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
LAWYERS and Nigerian Bar Association, NBA leaders of the Eastern Bar Forum, EBF, have commended what they described as the invaluable contributions of the Chief Arthur Okafor/ EBF Unity Cup, to the health and unity of among lawyers in the Forum.
In a chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the end of the 2nd round of the tournament which is sponsored by Chief Okafor, SAN, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the EBF, who is also the coordinator of the Chief Arthur Obi Okafor EBF Unity football tournament, Mr. Steve Ononye said: "The tournament has achieved the desired peace and unity in the EBF. All these time that we have been playing these matches, from what we have gathered, unity, peace love is now in the EBF and if this continues, EBF will be stronger. It has achieved the main purpose which is to unite lawyers within the EBF family."
On the call to make the tournament a national event for the NBA, Mr. Ononye said: "I think it is a good idea because if it goes on national level, more branches will join and more states will also see the health benefits of this tournament because we as lawyers, we cannot be going to court only, we cannot only keep ourselves busy with our work as lawyers, we also need to play football, relax and entertain ourselves which is very important. I also think that it will enhance commitment at the national level."
On the next round of the tournament, he said " Well, now that we have seen the last match in the 2nd round, we will enter another round which is the 3rd round where we will also only have 10 teams, thereafter we will go into quarter finals, semi finals and finals.
He said: " About 43 teams started the tournament, 42 played in the 1st round then 22 teams played in the 2nd round and we have 11 teams remaining after this 11 teams playing and we will get another five teams then we will have what is called best looser that will make it up. We have the next round which commenced on May 13, where Yenagua will play Okigwe, then Umuahia will play Uyo, Onitsha will play Awka and so on. That is the 3rd round fixture."
Abuja – The NigerianAir Force said on Wednesday, it has commenced investigation into the alleged fracas involving men of the force and students of the Osun State University, Ipetu Ijesha campus.
This came as PREMIUM TIMES has reported another attack on students of the Osun State University on Tuesday, brutalizing many with gun butts, knives and sticks, hours after a similar attack left several students and staff of the institution hospitalised, .
NigerianAir Force noted that if its personnel are found wanting in the matter, disciplinary actions will be meted out to those involved.
A statement signed by Air Commodore Olatokumbo Adesanya, Director of Airforce Public Relations said, "The attention of the NigerianAir Force (NAF) has been drawn to reports of some of its personnel being involved in a fracas on the campus of the University of Osun State at Ipetu Ijesha.
"While the NAF highly regrets the entire incidence, it is noteworthy that the reported incidence is not a reflection of what the NAF stands for.
"The NAF is a highly professional force that does not condone or encourage the violation of anyone’s human rights.
"The general public is invited to kindly note that the NAF has already commenced formal investigations into the reported unfortunate incidence.
"At the end of the investigations, Nigerians are assured that any NAF personnel found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate laws."
Officials told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that after the first round of attacks early Tuesday, the rampaging soldiers went off campus searching for students and manhandling those they found.
The school's Dean of Students Affairs, Adebimpe Adigun, who confirmed the incident, said a distress call was made to the school's main campus at Osogbo, where they had evacuated to after the first attack.
She said the message was that the soldiers had moved to students' residences.
"When we came in this morning (Wednesday) we confirmed that it was true and that the military men had destroyed doors of the students' rooms and cut some of them with machete," Mrs. Adigun said.
"Some of them are currently in the hospital right now receiving treatment, including the one that received a machete cut."
She said the men also attacked a home where a mother of three children lived, thinking it was student accommodation.
"The woman fled with two of her children as the men broke into the house, but the third one could not run, so he hid under a chair in the room so the men could not find him," Mrs. Adigun confirmed. She said the school management had made reports to the Police Commissioner and the State Security Services in the state, adding that one of the security operatives witnessed the section round of attacks on the students.
The cause of the bloody attack is unclear. Air Force authorities said they were investigating, and vowed to punish offending personnel.
"As I speak to you we still do not have any opportunity to know the reasons behind the attack," she said.
"But a committee has been set up to look into the matter and a report would be presented to the Vice Chancellor of the institution at the conclusion of the investigation."
She added that officials of the school's management, the police and the Commandant of the Air Force Safety Institute, met with the community leaders on Wednesday in order to restore peace to the area. The school was shut down Tuesday following the attacks.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Labode Poopola, said the school had issued a week recess to students to allow them recover from the shock and to allow peace to return to the area.
"The break is necessitated by the invasion of the campus and brutalization of the staff and students by men of the Nigeria Air Force Safety Institute,Ipetu-Ijesa,"he said.
The management of Ladoke Akintola University, LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun state, has made clear the hospital's position in the findings from the autopsy conducted on the Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke which have sparked so much controversy in the state and country.
A statement signed by Mr. Ayodele Adeyemo for the Hospital's management and made available to newsmen on Wednesday said that the clarification was pertinent to set the records straight as regards the hospitals role in the autopsy conducted on the late senator's body to ascertain the true cause of his death.
It said in the statement that, the inquest haven been made a homicide case under the interrogation of the police, the family members of the late senator had no right to demand the result of the autopsy from the hospital. It said, should the family want to know the result, it was supposed to apply to the police homicide department for such. The hospital also said that it "did our job under very difficult circumstances," and that "we restate that our conduct was strictly based on professional principles."
Late Isiaka Adeleke
The statement read thus: "The attention of Management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo has been drawn to various comments and misinformation credited to the Adeleke family in the electronic, print and social media regarding the role of the hospital in the conduct of autopsy on late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
"It is with a high sense of responsibility that the Management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital wish to make the following statements with a view to putting records straight especially the role played by the hospital in conducting the autopsy on the deceased, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
The Management of the hospital held the distinguished Senator Adeleke as a politician of great reputation for unparalleled philanthropy famous for his concerns for the plight of the downtrodden. We express our heartfelt condolence to the family, the State of Osun and Nigeria at large.
On Sunday 23 April, 2017, the fateful day when the corpse of Senator Adeleke was brought to the hospital for autopsy, all necessary facilities, both materials and human were promptly mobilized to carry out a thorough and professional job. When this unfortunate incident occurred, it was not lost on anyone that this is a great challenge, not just the loss of such a great man, but the political milieu and the renowned attitude of some Nigerian politicians to play politics with even the most sacred things. We therefore made up our minds right from the beginning to do a thorough and professional job that can stand professional and ethical scrutiny anywhere in the world.
The death of the late Senator was first brought to the attention of the Management by the Medical Director of Biket where the senator's body was first taken to. The body was met in the LAUTECH hospital with some family members and law enforcement agents including homicide detectives from the Nigeria Police.
The Police homicide detectives handed the relevant coroner papers (forms B and C) to the hospital's pathologist, the only authorized professional in charge of Autopsy in the presence of the family members.
It is very important to state categorically that with the completion of forms B and C of the Police ab initio, it is clear that the issue of autopsy is beyond a family wanting to know the cause of death. The import is that the autopsy has become a full criminal investigation into the death of the deceased. It needs to be stressed that the sudden death of any person at home is a coroner case that must be investigated by the Police. In a situation like that, the family no longer has a say in the matter.
In line with Global practice and in a case like the above, such reports are NOT given to the family because they could be regarded as potential suspects that should not be allowed to have advance knowledge of findings of the investigations. The full autopsy report was not even made available to the Management of the hospital because the law does not permit the pathologist to do so.
The so called authorization by one Mrs. Dupe Adeleke-Sanni as disclosed by the family could not have been the case as the autopsy became coroner's case as stated above. What Mrs. Dupe Sanni wrote after the completion of the autopsy was what she called 'Certificate of Honour' to the hospital with following content: " on behalf of the Adeleke family, I, Mrs Dupe Sanni hereby certified that the family is satisfied and hereby confirmed our confidence in the pathology examination conducted by the Pathologist in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo on Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and we are therefore not interested in requesting for a repeat of the examination in any other hospital." The statement was signed. The Management challenges the family to produce the authorization letter as they claimed.
On payment of fee for autopsy, LAUTECH Hospital, like all other hospitals, works round the clock, tests, drugs and procedures can be done and be paid for at any time of the day. Indeed, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo has a fully functional automated payment system that will issue receipts instantly. The truth is that NO PAYMENT WAS MADE by the Adeleke family to the hospital for the autopsy. It is clearly an attempt to smear the hospital to suggest that hospital which runs Children and Adult emergencies could not issue a receipt for payment made on a Sunday.
On the allegation of refusal to give tissue (sample) by the hospital, suffice to say that if the family of the deceased are keenly interested in obtaining the samples for autopsy by other agencies/ hospitals, it behoves on them to apply to the coroner for that. The hospital challenges the family to provide a previous letter of application for tissues which was reportedly rejected by the hospital.
In conclusions, the hospital discharges its professional duties ethically and we are proud of the conduct of the hospital's team. We commiserate with the Adeleke family, the people of the great town of Ede and indeed the entire people of Nigeria on the death of this illustrious son. His death was very painful to many people. We in the hospital who were saddled with the responsibility of not just mourning him, but also investigating the cause of his sudden death did our job under very difficult circumstances. We restate that our conduct was strictly based on professional principles. The hospital is devoid of other interest."
We wouldn't have attached any attention to it if the news of a purported coup – planning from a section of Nigerian soldiers was not credited to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Lieutenant Genera T.Y. Buratai himself. And to underscore the seriousness of the matter, the British Ambassador to Nigeria also corroborated the news – item. If the disturbing news was credited to other sources, we would have waved it aside as one of the wild – rumours.
This is because the secrecy surrounding the activities and personalities of some high – ranking public officials made Nigerians to be peddlers of wild – rumours. Thus making the rumour-mill to be a big industry in Nigeria with its dissemination through the social media and some soft – sell tabloids. When the public is not regularly briefed on the activities of government and its officials, they will be left with no choice than to scoop up and sniff out information for itself. The public will therefore inadvertently be forced to put Managers of public information on their toes and make them clarify such disseminated information as either fake or genuine. And that is how we have been living our lives in Nigeria as a nation of rumour – mongers.
Currently Nigeria's nascent uninterrupted democracy has just clocked 18 years. It should have chocked 57 years since our Independence in 1960, if not for Military coups and counter – coups being staged by the Nigerian Military partly because of the maladministration of some politicians and mainly due to the need by some powers to preserve sectional or vested interests.
