| Elephant which killed 9 people is captured and sent to rehab(Photos) | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 05:12 AM PDT An elephant that attacked and killed nine people has been captured and sent off to undergo rehabilitation. The 40-year-old male elephant has attacked and trampled villagers for three years, leaving them terrified whenever it roams nearby.
The animal, captured near Attapadi Hills, in Palakkad district of Kerala, India, was taken to the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre for rehabilitation. According to Reuters the animal first killed a farmer in April 2014, and this year trampled a woman in March and another man in April. Forest officials said the elephant had killed nine people in total, and injured two others, before it was captured on Tuesday this week. ![]()
Source: MPNB
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Mom hurls stroller carrying her 2-year-old son down stairs while fighting with lover | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 05:12 AM PDT A mother threw a stroller with her 2-year-old son inside down a flight of stairs at a Bronx subway station Thursday, police said. Investigators believe Jessica Mixon, 26, was angry her toddler's father was breaking up with her when she pushed the stroller down the steps at the 149th-St.-Grand Concourse station in Melrose at about 2:30 p.m., authorities said.
Medics took the boy to Lincoln Hospital with cuts on his face and head. He was in stable condition, cops said. Mixon is charged with attempted assault, attempted reckless endangerment and attempted child abandonment,NY Daily News reports ![]()
Source: MPNB
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| 6 Reasons Why People Fail Examination Despite Studying | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT There is need to understand the major reasons why students fail examination in spite of reading so as not to fall victim of the situation. As a student, if you fail an examination, most people including your parent, friends and loved ones do not hesitate to conclude that you have failed to study for the examination. This conclusion is in accordance with the facts based on past events and history, in fact, failure to study for an examination is the major reason for failure. However, there are rare cases where students study for an examination and at the end fail such examination. This rare occurrence is due to the some factors which people fail to consider in the course of preparation.
Some of this factors will be considered in this article. 1. READING ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE EXAMINATION
This is the major reason why people read. However, it should be noted that there is no end to education. It is not about reading for examination, passing the examination and ending it like that. Your purpose of reading should be because you want to acquire knowledge. With this mindset, you'll get to understand what you are reading better. 2. LACK OF STUDY PLAN
The importance of having a study plan should not be underestimated. It is a vital step towards an effective reading. Many student read for examination without effective planning. This attitude makes students fail to meet the requirements for the examination. To ensure an effective study plan, the factors below should be noted:- Set daily targets and ensure you achieve them. If due to any reason you are not able to meet the daily target, try as much as possible to sacrifice your night or other time to achieve them. Don't leave daily target unachieved! Reading timetable should be drawn and ensure you stick to it! Spend more time on your weakness(es) 3. FAILURE TO MEET THE EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
It is a common attitude of examination bodies to have a range of required knowledge from their candidates. This is usually found in the syllabus. Some students read randomly without even knowing what is expected of them by the examination body. As a result, many read below expected while others waste useful time that should have been used to cover the whole syllabus above expected on few topics. They end up knowing few questions from the little topics they have read. To avoid falling victim of this:-
Ensure you have the official syllabus
Use the textbooks recommended by the examination body(if any)
Ensure you cover the syllabus before the commencement of the examination. 4. INEFFECTIVE READING
Reading effectively is the key to passing an examination. The question you should ask is "How do I read effectively?" 5. LACK OF CONFIDENCE
Few students that read effectively fail examination due to lack of confidence. However, Confidence is only built up when you have prepared adequately for and examination. So, read effectively, confide in yourself and the story will change. 6. NEGLECTING THE POWER OF PRAYER
Every process in the life of a man is incomplete without prayer, so don't neglect prayer while reading for an examination. Prayer is the key to success. ![]()
Source: Olu Famous
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| REPS PROBE HOW MULTIBILLION NAIRA COMPANY WAS AWARDED TO A 5-DAY OLD COMPANY | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT 
ABUJA— The House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, yesterday, vowed to unveil owners of the five-day old company, which got contract for deployment of revenue monitoring solutions on telecommunication companies from Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS. The committee also had to adjourn hearing as the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Babatunde Fowler, and other key stakeholders failed to show up at the venue. Oluwole Oke, chairman of the committee, who revealed this at the opening of the investigative public hearing, however, expressed displeasure over the failure of Babatunde Fowler, FIRS Chairman; Ifueko Omogui Okauru, former FIRS chairman; Joseph Ari, Director General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and management team of National Pension Commission, PenCom, and Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to honour the invitation of the committee. The documents obtained by the House, showed that the Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, showed that the company was registered on the December 2, 2016, while FIRS awarded the contract on December 7, 2016. The petitioners further alleged that FIRS breached Section 6(3) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Act 2011 and relevant Procurement laws. During the hearing, the lawmakers chided FIRS chairman for failing to provide relevant documents on the FIRS Procurement documents from 2016 to 2017 under his purview. Two former FIRS chairmen who appeared before the committee are Kabir Mashi and S. S. Ogungbesan Sponsor of the motion, Onyema Chukwuka, had expressed displeasure over the award of the "contract to ASISL notwithstanding the fact that the company was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission on 2 December, 2016, just two working days before the award was made." According to him, this is indicative of the fact that the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and other subsidiary legislation were not complied with. He explained that the FIRS recently engaged the services of 100 tax consultants to conduct tax audit and assessment on companies in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt but noted that the engagement process was not made public and not competitive as required by law. In his opening speech, Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, frowned on the spate of breaches. Dogara said: ''All procurements of agencies of government for goods, works and services are subjected to various processes and criteria as stipulated in the Public Procurement Act, 2007 which was enacted to curb excesses found in the award and execution of government's contracts. "More importantly, this law was enacted with the aim of checkmating corruption and procurement irregularities, thus ensuring that government obtains value for money and by extension, enhance the fight against corruption. "The Federal Inland Revenue Service is an agency of government saddled with the responsibility of delivering quality service to tax payers, in partnership with other stakeholders. The agency is also expected to operate a transparent and efficient tax system that optimizes tax revenue collection and voluntary compliance that enhances the revenue of government. "Instances and allegations of abuse, disregard, breach and violation of the provisions of this law in whatever form should be investigated.'' While urging all the stakeholders invited to make suggestions, contributions and constructive criticism on the subject of the investigation, Dogara urged the committee to look into all the submissions and positions presented critically, thoroughly and dispassionately in order to ensure a meticulous investigation. In his ruling, Oke, who presided over the session, directed CAC, ITF, PenCom, and other regulatory agencies to provide relevant documents, requested for Certificate of Registration and Incorporation, evidence of tax payment among others, of the beneficiary companies for verification on June 6 2017, when the investigative hearing would continue.
