NAIJAFEED

Monday, October 17, 2011

The sister of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua dies at 68

The elder sister of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Hajiya Mairo Tafida is dead.

Aged 68, late Mairo died at Federal Medical Centre Katsina on Thursday night. Until her death, she was acting as the head of the Yar'Adua family as she was considered to have influenced major decisions of the family.

Family source said late Mairo was asthmatic and had an attack on Thursday evening and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre for treatment.

Until her death, late Mairo was a stalwart of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and actively participated in the party's campaign during the last election.

The deceased was survived by her elderly Mother, Hajiya Dada, six children and many grandchildren.

Late Mairo was buried on Yesterday at popular Dan Marina Cemetery were late President Yar'Adua was buried.

Meanwhile, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has condoled the family of former President Yar'Adua over the death Hajiya Mairo Tafida.

In a condolence message to the matriarch of the Yar'Adua family, Hajiya Dada, Mark said: "I received the news of the death of Hajiya Mairo Tafida with rude shock", adding, "At a time like this, her able hands and experience are needed for contribution to the socio-political development of the nation."

He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the entire family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Mark however asked the family to take solace in the fact that late Mairo lived a short but eventful life worthy of emulation.

This Day

President Umaru Yar'Adua is dead

Friday, October 14, 2011

US government to award $3 million scholarship to Nigerian students

United States Government has offered $3 million scholarship grants to Nigerian students for the 2011 and 2012 academic year, the US Embassy disclosed yesterday.

The scholarship scheme, under the Educational Advisory Centre, according to the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy, James McAnulty, will afford Nigerian students the opportunity of studying in the United States. There are also many affordable degrees courses online

Speaking during 2011 Annual College and career Fair in Abuja, McAnulty said: “During the 2011 to 2012 academic year, we anticipate that Nigerian students participating in our Educational Advisory Centre will receive nearly three million dollars in financial aid and scholarships.

Vanguard

Nigerian bank spends 5 Million Naira on Scholarships for 100 students

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Umar Farouk 'Underpants Bomber' Abdulmutallab pleads guilty

A Nigerian accused of trying to bomb a US-bound flight on Christmas Day 2009 has told his trial in Detroit that he is pleading guilty to all charges.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, told a judge he was admitting all eight counts against him, including terrorism and attempted murder.

Abdulmutallab was badly burned when a bomb sewn into his underwear failed to detonate fully, prosecutors say.

Almost 300 people were on the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Abdulmutallab will be sentenced on 12 January 2012 but the BBC's Jonny Dymond, in Washington, says this is now a formality - Abdulmutallab will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Al-Qaeda links

US Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds verified that Abdulmutallab understood his right to silence before asking him if he wished to make a plea.

"Do I understand correctly that you wish to waive that right [in order] to plead guilty to all the charges in the indictment?" she asked.

"Yes," the defendant replied.

He told the court the bomb was a "blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims".

"The US should be warned that if they continue to kill and support those who kill innocent Muslims, then the US should await a great calamity... or God will strike them directly," he said.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is based in Yemen, said it was behind the attack on 25 December 2009.

US investigators have said Abdulmutallab told them he was working for AQAP and had received the bomb from them, as well as training.

US and Yemeni officials have linked Abdulmutallab to radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, whom he is said to have met while in Yemen before the attack.

Abdulmutallab flew from Nigeria to Amsterdam, where he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit, which was carrying 279 passengers and 11 crew.

He was already on a US watch list, but not a no-fly list.

Passengers had to put out the fire after the bomb failed to detonate fully, the court heard on Monday.

Abdulmutallab's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, an influential banker who is well connected in Nigerian politics, said he had approached the US embassy officials and Nigerian authorities in 2009 to warn them about his son.

Abdulmutallab was denied a request to ban statements he made while being treated for burns at a hospital, as well as other material, from appearing at trial.

During the first day of his trial, on Monday, prosecutor Jonathan Tukel showed the court a picture of the remains of the burnt underwear which contained the explosive device.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analysts found the high explosive pentaerythritol (PETN) inside the device. Officials say he planned to detonate it using a syringe filled with chemicals.

The bomb was not detected when Abdulmutallab passed through airport security in Lagos and Amsterdam.

The court was also shown a video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission.

BBC

Defiant Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab calls U.S. a cancer

Al-Qaeda groomed Nigerian terrorist in London

Nigeria Super Eagles draw with Ghana Black Stars

Under fire Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia expressed his delight with the way his team played in a goalless draw with the Black Stars of Ghana in their international friendly match, which held at Vicarage Road, Watford.