But we are still at loss as to why any group of soldiers in collaboration with their suspected collaborators from the civil – populace thought it in their wildest imagination that this is the right – time to stage a coup and put an abrupt termination to the ongoing Civil Rule in Nigeria? Despite the fact that President Muhammed Buhari may be battling with some health related issues, the wheel of progress of governance is uninterrupted. The government has been running smoothly since the President has done the right thing to transfer the powers of his office to his able and loyal Vice –President which has enabled his deputy to step in as the President of Nigeria in an acting capacity while his principal is in London on Medical Leave. For now there is no noticeable vacuum in government and there are no reported incidences of pipe – line vandalisation from the Niger – Delta militants. Besides, apart from the improved National Security, there are clearer signs that the economy is coming out of recession very soon by God's grace.
And so on what basis will some suspected disgruntled elements from both the Military and the Civil populace want to strike and forcefully bring this current Civilian Administration to an abrupt end? If anybody or group of persons have an axe to grind with this ongoing democratic government, they should wait for another election year and mobilize enough votes from the Nigerian electorate to vote the Ruling party out. Another democratic avenue is through the impeachment process of the President or his Vice if there are sufficient and undeniable reasons to do so.
Or could this reason be purely sectional/ethnic or religious in nature? This second line of thought is not new to students of Nigeria's Political History and reasons behind some of the past Military takeovers in Nigeria. This is more so when some leading politicians of the Northern region extraction have started to drum it into the ears of the those that care to listen that the North is entitled to 8 years of Presidency incase anything happens to the current President and Head of Government. This is because the Acting President is a Christian from the Southern part of the country. Little did they know that some young people who wished President Muhammed Buhari death have died in their primes while the President lives to survive them ,by God's grace despite his health challenges. "A le so pe ki igi gbigbe wo, ki o je pe igi tutu lo ma wo o". Meaning instead of expecting the dried tree to fall, it might be fresh tree with green leaves that will fall down".
Nobody should try to increase the political tension in a country where some people are still battling with the realities of an economy that has been in recession whose foundation was undoubtedly laid by the past administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan. And it is no news that some Nigerians-both young and old have started to commit suicide while thousands of our Youth have died on their ill – fated trips to Europe through the Mediterranean sea. So far not less than 5,000 Nigerians have reportedly lost their lives through such daring ventures, according to social media reports.
However, this current administration is trying to alleviate these economic sufferings through its Social Safety Nets/ Economic Empowerment Programmes like the N – Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, and several others. The government through the Office of the Vice –President who now doubles as the Acting President is very consistent in expanding the frontiers of these programmes on a periodic basis that shows the government's commitment and seriousness to rescue the general populace from the claws of abject poverty and pangs of hunger. For the next two years therefore, the nation will do well to give the Ruling party at the Federal level a benefit of doubt to prove its commitment to the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians through its Poverty Eradication programmes, improved National Security/Food Security, among other dividends of democracy. If the operators of the Federal Government still find it difficult to deliver on their mandate, Nigerians through their valid votes can through the approved democratic process show them the exit door out of the State –House, but definitely not through the barrel of guns. Nigerians democracy has outlived such undemocratic process and is now a role model in the West African –Sub Region and the African continent as a whole.
Meanwhile, we do not want to make further comments on this sensitive subject-matter as we reportedly learnt that the Military Intelligence has began undercover investigations to get to the root of the matter. At the same time, we have no doubt in the ability of our Defence/Military Intelligence to carry out thorough investigations and ensure there is no case of trying to tie a piece of bone around a dog in order to hang it.
And in closing we are on the same page with the Chief of Army Staff who advised Military Officers who want to hobnob with the political class should in their own interest resign their Commission. In other words, they should pull off their khaki uniform and put on Agbada with marching babarigas. It is in their own interests to heed the COAS warning and save themselves of any dire consequences.
Or is the alleged coup – planning another Northern political game/agenda to transit power from its civilian to its military politicians? Only God and the insiders in the corridors/chambers of power can tell. As for ordinary Nigerians who may not distinguish their right hands from their left hands when it comes to intricate game of power in Nigeria, we will continue to rely on God who remains the main source of our deliverance and help in line with Psalm 121:1 – 8, KJV.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is working hard to transform the state.
L-R: National Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Governor Nyesom Wike & Former president, Goodluck Jonathan at the Rivers Golden Jubilee Anniversary Lecture in Port Harcourt
Speaking during the Rivers Golden Jubilee Anniversary Lecture in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Former President Goodluck Jonathan said that Governor Wike is leading Rivers State to greater heights.
He said: “Having had the opportunity to serve at the state level for eight years and at the centre for eight years, I can attest to the fact that Wike is working.
“Everyday I watch television, I see programmes going on. Commissioning of projects are taking place. It takes somebody with commitment, somebody with foresight and somebody with a strong team to achieve all these”.
The Former President stated that he is not surprised that Governor Wike is living up to the expectations of the people, because as a minister, Governor Wike excelled.
“Let me specifically thank the Governor of Rivers State, somebody who worked with me, somebody I believe in. That is why I conferred on him the prestigious title of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). ”
Speaking further, the Former President argued that reforms should ensure that more resources get to the state, rather than the interventionist agencies already affected by politics.
He said that the states in the Niger Delta have achieved more in terms of development since they started accessing 13 percent derivation than interventionist agencies have achieved.
Jonathan said because of political influence on the interventionist agencies, the entire Niger Delta is replete with abandoned projects.
Also speaking, National Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi said only PDP has the capacity to embark on the restructuring of the country.
He said: “In PDP, we believe that our Federation needs to be fixed . We will ensure reforms in a manner that every federating unit will know that they will not be abandoned. ”
In his lecture titled “democracy and development in Nigeria: The Case of Rivers State “, Prof Godini Darah advocated resource ownership for the Niger Delta.
By July this year, six winning teams from Middle East and Africa, MEA, will fly the continent’s flag at the world wide finals of the 2017 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition.
The competition provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion, and knowledge of technology to create applications, games and integrate solutions that can change the way we live, work and play.
The Imagine Cup 2017 MEA finals had hosted 47 students in 17 teams, representing Lebanon, Jordan, West Bank & Gaza, Turkey, Tunisia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, Nigeria, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.
The six teams had contested in Beirut last week with other teams from the region after which they emerged winners after showcasing their innovative solution before Microsoft judges.
With this, the six winning teams will head to Seattle, Washington, the United States of America to represent the region at the 15th Imagine Cup World finals in July where three winning teams will be awarded $100,000 USD, $25,000 USD and $15,000 USD respectively.
Although Nigerian team, Beacon from the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti did not scale through in the regional finals despite their innovative solution and impressive outing, one thing is clear. Their ability to get to the regional finals is a strong signals that software Nigeria has the capacity for global competitiveness.
Beacon is a cloud-based emergency services tool that helps users get the help they deserve quickly. It bridges the gap between technology and emergency reporting services while implementing a system of partnerships to provide emergency response infrastructure where it is lacking.
The six wining teams are expected to contest with other innovative students from other countries of the world in the global finals.
Microsoft and the U.S. Department of State's Global Innovation through Science and Technology , GIST, initiative announced the six winning teams of the Imagine Cup 2017 Middle East and Africa ,MEA, regional finals.
Six winning teams will head to Seattle to represent the region at the 15th Imagine Cup World finals in July where three winning teams will be awarded $100,000 USD, $25,000 USD and $15,000 USD respectively.
The event was held in partnership with the President of the Council of Ministers, His Excellency Mr Saad Hariri; the U.S. Department of State's GIST initiative; and the American University of Beirut. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, participated in the closing ceremony.
It was the culmination of a series of National final events organized by Microsoft subsidiaries in countries across the region, which brought together the brightest young minds to showcase the power of innovation.
Teams of up to three students were required to create an original technology project from start to finish – create an idea, make a plan, build the project using a component of Microsoft Azure, and compete. Unlike previous years, solutions were not bound by category requirements, but rather competed against each other without groupings or classifications.
Addressing the Imagine Cup competitors, U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard said, "On behalf of the American people, I am proud that the United States government, through the Department of State's Global Innovation through Science and Technology program, is working with Microsoft to support entrepreneurs like you around the world.
"We believe in the power of creativity and that, with a little support, ideas can become reality and transform the world around us. That is why we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in education in Lebanon and the Middle East – North Africa region over the past ten years. It is also why we invest in entrepreneurship initiatives like today's competition, to help talented individuals test their ideas, create new models and prototypes, and launch successful businesses."
The competition is part of Microsoft's mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Younan noted, adding that, "Imagine Cup inspires student developers from around the world to innovate and build solutions that enable people to do more and achieve more through technology.
"The projects we have seen at this year's competition are indicative of the capabilities of students across the Middle East and Africa, and their potential to contribute to the region's wealth."
For Hoda Younan, Microsoft Lebanon Country Manager, "Through Imagine Cup, we aim to inspire student developers to create innovative solutions that change the way we live, work and play, while also growing the skills they need to pursue a future in technology.
" Students from different universities across the MEA region formed teams, dreamt big and worked hard to create fantastic new solutions using industry-leading technologies, like Microsoft Azure, that professional developers build with every day. Today, we are here to honor their success."
The GIST initiative engages science and technology entrepreneurs from 135 countries through a combination of in-country trainings, online interactive programs and a global pitch competition. Since 2011, GIST has engaged more than 2.8 million science and technology innovators worldwide and mentored more than 5,500 startup companies.
GIST's comprehensive program has led the way in growing a network of aspiring entrepreneurs who are passionate about developing solutions that address economic challenges in their countries.
Wining ideas:
DocStroke from Jordan: DocStroke aims to provide the cheap technique to determine the risks of strokes using ocular image processing and machine learning that any rural medical institution could afford, so they could warn the stroke and prevent it from happening with all of its side effects, including deaths caused by the stroke.
Bl!nk from Lebanon: The project consists of a solution that gives feedback to the user on a rehearsal of a presentation or speech he is preparing
Green Jam from the United Arab Emirates: The Project aims to accelerate Dubai’s goal of being one of the world’s most sustainable cities. This is done by turning recycling into a habit for UAE citizens, through a reward system that is widely accessible from anywhere in Dubai, to all residents. Our project also solves many of the problems that Dubai’s attempts to increase recycling currently have, such as waste sorting.