http://ift.tt/2soX02F
Source: Abuja reporters
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| HOW TRADITIONAL RULER ORDERED POLICE OFFICER ON ILLEGAL DUTY TO BE BURIED ALIVE | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT 
Posted by Juliana Francis Six months after a detective attached to the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, disappeared into thin air, his corpse has been found in a shallow grave at the Ibeju Lekki area of the metropolis. The deceased, Inspector Musa Sunday, was abducted, tortured and later buried alive while on illegal duty at Ibeju Lekki. Sunday and four of his men were alleged to have been drafted to guard a land, which was under dispute by their Admin Officer (AO), at Ibeju Lekki. The policemen were drafted to the disputed land without the knowledge of the Officer in Charge of SARS (OC) and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni. The skeleton of the inspector, 45, a father of four children, with their ages ranging from four, six, eight and 12, was exhumed from a shallow grave after six months search. At least five persons, including a traditional ruler, otherwise known as Baale have been arrested in connection with the murder of the inspector. A police source said: "The police are hunting for one Mr Balogun, who led the hoodlums that attacked, abducted and buried Sunday alive. In fact, information at police disposal says that it was the fleeing Balogun that tied his hands before burying him. Balogun's second in command, Arokin is in police custody. He's helping police with investigation." The suspects confessed to have buried him alive after starving him for more than five days. They also admitted to have buried him alive on the orders of a traditional ruler, who has interest in the land under dispute. Sunday was abducted sometimes in November, while guarding the disputed land. The abductors made away with his rifle. The inspector, who was the leader of the team, was on duty with four other policemen. The abductors, alleged to be armed to the teeth, stormed the land on that fateful day in November and over powered Sunday, his policemen and civilian guards, patrolling. The civilian guards were there on the instruction of one of the men struggling for possession of the land, identified simply as Prince, living in Ikeja. The Prince and his opponent had allegedly been fighting over possession of the land for months. This has led to several people, from both factions, being killed and maimed. A police source said that both men had been warring, using paid thugs, until Prince decided to take SARS men. But rather than go through the proper channel, which was to contact Owoseni or OC SARS, Prince went to his friend, the AO. When the AO ordered Sunday with some policemen to the land, the Inspector couldn't argue with his superior. Sunday was kidnapped when he confronted a large number of thugs from the other faction. The thugs attacked, injured and attempted to carry away some of Prince's thugs. An inside source said: "Sunday's men abandoned him and ran away because the thugs from the other faction large expanse of land. The Prince came to SARS to get policemen to keep his opponent from encroaching on the land." After his abduction, his phone stopped going through. His colleagues became frantic. Sunday's wife and family members besieged the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, demanding to know what had become of him. Speaking with a journalist a few months after the abduction of Sunday, his wife, Halimat, 27, said: "They were deployed there to maintain peace. We learnt that hoodlums were attacking a man, so my husband and his men moved to rescue the man. He told the other two policemen to go and put the man in the car so he could be safe. The hoodlums pounced on my husband and took him away. Sensing danger as the hoodlums kept increasing in number, his men ran away. Since then, we have not heard from him." On the fateful day of the incident, Halimat said that she spoke with Sunday around 4pm; he promised to come home the following day. In the evening, his kids demanded to speak with him, so Halimat called his line repeatedly, but it didn't go through. In the morning, some of his colleagues called Halimat and told her what happened. Since then, Halimat and Sunday's family members had been visiting the police headquarters in Lagos, praying and hoping. She added, "Three months after, police kept telling us that they were on the matter. We learnt they have arrested the Prince that hired the hoodlums, but nothing has happened since then. His children keep asking after him. His aged mother, who has high blood pressure, has not stopped asking for his whereabouts. We don't know what else to tell her." Halimat, a housewife, noted that since Sunday's disappearance, she and her kids have been struggling to survive. She's no longer able to pay the kids' school fees. She said: "Nobody from the police cared to check on us, and now we don't have money because we don't have access to his ATM pin. I want my husband to come back. The children are suffering, and I can't carry the load alone." A police source said: "Sunday was posted there with his team; they were five in number. Two of the policemen later left, saying they were tired of the constant threat. Even soldiers that were supposed to guard the land with them left, complaining that Prince had never bothered to ask about their welfare. "Sunday has been on that land for almost three weeks when bulldozer entered the land. Prince's faction was overpowered. Everyone scampered for safety, but one of Prince's thugs were held. Sunday ran back to save him. It was in that split second that his policemen and the man he saved drove off in a vehicle, leaving him. Sunday was grabbed by the hoodlums, beaten and injured." It was gathered that the fleeing policemen ran to Mobile Police Force (Mopol) 49, Epe. They explained that an inspector had been abducted, that they needed help to