http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussions/feed.rss Wed, 22 May 13 00:13:52 -0400 All Discussions - A New Naija en-CA http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/189/hello-kitty-storage-and-organizationthese-wholesale-party-supplies Tue, 21 May 2013 22:35:49 -0400 eF0n4mojgC 189@/discuss/discussions As it generate income am. Kipra. Provided by the ladies to help males, experienced person many mothers in the lately expectant mothers, pioneer decendants to be able to not-members, we have it all, in which we need to be using this method! This particular table is a wonderful spot encounter colleagues, have hints and tips, plus present the complexities about LDS existence.
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Former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Federal Commissioner for Information Chief Edwin Clark and Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi yesterday decried the worsening state of insecurity in the country and therefore called for the convocation of a national conference.

The leaders made known their submissions at the 3rd Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly held in Lagos yesterday.

Ekwueme said there was a need for Nigeria to address issues of “silence of discontent” in any part of the country, and such has to be addressed.

He also stressed the need for every ethnic tribe in the country to dialogue so as to be able to express their minds without any hindrance.

“If Nigerians feel they have everything to lose by coming together, let them say it and if they feel that they have everything to gain by being together, let them also say it,” he said.

Edwin Clark said it was unfortunate that younger generation of leaders have refused to learn from the elders, saying the refusal to learn from history has contributed to the sordid state Nigeria finds herself today.

The elder statesman however demanded convocation of National Conference to resolve the quagmire.

“We need peace in this country. We also need to respect one another. If 2014 is Nigeria’s centenary, then we must have a national dialogue where all of us can define the basis of our existence. We appeal to the federal government; we appeal to the President to convene a national conference and that has to be done before January 2014,” Clark said.

Deputy leader of Yoruba Unity Forum Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi said the emergency rule declared by President Jonathan in some states of the north is in order, saying the only way to overcome the insecurity challenge is through the combination of intelligence and military force.

“The only way to subdue terrorists, as the experience of other nations has shown, is to confront them head on with the combination of intelligence and military force”, he said.

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, said notwithstanding the socio-political crises facing Nigeria today, the country will survive all odds.

DailyTrust]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/187/2015-rise-up-against-political-impunity-mark-to-nigerian-youths Mon, 06 May 2013 14:10:57 -0400 admin 187@/discuss/discussions
Senate President, David Mark, has urged Nigerian youths to rise up against electoral or political impunity that undermines Nigeria’s progress as a nation ahead of 2015 elections.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Initiative of integrity icons international in honour of the publisher of Leadership Newspapers Sam NDA-Isaiah in Minna, Niger State, weekend, senator Mark argued that the call became imperative against the backdrop of recent political developments in the country.

The Senate President, who noted though the nation’s elections were not yet a template for perfection, contended that impunity was no longer the order of the day and urged the youths to insist on their rights and be vigilant as well as actively participate in the electoral system.

According to him, “it will help safe guard democracy adjudged as undoubtedly the superior and the best form of government because it is premised on the respect for man as a reasonable being.”

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Senator Anthony Manzo, Mark explained that democracy with its ballot box was the only political tool that offers Nigerians a fighting chance, because it affords them a viable mechanism to hold those in power accountable.

He said:”Be it examination malpractices, thuggery, rigging, election violence, ballot box snatching, substance abuse, drug trafficking, cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery or banditry, religious extremism and armed insurgency or official corruption- almost all of these deleterious vocations are dominated by youths.

The national ethos has become so bruised that many a youth would not cringe at the prospect of running away with billions of Naira pilfered from the public till.”

“Good governance is not an abstract principle, it is participatory, consensual, accountable, transparent, responsive, efficient, equitable and inclusive. It adheres strictly to the rule of law and affords a bulwark against caprice, arbitrariness and corruption. The fundamental objective of good governance is the acceleration of social, economic and political development, leading to mass and gainful employment and a reduction, if not total eradication of poverty in the land.

- Vanguard]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/153/president-obama-vs-revelation-1315-18 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:36:55 -0500 david 153@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/62/crowned-clown-ceecee-of-the-week Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:31:21 -0500 dakoloyoung 62@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/168/dailypost-mend-disowns-comrade-azizis-statements Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:14:27 -0500 admin 168@/discuss/discussions
(Press Statement) – The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to advise Nigerians and the media to disregard the pathetic attempt at propaganda by a so-called Comrade Azizi and his statements which are not authentic and statements emanating from MEND.

As claimed by this Comrade Azizi, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would like to clarify the following;

(1) Mr Henry Okah is NOT and has never being viewed as the leader or founder of MEND but rather known as a sympathiser and supporter of our cause

(2) Our fighters are freedom fighters who are fighting for justice, the emancipation of the Niger Delta and control of our God given resources and not assassins as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

(3) Our struggle is NOT and has never being about the disintegration of Nigeria or a North and South fight as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

With regards to the trial, judgement and sentencing of Henry Okah and other Niger Delta indigenes, we will issue a full formal statement in due course stating our views and plans for the future.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would once again strongly urge Nigerians and the media to disregard any statement from this person.

Jomo Gbomo
]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/185/rivers-state-govts-statement-on-how-fg-grounded-amaechis-aircraft Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:32:40 -0400 admin 185@/discuss/discussions
We had set out from Abuja in the morning of Friday April 26, 2013 to Imo State to attend the funeral rites of the younger sister of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. Our plane, a Bombardier jet owned by the Rivers State Government, landed at the airport in Owerri. It was in Owerri that the pilot of our plane was first tipped off that there is a plot to ground our plane in Owerri that Friday.
Fortunately for us, we took off from Owerri airport and arrived at Akure airport en-route to Ekiti for the burial of the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Funmilayo Olayinka without any incident. On the flight to Akure was the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who we met in Imo State and was also heading to Ekiti for the burial of Mrs Olayinka. Also on the flight were the Governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Director-General Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF) Asishana Bayo Okauru, Kalabari prince and politician Prince Tonye Princewill, some aides of the Governor and me.
Once our party left the Akure airport for Ekiti, our pilot went to the airport offices to make statutory airport payments and fees, file his flight plan and declare his manifest. After filing his fight plan and declaring his manifest, our pilot was told to go and see the Controller. The Controller bluntly told him that the Rivers Government plane would not be allowed to leave the airport. In other words, the plane had been grounded! He said that the plane should have been grounded in Owerri. The Controller on duty at the airport in Akure mentioned some vague issues relating to the customs papers of the plane, which has been flying in Nigeria for many months? That didn’t make any sense to the pilot. He enquired on whose orders the plane was being grounded, he was told that it was the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA). And that he should reach the NAMA MD.
By the time our party, which now included four House of Representatives Honourable members- Mohammed Sani Idris Kutigi, Daniel Rayeineju, Idris Ahmed Wase and Ifedayo Abegunde- returned to the Akure airport, there was confusion everywhere. Speaker Tambuwal, the Honourable members and Governor Amaechi and his team, were all stranded at the airport. The plane that brought Speaker Tambuwal and Governor Amaechi to Akure could not leave Akure airport. Calls were being made as these two democratically elected leaders, furious and perplexed, tried to fathom what could have caused this monumental embarrassment to them and their offices.
After trying fruitlessly for some time to get the plane released, Speaker Tambuwal then offered to fly Governor Amaechi to Port Harcourt with the plane(another small aircraft) that brought the other four Honourable members to Akure. To accommodate Governor Amaechi in the small aircraft, one of the House of Representatives members offered his seat to the Governor .
The pilot of the Rivers State Government plane was already locking up the aircraft for us to leave for Lagos by road when a call eventually came through that the plane could now leave. The Controller received a directive to allow the plane fly out of Akure. The decision to let us go, we later learnt, was due to the pressure brought on the aviation authorities by Speaker Tambuwal.
It is indeed most shameful and ludicrous that NAMA and the Aviation authorities are now saying that they grounded the Rivers State Government plane because the pilot did not file a flight plan and declare a manifest. That’s a blatant lie. A big fat one at that. The pilot filed the flight plan and manifest, and paid all the statutory airport fees and charges shortly after the plane arrived at the Akure airport in the afternoon. If the pilot filed a flight plan and manifest at the airports in Abuja and Owerri, where he flew from same day, why won’t he then do the same in Akure? It is instructive to note that all through the traumatic time we spent in Akure, no official of the airport or aviation staff came to tell Governor Amaechi that we were grounded because our pilot “refused to file a flight plan and manifest.” All they kept saying was that they were just obeying directives, it was beyond them and we should call Abuja. Speaker Tambuwal and the other four members of the House of Representatives are living witnesses to that charade.
NAMA and the aviation authorities should explain to Nigerians why an aircraft owned by a State government, that flew the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and a democratically elected Governor of a State who also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, would be grounded at an airport for no just cause?
DAVID IYOFOR
Chief Press Secretary
To The Rivers State Governor]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/186/gtf-309-communication-toolkit-march-29-2013-by-aa-peaceworks Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:39:45 -0400 admin 186@/discuss/discussions
INTRODUCTION

A 5-year Governance and Transparency Fund project in the Niger Delta was funded by DFID UK Aid and implemented through Living Earth Foundation UK and Academic Associates PeaceWorks (AA PeaceWorks). The theme of the project is “Strengthening Local Government Capacity for Effective Service Delivery”. The project seek to build collaboration between government and civil society to improve governance and transparency in the region, consequently delivering basic services critical to the reduction of poverty and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Communications is a key component to achieving that job. And this toolkit has been created to help the project provide information on the various activities carried out. Whether the task is helping communities to demand for better services from their elected representatives or persuading elected officials to adopt supportive policies or scaling up successful initiatives, we must be able to clearly and consistently convey our messages. As the project progresses, there is need to develop a strategic framework for effective dissemination of information. This is where the Communication Toolkit comes in. This is because the GTF project recognises the fact that communications have become both more important and more challenging. In addition, technology and social media are providing more rapid and powerful ways to collaborate, while also requiring more individual responsibility in publicizing our work. The purpose of the Communication Toolkit is to help boost the impact of our work through more effective outreach, engagement with a variety of audiences and knowledge-sharing and highlight our contributions... Click on the link to download full document]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/93/nutrition-key-to-a-growing-economy-the-usas-millennium-challenge-corporation-and-indonesia Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:26:58 -0400 dakoloyoung 93@/discuss/discussions Corporation will provide $131.5 million over five years to reduce stunting in the crucial 0–2 age range by investing in the 1,000-day window from conception to a child’s second birthday.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation was created as a model of development assistance to reduce poverty through economic growth. Using a strict series of metrics to select recipient countries and measure results – including a hard
threshold for the economic rate of return on all projects – the Millennium Challenge Corporation focuses on the growth of people and economies.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/184/pppra-saves-n1.9tr-in-fuel-subsidy-payment- Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:21:31 -0400 admin 184@/discuss/discussions
23 April 2013, Lagos – The Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, says it has reduced subsidy payment due to oil marketers from N2.09 trillion in 2011, to N1.9 trillion in 2012.

Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley, stated this, Monday, in Lagos while speaking with journalists.

“Under our administration, we have been able to reduce the amount paid on subsidies to marketers in 2012 as against N2.09 trillion paid in 2011.

This is a savings of about N 1.9 trillion on subsidies which is a welcome development in the system,” the PPPRA boss said.

According to him, the organisation was able to save the money for the country following a reduction in the number of operations in the subsidy scheme.

Stanley said the number of marketers participating in the scheme has been pruned from a total of 128 marketers in 2011 to the current figure of 38.

He further said that with the reform initiative in downstream petroleum subsector, the industry also recorded a drastic reduction in supply volume from December 2011 to October 2012.

Average daily provision of petrol supply across the country which was 60.259 million litre per day in 2011 had been reduced to 40 million litre per day, representing about 36.41 per cent drop.

Stanley disclosed that marketers indicted by the probe panel investigating the mismanagement of fuel subsidy regime would no longer be paid same until they are absolved of the allegations by the panel.

He maintained that his administration would also ensure stability in the supply and distribution chain process of petroleum products across the country by ensuring product availability.

]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/183/the-lifestyleher-files-style-your-life-how-why-to-journal Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:28:27 -0400 dakoloyoung 183@/discuss/discussions
As the world turns, we continuously notice changes in ourselves and our surroundings. And with every thought or action comes a reaction that can either make or break us. But, are we truly learning by just watching and living? Are we allowing the most valuable life lessons to just breeze past us? What else can we do to retain the information that flows through our everyday lives?

Pay attention to the signs, take notes and proceed.
Self-work isn’t an easy task, but it isn’t impossible either. It is the greatest work that we will do in life; in a sense, it’s our only work, and we should take it more seriously. If we base our worth entirely on gaining love from the external world, we will never be capable of achieving self-love. We spend so much time waiting to be loved, hoping, searching, yearning for that special love…and feeling empty without it. Your worth is in the core of your own self. You may not see it, but it’s ever present, and thankfully it's never too late to grow.

The most important decision in your life, the one that will affect every other decision you make, is the commitment to love and accept yourself. A healthy self-esteem can help overcome depression; put an end to self-destructive behavior, negative thinking and self-loathing dialogue. It starts with being aware of the message you are sending your true self, not your ego. Journaling is a highly helpful activity during the process of learning how to love yourself. There is self-discovery in journaling; it’s not just a book to keep a bland generic record of our lives. It ultimately becomes a tool for self-evaluation, self-improvement and eventually an abundance of self-love. With each entry, we have a chance to examine our lives, review our thoughts, reactions to situations and identify our patterns of thinking and feelings that have been triggered - this is how we get to know ourselves. You’ll be shocked at what you see and what you learn!

Some of the biggest names in the entertainment world have kept journals filled with their deepest feelings, secrets and fears. Through their music, lyrics and art they give the world an open view of their own joys and tribulations. Recently, Beyonce gave us a look into her very private thoughts through a documentary journal which she created on her laptop. She said it was one of the most therapeutic things she's ever done.

Now's your chance to start.

4 Tips on Journaling:

1. Don't Overthink

Journaling should be a flow. Keep it simple and authentic. Write as if you are the only one who will ever read it.

2. Be Discrete

Your thoughts are valuable, so protect them. Your journaling privacy is essential to the process. Keep your writings in a very safe place or perhaps use your laptop or phone to journal. This way you can use a password. However, I do enjoy traditional handwriting more.

3. Journal Frequently

This is important. Make journaling a lifestyle. You can journal in the morning or at night, at lunch or on the bus. You have to use your journal as a life reference. The more information entered, the more you will recognize your life patterns.

4. Make it Fun!

This should not be looked at as a chore, in fact, it is a form of meditation. At the top of your page enter the date and your location. Sometimes I draw pictures in between my paragraphs just to add to the creative flow.
Follow these tips and you're on your way to falling deeper in love with the greatest person in the world.. You.

By Mashonda via Global Grind]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/182/chris-ekiyor-jonathan-may-be-the-last-president-of-nigeria-if Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:27:44 -0400 dakoloyoung 182@/discuss/discussions
In this interview, the Niger Delta activist faults the calls for amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect and warns that the people of the Niger Delta will resist any move to use the resources from the area to fund the amnesty.

On the 2015 presidency, he says the people of the Niger Delta are unanimous in their decision that President Goodluck Jonathan should run for second term asserting that any attempt to stop him by the North will lead to the end of Nigeria.

Excerpts:
The Federal Government has announced a committee to look into the possibilities of granting amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect. As one of those who perfected amnesty for ex-militants in the Niger Delta, what is your view?

This is another bandwagon effect that is tearing apart our country again. Amnesty today is another word for quick money.

I think it is a misplaced national priority to even think about granting amnesty to a bunch of people who, in all their activities, have shown criminality, have shown cold blood murder and have no focus or issue.

And it is unfortunate to try to equate Boko Haram with the struggles of the Niger Delta.

In the Niger Delta, a people, who were living peacefully and having their own livelihood, were traumatized by the Federal Government with its activities in oil exploration.

Their land captured, their environment polluted from 1957 till date. And the people decided to say, enough is enough, you cannot take our oil and impoverish us.

You cannot put 60 per cent of our oil wealth in the hands of northerners and our environment is not protected. You have to allow us control our resources so that we can develop our place at the pace at which we found our resources. We are willing to pay tax to the center as it is done every where that oil was found’. That was what caused the Niger Delta crisis.

The Niger Delta struggle was a purposeful and ideology based struggle. That was the focus. Now, between 1996 and 2003, of course, it became an all-comers struggle. Criminals who will go and steal on the streets will claim that they kidnapped because of oil.

Between 2003 and 2007 it went out of hand because the military itself became a party to the process.

By the time the Federal Government was offering amnesty, oil had been cut down to 700 barrels per day by the activities of the people in the creeks. Insecurity in the region made oil companies to foldup.

Before, the youths accepted amnesty, they sent representatives including myself to dialogue with the government and they were series of meetings under the late President Yar’Adua’s administration.

Now, in accepting amnesty, the country recovered economically to the tune of about 2.1million barrels per day and you know what that means to the nation’s coffers. So, if from that pool, money is taken to rehabilitate people, who so to say admitted that it is our mother land, we will now allow government develop the region.
Taking amnesty brought more value to the government and it is now trying to reciprocate the gesture by training people in the region.

’Militancy in the Niger Delta different from Boko Haram mayhem’

But beyond the technicalities of talking about amnesty for a group of people who are murderers, I think that government has misplaced its priority in terms of what it is saying.

Dialogue with the people, yes, amnesty, no. Amnesty is not an exit window for criminals. These are people who have murdered over five thousand people in cold blood. People are in churches, they bomb the churches, killing people who are equally victims of bad governance like them. Again, 80 percent of these people are not Nigerians. So, if you are granting them amnesty, where will you take the resources for which you are going to reintegrate them?

Is it the Niger Delta resources, our oil money to integrate criminals and murderers in the North? That money should be put on infrastructures across the country if the money is too much in the government coffers.

’Jonathan taking bullshit’

I am particularly worried that our president, in line with his broad nationalism, is taking too many bullshit from too many people.

He is the most insulted president not because he has not worked, there is no president that has done better than Goodluck in the history of Nigeria, but people don’t seem to know because he is not a loud speaker, he does not embarrass people.

’Posterity will not forgive Jonathan if he fails to develop the Niger Delta’

President Jonathan is a broad-minded Nigerian, he is trying to balance projects in all the regions and, in doing that, he has undermined his own region. So the Niger Delta people have started clamouring why should we not have more.

But again he is the President of Nigeria not for Niger Delta. It is now left for the Niger Delta members in the National Assembly to ensure that there are resources in the appropriate ministries such as the Ministry of the Niger Delta to develop the region. As it is today the Ministry of Niger Delta is not being funded and that is why the Minister is frustrated. If you check the money they appropriated for the Niger Delta Ministry and that of Water Resources, you will see the difference.

I want to also say that Mr President must not feel that if he develops the Niger Delta he will be blamed for it. Infact if he does not develop the Niger Delta posterity will not forgive him.

People committed themselves in developing Abuja because they have an agenda to develop the North. Jonathan is not weak as people are saying, no weak person can lead Nigeria.

The problem is that this country is held by cabals and those people don’t want the development of the Niger Delta. So it is not Jonathan but a lot of people around him have their own agenda.

’Jonathan must run in 2015′

We were in this country when youths were mobilized to Abuja, ‘Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha’, during the military rule, when all the five political parties endorsed one man. We were in this country when Obasanjo wanted to go for third term.

Alameseigha and others were arrested. Yes, they may have been involved in corrupt practices but they became victims due to their opposition to the third term bid.

People are talking now because Jonathan is seen as a toothless bull dog. He is seen as being weak, but they don’t know that it is in that his weakness that he has his strength.

How can you see a president and say he should not contest again? The choice to contest is his but if he decides to contest, nobody can stop him except the ballot. And if they feel he cannot contest, then we should all be ready to pack our luggage.

Goodluck may be the last President of Nigeria because a lot of predictions are in line. There is the provision in the amalgamation law which says that, if after hundred years we cannot co-exist, everybody can go his way. These are signs of the end and we are happy about it those of us from the Niger Delta.

The earlier Nigeria breaks so that we can go and rebuild our economy and our environment the better since Nigerians don’t know that Goodluck is a blessing and a builder.

Nobody can stop Jonathan, we have said that he must contest and anybody who does not want to support us, no problem. We will campaign throughout the nook and cranny of the country.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/181/10-things-you-should-know-about-boston-marathon Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:42:51 -0400 dakoloyoung 181@/discuss/discussions
Boston was rocked by twin explosions on April 15, 2013, as runners crossed the finish line during its famous annual marathon, killing three and injuring several others.

