Monday, April 16, 2012

Britain to spend ₤50 million improving Nigerian security

The British government is to spend 50 million pounds (equivalent N12.6 billion) to improve security in Nigeria, said the National Programme Manager of Justice for All Initiative, Bob Arnot.


Speaking at the Justice for All (J4A) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) technical working group induction workshop weekend in Abuja, Arnot said the UK government is planning to increase the initial 30 million pounds budget to 50 million pounds within the five years earmarked for the programme.


He said the programme was intended to facilitate changes in law enforcement and the judiciary. "Since 2010, we have been working on this new programme, we are trying to facilitate change in institutions like the NPF, which people within those institutions already know is necessary, " he said.


He said the programme would also assist the NPF to strategize changes and developments in four component areas; community policing by creating model police stations, planning with all the departments at police head quarters to achieve desired objectives, helping the NPF to be more accountable to the public, and working with vigilante groups to ensure they work within the ambit of the law.


Speaking at the forum, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, a lead consultant on policing service said: "The programme is to assist the police in developing internal processes and building new sets of relationships with the community.


"The objective of the British council initiative is to assist the NPF to become a world class police organization," he said.


Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of community policing Austin Ewar said the programme was structured to key into current security challenges; developing new policing strategies and management system to enable the police meet its mandate.


The Justice for All programme is sponsored by UK aid from the Department of International Development (DFID).


Daily Trust


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Nigerian government to ban foreign medical trips by civil servants

The federal government is to ban public officers from traveling abroad for medical treatment, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told journalists, in Abuja, yesterday.


He said that the manner Nigerians travel abroad for medical treatment is not acceptable and that he is preparing a memo for the Federal Executive council, FEC, which will stop public officers from wasting public funds on foreign medical trips.


The only exception, according to him, will be a situation where the capacity to handle such a medical problem does not exist in Nigeria.


In the event that a public officer insists on foreign medical trip, public funds will not be used and the person has to bear the cost, as a private individual, Prof. Chukwu explained.


His words, "I am preparing a memo which will soon be presented to the council to stop public officers from foreign medical treatment. If a public officer says no, I don't want treatment in Nigeria, I want to travel abroad for treatment, no problem, you are free but you will not use public funds for that so long as it can be done in Nigeria".


The minister regretted that fraudulent slant has even been introduced into the issue of foreign medical trips whereby criminally minded doctors connive with foreign hospitals to rip-off Nigerian patients by referring such patients to those foreign hospitals and agree with such Nigerian doctors to be paid between 10-15 per cent of the medical bills as kickback.


"The other reason why people go abroad is the one that is the most disturbing to me as Hon. Minister of Health. What is it? Some unscrupulous doctors and other health practitioners because of money being made conspire with foreign practitioners.For instance, if Prof. Chukwu as a doctor, refers you to some of these countries, 10 -15 per cent of whatever money you pay there comes back to me. So is now a commercial motivation. So once you tell them that you have a chest problem, they will say aah, you have a heart disease and then they will refer you. It is as bad as that", he said.


Doctor Chukwu also noted that many doctors, health professionals and patients themselves are ignorant of medical facilities and expertise available in the country and that some of the cases for which many people travel abroad can be effectively treated in Nigeria.


"As Honourable Minister of Health, none of my relatives has been referred abroad."


Vanguard


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Egypt narrowly escape defeat from Nigeria

Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-2 in a friendly game that was held Thursday 12/4/2012 in Dubai.


The game came within the Pharaohs' preparations for the qualifiers of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.


The Nigerian team broke the deadlock in the eighth minute of the game, thanks to a strike by Sunday Mba.


Egypt's Midfielder Ahmed Temsah equalized for the Egyptian side in the 25th minute. Eight minutes later, Mohamed Abou-Treika added the second goal by converting a penalty, giving Egypt a first-time lead.


Kalu Uche equalized for the Nigerian team only two minutes before the break.


At the injury-time, Ahmed Hassan Mekki added the third goal, giving Egypt a 3-2 win over Nigeria.


SIS


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Friday, April 13, 2012

Video - Boko Haram threatens President Goodluck Jonathan on youtube



The message as conveyed by its principal Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau was mainly in Arabic and  Hausa language.


Shekau said, “You Jonathan cannot stop us like you boasted, instead we will devour you in the three months like you are boasting. If death is your worldly gain, for us, it is eternal victory to die working for Allah. Our joy is to die in Jihad for Allah against infidels like you…"


“We are also aware of some Muslims using our name to make money, we will say nothing but let them continue, and they will meet Allah in the last day.


“We are not doing physical human service, but Allah’s work and it is clear your aim is killing us. Let me tell you with Allah we will triumph over you and your men in hundreds. We are not boasting rather keeping quiet and working for Allah.


“Allah that finishes Pharaoh and others wicked rulers that you are not even up to them, will finish you and end your government. We are not afraid because we are not doing man work but Allah’s work. And we will see who will carry the day.”


Sahara Reporters


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Nigerian extradited to Singapore for online dating scam


A 32-year-old Nigerian - who is believed to be involved in a series of Internet love scams - was extradited to Singapore from Malaysia on Wednesday.


This after the Royal Malaysia Police, acting on information provided by Singapore's Airport Police Division, arrested the suspect in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.


Police said on Thursday that the suspect was nabbed through close collaboration between the police from both sides of the Causeway.




BACKGROUND STORY


The police also reminded the public to remain vigilant against such scams and if they do come across such cases to:


a) Inform the police immediately if anyone attempts to extort money from you.


b) Be wary of messages from unknown people who want to befriend you.


c) Exercise caution when dealing with unknown persons 'befriended' through the Internet.


d) Do no remit or transfer money to people whom you do not know well enough. The criminal may spend months building rapport with you online before asking for money.


e) Do not accede to any request that may put you in vulnerable positions, such as performing compromising acts in front of the webcam, or give personal details about yourself when interacting with other internet users.


f) If you receive any message or call from anyone claiming he or she is in some kind of trouble overseas and need you to urgently send money over, you should report the matter to police and not transfer the money.





Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sam Tee, who is commander of the Airport Police Division, expressed his gratitude to his counterparts from Malaysia for the excellent cooperation and assistance rendered to the Singapore Police Force in effecting the arrest. He also commended his officers for their painstaking investigations into the cases.


Straits Times


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