Beta Team from Oman: 'Bee' is an app that is connected with Beacons technology for retail shops, and it aims toward understanding the context of the world around the app users. Bee aims to enhance customer experience of shoppers and empower retailers.
E-park from Morocco: E-park's project is a web application that allows its users to find parking spaces. Their prototype uses a camera that is fixed on street lamps and spots empty/full places and users can book them or check availability in different parkings.
Team WaCoMo from Qatar: WaCoMo is a complete platform that provides interactive visualization of the water consumption happening at different outlets in a property, and in turn encouraging efficient water usage.
Team Bl!nk from Lebanon, which won the title of MEA regional champion after competing with 17 other teams, gets the opportunity to gain more experience from competing at the World Finals in Seattle. "It is our great honour to have won the MEA finals. It was a tough round and we look forward to travelling to Seattle. We are excited to have our innovative project compete against other leading projects and we hope we will be recognised on a global level," said Rami Kalach from Team Bl!nk.
The Young Democratic Party (YDP) has said that it did not initiate any contempt proceedings against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
YDP's National Publicity Secretary, Mrs Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye, made the clarification when she briefed newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
Animashaun-Ajiboye said the purported contempt process against INEC was the handiwork of imposters and usurpers who were not members of the party.
She said INEC obeyed court order by issuing YDP with a certificate of registration after the court ruled in favour of the party.
"Our attention has been drawn to some actions being taken by meddlesome interlopers, lovers of chaos, confusionists, pretenders and fraudsters purporting to come from YDP.
"We want to put the record straight that the Chairman of YDP is Mrs. Georgina Dakpokpo, and it can be confirmed from the official record of INEC.
"The official logo of YDP is a tractor green and white background.
"The Court of Appeal never at any time gave order to INEC to backdate our certificate of registration to 2014.
"YDP did not officially initiate contempt proceedings against INEC's Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; it was done by confusionists.
Animashaun-Ajiboye said that by the party's first registered constitution, an amendment to a constitution could only be done at a convention and YDP's convention held on Feb. 11, 2017, amended and ratified its constitution.
She urged the public to be alert and report to the nearest police station any time any person or group other than the genuine YDP officials parade as representatives of the party.
On her part, Dakpokpo urged Nigerians to discountenance any person that paraded himself as the party's chairman as she was the genuine chairman recognised by INEC.
She said the intent of the imposters was to cause confusion, chaos and capitalise on it to defraud unsuspecting people.
Angry UN members of staff in Geneva protested on Wednesday against a proposed 7.5 per cent cut to their salaries, the equivalent of almost a month's pay, and called for strike if it is implemented.
The proposal came from the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a group of independent experts, which surveyed the cost of living in eight UN locations.
It said that the salary cut for Geneva-based staff, due to take effect in August, would align them with colleagues in New York, where purchasing power had dropped.
Hundreds of personnel at the UN European headquarters raised their hands to support a resolution rejecting the plan and marched through the building chanting "No Pay Cuts".
The staff resolution urged UN agencies such as the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organisation not to implement the pay cuts.
It called for "regular, protracted and escalating collective actions including demonstrations and work stoppages.
"If we play that last card of a strike, we need to be damn sure we can turn out everybody, I mean everybody.
"Right now we're not sure if the ICSC is willing to negotiate with us.
"They won't meet with us," Daniel Cork, Vice Chairman of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) staff union told a cheering crowd.
Alessandra Vellucci, the UN spokesperson in Geneva, said: "UN Geneva is taking very seriously the actions proposed by the unions against the possible pay cuts.
"We are exploring, in collaboration with the UN Headquarters the best way forward."
Heads of UN agencies based in the Swiss city in joint letters to ICSC chairman Kingston Rhodes, had questioned the calculations and called the cuts to be deferred.
"We see no proper justification for imposing such a significant real cut to the remuneration of our staff,'' said a letter seen by Reuters.
Staff federations argue that the experts lowered their calculations of the city's cost-of-living by including rental prices from neighboring France.
They added; "the option to reside in France is only open to staff of certain nationalities."
Ian Richards, the Executive Secretary of the Staff Coordinating Council, said the average monthly salary subject to the proposed cut was 10,000 to 12,000 dollars.
"The UN has said it needs top experts such as energy economists, climate change scientists, patent lawyers and medical practitioners so it can help countries reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
"The world body has invoked public service to attract such experts from the private sector.
"However, no-one in their right mind will leave their job for an organisation that from one day to the next can cut pay by one month a year for existing staff," he said.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to sustain the on-going fight against the insurgents and other crimes in the country.
Obasanjo made the remarks while presenting a paper at a two-day workshop on 'Preventing Violent Extremism in Nigeria', in Abuja.
The event was jointly organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser to the president (ONSA) and CLUB DE MADRID, an international NGO.
Obasanjo explained that the reason for establishing the NGO, which he was part of, was to promote and propagate democracy that works all over the world.
He, therefore, urged the political class and the government to strengthen democracy by delivering its dividends to Nigerians.
This, he said, would go a long way in combating violent extremism or any group thinking of disturbing the peace of the country.
The former president said violent extremism does not just spring up overnight but do come about due to lack of adequate communication between the ruled and the rulers.
Obasanjo urged the Federal Government to intensify and sustain its on-going efforts in tackling the activities of the insurgents and other crimes in the country.
He also urged governments at various levels to be proactive by addressing certain issues at the right time, especially those that could lead to violent extremism in the country.
The former president advised the Federal Government to, as matter of urgency, address some pressing issues in the country, especially the agitation of the Niger Delta as well as other agitators in the country.
"With early intervention and sensitive issues being addressed and handled properly, the Niger Delta militants and others would have been avoided.
"With early intervention and sensitive issues being addressed timely and properly, the country will also witness unprecedented development," he said.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for their efforts so far in combating the activities of the insurgents and other crimes in the country.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Munguno, said that ONSA had done a lot in the security of the country, especially in the North- East.
The NSA, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, ONSA, Alhaji Aminu Nabegu, said that ONSA had contributed a lot to global efforts in tackling violent extremism.
Munguno said that tackling violent extremism demanded a comprehensive approach if the desired results were to be achieved by any country and the world in general.
He said that the essence of the two day workshop was to chart a new narrative to ways and manner of tackling violent extremism in Nigeria.
According to him, various governments must consistently invest in their people as one of the panacea to ending violent extremism in the country.
"I have no doubt in my mind that in the nearest future, countries will come to Nigeria to understudy how we were able to combat violent extremism," he said.
Munguno also called on Muslim leaders in the country to teach their followers the tenets of Islamic religion for better understanding to avoid misinterpretation.
"I hope that at the end of this workshop, it will go a long way in preventing violent extremism in the country," he said.
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) have raised a technical committee to develop a mutually acceptable compensation code to address consumer abuse in the sector.
Mr Tunde Irukera, CPC's Director-General, said this in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Irukera said the decision to set up the committee was reached during a visit of members of the association to the CPC headquarters in Abuja.
Irukera observed that the code would modify the attitude and responses of the 100 industries that are members of the association to complaints of aggrieved consumers in the sector.
"The reality is that we have an aggressive consumer protection agency which frankly we must have, regardless of whatever approach one must take to protect the consumer.
"We have a responsibility to protect the consumer, to the extent of coming up with an approach that is in the interest of those consumers.
"So having to use a compensation policy as an example, if a consumer were to complain about a product, claiming that it made him ill, we could obviously come together and work with an acceptable methodology.
"The methodology will be such that would be fairer and more predictable across the board, rather than when a complaint occurs and gets out of hand."
He said if both organizations worked together, they could come up with something that would be acceptable across the board.
"You can go and percolate it as a kind of voluntary guide, and whoever doesn't want to abide by it, that's ok, but at least we should have something that we can work with.''
The CPC boss expressed the council's willingness to collaborate effectively with the association because of its widespread influence in almost every home.
He said that professional and trade associations were perhaps the best partners as they could help reach more of their members than when one had to deal with individual members.
He said that he would always respect individual brands and their prerogative to protect themselves and emphasised that "integrity of your brand is also in the interest of Consumer Protection Council.
"This is because anything that affects the integrity of your brand also affects consumer confidence and we want consumers to be confident of choices they make and the products they consume.
"It will be helpful also when there are issues to work on to recognise that we are on the same page with respect to brand confidence".
Irukera reiterated the importance of the association while emphasising that regulatory work was more effective when there was collaboration.
Earlier, the AFBTE's President, Mr. Fred Chiazor, appealed to CPC to collaborate with the association to get faster and deeper enforcement of consumer protection regime in the sector.
According to Chiazor, "our major plea is that if there are issues that come up as time goes on, that we be notified immediately through our association. " We want to help the CPC to succeed. We are usually very proactive and if there are areas you want us to work with you, we are ready to do that".
The AFBTE boss pledged the association's commitment to abide by good ethics and ensure consumer protection and satisfaction.
The AFBTE currently has a joint committee in some agencies where it looks into issues jointly with the organizations as it does not believe in "a police and criminal kind of relationship''.(
ABUJA-The Federal Executive Council has approved the constitution of a National Minimum Wage Committee to kick start the process of deliberations for a new wage for Nigerian workers.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, said that the committee will be made up of 29 members.
Members of the committee would drawn from the organized Labour, Federal Government and State Governments.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma said that FEC had begun the review of the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly recently
Spain's Supreme Court, Wednesday, rejected an appeal by FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi and stood by a Catalan regional court's 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud, according to court documents.
The five-times World Player of the Year is however unlikely to go to prison.
Messi and his father Jorge were found guilty by a Catalan court last July on three counts of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009.
The fraud was said to be to the tune of 4.1 million euros (about N2.5 billion) on image rights.
The duo were also fined 2 million euros (about £1.7 million or N1 billion).
The court reduced Jorge Messi's sentence from 21 months to 15, however, for returning the defrauded amount to Spain's tax authority.
Neither Messi nor his father are expected to serve time in jail, as under Spanish law sentences under two years can be served under probation.