Following is a list of facts that you probably didn’t know about the Boston Marathon:
• It is the world’s oldest marathon that began in 1897 and is organised by the Boston Athletic Association.
• The race is organised on the third Monday of April to commemorate the earliest battles of American independence.
• The course of the race runs through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.
• Women weren’t allowed to participate in the event until 1972.
• Clarence Harrison DeMar has won the marathon seven times – the last of which he won in 1930 at the age of 41.
• Tim Ford, the winner of the marathon in 1906, is the youngest ever winner at 18 years of age.
• Rosie Ruiz raised a storm by winning the marathon in the female category in 1980. It was later found that the American cheated her way to win and in fact hadn’t run the entire course.
• Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya ran the fastest marathon in the history of the race in a time of 2 hours 3 minutes 2 seconds at Boston in 2011. However, IAAF hasn’t recognised the record since the event doesn’t meet its standards that are required for the record to be ratified.
• Before the blasts of 2013, only two deaths were recorded at the event – in 1996 and 2002.
• Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia won the 2013 marathon in the male category while Kenyan Rita Jeptoo was the winner in the women’s section.
• Over the years, the winners have been awarded with $15 million in prize money and course-record bonuses.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/180/report-of-the-9th-round-of-good-governance-forum-ggf-sagbama-lga-bayelsa-state-7th-march-2013 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:42:53 -0400 admin 180@/discuss/discussions
In attendance were the Executive Director of the Academic Associates PeaceWorks, Dr. Judith B. Asuni; the Bayelsa State Governor's Special Representative for Sagbama LGA, Hon. Collins Cocodia; a representative of the Acting Chairman of Sagbama LGA, Hon. Festus Olo; community leaders, youth leaders, men and women drawn from various communities in the LGA, as well as officials of the SSS, NSCDC, and NYSC.
The forum got off to a lively start with Chief Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni affirming that it was the last to be organized by AA PeaceWorks in the LGA. She noted that the GTF Project had made considerable impact in the LGA, with the development of a website, newsletter, service directory for the local government, in addition to two water projects- one at Agbere and another in Sagbama town.
The Bayelsa State Coordinator of the project, Mr. Jeremiah Utavie Wellington also highlighted some of the achievements made so far, such as listing of projects, project monitoring, advocacy visits, etc.

ISSUES RAISED
The following issues were raised and discussed by participants:
• Sustenance of Local Government newsletter
• Sustenance of Good Governance Forum
• Sustenance of Accountability Corps
• New flood warnings

SUSTENANCE OF LOCAL NEWSLETTER
Participants at the forum were unanimous in their call and demand for the Sagbama Local Government Council to maintain or sustain the newsletter initiated under the GTF Project in the LGA. There was also a call for its expansion beyond the present scope to cover social activities in communities around Sagbama LGA.

SUSTENANCE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FORUM
Participants at the 9th GGF in Sagbama were also unanimous in their view that the GGF should be sustained in the LGA, as an ideal platform for creating an interface between leaders and the led from time to time to improve on service delivery.

SUSTENANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY CORPS
Forum participants also prayed for the retention and expansion of the local government accountability corps to be more effective in covering the LGA. Consequently, participants made a case for the Sagbama Local Government Council to set aside funds to maintain the Accountability Corps.

NEW FLOOD WARNINGS
Attention was drawn to the new flood warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the need for government and its concerned agencies to take proactive steps by setting up a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Although the Bayelsa State House of Assembly had passed a bill to establish a SEMA, the agency is yet to be constituted as required by the law.

In their contributions, the Governor's Special Representative for Sagbama LGA, Hon. Collins Cocodia thanked the organizers of the forum and urged them not to relent in their efforts, even as he promised to look into the issues raised at the forum with a view to taking further action on them. Hon. Festus Olo, who represented the Chairman of Sagbama LGA at the forum, also expressed gratitude to the sponsors and coordinators for pioneering the project. He promised that the local government council would take over the project.

Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni thanked all participants for coming and wished them well. She underscored the fact that it is important to discuss issues of development, but more important to convey them to those in authority to take action. Over 100 people participated in the 9th GGF in Sagbama.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/179/sagbama-lga-of-bayelsa-state-directory-of-services-facilitated-by-aa-peaceworks Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:47:39 -0400 admin 179@/discuss/discussions
It is a real privilege to, on behalf of the good and hospitable people of Sagbama Local Government Area, the Executive Council, the Legislative Assembly and the Staffs of the Council, to present and dedicate this updated Directory of Services of Sagbama Local Government Area to the glory of God Almighty. This informative document comes from the innovative efforts of the AA PeaceWorks, under the aupices of the Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF) project. Kudos must also go the UK-based Department for International Development (DFID) for releasing funds to bankroll this publication. There is no doubt that this document provides a clear picture of the services rendered by the Sagbama Local Government Council… - Hon. Anthony Akpoebi Ogola, former Executive Chairman, Sagbama LGA.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/176/kolokumaopokuma-lg-of-bayelsa-directory-of-service-facilitated-by-aa-peaceworks Sun, 24 Mar 2013 17:47:12 -0400 admin 176@/discuss/discussions
One of the collective resolutions of this present Administration is to serve the people and communities of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA. We have found Living Earth Foundation and other NGOs implementing the Governance and Transparency Fund project as funded by Department for International Development (DFID) to be good partners along this line. This Directory of Services is one of the means to showcase our services to the people and visitors which will highlight the visibility of our LGA to the outside world… - Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, Immediate Past Executive Chairman, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/175/isoko-north-lga-of-delta-state-directory-of-services-facilitated-by-aa-peaceworks Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:37:59 -0400 admin 175@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/174/ethiope-west-lga-of-delta-state-directory-of-service-facilitated-by-aa-peaceworks Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:41:48 -0400 admin 174@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/173/gokana-lga-of-rivers-state-directory-of-service-facilitated-by-aa-peaceworks Sun, 24 Mar 2013 07:31:44 -0400 admin 173@/discuss/discussions
It is my honour to on behalf of the Gokana Local Government Council, Living Earth Foundation and other development partners in the LGA to heartily introduce you to the maiden edition of Gokana Directory of Services… - Hon Demua Ledee Demua, Executive Chairman, Gokana LGA]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/172/commissioning-of-kaiama-bayelsa-cottage-hospital-theatre-equipments-by-aa-peaceworks Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:44:43 -0500 admin 172@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/171/supervision-of-abua-odua-cottage-hospital-dfid-funded-equipments-by-lef-uk-aapw- Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:41:14 -0500 admin 171@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/170/sagbama-local-government-council-quarterly-newsletters-vol.-1-no.-1-june-2012-facilitated-by-aapw Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:51:55 -0500 admin 170@/discuss/discussions
To live without history is to live without form of memories. Without history, one’s family, tribe, society, community, local government areas, state, even a country would be seen to be without a root. Without the past, the present has no foundation and meaning; so history is a vast reservoir of life’s lessons. It helps us to right the wrongs; A philosopher once asserted that those who forget about the past are condemned to repair or relieve it… By Ebipade Miebaikedo, Press Secretary, Sagbama Local Government Council.

Click on document to view full Newsletter

Source AA PeaceWorks]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/169/how-we-squandered-67bn-reserves-by-maku Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:32:23 -0500 admin 169@/discuss/discussions
The Federal Government yesterday denied allegations credited to Mrs. Obiageli Ezekewesili that the regimes of late Umar Musa Yara’dua and Goodluck Jonathan had squandered $67 billion reserves in the last six years. The former World Bank Vice President had at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka convocation ceremony held on January 24, 2013 alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor had lavished a whooping $67 billion left in the reserves (including $45 billion in external reserves and $22 billion in the Excess Crude Account) by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Federal Government has however said the statement was lacking in credible facts and accused Ezekwesili of displaying poor understanding of government finances even though she once held a top position in the Federal Government.
Speaking in a media briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku noted: “The statement by the former World Bank Vice President that the governments of Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan have squandered $67 billion in reserves left by the Obasanjo Administration at the end of May 2007 is factually incorrect. At the end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion – comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in the Federal Government’s savings.
These figures can be independently verified from the CBN’s records. The figure of $67 billion alleged in her statement is therefore clearly fictitious.
However, since President Obasanjo left office, the reserves have experienced fluctuations, rising from $43.13 billion in May 2007, peaking at $62 billion in September 2008 during the Yar’adua/Jonathan Administration when oil prices peaked at $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to a low of $31.7 in September 2011. This fall in reserves was a result of the vicissitudes of the global financial crisis which caused CBN interventions in the currency market to defend the value of the naira.
The Excess Crude savings, a component of the reserves, was also used to stimulate the economy at the height of the global financial crisis to the tune of about $1 billion (or 0.5 percent of our 2009 GDP). As a result, Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world that did not seek assistance from international financial institutions. It should be noted that the fiscal stimulus used to shore up the economy during that period was shared by all 3-tiers of government, including commitments of about $5.5 billion made under the Obasanjo Administration for power projects.”
On the use of reserves, Maku argued that “it is fallacious to say that the nation’s external reserves were dipped into or misapplied by the Federal Government. It is important to note that the Federal Government cannot dip its hands into external reserves. Like in other countries, the management of external reserves is one of the statutory mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Section 2 sub-section (c) of the CBN Act (2007) states that the Bank shall “maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency” – in other words, to defend the value of the Naira. No President since the democratic dispensation has contravened this Act. Other uses of the reserves are to settle both public and private sector foreign currency obligations of Nigeria, including the importation of goods such as equipment for power sector.
Whenever a ministry or agency of government needs to incur approved expenditure in foreign currency (e.g. payment of goods and services, settlement of external debt, etc) it must provide the naira equivalent to the CBN before the Bank sells the required foreign currency. As a former World Bank Vice-President for Africa, surely, Mrs. Ezekwesili must have known this.”
Maku continued: “We also found Mrs. Ezekwesili’s interrogation of the educational system somewhat disingenuous and borderline hypocritical. During her tenure as Minister of Education between 2006 and 2007, she collected a total sum of N352.3 billion from direct budgetary releases. In addition, she received about N65.8 billion under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Fund, and over N40 billion from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) during her time as Minister of Education. In view of these humongous allocations, a few legitimate questions arise. What did she do with all these allocations? What impact did it have on the education sector? One wonders if our educational system would have been better today if these allocations were properly applied.
“No one disputes that Nigeria still faces challenges, most of which were built up over a long time. But we need to acknowledge the significant achievements of this administration in the aftermath of difficult but necessary macroeconomic and structural reforms being implemented in the country.”
The minister insisted that the present administration has restored macroeconomic stability against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, slow growth in the United States and high unemployment and unsustainable debt in Europe.
“In the first 3 quarters of 2012, Nigeria’s economy grew by about 6.4 percent and is set to continue at a similar pace in 2013 according to independent forecasts. We have reduced our fiscal deficit to only 2.17 percent of GDP in the 2013 budget, while rebalancing our spending in favour of capital expenditure. These achievements have already received strong endorsement from international ratings agencies. At a time when many advanced and emerging markets are being downgraded, Fitch and S&P have upgraded our sovereign credit ratings.
“The inclusion of Nigeria’s sovereign bonds in the emerging market bond indices of JP Morgan and Barclays also testifies to the growing confidence of the international investment community in our economy.
“We have also focused our attention on removing the bureaucratic and structural bottlenecks in the economy to enable the private sector create more jobs for our youths. In the power sector, most Nigerians will attest to improvements in power supply even as the 10 new power plants being built by this Administration are yet to fully come on stream. There have also been improvements in rail services; for example, the Lagos—Kano rail line is now fully operational and serving Nigerians for the first time in over 20 years. There have been significant improvements in road development; aviation – in particular refurbished terminals; and agriculture, where new jobs are being created every day. Serious work is ongoing to improve our ports and lower the cost of doing business and the cost of consumption in Nigeria.
“The government has further launched a number of initiatives targeted at creating jobs for our youth, including support for entrepreneurship through the YouWin Programme; work for the unskilled through the Community Services programme of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme; and support for unemployed graduates through the Graduate Internship Programme.
“This administration is squarely focused on promoting a stable, non-inflationary, and inclusive economic environment for Nigeria to ensure that Nigerians can live better and more fulfilled lives.”

- Peoples Daily]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/167/theguardian-govt-gets-n5-trillion-from-taxes-last-year Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:52:27 -0500 admin 167@/discuss/discussions
FIGURES reeled out Sunday by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) show that the country’s tax revenue base last year exceeded the spending plan of the Federal Government.

While the Federal Government last year appropriated the sum of N4.877 trillion for spending last year, the FIRS in a statement by its Director of Communications and Liaison, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta, said the agency raised for the first time the sum of N5.007 trillion revenue last year.

This figure is equally higher than the Federal Government’s 2013 N4.98 trillion spending plan, which is awaiting presidential assent.

Also, there is the cheering news of the increasing performance of the non-oil taxes collection, which has grown to a new record height of N1.806 trillion, representing 36.07 per cent of the entire tax revenue up from the year 2011 volume of N1.557 trillion or 33.65 per cent performance of that year.

The oil taxes revenue on the other hand contributed N3.201 trillion, representing 63.93 per cent of the entire collections. This equally is up from the year 2011 figures of N3.070 trillion.

Obeta added: “These sums are significantly over the budget or target set for the agency by the Federal Government of N3.635 trillion for all its taxes. Compared with 2011, the all-taxes figure grew by N379.4 billion or 8.20 per cent on. FIRS collected N4.628 trillion in 2011. The contribution of non-oil taxes increased from N1.557 trillion or 33.65 in 2011 to N1.806 trillion or 36.07 per cent in 2012.

“Compared with the N715.4 billion seen in 2011, Companies Income Tax (CIT) returned N847.5 billion in 2012. Value Added Tax (VAT) was N710.5 billion against N659.15 billion in 2011, while Education Tax (EDT) recorded N188.43 billion against the N130.74 billion in 2011. National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDF) accounted for N9.13 billion against the N8.67 billion it returned in 2011. The sum of N51.59 billion was realised from Personal Income Tax (PIT), Pre-Operational Levy (POL), Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Stamp Duty (SD), all pooled together in the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund account."]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/166/premiumtimes-amnesty-serap-demand-foi-on-implementation-of-ecowas-court-ruling-on-niger-delta Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:34:28 -0500 admin 166@/discuss/discussions

Two human rights groups have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to provide detailed description of measures it has taken to implement the ruling of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, court on environment and the standard of living the people of the Niger Delta.

The two groups, Amnesty International, AI, and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, said a joint Freedom of Information, FOI, request has been issued demanding the government to make public steps already taken to implement the court’s ruling.

According to the groups, part of their demands also includes that the government pays the Niger Delta people compensation for the harm their communities are suffering over the years, prevent damage to the environment caused by oil-spills, restore devastated environment and hold oil companies accountable.

Last December, the ECOWAS court ruled in a case by the Registered Trustees of SERAP against the Federal government and major oil companies for “oil spills pollute water, destruction of aquatic life and soil fertility, with attendant adverse effect on the health and means of livelihood of people in its vicinity.”

The companies joined in the suits are Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Shell Petroleum Development Company,SPDC, ELF Petroleum Nigeria Limited, EPNL, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, Chevron Oil Nigeria PLC, Total Nigeria PLC and Exxon Mobil.

The groups declared that the government has failed “in recent years to take any single action to punish perpetrators of oil pollution.”

In a letter sent to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoki, the organisations asked government to sanction the companies by taking steps to publicly acknowledge the oil judgment and to express the government’s commitment to comply fully with the judgment.

Other demands include information on punitive measures against erring companies; the timeframe for the implementation of the measures, areas of the region covered, what government is doing to fully and effectively implement all past spill reports; governments to ensure that the oil and gas companies take immediate steps to stop flaring of natural gas, and to clean up oil spills as well as an indication if the effort will be achieved by the making of new laws or policies.

“We want to know exactly the level and nature of fines imposed on oil companies for breaching regulations over the past 10 years; and the measures taken by the government to punish the companies. We want to know whether the government has ever investigated the role that oil companies and others have played and continued to play in the environmental pollution in the region, and the outcome of any such investigation,” the groups said.

The FOI request also demands publishing “the names of all oil companies’ representatives based in state and federal government ministries and duration of their stay in the ministries; the details of their salaries and their remit; persons who authorised their work in Ministries ; details of gifts paid by oil companies to Ministries or their employees or donations; and efforts to end the practice where oil companies place their employees or other agents (paid or unpaid) within government ministries.

The government has up to up to the 4th of February, 2013 to comply with the request.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/165/why-dokubo-asari-is-fighting-president-jonathan Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:35:40 -0500 admin 165@/discuss/discussions

Fresh facts about the reasons former militant, Alhaji Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari, took on the Goodlluck Jonathan-led administration have emerged. The former militant, it was said, was angry over the revocation of his multimillion naira contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Dokubo-Asari had, at a recent press briefing, come hard on the Federal Government, rubbishing the administration of President Jonathan and decrying some of the government’s policies, even though he had at some time in the past appraised the government highly.

Indications, however, emerged that the former militant’s anger was fuelled by the decision of the management of the NNPC to revoke the contract it awarded to some of the former militants for the security and protection of oil pipelines and installation in the Niger Delta area.

Dokubo-Asari, it was said, was hard hit by the decision, hence his attack against the Federal Government.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, Dokubo-Asari was well notified of the decision to revoke the contract and the reason behind the action. The government, he said, wanted to ensure equity and proper protection of oil pipelines and not just to dole out patronage to some individuals in the Niger Delta because they are former militants.

Honourable Kuku, who is also the chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, disclosed at a media interaction at the weekend that the revocation of the contract by the NNPC was not punitive, but to bring sanity into the entire operations.

“It was taken to bring order to the entire programme. For instance, Dokubo-Asari, who is my friend, was told to register his organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Upon registration of a proper company, he would, of course, have his staff working for him. If he had done that, he could then reapply for the same contract,” Kuku stated further, adding that government felt the need to properly channel security activities in the Niger Delta by ensuring that those given the contract to secure pipelines had full control of their areas and that they were from the particular area the pipelines passed through.

According to him, it would be improper for Dokubo-Asari, “who is from Kalabari, in Rivers State,” to take the contract to secure pipelines in Bayelsa ahead of a native of Bayelsa, just as it was doubtful if Tompolo would secure Kalabari area better than Dokubo-Asari. “Government felt that the security of the pipelines should be well spread, for maximum effects and that people from a particular area should secure the facility in their area. That way, we would have effective protection for these facilities,” he stated, adding that government wanted to do things properly and not just for anyone to be collecting millions of naira from government.

“What If another government comes tomorrow and decides to discontinue with the arrangement? I believe the decision was taken to even protect the interest of the like of my brother, Dokubo-Asari,” Kuku said.

Meanwhile, those who may be thinking that the amnesty programme of the government will run forever, should perish the thought as the programme, it is said, will terminate in 2015.

Kuku, who is the chairman of the programme, disclosed that it would officially terminate in 2015. He, however, disclosed that some elements had been finding ways to abuse the programme, even when it had since been declared close in 2009, alleging that some members of the military Joint Task Force were in league with some of such individuals, claiming they were militants and were ready to surrender their arms and embrace the amnesty programme.

But Kuku said that for the avoidance of doubt, the amnesty programme would not run forever.

“It should end in 2015,” he noted.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/164/daily-independent-editor-73-others-escape-air-crash Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:40:28 -0500 admin 164@/discuss/discussions
***Plane develops fault mid-air, makes u-turn 15 minutes after take-off.

What would have been another air disaster was on Sunday, averted by whiskers as an Abuja-bound aircraft made a dramatic return to Lagos when one of its engines developed a mechanical fault mid-air.

On board the aircraft which belongs to Med-View Airline were 73 passengers including Mr. Donald Ojogo, the newly appointed Politics Editor, Abuja, of the Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent, Saturday Independent and Sunday Independent.

The Lagos-Abuja bound flight, VL2104, scheduled for 12 noon on Sunday had taken off at exactly 12.15 pm, 15 minutes behind schedule.

But at exactly 12.30, about five minutes after the seat belt signs were put off, there was a loud bang at the engine side of the aircraft forcing it to drop in altitude even as it became unstable, swerving slowly and steadily in left and right directions for about two minutes.

The development elicited instant prayers, wailings and cries from the passengers, most of whom were women with the silence of the Aircraft Crew, especially the Pilot, further heightening tension in the plane.

[Daily Independent]]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/163/thisdaybayelsa-lg-election-pdp-candidate-fingered-in-multiple-forgeries Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:34:21 -0500 admin 163@/discuss/discussions

Ahead of the Local Government election in Bayelsa State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Ogbia Local Government Area, Abah Enaye Richard, has been accused of forging several certificates and parading credentials from a non-existing university in London.

Richard emerged winner of the December 15, 2012 PDP Local Government primaries with overwhelming 215 votes with his closest rival, Monday Eribo, securing 14 votes while the third aspirant, Afagha Tutuganam Peter, got only three votes.

