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
The value of Bitcoin surged above $1,000 on Monday as the digital unit continues a dizzying rise that made it the best-performing currency of 2016.
Its value has more than doubled in the last year and it was trading at around $1,024 in afternoon European trading on Monday, after breaking through the $1,000 mark on Sunday.
It is now within reach of its historic high of more than $1,200 reached in 2013.
Some analysts believe the rise in Bitcoin is due to some investors treating it as a safe-haven, like gold, at a time of global uncertainty.
Others believe buying is being driven by speculative demand, with investors anticipating future rises and creating an unsustainable bubble.
Bitcoin was launched in 2009 as a bit of encrypted software written by someone using the Japanese-sounding name Satoshi Nakamoto.
Earlier this year secretive Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright said that he was the creator, but some have raised doubts over his claim.
Supply of Bitcoin is limited and it trades in cyberspace. As well as being an investment for some, it is also used for illicit transactions beyond the reach of law enforcement for drugs or arms on the internet.
Its value has fluctuated wildly since its creation, with news of a major Bitcoin theft by hackers in August sending its price plummeting by more than 20 percent.
Unlike traditional currencies such as the dollar or the euro, which require the sponsorship of a central bank, Bitcoin is decentralised.
Encrypted digital coins are created by supercomputers and then traded online or exchanged for goods and services by a network of users.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday said Nigeria had attained another high level safety rating which placed it amon the world leaders in aviation safety.
The NCAA made the announcement in a statement by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The statement stated that the country climbed to Level three State Safety Programme (SSP) Implementation Process, joining countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom and others in thr echelon.
"This categorisation is dependent on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which tracks the SSP implementation process of member-states via its Integrated Safety Trend Analysis and Reporting System (iSTARS).
"Member states in tandem, therefore, deploy this platform to undertake Gap Analysis, define their action plans and benchmark their progress.
"Only two member states-Australia and Sri Lanka- have achieved full implementation of the SSP according to ICAO records.
Nigeria is striving to achieve Level Four, which is 100 per cent by the end 0f 2017," it said.
According to the statement, the SSP process is inaugurated in member countries in compliance with the ICAO requirements as contained in Annex 19 on Safety Management.
The statement added that Nigeria's advanced level had put its SSP implementation process among states that defined an action plan for all non-implemented Gap questions.
It said in other words, Nigeria had completed its Gap Analysis, implemented 43.6 per cent of the required SSP tasks.
" In addition, the country has developed a detailed action plan for the accomplishment of the outstanding tasks with an established and approved timeline.
"In pursuant to this, Nigeria has commenced the implementation of the SSP processes and has achieved several milestones.
"These include the completion of the SSP Gap Analysis and the establishment of the Implementation Plan approved by the Director General-General (DG), NCAA.
"Other completed SSP tasks are the official authorisation of the DG, NCAA as the Accountable Executive of the SSP and the designation of the NCAA as the Placeholder Organisation of the SSP in Nigeria by the Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika."
It said the approval and publication of the State Safety Policy Statement, the Enforcement Policy in an SSP-SMS environment, including Nigeria's Voluntary and Confidential Reporting System, were among the tasks that have been concluded.
According to the statement, the ICAO Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) has recognised the relevance of establishing and maintaining fundamental safety oversight systems as a prerequisite to the full implementation of an SSP.
"Member-states with robust safety oversight system have been called upon to progress towards full implementation of SSP.
"An SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities aimed at improving aviation safety which will be monitored through Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) after such a state has achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) of over 60 per cent.
"It is required that states that have achieved EI levels of over 60 per cent should endeavour to fully implement SSP by 2019.
"Nigeria achieved an EI Level of 67.36 per cent during the immediate past ICAO USOAP Audit in March 2016 which is above world average of 63.54 per cent. "
It noted that with the achievement, the NCAA would continue to ensure that air transportation in Nigeria was seamless, safe and secure at all times.
It, therefore, urged airline operators to take advantage of the robust regulation and adhere to all safety regulations contained in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the central states of the country on Tuesday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Monday.
