Nigeria to sign trade pact with Pakistan

Federal government of Nigeria has promise to finalise a trade agreement with Pakistan as soon as necessary processes have been completed.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad stated this during a courtesy visit by the Acting High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Ahmed Ali Sihorey to the Ministry's Headquarters in Abuja.

Receiving the envoy, Dr. Muhammad said the volume of trade between both countries has improved tremendously compared to the previous years. "The trade volume between Nigeria and Islamic Republic of Pakistan has improved that we are ready to strengthen the trade bond between the two countries," he said.

He assured the High Commissioner of Federal Government's readiness to create a conducive environment for trade and investment to thrive in the country. He as well sympathized with the government of Pakistan over the recent flooding in the country on behalf of government and people of Nigeria.

Earlier, the Acting High Commissioner, Mr. Ahmed Sihorey said he came for a follow-up to the re-opening of the Pakinstani Trade Mission and Office in Lagos and called for stronger relationship between the two countries adding that Pakistan is ready to cooperate with Nigeria in the area of trade and investment.

He also sought for joint venture between private sectors of both countries and urged the ministry to fast tract the signing of the draft Bilateral Trade Agreement between both countries and opening of trade missions in both countries saying that opening of the commercial centre will go a long way in boosting trade and investment in Nigeria and Pakistan.

Daily Trust

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Video - ZR7 trailer

TJ is a young man in his late twenties, the first draft of his book titled ZR-7 is long overdue for the publisher to review. He decides the entire draft will be recorded on a tape recorder and only his butler (Alphonso) is an actual witness, he begins to tell his story as the action comes alive.

The story is a classic life in boarding school adventure involving TJ with six of his friends (Rolly-D, Chiedu, UK, Tokunbo, Femi & James) while in JSS 1 (7th grade). The boys are initially shocked by all the hoops they have to jump in order to survive teachers, prefects, wicked seniors, dining hall food, thieves, cutting grass, washing toilets, discovering a Bushbaby, puppy love and all the other regular experiences anyone in a public Nigerian boarding school would experience. But when TJ and the boys accidentally see a man and two students in an uncompromising position, what they do with that information is not their only problem in school, but the resulting scandal would change their lives far beyond their wildest dreams...

RELEASE DATE: Coming soon in 2011

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59 yrs old widow excretes 99 wraps of heroin

Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has paraded a 59-year-old woman, Mrs Fati Akande who allegedly excreted 99 wraps of substance suspected to be heroin in Port Harcourt after she was arrested at the Port Harcourt international airport on her way to the United States of America as her final destination.

The suspect, Mrs Akande who said she is a mother of three and a widow was arrested during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 3051 to Paris at the Port Harcourt international airport.

According to the suspect who is HIV positive, she went into the illicit trade to raise money to manage her HIV status. “I did not need to do it. I went into it because I was sick and needed money for my treatment.“

“I am HIV positive. I was tested at LUTH in Lagos and I was found to be HIV positive,” She said, adding that she was ferrying it to her business partner in Netherland who she alleged is also a Nigerian.

Speaking on the arrest, Mr Julius Parah, of the NDLEA  office in Port Harcourt said the suspect excreted a total of ninety nine wraps of heroin which translates into  1.408 kilogramme and the value put at  N15 million.  He said she was arrested on December 27

“Her flight was scheduled from Paris to the United States of America, being her final destination. Unfortunately for her, the eagle eyes of the anti-narcotic officers fished her out, having spotted her as a drug courier,” he said.

Vanguard

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President Goodluck Jonathan accuses Al Jazeera of evil plot

The presidency has accused a foreign based media outfit, Aljazeera of seeking to destabilise Nigeria through false reports, saying it would not condone any further reckless and deliberate falsehood.

In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro said it was pure lie the report that President Goodluck Jonathan fingered the notorious Boko Haram sect of masterminding the bomb blast.

He said, "Our attention has been drawn to the unfounded and sensational news item on Al Jazeera television, claiming that Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has blamed the fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, for the bomb blast which occurred in Abuja yesterday. This is an outright lie. Nowhere, and at no time has the President held any particular group responsible for the attack."

Additionally, he added that neither the Nigerian security services nor the Nigerian government have confirmed those behind the attacks.

It amounts to sheer sensationalism to attribute to the president or the federal government any such claim. It is irresponsible journalism and we condemn it out rightly.

The statement from the president's media office was clear when it said that "Evil people, determined to turn the joys of fellow Nigerians to ashes detonated a bomb at a barracks market in the Federal Capital City."

If we meant Boko Haram, or any other group, we would state it very clearly.

But Al Jazeera's unique journalism in Nigeria is not strange to us. When the

tragedy of the October 1, 2010, bomb blasts occurred, they went to town with outlandish claims against the presidency that were unfounded and unsubstantiated. This brand of journalism defies reason.

For the purpose of clarity, neither the President nor the security agencies have come out to state those behind the attacks. Investigations are on, and at the end of the day, the real culprits would be unmasked.

Leadership

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo collapses

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, 73, fainted and collapsed at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Igbotako, Ondo State on Tuesday during the 70th birthday thanksgiving service of Olu Bajowa.

Bajowa, former Commandant, Command and Staff College, Jaji, retired as Major General in 1980.

In the congregation was Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who directed Health Commissioner B. Olatunbosun and his personal physician, C. Adegbule, to attend to Obasanjo.

Obasanjo lost his balance, fainted, and fell on the bench in the front row. The fainting, Daily Independent learnt, was caused by stomach ache and acute pain.

He was taken to the home of Bajowa, who looked worried over the health of his visiting former senior officer.

Obasanjo later rejoined the other worshipers in the church. He appeared woozy, but managed to stay till the end of the service before returning home in Abeokuta.

Other dignitaries at the service included former Governor Olusegun Agagu, Adeyinka Adebayo, and Akin Aduwo. Retired Anglican Bishop of Akure, Bolanle Gbonigi, preached the sermon.

At the reception, Mimiko congratulated Bajowa, describing him as an illustrious son of the state. Mimiko said his administration would always solicit the support and meaningful contributions of eminent sons and daughters of the state who would key into development programmes.

Obasanjo has twice ruled Nigeria, first for three years as military Head of State from February 1976 to October 1979, then for eight years between May 1999 and May 2007.

He has faced some personal misfortunes in recent times. On December 5, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, insulted him publicly by calling him "the father of bastards."

The confrontation took place in Osogbo after a church service where Olagunsoye Oyinlola celebrated his exit as Governor with a thanksgiving service, despite being sacked by the Appeal Court.

At the reception, Fayose greeted other guests, but ignored Obasanjo. When Obasanjo inquired why Fayose did not greet him, he replied, "Is it a must that I greet you?".

Obasanjo then told him, "You're a bastard for saying that." Fayose countered, "You're the father of bastards."

On November 8 at the Lagos Airport, a man suspected to be mentally ill attacked and ridiculed Obasanjo, blaming him for the country's political and economic woes.

The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. when the man forced open the door of a car conveying Obasanjo and jumped into it as he was being driven out in a convoy.

He grabbed Obasanjo, and it took the timely intervention of Air Force officers and security aides attached to Obasanjo to save him from harm.

The attacker was taken to the airport military commander's office and later transferred to the police station.

Airport Police Commissioner, Chris Ola, said: "The incident was a security breach. We have commenced an investigation into the incident to ascertain if there were some people behind the attack.

"We can't ascertain if the man is a lunatic because you can't call somebody a lunatic unless a medical examination proves it. We will take him for medical examination."

Before the incident, the man had wandered aimlessly at the airport.

Daily Independent

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