Showing posts with label NEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEWS. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Photo: Third suicide bomber in Paris terror attacks identified
The third suicide bomber behind the terrorist attacks at Bataclan
concert hall has been identified as Foued Mohamed Aggad, Le Parisian
reports.
The 23-year-old from Strasbourg, bursts into an Eagles of Death
Metal performance in the venue where 89 people were killed by
gunfire and explosions. French authorities learned of Mohamed's identity
through DNA evidence more than a week ago, but waited until today to
reveal his name.
According to AFP, Mohamed Aggad traveled to Syria with his older brother and friends from Strasbourg
near the end of 2013, but several of his party including his brother were detained upon re entering in France.
Photos: APC members in Bayelsa stage protest over INEC's cancellation of Southern Ijaw results
APC members in Bayelsa state are currently staging a
protest, demanding the release of the voting results collated at
Southern Ijaw during last Saturday's governorship election in the state.
INEC cancelled the results in the area and declared the election
inconclusive.
A Phone Thief Beaten In Lagos
We bring to you pictures of the incident below
The angry mob set upon the phone snatcher in yellow shirt
Like Deus ex Machina, a police woman appeared on the scene to save him from being lynched
After being rough handled and slapped a few times, the police woman prevailed on the mob.
Fashola unveils agenda for roads, power and housing
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has officially unveiled his short term plans to address housing deficits, provide good roads and urgently increase power generation in the country with extra 2, 000 megawatts.
Fashola said, during his maiden press briefing in Abuja that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway which has been under construction and the second Niger Bridge are of great importance to the current administration, thus would get urgent attention.
He said year 2002 was the last time the sum of N200 billion was budgeted for road constructions in the country.
The Minister further disclosed that work would soon commence on all roads that link the 36 States of the federation, adding that major roads which had been suspended due to paucity of funds and are vital to boost social economic activities in the country would be quickly revisited.
It was Fashola’s maiden briefing since his resumption to office.
He spoke on plans to partner with the private sector and fully privatise the power sector in order for the country to witness genuine development like the telecommunication.
Part of his plans is also to immediately restore the jobs of construction workers who were laid off by local and international construction companies in the country.
His words: “The records that have been made available from previous budgets show that the last time Nigeria budgeted over N200 Billion in a year’s budget for roads was in 2002. It seems that as our income from oil prices increased over the last decade, our spending on roads decreased.
“As far as status reports go, the federal government budgeted N18.132Billion in 2015 and the Ministry of Works got N13Billion for all roads and highways in 2015, although it has contracts for 206 roads, covering over 6,000km with contract price of over N2 Trillion.”
However, Fashola stated that government’s ability to achieve connectivity of Inter-state roads would largely depend on capital spending in the 2016 budget.
He said it became imperative to pay contractors and get them back to work as soon as possible.
“Our short term strategy will be to start with roads that have made some progress and can be quickly completed to facilitate connectivity. We will prioritize within this strategy by choosing first the roads that connect states together and from that grouping start with those that bear the heaviest traffic.
“As at May 2015, many contractors have stopped work because of payment, and many fathers and wives employed by them have been laid off as a result.
“Some of the numbers from only four companies that were sampled, suggest that at least 5,150 workers have been laid as at March 11, 2015; and if we realize that there are at least 200 contracts pending, on the basis of 1(one) company per contract,” he said.
Analysing the unfortunate situation, Fashola explained that, “If each contractor has only 100 employees at each of the 200 contract sites, it means at least that 20,000 people who lost their jobs can return to work if the right budget is put in place and funded for contractors to get paid.
“The possibility to return those who have just lost their jobs back to work is the kind of change that we expect to see by this short term strategy.”
“In order to make the roads safer, we intend to re-claim the full width and set back of all Federal roads, representing 16% and about 36,000km of Nigeria’s road network by immediately now asking all those who are infringing on our highways, whether by parking, trading, or erection of any inappropriate structure to immediately remove, relocate or dismantle such things voluntarily. This will be the biggest contribution that citizens can offer our country as proof that we all want things to change for the better,” Fashola added.
