2face Idibia gave a sneak peak
into his amazing shoe collection
during his stay in Accra Ghana for
the first ever Hennessy Artistry
international concert. The pop icon
is apparently a huge lover of
Versace as he was spotted hours
before the concert wearing black
Versace loafers and later stormed
the concert rocking a black
sleeveless strapped jacket with a
Versace belt and high top
sneakers to match.
#BBAHotShots is here again o!
The day 4 shower hour features
Botswana’s Sheila, Nigeria’s
Tayo and Mira of Mozambique
having their bath together.
Download below.
Viewers Discretion is Strongly
Advised
Eight victims of kidnapping and ritual
killings were rescued from a ritualists' den at
Ogolonto area of Ikorodu Lagos, Vanguard reports.
The den was uncovered when one of the ritualists,
a woman identified as Rosemary Chukwu, allegedly
kidnapped a seven-year-old primary school pupil,
Emmanuel Emeka.
The mother of the victim was said to have alerted
her neighbours who conducted a search around
the area before the missing boy was discovered in
a suitcase 'half dead'.
Some miscreants uncovered the building while
they were chasing the kidnappers.
Read more at Vanguard
The National Hospital spokesman says a
victim wounded in the bomb blast at a mall in
Abuja died overnight, raising the death toll to at
least 22.
The government says soldiers shot and killed one
suspect as he tried to escape, and police detained
a second suspect.
Wednesday's explosion in Abuja is the latest in a
series of violent attacks blamed on Boko Haram
extremists. Security forces have not succeeded in
curtailing their near-daily attacks.
The extremists on Tuesday night overran a military
checkpoint in the northeast and killed at least 21
soldiers. They also took some troops hostage,
witnesses said.
Boko Haram attracted international condemnation
for the April mass abductions of more than 200
schoolgirls, and is blamed for this week's
kidnappings of another 90 people.
At least 16 soldiers have been killed after
suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect
attacked a military post at Bulabulin Ngaura in
Damboa local government area of Borno State.
A soldier that narrowly escaped the attack while
recounting his ordeal to journalists in Maiduguri,
said the terrorists totally subdued the soldiers.
“Some of my colleagues were abducted and many
others escaped with bullet wounds. Dozens of
Boko Haram insurgents stormed our checkpoint at
Bulabulin on Tuesday night," he recounted.
“The terrorists came in a convoy of over 30
vehicles, mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns (AA). I
was at the checkpoint when the terrorists came, we
tried our best but they had advantage over us.
They had AA and we had AK 47 rifles that are not
fully loaded," continued the soldier.
He said when they realized terrorists had taken
over the place, some soldiers escaped to
Maiduguri and other places but many could not
make it.
“As I am talking to you, 16 bodies of our
colleagues have been brought to Maiduguri. This
is besides those that sustain injuries and many
others that are missing in action.”
Members of the Academic Staff Union (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter, on Tuesday protested what they called illegality in the election of a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor in the institution.
The lecturers called for the immediate suspension of the election of the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of administration scheduled for later in the day.
The scores of placard-carrying lecturers staged a peaceful march, chanting songs.
Some of the placards read: "DVC election, we say 'no to one man show' in a university of 30 years’’, "until a properly convened Senate accepts your nominees, no election please’’, "The VC is only first among equals, LASU Senate is not a private club, you cannot waive its rights’’.
The management of the university had in its official bulletin dated April 16 nominated Prof. Olatunji Abanikannda of the Faculty of Science and Prof. Fidelis Njokanma of the College of Medicine to run for the position.
It also scheduled the election for April 22.
The position had been vacant since December 8, 2013.
Dr Adekunle Idris, the Chairman of ASUU, said the action was to protest "illegality" in the selection process.
He cited Section 5 (4) of LASU Law that where a vacancy exists for the post of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the VC shall present a list of two professors to the Senate, one of whom should be elected.
"Where none of the two nominees is accepted to the Senate, the vice-chancellor shall present a list of two other professors to the Senate.
"The purpose of this is to enable the senate to discuss and consider the appropriateness for the position before the election.
"Where senate in its wisdom finds the two nominees not acceptable, they have the right to so declare, this right can only be waived by the senate.
"The vice-chancellor and the registrar have no powers to waive this right or duty of senate to accept or reject the first list of two nominees," Idris said.
"Our union, having sought legal advice and after serious consideration, have come to the conclusion that a breach of the LASU law is about to be committed.’’
The union noted that though filling the vacancy is important, the process and its outcome was more important, as the deputy vice- chancellor is a vice-chancellor in waiting.
It called on the authorities to convene the meeting of the Senate to consider the nominees, while a new date should be fixed for the election.
ASUU-LASU had on April 15 given the management a 14-day ultimatum to meet its demands or face strike.
Source Vanguard
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it detected a 2.5 kilogrammes of cocaine stashed inside a consignment of female shoes and voltage regulators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The agency said the consignment of female shoes from Brazil on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight and a shipment of voltage regulators were meant for export to Gabon on a DHL cargo flight.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar said the shipment of shoes had been abandoned.
"We found an abandoned luggage containing ladies shoes that originated from Brazil. During examination, 1, 860 kg of cocaine was found inside the shoe soles. Our men at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited section of the airport also detected 600 grammes of cocaine hidden in a voltage regulator," he said.
A freight forwarder had been arrested in connection with the cocaine shipment to Gabon.
The suspect, 37-year-old Anslem Nyeaka, a native of Imo State, however claimed a client gave him the consignment.
Speaking on the arrest, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said a close watch would be kept over the Nigeria-Brazil route, while other African routes were being re-classified in line with current risk levels.
"Recent drug seizures on some African routes have placed them on a high risk platform. We must be vigilant in preventing the sub-region from being used as a drug hub. The suspect will be charged to court soon," he said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, has said that there was no rift
between the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.
Diezani Alison Madueke and its Group Managing
Director, GMD, Engr. Andrew Yakubu..
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the
Group General Manager, GGM, Public Affairs
Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said that the two were "in
harmonious working relationship."
Mr. Alegbe also said that the Minister of Petroleum
Resources and the NNPC, in the last few months,
have heeded countless number of summons from
the National Assembly, wondering why the media
would go to town with the reports that the
Petroleum Minister was doing everything to thwart
the proposed investigation into the alleged N10
billion purportedly expended on the charter of jets
by the corporation.
