A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
New UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday announced Nigeria's Environment minister, Amina Mohammed as his Deputy Secretary-General.
Guterres made the announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr Stephane Dujarric.
The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, reports that Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN.
"I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.
"I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.
"I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.
"These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity," Guterres said. Amina Mohammed Mohammed, the current Nigeria's Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.
She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.
She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.
She is also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
She is also the UN Secretary-General's Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women's Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.
Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.
Guterres had hinted on Monday after he took the oath of office that gender parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.
"I think that one very important element of the agenda would be to give a clear signal that gender parity is a must and so in the appointments I will be making.
"And the first ones would be announced soon. You'll see that gender parity will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN and it will have to be respected by all."
"This is a very ambitious agenda, an agenda that must be for both woman and man, and that is why parity is so important in our reform perspectives.
"That is also why the empowerment of women is so important in everything the UN will be doing around the world," the incoming UN scribe said.
Guterres, succeeds outgoing secretary-general Ban, who bows out on Dec. 31, 2016 after a decade of two terms, while the new secretary-general assumes office on Jan. 1, 2017, for the next five years.A Edited by Idahosa Asowata
After winning the 'Best of Innovations' awards at the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2016, LG Electronics said that its human-centric innovative designs will cause the brand to be preferred by customers come 2017.
According to the company, the 4K HDR enabled OLED TV; Twin Wash; Door-in-Door refrigerator; Hybrid Air Purifier; Turbo Steam dish washer are among a wide range of products carefully crafted to meet the needs of consumers all the time.
Head of Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Rajesh Agnihotri said: "LG has built a reputation for excellence, with leading premium products from a variety of different business units. The recently released LG Signature collection exemplifies LG's commitment to creating stylish, sophisticated products that seamlessly blend into any setting while performing at the highest levels. He stated further "We are more than ever committed to satisfying our teeming consumers with state of the art innovative technological designs in all our products, interestingly the best is yet to come from LG."
LG Signature OLED TV features the company's unique picture-on-Glass design, which boasts of an ultra-thin 2.57mm OLED panel with a translucent glass back and forward-facing sound bar speaker system. The LG Signature Air Purifier allows the cleaning process to be a visual experience with its innovative transparent panel. Equipped with an advanced Aqua-Cyclone feature, this air purifier harnesses the power of water to filter out harmful chemicals and contaminants while quickly bringing the room to comfortable humidity levels.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of "forum shopping and a wilful and brazen abuse of court process by obtaining a de-freezing order from the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, a court of coordinate jurisdiction with the Federal High Court, Lagos, instead of going on appeal before a higher court in the hierarchy of courts."
In a statement today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization said that, "What Mr Fayose has done is not only playing politics with judicial power but also squandering scarce judicial resources."
The statement reads in part: "Mr Fayose can't dangle the order obtained from Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti as the 'talisman' to set aside an earlier order by Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, as it is clear that they are courts of coordinate jurisdiction."Fayose at Zenith bank in Ado Ekiti where he withdrew N5M form his account.
"SERAP believes that Mr Fayose cannot use the order by Justice Taiwo to ward off the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out investigation on allegations of corruption and money laundering against him, as this is not at all covered by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on immunity. The case of Uwazuruike vs. Attorney General of the Federation (2008) 10 NWLR makes it clear that the order of a court of coordinate jurisdiction like that of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti cannot affect the proceedings before the Federal High Court, Lagos."
"The persistent attempts by politicians to engage in forum shopping by seeking the most favourable order to set aside an earlier order of a court of coordinate jurisdiction amount to a wilful abuse of court process. Such practices if not stopped will have grave consequences for the rule of law and the integrity of the judiciary in the country."
"Allowing the politicians to abuse the process of court and play politics with the judiciary tends to cash the judiciary in an unfavourable light, thus leaving judges at the mercy of the political class. SERAP therefore advises the National Judicial Council (NJC) not to allow politicians to continue to use judges to grant conflicting orders only for the politicians to turn around to accuse judges of corruption. We urge the NJC to urgently address the problem of forum shopping and restore sanity to the judicial process and public confidence in the judiciary by considering review of relevant rules and practice directive."
If you've ever watched a Hollywood crime fighting movie, it only makes sense that you'd be enamored about the level of technology that goes into reporting incidents to law enforcement and investigating perpetrators. You probably wondered: "When will this sort of thing come to Nigeria?"
If the developers of Hawk Eye live up to their promise, then the time for that is now.