EFCC charges Dokpesi, Dasuki others with money laundering
The Federal Government, yesterday, slammed 43-count charge on former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd); former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir.
Others charged with them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on behalf of the Federal Government are: High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications Plc and Daar Investment and Holdings Limited; former Finance Director in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and Aminu Baba Kusa.
Other suspects charged by the anti-graft agency are private companies said to have received huge sums from the ONSA without any clear and specified reasons.
They are: Acacia Holdings Limited, Reliance Referral Hospital Limited and Dalhatu Investments Limited.
A breakdown of the charges, which Vanguard obtained last night, showed that the former NSA, Dasuki, Shauibu Salisu, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited were slammed with a total of 19 charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and breach of public trust among others.
Similarly, Bashir Yuguda, Sambo Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, Dalhatu Investment Ltd, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafarawa were charged with 22 counts.
High Chief Dokpesi and his company, Daar Investment and Holdings Limited were slammed with two counts each.
The cases have been filed with the Federal High Court but not yet assigned to any judge, according to findings by our correspondent.
Vanguard had reported exclusively on Monday that the EFCC was set to press charges against the suspects this week but did not specify the date.
The agency had used most part of last Sunday grilling the suspects and confronting them with details of the illicit transactions that made the Federal Government to lose huge sums of money.
Dasuki has already challenged the Federal Government for trying to investigate and bring him to book for the alleged offence and breach of his fundamental rights.
The case is before Justice Ademola Adeniyi.
Also, Dokpesi in an ex-parte application he filed through his lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozehkome, SAN, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, pending his formal arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Instead of granting the motion, Justice Kolawole, in a chamber ruling last Friday, ordered Dokpesi’s lawyer to go and put the Federal Government on notice, even as he adjourned the matter till December 14.
The court also directed EFCC to produce Dokpesi before it on that day.
However, few hours after the order was made, EFCC granted administrative bail to Dokpesi.
In his application dated December 3, Dokpesi told the court that he was detained for more than 48 hours without the EFCC entering any charge against him.
Ozehkome told the court that his client was on December 1 summoned via the telephone to report to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
He said Dokpesi has since then remained in custody on the anti-graft agency, adding that he was grilled for so many hours despite the fact that he did not have fore knowledge of why he was wanted by the EFCC.
Buhari is inflicting serious hardship on Nigerians - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari that his policies and apparent lack of viable economic initiatives are currently inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Tuesday said it is disheartening that the Buhari administration had remained insensitive and unresponsive to the groaning of Nigerians occasioned by the apparent lack of competent hands in the management of the economy.
“Rather than evolving economic initiatives to improve the lot of the citizens, this administration has in the last seven months churned out policies that stifle productivity in the formal and informal sectors, thereby inflicting hardship on them. This has resulted in the semi-destruction of the long-standing extended family system in our society.
“It is a statement of fact that under President Buhari’s watch, the nation has witnessed the gloomiest festive season. Under this government, Nigerians have had the worst Sallah celebration and by all indications, this Christmas season is going to be the bleakest ever.
“More worrisome is the fact that there is no indication that the government has any plan for ameliorating the hardship of the people. Instead, the situation may get worse as this administration, in its lack of economic initiatives, is now rolling up its sleeves to introduce some stringent tax policies, in addition to completely removing the social palliatives Nigerians benefit from,” it said.
On the issue of the persisting fuel queues across the country, the PDP demanded that the government come clean, asking: “Is it market driven or a product of government conspiracy? Our take is that if indeed it is true that the government has a hand in this fuel crisis, then they should have a rethink and show pity on innocent Nigerians.
“We, therefore, align with the people in declaring that this administration is unprepared for governance. President Buhari and his party came to power on propaganda, deceit and falsehood and the government has now shown lack of initiatives and the required competence to successfully move the nation forward,” it stated.