He said: "The Minister and NNPC are putting
together all the documents that the House of
Representatives Committee on Public Account had
requested for. At the end of the probe, the Minister
and the Corporation would be vindicated."
Alegbe said that the GMD of the corporation was in
London last week for the board meeting of the
Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, and that
NNPC would remain focused on its core mandate
of guaranteeing energy sufficiency for the country.
On measures against fuel scarcity
He said that new measures were being adapted to
ensure round the clock availability of petrol.
Under the arrangement, he said, the Minister had
approved the allocation of 1,854,314 metric tonnes
of petrol as supplementary volumes for the first
and second quarters of the year.
He noted that whilst the first quarter supplementary
volume was designed to complement the earlier
allocation in addition to covering any under-
delivery by marketers due to unforeseen financial
challenges, the second quarter (June only) quota
was in consonance with the national consumption
pattern of 40 million litres per day.
The NNPC spokesman also noted that the second
quarter quota also captured a 23 percent upper
tolerance in the event of default or slippage into
July.
He said: "There are 27 oil marketing companies
with proven performance records enlisted in
respect of first quarter deliveries. For the second
(June only), there are 40 marketers with good
performance records and whose facilities are
functional.
"The idea of June only is to revert back to the
normal quarterly sequence. That is July to
September and October to December."
Another 14 Nigerian
schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists in
the northeast have escaped, leaving 85 missing on
Saturday after an attack that has sparked global
outrage, an official said.
The unprecedented mass abduction of 129 teenage
girls from the Chibok area of Borno state has been
described as among the most shocking ever by
Boko Haram, an extremist group blamed for killing
thousands since 2009.
"I am glad to say that 14 more students have
escaped from their abductors," Borno's education
commissioner Inua Kubo told journalists.
"With this development, we have 44 out of our 129
students."
It was not immediately clear how this latest group
managed to flee, although Kubo said 11 had been
found after running to a town on the Damboa road
which connects Chibok to Borno's capital
Maiduguri.
They have since been sent to their family villages,
while the three others had returned to their school
in Chibok and were being cared for there, he said.
"We are hopefully expecting the return of our 85
students as intensive search and rescue efforts
continue," Kubo said.
Some of the girls who escaped within a day of the
April 15 attack said the Islamists had taken the
hostages to the Sambisa Forest area of Borno
state, where Boko Haram is known to have well-
fortified camps.
The military said it had launched a major search
and rescue operation, but some in the region say
they have lost confidence in the security forces
after the defence ministry issued an erroneous
report claiming that most of the girls were safe.
That statement, issued late Wednesday, said all but
eight of those abducted were free, but defence
spokesman Chris Olukolade was forced to
withdraw the report on Friday after it turned out to
be inaccurate
Boko Haram, whose name loosely translates as
"Western education is forbidden", has repeatedly
attacked schools during its five-year uprising,
including the mass slaughter of students in their
sleep.
The attack on the girls' school came just hours a
bomb blast at packed bus station on the outskirts
of Abuja killed 75 people, the deadliest attack ever
in the capital.
President Goodluck Jonathan held an emergency
meeting with his national security council on
Thursday to review the latest unrest, with another
meeting set for next week.
Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki announced on Friday his decision to voluntarily take a two-thirds pay cut as the government grapples with a financial situation it has described as “critical.”
“We are facing a financial and economic crisis. The state must be a model… That is why I have decided to lower the legal salary of the president of the republic to a third” of its current level, Marzouki said in a statement.
The Tunisian economy has suffered from the instability that followed the 2011 revolution, which toppled long-time autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and ignited the Arab Spring.
Presidential spokesman Adnane Mansar had said that Marzouki earned a gross monthly wage of 30,000 Tunisian dinars (around 13,600 euros), and a net income of 20,000 dinars (9,100 euros).
Marzouki, who has been head of state since late 2011, also said he had ordered further reductions in the expenses of the presidency.
Some Tunisian media have criticised the perceived excesses of the presidency, with much of the country still threatened by social conflict fuelled by poverty and high unemployment.
On Friday the World Bank approved a $100 million loan (72 million euros) to help small and medium sized businesses, seen as crucial to the economic recovery of Tunisia’s private sector.
It said there are 624,000 such businesses in Tunisia, employing around 1.2 million people, who make up an estimated 44 percent of the workforce in the formal private sector.
The government said last week that the country’s public finances were in such a critical state that it had resorted to “exceptional measures” to ensure that April wages were paid.
In January, the International Monetary Fund released more than $500 million, part of a $1.76 billion loan to support Tunisia, shortly after a new technocratic government was sworn in under a deal to end months of political instability.
Source: vanguard
A member of the National Conference,
Abdulmumuni Abubakar, slumped after the
afternoon session and was admitted at a hospital
in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Prof.
Bolaji Akinyemi, confirmed the incident during
Wednesday’s plenary.
Abubakar, a retired Deputy Inspector General of
Police, is a Federal Government delegate.
Akinyemi, who urged delegates to pray for his
quick recovery, said Abubakar was calm and
responding to treatment as at the time he made
the information known to delegates.
"A member of our community who actually
spoke yesterday in the afternoon session, DIG
retired A.M Abubakar, slumped and collapsed
after our session.
"He has been admitted in the hospital.
"He has been visited, not only by members of
the secretariat but also by some of the delegates
who belong to the community of the retired
police officers.
"He is under treatment and I understand that he
is stable, so they simply want us to inform the
house of this development. Please include him in
your prayers,” he said.
Some delegates, however, observed that the
clinic was not adequately equipped to take care
of delegates.
They complained that the ambulance that
conveyed Abubakar to the hospital did not have
oxygen, essential medical equipment that should
be in an ambulance.
The conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi,
acknowledged the observations made by
delegates and thanked them for their
contribution.
He said: "Thank you very much, it is noted.’’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on
Wednesday maintained that President Goodluck
Jonathan would continue to be sensitive to the
welfare of Nigerians in spite the insurgency.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja
by Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity
Secretary, in reaction to a statement by the All
Progressive Congress (APC).
The APC statement had portrayed Jonathan as
‘heartless’ for not shutting down governance
over the April 14, bomb blast in Nyanya, a
suburb of Abuja.
Metuh maintained that the APC’s statement was
another demonstration of the party’s support for
terrorist agenda against the country.