Only 72 hours earlier, fans had been baying for his and his players’ blood following the 2-2 draw the Eagles had played with the Syli Stars of Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium, which ended Nigeria’s Nations Cup 2012 dream.

“I’m delighted with the way they (Eagles) played especially after what happened over the weekend. I only hope that fans also saw the improvement. We’re building a team for the future,” said Siasia.

Commenting further, the former Nigerian international also said he felt his team had created the better chances to have broken the deadlock.

Although the match did end goalless one must commend the work the officials did on the players to ensure that they did not allow what happened in Abuja over the weekend to have drastically affected their game.

Instead after an initial wobbly start in which the Ghanaians had the bulk of the ball possession, the Super Eagles came back stronger in the second half and fashioned out a number of scoring chances.

Although the ground of Championship side, Watford was not filled a sizeable crowd did show up to enjoy a fairly decent show put on by both teams

On his part, Goran Stevanovic, Siasia’s opposite number, also believed that his players did well but refused to be drawn into specifics until later when he would have studied the match.

But the 45-year-old Serbian flatly refused to be drawn into the chances of the Black Stars at next year’s Nations Cup final when asked after the game.

However, Siasia will be the more relieved of the two because his current tenuous position as national team head coach would have become untenable had the Eagles followed up Saturday’s poor outing with defeat to West African rivals, the Black Stars.

But in spite of the slightly improved performance of his team, Siasia is scheduled to know his fate on Thursday when the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) meet in Abuja.

This Day

Nigeria vs Ghana friendly cancelled due to London riots

Nigeria vs Ghana Friendly Rescheduled for October

President Goodluck Jonathan pledges we shall overcome terrorism

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the present security challenges facing the country, occasioned by the terrorists attacks and bombing by Boko Haram and other groups, was a passing phase that will be overcome very soon.

Speaking at the investiture ceremony of five former and current Chief of Air Staff with the Distinguished Flying Star Medal of the Nigeria Airforce and Presentation of Flag to Mobility Command, Yenegoa, in Abuja yesterday, the President said what was happening was a passing phase which every great nation of the world had gone through.

Jonathan said: “I encourage all Nigerians to remain steadfast, vigilance and optimistic bearing in mind that the endeavour of building a great nation can never be without challenges. “I want to assure you, however, that as we work together and draw upon our collective strength and numerous ties that bind us in peace and unity, we shall prevail over the challenges and leave a better country for children.”

Commending the Air Force and Armed Forces as a whole for their immense contribution to the maintenance of national security and defence of democracy, the President said: “Members of the armed forces are currently involved in the internal security in several parts of our dear nation.

“I must also note with pride your contributions towards ensuring stability across our great continent and even beyond.

“Your active participation in bringing peace and stability to the West African sub-region has been commended globally. I wish to commend you on the professionalism with which you handled the various situations.

“Your courage, dedication to duty and professionalism bear noble testimony to the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian people. I am aware that these accomplishments have not been without great and often painful sacrifice and for this reason, the nation owes you and your families a debt of gratitude.”

He highlighted the role of the Nigerian Air Force in ensuring the security of the country, saying “I am confident that with the on-going positioning of the Nigerian Air Force for sustained the deployment of air power as evident in the establishment of the mobility command, the Air Force is destined for even greater achievement as we work to transform Nigeria.

“No nation can rightly boast of greatness in the absence of a vibrant armed forces bearing in mind the onerous task that nation building can only be accomplished when the safety and the territorial integrity of the nation is assured.

“There is, therefore, no doubt that building and maintaining the virile and motivated Air Force is secured to ensuring our security and national development. For this reason, the FG has continued to make substantial investments in the provision of new platforms and the reactivation of old ones.

“This is in addition to our commitment to ensure better training and improved welfare packaging for the improvement of men and women of our noble Armed Forces.”

President Jonathan congratulated the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Star, including Air Marshal Akin Dada, (1992-1993), Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi (1993-1996), Air Marshal Isaac M. Alfa (1999-2001), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (206-2008), Air Chief Marshal O.O. Petinrin (2008-2010), Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010-till date).

According to him, the award was in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of the Nigerian Air Force and security of Nigeria.

In his reaction, Air Marshal Alfa said “I am very happy for the recognition. As for the commitment to the country, once you have gone as far as being the Service Chief, you are actually never fully retired.

“You are always in the service of the country that is to say you are more or less on reserve and you can be called upon into active service many times. My commitment to the country is that anytime I am needed I am always ready.”

ACM Paul Dike said “it is always something special when you are honoured by your people, so I am delighted to have been one of those people that were honoured here today.”

Vanguard

President Goodluck Jonathan Declares War On Terrorism