Nairaland Forum

We’ve raised bar against corruption – Jonathan



In comparison with past administrations, President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that his administration has raised the bar against corruption in Nigeria.

In his Mid-Term report presented to the public on Wednesday, the president said his administration now pursues a more strategic, comprehensive and effective campaign against corruption.

According to him, his administration has gone beyond popular sentiments to address the root causes of corruption and enhance the capacity of the institutions to resist and overcome corrupt influences.

The report reads: “President Jonathan’s approach in fighting corruption is to focus on building strong institutions that have the capacity to overcome corrupt influences and not just to sermonize about corruption.”

“This approach uses the rule of law as a framework to fight corruption since corruption is a feature of weak rule of law and weak institutions,” it stated.

The widespread international perception of Nigeria as a corrupt country, the report said, has caused incalculable damage to the dignity and honour of many honest and diligent Nigerians and to the country’s global competitiveness.

Some of the achievements of the administration against corruption, the report said included: Signing the Freedom of Information Act into law, the uncovering of fraud and deletion of over 73,000 ghost/fake pensioners from the Head of Service/ Police Pension Office.

Others included recovery and savings of over N225 billion from the two pension offices, halting the monthly theft of over N4 billion from the national treasury, reducing fraud by saving over N500 million monthly through the police pension releases.

“Another giant stride is the suspension of Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court, Gudu. The 12 month suspension follows the controversial judgment he delivered in respect of John Yusufu, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N32.8 billion Police Pension Fraud,” it added.

The recent dismissal of three judges found to have compromised their offices, the report said, is a signal of zero tolerance for corruption in the judiciary.

Gbawe: Oga Rawlings, you will be hearing from Okupe, Abati and maku very soon. Brace yourself.

Gov. Wamakko Is Not Satisfied With Recall; Says Tukur Must Go



Aliyu Wamakko, the Sokoto governor has been recalled into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his temporary suspension by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. But anyone thinking that the governor would be placated was disappointed as he has insisted that the PDP national chairman needs to be removed for the good of the party.

The future of the party’s chairman and other members of the NWC is the new frontier in the war for power in the party, with leaders torn between those in support and those opposed to the national chairman.

Wamakko told the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service in Sokoto that the lifting of his suspension has vindicated him, but said the same measure has to be extended to Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who was also suspended a month ago.

“Truth always triumphs over falsehood no matter what time it takes. I am not fighting anybody and I am not afraid to speak my mind because I believe truth will always prevail. We are talking about fairness and equity to all, so we are fighting injustice in the party.

“I am a Muslim, a northerner and a Nigerian. Thus, even if I am not the governor, these three things will always remain with me. I know that power is transient, so I am not scared of anything because I know that you can only be afraid of something if you are doing wrong,” he said.

He insisted that Wamakko had to go because when he called for the chairman’s removal, it was in response to the yearnings of the party supporters in Sokoto and beyond.

“In the past, before Tukur’s election as PDP national chairman, if we had any problem or disagreement in the party, we convened a meeting where all issues and problems were ironed out. We used to disagree and exchange words with one another during such meetings, but at the end of the day, we resolved the problem.

“In fact, such problems were kept secret without the knowledge of the public. But today, it is no longer so, you hear everything about PDP and its problems on the pages of newspapers and nothing is kept secret which is very sad.

“So the president (Goodluck Jonathan) as the leader of our party should rise up to the occasion and do the right thing to save the PDP from being destroyed,” Wamakko said.

Amaechi gives appointment letters to 13,000 new teachers

JUNE 19TH, 2013

Rivers State governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi, will on Wednesday hand over appointment letters to the newly employed 13, 000 teachers, who successfully passed the recruitment exercise in the state.

Amaechi, who was represented by Commissioner for Education, Alice Lawrence Nemi, disclosed this when she received a UNESCO delegation, stating that the teachers’ appointment was part of moves by the current administration to ensure quality education in the state.