Recently launched by Web Asset Ltd, a Lagos based technology company, Hawk Eye is a mobile application that uses an innovative technology to checkmate crime in Nigeria.
Speaking during the launch at Abuja, Chairman Web Asset Ltd, Mr. Kayode Aladesuyi, said that, beyond reporting utility theft for the energy sector, the app had been developed with the potential to work with different security agencies and institutions in the country and deal with crime at all levels from kidnapping, vandalism, civil unrest, terrorism, extortion.
He said: "We are always looking for better and more contemporary ways of safeguarding lives and private properties, including public utilities. The app which is a niche crime reporting app, will address the infrastructural gap in the area of emergency response system through internet-enabled mobile phones. The app also provides an alternative, fast and easy way of tackling security issues with exposure to lesser risks.
"Hawk Eye enables officers in the field to receive dispatched incidents and option to file reports in real-time even while in remote locations. Through its unique offering of Global Announcement feature, the app allows communication with different communities on national emergencies, most wanted persons, among other emergencies. In addition, Hawk Eye provides a FindMe feature for users to notify Rapid Response units or family members in the event of kidnapping incidents," he said.
On his part, "Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ernest Mupwaya, said, "Energy theft is crippling the revenues of electricity distribution companies and impacting negatively on growth."
He explained that the distance and communication gaps were hindrances to checking criminal activities in the sector.
Gospel artistes in Lagos took time out, Monday, to share the love and joy of the season with the less privileged in a program tagged: Love at Christmas. The artistes, under the auspices of Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria (FOGMMON) arrived Bethesda Home for the Blind, Surulere, Lagos in a convoy with gifts and carols.
Addressing the inmates while handing over gift items, Chairman of the Lagos artistes body, Aity Dennis said she was glad they were able to spend time with the Home as caring for the less privileged is one of the core tenets of the Christianity. It was a lively and unforgettable music and inspiration session as the inmates of the Home who call themselves Bethesda Home for the Blessed and the artistes did a collabo in songs of praises.
*FOGMMON members
The visiting artistes were amazed at the joy the inmates exuded in spite of their challenging condition. One of the artistes, Juli Makpo enthused: “We are all still speechless and dumbfounded .We thought we wanted to put a smile on their faces, but they were the ones who ended up putting smiles and joy in our faces. The joy they express and their thankfulness to God is so contagious. I had a paradigm shift. What we gave them is not compared to what we took away from them and the lessons linger on. I am greatly touched.’"
The inmates who enjoyed a dance session led by KSB also appealed for support from Lagos artistes to enable them further their education as well as the opportunity to feature in the concerts held by the artistes. Spokesman for the artistes, Ahide Adum assured that their request will be considered. The inmates and management of the Home expressed their appreciation to the artistes for the gesture and prayed for God’s blessings on them.
In what seems to be an endless celebration of a life well spent, Ikoyi Club 1938 hosted King Sunny Ade last Friday at an all-night event organized to celebrate the Juju Maestro. The event, which was put together to celebrate the legendary musician at 70 had in attendance the King of music himself, King Sunny Ade, the Club Chairman, Major General Mufutau Balogun (Rtd.), the Vice Chairman of the Club, Mr. Olusola Adeosun, the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Tokunbo Ogundipe, other members of the General Committee, Past Committee members and the other esteemed members of the Club.
King Sunny Ade
While giving his welcome address, entertainment Chairman of the club, Mr. Toyin Leo-Olagbaiye, appreciated King Sunny Ade for honoring the Club's invitation and making out time for the event despite his busy schedule.
In his usual fashion, KSA serenaded members of the Club with thrilling music. He thanked the management, organizing committee and members of Ikoyi Club 1938 for the continuous love and support they have shown to him. Meanwhile, the club has outlined some eventful activities to commemorate the festive period and mark the end of the year. They include Club 1938 Rave at the Table Tennis Hall, Children's Christmas Party among others.
The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not change its registered name for a mega party, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said.
Gana, who chairs the PDP Strategic Review and Inter-party Affairs Committee, made statement on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen during a meeting of the committee.
Asked for his comment on the recommendations of the committee on the issue of mega party, Gana said that the party's relationship with other political parties would be based on principle and cleared guidelines.
He said: "on the progress of the alliance, I will not like to give details of what is being recommended, but the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward.
"There are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee's recommendations will be passed on to the party leadership. It will not be wise to disclose the details before we submit the report.
"On the issue of mega party, we are not yet aware of PDP involvement, but all we can say is that the party wants to relate with lovers of democracy in all the parties.
