Many Nigerians have little doubt about the enormous influence of tobacco companies.
With a pack of cigarettes costing around a dollar, experts see the problem worsening unless government acts quickly and decisively.
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President Goodluck Jonathan Monday took stock of what has been achieved within one year of his administration. His conclusion: Nigeria is making progress in spite of the numerous challenges confronting her.
A major highlight of his address to mark Democracy Day was the renaming of the University of Lagos after the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of annulled June 12, 1993 election, who died in military custody while trying to claim the mandate.
The school will now be known as the Moshood Abiola University of Lagos, although students of the institution protested the name change immediately after the broadcast.
Jonathan identified the problems of the country as insecurity, unemployment, lack of will to develop the potentials which abound in the country, insatiable appetite for imported good "and the propensity of few of the elite class to resort to foul language and violence in their quest for power".
But he assured Nigeria that the country was being steered in the right direction.
He gave a sector-by-sector assessment of economy, promising that in no distant time, visible changes that will touch on the life of the average Nigerian would be felt.
The president said the credit rating of the country has been stable in the face of global downturns which has adversely affected other economies.
He said for the first time in Nigeria, the external reserves this month hit an all time high of $37.02 billion while commitments to foreign direct investment into the country have hit N6.6 trillion which described as an indication of the confidence that investors globally have in the economy.
“There are challenges, yes, but we are working hard to address those challenges. And, by God’s grace, we will succeed. My confidence is bolstered by the results which we have achieved in different sectors within the last twelve months. Our democracy is stable. Its foundation is strong and firm. Its future is bright.
“We need a lot more introspection, even as we look forward. We must take steps to heal the wounds of the past and work together, as a people with a shared destiny under one flag. We must strengthen our collective memory, draw strength from our history, and build bridges of unity to take our country to greater heights,” Jonathan charged.
He noted that his administration was strengthening agencies to fight corruption and had already moved to amend the laws to enable them discharge their functions with more effect, adding that checks instituted by his administration had led to saving N100 billion from wasteful spending while efforts are on to sustain the fight.
On the ports and business environment, Jonathan said that reform has led to reduction of agencies at the ports from 14 to seven while new measures have led to reduction in the time goods were cleared from months to seven days.
He added that the aim was to attain 48 hours clearing period which was the global standard. The ports, he saidd, now work 24 hours a day.
“I want to reassure all Nigerians that this administration remains committed to waging a sustained battle against the menace of corruption. In the last one year, we have taken specific steps to reduce opportunities and avenues for corruption, and to strengthen the capacity and integrity of our institutions. For example, our ports reform programme has reduced the number of agencies at the ports which hitherto frustrated the speedy clearance of goods at the ports.
We have also cleared the stretch of trailers and lorries blocking the Apapa Expressway. We have put an end to the fertilizer and tractor scam that once dominated the agricultural sector. Our review of the pension payment system has also blown the whistle on corrupt practices which are now being addressed.
“Within the last one year, we set up a committee to identify leakages and waste in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies. I am confident that the implementation of the recommendations of that committee will help to eliminate corruption channels within the system, and improve the efficiency of the public service. In January, we announced a policy of deregulation in the downstream sector, but this was misunderstood by naysayers and reduced narrowly to a fuel subsidy removal initiative, whereas the policy was designed to completely eliminate the grand corruption in the downstream sector, and create the necessary incentives for private sector investment.
“We have strengthened the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Both agencies are being re-positioned for more effective service delivery. We will continue to strengthen the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies for optimal performance. We will also need the support of our courts. The courts have to do more,” he explained.
Jonathan who paid tributes to the Nigerian military for subjugating themselves to civil authority unlike in some smaller African countries which has now seen to an unbroken 13 years of civil rule and a further proof of the confidence in democracy in spite of the perceived differences.
In an apparent justification of the naming of University of Lagos after Abiola, he said: “When General Abdusalami Abubakar handed over the baton of authority to President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, it was a turning point for Nigeria. We did not arrive at that turning point by accident.
Many Nigerians laid down their lives for the transition to democracy to occur. Some were jailed. Media houses were attacked and shut down. But the people’s resolve was firm and unshakable.
This is what we remember. This is what we celebrate. On this day, I recall especially the martyrdom of Chief M. K. O. Abiola, whose presumed victory in the 1993 Presidential election, and death, while in custody, proved to be the catalyst for the people’s pro-democracy uprising. The greatest tribute that we can pay to him, and other departed heroes of Nigeria’s democracy, is to ensure that we continue to sustain and consolidate our democratic institutions and processes, and keep Hope alive.”
He appealed to Nigerians to have faith in his leadership as he was committed to making the necessary changes that will turn the fortunes of Nigeria, pointing out that he promised Nigerians free and fair elections in 2011 and achieved it which had repositioned the country in the comity of nations and will likewise deliver on any of the promises he has made to the nation.
On the remaining leg of addressing electoral violence, he said his cabinet had taken decisions on the recommendations of the White paper on the matter and will soon expedite action on Electoral Offences Tribunal as a way to check the violence which attends elections.
On the security challenges, he said things took the nation by surprise but stated that he has built and will continue to improve the security infrastructure of the country so that the security agencies would be better able to deal with the situation, adding: “I want to reassure you that we are making progress. But we can also do a lot more. We must. And we will.”
He enumerated measures he is taking on the economic front, particularly reforms in the agricultural sector where he aims to make Nigeria not only self sufficient in food production but as net exporter of finished and processed agricultural good.
