Monday, February 17, 2014
Biometrics used to tackle fraud in Nigeria
Nigeria has introduced a new system to get over banking and internet fraud. Now banks in the country will use biometrics in an effort to combat money laundering and identity theft. Over the next few months, bank customers will queue up to have their faces and fingerprints scanned to further secure transactions. However, not everyone is convinced that the technology can solve the industry's problems.
Boko Haram kill at least 90 in northeast Nigeria
Suspected Islamist fighters killed at least 90 people in an early morning attack on a village in remote northeast Nigeria on Sunday, witnesses said.
The Boko Haram gunmen surrounded the village of Izge, near the border with Cameroon, spraying it with bullets, setting off explosions and burning down dozens of houses, they said.
"As I am talking to you now, all the dead bodies of the victims are still lying in the streets," resident Abubakar Usman told Reuters by telephone. "We fled without burying them, fearing the terrorists were still lurking in the bushes."
Borno state Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko confirmed the attack but said he had no details of casualties. Another witness, Lawan Madu, said hundreds of residents had fled.
President Goodluck Jonathan ordered extra troops into northeast Nigeria in May to try to crush the insurgents, who want to carve a breakaway Islamic state out of largely Muslim northern Nigeria, where they have killed thousands of people.
But the Islamists simply retreated into the remote, hilly Gwoza area bordering Cameroon, from where they have continued to mount deadly attacks that increasingly target civilians.
Jonathan faces an election in a year's time, and the persistence of Boko Haram's 4-1/2-year-old insurgency despite an costly military operation against it remains a major headache.
Last week, Boko Haram fighters in trucks painted in military colors killed 51 people in an attack on the Konduga local government area.
The Boko Haram gunmen surrounded the village of Izge, near the border with Cameroon, spraying it with bullets, setting off explosions and burning down dozens of houses, they said.
"As I am talking to you now, all the dead bodies of the victims are still lying in the streets," resident Abubakar Usman told Reuters by telephone. "We fled without burying them, fearing the terrorists were still lurking in the bushes."
Borno state Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko confirmed the attack but said he had no details of casualties. Another witness, Lawan Madu, said hundreds of residents had fled.
President Goodluck Jonathan ordered extra troops into northeast Nigeria in May to try to crush the insurgents, who want to carve a breakaway Islamic state out of largely Muslim northern Nigeria, where they have killed thousands of people.
But the Islamists simply retreated into the remote, hilly Gwoza area bordering Cameroon, from where they have continued to mount deadly attacks that increasingly target civilians.
Jonathan faces an election in a year's time, and the persistence of Boko Haram's 4-1/2-year-old insurgency despite an costly military operation against it remains a major headache.
Last week, Boko Haram fighters in trucks painted in military colors killed 51 people in an attack on the Konduga local government area.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Nigeria slumps in FIFA ranking
Nigeria’s senior national team has dropped six places to 47th in the latest Fifa world ranking released on Thursday morning.
The African champions were adjudged the 41st best football playing team in the world according to the ranking released earlier in January.
Despite finishing in third position at the African Nations Championship in South Africa, Stephen Keshi men fell down the ladder in the monthly rituals by Fifa.
Cote d’Ivoire remain at the summit of African football with 841 points which put them in the 23rd position while CHAN runners up Ghana dropped 13 places to be ranked the 37th best team in the world and fourth in Africa.
Algeria moved to the second position on the continent after amassing 819 points which places them in the 26th spot in the world.
Spain, Germany and Argentina hold the first, second and third spots in the world respectively as 2014 Fifa World Cup hosts Brazil moved to the ninth spot in the world.
The next ranking will be released on March 13, 2014.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan sacks ministers
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked four ministers, in the latest shake-up ahead of elections next year.
Outgoing Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, a close ally of the president, is the most high-profile sacking.
She has been embroiled in allegations of corruption, which she denies, after her ministry spent $1.5m (£1m) on two bullet-proof luxury cars.
Mr Jonathan's party is divided on whether he should seek re-election.
The governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been hit by a wave of defections to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), which has cost the PDP its majority in the House of Representatives.
Several state governors have also switched sides.
Last month, Mr Jonathan also sacked all his military chiefs over their inability to end the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in the north.