The party said it was saddening that a government that came to power on a mantra of change now sought to chain the ways and means of the very people that they deceived into voting for them.
“We advice the government to note that any attempt to increase taxes and duties will overstretch the lean income of ordinary Nigerians and gradually inflict intolerable poverty in the land,” it added.
What can we do to make Igbo feel they belong,not alienated – Soyinka
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has urged the Federal Government to employ more diplomacy in handling the agitation for the Republic of Biafra.
Soyinka said statements like “Nigeria is indivisible”, “This won’t happen under my watch,” “Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable” would not help matters.
The Nobel laureate spoke in an interview on Channels Television programme, Channels Books’ Club.
Agitation for the Republic of Biafra gained more traction recently following the arrest of Director of outlawed Biafra Radio, Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters had taken over the Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State blocking traffic and it took the intervention of security agents before they could be dislodged, leaving some persons dead in its wake.
Soyinka asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approach the agitation in a more diplomatic way, pointing out that he had said earlier that Biafra cannot be defeated.
According to him, ”Once an idea has taken off, you may defeat those behind it in a war but that does not mean the end of the idea.”
But he lamented that he had been misunderstood at the time.
He said the attitude of the government should be to sit down with the those leading the renewed agitation and ask: “What can we do to make the Igbo feel part of the country, what can we do to make them to feel that they belong and not alienated.
“This is what we are ready to push for in the overall governance content of the country. It is not to be carrying on that this will not happen under my watch; Nigeria is indivisible, Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable, he stated”
Scientists confirm new sexual disease
Scientists in the United Kingdom have confirmed the existence of a new sexually transmitted disease called mycoplasma genitalium.
The confirmation of the bacterial disease, which causes painful urination among other things, as an STD comes more than two decades after it was first discovered.
A team of fourteen researchers arrived at the conclusion after conducting a national survey of the sexual lifestyles and attitudes of British men and women.
The researchers said the study, which involved the testing urine from 4,507 sexually experienced participants aged 16 to 44 years for MG, “strengthens evidence that MG is an STI”.
They added, “MG was identified in over one per cent of the population, including in men with high-risk behaviours in older age groups that are often not included in STI prevention measures.”
The study found that men of black ethnicity were more likely to test positive for MG and showed that the prevalence of the disease was 1.2 per cent in men and 1.3 per cent in women.
It also found that for both men and women, the disease was strongly associated with reporting risk behaviours such as increasing the number of total and new partners and unsafe sex in the past year.
Although it recorded no positive MG tests in men aged 16 to19, prevalence peaked at 2.1 per cent in men aged 25–34 years, while prevalence in was highest in 16 to 19-year-olds at 2.4 per cent and decrease with age.
It added, “Men with MG were more likely to report previously diagnosed gonorrhoea, syphilis or non-specific urethritis, and women previous trichomoniasis.”
Health.com in an article on about the study quoted a clinical associate professor, Raquel Dardik, as saying the symptoms for women included irritation, painful urination and bleeding after sex, while those for men included painful urination and watery discharge from the penis.
According to the article, the disease has been linked to both inflammation in the cervix (cervicitis) and pelvic inflammatory disease, which is a serious condition often caused by other STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Dardik was also quoted as saying that around 10 per cent of women who develop PID (which causes abdominal pain, fever, painful cervix, and pain or bleeding during sex), could blame MG as the underlying cause.
She, however, said people could get tested for MD and that it was treatable with the antibiotic azithromycin, adding that the use of condoms was an effective way of preventing it.
Dr. Jorgen Jensen of the Mycoplasma Laboratory, Statens Serum Institut in Denmark, however, said although the single-dose azithromycin treatment was best for MG, it was not good enough.
He explained in an article published in an issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases that although initial in vitro studies suggested that antibiotics of the tetracycline class were active, clinical experience soon demonstrated their inefficiency in producing both microbiologic and clinical cure.
