| SAD! 16 year old girl plunges to her death during zip-line exercise | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:55 AM PDT A 16-year-old girl plunged to her death during a zip-line exercise at her college as her instructor father watched on. Aditi Sanghi, 16, was sitting on the edge of the six-storey building helping other pupils fasten their harnesses when she lost her balance and tumbled over the edge. She had just finished her round and walked back to the terrace during the activity conducted by her father, Sunil Sanghi, at the International College for Girls (ICG) in Jaipur, India. Aditi was watching another student coming down the zip line when she appeared to lose her footing and fall. Dr Rakhi Gupta, the registrar of the college, refused to blame anyone saying Aditi's father himself had witnessed the accident. She said it was an 'accident' and pointed out that Aditi had not been on the zip line at the time.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| World's sexiest cop? Brazilian policewoman 'arrests hearts' with her bikini photos | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:55 AM PDT A stunning Brazilian policewoman has been capturing hearts with her sexy bikini photos . Gun-totting highway patrol officer,Mari Ag rocks her uniform by day and strips down to her bikini in her spare time uniform . The 30 year old is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most dangerous countries in the world that has nearly 60,000 murders a year. She became a social media sensation earlier this year after her photos went viral. Photos/IG / mari_ag7  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Community threatens to stall Benue Cargo Airport project over compensation Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:50 AM PDT From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi Nyiev community in Makurdi, Benue State capital has threatened to obstruct government as well as contractors planning to short change the community over compensation for the cargo airport.
The community which is located on Km 28 Makurid-Lafia road is the area earmarked for the construction of the cargo airport.
It could be recalled that last year, Governor Samuel Ortom flagged off the ground breaking event amidst criticisms from members of the opposition who viewed the project as one that may not see the light of day.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday in his office, Commissioner for Works,
Transport and Energy Engr. Emmanuel Manger said the issue of compensation is still be sorted out between government and the community, adding that at the moment valuation are been compiled by both parties.
He, however, said that the community has vowed to send snakes on anyone who attempts to short change them to avoid a repeat of what happened with the University Agriculture, Makurdi, UAM sometime ago.
"The people are not taking anything to chance. They have vowed to send snakes to anyone who tries to short change them", Manger said.
In another vein, the Commissioner disclosed that the State executive gas approved the privatization of Benue to enhance its efficiency.
"There is going to be a bid and those interested will come forward.
It is going to be 51-49 ratio," he concluded. from peoples daily |
| Varsity administrator advocates peer review mechanism for tertiary institutions Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:50 AM PDT From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna. The Director of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University IBBU, Lapai Consultancy Services Unit Alhaji Sulaiman Liman, has advocated for a peer review mechanism as a tool to enhancing the development in tertiary institutions in the country.
Liman made the assertion during the opening ceremony of a three days workshop on improved communication skills in the management of staff and students relationship.
"Peer review mechanism is a very vital tool for tertiary institutions to gauge their performance in comparison with other sister institutions as well as areas of weakness in their management styles.
"It is the result of such peer review that can lead to seeking better ways of services delivering and management of staff and students for optimal results", he said.
He said the institution in conjunction with FEMBO Consult Ltd are presently organising the training for tertiary institutions in the Northern part of the country, expected to end by September ending.
Liman said the institution intend to expand its reach to other parts of the country through the use e-platform next year.
The Managing Consultant of FEMBO Consult Ltd, Dr Mustapha Lemu said the training programme will advance the skills of the participants in the areas of management skills and the enthronement of the best practices. from peoples daily |
| Delta govt talks tough on vandalism, criminal assault on public officers Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:50 AM PDT From Osakhare Erese, Asaba The Delta State Government has taken steps to bring to book vandals who in the recent times have allegedly engaged in the destruction of electricity installations.
While it also vowed to ensure criminal assaults on public officers are treated with seriousness, the State Commissioner for Energy, Barr. Newworld Safughan who spoke to journalists yesterday in Asaba after the meeting with stakeholders on power supply, condemned acts of violence against constituted authority, investors and developers,
disclosing that the State Government had strengthened measures to ensure criminals activities are confined to history.
The Commissioner regretted that "Idle youths" in various communities in the state through investigation, have been found to have been largely responsible for the destruction of Electricity Installations,
warning that vandalisations, would henceforth attract stringent punitive measures for those caught in the act.
Safugha who also disclosed that based on assurance from the BEDC, the power question was no longer for the government to answer as government could only function on grounds of corporate social responsibility (CRs), and called on Deltans to refrain from self help, and work with BEDC staff in times of need.
"The Ministry of Energy should be the first port of call when issued bordering on power supply arise" the commissioner added.
In his remarks, the BEDC State Head, Mr. Ernest Edgar commended the state government for its concern in resolving the lingering issue, adding that the issue arose as a result of customers' lags, ranging from indebtedness, installations, vandalism and hostility towards BEDC staff.
According to him, the BEDC was committed to restoring power and supplying appropriately with a caveat of withdrawing their services on any ground of community hostility. Edgar however laid out criteria for applications for metres to include customers' willingness to clear off a backlog of debts. from peoples daily |
| Science/Tech Ministry moves to establish Skill Centres for IDPs Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT By Ochiaka Ugwu The Federal Ministry science and Technology is set to develop skills acquisition centres and knowledge transfer programmes through its 17 agencies under to bring succour to displaced persons in the North Eastern Region of Nigeria, Minister Ministry science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has said.