rescue him, but the commander allegedly didn't respond to their pleas. The policemen moved to Akodo Police Station, where a woman happened to be the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The DPO said she couldn't send anyone to the area because it was a volatile axis. They went to SARS, Ikeja to report and for five days, no action was taken to rescue Sunday. Later, policemen started looking for Sunday, to the extent of going to Bonny Camp, Victoria Island. The soldiers said Sunday wasn't with them. When the OC SARS went to meet Owoseni, to intimate him of the missing inspector, Owoseni demanded to know the person that deployed Sunday and his men on the illegal duty. Determined to find Sunday, sources said that the OC SARS approached the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari. It was alleged that through the efforts of the IRT operatives, Sunday's phone was tracked and some of his alleged killers arrested. The suspects took police to where Sunday's rifle was buried. A police source said: "Police investigation also led to the arrest of the traditional ruler. The traditional ruler denied knowing anything about the disappearance of Sunday. He was invited to the police command; but rather than honour police invitation, he ran to Police Force Headquarters, Abuja. He was told at Abuja to go back to Lagos and respondfirst to police invitation." The source continued: "Balogun, who led the operation in which Sunday was kidnapped is on the run. But his second in command, Arokin, has been arrested. Arokin confessed that Sunday was buried alive. He took police to the shallow grave at Ibeju Lekki. Police brought pathologists from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), to exhume Sunday's corpse. "One of the pathologists, when he saw Sunday's skeleton, said that it looked as if he was buried with his hands tied behind. It was at that point that Arokin confessed that Sunday was buried alive. He disclosed that after beating and disarming Sunday, he and his colleagues waited for five days for policemen to come for him, but nobody did. In those five days, they didn't give him food. He said that when police didn't come searching for Sunday; the traditional ruler instructed them to go and bury the inspector alive. The traditional ruler said that nothing would happen. Sunday was buried alive."
http://ift.tt/2qHh1RH
Source: Abuja reporters
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| KILLER RICE IN NIGERIAN MARKETS, GOVERNORS FORUM WARN | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT 
he Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has expressed concerns over the quality of rice being imported and consumed by Nigerians. The governors, while describing it as substandard, harmful, called on the Nigeria Customs Service to take urgent measures to curb the situation. A statement by NGF's Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said this concern was contained in a communiqué released after the forum's last meeting in Abuja. According to governors, a large consignment of rice still finding its way into the Nigerian market was imported since 2014 when the Goodluck Jonathan's administration issued a liberal import licence regime to those who were able to bring substantial quantity of rice into the country using a waiver from the presidency at the time. "Governors expressed concern that Nigerians were either falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard produce even though some states have commenced elaborate efforts to produce rice in commercial quantity with a view to halting the nation's over-reliance on staples that can be produced locally. "Most governors of the states that have already embraced the back to land mantra of this administration frowned at the situation where Nigerians snubbed the locally produced commodity in preference for foreign ones which were most of the time stale, contaminated or even fake," the statement said. The Nigeria Customs Service was invited to shed light on the matter in order to proffer solution to the problem. Briefing the Forum, the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali who was represented by Deputy Comptroller General, Dangaladima Aminu, said though there was an upsurge in the smuggling of rice through the nations land borders, there had been no alteration to the prohibition on the importation of rice through land borders. He claimed that any quantity of rice which found its way into Nigeria through land routes was smuggled. He claimed that the smugglers were aided by border communities who alternated between motorcycles, canoes and rafts to smuggle contraband rice into the country. "It may interest you to note that a motorcycle can make up to 30 trips with six 50kg bags of rice per night depending on the distance. And when the border communities are not smuggling the produce themselves, they are aiding or providing cover for smugglers." Dangaladima added that rice merchants had recorded huge losses as a result of seizures by the customs. He informed the governors that the Customs "takes the issue of smuggling of rice seriously, having identified the danger posed by it to the economic well-being and health hazards it constitutes to the Nigerian people."
Source: Abuja reporters
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Buhari Gets Quick Recovery Letter From A Nigerian In UK | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT A Nigerian man identified as Chief Sunbo Onitri was at the Abuja house in the United Kingdom on May 29th, 2017 to deliver a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, his letter was to 'pray for quick recovery' of the president, but also to highlight some of the issues being faced by the common man in Nigeria presently.
He also called on youths to wrestle for the country's leadership as the elders have run out of ideas, adding that "the solutions to the problems of our country and the future are all in the hands of our youths".
