NAIJAFEED

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan pledges we shall overcome terrorism

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the present security challenges facing the country, occasioned by the terrorists attacks and bombing by Boko Haram and other groups, was a passing phase that will be overcome very soon.

Speaking at the investiture ceremony of five former and current Chief of Air Staff with the Distinguished Flying Star Medal of the Nigeria Airforce and Presentation of Flag to Mobility Command, Yenegoa, in Abuja yesterday, the President said what was happening was a passing phase which every great nation of the world had gone through.

Jonathan said: “I encourage all Nigerians to remain steadfast, vigilance and optimistic bearing in mind that the endeavour of building a great nation can never be without challenges. “I want to assure you, however, that as we work together and draw upon our collective strength and numerous ties that bind us in peace and unity, we shall prevail over the challenges and leave a better country for children.”

Commending the Air Force and Armed Forces as a whole for their immense contribution to the maintenance of national security and defence of democracy, the President said: “Members of the armed forces are currently involved in the internal security in several parts of our dear nation.

“I must also note with pride your contributions towards ensuring stability across our great continent and even beyond.

“Your active participation in bringing peace and stability to the West African sub-region has been commended globally. I wish to commend you on the professionalism with which you handled the various situations.

“Your courage, dedication to duty and professionalism bear noble testimony to the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian people. I am aware that these accomplishments have not been without great and often painful sacrifice and for this reason, the nation owes you and your families a debt of gratitude.”

He highlighted the role of the Nigerian Air Force in ensuring the security of the country, saying “I am confident that with the on-going positioning of the Nigerian Air Force for sustained the deployment of air power as evident in the establishment of the mobility command, the Air Force is destined for even greater achievement as we work to transform Nigeria.

“No nation can rightly boast of greatness in the absence of a vibrant armed forces bearing in mind the onerous task that nation building can only be accomplished when the safety and the territorial integrity of the nation is assured.

“There is, therefore, no doubt that building and maintaining the virile and motivated Air Force is secured to ensuring our security and national development. For this reason, the FG has continued to make substantial investments in the provision of new platforms and the reactivation of old ones.

“This is in addition to our commitment to ensure better training and improved welfare packaging for the improvement of men and women of our noble Armed Forces.”

President Jonathan congratulated the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Star, including Air Marshal Akin Dada, (1992-1993), Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi (1993-1996), Air Marshal Isaac M. Alfa (1999-2001), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (206-2008), Air Chief Marshal O.O. Petinrin (2008-2010), Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010-till date).

According to him, the award was in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of the Nigerian Air Force and security of Nigeria.

In his reaction, Air Marshal Alfa said “I am very happy for the recognition. As for the commitment to the country, once you have gone as far as being the Service Chief, you are actually never fully retired.

“You are always in the service of the country that is to say you are more or less on reserve and you can be called upon into active service many times. My commitment to the country is that anytime I am needed I am always ready.”

ACM Paul Dike said “it is always something special when you are honoured by your people, so I am delighted to have been one of those people that were honoured here today.”

Vanguard

President Goodluck Jonathan Declares War On Terrorism

Monday, October 10, 2011

Prostitutes sell semen to ritual killers in Abuja

Horny men in Abuja stand the chance of having their semen taken away and sold to ritual killers by commercial sex workers who have laid siege to the city.

This demonic practice may have been responsible for the woes suffered by some men including sterility, erectile dysfunction, marital crisis, failure in business and even death, said observers.

Our correspondents reported that some prostitutes with condoms filled with fresh semen were arrested by officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), while raiding some red light areas of the city.

A total of 104 suspected commercial sex workers have been arrested for prosecution during raids carried out by the board in collaboration with the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour (SAP-CLN)

SAP-CLN is an Abuja-based non-governmental organization involved in the rehabilitation of prostitutes and street children.

An AEPB official, who pleaded anonymity, said some of the commercial sex workers were found with condoms containing fresh male semen after they were picked from the streets. He said the recoveries of the used condoms were made when officials searched bags brought in by the commercial sex workers.

Other items recovered include Benelyn cough syrup laced with codeine, Indian hemp, cigarettes and Dunlop Plastic Solution, an adhesive used in vulcanizing tires.

He said, "It is a recurrent thing here. We find condoms with sperm when we search their bags. The necks of the condoms are tied to prevent the contents from spilling and are carefully wrapped in toilet tissue.

"We also found Benelyn cough syrup, marijuana, cigarettes and an adhesive used by vulcanizers in fixing tyres. Some of them become very wild after taking drugs and one has to be careful when going for the raid."

A commercial sex worker, who gave her name simply as Joy, told our correspondent that the semen found with some of her colleagues were secretly taken away after they had sex with their patrons.

In an attempt to extract the semen from unsuspecting male "clients," she said, commercial sex workers exhibit extraordinary care and sex appeal, attributes which, she further claimed, caused many men to lose their guard.

As soon as the man gives in fully to the pleasure of the illicit affair, she said, the prostitute moans and screams wildly in fake ecstasy thereby setting the stage to carry out her mischief.

But where the male "client" refuses to succumb to the trappings of the fake expression of passion, she said, the girl would rub fetish powder on her nipples and offer them to the man to suck. After sucking the breasts, the man loses consciousness and the sex worker would steal all his valuables and collect his semen.

She said some of her colleagues also use drugs to knock out some of their patrons and entice them into having sex in a semi-conscious state. She said: "After pulling the condom, the girl would go into the bathroom and flush the tissue she used in cleaning the man while tying the neck of the condom.

"She would tie the neck of the condom to avoid spillage and carefully hide it away until she is ready to go. Sperm is a very hot thing for people, who use it for medicine. I don't know how much they sell it because am not into that kind of line."

"But I know that a lot of girls do it and they make so much money from it. I don't want to carry somebody's blood because I don't know what the juju priest will do with someone's sperm. I only do ashawo (prostitution) business. I don't sell sperm."

But determined to stamp out the criminal practice, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, through the AEPB, has launched an operation to dislodge prostitutes from the city.

The operation, which is carried out in collaboration with the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour (SAP-CLN) has led to the arrest of 104 commercial sex workers in various parts of the city during three raids.

At the raid which was carried out on Thursday, September 29, a total of 44 suspected prostitutes where arrested and held for prosecution.

However, on Monday, October 3, the team arrested another 33 suspected commercial sex workers, while 26 suspects were arrested during another raid on Thursday, October 6.

The operation is carried out based on the provision of Section 35 (1g) of the AEPB Act No. 10 of 1997, which prohibits sex trade in the capital city.

The suspects were arraigned before a mobile court presided over by Mr. Aminu Abdulahi, a magistrate with the FCT.