It said that the region would have day and night temperature of 28 to 36 degrees Celsius and 11 to 16 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience dust haze conditions with day and night temperatures of 32 to 34 degrees and 18 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, the northern states will experience dust haze with localised visibilities of one to two kilometers over Maiduguri, Damaturu, Jigawa, Kebbi and their environs.
"The region will have day and night temperatures of 26 to 30 degrees Celsius and 11 to 16 degrees Celsius respectively.
"Dust haze is expected to prevail across the country within the next 24 hours," NiMet predicted.
Lagos – A Lagos-based marriage counsellor, Mrs Ola Madari, on Monday advised youngsters who are due for marriage not to marry jealous spouses.
Madari, the coordinator of the Family Victory Marriage Counselling Home, said that a partner who possesses the said attribute may later become an abuser.
She said in an interview that eliminating the feelings of jealousy may be difficult after marriage.
"Jealousy is one of the greatest destroyer of relationships and marriages, and the reason is that it creates feelings of anger and frustration in the one who is being accused of infidelity.
"Jealousy is like poison and it already dwells in the blood; if one of the partners possesses it, there won't be trust.
"In case you are in a relationship and the man doesn't trust you or he does not believe in whatever you tell him, please flee from such a man.
"If you marry a jealous spouse, your marriage is bound to be in trouble because there will be feelings of frustration and worry.
"Maintaining a healthy marital relationship is like tending to a garden; it needs lots of attention, but a jealous spouse will not raise a healthy and happy crop," she said.
Madari also advised that marriage should be based on trust, not on fear, frustration or worry.
She, however, advised those who are married to jealous spouses to seek marriage therapists, who will counsel them on how to handle the issues. (NAN
Cambodian police on Monday said they are seeking three suspects, including one believed to be in Thailand, over an offensive photoshopped image online of the country’s king that placed him in a gay porn scene.
The image, which appeared on some Facebook accounts in both Cambodia and Thailand this week, is a rare public insult aimed at King Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch who is largely respected and deemed above the country’s political fray.
While insulting the king is technically illegal in Cambodia, it is rarely prosecuted and does not carry the notoriously stiff penalties seen in neighbouring Thailand where critics of the monarchy have seen decades-long jail sentences handed down. Norodom Sihamoni General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, confirmed an investigation had been launched.
“We have got orders to arrest them,” he told AFP. “If we don’t take action against them, more people might follow their act.”
He declined to specify which law the three suspects might have broken but said: “The king represents the whole nation and they are insulting the king, which is like they are insulting the whole nation.”
Two suspects were believed to be in Cambodia with the third thought to be in Thailand, he added, saying authorities would consider asking for help from Bangkok.
Article 445 of Cambodia’s criminal code punishes insulting the king with a fine or up to six months in jail.
“It’s certainly not as draconian as Thailand’s but the lese-majeste clause is there and has been used a few times in recent years,” said Andrea Giorgetta, from the International Federation of Human Rights.
Sihamoni ascended the throne in 2004 following the abdication of his father King Norodom Sihanouk.
Observers say he has ruled quietly as a constitutional monarch, fulfilling a symbolic role as head of state and, unlike his father, staying away from domestic politics.
Sihamoni speaks French, Czech and English after spending much of his adult life abroad pursuing a career in the arts — including establishing his own ballet company — before taking the throne.
No fewer than 114 youths are to get about 600 Hectares for crop farming in Ekiti State under the Agriculture Service Provider Programme.
The initiative is a collaboration between the State Government and the Agro Nigerian Ventures Limited in Ado Ekiti.
Under the ASPP, at least five graduates from each of the 16 Local Governments in the state had been trained in farming, especially crops.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, the Chairman of ANVL, Mathew Ajayi Aderiye, said the collaboration would improve food security in the nation and reduce unemployment among youths.
"We have just trained the 114 youths at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti. The programme has changed the thinking of these trainees towards farming. They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with crops association that wants to make use of their services once they get their power tiller machine.
"They have also signed an agreement with off takers – companies that want to buy their products at harvest – especially maize.
