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
Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, today, assumes duty as its new General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA),
CNL is the operator of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (the NNPC/CNL JV) joint venture.
Mr. Brikinn replaced Mr. Deji Haastrup, who recently retired from the company after 21 years of service to the company and it's Corporation.
According to the Chairman and Managing Director, CNL, Mr. Clay Neff, "Esimaje was appointed to the position based on his demonstrated leadership, breadth of experience and proven ability to build effective relationships with our key stakeholders."
Esimaje Brikinn
Mr. Brikinn received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure in 1989 and a Master's degree in Production Engineering (Industrial Engineering option) from the University of Benin in 1993. He also holds a certificate in Sustainable Environmental Management from the College of Natural Resources of the University of California, Berkeley.
He joined Chevron Nigeria on April 1, 1996 as an Operator Trainee for the Escravos Gas Project and moved to the Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) department in year 2000 as a Field Public Affairs Representative, interfacing with community stakeholders in support of field operations and capital projects.
Within PGPA, he has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in Nigeria and the United States in the course of his career. These include: Community Engagement Representative, Government Affairs Representative, Community Engagement Coordinator, Social Performance Advisor, Manager Social Performance and Planning and Area Manager, PGPA West.
As Area Manager, he provided leadership in planning and executing Company's strategies for stakeholder engagement, social investment and social issues plus risk management in support of Chevron's operations and capital projects in the Niger Delta.
Lagos – Nigeria plans to sell N95 billion (302 million dollars) worth of bonds on Dec. 14, its last debt auction for the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said on Tuesday.
The office said it would sell N35 billion of a bond maturing in 2036; N25 billion of paper maturing in 2026 and N35 billion of debt maturing in 2021, using the Dutch auction system.
Results of the auction are expected to be released on the following day.
All the bonds on offer are reopenings of previous issues.
Africa's biggest economy issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit. (one dollar= N315.00) (Reuters/NAN
By Chris Ochayi ABUJA – The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Monday, called on Nigerians to discountenance the rumours making rounds that the Corps has distributed arms to its officers and men, saying it has no plan to include arms bearing as part of operations at the moment.
The FRSC in a statement issued in Abuja also urged Nigerians, especially the motoring public to disregard such claims as there is no basis of truth in it.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has issued a statement to dissociate itself from the rumours making rounds that the Corps has distributed arms to its Officers and Men, and calls on Nigerians to disregard such claims as there is no basis of truth in it.
The FRSC claimed that its Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi was misquoted when he decried the number of his staff that were killed by errant motorists avoiding arrests, which he said would have been avoided if the Corps were to bear arms.
He further stressed that even though the Operatives of the Corps have undergone regular arms training at different intervals from 1992, and more recently too, the Corps has no plan to include it as a part of the operations at the moment.Boboye Oyeyemi
With reference to the amendment of the FRSC Establishment Acts of 2007, which permits road traffic managers to bear arms in the same manner other sister agencies do, the statement noted that it has never been the priority of the Corps under the leadership of past and present Corps Marshals to implement it.
He concluded that it was pictures of Officials of the Corps that had undergone arms training that the same mediums misquoting the Corps Marshal are using to support the claim that the Corps now bears arms.
The Corps Marshal used the opportunity to call on motorists to obey traffic regulations and desist from harming operatives of the Corps who are only out to ensure that road crashes are reduced drastically.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insists the European champions aren’t prepared to settle for second place behind Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Group F despite the potential for an easier last 16 tie.
Madrid need to beat the German giants at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday to secure top spot and the second leg of their last 16 clash at home.
However, given Real can’t face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid even if they do finish second, as clubs from the same country are kept apart, winning the group could prove more dangerous with Bayern Munich or Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City potential opponents.
“We’re only thinking about winning. We’re not going to look at or think about other things,” said the Frenchman, who led Madrid to their 11th European Cup in his first season in charge in May.
“We want to finish top of the group.”
Real extended an unbeaten run stretching back to April to 33 games thanks to Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time equaliser at Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday to maintain a six-point lead over Barca at the top of La Liga.
Indeed, Real remain on course for five trophies this season having already pocketed the European Super Cup and with the Club World Cup to come in Japan later this month.Zidane
– ‘Still hungry’ –
“You have to highlight the side’s work rate,” added Zidane.
“Each player is very professional, they all work very hard, they are experienced but still hungry. They’ve won a lot but they still want to win more and more.”
However, despite the stellar start to his coaching career in line with his feats as one of the greatest players of his generation, Zidane remains humble enough to admit luck has been on his side during a rollercoaster ride in 2016.
“It’s true I’m lucky. I do what I love everyday. I have the luck to be at this great club,” he added.
“But it is not just luck, it is the hard work and passion for what I do that helps. I love football.”
Madrid received a double injury boost as Alvaro Morata and Toni Kroos returned to training on Tuesday leaving just Gareth Bale as Zidane’s only absentee.
By contrast, Dortmund suffered a double blow as Mario Goetze didn’t travel to the Spanish capital, whilst Marco Reus is doubtful due to a cold.
Reus missed the 2-2 draw with Madrid back in September, but has been a consistent thorn in Real’s side in six previous meetings since 2012.
Dortmund’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will also be out to impress.
The African Player of the Year has never hidden his desire to one day sign for Real and fulfil a promise he made to his Spanish grandfather before he passed away two years ago.
“In any moment he can make the difference,” said Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel.
“I believe it is normal he wants to play for Real Madrid at some point. I think all the best players want to play with the best teams in the world and Real Madrid are without doubt one of the best.
“Tomorrow there is always pressure to play in the Bernabeu and to play for first in the group. Auba likes pressure, he needs that pressure.”
And Tuchel believes the benefit from beating Madrid to top spot in the group will come from the confidence in deposing the European champions rather than an easier tie in the last 16.
“The confidence of winning or drawing here at this level, this atmosphere, that is the value of winning group,” he added.
“It is not an advantage for the next round from my point of view.”
Gov. Willy Obiano of Anambra on Tuesday welcomed the launch of the "Exercise Python Dance" by the Nigerian Army in the state and urged the people to cooperate with army in sustaining the relative peace in Anambra.
"They are not Army of occupation as being labelled by some people, especially on the online media.
"Nobody will be molested," Obiano told the people but warned criminal elements to steer clear of the state as the exercise would not be friendly to them.
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State
He recalled that when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, there was insecurity, making many indigenes to stay away from the state.
The governor, however, noted that the trend had been reversed with the task force he had set up to deal with the situation, adding that incidents of kidnapping and other forms of criminality had been checked in the state.
In a remark at the launch, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the exercise was a training programme like others launched in other parts of the country.
Buratai stressed that the exercise was part of the Army's constitutional responsibility to aid civil authority in maintaining internal security.
He warned that those who would want to disrupt the peace of the state would have themselves to blame.
…Tasks Public Service On Innovative Ideas Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday justified the massive investment of his administration on improvement of educational infrastructure and upgrade of curriculum to meet current realities, saying that education remains one of the critical tools to combat poverty and secure a better future for the State.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja after swearing-in a new Permanent Secretary and Tutor General for Education District Six, Mrs. Olabisi Olufunmilayo Onadipe, said the massive investment on education architecture and continues empowering and equipping of teachers were all in a bid to raise the next generation of Lagosians who will be ready to take on the challenges of the future.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with the new Permanent Secretary/Tutor-General District VI, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Olabisi Onadipe (left) and her husband, Mr. Akogun Kola Onadipe during the swearing-in of Permanent Secretary at the EXCO Chambers, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.
While alluding to the fact that the State Government placed high emphasis on education, Governor Ambode charged the new appointee to see her appointment as very critical to the future progress of the State, and as such, she must add value not only to the present administration and the public service, but the State.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with the new Permanent Secretary/Tutor-General District VI, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Olabisi Onadipe (left) and her husband, Mr. Akogun Kola Onadipe during the swearing-in of Permanent Secretary at the EXCO Chambers, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.
The Governor said the public service, as a vital institution primarily responsible for policy implementation, has been given a pride of place, and recalled that since inception of the present administration, a lot of attention had been given to appointment of only officers with credible record of performance into leadership positions.