Alice also commended the governor for giving much attention to the education sector, stating that UNESCO will assist the state government to undertake an assessment of the number of children that are out of school in the state.

“Not that the Ministry of Education did not know the figures, but we want professionals to make their assessment and tell us, particularly, now that Nigerians are jittering that about 10.5 million children are out of school.

“And at this time, every state is fighting hard to meet the millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and I think in Rivers state, we have done well on infrastructure.

“We have gone into training of our teachers and employment of 13,000 teachers. We also invited Price Water House Copper to screen the teachers.

“We equally engaged a consultant to confirm their qualifications for us”, Alice said.

She further indicated that every teacher employed by the Rivers State government must be committed to their assignment and professional calling towards ensuring quality education in the state.

“For us in Rivers State, we believe that for you to be a teacher, you must be committed, and as I speak to you, the teachers we have are very much committed and they are also appreciating what Governor Amaechi has done, particularly in the education sector”, Alice said.

She added that by September this year, about 250 model primary schools in the state will be functional.

Earlier, Director and Preventatives of United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisational (UNESCO), Professor Hassana Alidou, said she was in the state to examine what the Ministry of Education is doing in promoting quality education in the state.

Alidou also said UNESCO would examine the method of access to education, and the extent of quality education in the state, and ensure it is in consonance with world standard.

Gunmen Kill 77 In Zamfara, Maiduguri

About 50 people were killed yesterday in Kizara village of Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State by group of gunmen suspected to be cattle wrestlers.

The gunmen numbering about 150 and riding motorcycles besieged the village at about 4am, and suddenly opened fire on any adult community member on sight.

Jonathan's 2007 declaration of $2.4 million in assets during the campaign also raised questions about how an academic and public servant could earn so much. Jonathan's wife Patience was indicted by the anti-corruption Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering in 2007. "He has a lot of baggage from the past," says Musa Rafsanjani, head of the Zero Corruption lobby group.

Baggage has a habit of slowing a leader down — just what Nigeria does not need. "He owes all Nigerians a duty to act fast," Lagos-based Guardian daily newspaper said in an editorial two days after his appointment. Or as the rebel commander Mack Anthony says: "Our man being at the helm does not mean our target has been achieved. If within 90 days Jonathan does not perform, we will go back to the creeks to re-launch the militancy."

In August 2006, the EFCC seized the sum of N104 million from one Mrs. Nancy Ebere Nwosu, an associate of Patience Jonathan. On August 22, 2006, Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, gave EFCC the legal backing to retain the N104 million seized from an associate of Patience Goodluck, the wife of then governor of Bayelsa state, Goodluck Jonathan, who is now the vice president of Nigeria.

Like a crack addict willing to do anything for a high, Patience Jonathan was not going to give up her addiction to treasury looting simply because Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC was on her trail. Determined to prove that only mere mortals shivered at the sight of EFCC, she continued with her looting of Bayelsa’s treasury with the full cooperation and assistance of her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, who was the then governor of Bayelsa state. The duo was so successful that on September 11, 2006, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) again seized another $13.5 million dollars (US) from Mrs. Patience Jonathan. Criminal charges were brought against her and Nigerians were awaiting her prosecutionto the full extent of the law. Shortly thereafter and in the face of these serious allegations, the insensitive Olusegun Obasanjo and his PDP that had become a den of thieves, nominated Goodluck Jonathan to be the running mate of Yar'Adua.

sincerenigerian:

http://thewillnigeria.com/opinion/19109.html

mulan-kenyan:
Kenya of all country is now Deporting Nigeria? Highest exporter of crude oil in Africa?
Giant of Africa, you ask?

And that is what makes us wonder...why can't nigeria put it's house in order. Look at Kenya...no natural resource to talk of, yet...but we showed the world how to kick Somali renegades in order (Operation Linda Inchi - translates to: Operation defend our Land of Kenya), a feat that had defeated AU and the West (read USA).

We have not oil...but invented M-PESA, that is why the IT world looks at Kenya and goes gaga...yes, in our huts, we invent such things.

