NAIJAFEED

Monday, January 18, 2010

Shell to sell off estate in Delta state, Nigeria

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) may have decided to sell its multi-million naira sprawling residential estate located in Edjeba, Warri, Delta State.

The company attributed the plan sale to sell off the estate to paucity of fund as it can no longer afford the high cost of its maintenance.

Occupants of the estate have also given quit notice to vacate the building to enable the company estate management carry out valuation of the properties.

A resident of the estate, who feel very concern about the decision of the SPDC management to sell the estate, said, it will not be easy to vacate such a secured area and get exposed to rancourous and insecure environment in the metropolis.

It would be recalled that SPDC had in recent time been making move to halt its operations and investments in Nigeria.

Shell Chief Executive, Peter Voser was recently quoted as saying in the company website, "The company has lost confidence in its Nigeria operations and no longer depends on the country in oil and gas output."

Shell, which has maintained its leadership position in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria since 1958 has recently made move to sell 10 of its Nigerian on-shore oil assets worth between $4 billion and $5 billion.

It was gathered that China National Petroleum Corporation has been reported as a possible buyer of the assets, as the company have shown enough interest to enter the Nigeria oil exploration industry.

The decision by Shell to move out of Nigeria may not be unconnected with high rate of militancy, kidnapping, violence and sabotage of its oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

Shell production output went down from 300,000bpd to 120,000bpd in the height of violence crisis in the region; this greatly affected the company revenue.

Despite the amnesty granted militants by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2009, four expatriate workers with SPDC were kidnapped last week in Port-Harcourt by unknown gun men.

Daily Champion

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Nigeria to assist Haiti

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed condolences to President René Préval and the people of Haiti over the devastating earthquake in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, Jonathan expressed Nigeria's sympathy with Haiti, noting that Nigerians shared in the grief of their Haitian brothers and sisters.

He said the international community can count on Nigeria's support on the rebuilding of Haiti.

Also Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alhaji Jibril Maigari yesterday said Nigeria will donate food items and other relief materials to the people of Haiti who were hit by earthquake.

Maigari told the BBC Hausa service that no Nigerian died in the disaster, adding that the country has been assured by the United Nations that all the 120 Nigerian Police officers serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti are safe.

Also in a statement issued in Abuja, he said the ministry has been in touch with Nigeria High Commissioner to Jamaica Mr Peter Oyedele who was in Haiti to monitor the situation and confirmed that no Nigerian died in the unfortunate incident.

The minister said Nigeria commiserates with the people of Haiti over the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that claimed over a thousand lives and rendered thousands homeless.

"The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses its condolences to the President and People of Haiti on the devastating earthquake," the minister said in a statement issued in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and other United Nations bodies are monitoring the distribution of food and other relief materials to Haitians after the country was devastated earthquake on Tuesday.

FAO said it is "closely monitoring the situation on ground to get a clearer picture on the immediate impacts of food security and food production" as they deal with emergency food aid and nutrition.

Daily Trust

India plans $1.5 trillion investment in Africa

Strong indications emerged yesterday that the government of India plans to invest a whooping sum of $1.5 trillion on infrastructural development in Nigeria and other parts of Africa in the next 10 years.

India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Anand Sharma, who made the revelation at an exhibition and India-West Africa Business Forum in Lagos, pointed out that bilateral trade between Nigeria and India has for several years been in excess of $10 billion in favour of Nigeria.

He remarked that five out of the 12 fastest growing economies in the world are domiciled in Africa; a continent which he said is richly endowed with natural resources.

Commending the conveners of the forum, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambers, noted that the event could not have come at a better time, when most nations are emerging from economic failures arising from the global economic recession.

According to him, the 15 countries in the West African sub-region with a combined population of well over 280million people, Africa remains a major economy that must be taken seriously, noting that the continent is blessed with skilled manpower, favourable climate that can be harnessed as an alternative to power and good forest reserves suitable for the pharmaceutical industry.

Also speaking, Nigeria's Minster of Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, noted that India has a lot of success stories that West Africa can learn from, adding that the opportunity the forum avails would go a long way to assist the region in its collective efforts to enhance production capacity and diversity the economic base through the injection of new ideas and technologies, as well as best global practices.

In his opening remark, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, challenged the forum to come up with proposals that would be of mutual benefit between Nigeria and the government of India.

Jonathan, who was represented by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, said India holds the ace in the area of education and medical science and recalled the role Indians played in the education of many Nigerians.

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Gunmen kidnap director in Abuja

Twelve days after his kidnap by unidentified gunmen in Abuja, an assistant director with the National Planning Commission Chief Oluwole Adelana is still missing and his abductors have not yet contacted his family.

Adelana was grabbed at the Garki Area 1 of Abuja at about 10pm on January 3, while he was on his way back from his hometown Idoani in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, a family source told Daily Trust yesterday.

Investigations by the FCT police special anti-robbery squad led to the finding along Damaturu-Maiduguri road of the burnt remains of the Toyota Camry car in which Adelana was kidnapped, the source said.

Daily Trust learnt that at least two persons were being questioned at the anti-robbery squad office in connection with the kidnap.