He said no matter how good a policy is, its effectiveness in terms of achieving the desired impact would only be determined by the competence and commitment of those charged with the responsibility of implementation, a development the Governor said called for the need for greater sense of dedication.
According to Governor Ambode, "A lot of attention is given to ensuring that only officers with credible record of performance are appointed into leadership position in the public service. The global rating of Lagos State requires that only the best hands must be engaged to drive the key sectors of the State economy. This is the only way we can guaranty effective and efficient service delivery and synergy between the public and the private sector.
"I therefore use this opportunity to demand greater sense of commitment and responsibility from the leadership and the entire workforce in the State public service. You must be open minded and ready to embrace new and innovative ideas that are consistent with global practices."
Responding, the new Permanent Secretary thanked Governor Ambode for the confidence reposed in her, and expressed her readiness to discharge her duties effectively and efficiently.
The management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, Tuesday, said it has launched a campaign against vandalism and illegal activities aimed at ensuring adequate power delivery across its business network.
In a statement by its Head, Communications, Emeka Ezeh, and made available to Vanguard, the company stated that the development has been on the rise, despite numerous safety measures it put in place.
Part of such campaign, he said, included, "an aggressive public safety awareness campaign that involved interactive radio shows across the South-East States, as well as town hall meetings to educate and sensitise the general public on these high risk activities that are capable of terminating lives.
"EEDC has also completed plans to take this campaign to churches and schools (both secondary and tertiary institutions).
"As a responsible organisation, we are committed to safety as well as maintenance of safe environment within its network, and have procured adequate grounding equipment, operating rods and appropriate personal protective equipment worth millions of Naira for use by its staff, knowing the high risk involved in its day to day operations.
"EEDC has recently recruited additional qualified safety officers across its district offices to enhance the monitoring of activities within its network and to further ensure the safety of its workplace and network."
The company, however, reiterated its commitment in ensuring safety and values to the lives of its staff and customers.
Bothered by the dearth of potable drinking water faced by residents of Kedum, Kaani ward, in Ogoni community of Rivers State., the MMM-Nigeria', a community of mutual financial aid and donations, Port Harcourt chapter, Sunday, commissioned a borehole in the community, saying it’s its own little way of ameliorating the plights of residents in Kedum area and other neighbouring communities.
Member of the MMM-Nigeria, Port-Harcourt chapter during the commissioning of the Bore-Hole project in Ogoni, Rivers State.
A Guider in the 'MMM Community', Ndukwe Joseph Ndukwe, said the project was motivated by the desire of the group to affect the society positively especially now the country is faced with excruciating recession induced hunger and poverty.
“That is what defines us as a community of people providing financial help to each other on the principle of gratuitous, benevolence and reciprocity,” Ndukwe stated.
Present at the commissioning of the project were the MMM Nigeria, PH chapter number one man,Abiye Johnson (100k+ Guider); Nonso Onwuneme (100k+ Guider), other MMM Guiders participants, Kedum community leaders and members of the community who could not hide their joy.
It will be recalled that in June this year, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, launched the "Clean-Up of Ogoniland" at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. Ogoni-land.
However, since flag-off, the project had experienced hiccups.
But the MMM-Nigeria Port Harcourt, in less than a month constructed and handed-over the borehole to members of the Ogoni community.
The community head, who could not hide his joy, stated that when some delegates from MMM visited him and informed him of the project they intend bringing to their community and that they needed a land space for the project to be done, he was thinking that it was normal political promises but to his greatest surprise after three days, the work started and did not last up to a month to be completed.
The European Union on Tuesday approved Microsoft’s mega buyout of the professional networking site LinkedIn, provided the US tech giant meets commitments to allow fair competition.
The European Commission, the EU executive, said it approved the merger after Microsoft offered promises, including leaving personal computer manufacturers and distributors free not to install LinkedIn on Windows operating systems.
“The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of LinkedIn by Microsoft,” the commission said.
Microsoft’s $26 billion acquisition of LinkedIn was announced in June, the biggest-ever deal for a social media company.
“Today’s decision ensures that Europeans will continue to enjoy a freedom of choice between professional social networks,” EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.
Data has increasingly become a major driver for big acquisitions in the digital world, including the blockbuster buyout of messaging service WhatsApp by Facebook in 2014 that was waved through at the EU by Vestager’s predecessor.
By Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – The Police Service Commission said Tuesday that it has concluded the recruitment of some Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force.
This is in fulfillment of the directive of Mr. President, at a Security Summit in Abuja last year where he announced the federal government's decision to inject 10,000 police men into the Force.
The Commission in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, head of Public Relations said "PSC has conclusively completed the recruitment of the General duty applicants made up of 500 Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP), 500 Cadet Inspectors and, 7,500 Constables.
"It has also concluded the recruitment of 80 per cent of 1,500 specialists expected to be recruited into the Force and have shortlisted applicants who applied for some disciplines that require further professional/expert interview.
"These include engineering, laboratory scientists and technicians and community health officers. Date for the interview will soon be communicated to the shortlisted candidates.
Continuing the statement said, "The Recruitment exercise was based on merit, Federal Character and geographical spread and all the successful candidates went through the processes put in place for the exercise.
"These include State screening which involved the screening of the credentials of the candidates and physical screening such as height, sight, chest etc.
"The Commission in accordance with extant rules and its guidelines placed advertisements in several National Dailies inviting suitably qualified candidates. The adverts ran for six weeks from April 1st to May 13th, 2016.
"At the end of the six weeks period, a total of 911,438 applications comprising 262,462 applicants for Cadet ASPs, 211,832 applicants for Cadet Inspectors and 437,144 applicants for Constables were received electronically.
"A total of 338,250 applicants were later shortlisted also electronically and invited for screening at the State Commands of the Nigeria Police Force.
"This figure was made up of 44,684 shortlisted for Cadet ASPs, 87,736 for Cadet Inspectors and 205,830 for Constables.
"This process was followed through from Command to Zone and finally the National level where the successful candidates were selected.
"All through the recruitment exercise, the Commission was guided by its enabling law, recruitment guidelines and the Federal Character Principles as enshrined in both the Constitution and the Federal Character Act."
Meanwhile, the PSC said the names of successful applicants have been uploaded in the Commission's website, and the Nigeria Police Force website,
I am Evelyn, a lagos Based housewife and I have a very special issue that needs to be dealt with urgently, it is about to ruin my marriage of over 8 years. I and my husband had a very beautiful life together, but that was until two years into our marriage, just after we had our first and only child.`
Danny as I fondly call him had lost his job then and would not have me work, he said it was his duty to provide for his family and believed that our child would need all my attention.
I used to be a marketer at one of the leading banks, while he worked with an oil firm but was retrenched due to certain unclear circumstances.
The quest for a job took a toll on my husband because we had debts to offset, so many bills left unpaid.
During that period, Danny will go out very early only to come back very late at night. The time spent however, did not reflect on our economic status.
We were not begging but we could tell that the family was digging too deep into its reserves. After about a year and no serious job forthcoming, Danny decided he would go into a business of his own.
He started a business with the little we had saved over the years, he gave it his all, time, body and soul.
Danny could be very determined and that was the spirit he put into the business, however, it was our home that suffered the brunt.
Gradually I began to feel the detachment from him, he was more connected with making the business boom, there was little or no time for me and my little boy.
Our sex life was almost dead and when we did have anything intimate it was shabby at best.
He gave numerous excuses of why his performance had drastically come to an all time low, from business thoughts to the Lagos stress that is always tied to the ever present gridlocks for no just cause.
I cried severally because i was starved not just of both love and s/.ex, perhaps you might think I am vain but please don't judge me till you have walked a mile in my shoes.
Danny could not hold his own for even five minutes, no sooner than he gets in and the milk is spilt. He said he had tried several things but they just don't work.
For months and then over a year, things continued the same way. After a while, I gave up totally, resigning to fate.
Good thing is, the business started to grown miraculously, but the more it grew, the distant my husband became from me.
There was no day without a meeting, the weekends were spent virtually at his business place, only on rare occasions did I and my son go visiting there.