Out of the 44 suspects that were arrested during the September 29 raid, a total of 31 pleaded guilty to the charge, while 13 pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

About 16 convicts who could not afford a fine of N5,000 as stipulated in the AEPB law were sent on one-month imprisonment at Suleja Prison.

However, 13 other convicts, who could afford the stipulated fine, were sent for rehabilitation at the SAP-CLN center located in Sabo Lugbe, off Umaru Yar'Adua Way.

Out of the 33 suspects arrested on Monday, October 3, five of the suspects were released on bail, four were freed after they were screened and an undertaking extracted from them by the court.

The remaining 25 people pleaded guilty to the charge and were accordingly convicted but only seven were sent to Kuje Prison, while 17 paid fine and opted for rehabilitation.

The coordinator of SAP-CLN, Mrs. Grace Adogo, said the organization was touched by the plight of the commercial sex workers who were sent to prison.

She said a lot of the commercial sex workers saw what they did as business and not as a criminal activity. Adogo recounted the story of an inmate who, after spending one month at the rehabilitation centre, suddenly stripped herself and shouted on top of her voice that she could no longer cope.

According to her, the inmate said she used to sleep with several men in a day and send some of the proceeds home for the upkeep of her family.

She said, Our security men ran away on sighting her. "She shouted that she should be released immediately and we did, because we couldn't keep her against her wish. She said she used to sleep with several men in a day and could not continue to cope without seeing a man.

"She told me that her mother called and said she had lost so much revenue during the one month she was in the center and that she should come out and continue the business. The girl went back home."

Leadership

Nigeria is the largest African source of trafficked women to Europe and Asia

Fans vandalize national stadium in response to Super Eagles Nations Cup exit

Disappointed Super Eagles' fans on Saturday in Abuja showed their bitterness by vandalising some parts of the stadium and by calling for removal of Coach Samson Siasia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles drew 2-2 against Guinea's Syli Nationale to seal Nigeria's hopes of participating in the 2012 African Nations Cup.

In the qualifying final round 'Group B' match played at the Abuja National Stadium, the Eagles had come from behind to lead 2-1 until the fifth minute of added time.

While the fans had restrained themselves from booing the team during the game, in spite of a lacklustre performance, they, however, started booing the players after the game.

After booing the players off the pitch, an appreciable number of the fans, who could find their way to the stadium's VIP Section, broke a glass window near the Media Centre.

The fans made frantic attempts to break in and make their feelings known to the horde of journalists who were waiting for the post-match conference.

Military policemen and anti-riot policemen, who were part of the heavy security arrangements put in place for the match, however, stopped the irate fans from entering the VIP Lounge.

Another group of fans also broke down part of the wire fence near the Upper Terrace turnstiles, as they were moving out of the stadium, to show their anger.

But some of them were still able to make their feelings known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, with many of them calling for Siasia's sack.

"Now Nigerians have seen the difference, after they sacked Amodu Shaibu and refused to take either Stephen Keshi or Augustine Eguavoen.

"Siasia has failed us; he should just go and give way before we fail to qualify for the 2014 World Cup," an Abuja-based fan, Henry Akalonu, said.

Gbenga Ogunmuyiwa, a Keffi-based businessman, said that the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should remove Siasia.

He said: "The coach's hardline stance led him to fall out with many of his players, thereby leading to disunity in the team.

"It is clear that the players are not happy with him. This is the result of his decision to always go hard on them.

"If he had not had problems with Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama and Mikel Obi, we could have had a better team to beat Guinea," Ogunmuyiwa said.

NANreports that Bangoura Ismael had given Guinea the lead in the 54th minute to dampen the fans' morale, while Obinna Nsofor drew level in the 63rd minute to raise hopes.

Substitute Ikechukwu Uche scored in the 78th minute to put the Eagles in line for qualification, only for the sloppy defending that led to the equaliser.

Traore Ibrahima sliced through tired-looking Eagles defenders in the fifth minute of added six minutes in the second half to draw level and put Guinea solidly on its way to the Nations Cup.

Leadership

Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup

Samson Siasia apologizes for Super Eagles Nations Cup exit

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has issued an apology to Nigerians after the Super Eagles drew 2-2 against Guinea to miss out on the 2012 African Nations Cup.

"This is a doom day. We have disappointed Nigerians. It is a very sad day for me in particular. I take responsibility. It is sad, very sad. We lost many chances. You don't create such chances and miss them. If you do the story may not be good. That's what happened. We are sorry".

Vanguard

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup

Nigeria are out of the Africa Cup of Nations after being held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea in Abuja.

The Syli Nationale go through as Group B winners.

After Ismael Bangoura gave the visitors a second-half lead, Nigeria seemed to have turned it around with goals from Obinna Nsofor and Ikechukwu Uche.

But Ibrahima Traore's goal deep into stoppage time ensured Guinea's progress and meant Nigeria failed to qualify for the first time since 1986.

They will be absent from the competition for the first time since 1996 however, having quit those finals for political reasons.

Coach Samson Siasia apologised for the defeat.

"We want to apologise to all Nigerians. We have not qualified for the Nations Cup and we take responsibility as a team," Siasia said.

"We did our best, we dominated the game, we created chances, but we failed to take our chances and we gave up a last minute goal.

"We understand the frustration of the fans because they love their team so much. But sometimes, football can be cruel."

The Super Eagles went into the match needing to win 1-0, or by two clear goals should Guinea have scored, to book their place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Nigeria's plight was not helped when Ethiopia beat Madagascar 4-2 in Addis Adaba on Saturday.

With results against the bottom side in the group not being taken into account, Nigeria's two wins over Madagascar are no longer relevant.

This means the Super Eagles' points tally from their game against Guinea and Ethiopia total just five points - trailing Sudan (seven) and Libya (eight).

"This was a very big surprise - and I must confess that the team was very nervous - the pressure was just too much," former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh told BBC Sport.

"Things have been going wrong for us since 2002 - there's a lack of consistency, we are not that well-rounded and there are too many lapses.

"Not qualifying for a World Cup is one thing but when we don't qualify for a Nations Cup, that hurts as it means we don't belong to the best teams in the continent."

After the match, a number of Nigerian fans reacted angrily to the defeat - attacking the media tribune at the Abuja National Stadium while also damaging its infrastructure.

BBC

Nigerian convicts in Britain to serve prison term in Nigeria

Nigeria's lower house of parliament has approved a deal in which offenders convicted in Britain will serve out their jail terms in their home country.

The agreement still requires approval from the Senate, where it is likely to pass soon.

About 600 Nigerian inmates are being held in British jails, but it is not clear how many will face deportation.

The decision follows a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to Nigeria in July.

The UK Ministry of Justice said foreigners who "abuse our hospitality" and have no legal right to stay should be deported "at the earliest opportunity".