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi
A court statement said Messi "unequivocally understood his obligation to pay tax on income obtained from exploiting his image rights…therefore it is not logical that he should ignore his duty to pay tax on them".
The Supreme Court's ruling brings an end to a case which began in 2013.
The 29-year-old Messi and his father defrauded the Spanish tax office of 4.1 million euros between 2007 and 2009 by using a web of shell companies based outside Spain.
These companies are in Belize, Switzerland and Uruguay, and the idea was to evade taxes on income from the player's image rights.
The Argentine's lawyer was however not available for comment on the court ruling
Messi, who has won eight La Liga titles, four King's Cups and four Champions League crowns with FC Barcelona, finished top scorer in Spain this season with 37 league goals.
He is due to play in the King's Cup final next Saturday in Madrid, the last game of the domestic season.
Messi is FC Barcelona's all-time top scorer and their highest paid player.
He is expected to sign a new contract with the Catalan club later this summer, with his current deal expiring in June 2018.
FC Barcelona last year released a statement in support of Messi following his guilty sentence and launched a campaign in support of him on social media.
But they have not yet commented on the Supreme Court's decision.
Executive committee members of the All Progressive Congress in Agege and Orile-Agege, in a joint statement, disclaimed the use of their names and offices by alleged unscrupulous persons for fraudulent purposes.
In the statement signed by Mr. Lucky Samuel (JP), and Femi Falade, Exco members of APC in Agege and Orile-Agege respectively, the Excos claimed that the party in both local government areas have been notified of the activities of Former Agege council chairman, Hon.JubrilAbdulkareem and a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Hon. Taofiq Adaranijo, alleging that the two party chieftains have been parading non-APC members as the party Excos. The reason for the alleged impersonation, the statement said, was to facilitate the emergence of Hon. Abdulkareem and Hon. Adaranijo’s alleged favoured candidates as Chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the APC in the two councils by disenfranchising the real Exco members.
The Excos alleged Hon. Abdulkareem and Hon. Adaranijo sponsored campaign of calumny against Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, saying that at a press briefing, placards bearing inscriptions denigrating Obasa and Afikuyomi were carried by hired thugs. The statement reads in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a press briefing organised by Hon. Taofiq Adaranijo and Hon. Jubril Abdulkareem held on Wednesday at Blue Roof Hall, Ibido Street, Agege, where some disgruntled non-Exco members of our great party, and avowed members of the Peoples Democratic Party, were paraded before newsmen as APC Ecxo members in Agege and Orile-Agege.
“In the clip of the event in our possession, Adaranijo and Abdulkareem are seen lambasting the party’s apex body over its decision to conduct the party primary outside Agege like other local government areas to forestall wanton destruction of lives and property that may occur following bitter rivalry the party primary for council election has generated across the state.
“Worst hit by their verbal attacks were the Chairman, Electoral Committee for the party primary, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. “We wish to state categorically and unequivocally that we are not party to the verbal abuse hauled at our highly respected leaders. We condemn their shenanigans, and their anti-democratic tendency in strong terms. “As we look forward to the day of the primary when we will make our choice in the open and not in ‘other room’, the general public and stakeholders are hereby advised to ignore anyone or group of persons purporting to represent APC Excos in Agege and Orile-Agege.”
Pop star Ariana Grande has flown back to her home in Florida after a suicide attack at her concert in Manchester killed 22 people, reports said Wednesday.
Ariana Grande
Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper published photos of a sullen Grande, sporting sweatpants and wearing a backpack, walking down from her jet onto the tarmac as her boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, waited for her.
Celebrity site E! News said Grande had traveled Tuesday from England alongside her mother back to Boca Raton, Florida, where she grew up.
Publicly available flight data showed a private jet arriving at Boca Raton at 12:45 pm (1645 GMT) on Tuesday from Birmingham, England, after a brief stop in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The plane had stopped in Wilmington to go through standard procedures for entry into the United States, local television network WWAY said.
An official at the Wilmington airport declined comment when contacted, while an official at the Boca Raton airport and representatives for Grande did not respond to requests for comment.
Grande is scheduled to perform Thursday and Friday at the 02 Arena in London before an extensive schedule in Europe and Latin America.
She has not officially canceled any concerts, with a notice on the 02 Arena website saying the venue will “advise as soon as we can as to the status of those shows.”
Grande, a 23-year-old former television star whose fan base is dominated by girls and young women, had just finished her show Monday at the Manchester Arena when the explosion went off in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
Starting line-ups in the Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena in Stockholm on Wednesday (1845 GMT kick-off):
Ajax (4-3-3)
Andre Onana; Joel Veltman, Davinson Sanchez, Matthijs De Ligt, Jairo Riedewald; Davy Klaassen (capt), Lasse Schone, Hakim Ziyech; Bertrand Traore, Kasper Dolberg, Amin Younes
Coach: Peter Bosz (NED)
Manchester United (4-3-3)
Sergio Romero; Antonio Valencia (capt), Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian; Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini; Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose through his special assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka on Wednesday gave Ekiti State Petrol Stations 24 hours ultimatum to begin the sell of fuel to the people or have their certificate of occupancy revoked.
The statement was made as a result of the withdrawal of services by the petrol dealers in the state, since last week Monday, which has created acute fuel supply in the state and nearly crippled the economy.
Earlier on Wednesday, an amalgamation of transport unions, had trooped to the streets, accusing the dealers of being allegedly propelled by the opposition.
The unions also issued 24 hours ultimatum to the oil dealers to return to work or face the wrath of Ekiti populace, whom they said were badly affected by the halt of fuel supply to the state.
Ayodele Fayose
The unions said if stand of the government is to safeguard life and property, “we will stand by the government.” Fuel marketers in the state had since Monday last week stopped selling fuel to motorists in compliance with the directives of the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD), which ordered their members in Ekiti to stop bringing the product to the state.
The marketers embarked on indefinite strike over what they described as open victimization of members by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The drivers and artisans, who marched from Fajuyi area via Ojumose to old garage , claimed that they were the worst hit by the fuel stations' closure, appealing to the recalcitrant oil marketers to refrain from being used by the opposition against Governor Ayodele Fayose.
They were led by the Chairmen of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Com Clement Adekola and his counterpart in Lorry and Pick-up Transport Association of Nigeria, Com Adekunle Atowoju.
Adekola said: "We are for peace in Ekiti and the only way to sustain peace is for all of us to work with the government of the day. Let the oil marketers dialogue with government and if they can't do it alone, they should contact other unions for speedy arbitration.
"The drivers and artisans are badly affected. Even most worrisome was the way the police had been maltreating our members who used to buy fuel from Ondo , Osun and Kogi States. They stopped them at checkpoints and dehumanized them, this must not continue.
"Let me also reiterate this, this protest is going to be a continuous one and if the oil marketers refuse to allow fuel to flow, we will move against them. We suspect that they have been bought over by opposition to destabilise Fayose's government.
We believe that their resolve not to sell fuel during General Adeyinka Adebayo's burial was purely political. "They are not politicians and if they are interested in contesting election, let them wait till 2018 when the governor's tenure will lapse,” he stated.
Atowoju accused the marketers of being allegedly prodded by opposition to take on the government over flimsy issue. "All over the world , there are rules regulation guiding where fuel stations are located. The last fire incident at Strive Energy petrol station in Ijigbo in Ado Ekiti destroyed multi-million property and no compensations were given to the victims. Must this continue?
"There are problems of economic recession, unemployment and general disillusionment in Nigeria and our oil marketers should not aggravate our sufferings here in Ekiti,” he said.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday granted Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Yakubu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge of money laundering and false declaration of asset.
At the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), begged the court to allow him travel to the UK to complete his medical treatment.
Raji informed the court that the defendant was undergoing medical treatment before he was summoned by the EFCC to return to the country.
He also pleaded with the court to order the release of the defendant's international passport which was deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions.
In his response, counsel to EFCC, Mr Ben Ikani, said he would not object to the application since it was based on health ground.
Andrew Yakubu
While leaving the request to the discretion of the court, Ikani however urged the trial Judge to release the passport to Raji, the defendant's lawyer.
In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed said he was disposed to granting the motion since it was not opposed by the prosecution.
Consequently, he granted the defendant three weeks permission to travel to the UK for completion of his medical treatment.
The court held that the three weeks period would commence from May 25.
It directed that one of his sureties must file a separate affidavit agreeing to be held liable should the defendant fail to return to Nigeria to face his trial.
Before adjourning the trial till July 6, Justice Mohammed directed Yakubu to surrender his international passport with the Deputy Registrar of the court on his return to the country.
The defendant was granted bail to the tune of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.
Yakubu was arrested following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
The EFCC raided his guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State and discovered 9.7 million dollars and 74,000 pounds hidden in a fireproof safe.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Chief Henry Ajomale on Wednesday said that the party was stepping up arrangements to welcome a chieftain of the People's Democratic Party(PDP) and former Minister of State, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro into its fold in a matter of weeks.
Ajomale,who gave the hint in an interview with newsmen in Ikeja, said Obanikoro was coming along with other bigwigs of the state's PDP.
The party chairman said Obanikoro and others had reached out to the party to resolve their issues with it and all was set for their formal defection.
He said Wednesday's defection of PDP bigwig, Prince Lukman Ajose, would open a flood gate of defections from the PDP to the APC in the coming days.
"We welcome Prince Ajose to the APC. His defection is a plus for us.
"But Ajose is not the only one joining us. Some of the bigwigs in the PDP, including Obanikoro, will be joining us soon.
"I don't want to give you a particular date but all I can tell you is all is set," he said.
Ajomale said the coming of Ajose into the party, as well as other PDP members, would add value to the party and enhance its electoral fortune.
He said their coming was particularly gladdening as the party was preparing for the council's polls and making early preparations for the general election in 2019.
Asked if the mass defection of PDP members into the party would not weaken the opposition and make the state a one party state, Ajomale answered in the negative.
He said since the PDP was not the only party in the opposition, it would be wrong to say the decimation of the party through defection would make the state a one party state.
The party chairman also said the party was stepping preparations to secure popular electoral victory for its candidates for the July 22 council poll.
He said that the party would ensure a level playing for all the aspirants of the party.
Ajomale described as false allegations in some quarters that the party was imposing candidates in some council areas.