He said that contrary to the allegations by APC,
Jonathan had continued to be sensitive and
responsive to the welfare of Nigerians.
The party spokesman said that the plan of the
opposition party to impose reign of terror in the
country had failed.
Buttressing claims that Jonathan was sensitive
to the plight of Nigerians, Metuh recalled that the
president cancelled his planned trip to Ibadan as
a result of the bomb blast.
He said that the president also visited the scene
of the blasts and the injured in hospitals and
gave directives on the matter.
Metuh recalled that after the Dana crash of June
3, 2012, the Nigerian flag was flown at half-mast,
while the president and his entire cabinet
refrained from celebrations.
“It is common knowledge that those behind the
attacks seek to impose a reign of terror in our
country, to cow the president.”
“They also seek to dictate the tempo of
government and ultimately shut down
governance,” the statement quoted Metuh as
saying.
He maintained that the Federal Government
would not in any way be cowed or intimidated to
abandon its mandate, saying that Jonathan had
remained committed to the welfare and security
of Nigerians.
Metuh said that that the opposition expected the
president to be intimidated by acts of terrorism.
“The leadership of the PDP and the government
we formed shall not be cowed, intimidated,
harassed or tele-guided by acts of terrorism.”
“The PDP-led administration was popularly
elected by Nigerians and shall never allow
terrorists and their supporters to dictate the
tempo of government which has been their direct
objective,” he said.
The party spokesman, however, called on
Nigerians to be vigilant and wary always about
their environment, especially suspicious
movement.
He commended Jonathan for remaining steadfast
and focused in delivering his transformation
agenda in spite of the insurgency and
unnecessary attacks by the opposition.
The Supervising Minister of Education,
Nyesom Wike on Monday, April 14,
asserted that the strike action which was
embarked upon by the Academic Staff
Union Of Polytechnics, ASUP and Colleges
of Education Academic Staff Union,
COEASU would soon be resolved, because
of the intervention of the President, Dr
Goodluck Jonathan.
While answering questions from
journalists, the Minister, Wike assured the
Nigeria general public, that the Federal
Government would soon resolve all
lingering strikes in the education sector.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics
has been on strike since October 2013,
indicating that in the last seven months,
Polytechnics students have been lectured.
While the Colleges of Education Academic
Staff Union has also been on industrial
action since December 2013.
Wike said : “No government will be happy
that students are roaming the street. We
must promise what is practicable. Not
just making promises without fulfilling
them. Be rest assured that it will be
resolved.”
For over 10 months, Nigerian polytechnic
students have been at home. We call on
the Federal government to accede to the
request of the Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnic, ASUP.
Daniel Gani, member representing
Wukari II Constituency in Taraba State House of
Assembly, has called on the Federal Government
to deploy soldiers in the area to avert further
attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Gani made the call on Wednesday while
addressing news conference in Jalingo.
He said the low presence of security personnel in
the area was responsible for the ongoing
senseless killing of innocent people.
“The only way to avert these brutal killings in
Wukari and its environs is to massively deploy
troops just like what the federal government did
in Benue and Nasarawa states”, he said.
Gani said lack of seriousness on the part of the
State Government left him with no option than to
seek intervention from the federal government.
“I passionately appeal to the Acting Governor to
liaise with the police so that mobile police unit
can be stationed in Wukari due to the volatile
nature of the area.”
“As I speak with you, the acting governor has
not done anything about it and that is why the
killings have continued.”
“We are tired of making such calls. If the acting
governor is not competent enough to protect the
lives and properties of our people, he should
simply resign,” he stressed.
The lawmaker said the decision b
the acting governor not to visit the area and
commiserate with its people was, again, a clear
indication that he had no concern for the people.
“Our people are dying by the day but the acting
governor did not deem it fit to at least visit the
affected persons and condole with them.”
“Stakeholders in southern Taraba have started
reading meanings into it, and you can’t blame
them because the acting governor is not
bothered by their plight,” he said.
In a swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to
the acting governor, Kefas Sule, described the
allegations as baseless and unfounded.
Sule said that the acting governor had cancelled
his plan to attend a security meeting with the
President because of the security challenges in
the state.
He said that the acting governor was working
tirelessly with all the security agencies in the
state to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He also said that all top government
functionaries from the southern zone of the state
had been directed to go to the area and appeal
for calm, “now that normalcy had returned."
The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary
said he was “appalled” by the abduction of up to
100 schoolgirls in northern Nigeria by suspected
members of the Boko Haram sect.
“I am appalled by the abduction of up to 100
school girls in Borno State, in northern Nigeria.
My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with
them, and with their families. I condemn this
cowardly act and those responsible for it. We
stand ready to provide assistance to help the
Nigerian government ensure that these children
can be returned to their families in safety, and to
bring to justice those responsible,” Foreign
Secretary, William Hague said.
“The kidnap on Tuesday follows other reports of
Boko Haram’s abduction of women and girls, the
barbaric murder of schoolchildren and the use of
sexual violence. There is no possible justification
for such callous acts, that intentionally target the
most vulnerable people in the cruellest way.”
Hague pledged the UK government’s
commitment to assist Nigeria fight terror.
“The UK is a firm ally and friend of the people of
Nigeria and we will continue to offer staunch
support and assistance as they combat the
threat posed by Boko Haram, and address the
wider issues raised by this attack.”
More than 70 people were killed in Nyanya
outside Abuja following a bomb blast.
President Goodluck Jonathan has
accused the Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso, of embezzling funds meant for party
delegates during the 2010 PDP presidential
primaries, Vanguard reports.
Jonathan, who reacted to an earlier statement
credited to the governor that he regretted voting
for Jonathan in 2011, made the allegation in
Kano during a PDP rally.
He urged the people of the state to challenge the
governor and the 44 local government chairmen
in the state to account for the N250 billion they
had collected from the Federation account since
2011.
Read more at Vanguard
Desperate parents pleaded on
Wednesday for an end to their "nightmare" after
Boko Haram extremists kidnapped more than
100 girls from a secondary school in Borno.
The mass abduction by heavily armed insurgents
from the Chibok area of Borno state late Monday
came just hours after a bomb ripped through a
packed bus station on the outskirts of Abuja,
killing 75 people, the deadliest attack ever in the
capital.
The bombing was also blamed on Boko Haram.
"They took away my daughter," said one woman
from Chibok, who like several parents requested
anonymity given the uncertain fate of the
children.