In all honest, we are brothers and sisters...yes, we all Africans. But we have to correct each other. The number of Kenyan girls on death-rows all over Asia because of Nigerian-led drug errands is a factor that has bothered us. Yes, one apple spoiled all.

Chineducan not even say how he got all the millions he claims. There are Kenyans selling hair and doing all the things these deportees are doing...why are they not millionaires.

The deportees are not telling you the truth. Honest Nigerians are welcome anytime. I still love the literary giants out of Nigeria.

One love, one continent, Africa.

Cele-pope:

All Naija Newspapers and blogs are all copy and paste

Okija_juju: I was in port harcourt over the weekend and witnessed the inconvieniennce this woman was causing the state.

They block the roads 30 minutes before she even passes..

her convoy on Saturday was 67 cars long... I counted.

Forces avenue was blocked off and traffic diverted ..

It was very irritating..

The Scoop Recalls: Cross River legislator who assaulted police officer has a history of assault



When news broke about an assault on a female police officer, Irene Ani, by a female lawmaker and the chief whip of the Cross River state assembly, Hon. Uduak Akiba, we remembered that female lawmakers in that state assembly had been in the news in the past over a ridiculous show of shame.

READ: Report:- Female lawmaker allegedly assaults female police officer in Calabar

READ: Meet the female legislator with the most amazing blocking skills as she denies alleged assault

It was a long time ago so we assumed that the characters would be different, but just to be sure we went back to the archives and re-checked, and – voila – the central character in this latest incident, Hon. Akiba, was also the central character in the last incident, and it did not make for a good reading.

It was in 2007, in the early days of the last assembly. Akiba and another female legislator, Pauline Ekuri of Etung constituency, engaged each other in slaps and blows at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, even tearing each other’s clothes. The duo were suspended for a month by the assembly as a result. It was a most embarrassing and unfortunate incident.

Akiba, who represents Calabar Municipality, and Ekuri were on the same Virgin Airways flight from Abuja to Calabar, and witnesses at the time said they engaged themselves in insults and abuses during the flight on September 15, 2007. Both of them were in the delegation of the Cross River first lady, Obioma Imoke, who went to Aso Rock to visit former Nigerian first lady, Hajia Turai Yara’adua in other to present her poverty alleviation plan to the First Lady.

But the two women had a history. According to PM News which reported the story at the time,:

“The duo do not see eyeball to eyeball since 2003 when they were in the Women Affairs Commission, our source said. ‘The presence of one of them in the same flight stirred up anger which led to sharp exchanges while aboard the Virgin Nigeria flight to Calabar,’ said our source.

“Appeals by other members of the delegation and passengers to the ladies to stop the quarrel fell on deaf ears as they allegedly hurled invectives at each other.”

So when they alighted from the plane at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, the report said “Uduak Akiba decided to engage her colleague in a fight. The bulky woman punched and scratched the light complexioned Ekuri who was her former boss and inflicted severe injuries on her.”

Ekuri was actually Akiba’s former boss at the state’s Women Affairs Commission. In 2003, Akiba served as a special assistant to Ekuri. As the story went, Akiba had the ears of the state’s former first lady, Onari Duke, and was allegedly feeding the first lady with information on the activities of her boss, who was said to be consistently complaining that she was made to sign documents but the “money was not going into her pocket”.

Again, according to PM News,

“This complaint irked Onari who removed Ekuri in 2005 and replaced her with her former aide, Uduak Akiba.

“This development generated bad blood between the two ladies and has since lingered.

“During Duke’s last days in office, he discovered that most of the reports on Ekuri were not true and he had to compensate her with the state assembly slot and Uduak Akiba, who had more or less become a liability on the Dukes was also picked for the state Assembly through the Calabar Municipality and its former occupant, Hon. Eta Mbora forced out. “

We earlier brought you report that in this latest incident involving the assault of the police officer, Akiba addressed some reporters and denied the charges. However, in 2007, when reporters met her, she screamed at them, “Get out. I have a meeting now,” she said.