"Where possible those foreign nationals who receive a prison sentence should serve their sentences in their own countries," the ministry said.

The ministry said the British government had a number of transfer agreements, but most required the consent of the prisoner.

It was now working on transfer agreements that did not require that consent, it said.

Nigerian prisons are already overcrowded but Nigerian MP Jerry Manwe said that they could accommodate the influx of new inmates.

BBC

732 Nigerians in Chinese Prisons

Friday, October 7, 2011

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Time Magazine Lists Lamido Sanusi on World's 100 Most Influential People

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Video - Trial of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab accused of trying to bring down a jetliner with a bomb in his underwear made an outburst in federal court Tuesday, claiming that a radical Muslim cleric recently killed by the U.S. military is still alive.

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Super Eagles plead with fans for support

SUPER Eagles have made a passionate appeal to football fans to keep faith with them when things become tough during Saturday's match against Guinea in Abuja.

Nigerian fans have over the years gained notoriety for their seeming impatient with Nigerian teams when on international duties at home.

The ever- impatient fans jeer, boo and sometimes hurl missiles at the players when they are stuttering during matches.

But the Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, captain Joseph Yobo and striker Osaz Odemwingie said the outcome of the Guinea match could be detrimental to Nigeria's Nations Cup should fans choose to turn against the Eagles when things become difficult.

Siasia and the players said in different interviews that fans, as the twelfth player, would play a key role in Nigeria's quest to defeat the Guineans and qualify for next year's competition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Yobo begged the fans for unalloyed support and commitment throughout the match, which he insisted would spur them to smashing performance.

'We want to appeal to the fans to come out and make the job easier for us.

They have to make the stadium an intimidating place for the Guineans by filling up the stadium at least two hours before the game.

'We don't want a violent atmosphere, we just want the whole stadium to be a sea of green and white so that when they walk in, they'll know that they are playing not only the players on the field, but the fans too,' said the Fenerbahce defender.

Odemwingie said the players have showed so much commitment with their attitude ahead of the match and their effort should be complemented with unflinching support from the fans.

'I think we as players have shown how committed we are to this game by the way everyone

has reported to camp just a day after the coach opened camp.

'Even Efe Ambrose, who got married on Saturday, has left his young wife and is here to serve his country.

'We want to appeal to the fans to also do their part by coming out and filling up the stadium at least two hours before the game like the captain has said, to show the Guineans that we mean business.

'This is a collective effort between the players and we will all enjoy the Nations Cup together.'

Siasia echoed the sentiment of his players when he enjoined the fans to create electric atmosphere at the Abuja Stadium by throng- ing the stadium en-masse and cheer the team to victory.

'We want our people to come and create the correct atmosphere at the stadium, the singing and dancing, and the whole works.

We want the place bright with sea of green and white colours and everyone cheering every move of the Super Eagles.

'Support is always key in games of this nature. And we believe that Nigerians from everywhere will come to the Stadium and cheer Super Eagles to victory,' said Siasia.

The Nigerian team needs to beat the Syli Nationale by a minimum of two-goal margin to secure an automatic qualifying ticket to the 2012 Nations Cup.

Nigeria has never failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations since failing at the final qualify- ing hurdle against Zambia in a 0-1 aggregate defeat in 1985.

Also, Tunisia is the only team to have escaped unhurt against the Super Eagles in a competitive match at the National Stadium, Abuja, when forcing the Eagles to a 2-2 draw in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match 25 months ago.

The Moment

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John Mikel Obi fined $5,000 for missing deadline

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi will be fined 5,000 dollars for missing the Tuesday deadline to report to the Super Eagles' camp in Abuja.

Team Media Officer, Mr Colin Udoh, said on Tuesday in Abuja that Eagles officials were unimpressed with the player and had handed down the fine to the player.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles are preparing for their Final Round Group B match in the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying competition.

The team on Tuesday morning had its first training session after it opened camp on Monday in Abuja, with only 12 players available for a warm-up.

The number of players in camp, however, swelled to 21 for the afternoon training session, with Obi the only player absent out of the 22 players invited to camp.

"All players were expected to show up by lunch-time on Tuesday, but Obi called to inform officials that he would only come in on Wednesday as he needed time to attend to family matters."

Udoh told NAN that the fine was standard practice, even as the player was still being expected to arrive in camp on Wednesday.

"The fine is for being late to camp, and this is as earlier agreed by all involved with the team."

Leadership

John Mikel Obi's father freed and his kidnappers arrested

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Defiant Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab calls U.S. a cancer

Defiant Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, yesterday told a U.S. Federal Court sitting in Detroit, that not only is the radical Islamic cleric, Anwar al Awlaki, killed by the U.S. elite forces last week still alive, but that the U.S. itself is a cancer, that will be wiped out.

Abdulmutallab, son of a prominent Nigerian banker, is standing trial for allegedly trying to bomb an international jetliner on Christmas Day in 2009.

He is said to have concealed the bomb in his underwear. Abdulmutallab's outburst came as jury selection got under way for his federal terror trial in Detroit, where the 24 year old is acting as his own attorney and has previously told reporters they should stop reporting that Osama bin Laden was dead.

'Anwar is alive,'Abdulmutallab said yesterday, referring to American born cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who was killed last week by a joint CIA-U.S. military air strike in Yemen.

'The mujahadeen will wipe out the U.S.' he added. Abdulmutallab, a well educated Nigerian from an upper class family, is allegedly a tutelage of al Awlaki and wanted to become a martyr when he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 Amsterdam on Christmas 2009, according to the government.

Abdulmutallab, who complained loudly at a previous hearing about having to wear prison clothes, came into the courtroom yesterday wearing an over sized prison T shirt.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds called a brief recess to allow him to change into clothes more appropriate for court, after acknowledging and denying his apparent request to wear a 'Yemeni belt with a dagger.' Abdulmutallab later wore a long robe with a dark pinstriped coat over it, as well as a black skull cap.

The judge has denied several of Abdulmutallab's requests for the trial, including that the case be judged under Islamic law. Abdulmutallab has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The government says he wanted to blow up the plane by detonating chemicals in his underwear, just seven minutes before the jet carrying 279 passengers and a crew of 11 was to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

But the bomb didn't work, and passengers, assisted by crew members, saw flames and pounced on Abdulmutallab. The failed suicide attack, the first act of terrorism in the U.S. during the Obama administration, revealed the rise of a dangerous al-Qaeda affiliate and al Awlaki's growing influence.

The government says Abdulmutallab willingly explained the plot twice, first to U.S. border officers who took him off the plane and then in more detail to FBI agents who interviewed him at a hospital for 50 minutes, following treatment for serious burns to his groin.

Abdulmutallab told authorities he trained in Yemen, home base for Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He said he was influenced by al Awlaki, who was killed on Friday by an air strike that President Barack Obama called a 'major blow' to Al-Qaeda's most dangerous franchise.