I was idle, and perhaps that was the avenue for certain things to happen, things I am not so proud to mention.
The most crazy of all that I began to indulge in, is basically living on socio-media. While I bore my heart in subtle Tweets and Facebook posts, I wore a hypocritical look on Instagram. My photos bearing faked smiles, hid my inner torment, but there was this guy who could read between the lines, he introduced himself to me as George.
He was about 10 years younger than myself and twenty years younger than my husband. But he was smart and witty, I was caught off-guard.
George made me pour my heart to him in such a way that I felt exposed, and before I could blink, we were dating.
From internet chats we advanced to calls and texts, before I knew it, I was inviting this young man into my matrimonial home.
He was young but George sure did know how to treat a lady, there was never a boring moment with him, as his wits exuded effortlessly.
Soon I was almost forgetting that I had a husband, it was more like living with yet another flat mate, as all we did whenever my husband got back from work was brief chats (boring) and off to bed.
Whenever he got into his room to sleep, I got talking with George under the guise of staying with my tender son. We would do all sorts of crazy stuffs over the phone and I felt like a teenager again.
Please don’t blame me at all as my body is not a stone. The first day I and George made love, it stirred a wild passion in me and I could not get enough of him. I would invite him over on certain weekends, we would meet up at his place on other days. One faithful day after making fun I used woman trick to know what he is using to satisfied me for 40 minutes with his big rod because I won’t lie to you I always scream ‘is enough, please am satisfied’ but this guy rod doesn’t get tired.
Thank God George revealed his secret to me and I quickly try to find George’s big rod and 40 minutes performance secret. Immediately I got it, I dropped George because I still love my husband and I believe that he can do better too with this secret. Click Here For the secret https://goo.gl/brLgCG (Read Testimonials Of Other Men)
Few days after, my husband birthday came up and I presented him a gift. You care to know the kind of gift that I presented to my husband?
Hmm! I presented George big rod and 40 minutes performance secret, my husband asked me what it is though and I explained to him that my friend’s husband is using it to satisfied her and that is the secret of their happy home. https://goo.gl/brLgCG
My husband applied the secret gift same day, we made love that night and his performance was improved a little bit because i enjoyed it though.https://goo.gl/brLgCG
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By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – As against the hue and cry trailing the social intervention programme where 200,000 jobless graduates had been engaged by the federal government, the Presidency Tuesday said it has appointed 36 focal persons across the federation.
The clarification was sequel to the concerns raised by some local government councils especially in Lagos State that they were not aware of the programme.
Similarly, some applicants had also cried out about the inaccessibility of the web portal of the job otherwise called N-Power.
The Presidency which spoke through the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande, advised the applicants to look for the focal persons in their states for proper guidance rather than going to the local government councils.
“Lagos State like all the 36 states of the Federation has appointed a focal persons for the N-Power programme. It is the Lagos State Focal person that is in charge of deployment. Why not ask the focal person who knows rather than asking local govts?
It is the State that will deploy to local govts.
“We have met with all Focal persons appointed by the states/FCT and we know they are busy working on the deployment. FG is ready to pay once the states deploy.
“And those selected should be paid this month-Dec. In some states, the Govs picked Commisioners as focal persons, and in some cases the Govs picked Special Advisers or Assistants. We know some states have started deploying indeed”, Akande said.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it will soon pay players and officials of the Super Falcons all their entitlements for winning the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON).
A statement by NFF's Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, quoted the Federation's General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, as saying the money for this was however not available at the moment.
"The Federation is not happy about owing players and coaches. But it can only continue to seek their understanding and those of hoteliers and travel agents, as well as its management and staff until the situation improves.
"There is no gainsaying in the fact that there is a severe economic challenge in the country now and all organisations, whether government or private, are feeling the pinch. But, it is not government's doing.
"We know we have financial commitment to the players and officials of Super Falcons, and we have not at any time stated otherwise. But the money is not readily available at the moment.
"I appeal to them to understand the situation of the Federation, to understand the situation of the country at the present and exercise patience.
Super Falcons in Cameroon
"We will pay them all monies they are being owed as soon as we receive same from government, just as we paid the national under-17 team's players and officials who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile last year, after the tournament.
"Just as we paid coach Samson Siasia's wages as soon as we had the funds after the Olympics.''
Sanusi also recalled that the Super Eagles were owed monies for the match against Tanzania and were paid when funds for that match were made available by government.
"We still owe the Super Eagles for the matches against Zambia and Algeria, but the memos have gone to government and are being looked at.
"But we must commend the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who has been energetically pushing the cases of the various national teams.
"We have sent the memo for the Women Africa Cup of Nations in October and it is being processed as we speak."
Sanusi stated that NFF had meanwhile embarked on an aggressive drive to find a permanent solution to the issue of owing players and coaches.
He also stated that corporate players were now listening to the NFF's leadership and the Federation's finances would soon improve.
"We are also working to get monies outstanding from former sponsors of the national teams, to complement what we are expecting from government.
"In relation to all these, we are in the process of sorting out our TSA domiciliary accounts so that we can receive our due grants from FIFA and CAF, including the $80,000 prize money from the AWCON, once it is available.''
The NFF General Secretary also appealed to media representatives to understand the plight of the Federation, and temper their write-ups with some understanding.
"This morning, I was reading a report that the Federation is yet to pay the Super Falcons one kobo. That is not correct.
'"While the team was in Cameroon, the NFF sourced for money from one of our sponsors and paid the players N500,000 each and also paid the technical crew and backroom staff.
"Our friends in the media should make the effort to clarify whatever information they have before going to press.''
While applauding the Falcons for their tenacity and total dedication to duty in Cameroon in spite of low morale, Sanusi confirmed that a reception would soon be held for them.
"NFF is waiting for word from government to know when the African champions will be hosted to a state reception.
"The reception for the senior women national team is out of our hands. We are waiting on the Federal Government and as soon as we have confirmation of the date, we will inform the players and officials to regroup in Abuja," he stated.
The Falcons won the 10th AWCON on Saturday in Yaounde by beating hosts Cameroon 1-0 for their eighth continental title.
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has appealed to state traffic agencies to place road safety above revenue generation in their operations.
Oyeyemi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he declared open the maiden meeting with Heads of State Traffic Management Agencies.
He said while fines were necessary to curtail road traffic excesses , it should not be the main priority.
Boboye Oyeyemi
He said the UN Decade of Action 2011-2020 for road safety demanded that member countries provided a direction toward achieving the vision for road safety using the safe system approach, and not otherwise.
The corps marshal said that all over the world, road safety was a shared responsibility and Nigeria could not afford to jettison it.
He said this was why it became was necessary for states to establish their own traffic agencies.
He said that out of the 36 states of the federation, 16 states had established traffic management agencies through the enactment of appropriate laws by their respective Houses of Assembly.
Oyeyemi said the meeting was aimed at activating the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) which was Nigeria's response to UN decade of Action and to measure Nigeria's capacity to deliver on road safety.
He said the overall objective of NRSS was to establish an integrated national approach toward reducing incessant occurrence of deaths and serious injuries as well as damage to property as a result of crashes.
"The NRSS document recognised that road safety is multi-faceted and therefore, outlined the responsibilities of various tiers of government and public and private sectors.
"It sought to harmonise the different road safety efforts by emphasising the vison, goal, purpose, output as well as the initiatives for road safety management in Nigeria.
"The FRSC, even with its powers to operate on all roads of the federation, has consistently advocated for joint ownership of road safety by all Nigerians and for the states to give desired direction within their domains,''he said.
The corps marshal also called for the harmonisation of all road traffic offences in the country under the National Road Traffic Regulations and adoption of the offender's register to have a uniform offences regulation.
"Synergy is crucial to effective road safety administration without which the nation's roads would degenerate into anarchy.
"I urge all state traffic agencies to respond promptly and tow broken down vehicles from the roads to avoid accidents and to always help in complementing the effort of FRSC,'' he said.
Responding, Mr Mohammed Zarewa, Managing Director, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) , commended the FRSC for initiating the meeting.
Zarewa said this would give the agencies an avenue to brainstorm on traffic challenges.