In a petition to the PDP national chairman dated January 19 with reference number OOC/Vol 4/536, lawyers to Eribo said fielding the winner of the primary might backfire for PDP as he has questionable academic and tax clearance certificates which opponents of PDP might latch on to remove him from office if he eventually wins the election.

According to the petition which was signed by Barrister Olu Ojujoh, they alleged that in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate number SC448754A which Richard submitted to the PDP screening committee, which the party has in turn presented to the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, “the subject, Mathematics, is omitted contrary to the normal practice with the only conclusion that it is forged.”

The petitioner also raised questions about the authentic age of the PDP candidate and how he was able to obtain a certificate of exemption from the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) service at the age of 28 when he claimed he graduated from University of North London.

“This candidate, who entered secondary school on the claim that he was born on the 18th day of March, 1967, could have been 28 years of age in 1995 when he claimed to have graduated from University of North London, yet he did not find it difficult to obtain a certificate of exemption from the National Youth Service Corps on the ground of age, a clear proof that the certificate of exemption was obtained by fraud,” the lawyers said, adding “Our enquiries show that there is no university known as University of North London in the compendium of universities in Britain.”]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/162/punch-police-colleges-got-n496m-in-2012-investigation Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:58:59 -0500 admin 162@/discuss/discussions
Almost half a billion naira was budgeted for the upgrade and rehabilitation of facilities at police colleges across the country in 2012, investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH have shown.

A breakdown of the N307bn budget of police formations and commands, obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation, Ministry of Finance, showed that N296.75m was budgeted for the upgrade of facilities in the following police training institutions – Detective College, Enugu State, PMF training schools, Gwoza (Borno State) and Ila-Orangun (Osun), ATS Training School Nonwa-Tai, (Rivers) Police colleges, Ikeja (Lagos), Kaduna, Maiduguri (Borno), Oji-River (Enugu), PTS Iperu (Ogun), Ibadan (Oyo), Oyin-Akoko (Ondo), mounted and dog training schools, communication training schools, Ikeja and Kaduna.

Another N200m was budgeted for the rehabilitation of Police Intelligence College, Challawa, Kano State.

Besides the training institutions, N462.3m was budgeted for the rehabilitation and repairs of police stations and barracks across the country, while N142.1m was budgeted for the establishment and deployment of integrated police management information technology systems in police formations, commands and training institutions.

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan had visited the Police College, Ikeja, after Channels Television exposed the rot in the school.

As a result, the Federal Government last week set up an 11-man committee to probe the rot in police colleges.

Part of the committee’s work will be to ascertain the amount of money appropriated for the police to renovate and upgrade the police institutions between 2009 and 2012.

Director, special duties in the police affairs ministry is the head of the probe team raised by Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade.

The committee is expected to examine the budget proposed and appropriated by NPF for training institutions between 2009 and 2012 and to verify the utilisation of the appropriation to the NPF for the upgrade of facilities in the following police training institutions: Detective College, Enugu; PMF training schools Gwoza and Illa Orangun; ATS Training School, Nonwa Tai; Police Colleges, Ikeja, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Oji-River; and PTS Iperu.

The committee is also to ascertain if the heads of the NPF formations were regularly updating the NPF management on the conditions of the institutions between 2009 and 2012 and what actions were taken by the management of NPF; examine the design and capacity of the institutions vis-à-vis the current number of intakes and to also examine the current condition of infrastructure in all the NPF training institutions and make appropriate recommendations to the government.

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the Police College, Ikeja and other colleges had remained in their poor state because budgetary allocations over the years ended in the pockets of individuals.

He said, “Even if they had budgeted N1bn for the upgrade of facilities at the police colleges, it will still not amount to anything because those in charge will divert the money into their pockets. There is simply no accountability in the system.

“For several years, different amounts of money have been budgeted for projects at those colleges but nobody has monitored implementation. The National Assembly and the minister of police affairs have not performed their oversight functions.”

When contacted the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said it was not in his capacity to comment on such a matter.

“I comment only on routine operational and administrative matters,” he said.

However, a police source said not all the N496m budgeted for the police training schools was released to the institutions.

He said, “At the end of the day, each of the colleges might not get more than N5m out of the money. The general performance of the 2012 budget was around 40 per cent, and for the police, which the government does not care for, one can be sure that not up to 60 per cent of the N496m got to the institutions. That is the problem.

“And to be realistic, even if all the money was released, it would still not be enough to effectively run the institutions.”]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/161/vanguard-n10.6trn-fg-tackles-ezekweilii-says-her-allegation-self-indictment Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:31:33 -0500 admin 161@/discuss/discussions
The Federal Government, Sunday, reacted angrily to comments by the former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili alleging that the governments of Presidents Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, squandered $67 billion(about N10.6trn) in foreign reserves, describing the allegation as “outlandish and clearly fictitious.”

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku who addressed a press conference on the allegations by the former Vice President of African Region of the world Bank said the damning verdict passed on the education sector by Mrs Ezekwesili was a self indictment, as she presided over the sector without bringing any positive impact on it.

The Information Minister who was flanked by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe; Economic Adviser, Prof. Nwanze Okedegbo and Special Adviser on Performance Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester Monye; said the allegations of Ezekwesili were curious in the light of the fact that she has been part of governance in the past.

According to Mr Maku, Ezekwesili’s criticism of the education sector amounts to hypocrisy as she was part of the sector and contributed to its sorry state, because , despite receiving N458.1billion between 2006 and 2007 for the sector, there is nothing to show for it, in terms of achievements.

The Minister said, “If she says education has not worked it means she is saying she did not work”.

He accused the former Education minister of betraying a surprisingly limited understanding of government finances in her comments at Nsukka.


Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku flanked by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe and the Special Adviser to the President, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye during the briefing on the nation’s external reserves at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

He noted: “These statements are even more curious in light of the fact that she has held senior positions in government, and more recently, a position as a Vice President of the World Bank. However, rather than speculate about her motives, we would focus on the facts.

“The statement by the former World Bank Vice President that the governments of Presidents Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan have squandered $67 billion in reserves (including $45 billion in external reserves and $22 billion in the Excess Crude Account) left by the Obasanjo Administration at the end of May 2007 is factually incorrect. At the end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion – comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in the Federal Government’s savings. These figures can be independently verified from the CBN’s records. The figure of $67 billion alleged in her statement is therefore clearly fictitious.

“However, since President Obasanjo left office, the reserves have experienced fluctuations, rising from $43.13 billion in May 2007, peaking at $62 billion in September 2008 during the Yar’adua/Jonathan Administration when oil prices peaked at $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to a low of $31.7 in September 2011. This fall in reserves was a result of the vicissitudes of the global financial crisis which caused CBN interventions in the currency market to defend the value of the naira. The Excess Crude savings, a component of the reserves, was also used to stimulate the economy at the height of the global financial crisis to the tune of about $1 billion (or 0.5 percent of our 2009 GDP). As a result, Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world that did not seek assistance from international financial institutions. It should be noted that the fiscal stimulus used to shore up the economy during that period was shared by all 3-tiers of government, including commitments of about $5.5 billion made under the Obasanjo Administration for power projects.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/160/building-better-collaboration-between-state-lgs-as-a-tool-for-effective-grassroots-devt-delta-st. Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:27:24 -0500 admin 160@/discuss/discussions
BY
M.O. BROWN NJOKANMA (MRS.) FCA AUDITOR-GENERAL, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, DELTA STATE

Introduction:
Local Government is the third tier of government in Nigeria with the basic function of providing essential services and development at a gain to the grassroots populace. Local Government precisely put, is the bedrock of National Development.

Click on the link below to view/download full document.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/159/building-better-collaboration-between-the-state-lg-as-a-tool-for-effective-grassroots-development Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:53:56 -0500 admin 159@/discuss/discussions
Facilitated By

AA PeaceWorks, a Non-Governmental Organization
Presented by

Ikpe Gabriel O.
Director, Planning and Implementation, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Rivers State, Monday, 24th September 2012

Outlines of the Topics
- Better collaboration
- Government
- The two tiers of government in question – state and local government
- A tool
- Effective grassroots development ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/158/dailytrustpresident-jonathan-to-decorate-45-generals-today Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:33:27 -0500 dakoloyoung 158@/discuss/discussions
A total of 45 two-star generals recently promoted will be decorated with their new insignias by President Goodluck Jonathan at a ceremony in Abuja today.

The newly promoted officers include 22 Major Generals (Army), 19 Rear Admirals (Navy) and 14 Air Vice Marshals (Air Force).

Director Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerima said in a statement yesterday that, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will decorate newly promoted 2 star generals and equivalents of the Nigerian armed forces today.”

The Air Force recently promoted 129 officers including 14 Air Vice Marshals. They are: Mike Iloenyosi, Frank Nyoyoko, Tee Danbaki, Salihu Bala-Ribah, Andy Tsakr, Tony Omenyi and Bashiru Saidu. Others include Peter Abel, Muktar Magaji, Olutayo Oguntoyinbo, Abiodun Idowu, Haruna Mohammed, Adebowale Odunlade and Unaji Oche.

The Navy promoted 112 officers of which 19 Commodores were prompted to Rear Admirals. They are: P.A. Agba, S.I. Alade, B.A. Egbedina, N.P. Agholor, O.P. Ozojiofor, G.A Ayankpele, L.O.N Iwuoha, H.O Ngonadi, H.H. Babalola, E.G. Ofik, S.E Ogoigbe, J.K.Z Ango, and A. A Osinowo. Others are R.O Osondu, A. Johnson, A.L Akintola, A.B Afolayan (medical), T.G.S Epelle and A. H Yusuf (medical).

Similarly, 150 senior officers in the Army were promoted of which 22 of them were elevated to the rank of Major General. They are: Mobolaji Koleoso (director, army public relations), N. O Ojiji, H. A Salihu, and Brig. Gen. ET Nienge, David Enetie, Mashudy O. Adekanye, John N. Nwaoga, and Patrick G. Ogah.

Others are: Donald M. N Oji, Tanko Y. Gaiya, Bamidele O. Ologundudu, Abbas O. Adekanye, Tamunomieibi I. Dibi Tukur Y. Buratai, Obi A. Umahi, Chuckwudi BB Odunukwe, Sulaiman D. Aliyu, Junaid S. Bindawa, Obidah T. Ethan, Obasina A. Ogunbiyi and Friday M. Airende.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/157/sanusi-appointed-chairman-of-west-african-monetary-zone Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:55:17 -0500 dakoloyoung 157@/discuss/discussions
The Central Bank Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has been appointed the Chairman of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ).

The WAMZ is a unification of six countries comprising Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea and Liberia, with the goal of setting up a singular currency system. The proposed currency named the Eco is slated to take off by 2015.

Sanusi’s appointment was announced at the committee of Governors at their 28th meeting in Abuja recently.

In his keynote address delivered after his appointment, Sanusi called for an intensification of efforts to sensitize all the stakeholders so the plan does not fail.

He said, “The recent experiences of the Euro zone should provide the need for serious caution on our part and a comprehensive re-appraisal of existing framework of monetary union.

“With only two years to the set deadline for the formal take-off of the project, there is need for the intensification of efforts in the area of sensitisation of all stakeholders.”

Sanusi took over from the former chairman, Dr. Joseph Jones.

BUSINESSNEWS]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/156/the-golden-goose-essay-stories-plays-from-the-niger-delta-people Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:04:26 -0500 admin 156@/discuss/discussions
This project is funded under the Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF) programme of the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom Government (DFID). The project aims to strengthen the effectiveness of the Local Government Areas (LGA) in delivering basic services to the citizens and improve their communications, whilst at the same time, building the capacity of civil society groups within the LGAs to engage with their government and influence policy. A key element of the project is to raise awareness on good governance through stimulation of public debate at the local, state and national levels regarding the link between sustainable development and good governance. One way of doing this is through the promotion of traditional values that align with the principles of good governance.

As a means of achieving this, we organised a literary competition with the theme of “Our Delta, our values and good governance” open to all Nigerians without any age limit. The participants sent creative written materials in the form of short plays, short stories, poems and essays in furtherance of the project objectives.

On the 23rd September 2010 an award ceremony in Port Harcourt celebrated the best entries, which we have now compiled into this collection. The project partners and team would like to thank the authors for their work, enthusiasm in participating in the literary competition, and contribution to the project goal.

We hope the readings will inspire you. Enjoy.
]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/155/fiscal-responibiliy-act-2007-a-simplified-version Wed, 02 Jan 2013 08:58:55 -0500 admin 155@/discuss/discussions A SIMPLIFIED VERSION

IHRHL




PREPARED BY THE INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHRHL)


UNDER THE GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY FUND (GTF) PROJECT


2009]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/154/happy-new-year Tue, 01 Jan 2013 10:59:30 -0500 dakoloyoung 154@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/152/sanusi-says-food-inflation-rose-from-flooded-farms Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:32:13 -0500 admin 152@/discuss/discussions
Nigeria’s food inflation accelerated last month after flooding this year washed away farms, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi said.

Sanusi, who was speaking at FBN Capital’s annual investor conference in Lagos, the commercial capital, didn’t mention October’s food-inflation rate or how it affected the headline figure. Annual inflation slowed to 11.3 percent in September from 11.7 percent the previous month. Food prices, which account for more than half of the consumer price index, rose 10.2 percent from a year earlier, compared with 9.9 percent in August.

“We already have an uptick for food inflation for last month; food prices have already come up,” Sanusi said yesterday. “For many of those farmers, the floods have simply swept away their income for one year, and that’s going to have an impact on our agricultural productivity.”

Nigeria’s two biggest rivers, the Niger and the Benue, overflowed their banks as dams let out water after heavy rains, killing 363 people, displacing 2.2 million and affecting nearly 8 million from July to Oct. 31, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. Farms, homes and roads have been washed away in the flooding in Africa’s most-populous nation.

Data Release

The West African country’s National Bureau of Statistics is scheduled to release October inflation figures Nov. 19. Agriculture is the biggest contributor to the country’s economic output, accounting for 41 percent of gross domestic product in the second quarter, according to the Abuja-based statistics office.

The inflation rate of Africa’s largest-oil producer fell in September for the third consecutive month, though still above the central bank’s target of below 10 percent.

The Abuja-based central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record high 12 percent this year to help support the naira and keep prices low. Inflation has stayed below the bank’s forecast of a peak of as much as 15 percent after President Goodluck Jonathan cut a gasoline subsidy in January.

The central bank wants women to hold at least 40 percent of senior management positions in commercial banks and 30 percent of bank board seats by 2014, Sanusi also said yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Maram Mazen in Abuja at mmazen@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nasreen Seria at nseria@bloomberg.net

Source: Bloomberg]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/151/un-refugee-agency-to-collaborate-with-fcta-on-flood-victims-data Sat, 17 Nov 2012 08:09:15 -0500 admin 151@/discuss/discussions
The United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is planning to assist the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to document the influx of flood victims into the nation’s capital.

The UNHCR Commissioner for refugees, Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana told the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide that the UN is ready to offer protection to the 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Nigeria in the response to the state of flood victims in the country.

The United Nations’ agency is willing to assist in identifying the number of internally displaced persons through the process of profiling and registering them as well as provision of vocational skill training.

The UN Commission also promised to extend the assistance to those displaced by violent attacks in other parts of the country.

The Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Akinjide explained that the FCT administration is willing to collaborate with the commission to monitor the presence of the IDPs.

She explained that the FCT is witnessing influx of people because of the conflicts in the northern part of the country as well as the flood disaster.

Source: CHANNELS]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/150/oronsaye-my-issues-with-ribadu-report Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:34:13 -0500 admin 150@/discuss/discussions
Former Head of Service of the Federation and Deputy Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force (PRSTF), Mr. Steve Oronsaye, has explained why he raised certain observations at the presentation of the committee's report to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oronsaye’s clarification coincided with the establishment of three committees by President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday to prepare draft White Papers on the reports of the PRSTF, National Refineries Special Task Force and the Governance and Controls Special Task Force.

The presidency has also made it clear that it has absolutely no intention of dumping the report of the PRSTF, as speculated by some sections of the public.

Oronsaye, during the presentation of the report recently, had faulted the process and procedure adopted by the committee, chaired by former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in carrying out its work and requested that the report should not be submitted at that time.

Explaining why he raised his voice at the venue of the presentation, Oronsaye, in an interview with THISDAY, said: “There was the consensus in the meeting that they held on the 1st of November where it was agreed that whoever was presenting the report would make reference to the caveat or this disclaimer in the report talking about the fact that due to the timeframe, some of the data could not be independently verified or reconciled.

“I understand that there was also consensus that a statement would also be made to the effect that the report that was out there was not the one that came from the committee because the committee had not met to consider the report.”

He said because these two key issues, which were agreed upon, were not mentioned at the presentation, he had to raise them publicly by requesting that the report should not be accepted at this time because it was still work-in-progress.
“Had those two things been brought out, of course I would not have reacted. I would have kept quiet because you would have told the world that some of the data have not been verified,” he said.

On why he did not write a minority report instead of opting for the kind of drama that took place at the presentation, Oronsaye said: “There was no way I would have written a minority report when the consensus was that two key things would be said at the presentation and once they were not said, that triggered what I said.”

Oronsaye also emphasised that his comment was not about the content of the report but about a flawed process, adding, “What I said was that the process was flawed and we needed more time, and at best, it should be taken as work in progress.”

Further clarifying his observations on the report, Oronsaye said: “I want to emphasise that today and even before now, I have not disagreed with the content of this report and I have not made any comment whether it is right or wrong.

“Yes, there is corruption in the industry but that is not the reason why, at my age, I will see what is wrong and I will not stand up to speak… What I did was really standing out on the balcony to speak the truth against those who would have been ridiculed when they have not been given fair-hearing.”

Noting that the report may not be able to stand the test of rigorous cross-examination in a court of law because of the caveat in the attached letter where it was stated that some of the data used could not be independently verified, he said: “You don't let people pick holes in your report. Since the president had said that we should come and submit the report, we should have been courageous to go back to him and say, ‘Mr. President, can you please give us more time?’”

On the perception that the activities of the committee and the drama that ensued during the presentation of the report may have been influenced by past rivalry between him and Ribadu, he said: “The relationship is not an issue here.
“What is important is that we do what is right in accordance with the terms of reference given to us.”

Oronsaye also provided the attendance page of some meetings of the committee to debunk the allegation by Ribadu that he did not attend sittings, arguing that while people may be entitled to their opinion, facts would always remain facts.

While rejecting the conclusions reached by some sections of the public that he was put on the panel to frustrate the committee's work, the former head of service said: “Now, when people say he (Oronsaye) was deliberately put there, put there by who? At my age? I am over 60. It is how I will serve humanity and live my life in eternity that is paramount. I fear no human being, I respect people, but I fear God.”

He said people who had served in various positions in the past and those who are still in service were put on the various task forces by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in order for the committees to be able to access informed data and informed information.

Disclosing that some other members also had issues with the process, Oronsaye provided a letter dated October 30, 2012, which was written by another committee member where the writer had stated: “The committee's (work) assignment is factually yet to be definitively concluded, consequently a final report, which would be the culmination of the processes and procedures agreed and adopted by the committee cannot exist; especially not in the format being circulated by the media both social and print.”

He wondered why such a major observation was disregarded and the report submitted just three days after.

He also recalled the last meeting of the committee of the whole held on July 31, where he had raised some observations about the activities of the panel.

He said: “It was at that meeting that I said A, B, C, D, in my view, were my observations on the draft report. One, figures have not been verified. Two, the figures were as of December 2011. And I asked what had happened between then and now?
“I also said the language should be modified. I didn’t say change the substance. I did not say so. I also said that if a hole is picked in our report, all the efforts that had been put into the exercise would come to naught.

“It was then agreed that a small group would come together to look at the report again and then give it to the subcommittee on report writing before circulating to the committee of the whole.

“A committee was set up, but we never received that reviewed report. What followed was that a report was leaked, I don't know how or by who to Reuters.”
However, in a statement yesterday by the president’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the presidency announced the setting up of three committees to prepare draft White Papers on the three special task forces on the oil and gas sector that had submitted their reports to him two week ago.

The statement said that their establishment was in furtherance of the president’s declared commitment to doing all within his powers to ensure greater accountability, probity and transparency in the country’s oil and gas industry.

“The committees are to study the reports, review the issues raised, and prepare draft White Papers for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council within two weeks.
“The White Paper Committee on the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, with the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed as members.... http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/oronsaye-my-issues-with-ribadu-report/130806/]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/149/flood-outbreak-of-water-borne-diseases-possible-official-warns Fri, 16 Nov 2012 07:02:22 -0500 admin 149@/discuss/discussions
The Ministry of Water Resources has advised Nigerians to prepare for a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases due to the flood that ravaged many parts of the country. Mr Babarinde Mukaila, the Head of Climate Change Unit in the ministry, gave the advice while speaking with reporters on Thursday in Abuja. Mukaila, an environmental expert, noted that the flood-affected areas were currently facing acute shortage of clean water.