"I don't know what to do," she told AFP, urging
the government to find the kidnappers. "They
should not allow our daughters' dreams to be
shattered by these murderers."
A father who said his daughter was taken in the
attack described the ordeal as a "nightmare."
"The whole town is in mourning," he said from
Chibok.
The gunmen stormed the Government Girls
Secondary School after sundown on Monday,
torching several buildings before opening fire on
security forces guarding the school.
Searching the forest
It is not yet clear why the Chibok school was
open, but Emmanuel Sam, an education officer
based in the area said the girls had been
scheduled to write exams this week and that
school was full when the attackers arrived.
Witnesses said the gunmen killed a police officer
and soldier in the shootout and ultimately forced
their way into the school.
They then forced the girls outside and loaded
them on to trucks and drove off into the bush of
the remote region, notorious for its terrible
roads.
A senior security source, who said than more
than 100 girls were taken, told AFP the troops
had tracked the tyre marks of the convoy and
were pursuing the extremists.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents the region,
said the pursuit included soldiers backed by
members of a local vigilante force which formed
last year to help fight Boko Haram.
"They are now combing the forest to rescue the
school girls," he told AFP. "They are being aided
by surveillance helicopters," he said, but noted
the difficulty of the search in a vast forest that
extends to neighbouring Cameroon.
The fight against Boko Haram has been hindered
by the porous borders it shares with its
northeastern neighbours, including Cameroon
and Niger, with the Islamists evading pursuit by
slipping through unmanned posts.
Some of the girls escaped by jumping off a truck
when the gunmen became distracted by a
vehicle that had broken down.
"They tried to fix it," one of the girls who fled
told AFP by phone from Chibok on condition of
anonymity. "It was at this moment that some of
us jumped out of the vehicles and ran into the
bush."
Turning to prayer
President Goodluck Jonathan and the military
have sought to portray Boko Haram as being on
the defensive and rapidly losing strength thanks
to a massive offensive in the northeast launched
last May.
But a major bombing just a few kilometres from
the seat of government in Abuja and another
attack targeting defenceless students has
underscored the serious threat the extremists
continue to pose.
The military has so far refused to comment on
the abductions, even as the tragedy dominates
the front pages of most leading newspapers, and
the status of the rescue operation remains
unclear.
"We have turned to prayers," said the mother
whose daughter was taken. "(It) is all we have."
The continued shortfall in electricity
supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja, is adversely affecting economic and social
activities of residents.
Virtually all types of businesses in the capital
city and its environs have been affected as
business owners are now contending with the
high costs of diesel to power generating sets
which are mostly relied upon in the prevailing
circumstance.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
attributed the shortfall to the reduction to 150
megawatts from its usual allocation of 500
megawatts previously allocated to it,
necessitating rationing of supply among
consumers.
However, Head of Public Relations AEDC,
Patience Toyo, assured that the company was
working round the clock to improve the situation.
According to Toyo, “the power or load allocation
from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to
Abuja is only 150 megawatts which is a
significant reduction from the manageable 500
megawatts which was previously allocated to the
company.
” Although the Disco did not give reason for the
drastic reduction in grid allocation, it, however,
said the drop has led to load-shedding of some
areas.
The situation is, however, taking a toll on the
socio-economic activities as business owners
say they spend millions of naira to power their
generating sets.
It is estimated that businesses in the FCT spend
up to N200 million monthly on costs associated
with maintaining electricity generating sets.
The manager of a manufacturing company at Idu
industrial area, an Indian national who craved
anonymity for fear of victimization said he runs
generator at least 18 hours daily in order to
remain in business.
“The power situation is bad, we run generator for
about 18 hours. PHCN is unreliable and it
doesn’t come at all nowadays. I can tell you that
most of the manufacturing companies located
here at the Idu Industrial Layout, now run on
generators to meet up with their daily
production,” he lamented.
Binta Garba, a housewife at Gwarimpa Estate,
Abuja, said the epileptic power situation had
made all the food items she stored in her
refrigerator to go bad, leading to wastages.
She appealed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution
Company to do something urgently, especially
with the adverse weather condition which was
causing a lot of heat and health hazards to
children especially.
Alcholic beverage, Absolut Vodka will be
a major sponsor of the 2014 MTV Africa Music
Awards (MAMA), reports 360nobs.com
The award which returns after a brief hiatus have
added new nominations for the awards like the
“Transform Today Award” sponsored by Absolute
Vodka.
The new award celebrates the transformations by
youths through their creativity and vision, others
are the Lifestyle Award, the Nelson Mandela
Leadership Award and Personality of the Year
Award.
The event is fixed for June at the International
Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa.
Read more at 360nobs.com
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
has made massive deployments to ensure
compliance with traffic rules during the Easter
celebrations.
The organisation said this was also part of
measures to cope with traffic peculiarities
resulting from usual upsurge of vehicular and
human traffic in the country.
FRSC has deployed 455 patrol vehicles, 66
Ambulances, 102 motor bikes, 12 tow trucks and
more than 34 000 personnel along designated
routes ahead of the Christian holiday.
“Part of this nationwide engagement plans
include a massive deployment of personnel and
logistics along 23 designated critical corridors
and black spots such as Sagamu-Ore-Benin,
Lokoja-Benin-Auchi, Onitsha-Ihiala-Aba, Abuja-
Keffi-Akwanga-HawanKibo-Jos,Minna-Birnin-
Kebbi-Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria,Kabba-
Umuoke-Ekiti-Ido-Ilesha, Benin-Warri-Patani-
Portharcourt and Makurdi-Oturkpo-Obollo
Afor-9th Mile highways and 65 routes, identified
for this exercise,” the Corps stated.
The agency said this was in addition to the
Corps’24 emergency ambulance response
centres located at designated routes in the FCT,
Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi,
Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara
states, which will be complemented by relevant
stakeholders such as the Nigerian Police,
Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps, National Emergency Management
Agency and others.
The Corps has tagged its operational road map
for a crash-free 2014 Easter celebration as
"Operation Easter 2014."
It is tailored towards reducing road crashes by
15 percent and fatalities by 25 percent before the
end of 2014 and is to be flagged- off nationwide
for one week from Wednesday.
“This year’s nationwide exercise has become
necessary to reduce the spate of road traffic
crashes in the country usually attributed to the
perennial rise in the violation of traffic rules and
regulations especially during festive season,”
FRSC stated.
