A fresh outbreak of suspected cerebrospinal meningitis has killed more than 100 in north-west Nigeria and dozens more elsewhere in the country.People in the town of Jabo ave never seen anything like the past two weeks. They have just buried 60 people. The cause of the latest outbreak is unknown and health workers have treated people based on the symptoms they have shown.The government says medical teams have been deployed to carry out an immunisation and education programme and more epidemics are expected.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Video - Deadly meningitis outbreak in Nigeria
A fresh outbreak of suspected cerebrospinal meningitis has killed more than 100 in north-west Nigeria and dozens more elsewhere in the country.People in the town of Jabo ave never seen anything like the past two weeks. They have just buried 60 people. The cause of the latest outbreak is unknown and health workers have treated people based on the symptoms they have shown.The government says medical teams have been deployed to carry out an immunisation and education programme and more epidemics are expected.
Nigeria plans to ban lesbians from football
The world football governing body has queried Nigeria over the attempt to ban Lesbians from the Nigeria Women Professional League, NWPL.
The football governing body, FIFA, has written to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, requesting clarification over statements by the Chairperson of Nigeria Women Professional League, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, about a planned ban of lesbians from the league.
The ban proposed by the NWPL would contravene FIFA's anti-discrimination policies; and the world governing body has sent a letter to the Nigerian FA asking for clarification.
"Any player that we find associated with it [lesbianism] will be disqualified," Ms. Onyedinma exclusively told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview.
"We will call the club chairmen to control their players and such players will not be able to play for the national team.
"There are particular clubs that don't even want to hear about it and once they hear it the players involved will be sacked," she said.
Some gay rights campaigners, including the Federation of Gay Games, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (www.eglsf.info), Football v Homophobia, and AllOut (www.allout.org) also said they had written to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, about the alleged ban.
"The organisations sending this letter believe that FIFA must now take firm action," said the campaigners in a statement.
It will be recalled that former Super Falcons Coach, Echuria Uche, made similar remarks in the last 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany and was promptly reprimanded.
The Nigerian Football Federation is yet to officially react to the FIFA query. The NFF spokesperson, Demola Olajire, said the federation would release a statement soon on it.
Homosexuality and other same sex acts are not legal in Nigeria. Nigerian lawmakers are also working on a law that would criminalise it despite condemnation of the proposed law from Western governments and agencies.
Wole Soyinka advises anti-gay bill legislators to go back to school
The football governing body, FIFA, has written to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, requesting clarification over statements by the Chairperson of Nigeria Women Professional League, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, about a planned ban of lesbians from the league.
The ban proposed by the NWPL would contravene FIFA's anti-discrimination policies; and the world governing body has sent a letter to the Nigerian FA asking for clarification.
"Any player that we find associated with it [lesbianism] will be disqualified," Ms. Onyedinma exclusively told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview.
"We will call the club chairmen to control their players and such players will not be able to play for the national team.
"There are particular clubs that don't even want to hear about it and once they hear it the players involved will be sacked," she said.
Some gay rights campaigners, including the Federation of Gay Games, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (www.eglsf.info), Football v Homophobia, and AllOut (www.allout.org) also said they had written to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, about the alleged ban.
"The organisations sending this letter believe that FIFA must now take firm action," said the campaigners in a statement.
It will be recalled that former Super Falcons Coach, Echuria Uche, made similar remarks in the last 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany and was promptly reprimanded.
The Nigerian Football Federation is yet to officially react to the FIFA query. The NFF spokesperson, Demola Olajire, said the federation would release a statement soon on it.
Homosexuality and other same sex acts are not legal in Nigeria. Nigerian lawmakers are also working on a law that would criminalise it despite condemnation of the proposed law from Western governments and agencies.
Related stories: Nigeria says same sex marriage ban is irrevocable
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Penalties for late payment of salaries and pension to be introduced
The House of representatives yesterday moved a bill for An Act to Prohibit Late Payment, Non-Payment and Underpayment of Workers' Wages, Pension and Emolument in Nigeria and Prescribe Penalties for Violations and for other Matters Connected thereto.
The minority leader of the House Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila ACN, Lagos sponsored the bill saying "it is only here in Nigeria that we hear workers that toil morning and night to meet their family obligations, we hear of workers that have not been paid for months and it is impossible to say that we want to fight corruption yet we lay the foundation for corruption. How can expect a man that has not been paid for several months not to be corrupt?"
Continuing, Gbajabiamila said a percentage of with held salaries should be penalties served and can be incremental over time.
Contributing to the merits of the bill Hon. Samson Osagie, ACN Edo said " it is the duty of a responsible parliament to protect its people from hardship, therefore it is important to criminalize employers that with-hold, underpay and violate the terms of contract of employees"
The committees on Public Service, Labour Employment and Productivity have been are to take further legislative duties and report back to the House.