“Today, progress has been made. The country’s credit rating is positive, in contrast with many nations being downgraded. In 2011, our economy grew by 7.4 per cent. As at mid-May 2012, our foreign exchange reserves had risen to $37.02 billion, the highest level in 21 months. We have stabilized and improved our fiscal regime. We brought the fiscal deficit down to 2. 85 per cent of GDP from 2.9 per cent in 2011. We reduced recurrent expenditures from 74 per cent to 71% and reduced domestic borrowing from N852 billion in 2011 to N744 billion in 2012. We cut out over N100 billion of non-essential expenditure and increased our internally generated revenue from N200 billion to N467 billion.
“For the first time in over a decade, we now have a draft Trade Policy which provides a multi-dimensional framework to boost our trade regime and facilitate the inflow of investments. We have generated over N6.6 trillion worth of investment commitments. The total value of our trade is also much higher than the value estimated the previous year due to deliberate government policies. To facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria, we have a policy in place to make visa procurement easier for foreign investors, with safeguards to prevent abuse.
“The goal of our administration is to ensure that every Nigerian can find gainful employment. Given my dissatisfaction with the prevailing unemployment situation in the country, our administration has embarked on an ambitious strategy of creating jobs and job-creators through the launch of several initiatives mainly targeted at the youths and women.
“In October 2011, we launched the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria Programme, designed to encourage entrepreneurship and provide grants for small and medium scale enterprises. Over 1,200 Nigerian youths have benefitted from this initiative.
We have also launched the Public Works Women and Youth Empowerment Programme, which is designed to employ 370, 000 youths per annum, with 30 per cent of the jobs specially reserved for women. Let me make it clear here that our YouWIN programme is designed to nurture and mentor young entrepreneurs to become major players, employers and wealth creators in business.
“We are gradually reducing the footprints of government in business activities through privatization, liberalization and deregulation based on our recognition that the private sector should be the engine of growth in our economy. To ensure that the private sector is well positioned for this task, our administration has embarked on key structural reforms in the Power Sector and at the Ports.
“To improve reliable power supply, our administration is judiciously implementing the Power Sector Roadmap, which is at an advanced stage, to fully privatize power generation and distribution while reducing the cost of electricity to rural households and the urban poor.
“The commitment of this Administration to the provision of regular and uninterrupted power supply remains strong and unwavering. We all agree that adequate and regular power supply will be the significant trigger to enhance this nation’s productive capacity and accelerate growth. It is for this reason that I remain optimistic that the reforms we have initiated, the decisions we have taken so far and the plans we intend to faithfully prosecute will yield the desired results,” he said.
While insisting on the privatisation of the power sector, he reasoned that it was right for them to repair all the power stations and the transmission lines before handing over to private investors through strict adherence to the privatisation policy of the regime.
“Our approach is two-pronged: First, is the immediate repair of power plants, as well as transmission and distribution infrastructure in the short term. The second is the building of institutions and the provision of enablers to attract investors. We have revived and are accelerating the completion of the National Integrated Power Projects. We are also building about 4000km of transmission lines and hundreds of substations.
We have completed the design for the construction of both Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro power plants which will add about 3, 000 MW to the national grid.
“By mid 2010, the national power output was about 2, 800 MW. By the end of 2011, we reached a peak of more than 4, 000 MW. A National Gas Emergency Plan has also been launched to redress the problem of gas supply which arose essentially due to poor planning.
“For long-term power availability, we have strengthened a number of key institutions such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Bulk Trader, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and others. We are also working with the World Bank to provide guarantees for gas and power providers. The signing of MOUs with World Leaders in power equipment – General Electric of USA and Siemens of Germany as well as US and China Exim Banks for financial investment, is a clear indication of the level of confidence which the world investment community has in our power sector road map.
“In the Oil and Gas Sector, our Administration has charted a new course that will ensure enduring transparency and accountability. We are re-drafting the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to ensure it meets the aspirations of all Stakeholders given the current realities and future expectations in the global energy landscape. Work on the PIB will be concluded in June 2012 and formally submitted to the National Assembly. Additionally, Special Task Forces dealing with Governance and Control, Petroleum Revenue and National refineries are finalizing their work to ensure probity across the oil and gas sector, and self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products.
“In the Downstream Sector, the Nigerian Content Development Act, since inception in 2010, has boosted the local production of line pipes, in-country fabrication tonnage and engineering support services. As a result, retained in-country spend has grown from approximately US $1bn to a current estimate of US$4bn, and over US$3 billion Foreign Direct Investment has been brought in for upgrading and building new yards, altogether generating over 120,000 direct and indirect jobs,” he explained.
He said the policy of the agriculture was “directed at promoting local production, substituting for imported foods, and adding value to our locally produced crops. We are recording successes already. Government’s policy to ensure rice self-sufficiency by 2015 is already paying off. New rice mills are being established by the private sector to mill locally produced rice.
Ebony Agro Industries located in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has rolled out its high quality parboiled rice. In Kano, Umza rice mill has taken off and can hardly meet demand, while in Benue State Ashi rice has hit the market. Consumers are buying more of Abakaliki and Ofada rice too”.
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The police in Kaduna, Tuesday, detonated an improvised explosive device, IED, concealed in a television set and planted at Katsina roundabout on Ahmadu Bello Way.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Jinjiri Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, said the explosive was planted around 4 a.m. and was found around 6 a.m.
"An IED concealed in a television set was found this morning after it was planted around 4 a.m. and based on intelligence report, we got to know of it.
"Our men arrived there around 6 a.m. and they successfully detonated it and there was no casualty recorded."
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported that the noise of the explosive attracted residents of the area who ran out of their houses for safety.
The commssioner said that residents of the area got to know about it after the police had cordoned off the area and the noise that followed the detonation attracted some residents.