Sources said a friend of Adelana's witnessed the incident and immediately contacted another friend of theirs, who later informed the victim's family about the kidnap. The family in turn reported to the police same night.

The abduction of Adelana was confirmed yesterday by his cousin, Mr Duro Aderobagun, who said that the family was worried especially because no one has yet contacted them for ransom or with information on the missing assistant director.

FCT police public relations officer Jimoh Moshood said he had not been briefed on the matter.

When asked who the family reported the case to, the victim's cousin Aderobagun said the incident was reported to the special anti-robbery squad, and the National Planning Minister had also written to Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo on the kidnap.

But deputy public relations officer at the police force headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, said he was not briefed on whether the IG received a letter from the minister.

A police official, who would not want to be named because he was not in a position to speak to the press, told Daily Trust that the matter was duly reported and was being investigated.

Adelana had served at various times in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Millennium Development Goals in Abuja.

Daily Trust

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70 percent of candidates fail WAEC exams

Over 70 per cent of the candidates who sat for the 2009 November/December West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations failed both English and Mathematics, WAEC announced in Lagos yesterday.

For about five years now candidates have been recording mass failure in WAEC's May/June and November/December diets. Just in the last May/June diet over one million candidates failed the examinations. Announcing the results of the 2009 November/December examinations in Lagos yesterday, the Head of National Office of WAEC Dr. Iyi Uwadiae said out of the 342,443 candidates who sat for the examinations, only 106,413, representing 31 per cent, obtained credits in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects.

According to Dr. Uwadiae, over 70 per cent of the candidates only managed to pass between two and six subjects at credit level but without both English and Mathematics or without either of the two subjects. He said the results of 57,792 candidates, representing 16.87 per cent, were still being withheld based on various reports of their alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

The WAEC head said all reports on cases of involvement in examination malpractice were being compiled for presentation to the Nigeria Examinations Committee of WAEC which is going to act on it in February.

"Out of the total number of candidates who sat the examination, however, 106, 413 candidates, representing (31.0%) obtained credits in both English and Mathematics and at least three other subjects.

"Similarly, statistics show that 265,335 candidates representing 77.48 % have two credits and above; 230, 351 candidates (67.2%) have three credits and above; and 192, 806 candidates (56.30%) have four credits and above. The results of 57,792 candidates, representing 16.87 % are being withheld based on various reports of their alleged involvement in examination malpractice", he said.

He reiterated the council's policy of zero tolerance for examination malpractice, saying WAEC would continue to withhold results of those found guilty of malpractice in any of its exams. He blamed the poor performance of students in public examinations on parents, saying they had continuously failed to monitor their children's performances at school.

Daily Trust

Kidnapped doctor's wife rescued after a shoot out

The wife of the medical doctor attached to Oleh General Hospital, Mrs.Efe Aluta has been rescued after a fierce gun battle between the kidnappers and Joint Task Force (JTF).

Vanguard gathered that she was rescued by the soldiers attached to the JTF on Wednesday night at Kiagbodo.

It was not however ascertained if the N20m demanded by the kidnappers were paid or not.

State police command spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka when contacted confirmed the story but declined to give details.

Meanwhile the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had disclosed that kidnappers now recruit drivers, stewards, cooks and family members into the exercise.

Speaking while receiving reports from the committee set-up to look into the handover of schools in the state to their former owners on Wednesday, Uduaghan said some of those who allegedly kidnapped (doctor's wife) Barrister Mariam Aluta, the daughter-in-law of the Chairman of the State Post Primary Education Board have been arrested.

"I want to assure you that kidnapping is being checked in the state. We have mapped out strong strategy to check the incident and it is reducing."

He said security operatives were still on the trail of the remaining suspects and promised to ensure that they were apprehended in no distant future.

The governor who said victims would always be discouraged from paying ransom said even when ransom has been paid security operatives will still trail and arrest the criminals.

Dr. Uduaghan said his administration has adopted strong strategy that will check kidnap incident in the state and changed Deltans to be vigilant.

He explained that it was as a result of the stringent measures put in place by the police and other security operatives that reduced the rate of kidnapping in the state.

Vanguard

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim talks to CNN about U.S. blacklist

Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim, co-founder of The Bridge, which introduces renewable energy sources to third world countries, talks to CNN about Nigeria being on the U.S. blacklist.

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Nigeria to put Air Marshals on US bound flights

Nigeria said it will soon deploy air marshals on its flights to the United States to increase security after the foiled Christmas day attack on a U.S. airliner by a Nigerian man, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab.

Nigerian Aviation Minister Babatunde Omotoba told reporters Wednesday that the United States approached Nigeria about putting air marshals on its U.S.-bound flights.

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Director Harold Demuren said the decision demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to aviation security.

“Definitely we believe that this is a demonstration that our country is completely committed to aviation security,” he said.

Since the Christmas day foiled attack on a U.S. airliner bound for the city of Detroit, the United States has moved to place Nigeria on a security watch list and invoked extra screening for passengers from Nigeria to the United States.

Demuren said the Nigerian government has made known its displeasure with the new U.S. restrictions.

“We are not happy that we are listed. We are very dissatisfied about this and we have made it very clear. We hope that this will be revisited very quickly,” Demuren said.

