Monday, March 28, 2016
Video - Parents of kidnapped schoolgirls being used to identify suicide bomber
The Nigerian government is sending parents from the Chibok community of northeast Nigeria to neighbouring Cameroon to verify whether a suspected female suicide bomber is one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram nearly two years ago. Garba Shehu, spokesperson for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, said the Nigerian High Commissioner in Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, has been in contact with Cameroonian authorities who have shown a willingness to assist the Nigerian government.
The abduction of about 270 school girls by Islamic militants from a school in Chibok on 14 April 2014, sparked international outrage and a campaign #bringbackourgirls. While about 50 of the girls managed to escape, 219 of these girls remain missing.
Military and local government sources on Friday reported that one of two girls arrested in northern Cameroon carrying explosives claimed to be one of the missing Chibok schoolgirls.
The girls were arrested after being stopped by local self-defence forces in Limani near the border with Nigeria that has been the target of frequent suicide bombings in recent months.
"We hope that the Chibok parents will be able to identify the girl and determine whether she is indeed one of their missing students," Shehu told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview in Abuja on Saturday.
Shehu said the government was keen to ascertain the girl's identity so she can be brought back to Nigeria and possibly assist the government in investigations regarding the fate and whereabouts of the other missing Chibok girls.
He said the two parents from Chibok selected to embark on the trip to Cameroon are Yakubu Nkeki, chairman of the Chibok Abducted Girls Movement, and Yana Galang, the group's women leader, whose 16-year-old daughter Rifkatu is among the missing.
The trip is being arranged by the government in partnership with the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in Nigeria, a non-government organisation which has been supporting the parents association and has offered to partly sponsor the trip to avoid any delays.
"If it is true, we are very happy about it. If we see her with our eyes, we will know where our girls are," Galang told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Shehu said the two girls will be brought by the Cameroonian government to Douala, the country's largest city, on Monday for further checks into their identities.
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan was criticized for his slow reaction to the Chibok abductions, seen by many as indicative of his response to Boko Haram, which at its strongest held large swathes of northeastern Nigeria.
Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated Jonathan in a 2015 election, ordered a new investigation into the kidnappings in January.
Joint operations between Nigeria and neighbouring countries succeeded in driving Boko Haram from many of its strongholds last year but the Islamists have stepped up cross-border attacks and suicide bombings, many of them carried out by young girls.
EWN
Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram promised houses
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has said that the army has a housing scheme for its officers and men, including those fighting Boko Haram war in the North-East zone of Nigeria.
He assured that as soon as those soldiers disengage from service, they will occupy their own houses.
Lt Gen Buratai who said this in Enugu while answering questions from journalists during his one-day familiarization tour of the 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu said that beside their various insurance entitlements, the soldiers are also entitled to loan from the federal government loan board through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
"So that as soon as they are retiring, they will be occupying their own houses," he emphasized.
He said, "Also, in the army, we have quite a number of housing projects which the Post-Housing Development Directorate of the army is working on; officers and soldiers subscribe to such schemes where they will choose anywhere they want to settle after retirement to get houses built for them.
Daily Trust
He assured that as soon as those soldiers disengage from service, they will occupy their own houses.
Lt Gen Buratai who said this in Enugu while answering questions from journalists during his one-day familiarization tour of the 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu said that beside their various insurance entitlements, the soldiers are also entitled to loan from the federal government loan board through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
"So that as soon as they are retiring, they will be occupying their own houses," he emphasized.
He said, "Also, in the army, we have quite a number of housing projects which the Post-Housing Development Directorate of the army is working on; officers and soldiers subscribe to such schemes where they will choose anywhere they want to settle after retirement to get houses built for them.
Daily Trust
Friday, March 25, 2016
Uber launches in Abuja, Nigeria
This happened at the launch of the innovative service that took place at the Transcorp Hilton where the Nigerian federal capital became the 400th city to be added across the globe about 18 months after the same service was launched in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager for Uber Lagos, Ebi Atawodi said: “We’re really excited to be launching Uber in Abuja. Uber gives the people of Abuja an affordable, easy and flexible choice to move around the city safely and reliably.
“For those who don’t know, Uber moves around millions of global citizens every day, offering affordable and reliable rides at the touch of a button. By offering a friendly and reliable complement to existing transport options, we can help improve urban mobility in Abuja, reduce traffic congestion and the environmental impact of vehicles at the same time.”
Daily Post
Related story: Video - Uber eases transportation in Nigeria
Nigerian military reacts to video released by Boko Haram leader
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue with its operations against insurgents in the North-East in spite of the purported remorse demonstrated by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in an online video.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, had released an online video clip in Arabic and Hausa languages on Thursday showing remorse and asking for forgiveness.
According to the DHQ spokesman, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, had advised the public to discountenance the online video clip.
“The DHQ wishes to state emphatically that not minding the contents of the video clips, the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to fight in order to consolidate the successes recorded so far.
“The said video clip should, therefore, be discountenanced as it could be another ploy or antics of the terrorists to keep our innocent citizens off their current security alertness to maximise casualties if attacked.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are now determined more than ever before to end this ugly trend.
“The DHQ is also reassuring citizens that all captives under the coffer of the insurgents would regain their freedom with the ongoing military’s final offensive against the terrorists.’’
Abubakar said the CDS commended all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices, determination and courage to complete the task against the terrorists.
The statement also advised the public not to be carried away by the video clips but to be extra vigilant and security conscious at all times during the Easter celebrations and beyond. (NAN)
Premium Times
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, had released an online video clip in Arabic and Hausa languages on Thursday showing remorse and asking for forgiveness.
According to the DHQ spokesman, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, had advised the public to discountenance the online video clip.
“The DHQ wishes to state emphatically that not minding the contents of the video clips, the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to fight in order to consolidate the successes recorded so far.
“The said video clip should, therefore, be discountenanced as it could be another ploy or antics of the terrorists to keep our innocent citizens off their current security alertness to maximise casualties if attacked.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are now determined more than ever before to end this ugly trend.
“The DHQ is also reassuring citizens that all captives under the coffer of the insurgents would regain their freedom with the ongoing military’s final offensive against the terrorists.’’
Abubakar said the CDS commended all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices, determination and courage to complete the task against the terrorists.
The statement also advised the public not to be carried away by the video clips but to be extra vigilant and security conscious at all times during the Easter celebrations and beyond. (NAN)
Premium Times
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Video - Nigeria raises interest rates
In response to a steep surge in inflation in January, Nigeria's Central Bank raised the policy rate to 12% from 11%. It also tweaked other elements of monetary policy, by increasing the Cash Reserve Ratio, to 22.5% from 20%. The decision comes just four months after the Monetary Policy Committee slashed the CRR to inject liquidity into the system. The expected outcomes, however, have not materialized.
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