NAIJAFEED

Monday, January 18, 2010

American Varsity expels Yar'Adua's nephew over drugs

A nephew of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Akilu Musa Yar'adua, aged 18, was expelled by the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, over his alleged involvement in drug-related offences.

Akilu, son of late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, elder brother to the President, who was Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters during General Olusegun Obasanjo's military administration from 1976 to 1979, was one of the 10 students expelled by the elite institution over various offences.

Speaking at the orientation organised for new batch of intakes of about 300 students, weekend, Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. David Kosoko, said the institution has zero tolerance for all vices within and outside its campus and charged the new intakes to strictly conform with the institution's rules and regulations.

He said authorities of the school would not hesitate to show any deviant student the way out, no matter how privileged the family might be.

Kosoko said 10 students were expelled for various offences, out of which six were expelled over drugs, and four over laptop thefts, adding that four others were suspended for various infractions against the school regulations.

He said a disciplinary committee of the university had to invite the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to test the students involved and ascertain their levels of involvement in drug usage. Kosoko, who declined to mention the type and quantity of the illicit drugs found with the students, said an almost foolproof system of checking vices such as drugs and cultism have been put in place by the institution to check their students and call on other tertiary institutions in the country to come and learn from AUN, Yola.

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17 feared dead in Jos crisis

At least 17 persons were feared killed and many wounded, as crisis yesterday erupted in Nasarawa Gwong, part of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The government has since imposed a dusk to dawn curfew even as the state police commissioner, Mr. Greg Ayangting could not confirm whether places of worship were destroyed. Daily Champion gathered that 35 suspects have been arrested.

This is coming barely three weeks after the presidential panel looking into the killings of November 28 2009 Jos North crisis sat to unravel the causes and implication of the last crisis in some parts of the same local government.

Though there are two versions to the cause of yesterday’s crisis, our Correspondent gathered that problem started when a man whose house was destroyed during the last crisis attempted to rebuild his home. Some youths reportedly attacked him because he did not consult them before embarking on the project.

However, another version said the conflict began from a football pitch where a local match took place among the youths of Dutse Ukwu. The said match ended in controversy as fans and players of both teams engaged themselves in a free-for-all which led to tension in the area.

A statement by the state police command said there was a breach of peace in the afternoon at Nasarawa Gwom, Jos, and that the police have been able to rise up to the challenges.
The statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Muhammed Lerama, urged citizens to go about their normal business and warned that the police are ready to deal with anyone who puts the law into his or her hand.

Areas mostly affected by the crisis apart from Nasarawa Gwom include, Bauchi road, Dutse Ukwu, Congo Russia, Sarkin Mangun, Sabon Layi, Alikazaure and Massalacin Jumaa.
Meanwhile, a statement on the imposed curfew signed by the state commissioner of information,. Mr. Gregory Yenlong advised residents to “strictly adhere to this directive as all efforts are being intensified to ensure the safety of live and properties”.

He called on the citizens to “cooperate with the police and security agencies charged with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order and to remain calm as government was doing everything possible to nip in the bud, the prevailing security situation.”

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Chinese investors to establish granite quarries, sugar cane plantation in Nigeria

A group of investors from China's Shan Dong Province has said that the Shan Dong Province would establish granite quarries and sugar cane plantation in Ekiti State as soon as necessary formalities were completed.

Speaking during a meeting with the state governor ,Engr.Segun Oni, over the weekend, leader of the Chinese team,Mr. Zhang Zhi Lin, who said his team was in the state to assess its business opportunities disclosed that his organisation had already established a mega quarry worth N2 billion in Ibadan , the Oyo State capital.

Mr. Lin who said that his team was impressed with what it has seen, stressed their readiness to join hands with the state government in its quest to turn the economy of the state around.

On his part, the governor assured the investors that his administration would continue to provide the necessary incentives for any one wishing to invest in the state.

He said his administration was walking tirelessly towards making Ekiti a haven for investment through the provision of good network of roads, world- class infrastructure, as well as safe, secure and investment friendly environment

Oni further disclosed that apart from taking steps to complete the long abandoned 132/33Kv sub- station in the state capital, his administration had concluded plans to establish six injection sub - stations as part of steps to boost electricity.

Governor Oni urged the august investors to take advantage of the abundant human and material rersources as well as favourable business climate in the state.

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Shell to sell off estate in Delta state, Nigeria

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) may have decided to sell its multi-million naira sprawling residential estate located in Edjeba, Warri, Delta State.

The company attributed the plan sale to sell off the estate to paucity of fund as it can no longer afford the high cost of its maintenance.

Occupants of the estate have also given quit notice to vacate the building to enable the company estate management carry out valuation of the properties.

A resident of the estate, who feel very concern about the decision of the SPDC management to sell the estate, said, it will not be easy to vacate such a secured area and get exposed to rancourous and insecure environment in the metropolis.

It would be recalled that SPDC had in recent time been making move to halt its operations and investments in Nigeria.

Shell Chief Executive, Peter Voser was recently quoted as saying in the company website, "The company has lost confidence in its Nigeria operations and no longer depends on the country in oil and gas output."

Shell, which has maintained its leadership position in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria since 1958 has recently made move to sell 10 of its Nigerian on-shore oil assets worth between $4 billion and $5 billion.

It was gathered that China National Petroleum Corporation has been reported as a possible buyer of the assets, as the company have shown enough interest to enter the Nigeria oil exploration industry.

The decision by Shell to move out of Nigeria may not be unconnected with high rate of militancy, kidnapping, violence and sabotage of its oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

Shell production output went down from 300,000bpd to 120,000bpd in the height of violence crisis in the region; this greatly affected the company revenue.

Despite the amnesty granted militants by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2009, four expatriate workers with SPDC were kidnapped last week in Port-Harcourt by unknown gun men.

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Nigeria to assist Haiti

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed condolences to President René Préval and the people of Haiti over the devastating earthquake in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, Jonathan expressed Nigeria's sympathy with Haiti, noting that Nigerians shared in the grief of their Haitian brothers and sisters.

He said the international community can count on Nigeria's support on the rebuilding of Haiti.

Also Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alhaji Jibril Maigari yesterday said Nigeria will donate food items and other relief materials to the people of Haiti who were hit by earthquake.

Maigari told the BBC Hausa service that no Nigerian died in the disaster, adding that the country has been assured by the United Nations that all the 120 Nigerian Police officers serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti are safe.

Also in a statement issued in Abuja, he said the ministry has been in touch with Nigeria High Commissioner to Jamaica Mr Peter Oyedele who was in Haiti to monitor the situation and confirmed that no Nigerian died in the unfortunate incident.

The minister said Nigeria commiserates with the people of Haiti over the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that claimed over a thousand lives and rendered thousands homeless.

"The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses its condolences to the President and People of Haiti on the devastating earthquake," the minister said in a statement issued in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and other United Nations bodies are monitoring the distribution of food and other relief materials to Haitians after the country was devastated earthquake on Tuesday.

FAO said it is "closely monitoring the situation on ground to get a clearer picture on the immediate impacts of food security and food production" as they deal with emergency food aid and nutrition.

Daily Trust