He said since the attempted airline bombing of a U.S.-bound airliner by Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, Nigeria has taken additional measures to enhance aviation security.

“We have had 100 percent examination at our airports, we are introducing three-D full-body scanners, we are doing second screening of all hand luggage, we have met all ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) security directives,” he said.

Demuren said Nigeria has also passed U.S. Transportation Security Administration audit twice for Lagos and Abuja airports.

He said the request to put air marshals on U.S.-bound flights came from the Obama administration and Nigeria consented.

Demuren said Nigeria will ask the United States to help train air marshals.

VOA

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

18 Suspected Boko Haram Members Arraigned in Court

WULARI Magistrate Court 5 yesterday ordered 18 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect who allegedly took part in the July 2009 sectarian crisis in Maiduguri to be remanded in prison custody.

The presiding, Chief Magistrate Waziri Mohammed, while in ruling that his court lacked the jurisdiction to listen to the case transferred the case to the Federal High Court was Maiduguri. He ordered that the suspects be kept in prison custody, while the case adjourned to Febuary 21.

The Borno state Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Isa Azare told newsmen that the suspects were arrested last week at various locations in Maiduguri but declined to comment whether they were carrying weapons.

Earlier, when the case came up for mention, prosecuting counsel from the Borno state Ministry of Justice, Bukar Bundi told the court that the suspects were being arraigned on 10-count charge of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, membership of unlawful assembly and joint assembly armed with deadly weapons.

Other charges, according to the prosecutor, were voluntary causing grievous hurt to deter public servants from their duties, mischief by fire, culpable homicide and treason all contrary to sections 96, 79, 80, 102 and 103, 252 and 221 of the Penal Code and Sections 24, 410 and 415 of Federal Province Act of Northern Nigeria of 1964.

Although the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Bundi, however, prayed the court to remand them in prison custody to enable him gather more facts on the case. Counsel to the defendants, Ali Modu did not object to the prayer.

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70 year old and four others arrested with human head

A seventy -year-old suspected ritualist, Hassan Ajala and four others were paraded, yesterday, at the state headquarters of the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin following the discovery of a fresh human head in their custody.

The other suspects are Ibrahim Adamu, Afisat Raji, Umaru Kure and Samuel Kure.

At the police headquarters yesterday, the entire parade area was polluted with offensive odour from the human skull, prompting journalists and officers around to cover their noses when the suspects were paraded.

Parading the suspects at the police headquarters, ASP Ezekiel Dabo told journalists that the suspects were arrested by men of the state police detectives at Igbona town in Oyun Local Government Council of the state last Sunday following a tip off.

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Gunmen seize Britons in Nigeria oil city Port Harcourt

Three British people and a Colombian working for oil giant Shell have been seized in Nigeria's Delta region.

Kidnappers snatched the four near the city of Port Harcourt, killing a Nigerian guard.

The oil-producing region is notorious for kidnappings by militants, who demand a greater share of its wealth.

But the Delta has been relatively calm since most major militant groups agreed to lay down their arms last year after the government offered an amnesty.

This is the first violent attack on foreigners in the region for many months.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the amnesty is now drifting in the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Gunmen snatched the four on Tuesday morning as they made their way to work at a power plant, police say.

Their police escort was shot dead and the driver is also believed to have been shot.

A Shell spokesman in Nigeria confirmed the attack.

"We are concerned for the safety of the contractor staff and our thoughts are with them and their families at this difficult time," he said.

The British Foreign Office said it was looking into the report "as a matter of great urgency".

No group has yet claimed to have kidnapped the group, which took place in Abia state.

Rivers State Police spokeswoman Rita Abbey told the AFP news agency that police had launched a search in and around the town of Aba, some 50km (30 miles) north-east of Port Harcourt.

Militants in the Niger Delta have cost Nigeria's oil industry millions of dollars over the years.

A variety of groups claimed to be fighting for the rights of local people to gain a greater share of the region's wealth.

But in reality, many of the groups stole oil from pipelines and extracted ransoms from kidnaps and used the money to arm themselves and finance more attacks.

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Failed 6000 MW Target

Nigerians who looked forward to seeing the President Umaru Yar'Adua government raise power generation to 6000 mega watts (MW) by December 31, 2009 as promised must be disappointed. The promise has clearly failed, as according to the minister of power, Mr. Lanre Babalola only 3,500mw was realized.

There is, however, no need to feel disappointed because it now seems in the character of this government not to keep any promise.

For example, the earlier promise of declaring a state of emergency in the power sector was not kept. The same government has not been able to fix the refineries as promised, a development that has led to the excruciating pains Nigerians have been going through to obtain petroleum products especially in the last three months.

Having failed to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, President Yar'Adua promised that his government would raise power generation to 6000mw by December 31, 2009. The promise included developing the capacity of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to evacuate and distribute same to the consumers.

To match words with action, the government followed its promise by releasing a princely $1.6 billion to International Oil Companies (IOCs) to ensure that they provided the needed gas delivery infrastructure to enable the power stations to stream their plants. Some other funds were also released to the Nigeria Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) and the PHCN to ensure that they fulfilled contractual obligations regarding delivery, transmission and distribution facilities and accessories.