He added that two recently published observational studies of 120 Australian and 183 Norwegian MG-positive patients found that only 84 per cent and 79 per cent, respectively, were cured by a single 1-g dose of azithromycin.
Jensen said, “(A study the study by) Mena et al provides a clear-cut answer to the question of whether multidose doxycycline or single-dose azithromycin is most efficient for the treatment of M. genitalium—positive urethritis; undoubtedly, azithromycin is best. However, it is not good enough, and additional studies of new approaches are definitely needed.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Thousands celebrate as millionaire becomes Yoruba’s most powerful monarch
A 41-year-old multi-millionaire was on Monday officially installed as the new Ooni of Ife — the most powerful and influential traditional monarch among the Yoruba people of southwest Nigeria.
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi succeeded Ife’s 50th ooni, Okunade Sijuade, who died in July after a 35-year reign as paramount ruler and spiritual leader.
Tens of thousands celebrated on the streets of the ancient city to which historically all ethnic Yoruba, including those as far away as Togo, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, can trace their origins.
The Yoruba, who predominate in six southwestern Nigerian states, number some 40 million and make up the country’s second-largest ethnic group after the Hausa-Fulani.
Historically, the Ooni or any king in Yorubaland was revered and considered “the sovereign, second in rank to the gods”. His decision was considered final.
The powers of the Yoruba kings and other traditional rulers were reduced under British colonial rule, said Abimbola Adesoji, head historian at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.
“Now, they (kings) are mostly titular heads. Their relevance depends on how influential they are or how they can use their influence to benefit their subjects,” he told AFP.
Today, though still regarded as custodians of culture and supreme heads of local communities, they are paid public functionaries but not assigned any specific role in the constitution.
– ‘God-given’ role –
Ogunwusi, dressed in white, with a white ceremonial head covering and white-beaded walking stick, was presented with his staff of office to loud applause from the crowd and dignitaries including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“God has actually prepared me for this throne,” he told guests at the ceremony, which was transmitted via large screens outside the coronation venue and live on some television channels.
“I will dedicate the staff of office just given to me to the youth of Ile-Ife, Osun state and the entire country.”
Ogunwusi , a trained accountant, made his fortune mostly from real estate and marketing, including products of commodities magnate Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man.
Ogunwusi is also chairman of Gran Imperio Group, a leading real estate and construction company.
The Vanguard newspaper described Ogunwusi as “an astute entrepreneur driven by turning impossibilities to ‘possibilities'”.
A prince from one of the ruling houses in the Ife kingdom, Ogunwusi is the son of a retired radio and television broadcaster and was selected from more than 20 candidates.
Born on October 17, 1974, he is one of Nigeria’s youngest traditional rulers.
– High expectations –
Because of his wealth and close connection with powerful Nigerians, many locals who turned out for the coronation have high expectations.
“I am so happy that our new king is young, energetic and well-connected with powerful people,” said Tomi Omodunbi.
“He should improve the social infrastructure and provide jobs for the teeming youth population in the town.”
For Joseph Muda Awowole, 58, a radio repairer in Ile-Ife, the new king “should do well for the Ife people, listen to advice and behave maturely in handling matters, despite his age”.
Felix Bunmi Adegoke, a beer seller, said the king was “a good omen for the town.
“We have accepted him as our king. He is young and rich. He should use his vast connection for the benefit of Ile-Ife.”
Afusatu Layade, a 34-year-old pepper trader in Ile-Ife’s largest market, said: “I am happy that this is happening in my lifetime.
“I have a lot of hope in him that he will take Ile-Ife to greater heights.”
How Nigeria can resolve power problems, by Okonjo-Iweala
Former Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said the solution to Nigeria’s power problem lies in off-grid initiatives that are climate friendly.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who was speaking at the Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, said Nigeria needs to get the private sector involved in the power sector but must look at renewable and off-grid solutions like the solar power generation.