According to him, the major challenge associated with flooding is polluted water and poor sanitation. “This creates a lot of problems for the affected communities; aside the problems of water-borne disease, access to clean water becomes a problem. “And you will be shocked that some of these neighbourhoods that are affected, people have to walk inside this water to get to their homes.

“As a result, they start developing skin diseases, so the issue is how do we manage this fresh water in a sustainable manner in order not to lose as much as possible into the ocean?” Mukaila said that access to fresh water remained one of the major problems confronting the people in the flooded areas as their sources of water had been polluted due to the flood.

According to him, the flood water came with a lot of debris, fecal pathogens and pollutants, which have brought a lot of sanitation challenges to those areas. The official, who had visited some of the flood affected states on an assessment tour, attributed the disaster to climate change. He explained that the fears associated with climate change were becoming a reality with the volume of flooding experienced in the country this year.

He said that Nigeria should learn a lot of lessons from the flood disaster and put in place contingency plans to address such challenges in the future. According to him, some of the challenges can be addressed, if the country gives priority to science and technological development. He said that Nigeria needed to invest in research to mitigate the effects of climate change, noting that research and technology were interwoven.

He pointed out that a simple adaptable technology could be used to address some of the challenges associated with climate change in the country. “The world is moving from MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) concept into sustainable development and except we are ready; the whistle has been blown, the MDGs will be winding down in 2015.

“Some other counties are already preparing for sustainable development; those developments that are very simple, achievable and sustainable such that your reliance on others will be minimal. “If not, then, we will be a dumping ground for other people’s products,” he said. (NAN)

Source: VANGUARD ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/148/jose-mujica-the-poorest-president-in-the-world Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:39:31 -0500 admin 148@/discuss/discussions
In his latest official declaration of wealth, he says he owns just two vehicles, a small amount of property and his farmhouse. He donates 90% of his salary to charity.

Mujica became president of Uruguay after a landslide victory more than two years ago. After a half a term in power, he is now backing a bill to legalise the use of cannabis.

Source: BBC]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/147/bayelsa-evicts-flood-victims-for-the-resumption-of-schools Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:57:41 -0500 admin 147@/discuss/discussions
The Bayelsa State Flood Management Committee on Thursday deployed security operatives to the BDGS flood camp in Yenagoa, to supervise the eviction of flood victims from the school premises.

The committee, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Markson Fefegha, had ordered the flood victims to relocate to their homes to allow the resumption of academic activities in schools. But the victims decried the development, saying they had nowhere to go.

Going back is not the issue here but how will life be for those whose houses, farmlands, food-stock, seedlings, livestock, etc are destroyed. The Flood Management Committee should proffer adequate programs to cushion the famine they are about to experience.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/145/-flood-invades-akinima-okarki-and-gods-town-oruama-communities-of-ahoada-west-lga-rivers-state- Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:08:14 -0500 admin 145@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/144/national-assembly-says-cant-guarantee-creation-of-new-states Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:10:19 -0500 admin 144@/discuss/discussions
ABUJA, November 13, (THEWILL) - State creation agitators are in for a shocker as the National Assembly Tuesday issued a caveat saying that it cannot guarantee the creation of new states in the ongoing constitutional review process.

Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), Senator Ike Ekweremadu made the declaration in Abuja.

Ekweremadu also said it is unfair and unthinkable for anyone to allege that the review process will be skewed in favour of the leadership of the National Assembly.

Ekweremadu nonetheless told a press conference that as at last count, over 52 memoranda for state creation have been submitted to NASS outside a 241 memoranda including issues carried over from the 6th Senate. The Zonal public hearings on the constitution review process, which will be conducted simultaneously, commences on Thursday and Friday this week.

The Deputy Senate President however described those who have expressed disbelief in the possibility of success in this current constitution amendment process as men of little faith, just as he refuted allegations of a hidden agenda by the leadership in the constitution amendment process.

He further cautioned the South East zone not to expect automatic state creation adding, "I don’t think that the South East will expect either myself or any person to announce that they are going to get a state tomorrow or next tomorrow because that is not what the constitution says. They will naturally follow the provisions, which the constitution has provided. I hope this has afforded me the opportunity to clear the air."

Responding to questions at the press conference on the prospects of state creation, Ekweremadu said, "On the issue of state creation, I was in Enugu on Sunday where I met with my own constituents regarding the constitution amendment exercise and I made it clear to them that Nigerians are confusing things and that is why anyone can begin to expect that at the end of this exercise, somebody will come up to announce that states have been created. That is not going to happen because the constitution does not make such provisions.

"So, the issue of state creation is completely different from what we are doing because if you look at section 8 and section 9, there are two different issues. So, any group that wants a State can necessarily pursue the process without the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives currently dealing with the issue of constitutional amendment.

"It is something that can run its own course without involving the committee. What is going on really is that Nigerians are making their request for the creation of States based on the fact that they believe that these two committees can come up with criteria that will favour them.

"We are supposed to make laws for the good governance of this country and in doing so, as part of this exercise, what we can naturally do is that, we have 56 request for state creation, as responsible citizens of Nigeria, we can advise our colleagues on how many states that can possibly be created and the system can sustain.

"If for instance we say, well, in the circumstance, Nigerian system can contain may be four states, three or eight states, we can possibly advice on how these States would be allocated to the various parts of the country. Then, naturally, the people who are requesting for State will still go and generate their requests and submit to the National Assembly and then, generate resolutions of the requisite authorities, the council, the House of Assembly and it will still come up to the National Assembly, the Senate and the House will vote, then, it will still go for referendum after which it will go to the House of Assembly of all the States in Nigeria.

"So, even if you are requesting for a State in Sokoto, the House of Assembly in Abia State will also vote for it. It is something you don’t expect that at the end of the Constitution Amendment exercise, this committee or indeed the National Assembly will announce States that have been created, that is not going to happen.

"So, I don’t think that the South East will expect either myself or any person to announce that they are going to get a state tomorrow or next tomorrow because that is not what the constitutions says. They will naturally follow the provisions, which the constitution has provided.

"I hope this has afforded me the opportunity to explain this so that nobody will say I came back from Abuja without bringing a State. Anybody expecting a state must follow all the procedures and I think we need to do more enlightenment for Nigerians to understand this process clearly because if those accusing any person of hidden agenda understand all these, they will not be worrying themselves, they will go and do more home work because if you look at section 8, it is like passing a big snake through the eye of a needle.

"It is a cumbersome process and it just has to pass through that process because that is what the constitution says," he said.

Reacting to cynics over the review process, Ekweremadu noted "I am sure you are aware we are not doing this business for the first time. We have amended this constitution successfully for the first, second and the third time and I chaired the committee during those three processes. Before that, they were attempts that never succeeded.

"So, I am used to this kind of cynical statements and doubts but I never allow myself to be distracted. I remember I met all of you in this particular room and I told you I don’t get myself involved in things that don’t work because even you were not convinced when I started in 2009 but I assured you it was going to happen. I had a meeting with the council of foreign relations in Washington and they said that Nigeria made efforts in the past and it didn’t work, what was the assurance that it would work but I told them I was going to deliver and we delivered.

“I don’t get distracted by men of little faith, I don’t allow them to distract me, I focus on the price and I am sure my colleagues are all part of this process.

"So, we are going to put all the cards on the table, put all the issues before Nigerians, put it before the National Assembly members and people will vote. We are not going to influence anybody to vote one way or the day. So, if we believe that what we are doing will add value to our system and deepen democracy, Nigerians will see the enemies of the people who do not want things to work. We are going to drive it to the last point and Nigerians will see where it fails but God forbid that it fails,” he added.

Reacting to allegations by the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso that the Leadership of the CRC are nursing a hidden agenda ahead of the process Ekweremadu said, "I have addressed this issue before and I don’t intend to join issues with my friend, the governor of Kano State. If I have differences with him in respect of the conduct of what we are doing, I would like to discuss that with him directly.

"From Section 9 (1) on the process of constitution amendment...., it is obvious that the process of constitution amendment is so rigorous that 109 Senators are involved, 360 members of House of Representatives are involved and all the members of the State Assemblies in 36 States are involved. So, there is certainly no way an individual can come up with an agenda and expect to market that agenda or get it through. It is practically unthinkable. So, I don’t know where he got that idea from and if he is thinking of State creation, I want to refer you to section 8 of the Constitution to see how States are created and see whether it is something any individual can wake up and say that States have been created.” ... http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/17066.html

Source: THEWILL]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/143/slide-show-the-east-west-road-nigeria Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:23:42 -0500 admin 143@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/142/flood-invasion-at-abua-odual-lga-of-rivers-state-nigeria Sun, 04 Nov 2012 19:33:09 -0500 admin 142@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/139/sir-alex-ferguson-favour-pep-guardiola-as-his-successor-at-manchester-united Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:09:30 -0400 admin 139@/discuss/discussions
Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to now favour Pep Guardiola as his eventual successor at Manchester United.

On Tuesday, the club's vice-chairman Ed Woodward said that the Old Trafford hierarchy know what "type of manager" will succeed Ferguson, while it was reported in the Spanish press in the summer that Ferguson had met Guardiola in New York.

However, the chief executive David Gill and a member of the Glazer family also met the former Barcelona manager, who left his role at the Camp Nou after four successful years, at that time.

While a United source said that the meeting was "informal", the future is understood to have been discussed.

For his part, Guardiola is known to view United as a particularly attractive proposition. Although he retains interest in Chelsea, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, the Catalan is said to find the sense of history and atmosphere at Old Trafford especially enticing.

In his entire Barcelona career as both a player and manager, Guardiola - who, as a player, was targeted by Ferguson but ultimately signed for Brescia - faced United more than any other English side, and a Catalan source said the club have always fascinated him.

Ferguson and United do not just see Guardiola as one of the few coaches with the required strength of personality to take on such a massive job after the Scot eventually retires, but also an ideal fit given his commitment to both youth and attacking football.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has previously been seen as Ferguson's successor-in-waiting but, although the Red Devils manager retains a good relationship with the Portuguese, other members of the club's hierarchy - particularly Bobby Charlton - are said to be less keen due to a perceived short-term approach.

While the expected date of Ferguson's retirement remains, as ever, undetermined, the manager is widely known to want a significant say in who succeeds him and for the necessary structures to be put in place beforehand for a seamless transition.

When Ferguson was last expected to retire in 2002, only to perform a U-turn, he expressed his dismay that the club had lined up Sven Goran-Eriksson. The United boss criticised the Swede for "not changing much" at his teams.

He is now determined to ensure there is no repeat of that situation and that the right person is in place to prolong his legacy.

On Tuesday, chief executive Woodward said: "We have a view as to what type of manager we want and how and when we'll go about it. But it's in the drawer and long may it stay in the drawer."

Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1200101/sir-alex-ferguson-favours-pep-guardiola-for-manchester-united-job?cc=3888]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/138/nigerian-army-guilts-by-john-campbell- Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:46:27 -0400 admin 138@/discuss/discussions
A Nigerian soldier stands guard at a security checkpoint in Lagos 26/04/2011. (Joe Penney/Courtesy Reuters)
Sunday’s New York Times carried an Agence France Presse piece reporting on the alleged Boko Haram killing of at least thirty people over a three day period in Potiskum, Yobe state. The piece also notes that it was “not clear whether soldiers were responsible for any of the destruction.” The Nigerian army has been widely accused of indiscriminate killings in northern Nigeria as part of its campaign against Boko Haram. Some political leaders have urged the Jonathan government to withdraw the military, especially from Maiduguri, arguing that it feeds popular support for Boko Haram. I have blogged on a Human Rights Watch report that raises the question of whether the International criminal Court has jurisdiction over crimes committed both by Boko Haram and the military.

But it is too easy to lay responsibility for alleged security service atrocities solely at the feet of the Nigerian military. As in many countries, the army in Nigeria is not responsible for maintaining domestic order. That is the function of the police, which, like the army, is a national–not local or state–institution. The army is not trained for domestic policing. Nonetheless the army has moved to the forefront in the struggle against Boko Haram because of the inadequacies of the police. The latter are so poorly paid they often support their families by shaking down travelers at the ubiquitous check points and indulge in other forms of petty corruption. The upper reaches of the police also appear riddled with corruption, sometimes of spectacular magnitude. And they are very badly trained. Anecdotes abound of indiscriminate police killings. A consequence of these shortcomings is that the police are widely (if not universally) despised. Popular regard for the military is marginally better, if seemingly in decline because of recent abuse allegations.

There is legal provision for the military to assist the police. But that is supposed to be governed by strict protocols. If the army sweeps an area, it is required to hand over its detainees to the police, as occurred when the army captured Boko Haram chief Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. As is well known, the police then murdered him.

There is another dimension. Individuals in the army can be just as affected by the religious and ethnic conflicts that have become widespread in northern Nigeria in the aftermath of the elections of 2011, as the population they are charged to protect. It is likely that many individual soldiers have a strong–even murderous–bias against the local people.

It goes without saying that individuals are responsible for their crimes. Soldiers, especially, must be held to the highest personal standards. Nevertheless, there is also an institutional mess, responsibility for which rests with successive governments in Abuja as well as with the individuals who commit the crimes. Over the past decade Abuja has not developed, trained, or supported the police adequately for it to do its job. And it is misusing the army to do what it is not trained to do. Alas, at this stage, it is too late to do much about it. Precipitous withdrawal of the army from Maiduguri could leave the city altogether open to Boko Haram.

Source: http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2012/10/23/nigerian-army-guilt/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/137/teams-await-draw-on-wednesday-for-the-2013-africa-cup-of-nation Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:30:07 -0400 admin 137@/discuss/discussions
The 16 teams to compete in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will learn who they will play in South Africa when the draw is made in Durban on Wednesday.

The Confederation of African Football has already announced the seedings for the tournament, which will be held between 19 January and 10 February.

Hosts South Africa are among the top seeds, alongside reigning champions Zambia, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Debutants Cape Verde, who beat Cameroon in a play-off, are seeded fourth.

The tiny nation, with a population of about 500,000, pulled off a shock 3-2 aggregate win over the four-time African champions.

Cape Verde have been rapidly improving over the last decade, moving up from 182nd in Fifa's world rankings in 2000 to their current position of 51st.

And they could prove a tricky obstacle in the tournament's mini league stage - where the top two teams qualify from the four groups of four teams.

DR Congo are another of the fourth-seeded teams who could pose a big problem for the more fancied sides.

And with two-time winners Nigeria among the second seeds, there is much potential for a 'group of death' to emerge from the draw - despite the absence of Cameroon and seven-time winners Egypt, who are both missing for a second successive tournament.

Nigeria will have a point to prove after they failed to qualify for this year's tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

And under coach Stephen Keshi, who took over in October 2011 following the sacking of Samson Siasia, the Super Eagles are unbeaten in 2012.

Former South Africa captain Neil Tovey, who lifted the Nations Cup in 1996, believes Nigeria will be a team to watch out for.

"They possess an abundance of talent and my good friend Stephen Keshi is settling down nicely as coach and getting them well organised," Tovey said. "He has so many good footballers to choose from."

Tovey has also tipped four-time winners Ghana to do well and the Black Stars go into the tournament under the leadership of a man who knows what it takes to win it.

Kwesi Appiah lifted the trophy as a player in 1982 and many Ghana fans are optimistic he can emulate the achievement as a coach, having been appointed to the role in April.

Expectation may also weigh heavily on holders Zambia , although legendary former player Kalusha Bwalya is confident the Chipolopolo can cope.

He told BBC Sport: "The people have talked about the teams to beat and our name is being mentioned - as we are champions.

"And if there's one team at the tournament which has a tried and tested coach it's Zambia. We also have the players tried and tested. We have a team, a plan, a system in place. We know what to expect."

However, Zambia will have to improve significantly if they are to be contenders. Their form since winning the tournament in February has not been good and they only squeezed past Uganda in qualification, going through 9-8 on penalties.

Making a return to the finals for the first time since 1982 are Ethiopia , who qualified by beating Sudan on away goals. It marks a timely resurgence for the Walya Antelopes, who won the competition 50 years ago.

There were no such fine margins in Mali's final-round qualification tie, with the Eagles thumping Botswana 7-1.

Mali were a surprise package in the tournament earlier this year, when they performed brilliantly to finish in third place, but have backed up that performance with their results since.

The achievement of back-to-back qualifications is even more remarkable given the political unrest in Mali - a situation that forced a World Cup qualifier in June to be moved because of security concerns - and the fact they replaced coach Alain Giresse with Patrice Carteron in July.

Niger shocked many by qualifying last time and have proved it was no fluke by qualifying for their second successive finals. They will be aiming to go beyond the first round for the first time.

Another team looking to progress to the second stage for the first time is Togo , who have not played in the tournament since they withdrew from the 2010 finals in Angola after their team bus was attacked by gunmen.

Following their withdrawal Togo were initially banned by Caf from participating in the next two editions of the Nations Cup, which would have ruled them out of the 2013 tournament - the suspension was overturned by football's world governing body Fifa.

Ivory Coast go into the tournament with a batch of players who admit they may not get another chance in the career to lift the trophy - among them is ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Certainly the scene is set for a fascinating tournament in South Africa and the draw will give an indication of things to come.

Seedings for the draw for the 2103 Africa Cup of Nations:

• Pot one: South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast

• Pot two: Mali, Tunisia, Angola, Nigeria

• Pot three: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger

• Pot four: Togo, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Ethiopia.

Teams from the same pot cannot be drawn against each other.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20043391]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/136/nigeria-arrests-15-russian-sailors-carrying-arms Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:47:09 -0400 admin 136@/discuss/discussions
Nigerian authorities seized a ship and arrested its 15 Russian crew members on suspicion of arms smuggling, after they found several guns and about 8,500 rounds of ammunition on the boat, the Navy said on Tuesday.

The vessel was intercepted over the weekend in Lagos, one of Africa's busiest ports, Navy spokesman Commodore Aliyu Kabiru said by telephone. It belonged to the Moran Security Group, based in Moscow, and was flying a Dutch flag, he added.

There was no immediate comment from Moran.

"The vessel was carrying 8,598 ammunitions and different rifles. Investigations are still ongoing," he said. He gave no further details.

A Navy source, who could not be named, said 22 Benelli MR1 rifles and several other automatic weapons were found.

Arms smuggling is a flourishing enterprise in Nigeria, which is battling an Islamist insurgency in the north, organised armed robbery and kidnapping gangs in the south and oil thieves and pirates in the southeast.

The country is also sometimes used as a conduit for shipping arms into other parts of West Africa or the world.

In 2010, a consignment of rocket launchers, grenades and other explosive from Iran was seized at Lagos, causing a diplomatic incident between the two countries, and later between Iran and Senegal, which accused Iranian security forces of using the route to supply weapons to its Casamance rebels.

Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/senegalNews/idAFL5E8LN8MS20121023]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/135/sometimes-its-hard-to-be-a-woman-by-inge-geerdens Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:59:06 -0400 admin 135@/discuss/discussions
Women and careers, they're not the best of friends. If you manage to escape the mommy trap and survive the lower echelons of the corporate jungle, you are within viewing distance of the top. Doesn't it look great through the glass ceiling?

I know, I may be dramatizing a little. But you would too, if you knew just how many times people ask my opinion on the topic.

To be honest, I'm always a little uncomfortable when they do. Especially when other women ask me what it means to their career. Because I don't have a clue either. I'm entrepreneur. I've started my first business after just a few years on the payroll. I am my own boss. If there were a glass ceiling in my company, it would be one I'm standing on.

But I'm not blind either. Sometimes, when I look around at a high-end networking event, I can see that women are outnumbered. Proof enough that there's some kind of barrier.

Should we fight it? No doubt. All men and women are equal and should be treated that way. But I'm not per se a fan of quota either. I suppose because positive discrimination has its victims too. I'm all for the right person in the right place.

If you feel treated unfair, speak up. But choose your battles carefully. You can't always win and remember you do have a choice: you can walk away from a macho company any time. Perhaps, leaving it behind might even be the best strategy. Especially when other women follow your lead. Civil disobedience, in a way.

I must admit that being a woman isn't always a disadvantage either. I've been on stages all around the world presenting my business, in competition with numerous other entrepreneurs. Male entrepreneurs. And I find people remember me easier. Perhaps not always for the right reasons, but then again who really cares if you win and get the prize? It's a nice compensation, to make up for the lost causes if you will. And, who am I to judge them? Those guys may remember me, but I can't possibly recall their names.