He appealed to residents of the city to volunteer information to the police for prompt action to tackle the insecurity challenges in the state.
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Dropped calls, crossed lines or no coverage at all are among the problems facing Nigeria's mobile phone users.
Now the government is getting tough on the biggest operators, accusing them of putting
profits ahead of service.
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Hundreds of shipwrecks litter Nigeria's rivers and coast, causing environmental damage to marine life and fishing villages.
The abandoned vessels are also being used in illegal oil smuggling but with former owners difficult to trace and a tangle of government bureaucracy, little is being done to clean up the mess.
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A Nigerian, based in the United Kingdom (UK), Mr. Victor Olisa, has made history as the first black commander for Baxley Local Council in London.
Until his appointment, Olisa was a Chief superindent with the London metropolitian Police.
Olisa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)“Policing runs in the family and I have always wanted to be a police officer and ethnicity does not affect that.”
Olisa, whose grandfather was a police officer in Nigeria, said his focus was on the job rather than on being the “first black’’ adding that his ethnicity never affected the way he carried out his duties.
He said: “I consider myself first and foremost a police officer. If (being black) is an advantage, then brilliant; If it’s a disadvantage, I will have to deal with that, I can’t hide it.
“I am impeccably against anyone who uses racist language or behaves in a racist manner. This will not be allowed under my watch.
“I believe that everyone should be treated with dignity wherever they come from.’’
Olisa, 52, born in Warri, Delta State, is one of the three chief superintendents from black minority ethnic background working for the Metropolitan Police.
He started his career in Surrey Police in 1982 before transferring to the City of London Police in 1990 as detective inspector in the Fraud Squad.
After a stint at the Home Office, he moved to the Metropolitan Police in 2006 as a superintendent in Southwark Council before his recent appointment.
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Invaders suspected to have come from neighbouring community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State have murdered thirty-four people, including the clan head of Ntan Obu community and four policemen.
A police source said the invaders who also went round the community in the night slaughtering almost everybody that came on sight, beheaded the clan head whose name was not mentioned.
According to our reporter the suspected invaders from Ikpanya community in Ibiono local government area of the state attacked their victims in the night and left their dead bodies littering the Eniong beach river.
Confirming the story, the state police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey told The Moment in an interview that 'we can't give exact figure now because we just discovered another person found dead now, we are still investigating'.
Chairman of Odukpani Local Government Council, Chief Steve Asuquo commenting on the incidence told The Moment that it was a sad omen for the Local Government Area to see the entire community wiped out by an invading community in the twenty first century.
He said the current incursion by the people of Ikpayan in Ibiono Local Government Area was the second time.
The council boss also said the remote causes of the crises has been lingering for decades over the struggle of the people of Ikpanya for land that he claims belong to Ntan-Obun Community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He also said the land dispute had been prolonged for quite a number of years leading to litigation and expressed shock that even after the Supreme Court Judgment that ruled in favour of Ntan-Obu community and Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, the people still went ahead to take the laws into their hands said Asuquo.
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The Nigerian Export-Import Bank is partnering the Nigerian Film Corporation in a co-sponsoring arrangement at the on-going 65th edition of Cannes International Film Festival, in France.
The NEXIM team is at the festival to seek co-financing/co-production opportunities in support of the Nigerian motion picture industry.
At a special session held on Wednesday, in conjunction with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the NFC, the bank enjoined exhibitors to explore areas of synergies between producers and film makers. It was also an avenue to showcase the abundant opportunities in the Nigerian movie industry.
Highlights of the Bank's participation include a paper presentation led by Mr. Awami Mohammed, the Bank's Assistant Manager, Credit Insurance and Guarantee Department, issues on Co-financing/Co-production opportunities for the Nigerian Motion Picture Industry was exhaustively discussed. The festival provides a platform for the Bank to interact with International Financial Institutions and fund arrangers as it regards Film Finance.
The Nigerian Film Corporation, has since 2007, secured a pavilion at the Marche du film (Film Market) of the festival to provide a home for Nigerian Industry practitioners and stakeholders to showcase their works.
Thus, to enrich Nigeria's participation at this year's edition of the prestigious film festival, hence its partnership with the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Co-financing, Co-production opportunities, and appropriate Tax Regime/Incentives for the Nigerian filmmakers.
Mohammed who represented the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya explained that NEXIM is a wholly government-owned financial institution with the broad mandate that include the provision of Credit Facilities in both local and foreign currencies; Export Credit Guarantee & Export Credit Insurance; Business Development and Financial Advisory Services; as well as Trade and Market Information.
He emphasized that NEXIM's activities in support of the movie industry is such that the bank considers the creative arts and entertainment industry as a very important sector with sustainable growth and foreign exchange potentials that would generate, sustain employment as well as create wealth and continuous pool of talents.
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The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, Borno State yesterday alleged that the dreaded Boko Haram sect has concluded plans to distort public order and peace on Democracy Day in the state.
The task force in a press statement by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said, "members of the group intend to attack identified locations in Maiduguri metropolis and environs."
He warned members of the sect and others that are planning to breach security to have a rethink as "the JTF will deal ruthlessly with any one or group that come out trying to jeopardize the security achieved in the state so far."
Musa said: "The task force is determined to see to it that lives and property of law abiding citizens are protected and that the state returns back to the path of peace and harmony soonest."
He advised the members of the public to go about their lawful activities without panic as the JTF is up to the task of warding off any threat to peace and security.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has confirmed that around 70 Chinese citizens who were arrested by Nigeria’s immigration authorities, have been released.
On Tuesday, nearly 100 Chinese nationals were detained in Nigeria, accused of living and working illegally in the country. The Chinese embassy has met with officials from Nigeria’s foreign ministry and its immigration department, to lodge a representation.