He appealed to the FRSC to make the meeting a quarterly event so as to equip states with more information and training to further strengthen traffic in their domains while curbing crashes.
Also speaking, Mr Chris Olakpe, CEO, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), urged traffic agents to be friendly and approachable.
Olakpe also urged state governments to collaborate on the highways in order to meet up with traffic challenges in their states.
He said that Lagos would collaborate with Ogun so as to ease traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. (NAN)
By Henry Umoru ABUJA- STRONG indications have emerged that the controversial Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIB) would soon be passed as the Senate has concluded plans to hold a public hearing on it Wednesday.
The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIB) passed second reading on Tuesday, November 1st, 2016.
The PIB governance legislation, which has been stalled in successive Assemblies, has reached its fastest stage in 16 years.
When passed, it would set the stage for the breaking up of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into two commercial entities which will be limited by shares.
The two entities will be known as the National Petroleum Company and the National Assets Management Company.
The Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) said unless proactive steps were taken, more than 50 minority languages in the country might become extinct in a few years.
President of the association, Prof. Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche, disclosed this in Jos on Tuesday at the ongoing five-day annual conference of LAN holding at University of Jos.
Ohiri-Aniche, who was represented by Prof. Harrison Adeniye, spoke of the urgent need to revive moribund minority languages because of their importance to the cultural good of the country.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to "reawaken" the national language policy to prevent the minority languages from going extinct.
"Let me use this opportunity to advise the Federal Government on the need to reawaken the national language policy project which is moribund already.
"There is also an urgent need to establish language centers to prevent possible extinction of most minority languages in the country," he said.
The LAN president stated that the establishment of the centres to teach local languages will help revive some languages already extinct.
"We would like to use this opportunity to remind you, sir of the promise made on behalf of the university to establish the centre for minority languages in your institution.
"We know this centre when established will go a long way in documenting and revitalizing well over fifty languages, most of which are moribund," he said.
He urged parents to always speak to their children in their local dialects to enable them to speak in the tongues.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, charged the association to revive moribund Nigeria minority languages.
Maimako, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, said the use of local parlance among Nigerians had decreased.
According to him, linguists have what it takes to address the "unfortunate" situation of language and cultural decline in the country.
He said, "I enjoin you as teachers, scholars and professional researchers in the academic discipline of linguistics as well as in other related areas of language studies to deliberate and fashion out viable means of readdressing the inadequacies relating to the documentation and revitalisation of minority languages in Nigeria."
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 29th LAN national conference attracted participants from tertiary institutions across the country in a bid to find sustainable ways to prevent minority languages from dying. (NAN)
By Joseph Undu As residents of Lagos and Ogun States travelling along Lagos –Ibadan expressway groan everyday over hectic traffic on the road, the Assistant Inspector of Police, zone 2, Kayode Aderanti have assured of free flow traffic on the road during yuletide.
Aderanti who went on inspection tour of the ongoing construction work on the road alongside the Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP. A. Iliyasu, Operation Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, M.O Olapade, Controller of Works Ogun State, Engr. Poppla Olukayode and many other top security personnel said it has become expedient for both agencies of government to synergies to ensure that people who would be travelling to various destinations across Nigeria during this yuletide season do not have any hiccups on the way.
He said: "We are here on the instruction of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and Ibrahim Idris to carry out a comprehensive assessment of all the security challenges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and to see how the road network was getting ready for use during the Yuletide. "You will recall that in the past few weeks the gridlock on this expressway has resulted to traffic accidents and insecurity. Because of the over 30 million people in Lagos and thousands of vehicles that would be travelling on this road, it is our duty to ensure that people going out of Ogun and Lagos have a smooth and easy ride."
"We are going to do this in synergy with other relevant state and federal government security agencies such as FRSC and the Federal Ministry of Works. We want to adopt cooperation and togetherness to solve this problem. The police will provide adequate security to both the contractors and the FRSC and would ensure that our men are deployed in a way that anybody driving through this way will feel safe.
"We would provide the kind of security that even the contractors would be willing to work in the night." He said. The AIG also visited Julius Berger Construction Company Plc and R.C.C, the companies handling the project where the Health and Safety Manager of Julius Berger, Mr. Philip Geddes said the Lagos-Ibadan and Sagamu Interchange would be opened in the next two weeks.
According to him: "The company was working tirelessly to ensure that the roads and the bridge were ready for use by the public before Yuletide. We are constantly working to ensure this happens. We have towed vehicles and we have security agents on ground to ensure all these are possible,'' he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would deploy 10,294 staff to conclude the re-run National and State Assembly elections in Rivers scheduled for Saturday.
INEC which stated this in its daily bulletin issued on Tuesday in Abuja that 14 categories of staff would be deployed to make up the 10,294 figure.
The categories according to the commission, will include three Returning Officers for the three Senatorial Districts (DC); eight Returning Officers for Federal Constituencies (FC) and 10 Returning officers for State Constituencies (SC).
INEC added that the categories include 23 Local Government Areas (Collation Officers; 221 Registration Area (RA), Collation Officers; 57 Collation Officers (for Collation only at RAs and 231 Supervisory Presiding Officers.
Also to be deployed it said were 1,840 Presiding Officers; 6,609 Assistant Presiding Officers (I, II and III) and 661 Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs).
Others are 363 Reserve APOs; 21 Constituency Supervisors; 24 LGA Supervisors and 223 RA Supervisors.
The elections will take place across 21 constituencies which include three senatorial districts; eight federal constituencies; and 10 state constituencies.
The three senatorial districts are Rivers East Senatorial District; Rivers West and Rivers South-East.
The eight Federal Constituencies are; Akuku-Toru/Asari Toru; Degema/Bonny; Okrika/Ogu-Bolo; Etche/Omuma; Ikwere/Emohua; Khana Gokana; Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni.
The Bulleting said that State Constituencies where election would also hold were Eleme, Gokana, Asari-Toru I, Asari-Toru II, Andoni, Khana II, Etche II, Ikwere, Bonny and Degema.
The elections were, however, disrupted by violence as a result of which they were suspended on March 19.
As at the time of the suspension of the elections, the exercise was at different stages.
The elections had been concluded in some constituencies with the declaration of results and return of winners by the respective returning officers.
In some areas, collation had been concluded but no declaration or return made.
In yet some other areas, voting had been concluded and collation was on-going but yet to be concluded.
In some places, voting had been concluded but collation yet to commence, while in some other places, there was no voting among other challenges.
Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday returned to the negative with indices shedding 0.28 per cent amid loses by major equities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that market capitalisation lost N25 billion or 0.28 per cent to close at N8.831 trillion compared with N8.856 trillion posted on Monday.
In the same vein, the All-Share Index which opened at 25,743. 03 shed 71.8 points or 0.28 per cent to close at 25,671.23.
NAN also reports that Nestle, one of the most capitalised equity on the NSE led the losers' table, dropping by N10 to close at N805 per share.
It was trailed by Guinness with a loss of N4.01 to close at N76.32 and Dangote Cement dipped N1.84 to close at N158.16 per share.
Nigeria Breweries was down by N1 to close at N144, while Cadbury depreciated by 15k to close at N11.15 per share.
On the other hand, Total led the gainers' table, growing by N28.29 to close at N304.44 per share.
Forte Oil followed with a gain of N7.36 to close at N79.30 and Flour Mills gained 49k to close at N18.99 per share.
NASCON added 30k to close at N6.95, while Port Land Paint increased by 18k to close at N2.08 per share.
In spite of the drop posted by the market indicators, the volume of shares traded closed higher as investors staked N2.49 billion on 189.41 million shares transacted in 2,894 deals.
This was in contrast with a turnover of 175.06 million shares valued at N3.14 billion traded in 3,048 deals on Monday.
Diamond Bank was the toast of investors with 66.55 million shares worth N57.85 million.
FCMB Group came second with an account of 26.15 million shares valued at N26.16 million and GT Bank sold 13.87 million shares worth N320.42 million.
FBN Holdings transacted 13.40 million shares valued at N44.42 million, while NEM Insurance traded 12.36 million shares worth N8.79 million. (NAN)
The Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis has called on the Federal and state governments to ensure improved coordination and synergy for the well being of the Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East.