The 6000mw generation target was actually a short-term policy measure to quickly bailout the country from years of lingering darkness. The medium-term is to generate 10, 000 mw by the end of 2010 and to steadily increase the pool by a sustainable percentage each year, thereafter.

This was in line with the recommendations of Alhaji Lukman Rilwan, petroleum minister, who as Presidential Adviser on Energy, had headed a committee which submitted the blueprint on how to address the country's energy crises.

Unfortunately, 2009 has ended with the country not being capable of generating the targeted 6000mw. Only 3,500mw of power was attained with the PHCN being able to only evacuate and distribute less than that amount due to inadequate infrastructure.

The implications of this failure, apart from the dent it has given to the image of this administration as one not given to keeping faith with its citizenry, are grave. No doubt, the development poses serious danger to the economy as more businesses would have to collapse or shut down with loss of jobs, high cost of production, rising inflation and growing mass poverty.

The picture of a Nigeria without adequate and sustainable power supply does not augur well for a country which wishes to join the league of 20 leading world economies by 2020. Moreso, for an economy which is in pursuit of the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Yet, we do not believe that the provision of stable power supply, taken for granted in other climes, cannot be achieved here in Nigeria. We, therefore, insist that the government should go ahead and deliver the 6000mw target, before the end of the first quarter of this year and deliver the 10, 000mw by the end of the year as earlier proposed.

We insist on these demands based on the fact that the foundations for their attainment have been laid. Besides, much money has been committed to the sector in recent years. Apart from the several billions of dollars currently being sunk into the sector by the Yar'Adua government, its predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's regime also devoted over $12 billion to the same sector.

The Federal Government should, additionally, investigate the cause of its inability to deliver on promise. This is imperative given that the militancy in the Niger Delta, which had earlier been cited by the IOCs for their inability to ensure steady gas supply has been curtailed, thereby making it possible for them to operate. It is not impossible that some saboteurs are behind the failure, so that the merchants of generators, fuel and allied products can continue to thrive at the expense of Nigerians. This must be checked and those responsible punished.

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Monday, January 11, 2010

Poverty rate drops in Nigeria

The man saddled with the responsibility of fighting poverty in Nigeria has told Daily Trust that poverty rate has dropped and that Nigerians are better off. Senior Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme Dr. Magnus Kpakol also said the illness of President Umaru Musa Yar'adua does not affect his performance.

He also disagreed that constant power outage and low performance of the economy generally have affected his war against poverty. He said the 6.90 per cent growth rate recorded in the preceding year further confirms that poverty rate is falling.

He said some of the programmes put in place by his office in 2009 including the Cash Transfer Programme (COPE) and the involvement of state governments have helped in the fight against poverty in Nigeria.

Daily Trust had reported that in 1980, 28% of Nigerians were poor; in 1985 the poverty ratio grew to 46% and dropped to 42% in 19992. In 1996, the ratio was 65.6%, in 1990 it was 70% and in 2004 it fell to 54.4%. He said the current poverty rate is less than 50 per cent and that Nigerians are richer.

He said though the actual data is collated by the National Bureau of Statistics which is expected to come up this year.

He said: "The poverty rate has drop because for example if you look at the economy, and look at what happens in say agriculture, you will realise that there is growth in the sector last year and that growth in output means something happened there. If you look across board, you will see that the overall GDP growth rate in the economy grew by about 6%.All of that growth took place in the non-oil sector where you have people getting jobs."

"If we manage to grow and the oil sector accounts for 30% of the economy and if close to 30% of the economy has decline and yet we were able to get 6% growth rate, it means that the other sectors had significant growth rate. So if you take that now and add to the consistency in the economic growth rate that we had since 2000, which help to bring the poverty rate from 70 % in 1999 to 54.4% in 2004,and the momentum continues, then it is not unreasonable to believe that the poverty rate must have dropped more than 4 points between 2004 and 2009."

"If between 1999 and 2004, that is 5 years the poverty rate dropped 16 points, it is not unreasonable to think that in another 5 years, the poverty rate couldn't have dropped more than 4 points. As an economist, doing the back of envelop calculations, I know at the back of my mind that unless we change the yardstick that we use in measurement, the poverty rate will be under 50%."

Daily Trust

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Police officer kills driver over bribe

A commercial bus driver in Enugu, Mr. Chijioke Ugwu, was shot and killed by a Police Inspector attached to Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Pius Agbo on Saturday for allegedly refusing to give the bribe demanded by the policeman.

The late Ugwu, who hailed from Amagunze in Nkanu East Local Government Area, was shot dead by the trigger-happy policeman during a heated argument over payment of a certain amount of money as bribe.

An eyewitness said Ugwu, driver of an L-300 Mitsubishi bus with plate number, AA 756 AYB, refused to give money at the police check point, insisting he had paid earlier but the Police Inspector, who was provoked by his explanation pulled his trigger suddenly and shot him.

The driver was said to have died on the spot.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu described the incident, which occurred at Awkunanaw area of the coal city as unfortunate.

Amaraizu said Inspector Agbo had since been arrested and was facing "orderly room trial" at the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Command.

He said Agbo would be dismissed and charged to court to face the full weight of the law if found guilty as charged.

Citing Force Order 237, the command's spokesman said every policeman was trained on how and when to use the gun as well as the implications of being careless with it.