The chairman said those making the allegations were blackmailers who were not sure of themselves and their ability to win at the party primary.
"It is pure blackmail. There is nothing like that. Everybody will be allowed a level playing ground," he said.
The Lagos State independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 22 for the council election and July 29 for run off.
Meanwhile, a credible source at the Lagos State House of Assembly newsmen that one of the remaining two PDP members in the assembly had already indicated his intention to defect to the APC and his letter would likely be read at the next sitting of the lawmakers.
Six of the eight lawmakers who won their elections to the House on the platform of the PDP had earlier defected to the APC on Feb. 16.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Wednesday said that without commitment to hardwork, no amount of praying and fasting can take Nigeria’s economy to the desired growth.
Yemi Osinbajo
He said that known great economies were built by men and women with patriotic zeal and not spirits, calling for all hands on deck to revive the economic fortunes of the country.
Osinbajo spoke during an interactive session with senior civil servants on the recently signed 3 executive orders on the ease of doing business in Nigeria held at the International Conference Center, ICC, Abuja on Wednesday.
The Acting President also emphasized the need for Nigerians to launch vigorously into agriculture, especially in rice production for food sufficiency.
He said: “Great economies and great nations, prosperity and abundance of nations and communities are created by men and not spirits. No matter how much you pray or fast our country cannot grow without some of us deciding to do the hardwork that makes Nations work.
“I am a pastor, a spiritual person, and I understand the law of sowing and reaping. It is a spiritual law that has tremendous physical implications. Every time that we delay, or frustrate what we can do today leaving it till tomorrow, we hold back the future,we too must reap what we have sown by experiencing delays. If you help others to achieve, if you help your nation you have sown good seeds you will find help and you will prosper too.
“So don’t see this as government policy. understand it as personal policy. Understand it as In the third executive order we address an issue which the president, President Muhamadu Buhari has described as a cornerstone of our economic policy. The Buy and Use Nigeria Policy. The President said at the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth plan that we must grow what we eat and make what we use.
“Just to give an example, we eat a lot of rice, and we import most of it. Yet we can grow enough rice to serve Africa. So we started a self sufficiency in Rice.”
Osinbajo who underscored the need to invest into the future told the civil servants that government policies cannot fully implemented to produce positive result without their input.
He said that they were strategic to making the executive work, warning them against stifling businesses by delaying their registrations.
“Every generation of people owes the next generation a debt. That debt is paid by ensuring that we provide for the means for the next generation to survive. Or at least we have a duty to ensure that we do not destroy the means of survival and prosperity of the next generation. But there are some people in every generation who have a special burden, a more important role than others in preparing for present prosperity and future abundance.
“These group of people are called public servants. You and I who are here today. I have served in the public service most of my adult life. As a University teacher, adviser to Federal Minister and Attorney General. I earned a salary so I understand how salary increases can be such good news. But most importantly I learnt of the power of the public service to change the social, economic and political story of a nation.
“The power house of the economy, the fastest and most efficient job creator are private businesses. Both small and large, investments both local and foreign. Everyone who starts a business, invests in an existing business or expands a going concern, creates opportunities for jobs, jobs mean money in people’s pockets, it means that whole families can survive, live well and pay taxes, so that government can continue to provide services, build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure.
“But small or large businesses cannot be created or can be frustrated out of existence if the environment for doing business in a country is harsh or difficult. It is the public service that provides the services that determine whether the business environment will be friendly and welcoming for business or whether it will drive away business and destroy opportunities for job creation.
“When I say public service I mean the executive, judiciary and the legislature. “So when a potential business owner wants to register a company, collect tax clearance certificate or obtain NAFDAC registration or SON certification, or expatriate quotas, or any other papers, approvals or certification from government, and we do not willingly and efficiently help him or her, we are killing the jobs and prosperity that he would have created.
“Every time we say come back next week to someone for something we can do today, we postpone prosperity of one person but in reality we postpone the prosperity of so many who would have earned something from the business. So every time that a public officer is an obstacle to business in any way he attacks the prosperity of our economy and he attacks our future because it means our children cannot find jobs”, Osinbajo said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okey Enalemah while making a presentation stated that promoting transparency and efficiency in business environment was key to realizing the objectives of the orders, urging the civil servants to imbibe the culture of discipline transparency.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA- SENATE Wednesday got a petition of N2.5 billion against Flour Mill of Nigeria over alleged termination of contract reached with TMDK Oil Traders limited.
The petition was laid yesterday by Senator Kabir Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central where he complained that the Flour Mill and the Oil Traders entered into a contract agreement of four years to supply diesel.
According to him, the contract was signed in 2014 to terminate in 2018, just as he said that in the process of carrying out the business, TMDK built tanks, adding that the Senate will not support situations where foreign companies would want to cripple Nigeria companies that ought to be encouraged to grow.
Senator Marafa vowed that he was prepared to take the matter to any to ensure that the company whose contract was terminated without going in line with contractual agreements find justice.
The matter was referred to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu led Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further consideration.
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided said that the Senate would for now stop the receipt of petitions until the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions exhausts all the existing ones.
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
No matter the outcome of the Europa League final tonight against Manchester United, 24 May will always have a special sentiment for Ajax and its fans.
On 24 May, 1995, Ajax managed to achieve the unthinkable; winning the Champions League with a team that was only 25 years old on average, beating Italian giants AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
Exactly 22 years later, Ajax have the opportunity once again to do something the club and its fans could not have possibly imagined. It is fitting, then, that the teams of then and now share so many connections beyond the iconic red and white jersey, as the Netherlands' most successful club will try to end its longest title drought in continental competition.
Edwin van der Sar, who was the goalkeeper in that famous Ajax side and won a Champions League with Manchester United to boot, is now the general director of the club from the capital. Former Arsenal player Marc Overmars, currently the director of football at Ajax, was another starter that night in Vienna, taking up duties on the left wing.
And with 18-year old Justin Kluivert in the side 22 years after his father Patrick became the youngest player to score a winner in a Champions League final, there might even be some historic on-pitch involvement, although the Dutch will be fearful of Manchester United's Daley Blind denying the club that his father Danny captained to the Amsterdammers' last European triumph.
The shadow of a team managed by another mutual acquaintance of both Manchester United and Ajax lingers over the final in Sweden – in 1995, Louis van Gaal was in charge of the Dutch club. Yet the current manager who has revitalized Ajax after a few stale years considers himself a disciple of the late Johan Cruyff.
Presidency has, Tuesday, said that the Nigerian economy, though slow, is emerging out of recession. It also said, for instance, growth has continued in agriculture and a notable positive turnaround has now been recorded in manufacturing and non-oil sectors, while a slowdown in negative growth rates is noticed in several more sectors.
A statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande said that the economy equally records an increasing reduction in sectoral negative growth.
Presidency gave the statement sequel to the report from Bloomberg, a private financial software, data, and media company that provides economic analysis of organizations or countries and presents reports for actions to be taken. The report claimed Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product, GDP shrank 0.5 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, compared with a revised 1.7 percent contraction in the final three months of 2016.
The report maintained that Nigeria's economy has continued to slump and has contracted for a fifth consecutive quarter in the three months through March as oil output declined.
However, in the report released Tuesday evening by the office of the Acting President, it said "the 2017 Q1 GDP figures released earlier today depict an overall picture showing the economy is emerging slowly out of recession."
It said the statement by the Presidential Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, on GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017 (q1 2017), indicate that the economy made a nearly two percentage point improvement from the first quarter of 2017.
“The latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the economy shrank by 0.52% in the first quarter of 2017 (Q1 2017).
Although the economy remains in recession this is the strongest performance in five quarters and shows a significant turnaround from the low of -2.34% reached in the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2016).
"This is nearly two percentage point improvement and also reflects the fact that the number of sub-sectors that experienced negative growth has almost halved falling from 29 sub-sectors for the whole of 2016 to 16 sub-sectors in Q1 2017.
"Agricultural growth remained in positive territory albeit growing at a slower rate of about 3.4%, no doubt due to seasonal factors.
Growth in manufacturing on the other hand returned to positive territory after five quarters of negative growth. It grew by 1.36% in Q1 2017 after falling to a nadir of -7.0% in Q1 2016.
"The solid mineral sector continued to justify the priority given to it by the Federal Government with high double digit growth for metal ores and quarrying at 40.79% and 52.54% respectively.
Growth in the oil sector remained negative at -11.64% although there was an over six percentage point improvement in its fortunes from the previous quarter.
"More significantly, the non-oil sector which accounts for about 90% of GDP returned to positive growth although at a marginal level of 0.72% in Q1 2017. This is the first positive growth in the non-oil sector since the last quarter of 2015.
"Headline inflation fell for the third month in a row to 17.24%, with core inflation also declining quite rapidly.
"However, food inflation remains of concern as it continues to trend upwards. This is mainly due to rising transport costs and other structural impediments to the movement of foods in the domestic market. The trade balance remained positive reflecting import contraction and relatively higher export revenues which grew year-on-year by up to 80.5%.
The overall picture that the figures show is that the economy is emerging slowly out of recession.
"This outlook is reinforced by positive trends in other indicators such as improved oil prices and increasing production, rising foreign exchange reserves, increased capital spending by the Federal Government as well as improved perceptions reflected in various purchasing and sales managers indices. Barring major economic shocks, it should still be possible to restore growth this year as projected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.”
Antoine Griezmann says he is ready to leave Atletico Madrid in order to pursue a dream of winning trophies consistently.
Antoine Griezmann
The France international has long been linked with a move to Manchester United or Real Madrid but appeared to commit his future to Atletico last week when he light-heartedly stated that he would only leave to join NBA side the New York Knicks.
However, Griezmann caused a stir on Monday when he said that his chances of moving to Old Trafford this year were a "six out of 10" as talk began to build of a possible world-record offer from the Europa League finalists.
The 26-year-old has followed up those comments by saying that his ambitions could tempt him to leave Atletico in the next transfer window, although their own recruitment drive could yet convince him to stay.
The "fashionable" Premier League, the Bundesliga or even the top flights in China and the United States could be appealing, he said.
"We finished third in LaLiga. It was the club's objective but the players want more," he said at the release of his autobiography on Tuesday, as quoted by L'Equipe.