"A company has approached us for 800,000 tonnes of maize and they are looking for people to plant them. They offered the youths to plant two hectares of maize for them. The company will supply the seedlings; so Ekiti would soon become the food basket of the nation."
Aderiye appealed to the government to give more priorities to farming because Nigeria is blessed with good climate and potential to be among the world best food producers
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend expressed the readiness of his administration to upgrade the Songhai Model Farm in Avia-Igborosun, Badagry, with a pledge to transform the project and use it to boost the Agro Tourism and food security drive of the State Government.
The project, which is sitting on a massive 167 hectares of land with additional available land for other projects, was copied from Songhai in Republic of Benin under the Agric-Yes initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking during inspection of the project alongside top government officials, Governor Ambode said government will come up with strategies and policies to upgrade the farm and put it to optimal use with the view to keying it into the efforts of government to enhance food security, among other drives.
While briefing the Governor on the project, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agric, Dr Shakirudeen Olayiwola said the farm started in 2012 and it was copied from the Songhai model of farming which mainly are organic agriculture, zero waste agriculture and training.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left); Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (middle) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Shakirudeen Olayiwola (right) during the Governor's inspection of the Agric-YES (Songai Model Farm) at Avia-Igborosun in Badagry, Lagos, at the weekend.
Olayiwola said a lot of Nigerians usually go to Songhai for training, and that the development was one of the reasons why the State Government decided to establish one in Badagry to train Nigerians on modern techniques of farming.
He said: “We have a training centre, a demonstration centre and also a centre for Agro Tourism. “Here, we have been able to have a lot of facilities and our target is mostly existing famers who want more knowledge in the area of agriculture as well as youths who want to train in the area of agriculture and students of tertiary institutions. We are also bringing some of the old extinct crops.”
Responding, Governor Ambode said the reason for inspecting the project was first to appreciate the level of investment already committed to the farm by government and then see how to scale it up where necessary.
He assured that the State Government would explore the possibility of using the farm to train students of Agric in the tertiary institutions in the State to give them practical knowledge, adding that the idea behind the project must be well projected with the view to ensure viability of the farm.
He said: “If we have Department of Agriculture in our Polytechnic or our University, nothing is stopping us from linking their curriculum with this project so that there will be that interface between the young ones that we want to produce and there is nothing stopping the Ministry of Agric also from introducing some kind of Diploma programmes or a certificated course for farmers which we will now project nationally and then make this place to run year round.
“We want to upgrade and scale up this project where necessary and key it into our Agro Tourism drive and effort to ensure food security for our people,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor also directed the Ministries of Agric and Education to work together and see how to put the project to practical use and project it nationally commencing from 2017.
Pope Francis on Monday defended the Catholic Church’s much-vaunted “zero tolerance” approach to abuse, while admitting the ancient institution had so far lacked the courage to go all out on stopping paedophile priests.
The church “recognizes the sins of some of her members: the sufferings, the experiences and the pain of minors who were abused sexually by priests. It is a sin that shames us,” he said in a letter made public Monday.
“I would like us to renew our complete commitment to ensuring that these atrocities will no longer take place in our midst,” he added in the letter, addressed to the world’s bishops to mark the Massacre of the Innocents on December 28.
Pope Francis
“Let us find the courage needed to take all necessary measures” to protect children.
“In this area, let us adhere, clearly and faithfully, to ‘zero tolerance’,” he said.
A string of historic paedophilia cases in North America and Europe has unleashed widespread criticism of the Catholic hierarchy, including allegations that in some cases bishops were aware of sexual predators among the priesthood but failed to curb them.
Francis came to power in 2013 promising a crackdown on cover-ups and a zero tolerance approach to abuse itself, but victims’ groups have expressed discontent with his record on ridding the church of the taint of paedophilia.
In June, the pope announced that Catholic bishops guilty of negligence in child abuse cases can now be dismissed from office.
A “college of legal experts” — cardinals and bishops — was set up to help the pope arrive at a definitive decision in each case.
But a US group representing victims of paedophile priests accused the Vatican at the time of seeking to put a brake on efforts to stop abusers and bring them to justice by creating extra red tape.
