff weight – approximately 1kg, propelling weight for the first one was 344 grams while that of the second was 364 grams. The engine length according to him was 300mm while the outside diameter was 4.8cm.
On how he gets funding to produce the rockets, he said he has been getting support from his friends and family members. He said the first rocket he produced in 2008 that flew cost him about 10,000 naira only, but the two he launched in February, 2011 cost him approximately 30,000 naira each adding that he used hundred percent local contents.
He said he was able to invent the solid-fuel rocket with the support from his friends under the auspices of Movement for the Propagation of Science and Technology in Nigeria, a group which comprises friends with interest in science and technology.
“Our aim is to create awareness on the practical application of what is learnt in school for the development of the society. The group started from the university when, we delivered lectures to students on science and technology from jet and, rocket engines to electric circuit. The name of the group in school was Passion for the Application of Engineering and Technological research Information (PAETRI),” he explained.
He said their movement had written letters to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) but is yet to get response.
He explained that, the rocket is a vehicle that uses engine proportionately so that it can to convey equipments and satellites to space and also assist the take-off of heavy aircraft. It has a military application and it can carry a war-head and in that case it is called a missile.
He lamented Nigeria’s reliance on advanced countries to send her satellite into the space due to lack of conducive atmosphere for indigenous talented inventors to strive in the country after 50 year of independence, noting that there is need for the federal government to recognize and provide conducive atmosphere for scientists and technologists if it wishes to attain the desired vision 20:2020.
“If government pays attention to local scientists and technologists and supports them financially, with this kind of invention I just launched, I believe strongly that one day we will be able to build our own satellite or the engine that will take the satellite to the space and save Nigeria a lot of money,” Balami stressed.
Engineer Balami said that he has also started researches in building of Remote Controlled Aircraft, which he intends to go into immediately after the launching of his rocket.
His friends Shittu Zumungai and Mohammed Abdulmalik Abdulrahaman in their separate remarks described Balami as an embodiment of talents and a gift to his generation, reiterating that he has to be properly utilized so that he can contribute his quota to the technological advancement of Nigeria.
Since year 2000 when he was still in secondary school, 28 year old Shehu Balami, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has been researching into rocketry trying to make rocket that will fly, although he initially made many smaller models that instead of flying, exploded due to very low power and lack of enough thrust to drive the rocket. He said that after making the smaller models that, he started making some horizontal tests produced enough power to drive the rocket and it was then he started to believe that he could actually make a rocket that can fly. “My family especially my mother encouraged me to continue even when the rockets were not flying,” he said.
“The first successful rocket I made that flew was to demonstrate before my work project was titled “Design and construction of an amateur solid propellant rocket” after producing it, it flew and that was how i eventually got it in 2008,” he stressed, adding that, the project was the best in his department in year 2008.
In February, 2011, the young-engineer apart from the rocket he produced as his project work, he invented and launched two solid-fuel rockets along the new Kaduna Millennium City road in Kaduna state.
Speaking at the site of the launching, Balami explained that he started working on the rockets since February, 2010, and had wanted to launch them in October, 2010 to celebrate Nigeria at 50 but could not because of financial constraints. He said that was the reason for designing the rockets in Nigeria national col-our: green white green.
He disclosed that he developed interest in rocketry since he was a child not only with the aim of building them but to enable him build space satellite for Nigeria in the future. “I have a special passion for anything that flies be it aeroplane or rocket and that was the reason why I started researching into rocketry, and in fact it informs the choice of my project topic in the university,” he stated.
The two rockets Balami launched flew impressively well into the space at normal speed but could not reach the calculated distance of 1.3 Km due he identified as scarcity of unadulterated materials in the local market.
“The rockets I launched did not reach the calculated height of 1.3km, it could be from the potassium nitrate which I suspected might have been adulterated because I did not change the mixture i used for the previous ones that flew well,” he added.
The rockets numbers are J03 and J04, explaining that the ‘J’ stands for his mother’s name Jummai because of her contributions and encouragement towards the realization of his dream and aspiration of inventing a rocket that could fly.
According to him the components of rocket include: fuel (potassium nitrate, sulphur, and carbon), mild steel for the casing, the fins were also made of mild steel while the nose was made of plaster of Paris (POP). The calculated speed of the rocket was 660km/h, takeoff weight – approximately 1kg, propelling weight for the first one was 344 grams while that of the second was 364 grams. The engine length according to him was 300mm while the outside diameter was 4.8cm.