It advised road users to desist from night trips
and ensure that vehicles which plied the
highways conformed to safety standards.
“Against this backdrop, motorists are hereby
warned to ensure strict compliance with all traffic
rules and regulations and proper maintenance of
vehicles which ply the highways as there will be
no waiver for any infractions by motorists.
Passengers are equally enjoined to monitor their
drivers on reckless driving, driving under the
influence of alcohol and other road vices as any
form of compromise may lead complacent
persons to grave consequences.”
Abuja - A local school owner has been arraigned
before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal
Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a three-
count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque
and breach of trust.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(EFCC) is seeking the prosecution of Dr George
Odabi along with his company, Deo Gratias
International School Limited.
According to a press statement by the
Commission, the accused, sometime in September,
2013 received a N40, 1 million loan from one
Egbunola Ogungbesan for the renovation of his
school but reneged on his promise to pay the
funds back.
The statement added that the accused issued
seven post dated Zenith Bank cheques amounting
to twenty seven million naira as part payment of
the loan which were dishonoured upon
presentation, due to insufficient funds in his
account.
The main count reads, “That you, Dr George Odabi,
being the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Deo
Gratias International School Limited sometime in
September, 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of
the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, with
knowledge that you had insufficient funds in your
account, issued to one Egbunola Ogungbesan a
Zenith Bank cheque dated 30th September,2013
with account name Deo Gratias International
Limited for the sum of N9, 000, 000 (Nine Million
Naira) which said cheque when presented for
payment within three months of issuance was
dishonoured due to insufficient funds in your
account and thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i)of the
Dishonoured Cheques Offences Cap D11 Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria Act 2007.”
Justice Kekemeke granted the accused bail in the
sum of ten million naira (N10, 000,000) and two
sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a
level 15 officer and the case was adjourned to May
8 for trial.
A convicted cannibal been rearrested in Pakistan
after a young boy's head was discovered in his
home.The gruesome discovery of a three-year-
old's head was made in the house of Mohammad
Arif, 35, and his brother Mohammad Farman, 30.
The pair, from the small town of Darya Khan in
the country's interior, had previously served two
years in jail for cannibalism and were only
released last year.At the time, local police said
the two men had dug up more than 100 corpses
from the local graveyard and eaten them.
Mohammad Arif has now been rearrested as an
investigation gets underway in to the grim
discovery at his house.His brother Mohammad
Farman is still being hunted by police.
District police chief, Ameer Abdullah told Reuters
officers swooped after residents complained of a
bad smell coming from the brothers' home.
'Residents informed police after a stench
emanated from the house of the two
brothers.We raided the house on Monday
morning and found the head of a young
boyWe have arrested one of the brothers,
Mohammad Arif, and are conducting raids
for the arrest of the other brother.'
Police were searching nearby graveyards to see if
they had been disturbed, he said.
The pair were initially jailed after police found that
the corpse of a 24-year-old woman had
disappeared from its grave in 2011.
President Jonathan has canceled his proposed
trip to Ibadan Oyo State today to visit the scene
of the bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park Abuja
with Four Service Chiefs & the National Security
Adviser.
President Jonathan was supposed to be in Ibadan
to felicitate with the Olubadan of Ibadan who
turned 100 years today.
The president has left the blast scene and is
currently heading to Asokoro General Hospital...
Ahead of the June 21 governorship
election in Ekiti State.
President Goodluck
Jonathan met with political gladiators of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and asked them to put aside their diffenrences and win the
election.
The meeting which was summoned by Jonathan to
reconcile the party’s candidate in the election,
Ayo Fayose, with other aggrieved aspirants who
contested with him in the primaries.
The president also appealed to the other 11
aggrieved aspirants to sheathe their swords and
work with Fayose in ensuring that PDP wins the
election.
The outcome of the meeting with Jonathan
informed the party’s decision to refund the
N11million which the aspirants paid for the PDP
primaries.
Reports wey dey reach us now dey lest us know say not less than 3 people don die for the heavy rain wey also destroy plenty properties wey worth millions of naira.
Two brothers wey their names na Basil and Gafal aged four and three years old and one bus driver also follow for the people wey lose their lives.
Meanwhile the kwara state commissioner for environment Abubakar Morah wey bin visit the scene don sympathise with the victims of the flood disaster.
He also talk say the state government go try find lasting solution to d flooding for their area.
We sef dey follow sympathise with them..
I know say i no too sabi oh but from Wetin i dey see e b like say Tonto dikeh dey try reason us say she no get family/sibling based on d tweet wey she send and d picture wey follow am....
Well i no know her story or why she talk Wetin she just talk but seriously sha e no make sense...
Nigerian govt don come out to talk sat dem no like d comment wey president of zimbabwe (robert mugabe) bin make, wey him talk say nigeria na corrupt country.
And them don call on d zimbabwean envoy stanley kunjeku to lodge their protest formally.
Reports wey we dey hear talk say Mugabe bin make dis comment about nigerians wen him bin host him service Chiefs dem during him birthday...
Na wah for d guy sha.....
Chris Brown was
loaded onto a con-air flight to D.C. last Thursday
to face misdemeanor assault charges for
attacking a fan back in October but didn't get
there until late yesterday, (the plane stopped in
different cities to pick other prisoners) thereby making
him miss his first hearing.
A judge rejected his request to
dismiss his case on the grounds that the
prosecution unlawfully took the case before a
grand jury, meaning his case is moving forward.
Reports coming in claims, after Chris Brown arrived
D.C yesterday, he was transferred to the Northern
Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia where he
will be staying until the start of his trial on April 17th.
Benin - The Federal Operations Unit (FOU)
Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Owerri,
says it has confiscated 31 vehicles and seven
trucks laden with rice worth N235.6 million
smuggled into the country.
Victor Dimka, the Area Controller of the Zone
which comprises South-South and South-East
states, made this known on Monday when he
took newsmen to the command's office in Benin
to inspect the goods.
He said the vehicles and the seven trucks
containing 4 200 bags of rice were intercepted
and impounded at different points in the zone.
Dimka recalled that the zone on March 13
impounded 5 085 bags of rice with duty paid
value of N150 million, all totaling 9 285 bags of
rice seized by the customs within three weeks.