She said: “We have to get the private sector, we are looking at power, look at renewable we are not saying renewable should be everything because Africa should have a mix, we can still use gas to some extent, but we should increase the renewable. Our companies that are investing should look at off- grid solutions; let our companies get off -grid solar solutions for our people before other people come into it because that is what always happens. Instead of flaring, we can use the gas, we can convert this gas for our use and I know government has the power to do that.”
The former minister, who is also the Commissioner, Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, spoke at a session titled: Climate Change in Africa: Financing Sustainable Pathways for Development at the ongoing Climate Change talks.
She said: “Africa should stop playing the victim game. We are not supposed to be going to the West to beg as victims, we should be telling them that the solution is in Africa. Our infrastructures are just developing we have the opportunity to build in a climate friendly way and avoid the mistakes of the developed nations.”
INEC declares Bayelsa election inconclusive
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has cancelled the election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in the Saturday’s Bayelsa State governorship election and consequently declared the election inconclusive.
INEC said the decision was taken because of violence, the abduction of electoral officials and ballot box snatching.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, said going by the reports of substantial violence and irregularities received from officials and observers, “the commission has decided in the interest of the process’ integrity to cancel the governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government.”
He said a new date would be announced for the election in the local government, which has 120,827 registered voters and is the largest in the state.
The mainly-riverine Southern Ijaw is the biggest council in the state. It has over 120,000 voting strength, which would decide the eventual winner of the election between Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Seriake Dickson and the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Chief Timipre Sylva.
The governorship election took place on Saturday in Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, Brass, Ekeremor, Ogbia and Nembe Councils. The poll in Southern Ijaw council was rescheduled for Sunday also as a result of violence and killings.
In the collated results from the seven local governments as announced by the Returning Officer, the PDP leads with 33,154 votes. The PDP polled 105,748 votes as against APC’s 72,594 votes.
Prior to the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw, some PDP women and youths, who wore black dresses and led by the party’s Bayelsa Women Leader Faith Opuene, protested near the collation centre, expressing displeasure over the poll in Southern Ijaw.
Barely 30 minutes after the protest, despite the police ban on demonstrations, some militants from Southern Ijaw escorted two Hilux vans, one of them with Bayelsa Government House registration number: BYGH145, into the collation centre.
The two vehicles were loaded with uncounted ballot materials, without any security escort or INEC official.
The militants, who were singing war songs, as they alighted from the Hilux vans, claimed that they escaped from Southern Ijaw with the results of three units of Amassoma in the council area, in view of the violence, but the electoral materials were not accepted by the INEC officials at the collation centre.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Training and Development, Hashimu Argungu, told the militants to give peace a chance, assuring them that INEC would address their complaints.
The results are: Brass Local Government PDP 21,755 votes, APC 6,516 votes.
Sagbama PDP: 24, 258, APC 5, 382. Yenagoa, PDP 24,258, APC 14, 563
Kolokuma/Opokuma PDP 7,619 votes, APC 6,896.
Ekeremor PDP 14,602, APC 7,918 votes.
For the results announced yesterday: Ogbia PDP 13,051, APC 9,106 and Nembe PDP 10,768 APC 6,974 votes.
From the seven local government areas, PDP polled 105,748 votes. APC had 72,594 votes, with a difference of 33,154 votes.
The police warned against plans by some people to protest in Yenagoa, the state capital.
A statement by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Hashimu Argungu, banned all forms of procession, rally or demonstration.
The statement was circulated at INEC’s collation centre in Yenagoa, where the results of the governorship election in the state were being announced.
It was gathered that the PDP had already mobilised people to protest against the rescheduled election that was held in Southern Ijaw.
Argungu said the police were informed about plans by some “disgruntled elements” to carry out illegal rallies and demonstrations in the state.
The DIG said: “This form of conduct will jeopardise the ongoing electoral process. Therefore, the command warns all intending perpetrators to desist from such acts, as it will deal decisively with any person or group of persons who wish to engage in any conduct that will compromise the existing peaceful atmosphere.
“Members of the public are advised to go about their normal businesses, as security agencies are poised to guarantee the safety of lives and property.”