This was contained in a statement released yesterday by the Ministry in Abuja and signed by the Assistant Chief Information Officer, Henrietta Okokon.
The statement stated that the Minister made the statement during the presentation of the Committee's reports on the restructuring of the North East geo- Political zone in Abuja yesterday.
According to the statement, "Dr Onu in his address indicated that the assignment was an important one for Nigeria and the world at large, as this will curb insurgency and will help the internally displaced people in the region to regain back their territory and rebuild confidence through entrepreneurial skills they will acquire through the ministry.
"He expressed his confidence in the gallantry of the Nigerian Army as well as the stirring leadership qualities exhibited by President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that today insurgency in the North East is reduced to the barest minimum. Moreover, that peace and quietness has gradually returned to the region.
"He assured Nigerians of the Ministry's resolve to give hope to the people of North East by pursuing with vigour programmes and projects that can build entrepreneurial skills of displaced and vulnerable persons in Nigeria.
"The Minister further said that the skills acquired by the people would make them more productive as well as transfer skills to many who are redundant. More so, such skills will be used as start –ups for small and medium scale industries to provide jobs, create wealth and fight poverty in Nigeria".
The Chairman of the Committee and Director General of NASENI, Prof. M. S. Haruna represented by Dr Mrs Zainab Hammanga, informed the Minister that the Committee visited all the grey areas that needed restructuring in the North East and came up with the reports presented to him.
"In the same vein, another committee on Constructive Collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the Organized Private Sector and Technology Transfer as a Policy of State, also submitted their reports presented by Director General of NOTAP, Dr Dan- Azumi Ibrahim" the statement read in part. from peoples daily |
| Protest in Asaba over NOUN alleged refusal to release 2014/2015 results Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT From Osakhare Erese, Asaba Alleged refusal to release results of students who graduated at the National Open University (NOUN) Asaba study centre yesterday sparked off protest.
The protesters, many of whom Masters, and Post Graduate Diploma graduates, alleged that since 2014/2015 key completed their programmes including project works, and submitted to no avail.
Their results/certificates were yet to be released, adding their efforts on the delay had met a brick wall with no cogent reasons.
Armed in peaceful protest with placards "Give us our results, release our certificates, we are tired of excuses, NOUN do something for our certificates", the protesters matches in various streets of Asaba including at the gate of Asaba study centre where officials of NOUN assured them of speedy attention to their protest.
Leader of the protesting NOUN graduates, Mr. John Olomeh, who spoke to our reporter, alleged that authorities of NOUN had paid deaf ears to their request in the release of their certificates over times before they embarked on the protest.
Officials of NOUN, Asaba study centre had been telling us stories that Senate had not approve the results, since 2014/2015, we cannot present our certificates, rather than getting excuses from the officials, we are tired, we need our results, or we shall embarked on another protest soon".
It was reliably gathered that NOUN Asaba study centre had been faced in the recent times with the release of results, particularly those of Master Degree, and Post Graduate Diploma, a situation most of its students currently described as "set back" and however called on NOUN authorities to live up to standard.
But some officials of NOUN who did not want their names in the print, dispelled some of the allegations as untrue, adding that the delay in the release of the 2014/2015 Master's Degree, Post Graduate Diploma Certificates was owing to inexplicable logistics, assuring that in no distant time the results will be released. from peoples daily |
| Issues that should drive constitution review Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT  By Akinwunmi Ambode
I welcome you all to Lagos. Let me start by thanking you for your commitment to the ongoing process by the legislature to review the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I must also state that Lagos State has always responded and participated in several review exercises and calls for amendments of our Constitution as initiated in the past by the National Assemblies in 2005, 2009 and 2011. We will continue to do so.
The defining feature of federalism is the autonomy and recognition of the separateness and independence of each government that makes up the federation. If this is true, we must therefore ask ourselves these salient questions:
Why should states be precluded from performing several important constitutional responsibilities?
Why does the Federal Government hold legislative and executive powers on matters of local concern which over-stretch its administrative and supervisory abilities?
iii. Why should the Land Use Act, NYSC Act, Code of Conduct Act form part of the Constitution?
Should we not have a sharing formula that ensures that states and local government councils are empowered to discharge their constitutional responsibilities? We need to be truthful and frank about fiscal federalism.
Should the Constitution not confer power on state Houses of Assembly to establish state police with clear jurisdiction and well-articulated protocols for the regulation of its relationship with the federal police?
Ladies and gentlemen, these questions are at the centre of the issues Lagos State wants addressed in this constitutional review. We must identify and address the provisions in our constitution which have become stumbling blocks in the spirit of true federalism and in our efforts to fully realise our potential in all sectors of the nation.
Some selected areas identified by our state for amendment are as follows:
The executive list and devolution of powers
We believe that the principle of appropriateness should guide the sharing of powers between the federal and state governments. Our political experience and long era of military rule has resulted in the Exclusive Legislative List being tilted heavily in favour of the Federal Government at the expense of the state governments.
The effect is that whilst the states are precluded from performing several important constitutional responsibilities, the Federal Government is equally unable to function effectively as it holds legislative and executive powers on matters of local concern which over-stretch its administrative and supervisory abilities.
Land use
It is the position of the Lagos State Government that the Land Use Act be separated from the Constitution and made applicable only to the Federal Capital Territory. Land has always been and should remain a residual matter for the state Houses of Assembly to legislate upon, hence the Land Use Act should become Land Use Law of the states.