“The price of the bags of rice is N160.44 million
while the cost of the seized 31 vehicles is
N75.19 million
“Five persons have been arraigned at different
courts within the zone in connection with the
seized goods and over 1 100 tyres concealed in
saw dust were also impounded by my men.''
He expressed concern over the desperation of
smugglers in perpetrating their evil acts, which
he said made some smugglers to forge
documents and shoot his men for carrying out
their lawful duties.
The area controller expressed the determination
of the zone to win the war against rice
smuggling the way it did on poultry foods.
“Today, we are breaking the supply chain of rice
smuggling in the zone as we did with poultry.
We will not hesitate to shoot back at any
smuggler who tries to kill our men in the course
of their duty.
“The smugglers are becoming wiser and more
desperate by the day. They now shoot at our
officers while they are carrying out their lawful
duty.
“We are saying this and giving this warning for
the last time. We are not supposed to kill, but we
will not watch and allow our men to die while on
duty,” he said.
He advised Nigerians to always engage in
genuine business, clear their goods with genuine
documents with the customs and not with
agents.
Dimka said that the command would would
continue to sensitise the public to avoid
purchasing smuggled goods.
“This is a wake-up call for everybody. We are
trying our best. Everybody must rise up to fight
this menace.
“Goods should not be brought in through an
unapproved route and the duties unpaid for. The
only genuine route to bring in goods is the
ports,’’ he said.
- NAN
An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday
fixed May 23 for ruling in a suit instituted by the
People’s Democratic Party against its five
governors who defected to the APC.
The PDP had sued the governors, seeking a
court order to declare their seats vacant on
account of their defection.
Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano
State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and
Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, had on November
26, 2013, left the PDP for the APC.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date after
hearing the arguments of the respective
governors challenging the validity of the hearing
notices served on the governors in their Abuja
liaison offices.
The PDP counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), who
filed the suit on behalf of the party, had said it
was brought pursuant to Section 177 (c), 221
and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, Damian Dodo
(SAN), who held the brief of Izinyon, prayed the
court for leave to regularise the party’s service
on the defendants which was granted.
"Service has been duly executed in line with the
court order. We have, therefore, come to ask His
Lordship for leave to additionally serve the
defendants at their Liaison Offices.
"Therefore, our application is not incongruous
and invidious as argued by the second to the
sixth defendant’s counsel.
"We, therefore ask the court to discountenance
their counter-affidavit and grant our application,’’
Dodo said.
Five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, leading about
100 other lawyers for the governors, had, in their
respective arguments, objected to the PDP’s
motion for substituted service.
The Senior Advocates are Akin Olujinmi for
Governor Ahmed, Lateef Fagbemi for Governor
Amaechi, Yusuf Alli for Governor Kwankwaso,
Awa Kalu for Governor Wamakko and John
Baiyeshea for Governor Nyako.
Lagos – Rita Dominic has revealed her next film
project on Instagram titled La Femme Anjola
Rita Dominic is behind the award winning movie
The Meeting
Rita Dominic wrote on her Instagram page: “Yayy..
This is going to be our next project.. From the
producers of The Meeting Movie..
#Mordpicturesproduction #Theaudreysilvacompany
#filmnoir #mildredokwo #ritadominic.. cc
@glazedlens.. Morning fam”
Lagos - Interior Minister, Abba Moro, has
accepted full responsibility for the death of 16
applicants at the Nigeria Immigration Service
(NIS) recruitment exercise last month.
Addressing journalists, the minister said the
incident was unfortunate and begged for
forgiveness from affected families and Nigerians.
“Whatever outcome we got from this exercise,
positive or negative, I am the minister and I take
full responsibility for it. The deaths of these
young Nigerians, who would have added value to
the human resource of the country, is highly
regrettable. I crave the highest level of
understanding of every Nigerian. If we had
foreseen these deaths, we would have stopped
the exercise,” Moro said.
The minister said the recruitment exercise was
organized with good intentions to afford every
eligible citizen the opportunity to be employed.
“I want Nigerians to understand the motive and
intention behind the entire process of an open
and transparent exercise. This was the first of its
kind in the ministry and it was intended primarily
to give employment to Nigerians, irrespective of
background and connections.”
He explained that after the botched exercise,
intense preparations for a successful exercise in
2014 had commenced.
He said that the Recruitment Board of the
ministry met many times and decisions about the
procedures for conducting the exercise were
taken.
There have been calls by nongovernmental
organizations and pressure groups for the sack
of the minister over the deaths of applicants last
month.
The Immigration Service Board and other
relevant agencies involved in the March 15
recruitment exercise have all blamed the minister
for the tragedy.
Abuja - The State House of Assembly Committee
on Information blamed the Taraba State
Government for failing to end the ongoing
hostility in some parts of the region.
Chairman of the Committee, Daniel Ishaya Gani,
said the state government has not be able to
addressed the crisis that has resulted to the
death of 15 people and burning of Nayinawa,
Yayimini and Tudunwada villages in Jibu ward of
Wukari Local Government Area of the state.
“We have discovered that the government of
Taraba state under the control of the Acting
Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar is not capable of
securing the lives and properties of the citizens
of Taraba state, which was why most of the
people especially the Tiv are moving out of
Taraba state to go to a secure place,” he said.
He said the state government has continued to
drag its feet on the crisis.
“A lot of Tiv people have moved out of Taraba
state, a lot of Fulani have moved out of Wukari,
Ibi and even Donga areas.”
The lawmaker beckoned at the government to as
a matter of urgency wake up from the alleged
slumber.
“What we are saying in a nutshell is that the
government should sit up to its responsibility by
providing enough security personnel that would
not only be stationed on the main roads but
should be moving from the main roads to the
interiors assuring the people in the rural areas
that their lives are save,” Gani said.
He said if the state government had acted fast,
the crisis that emanated from both Benue and
Nassarawa states would not have spilled over to
Taraba State.
“The crisis did not start in Taraba state. The
crisis emanated from Benue and Nassarawa
state. But as I am talking to you now, the whole
impact of the crisis is now on the whole
southern Taraba. About three to four villages are
now burnt down completely by the Fulani
herdsmen.”
He expressed sadness that the federal committee
set up to find permanent solution to the crisis
was only restricted to Benue, Nassarawa and
Plateau States.
“I am calling on the Federal Government, that the
committee that is set up should not only be
restricted or mandated to work on peace,
resolution between Nassarawa and Benue states
only but Taraba state be included, and they
should come to Taraba state especially Wukari
and Ibi local governments to see the level of
damages done in these communities.”