The state house of assembly was so embarrassed then by the reports, that it was forced to suspend the two lawmakers for their shameful act. A resolution by the House described the incident between the two ladies as “ugly and regrettable as there was an important passenger on the said flight which was already air-borne.”

The House subsequently instituted a five-man committee, led by member representing Yala 1 constituency, Honourable Larry Odey, to investigate the incident and make appropriate recommendations to the House. After the investigation by the Odey committee, they recommended the suspension of the two lawmakers. They were also ordered to tender a written apology to the House at the expiration of their suspension.

Their action also caused the then Speaker, Frank Adah to write a letter of apology to Governor Liyel Imoke, regretting the incident.

Ekuri has since left the assembly, having failed to win re-election, Akiba on the other hand returned and was made chief whip in the new assembly. The rest, as they say, is history.

dirifred: I live in PHC, work in GRA. how come i did not see this? there are only two major roads in PHC,Aba road and Ikwere road, this two road are always having trafic congestion everyday. the visit of the first lady may have increased the congestion but its not far from our normal day to day congestion.

First Lady's Rivers Visit Shuts out GRA Residents




Residents of the Old Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have cried out over the inconveniences they have been suffering since the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, arrived the state last Friday.

Since Mrs. Jonathan arrived in the city, there has been massive security around her private residence at Bauchi Street, Old GRA.

All the adjoining streets had been condoned off, while an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) is stationed at the entrance of Bauchi Street.

Security personnel have also set up surface bunkers in the adjoining streets, while pedestrian and vehicular traffic are restricted into the adjoining streets.

Yesterday, for instance, vehicles going into the GRA from Amadi Flat area were diverted into Aba Road or were forced to make use of the few streets allowed.
This caused a massive traffic gridlock, as the few open streets in the neighbourhood were under reconstruction.

However, despite the security presence, Port Harcourt Primary School, located at the entrance to Bauchi Street, was open Monday, as teachers and pupils were allowed into the school for normal activities.

But a female teacher, who would not want to be named, told THISDAY that while the security operatives were very polite, their presence was a distraction to the pupil.
“The policemen and other security personnel here have been very polite. They did not harass us, but their presence was a huge distraction to the pupils,” she said.

She said it was also difficult for teachers, who had cars to drive into the school.
“Our cars were thoroughly searched. We were also screened and frisked before we were allowed into the school,” she said.
A resident of the area, who simply gave his name as Chief Kalio, said movement of members of his family had been impaired since last week by the security.

“My son, this is unusual. I cannot move freely even when they know I live here. The situation is frustrating,” he said.

On his part, Johnson Peterside, a driver, also lamented that the heavy security presence had put him under tremendous stress.

He said the owner of the taxi he drives lives around the area and that the security build-up in the area had made it difficult for him to collect and return the vehicle from the residence of the owner.

Meanwhile, the residence of the First Lady had become a Mecca of sorts for top politicians of the state, especially those opposed to the state governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

There were speculations that the visit of the first lady would further galvanise efforts to woo members of the State House of Assembly to back the bid to impeach the governor.

Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya has initiated diplomatic talks with Nigerian authorities aimed at securing the release of Government officers who are held in Lagos.

Kenya has been grappling on how to secure the release of seven Government officials and five-airline crew of a private jet that was chattered to deport 10 foreigners, including five Nigerians, among them controversial businessman Anthony Chinedu, who had a long running court battle with his former wife Alice Akinyi about two weeks.

The 12 have been detained for almost two weeks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, as Nigerian authorities claim Antony Chinedu was not procedurally deported. The charted plane belonging to East African Safari Express has also been detained.

Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed revealed she had made contact with Nigeria but refused to divulge information on the level of engagement.

Amina said providing more details on the saga may jeopardise the consultations and thus affect the progress of ensuring Kenyans and the jet are released.