"We have a syndicate committee working on this chaired by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu.
"They are to give us the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that are willing to join us.
"Our engagement will be based on principle and cleared guidelines.
"PDP is the only party that can be found in every ward, it is the only party that has not changed its name, and we are not going to change the name of our party.''
Gana said that the committee, which was broken into 11 syndicates, would come up with recommendations that would help to re-position and strengthen the party.
He called on lovers of democracy in the country to rise up against what he described as `degeneration of democratic and electoral process gained during PDP administration.'
"Democracy in Nigeria is under threat and we must rise and defend democracy, because that is the best form of government for humanity now.
"This is not the age for military rule or autocracy.
"In democracy, there must be freedom of voters to choose freely, peacefully, in a free and fair election that is credible,'' he said.
He said that the PDP condemned in strong terms the current degeneration of electoral process with violence being brought into political arena as witnessed in Rivers.
Gana said that the committee would reconvene in the middle of January 2017 to continue on its deliberations.
The committee, inaugurated on Nov. 8 by Makarfi was given three months to submit its report.
Port Harcourt – Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday led thousands of supporters to stage a protest over alleged police high handedness in the just concluded legislative re-run election.
The protesters also accused the police of killing PDP members and demanded the transfer of two policemen alleged to be masterminds of the police attacks.
The protest which was peaceful started from Government House to Azikiwe street and Bank Road before terminating at the Police command headquarters on Moscow road in the city centre.
Addressing the police, Wike told the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Cyril Okoro that people of the state were fed up with alleged killings by some policemen and other security operatives.
"On behalf of the Rivers Government and good people of the state, we have to let the police know that enough is enough.
"We demand that Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Steven Hasso and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Akin Fakorede be posted out of the state.
"We have come here peacefully to communicate this demand and urge that this request is communicated to Police headquarters in Abuja because I (Wike) have written repeatedly (to IGP).
"Please, I don't want people to die anymore and definitely do not want corrupt senior police officers posted to Rivers state," he said.
Wike said the police had refused to sanction the two policemen in spite alleged video footage which purported the duo and other security operatives attempting to snatch results of the Rivers East Senatorial District.
The governor described as unfortunate and worrisome a situation where policemen who are supposed to be non-partisan paraded themselves as politicians in uniform.
According to him, the bias security operatives must be posted out of the state.
"If they don't leave the state, then we will do all we can to ensure that they leave this state because they have killed innocent people," the governor claimed.
In his response, Mr Cyril Okoro, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Rivers assured Wike that the command will deliver the message to the Inspector General Police for possible action.
Some senior government officials who participated in the protest included Rivers Deputy Gov. Ipalibo Banigo; House Speaker, Dabo Adams, ex-Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo and former Deputy Gov. Tele Ikuru.
Others include PDP state Chairman, Felix Obuah, former United Bank of Africa Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra and commissioners and state legislators.
DearBunmi, My boyfriend and I broke up last year and I was heartbroken. He was my childhood sweetheart and we were together for four years. I'm not sure if I'm really over him though I know there is no way for us getting together again.
At 24, I have a lot of life ahead of me and I believe there's a man out for me. As a matter of fact, I may have met him already. He is someone I've known for years and he too had just come out of a relationship.
What started as a friendship has recently turned into something else. A couple of weekends ago, we went on a date and ended up in my place. One thing led to another and we had a really steamy session. We agreed we wouldn't go all the way, but we were virtually naked.
Before that night, I'd only seen one other penis in my life – and this one was nothing like the first one! How can I describe it? The bit on the end was a lot bigger and wider than the stem. Is that normal?
It might be a silly question but would this affect his ability to have sex? Or to have babies? Since I saw it, I've been making excuses to avoid a repeat viewing.
I really like this guy, but if his weird willy is going to be a problem, I need to end it now. Laura, by e-mail.
Dear Laura, Well done for believing there is a way forward after the break-up of your relationship. That's a very healthy attitude.
As for the other thing … you really need to get out more! Like boobs and lady bits, willies come in all shapes and sizes and nothing you've told me makes me think there is anything out of the ordinary here. Your guy is as normal as they come – so stop worrying and start having fun!
The Plateau Government has organised a free medical check for older persons across the 17 local government areas of the state, an official has said. The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, said this on Thursday in Jos. She said that this was part of government efforts to alleviate the financial burden of medical services and ensure their wellbeing.
According to her, 85 elders were also presented with welfare packages which include blankets, provisions and other items.