– CAJ News
Abuja – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
has faulted the opposition All Progressives
Congress (APC) for the alleged ongoing
onslaught on the judiciary.
According to the ruling party the action is an
integral part of the larger opposition ideology
which borders essentially on “the negation and
destruction of constitutional and democratic
institutions in quest for an order whose promise
is doom for the nation.”
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary
of the ruling party, Chief Olisa Metuh on Sunday,
said the “ceaseless torrents of attacks and
denigration of the executive arm of federal
government by the APC as well as the legislative
gerrymandering whose intention is to cause
confusion in the National Assembly and the
renewed battle by the party on the judiciary are
concrete elements of political nihilism.”
“Why is weird anarchism an option for the APC?
Consistently, this party has attacked and
denigrated the executive and Nigerians excused
it on the desperation of a political party that
claims an alternative. It then took on the
legislature where its crisis recipe in
gerrymandering has yielded no result. Now, the
APC is on a renewed aggression on the judiciary.
Why is nihilism the APC preferred option?” PDP
stated.
The statement further said it was unfortunate the
APC was waging such a battle whose tragic
consequences on the institutions of democracy
were well known while at the same time jamming
the political space with its pretensions on
democracy.
“Wherever the APC is drawing this inspiration or
motivation is surely far from the continent of
democracy and right within the conclave of
dictatorship. The APC is doing everything to
scuttle democracy,” the ruling party argued.
The PDP added that the rush by the party to
castigate the ruling of the Federal High Court
presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola on the
defection of some PDP members in the House of
Representatives to the APC as well as its
scathing criticism of the National Judicial Council
over the suspension of the Chief Judge of Rivers
State, clearly gave away the simmering
impatience of the APC with the democratic order.
“Nigerians had expected the acclaimed
champions of democracy to quietly exploit the
appeal option instead of resorting to statements
meant to promote civil disobedience and
lawlessness."
- CAJ News
Abuja - Thirty stalls were burnt in Sule-
Tankarkar Market in Sule-Tankarkar Local
Government Area of Jigawa on Friday.
The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil
Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa, Muhammad Gidado,
told newsmen in Dutse that the fire started at
about 3 pm.
He said it was caused by a lunatic who set fire
close to the stalls.
Gidado added that it took men of the fire service
more than 30 minutes to put out the fire.
"It took more than 30 minutes for men of the fire
service and the NSCDC and other residents of the
area to put out the fire’’, he said.
The commandant advised people to be mindful
and extra careful of lunatics who roam the
markets and residential areas.
JAHBLESS decides to drop this cut to keep up with
his fans in anticipation of his much talked about
third and forth album; “i am me” and “beautiful
side to a coin”; which are both expected to drop
this year.
JARGA(Jahhbless’s recently adopted nickname ),
as he fondly calls himself, recently dropped four
videos off his album projects which includes “uku
uku featuring Reminisce”, “Go Down” and “slow”
which are all enjoying massive rotation. Here is
“you Are The One” featuring EME boss Banky W,
produced by Sarz. enjoy and watch out for more
videos and the albums.
Download http://naijabang.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/JAHBLESS-YOU-ARE-THE-ONE-ft-BANKY-W.mp3
He posted his shoe collection with the caption"
Walk a mile in my shoes before you judge
me..."He may be referring to those saying he's
been out of the rap game for long..Meanwhile
killing two birds with one stone by flaunting a
cross-section of his impressive shoe collection.
Anyway sha we already get d message......
Lagos - The National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 61-year-old
man, Prince Ifeanyichukwu, at the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport for attempting
to smuggle cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey.
A statement issued by the agency on Thursday
in Lagos, said that a powdery substance that
tested positive for cocaine was found inside the
suspect’s luggage.
It said the arrest took place during the screening
of passengers on a Turkish Airlines flight to
Istanbul.
The statement also quoted the NDLEA
Commander at the airport, Hamza Umar, as
saying that the suspect was the oldest drug
trafficker arrested this year.
“This is the oldest suspect we have
apprehended since January. During search,
officers discovered 1.250kg of cocaine hidden
inside his luggage.
“It was cleverly concealed such that we have to
cut the bag open to detect the drugs. The case is
under investigation.”
The statement said that the suspect blamed his
involvement in drug trafficking on financial
hardships.
“I used to sell cooking gas at Sabo, Alaba
International Market, Lagos. Problem started
when I lost everything to a fire incident in
November, 2013.
“I was married to two wives and blessed with
three children but one of my wives had left me.
“In my search for a source of livelihood, I was
told to take a luggage containing cocaine to
Turkey for a fee of 4 500 dollars.
“They prepared my travel documents and gave
me 2 500 dollars. I would have collected the
balance of 2 000 dollars if I had taken the drug
to Turkey.
“The plan was so real to me, especially when
they gave me my travel documents with the part
payment. Now I know that I made a big mistake,”
it quoted the suspect as saying.
It recalled that the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu
Giade, had called for the support of Nigerians in
the anti-narcotics war.
“We need the support of all stakeholders in this
all-important battle against illicit drugs. It is very
shameful for a 61-year-old father to indulge in
drug trafficking.
“We shall continue to prevent the exit points
from being used for drug trafficking.
"The suspect will soon be charged to court,”
Giade said.
- NAN
Kano - At least 22 people were killed in an
attack by suspected members of Islamist
extremist sect Boko Haram in northern Nigeria,
officials said Friday. Gunmen on about 50
motorcycles attacked two villages in Zamfara
State, Maitsaba and Birnin-Tsab, on Thursday
evening, attacking residents and torching dozens
of homes and grain stores, Zamfara
Commissioner of Commerce Alhaji Hassan Zurmi
told dpa.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is
sinful," has been active in the Muslim north of
the West African country, carrying out attacks
against government institutions and civilians.
Since 2009, more than 6 000 people have been
killed in the violence.
A 44-year-old furniture maker, identified as
Julius, allegedly slumped and died Wednesday
April 2 in an hotel while making love to a woman
whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
Vanguard reports that ,the father of three who
hailed from Edo state, was said to have
commissioned his new house in the month of
December last year.
According to family sources, the late Julius
hurriedly left home at about 9 am after refusing
the breakfast prepared by his wife, but ended up
at a hotel located off Dumez Road Benin City
with his lover.