“There are a lot of bilateral consultations between the two governments to see how the issue can be resolved, I can’t give you more information as it will complicate issues under consultation,” she said.

Seven Kenyan officials held in Lagos over deported 'Nigerian'
By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA | Monday, June 17 2013 at 09:19


Nigerian Anthony Chinedu held at Kileleshwa police station in Nairobi on April 14, 2013. PHOTO| BILLY MUTAI.

Seven Kenyan government officials and five airline crew have been detained in Nigeria for two weeks after they travelled to the country to deport Nigerian businessman Anthony Chinedu and two of his compatriots.

The officials from different government departments including foreign affairs, immigration and police, left Nairobi for Lagos in a chartered aeroplane on June 3 escorting the controversial businessman and two other Nigerians, Christopher Nnanyelu and Oluwatosin Adebiyi. The three had been declared prohibited immigrants in Kenya.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the officials have not been allowed to leave Nigeria. They said authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos were holding them and their chartered East African Safari Express plane.

According to them, Nigerian authorities have insisted the Kenyans will not be allowed to fly out without the three men Kenya kicked out on drug trafficking claims.

Speaking to the Daily Nation from Nigeria on Sunday, one of the officials, who requested anonymity, said that attempts by the Kenyan embassy to secure their release had been unsuccessful.

Escorted deportees

Those stuck in Nigeria include Captain Tim Kavingo and his colleagues, flight engineer Alaka Ochieng’ and flight attendants George Kamau and Ismail Adan.

First officer Rokshanker Masoud, a Swede, is also affected.

The government officials who escorted the deportees were Mr Barasa Okosa, Mr Kariuki Ngugi, Mr Mungathia Muriira, Mr Pardala Dipason, Mr Kivuva Muthama, Mr Andrew Kambi and Mr Mutinda Kakindu.

A Nigerian journalist confirmed to the Nation that the aircraft was being held at the airport’s cargo air wing. The airline’s office in Nairobi did not return our calls on Sunday.

Sources indicated that the government of Sweden had already contacted its embassy in Nigeria to secure the release of the flight officer.

“We are stranded here. The airport commander has instructed that we cannot return to Nairobi without the deportees,” said the official who called the Nation from his hotel room.

The airport commander had blocked attempts by the East Africa Safari Express management to fly its crew back to Nairobi on a Kenya Airways flight. On Sunday evening, Foreign Affairs ministry’s Head of Communication Beatrice Kung’u admitted that several Kenyans, who accompanied the Nigerians deported 10 days ago, were still being held in Lagos.

But she could not discuss the circumstances under which the Nigerian authorities were detaining them.

“We are addressing the issue,” she said, but added that only the Immigration authorities could discuss the details.

Principal Secretary in the Interior ministry Mutea Iringo on Sunday said he was yet to receive information on the plight of the crew, but said he would check with the police.

They lost contact with the deportees after they arrived in Nigeria, the PS, under whose ministry Immigration falls, said.

Mighty Sparrow: Naija! Naija!! Naija!!!
Until I see I no go believe
Where are the products of FIIRO well aired by NTA and test - run, PRODA of Babangida?

First Lady’s visit: Port Harcourt residents groan under security siege



Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are groaning under a security seige that resulted in heavy gridlock and unusual presence of scores heavilyarmed police. The situation followed the visit of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, as her aides and associates stormed the city.

On Saturday, residents woke up to the presence of roadblocks and diversions, especially in the GRA where even residents were now scrutinised before being allowed to enter the area.

To underscore the high level security operation surrounding the First Lady’s visit, Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, have been stationed at both ends of Bauchi Street where her palatial mansion is located along with machine gun positions complete with sandbag walls and scores of mobile policemen on guard.

The president’s wife is expected to stay in the state for 11 days. National Mirror learnt that even the River State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has been caught up in the security lockdown and he was unable to attend a wedding on Saturday.

It was learnt that by the time the governor was ready to go out, the road leading to the Government House had been blocked, while the rear entrance which is close to the First Lady’s mansion was also shut to traffic.