Revenue allocation/special status
The current revenue allocation formula by which the Federal Government takes as much as 52.68% of centrally-collected revenues in the Federation Account, leaving the states and local governments with 26.72% and 20.60% respectively has created a glaring and unacceptable imbalance in the financial resources of the three tiers of government.
The sharing formula should be limited to federal and state governments. Since local governments are to come under the purview of the states, allocations to them should be shared to states as they can have as many local governments as they wish. The 774 formula is inequitable.
We also strongly posit that Lagos State be granted a special status in the proposed Constitutional amendment being the former federal capital territory of Nigeria, the economic and commercial nerve centre of the nation, taking into cognisance of the high population density and continuous influx of people into it.
State policing
Over the years, the Federal Government has been unable to prioritise and provide the resources that are necessary to pay, equip and train policemen to the level required by the challenges they face. With about 300,000 policemen to a population of more than 140 million (a ratio of 1 to 467), it is obvious that Nigeria is grossly under-policed.
These inadequacies are most keenly felt in the more populated areas of Nigeria like Lagos and in spite of a growing army of educated job seekers flocking the cities, this inadequacy in the number of policemen has not been remedied due to funding constraints and administrative inefficiencies of the Police Force itself.
For a state like Lagos, the problem is particularly acute. With a population of over 22 million people and the most rapid population growth profile in Nigeria, the inadequacies of the security system have been most keenly felt. We have had to take some radical steps to aid the force and bring succour to our people.
We have had to inject huge financial resources to support all security agencies in the state. However, this level of involvement is still inadequate, mainly because the state government has no influence over the number of men recruited for or deployed to Lagos State and the operational command of the force within the state.
It is the position of Lagos State Government that the provision of Section 214 (1) should be amended allowing the states to establish their own state Police Service.
Federal land registry
It is an aberration for the Federal Government to continue to operate land registry in Lagos State. The Federal Land Registry which was established when Lagos was Federal Capital Territory ought to have been closed down and all title therein moved to the Lagos State Land Registry. The National Assembly is urged to look into this and correct this anomaly.
I will also like to seize the opportunity of this occasion to express to you the imminent dangers inherent in the proposed stamp duties bill which no doubt seeks to cripple the internally generated revenue due to states in the federation in favour of a Federal Government Agency- NIPOST.
The bill is presently before the National Assembly and it is a grave threat to the principles of fiscal federalism and as representatives of the true beneficiaries of the Act as it presently stands, there is need to put an urgent and immediate end to its further coordination by the National Assembly which also has the noble tradition that once a matter is before the court, all activities on the matter would be suspended. Lagos State Government in Attorney General of Lagos State Vs Attorney General of the Federation has approached the Supreme Court on this matter.
The Lagos State Government is committed to transforming Lagos into a thriving state where the quality of the lives of its citizens is guaranteed through legal parameters. It is therefore our hope and earnest expectation that the proposed amendments will be given due consideration.
On this note, I have the great pleasure of declaring this retreat open and wishing you a successful deliberation.
I thank you for your attention.
Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko lojewalogun
Governor Ambode of Lagos State delivered this speech to the Constitutional Amendment Committee of the National Assembly last week in Lagos. from peoples daily |
| Leave us out of your agitation, ex minister tells Nnamdi Kanu Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi An elder statesman and former Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony-Jerry Agada has cautioned Nnamdi Kanu, an agitator for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB, to restrain from making claims that parts of Idoma nation in Benue State are their territory.
Prof. Agada who gave this caution during an interview with our correspondent in Makurdi at the weekend, said Idoma people in particular and Benue state as a whole , has nothing in common with Biafra and their agitations.
He recalled that before the civil war, there was nothing like Biafra and even during the war, no part of Benue or Idoma land was captured by the Igbo soldiers hence they can not make such claims today 'When the Nigeria soldiers came to Idoma land in 1967, they were stationed at saint Joseph Primary school Orokam, my home town in Ogbadibo LGA, which is almost close to the boundary between the then northern region and Eastern region. So, the Nigeria troops started pushing up the Ibos in Obolafor and Nsukka in the eastern region.
There was no where captured by eastern troop in Benue in the northern region, no place ceded to Ibos, so why should the IPOB and MASSOB bring out a map given to them by their then leaders to misled people''.
''Those of us who stayed in Orokam where the war started, we did not feel impact of Igbo soldiers moving to Idoma areas or heard that Igbo troops captured any part of Idoma communities where IPOB is today laying claim to be part of their territory.
''Until the war ended in 1970, there was no claim of Igbo people to have captured any town in Idoma land. The only thing we heard was the B26 plane that came to drop bomb in Otukpo which was later captured and destroyed by the Nigeria soldiers. So, IPOB should keep Benue and Idoma region out of their agenda, we do not belong to them in anyway'', he said.
Prof. Agada who is Executive Chairman, Benue State Civil Service Commission, advised the agitators to leave Idoma people out of their agitation, saying Idoma nation can never be part of Biafra, adding that inasmuch as the Igbos have their fundamental human right to agitate, they should be reasonable so as not to cause chaos or deceive people that do not have a link with their ideology or believe in their quest for power.
He called on Benue people particularly the Idomas to remain calm and be what they are, since they know where they belong and should never be shaken in their originality. from peoples daily |
| Buhari may return in two weeks – Okorocha Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT  By Ikechukwu Okaforadi with agency report
Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, may be back in the country in two weeks.