After the outburst about al Awlaki and flap over Abdulmutallab's clothes, jury selection got under way in earnest, with most questioning done by the judge and attorney Anthony Chambers, who has been appointed to assist Abdulmutallab.

The Moment

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Trial of Nigerian who attempted to blow up American airliner begins today

The trial of a young African man accused of trying to bring down an airliner near Detroit with a bomb in his underwear is no whodunit. Prosecutors have his hospital-bed confession, dozens of witnesses, remnants of the explosive and an al Qaeda video featuring the 24-year-old explaining his suicide mission.

Nonetheless, the prosecution of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab carries high stakes. His failed attack was the first act of terrorism in the United States during the Obama administration, and it could have implications in the debate over whether terrorism suspects should be tried in civilian or military courts.

The case, which starts today with jury selection, also revealed the rise of a dangerous al Qaeda affiliate and the growing influence of a radical Islamic cleric, who was killed by a CIA-U.S. military strike only last week.

Abdulmutallab, a well-educated Nigerian from an upper-class family who has pleaded not guilty, was directed by American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and said he wanted to become a martyr on Christmas 2009 when he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in Amsterdam with 290 passengers and crew, according to the government.

A conviction on multiple charges could bolster the argument that suspected terrorists should be prosecuted through civilian courts, not military proceedings. Full-throated bipartisan opposition forced the Obama administration to cancel a New York trial for professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, although there have been no similar issues in Detroit.

"Convictions that are achieved in federal court using proper procedures will be upheld on appeal. That's simply too powerful a tool for the president not to use," said Vijay Padmanabhan, a former State Department lawyer who handled cases involving terror-related detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Abdulmutallab faces eight charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. The government says he wanted to blow up the plane by detonating chemicals in his underwear, just seven minutes before Flight 253 was to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

But the bomb didn't work. Passengers assisted by crew members saw flames and pounced on Abdulmutallab.

Smoke was everywhere and "we thought we were losing our lives," said Patricia "Scotti" Keepman of Oconomowoc, Wis., who was seated many rows behind Abdulmutallab with her husband, daughter and two newly adopted children from Ethiopia.

Abdulmutallab told authorities he trained in Yemen, home base for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He said he was influenced by al-Awlaki, who was killed Friday by an air strike that President Obama called a major blow to al Qaeda's most dangerous franchise.

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Man sets family on fire

Independence Day shocker - An independence day tragedy occurred in Enugu, capital of the south east Enugu State, on Saturday as a middle aged man burnt members of his family, including his pregnant wife and two sons, aged between two and three years, according local news reports.

The youngest son of the family, who went into coma following injuries sustained in the inferno, was later revived at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, two hours after the incident, which occurred in the afternoon, while the wife, identified as Njideka, and the first son are now on the danger list at the hospital.

The reports said the man, Alexander Ndubuisi Egeonu, who is now at large, had, on arrival at his container shop in a suburb of Enugu, where he sells musical records and Compact Discs, asked his wife to escort him to the gas station to buy fuel.

Thinking that the fuel was meant for their generator, the wife willingly complied.

But shortly after returning to the shop, Egeonu went to a neighbour’s shop and began to drag the owner (a woman) to his own shop, claiming that she was indebted to him.

The woman began to shout and attracted neighbours and passers-by, who promptly rescued her from the man, said to be very troublesome.

“Immediately the man returned to his shop, he tied the hands of his wife and poured fuel on the floor. He, thereafter, locked the wife and his two sons inside the container and set the container ablaze through the window,” the reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

The pregnant woman and her two sons were severely burnt before neighbours forced the container open and brought them out. They were rushed to the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre for treatment.

The pregnant woman and her first son, said to be in critical condition, were later transferred to the National Orthopedic Hospital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect took to his heels after setting his family members ablaze and has not been found.

He said that investigations had commenced to ascertain the motive of the arsonist, adding that the police would do everything possible to apprehend the suspect.

Nigeria's 51st independence anniversary witnessed low-key celebrations across the country as officials and other participants stayed away from parade grounds following the twin bomb attack threats by the Boko Haram religious sect and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

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Former Miss Nigeria Munachi Abii rap album coming out soon

Ex-beauty queen turned musician, Munachi Abii is warming up to come out with a new album entitled 'The Goddess, the Hustler'.

The light-skinned International Relations graduate and ex-Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria said the album will soon be out.

"I am still doing little work about the album and there are lots of things I need to put in place before it finally comes out. I don't want to bring it out without publicity. I have a lot of things in store for everyone. It will be shocking and I am looking forward to it.

"The album is entitled 'The Goddess, the Hustler'. I have recorded a lot of songs we are in the process of elimination. So, we shall settle for 10 to 12 tracks at the end of the day.

"The album is all about me; it is just a way of giving myself back to the society. This is the way to express myself to those who don't know me.

"This is the best way I can express myself because I don't like talking too much but with my music, I can tell you a lot of things. So, the album is about me.

"I am up and coming and I am happy that my career is on the right path," she said with enthausiasm.

Daily Trust

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7 arrested for the slaying of 19 people in Zamfara

Zamfara State Governor Abdul'Aziz Yari Abubakar has confirmed that the police have arrested seven suspects in connection with the Saturday attack on Lingyado village where 19 people were reportedly killed and several others injured.

The governor, who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Gusau on the 12 years of shari'ah implementation and the15th anniversary of the state, said the Commissioner of Police confirmed the arrest to him, assuring that the suspects would be moved to the state capital for prosecution. It seems they have developed their own criminal investigation schools.

He said the state might request the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to release a patrol helicopter to comb the forest hideout of the bandits "because tracking them with vehicles is proving unsuccessful, as they operate with motorcycles".

According to the governor, security reports have shown that the attackers are mostly from outside the state and are from countries as far as the Central African Republic.

He said reports reaching him from the Emir of Dansadau showed that the villagers were seeking refuge at neighbouring villages.

Claiming that the attackers were based in Magami area of Maradun Local Government Area, the governor said the information available to the sole administrator of the council area had indicated that the attackers planned to attack Lingyado and another village.

The governor, who regretted that the attack had occurred before government officials could communicate the information to the state capital, said security agents were, however, quickly mobilized to avert the attack on the other village.

Recounting series of attacks that had so far led to the death of over 30 people in Dansadau, the governor said "it started when some groups of Fulani men proclaimed that nobody, except them, could ever again own cattle in the area."

This, according to him, made villagers, in collaboration with vigilante groups kill suspected robbers of Fulani descent; a development he attributed to the series of reprisal attacks in the area.