One of the governor’s aides, who was contacted by telephone yesterday said: “The road was not opened until noon and by the time His Excellency arrived at the venue, the wedding was over.”

The First Lady had attended the wedding ceremony of one of her aides, who is also a member of the House of Assembly, Evans ‘Bibi’ Bapakaye, at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt and traffic was hectic as there were marked diversions around the Isaac Boro Park, Marine Base, Station Road, Hospital Road, Bereka Street and Moscow Road within the old city.

All these roads are the major highways connecting the State Secretariat and the Downtown of the city to the other areas of the metropolitan city and they serve as the hub for vehicular and human movements in the city.

Disruption of traffic flow in the areas always leads to a punishing gridlock, which was exactly what happened on Saturday. Cars were not allowed near these areas and residents walked for hours to reach various destinations. Journalists, who covered the assignments have to make use of hotels and cybercafés around the area to file their stories as traffic was still hectic until around 9p.m.

Even though the First Lady has not been involved in any serious official business since Saturday, there is still heavy security presence in the city, with a lot of diversions still causing heavy traffic jams around the GRA areas where she resides.


To press home the importance of her visit to the state, Divisional Police Officers were directed to personally take charge of traffic in their divisions, while all vacations among police officers in the state have been cancelled or put on hold until the departure of the President’s wife.

A DPO, who spoke with National Mirror on condition of anonymity, said most of the security personnel in the state are engaged in ensuring the safety of the First Lady as it is the priority assignment in the state now.

“We can’t go on leave or vacation now and we have all been ordered to personally supervise traffic and security operations in our various formations. We understand she will be around for 11 days, that means another seven more days,” he said.

Investigations by National Mirror, revealed that the First Lady will be commissioning the South- South Zonal Office of her Pet Project, ‘Women for Change and Development Initiative’, while she is also billed to be involved in the burial of her grandfather, slated for the coming weekend. Some Port Harcourt residents expressed disgust at the huge inconveniences the visit was causing especially since her stay will be prolonged.

“How long are we going to cope with all these problems now? We thought she was only going to be here for the weekend only for us to get to the Azikwe end of the road and still meet heavily-armed policemen, on getting to Isaac Boro park, we were turned back by stern-looking policemen again,” Egi Dombraye, a businessman in the state lamented

pro01: Very misleading report, reeking of 'oppositionness' as usual from the jaundiced Lagos/Ibadan press. The headline screams 'PDP governors shun Jang's NGF meeting', yet it proceeds to only list OPPOSITION governors (yes, the APC hoodlums are the same as the four northern governors listed - Lamido, Aliyu Babangida, Wamakko, and Dakingari). I was expecting to see names of South South governors (except Amaechi of course), South East governors, North Central governors, and sensible core.northern governors like Shema, Yuguda, and Yero that "shunned" the meeting completely by either not attending or not sending their.deputies to represent them.

The foolish Amaechii should summon a meeting of his own illegal NGF faction let us see how many PDP governors would attend. Utter rubbish.

Only 16 governors attended yesterday’s meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) called by the Jonah Jang faction.

Besides Jang, other governors at the meeting were: Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Idris Wada (Kogi); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

Others were: Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Peter Obi (Anambra); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Umar Garba (Taraba); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Steve Lawani (Benue Dep. Governor).

At the end of the meeting, Jang told reporters that they only needed 12 governors in attendance to form a quorum, adding that many of those who were absent at the meeting sent their apologies.

He declined to give the outcome of the meeting, as he noted that they would discuss it with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Reacting to a question, Jang said he was not an impersonator as had been alleged by Governor Amaechi.

Present at the inaugural meeting were Jang (Plateau), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Garaba Umar (Taraba), Theodore Orji (Abia), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Idris Wada (Kogi), Steve Lawani (deputy governor, Benue), Godwsill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Shehu Shema (Katsina), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

Eko Ile:



And you are the winner...