A Lagos-based marriage counsellor, Mrs Ola Madari, on Monday advised youngsters who are due for marriage not to marry jealous spouses.
Madari, the coordinator of the Family Victory Marriage Counselling Home, said that a partner who possesses the said attribute may later become an abuser.
She disclosed in an interview that eliminating the feelings of jealousy may be difficult after marriage.
"Jealousy is one of the greatest destroyer of relationships and marriages, and the reason is that it creates feelings of anger and frustration in the one who is being accused of infidelity.
"Jealousy is like poison and it already dwells in the blood; if one of the partners possesses it, there won't be trust.
"In case you are in a relationship and the man doesn't trust you or he does not believe in whatever you tell him, please flee from such a man.
"If you marry a jealous spouse, your marriage is bound to be in trouble because there will be feelings of frustration and worry.
"Maintaining a healthy marital relationship is like tending to a garden; it needs lots of attention, but a jealous spouse will not raise a healthy and happy crop," she said.
Madari also advised that marriage should be based on trust, not on fear, frustration or worry.
She, however, advised those who are married to jealous spouses to seek marriage therapists, who will counsel them on how to handle the issues.
The President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has launched a contest to promote made in Nigeria products.
The Contest scheduled to run for three months is aimed at showcasing the process and raw materials used in producing such locally made goods.
In a statement personally signed by Saraki, he said that the contest would identify the good products that could be matched with investors and government agencies.
He said that such agencies or investors would drive the products to the extent that they compete favourably with any similar product being imported.
"Today, as promised, we kick-start the soft launch of the #MadeInNigeria Challenge.
"This campaign is organised to showcase everyday products that are used by Nigerians and produced by Nigerians locally that serves as an alternative to imported products.
"The next few weeks, we hope to identify products and ideas that can be matched with investors and government agencies.
Bukola Saraki
"To wrap up the Challenge, in March, we will be inviting some of the finalist to a Made In Nigeria Roundtable at the Senate.
"This Roundtable will allow us, legislators, Government Agencies, business owners, and everyday Nigerian consumers to review and update the report of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), which was held in 2016 to improve the ease of doing business in the country," he said.
Saraki added that the roundtable would also be used to get feedback on the Public Procurement Act passed by the Senate in 2016.
The amended Act mandates government agencies to give preference to local manufacturers in Procurement of goods and services.
He wished all the participants good luck and called on Nigerians to use the hashtag #MadeInNigeria in all your submitted videos.
To participate in the contest, participants are to shoot a video of between 45 seconds to 3 minutes showcasing their product or service that is an alternative to imported ones.
The manufacturer must utilise up to 70 per cent of locally sourced raw materials to qualify as a made in Nigeria goods or services.
The video has to state the registration status of the company, the number of people currently employed and the intervention you need from government to aid small businesses in Nigeria.
A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Tunde Braimoh on Monday urged residents of the state to renew hope in the country, show more support for the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration and look forward to better things in the New Year.
Braimoh, Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, spoke in an interview in Lagos.
"I congratulate the good and great people of Lagos State as we witness this New Year 2017. As a people, we need to renew our faith in our country and polity.
"There's no other place to call our own. Let us consciously bring a rebirth to bear in our orientation, norms and value systems.
"Let us shun greed, avarice, ostentation and corruption, which have been our bane as we evolved as a people in the comity of nations.
"We need more patience, perseverance and endurance to arrive the promise land. With courage, determination faith and candour, we shall build a country of our dreams," he said.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state
The lawmaker urged residents to continue to support the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to achieve greater feats in the New Year.
According to him, the governor needs greater support and cooperation from the populace to further deliver his electoral promises.
"No government can do it alone; for us in Lagos State to enjoy more dividends of democracy, the support of residents is highly imperative.
"I implore Lagosians especially to cooperate and collaborate with Gov. Ambode as he strives relentlessly, consistently, manifestly and persistently to make life more abundant for us.
" The governor deserves our prayers, support and encouragement," he said.
Another lawmaker, Mr Segun Olulade, representing APC-Epe II at the Assembly, also expressed optimism that 2017 would bring an end to recession and turnaround in the economy.