The PPRO said, "this matter is really unfortunate because the said Ugwu is dead. But we are not taking the matter lightly. Agbo already knows what he is in for. Investigation is on-going in the matter and by Monday (today), you know what next.

"It is sad that such an incident is coming now that the police is doing everything possible to restore people's confidence in the Force. We will keep the fight on because there is a tremendous change," Amaraizu said.

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Friday, January 8, 2010

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Super Eagles to get U.S.$33,000 each as match bonus

Nigeria football authorities have jerked up winning bonus for members of the Super Eagles who are to begin their campaign to win the African Nations Cup for the third time with their January 12 opener against defending champions Egypt in Benguela, Angola.

According to figures released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday, each member of the team will receive $30,000 (about N4.6 million) as match bonus for the group matches in Angola.

Aside the bonus, the players will also get $3,000 as appearance fee in every match featured.

The breakdown further shows that the NFF had increased the players' pay from the initial $5,000 to $15,000 backed by the support of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) who ensured that the Eagles' 2010 World Cup qualification did not suffer from lack of motivation. When viewed from the same $15,000 package from the PTF, the total take home of each player rose to $30,000 as bonus up to the quarterfinals of the continental tournament.

Ademola Olajire, chief media officer of the NFF, while confirming the package yesterday further revealed that the players' earnings would still be reviewed upward after the quarterfinal game.

"The NFF will certainly review the players' bonus after the quarter finals stage. Definitely, I don't know the figure they will agree upon," stressed the image-maker last night.

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This has to be the funniest version of the Downfall parodies I've seen. Right next to the meme one. Someone give this man his Eba already! Shout out to gbengasalu for this!

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FEDERAL Executive Council (FEC) has described as highhanded and unfair, decision by the United States government to list the country among those to be watched over terror even as the government of Eritrea has pitched its tents with Nigeria in condemning the listing.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC in 2010, Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili stated that after reviewing the development, government has come to the conclusion that the US verdict on Nigeria was highhanded, especially that the country has participated very actively in all anti-terrorist efforts to wipe out global vices and ratifying other documents to back its commitment.

"Nigeria expresses its disappointment and concern over the underserved placement of the country on the country of interest list and views this action as having the potential of undermining long standing and established US-Nigeria bilateral ties and the goodwill the US enjoys in Nigeria," said the council.

She noted that even though the terrorist suspect is a Nigerian, he was influenced from outside the country as he lived most of his time in other countries and only transited through Nigeria for less than 30 minutes on the day in question where he attempted to bomb an aircraft.

Continuing, Akunyili read out that: "It is on record that Nigeria has signed and ratified 9 out of 16 United Nations and African Union instruments on counter terrorism dealing with issues ranging from money laundering, drug trafficking, crime, to nuclear terrorism. This is in addition to its various roles in peace keeping which have earned it international recognition and commendations of the UN'.

Akunyili said Nigeria has since December 25th when the unfortunate event occurred,expressed deep sorrow and dismay over the incident which it condemned in all ramifications.

Meanwhile, the government of Eritrea yesterday described the listing of Nigeria and other countries on the watch list of terrorism by the United States (US) as a clear display of double standard.

Ambassador of Eritrea to Nigeria , Mohammed Ali Omaro who spoke to newsmen in Abuja also accused the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the US of supporting the continued occupying of Eritrea land by Ethiopia while sanctioning it over frivolous accusation.

The convoy who noted that the UNSC imposed sanctions which include arms embargo, travel restrictions and asset freezing on Eritrea over alleged role in Somalia as well as refusal to withdraw troops in Djibouti queried the right of the US to determine which country is a terrorist country and which is not.

The Eritrean envoy who reacted to question of US listing Nigerian among the 14 countries said that "we have to call a spade a spade, who decides which country or act as amounting to terrorism."

"14 countries were listed as those not to be stopped from traveling to the USA but that there will be thorough searching and checking but then, what is the reason for that? Who determines that, how can these 14 countries (including Nigeria ) be hosting al-Qaeda and terrorists, it is the double standard of the US " Omaro added.

Omaro who wondered how the Eritrea Government could evade the military bases of US and France with their large naval and air force presence in the Red Sea as well as their sophisticated surveillance system to deliver arms to Somalia armed groups, warned that his people will not succumb to threat and external aggression.

According to him, "the allegations of financial support are equally tenuous. The people and the government of Eritrea are struggling to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through self-reliance. Hence, do not have the financial ability to bankroll armed groups in Somalia .

Eritrea went further to accuse the UN and US of falsifying information especially in the accusation of unresolved dispute with Djibouti, stating that it was aimed at diverting Eritrea from its legal battle to reclaim its occupied territories by Ethiopia.

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Man tries to kill Mother over witchcraft

A 27 year old man is being held by the police in Lagos for attempting to kill his mother on December 30, 2009 over alleged witchcraft which he claimed had retarded the progress of the family.

The man, Nnamdi Mokoye, said he was told by his pastor that his mother who divorced his father 21 years ago, was the architect of the problems in his family. Recounting why he wanted to kill his 50 year old mother, Nnamdi said having experienced abject poverty and frustration for almost three decades, he started going to churches for deliverance and it was in the process that he and his older sister who was sacked by her husband were told that the demon troubling their family was being sponsored by their mother and that they could only experience peace if their mother was eliminated.