"I want to win trophies. I've come to a point where I play really well and score goals but it's not enough. That's it.
"To win trophies is what I'm going to look for this summer from the moment I decide my future.
"I reached a final and a semi-final of the Champions League with Atletico. We're close but we're missing something.
"I'll see what the club will do. It depends on transfers. I don't know if they understand but all the players, the media, my family, know that I like football to win trophies, to live strong emotions. I want to taste it.
"If I have to move today it will be no problem. It could be to England because that's fashionable, to Germany, China or the United States. I'm ready to go."
Griezmann registered 26 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Diego Simeone's side last season.
Kano – The Kano State Branch of the Nigerian Fruit Sellers Association says its members only use carbide and not insecticides to quicken the ripening of fruits.Mangoes flood Zuba Fruit Market in Abuja on Friday (13/4/12). There Is Need to Preserve Our Seasonal Fruits. NAN Photo
The Chairman of the association, Malam Muhammad Umar, made this known on Tuesday in Kano.
Umar was reacting to reports alleging that fruit sellers in the state were using insecticides like balm, insect powder killer and other related chemical substances on unripe fruits to hasten ripening within a day.
"We are only using carbide in the ripening of fruits, and before we start using it we had to follow certain process which include the involvement of the Environmental and Occupational Health Unit, Kano State Ministry of Health," he explained.
Umar stated that the report of the public analysis conducted by the state Ministry of Health on the use of carbide in ripening fruits was approved to be safe.
However, the chairman said that certain recommended measures were being observed in the process.
He said that "the inner portion of the product should never be exposed.
"There should be no direct contact with the product and the carbide and lastly all rotten, damaged products should never be sold to consumers but should be disposed of.
"I assure you that we always do our best to ensure that members follow the recommendations by the state ministry of health," the chairman said.
According to him, apart from the approval by the state government in 2004, the association received additional approval from the Research Institute of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on the safe use of the carbide.
He, therefore, called on members of the public to disregard the false reports, adding "harmful insecticides have never been used to ripen fruits and we will never use them''.
The former Head of the Environmental and Occupation Unit, and Sarkin Tsaftar Kano, Alhaji Ja'afaru Gwarzo, confirmed being the signatory on the approval letter issued to the association.
Gwarzo, who is also a Special Assistant to the state governor on 'Sanitation Vanguard', said that "after a thorough investigation on the safety of the carbide in ripening the fruits by an analysis in 2004, we were satisfied with the method but with certain conditions".
He enumerated the conditions as listed by the chairman of the fruits sellers.
Ariana Grande: Salman Abedi, a 22-year old was identified as the suicide bomber who killed 22 people, including children, in an attack on a crowded concert hall in Manchester.Victim of Manchester terrorolice counter-terrorism network and our security partners, is to continue to establish whether he was acting alone or working as part of a wider network," Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said.
Police raided houses in the northern English city and arrested a 23-year-old man after Monday evening's attack, the deadliest in Britain for 12 years.
Prime Minister Theresa May called it an act of "sickening cowardice" targeting "defenseless children and young people".
Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against "Crusaders", but there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation.
"All acts of terrorism are cowardly," May said in a statement outside her Downing Street office after a meeting with British security and intelligence chiefs.
"But this attack stands out for its appalling sickening cowardice, deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives."
She said security services were working to see if a wider group was involved in the attack, which fell less than three weeks before a national election. The election campaign has been suspended for now as a mark of respect.
May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children's hospital in Manchester.
ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, United Kingdom yesterday, Monday.Victim of Manchester terror
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande on Tuesday, the Acting President who described the attack as “despicable”, condoled with Prime Minister Theresa May, the government and the people of the United Kingdom.
The statement read thus: “On behalf of the people and Government of Nigeria, Prof Osinbajo expresses heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the government and people of the United Kingdom in this period of grief.
“Describing the attack as a dastardly act and heinous crime, Acting President Osinbajo assures Prime Minister Theresa May that the prayers and thoughts of Nigerians are with the British people as they mourn the victims, many of the them being young people.
“Acting President Osinbajo is confident that light of the civilised world will always prevail against the darkness of depravity, and he trusts that Britons and citizens of other nations across the world will continue to show resilience and courage in the wake of such terrorist crimes.
“He prays that God Almighty will comfort the bereaved families and also wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.”
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Jabi, will tomorrow, rule on an application challenging the continued detention of the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, Ifeanyi Ubah, by the Department of State Service, DSS.
Justice Halilu adjourned ruling on the application, on a day the security agency, alleged that Ubah committed an economic sabotage punishable by death.
It told the court that the detained oil mogul was illegally divered about 84 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly called petrol), that was kept in his custody by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The DSS, in a counter-affidavit deposed by one of its operatives, Mr. Safwan Bello, told the court that the PMS Ubah diverted was valued at N11billion.
It stated that several effort by the NNPC to recover the PMS it kept in Ubah’s tank farm failed as the applicant had converted it to his personal use.
The agency maintained that Ubah’s action was capable of causing artificial scarcity of the product thus plunging the country not only into widespread scarcity of PMS but also in economic chaos.
According to the DSS, "The respondent (Ubah) was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime.
"The respondent refused to return the PMS to NNPC after repeated demands. The PMS is worth over N11bn. The action of the respondent is affecting the distribution of petroleum products to the populace.
"The action of the respondent is sabotage of NNPC's activities as it relates to distribution of petroleum products. If not for the urgent steps taken by the Federal Government, the action of the respondent would have plunged the country into widespread scarcity with its attendant effect on the economy”.
However, Ubah’s lawyer, Ifeoma Esom, has accused the DSS of surreptitiously securing an order to detain her client.
Esom alleged that the agency suppressed material facts when on May 10, it persuaded the court to allow it to hold Ubah in its custody for 14 days.
In an application anchored on section 298(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Ubah, told the court that “Capital Oil and Gas Ltd (COG) of which the respondent is the CEO has always been one of NNPC’s largest Throughput providers and this is evidenced by Throughput agreements entered into between NNPC subsidiaries and COG over the years.
“These Throughput agreements, in accordance with the norms and practice in the industry worldwide, allow conversion and diversion of IT products by the ‘Operator’ so long as the Operator is prepared to re-deliver the products (in terms of the current contract) within 7 days of demand by the products owner or to pay a penalty for non re-delivery.
“The penalty to re-deliver is expressly stated by the Contract to be a mere breach of contract remediable by the payment of penalty to the owner. The penalty is comprised of the cost of delivery of the products to the Operator’s tank farm with interest at Nibor+1.
“There can therefore be no issue of crime in conversion or diversion of products under a throughput contract (regardless of the ordinary connotations of those words).”
She revealed that the DSS earlier arrested Ubah at his house in Lagos on March 24 and kept him in its custody until April 14 when he was temporarily and conditionally released after he had been coerced into making payment of N2billion and executing various documents in favour of NNPC and AMCON.
Esom told the court that when Ubah returnes to his home in Lagos, in fear for his life and liberty should he renew his claims that he is not indebted to either NNPC Retail Ltd or AMCON as he had maintained before his incarceration, instructed his counsel to file an application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
“Notwithstanding the pendency of the suit and the service of the originating processes, the SSS again invited the Respondent to report to its offices in respect of the same allegations made by the NNPC and AMCON which is the subject matter of the suit.
“On the 5th of May 2017, the SSS arrested the respondent in Lagos and moved him to their Abuja office”.
Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said.
Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a "routine warning that goes to military officers.''
The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President).
Adesina said: "The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don't hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position.
"Let's take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.''
The presidential spokesman also debunked the assertion that the ruling party had failed in fulfilling its political obligations and promises to the electorate in view of the reported hardships being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was unfair to assess the performance of the Buhari's administration within its first two years.
"People can always express their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don't have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
"The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement.
"When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don't then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed.
"No. You can be accused of being atomistic using a small part to determine the whole. You can't write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark, that will not be fair.
"This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them is too early in the day because is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don't reach definitive conclusions in two years.''
Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke on the Human Rights records of the Buhari's administration, said the records were impeccable.
"The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, there are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms.
"The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to buttress assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
"As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
"Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.''
According to Shehu, the Buhari's administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land.
"I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the president will not allow him to get away with it.''
Laolu Akande, who spoke on alleged weak prosecution of corruption cases across the country, said: "The truth of the matter is that our criminal justice system does need a profound and deep reform.
"The important thing is that this government is working on it. As a matter of fact now, the Acting President has put together a national coordination prosecution team for all the prosecution trying to see how in the medium term we can bring some progress.
"But also working on judicial sector reforms on the long term on criminal justice system to strengthen both the investigation and prosecution at the courts.
"And I know it is going to take a while for us to address it," he said.
On food security, Akande revealed that the government had recorded tangible achievements in the nation's agricultural sector.
According to him, the committee on food crisis is still working, while the government has reduced importation of food items especially rice.
He disclosed that about 40,000 farmers in Kebbi state had become millionaires due to government favourable agricultural policies.
African Union Directors-General of Customs have been urged to resolve to implement Free Trade Area agreement (CFTA), to boost trade on the continent.
Sen. Hope Uzodimma, Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, made the call when he spoke to newsmen at the ongoing first extra-ordinary meeting of African Union Sub-committee of Directors General in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the implementation of CFTA would facilitate trade in Africa, adding that this can only happen if the CFTA was implemented with utmost transparency.
"I wish to encourage you to adopt a strong resolution, urging African heads of states and governments to implement CFTA which in Jan. 2012 they agreed to establish in 2017.
`This agreement was inspired by the initiative of an African plan for boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIATA).
" The focus of the leaders at the 2012 summit was to boost intra-Africa trade.
"This is to be done by increasing productive capacity, trade related infrastructure, trade finance, trade information and factor market integration,'' Uzodimma said.
According to him, lack of automation and marginal use of information technology was yet a major bane of trade facilitation in Africa.
He said that the waste of time and money at customs clearing point does not facilitate trade.
According to him, there is need for the application of high sense of patriotism, diligence and transparency to facilitate trade within the AU.
"As you know, there are allegations that some AU members countries conspire with countries outside the region to illegally adopt products from foreign countries as their own products.
"Thereafter, they stamp and ship from their port of origin to AU countries as though such goods were made in their countries, this unwholesome practice does not facilitate intra-Africa trade.