Earlier, Dickson was live on the state-owned Radio Bayelsa, protesting the electoral process, at the time he was leading with over 28,000 votes.
Dickson asked residents to hit the streets at 2p.m. for a rally to protest what was happening at the collation centre and he vowed to lead the protest.
The Bayelsa governor, who fielded questions from listeners, said: “There will be a rally to resist what is happening now. It is clear to me that security services have become an army of occupation.”
Security was strengthened in the state capital, with four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) deployed round the state collation centre.
Detachment of anti-bomb squad, riot policemen and soldiers took over some strategic areas in Yenagoa, to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Jonathan was inexperienced, not incompetent — IBB
Ex-military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has disagreed with critics of former President Goodluck Jonathan who described him as incompetent saying Jonathan was rather “inexperienced” rather than “incompetent.”
General Babangida who spoke with The Interview magazine in the December 2015 edition which is currently on sale argued that Jonathan who lost his re-election bid in March “is a very pleasant person” and that he believed the former president meant well for the country.
Asked about the perception that Jonathan is a good person but was “incompetent”, Babangida replied: “If you use inexperience, I will buy that.”
The retired general spoke on a wide range of issues, including the botched coup of 1990 and how his late wife, Maryam, woke him up in the middle of the night to alert him about the movement of troops at Dodan Barracks, which was the seat of power then. He denied that his life was saved by Sani Abacha, who was then the chief of army staff, and also denied reports that he hid in a bunker while the coup plotters were looking for him.
“They obviously didn’t have a lot of experience,” Babangida recalled. “It was during the fasting period. We were still in Dodan Barracks then. My wife got up from sleep and said she had noticed very unusual movement of troops from one end to the other. So she woke me up and said I should look through the window.
”I found troops moving from one end to the other. The next thing I heard was shooting going on. We tried to put a small party together. It was about 1.30am. Then the guards, the bodyguards said let’s check out of this place. I was a bit stubborn. I told them I was not leaving. It didn’t occur to me that we had a bunker at Dodan Barracks. We had, but it didn’t occur to me to use it. And so, they came. I said the only thing I would concede to, I would evacuate my family. My wife had her last born, who was just a few months old, with her. So they evacuated them to a safe house.
“So, I remained with a few bodyguards. We decided to get out and move around. We went to a safe house around Surulere. I had a bodyguard, Omuah. We just moved in there. From there, we established communication. I later established communication with Abacha, Raji Rasaki (who was governor of Lagos then) and the other. They had mobilised their troops.”
He maintained that “Abacha didn’t save my life in the Orkar coup. We worked together to crush Orkar’s coup.”
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Nigeria Urges US, Israel To Help With Boko Haram Fight
The federal government in a bid to defeat Boko Haram has asked the United States and Israel to help in the fight against the extremist group.
The Nation reports that this plea was made by Lt- Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd), the minister of interior when he received Mr. James F. Entwistle and Mr Uriel Palti ,the ambassadors of the US and Israel in his office in Abuja.
The minister said the fight against Boko Haram was not Nigeria’s problem alone but a war against terrorism that the whole world should support.
“As you know, this is the hub of internal security arrangement in the country. With five strategic security institutions, there is no doubt that the ministry has a major challenge of dealing with internal security.
“Out of the three legs of the criminal justice system, we have two in this ministry – the police and prison. All of them are strategic institutions as far as internal security is concerned.
“We know that you emphasised on partnership, collaborative efforts and security as it affects not only us but globally. We are ready to partner and collaborate with you to ensure that we achieve some level of security in Nigeria and all over the world. We are going to embark on holistic inter-agency collaborative efforts towards capacity building for the security challenge.
“As you also know, there is an increase in world activities that border on threat to security. So, every nation has a role to play, it is not a responsibility of just one country.
“Even in our case, where we are dealing with Boko Haram, it has now become a regional problem. It is no longer a problem that Nigeria alone can deal with, but one that affects four other countries including Nigeria.”