On getting to his mother's house on December 30th, Nnamdi asked why she had been bewitching them and that she would see hell if she did not give a satisfactory answer. Before neighbours could get wind of what was happening, 50 year old Mrs. Abigail Nwaje was attacked and badly wounded by her son. Nnamdi took to his heels before neighbours could get to him but he was arrested barely 24 hours later.

Speaking with our reporter, the suspect maintained that he did not set out to kill his mother but to simply find out why she "sold the destiny of all her children to Satan".

"I did not set from Ajegunle to kill my mother but just to find out from her whether she was the witch bedevilling all her children. I dreaded getting into the New Year to still experience all the unforgettable calamities I had experienced since I grew up. I just wanted to confirm our pastor's prophecy but when I got to her house she confronted me angrily.

"We started fighting and she was about to stab me with a scissors and I picked a knife from the table and cut her throat. I really regret my action", he said. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Frank Mba said the suspect would be charged to court after investigations had been concluded for attempted murder if his mother could survive the incident.

Daily Trust

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Victor Agali's lawyer says he is innocent

More facts are emerging in the shocking news about the arrest of former Super Eagles lanky striker, Victor Okechukwu Agali in Holland.

Few hours after the report hit the international media and airwaves that the Levadiakos of Greece striker, who once played for Olympique Marseille and OGC Nice of France, had been arrested at Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam for carrying two fake passports, Agali's lawyer, Bob Kaarls has issued a statement protesting the star's innocence.

Kaarls said Agali, fondly called Okey Banana during his early days in Lagos, was returning to Greece after visiting his wife and child in Nigeria, and disclosed that officials at the star's club had indicated that they are willing to pay the bail to secure their striker's freedom.

Dutch authorities claimed that the Schengen visa contained in the second document, issued by Cyprus, did not meet requisite standards, but Kaarls insists it was all a mix-up.

"The (first) passport judged problematic by officials was sent to him in this form by post by Nigerian authorities in 2007," he said.

Additional reports indicated that the Dutch police have already made an official statement on the development and gendarmerie spokesman, Robert van Kapel explained that Agali was apprehended two days after Christmas.

"At passport control, on December 27, he (Agali) was found to be in possession of a fake passport," said Kapel.

Upon further investigation, the 31-year-old striker in transit at Schiphol on a voyage from Lagos to Athens, turned out to have two sets of fake travel documents, said Van Kapel.

"In the one, the page with his personal particulars has been modified, in the other it was the visa," he said.

A judge will now decide whether to extend the footballer's provisional detention for further investigation.

During his itinerant professional career, Gangling Agali has also played for FC Toulon of France, Germany's Schalke 04 and Hansa Rostock, Xanthi Skoda of Greece and Rizespor of Turkey.

Daily Trust

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Animated short 'Planes Immigration Nigerians'

A pretty funny animated short inspired by the recent attempt of a Nigerian to blow up a U.S. airline.

EVCL

Nigerian footballer arrested in Amsterdam

Victor Agali, a Nigerian-born footballer for Greek club Levadiakos, has been arrested at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam for carrying two fake passports, Dutch military police said on Monday.

“At passport control, on December 27, he (Agali) was found to be in possession of a fake passport,” said gendarmerie spokesman Robert van Kapel.

Upon further investigation, the 31-year-old striker in transit at Schiphol on a voyage from Lagos to Athens, turned out to have two sets of fake travel documents, said Van Kapel. “In the one, the page with his personal particulars has been modified, in the other it was the visa,” he said.

A judge will decide on Monday whether to extend the footballer’s provisional detention for further investigation. Agali has played for French teams like Marseille (1996-97), Toulon (1997-98) and Nice (2004-2005), as well as Germany’s Schalke 04 (2001-2004).

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Police officer kills nursing mum and baby

A nursing mother and her eight-month-old baby in Ilorin, Kwara State, were shot to death by police last Sunday.

In a swift reaction, the state police command has arrested the trigger-happy policemen fingered in the tragic shooting incident.

The deceased, Mrs. Titilayo Olatunde and her late baby were amongst the six passengers in a taxi cab, when the policemen opened fire on them along New Yidi Road, Ilorin, the state capital.

A competent source told Daily Champion that late Mrs Olatunde, her baby and taxi cab driver where hit by police's bullet about 6.30pm last Sunday.

The driver identified as Isiaka Rasaki was said to have failed to stop at a check-point mounted by the cops.

His taxicab's registration is XB 384 PTG.

Our source said four other passengers in the taxicab were not hit by the police's bullet.

He noted that late Mrs. Olatunde's baby died on the spot while the nursing mother died later at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hispital (UITH).

Rasaki who was hit at the rear is still receiving treatment at the UITH.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of Kwara State Police command, Mr. Daboh Ezekiel confirmed the incident he said the four policemen on patrol have been arrested for interrogation and they would be dealt with accordingly if they are found guilty.

He said the driver of the taxi was still responding to treatment and the police will investigate the issue and make public the outcome of their investigation.