Recall that on Sunday, a delegation of APC governors met with Buhari in London.
Okorocha, who was part of the delegation, said he expects President Buhari to return home from the UK within the next two weeks.
He said Buhari was completely unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead, sent his best wishes to Nigerians.
According to the governor, Nigerians don't have to worry at all, adding that President Buhari will be back as soon as the doctors give him the green light.
"By our visit to London today, the merchants of lies have been put out of business and Nigerians will not buy the garbage they have been selling.
"All those who look up to fake news can find better use for their time," Governor Okorocha said. from peoples daily |
| 15 political parties back restructuring Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT By Christiana Ekpa No fewer than 15 political parties on the platform of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) have expressed support for the restructuring of the country.
CNN's National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who addressed journalists on Monday in Abuja, said the coalition was determined to chart a new course for Nigeria.
According to him, CNN is committed to the unity, indivisibility and progress of Nigeria.
He said that the vision of the coalition was a new Nigeria that would be secure and prosperous through effective governance.
"Our goal will be to create jobs for all those who want to work and economic opportunity for all want to achieve.
"Our immediate task will be to strive to heal the wounds of the past through reclamation, reconciliation and reformation.
"We are committed to the economic, political and internal restructuring of Nigeria as well as empowering of our youths, women and persons with disability through well-articulated policies toward a better Nigeria,'' he said.
Abdulsalam said CNN would engage in a holistic fight against corruption with the sole aim of abolishing hunger and poverty.
The national chairman said that CNN looked forward to a government that would undertake economic renovation and reforms capable of transforming the country into a leading industrial giant.
The 15 political parties in the coalition are Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, National Action Council, Democratic People's Congress, Progressive People's Alliance, People for Democratic Change and Democratic Alternative.
Others are Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Action Alliance, United Democratic Party, Peoples Party of Nigeria, Advanced Congress of Democrats, Young Democratic Party and Mega Progressive Peoples Party. from peoples daily |
| Nigerians elected Buhari willingly, should accept his style of doing things – Adesina Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT By Lawarence Olaoye with agency report The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has said Nigerians elected Muhammadu Buhari as president willing and should, therefore, accept the way he "prefers to do things".
Adesina, who was responding to questions during a phone conversation on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily, was asked why the President did not consider a video recording to address Nigerians formally.
Replying Adesina said, "It is a matter of personal style, there is no style that you can call 'the' style. The style of our President is what you have seen on display and by now two years after he came, I am sure that we should understand him.
"We should know the kind of person he is, we should know how he prefers to do things and that is how the President is.
"That just tells you that that is the way our President is, we elected him willingly and we have seen that this is the way he is."
President Buhari had not been seen in public since leaving Nigeria on May 7th, 2017 for treatment in the United Kingdom. But, on Sunday a delegation of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress met with Buhari in London. from peoples daily |
| Constitution review, another ‘promise kept’, says Saraki Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT By Christiana Ekpa As both chambers of the National Assembly begin the clause-by-clause consideration of the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution on Tuesday, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described the process as another 'Promise Kept' by the 8th National Assembly.
In a statement by his Media Office, the Senate President described the constitution amendment process as the fulfillment of a major commitment the 8th Senate made to Nigerians at the commencement of their tenure in 2015.
"You will recall that when we first came into office, I made a promise that we will amend the Constitution to reflect new realities that have arisen. Now, we are doing just that. With just under two years left to spare in this tenure, we are wrapping up this process, which will then be transmitted to the State Assemblies for concurrence.
"We will continue to ensure that all the promises that we have made to the Nigerian people will be kept. It is also our hope that we can get this Amendment sent to the State Assemblies quickly, so that the new amendments can take effect by the new year and well-clear of the political electioneering season.
"This is the first time ever that we are concluding the constitution amendment process long before the election year so that people can objectively participate in the process without looking at the partisan benefits," the Senate President said.
The consideration of the Constitution Review Report scheduled to take all the legislative hours this week is following its laying by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun in their respective chambers at last Thursday's plenary. Ekweremadu and Lasun are the chairman and deputy chairman respectively of the Joint Constitution Amendment Committee of the 8th National Assembly.
Key areas of consideration in the Constitution Amendment Report, which includes 27 different Bills, include a Bill to decongest the Exclusive Legislative List by transferring certain items contained therein to the Concurrent List, thereby enabling the States to make laws in respect of those items; a Bill to alter the Constitution to abrogate the State Joint Local Government Accounts and empower each Local Government Council to maintain its own special account; and a Bill to provide the Independent National Electoral Commission with sufficient time to conduct bye-elections and provide grounds for de-registration of political parties.
Others are a Bill that seeks to alter the Constitution to provide for the timely passage of Bills; a Bill that seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide a timeframe within which the President and Governors shall forward to the Senate or the State House of Assembly names of nominees for confirmation as Ministers or Commissioners; and a Bill to alter section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the appointment of a Minister from the FCT, Abuja to ensure that FCT is represented in the Executive Council of the Federation.
On Saturday, the Senate also revealed that the Bill to amend the age requirements to run for different offices, which is the objective of the 'Not Too Young to Run' campaign, is still and has always been a part of the Constitution Review process. from peoples daily |
| Universal Health Coverage A Right, Says Saraki Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT By Christiana Ekpa President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a right of all Nigerians, irrespective of their stations in life.
