DAG Group plans to invest $30 billion in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria

Foreign firm, Dag Group Germany/United Kingdom announced it's made plans to invest $30 billion in human and infrastructural development of the Niger Delta, due to the apparent success of the amnesty deal between militant groups and the Nigerian government.

Mr. Jason Nworah who represents the firm revealed this at a press briefing for the forthcoming two-day Niger Delta Youths Post-Amnesty Interactive forum organised by the International Centre for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (CENPAD). He also mentioned that the firm plans to get the $30 billion from the $600 billion the World Bank has allocated for the development of Africa.

The Forum Co-ordinator for the International Centre for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (CENPAD), Mr. Onuoha Oliver made the following statements:

"This peaceful atmosphere needs to be sustained and consolidated through constant dialogue and interaction between all stakeholders and youth elements in the region.

"Government's alienation and neglect of the youths in policy making and implementation is the genesis of militancy in the Niger Delta.

"Thus, this forum will gather all the renounced militants in the Niger Delta and other youth elements to hear them out, know exactly what they want and how all stakeholders with cooperation of these youths will work together for a new Niger Delta.

Vanguard

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Nigeria ranked 130th in 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index survey

Transparency International released its 2009 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in which 180 countries were surveyed. Nigeria is ranked 130th in the survey. Last year Nigeria scored 2.7 points and was ranked 121st, this year the country's CPI score dropped to 2.5 bringing Nigeria to the same position as Libya, Lebanon and Mauritania. The first three countries on this year's CPI index are New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore.

The Secretary General of Transparency in Nigeria, Mr Osita Nnamani Ogbu made this statements in response to the CPI Index.

"Firstly, there is absence of electoral accountability in Nigeria. Nobody has been punished for his or her role in the fundamentally flawed 2007 elections. The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission which conducted the flawed elections still remains in power. INEC has since then continued to conduct other flawed bye-elections,"

"The trials of the former Governors who were alleged to have siphoned billions of public funds have been reduced to a playboy affair. A special 'rule of law' has been contrived in their favour which may result in their escaping justice," he said.

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NDLEA agents arrest woman with wraps of heroin stuffed in her hair

31 year old Angela Okiri was arrested by NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) at the departure lounge of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Sunday, with 92 wraps of heroin, 14 of which were stuffed in her hair.

She was headed to Italy via an Alitalia flight when she tested positive during passenger screening. According to the Agency's head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Afoyeju, the 92 wraps of heroin found in her possession weighted 930 grammes, besides the 14 wraps found in her braided hair, she also ingested 52 wraps and hid the remaining in a sanitary pad in her hand bag.

Angela Okiri said she lived in Bergano, Italy for 11 years as a labourer, but later confessed that she was unemployed when she was introduced to illegal drug trafficking by some of her friends and decided to do it due to financial pressures. She said she was to be paid 4,000 Euros for the job.

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Nwankwo Kanu to retire from international football after World Cup

International football star Nwankwo Kanu, who has had an illustrious career with the Super Eagles and  such clubs as Ajax, Inter-Milan, Arsenal to name a few, has announced he'll be retiring from international duties after the World Cup in South Africa. He made the following statements after the cliff hanger World Cup qualification match against Kenya.

"Kenya have a very good team, they played well but we are happy to win. Despite the pressure, we knew we could do it. It was just was a matter of time. Now we have a chance to go to World Cup and do well. Our chances are good."

"I will quit after this World Cup. I cannot play when I am 50. I have reached the heights and my aim is to go to World Cup. I thank God that finally after all the fight, all the struggle, all the hard work, we are there."

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70 year old man bites off fingers of 28 year old wife because she refused having sex

70 year old Terhemen Gabu has been sentenced to one year in prison by a court in Benue State, Nigeria for beating his 28 year old wife and biting off her fingers because she refused to have sex with him.

It's been reported by Vanguard that Mr. Gabu repeatedly demanded sex from his wife Nyikeghen Gabu, but she consistently turned him down. So it got to the boiling point were he resulted to brute force in order to have his way with her.

In court the 70 year old defendant alleged that his wife was cheating on him but had no proof to back up his allegations. He then pleaded for the court to have mercy in hope for lenient sentence.

Judge I.N Ajon condemned Mr. Gabu for resorting to violence, noting that the accused failed to show fatherly virtues to his young wife but treated her like a common criminal instead and even a sex slave should not be afflicted with that sort of torture.

Terhemen Gabu was sentenced to a year in prison with an option of N500 ($3.30) fine.

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