"The free medical check is also part of the State activities to mark the Day of the Older Persons celebrated annually on Oct. 1.
"With the theme 'take a stand against ageism' to ensure their well being and help them age gracefully''.
She said the ministry had continued to raise awareness on various issues that affect the elderly through advocacy to promote the rights and welfare of the disadvantage and vulnerable sectors.
Gurumyen expressed concern that majority of the elders were not receiving the emotional care they require.
She said that this was because family members and friends do not help them out in some cases leading to their untimely deaths and health challenges.
Earlier, Mrs Regina Lalong, Wife of the state governor, said she recently conducted free medical services in IDP camps and donated food and household items worth N8 million for their wellbeing.
Mrs Lalong, represented by Mrs Felicia Yakzun, Senior Special Assistant on Women Affairs to the governor, said the plight of vulnerable persons had always being her priority.
She appealed to the society to always create enabling environment for them to age gracefully.
Dr Martin Azzuwut, Director Medical Services, state Ministry of Health, said that the welfare of the aged was determined by both their physical and social environment.
" Determinants of the wellbeing of the aged include both the physical and social environment they live in.
"The social relations in the families and communities determines their wellbeing,
"Also when you have noise pollution, smoke and gutter, it triggers health challenges and make them more vulnerable to disease, sanitation is very important,'' he said.
He cautioned the elderly against living sedentary lifestyle, saying it makes them more susceptible to cardio vascular diseases.
He said there should be a law against ageism where multi-sectoral action is taken to cater for the old and penalise defaulters.
The reports that free medical test conducted includes, sugar level, hepatitis, malaria parasite, blood pressure and urinalysis.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the moment of recession calls for prudent resource management and patriotic re-dedication to the nation.
Buhari made this known at the commissioning ceremony of Nigerian Naval Ships; Unity, Karaduwa and Tugboat commander Edwin Ugwu at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday
Bellow is President Muhammadu’s speech
I am delighted to be in your midst today to witness the commissioning ceremony of Nigerian Navy Ships UNITY and KARADUWA as well as the Nigerian Navy Tugboat COMMANDER EDWIN UGWU, which are about to be added to the Nigerian Navy fleet. The event of today is significant for a number of reasons.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Realtions, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo during the President's Arrival at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
First, it is most fulfilling to note that our own engineers at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard, Lagos and the Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt are wholly responsible for the building of the Seaward Defence Boat, Nigerian Navy Ship KARADUWA and the Tugboat COMMANDER EDWIN UGWU, respectively. It is also worth noting that NNS UNITY, which is Nigeria's newest warship, is the second of such acquisitions from the Peoples' Republic of China and is a product of Nigeria's growing relationship with China.
I take this opportunity to pay tribute to this friendship, especially in acknowledgement of the mutually helpful military cooperation, of which the Nigerian Navy has been a major beneficiary. I recall with profound appreciation the gesture of the Chinese Government in donating an offshore patrol boat to the Navy at the time of taking delivery of the sister ship of Nigerian Navy Unity last year.
Hence, I cannot but commend the business dependability of China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company Limited, the builders of these Offshore Patrol Vessels for seeing to a conclusive and successful execution of the contracts. In the same vein, I enjoin their local partners to share in this commendation for their efforts at local facilitation.
The Nigerian Navy has shown great foresight in nurturing the vision for this ship and her sister ship. It is even more heartwarming that you have not confined your efforts to having recourse to foreign sources alone, but have braced up to take your destiny in your own hands by embarking on aggressive local complement provision to assemble your fleet. The Federal Government expects no less from you as looking inwards is the way to go amidst a uniquely challenging mix of recession and rising acute security concerns.
The prevailing situation is not new given the intimate connections between economic prosperity and security. For a littoral state with huge dependence on her offshore resources, maritime security is vital to the nation's well-being.
Today you are afforded increased defence capacity. This empowerment also enhances your role as instruments of diplomacy and leadership in the region and credible standing on the global stage.
The Navy's impressive strides in the area of continued fight against maritime security threats like piracy, oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism are well known.
As a truly national service, I commend your involvement and contribution in the on-going fight against insurgency in the North East.
The Navy is also envisaged to play a critical role in upcoming continental programmes such as the development of sustainable blue economy for Africa adopted and signed by the African Union in October 2016. The commissioning of these platforms is to embolden you to sustain and expand your capacity and remit.