China urges Nigerian authorities to make sure of the safety of detained Chinese nationals and ensure their humane treatment.
Hong Lei, Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and General Consulate in Lagos have paid great attention to the incident and made prompt inquiries concerning the case. For those Chinese who have been confirmed to have stayed and worked illegally and are facing repatriation, the Chinese embassy will continue to offer consular assistance for their legal rights and safety."
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United States has said that despite the fact that the nation's law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, government does not implement it effectively, "and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity".
The US also said though the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, the Nigerian judiciary "remained susceptible to pressure from the executive and the legislative branches, and the business sector".
These verdicts were contained in a new report titled: "Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011", which was submitted to the Congress Thursday by the Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton.
The report lamented that, "Official corruption and lack of will to implement court decisions also interfered with due process. The law provides for access to the courts for redress of grievances, and courts can award damages and issue injunctions to stop or prevent a human rights violation. However, the decisions of civil courts were difficult to enforce."
In the report, US also noted last year's suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Ayo Isa Salami, by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over his refusal to apologise to the NJC and the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (NJC), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and his compulsory retirement by President Goodluck Jonathan, who acted under his constitutional authority.
The report however noted that, "The case raised questions regarding the partisan nature and level of independence within the judiciary."
Giving details of the case, the report said: "Salami had accused Katsina-Alu of interfering in the proceedings of the 2007 Sokoto State gubernatorial court case. In an attempt to settle the dispute, the NJC set up three panels to investigate the disagreement.
"The panels declared neither justice was at fault, declared the issue resolved, and requested that Salami apologise to the NJC and Katsina-Alu. The Nigerian Bar Association reached contrary findings, and Salami refused to apologise."
It specifically noted that, "Massive, widespread and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces."
While noting that the government brought few persons to justice for abuses and corruption, it said despite the arrest of several high-ranking officials by the EFCC, allegations continued that the agency's investigations targeted individuals who had fallen out of favour with the government, while those who were in favour continued their activities with impunity.
On the anti-corruption crusade of government, the report said that since 2005, the EFCC prosecuted 26 nationally prominent public officials and recovered N1.7 trillion ($10.5 billion).
It however noted that "only four of these officials - former Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun, former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, and PDP chieftain and former Nigerian Ports Authority chairman Olabode George - were convicted", while the courts granted bail to all the others.
The report also identified the harsh and life threatening conditions in Nigeria's prison and detention centres as one of the human rights problems in the reporting year, adding, "Most of the country's 234 prisons, built 70 to 80 years earlier, lacked basic facilities."
It said the prison system included 11 maximum security prisons, 80 satellite prisons, 10 farm centres, eight zonal offices, and six directorates - all of which held prisoners and detainees.
Quoting statistics released by the Nigerian Prison Service last year, it said the country's prisons held 48,124 inmates, with individual prisons holding as much as 500 per cent of their designed capacity.
Citing examples, it said Owerri Federal Prison had a capacity of 548 prisoners but held more than 1,635, Ogwuashi-Uku prison in Delta State, with a capacity of 64 prisoners, held 358 inmates, while Port Harcourt Prison, with a capacity of 804 prisoners, held 2,594.
The report said other serious human rights problems identified included arbitrary arrest and detention; prolonged pre-trial detention; sporadic abridgement of citizens' right to change their government due to some election fraud and other irregularities; infringements on citizens' privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and movement; official corruption; violence and discrimination against women; child abuse; and female genital mutilation.
It said other serious human rights problems included killing of children suspected of witchcraft; child sexual exploitation; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution and forced labour; discrimination against persons with disabilities; discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; vigilante killings; forced and bonded labour; and child labour.
It however identified the abuses committed by Boko Haram, which was responsible for killings, bombings, and other attacks throughout the country; abuses committed by security services with impunity, which included killings, beatings, arbitrary detention, and destruction of property; and societal violence - including ethnic, regional, and religious violence, as the most serious human rights problems during the reporting year.
On the importance of the report, Clinton noted that Congress mandated these country reports more than three decades ago to help guide lawmakers' decisions on foreign military and economic aid.
She said: "Today, governments, intergovernmental organisations, scholars, journalists, activists, and others around the world rely on these reports as an essential update on human rights conditions around the world."
It was also noted in the report that, while political leaders influenced the judiciary, particularly at the state and local levels, also identified understaffing, underfunding, inefficiency, and corruption as problems which continued to prevent the judiciary from functioning adequately.
It further gave a harsh verdict on operators in the judicial arm as it said: "Judges frequently failed to appear for trials, often because they were pursuing other sources of income and sometimes because of threats against them."
Apart from that, it noted that, "court officials often lacked the proper equipment, training, and motivation to perform their duties, with lack of motivation primarily due to inadequate compensation."
The report also said: "There was a widespread perception that judges were easily bribed and that litigants could not rely on the courts to render impartial judgments. Citizens encountered long delays and alleged requests from judicial officials for bribes to expedite cases or obtain favourable rulings."
Assessing civil judicial procedures and remedies, the report noted that although the constitution provides for independent judiciary in civil matters, "the executive, the legislature, and business interests, however, exerted undue influence and pressure in civil cases".
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Nigeria has voiced its opposition at the US government's plans to include Boko Haram on its terrorist watch list. Nigeria's ambassador to Washington Ade Adefuye and the country's National Security advisor, General Abdrew Azazi, formally requested that the United States not include Islamist militant group Boko Haram in its watch list of foreign terrorist groups posing a threat to the US or its global interests.