On how he gets funding to produce the rockets, he said he has been getting support from his friends and family members. He said the first rocket he produced in 2008 that flew cost him about 10,000 naira only, but the two he launched in February, 2011 cost him approximately 30,000 naira each adding that he used hundred percent local contents.
He said he was able to invent the solid-fuel rocket with the support from his friends under the auspices of Movement for the Propagation of Science and Technology in Nigeria, a group which comprises friends with interest in science and technology.
“Our aim is to create awareness on the practical application of what is learnt in school for the development of the society. The group started from the university when, we delivered lectures to students on science and technology from jet and, rocket engines to electric circuit. The name of the group in school was Passion for the Application of Engineering and Technological research Information (PAETRI),” he explained.
He said their movement had written letters to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) but is yet to get response.
He explained that, the rocket is a vehicle that uses engine proportionately so that it can to convey equipments and satellites to space and also assist the take-off of heavy aircraft. It has a military application and it can carry a war-head and in that case it is called a missile.
He lamented Nigeria’s reliance on advanced countries to send her satellite into the space due to lack of conducive atmosphere for indigenous talented inventors to strive in the country after 50 year of independence, noting that there is need for the federal government to recognize and provide conducive atmosphere for scientists and technologists if it wishes to attain the desired vision 20:2020.
“If government pays attention to local scientists and technologists and supports them financially, with this kind of invention I just launched, I believe strongly that one day we will be able to build our own satellite or the engine that will take the satellite to the space and save Nigeria a lot of money,” Balami stressed.
Engineer Balami said that he has also started researches in building of Remote Controlled Aircraft, which he intends to go into immediately after the launching of his rocket.
His friends Shittu Zumungai and Mohammed Abdulmalik Abdulrahaman in their separate remarks described Balami as an embodiment of talents and a gift to his generation, reiterating that he has to be properly utilized so that he can contribute his quota to the technological advancement of Nigeria.
Words That Sabotage Your Cv!
Creating a winning CV is a feat of strategy involving focus, wording, design and content selection. To achieve a career marketing document that wins interviews, all areas of the strategy must be spot-on and consciously used in the most effective manner. One of the most common mistakes job candidates make when writing their CVs is not paying attention to strategy and word selection.
There are actually words that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the CV. When most job candidates write them, they don't consider word choice because they are primarily worried about getting down the basic information. Wording is critical and the wrong one can sabotage your CV.
The average agent and/or hiring manager sees hundreds of CVs from qualified candidates. CVs begin to look and sound the same to them. Here are some words and phrases to avoid:
Soft-skill descriptions
Job seekers feel they need to communicate their soft-skills to the employer because they believe they are the traits that make them unique, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Soft-skills are so common that recruiters pay no attention to them.
Phrases to avoid or severely limit:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Personable presenter
- Detail-oriented
Do not bore the reader to tears with these trite, overused and tired phrases. After all, no one will write that he/she takes long lunches, is lazy and argues a lot with peers. Hence, it is much more effective to write a description that is action-based and demonstrates these abilities rather than just laying claim to them. For example, rather than just stating you are an "excellent presenter," you could say "Developed and presented 50+ multi-media presentations to prospects resulting in 35 new accounts, totalling £300,000 in new revenues."
Age, health, appearance
Many seasoned job seekers are facing that scary time warp known as pre-retirement and fear age discrimination. They feel they can counter this perceived hurdle by giving a description of their age or health. But this can be death to a CV.
Phrases to avoid:
- Youthful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Healthy
- Mature
Additionally, unless specifically requested, there is no need to include personal details such as date of birth, marital status or whether you have children. This information is typically used to exclude candidates from consideration in the hiring process rather than include them. Unless the employer specifically asks, keep this information confidential.
Passive voice
Many people write in the passive voice because that is how we've been taught "formally" in school composition. The problem with the passive voice, however, is that it is just that passive! A CV needs to have punch and sparkle and communicate an active, aggressive candidate. Passive does not accomplish that.
Indicators of the passive voice:
- Responsible for
- Duties included
- Served as
- Actions encompassed
Rather than saying "Responsible for management of three direct reports" change it up to "Managed 3 direct reports." It is a shorter, more direct mode of writing and adds impact to the way the CV reads. On the flip side, whilst action verbs are great, don't overdo it.