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Source: Olu Famous
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Between Rihanna and Kevin Durant at basketball game | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT Rihanna may have her eyes on a new man. None other than NBA star,Kevin Durant.. During the Warriors' vs Cavaliers game,Rihanna allegedly yelled "brick" as Durant was shooting a free throw and he glared over toward her. Later she was caught on camera staring at him intensely as he ran past.
Image- AP ![]()
Source: MPNB
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Dabota Lawson is sexy in cleavage baring photos | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT Former beauty queen and mother of one,Dabota Lawson released sexy photos to celebrate her birthday
More below
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Source: MPNB
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| SULTAN CONDEMNS ARMY RECRUITMENT, NYSC CAMPING DURING RAMADAN | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT Jama'atu Nasril Islam, JNI, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad, has condemned the decision of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to continue with its orientation camps for youth corp members during the Ramadan fast. JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, in a statement, also called on the Nigerian Army to postpone its planned recruitment exercise until Muslims had concluded their fasting period. JNI said that NYSC continuing the orientation program and the Nigerian Army conducting recruitment exercise during Ramadan would put Muslim faithful who were fasting at a disadvantage. "This is because the prospective corps members would be at disadvantage to their faith and other camp activities. The council also calls on the authority of the Nigerian Army to postpone the intended recruitment exercise until after Ramadan to avoid putting prospective candidates at a disadvantage," JNI said. JNI called on the NYSC to honour a previous agreement entered by the two parties for camp activities to be placed on hold during Ramadan.
Source: Abuja reporters
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| CONTROVERSY AS ATIKU BECOMES WAZIRI ADAMAWA AND HIS THIRD SON, NOW THE TURAKIN | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  One week after endorsement of Governor Muhammadu Bindow's candidature by former vice president Atiku Abubakar, to contest for second term, Adamawa Emirate Council has equally replicated same gesture on Atiku as the new Waziri in the Fombina Emirate while his son Aliyu has emerged the new Turaki. According to palace sources, the decision to elevate Atiku and his son to their new titles followed the demise of former Waziri, Alhaji Abba Mohammed last week.
The sources, who pleaded anonymity, said the elevation was in recognition of the Atiku's contribution to the state and nation at large.
Four contenders were said to have earlier indicated their interest for the exalted seat, including the current, OPEC secretary general, Dr Muhammad Barkindo. "His son,Aliyu who is also son of Hajja the younger sister of the present lamido Dr Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha was also confirmed as the new Turaki taking over from his father Atiku Abubakar,'' source said. In the meantime,residents spoken to express shock, with many suggesting that the late Wazirin Adamawa's sons among whom is former vice chancellor of the state university, ADSU Dr Alkasim Abba should have been considered. "Though we wish them good luck but it wonder us because everybody knows that Waziri is only being considered by birth ,to those who hail from progeny of Waziris,'' said a Yola resident who simply Identified himself as Mallum Baba.
It would be recalled that Atiku at a public forum to mark democracy day at banquet hall of government house Yola Monday endorsed the candidarure of Governor Bindow for second term. According to him, the governor had done enough to earn a second term. Source: Abuja reporters Mr Olumide's Blog |
| President, govs can’t rule for more than 8 years, Reps rule | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  By Umar Muhammad Puma
The House Representatives Special Ad-hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution has approved the Bill that prohibits a person who was swore-in as president from staying in office for more than eight years.
The bill seeks to bar a person sworn-in to complete the term of an elected president from contesting for the same office for more than a single term.
The bill titled; A Bill For An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to restrict a person who was sworn-in as President to complete the term of an elected President from contesting for the same office for more than a single term; and for related matters.
Alteration of sections 137 and 182 to provide that a person who is sworn in as President or Governor for a term for which another person was elected can only be sworn- in for only one term.
The Bill, if eventually passed by the two chambers, will ensure that nobody serves as President or Governor for more than eight years.
The decision was reached at the meeting of the committee chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff held last Wednesday.
Over 40 Bills were deliberated upon by the committee, some of which were drawn from the Fourth Alteration, the report from the constitutional conference held in 2014 and the referrals from the House.
Speaking on the review exercise, Rt Hon Lasun Yussuff commended members for their efforts and commitment, adding that if the committee continues like this, very soon the nation would be given a new constitution.
He however, directed its subcommittee to meet the Senate committee and work out possible day that the two committees would meet to harmonize positions.
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Senate moves to increase fuel price by N5 | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  Senate President, Bukola Saraki By Christiana Ekpa and Ikechukwu Okaforadi Revelations emerged yesterday on how the Senate Committee report which will soon be adopted by the Upper Chamber, has recommended an increase of the fuel pump price to N150 per litter, under the guise that the additional charge will be used to maintain federal roads.
According to documents obtained by Peoples Daily and which was deliberated at the plenary, Senator Kabiru Gaya led Committee on works has recommended that additional charges of N5 be imposed on all petroleum products imported or manufactured in the country.
The bill is titled "A Bill for an Act to establish the National Roads Fund for the purpose of financing the maintenance and rehabilitation of national roads.
The report of the committee further recommended other charges, including toll fees, load control charges, interstate mass transit user charges, which the senate said should be deductible from the transport fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit vehicles on interstate roads.