They made their request at the end of a series of meetings with senior White House officials. Nigeria fears that including Boko Haram in the US watch list could make it more difficult for Nigerian citizens to travel to the US and further affect bilateral trade between the two countries.
Nigerian authorities said they would manage to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram, as they did in the past with other terrorist or rebel groups operating in the country. Over the past few days, President Barack Obama has come under increased pressure from the US Congress to include Boko Haram in the terrorist watch list.
A group of US Senators and House Representatives also wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, criticising the Obama administration for acting "too slowly" on this issue and claiming that "ten years after 9/11, we cannot allow bureaucratic stovepipes and interagency turf battles to prevent us from protecting the US homeland and US global interests".
The letter mentioned some recent attacks carried out by Boko Haram against Christian churches in Nigeria and against the UN headquarters in the capital Abuja (August 2011) in which 25 people were killed. Early this morning, a group of Boko Haram militants attacked a police station in the town of Sokoto, in north-western Nigeria, killing a police officer and a civilian. Italian engineer Franco Lamolinara was killed in a failed rescue attempt in Sokoto on March 8, after being held hostage by Boko Haram militants for 10 months.
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The National Assembly is strongly opposed to the passage of a bill that will allow same sex marriage despite threats by some Western nations, Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights Beni Lar (PDP, Plateau), has said.
Speaking when she received a delegation from Holland at the National Assembly yesterday led by the Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights, Veer Lionel, Lar said condemnation of the anti-gay bill by some western countries in the name of human rights was uncalled for.
He said Nigerian should not be sanctioned because of the anti gay bill by cutting or stopping aids.
Responding, Mr. Lionel said they were in Nigeria to dialogue with the committee on human rights in Africa and how to promote it.
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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Kano State Command yesterday arrested 45 Chinese nationals for engaging in economic scavenging in the popular textile market of Kantin Kwari.
In addition to the mass arrest, the NIS also said it was set to repatriate the arrested Chinese nationals to their country of origin.
The state Comptroller of Immigration, Dr. Emmanuel Brasca Udo Ifeadi, said the move was a national issue directed by the Controller General of the Immigration service and stated that it was for Kano, Lagos and Ibadan where Chinese nationals were engaged in textile trading.
Addressing journalists in his office, the controller said: “Out of the arrested Chinese nationals, 11 of them are women and it’s an exercise to make the economy of the country getting healthier, but only with quality foreign expatriate that can be allow but those that economic scavengers will be deport back to their country.”
Ifeadi said: “Chinese nationals are selling textile in market, but that of Kano is worrisome, so the comptroller General feels that enough is enough and its going to be a continuous exercise until when they economic revive.”
He said those arrested will be send back to their country, adding that:“Its continuous exercise, all those foreign nationals trading in the market who are causing economic havoc to our country will be arrested and deport back to their country.
“For Chinese to come to our country and be selling textiles in our market we will not allow it and we will continue checking them, arresting them and deport them back to their country.”
He said: “Chinese select basic areas in the country, but basically the exercise three major areas of Kano, Lagos and Ibadan their activities is worst, so we will fish them out and repatriate them.”
Emmanuel added that the Chinese national invaded the Kano market, but the government decided to stop them from trading in the market and deport them back to their countries.
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The Federal Government said it would utilise coal resource across the country to generate 30 percent of electricity by 2015.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Muhammad Sada, made this known in Lokoja when he visited Governor Idris Wada, said a statement yesterday by the ministry's spokesman, Marshal Gundu.
He said everything was being done in the sector to achieve that through collaboration with investors and stakeholders.
Sada was on a working visit to the coal mine of Eta-Zuma Group West Africa Limited at Okobo in Anpka Local Government Area of Kogi State.
"We are ready to partner with anybody who has the wherewithal towards the actualisation of that mandate. We can talk to such persons and they can talk to us," he said.
Responding, Wada said the state was ready to partner with the Federal Government, Eta-Zuma Group West Africa Limited and other investors for the development of the solid mineral endowments in the state.
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Empowering girls and women is not a threat but one of the smartest social and economic decisions that a nation can make, Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said.
She made the remark in Abuja at a National Gender Policy Dialogue jointly hosted by the World Bank Nigeria and the Department For International Development (DFID).
She said that the World Bank gender report argues that empowering girls and women is a resource that adds to a nations GDP growth.
She said "We talk about natural resources and sources of growth, what this report is telling us are that girls and women are sources of growth for the economy. So it's actually a matter of vital economic growth of this country that we focus on girls and women.
"I am saying in addition to the fact that we are 80.2 million women in this country but because men are used to hearing this, we have got to find a better way to deliver this powerful message that its more than about our being half of the population of this country but it's about the fact that a country will fall behind if it does not see its girls and women as a growth opportunity for the economy."
She explained that any serious discussion about Nigeria's future must entail discussion about girls and women on the role they play and the barriers they face in making the future a good one for the country.
Women have made progress in the country but the fact still remains that they lack behind men in many areas she said, adding that gender inequality have direct effect in economic growth, poverty reduction and the welfare of the next generation.
"We have just heard that figures on female mortality and education level particularly in parts of our country are not at par with what you find in any of the poorest countries of the World and that's why we find it shocking and unacceptable,"
She said that her ministry is targeting to launch a special competition strictly for women in the You Win programme where about 80,000 to 100,000 entrepreneurs are being targeted.
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A UN-backed scheme to provide safe, energy-saving stoves to the poor of Nigeria aims help curb the thousands of deaths caused each year by inhalation of toxic fumes or burning from firewood blazes.
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The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated Nigeria international midfielder John Mikel Obi for winning the UEFA Champions League title with English Premiership club Chelsea in Munich on Saturday night.
NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said yesterday that Mikel Obi is a pride to the Nigerian nation, and deserves plaudits from all and sundry not only for his club's victory, but for his personal commitment and high performance in the campaign.
Maigari said: "We are all very proud of Mikel Obi, and we congratulate him for this sweet victory. More gladdening is the fact that he was not a docile member of the team, or a bench-warmer. He was very active and played his part brilliantly in ensuring a magnificent triumph for Chelsea.
"The whole nation should praise the young man. He fought hard and showed dedication all through the campaign and in the process, lifted our country's name high in international football," said Maigari.
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A week after the sudden death of the Vice Chancellor of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Babatunde Sofoluwe, another lecturer from the varsity's department of Creative Art, Chief Bassey, has died.
Bassey, a senior lecturer Faculty of Arts, was said to have died in his office Saturday night after watching the UEFA champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich football clubs.
A top management source, who confirmed the demise to Daily Trust, declined to give further details, saying it would be too early to ascertain the actual cause of the death.
"Except there is a medical report or an official statement from the management, it may be too difficult for me to say precisely whether his death has anything to do with match or otherwise," the source said.
Bassey's profile on the University's website, showed that he has authored and co-authored four books as a Senior Lecturer in the department of Creative Art. Prominent among such books include, Creative Art, Definitions, Material and The beginning, UNILAG in the eye of a visual artist.
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Nigeria have left Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi out of their squad for a series of World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has called for Mikel to declare his readiness to feature for the team.
Mikel has yet to play for the Super Eagles since Keshi took charge of the side in November, but the coach insisted that the Chelsea ace remains very much part of his plans.
"Mikel is in my plans but we will give other players an opportunity aswell," said Keshi on Thursday.
"We need to give players from the local league a chance. After all, how many knew about such players as Uche Kalu, Ejike Uzoenyi or Godfrey Oboabona before now?"
Austin Ejide, Fengor Ogude, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile and John Utaka have all been recalled in a group of 11 players based overseas, which also features Wigan Athletic forward Victor Moses.
Nigeria will name another squad of 18 players from the domestic league, who are due to fly out this weekend for a friendly in Peru.
The Super Eagles will host Namibia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 3 in Calabar, before travelling to Malawi as the qualifying series continues the following weekend.
They are also due to host Rwanda in a second-leg qualifier for the 2013 Nations Cup to be hosted by South Africa.
Overseas-based players called up by Nigeria
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille/FRA), Austin Ejide (Petach Tikva/ISR)
Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbache/TUR), Efe Ambrose (Ashdod/ISR), Elderson
Echiejile (Sporting Braga/POR)
Midfielders: Fengor Ogude (Valrenga/NOR)
Forwards: Ike Uche (Granada/ESP), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Sone Aluko
(Rangers/SCO), John Utaka (Montpellier/FRA), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic/ENG)
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Five football fans have won the chance to watch the UEFA Champions League final at the Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich, Germany later in May, courtesy of the sponsors Heineken.
In a draw conducted at the Heineken Champions Planet in Lagos, Adewole Abiodun, Caleb Richards, Patrick Nneaemaka, Fomsi Samuel and Busari Adiktat emerged as the winners.
The ceremony was conducted by the Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Hubert Eze. It featured Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, ex-Nigeria international, Victor Ikpeba and the Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, all of whom picked the winners one after the other.
All the five lucky consumers on Heineken sponsorship to Munich, Germany to watch Saturday's final match of the UEFA Champions League are sharply divided between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich.
The England FA Cup champions, Chelsea, will take on former European champions, Bayern Munich at the 75, 000 Allianz Arena which incidentally is the home ground of the Bavarians, to determine the winners of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League season.
Expectedly, there have been divergent opinions on where the cup will go to. At the end of hostilities on Saturday, of the five lucky football fans that Heineken is sponsoring to Germany to watch the match live, only Adewole Abiodun is throwing his weight behind Chelsea to win the cup they missed in 2008.
Although most of the visitors and consumers that have visited the Heineken Champions Planet over the years have affection for English Premiership clubs but the rivalry among competing teams is always visible and the travelling consumers seem to have toed the same line of partisanship.
Abiodun insisted that he will root for Chelsea all through the duration of the match.
"Honestly am still savouring the excitement of being among the five lucky winners on Heineken sponsorship to the final in Munich and my going there is to support Chelsea, the 'Pride of London' but if it goes the other way round, that is the beauty of football," he said.
However, the only lady in the team to Munich who is a 'die hard' Manchester United fan, Adikat Busari, said she will go all, the way with Bayern Munich since most of her Chelsea friends will not allow her to rest.
"How do you want me to feel if Chelsea win on Saturday? In as much as I wish both teams well but my friends will never let me rest knowing fully well that my team did not win any trophy this season while Chelsea had won the FA Cup, so let them be contented with that," she opined.
The Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, noted that the 'friendly' hostility among the travelling consumers is what makes the UEFA Champions League the most glamorous and prestigious club competition in the world.
"The UEFA Champions League over the years has generated millions of followership and one of the main reason is that every passionate football fan will always have something to aspire to even when his or her team is no longer in contention for honours.
"The friendly rivalry is also very visible at the Heineken Champions Planet going by what happened in the out-going season. Many Manchester United fans still follow the competition passionately even after their club had been eliminated in the group stage team," she said.
Since 2007, Heineken premium international lager beer, has consistently sponsored its Nigerian consumers' to the final of the most prestigious club competition, the UEFA Champions League, and this year will be no different as , five lucky winners will enjoy an all expenses paid trip to Munich, Germany.
The lucky five are expected to leave for Munich on Thursday night by KLM to watch Saturday's final.