The minority leader of the House Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila ACN, Lagos sponsored the bill saying "it is only here in Nigeria that we hear workers that toil morning and night to meet their family obligations, we hear of workers that have not been paid for months and it is impossible to say that we want to fight corruption yet we lay the foundation for corruption. How can expect a man that has not been paid for several months not to be corrupt?"
Continuing, Gbajabiamila said a percentage of with held salaries should be penalties served and can be incremental over time.
Contributing to the merits of the bill Hon. Samson Osagie, ACN Edo said " it is the duty of a responsible parliament to protect its people from hardship, therefore it is important to criminalize employers that with-hold, underpay and violate the terms of contract of employees"
The committees on Public Service, Labour Employment and Productivity have been are to take further legislative duties and report back to the House.
Related stories: Nigerian pension fund found stashed in UK bank
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Nigerian government to give Nollywood N3 billion grant
The federal government at the weekend said it has packaged a special programme known as Project Nollywood with a grant of N3 billion to aide the film industry scale beyond the achievements it has in the past 20 years in the country.
This is just as Akwa Ibom State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors' forum, Godswill Akpabio has declared that he has endowed the Goodluck Jonathan Prize for the best actors and actresses in Nollywood.
President Goodluck Jonathan who announced the N3billion grant made available to the industry at a dinner to mark 20 years of Nollywood at the State House, Marina, Lagos, noted that it was part of his administration's transformation agenda in the industry.
According to him, Nollywood would one day exceed the oil sector which the country depends heavily on if the special programme which will be flagged off in April is handled properly.
Jonathan said, "I assure you that this administration will continue to give Nollywood every support and assistance to take the Nigerian movie industry to greater height of success. I invited the private sector to this dinner because I believe that they can also support the efforts to further develop the overall value chain of the industry.
"Encouraged by the feedback we have received from you on our administration's support for Nollywood, we have further designed a programme known as Project Nollywood to support the key components of the industry's value chain through a dedicated grant totaling N3billion.
"It will include capacity development fund and funds to support the industry's infrastructure. The scheme which will be launched in the first week of April, will be managed by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism."
The President added that he has already directed NEXIM Bank and the Bank of Industry to put in their best in investing in the industry by way od loans.
Nollywood, Jonathan observed, had made remarkable achievement within the 20 years period it has existed, which stakeholders must not rest on their laurels to identify with.
He stated further: "It is always said that getting to the top may be hard, but remaining there may be more challenging. Our producers, script writers, actors, actresses and others who work in the movie industry must continue to work with zeal to further improve on the quality and content of their production".
He said the Nollywood industry has been offering employment opportunities to thousands of Nigerians directly or indirectly.
The President said although Nigeria's national income is currently dominated by oil sector, he believed that Nollywood could challenge the sector.
He promised that the Federal Government would work with stakeholders to tackle the problems of infrastructure and piracy facing the industry, noting that if laws were required achieve this, members of the National Assembly would assist.
Meanwhile, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has started what he called an endowment of the Goodluck Jonathan Prize for the best actors and actresses in Nollywood.
The chairman of the People's Democratic Party Governors' Forum announced that he will commit the sum of N50 million for the award, even as he asked the leadership of the industry to come up with the group that will coordinate the award.
Akpabio said, "I am the chairman of the newest forum in the arena of politics, the PDP Governors' Forum. The first set of disciples of the President. We felt we must come together and rally support for the President, especially for his uncommon transformation agenda. Nollywood has come of age at 20. When the history of the success of Nollywood is being told, President Jonathan's name will be mentioned.
"No leader in the country has supported creativity like Jonathan. There is no way you can ever fail as a President of the country because you never discriminate. We won the African Cup of Nations during your tenure. You may end up winning two world cups because the boys will be improving.
"You invest in gas and power. East-West Road will soon be delivered. Your enemies will never laugh at you; whatever you do, you will succeed because you are a child of destiny".
This is just as Akwa Ibom State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors' forum, Godswill Akpabio has declared that he has endowed the Goodluck Jonathan Prize for the best actors and actresses in Nollywood.
President Goodluck Jonathan who announced the N3billion grant made available to the industry at a dinner to mark 20 years of Nollywood at the State House, Marina, Lagos, noted that it was part of his administration's transformation agenda in the industry.
According to him, Nollywood would one day exceed the oil sector which the country depends heavily on if the special programme which will be flagged off in April is handled properly.
Jonathan said, "I assure you that this administration will continue to give Nollywood every support and assistance to take the Nigerian movie industry to greater height of success. I invited the private sector to this dinner because I believe that they can also support the efforts to further develop the overall value chain of the industry.