Saraki who disclosed this during the launch of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage in Abuja on Monday, according to a statement by his chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, also added that government at all levels must strive to situate the nation's health resources to optimally service the people.
"Therefore, in addressing the issue of financing healthcare in a sustainable manner to reach all Nigerians, I believe it is possible to achieve Universal Health Coverage. It is the right of our people and we must achieve it," he stated.
He further stated that the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage's platform is remarkable as it aims to strengthen institutional cooperation to advance legislative activities on health matters.
Saraki said: "As it is said, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. In our efforts to revive the wealth of our nation, the health of our people must remain paramount. We must therefore, strive to situate our health resources to optimally serve our population.
"As a nation, we have opted to adopt the Universal Health Coverage which seeks 'to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them", he stated.
According to the President of the Senate, the importance of the Universal Health Coverage cannot be overstated, "as our major role as legislators is to promote the welfare of our citizens; to ensure that effective healthcare systems are available to all Nigerians."
"This informed the desire to draw in the cooperative efforts of both the National and State Assemblies targeted at developing health strategies that will work effectively for all," Saraki said. "This for me is another rare opportunity for us to ensure that the legislative effort in both the National and State Assemblies are moving towards the same direction."
He noted that the poor access to good healthcare especially in the rural areas was a challenge government at all levels must tackle through innovative thinking and dedication.
"Going by a World Bank report, the state of the Nigerian health system is dysfunctional and grossly under-funded with a per capita expenditure of US$ 9.44," Saraki said. "Therefore, addressing the issues in financing healthcare in a sustainable manner to reach all Nigerians call for the harmonization of legislative actions at both the National and States levels."
He stated that while "the overall objective of the Summit is to launch a national Legislative Network on UHC, the specific objectives will enhance the knowledge base and understanding of strategies in the legislature, geared towards achieving the goals of Universal Health Coverage. It is my hope that this framework will bring about the effective healthcare systems we envision for our country." from peoples daily |
| ‘Nigerian firms waste 50% energy despite power shortage’ Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:40 AM PDT  By Comfort Echewofun
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said many manufacturing companies in Nigeria waste almost 50 per cent of their energy despite the huge challenge of power outages.
The Director General, Mr Osita Aboloma said this yesterday at the policy review and enforcement meeting on the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) in Abuja.
SON along with other agencies are working on the NESP project with funding from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Mr Aboloma who was represented by the Director of Operations, Engr. Felix Nyado said yesterday, the wastage can be reduced by 10 per cent if the companies adopt energy efficiency strategies in their systems.
He said SON applied energy efficiency measures to two companies in a pilot test and it cut down their production costs which translated to certain level of gains.
The NESP shows that an estimated 86 per cent of businesses own diesel generators to produce their energy and that leads to high costs of energy and poor competition in Nigerian businesses.
The SON boss noted that high cost of energy, which is a major challenge for companies in Nigeria, increases the cost of production and the finished goods.
"We want to ensure that companies reduce energy waste in their system thereby making them competitive," Aboloma added. from peoples daily |
| Forex: CBN boosts supply with $195m Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:30 AM PDT  By Etuka Sunday
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in continuation of its FOREX supply drive, on Monday, July 17, 2017, intervened in the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market to the tune of $195million.
Figures released by the Bank show that it offered the total sum of $100million to the wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million.
The invisibles segment, comprising tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, received $45 million.
Confirming the figures obtained, the CBN Acting Director at the Bank, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the CBN was pleased with the state of the Forex market, adding that the Bank will continue to intervene in order to sustain the liquidity in the market and guarantee the international value of the naira.
According to him, the Bank remained determined to achieve its objective of rates convergence, hence the unrelenting injection of intervention funds into the foreign exchange market.
Speaking further, Okorafor expressed optimism that the Naira will sustain its run against the dollar and other major currencies around the world, considering the level of transparency in the market.
He therefore advised stakeholders to abide by the guidelines to ensure transparency in the market.
It will be recalled that the CBN last week intervened in the various segments of the Forex market with the sum of $396.8 million.
Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N364/$1 in the BDC segment of the market on Monday, July 17, 2017. from peoples daily |
| Calabar Tank Farm Fire Incident: NNPC cautions against panic buying Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:30 AM PDT By Etuka Sunday The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has advised consumers of Petroleum products across the country not to engage in panic buying as a result of the fire incident which occurred in the wee hours of Saturday July 15 at a tank farm at Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ), in Cross Rivers State.
NNPC wishes to assure that the unfortunate fire incident at a private tank farm had not affected its operations, and that the Corporation's stock holding was robust.
"NNPC has over 40 day-sufficiency for petrol, and adequate volumes of diesel and kerosene to meet consumers' demand nationwide, therefore it is pointless to engage in panic buying", the statement said.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who received briefs on the incidents, expressed regrets over the unfortunate loss of life in the inferno.
A statement by the NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu said, the GMD consoled the families of those who lost their loved ones in the incident, advising communities in areas of Oil and Gas operations to always exercise caution and be vigilant at all times. from peoples daily |
| Married Lady Surprises Husband With N700,000 She Saved Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:26 AM PDT A virtuous wife, who can find?.. A Nigerian lady's action is receiving many commendations after she realised N700,000 from saving in her piggy bank.