If the security agencies were under his command, he claimed, the attacks would have been averted. "That is why I don't blame people agitating for state police because if you cannot hire and fire a person, you can hardly control him/her," he said.

Daily Trust

Related stories: Gunmen kill 19 villagers in Zamfara

Video - Secterian killing in Jos

Monday, October 3, 2011

Gunmen kill 19 villagers in Zamfara

At least 19 people have been shot or hacked to death in a brutal attack in a village in north-west Nigeria, police say.

Eyewitnesses said about 150 people raided the village of Lingyado, in Zamfara state close to the border with Niger, with guns and machetes.

A police spokesman said it appeared to be a reprisal attack in response to a similar incident in August.

Security forces have been sent to the area to restore order.

Police spokesman Sunusi Amiru said six others were wounded in the attack and were receiving medical attention.

"We are on top of the situation, we are on the trail of the suspects, we have deployed more men to the trouble spots," he told Reuters news agency.

The BBC's Nigeria correspondent Jonah Fisher says the victims were attacked as they emerged from their homes.

When the shooting began, some residents fled into nearby cornfields, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Some of the attackers shouted that they would rape any women they found, one witness, Ahmad Tsauri Lingyado, told AP.

One witness, speaking from hospital, told the BBC that his house was targeted first, and that he saw both his grand-daughter and daughter-in-law killed.

BBC

Related stories: Video - Secterian killing in Jos

Secret Killings - Jos Residents Devise Survival Strategies

Gunmen kill19 villagers in Zamfara

The spate of killings in the North took a strange turn Sunday as gunmen suspected to be Hausa/Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed 19 in Lingyado, a predominantly Hausa/Fulani village in Zamfara State.

Recent killings in the North often had ethno-religious coloration but Sunday's early morning attack is confounding the authorities who are now suspecting armed robbery.

In a style similar to Jos attacks, gunmen carrying machetes attacked Lingyado, going from house to house posing as visitors before shooting and slashing 19 people to death, witnesses and police said according to The Associated Press (AP) report.

About 150 attackers surrounded the village and roamed between its compounds, shooting residents who came out to greet them, Husaini Dansadau told AP.When theshootingbegan,many who were ableto flee ran away.Some of the gunmen shouted that they would rape the women they found, a witness and brother to one of the victims, Ahmad Tsauri Lingyado, said.

The attackers reportedly used Kalashnikov rifles and machetes in the attack.

They also stole money and valuables before fleeing into the darkness.

Tsauri disclosed that they survived the attack by fleeing into corn fields.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Video - President Goodluck Jonathan address to Nigeria on independence day

Video streaming by Ustream

President Goodluck Jonathan's address to the Nation 1st Oct 2011.

Friday, September 30, 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan pledges to eradicate polio within 2 years

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan pledged on Thursday to set up a special government team to ensure the eradication of polio from Africa's most populous nation within two years.

"I can assure you that we will work very hard on polio with the objective of eradicating it in the next 24 months. It is now limited to about six states and eradicating it within our tenure is a goal we will pursue with full commitment," Jonathan said during a visit to the Nigerian capital by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Gates and his wife have a $34 billion foundation devoted largely to health projects in poor countries, including efforts to wipe out polio globally.

The disease spreads in areas with poor sanitation, attacks the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours of infection. Children under five are the most vulnerable.

Polio is endemic in just four countries -- India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan -- and there has been a 99 percent reduction in cases since 1988, when the World Health Organization and its partners formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to fight it.

At that time, polio was endemic in 125 countries and caused paralysis in nearly 1,000 children every day.

Reuters

Ted Turner commits U.S.$1 billion to polio eradication

Nigeria will be the first African nation to get HIV vaccine

Nigeria will be the first African country to access the benefit of a new protective vaccine that will stop people from developing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS as indication yesterday emerged that Cornell Micheal Nelson, one of the scientists who discovered the vaccine will be in Nigeria next month.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard, Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Professor John Idoko disclosed that Cornell Micheal Nelson, will be in Nigeria by October 12, to attend a symposium, where he would be presenting a keynote addrees on the newly discovered vaccine.

The choice of Nigeria for this landmark event, is not unconnected with the country’s large population and notable contribution to the fight against the HIV virus. With the discovery of the vaccine, the world may be on the verge of finally overcoming the threat posed by HIV and AIDS.

However, indications from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, revealed that Nigerian Scientists are excited over the vaccine which shows great potential to reduce the burden of HIV across the world.

According to former Director General of NIMR, Prof. Oni Idigbe, all is set for the symposium which would address other areas of the discovery.

Before now, various type of vaccines have been discovered in the past but none has shown great potential like the present vaccine discovered in Thailand.

According to the researchers, the AIDS vaccine could cut down the risk of developing the disease by a third.

Already, scientists across the world have hailed the breakthrough, saying it could be the first step to even better protection.

The new vaccine which works by stimulating the immune system — is a combination of two previous treatments which had proved ineffective when used alone.

It was tested on 8,000 HIV negative male and female volunteers aged 18 to 30 in Thailand.

They were checked for infection every six months. The results found that the chances of catching HIV were almost 32 per cent lower if a person had been given the vaccine rather than a dummy injection.

The breakthrough — funded by the US Military HIV Research Program and the Thai Ministry of Public Health — is regarded as a first step towards an effective vaccine against AIDS, which hits two million people a year.

Prof Aine McKnight, a viral expert from the University of London, said: For a quarter of a century the scientific community has been divided on whether a vaccine against HIV could be produced.

“Today that question is settled. This is exciting news, but the battle is far from won.”

A spokesman from the World Health Organisation said: “The results are the first demonstration that a vaccine can prevent infection and are of great importance.

“These results have instilled new hope in the HIV vaccine research field and promise that a safe and highly effective HIV vaccine may become available for populations throughout the world.”

The scientists, however advised that for now, the best protection remains having sex with a condom.

Vanguard

Video report on Nigeria promoting marriage between HIV couples to prevent spread of the virus

Security forces amass in Abuja in preparation for Independence Day celebration

With 24 hours to Nigeria’s 51st Independence anniversary celebrations, the Federal Government is taking no chances on the security threat posed by Boko Haram sect and Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, as the Nigeria Airforce and the Nigeria Police have deployed helicopters to commence air patrols of the Federal Capital Territory while night patrol by the Army, Navy, Airforce and Mobile Police personnel in the city is now round the clock.

Already all security agencies including para-military agencies have been directed to commence the evacuation of all broken down or abandoned vehicles in all the roads in Abuja while more cordons are being erected on possible and suspicious spots that might be utilized by hoodlums.

Following the threat issued last Wednesday by MEND to bomb the Eagle Square, venue of the Independence celebrations, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, recalled the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika who was already on his way to Ibadan and Lagos to attend important military functions.