"You must therefore ensure that it is stamped out completely if the CFTA agreement is to have the desired impact'', he added.
Abuja – Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said. Femi Adesina Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a "routine warning that goes to military officers.''
The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President).
Adesina said: "The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don't hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position.
"Let's take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.''
The presidential spokesman also debunked the assertion that the ruling party had failed in fulfilling its political obligations and promises to the electorate in view of the reported hardships being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was unfair to assess the performance of the Buhari's administration within its first two years.
"People can always express their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don't have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
"The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement.
"When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don't then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed.
"No. You can be accused of being atomistic using a small part to determine the whole. You can't write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark, that will not be fair.
"This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them is too early in the day because is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don't reach definitive conclusions in two years.''
Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke on the Human Rights records of the Buhari's administration, said the records were impeccable.
"The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, there are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms.
"The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to buttress assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
"As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
"Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.''
According to Shehu, the Buhari's administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land.
"I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the president will not allow him to get away with it.''
Laolu Akande, who spoke on alleged weak prosecution of corruption cases across the country, said: "The truth of the matter is that our criminal justice system does need a profound and deep reform.
"The important thing is that this government is working on it. As a matter of fact now, the Acting President has put together a national coordination prosecution team for all the prosecution trying to see how in the medium term we can bring some progress.
"But also working on judicial sector reforms on the long term on criminal justice system to strengthen both the investigation and prosecution at the courts.
"And I know it is going to take a while for us to address it," he said.
On food security, Akande revealed that the government had recorded tangible achievements in the nation's agricultural sector.
According to him, the committee on food crisis is still working, while the government has reduced importation of food items especially rice.
He disclosed that about 40,000 farmers in Kebbi state had become millionaires due to government favourable agricultural policies.
The senate president in the seventh senate, Sen. David Mark, has weighed the developmental achievements in his state and Rivers and compares both using youths empowerment and other socio-economic achievements as a template.
Sen. Mark who went for the commissioning of the Rivers states newly constructed road in his address compared his state and Rivers in terms of developmental blueprints achieved.
Gov. Ortom empowering people with Wheel Barrows
According to him, ” This is not my first visit to commission projects in Rivers state, I was here last year to commission one of the roads. “I noticed the tremendous improvement in Rivers sate and the democratic process within.
“Most people are here commissioning roads, commissioning projects plus other developments achieved, but in my home state ‘Benue’ they gave out Wheel barrows to empower people. “So you can compare and contrast,” he finally said.
A trending video on social media claims more than five Nigerian policemen allegedly brutalised some motorcyclists in Anambra over unidentified offences.
In the video, the policemen are seen brutally beating the motorcyclists, and blood rushing out of one of them. Whats your take on the video?
Police allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in AnambraPolice allegedly brutalising motocyclists in Anambra
The Europa League final between Manchester United and Ajax will not be the same following the deadly terror attack in Manchester, the Dutch club’s coach Peter Bosz said on Tuesday.
“What happened in Manchester is something that we all feel at Ajax,” Bosz told his pre-match press conference at Stockholm’s Friends Arena.
“On behalf of the players and the staff, we at Ajax would like to express sympathy with the victims who unfortunately fell yesterday.
“The feeling that prevails is that the final doesn’t have the glow it should have.
“Tomorrow evening should be a football feast, but because of events in Manchester, we’re all affected, particularly as we’re playing against Manchester. It’s horrible. My heartfelt sympathies.”
Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured in a suicide bomb attack that targeted a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena on Monday.
Grande, who was unhurt in the attack, recently performed in Amsterdam and several of the Ajax players’ wives and children attended the concert.
“It’s devastating,” said midfielder Lasse Schone.
“Ariana Grande performed in Amsterdam two weeks ago. My wife and my child were there. It’s so close. It’s terrible, it’s horrible.
“Our sympathies go out to the victims’ friends and families. It takes away some of the sparkle of what will happen tomorrow.”
By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan A two-time senator at the National Assembly, Iyiola Omisore and some archaeologists have called on leaders in the country to resuscitate museums by proper and regular funding to make them attraction centres for indigenous and foreign tourists.
They made the call Tuesday during the international museum day at the Museum of National Unity, Ibadan.
Omisore who presented a keynote address at the event suggested that branding and increased social media presence; infusion of technology into display of artefacts, photographs and documents could attract tourists to museums across the country.
Other factors, he feels, could save the dying museums, include introduction of more flexible hours, multiple exhibition facilities; creation of inter school competitions in the museum to arouse the curiosity and research among youths would make museum enjoy good patronage.
While presenting the guest lecture entitled, ” Museums and Contested histories-Saying the Unspeakable in Museums, Dr Ogunfolakan Adisa from the Natural Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife underscored the importance of museums in national development.
According to him, museum plays pivotal role in national development. For instance, the artefacts of Civil War, Kiriji War involving Ijesa and Ibadan which are in our museum will constantly remind us that war is not good and that we should toe the path of peace.
He spoeaking further he said “When I went to Igboland, I saw the technology prowess of Igbo, some war equipment they manufactured during the Civil War, if not for museum which have all these artefacts, how do we know about African technology?”
He lamented that museums across the country are not well funded.
“We have to help these people. In developed world, you see people coming out to help. Our museums in Nigeria are dying. I call on well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of museums so that they can perform well,” he said.
The Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman who was represented by the Deputy Director and Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Elder Amos Olorunnipa, said, “museums as educational resource centres are veritable institutions for the promotion of creativity, innovation and inventiveness through their exhibitions and programmes”.
He called on institutions that have existed for 50 years to or more to set up museums to document their histories and on schools to make visits to the museum a compulsory part of their teaching process.
This, he added would greatly assist the misunderstanding of the past, an appreciation of the preset and the planning of a better future.
Awards were given to Senator Iyiola Omisore, Mr. Toye Arulogun, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Newton Jibunoh and Dr Segun Opadeji, Senior Lecturer, Archaeology and Anthropology Department, University of Ibadan.
Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila have written off the present structure of the Nigeria’s Presidential System of Government. Rauf Aregbesola
While Aregbesola clamoured for a Parliamentary system as the only viable way to solve the Nigeria problem, Gbajabiamila called for the remodification of the current system to fit into the local system.
The duo spoke on Tuesday at a special sitting of the Osun House of Assembly to commemorate the Governor’s 60th birthday anniversary where he was honoured with ‘Life Membership of the House’ and a lecture series was held in his honour.
According to the governor, the present system is not only cumbersome, “it is unsuitable for our own clime”.
According to him, Parliamentary system of government is the best system of government over and above “the current expensive and authoritarian Presidential System”.
“Nothing can be more incongruous than operating Presidential System in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“Anything short of true federalism is an aberration, but parliamentary system is the best way we can rule our country without hassles.
“While the current Presidential System tends towards authoritarianism, Parliamentary system gives everybody voice and make governance easier”, he said.
In his lecture, titled ‘Suitability of Presidential System of Government In A Multi-ethnic Democracy’, Gbajabiamila said, the current system is cumbersome as no one could specifically say which kind of the system is being operated in the country.
“Nigeria at one time or the other practiced all the system of Government – Presidential, Parliamentary and Unitary- but it is disheartening that we are still pondering on which system is suitable for us.
According to him, in Federal System of government , most powers are concentrated at the centre and this cannot be suitable in a multi ethnic society like Nigeria where there are issues of marginalisation, resource control among others.
Gbajabiamila, said there are too many responsibilities at the federal level, saying, this was the major reason why dividends of democracy hardly get to the grassroot.
“In democracy, power belongs to the people, but in Nigeria’s democracy, power has been taking away from the people leading to distrust, inter-ethnicity and quest for secession”, Gbajabiamila stressed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, while presenting the membership certificate to governor, said the honour was conferred on the governor based on his developmental strides in the state.
He said it was also provided opportunity to widen the scope of discourse on issues bordering on development.
Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila have written off the present structure of the Nigeria’s Presidential System of Government.
While Aregbesola clamoured for a Parliamentary system as the only viable way to solve the Nigeria problem, Gbajabiamila called for the remodification of the current system to fit into the local system.
The duo spoke on Tuesday at a special sitting of the Osun House of Assembly to commemorate the Governor’s 60th birthday anniversary where he was honoured with ‘Life Membership of the House’ and a lecture series was held in his honour.
According to the governor, the present system is not only cumbersome, “it is unsuitable for our own clime”.
According to him, Parliamentary system of government is the best system of government over and above “the current expensive and authoritarian Presidential System”.
“Nothing can be more incongruous than operating Presidential System in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“Anything short of true federalism is an aberration, but parliamentary system is the best way we can rule our country without hassles.
“While the current Presidential System tends towards authoritarianism, Parliamentary system gives everybody voice and make governance easier”, he said.
In his lecture, titled ‘Suitability of Presidential System of Government In A Multi-ethnic Democracy’, Gbajabiamila said, the current system is cumbersome as no one could specifically say which kind of the system is being operated in the country.
“Nigeria at one time or the other practiced all the system of Government – Presidential, Parliamentary and Unitary- but it is disheartening that we are still pondering on which system is suitable for us.
According to him, in Federal System of government , most powers are concentrated at the centre and this cannot be suitable in a multi ethnic society like Nigeria where there are issues of marginalisation, resource control among others.
Gbajabiamila, said there are too many responsibilities at the federal level, saying, this was the major reason why dividends of democracy hardly get to the grassroot.
“In democracy, power belongs to the people, but in Nigeria’s democracy, power has been taking away from the people leading to distrust, inter-ethnicity and quest for secession”, Gbajabiamila stressed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, while presenting the membership certificate to governor, said the honour was conferred on the governor based on his developmental strides in the state.
He said it was also provided opportunity to widen the scope of discourse on issues bordering on development.
Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday expressed divergent views on why they snoop their partners phones, emails and text messages.
Mrs Elizabeth Joseph, a civil servant told newsmen that though her husband uses a code to lock his phone, she has been able to decode it and snoop through his phone whenever she suspects him of hiding anything from her.
" He (the husband) is not aware that I have the code to his phone, so he leaves it with me to go and watch football with his friends, which gives me ample time to go through it and even his mails, text messages and pictures to know what he is up to.''