As well as Ms Oduah, Mr Jonathan also sacked the minister of police affairs, the minister of the Niger Delta, home to the country's huge oil wealth and the state minister of finance.
Correspondents say it is a surprise that he has replaced Ms Oduah, as she was instrumental in raising funds for his last election campaign.
BBC Hausa's Aliyu Tanko says the recent wave of sackings shows that President Jonathan wants to be surrounded by popular people, not those tainted by scandal, in case he decides to seek re-election.
He is also trying to exert his authority to address his image as someone who is being controlled by more powerful figures, our correspondent says.
Mr Jonathan has said that he would only serve one term after his election in 2011 but there is a widespread belief that his allies are preparing for him to stand for re-election.
Outgoing Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, a close ally of the president, is the most high-profile sacking.
She has been embroiled in allegations of corruption, which she denies, after her ministry spent $1.5m (£1m) on two bullet-proof luxury cars.
Mr Jonathan's party is divided on whether he should seek re-election.
The governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been hit by a wave of defections to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), which has cost the PDP its majority in the House of Representatives.
Several state governors have also switched sides.
Last month, Mr Jonathan also sacked all his military chiefs over their inability to end the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in the north.
As well as Ms Oduah, Mr Jonathan also sacked the minister of police affairs, the minister of the Niger Delta, home to the country's huge oil wealth and the state minister of finance.
Correspondents say it is a surprise that he has replaced Ms Oduah, as she was instrumental in raising funds for his last election campaign.
BBC Hausa's Aliyu Tanko says the recent wave of sackings shows that President Jonathan wants to be surrounded by popular people, not those tainted by scandal, in case he decides to seek re-election.
He is also trying to exert his authority to address his image as someone who is being controlled by more powerful figures, our correspondent says.
Mr Jonathan has said that he would only serve one term after his election in 2011 but there is a widespread belief that his allies are preparing for him to stand for re-election.
Related story: President Goodluck Jonathan sacks military chiefs
President Goodluck Jonathan declares administration will leave a better Nigeria
President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that his administration will bequeath to Nigerians, a better Nigeria in all sectors than he met it when he assumed office.He spoke yesterday at the launching of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEPED) at Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
According to the President, the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme will help to fast track the attainment of the goals of ensuring a strong economy and industrial base of the country.
He said the launch of the programmes were “targeted at transforming Nigerian businesses and changing the lives of the ordinary people. It will accelerate inclusive growth and job creation and save the drain on our reserve caused by importing what we can produce locally.
”The Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, the National Entreprise Development Programme will also increase the impetus for our national transformation agenda by ushering in a new era of value addition, enterprise development and indusrialisation. I sincerely believe that the Nigerian economy must be developed into one of the most elements of national transformation.
That is why we have been resolute in executing the Nigerian agenda for economic reform. Our track record in this regard is stronger every year. Just coming into office we have consolidated Nigeria’s fiscal position.
“We have launched the boldest transformation of the agricultural sector and we are well on the way to increasing Nigeria’s food production by 20 million tonnes per annum.
“We have fundamentally reorganise the power sector by privatising 11 distribution and four generating companies and bringing in private sector capital and expertise. We have upgraded faciities within the Nigerian Aviation sector to standards never seen before in this country and we have started rail services that had been dormant for over 20 years.
“Our road network have also received unprecedented attention and improvement in the last three years. It is our expectation that the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme will be major additions to these landmarks achievements,” the president said.
Describing the NIRP as the “the most ambitious industralisation programme ever pursued by our nation,” President Jonathan said the programme is aimed at accelerating investments in areas where “Nigeria’s comparative and competitive advantages can be better harnessed.”
He listed such areas as the processing of food and agricultural products, metals and solid mineral processing, adding that these sub sectors were prioritized because they will also generate jobs and tap into existing markets and demands in Nigeria.
“In each of these sectors we could become number one in Africa and in the top ten globally because of our competitive advantage,” the president said .
Jonathan added that the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan will also address the problem that has persistently limited manufacturers.
“It will build up industrial infrastructure, pioritise power for industrial use, reduce borrowing cost and mobilise funds to the real sector. The benefit of NIRP will boost the annual revenue earned by Nigerian manufacturers by up to N5 trillion per annum. We will leave Nigeria better than we met it,” the president said.
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