Nigeria is fourth best in global peacekeeping

The Nigerian Army last night said as the fourth-best military in global peacekeeping operation, it has no difficulties moving to Mali to restore peace there.

In a reaction to a news story by The Guardian of London newspaper, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammed Yerima, told THISDAY that the story was intended by the newspaper to diminish "the successes recorded by Nigeria in peacekeeping operations."

The Guardian had alleged that the state of the Nigerian Army has delayed plans for a military intervention in Mali.

It also claimed that the country's army lacks the capability to fight on the frontline.

But Yerima said the story was a complete underestimation of the strength of the Nigerian Armed Forces and what the service could do.

He said: "I read the story. At first, I was to issue an official reaction. But I dropped the idea, because the news story was foolish. The newspaper deliberately turned truth on its head."

He further said: "There is no force on the West African sub-region that can match Nigeria's capability. We restored peace in both Liberia and Sierra-Leone. We are at the moment maintaining peace in parts of the country.

"Our training programmes are going on as scheduled and we also have modern equipment, as an army," Yerima added.

He advised foreign media organisations to seek clarification about Nigeria's military capability to avoid misleading the world.

He also reiterated Nigeria's standpoint on global peace and added that the country's armed forces are ready and capable of effective peace operations in any part of the sub-region.

The newspaper had reported that Nigerian army's Mali mission had been stalled following doubts of its operational capability.

According to the story, "A senior source in Mali told The Guardian that a lack of training and discipline among Nigerian troops - who are being heavily relied on by regional bloc Ecowas to oust Islamists in control of northern Mali - is becoming increasingly apparent.

"The Nigerian army is in a shocking state. In reality there is no way they are capable of forward operations in Mali - their role is more likely to be limited to manning checkpoints and loading trucks.

"The Nigerian forces lack training and kit, so they simply don't have the capability to carry out even basic military manoeuvres. They have poor discipline and support. They are more likely to play a behind-the-scenes role in logistics and providing security."

This Day

Video - Interview with the directors of Nigerian boarding school movie ZR-7

The directors of the critically acclaimed first Nigerian boarding school movie ZR-7 The Red House Seven, give insight on making the film.


ZR-7 tells the classic life of boarding school adventure involving TJ with six of his friends (Rolly-D, Chiedu, UK, Tokunbo, Femi & James) while in JSS 1 (7th grade). The boys are initially shocked by all the hoops they have to jump in order to survive teachers, prefects, wicked seniors, dining hall food, thieves, cutting grass, washing toilets, puppy love and all the other regular experiences anyone in a public Nigerian boarding school would experience. But when TJ and the boys accidentally see a man and two female students in an uncompromising position, what they do with that information is not their only problem in school, but the resulting scandal would change their lives far beyond their wildest dreams.

Written and Directed by Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo & Udoka Oyeka

Director Of Photography Bishop C. Kagho Idhebor

Editor Chidi Nwaozomudoh

zr7themovie.com

karmacauseproductions.com

IMDB

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Video - Where is the rule of law in Nigeria

The tactics Nigeria's security forces are using to fight Boko Haram are just making the insurgency worse. That is what Amnesty International says in a report released on Thursday. The report titled Nigeria: Trapped in the Cycle of Violence accuses the security forces of summary executions, torture and detention without trial. It also documents Boko Haram's atrocities, including its systematic targeting of civilians.

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Nigerian forces kill 30 suspected Boko Haram

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Osaze Odemwingie quits national team

Osaze Odemwingie has decided not to don the green jersey of Nigeria again according to Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi revealed that the highly rated striker will no longer be a part of the national team following the player's disenchantment with previous regimes.

Odemwingie last played for the Super Eagles in February in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game against Rwanda in Kigali.

The West Brom forward then became injured and has not featured for the side since then. He was invited to play against Liberia last month but declined and the coach has now revealed that the 31-year-old has said he will no longer play for his country.

"I spoke to Odemwingie before the Liberia game and he told me that he had decided not to play for Nigeria anymore," Keshi told Supersport.com.

"He told me that he has no problems with me as a person and that he took his decision even before I assumed position as national team coach."

Odemwingie has had a history of falling out with national team coaches.

He publicly criticised the tactics of Amodu Shuaibu after the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Later, he blamed Swedish trainer Lars Lagerback for the country's early defeat in South Africa 2010. He also infamously had a spat with Samson Siasia through his Twitter account.

"He said he was unhappy at how he was treated in the past in the national team. He explained that prior to Nigeria's participation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he played in all the qualifying games but was dropped at the finals," said Keshi.

"He said he was angry at the treatment meted out to him but did not discuss it with anyone. I told him that was not the best way to handle issues and that if he had already decided not to play for the national team, he should have opened up to me when I invited him to play."

However Keshi believes Odemwingie still has a future with the national team.

"I told him that he has to give me the room to work with him; for us to work together and if he does not like the way I work and the atmosphere in the camp, then he can decide to stop playing," Keshi said.

"Deciding that you don't want to play for Nigeria because of what happened in the past is not the best. I understand his feelings. I think he might change his mind but I really don't know. The ball is in his court."

This Day

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Ribadu's report states government stole N51 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

The Federal Government illegally took N51 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to finance sundry projects including buying a presidential jet and sponsorship of Nigeria's participation in the World Cup, the Ribadu committee report has said.

A copy of the final report which was submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday shows that the Federal Government has been dipping its hands into the coffers of the NNPC, thereby placing unnecessary burden on the corporation.

Some of the monies collected from the corporation, according to the report, were N2.23 billion by the Presidency for the purchase of a presidential chopper, and N19.87 billion to finance of a project called PICOMSS Phase 1 on behalf of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security.

Also collected were N11.47 billion for the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology for a project called "RTCom - Galaxy Backbone", and another N4.1 billion for the same ministry for financing "Skill G-Science and technology."

The report said the Federal Government directed NNPC to pay N866.2 million for the sponsorship of World Cup, although there was no much detail on the sponsorship.

Also on the illegal expenses list is the payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) bills for some government buildings. The report said as at December 2011, government owed NNPC about N6.4billion as outstanding debt.

It said there was a N2.42 billion transaction between the Federal Government and the Royal Swaziland Sugar Company which the NNPC was asked to finance.

Also, NNPC on the directives of the Presidency gave the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) a loan of 798.6 million which is yet to be repaid.

The Federal Government further took a N700 million loan from the NNPC for Sao Tome and Principe, as well as another N673 million for the start-up operation of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board.

NNPC also paid N563 million on government's directive for the storage cost on illegal bunkering, with additional N521 million to settle some expenses incurred by Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The corporation paid N250 million legal expenses in a case between the Petroleum ministry and the South Atlantic, and N128 million to settle the wind energy project carried out by Lahmeye International for the Science and Technology ministry.

The Petroleum Revenue Task Force report was submitted to the President on Friday amidst controversy when two members rejected its findings.

But committee chairman Nuhu Ribadu insisted that the panel did its homework and that the dissenting members--Steve Oronsaye and Bernard Otii--were compromised with government appointments.

Yesterday, Ribadu said in a post on Facebook: "I have made my choice to stand with the Nigerian people, to place national interest before any other. Knowing that a good name is better than silver and gold."

Sunday Trust

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