Ihejirika who was scheduled to declare open the Nigeria Army Corps of Finance 8th Bi-ennial Conference in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had made the about 45 minutes journey by road to the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport and was about boarding the plane when the President called him back apparently because of threats by both the Boko Haram and MEND.

Besides the Chief of Army Staff, Vanguard was told that President Goodluck Jonathan summoned selected governors of some states whom he felt were strategic to the fight against terrorism in the country for a special meeting ahead of October 1, to stress the need to take recent threats by the Boko Haram sect very seriously as intelligence had confirmed that the group was bent on not only embarrassing government but also making the nation ungovernable.

In line with the threats, it was gathered that security agencies have upped the alert status to that of ‘red’ to ensure the planned bombings by both Boko Haram and MEND did not see the light of day.

Meanwhile Lt. General Ihejirika has expressed worry that “the increasing wave of socio-political and ethno-religious crises threatening the nation’s security lately has assumed a higher dimension”.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, Major General BS Usara, the Army Chief noted the nation was witnessing spates of bombings and attacks on key points, vulnerable points, and other strategic areas of interest in the country and “this has left serious demands on the Nigeria Army resources”.

“We also know that funding is fundamental to containing these security challenges. Success in this pursuit, therefore calls for prudent and efficient management and application of available funds” he said adding, “I envisioned an army that would effectively manage its available resources to be able to meet contemporary challenges”.

FG seeks Divine Intervention

In a related development, the Federal Government yesterday gathered Muslim and Christian Clerics to seek God’s intervention in the wake of independence bomb threat by militants.

The prayer session was held simultaneously at noon in all the 774 local governments of the federation to seek for forgiveness of sin, preservation, protection and unity of Nigeria in spite of all challenges.

Declaring the National Day of Prayer for Nigeria open in Abuja, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said the security challenges are minor in the sight of God and if we bring it to Him, He is able and willing to solve them.

The minister said at 51 Nigeria has a lot of reasons to celebrate, because God has sustained the country through immense challenges. Therefore, people should be thankful and grateful to God, adding that “one of the greatest problems we have is that we are too exposed to negative information given to us by outsiders”.

The Director General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Alh. Idi Farouka said the prayer “is essentially to seek God’s intervention, bring about sustainable peace and security and help our political, religious and traditional leaders at all levels to provide leadership that is anchored on fear of God and honest service to the people, as we all know that only the peace, security and good governance can guarantee the transformation of our nation.”

The Bishop of Kaduna diocese Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Idowu Fearon noted that God is one and until every believer comes to the conclusion that we all serve one God, both Christians and Muslims, there would be no peace.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWN, Prof. Dawud Noibi said Nigeria pays lip service to religion despite the fact that it is not a secular nation but a multi-religious one.

Minister expresses concerns over threats

Minister of state for finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Nagama, also expressed concern over the increasing spate of bombings and other criminal activities in the country warning that they pose a great challenge to national security which also encapsulates the investment environment.

Speaking at the 8th Biennial Training Conference 2011 of the Nigeria Army Corps of Finance in Ibadan, the minister called on the Nigeria Army, as a major instrument of the Nigerian National Security and Defence Policy institution, to be at its best in carrying out its constitutional roles in support of government.

Oct 1: Egbesu warns MEND over blast threats

Following its threat to detonate explosives in Abuja during tomorrow’s 51st independence anniversary celebrations, the Egbesu Fraternity has warned the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to be ready for reprisals if it carried out its threat.

A twin-bomb explosion rocked the nation’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Abuja last year, claiming some lives and a faction of MEND said it was responsible.

Stating that President Goodluck Jonathan was not a party to the agelong destruction of the Niger Delta and should be allowed to govern peacefully, Egbesu, in a statement by Okin Sele told Jomo Gbomo, “you can’t threaten Jonathan; we’ll go after you.”

His words: “We Egbesu Mightier Fraternity read with utmost concern the press statement issued by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta through its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, dated September 28, 2011 ‘On October 1, 2011 to bomb Eagle Square again.’Remember, we are all generals in the field for the struggle to liberate the oppressed Niger Delta Region. But the focus has been diverted without clear agenda for our struggle. We were oppressed without consideration for the wealth in our region by the previous administrations in this country, but God in His infinite mercy turned the glory to Niger Deltans. You have used bomb threat on Mr. President who is innocent about our previous marginalization. Leave President Goodluck Jonathan alone to steer the ship of leadership in the country. We know ourselves. Note, if any bomb blasts as a result of this October 1st Independence day celebration occurred and you (MEND) claim responsibility, we shall not hesitate to meet you one on one. We know your true identities in the struggle. We know our homes. None of us comes from different countries.”

Vanguard

Related stories: MEND Threatens to Bomb Abuja, Lagos

Boko Haram claims responsibility for UN bombing

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Italian Embassy deny Nigerian athletes visas because they suspect them being members of Boko Haram

Coach of the Nigeria Beach Eagles, Adamu Aoudu, has accused the Italian Embassy in Nigeria of refusing to issue visa to some Nigerian players allegedly based on their names, religion and the suspicion that they belong to the dreaded Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram.

The players had wanted to join the Nigerian team that participated in the recently held FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy.

Speaking in an interview with The Moment in Abuja, Adamu maintained that the information he gathered after returning from the World Cup was that the Italian Embassy did not issue visa to the players because of their religion.

The three players who were refused visa for the Beach World Cup were Abu Azeez and Shehu Jamal from Wikki Tourists and Emma Zavi from Adamawa United.

'When I came back from the World Cup, I heard that the embassy refused to give the players visa because of their names and religion.

It is not fair because they denied me the use of some of my best players who would have made a very big difference in the team if they had been around', said Adamu.

The coach exonerated the Nigeria Football Federation from the visa hitches, declaring that it was a premeditated action from the Italian Embassy.

'There were insinuations that it was the football house that did not press hard for the players to be given visas, but it was when I returned from the World Cup that news filtered to me that they were stopped from the tournament because of their names and religion,' he said.

Nevertheless, Adamu praised the determination of his players during the World Cup, saying that they displayed the spirit of true Nigerians.

'Those boys were wonderful players. It was very hectic but they never allowed the situation to overwhelm them as they gave their best', he said.

The Moment

Law makers in Nigeria are highest paid in the world

Nigerian parliamentarians were yesterday described as the highest paid in the world. A job that pays $100,000 a month in a country where half the people earn less than $1 a day.

While basic pay for legislators was set at between 1.9 million naira ($12,250) and 2.4 million naira a month, the lawmakers in 2007 approved legislation that gave them monthly allowances of as much as 400 percent of their salary for 21 items including cars, furniture and housing, enabling them to collect as much as 15 million naira a month each.