Yes, sometimes it's hard to be a woman. And sometimes, well, it's not.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/134/nigerias-floods-and-the-jonathan-administration-by-john-campbell Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:16:44 -0400 admin 134@/discuss/discussions
In the areas affected by flooding, the displaced are huddled together in camps set up by the state governments. Presumably, outbreaks of infectious disease will start soon if these conditions do not improve. Despite the efforts of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross and some private organizations, nationally organized relief appears minimal. According to a locally-based NGO in Delta state, in a camp for one thousand five hundred victims, the state authorities have been able to supply only one hundred mattresses, fifty blankets, twenty bags of rice, and a few bags of gari.

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared the flooding a “national disaster” and established a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation. On October 9, his administration announced it was providing U.S. $110 million in financial assistance.

But, in the southern part of the country, there are complaints that the federal government is doing nothing and that the federal relief funds have disappeared. The military, stretched thin by Boko Haram in the north and a resurgence of the kidnapping of expatriates in the Niger Delta oil patch, appears altogether absent.

Anger is building at what many see as government ineptness. Yet, the states most affected by the flooding in the south include Jonathan’s core constituency. In the 2011 presidential elections, he won 99 percent of the vote in Delta and Bayelsa states. Jonathan is a native of Bayelsa. His home village is among those that have been evacuated.

Knowledgeable Nigerians are telling me that the human tragedy is of far greater magnitude than that resulting from Hurricane Katrina. At the time of Katrina, the Nigerian government donated U.S. $1 million for disaster relief in the American gulf states. This was an important gesture by a developing country. If the Obama administration has not already done so, it should be looking at what the United States can offer to do to mitigate the consequences of Nigeria’s current natural disaster.

Source: http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2012/10/19/nigerias-floods-and-the-jonathan-administration/]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/132/wyclef-akon-to-feature-in-nollywood-movie Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:28:41 -0400 dakoloyoung 132@/discuss/discussions
International musical acts, Wyclef Jean and Akon will feature in Jeta Amata’s "Black November". The duo joined the cast in the final lap of shooting, which took place in Los Angeles, California.

The movie "Black November" is about the Niger Delta and features Nollywood stars; Fred Amata, Nse Ikpe-Etim, OC Ukeje, and Robert Peters  in the big-budget film.

It also has Hollywood actors like Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne Callies and Anne Heche.

Jeta Amata is known for his international standard movies including; The Amazing Grace, Inale and Black Gold]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/131/12-men-who-walked-on-the-moon-from-1969-to-1972 Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:38:49 -0400 dakoloyoung 131@/discuss/discussions — Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11, 1969
— Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Apollo 11, 1969
— Charles "Pete" Conrad, Apollo 12, 1969
— Alan L. Bean, Apollo 12, 1969
— Alan Shepard, Apollo 14, 1971
— Edgar D. Mitchell, Apollo 14, 1971
— David Scott, Apollo 15, 1971
— James B. Irwin, Apollo 15, 1971
— John Young, Apollo 16, 1972
— Charles M. Duke Jr., Apollo 16, 1972
— Eugene A. Cernan, Apollo 17, 1972
— Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, Apollo 17, 1972]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/130/south-sudans-atong-demach-is-miss-world-africa Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:20:36 -0400 bmagic 130@/discuss/discussions
True to pre-event predictions, China’s Wenxia YU, was crowned Miss World 2012 at a thrilling ceremony held on the weekend of Saturday August 18. She takes over from Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela.

The post-event debate about whether China truly deserved the crown is to be expected, as it follows the tradition of a global showpiece that has gone through some phases since its inception, but remains the world’s most patronized beauty pageant.

This year marked the 62nd edition, and saw some 116 countries taking part, including the newly independent African nation South Sudan.

Represented at the world stage this year by the ever gorgeous and stunning Atong Demach, South Sudan managed to create history by winning the coveted Miss World Africa prize, also known as the “African Continental Queen of Beauty”, on their first ever shot at the world title.

Source: http://african.howzit.msn.com/south-sudan%E2%80%99s-atong-demach-is-miss-world-africa]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/129/africa-got-30-medals-across-8-countries-as-kenya-bids-to-host-2024-olympics Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:29:45 -0400 dakoloyoung 129@/discuss/discussions 28 Kenya 2 4 5 11
25 Ethiopia 3 1 3 7
24 South Africa 3 2 1 6
58 Egypt 0 2 0 2
50 Algeria 1 0 0 1
50 Uganda 1 0 0 1
69 Botswana 0 1 0 1
69 Gabon 0 1 0 1

Kenya hopes to become the first African country to host the Olympic Games with its recent 2024 bid. Its intentions were made known by Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga during an announcement recently. Prior to this, South Africa and Egypt both had failed attempts to host the Games in 2004 and 2008 respectively. However, Kenya plans to win its bid this time.

What is the hope for Nigeria sports?]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/128/power-outage-in-nigeria-by-participants-of-aa-peaceworks-video-diaries-training-in-ph-rivers-state- Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:04:56 -0400 dakoloyoung 128@/discuss/discussions

]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/127/oil-bunkering-in-niger-delta-of-nigeria-its-effect-by-participants-of-aapw-video-diary-training- Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:20:01 -0400 dakoloyoung 127@/discuss/discussions

]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/126/road-encroachment-by-traders-at-creek-road-ph-by-aapw-video-diaries-training-participants.- Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:12:36 -0400 dakoloyoung 126@/discuss/discussions

]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/125/documentary-on-corruption-by-aapw-video-dairy-training-participants-2962012- Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:51:19 -0400 dakoloyoung 125@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/124/nigeria-win-world-u-14-handball-champion Sun, 08 Jul 2012 17:14:56 -0400 dakoloyoung 124@/discuss/discussions
It was a glorious weekend for Nigerian handball as the country on Saturday emerged the World U- 14 handball champion in Sweden.

The country’s flag bearers in the competition, Niger United handball club in the final defeated the hosts, Sweden 21-10 to emerge winners of the competition which attracted clubs from 40 countries.

President of Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mallam Yusuf Dauda who led the country’s delegation to the handball fiesta said the victory was a clear indication that the federation’s catch them young program is yielding dividend.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/123/president-jonathan-nominates-justice-mukhtar-as-first-female-chief-justice-of-nigeria Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:31:02 -0400 dakoloyoung 123@/discuss/discussions
In a letter to the Senate, Jonathan urged senators to approve her appointment.

Justice Mukhtar, 68, succeeds outgoing CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher who retires from service on the 16th of this month.

Details later.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/122/nigeria-has-the-highest-percentage-of-users-of-skin-bleaching-products Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:43:08 -0400 dakoloyoung 122@/discuss/discussions
In a report recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the highest percentage of users of skin bleaching . The report, which examines the dangers of mercury in cream lightening soaps and creams, revealed that over 77 percent of Nigerians use these products on a regular basis. This high figure is a cause for concern; skin lightening products contain mercury which has many adverse effects including skin irritations, pain, kidney damage and peripheral neuropathy.

According to Carolyn Vickers, WHO Chemical Safety Personnel, “mercury in soaps and creams eventually enters waste water and then enters the food chain as highly toxic methyl mercury. Pregnant women who consume fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their foetuses that can later result in neurological deficits in children.”

From creams to cosmetics, WHO has warned against the use of all skin lightening products. The number of women using these products is increasing by the day as they pursue what is considered to be ‘fair-skinned beauty’ as defined by international magazines and the media and large. This trend “can be seen as perpetuating the colonial belief that being lighter is better”, says Ehowhow.com. The mercury in skin lightening products allows users to achieve a lighter skin tone by inhibiting the formation of melanin. What they fail to realize is that they are doing more harm than good to their skin.

Mercury has been banned in many countries. In the United States and the EU, the use of mercury compounds in cosmetics is prohibited by law.

While manufacturers have become creative in concealing the presence of mercury in their products, the WHO report provides tips on how to detect products that might be harmful. “The amount or concentration of mercury in a product may be labeled on the packaging or in the ingredient list. Names to look for include mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris, hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (mercury oxide) and mercury iodide”, the report says.

Skin lightening products are manufactured in countries like China, Mexico, Lebanon and the Dominican Republic and are commonly used in African and Asian nations. They come in soaps and creams which are generally applied to the skin overnight and left to dry. Those with very high levels of mercury contamination have a grey or cream coloured look. Although the product manuals usually contain a warning, “most companies selling products that contain mercury do not always list it as an ingredient”.

Source: The Punch]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/121/minister-outlines-plans-for-digitalised-access-to-information- Mon, 21 May 2012 15:04:27 -0400 Richard 121@/discuss/discussions
She said beyond providing relevant, accurate and up to date information to Nigerians, the Federal Government was committed to increasing the delivery of government services online.

In a welcome address delivered at the international conference on the New Media and Governance: Tools and Trends” in Abuja on Monday, Mrs. Johnson lamented that only about 49 per cent of government ministries, departments and agencies have a functioning, publish and inform websites, noting that the government was currently in the process of developing a national Internet-based portal that would facilitate easy access to government information through publish and inform websites.

Accordingly, she said, government had set December, 2014 deadline for all MDAs to have a functioning publish and inform websites domiciled on a national portal, which would provide structured information about government activities and services in such a way that the two-way communication on various social media platforms could facilitate engagement.

For those, who have access to Internet, but have other digital devises such as mobile phones, the minister promised government’s contact centres would be established primarily as call centres that would provide information on government services to citizens in English and a number of local languages. Two of such pilot centres would be in place before the end of the year or early next year.

According to her, New Media facilitates on demand access to content, anytime, anywhere on any digital device, which has now resulted to what is referred to the democratisation of information. “This has only been possible through the evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially the emergence and the ubiquity of the Internet.

“New Media played a critical part in our elections, the civil unrest that followed the planned removal of the fuel subsidy, the UK youths riots in 2011 and the Arab springs to name, but a few. Recall that President Goodluck Jonathan made use of this platform and declared his intention to run as president back then on Facebook much to the approval of millions of young and digitally-aware Nigerians.

“These significant events have clearly demonstrated that government cannot afford to ignore new media, because this is becoming the way in which citizens want to communicate and engage with government and with the outside world. It is instantaneous, it can be anonymous, you can do it anywhere and at anytime and it is cheaper than any other forms of communication.”

Presently, the minister said about 45 million Nigerians have access to the internet, with more than the number of Nigerians have access to or own broadcasting devices such as radio and television. “As ICT infrastructure is rolled out and get more robust, more Nigerians will have access to cheap and fast internet. This is an extremely instructive statistics because what it means is that inn the very near future, the cheapest and fastest way for the Nigerian government to provide information and to engage with citizens will be through the leverage of new media tools.”

According to her, the publishing of the federal budget on the Internet led to an unprecedented and informed commentary on the budget and gave Nigerians a real insight into where the money was being spent.

“Not because this is the first time, but the digital awareness was greater and access to the internet had increased. But the budget in its raw form can only be understood by the economists.

“This is where the developer community comes and I hope that they are well represented. Many state governments are beginning to publish their budgets on the Internet taking an important step towards financial transparency and accountability. The government is also committed to supporting the developer community in taking up this challenge through the increase in the ICT incubation centres in the country.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/120/my-take-on-former-ambassador-yahaya-kwandes-interview-with-the-nation Sun, 20 May 2012 14:40:07 -0400 dakoloyoung 120@/discuss/discussions
Some hours ago, Alhaji Yahaya Kwande, an elder statesman and former Nigeria Ambassador to Switzerland, was interviewed by The Nation Newspaper on several issues bedeviling the country as it was tagged “Why Nigeria can’t break up”. Kwande was confident in his statement during the interview that Nigeria will not break up rather those calling for a break up are only doing so to instill fear in their opponents. I agree with the former Ambassador when he rated Nigeria’s political activities as worse because people see politics as the quickest means to wealth, however, I disagree that the blame is on the ordinary citizens for expecting too much (financially) from their elected representatives bearing in mind that to him who much is given, much is expected.

Kwande pointed out some facts which to me should be addressed:

• He supported the Oronsaye Panel, which recommended that EFCC and ICPC should be scrapped for the reason that they make corruption worse. He also called on government to make the audit department function with strictness to its responsibilities.

Since the advent of EFCC and other anti-graft agencies, we have never recorded a case where corrupt bureaucrats and politicians are penalized for exercising such act. Rather, it’s used as a political tool to restrain opposing political ideologies. For this reason I think its necessary the anti-graft agencies should be scrapped for efficiency and effectiveness to stir up in our MDAs (audit department). If there should be an anti-graft agency, they should be operated independently without the influence of the presidency or any other government institutions.

• The former Ambassador decried wastage in government with example on the issue of duplication of MDAs which has been a debating subject for a period up to this moment.

I think if government intends to really cut down its recurrent expenditure, they should as well focus on restructuring the MDAs to a typical format that resist duplication of parastatal. Well, it is commonly known in Nigeria that those responsibilities that are duplicated were done for the purpose of satisfying their campaign and election – political - sponsors, supporters and associates. In developed countries, organizations and institutions enthusiastically donate to election campaigns not because of their personal interest but for the sake of valuable and productive policies the contestant intend implementing.

• Kwande stressed that there’s nothing wrong in politicians hustling for 2015 but it’ll be incorrect if they are not exercising their primary responsibility.

Politicians should note that their previous performance in office is the pivotal yardstick for reelection so therefore delivering on their campaign promises should be a priority rather than seeking for means (rigging, assassinating, etc.) through which they can sneak into power again.


• An important fact emphasized by Kwande is the participation of former military officials in politics seeing that it’s the reason for the crises befalling Plateau State.

This is a fact that can hardly be disputed; ex-military officials should stay out of active politics and perform the advisory role to those in power. By so doing, there’ll be check-and-balance in the system, politicians will be conscious that they are being watch and thereby be persuade to perform their duties rightfully.
These are my take on his interview, I stand to be corrected, please share your opinion on these issues that have been highlighted.

The Interview: http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/47206-why-nigeria-can%E2%80%99t-break-up,-by-yahaya-kwande.html


By Dakolo Young
Change Advocate and New Media Entrepreneur
AA PeaceWorks]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/119/forbes-list-of-african-billionaires-2012-in-case-you-missed-it Sun, 06 May 2012 21:35:52 -0400 grace 119@/discuss/discussions
See the list below as published on Forbes.com

Aliko Dangote, $11.2 billion

Nigeria, Sugar, Cement, Flour
Africa’s cement king has shed more than $2.6 billion from his net worth since last year as a consequence of Nigeria’s floundering stock market. But don’t feel sorry: Dangote still remains the richest man on the continent. He famously started trading commodities three decades ago with a business loan from an uncle, then went on to build the $15 billion (combined market capitalization) Dangote Group which now has interests in everything from sugar refineries, flour milling, salt processing and cement plants in Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa.

Nicky Oppenheimer & family, $6.8 billion

Last November, Oppenheimer agreed to a historic sale of his family’s 40% stake in De Beers, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds to Anglo American in a $5.1 billion deal. Oppenheimer has vowed to invest a substantial part of the money in Africa. So far, he has invested heavily in Tana Africa Capital, a $300 million private equity joint venture with Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings. The fund will invest primarily in the agricultural and consumer goods sectors across Africa. Passionate cricketer.

Nassef Sawiris, $5.1 billion

Egypt, Construction

Nassef Sawiris, the youngest son of Orascom conglomerate founder and fellow billionaire, Onsi Sawiris, heads Orascom Construction Industries, one of Egypt’s largest publicly-traded companies. Sawiris also owns substantial stakes in cement companies Lafarge and Texas Industries.

Johann Rupert & family, $5.1 billion

South Africa, Luxury Goods

Luxury goods billionaire Rupert serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Richemont, a Swiss holding company that controls premium brands such as Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Alfred Dunhill, Montblanc and Chloé. Also chairs South African investment holding companies, Remgro Ltd and Reinet Investments Manager. The automobile enthusiast established the Franschhoek Motor Museum which houses his personal collection of over 200 antique vehicles.

Mike Adenuga, $4.3 billion

Nigeria, telecom, banking, oil

Reclusive tycoon was the first Nigerian to strike oil in commercial quantities through his firm, Conoil Producing. Today, the company is Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil exploration company producing some 100,000 barrels per day. Also owns Globacom, Nigeria’s second largest mobile telecom operator which boasts over 15 million active subscribers.

Naguib Sawiris, $3.1 billion

Egypt, Telecom

The eldest son of Onsi Sawiris, Naguib built up Orascom Telecom to become the dominant mobile telecoms operator in the Maghreb region. In 2010, he sold off his family’s stake in the company to Russia’s VimpelCom for $6.5 billion. He subsequently made his foray into politics, founding the Free Egyptians party in April 2011 to promote free markets and a secular platform.



Christoffel Wiese, $3.1 billion

South Africa, Retailing

Wiese is the chairman and largest individual shareholder of low-price supermarket chain Shoprite, Africa’s largest retailer. He also owns a 44% stake in discount clothes, shoes and textiles chain Pepkor as well a significant shareholding in private equity firm Brait. His other assets include Lanzerac Manor & Winery, a five-star hotel that produces its own wine, and a private game reserve in the Kalahari.

Onsi Sawiris, $2.9 billion

Egypt, construction, telecom

The legendary patriarch of Egypt’s most powerful business dynasty. The Orascom Group, which he founded, has interests in telecoms, hotels and construction. The companies are all run by his three sons- Naguib, Samih and Nassef.



Miloud Chaabi, $2.9 billion

Morocco, Real estate

As a child, the Moroccan businessman and politician worked as a farmer and goat herdsman. By the time he was 19, he had saved enough to start a small construction company which developed residential properties. Through his Ynna Holding Company, he subsequently expanded his empire into hotels, supermarkets, and renewable energy. Chaabi is one of Morocco’s most vocal critics of political and business corruption.

Patrice Motsepe, $2.7 billion

South Africa, Mining

Born in the sprawling black township of Soweto and then trained as a lawyer, he became the first black partner at Bowman Gilfillan law firm in Johannesburg. Went on to found a small contracting business doing mine scut work, then bought low-producing gold shaft mines in 1994 which he turned profitable using lean management style. Today, his $5 billion (market cap) African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has interests in platinum, nickel, chrome, iron, manganese, coal, copper and gold. Motsepe owns over 41% of the company. Also owns a 5% stake in Sanlam, a financial services firm outside Cape Town.

Othman Benjelloun, $2.3 billion

Morocco, banking, insurance

His father was a major shareholder in a small Moroccan insurance company. He took over in 1988 and built it into RMA Watanya, one of Morocco’s largest insurance companies. He used RMA Watanya as a springboard to diversify into banking. Today, his $4 billion (market capitalization) BMCE Bank has operations in more than a dozen countries. Through his holding company Groupe FinanceCom, he also has significant interests in telecom, airlines and Information technology.

Mohamed Mansour, $1.7 billion

Egypt, Diversified

Along with his two brothers, Mohammed Mansour runs the world’s largest GM dealership. Among other assets, the Mansour Group also owns the largest supermarket chain in Egypt, the country’s second largest real estate developer, Palm Hills and the Philip Morris franchise in Egypt.

Anas Sefrioui, $1.6 billion

Morocco, Real estate

In 1998, the then 31 year-old Anas Sefrioui founded a small real estate development company which bought out small, dilapidated residential structures, renovated then flipped for profit. But he hit it big nearly a decade later when Morocco’s late King Hassan II awarded him an extremely lucrative contract to build 20,000 units of government subsidized houses for the masses. In 2005, he won another $1 billion state contract to build more housing units. His real estate company, Douja Promotion Groupe Addoha went public in 2006. He owns over 60% of the company’s preferred stock.

Yasseen Mansour, $1.6 billion

Egypt, Diversified

The youngest of Egypt’s three Mansour brothers, Yasseen is the chairman of Palm Hills, Egypt’s seconf-largest real estate developer, but the bulk of his fortune is tied up in the family business, the largest seller of GM vehicles in the world.

Youssef Mansour, $1.5 billion

Egypt, Diversified

The eldest of the Mansour brothers owns stakes in real estate developer Palm Hills, Egypt’s largest supermarket chain, Metro and Mansour Group which is the largest seller of GM vehicles on earth. Reclusive philanthropist now devotes his time and energies towards the family foundation which focuses on illiteracy and education.

Mohamed Al Fayed, $1.3 billion

Egypt, retailing

In 2010, Al-Fayed sold his popular Harrod’s department store in London toQatar Holding. Reported selling price: $2.4 billion. He believes the future lies in online retail. Last July, he acquired U.K.-based discount fashion website Cocosa. Other assets include the Hotel Ritz in Paris, the Fulham football club, and a castle in Scotland]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/118/don-jazzy-launches-new-record-label-mavin-records-ft-tiwa-savage-wande-coal-dr.-sid-dprince Sun, 06 May 2012 21:23:35 -0400 grace 118@/discuss/discussions
Mavin Records, a record label comprising Wande Coal, D’Prince, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid and award winning producer Don Jazzy is set to hit the West African music scene by storm. We can’t wait to see what they have to offer.