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The Senate will not attempt to shield any Nigerian found guilty of criminal activities in foreign countries, Senate President David Mark has said.
Responding to the concern expressed at the plenary session by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Mathew Ifeanyi Nwagwu (PDP, Imo) that 16 of the 300 Nigerians reportedly serving jail terms in Indonesia would soon be executed, Mark said the Senate would not intervene in the matter.
Mark, however, stressed that the Senate would not allow any Nigerian to be unfairly treated in foreign nations.
"We will not defend any Nigerian who breaks the laws of foreign countries. If they break the laws there, they should face the consequences. This is a warning to other Nigerians abroad. They cannot continue to tarnish our image".
The Senate president, however, did not expressly uphold Senator Nwagwu's suggestion that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru be summoned over the issue.
"We may invite the minister if you want," Mark said.
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Kano High Court Tuesday convicted one Bello Garba Bello, to be hanged to death for killing his parents and three siblings, two years ago at their family house along Zoo road by Gandun Albasa quarters in Kano metropolis.
The presiding judge, Justice Halliru Abdullahi said he was satisfied with the evidence tendered before him that the accused had actually committed the five count charges of homicide for which he was charged.
Justice Abdullahi also declared that the five victims were killed as a result of various degrees of multiple injuries inflicted on them contrary to section 221 of the penal code.
The prosecution counsel, Shu'aibu Sule, said the accused had confessed to have committed the offence in a written statement he made to the police on September 15, 2010.
He presented seven witnesses before the court, including the younger brother of the accused, Farouk, whose testimonies corroborated the charges against the defendant.
THISDAY in Kano recalled that Bello Garba Bello was said to have murdered his father, Garba Bello, an officer with State Security Service (SSS); his mother, Habiba; and three siblings Khalifa, Murja and Hafsa on the night of September 13, 2010.
The defense counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji had tendered a 17 page written address before the court explaining the circumstances leading to the death of the five persons and exonerating the accused from the charges preferred against him.
According to him, the statement written by Farouk implicating the accused was inadmissible as the witness was below the age of 14 and that Bello Garba, had earlier written a statement on September 14, 2010
exonerating himself before he was forced to write another one on September 15, 2010 confessing to have committed the offence.
Our correspondent recalled that the incident which occurred on the night of September 13, 2010 at the residence of Garba Bello Number 175, Zoo road in Kano municipal had generated public out-cry and sympathy as it was the first homicide case of its kind ever witnessed in the state.
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Authorities say a longtime security supervisor at a New Jersey airport has been arrested on a charge he was using the identity of a New York City man who was murdered 20 years ago.
Illegal immigrant Bimbo Olumuyiwa Oyewole, 54, of Nigeria, was arrested on Monday at his home in Elizabeth.
His co-workers knew him as Jerry Thomas, a man who was murdered in New York City in 1992, the same year Oyewole allegedly assumed his name when he started working at the airport.
It wasn't immediately clear how Thomas' personal information was acquired.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says Oyewole had worked at Newark Liberty International Airport for about 20 years and had passed background checks.
Oyewole allegedly had all the documents he needed, including a birth certificate and a social security card.
He had worked under several contractors at the airport, most recently FJC Security Services.
A message left Monday on Oyewole's home phone was not immediately returned, and the Port Authority said it wasn't sure if he had retained an attorney.
FJC Security, which received an airport contract in 2003, said it conducted a background check on the guard as had New Jersey state police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
FJC spokesman Michael McKeon said: 'In all cases, he passed the background checks.
'During his time with FJC, he had nothing in his record or his performance to indicate a cause for concern or a reason to question the state police and federal government's background checks.'
NorthJersey.com reported that the suspect supervised over 30 security guards and was allowed access to secure areas.
Authorities told the website that it appears he was using the bogus identity so that he could stay in the U.S.
While it doesn't appear that the arrest is terrorism-related, the arrest exposes a disastrous lapse in airport security.
Nigeria is also the origin of the underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was convicted of trying to blow up a U.S.-bound jet on Christmas Day 2009.
An investigation by the Port Authority Inspector General's office was reportedly sparked by an anonymous tip about Oyewole.
Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman told NorthJersey.com: 'The IG's office is looking into how he obtained the documents to maintain another person's identity.'
He was due in court later Monday to face charges including identity theft.
In a statement, the TSA said it was reviewing the Port Authority's procedures for validating employee and contractor documents.
'This investigation indicates that the individual's identification documents were presented to the Port Authority for verification about a decade before TSA existed," the statement said.
State police spokesman Lt. Stephen Jones said New Jersey requires security guards to undergo training under the Security Officer Registration Act and be fingerprinted.
The fingerprints are run through the state police criminal history database before a guard is certified.
A candidate is disqualified if he or she has a conviction for a fourth-degree offense or higher or a drug offense of any level, Jones said. Oyewole, as Thomas, was certified under SORA, he said.
A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection didn't immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.
An airport employee who was familiar with Oyewole as Thomas said the private security guards he supervised are responsible for manning TSA security checkpoints after passenger gates close for the evening and before they reopen in the morning.
The guards also inspect delivery vehicles for possible unauthorized cargo, he said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the matter.
A search of public records found evidence of a Bimbo Oyewole and a Jerry Thomas living at the address where Oyewole was arrested.
A report released Monday by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General found that only 42 per cent of reported security breaches from January 2010 to May 2011 led to corrective action, though it also found TSA had worked to improve its response.
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A $6.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud scandal is heaping pressure on Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to prosecute top officials or face protests. This amid growing security concerns as Boko Haram continues to terrorise the West African nation. ABN's Frederic VandeVyver caught up with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for more.