Sen. Shehu Sani, Chairman, the Chairman of the committee, made the call on Tuesday at a public hearing in Abuja.
He said that the synergy became necessary to make life comfortable for the IDPs.
Sani said, " The suffering of the IDPs was not as a result of lack of funds, donations or lack of empathy.
"It is due to lack of coordination and synergy in the laudable initiatives of humanitarian crisis management by both state and federal governments.''
"The lack of coordination can be seen in the executive's intervention initiatives,'' the said.
He noted that the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative was designed to integrate all actors and actions of humanitarian crisis management into one coordinated national roadmap.
He, however, observed that it had been operating independently from yet another committee.
Sani decried that IDPs were faced with multiple challenges, including lack of food, shelter and clothing and sexual abuse among women and diversion of humanitarian materials by "some unscrupulous agents of devils."
He, however, noted with delight that international donor agencies were scaling up their humanitarian responses to the starving and malnourished children in the North-East.
Declaring the session open, President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki also stressed the need by stakeholders to strengthen humanitarian response coordination to ensure life-saving assistance to about 5 million people.
The Deputy Senate President, Sen.Ike Ekweremadu, represented the Saraki at the occasion.
Saraki, was represented by said that it was time for government to give a clear directive on which organisation was supposed to be the lead agency to coordinate the response to the ongoing crisis.
"Currently, there are two agencies the international community has been told to liaise with for the purposes of coordination.
"This is not a sustainable or functional solution. I hope government can move expeditiously to harmonise the necessary efforts with international partners," Saraki said.
He said that with lean resources and as responsible representatives of the people, the legislators must ensure that the resources set aside for the improvement of the life of the IDPs were judiciously applied. (NAN)
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
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday nominated his African-American former campaign rival Dr Ben Carson to become the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Trump made the announcement in a statement by his transition office.
Carson was among the 16 candidates who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination.
However, Carson quickly endorsed Trump after he dropped out of the contest in March, and was loyal but regularly critical of Trump.
"I am thrilled to nominate Dr Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities.
"We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities.
"Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans.
"He is a tough competitor and never gives up," Trump said in the statement.
The statement quoted Carson as accepting his nomination to serve in the Trmp's presidency.
"I am honoured to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration.
"I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need.
"We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation's housing needs are met," Carson said.
Carson became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33 and became famous for his groundbreaking work separating conjoined twins.
President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Prof. Segun Ajibola, has said the institute needs an amendment to its enabling Act in order to sanitise the nation's banking sector. Ajibola said yesterday in Lagos that the Institute would soon propose to the National Assembly an amendment to the CIBN Act of 2007.
According to the CIBN president, the proposed amendment to the Act will bring every practitioner and operator in the banking sector under the Institute's direct regulation.
"We want to propose amendment to aspects of CIBN Act No 5 of 2007 that deals with our membership. We want the membership to cover anybody that has something to do with banking and finance in Nigeria, including consultants and members of boards of directors of banks, who could be subject of ethics and professionalism, to come under our umbrella," Ajibola said.
He said that the proposed amendment would also help in enforcing rules and regulation and ensure that ethical codes of conduct and professionalism in banking were maintained.
"One area we want to strengthen is the area of professionalism and ethics; our enabling Act empowers us to play advocacy roles for stakeholders and to also enforce standards and code of conducts for operators in the banking environment.
As at today, most bank staff have signed our code of conduct, surrendering themselves to disciplinary process and procedures of the Institute.
"We also have disciplinary tribunal that has the power to discipline any erring member," he said.
Ajibola said that the CIBN was charged with the responsibility of conducting the Chartered Institute of Bankers' examination in the Gambia, adding that Liberia and Serra-Leone would follow soon. He said the CIBN had created an Ideas Portal (i-portal) where its members and stakeholders could access and make suggestions on any issue relating to the Institute.
Ajibola became the 19th President of CIBN on May 14 this year.
Ghana is a resource-rich west African country where worries about the economy are set to dominate a December 7 presidential election.
– Major producer of cocoa, gold –
Ghana is the world’s second biggest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast and Africa’s second biggest gold producer after South Africa. Those commodities are its biggest exports, followed by diamonds, bauxite and manganese.
In December 2010, Ghana also started pumping crude oil from an offshore field discovered in 2007.
Ghana was once hailed as a regional growth model but was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2015 for a bailout as global commodity prices tanked.
According to the World Bank, one quarter of Ghana’s 27.4 million people live in poverty. Per capita income in 2015 came to $1,480 (1,400 euros) as the economy grew by 3.4 percent.
A 2016 UNICEF report found that 3.5 million Ghanaian children live in poverty, including 1.2 million in households unable to provide adequate food.
The country lacks infrastructure, especially sanitation, and Ghanaians endure power blackouts and rising inflation.
– Independence pioneer –
Ghana was known as the Gold Coast in colonial times, when it was under British rule. In 1957 it became the first sub-Saharan African state to win independence, under nationalist leader Kwame Nkrumah.
After Nkrumah, the most influential of the country’s leaders has been Jerry Rawlings, who came to power as an air force captain in 1979. He organised elections and installed a civilian regime, and although he mounted a second coup in 1981, Rawlings brought in a constitution that has proved a stable basis for democratic rule.
Current President John Dramani Mahama is standing for re-election.
– Ashanti kingdom still powerful –
Modern-day Ghana is home to the Ashanti people, a nation and ethnic group native to the Ashanti Region which has wielded power in the region for over 300 years.
Built on the wealth of gold reserves, the Ashanti empire was the richest in Ghana. At its peak it extended into neighbouring countries and fiercely resisted British colonial rule.
Ashanti monarchs preside over an area that is 10 percent of Ghana’s total area of 238,537 square kilometres (92,000 square miles) and the kingdom is home to around five million people.
Most Ghanaians are proud of their royal past and the country was plunged into grief when Ashanti queen Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II died on November 17, 2016 at the age of 111.
– Diplomacy and mediation –
Ghana has played an important mediation role in recent wars and crises that have affected its neighbours, and it participates in UN peacekeeping activities.
Ghana’s Kofi Annan served two terms as UN secretary general from 1997 to 2007, and has won the Nobel Peace Prize.
US President Barack Obama chose Ghana for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa in 2009.
– Cape Coast: slave trade bastion –
Cape Coast, the former European colonial capital, was once the largest slave-trading centre in West Africa from where slaves were shipped to Europe and America.
Now a fishing village, it has become a major tourist attraction since Obama visited with his family.
The US Senate on Monday published the so-called Plum Book, the official list of some 9,000 federal appointments to be made by President-elect Donald Trump.
The list ranges from the very highest presidential appointments — cabinet secretaries and the like — to such mid-level senior postings as under secretaries, heads of government agencies and a number of diplomatic and military posts.
The book lists the grade level and salary for each position.
In Paris, for example, the new president will have at his disposal the positions of US ambassador to France and Monaco, US representatives to UNESCO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as the head of the European office of the National Science Foundation (annual salary: $135,783).TRUMP
Unlike career bureaucrats, who enjoy job security, the political appointees serve at the pleasure of the president and must pack their bags when a new administration comes in.
Trump must recruit thousands of people to fill those posts as he takes over the reins of government upon his inauguration on January 20.
The president-elect’s transition team website, greatagain.gov, includes a link to a page for submitting applications.
At least 65,000 people have applied, The Washington Post reported.
However, it estimates Trump may not fill more than 4,100 of the posts by January.
For one thing, the hiring process takes time.
The Senate must first vote to confirm each nomination.
Each candidate’s resume and background must be reviewed, particularly those applying for jobs with access to state secrets.
Applicants must each provide some 2,800 pieces of information in response to 295 individual questions, according to the White House Transition Project.
Trump could also leave some posts vacant in a bid to shrink the federal government’s size.
Others are already filled by career officials or those with set terms of office, such as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
By: Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – The federal government Monday said the importation of vehicles into Nigeria through the land borders have been banned.
According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, “The prohibition order covers all new and used vehicles.