Both countries confirmed the willingness of their countries to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
Entwistle noted that Nigeria and the US had a long standing relationship and a project was already on to train Nigeria security personnel.
“We are here in particular to discuss the situation in the northeast in line with the problem of insurgence in the world. We are concerned about how we can help in organising particular kind of trainings. We are very happy to identify with Nigeria in that area.
“Another area we have equally discussed with the minister is how we can contribute in government’s watchdog and Security Governance Initiative (SGI) and this ministry has been patient on this issue, but I am pleased to say that we have a team and it is a very interested idea as an attempt to approach the need to reform democracies to improve securities. It is an exciting possibility.
“As I always say, the USA is not going to do anything for Nigeria, we are going to do things with Nigeria. We are two equal democratic partners working together to make the world a better place.”
Meanwhile, France has joined in the fight against Boko Haram and assured Nigeria that it was committed to end global terrorism.
I Don't Want My Children To Be Lonely - Atiku
Former vice-president and All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Atiku Abubakar has revealed why he married more than one wife, DawntoDusk reports.
In January 1979 he married Ladi Atiku Abubakar. He married his third wife, Princess Rukaiyatu Atiku Abubakar, daughter of the late Lamido of Adamawa in 1983.
Atiku Abubakar’s 1st wife, Titi
Atiku Abubakar’s children include Shehu, Mohammed, Ahmed, Adamu, Aminu, Halima, Fatima, Rukaiya, Walida, Mustapha, Jamila, Lamido, Asmau, Laila, Mustapha, Aisha, Zara, Faisal, Abdul Malik, Amina, Ama, Zainab, Abba, Hauwa, Atiku, Maryam.
Atiku and his fourth wife, Jamilah
Meanwhile, Atiku has claimed he would continue supporting democracy and education in the country by using his experience and fortune.
The APC chieftain stated this to mark his 69th birthday on Wednesday, November 25. His media adviser, Paul Ibe, in a statement said Atiku has provided scholarship both in Nigeria and abroad to thousands of needy Nigerian students and had also built several schools across the country.
First Bank Partners With Eventful To Host Food And Beverage Fair
For small and medium enterprises who are active right from the start of the value chain, First Bank provides necessary financing and advisory support that is essential to their stability and that facilitates their success. More affluent and upwardly mobile customers have worked hard to turn their passion and flair for food Into a viable career option. Chefs are the new celebrities! The Bank supports that passion and provides unique retail financial products that meet their career and lifestyle needs. Finally, food is adventurous and exciting and a focal point for building friendships and communal relationships. The Bank provides this value too by sponsoring events that bring us together and provide opportunities to enjoy food as a community.
These are the reasons First Bank has partnered with Eventful on Fiesta of Flavours; a world class Food and Beverage fair holding at Harbour Point, Victoria Island Lagos from December 4th to December 6th 2015. It will bring together hundreds of food and beverage enterprises, offering an opportunity for attendees to experience foods from Africa and the world.
There will be various training and seminars for food service professionals and hospitality providers, five course dinners, three-course lunches, children’s food exhibitions, cooking classes and a live band among others. Internationally acclaimed Chefs such as Chef Coco, Chef Tiyan, Chef Reuben and Chef Fregz will be available to mentor customers who have worked hard to turn their passion and flair for food into a viable career option. Most important, it will be a platform through which you can engage with First Bank and explore the various ways we support your business, career and lifestyle needs and put You First.
It is the season of food, family and fun, so for a chance to win tickets to the fair, follow FirstBank on any of the platforms below:
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Judge Convicts Oscar Pistorius Of Murder
The case of the South African sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, who was originally convicted of manslaughter, or culpable homicide, for shooting Reeva Steenkamp, has taken a new turn as a judge has ruled that Pistorius should have been charged and convicted of murder and must be re-sentenced.
According to Judge Eric, Pistorius had criminal intent and he is guilty of murder.