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It was amazing to hear Arsene Wenger switch from English Language to French and then German during the announcement of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Nigeria at the club's training ground in London last week before the match with Norwich.
It was the eve of his 900th match as the manager of Arsenal. Wenger is today the only manager that has presided over more matches at the club and has equally enjoyed the same amount of successes. Known for his ability to spot and develop players from around the world, Wenger, in this chat with Sunday Vanguard's Jimoh Babatunde, took time out to speak on Nigeria's football and her players. Excerpts:
Since the exit of Nwankwo Kanu from Arsenal, we have not had another Nigerian in the club. What's your impression of Nigerian players in the EPL?
For me, Kanu was an exceptional player. I saw Kanu in the Olympic games, he arrived there late. It was the preparations and he was the best player there when Nigeria won. I like Kanu because he was not only a great player, but he was very brave, and you could travel with him anywhere.
I think he was very great in representing Nigeria. He was a player that everybody loved here, as well as a man everybody loved here in England.
He never complained, you could kick him from everywhere, and he would never say a word, and he was very brave.
Then he created his heart foundation, and he does a good job with that. He is brave; when you have his knees, and you still play today, you must be brave.
Why are you not taking more Nigerians to the club?
(It is) for one single reason. It is that Nigeria is a massive country, but I believe that at the moment, they do not produce enough players anymore. It is 140 million people who love football. I met the Minister of Sports during the World Cup, and he talked about that situation. I think Nigeria has a job to do with the youths, to rebuild the system.
From the explanation I got, every province is different in terms of their system, but there is no global system to educate young players. It is vital to me that they educate the young people...They do not produce any good players, not enough anymore.
Is there a window of opportunity from this tour to create the platform for a relationship between Arsenal and Nigeria?
To create a relationship, I think is a good start, but our stay is too short to create something deeper and to create the communication such that Nigeria can be very important. We are not staying for such a long time that would allow for that.
How do you rate Mikel Obi as a midfielder in the EPL?
He plays for Chelsea, and if you play for Chelsea, you are a great player. But he had strange movement out of Nigeria because he was in Norway, and then he came back for Man United before Chelsea, so he did it in a complicated way.
But since he has shown great quality. He is as well a bit of the Kanu type, he is strong in character, he is a fighter, and he is doing extremely well, but maybe you have more of these players in Nigeria who do not get the chance to go out.
On the pre-season tour
We compromised, honestly on the sporting side because we had a rational methodical approach of our pre-season and we sacrificed some of that to go on tour...I realized when I was at the World Cup in South Africa, how popular a club like Arsenal is in Africa, especially in Nigeria. It was unbelievable. I was even frightened at some stage by how popular Arsenal is in Kenya as well. It is absolutely unbelievable, so every morning at breakfast, I had some meetings with people from all over Africa, and I realized how popular our club was over there.
I don't really know how you can transform that popularity into market...
On football development
I believe that there again, when you think about potentially developing players, it is first to have the coaches.
So chronologically, you have to educate people to coach, and then create schools where you can develop the players.
To make it as simple as possible, football is first a technical sport. It is not natural to use your feet to do something. Your feet are made to walk through the street, not necessarily to play football.
So you have first to transform someone into a football player, and that is between ages 5 and 12 years old. When you come at 14, it is too late. That is why you have to educate people to teach the basics of our sport between five and 12.
The kind of quality the coaches need is to know what you can do to develop people, that is the exercises that you can give, and as well to teach him not to make basic mistakes.
There are two things in our job that can be very dangerous. One, not to develop the potential of a person, the other is to disturb the potential of a person by making him do the wrong things. Sometimes, we can as well do that.
Your fans in Nigeria are disappointed that you have not won a silverware for five years or so now. As a manager, how do you feel about that?
You want to give me sleepless nights (laughter). But we have maintained our level at the top, but we couldn't finish...It s true that we missed winning, but we were at many times very close.
Let's not forget that in 2006, we were in the Champions League final and we have never gone out in the championship against small clubs. We went out most of the time against clubs who won it, like Barcelona, twice. That is what people forget.
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Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said his door remains open for Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi to feature for Nigeria.
World football governing body FIFA on November 1, 2011, cleared Ameobi alongside Victor Moses to play for Nigeria after both players chose their country of birth over England that they have represented at various age-group levels.
Moses has since made his debut for the Eagles in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda where he shone like a million stars but team officials said Ameobi has yet to decide on his debut for the Eagles.
"Shola is always welcome to the national team when he is ready to play. It's Nigeria's national team and he is a Nigerian so our doors are open to him whenever he is ready," Keshi said.
The Eagles coach noted that he would not send invitation to the experienced Newcastle striker until the player has confirmed his readiness to play.
"Like I have said before, as soon as he confirms his readiness to play, we would extend him an invitation, but until then I will not send him invitation," he said.
Ameobi's younger brother, Sammy, who also features for Newcastle, trained with Nigeria's U20 team, the Flying Eagles, last year, but he has since debuted for the England U20s.
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A Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Save the Children, has revealed that Nigeria records the second highest number of maternal deaths in the world with number of pre-term births recorded at 773,600
The Country Director of the group, Susan Grant, who disclosed this weekend in Abuja, during the unveiling of Mother's Day and Born Too Soon report, stated that Nigeria recorded an alarming death rate of 144 women in a day, 10 deaths per minute, due to conditions related to childbirth and had the greatest numbers of pre-term births in the world due to population.
She attributed this situation to early childbirth, inaccessibility to healthcare, weak breastfeeding by mothers and early births of children (pre-term)
She said: "Nigeria's maternal mortality rates means that 144 women die each day and one woman every 10 minute from conditions associated with childbirth. This is too much."
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