Richard Dowden, Executive Director, African Royal Society, United Kingdom (UK) said this yesterday as guest speaker at this year’s Nigeria Independence Anniversary Lecture hosted by the Ministry of foreign Affairs.

Dowden who described the situation as "obscene" said it is unacceptable that the country spends so much on parliamentarians while having well over 10 per cent of the world’s maternal mortality rate and 10 per cent of world’s children who are out of school

"More than 100 million Nigerians live in poverty- which is a quarter of the total poverty in sub Sahara Africa. Nigeria has over 10 per cent of the world’s maternal mortality and child mortality and 10 per cent of world’s children out of school. This is unacceptable. It is even more unacceptable that in a country with those statistics, the politicians are the highest paid in the world. $1millioin for a Parliamentary salary with another $1million in expenses is obscene"

While noting that the discovery of oil in Nigeria has become a "curse" rather a blessing, he called on government to build strong institutions that will not only promote the efficient utilisation of resources but also ensure consistency and continuity in governance.

He warned that unless the disparity between the rich and poor are narrowed, the nation stands the risk of witnessing a mass revolt similar to the one currently going on in the Arab world.

"I think there are good reasons why the Arab spring has not happened south of the Sahara. But I think it will if the young, globally- connected generation coming up through now, are unable to fulfill their potential. It is a matter of time.

"Think of development as a project not for next week but for your great grand children. But start now"

Dowden, who is currently the Director of Africa Royal society, identified "unfairness in the system of resource allocation" as reason for the fierce competition" which the country is currently experiencing.

He also identified corruption, poor reputation and flight of human capital as other factors that have worked against the country’s economic prosperity.

He blamed past government for engaging in wrong economic policies which he said were done for political reasons.

He said: "But the fifth and main problem that Nigeria faces is politics often, Nigeria and much of Africa has followed the wrong economic policies for political reasons. Adding "this has accounted for the over one hundred million Nigerians living in poverty.

"After oil and corruption which are closely linked, I would say that Nigeria’s reputation in the past still puts off investors and tourists.

"What I see here is that perceived or real unfairness in the system of resource allocation has led to fierce competition for success- or just survival. I would say that the competitive, creative spirit this creates is far more powerful than in any other country in the world".

He said Nigeria at Independence had a trade surplus with the U k and substantial reserve.

"In the 1970 oil was only 60 per cent of export. By 1982 it was 99 per cent of export and almost the same proportion of fiscal revenue. Almost all other exports like Cocoa, rubber, cotton and ground nuts had been wiped out"

He said between 1970 and 2001 per capita income fell from $264 to $256 in constant dollar rate.

"By 2000 Nigeria became an oil rich deeply indebted country and experience of the vast majority of Nigerians became poorer and concluded that oil is a curse to the country".

Daily Champion Bloomberg

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Bill Gates signs Memorandum of Understanding on Polio eradication

Chairman of Microsoft Computers Worldwide, Mr. Bill Gates, yesterday visited Kebbi State, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state Governor, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, to eradicate polio cases in the state.

The polio eradication signing agreement was attended by the Chairman of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Mansur Shehu; the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu; commissioners, traditional rulers; including the Emirs of Gwandu and Argungu; Alhaji Iliyasu Bashar; and Alhaji Samaila Mera, respectively.

Gates said his association was determined to eradicate polio world wide and other related diseases. According to him Indian with a population of over one billion had one polio case recently due to measures taken by his foundation. He said the situation in Nigeria needed urgent attention with about six cases by 2010.

According to him, the situation in Kebbi State demanded urgent attention because government had taken drastic measures to make the state totally free.

“However, you would all agree with me here that a number of conditions need to be met to ensure successful implementation of our programme for revamping the primary health care system in Kebbi State,” Gates said.

He also stated that with such measures in place, Kebbi State would rank among the best in the country, adding that: “To meet these conditions, the collaboration and support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, our development partners are more than a welcome contribution in the right direction. The foreigner looked forward in the next two years the eradication of polio in Kebbi and other 35 states in the country.”

Responding, Dakingari said his government had constructed over 200 primary healthcare facilities across the state in an effort to ensure that the necessary system or platform for routine immunisation was brought closer to homes where women and children live.

“Now that the election is over, as from 2012 the government will be serious to commit a lot of resources on polio like in the previous years,” he said.

It would be recalled that a statement signed by Michal Fishman of the Bil and Melinda Gates Foundation, had said Gates was accompanied to Nigeria by the foundation’s chief executive officer, Mr. Jeff Raikes.

The statement also said Gates visit was essentially based on how to end polio and strengthen immunisation against other vaccine-preventable diseases with a follow up on the Abuja Commitments to Polio Eradication.

“Nigeria has achieved important success with polio over recent years and we are confident it can finish the job,” Gates said.

This Day

Related story: Bill Gates meets Goodluck Jonathan

Army chief confirms foreigners involved in Boko Haram bombings

AHEAD of the 51st Independence anniversary and continued threat posed by Boko Haram, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, said yesterday, that despite successes recorded by the Army in its onslaught against the group, there was still need for better performance.

General Ihejirika spoke even as he declared that there was foreign collaboration in the activities of the terrorist group, especially in the area of training of sect members in some African countries and funding from abroad but chose not to mention names.

The Army chief, who spoke at the 2011, third quarter, Chief of Army Staff Conference, also disclosed that he had taken the issue of welfare of officers and soldiers of the Army under his command as priority.

Reasons for grumbling

Iherijika who said no soldier could say his welfare or salaries and allowances were being toyed with, noting that there should be no reason for grumbling in that regard, noted: “Yes, it is true people say we (Army) have been doing well in handling the Boko Haram menace.

This quarterly conference is, however, borne out of my belief that, in spite of the commendation, the expectation, both from my office and the public, is that a situation where bombings continue to go on in spite of measures put in place is unacceptable.

“So we (General Officers Commanding, Principal Staff Officers, Corps Commanders, Brigade Commanders and Formation Commanders) need to really dissect our modules of operations and then we work and cooperate with others so as to come up with measures that will enhance security.”
Asked if it was true that foreign nationals from Niger, Sudan and Chad have been arrested in connection with the Boko Haram bombings and attacks, Ihejirika said: “Let me start with the involvement of Boko Haram or terrorist activities in Nigeria. It is definite that the groups that call themselves Boko Haram or terrorist receive training and possibly funding from elements abroad.

“This was evident from the type of weapons we have captured from them; the type of communication equipment we have captured from them; and the expertise they have displayed in preparation of improvised explosive and these are pointers to the fact that there is foreign involvement in the terrorism going on in Nigeria.”

On whether security agencies would ever contain and curtail the terrorist menace and restore the country to normalcy, he said: “What I want to say is that the Army will live up to the expectations of Nigerians and the army is prepared to carry out any task assigned to it. The issue of curbing security is a collective thing running from government at various levels, well meaning citizens and all the security agencies. But what I want to assure you is that the Army will cooperate and collaborate with other security agencies to improve on our present performance.”