According to the report, there shall be
"Fuel levy of N5 chargeable per liter on any volume of Petroleum and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined Petroleum products"
"Axle load control charges, toll fees (A percentage of not exceeding 10% of any revenue paid as user charge per vehicle on any federal road designated as a toll road"
"International vehicle transit charges
"Inter state mass transit user charge of 0.5% deductible from the fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit operators on inter-state roads"
"Roads Fund surcharge of 0.5% chargeable on the surcharge on the assessed value of any vehicle imported at any time into Nigeria"
"Lease, License or other feel which shall be 10% of the revenue accruing from lease or license or other fees pertaining to non vehicular road usages along any federal road and collected by the Federal Roads agency. Grant and loans and Gift of land, money or other property"
Those charges which were about 9 items, has 7 items chargeable as a motorist in Nigeria which they said, would enable government to adequately service road infrastructure.
The fund is to operate independently under the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, the report of the committee was not adopted because of unresolved issues of appointment into the agency.
The report recommended that the heads of the agency to be established should be a degree holder, but this was not accepted by some other senators who kicked against the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma and University Degree holders.
In his reaction, senator Kabiru Marafa ( APC Zamfara) said it is not in line with the tradition of the senate in passing Bill that discriminate against any person on the ground of HND for the post of director of any board.
He decried the situation where the position for director of the board should be for a university degree holder.
"This is a problem that has held us down and the progress of this nation, It has being lingering on. This is not in line with our tradition in passing Bills. We have graduates for both HND and university.".
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| CONFUSION AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL AS GTBANK IMPOUNDS MANAGEMENT CARS OVER LOAN DEFAULT BY STAFF | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT 
Yesterday was not a normal day for staff and visitors to the National Hospital in Abuja. Activities at the hospital were disrupted over court judgement that was executed by one of the major car dealers in the country, Elizade Motors and GTBank. In the course of the judgement being executed, cars belonging to some management staff were fiffed in lieu of debts owed by some staff who took loans to buy cars and were guaranteed by the National Hospital. According to the report, Sometimes in 2008, some doctors from the hospital as well as Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital took loans from GTbank to buy cars. The loans were guaranteed by the Hospitals where the doctors worked. And over time, the doctors defaulted, hence the bank decided to move to recover its money from their guarantors'. According to reports some of the affected staff have indeed left the National Hospital but this however did not jell with either the bank or court as they got judgement which they enforced yesterday. Abujareporters gathered that though taken aback by the development, the hospital authorities have taken measures to ensure that normalcy is restored to their activities.
Source: Abuja reporters
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Rowdy session, as Reps reject S/East Devt Commission Bill | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  By Umar Muhammad Puma
The House of Representatives yesterday dissolved into a rowdy session following the unanimous rejection of a bill seeking to establish the South-East Development Commission.
The proposed Commission which seeks to create a Development Commission that will be charged with the responsibility of allocation of fund from the Federation Account for the reconstruction of houses and infrastures in the South-East.
Sponsor of the Bill, Rep Chukwuka Onyema said the Commission will help to reconstruct the infrastructures destroyed by the civil war in the region.
However, some of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate, said the timing of the bill was not right and adequate consultations were not done before it was brought before the House.
Rep Onyeama: the bill seeks to establish the commission for the development of the region as a result of civil war, and that the bill doesn't intend to usurp the powers of any arm of government.
"The funding shall be 15 percent of the total monthly allocation to South East State, 3 percent of any oil company operating in the states, 3 percent of ecological fund due to the states, 3 percent of any solid mineral found in any of the states.
Speaking in support of the bill, Minority Leader of the House, Rep Leo Ogor (PDP Delta), while contributing to the debate, said the bill is a step right direction, adding that the country need to be restructured, and he appealed to his colleagues to considered the bill.
On his part, Rep Uzoma Nkem-Abonta was of the opinion that the funding component of this bill, will be drawn from the affected states, therefore there is no financial pressure on any state of the federation. "It is advised that every region and state should find ways of raising funds for sustainable development. We must be united in the welfare of Nigerians. This is the right time to address the problems of the South East. If can't do it now, when do we do it?
Rep Henry Nwawuba (PDP, Imo): said it is high time that we stopped looking at Nigeria from the perspective of North and West.
Rep Toby Okechukwu while supporting the bill said "it is not intended to appropriate undue advantage to the region."
Adding that the commission is going to be a special purpose vehicle for which the region will aggregate its resources and develop itself.
Speaking against the bill, Rep Sani Abdul, (APC Bauchi), said the agitation to create the commission is as a result government's failure to its citizens, saying "We should look at it holistically in other not to have a problem. We are worried, the timing of the bill with the agitation of Biafra is suspicious." On his part, Sunday Karimi, a lawmaker from Kogi, said that some of the south-east states were already captured in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the creation of a South-east "will be too much." In his contribution, Sani Zorro (APC Jigawa), said not much consultation has gone into bill. "I won't be comfortable that at the end of the day we leave here with acrimony. In view of the debate we have had so far we should consult further." However, a member from Jigawa state and one of those opposed to the Bill, Rep. Gudaji Kazaure later addressed the corps where he berated those who felt that the Speaker was biased in ruling in favour of the nay sayers. According to him; "The South East legislators were wrong to have accused Speaker Dogara of truncating the passage of the Bill, they are blaming the Speaker on an issue decided by the members of the House." The House presided by its speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara rejected the bill after it was put to a voice vote
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Oct. 1st bombing: Court dismisses Okah, Nwabueze’s no-case-submission | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  Paschal Njoku, Abuja
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday dismissed a no case submission filed by Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze, the alleged masterminds of the 2010 October 1st Independence Day bomb blast near Eagle square Abuja.