The Federal Government will continue to provide your requirements within the limits of our resources. Our administration is unwavering in prioritizing the commitment, readiness and willingness towards strengthening the Navy through improved training, provision of modern equipment, infrastructure and attention to welfare.
I hasten however to remind you that we are at a critical period when the country faces dwindling revenues. The moment therefore calls for prudent resource management and patriotic re-dedication. I am accordingly encouraged by the steps you have taken so far.
The entrenchment of new policy directives codified in such functional documents as the 2011 – 2020 Transformation Plan, Five Year Quick Impact Strategic Plan and the Total Spectrum Strategy are credible guidelines for improved efficiency. I urge you to keep it up.
Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, once again I thank you for making this event a memorable one. My gratitude goes to all the friends of Nigeria and the Nigerian Navy for making it a success. I congratulate the leadership of Nigerian Navy, its officers, men and civilian staff for their dedication and patriotism.
Thank you, God bless you and like it is said in Navy parlance "Onward Together" and wishing you the very best.
The U.S. President-elect Donald Trump questioned on Thursday why the White House did not act more quickly on evidence of Russian hacking in the presidential election.
According to the report, Russian President Vladimir Putin himself was personally involved in the operation.
"If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?'' Trump asked on Twitter.
U.S. intelligence officials have a "high level of confidence'' that Putin was involved in directing how material acquired by hackers was leaked, NBC News reported, citing unnamed officials with access to the information.
Russian hackers accessed the email of the Democratic National Committee and top party officials, including Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta.
The emails were published by WikiLeaks in the months leading up to the November elections.
U.S. intelligence officials in October pinned the hacking on the Russian government and said the move was intended to interfere with the U.S. election.
Media reports this month said the CIA has concluded that Russians intended to help Trump win the election.
The White House has defended its decision not to take more forceful action as it sought to avoid the appearance of using the intelligence for its own political purposes.
In the Borno, northern Nigerian town of Bama the streets are eerily quiet. Houses lie empty, riddled with bullet holes, and symbols of the jihadist group Boko Haram are painted on the walls.
Bama, once the militants' stronghold, was liberated from the Islamist fighters by the Nigerian army in March 2015, but is only reached safely by helicopter – the roads still too dangerous because of the risk of ambush by the insurgents.
Despite its ghostly atmosphere and violent history, the town is now a safe haven for around 10,000 people, among more than two million in Nigeria who have fled areas held by Boko Haram.
Two years ago, when militants seized Bama and rounded up all the men, 55-year-old Malam Wana hid in his house for a month, surviving on grain and sending his wife out to collect water.
When Wana was eventually discovered by Boko Haram fighters, they took him to the yard of Bama prison, crowded with men.
"They spared the older men, but took the others out of the prison and shot them all," said Wana, who was released due to his elderly appearance before fleeing to a nearby village.
Since the town's liberation, Wana has lived in Bama's camp for those uprooted by the conflict. The walled compound, full of makeshift shelters covered by tarpaulins bearing the names of aid groups, is home to 10,000 people who have fled fighting.
Some like Wana are from Bama itself – forbidden from leaving the confines of the camp as the town has been designated a military security zone. Most camp dwellers are from surrounding villages, many of which are still controlled by insurgents.
Those who have reached Bama are the lucky ones. Abdi Farah, an official at the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) in Maiduguri told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that some areas still controlled by Boko Haram are out of the reach of aid agencies.
In many areas north of Bama, people are suffering "famine-like conditions" and millions are in need of urgent food aid in order to survive, according to several United Nations agencies.
NEW CHALLENGES
Although they feel safer in Bama, the thousands displaced by conflict face a new set of problems on arrival. Kelu, 20, had just been dropped off by pick-up truck with her two infant sons.
"I left my village because of fear," she said. "(Boko Haram) used to come to the village and would take all of our possessions, everything, even our shoes. Now I have nothing,"
Security is still a concern, even in Bama. The prison where Wana was taken is now used as a processing centre by the army where arrivals are screened before being allowed into the camp.
"They call people from our village (who already live in the camp) and ask them if we are Boko Haram. If they say yes then you will be taken to a prison in Maiduguri," Kelu added.
The camp provides counselling and medication to treat mental illnesses. The seven-year-old insurgency aimed at creating an Islamist caliphate – in which thousands have been killed and women abducted and raped – has left psychological scars on many.
"Fifty percent of (those in the camp) have depression. The family break-up is part of it. You see families with no father, the breadwinner. Some are orphans and widows," said a psychiatric nurse at the camp who did not want to give his name.