Olulade, Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, stated that 2017 would usher in a period of economic buoyancy and new lease of life for the country.
"The current economic downturn in the country no doubt is biting hard, but I believe that with what the administration has so far put in place, the country will surely witness a turnaround early in the New Year.
"I am hopeful that the country will move out of the current recession into economic prosperity for the good of all.
"We all as citizens only need to support the current administration in its drive to rid the country of corruption.
" I want to urge all to approach the New Year with hope and excitement for national prosperity and new lease of life for all," Olulade said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will collaborate with the Federal Government to stop out-sourcing of jobs in the telecom sector, among others.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, said this in a statement made available on Monday in Abuja.
"In this New Year, we shall work with the relevant arms and agencies of government to checkmate and halt the practices of multinational corporations especially in the Telecommunication, and Oil and Gas Sectors,
"who are adding to the economic crisis in the country by their new habit of out-scouring of jobs Nigerians can do to new destinations in Asia, especially Dubai and India,'' he said.
He said there were reports that Ericsson Nigeria, local subsidiary of the Global Telecommunication Solution Provider, had disengaged all Nigerian staff in its Network Operating Centres and transferred its operation to India.
Wabba noted that Ericsson Nigeria had in the last few years managed the MTN Network from among its Nigerian staff.
"Now, in the name of off-shoring, Indian workers are being brought to understudy their Nigerian counterparts, and thereafter these jobs monitoring MTN and other Telecommunication Networks are then transferred to India.
Wabba
"These have huge implications for our national security, in addition to the fact that jobs that Nigerians are competent in are being moved out of the country.
"As the unfolding cyber controversy between the USA and Russia is unfolding, with the network operating centres moved out of the country.
"we can be easily be shut out from the rest of the world without our being able to do anything about it,'' Wabba said.
However, the labour leader said the experience over Boko Haram and the SIM registration controversy with MTN clearly illustrates the inherent danger to Nigerian's national security interest of the move by these multinationals.
He said that HUAWEI, a telecommunication giant, was responsible for managing about 75 per cent of network operating centres such as Etisalat, Airtel, part of GLO and part of MTN network operating centres in Nigeria.
"They have also commenced the knowledge transfer from Nigerian engineers to their Indian counterparts preparatory to also moving their operations to India.
"We will work with the relevant committees of the National Assembly, ministries and agencies to protect our national interest.
"We will be leading national campaigns against these practices in the Telecom and Oil and Gas sectors in this New Year,'' he assured.
Wabba said that the affected multinationals must be made to understand that they would not be allowed uninhibited access to making millions of dollars off Nigeria as a nation without contributing to creating jobs.
He said that there must be costs to every multinational decision to take the livelihood of Nigerian workers to other shores.
"We need the understanding, support and cooperation of government and its agencies in this fight to keep these jobs in the country,'' he said. (
Some residents of Ikotun area in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State have bemoaned the failure of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to evacuate refuse from there.
A correspondent who monitored the community said there were several heaps of refuse in many areas of the community.
Offensive stench was oozing out from the dumps, following the failure of LAWMA officials to clear the waste for some time now.
It was also observed that many passers-by and residents close to the dumps were covering their nostrils so as not to inhale the odour.
Some of them who spoke urged LAWMA to come and clear the waste, saying it could lead to an outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera.
Mrs Folake Ajayi, a retired nurse, who lives on Ajewole Street, stated that the dirty environment could endanger lives if nothing was done as soon as possible.
"It is so disturbing; everywhere is filled with heaps of refuse. Unfortunately, after the Christmas break, the refuse had not been cleared.
"Now the waste generated during the New Year festivities had been added to the heaps, thus increasing the degree of the stench and thus polluting the environment the more.
"If care is not taken, there will be an outbreak of cholera and other airborne diseases in the area,'' she said.
Also, Chinedu Ekeh, a food vendor on Rasak Tijani Street, disclosed that the absence of the officials of the LAWMA had messed-up the street and the community in general.
"We have never had it so bad like this in the past; for over two weeks now, no LAWMA officials had visited this area to clear the waste, and this had really made everywhere very dirty.