Adeniyi said, “The ban is sequel to a Presidential Directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigeria Sea Ports only.
“The order takes effect from 1st January 2017.
Explaining further, he said, “The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of Rice, whose imports have been banned through the land borders since April 2016.
“Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilise the grace up till 31st December 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighbouring ports.”
Kano – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday renewed Federal Government's resolve to support farmers and operators of small scale businesses for the development of Nigeria's economy.
Osinbajo gave the assurance during an interactive session with traders, food vendors and small business owners at the Grassroots Town Hall Meeting held in Kano.
He also assured that the federal government would continue to encourage farmers by ensuring that all processing plants were operational in the country.
"We must protect farmers by ensuring that we stop importation of food and other products into the country,'' he said.
The vice president, who blamed part of the current economic recession to importation, said the federal government had taken proactive measures to support farmers and owners of small scale businesses in the country.Osinbajo
"There are two or three reasons why we are in a recession; the vandalism of oil pipelines, fall in price of oil as well as importation of everything, that is why we are in trouble,'' he said.
He, however, said that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari was doing its best to get the country out of the present economic predicament.
"We are lucky we have an honest President because the country needs honest leadership,'' Osinbajo said.
He called on Nigerians to continue to cooperate and support the government in its effort to end the recession and ensure better living conditions for the citizenry.
Earlier in his remarks, Gov of Abdullahi Ganduje Kano State said the state government had concluded arrangements to build a modern market in Kano to decongest the existing markets in the state capital.
Ganduje said the market, which would cost about N500 billion, would be constructed under a Public Private Partnership arrangement between the state government and a private firm in Dubai.
According to him, the state government has already paid compensation to the owners of the land acquired for the project.
"As soon as the agreement is signed next week, work will commence in January 2017,'' the governor said. (NAN)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday announced an increment to the death insurance benefit for police officers who die in active service to the State to N10 million, saying that his administration would stop at nothing to ensure the safety of all citizens in the State.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja, after he was presented with two awards recently won in South Africa by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the State Police Command, said security and safety of the people remains one of the focal objectives of his administration, and that Government would continually embrace measures to motivate and encourage officers of the Command to perform their duties diligently.
The RRS, at the awards presented by Security Watch Africa (SWA), had emerged as the best anti-crime police squad in West Africa, while the RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, won the award of most outstanding police operational officer in Africa.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Commander, RRS, ACP Tunji Disu and Permanent Secretary, Office of Chief of Staff, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye during the handing over of 3 Patrol Vehicles and 45 Power Bikes to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, December 5, 2016.
The State Government also bagged award as the best security and most safety conscious state in Africa.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Governor Ambode congratulated the Commander and men of the RRS for the feat, saying that the people of the State were appreciative of the gallant efforts of the unit at bringing down crime rate in the State, especially in the last one year.
The Governor also commended the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni for his purposeful leadership of the Command, saying that it was evident that the Police in Lagos was performing creditably well.
While alluding to the need for increment in the death insurance benefit of officers, Governor Ambode recalled the recent lost of some officers in active service, adding that while government was not praying for the re-occurrence of such, it was appropriate to reasonably reward the family of any officer in the event of eventual death.
The Governor therefore said his administration was raising the stake of death insurance policy from N1million to rank and file and N2million to senior officers to N10 million.
He said: "Recently, we lost some police officer due to no fault of theirs and then some form of accidental incidences across the State.
"I have directed the State's Pension Office and the Office of the Chief of Staff that we are going to increase the payment that we make to officers that die in active service and then we are increasing that irrespective of whether you are a junior or senior office, if you die in active service, the payment that will be made by the State Government is being increased to N10million from this moment onward," he said.
As one of the ways of appreciating and motivating the Command, Governor Ambode also presented additional three patrol vehicles and 45 power bikes to the RRS.
The Governor, while reiterating the commitment of the State Government to the security and wellbeing of residents, also directed the police to ensure hitch-free yuletide celebration across the State.
He said the government, by the donation, was also sending a strong signal to those who are always willing to disturb the peace that there is no room for them in the State.
Responding to the gesture, the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu said the equipment given to them by the State Government would further spur them to give their best towards protecting the lives and property of residents.
By Ben Agande Abuja – The Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission has revealed that it has recovered the sum of N9billion from Ministries, Departments and Agencies following the conduct of a System Study and Review on the utilization of the 2012 Personnel Vote of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
A statement personally signed by the chairman of the commission Ekpo Nta said the commission observed lapses which were highlighted in the report.
He directed MDAs to return all unspent balances to the Sub-Treasury of the Federation by 31stDecember, 2016.
The statement reads in part.
“Observable lapses were highlighted and recoveries of about N9 Billion effected from the various MDAs. The Commission will be carrying out another System Study and Review of the 2016 Personnel Vote to ensure total compliance with Section 16 of the Finance (Control and Management) Act, LFN, 1990 and the Financial Regulations regarding unspent balances in line with the extant rules and regulations.
“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies not presently captured on the IPPIS platform are requested to submit the Receipt and Expenditure Profiles of their Personnel Cost to reach the Commission not later than 20th December, 2016. For avoidance of doubt, the Personnel Vote is strictly for the payment of salaries and allowances for Government employees only, as specified in the 2016 Appropriation Act. It does not cover Sallah/Christmas bonuses, "13th month" salaries, arrears of promotions, etc.
“All unspent balances should be returned to the Sub-Treasury of the Federation by 31stDecember, 2016. “The Commission will commence verification of the returns made to the Sub-Treasury by January 2016. Letters have been sent to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for strict compliance and to note that any infractions will be prosecuted” he said
The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress APC, and former governor of Lagos State Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu aka Jagaban has said that he and others will not abandon the APC, the party he helped to build.Oyegun, Tinubu and Buhari
Tinubu made this known in a series of tweets on his twitter handle @AsiwajuTinubu
Tinubu also saod that the APC is for the betterment of the people and for is bigger and important than any individual.
‘This government, APC, is for the betterment of the people & the national purpose is bigger and more important than any individual’s desires’
A British Muslim convert who knocked out a 16-year-old boy for hugging a girl on the street was sentenced to 28 months in jail in London on Monday, Press Association reports.
Michael Coe, 35, approached the pair in Newham, East London, and demanded to know if they were Muslims, Southwark Crown Court heard.
He then called the girl a whore before grabbing the boy by the throat, throwing him to the ground and kicking him in the head.
An associate of convicted British Islamic fundamentalist hate preacher Anjem Choudary, Coe had converted to radical Islam during a previous prison stint, the court heard.
At the sentencing, Judge Michael Gledhill told Coe: "You stopped to reprimand them, and you were acting as a self-appointed enforcer of your interpretation at the time of how Muslims should behave."
Gledhill added that the teenagers had denied being Muslim when challenged by Coe. "Denying their religion shows just how threatening you were," he added.
Coe claimed he was acting in self-defence, but was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery in August.
He had previously been convicted of religiously aggravated assault after telling a Muslim woman it was against Islam for her to talk to a group of men.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on INEC to demonstrate its independence by ensuring that the forthcoming re-run election in Rivers State is free, fair and credible.
The party made the call in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on Monday in Abuja.
Adeyeye also called on security agencies to continue to maintain their constitutional roles and duties of protecting lives and property in the country as well as maintaining law and order during elections.
PDP, according to Adeyeye, however demanded an unreserved apology from the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, for the people of Rivers State and the South-South Region in general for a statement credited to him.
Adeyeye said that Ganduje, who is also the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Rivers State Re-Run Election Campaign Committee, was quoted as saying "having a free and fair election in Rivers State is abnormal".
Adeyeye said that the governor also boasted that the APC-led Federal Government would deploy massive securities for the Rivers re-run.
"This statement coming from the governor is not only unfortunate; it is ridiculous and absurd to say the least.
"It is highly unbecoming of a governor to make such an unguided statement that denigrates the people of the whole state and the South-South region in general,'' he said.
General James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis, the famous ex-Marine and the hero of countless conflicts and wars, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as his Secretary of Defence.
And what an extraordinary man and colorful figure Mattis is. Here are some of the things that he has said over the years.