This is the The World’s largest GRENlite Solar street lighting installation.


Yobe State...



Well done sire..

PHOTONEWS: Plateau Governor Jonah Jang Chairs "Nigeria Governors' Forum" Meeting With 16 Governors In Attendance







Governor Jonah Jang of Plateaus State today chaired a meeting of the factionalized Nigeria's Governors's Forum with only sixteen state governors in attendance .

Mr. Jang had assumed the position of the chair of the group after he was defeated by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State two weeks ago.

cogitoErgo:
I think u ar wrong! Here in Jos whether private or commacial, u ar not to be seen with motorbike on the major roads. military and para-military officers do contravene the oda!

From Tuesday (today), any motorcycle rider found on the streets of Jos and Bukuru metropolis will pay a fine of N20,000.

The above edict was passed by the State House of Assembly in April, 2011.

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 6, 2008 - Green Energy LLC after supply of systems for this project successfully assists in installation of these systems for the Yobe State Government with the support from a local partner. The systems are designed for easy installation. The efficient microprocessor automatically activates from dusk to dawn with 3 day autonomy.

GRENlite™ is the invent to surpass the existing light technology, it a new era of light source-induction Lamp with Super rated lifetime-up to 100,000 hrs and High efficacy -Energy saving.

Sibrah: When virtually all states have banned motorcycle and embraced tricycle, or are the targetting foreign markets?

NASENI LAUNCHES FIRST WHOLLY MADE-IN-NIGERIA MOTOCYCLE

EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN Calls on Federal Government To Ban Importation Of Motorcycles to Nigeria As He Calls on Private Sector to mass Produce ‘NASENI M1’ Motorcycles.

As a proof of potential capacities of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to provide necessary engineering and technology infrastructure for industrial development of Nigeria, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Agency, Dr.Mohammed Sani Haruna yesterday launched first ever wholly made-in-Nigeria motor cycle called ‘NASENI M1”.

The motorcycle was test-run working perfectly. The 80C engine motorcycle was conceived, designed and manufactured, using local materials by Nigerian engineers at the National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI)-one of the nine (9) research and development (R&) Institutes supervised by NASENI.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI while riding on ‘NASENI M1’ himself within the factory complex of NEDDI in Nnewi, Anambra State disclosed that the product was basically one of the targets of the Agency in response to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s vision 20:20:20 economic transformation Agenda. The Federal Government which the Agency is part of has promised Nigerians a better socio-economic deal by year 2020 even as Mr. President had also committed the government to elevate the economic status of Nigeria to be among 20 fastest growing economies in the world by year 2020.

Agency rolls out made in Nigeria motorcycles

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) on Tuesday rolled out the first made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, named Naseni M1, in Nnewi, Anambra State.

The motorcycle was designed, fabricated and assembled by the National Engineering Design and Development Institute, Nnewi a subsidiary of NASENI.

The Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Dr. Muhammad Sani Haruna, who test-ran the 80cc capacity motorcycle in Nnewi, disclosed that the tricycle designed and produced by the institute would be ready early next year.

Based on the successes made by NASENI in the production of motorcycles and tricycles, Haruna said it has become imperative for the Federal Government to ban the importation of tricycles and motorcycles.

He said: “NASENI is angry that all these things are continuously being imported when we have the capacity to produce them locally. We are urging government to ban the importation of these items and we assure government that with the needed financial support, NASENI can do even better than what is being imported.

“The motorcycles produced here have local components. The plastics and iron used were produced by other institutes of NASENI. The ductile iron that is used was produced by our institute in Akure. The plastic components of it are also partially produced by our institute in Okene and also by a private company here in Nnewi. The electrical aspect of it was produced by Cutix Nigeria PLC in Nnewi.”

He said the local content of the motorcycle is 85 per cent, while it was designed and fabricated by Nigerians. “The components not produced by NASENI are produced by companies in Nnewi,” he added.

Haruna said NASENI was already getting into collaborations with private companies that can mass-produce the motorcycles and tricycles.