I have actually seen:
- Smashed numbers through the roof'
- 'Electrified sales team to produce, '
- 'Pushed close rate by 10 per cent'
Take your time
A CV is a marketing document for your career just as a brochure is a marketing document for a product or service. Companies put careful thought and consideration into each and every word that goes into marketing copy and you should do the same in your CV. These words stand in your place with the employer and need to showcase you in a powerful way. In a perfect world, these things would not matter, but in the reality of job search today, they matter a great deal. Be wise - stop and give some thought to the words you choose.
There are actually words that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the CV. When most job candidates write them, they don't consider word choice because they are primarily worried about getting down the basic information. Wording is critical and the wrong one can sabotage your CV.
The average agent and/or hiring manager sees hundreds of CVs from qualified candidates. CVs begin to look and sound the same to them. Here are some words and phrases to avoid:
Soft-skill descriptions
Job seekers feel they need to communicate their soft-skills to the employer because they believe they are the traits that make them unique, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Soft-skills are so common that recruiters pay no attention to them.
Phrases to avoid or severely limit:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Personable presenter
- Detail-oriented
Do not bore the reader to tears with these trite, overused and tired phrases. After all, no one will write that he/she takes long lunches, is lazy and argues a lot with peers. Hence, it is much more effective to write a description that is action-based and demonstrates these abilities rather than just laying claim to them. For example, rather than just stating you are an "excellent presenter," you could say "Developed and presented 50+ multi-media presentations to prospects resulting in 35 new accounts, totalling £300,000 in new revenues."
Age, health, appearance
Many seasoned job seekers are facing that scary time warp known as pre-retirement and fear age discrimination. They feel they can counter this perceived hurdle by giving a description of their age or health. But this can be death to a CV.
Phrases to avoid:
- Youthful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Healthy
- Mature
Additionally, unless specifically requested, there is no need to include personal details such as date of birth, marital status or whether you have children. This information is typically used to exclude candidates from consideration in the hiring process rather than include them. Unless the employer specifically asks, keep this information confidential.
Passive voice
Many people write in the passive voice because that is how we've been taught "formally" in school composition. The problem with the passive voice, however, is that it is just that passive! A CV needs to have punch and sparkle and communicate an active, aggressive candidate. Passive does not accomplish that.
Indicators of the passive voice:
- Responsible for
- Duties included
- Served as
- Actions encompassed
Rather than saying "Responsible for management of three direct reports" change it up to "Managed 3 direct reports." It is a shorter, more direct mode of writing and adds impact to the way the CV reads. On the flip side, whilst action verbs are great, don't overdo it.
I have actually seen:
- Smashed numbers through the roof'
- 'Electrified sales team to produce, '
- 'Pushed close rate by 10 per cent'
Take your time
A CV is a marketing document for your career just as a brochure is a marketing document for a product or service. Companies put careful thought and consideration into each and every word that goes into marketing copy and you should do the same in your CV. These words stand in your place with the employer and need to showcase you in a powerful way. In a perfect world, these things would not matter, but in the reality of job search today, they matter a great deal. Be wise - stop and give some thought to the words you choose.
Nigerian Scientist Makes New Findings On Tomato !
A Nigerian professor, Odunayo Adegboye, has made a breakthrough in vegetable research at Bonn University, Germany.
In the research, Adegboye proved that the Nigerian snake tomato, whose botanical name is Trichosanthes cucumerina, is richer than vine tomato.
He said that people looked down on the plant, grown in South-West, Nigeria, but that research had shown that the plant “does not go sour as quickly as the paste of the vine tomato.”
Adegbooye, who is the Head of Department, Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, said his research had caused snake tomato to be cultivated in Germany.
In his inaugural lecture delivered at Osun State University, Osogbo, on Thursday, Adegboye said that many people were unaware of the potential of snake tomato to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.
He said, “Despite the good qualities of the fruit of snake tomatoes and its wide consumption by poor rural population in Nigeria, many people are not aware of its protective potential against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.”
In the research, Adegboye proved that the Nigerian snake tomato, whose botanical name is Trichosanthes cucumerina, is richer than vine tomato.
He said that people looked down on the plant, grown in South-West, Nigeria, but that research had shown that the plant “does not go sour as quickly as the paste of the vine tomato.”
Adegbooye, who is the Head of Department, Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, said his research had caused snake tomato to be cultivated in Germany.
In his inaugural lecture delivered at Osun State University, Osogbo, on Thursday, Adegboye said that many people were unaware of the potential of snake tomato to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.
He said, “Despite the good qualities of the fruit of snake tomatoes and its wide consumption by poor rural population in Nigeria, many people are not aware of its protective potential against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.”
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