The deceased paid for an hour, popularly referred
as short time, and it was after the expiration of
the time that the hotel attendants went to alert
them that their time was over but there was no
response.
It was gathered that two hours after, the couple
were yet to come out of the hotel room.
The hotel attendants had to force the door open
only to discover the lifeless body of the man but
the lady was nowhere to be found.It was further
gathered that sperm was seen all over the man’s
body, and a packet of Viagra was discovered in
his pocket.
Men of the Ugbekun police division who
recovered his lifeless body allegedly recovered
his Toyota Pathfinder SUV, his mobile phone and
a cheque of N20 million allegedly issued by one
of the palm oil companies in the state.
The widow confirmed that it was when she called
her husband’s phone that a woman after
inquiring if she was the wife, informed her that
her husband had an accident and requested her
to report at Ugbekun police station where the
news of her husband’s death was finally broken
to her.
She further confirmed that she had once fought
her husband at an hotel when she learned that he
was there with another woman.
Chiwetel Ejiofor recently bulked up to star as a cop
in director John Hillcoat’s drama Triple Nine. And
now, his so hot six-pack and rippling
pecs has attracted the attention of producers
looking to cast the new James Bond villain.
According to showbusiness bible Variety, the 12
Years A Slave star is reportedly the first choice to
play 007′s adversary in the 24th instalment of
Sony and MGM’s long-running action franchise.
Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson
want the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actor
but have yet to make a formal offer.
The movie is due for release on November 6, 2015,
with filming set to kick off in the summer. Daniel
Craig has already signed on to return as Bond for
the upcoming movie and the 25th iteration.
You know you are made when Jay Z puts your
name in his song. Well, winning an Oscar is bigger
but still…:-). Lupita Nyong’o tweeted yesterday that
she screeched with glee when she found out Jay Z
rapped about her.
In his song with Jay Electronica titled ‘We Made It’,
(where he also dissed Drake) Jay Z rapped;
I’m on my Lupita Nyong’o, Stuntin’ on stage after
12 Years A Slave. This Ace of Spades look like an
Oscar. Black tux, look like a mobster.
Embattled banker and former Managing Director
of the now defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus
Akingbola's London home has been sold by the
UK government for £5.7million pounds, which is
about N1.5billion.
A UK Judge, Justice Michael Burton of the Royal
Courts of Justice, London, had on July 31
2012, found Erastus Akingbola guilty of theft and
fraud of monies totaling £654million and ordered
that his London home be sold as part of the
properties he is to forfeit having been found
guilty.
Mr Akingbola is also standing trial for Financial
Crimes here in Nigeria. He is accused by the
EFCC of stealing N47billion depositors funds from
Intercontinental Bank.
Shan George who relocated to Calabar last year
was visited by armed robbers..She shared her
pain on facebook
"robbers entered my house in Calabar last
nite. Carted away electronics, money,
jewelry, shoes, watches. They broke my car
side window to open d car door and
practically tore d car apart. Friends who r
trying to console me since this morning say
i should not worry bcos its a blessing……
How is a thing like this a blessing?”
Abuja - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the cancellation of the proposed idea to commercialise Federal Government-owned media houses and the privatisation of refineries in the country.
The congress gave the advice in a statement signed by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar in Abuja.
The statement said NLC was disturbed by the announcement that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had concluded plans to privatise the refineries.
It said the haste with which government seemed determined to sell off public properties under the guise of making them more efficient was alarming.
“We are disturbed by the statement from the Director-General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, who was reported to have announced that plans have been concluded by the BPE to privatise refineries .’’
The statement said BPE had also announced the commercialisation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), NAN and the Nigeria Films Corporation.
The Congress said there was the need for caution "because these properties belong to the Nigerian people as a collective wealth of Nigerians.’’
It said the Nigerian people have to be consulted and their interests should be put into consideration before the sales.
The statement said the NLC wished to remind government that it had always promised to use the gains from petroleum price increases to reactivate existing refineries and build additional ones.
It said there was no evidence that previous privatisation exercises have succeeded.
"The major privatisation exercise that was implemented recently is electricity and ever since that exercise, electricity supply has worsened.
“Consumers pay higher, even as the lights have gone off under excuses that question the competence of the new electricity companies.
“Government should not abdicate its social responsibilities by selling off everything that delivers services to the people.
“This is unwarranted, especially in a country where poverty and unemployment have become endemic, coupled with the collapse of industries.
“We, therefore, advise the BPE to stop the proposed sales, while we call on the National Assembly to probe all previous sales and retrieve public properties which may have been sold to private interests.’’
The NLC noted that private individuals could build their refineries, but government must reactivate, maintain and take full charge of existing public refineries and also build new ones.
- NAN
Abuja - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the cancellation of the proposed idea to commercialise Federal Government-owned media houses and the privatisation of refineries in the country.
The congress gave the advice in a statement signed by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar in Abuja.
The statement said NLC was disturbed by the announcement that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had concluded plans to privatise the refineries.
It said the haste with which government seemed determined to sell off public properties under the guise of making them more efficient was alarming.
“We are disturbed by the statement from the Director-General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, who was reported to have announced that plans have been concluded by the BPE to privatise refineries .’’
The statement said BPE had also announced the commercialisation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), NAN and the Nigeria Films Corporation.
The Congress said there was the need for caution "because these properties belong to the Nigerian people as a collective wealth of Nigerians.’’
It said the Nigerian people have to be consulted and their interests should be put into consideration before the sales.
The statement said the NLC wished to remind government that it had always promised to use the gains from petroleum price increases to reactivate existing refineries and build additional ones.
It said there was no evidence that previous privatisation exercises have succeeded.
"The major privatisation exercise that was implemented recently is electricity and ever since that exercise, electricity supply has worsened.
“Consumers pay higher, even as the lights have gone off under excuses that question the competence of the new electricity companies.
“Government should not abdicate its social responsibilities by selling off everything that delivers services to the people.
“This is unwarranted, especially in a country where poverty and unemployment have become endemic, coupled with the collapse of industries.
“We, therefore, advise the BPE to stop the proposed sales, while we call on the National Assembly to probe all previous sales and retrieve public properties which may have been sold to private interests.’’
The NLC noted that private individuals could build their refineries, but government must reactivate, maintain and take full charge of existing public refineries and also build new ones.
- NAN