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U.S. blacklists Nigeria

Henceforth, Nigerians will start experiencing what they probably fear the most on the international arena: blacklisting. The country has been added to the infamous list of "countries of interest" and its citizens travelling to the United States would be thoroughly scrutinised, no thanks to Umaru Farouk AbdulMutallab, the would-be bomber who attempted to blow up a transatlantic jetliner on December 25, 2009. But the Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, has described the move as discriminatory against 150 million Nigerians.

THISDAY learnt last night that the National Security Adviser, Gen. Sarki Muktar, has summoned an emergency security meeting for today to discuss the latest development.

Expected to attend the meeting are the heads of the security agencies, including the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), State Security Service (SSS) and the Inspector General of Police. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that the US had stepped up measures to stop potential suicide bombers in their tracks. These measures include categorising countries into two - "states sponsors of terrorism" and "countries of interest" followed with enhanced screening. Starting from yesterday, air travellers flying into the US from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Yemen and other "countries of interest" would be subjected to enhanced screening techniques, such as body scans, pat-downs and a thorough search of carry-on luggage. The US State Department lists Cuba, Iran, Sudan, North Korea and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism.

The other "countries of interest" whose passengers will face enhanced screening are Afgha-nistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan and Somalia. Additionally, all passengers on US-bound international flights will be subjected to random screening, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced. Airports were also directed to increase "threat-based" screening of passengers who may be acting in a suspicious manner. Akunyili is defending Nigeria vigorously saying AbdulMutallab's case is a "one off thing". According to her, the 23-year-old suspect does not represent what Nigeria stands for. "He (AbdulMutallab) was not influenced in Nigeria and he was not recruited or trained in Nigeria.

He was not supported whatsoever in Nigeria and his behaviour is not reflective of Nigerians and should therefore not be used as a yardstick to judge all Nigerians," declared the minister. "Nigerians are peace-loving and happy people. We were even voted as the happiest people on earth," Akunyili stated further. The minister said AbdulMutallab was a well-behaved child from a responsible family who developed an ugly tendency because of his exposure outside the shores of Nigeria. In her reaction, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the US should not have grouped Nigeria with countries where terrorists already have cells. She added that uprisings or killings which Nigerian security agencies had been battling to curtail started even before Al-Qaeda came into existence.

"In fact, we do not in anyway deserve this categorization and I think this is part of failure of leadership because since this happened, we do not have a president speaking with the US President Barack Obama and this is one of the consequences of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua not handing over properly before he travelled for treatment abroad," she stated. The new security measures came in response to the failed Christmas Day attempt by AbdulMutallab to bomb a Northwest/Delta jetliner as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam. AbdulMutallab is the son of wealthy retired banker, Umaru Mutallab. Reports say his father and mother Aisha will travel to the US for his trial which starts on January 8.

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Immigration to tackle human traffickers

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has vowed to wage war against human trafficking and child labour as a way of making Nigerians to be socially responsible in their various human endeavours within and outside the country.

Addressing officers and men of the Service in Osogbo, the new Acting Comptroller of the Osun State Command, Mr. Mumeen Yusuf Ganiyu, noted that human trafficking and child labour, if allowed in the country, will be inimical to the socio - economic development of any country.

According to him, anybody caught in the act will be seriously dealt with in accordance with the prescribed constitution, as the act is a serious offence in the country.

The Comptroller noted that his official assignment in the state will be strictly observed with caution, transparency, effectiveness and time consciousness.

Mumeen, who opined that measures will be taken to check all illegal immigrants in the state, also enjoined officers and men of Osun Command to always render their service transparently, effectively, cautiously and timely.

He maintained that anything short of those four elements will be inimical to the profession and Nigeria as a nation, saying the end result may not be palatable.

While urging the officers and men of the command to work with ethics to make the command proud of their service to Nigerians, he said indiscipline indolent, intolerance and lack of respect should not be allowed in their work place.

He equally stressed that the only way they can excel is to intensify efforts on companies and hotels around them as to fish out illegal immigrants in the state._ While speaking on the introduction of e - passport, the Comptroller said the revolutionalisation of the system has helped to detect fraud and identify people who perpetrate evil acts.

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Martins fit for Nations Cup

Obafemi Martins has been declared fit and included in Nigeria's squad for the African Nations Cup finals in Angola, team officials said on Sunday.

The striker had undergone fitness tests at the team's training camp in Durban, South Africa over the weekend before being named in coach Shaibu Amadou's 23-man squad.

Martins underwent surgery on his shin at the end of November after getting injured while playing for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg.

Nigeria, who play in June's World Cup finals in South Africa, take on Egypt in their opening Nations Cup Group C match on January 12 in Benguela. They also meet Benin and Mozambique in their group.

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Nigeria doctor 'impregnated girls and sold the babies'

Police in Nigeria have arrested a doctor suspected of impregnating girls and selling their babies.

The police said they found five pregnant girls aged between 12 and 17 at the doctor's clinic in the south-eastern town of Enugu.

The police said the man had confessed to getting the girls pregnant and selling their children. He is to face charges in court.

Trafficking is common in Nigeria, with children sold for labour and sex work.

In 2008, police raided a private hospital in Enugu which they said was a "baby farm".

Seven pregnant young women were found.