For more information on the launch date, May 8th, follow Mavin Records on http://www.mavinrecords.com/

So finally Mo'Hit is no more?]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/117/10-key-points-to-remember-in-an-effective-blog-writing-checklist- Sat, 05 May 2012 03:06:37 -0400 Richard 117@/discuss/discussions
So you got that blog post published. You sent it out on your Twitter, Facebook and whatever else social networks, but you’re not getting as many clicks or visits? Did you remember to cross off all the points on your blog writing checklist?

What? No list?

Well, if you are like me, then you probably don’t remember everything, all the time.  This is why I have a simple reminder of the points I need to check off before I hit that publish button.

I mean really…have you published something and remembered that you didn’t do everything you needed to? Yes, that’s me. So that’s why I have a list, but it’s not a color-coded list…well not yet.

10 Points for a Blog Writing Checklist

So for you, my not remembering everything all the time friend, checkout these 10 key points for an effective blog writing checklist:

- Headline – The first thing a reader sees is the headline. Make it compelling – give the reader a reason to click on your link. There are TONS of blog posts published everyday; why would I click on yours?

After you write for the reader, look at SEO. If needed, write a separate headline for your title tag. Try to put your keywords up front if possible. Make sure you don’t go past 70 characters (with spaces) in your headline.

- Intro – They clicked on your headline – now what? Does your introduction have a hook or benefit to your reader? For example try offering up a hard-hitting question or maybe a statistic that relates to the subject of your post.

- Spell check – Really? No matter what software you write your post in, make sure you do a spell check. Enough said.

- Grammar – Now I am not saying you need to have a professional look at your post, but use something to check your grammar. Word has a basic grammar checker and look at After the Deadline.

Not everyone is an English major, but cut out the passive voice and common mistakes like: then or than, to or too…you get the picture, right?

- Image – Even with a well-written post, a picture is a good idea. Look to include a photo that’s relevant to your post. For instance: you wrote a post on email marketing – look at a photo about email…duh! Remember to link to the owner of the photo and add a description to the alt property of the photo.

- Readability – Don’t you hate it when you click through to a post and there’s a GIANT or multiple GIANT blocks of text? Don’t give your reader a migraine and another reason to leave your blog! Remember, blog writing is still writing.

Add subheadings to emphasize different areas in your post – this also helps with scanners…it’s proven that Internet readers are scanners. Remember to keep your paragraphs around 3-4 sentences while going to a new paragraph for changes in thought.

- Links – A blog post without links is like a painting that uses only one color. Not only does it help readers find other posts on your blog, it helps with SEO.

When adding that link, ensure you have key anchor text phrases picked out. For instance: if you link to a post on resources for content marketing, make sure that link goes to a relevant resource on content marketing.

- Call to action – What will your call to action be? This is a good time to refer to your blogging editorial calendar and check what is the purpose of your post. Is it to drive more traffic? Add more subscribers to your blog or newsletter? Post a comment and start a conversation?

No matter what the purpose is, have a call to action (CTA) and tell your reader what you want them to do next.

There are other things that you could add to your blog writing checklist, but I have tried to cover the most touched on areas. I know it helps me out when I am writing out blog posts because I am such a noodle head – I need things written down in front of me or I will forget them!

Did I miss anything? What would you add to this list? What’s on your blog writing checklist?]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/116/hassan-tukur-i-never-sabotaged-boko-haram-talks- Fri, 04 May 2012 15:52:13 -0400 Richard 116@/discuss/discussions
Principal Private Secretary to President Jonathan, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, has said there was no basis to the allegation that he sabotaged talks between the government and Boko Haram.

Responding to an earlier statement by mediator in the botched dialogue, Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad, Tukur told the VOA Hausa radio yesterday that he did not leak any information to the media as claimed by Ahmad.
 

On Tuesday, Ahmad told the same radio station that Tukur sabotaged the talks back in March by leaking information to newspapers after President Jonathan delegated him to pursue the dialogue process.

“What Dr. Datti said was not true,” Tukur said. “When they came, I asked them to bring the list of their contacts in the Ahlussunnah i.e. Boko Haram, and they should tell us the ways and how to sit down for the dialogue with them. Since they left, they never came back.

“They never told us their Boko Haram contacts, nor the way to dialogue with them. He just appeared in the papers saying a government official revealed that the dialogue plans with Boko Haram. Nobody appointed Datti Ahmad, he brought himself.”

Tukru added: “You can only enter into a dialogue with those you know but he did not bring those people. He said because the story leaked he withdrew, does that make sense? In fact if he truly wanted to intervene, he should be happy the information was out.”

He said he was not even in the country when Ahmad and two other people met with President Jonathan, and he was later brought into the process by the president.

“When four of them met with the president, I was not in the country. On my return the president told me that he would be sending the group to come and meet with me,” Tukur said.

“In this dire situation that this country is facing I think it is incumbent on each and every Nigerian, especially of northern descent to make concerted efforts in quelling any problem in this country.

“But this position which Datti Ahmed decided to tow, to accuse some phantom government official of being the one against his move to negotiate with Boko Haram, is ill advised and unIslamic.”

He added that the president and himself really wanted to bring an end to the crisis “but people should not see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the plight of the Nigerian people.”

Asked by the VOA on what the government would do to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, Tukur said, “I can assure you that if there is one thing that this government wants to resolve as quickly as possible, it is this problem. We are both northerners, I went to school both in Maiduguri and Kano. In the last few months I was in Maiduguri more than thrice and I have been to Kano as well; I know what these places are going through. I know what our brothers, Muslims and Christians, are going through because of the unrest. Schools are shut down, healthcare is not available and sources of commerce are cut; there are no fresh investments and nothing works. Why would it therefore be a government official or a northerner or even a Muslim who would want to see this destruction continue?

“Besides, the Ahlis Sunna group are Muslims like us, so why would we not sit together on the negotiation table? Didn’t our Prophet (SAW) sat in negotiation… We are Muslims and we know that the Prophet sat side-by-side with Jews in Medina, so why wouldn’t we? So if anyone says he withdrew his effort to negotiate peace for Nigeria on this lame excuse that it was disclosed to the media, then I think there is more to it than what we are hearing.”

Source: DAILY TRUST]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/115/nigeria-churches-at-risk-of-attack-tighten-security Fri, 04 May 2012 15:19:37 -0400 Richard 115@/discuss/discussions
Throughout northern Nigeria, Christian churches are ramping up security as a militant Islamist sect, Boko Haram, targets places of worship. At a church in the northern city of Kaduna, Christians are refusing to let the near-constant threat of attack keep them away from Sunday services.

The bellman's call to the faithful at this Assemblies of God church in the Kakuri area of Kaduna have been joined by another now-familiar Sunday morning sound.

A metal detector pings intermittently as volunteer security guards check inside the trunks and glove boxes of cars entering the compound.

Near-daily violence in northern Nigeria is increasingly targeting churches. Bombings and other attacks have killed dozens of Christians in recent months.

Inside this church, parishioners clench their eyes shut and lift their hands skyward as their lips move in prayer during the service. Three armed policemen sit outside, their guns propped in front of them as they keep watch.

The head minister, Reverend Emmanuel Daudu, says trust in God does not mean letting down your guard.

"We don't fear but we are security-conscious, because we don't have to be relaxing and our enemies to take us unawares," said Reverend Daudu. "We have to be alert always, because we don't know their plans against us or against the church."

All vehicles are checked for weapons and explosives before they enter the compound. A dozen volunteer security guards, led by chief security officer Aminu Timothy Babah, patrol the grounds.

"We are feeling that, let's try and do what we are able to do, to do the best we can, to make sure that the tension that is rising in the minds of people at least is being cooled down or being reduced," said Babah.

A car bomb that exploded in Kaduna on Easter Sunday killed 40 people and wounded others. Many suspect the intended target was a nearby church compound.

The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has repeatedly pledged to "purify" northern Nigeria of Christians.

Though the vast majority of Boko Haram's hundreds of victims were Muslims, the sect has targeted churches in particular for several attacks. The most recent, at a university in Kano, killed 15 people. Witnesses said gunmen threw explosives and then fired at those trying to flee.

There are fears that attacks against Christians in this already volatile region could aggravate tensions and even spark unrest or reprisal attacks against Muslims.

Just days after the Kano attack, the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said it is getting increasingly difficult to restrain what he said are millions of frustrated Nigerians.

"We have tried to talk to them, advise them and stop them from doing anything that will not help matters," said Pastor  Oritsejafor. "We have tried to stop them from retaliating, and it has worked thus far. But what we are saying is we don't know if we can still hold them back if this kind of thing continues."

At the Assemblies of God Church in Kaduna, mother of two, Amako Laraba, says nothing can keep her from church.

"When you send your children to school, you are little bit afraid what might happen in the town, but in the church we are safe," said Laraba. "he Bible teach me that we should have faith in God. This is our town. This is our home. This is where we should worship so we feel very free."

The two-hour service is a cathartic experience. Joyous bursts of singing break up bouts of fiery preaching and concentrated prayer.

Church members say they continue to pray for redemption and peace.

Source: http://t.co/VTTcbG18]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/114/7-most-efficient-ways-to-build-a-long-lasting-relationship Fri, 04 May 2012 10:29:22 -0400 Richard 114@/discuss/discussions
Relationships are the hearts of humanity. Not only, do they exist for physical survival but more so they are at the core of Humanity’s very own reason of existence. While not every relationship is meant to last, there are means to nurture them in such a way that the meeting of two people becomes more than an exchange of experiences but truly the sharing of soulful truths.

Here is a list of 7 ways to best built long-lasting relationships through which souls can connect, thrive and grow in a continuous sense of harmony.

1). Path of Non-Judgment

The first ever rule of long lasting relationship is non-judgment. There is no room for connection where perceptions have no room to co-exist within their difference. Non-judgment is fundamental to create an atmosphere of safety and trust. For two people to find the space to share their truth is to give each the comfort to express their feelings, be heard and be loved beyond the words.

2). Path of Humility

Non-Judgment is possible when we realize the value of our own truth and value, with the same worth, the truth of another. Humility in relationship allows the mind to remain open to another perception with a great sense of detachment while being greatly attached to the person who shares it. The nature of another’s truth is Sacred and, as so, must be cared with honor.

3). Path of Gratitude

Those who are brought into our life are those we have attracted to mirror us our own Truth. While parts of this Truth may not always be the most beautiful one, they remain our very own belonging. Gratitude for those who walk by us and hold us accountable for our truth is an essential aspect of a long-lasting relationship. Remembering that while darkness is being shown, the Light is being pulled from below, only to come out and let us shine even more.

4). Path of Kindness

The greatest sealer for relationships is kindness. Kindness represents the dearest expression of love. Undeniable evidence of care and attention, kindness offers a bridge for joy, happiness and harmony. Kindness is always possible even when disagreement is present. It is the blossoming of a philosophy of Life founded on gratitude. Kindness offers space for communication and self-expression. It is the flow through which souls find themselves sharing the most of their Truth.

5). Path of Curiosity

Long-lasting relationships are based on the continuous sense of curiosity about what Life is. Life that exists within the self and within all form. It also is the natural space for the inner-child to feel the freedom of its original source. When two can find themselves being curious, wanting to discover and explore their sense of Life or finding enough strength to wander into the wilderness of their existence, then life expands into a journey of eternal discoveries and endless creativity.

6). Path of Simplicity

The ultimate space where long-lasting relationships find themselves is in simplicity. People who can exist and share the moment for itself can enjoy life with nothing more than their own presence to fill it up. Realizing the excellence held in the moment only through presence offers the most realistic window onto life at the source where Love exists without need.

7). Path of Understanding

Two people who have chosen to connect have met on a common ground called Friendship. While this common ground is divinely sacred, it also is filled with societal stigmas that tend to set it apart from any other sense of relationship such as lovers or spouses. The common ground for all relationships is Friendship and the strongest stone to this ground is understanding. Understanding isn’t only precious, it is priceless and relationships that wish to grow in harmony and compassion must share life with a compassionate heart and a flexible mind where love guides thoughts into understanding and therefore acceptance.

Source: ModernLifeBlogs (http://s.tt/1aJk7)]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/113/transparency-international-writes-president-jonathan-with-threat-of-lawsuit-in-europe Thu, 03 May 2012 10:38:20 -0400 bmagic 113@/discuss/discussions
Dear President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,

“We are lawyers representing Transparency International, a global civil society group leading the fight against corruption. Your Excellency, if you look at the website of our client, she defines herself extensively as: “Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. TI’s mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption.

Transparency International challenges the inevitability of corruption, and offers hope to its victims. Since its founding in 1993, TI has played a lead role in improving the lives of millions around the world by building momentum for the anti corruption movement.”

Your Excellency, perhaps, you already know that our client is famous in your part of the world for her annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI). It has become the world’s most famous corruption ranking fiesta. People and governments all over the world expect the annual CPI the way they expect the announcement of the Nobel Prizes. We are sure you know how it works Your Excellency: some 200 countries are ranked from the least corrupt to the most corrupt.

To gather corruption data every year on two hundred countries is arduous work. Our client’s thorough methodology is constantly reviewed and updated by the best experts in the world. This methodology revolves around a national integrity system assessment that is applied by a team of country specialists. Transparency International allots three specialists to each of the 200 countries under assessment. Six hundred specialists work round the clock to help our client draw up the CPI which is released on the last month of every year.

Transparency International has retained the services of our firm because they believe that Nigeria is about to jeopardise their work for the year 2012. Our client suspects sabotage, plotted and orchestrated by Nigeria’s political elite, in order to make it impossible for Transparency International to work effectively on the 2012 Corruption Perception Index. Our client would rather have a peaceful resolution of this matter as international litigation is always sensational, time wasting, and expensive.

The problem, Your Excellency, has to do with the rate and scale of scams and corruption probes coming out of Nigeria in 2012. The scope and speed of corruption in your country this year is beyond anything our client has ever dealt with. When the pension fund scam broke out, the three specialists working on Nigeria complained about overwork and threatened a lawsuit against Transparency International because they had to work 23 hours a day from Monday to Sunday just to cope with the figures coming out of that scam. Our client had to pull country specialists away from zero or low corruption countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Singapore, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada. The specialists working on all these countries were transferred to the Nigeria desk.

While the reinforced Nigeria desk was coping with the pension fund scam, the fuel subsidy scam and the SEC scam also broke out in your country and the figures involved have been so vertiginous that Transparency International has had no choice but to transfer all six hundred country specialists working on two hundred countries to the Nigeria desk. With our client’s six hundred experts now struggling to cope with corruption data emanating from just one country, the integrity of the CPI process for 2012 has been compromised. TI has no staff to work on the remaining one hundred and ninety-nine countries.

An emergency board meeting was convened to review the situation and board members suggested that given the scale of these corruption scandals emanating from your country in just the first four months of 2012, there appears to be a conspiracy on the part of your country’s political class to overwhelm Transparency International and thereby make it impossible for her to work on and release the 2012 CPI, since it is not possible to release date on just one country to the rest of the world in December 2012.

Your Excellency, we are hoping that you would be willing to discuss a negotiated settlement. Transparency International is seeking compensation from Nigeria for the unprecedented disruption of her work occasioned by your gargantuan corruption scams this year – which has made it impossible to focus on any other country. If you are unwilling to negotiate, we have been instructed to institute legal action against your country, for conspiracy to derail the work of a credible international organisation by overwhelming her with corruption data and stretching her resources beyond tolerable human limits”

.

Yours sincerely,

Fitch, Fitch, Fitch & Associates

The Hague ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/112/police-to-withdraw-assault-rifles-introduce-rubber-bullets Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:39:35 -0400 dakoloyoung 112@/discuss/discussions http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/111/british-born-nigerian-david-oyelowo-taking-hollywood-by-storm Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:19:36 -0400 dakoloyoung 111@/discuss/discussions
He made history in 2000 when he became the first black actor to portray an English monarch for the Royal Shakespeare Company when he played the title role in a production of Henry VI Parts I, II and III.

David starred in the BAFTA award winning series "SPOOKS/MI:5" playing Danny Hunter.  He won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor and was also nominated for a BAFTA .

David made his US debut in two HBO productions, the Kenneth Branagh directed "As You Like It" in August 2006 and as the lead in the mini-series "Five Days," for which he won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his performance. In 2008, David starred in the acclaimed adaptation of the Alexander McCall Smith novel "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agencies" directed by the late Anthony Minghella.

As a successful actor in his homeland of England, David Oyelowo's talent made it easy for him to break into America's film industry. His radiance in some of the UK's best plays and TV series helped him land roles in movies like Red Tails, Derailed, The Help and The Last King of Scotland. The award-winning thespian has even starred in a few indie films and will appear in several upcoming Hollywood hits, including Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, One Shot alongside Tom Cruise and Paperboy, opposite Nicole Kidman and Matthew McConaughey.

I would like to know why Nollywood can't improve in film production in this advanced society? Does it mean we (Nollywood stars) are allergic to innovation? I keep wondering why we're still lacking behind, mostly when compared to the music industry.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/110/tambuwals%C2%A0speech Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:37:11 -0400 dakoloyoung 110@/discuss/discussions

Find below the opening speech by the House of Representatives’ speaker on the first hearing of the House on the report by Farouk Lawan led committee on the fuel subsidy.

“The probe of the oil Sector has raised so much dust from certain segments of the polity such that it became clear that the intention was to frustrate it. For those who regard the oil sector as a secret society or sacred cow, I wish to state without equivocation that it is not. All public agencies in the oil sector are the creation of Acts of the National Assembly and this Honourable House has no powers to legislate for the creation of secret societies. Similarly all private sector corporate bodies operating in the sector are the creation of the Corporate Affairs Commission and that Commission also is not vested with any powers to incorporate secret societies. Let it therefore be known that in our drive to sanitize the polity, there are no sacred cows and we do not intend to discover any.”

“However, that is only one part of the job. We now have the more crucial duty of considering the report and recommendations of the committee. Usually in a matter such as this, one is accustomed to hearing differing opinions presented passionately. Or passions presented as opinions.”

“But we must never forget who we are and where we are, because Nigerians are watching us very closely and history will judge what we do here today. I therefore urge each and everyone of you to look at this report dispassionately.

“Be fair in your comments and set aside all primordial sentiments so that we can do justice to this important document.”

“Let me reiterate the fact that we are discharging a Constitutional assignment here and it is therefore incumbent upon us to do our duty without fear or favour. Let me also remind you that we are fighting against entrenched interests whose infectious greed has decimated our people. Therefore, be mindful that they will fight back, and they do fight dirty.”

“I have heard all kinds of insinuations, including the one about anti-graft agencies waiting for a ‘harmonised version’ of this report before taking any action. Let me quickly say here that this is at best an excuse that can not stand after all the same agencies accept and investigate petitions from individuals, how much more resolutions of this House. There will be no such document so they should just go ahead and do their job and where they find any person or body culpable, they should proceed in accordance with the law.

“Our only interest here is to mitigate the suffering of Nigerians by showing how the subsidy regime has been hijacked for the benefit of a few. At the end of our deliberations we hope that the executive arm will act upon the resolutions of this House and bring more transparency to bear on the system.”

“Together we can do all things constitutionally required of us but not without sacrificing our personal comforts, personal aspiration and even personal opportunities that do not benefit the public good. For as many are prepared and determined to make these personal sacrifice and to stand on the side of the ordinary Nigerians whose mandate we hold, I say let’s march on dear colleagues”]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/109/what-we-are-doing-to-our-children-and-generations-yet-unborn Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:09:34 -0400 Uch 109@/discuss/discussions ]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/108/nigerian-american-rotimi-unveiled-as-rapper-t.is-akoo-clothing-brand-ambasador Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:07:21 -0400 dakoloyoung 108@/discuss/discussions The official announcement was made last week and T.I is very happy to work with rotimi .On akoo's brand page he said:
“I’m very excited about working with our new brand ambassador @Rotimi. The young man has a bright future and I am proud to be connected to his growing success. Its young men like him who I had in mind when creating AKOO.”