When asked if he was aware that issues of allowances and welfare was raising dust among soldiers, the Army chief said: “As far as I am concerned, the officers and soldiers are getting their welfare as at when due and at the right time. Before I took over, the Army used to be paid last but today, there is no service that pays salaries and allowances before the Army.

In any case if there are complains on welfare, I want that to be brought to my knowledge but there is a general improvement in the welfare of officers and soldiers and in the provision of accommodation, a lot is going on now and most of the projects will be commissioned before the end of November.”

Vanguard

Boko Haram suicide bomber attacks police headquarters

Boko Haram claims responsibility for UN bombing

Nigeria's growing middle class

A new detailed survey and report on Nigeria’s expanding middle class, issued by the leading emerging markets investment bank, Renaissance Capital, has portrayed Nigeria as a nation that is optimistic about economic growth, values entrepreneurship and is positioned to capitalise on a boom in consumption.

The survey, released in Lagos, also noted that Nigeria’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) at market exchange rates has already increased from $390 in 2001 to $1,541 in 2011 based on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures, and would reach nearly $2,000 by 2016 “if the pessimistic IMF forecasts are accurate, or $2,500 in our more benign scenario”.

The survey and accompanying report, authored by Renaissance Capital’s Global Chief Economist, Charles Robertson; Head of Sub-Saharan Research, Nothando Ndebele; and Sub-Saharan Economist, Yvonne Mhango, drew attention to the wealth of opportunities presented by one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, as an expanding middle class fuels GDP growth in Africa’s most populous country.

The report drew out the investment opportunities and implications presented by Nigeria’s rapidly growing middle class, against a highly favourable macroeconomic backdrop.

It noted that GDP rose five fold from $46 billion in 2000 to $247 billion in 2011, according to IMF estimates, while the population increased by more than one-third over the same period, from 119 million to 160 million.

Nigeria’s middle class accounts for about 23 per cent of its population, according to African Development Bank data.

Renaissance economists added that, “The magnitude of the increase in Nigeria’s population between now and 2016 is the equivalent of adding another Romania; while, based on cautious IMF forecasts, the increase in Nigeria’s GDP in five years will be equivalent to the addition of another Vietnam or Bangladesh.”

The Renaissance Capital survey was conducted with 1,004 middle-class Nigerians, residing in the cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, 70 per cent of whom were aged 40 or younger.

“The Nigerian middle class we surveyed has a monthly income of some $500-600 and nearly half will be buying fridges, freezers and other white goods, suggesting a consumer boom is under way,” said Charles Robertson. “We cite the upside for consumer lending retail, white-goods retail, lifestyle and leisure, housing development and home improvement.”

The survey made various findings on Nigeria’s middle class. Among them were the following: Average monthly income is in the range of N75,000 - 100,000 ($480-645, or roughly $6,000-7,000 pa).

It also found that the middle class are well educated: 92 per cent have obtained post-secondary education or have studied at an institution of higher learning. Educating their children well is a top priority, and over half send their children abroad to complete their education.

“A sizeable 76 per cent of Renaissance’s sample works in the public sector; of those working in the private sector, 38 per cent run their own businesses. Most of them live in leased/rented accommodation (68 per cent) with an average household size of 3.7 people. The average number of children in each household is 1.6 (excluding those away at school) vs a national average that is closer to 3; larger families are more common in rural areas,” the survey revealed.

According to the Rencap survey, nearly half of the middle class have no immediate plan to move house, 18 per cent are planning to move to a newly completed self-owned apartment, and eight per cent are planning to move to another rented apartment.

“The average number of cars per middle-class household is 0.8 (around one third of middle-class Nigerians have a car that is less than five years old); 5 per cent of homes have two cars. Car ownership remains well below levels seen in Zimbabwe, among others.

“The Nigerian middle class has a culture of saving: they care little about the deposit rate and do not expect to borrow from a bank. If they had the funds, they would rather invest in land/property than shares or bonds.

Most do not have mortgages (which represent approximately 1 per cent of GDP) or credit cards, although many expect to apply for the latter.

As in many emerging markets, the consumer lending sector is woefully underdeveloped,” it stated.

Their principal sources of information, the survey noted, are TV and radio. “Forty-eight per cent have internet access, but only 2 per cent shop online at least once a month. There is huge scope for internet shopping, if logistics allow. The majority shop at open-air markets (73 per cent), as well as use convenience stores (62 per cent). Twenty per cent dine out at least once a week,” it added.

From the detailed findings, only 15 per cent of this class have travelled abroad; 35 per cent of households have at least one person with an international passport, while the United Kingdom is the most favoured travel destination.

“Their key areas of concern over the next 12 months are the supply of electricity and unemployment, with between 19-23 per cent citing these as concerns; while crime (5 per cent) and corruption (3.5 per cent) are seen as far less concerning. Three-quarters are optimistic about the future of Nigeria,” the survey added.

This Day

Related stories:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Video - Navigating Nigeria's petroleum industry

Oando CEO Wale Tinubu talks about the Nigerian oil company’s expansive operations.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Suspected Pro-Gaddafi mercenaries arrive Kaduna, Nigeria

Over 100 people, suspected to be mercenaries that fought for the sacked Libyan Leader, Muammar Gaddafi, have arrived Kaduna through the Nigeria - Niger Republic border at the weekend.

They were said to have been conveyed in two luxury bus owned by transport companies located in the South-eastern Nigeria.

There weren't any official comments from the Kaduna Zonal Comptroller of Immigration, Suleiman Umar, as he kept reporters waiting for hours without attending to them.

However, a source in his office explained that the command had to obtain clearance from Abuja and liaise with other relevant security agencies, like the State Security Service (SSS), Police and Army before speaking to the press.

"We are yet to ascertain whether they are Gaddafi's fighters but we know they are Nigerians from Libya. They came in through Niger-Nigeria border. As I am talking with you now, another set are at the Kaduna toll gate coming.

"What we want to do now is to keep them in our custody and await directives from government on the way forward. We don't have money; certainly, the state will cater for them until further directives.

"Right now, high level security meeting is going on at the government house and our zonal comptroller has gone there."

One of the victims, who pleaded anonymity, claimed they were wandering in the desert for the past three weeks before they were apprehended by Immigration officials at the Niger-Nigerian border.

"We left Libya about two weeks ago wandering in the desert before our arrest and subsequent conveyance here (Kaduna) from the Niger-Nigeria border," he said.

They have however been taken to Abuja.

This Day

Video - Nigerians mistaken by Libyan rebels to be mercenaries for Pro-Ghadafi forces