"I have been extra careful by ensuring that my food is well covered and protected from being contaminated by flies.
"I hope the LAWMA officials will come and remove the refuse as soon as possible,'' Ekeh said.
Another resident of Ajewole, who simply identified herself as Mummy Eli, said she saw a LAWMA's truck parked somewhere due to a mechanical fault.
"I think the truck broke down, I cannot remember where I saw it. But, I think two weeks is enough for the agency to have made an alternative arrangement.
"Christmas and now New Year festivities had come and gone, LAWMA needs to do something positively and urgently to remove the refuse,'' she said.
When the agency was contacted, an officer who pleaded for anonymity, said the management was aware of the problem, adding that it was working on it.
The officer, however, apologised to the residents, saying very soon, the agency would come and evacuate the refuse.
The Niger Police Command is not aware of any attack by members of Boko Horam sect in any part of the state, according to a statement signed by DSP Bala Elkalla.
The statement, made available on Monday in Minna read.
"The attention of Niger State Police Command has been drawn to online reports especially from Thisday Newspaper and Leadership Sunday of 1/1/2017 on alleged invasion of some villages in Rafi LGA, of Niger by fleeing Boko Haram from the recaptured Sambisa forest.
"The report is not only false but malicious and calculated at causing fear and panic among the peace loving people of Niger State.
"The report is clearly a fiction emanating from the writers imagination.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Niger State is among the few states in the country that has conquered cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed banditry.
"It is on record that within the past few months, the command, in its aggressive operations arrested over 40 armed bandits and recovered over 1,000 cattle and various types of assorted weapons.
"In Rafi LGA alone, being a boundary community with Kaduna state, Zamfara and Kebbi states, the command has over 500 mobile policemen and special anti-robbery squads patrolling the villages.
"Members of the public are enjoined to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.
"The command has put in place sensitive security measures to guarantee adequate protection of lives and properties of the people.''
The statement urged political office holders to refrain from statements capable of truncating the long enjoyed peace in Niger State.
It advised journalists to verify their reports in order to adequately inform the public.
US President Barack Obama will deliver a farewell speech next week from his political stronghold of Chicago, one of the last times he will be able to advocate for his policies before the inauguration of Donald Trump.
The Republican political novice has vowed to rip up key Obama initiatives such as the so-called Obamacare healthcare reform act, to back out of climate change agreements and to reassess ties with foreign allies and foes.
Obama will hand over the reins of power to Trump on January 20.
“On Tuesday, January 10, I’ll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can’t be there in person,” Obama said in a short statement released Monday, noting that the tradition of a presidential farewell speech dates back to George Washington.
*Obama
Obama, who is returning to Washington on Monday after a two-week family vacation in Hawaii, said he was just beginning to write his remarks.
“I’m thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you’ve changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here,” he said.
On Sunday he said in a tweet: “It’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your President. I look forward to standing with you as a citizen.”
Obama celebrated his election to the White House eight years ago in front of a huge and ecstatic crowd in Chicago, his adopted hometown.
He will deliver his speech next week from the McCormick Place convention center, the site of his victory speech after winning re-election in 2012.
Leicester City’s underwhelming season continued on Monday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough that did little for either side’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation.
With Jamie Vardy completing his three-game suspension and Riyad Mahrez again disappointing, Leicester lacked a cutting edge and it was Boro who came closest to taking all three points at the Riverside Stadium.
The result inched both sides a point further clear of the bottom three, but the threat of relegation will continue to stalk them when they return to league action after next weekend’s FA Cup third-round fixtures.
Champions Leicester have now gone 12 away games without victory in the Premier League, stretching back to the 2-0 win at Sunderland last April that nudged them closer to their fairytale title win.
With both teams having played on New Year’s Eve — Leicester edging West Ham United 1-0, Boro cruelly beaten 2-1 at Manchester United — they each made five changes to their starting XIs.
Leicester, for whom Islam Slimani was absent with a fever, made the more lively start.