Consequently, the court has ordered them to open their defence in the terrorism charges filed against them by the Federal Government on July 5 and 6.
Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) were first arraigned before the court on December 7, 2010 over their alleged involvement in the October 1, 2010 blast which left about 12 people dead and several others injured.
Francis-Osvwo died later in prison custody, while Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, is serving life sentence upon his conviction in 2013, leaving Okah and Nwabueze to await trial.
Delivering ruling on the no-case-submission, Justice Kolawole held that the prosecution counsel, Alex Iziyon has made out a prima facie case linking Okah and Nwabueze with the alleged offence.
In dismissing the submissions made by Okah's lawyer Emeka Okoroafor and Oghenovo Otemu, who is representing Nwabueze, the court said, "the prosecution has made out prima facie case through testimonies of witnesses which linked the defendants with the charges, which requires them to offer explanation.
The court further held, contrary to the submissions of the defendants, that the evidence given by the 17 witnesses called up by the prosecution has not been discredited nor fractured to warrant upholding the no-case-submission.
"At this stage of proceeding, court is not required to add probative value to the exhibits or form opinion on evidence adduced by witnesses but only required to consider whether the prosecution has made out prima facie case linking the defendants with the charge.
"It is my view, that the testimonies of pw2, pw6, pw11, pw15, pw4, etc have adduced prima facie case to warrant the 1st and 2nd defendants to enter defence.
Consequently, "Respective no case submissions made by the defendants are not well founded; defendants are required to enter defence to counts affecting them based on the testimonies of the 17 prosecution witnesses, the court held.
In his complainant respondent address, Izinyon in praying the court to dismiss the no case submission argued "that the main issue at this stage is to determine whether the prosecution has made out prima facie case to require defendants to offer some explanation in relation to the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government."
He stated that counts 1 to 8 relate to Section 15(1)(2) of EFCC Act, which borders on receiving of funds and using same to finance act of terrorism.
Recall that the defendants were charged on December 6, 2010 on an amended 8 counts charge bothering on terrorism.
After several interlocutory applications, on 23rd April 2015, trial began with the prosecution counsel calling 17 witnesses.
Source: People's Daily
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| Minister wants ban on sale of cigarettes to teenagers enforced | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  Minister of Health Pro. Isaac Adewole By Tobias Lengna Dapam Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole yesterday called for the immediate implementation and enforcement of key sections of the 2015 National Tobacco Control Act (NTC), which calls for ban on sales of cigarette to persons under the age of 18 in the country.
The Minister made the call on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja as part of activities to mark the 'World No Tobacco Day'.
Adewole who expressed worry over the rate of tobacco smoking in the country, said the government will soon begin implementation of the act.
Some of the items in the act according to the minister included: "Ban on sale of cigarettes in single sticks. Cigarettes must be sold in packs of 20 sticks only. Smokeless tobacco shall be sold in a minimum of a pack of 30 grams. Ban on sale or offer for sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products through mail, internet or other online devices.
"Prohibition of interference of tobacco industry in public health and related issues. Prohibition of smoking anywhere on the premises of a child care facility, educational facility, and health care facility".
He said other prohibited places for smoking include; playgrounds, amusement parks, plazas, public parks, stadium, public transports, restaurants, bars, or other public gathering spaces.
"Prosecution of owner or manager of any of the places listed above, who permits, encourages or fails to stop smoking in the above listed places.
"Prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of any kind. Compliance with specified standard for content as set out by Standards Organisation of Nigeria".
Adewole noted that available evidence from World Health Organization (WHO) shown that tobacco use costs national economies immensely, through increased health-care cost and decrease productivity.
He added that it worsens health inequalities and increase poverty as the poorest people spend less on essentials such as food, education and health care.
He said that the country is currently exploring using tobacco tax and levies as means of financing the Universal Health Coverage agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
"Increasing taxes and levies on tobacco products can reduce its consumption and secondary generate revenue which can be used to finance universal health coverage and other developmental health programme," he said.
Speaking earlier, the country representative of the WHO, Wondi Alemu noted that tobacco use is one of the leading predisposing factors for non-communicable diseases in the country.
He cited the report from a Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2013, revealed that at least 4.5 million adult Nigerians smoke tobacco.
Source: People's Daily
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| …As lack of Tobacco Act implementation worries environmentalists | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT  By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEA) has called on government and policy makers to ensure the implementation of the Tobacco Act , saying the delay in the implementation has been worrisome as it threatens lives and national economy.
Research by the World Health Organization ( WHO) currently said more than 7million deaths are from Tobacco use every day, a figure that is likely to grow more than 8million a year by 2030 without intensified action.