He said: “Guilty of murder, with the accused having criminal intent. The matter is referred back to the trial court to consider an appropriate sentence.”
The law code in South Africa stipulates 15 years imprisonment as the minimum sentence for murder cases.
A South African parole board has approved the placement under house arrest and correctional supervision for four years of Oscar Pistorius.
Pistorius was sentenced to five years in jail by a South African judge for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s day in 2013.
He was sentenced for culpable homicide as he said he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a bathroom door in a home they shared together.
Lagos to arrest sellers, users of banger/knockouts, fireworks
As the Yuletide activities kicks off nationwide, Lagos State Government, through the state Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from the use of fireworks, popularly called “banger,” even as it warned sellers against the sale of the items.
General Manager LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele who gave the warning yesterday, in his Alausa office, said that a special team consisting of the agency, the police and other security operatives have been mobilized to apprehend offenders within the ambit of the law for prosecution.
He warned dealers and end users of fireworks to steer clear of the state because of the potential hazard of the item to the people and the environment.
Akindele reiterated the earlier ban on the use of the device by Lagos State Police Commissioner in order to further ensure safety of lives and properties in the state.
He recalled the ordeal of December 26, 2012 Jankara fire outbreak caused by the storage of fireworks in some of the shops leading to loss of lives and properties worth millions of naira.
Akindele noted that the noise created by fireworks and the large amounts of debris and fallout left over after shooting may also cause health hazards and environmental nuisance which could degenerate to disaster under certain conditions and inimical to health of the communities and neighborhoods where the users live.
“The careless use of fireworks may be dangerous to the users as they stand the risks of sustaining burns and wounds as well as harming bystanders or cause fire outbreak when thrown on inflammable materials, in this period of fuel scarcity and potential storage of it in homes and other public places,” he said.
Rivers suspends overseas scholarships for students
Rivers State Government has suspended its overseas scholarships for students of the state origin in foreign universities, saying it will only pay the tuition fees for those in final year.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Onimim Jack, disclosed this to parents of the students, yesterday, in Port Harcourt. She said the government would see how the students would continue their studies in the state-owned universities, adding that the decision to suspend the scholarship scheme was due to paucity of funds.
Some of the parents who spoke to newsmen condemned the decision of the government, stressing that the government should have sourced money to sustain the scholarship scheme.
Meantime, Governor Nyesom Wike has said that his administration will not reduce workers’ salary from the N18, 000 minimum wage.
The governor gave the assurance, yesterday, when he played host to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the backlash of reducing the minimum wage will be more than the gains, stressing that his government would not be party to any move to reduce the minimum wage.
He said the welfare of workers was dear to his administration, adding that it informed why he cleared three months salaries owed workers by his predecessor.
He said: “Rivers State will not be a party to the reduction of the minimum wage. Government will not reduce the minimum wage. The state government will continue to pay the salaries of workers because we believe that the worker deserves his wage.”
Earlier, National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulsalam, advised against reduction of the minimum wage.
He commended the governor for giving room for opposition parties to be actively involved in his government by appointing some of their members into offices.
Man treks from Abuja to Osun for Ooni of Ife
Mohammed Isah, a phone accessory dealer, has started a solidarity trek to Osun State to congratulate the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Isah began the journey yesterday from the Federal Capital Territory City Gate, Abuja.
He said the Ooni, a friend of his former boss, had been very nice to him.
Musa, an indigene of Nasarawa State, described the monarch as a wonderful man, who has peoples’ interest at heart.
According to him, he was in Osun 24 hours earlier, to notify residents about his intention and he was personally endorsed by the Ooni.
His words: “I want to trek for him because he is a very nice man. So when I got the news about his selection, I was not surprised.
“He deserves bigger positions. He has peoples’ interest at heart. This is why I decided to embark on this solidarity trekking from Abuja to Osun to congratulate him.
“I was in Osun yesterday to notify them about my trekking, which the Ooni endorsed; he said he will be glad. I hope the Ooni will give him a handshake”
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