Once new arrivals reach Bama most have no way of earning a living and farming is impossible due to security concerns and restricted movement outside the camp.
A livelihood programme run by the camp manager, Ali Musudi, employs people in carpentry. Some of the women work in the school which also helps train them to become teachers, but most are idle and completely reliant on food handouts from the WFP.
BACK TO SCHOOL
In the centre of the camp children play on slides and swings built especially for them. The camp school is a cluster of five tents. "How many oranges and bananas?" shout the pupils in unison, reciting dictations from their English teacher.
For some of the students learning English, Arabic and social studies, this is their first taste of schooling in the rural state, where conflict has crippled education.
Yet this is not the case for all. Aba Modi, 12, attended one of Boko Haram's Islamic schools, or madrasas, when he lived in Banki, a town under the militants' control for two years.
"They only taught the Koran at our school. All day, we were just memorising the Koran," Modi said.
Occasionally the pupils would be taken out of class to learn to shoot a weapon or how to crawl under fire. Modi eventually fled Banki with his brother in the middle of the night.
"Life is completely different now. I enjoy coming to school," he said. "Some of the things they [Boko Haram] taught are correct. Being taught about the Koran is right, but there is nothing in the Koran that says you should hurt people or take their possessions."
Modi said most of his friends did not believe the ultra-hardline Islamist teachings either, but some still joined Boko Haram. "They offered them money or even a motorcycle," he said.
FOOD AID
Around 4.7 million people are in need of emergency food aid in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, said a recent report by the U.S.-based Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).
Some 400,000 children are at risk from famine in the three states, 75,000 of whom could die from hunger within months, the U.N. children's agency (UNICEF) said in September.
Yet the WFP, which provides food in the camp, only began operations in oil-rich Nigeria in March this year.
In 2017, it hopes to reach 1.8 million people in need of food aid, said WFP's Nigeria country director Sory Ouane.
"If we do not get funding we might face a humanitarian catastrophe in the area. The biggest challenge is access and security and we need funding to scale up our assistance," he said by phone from Abuja.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) earlier this month doubled its humanitarian funding appeal for northeast Nigeria to $1 billion in 2017.
For now, the displaced, like Malam Wana, are relieved to be living in relative safety, with food aid provided by WFP.
"When I first came to the camp the situation was terrible. Now we have three meals a day. I have two wives and nine children and they are all healthy," he said.
Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, the wife of Abia governor, on Thursday urged women in Abia to be self-reliant in order to be active contributors to nation building.
Ikpeazu said this in Umuahia while distributing empowerment items during the 2016 Abia Family Enhancement Summit.
She stressed the need for women to become self-reliant in order to enhance the socio-economic growth of the state and the nation at large.
Nkechi Ikpeazu
Ikpeazu expressed the hope that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the training and empowerment kits they had received.
In his lecture on financial management, Mr Robby Akujuobi, a resource person, said that every entrepreneur ought to separate personal and business finances in order to record success.
"When it comes to business, make sure you negotiate everything; plan a regular review of your suppliers and service providers to save cost and ensure your pricing is real," Akujuobi said.
Dr Edith Nwosu, another resource person who spoke on girl-child education, said that Nigerian women ought to take their rightful position in domestic and global affairs.
"The fact remains that sustainable development in Nigeria may not be possible if women remained uneducated, discriminated and disenfranchised," Nwosu said.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the fuel subsidy removal has removed a burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly from the Federal Government.
Osinbajo said this in Abuja on Thursday at the 2016 presentation of Scorecard of the Ministry of a Petroleum Resources and Agreements Signing ceremony for Joint Venture Cash Calls (JVC) exit.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, Osinbajo said that $15 billion would be injected into the sector.
"I am pleased to be the special guest of honour at the agreements signing ceremony for Joint Venture Cash Call exit and the announcement of $15 billion investments to be done in the sector.
"The oil and gas sector remains very critical to the stability and growth of our economy as it accounts for about 90 per cent of earnings.
"Amongst others, the downstream sector has been deregulated with the elimination of petroleum subsidy.
"This policy has removed from government, a burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly," he said.
The vice-president said that government had taken steps to raise the domestic refining capacity for petroleum products by repairing the existing refineries.
"We have also licensed modular refineries and support the development of private refineries one of which is a 650,000 barrel per day capacity,'' he said.
According to him, one of the refineries is nearing completion, adding that when completed, it will restore ''our pipeline to facilitate crude and products transportation."
He said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved new measures aimed at eliminating the burden of JVC and easing future payments in the upstream sector.