The Deputy Executive Director ERA/FoEN Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi said Tobacco use has costs national economies enormously through increased health- care costs and decreased productivity. " it worsens health inequalities and exacerbate poverty as poorest people spend less on essentials such as food, education and health care. "
He said 80% of premature deaths from tobacco occur in low or middle income countries, which faces increased challenges in achieving their development goals".
"Without mincing words, you can see that Tobacco use is s threat to us all, irrespective of gender, age, race, culture or educational background. Tobacco unleashed disease, death, suffering and impoverishment of families and national economies".
According to the Deputy Executive Director, Tobacco Control has been enshrined in the sustainable Development Agenda and now seen as one of the most effective means to help SDG target 3.4 of one -third reduction globally, by 2030, of premature death communicable disease (NCDS).
"Strengthening implementation of WHO framework convention on Tobacco in all countries is an additional target to be met by governments developing national sustainable development responses ".
The director who also talked about the current situation of tobacco in Nigeria, said "that is why the tobacco community feels that some of the recent activities of tobacco companies must thwart Nigeria's forward to ensuring the well being of our citizenry since the National Tobacco Control Act came in to force to undermine its implementation.
Oluwafemi emphasised that the Group is asking on government to fast track the implementation by immediate commencement of the implementation of the NTC Act that do not require regulations such as Smoke – Free public places , restriction on underage access and ban of sale in single sticks among others.
The commemoration calls for a strong and speedy action on the implementation on the Tobacco Act. " Tobacco Threatens the development of a nation which the SDG component would also end poverty and save millions of life's, the only way to get this right is to take Taxation serious it one of the key issues to control Tobacco ".
She added that "this is the right time to show the international communities that Nigeria can stand against Tobacco smoking. Some other African countries are already making progress like Uganda.
Mrs Oche further explained "The International communities are waiting patiently to see whether Nigeria would pass the NTC act. " We are also calling on Ministry of Health to implement some of the regulations".
Dr. Olupelumi Adebiyi of the University College Hospital Ibadan said about 18.4 million people are exposed to smoking; about 27.4 million people are also exposed to tobacco smoking in public places.
He said the impacts of tobacco affect both adults and children. For adults health issues like strokes, Blindness , cancer of the lungs , stomach cancer and cervical cancer among others and for child early death and unintelligent.
" Tobacco smoking has a direct link with poverty and threatens the national development ,about 70% Nigerian 's are out of pocket, this reduces development of family and also affects women",Dr. Adebiyi said.
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| MAN BEATS 10-YR OLD HOUSE HELP POURS SALT AND PEPPER ON HER INJURIES | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT 
Cruelty reared its head in Abia state when a man, identified as Chibuike Onwuchekwa, reportedly inflicted injuries on his housemaid for failing to fill two water containers at Umuga Ovom in Obingwa local government area of the state. According to Vanguard, eyewitnesses revealed that Onwuchekwa and his wife had, last Sunday, May 28, sent the young girl to fill two water containers in their house from a nearby borehole, while they left for church service. However, when the couple returned from church, they discovered that the girl, aged about 10, was unable to fill the two containers before the borehole owner closed shop. Onwuchekwa beat the girl, leaving her with injuries, locked her up and left for an event with his wife, despite the pleas from neighbours. A resident of the community, who gave his name as Nkem, said they decided to invite the Police when the girl escaped from the house to inform them that Onwuchekwa poured a mixture of salt and pepper on the injuries he inflicted on her during the earlier beating. Mr Nkem also disclosed that the girl had suffered several of such beatings from Onwuchekwa. In one instance, when she was accused of theft in her school, he beat her even though she was absolved of the accusation by her teachers. When the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia state Command, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna was contacted he said he was not aware of the incident. However, a senior Police officer at the Eastern Ngwa Division confirmed the incident, adding that the girl is receiving medical attention. Read more: http://ift.tt/2rrn7XI
Source: Abuja reporters
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| Unemployment: FG opens door for more applicants | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has directed that the online portal of the government's job initiative, N-Power, be reopened June 17 to allow more unemployed Nigerians apply, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said.
Mrs. Ahmed advised youth to apply for the Federal Government's National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP).
She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the government would scale up the N-SIP to accommodate more beneficiaries.
N-SIP is a federal government programme aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods of vulnerable groups such as the unemployed youths, women and children.
The government says the programme has so far empowered over 1.6 million Nigerians through its four components, namely; N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.
The minister said each component of the programme would be scaled up this year.
"For example, in N-Power Scheme that 200,000 beneficiaries have been employed, we are supposed to increase it to 500,000 beneficiaries in 2017," she said.
She said Mr. Osinbajo had directed that the online portal should be reopened on June 17 to give Nigerian youth opportunity to apply for the next batch.
"There is opportunity in the N-Power Programme for employment," she said.
"There is opportunity in the GEEP for you to get finances to be able to start businesses.
" Please this is real, it is working, join the process and be a beneficiary,'' she said.
The minister said the process was delayed initially because of the effort to eliminate fraudulent applicants and to make the process transparent.
She said the programme had not been able to attain its set target because of the delay in starting its actual implementation.
"The deployment, release of funds didn't start till October 2016 and it is so because we want to make sure that the programme is planned properly.
"We want to make sure that each beneficiary has bank account linked to BVN; we are targeting the right people, not just people nominated by big people.
"That took a lot of time but we thank God that the programme is going on well and it is now easier to upscale it,'' the minister said.