Rotimi akinosho ,an actor that stars as darius morrison in the tv series Boss on STARZ  has also received praise for his recent music projects, “The Resume” and “While You Wait.” Dubbed “The Jack of All Trades” by BET.com, Rotimi’s music credits include performances alongside headliners Jennifer Hudson, T.I., Estelle and NERD
A press conference was held  last thursday at Akoo's showroom to unveil the new brand

http://www.celebregion.com/2012/04/singer-rotimi-unveiled-as-rapper-tis.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz1rTYdFpQf]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/107/special-advisers-to-the-executive-governor-of-bayelsa-state Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:45:36 -0400 dakoloyoung 107@/discuss/discussions
1 Special Adviser, Women Mobilization
Hon. (Mrs.) Ruby Benjamin

2 Special Adviser, Political Matters
Hon. Frederick Agbedi

3 Special Adviser, Inter - Party Relations
Hon. Stephen Diver

4 Special Adviser, Security Matter
Lt. Col. Bernard Sunday Kenibai (Rtd.)

5 Special Adviser, Information Communication Technology & Data
Chief Blessing Ipiganasin

6 Special Adviser, Youth Empowerment, Training And Rehabilitation
T.K Ogoriba

7 Special Adviser, Legal Matters & Chief Counsel, Government House
Barrister Kemauode Wodu

8 Special Adviser, Education (Secondary)
Mr. Parkinson MacManuel

9 Special Adviser, Education (Primary)
Mr. MacDonald Igobasi

10 Special Adviser, Tertiary Education
Dr. Godwin Ziriki

11 Senior Special Assistant on Media Public Affairs
Mr. Daniel Iworiso - Markson

12 Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs
Mr Fred Aremula Egbegi

13 Senior Special Assistant, Security
Mr. Boma Spero-Jack

14 Senior Special Assistant, Legal (1)
Barrister Stanley Damabide

15 Senior Special Assistant, Legal (2)
Barrister Ayibaisin Jacob Beredugo

16 Senior Special Assistant, Investment
Cyril Oyinbrakemi Akika

17 Senior Special Assistant, Education Inspectorate & Policy
Mrs Stella Peremobere Ugolo

18 Senior Special Assistant,Ijaw National Affairs
Chief Erasmus Patrick, JP

19 Senior Special Assistant, Data Gathering & Management
Mr. Erefagha Turner

20 Senior Special Assistant, e-Governance
Ekpolador-Ebi A. Koinyan

21 Senior Special Assistant, Research & Social Media
John Idumange

22 Senior Special Assistant, Culture
King Robert Ebizimo

23 Senior Special Assistant, Co-operative Development
Chief Joseph Inio Allah

24 Senior Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs
Epipade Richmond

25 Senior Special Assistant, Diaspora Affairs & International
Mr. Charles Zuofa

26 Senior Special Assistant, General Duties
Mr Kingsboy Eruani

27 Senior Special Assistant, Liaison Office Abuja
Otiyo Abila

28 Senior Special Assistant, Finance & Budget
Ifiemie Gibson Ikpaikpai

29 Governor’s Special Representative, Abuja (Pioneer Attorney General)
Hon. Tamarakare Yekwe

30 Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Local Government Affairs
Mr M.C.I Amangala

31 Personal Physician to the Governor
Dr. Zuobuoemi Agadah

32 Personal Assistance to the Deputy Governor
Mr Shedrack Oreiko Opuene

33 Chief Protocol
Mr Klins Idumange

33 Personal Physician to the Deputy Governor
Dr Ebiegberi Kpokiri
]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/106/why-north-is-angry-with-president-jonathan Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:23:03 -0400 dakoloyoung 106@/discuss/discussions
Specifically, the region lamented the loss of what it termed “grade one” parastatal agencies and commissions of the Federal Government to other regions, particularly the South-East geo-political zone of the country.

This was the high point of a preliminary report of one of the committees put in place two months ago by the Dr Junaid Mohammed-led team of Concerned Northern Professionals.

The group had sprang up barely two months ago, with a call for the ceding of power to the North in 2015, saying that the North was not afraid of any break-up of the Nigerian federation.

The group also accused President Goodluck Jonathan of flooding the presidency as well as other strategic parastatal agencies with his kinsmen.

Findings of the committee, which was revealed to the Nigerian Tribune, showed that the South-South trailed behind every other zones in terms of the headship of such agencies.

According to the source, his team discovered that there were more “Igbo-speaking people in the Villa than Jonathan’s men after all.”

According to him, apart from high-flying ministries such as finance, power, aviation, economic adviser to the president and Secretary to the Government of the Federation being controlled by the South-East, the region had the headship of the Debt Management Office, Petroleum Product Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), National Electricity Regulatory Agency, National Identity Management Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

He listed others as the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), National Communications Commission (NCC), Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring and Evaluation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/105/the-danger-of-imitation Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:01:34 -0400 malvis 105@/discuss/discussions
Maybe you wouldn’t state it this way, but chances are, if you are reading this, you want to become great at something. Maybe you’d use different words. Maybe “being great” doesn’t resonate with you.

It doesn’t matter what words you put to it; if you want to become more effective and move closer to your potential, you need to read on. This short quotation from Samuel Johnson, tells you what not to do.

“No one ever became great by imitation.”
– Samuel Johnson, author and much more
Questions to Ponder

Whom have I imitated in the past?
How has that helped me (or not)?
Whom am I imitating now?

Action Steps

Consider an area of your life you want to improve.
Look for role models to learn from in that area.
And, then learn from them, rather than imitating them.

My Thoughts

Many years ago, I was training a group of professionals, delivering some particular training inside their company. As part of the process, each of them was delivering part of the training back to the group for practice and feedback. A third-party was observing this practice, and made a comment to me that I am sure was meant as a compliment.

She said, “It’s like watching a bunch of mini-Kevins.”

That wasn’t my intention at all – and, to the degree it was true, I had failed.

I wanted them to learn from me, and hopefully they had learned valuable things, yet I wanted them to bring themselves to the work, not “try to be like Kevin.”

Pick any area of your life. There are people you can look up to and learn from – and you should. Learning from a role model is a fabulous way to shorten your learning curve and avoid mistakes they may have made.

This is quite different from trying to become like them.

Think about it this way. Whomever you are trying to imitate is still human. It’s possible you will be imitating the wrong things.

Observe and learn from others who have been where you are going. But don’t lose yourself on that journey. Who you are is far too important for that.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/104/is-the-state-of-emergency-workings-yes-no Sun, 25 Mar 2012 08:24:49 -0400 malvis 104@/discuss/discussions

Mixed feelings are trailing the state of emergency that was slammed on some selected local government areas of Borno and Yobe States by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Many residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and Damaturu in Yobe State are doubtful about the effectiveness of the declaration, which took effect in December, 2011.

Some who, however, welcome it are stressing that it has reduced killings and forced some wayward people to become good Samaritans.

Other places affected by the declaration in Borno State include Jere, Bama, Banki and Ngala. Areas affected in Yobe State beside Damaturu are Gujba, Potiskum, Geidam and Bade (Gashua).

While people believe the state of emergency has, to some extent, reduced incidents of violence occasioned by bombing, daylight shooting of targets, mostly blamed on members of the Boko Haram in Maiduguri and its environs, other people and stakeholders believe that the action has not yielded the desired results.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/103/shame-obama-rejects-okonjo-iweala-world-bank-presidency Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:47:31 -0400 daumiebi 103@/discuss/discussions
In a move today that signaled US discomfort with Nigeria's finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President Barack Obama nominated Darthmouth College President Jim Yong Kim as a candidate for the presidency of the World Bank.

Over the last week several African and South American countries, including Brazil had indicated their support for Mrs. Iweala to become the next president of the bank, however, President Obama's decision to nominate a different candidate represents almost certain doom for the Nigerian minister's candidacy.

The US has traditionally exercised immense power over candidates for the presidency of the World Bank.

Earlier today the Nigerian government as well as those of Angola and South Africa issued statement disclosing that they would meet to today to discuss their support for Mrs. Iweala for the World Bank presidency in Johanesburg.

A human rights activist in Abuja said Obama's rejection of Iweala would be good riddance. He said he half-wished that Mrs. Iweala would depart the Nigerian government for the World Bank job.

"She has failed to be an advocate for ordinary Nigerians and did little or nothing to push the Jonathan regime to cut governmental waste and to combat corruption."]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/102/nigeria-the-most-malnourished-country-in-the-worlds Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:43:21 -0400 daumiebi 102@/discuss/discussions
Nigeria ranks among the top countries with high number of malnourished children in Africa, surpassing Ethiopia, Managing Director of the United States Agency for International Development, Tim Prewitt, has said.

He said this yesterday in Abuja at a forum of USAID/Maximizing Revenue and Key Enterprises in Targeted Sites (MARKETS) family nutritional support programme which started in 2008.

The MARKETS was to address food insecurity and malnutrition in orphans and vulnerable children households through direct distribution of food supplements and enterprise nutrition and homestead skills for care givers.

Prewitt said more than one billion people, nearly one-sixth of the World's population, suffer from chronic hunger, with 3.5 million children dying every year. He said the number of stunted children in the world will be 450 million in the next 15 years.

Speaking, the Programme Manager of the project, Bassey Archibong said that malnutrition in Nigeria is a growing problem which is strongly linked to social and economic issues.

Archibong said: "Nigeria has more malnourished children than Ethiopia. States in northern Nigeria have the highest numbers of malnourished children in the country. Also, orphans and vulnerable children whose families have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition.

"Nearly 1.2 million children in Nigeria are orphaned as a result of AIDS, and more others are vulnerable because their families are affected by HIV/AIDS."

He said that over 70,000 malnourished orphans and vulnerable children have been reached.

He said that care givers from orphans and malnourished children households who participated in the training, gained practical cross cutting skills in micro enterprise nutrition and homestead farming.

"As a result, participants now understand the relationship between income and nutrition, which is critical to ending the cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Sixty percent of participants reported savings for the first time while 77 percent of care givers now have homestead farms up by 24 percent from what it was before training," he said.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/101/world-bank-candidates-due-as-deadline-approaches Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:11:43 -0400 bmagic 101@/discuss/discussions
Some of the potential candidates mentioned have included former White House advisers Lawrence Summers and the Indian-born head of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi.

A US citizen has always held the position since the World Bank was founded in 1944.

But there is likely to be a push for a candidate from the developing world.

South Africa is likely to announce an African candidate - expected to be Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo is also likely to be nominated.

But with the US holding the most votes at the World Bank, which has 187 members, the vote on the next president should be a formality.

Nominations close on Friday.

'Great' candidates

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were created at the conference at Bretton Woods in 1944 as a means to regulate trade between nations in the aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II.

A US national traditionally heads the World Bank while a European runs the IMF - currently France's Christine Lagarde.

But emerging economies have become increasingly unhappy with this arrangement and are pushing for change.

Brazil said this week that both Ms Okonjo-Iweala and Mr Ocampo would be "great" candidates to be the next president.

In a recent editorial, three former chief economists of the World Bank - Francois Bourguignon, Nicholas Stern and Joseph Stiglitz - argued for an end to the US "monopoly" on running the institution.

"To say it is merit-based, and to choose an American repeatedly, shows scant respect to the citizens of other countries," they wrote.

The development economist Jeffrey Sachs has also argued for change, saying the World Bank should be led by a development expert.

The current President, Robert Zoellick, is to step down from his role at the institution when his five-year term comes to an end on 30 June.

Mr Zoellick, 58, was appointed to his role in 2007 by George W Bush.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/100/police-to-train-bombed-badangs-children-family-gets-n500000- Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:24:24 -0400 dakoloyoung 100@/discuss/discussions
The three children and the unborn baby of a member of the Police Anti-Bomb squad who was killed while trying to defuse a bomb in Kaduna, Sergeant Sunday Badang, will enjoy study scholarship from the Nigeria Police Force.

Delivering the message of the IGP while donating the sum of N500, 000 to the late Badang’s Family at his office in Kaduna, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar said “by extension, we have in mind, all our gallant officers that died in active service.

The education of their children will be well taken care off.”

“The Inspector General of Police is working out the process so bear with us. We are in the process of making all the entitlement of the gallant officer available to the next of kin and his wife.

We have also written to the state government and we are waiting for their response.

“I have written to the force headquarters, you are now witnessing the beginning of the welfare package coming in.

We have our police children primary school, we have police secondary school and very soon we will have Police University Academy in Kano that would start running degree programmes,” he said.

Presenting the cash to the family of the deceased on behalf of the IGP, the police commissioner said “sergeant was a very gallant, dutiful and highly dedicated policeman.”

"He was always eager to undertake responsibilities and answered the call to duty anytime of the day and night with enthusiasm; it was really unfortunately that we lost him.

Responding, the widow of the deceased, Mrs Rose Badang thanked the Police chief for the gift.

“My plea to the government is that they should come to my help, because my husband died on active service, he has throughout his working career with the Nigerian Police been sacrificing his life.

Look at my children; they are still in primary schools. My first Son is 13 years, the second one is 9 years and the last one is 4 years with the unborn child that I am carrying now,” she said.

http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/19995/2012/03/22/police_train_bombed_badangs_children_family_gets_n500000.html]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/99/how-to-write-blog-posts-that-search-engines-like Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:30:23 -0400 dakoloyoung 99@/discuss/discussions
In this post, I present you tips on how to write blog posts that search engines like.

Platform

Of course, the starting point is to choose a search engine friendly blogging platform. I personally think WordPress and Blogger both rank high on the SEO scale. I’ve already written a post on where you should blog citing the advantages and disadvantages of each platform.

Keywords

Most search engines work based on keywords. Make sure you A) choose the right keywords and B) follow the right keyword density in your blog posts. If you stuff your posts with excessive keywords, they lose their essence. Similarly, if you don’t use the keywords enough in your post, it might not get indexed. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain the optimal keyword density.

Title

Make sure that the titles of your posts are optimized for SEO. An optimized title will get indexed by most search engine robots while a run of the mill title might ruin your post’s SEO ranking. If you use a catchy and informative title, it will go down well with your readers as well as search engine robots.

Content

Most search engines are smart enough to detect plagiarism and would skip indexing your post if they find duplicate content. If you want search engines to like your posts, there’s no substitute to high-quality unique content. Most search engines know a way to determine the original source of any content so refrain from copying.

Links

If you want to get traffic for your blog, you need quality inbound as well as outbound links. If you get multiple quality inbound and outbound links, it will help boost your blog’s readership as well as improve the overall SEO rating. Most search engines value external links even if you are linking to competitor’s web site.

Images

While it’s true that search engines can’t actually see your images, they do parse the tags associated with your images. Make sure to use search engine friendly image names rather than using ones such as DSC0001.jpg straight off your camera roll. Yes, images do help your posts get noticed on search engines. Oh! One last thing, always include an ALT Tag to your images.

Do you have any other tips on how to write blog posts that search engines like? If so, please share with us by leaving a comment.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/98/government-to-invest-150-billion-in-oil-and-gas-sector Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:00:46 -0400 bmagic 98@/discuss/discussions
President Jonathan, on Friday, commissioned three wellhead platforms for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil that were built by Nigerdock Nigeria Plc at its Snake Island Integrated Free Zone facility in Lagos.

The three wellhead platforms are intended for use at Mobil offshore oil fields, Abang, Oyot and Itup located in Oil Mining Leases (OML) 67 and 70.

The fields are expected to produce more than 100 million barrels of oil and 20 million barrels of natural gas liquids.

Speaking at the commissioning, the President said, “I’m delighted to commission this project today because it is not just mere commissioning but testament of the government’s commitment to developing local content in the oil and gas sector.

‘’This is imperative because the sector accounts for 80 per cent of Nigeria’s income. This project created and will continue to create employment and we will continue to expand employment opportunities.”

Also present at the ceremony, was the Minister of Petroleum Resources. She harped on the local content development as wellheads such as the one commissioned are usually manufactured overseas.

She also spoke of upcoming huge government investment in the Oil and Gas sector.

She said, “With the Federal Government planning to achieve FIDs for new projects estimated to be worth over $150bn in the next five years, efforts had progressed to ensure that there will be enough yards, facilities, institutional knowledge and trained manpower to execute a high proportion of the works in Nigeria to international standards of quality and safety.”]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/97/states-lgs-get-authorization-to-generate-and-distribute-electricity Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:04:57 -0400 Richard 97@/discuss/discussions
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has authorized local governments and communities the ability to generate and distribute their own electricity.

NERC recently issued two regulations entitled “NERC Regulation on Embedded Generation 2012,” and “NERC Regulation for Independent Electricity Distribution.”

The Embedded Generation regulation authorizes investors, communities, states and local governments to generate and distribute electricity for their exclusive consumption using facilities of existing electricity distribution companies or independent electricity distribution network operators, whilst the Independent Electricity Distribution regulation permits communities, local and state governments to invest in electricity distribution networks in areas without access to the grid or distribution network or areas poorly serviced.

The regulations empower States with electricity generation infrastructure to distribute electricity to their citizens. They also empower local governments and communities to partner with investors or look inwards in developing power solutions in order to provide their citizens with electricity.

The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi speaking on the development said, “These are the most important regulations today in this country because we do not have enough electricity to go round. We also have so many constraints preventing us from having enough to generate, transmit and distribute.

“From now on, the much expected expansion in the electricity supply to the end- users would be easily realisable. With these regulations, we have further unlocked the opportunities in the sector to community, private and government participations. The laws are expected to revolutionise the sector.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/96/the-fear-of-boko-haram-made-fg-want-to-appease-north-with-13-derivation Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:38:31 -0400 Richard 96@/discuss/discussions
A competent source told Vanguard that government was worried about rising insecurity in the northern part of the country with vociferous leaders of the north blaming the situation on poverty and inequality arising from alleged lopsided revenue allocation against them.

The source said President Goodluck Jonathan was considering various measures, which include the immediate payment of the 13 per cent derivation to solid mineral-bearing states, a preserve hitherto enjoyed by the nine oil producing states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Rivers, Delta, Imo, Abia and Ondo since the inception of democratic rule in 1999.

It was learnt that government’s decision to pay the money was an indirect way of stemming the growing discontent and violence in that part of the country.

The Federal Government has been paying the derivation fund, which runs into trillions of Naira to only the nine oil-bearing states.

Payment to commence next month

But Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC, Mr. Elias Mbam, claimed in an exclusive interview that the payment, which is to commence next month, has no political motive.

Mbam, an engineer, made it clear that the decision to extend the payment to solid mineral states was in obedience to the relevant section of the Nigerian constitution.

The chairman said: “The payment is a constitutional matter, which states that derivation should not be less than 13 per cent and derivation is not limited to oil and gas. This also includes all other mineral resources.

“If you have minerals in your state and it is developed and it generates revenue into the federation account, you are entitled to 13 per cent of what is paid into the federation account.”

The chairman, who did not, however, list the benefitting states and how much would be shared to them, said the commission would also not be drawn into agitation by some states for a review of the revenue allocation formula to give them more money.

Section 162 (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria states: “The principles of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than 13 per cent of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resource.”

Non-oil GDP

N90. 4 billion is expected as non-oil Gross Domestic Product by the Federal Government in the next three years as contained in the revised Medium Term Financial Framework between 2012 and 2014. The solid mineral states are expected to earn 13 per cent of the amount.

On the other hand, the nine oil producing states will share at least N1.9 trillion as their share of 13 per cent derivation within the period.

The Minna meeting

But it is not clear whether the leaders of the North would be pacified as they had only a few days ago called for an urgent review of the revenue formula.

In a well publicised communiqué, the North rejected the current revenue allocation law and called for its immediate review, saying it was lopsided, unfair and detrimental to the interest of all Nigerians, including the real people of the oil-producing states it appears to favour superficially.

They argued that oil-producing states were equally victims because the revenue accruing to their states on the basis of derivation over-weighted formula was far beyond their executive capacity to manage, thereby promoting corruption and hyper-inflation in those states, their neighbours and the country at large.

The communiqué said: “This revenue allocation law also stands in violation of the international law with particular reference to the International Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC). The LOSC treaty, which has since come into force (1982), is the principal governing law for all maritime resource issues.”]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/95/nigeria-spends-n1.3tr-on-food-import-yearly Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:05:00 -0400 bmagic 95@/discuss/discussions
He revealed that the country which is now the largest importer of rice in the world spends over N356 billion yearly on the importation of the item alone, while it spends about one billion naira daily on rice importation.

Adesina, who spoke in Enugu during the National Council on Agriculture meeting, disclosed that what was sad about the entire thing was that the country was blessed with over 84 million hectares of arable land, perfect weather to grow crops all year round, low labour costs and fertile soils to be a major food exporting country.

Lamenting the effect of this on the economy, the minister stated that while the billions that country was spending goes into the pockets of farmers in India and Thailand, farmers in rice growing areas of Nigeria suffer the negative effects of dumped rice in the markets.

For instance, he cited Abakaliki growing local rice, farmers in Ogun State growing Ofada rice and farmers growing rice in the Kadawa Valley of Kano, stressing that they have become victims of the near lack of support, which ultimately has affected productivity.