Osinbajo commended the World Bank on the global initiative to secure the environment by ending and commercialising gas flares.
"It will boost the discharge of international obligations by Nigeria on climate change and contribute to our national power generation capacity".
He urged other ministries to come up with score cards of their performances in the last year.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said that when he took over the leadership of the ministry, oil sector was losing N1.2 trillion every year and fuel scarcity was common.
"Today, we have a situation where refined petroleum consumption has gone down from an all-time high of 40 million litres a day to about 28 million litres a day.
"On cash call, the issue was how long the upstream was going to continue to bleed as investments were drying up and activities grinding to a halt.
"For the first time in 2017, you are going to see the Ministry driving an effort with the Department of Petroleum Resources to find leakage areas, essential to cover the gap in the 2017 budget.
"In the Niger Delta, we have brought the all-time low production of 1.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) to 1.8mbpd but for some minor incidents it would be closer to 2.1mbpd or 2.2mbpd.
"We set a zero militancy target in 2017 and we want anything that needs to be done should be done,'' he said.
On Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), he said that he was thrust into the chairmanship of the organisation immediately he was appointed.
He added that he said he had to convince four countries to serve as engine rooms of finding solutions and not bringing the national problems to OPEC.
In her address of welcome, Dr Jamila Shua'ra, said that "the year started with refineries producing below capacity, high demand for petroleum products and insufficient supplies at depots, forex shortages.
"However, President Muhammadu Buhari believed in our team and our collective ability to find solutions.
"Although, it is not Uhuru yet, there are many more rivers to cross. As we speak, aviation fuel remains a challenge.
"We are yet to pick maximum capacity in our refineries and there is need for more investors to fund massive infrastructural development in the sector".
Awards were presented to an outstanding staff each from subsidiaries of the Ministry.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday visited the Ado Ekiti branch of Zenith Bank were he withdraw some money from his accounts.
This followed the Federal High Court judgment which ordered the bank to immediately unfreeze the governor’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has ordered that Governor Ayodele Fayose's accounts in Zenith Bank be defrozen with immediate effect.
Fayose personal accounts and those of some of his associates were frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. in June, this year.
In his judgment, Justice Taiwo Taiwo described the EFCC action as illegal, wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday faulted the order by a Federal High Court asking it to defreeze the bank accounts of Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti.
The Lagos headquarters of U.S. oil major, ExxonMobil has been shut, following a standoff with blue-collar oil unions over the sacking of 150 workers. Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) besieged the office of the oil giant, protesting the sacking of Nigerian workers.
The standoff is coming on the heels of a similar development on Wednesday in Upkenekang Community in Akwa Ibom, where angry youths disrupting the operations of the company over the sacking of contract workers from the area.
The protesters, numbering over 1,000, barricaded entry points to the company with boats, coffins, leaves and placards, having different inscriptions.
The Chairman of the ExxonMobil Branch of PENGASAN, Mr Paul Eboigbe, confirmed the closure of the company's Lagos office.
He told newsmen that the management of the company went ahead to issue sack letters to worker, while negotiations were still going on.
He said the union had to resist the action of the management and went ahead to shut down the Exxonmobil headquarters.
Eboigbe directed the company's workers at offshore locations to shut down rigs.
The unionist said the company's management disregarded laid down procedures and humiliated workers by serving them sack letters when all avenues to achieve a peaceful resolution were yet to be explored.
The South-West Branch Chairman of PENGASSAN, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said that picketing of ExxonMobil office was also being carried out by members of the union.
Korodo noted that the picketing was as a result of the anti-labour practices of the company.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to take up the anti-labour practices of International Oil Companies (IOCs), operating in Nigeria.
Korodo disclosed that the national body of the union had said that its members would embark on strike after the New Year holidays, if nothing was done to resolve the situation.
"This is just the beginning of our strike against injustice against our members working with IOCs.
"Our members now wear red clothes and put leaves on their trucks to show the injustice by these people.
"We have resolved to commence strike next year if government does not find a solution to the exploitation by IOCs," he said.
The Manager, Media and Communications of ExxonMobil, Mr Oge Udeagha, said the company was always evaluating its operations.
"We invest for the long-term and focus on maintaining a stable, well-developed workforce and are committed to treating our employees with respect in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
"This is a limited programme that will impact a relatively small fraction of employees,'' he said of the disengaged workers.
"Special benefits specifically introduced for this purpose will be paid to affected employees, consistent with existing labour agreements.