Mrs. Ahmed said the programme was showcased at the second year commemorative event of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari on May 2s9.
She said that the event, with the theme: "A Smile for Every Nigerian,'' recorded testimonies of beneficiaries across the country."
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| FG to establish special schools for married women — Minister | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT The Federal Government will establish special schools for women who abandoned school to get married, Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, has said.
"All women that married at early age will have the opportunity to continue with their education from their husbands houses.
"The schools will be in two categories so as to avoid problems emanating from the establishment of the schools.
"The first category is for those who started their schooling but due to one reason or the other dropped out.
"The other category is for the Adult Literacy classes that will be established in all local governments to assist women attain certain literacy level.
"In the Adult literacy schools, the women will also be empowered with skills training during their lessons.
"The women will be trained how to make soap, local soft drink, candle, pomade, cake, local hair dressing, tailoring and other small businesses." the minister told newsmen on Thursday in Katsina.
Mrs. Alhassan appealed to religious and traditional leaders to continue supporting ongoing efforts to boost the enrolment of the girl-child into schools nationwide.
She said that the education of female children was very important as such the leaders should encourage parents to send them to school.(NAN
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| N/Delta: FG, govs, oil coys meet, pledge to develop region | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT By Ikechukwu Okaforadi The Federal Government, governors of the states in the Niger Delta region and International Oil and Gas Companies operating in the region have re-instated their commitment to proper collaboration for the development of the Niger Delta region.
This commitment was made at the Second Quarterly meeting of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, Governors of the States in the Niger Delta region, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Presidential Amnesty Programme and International Oil and Gas Companies (IOCs) operating in the region.
At the meeting, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs disclosed that the essence of the quarterly meeting was to create a platform for all agencies that have business of development and operations within Niger Delta region to be able to organise and coordinate the activities that are carried out by all participating organisations in the region.
"This meeting is to unveil what was done in the preceding meeting and to set out a milestone for the next", he added.
The minister reiterated that the collaboration of all stakeholders was the part of efforts to implement the various pronouncements made by the Acting President, based on the demands of the people at different town hall meetings with the people of the Niger Delta region, during his visit to the states of the region earlier this year.
"The reason we are doing this is to further guarantee the fact that as a government, we are responsive to the needs of the people and that we also rise to the responsibility of coordinating development efforts by all agencies and organisations within the region", the Minister stressed.
"Today's meeting is a fulfillment of the take-off initiative to ensure that all of us have common knowledge of what each agency is doing in the region. This initiative will not cease, if we exhaust what we have in our workplan at a point in time, there will be an appraisal on how it can be updated or amended to the design as an addendum to what we have", he said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, commended the Federal Government for the initiative of having such a synergy, calling for the support of all stakeholders for the Federal Government to address the development needs of the Niger Delta.
"Politics should not separate us, it should support development", he stressed.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Paul Boroh (retd), called for team work so as to enjoy the resources in the Niger Delta region.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum, Osagie Okunbor, who spoke for other International Oil Companies, affirmed that the coordinated effort can only be for good, adding that the oil and gas companies operating in the area will not be found wanting in ensuring that the needed development was brought to bear in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking for Permanent Secretary, the Director Special Duties in the Ministry and the Secretary of the Projects Audit Committee set up by the Minister in the year 2016; Alhassan Yakmut, called for working manpower from the various organizations, to give adequate assessment of this initiative.
Source: People's Daily
Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Nigerian women highly talented – U.S Envoy | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 02 Jun 2017 04:42 AM PDT By Ochiaka Ugwu The Ambassador of United States To Nigeria, Ambassador W. Stuart Symington has described Nigerian women as highly talented like their American counterpart.
Mr. W. Stuart Symington said this prior to screening of the movie "The Hidden Figures" at Genesis Cinemas, in Abuja on Tuesday, in honor of Nigerian TechWomen. "Nigerian women are highly talented like the American women in the movie Hidden Figures".
Hidden Figures details the story of three female African-American mathematicians employed by NASA in the 1960s. Working as human computers but denied recognition or promotion and they would go on to play crucial roles in the American space program.
According Symington, "It is an amazing story of women who found something that they love, and before there were computers and the Internet, these women made it possible to put the human race in outer space. You too, can reach for the skies,"
The U.S. Ambassador while introducing Carolyn Seaman and Damilola Anwo-Ade, two of five Nigerian women selected to participate in the 2017 TechWomen exchange program noted that Carolyn Seaman is using technology to empower girls through her Girls Voices Initiative, and Damilola Anwo-Ade is mentoring the next generation of coders, including young women, through her initiative CodeIT.
It is also important to known that Olamide Ayeni-Babjide, Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, and Petra Nnamani, though not present at the event, will also participate in the program.
"We are committed to building the capacity of women to innovate and make positive contributions to their communities through science, technology, and mathematics," Ambassador Symington remarked.
TechWomen is a U.S. initiative empowering and connecting the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The program will bring together 100 women leaders in technology fields for a five-week professional mentorship and exchange program at leading technology companies in California's Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. It could be recalled that in March this year, the U.S. Embassy screened the movie CodeGirl, an American documentary film that featured the story of five Nigerian girls who won the Technovation Challenge in 2015.
Source: People's Daily
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