A friend, Peace Ijeoma, said the married lady decided to start saving tidbits of money in a wooden piggy bank. She broke it open about 7 months later, to realise she had saved up to N700,000.
The women decided to surprise her husband by starting up a business with the money.
 culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| See The Huge Python Killed By A Commissioner & His Team In Delta State | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:25 AM PDT A huge python was killed by the Delta state Commissioner for Environment, Hon Barr John Nani and his team . They encountered the 3.6m python at Anwai during a canal opening to control Asaba flooding. More below  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Abuja to become West Africa’s conference capital- Bello claims Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:20 AM PDT One of the main benefits from massive investments in the completion of ongoing projects would be the positioning of Abuja as critical conference hub not only in Nigeria but in Africa, according to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
The Minister, made this point when he received members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), on a courtesy call to his office recently.
Bello described the Aviation sector as a significant agent in the economic development efforts of the present Administration.
He welcomed news of the International World Aviation Forum scheduled for Abuja for the 20thof November this year, assuring the delegation that the FCT Administration was ready to assist the Forum through provision of logistics support.
According to him, the city would be better positioned to play a good host considering its ongoing efforts to complete critical infrastructural projects that would ease travel in and around the city.
He applauded the rising profile of Nigeria's representative in ICAO – Captain Nuhu Musa, who has risen to the position of Second Vice President of ICAO, saying "you and Amina Mohammed (the Deputy Secretary General of the UN) represent the highest level of international technocrats we have in Africa currently."
He therefore appealed to them to use their positions to attract technical know-how, foreign direct investments and business linkages for the overall economic development of the country.
Also, the FCT Minister congratulated the Minister of State Aviation for the wonderful works the Ministry did on the Abuja International Airport, by delivering the repair of the airport runway earlier than the six weeks scheduled period repair works.
Leading the delegation, the Honourable Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika noted that unmanned aviation is the new phenomenon where crafts flying about carrying luggage, taking photographs or conveying information.
He added that it had become necessary to discuss ways and means of effectively regulating them to prevent confusion in the industry.
On the forthcoming Aviation Forum, Sirika disclosed that over 40 countries and 30 ministries of aviation across the word including US, China, Britain, South Africa and others are expected to be in the event.
He added that this was the first time the Forum is leaving Montreal Canada, its Head Quarters since it was founded in 1944. from peoples daily |
| Residents urged to safeguard public infrastructure Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:20 AM PDT The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has called on residents to support the Administration's efforts to safeguard public infrastructure by being vigilant to the activities of hoodlums bent on sabotaging the huge investments government is making to procure them.
Bello made the appeal while in continuation of his inspection tour of ongoing projects in the nation's Capital City, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma.
He reiterated his Administration's desire to deliver critical road, water and railway projects commenced by successive administrations, but which were stalled or abandoned.
Bello lamented the sabotage by mean spirited persons who vandalize important components of public infrastructure before they are completed.
He expressed disgust that there have been reports of the vandalism of bridge railings, manhole covers, electricity poles among others. from peoples daily |
| MFM close in on NPFL leader as Nasarawa united shock Sunshine Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:10 AM PDT  MFM FC have cut Plateau United's lead to just two points following the Lagos club's hard-fought 1-0 win against Wikki Tourist on matchday 29 of the Nigeria Professional Football League in Agege, Lagos yesterday.
MFM's goal was scored by league top scorer Stephen Odey who has now netted 17 goals this season. Odey scored in the 40th minute to give MFM the win and also take them to 49 points to maintain their second spot on the log. Table-toppers Plateau United suffered a setback in their quest to win this season's league title as they lost 1-0 away to Niger Tornadoes. A fourth minute penalty converted by Samuel Agba sealed the win for Tornadoes. Despite the defeat, Plateau United remains on top of the NPFL table with 51 points. In the Oriental Derby in Nnewi, title hopefuls Enyimba lost 1-0 to hosts FC IfeanyiUbah. Godwin Obaje was the hero for IfeanyiUbah after scoring in the 50th minute to give his side their second win in their last five games. In Uyo, Akwa United moved up to third on 46 points in the league table after thrashing Gombe United 3-0. After a goalless first half, Musa Newman broke the deadlock in the 57th minute to put Akwa United 1-0 up. Home-based Super Eagles forward Ibrahim Alhassan made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 75 minutes to take his goal tally to 12, before Christian Pyagbara completed the scoring with an 83rd minute goal. In Maiduguri, El-Kanemi Warriors continued their chase for the league title as they edged Abia Warriors 1-0. Samuel Mathias got the only goal for El-Kanemi in the 31st minute as his side moved to fourth on 46 points in the league table. Champions Enugu Rangers' woes this season continued as they were defeated 2-0 by Kano Pillars in Kano. Two first half goals from Jamiu Alimi and Junior Lokosa in the 32nd and 43rd minutes respectively gave Pillars the win. In Ibadan, Shooting Stars gave their push for survival a big boost by beating Katsina United 1-0. Wasiu Jimoh got Shooting Stars' goal in the 44th minute. In other matchday 29 games on Sunday, Nasarawa United got the only away win by shocking Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Ijebu-Ode, Remo Stars' relegation troubles deepened following their 3-2 loss away to Lobi and ABS were held to a 0-0 draw by Rivers United. NPFL matchday 29 results: MFM 1 vs 0 Wikki Tourists Kano Pillars 2 vs 0 Rangers Niger Tornadoes 1 vs 0 Plateau United 3SC 1 vs 0 Katsina United IfeanyiUbah 1 vs 0 Enyimba Akwa United 3 vs 0 Gombe El Kanemi 1 vs 0 Abia Warriors ABS 0 vs 0 Rivers United Lobi Stars 3 vs 2 Remo Stars Sunshine Stars 0 vs 1 Nasarawa Uted from peoples daily |
| Election: How fraud, exposes, manipulations in Traditional Sports Federation Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:10 AM PDT  Election on the 13th June in pavilion 9A was for the Traditional Sports Federation. Results were declared and reported. The names of the winners as reported in the media are not the names of the people who are now on board.