"Encouraged by the feedback we have received from you on our administration's support for Nollywood, we have further designed a programme known as Project Nollywood to support the key components of the industry's value chain through a dedicated grant totaling N3billion.
"It will include capacity development fund and funds to support the industry's infrastructure. The scheme which will be launched in the first week of April, will be managed by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism."
The President added that he has already directed NEXIM Bank and the Bank of Industry to put in their best in investing in the industry by way od loans.
Nollywood, Jonathan observed, had made remarkable achievement within the 20 years period it has existed, which stakeholders must not rest on their laurels to identify with.
He stated further: "It is always said that getting to the top may be hard, but remaining there may be more challenging. Our producers, script writers, actors, actresses and others who work in the movie industry must continue to work with zeal to further improve on the quality and content of their production".
He said the Nollywood industry has been offering employment opportunities to thousands of Nigerians directly or indirectly.
The President said although Nigeria's national income is currently dominated by oil sector, he believed that Nollywood could challenge the sector.
He promised that the Federal Government would work with stakeholders to tackle the problems of infrastructure and piracy facing the industry, noting that if laws were required achieve this, members of the National Assembly would assist.
Meanwhile, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has started what he called an endowment of the Goodluck Jonathan Prize for the best actors and actresses in Nollywood.
The chairman of the People's Democratic Party Governors' Forum announced that he will commit the sum of N50 million for the award, even as he asked the leadership of the industry to come up with the group that will coordinate the award.
Akpabio said, "I am the chairman of the newest forum in the arena of politics, the PDP Governors' Forum. The first set of disciples of the President. We felt we must come together and rally support for the President, especially for his uncommon transformation agenda. Nollywood has come of age at 20. When the history of the success of Nollywood is being told, President Jonathan's name will be mentioned.
"No leader in the country has supported creativity like Jonathan. There is no way you can ever fail as a President of the country because you never discriminate. We won the African Cup of Nations during your tenure. You may end up winning two world cups because the boys will be improving.
"You invest in gas and power. East-West Road will soon be delivered. Your enemies will never laugh at you; whatever you do, you will succeed because you are a child of destiny".
Related stories: Nollywood movie Dr. Bello to be released in American theatres
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Aliko Dangote is now 43rd richest man in the world
According to the magazine, Dangote was valued at $16.1 billion in 2013 and retained his position as Africa's richest man for the third year in a row.
The second Nigerian on the list is Michael Adenuga Jnr, with a net worth of $4.7 billion. Adenuga occupied the 267th position on the Forbes list and is the fifth richest man in Africa.
Speaking exclusively to THISDAY last night, Dangote said his target is to enter the exclusive league of top five richest men in the world in the next four years.
Currently, the top five positions are occupied by Mexico's Carlos Slim with a net worth of $73 billion, followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is valued at $67 billion.
Following closely on their heels are Spanish billionaire and owner of Zara clothing chain Amanco Ortega with a net worth of $57 billion; US investment guru, Warren Buffet - $53.5 billion; and Oracle's Larry Ellison - $43 billion.
Dangote, who has massive investments in the cement, sugar and real estate sector, had an eventful year in 2012.
In October, he sold off controlling interest in his Dangote Flour Plc to Tiger Brands of South Africa and pocketed $190 million in cash. In February, his Dangote Sugar Refineries acquired a 95-per-cent stake in Nigerian sugar producer Savannah Sugar in a bid to maintain its dominant position in the local sugar industry.
He also did the ground breaking for the 2.8-million-ton fertiliser plant in Edo State at a cost of $1.7 billion and when finished, will be the largest in the world. The plant is scheduled for completion in three years' time.
Dangote said he intends to ramp up cement production at his plants in the next four years from the current 16-17 million tonnes in Nigeria and Ghana to 100 million tonnes from new output coming from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
Last year, the business man stepped up his philanthropy, giving over $100 million to causes ranging from education to health, flood relief, poverty alleviation and the arts. He also acquired a yacht, which he named after his mother, Amiya.
Adenuga owns Globacom - Nigeria's second largest telecommunications firm, Conoil and some stake in Sterling Bank Nigeria. He founded Globacom in 2003.
It has 24 million customers in Nigeria, operates in the Republic of Benin, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.
His Conoil Producing is one of Nigeria's largest independent exploration companies, with a production of some 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Other famous people on the Forbe's list include, Google co-founder and CEO, Larry Page, with $23 billion, is 20th on the list. Fellow Co-founder, Sergey Brin, is 21st with $22.8 billion.
Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is 66th on the list with $13.3 billion, while Oprah Winfrey is the 503rd person, with $2.8 billion. Many of the billionaires give millions in philanthropy every year.
Related story: Africa's richest man billionaire Aliko Dangote re-instated as head of Nigeria's stock exchange
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