Also, Miss Bola Samuel, a banker, said snooping through her partner's phone from time to time keeps her abreast of his activities, "especially his `kuru-kere' moves."
"I don't see anything wrong with going through my partner's phone, which some people regard as stalking. I rather see it as protecting my interest to know if the relationship will yield fruit or I am wasting my time.''
According to her, she also gets an inkling of her partner's plan for their relationship through his text messages with his family members and friends , as well as eavesdropping on his conversation with others.
Similarly, Mr Emmanuel Chibuzor, a business man said he sees nothing wrong in snooping his partner's phone because ,"I bought the phone and I have every right to know who she communicates with and the nature of such conversation.
" I don't see anything wrong in going through my partner's phone without her consent because I got the phone for her, moreover we are both in a relationship, so we don't need to hide anything from each other,'' he said.
However, Mrs Ronke Ibrahim said she regretted going through her husband's phone without his knowledge because it affected their relationship.
" I was inquisitive and went through his phone without his consent and I saw some pornography videos and pictures in it, I immediately felt insecure. I also felt that I was not satisfying him sexually; I became scared that the relationship might end soon.''
On his own part, Mr Funom Adamu, stressed the need for couples to share vital information with each other, which he said would build mutual trust, respect and love in the home.
" Trust is an essential part of any relationship and snooping through the phone of a partner is one of the worst things you can do because it opens doors for misunderstanding, disappointment and pains.
"My wife has access to my phone, mail, ATM pin and other personal things because I have nothing to hide from her; moreover, this life is too short. What if something happens to me and she needs those things?
" Some people are professional cheats, but you will never see anything linking them or exposing their extramarital affairs on their phones, mail or other personal belongings,'' he said.
Adamu, said scooping on each other's phone was not necessary as it could lead to a breach of trust, become an addiction, which would subsequently affects the relationship.
Meanwhile, a relationship expert said snooping another person's phone without permission gives room for suspicion, mistrust and hurt for both partners, as well as contributes immensely to broken homes, relationship and marriages.
Mrs Precious Yusuf, said people who go through the phones or other personal items of their partners without their knowledge shows they lack trust, are possessive and feel vulnerable in their relationships.
" Snooping other peoples personal items without their consent shows lack of trust, understanding and respect for the person , which in most cases becomes a habit and leads to misunderstanding or an end of the relationship.''
Yusuf attributed insecurity, suspicious of cheating and hiding relevant information that might affect the relationship as reasons why people secretly go through the phones and other personal belongings of their partners.
" It is better to confront your partner and clear the air, rather than become suspicious to the extent of stalking the person all because you suspect the person is cheating or hiding something from you,'' Yusuf said.
Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), on Tuesday vowed to fight corruption with the last drop of his blood.
Addressing a massive anti-corruption rally in Abuja, Magu reaffirmed the determination of the commission to "trace and recover all ill-gotten wealth and bring the perpetrators to book''.
He said: "I stand before you today and make a solemn pledge never to give up the fight. Those who dread to be punished for their corrupt deeds should take notice that the EFCC is watching.
"It is time to weep for those who believe they can perpetually hold down Nigeria as a cow and milk her to death.
"It is time to weep for supposed men and women of honour who pose as anti-corruption fighters but when they think we are not looking, they plot and fund the collapse of the anti-corruption war.
"It is time to weep for those who want to be perpetually rich at the expense of our poor masses. Victory is ours because the days of impunity are gone.''
Newsmen report that the rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption walk staged by the EFCC to spur the masses into joining the anti-graft war.
It was planned to coincide with the second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration on May 29.
The walk, which began at the commission's Head Office in Wuse 2, at 8.45 a.m., witnessed a massive turnout of officials and other stakeholders.
They included representatives of the Inspector-General of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, civil society organisations and student unions.
The exercise took the participants from Wuse 2 through Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Shehu Shagari Way and front of the National Assembly Complex to the Federal Secretariat.
Dressed in branded red and white T-shirts, they carried banners and placards with different messages including "Enough of siddon look, join the crusade against corruption".
Magu said he was touched by the massive turnout, which he described as an eloquent testimony that Nigerians are fully in support of the fight against corruption.
He said huge gains had been recorded in the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration in the last two years as evident in the massive recovery and forfeiture of stolen assets.
He said: "The reign of impunity in the conduct of public affairs has been tamed to a considerable extent.
"By taking on the high and mighty in all sectors, the EFCC has proven that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
"All of these have been made possible by a new political climate in Nigeria under President Buhari, who has demonstrated the will to fight corruption by not interfering with the operations of the anti-graft agencies.''
Magu took a swipe at the corrupt elite who he said continued plotting to derail the anti-corruption programme of the current administration without remorse.
Their aim, he emphasised, is to return the country to the dark days when corruption and impunity reigned supreme.
" While many Nigerians are calling for stiffer punishment for the corrupt, the patrons of corruption now tell us that it does not pay to punish the corrupt!
"While we are sweating in the sun to express our collective hatred for corruption, they are busy in the air conditioned mansions plotting how to continue the looting.''
The EFCC acting chairman, who said the country could not afford to let them succeed, called on all Nigerians to rise up against corruption.
He noted that the fight required a consensus of all Nigerians to be won, adding that the anti-graft agencies could not do it alone.
Expressing similar sentiment, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, urged Nigerians to take up the fight against corruption.
Wabba said: "The corruption elite are saying that Nigeria is corrupt; we that are on the ground are also saying that the system is corrupt.
"The fact remains that there is systemic corruption in Nigeria, therefore, we Nigerian citizens must be ready at all cost to make sacrifice to make Nigeria a better place.''
He assured the EFCC of the support of Nigerian workers and citizens on the fight against corruption.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised parents to closely monitor the activities of children hooked on the internet.
"There are many negative posts on the cyberspace and they spur negative actions; parents must be more observant and be determined to protect their children," Ortom said on Tuesday in Makurdi.
Ortom, who gave the advice during an interactive session with Benue women, said that society was driven by the kind of information available to it.
"Information is power; it can make or mar a any society or its administration. Parents must always be on the watch," he said.
The governor suggested more interaction between parents and children, and advised parents to make it a duty to counsel the youths against negative pages.
He said that most crises and threats of insecurity had often resulted from information gathered from the cyberspace, and particularly noted that such information usually "move with the speed of light".
The governor commended the women for promoting growth in the agriculture, education, health and other sectors, and called for more efforts toward a better Benue.
In her remarks, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ladi Ajene-Ishegbe, said that the session was a platform for women to interact with government for first-hand information on government activities.
She urged women to monitor children against social vices and violence, noting that women were usually the worst victims of crises.
Also speaking, Mrs. Grace Okochi, President, Benue chapter of the National Council for Women Societies, urged women to vie for more elective positions so as to promote their interests.
"We have only seven women seeking local government elective positions in the 23 councils. The elections are coming up on June 3, so we want more women to come out," she said.
Prof. Leticia Nyitse of the Benue State University, in her speech, appealed for the promotion of girl-child education and the reduction of school fees for female students.
She urged the government to look into the training and retraining of teachers toward a better education system, and called for the employment of more qualified women to teach.
The Chairman, Sub-Committee of Directors-General of African Customs, Mr Happias Kuzvinzwa, says it is important to develop the capacity of African customs administrations to implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on the continent.
Kuzvinzwa, who is also the Commissioner General, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said given the importance of TFA to the development of African trade, it was important to upscale the capacity of custom officials involved in the implementation of the agreement in the region.
He, however, said that enormous resources were required to improve the capacity of the officials in the various customs formations in the region.
"There are so many trade facilitation initiatives that have been initiated by various customs administrations in Africa to facilitate trade but there is need to train all customs officials in all aspects of trade facilitation that a country may adopt.
" Since the challenges we face differ, we need to train them to understand the process."
He said that there were recommended and adopted best practices that the customs administrations could use to implement the agreement in the region.
He also told NAN that the meeting of the African heads of customs would also highlight some of the challenges inherent in the implementation of TFA and come up with the best approach on how to surmount the envisaged problems.
According to him, development and enhancement of capacity is mandatory in the area of automation of transit trade and automation of electronic cargo checking.
He said this was critical in promoting ease of doing business in the trade facilitation area.
Kuzvinzwa also said that the challenge of insecurity was also critical to the implementation of TFA, adding that the collaborative effort of all security agencies would help to mitigate insecurity in the region.
This, he said, could be archived through sharing of intelligence information among the security officials in the region.
KANO- The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III Tuesday called on the 19 northern Governor to invest on the small Scale Industireies to better the lot of ordinarily citizens across the region.
The Sultan of Sokoto
Sultan Abubakar who spoke in Kano during the second edition of Kano Economic Summit held at the Corronation Hall of Kano Government House said that direct investment on SME’s will create job that would ginger lasting peace in the region.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III said, “our people are not greedy like our elite who would want to have all, support the common man with small business to enable them have something to fall back on, and when you do this they would be happy,and we would have peace and decent society”.
Sultan who disclosed that Kano was his home, commended the development stride of Governor Ganduje in all spheres of human endeavours , adding that “I am here to strengthen him, and encourage him to do more”
Sa’ad Abubakar revealed that “we as traditional rulers are supposed to be seen not heard, and we are working underground to continue to help our political leaders, and we believe in their ability to create jobs , developed our economy and moved the country forward.
Abubakar III who picked hole on fast eroding general and societal norms said that “we have our culture and tradition, and we must strive at all time not to deviate because that was what made us different from others”.
Earlier in a speech, the emir of Kano underscored the need to invest in agriculture, adding that focus on the sector would surely change our economic fortune as a people and as a nation for good.
Sanusi II said that “I have repeatedly made it clear that economics was not rocket science , and Nation states that have developed accorded much emphasis on value creation, and these are often achievable through agriculture produce because it takes little to double or tripple the outcome .
The emir of Kano further said that ” its about giving farmers right education, how to do the right things , working with them, and giving them access to market”.
“We have worked with farmers in Kano, and Kaduna states, we have seen the borrower anchor programme in agriculture, its therefore easier to double our investment in the agricultural sector to get it right.”
Sanusi II said “we want to see the return of groundnut pyramid, but we don’t want to see Kano exporting groundnut, we want to see them in the oil mills where it would add value on the local economy.