This is where www.gongnews.net got the cue to check what must have gone wrong. We can report for free that the Traditional Sports Federation's must have been the highest quality of fraud that that election represented.
Investigation revealed that 90% of the crimes and fraud committed were done in the name of the minister, Solomon Dalung. Whether the minister is aware or not is what we could not verify. However, the minister repeatedly forewarned that he has no single person he will fix in any of the federations.
13th June winners: All reports from the pavilions were submitted same day to the Federation of Elite Association Department (FEAD). But in the Traditional Sports Federation, the report was submitted on the 15th June not to FEAD but to the Minister's office. This gave the fillip to the fears that the minister may be in tandem to the entire process.
Based on this, FEAD's report claimed the election in inconclusive. From their graphic picture of the election, traditional sports remain blank. There was a result of those who won in Pavillion 9A and the third result is those who were smuggled in with ignominy.
Presidential election: Three candidates contested the election. Musa Usman of North West won with 24 votes, followed by Architect Jude Obidegwu of the North East who got 18 votes and Dr Manda Chijioke who got 5 votes. Total votes cast were 47.
Musa Usman who won was officially not cleared to contest because he according to the election committee "had no letter from Katsina State. Not cleared."
Traditional Sports Federation election coordinator, Mrs Tayo Oreweme, was the one who allowed everybody to run and that protests can be sent to the Appeals/Petitions Committee. That was how Musa Usman was allowed to run 'on protest.'
Board members fraud: Amoyi Bulus Musa, a retired Permanent Secretary from Nasarawa State won the election in the stadium by 4-2. When the 'new' list came out, his name was missing. Rather, the man who lost to him, Saleh Jubril, was declared Board member.
In the North West, Musa Usman who had no letter from Katsina, was replaced by Mohammed Lere Garba as Board member. Our investigation from documentations filled on the day of the election showed that he was not physically present that day. He is not on the list of contestants. He defeated the man who was in the stadium!
Candidates from the South West and South East, Messrs Egenamba Emmanuel Okechukwu and Basheer Adetokunbo Agusto were 'miraculously' retained on the board having been elected on the 13th June.
Another classic fraud is the case of Bayelsa's Agbadabina Olomo Perekiye who lost 4-2 to Dr Manda Chijioke of Rivers. But on the final list, Chijioke was replaced by the loser!
A more interesting case is that of Architect Jude Obidegwu from Adamawa State. He was the only candidate for the election. Rather than declare him unopposed. The election took place. He got 6-0. On the final list, he was replaced by Ibrahim Auta Alhassan. Auta did not obtain the election form at all. His name did not reflect on those who filled and returned the form at all.
In the modulated election result form, Alhassan was claimed he ran "unopposed" which certainly is not the truth. The report was signed by Inuwa Manu, a close ally of the outgone President, Mohammed Abdullahi Baba.
Stretching a fraud beyond elasticity: On the day of the election, only eight persons filled the contestant's form with their names, zone, position contested for, telephone numbers and signature. Issue now is how come the list is extended to 13? Where did the rest ghost contestants come from?
The eight contestants at the stadium on the 13th June are: Egenamba Emmanuel Okechukwu, Basheer Adetokunbo Agusto, Amoyi Bulus Musa, HRH Arc Jude Obidegwu, Yusuf Elias, Musa Usman, Bamidele Bose Funke, Dr Mandah Chijioke.
Of the six candidates that stood for the 13th June zonal elections in Abuja four were ignominiously replaced. Obidegwu protested by paying the N100, 000 but his protest was 'dismissed.'
It is on record that none of the members of the electoral committee were called upon by the Appeals/Petitions Committee thereby murdering the principles of fair hearing. Question is, how did the committee come up with their jaundiced decisions?
Certainly, Inuwa Manu, the chairman of the electoral committee who announced the list of 13th June and still signed the moderated list which had new infusions including someone who never filled the forms is an accomplice in this monumental sports federation election! He is a key architect in the entire fraud!
from peoples daily |
| PDP Resurrected, Nigerian politics need purification Posted: 25 Jul 2017 03:10 AM PDT  TUESDAY Column by VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO
vikeano@yahoo.co.uk 08033077519 With last Wednesday's Supreme Court verdict on the 18 months factionalisation of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), that held sway in Nigeria for 16 years, the party has literally been resurrected from imminent death .Many of its erstwhile eminent members who had hitherto been like a flock without shepherd had strayed into and pitched their tent with the relatively new but now ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is still struggling to get its bearings right. Its defected senators and House of Representatives members cited factionalisation as excuse for their action. Some other erstwhile top members of PDP especially those from the East cited the need for a connection with the centre (the happening place) in the interest of their people as reason for their cross carpeting. Still others defected for opportunistic, mercantilist, mercenary reasons – hoping to ride on to power on the crest of APC – as the case of a former staunch PDP senator who is now vying for APC gubernatorial ticket in Anambra.