He said that the Federal Government was poised to change the trend and revamp the agricultural sector with the transformation on rice production so as to provide food for the country’s teeming population as well as create employment.

“Our rice transformation action plan has as target to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by 2015. To achieve this, we are working to ensure that Nigeria has 100 industrial scale rice mills with capacity in place, to mill 2.1 million metric tonnes of high quality rice that can compete with imported rice. They will be in operation in 18 months, run by the private sector”, he said.

Adesina said government was working to facilitate the purchase and installation of 18 large scale high quality cassava flour plants that would mill 1.3 million metric tonnes of high quality cassava flour per year, adding that they would be fully operational within the next 18 months, across all cassava growing areas of the country.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/94/reps-ask-jonathan-to-pay-allocation-to-15-lgs-affected-with-state-of-emergency Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:30:07 -0400 bmagic 94@/discuss/discussions
The House posit that contrary to Section 162(3) and (5) of the constitution, the Federal Ministry of Finance had continued to withhold statutory allocations meant for the affected councils since December last year when the emergency rule was declared by the President.
The President had on Saturday, December 31 last year, declared a state of emergency in 15 local councils spread across Borno, Niger, Plateau and Yobe states in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 305(1)(c) of the 1999 constitution.

According to him, the proclamation was necessitated by the need to confront the increasing wave of terrorism in the country, especially in those areas.
Bitrus Kaze, Plateau State who brought the motion to the House, recalled that upon receipt of the instrument of the declaration, the National Assembly had immediately ratified it but contended that the declaration did not in any way order the withholding of the statutory funds of the affected councils.
Describing the action of the executive as rather unfortunate, Kaze said the action had only served to paralyse government activities in the areas.

Kaze decried growing trend of industrial disharmony which is a fall out of the near collapse of government, arguing that the current situation if not reversed, could complicate the modest efforts at restoring peace and order.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/92/senate-moves-to-grant-lgs-financial-autonomy Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:11:09 -0400 dakoloyoung 92@/discuss/discussions
It also read for the second time another bill to insert into the constitution the creation of the six geo-political zones of the country and create state Court of Appeal.

Leading the debate on the first bill, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, said the local governments had been prevented from functioning as they should because of lack of funds.

He said the critical roles of the councils had been impaired largely because of “corruption, in some instances by states”.

According to him, the process of disbursement of the accruable funds, as allocated from the Federation Account to the respective beneficiary local councils are often abused.

“While some states deduct certain percentages before the release of the balance in the name of servicing social amenities and infrastructure, which are non-existent in most cases, others simply hold on at will,” he said.

He argued that the bill was intended to give the local governments a new lease of life from the stranglehold of state governments and ensure financial autonomy and eradicate all forms of abuses.

Abatemi-Usman said, “It goes without saying that the requisite instrument for unfettered service delivery at that crucial level of governance is of critical necessity. Thus, the amendment is essential for not only the smooth running of the bureaucracy but pursuant to the constitutional responsibilities of the local councils.”

On the second bill, Senate spokesman, Mr. Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the bill emanated from the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, and sought to amend the relevant sections of the constitution to provide for the creation of state Court of Appeal.

He said the bill intended to also insert into the Constitution the recognition of the six geopolitical zones.

He said the bill would introduce state legislative list and make adjustments and modifications in legislative powers of government between the federal and state governments.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/91/fg-discovered-1497-illegal-migration-routes-into-nigeria Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:29:39 -0400 bmagic 91@/discuss/discussions
Government also said henceforth, the location of immigration screening points and plazas would be located in the Nigerian side of such borders to enable the country apply its laws unlike in Benin Republic area where such points were located at the Benin side, which made it impossible to apply Nigerian laws to offenders detected at such points.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, who disclosed this when he alongside his Information counterpart, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, briefed State House Correspondents, on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said: “We have recently in conjunction with the national boundaries commission identified 84 routes which travellers to Nigeria use.”

He explained that government’s thinking was that: “We must be able to build these plazas in these 84 points. We have equally identified 1,497 irregular routes that is how Herculean the problem of securing these borders are but daunting as the challenges are, government is equal to the task because it is the primary responsibility of government to secure the lives and properties of its citizens.

“At the moment we are at the drawing board, so without prejudice to when this issue will come to the Federal Executive Council, costing them for example, most of our plazas Seme border for instance is located in Republic of Benin and so enforcement becomes a problem. For instance if there is a breach of our law in Seme border, we will be unable to enforce Nigerian laws because that part of land is in the Republic of Benin. So we are thinking of placing our plazas in our territories so we can tackle any breach.”

He assured that it would not be long before illegal immigrants into Nigeria would be easily apprehended as emphasis would not be on direct data capture of information on immigrants into Nigeria which his ministry was already partnering with Galaxy Backbone to achieve.
Similarly, the FEC also approved contracts worth N15,437,360,633.17 in the maritime and power sectors of the economy, which would see the commencement of the dredging of River Benue up to Yola in Adamawa State.

The contracts in the maritime sector are the rehabilitation of AMS Terminal B of the old Warri Port which was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company Limited for N7,022,310,942.78 with nine months completion period.

Also approved was the consultancy services for the study and design of the Yola-Makurdi Navigational route lot 2 which will enable the commencement of the dredging of the river Benue to open up inland water ways for improved transportation. The job was given to Evipan International Limited for N221,036,330.00 with 20 months completion period.

Justifying the approvals, Maku said the council in order to ensure that the power expected from the completed plants across the country were wheeled to consumers, approved the building of five substations across the country.

The substations are to be located in Kwol, Kaduna State, Nnenwe in Enugu State, Egbe in Kogi State, Ose in Ondo State and Gagarawa in Jigawa State. It has a dollar component cost of $21,400,650.42 a Euro component of 5,148,815.00 and Naira component of N3, 675,786,105.87, which brought the total cost to N4,518,227,254.52.

It was gathered that most of the contracts involved engineering, manufacturing supply, construction and inauguration of the equipment which were awarded to different companies to enable faster delivery.

Speaking further, Maku said as a mark of confidence in the direction the country was progressing, many people from Britain, United States of America, Russia, Lebanon and several other countries had applied to be granted citizenship of Nigeria through naturalisation and citizenship.

Of the 122 which applied, 79 were asking for naturalisation, while 43 were for citizenship. He said the 43 were granted as most of them were through marriage, while those for naturalisation were put on hold for further screening on their persons to ensure that only those who meet the criteria were granted their requests.

The minister said the Ministry of Interior had already screened the application, but said the requirement was that further screening should be conducted on them which the council approved.

Also speaking, Umar said he planned to expedite action on water transportation, adding that the Warri, Onitsha, Lokoja to Baro channel dredging had been completed and vessels were already using it.

He also hinted that small ports were nearing completion along the routes, saying President Jonathan would soon commission the Onitsha Port.

According to him, the resuscitation of the abandoned ports was to relief the pressure on Lagos ports which are already over stretched, adding that other improvements included operating 24 hours by the ports and assured that increased activities in the oil and gas sector as well as trade justifies the expansion his ministry has embarked upon.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, briefed the Council on the performance of the 2011 budget, which she said, had hit 83 per cent with more time to go before the winding down period.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/90/labour-opposes-bill-on-industrial-strikes-as-senators-frustrate-the-bill Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:18:26 -0400 bmagic 90@/discuss/discussions
These were the words of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja yesterday as both Labour bodies reacted angrily to the bill that seeks to compel members of unions to vote before going on industrial action.

The President of the NLC, Abdulwahed Omar who read the joint statement went memory lane by informing Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the sponsor of the bill, that previous attempts at stifling opposing voices had never succeeded in the long run.

He said that Labour would engage the leadership of the National Assembly in an effort to ensure the bill dies a natural death but added that Labour would also do everything possible to resist the onslaught.

While describing the bill as nonsensical, Labour explained that it indeed runs its operation on democratic ideals as symbolised in its various organs which are responsible for taking decisions for the good of its members.

The two Labour bodies have four bodies that take decisions on behalf of all the members. These are: National Administrative Council (NAC) that comprises the elected officials; Central Working Committee (CWC) that is made of Presidents and General Secretaries of the affiliate unions; the National Executive Council (NEC) which all the principal officers of the various state councils including Abuja are members. The highest decision-making organ of the two bodies is the National Delegates Conference that vote for officers, take all other important decisions and delegate power to other layers of authorities.

Labour insisted that a law that will compel all members to gather in one venue to vote to decide if strike goes on or not will complicate its operations and make decision-making processes cumbersome.

While the law as envisaged by Lokpobiri will compel the congregation of more than 30,000 members to converge on one venue to ‘vote’ in order to go on strike will effectively render some of the organs jobless; it will also nullify the powers of the Delegates Conference to delegate authorities to other organs to take decisions on its behalf.

Labour wondered why the National Assembly is not bothered by the challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation and join in the efforts at transforming the country but chose to stoop so low to be used as an instrument for silencing the opposing voices such as that of Labour.

Omar added: “Instead of having the courage to address the numerous security challenges facing us as a nation, and instead of coming up with relevant laws to deal with the endemic issues of corruption in the country and instead of creative legislations to generate employment and reduce poverty, the sponsors of this bill rather decided to assault Nigerians. That is why we condemn this new attempt as an insult on our collective psyche as a people and as a nation.”

Labour posited that executive arm of government must condemn the affront on Nigerians if it does want to be seen as an ally.

“Government must listen to us (Labour) and must therefore not seek to be silent on this matter,” it added.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/89/senate-passes-n4.8-trillion-for-2012-budget Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:04:12 -0400 bmagic 89@/discuss/discussions
The 2012 Appropriation Act was increased from the original N4.6 trillion sent to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2011, to accommodate the SURE program while the sum of N888 billion was appropriated for fuel subsidy.

The initial budget had no provision for fuel subsidy following the removal of the subsidy on January 1. But days of widespread protests and industrial action called by the labour union, made the federal government return a partial sum for the fuel subsidy.

The chairman Senate committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmad Maccido, told journalists that the budget for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was included in the budget while that of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) budget was left out in the 2012 budget.

According to the Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, “the CBN governor is hiding under the CBN act but the Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulates that budgets from all government agencies should be scrutinized by the national assembly.”

He noted that the problem with the CBN budget is a legal matter which the National Assembly would take up.

The CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in a letter to the House of Representative earler in the year stated that the budget of the CBN is not subject to the yearly appropriation, claiming the National has delegated the power of such appropriation to the board of the CBN as stipulated by the CBN Act.

The letter stated that “by section 6 (3) of the CBN Act 2007, the National Assembly is deemed to have donated its authorisation powers under section 80 (3) of the constitution as it relates to the budget of the CBN to the board of the CBN.”

Mr Sanusi’s letter was in response to an earlier letter by the House of Representative Committee on Appropiation, which requested the CBN to forward its 2012 budget estimates to the assembly for appropriation.

The lawmakers had threatened not to pass the budget unless 31 revenue generating agencies including the CBN and the NNPC forward their budgets to the National Assembly for appropriation.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/76/senators-receive-n1.3billion-new-cars Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:56:14 -0500 dakoloyoung 76@/discuss/discussions

The deal is said to have been executed by the National Assembly Service Commission, the statutory contract arm of the lawmaking body. It is not certain how much the transaction was worth on paper, but confirmations from Toyota showed the cars sell for $68,920, about N11.027 million per unit.

For 109 senators, the total cost stands at N1.201 billion. The profit margin, according to dealers, should be about $7400 (about N1.2million) each. The total cost is expected to be N1.33billion.

Taken alone, the figure can build a number of standard schools and hospitals, and help initiate key programs that can tackle unemployment and health challenges such as Lassa Fever and polio. Still, more than triple that sum will most likely be incurred by the House of Representatives for the acquisition of exotic cars for its members.

For years, both chambers have allocated huge sums for automobiles and office furnishings, in addition to huge illegal allowances and homes.


In the last legislative session, the senators purchased Toyota Camry at a unit cost of N9 million, while the House members bought Peugeot cars for huge sums for legislators coming already with fleets of cars. The cars are usually sold for pittance to lawmakers at the end of their tenures.


After similar expenditures in the past sparked fierce condemnations from Nigerians, most of whom lived on less than a dollar per day, the lawmakers realised they needed to be extremely careful in the way their acquire and take possession of their new cars.


So the contract deal, wrapped in utmost secrecy in the first place, had to be delivered in stealth, our sources say.


Several batches of 2012 Toyota prado jeeps, jumbled with a large number of imported government transport scheme buses, have in the past days, running into weeks, been delivered through a dealer at Gimbiya Street, Garki, Abuja.


As the consignments arrive in relatively fewer numbers, the lawmakers take delivery of them, while those yet to be served await further shipments. The automobiles are then re-coloured in random shades, both efforts deliberately aimed at minimizing public attention on the cars when used by the lawmakers, the sources said.


On Thursday, when Premium Times visited the company supplying the cars, a few number of cars remained with the buses, while a larger number were sighted at the senate car park later that afternoon.


Officially, senators have refused to comment on the purchase. The spokesperson, Enyinnya Abaribe, did not respond to repeated telephone calls seeking his comments for this story.


But unofficially, the lawmakers have claimed the purchases are meant for committee operations, the same reason cited for acquiring exotic automobiles in the past.


Some government officials however told Premium Times that the acquisition of the cars was a violation of the monetisation policy of the federal government.


Under the policy, no new vehicles should be purchased by any agencies of government for use by officials.


Rather public officers and political office holders are to receive 350 per cent of their annual basic salary as motor vehicle loan payable in six years at an interest rate of four per cent.


Our sources at the National Assembly said the Senators got these loans before also proceeding to acquire the Prado Jeeps in violation of established regulations.
Via Premium Time]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/88/nigerias-current-troubles-and-its-british-colonial-origin Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:46:09 -0400 dakoloyoung 88@/discuss/discussions
The name Nigeria first appeared in print in an editorial written for The Times newspaper in London in 1897. The author was — surprisingly for Victorian England — a female journalist named Flora Shaw who, in her own way, epitomized the drive and individualism of the high Victorian Era.

Shaw, at the time she wrote the article, was a 45-year old journalist who had traveled extensively and had pursued a career in journalism contrary to the social conventions of the day. She was an unmarried woman with a mind of her own.

Early in 1892, Miss Shaw had gone to South Africa, where she explored the diamond and gold mines. She had inexhaustible energy, writing hundreds of letters about labor conditions, agriculture, and other aspects of colonial development. Her letters so impressed the management of The Times that they hired her to be the newspaper's colonial editor. She coined the name "Nigeria" to refer to the British protectorate along the Niger River that, until then, was referred to as the Royal Niger Company Territories.

Like the name she invented, Nigeria itself was an entirely artificial construct. It was just five years earlier, in 1892, that Lord Salisbury, the British Prime Minister, observed that "we have been engaged in drawing lines upon maps where no white man's foot has ever trod. We have been giving away mountains and rivers and lakes to each other, only hindered by the small impediment that we never knew exactly where the mountains and rivers and lakes were."

The almost random method by which Nigeria's borders were fixed underlay many of its subsequent problems. As far as the British were concerned, Nigeria was, like Julius Caesar's Gaul, divisible into three parts. There was a northern region that was predominantly Muslim, a western region that was dominated by the Yoruba tribe, and an eastern region where the Igbo were the predominant ethnic group. This was an oversimplified view, but it reflected British attitudes about Nigeria. It was not until 1914 that Fredrick (later Lord) Lugard combined the northern and southern parts into the unified Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Lugard was an individualistic military man and possessed a driving sense of purpose. In 1902, Lugard and Flora Shaw married. They were a classic power couple of the British Empire. Since they married rather late in life (he was in his mid-40s and she was 50), their marriage was childless, and the couple devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the Imperial cause. According to his biographer, Lord Lugard was a small man, and his physique "allowed him to do two men's work in a climate and in conditions which halved the capacities of most men."

Nigeria's colonial legacy

The north was an Islamic feudal society dominated by dignitaries such as the Emir of Kano. In the south, Christianity spread among the Igbo and Yoruba peoples. There was a suspicion that the British were more instinctively inclined towards the north. (Lord Lugard was felt to harbor contempt for the educated and Europeanized Africans of the south, and had once recommended moving the capital from Lagos to the northern city of Kaduna.)

Even if this bias was not based in fact, it was widely believed to be true by the Africans. As one civil servant in the Foreign Office observed in 1970, "It was an article of faith in Eastern Nigeria, and had been for decades, that the British were hopelessly biased in favor of the feudal Emirs of the North; there was some basis for this, since the North retained the highest proportion of British officials, many of them coming from the Sudan with a romantic passion for Islam and for polo-playing aristocrats."

The Nigerian Civil War (also called the Biafra War), which began in 1967, was a direct result of these tensions. As early as 1912, the British socialist E.D. Morel had observed that the "Southern Nigerian system is turning out every year hundreds of Europeanized Africans," but the "Northern Nigerian system aims at the establishment of an educational system based upon a totally different ideal." Nigeria has remained a seething pool of diverse — and often conflicting — peoples. Not everything can be blamed on colonialism, but it is undoubtedly the case that the nature of Nigeria's problems have some connection with its colonial experience.

Ethnic and religious conflict has been a consistent feature of modern Nigerian politics. Another is the extent of corruption that has pervaded the country. Nigeria's corruption has obviously stemmed from the very weak sense of national identity of the country's official and political class. In countries with a strong sense of nationhood, officials are powerfully motivated to act in the best interests of the state. Their self-esteem and self-worth are bound up in it.

While a cadre of utterly selfless public officials has probably never existed anywhere, those of 18th-century Prussia and Imperial Britain — some might even point to those of modern-day Britain and the United States — have come pretty close. But modern Nigeria lacks that strong sense of nationhood, and thus lacks any semblance of a selfless bureaucracy. That is not entirely the fault of its colonial past, but the haphazard and arbitrary manner in which the country was created is surely a contributory cause.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/87/president-goodluck-jonathan-in-secret-talks-with-boko-haram-negotiators Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:33:39 -0400 dakoloyoung 87@/discuss/discussions The sect has officially named President of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Sheik Ahmed Datti as its lead negotiator and President Jonathan has begun secret meetings with Dr. Datti to end the insurgency that has so far killed some 1,200 civilians and various security agents across Nigeria.

A source confirmed to Saharareporters that a team earlier put together by the federal government has been discarded as it was discovered they had no relationship with the sect. The UK government had used a document presented recently at the Chattam House by Comrade Shehu Sanni of the Kaduna -based Civil Rights Congress as the lead for a genuine beginning of critical dialogue. Comrade Sanni reportedly named some individuals that could end the insurgency of Boko Hrama putting Dr. Datti as the most trusted person by the sect.
The document also stated that the slain leader of the group Mohammed Yusuf was a member of the Supreme Council of Sharia led by Sheikh Datti Ahmed.

Presidency sources confirmed that Boko Haram has requested the release of its members detained across Nigeria as the requirement for further talks with the federal government. However, the federal government has only conceded to releasing the low profile members of the sect, asking to hold on to the high profile leaders currently in high security detention centers in the federal capital territory and military barracks.

The Boko Haram organization has said that if only low profile members are released they can only guarantee low profile ceasefire of their attacks.

The talks are being delayed by some hardline security chiefs who are hellbent on fighting the sect to the end according to Presidency sources.

If current pre-conditions for peace talks are met, there will be a ceasefire for at least for weeks while a new set of negotiators will be set up in the coming days or weeks to comprise of the secretary of the Supreme Council of Sharia, Nasir Baba, Comrade Shehu Sanni and a leading journalist said to be in contact with the sect.]]> http://anewnaija.org/discuss/discussion/86/2012-amaa-awards-to-be-hosted-by-jimmy-louis-awards-moved-from-bayelsa-to-lagos Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:53:58 -0400 dakoloyoung 86@/discuss/discussions The 44 year old ace actor recently received an achievement award at the 20th edition of PAN African film festival and is best known for his role as The Haitian on the NBC television series, Heroes. He has also featured in Hollywood blockbusters like Tears of the Sun, Diary of a Tired Black Man and Phat Girlz.
The awards which have been aptly dubbed the ‘African Oscars’ had since its commencement, been held in Bayelsa state but according to the Business development manager of the awards Naomi Lucas, Lagos will now play host to the eight edition due to reasons bordering on challenges in areas like security, accommodation and airport logistics which were insufficient in Bayelsa.
Organizers of the awards also revealed that they have received 328 entries from filmmakers across Africa which includes 88 short films, 57 documentaries plus 43 entries from Africans in Diaspora, 6 animations and 134 features films.
Nominees for the different award categories will be announced in Banjul, Gambia on Saturday March 17, 2012 at the AMAA nomination ceremony.
The award ceremony proper is billed to hold on April 22, 2012, although the venue has not yet been disclosed by the organizers.]]>