1.”I'm going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years."
2.”Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet. (Time Magazine).
3.”You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon." (In a letter Mattis wrote to his Marines the night before the March 2003 Iraq invasion).
4.”I don't lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word." (San Diego Union Tribune).
5."You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling." (CNN)
6.”Demonstrate to the world there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a U.S. Marine." (Letter to First Marine Division)
7.”I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all." (San Diego Union Tribune).
Mattis sounds like my type of man: a real warrior with the heart of a Viking. With him as Secretary of Defence I have no doubt that America, and indeed the world, will be a better and safer place.
Trump has done well by cultivating the courage to nominate him. The President-elect has done equally well by appointing Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor.
This is another interesting and colourful character who appears to understand the monuemental challenge that the world is facing today very well.
A well-experienced and extreemly tough military intelligence officer who served courageously and meritoriously in Iraq and Afghaniatan he is undoubtedly the quintessential “braveheart”.
In his 2016 book titled “The Field Of Fight” he characterised U.S. counter-intelligence as “a world war against a messianic mass movement of evil people”.
In a speech earlier this year, he called Islam "a cancer" and "a political ideology” that “hides behind this notion of being a religion."
He went on to say that given what is happening in todays world “the fear of Muslims is rational”.
Permit me to share his exact words:
“We are facing another ‘ism,’ just like we faced nazism, fascism, imperialism and communism,” Flynn said. “This is Islamism: it is a vicious cancer inside the body of 1.7 billion people on this planet and it has to be excised.”
For the record let me be clear. I do not believe that Islam itself is a cancer but I do believe that radical islam most certainly is.
I also disagree with his assertion that Islam is not a religion and I reject the notion that all of the 1.7 billion Muslims in the world today are violent extreemists, jihadists and fundamentalists.
I believe that Islam is not only a religion but also a respectable and noble one and that most Muslims are decent, hard-working, God-fearing, law-abiding people. I most certainly do not share the view that ALL Muslims are terrorists.
However this cannot be said of the Islamic fundamentalists, the jihadists, the Islamists and the practitioners of radical Islam. I believe that they are indeed ALL terrorists and that Islamic fundamentalism itself is a dangerous, self-serving, cruel, primitive and vicious cult which is fuelled and sustained by wahabbi and salifist hate and premised on an unrelenting and barbaric political ideology.
As a matter of fact it is worst than that. It is not just a political ideology but also a deadly and violent tool of and vehicle for genocide, mass murder, tyranny, subjugation, political conquest and oppression.
It is the greatest evil that humanity has been confronted with since the slave trade, colonialism, fascism, communism, imperialism and neo-colonialism and it must be defeated and utterly crushed lest it consummes us all.
The truth is that it is worse than cancer. It is a cultural and political nuclear bomb that is preparing to explode and destroy the entire world.
In spite of his sweeping generalisations and his inability to make a clear distinction between radical Islam and Islam itself, I believe that Flynn will still make an excellent NSA because he understands the nature and mindset of the enemy very well.
He is also deeply courageous, utterly fearless and thoroughly forthright. By all standards he is a man of immense discipline and unimpeachable integrity: a profoundly good man and a loyal and patriotic American.
When one couples this with Trump’s appointment of the rugged and highly combatative Mike Pompeio as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency there can be little doubt that Trump is assembling a great team of people that will make American foreign policy far more decisive, dramatic and virile, that will change the face of the world as we know it and that will crush Islamist terrorism and radical Islam in an utterly profound and meaningful way.
That is what the world needs today and that is why I supported him and believed in him right from the outset.
At least now the American people can say “merry xmas” again instead of having to say “happy holiday”.
At least American soldiers will be allowed to sleep with the Holy Bible under their pillows again.
At least Christmas trees will be proudly displayed in shopping malls all over America again.
At least the name of the Lord will be glorified again and the good old fashioned Christian values upon which the United States of America was originally founded will be recognised, acknowledged and established again.
It is indeed “goodbye” to Barack and “hello” to Donald. It is the advent of a new and glorious era for America and indeed the rest of the world.
It is a golden era in which the misguided and discredited concept of political correctness and the wholesale acceptance of liberal values, humanist philosophies and strange pagan practices, all in an attempt to establish a new world order, is rejected.
That is the hope that this new dispensation brings: to lift up America and once again make her the shining light on a hill that will provide the direction and decisive leadership that the world so badly needs.
I am also excited by Trump’s appointment of the African American Dr. Ben Carson, a man who, like the biblical Daniel, is blessed with an excellent spirit, as his Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Development.
Finally it gives me great pleasure to note the fact that my old friend Adebayo Ogunlesi has been appointed as a member of Trump’s economic advisory team.
Where are those that said Trump hates people of color and that he loathes Nigerians? Congratulations Bayo and keep the flag flying! By Femi Fani-Kayode
A former Special Adviser on Media to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Ima Niboro, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Niboro was ushered into the APC on Monday at his residence in Udu Local Government Area of Delta.
He told newsmen that, "My membership of the APC is true.''
Ima Niboro
Niboro, said his joining the APC was meant to align Delta with the government at the national level and to galvanise development.
'"It is not a sudden switch. I have had 18 months to study the situation as it concerned my ward, local government, community and even my state.”
"I have to conclude that there is time for everything. This is the time for us in Delta to link up with the Federal Government in order to bring development to our land.
'`We cannot at this critical point of our history be left out of Federal Government's development agenda.”
`There is no synergy between Delta and the Federal Government and we cannot achieve that synergy when we are working at cross-purposes.”
"We must work together to achieve that synergy,'' he said.
Niboro, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, decried the level of infrastructure decay in Delta.
He was formally received by APC stalwarts in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta, where he hailed from.
Libyan forces on Monday took control of the final cluster of buildings where Islamic State militants were holding out in their former North African stronghold of Sirte.
The forces are also securing the area, its spokesman, Rida Issa, has said.
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took over Sirte in early 2015, setting up its most important base outside the Middle East and extending its control along about 250 km of Mediterranean coastline.
The Libyan forces, led by brigades from the western city of Misrata, launched counter-attack against the jihadist group in May.
Since Aug. 1 the U.S. have carried out not less than 470 air strikes against the Jihadist to support the Libyan forces.
Issa told newsmen that forces led by brigades from Misrata and backed by U.S. air strikes "now control Sirte's entire Ghiza Bahriya neighbourhood and are still securing the area."
His statement could not immediately be verified and there was no official announcement that Sirte had been taken.
"Earlier on Monday, over a dozen Islamic State fighters clinging on in a few dozen buildings in the Ghiza Bahriya district had surrendered to Libyan forces.
"No fewer than three women had left militant-held ground,'' officials said.
In recent days, Libyan forces said dozens of women and children have left the last group of buildings controlled by the militants.
The presence of the families has been one of the factors complicating attempts to push forward into the final sliver of land held by Islamic State.
Several women carried out suicide attacks as they were being granted safe passage.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday urged the public to ignore reports going round that the corps had started distributing and mandating its personnel to carry arms.
Mr Bisi Kazeem, FRSC Head of Media Relations and Strategy, told newsmen that the rumour was being circulated by mischievous elements seeking to provoke disorder in the society.
FRSC Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi,
Kazeem said that some "irresponsible" people took a recent statement by the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, out of context to suit their agenda.
He said the Corps Marshal was only lamenting the recent findings that 70 marshals lost their lives this year alone to some reckless motorists and was misquoted.
"The Corps Marshal only stipulated that such a high number of loses could have been avoided if FRSC personnel were carrying arms as allowed by the law.
"But, he quickly added that there is no immediate plan to implement the law that permits the officials to carry arms.
"It is unfortunate that some wicked people now took that to mean that he said officials are now being armed; it is a figment of their imagination ." he said.
Kazeem said the FRSC boss was misquoted based on the rumour making round on the social media.
He said people even circulated a picture that depicted some road safety officials being drilled by the Nigerian Army on how to handle firearms.
He said the picture was dug out from trainings that took place years ago to make it seem as if it was part of a purportedly new arrangement to arm the officials.