This brings to fore, the lack of conviction and principle among our political class. They are like a feather(weight) that gets blown off with the first whiff of wind to wherever; they are not as constant as the northern star that remain in its position irrespective of the whims and caprices of outrageous fortune. In lacking conviction our political class show their true character – that they are not reliable. They can be likened to those people in Biblical times who shouted "Hosanna, Hosanna" at a time and "Crucify Him, Crucify Him", at another time. But it is not only amongst politicians that we find such people; they are practically everywhere – in families, social and economic settings. A true friend is one who stands by you come rain or sunshine. Thence, would you not rather have one or two people you can truly call your friend(s) than to have a plethora of so-called friends who jump ship at the slightest change of circumstance?
Palpable was the jubilation amongst party faithful, supporters and observers at the Supreme Court's verdict. Party stalwarts and supporters rejoiced that the PDP would now bounce back to its 'good, old days'; Observers and other political watchers rejoiced that our country has been saved from sliding into a one –party state and dictatorship. I do not believe that Nigeria can have a dictator that would be lording things over us, not in this 21st century when Nigerians are becoming politically enlightened and gradually becoming aware of their rights; just as it is impossible to have military rule again in this era when the world is increasingly becoming interconnected and a global village. That era of our political development is consigned to the dustbin of history.
As to being turned into a one-party country, that in the true sense of the word is not possible because we have some 20 parties registered in the books of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It rests with parties other than the ruling one to make themselves active in society and not to allow their wings to be clipped for whatever reason. Thus we can only talk of the need to have a strong opposition voice in these other parties. PDP has taken it upon itself to play this role as the party with the highest number of elected candidates and the one that was dethroned from its ruling position.
In Nigeria being a 'strong opposition party' as the PDP now prides itself is equated with opposing everything the ruling party does; not only that but also hurling insults at it and even scandalising and maligning Mr. President's personality. This is disgusting and abominable to right thinking people, unworthy of a true human being. We may argue that that is the nature of politics which is why it is said to be dirty. That does not excuse it, for after all the goal is to serve the people; To serve connotes a worthy, noble endeavour for true happiness arises when you serve the other in the true sense of the word – which means adding value to the other person's life in whatever way, in selfless love, without expecting any reward as such from the other person. Well, the PDP may also argue that the kind of adversary opposition it now plays as spearheaded by its leading lights like Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose et al is the same as what the ruling party was doing when it was on the other side of the divide, when the opposition APC was throwing all kinds of brickbats at it and the presidency then. Two wrongs don't make a right, as the saying goes. What is wrong is wrong, no matter how you try to justify it from whatever angle.
It is about time we reformed our politics, not least the way we play opposition politics. That should be the goal of a reformed PDP that should be ushered in with new national executives for the party at its next convention now slated for October. The totality of our politics should be reformed both for the ruling and opposition parties as well as the followers. But the leaders, the political class, should set the pace so that noble people can venture in rather than the current situation where it seems to be populated by dark entities who know not the true meaning of service. To serve is a high calling, for in truly serving humanity you serve God and no greater honour and blessing falls upon a human spirit than to be a servant of God. Our political class at all levels need to do a rethinking and undergo a voluntary, internal and inner purification for the high calling of service that requires nobility of spirit. from peoples daily |
| Young dad murdered by owner of diamond watch he stole despite offering to return it | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 25 Jul 2017 02:55 AM PDT A young father who stole a £5,000 diamond-encrusted Cartier watch was killed by its owner in a drive-by shooting - days after he offered to return it. Carl Campbell, 33, was murdered as he sat in his car at a set of traffic lights in West Bromwich, West Midlands, just after Christmas last year. Three men were convicted of murder last week and all face life behind bars when sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court tomorrow. Gangster Mohammed Humza, 19, and his accomplices Jaspal Rai, 24, and Vikesh Chauhan, 24, targeted Mr Campbell on December 27. The countdown to the killing began when Mr Campbell stole a Cartier watch which belonged to a man who 'worked for some very dangerous and influential drug dealers'. Mr Campell met Vikesh Chauhan, 24, known as Fish, at a petrol station to buy some cannabis and ended up taking the watch. Realising he had robbed a 'protected' man who had 'serious back-up'm Mr Campbell, from Wolverhampton, called Chauhan to apologise and offered to return the watch. But as instructed by his gangland bosses Chauhan simply told Mr Campbell he could keep the watch adding ominously: 'Just hope that you live long enough to wear it.' Days later preparations were made to exact revenge and a plan was hatched to scare Mr Campbell by shooting at his car. The opportunity came when the killers discovered Mr Campbell was in West Bromwich town centre in a hired Ford Fiesta car driven by his friend Rakesh Kumar. Fish spotted the Fiesta and pulled up next to it at traffic lights and Humza, known as H, fired five bullets at the car but the intention was not to kill.' However, Mr Campbell died instantly in the hail of bullets when one of the shots ricocheted off the dashboard and hit him in the head. The three killers were later spotted by a witness laughing, smiling and appearing 'quite happy with themselves' as they dumped the Audi in another part of the town. Humza and Chauhan were arrested as they fled after abandoning the car while Rai tried to lie low abroad but was arrested in Belgium on January 8. Mailonline  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
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