BBC

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Friday, January 1, 2010

Police arrest 132 human traffickers

Human Trafficking Unit of the Nigeria Police Force arrested 132 human traffickers in 2009.

The unit also rescued over 170 victims within the same period.

Head of the Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Juliana Abah, stated that the unit did not go abroad to arrest the traffickers, but they were arrested "internally".

Abah disclosed this at a workshop on "Violence Against Women" in Abuja.

Speaking on efforts by the Nigeria Police on Human Trafficking, she said, "More than 70 young girls were rescued and reintegrated with the families and close to 100 females have been rehabilitated."

She disclosed further that the unit discovered that children were in the majority at the receiving end, saying those who indulged in child sale internally make a whopping gain from such act.

According to her, most of the times the suspects would procure babies from their victims at the sum of N30,000 or N40,000 depending on the sex, and sell for N300,000 or N400,000, also depending on the sex.

Answering questions on efforts being made to checkmate activities of human traffickers, Abah said suspects were being prosecuted at different courts, but advocated for special courts to prosecute human trafficking cases.

She said the demand for special court was necessary going by experiences of the unit in courts, adding that, "We are prosecuting a doctor in Aba for illegal adoption and sale of babies, the prosecution was stalled because the courts were on strike."

This kind of situation, according to her, has made it difficult for suspects to be properly prosecuted.

"We don't have settlement homes, and it becomes difficult for the unit to continue holding victims that could provide evidence in courts," she added

Appreciating efforts of partnering agencies like the UNICEF, UNIFEM, the Inspector General of Police and NAPTIP, for training and retraining officers and creating child-friendly environment, Abah said the unit should be strengthened and equipped.

According to her, more than 5,000 officers were trained and retrained in 2009 and more would be trained and retrained since the unit had offices in all commands in the nation.

On how the unit accesses information on traffickers or their human victims, the ACP said the unit relied on intelligent gathering, surveillance, petitions, complaints and other viable sources.

Daily Independent

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Court dissolves 10 year marriage over placenta

An Alimosho Grade 'B' Customary Court, sitting in Iyana Ipaya, a Lagos suburb, has dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between a pastor and a primary school teacher who had been feuding for months over the disposal of their baby's placenta.

The court president, Mrs. Abigail Olatunji, in her judgement observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, and subsequently dissolved it.

Layi Oyegbemi, a pastor who lectures at a Bible College, Lagos, had sued his wife, Folake, accusing her of disrespect, troublesomeness and unfaithfulness.

During the trial, Folake, a 35-year-old primary school teacher shocked the audience when she told the court that her husband's action towards the disposal of their baby's placenta was suspicious.

"He kept our daughter's placenta in the house for four days before I saw it. When I arrived home from the hospital, the whole room was stinking. So I decided to search the house to know where the odour was coming from. I then stumbled on the nylon containing the placenta. I threw it (the placenta) into the pit latrine before he came back from that place he calls his workplace," Folake stated.

According to her, the improper disposition of the placenta by her husband was the genesis of their impasse.

Both parties had, however, consented to the dissolution of the marriage, but custody of their nine-year-old daughter, Faith, was an issue that had to be resolved by the court, the major reason for the divorce suit, filed before the court by Layi against his wife of 10 years.

Layi had asked the court to grant him custody of their daughter, Faith Oyegbemi.

The petitioner said he wanted the custody of his daughter because, according to him, Faith does not want to stay with her mother's parents again.

He added, "On several occasions, the girl had been emotional and had always shown her preference to go with me whenever I visited."

He, however, stated that he would have had custody of the girl, but because he wanted her to attain a certain age and educational standard. He added that both the respondent and her father had told him on several occasions that if he wanted his daughter, they would gladly let her go.

"I am, however, surprised at the turn of events now. The mother of my daughter had told me about 11times that she would willingly hand her over. Last Easter celebration, my father-in-law told me that if I wanted custody of my daughter, he would willingly hand her over since I have always been responsible for her upkeep," he said.

In her defence, Folake said she got married to her husband in November 1999 after courting for three-months. The marriage was blessed with a baby girl, exactly nine months into the marriage, which lasted for one year and six months, before they eventually separated on April 29, 2001.

She urged the court not to grant the custody of their daughter to her husband because, according to her, the petitioner is untruthful, irresponsible and may want to harm their daughter, considering the late disposal of her placenta.

"My parents sponsored our wedding. He does not go to church. He is just an honorary pastor. When I was to register for ante-natal, he was always giving excuses until I had to register on my own with my money. When I put to bed, my father called him to go and dispose the placenta, suggesting that if he could not get space to bury the placenta around, he could come to our house to bury it there," she added.

She also alleged that Layi had called her on several occasions to come along with him to swear to an oath.

Layi, however, countered her testimony, describing it as figment of her imagination. He said he has been responsible for the child's upkeep and school fees, alleging that his wife and her father are the dangerous species not him.

He also stated that he had been under intense pressures from his in-laws for which reasons he forgot to bury the placenta on the day of delivery.

"I would have actually buried the placenta the next day, but the disturbance from her side was too much. So, I had to inquire from my people at home who told me that my in-laws did not need the placenta for anything. And that I should not give them," he said.

Daily Independent

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