Kazeem said the corps had been undergoing such training on regular intervals since 1992 during the administration of former President Ibrahim Babangida.
"We have never put the exercise as part of the general practice of our operation and we have no plans of implementing it in the nearest future."
The spokesperson said an amendment to the FRSC Act in 2007 granted the road traffic managers the power to bear arms like the police and other security agencies.
He, however, said that previous corps marshals of the FRSC did not prioritise its implementation.
President, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, has said that African is the least integrated economical continent in the world.
Chaqroun disclosed this in an interview with journalists on the sideline of Nigeria-Morocco business meeting organised by Nigeria Economic Submit Group (NESG) in Lagos.
According to her, "Our bilateral trading investment is too low. Our continent is the least integrated economically continent.
"We are in Nigeria to make sure that the South –South partnership is not just a wish but a reality that we will seize the opportunities between Morocco and Nigeria private sector."
She maintained that, the continent has great potential, adding that, "We also have this fabulous energy that is our youths waiting for job creation. So, this partnership has the will to look for local job creation.
"Any business has a potential of creating added value and also creating a new jobs from it. We do have already in agro businesses and fishery and some our Moroccans entrepreneur that have invested in Nigeria, but we are looking for renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, and also ICT.
"Nigeria is known for its ideas, that is a good way to partner and we are waiting for Nigeria to come and invest in Morocco, in the sectors, such as, aeronautic, agric business and ICT.
"The whole industry of tourism is good potential for our continent. Each of our country has good potential for tourism, and Nigeria being by the coast in the center of diversified eco systems and Morocco also. I think we can bench mark in these areas such as tourism.
"We have also common historical and cultural background in multi cultural countries with many ethnics, and also we have different religion like Nigeria." On his part,
Chief Executive Officer, CEO, NESG, Laoye Jaiyeola, maintained that the essence of the group is to ensure a better environment for doing business in the country.
He said that the kind of business we are doing amongst ourselves, which again defeats the need for countries of Africa to do businesses amongst themselves.
"They are lot of businesses we can do among ourselves, you can navigate from Morocco to Lagos, also for instance if we look at the renewable energy, they are doing very well they build their own solar plant, and they are targeting making renewable energy about 45 percent of the total energy needed.
"We are still grappling with our energy supply and if you look at the government policy, they want to make renewable energy to be about 30 percent of our total energy needs in a year 2030.
"Rather than go outside the continent, if we can leverage on what exists in the continent, it could go a long way in helping our people."
Liverpool were beaten for only the second time in the Premier League this season as a Bournemouth comeback inflicted a 4-3 defeat at Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
First-half strikes from Sadio Mane and Divock Origi gave Jürgen Klopp's side control of the contest at the break, but the hosts fought back after the interval.
Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum vies with Bournemouth’s English defender Steve Cook (R) during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on December 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO
A Callum Wilson penalty early in the second period first gave hope of a comeback for the Cherries, only for Emre Can's delightful finish to restore a two-goal cushion.
But substitute Ryan Fraser scored one and then set up Steve Cook to slam a leveller beyond Loris Karius, before Nathan Ake forced home a fourth in stoppage-time.
Thousands of angry protesters on Monday stormed the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja to protest the judgement of the court which ordered the unconditional release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky from custody, saying the Judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigerians.
Protesters
The protesters under the banner, The Coalition on Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) and other Civil Society groups expressed concern over the judgement by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, saying it was done “without recourse to the consequences that this dangerous precedence would have on law enforcement, security, anti-terror fight, terrorism, extremism and secessionist movements in Nigeria.”
National President of the group, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi said the “judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigeria by legalizing terrorism while leaving the rest of us at risk of losing our lives.”
He described the judgement as ridiculous, wondering how the judge could order the release of "someone who poses grave security risk to the society through his extreme brand of foreign backed radicalization program in the name of religion."
He said, Nigerians are ever ready to do the needful in safeguarding the future of our dear nation and hence would demand that Justice Kolawole be investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Protesters
He said, “In the space of one week, the judiciary has ordered dangerous fanatics and demagogues to be returned to the streets to resume brainwashing, radicalizing and militarizing vulnerable youths in the population. This could have only been in keeping with fulfilling obligations entered into for less than honourable considerations even as we cannot rule out a judiciary that is taking its pound of flesh from an executive arm that has exposed the sleaze on its soiled bench."
“If the entire judiciary has activated its vendetta against the security agencies that they see as the executive arm, the precedence set by Justice Gabriel Kolawole took things to the ridiculous by awarding N50 million of tax payers’ money to finance IMN’s radicalisation programme while also asking that the police further deploy its personnel to protect a man whose sect members would invariably kill like they had killed soldiers and policemen in recent past."
“This judge also failed to realize the weight of his utterance that has basically ordered the government to build a new headquarters for a proscribed group – we do hope he will keep himself on the bench for when other terror groups approach to demand for the government to build them headquarters."
“The house demolished in Gyellesu, on which the directive to build a new one for this demagogue, originally belonged to Alhaji Ismail Gwarzo, the DG NSO under late General Sani Abacha. El-Zakzaky was given the seized house by Gen Abdulsalam because people of Babban Dodo had at time also rebelled against IMN occupation which made them to burn his initial hub after he was released from another arrest for insurrection.”
Speaking further, Ogenyi said, “justice Kolawole has murdered sleep. He did this confidently because security agencies under obligation use taxpayers’ money to protect him and other judges, who therefore do not know the magnitude of the threat that terrorism poses to citizens."
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – The fence-mending parley between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the leadership and members of the National Assembly caucus of the party has now been shifted to Wednesday, Vanguard has learned.
The meeting was originally scheduled to hold today (Monday).
Although, no official reason was given for the postponement, top-level party insiders told Vanguard that the meeting had to be shifted because the chairman had had a “very busy weekend”.
One of the sources said, “the chairman only returned to Abuja this (Monday) afternoon having had a very busy weekend schedule in Lagos. So, both sides felt it was better to allow the chairman and his team some rest before engaging him in another round of marathon meetings with the leadership and caucuses in the two chambers”.
Vanguard recalls that since the June 5, 2015 inauguration of the National Assembly and the emergency of its leadership in controversial circumstances, this is the first time that the party’s national chairman would be engaging the party’s lawmakers at such level.
Lagos – The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 20ft container of "READY TO EAT FOODS'' like Egusi Soup, Jollof Rice, Ogbono, Yam Porridge imported from India.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr Uche Ejesieme.
Yusuf spoke with stakeholders at the SDV/SCOA Terminal while handing over the container of imported prepared foods to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The controller described the scenario as an "aberration", considering the fact that government granted zero duty for the importation of machinery for the packaging of agricultural products.
"Why should indigenous menu be imported into the country at a time when investors are much sought after to boost local industries,'' the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Yusuf as saying.
The controller said the command generated 25.7 billion in November, up from N25.3 billion recorded in October.
Yusuf said that the higher revenue was recorded in spite of the recession and low imports.
He said that the command would continue to explore all avenues for maximum revenue collection.
According to him, this is in view of the exigencies of the moment, which placed more responsibilities on the service.
Yusuf urged potential investors to take advantage of the numerous export potential in the country for their socio-economic benefits.
In a related development, while briefing a group of senior officers undergoing training in the command, the controller admonished them to make professionalism, integrity and transparency as their watchword.
He also urged the officers to ensure effective leadership and supervision in carrying out their duties.
Yusuf said the various trade facilitation tools as provided in the automation of Customs procedures would guide the officers in the discharge of their functions.
The controller told the officers to see training and re-training as a veritable tools that would sharpen their knowledge toward achieving desired results.
He appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, for effectively re-positioning the service in spite of global recession.
"NCS is still working tirelessly to remain on top of its statutory mandate,'' the controller said.
Yusuf said that this could not have been possible if not for the pragmatic leadership of the comptroller-general and his management.
"In this era and dispensation, officers are expected to be above board with deep sense of commitment and responsibility in the discharge of their functions.
"The Change ideology of the comptroller -general must be given priority attention,'' the controller said.
He, however, warned that anybody that fails to key into the new order would be seriously sanctioned.