Dudu_Negro:

Dude,

Calm down and look on the "Day-Boulevard" image, you will see two-way tracks running the length of the bridge. I suspect these are for trams or light, low occupancy shuttle trains.

How wide is the proposed fourth mainland bridge, for it to accommodate all these components?

We worked with a 60 meters dimension which is about twice the third mainland bridge if I’m not mistaken. 60 meters will mean that we have through it approximately 10 meters or 11 meters each and then a central core.We created a structure where all the component parts are supported differently but there’s a general support system so that when trains pass the center of the structure, it does not cause any vibration. When cars pass at high speed, they do not disturb the train traffic. When BRT busses stop, the train passing would not be causing vibration that can make it tumble because there’s a lot of traffic happening there, there are 2100 homes, 240 square meters of office spacing for medium and small scale businesses and there’s a whole 60 meters/ 30 meters space up there for traders and things like that.

Ngwakwe: Is there any evidence to prove that this building is a school that is still in use?

A youth group known as Development Ambassadors in Nsit Ubuim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has appealed to the government to rehabilitate all the dilapidated public school buildings in the area. The group, which rose from its general meeting held yesterday at the Salvation Army School in Ikot Ubo, described as pathetic the state of most of the public schools in the area. It called for the government’s intervention to further enhance the free and compulsory education policy of the Governor Godswill Akpabio-led administration.

A communiqué signed by the group’s president, Mr. Imoh Enang, and secretary, Mr. Ubong Joseph, listed some of the schools to include Community Secondary School, Ikot Ubo; Salvation Army Primary School, Ikot Ubo; Primary School, IKot Okpuyot/ Ikot Nko and Community Secondary School, Ikot Akpan Abia.

The group described the condition of the schools, especially that of Primary School, Ikot Ubo and the Community Secondary School also in the village, as death traps.

Ikot Ubo Community Appeals For Renovation Of Schools

The people of Ikot Ubo village in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area have appealed to the state government to include the Salvation Army Primary School and Community Secondary School in the area among the list of schools to be renovated by the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee this year.

The village head, Eteidung Peter Michael Ndue, who made the appeal while conducting Weekend Pioneer round the schools over the weekend, said the appeal became necessary considering the deplorable state of the affected schools.

“You can see for yourself that Salvation Army Primary School and the Community Secondary School, Ikot Ubo, are the only government educational institutions in this village but very unfortunately, these two schools are today a ghost of what they should look like.”

“Some of the classroom blocks in the primary school do not have a roof and at the secondary school, the story is the same as all roofs are always leaking whenever it rains.”

“I am appealing to Governor Godswill Akpabio to come to our aid by putting the two schools among the list of schools to be renovated this year by the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee”, Eteidung Ndue stated.

The village head who described as unfortunate a situation where pupils and students in the affected schools are always chased away from their classrooms anytime it rains appealed for immediate assistance as the students are not to remain in their different homes during the coming rainy season.

Ndue disclosed that the community secondary school which currently has a student population of over 833 in both the junior and senior cadre, was built through community effort and handed over to the then Cross River State Government in 1980.

He regretted that 31 years after the educational institution was handed over, no renovation has been effected in the facility, a situation that has led to the total dilapidation of classroom blocks and other departments at the Community Secondary School, Ikot Ubo.

The royal father who applauded the Akpabio-led administration for giving education priority attention, noted that he was happy at the new look of educational institutions across the state, hence the appeal for Salvation Army Primary School and Community Secondary School, both in Ikot Ubo, to be accorded similar attention in the interest of the pupils and students of the affected schools.

A recent visit by Weekend Pioneer to the affected schools during the week showed that at Salvation Army Primary School, a long block of about four classrooms had its roof blown off several months back by a windstorm, while the entire roofing at the Community Secondary School was in a serious state of dilapidation.

Also, the science laboratory was without modern facilities while the staff quarters was in a state of ruins and without basic conveniences