Shinji Okazaki could not make anything of Leonardo Ulloa’s knock-down from Mahrez’s free-kick, while Christian Fuchs drilled wide from the edge of the box.
But as the game wore on, Boro began to take control, with Adama Traore to the fore.
The former Barcelona winger had a penalty shout turned down in the 18th minute when he appeared to be impeded by Robert Huth right on the edge of the Leicester box.
Moments later the 20-year-old sped to the byline on the right and cut the ball back for Marten de Roon, who shot over.
Antonio Barragan returned from suspension for Boro, but he limped off clutching his hamstring in the 34th minute, with George Friend coming on.
Another Boro full-back caught the eye shortly before half-time, Fabio da Silva sliding in brilliantly to prevent Mahrez taking aim from Okazaki’s through ball.
Left-back Friend emerged as an improbable most likely source of a goal in the second half.
He warmed Kasper Schmeichel’s palms from 25 yards and then cut in from the right, only to skew his shot wide.
He also curled an inviting cross into the box from the left, but Adam Forshaw could not make telling contact.
All Leicester mustered in response was an Ulloa header that Brad Guzan saved comfortably.
Visiting manager Claudio Ranieri took decisive action by sending on Ahmed Musa in place of Mahrez, who produced another low-key display in his last game before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria.
But it was Boro who continued to push, Gaston Ramirez squandering a golden chance to snatch victory when he lashed wide following a tame clearance by Wes Morgan.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday said Nigeria had attained another high level safety rating which placed it among the world leaders in aviation safety.
The NCAA made the announcement in a statement by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye and obtained by newsmen in Lagos.
The statement stated that the country climbed to Level three State Safety Programme (SSP) Implementation Process, joining countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom and others in thr echelon.
"This categorisation is dependent on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which tracks the SSP implementation process of member-states via its Integrated Safety Trend Analysis and Reporting System (iSTARS).
"Member states in tandem, therefore, deploy this platform to undertake Gap Analysis, define their action plans and benchmark their progress.
"Only two member states-Australia and Sri Lanka- have achieved full implementation of the SSP according to ICAO records.
Nigeria is striving to achieve Level Four, which is 100 per cent by the end 0f 2017," it said.
According to the statement, the SSP process is inaugurated in member countries in compliance with the ICAO requirements as contained in Annex 19 on Safety Management.
The statement added that Nigeria's advanced level had put its SSP implementation process among states that defined an action plan for all non-implemented Gap questions.
It said in other words, Nigeria had completed its Gap Analysis, implemented 43.6 per cent of the required SSP tasks.
" In addition, the country has developed a detailed action plan for the accomplishment of the outstanding tasks with an established and approved timeline.
"In pursuant to this, Nigeria has commenced the implementation of the SSP processes and has achieved several milestones.
"These include the completion of the SSP Gap Analysis and the establishment of the Implementation Plan approved by the Director General-General (DG), NCAA.
"Other completed SSP tasks are the official authorisation of the DG, NCAA as the Accountable Executive of the SSP and the designation of the NCAA as the Placeholder Organisation of the SSP in Nigeria by the Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika."
It said the approval and publication of the State Safety Policy Statement, the Enforcement Policy in an SSP-SMS environment, including Nigeria's Voluntary and Confidential Reporting System, were among the tasks that have been concluded.
According to the statement, the ICAO Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) has recognised the relevance of establishing and maintaining fundamental safety oversight systems as a prerequisite to the full implementation of an SSP.
"Member-states with robust safety oversight system have been called upon to progress towards full implementation of SSP.
"An SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities aimed at improving aviation safety which will be monitored through Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) after such a state has achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) of over 60 per cent.
"It is required that states that have achieved EI levels of over 60 per cent should endeavour to fully implement SSP by 2019.
"Nigeria achieved an EI Level of 67.36 per cent during the immediate past ICAO USOAP Audit in March 2016 which is above world average of 63.54 per cent. "
It noted that with the achievement, the NCAA would continue to ensure that air transportation in Nigeria was seamless, safe and secure at all times.
It, therefore, urged airline operators to take advantage of the robust regulation and adhere to all safety regulations contained in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
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