"The company is also arranging special programme to support the transition from the company for those affected.
"We respect the rights of our workforce and will continue to engage with them to resolve this situation,'' Udeagha said.
ABUJA-Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the current administration under President Muhammadu Buhari is not responsible fot the current economic woes facing the country.
This was even as the 36 state governors have agreed to cut down the size of their convoys, excessive travels amongst others to fight recession.
These were the fallout of Thursday’s National Economic Council, NEC meeting held at the presidential Villa, Abuja
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the fuel subsidy removal has removed a burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly from the Federal Government.
Osinbajo said this in Abuja on Thursday at the 2016 presentation of Scorecard of the Ministry of a Petroleum Resources and Agreements Signing ceremony for Joint Venture Cash Calls (JVC) exit.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, Osinbajo said that $15 billion would be injected into the sector.
"I am pleased to be the special guest of honour at the agreements signing ceremony for Joint Venture Cash Call exit and the announcement of $15 billion investments to be done in the sector.
"The oil and gas sector remains very critical to the stability and growth of our economy as it accounts for about 90 per cent of earnings.
"Amongst others, the downstream sector has been deregulated with the elimination of petroleum subsidy.
"This policy has removed from government, a burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly," he said.
The vice-president said that government had taken steps to raise the domestic refining capacity for petroleum products by repairing the existing refineries.
"We have also licensed modular refineries and support the development of private refineries one of which is a 650,000 barrel per day capacity,'' he said.
Osinbajo
According to him, one of the refineries is nearing completion, adding that when completed, it will restore ''our pipeline to facilitate crude and products transportation."
He said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved new measures aimed at eliminating the burden of JVC and easing future payments in the upstream sector.
Osinbajo commended the World Bank on the global initiative to secure the environment by ending and commercialising gas flares.
"It will boost the discharge of international obligations by Nigeria on climate change and contribute to our national power generation capacity".
He urged other ministries to come up with score cards of their performances in the last year.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said that when he took over the leadership of the ministry, oil sector was losing N1.2 trillion every year and fuel scarcity was common.
"Today, we have a situation where refined petroleum consumption has gone down from an all-time high of 40 million litres a day to about 28 million litres a day.
"On cash call, the issue was how long the upstream was going to continue to bleed as investments were drying up and activities grinding to a halt.
"For the first time in 2017, you are going to see the Ministry driving an effort with the Department of Petroleum Resources to find leakage areas, essential to cover the gap in the 2017 budget.
"In the Niger Delta, we have brought the all-time low production of 1.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) to 1.8mbpd but for some minor incidents it would be closer to 2.1mbpd or 2.2mbpd.
"We set a zero militancy target in 2017 and we want anything that needs to be done should be done,'' he said.
On Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), he said that he was thrust into the chairmanship of the organisation immediately he was appointed.
He added that he said he had to convince four countries to serve as engine rooms of finding solutions and not bringing the national problems to OPEC.
In her address of welcome, Dr Jamila Shua'ra, said that "the year started with refineries producing below capacity, high demand for petroleum products and insufficient supplies at depots, forex shortages.
"However, President Muhammadu Buhari believed in our team and our collective ability to find solutions.
"Although, it is not Uhuru yet, there are many more rivers to cross. As we speak, aviation fuel remains a challenge.
"We are yet to pick maximum capacity in our refineries and there is need for more investors to fund massive infrastructural development in the sector".
Awards were presented to an outstanding staff each from subsidiaries of the Ministry.
President Muhammadu Buhari was in Lagos today Thursady for the commissioning ceremony of Nigerian Naval Ships; Unity, Karaduwa and Tugboat commander Edwin Ugwu at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd left); Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas (left); Special Boat Services Commander, Commodore Rick Michaels (3rd right) and Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Abayomi Olonishakin (right) during the commissioning of the newly acquired indigenous Built Ship and Two Boats of The Nigerian Navy at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, DecemberPresident Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas during the unveiling of the newly acquired indigenous Built Ship and Two Boats of The Nigerian Navy at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, DecemberPresident Muhammadu Buhari (2nd left); Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mohammed Dan Ali, rtd. (left) and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas (left); during the commissioning of the newly acquired indigenous Built Ship and Two Boats of The Nigerian Navy at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, December 15, 2016.President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Realtions, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo and Commanding Officer, 435 Base Srvice Group, NAF Ikeja, Air Commodore Paul Masiyer during the President's Arrival at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, December 15, 2016.President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Realtions, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo during the President's Arrival at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
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