₦airaland Forum

Buhari in a statement by his media aide Femi Adesina, on Thursday, December 5, welcomed the recovery of another Chibok schoolgirl, Rakiya Abubakar, who was rescued by troops in the Alagarno area of Damboa local government area of Borno state.

The president commended the military for the diligent investigation which led to the recovery of Rakiya and urged them to continue in the spirit with which they cleared the Sambisa
forest of terrorists.

Buhari assured Nigerians of the government will do all within its powers to assist the military in locating the rest of the girls.

He also reiterated the determination to eradicating the menace of terrorism in Nigeria.

https://www.naij.com/1081117-buhari-welcomes-rescue-chibok-schoolgirl-rakiya-abubakar.html

samtee37:
Can someone help me shout

ASHAW......

make i join them for only today

- Federal government has approved that airport security officers can now carry gun

- The new aviation security arrangement will take the form of the United States’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

With the fleeing of Boko Haram insurgents from Sambisa forest, the federal government has approved that security personnel at the nation’s airports will now bear arms as a measure to improve the general security at the airports and guard against any possible terror attacks.


The government also assured that Nigeria will have a national carrier before the end of this year.

In a related development, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the completion of Kaduna airport terminal building at the cost of N1 billion.


Minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed these to state house correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.


Sirika asserted that the federal government is very serious about aviation security, saying that, just last week, the president approved that aviation security personnel should bear arms.

He explained that the new aviation security arrangement will take the form of the United States’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Sirika said: “So we are trying to make them take the form and shape of TSA of the US with K-9 dogs, handcuffs, the guards, the batons, light weapons, etc. The minister of interior is helping us in that regard, with the directive of Mr. President.

“They are partnering with us and other stakeholders to keep our airports secure. All these will be unveiled at the next stakeholders’ meeting.”

On the issue of national carrier, the minister said it will be wholly private sector-driven.

He contended that, with the exception of Ethiopian Airline, it had been proved that government does not do well with this kind of venture.


He said: “When we came in, we were very clear on our targets and goals and what we set out to achieve. And we did say that Nigeria does not have a national airline. The national airline will be one that the government will have no hand in; normally it can have three per cent. It will be private sector-led, private sector-driven.

“We are going to have a national carrier; it is on course, and because it is a Public-Private Project (PPP) thing, it has to go through IC and C, and it also has to follow all the due process. So it is time consuming, but I hope that, very soon, before the end of the year, we will have a very strong, viable national airline.

“For me, if any airline will have the capacity to deploy several aircraft with seamless operation, non-disruptive, provide the service, go the long haul, take advantage and give other international airlines a run for their money, we don’t need to get involved; it is because there is none.”

The aviation minister recalled that the Nigerian Airways used to do all of this, but that in the wisdom of the then government, it liberalised the sector, adding that because of the absence of Nigeria’s capacity, most of these airlines came and left as fast as they came in.

Sirika, however, gave the assurance that the government was addressing all of these concerns.

“We are going to establish this national carrier and it will give good service. This is the solution, because Nigeria has the market: we are 180 million (in population); we are sitting in West Africa, and in the West African market, we are 450 million (in population) and Nigeria is the major player."

Sirika also revealed that FEC had approved the completion of the Kaduna terminal building for the sum of N1 billion. He noted that the contract for the project was awarded in 2011 and work commenced in 2012.


According to him, the variation of contract sum became necessary when during the rehabilitation of the terminal building, a contractor noticed some structural damage to the building itself and then increased the scope of work to be done.

On how to manage the closure of Abuja airport and construction of Kaduna terminal, he said that there is another elaborate terminal robust enough to take the passengers for the duration of six weeks.

He said: “It will not hinder it; it will not stop them also from working. It may be also a bonus if the contractor is able to run through and finish before March, but whether it is finished or not, it will not affect the operations because there are enough buildings to carry out the operations of the airport.”

Meanwhile, British Airways cabin crew has decided to embark on a 48-hour strike from January 10, 2017. The strike is as a result of an ongoing pay dispute.

The decision to embark on a strike came after union members voted by 7 to 1 to reject a pay offer from the airline.


https://www.naij.com/1080955-federal-government-approves-guns-airport-security-officers.html

https://www.naij.com/881065-retro-series-see-biafra-civil-war-prevented-photosvideo.html

Author:
Omotayo Yusuf

The regional members felt that all the decrees passed since January 15, 1966, and which detracted from previous powers and positions of regional governments, should be repealed if mutual confidence is to be restored.”

Sadly however, the result and recommendation of the accord were not honoured by both parties leaving the country to further degenerate into ethnic discord.


On July 6, 1967, Ojukwu officially declared secession from Nigeria signalling the beginning of the Biafra civil war. The war would go on for two and a half years and by the time it ended, more than two million people lost their lives.


Gowon has been blamed for not honouring the agreements reached in Aburi although he has always denied this.


“I was fascinated by that because I can assure you that that (Aburi) meeting was to break the ice and for all of us, the military leaders at the time, be allowed to be able to agree to be discussing
our problems in Nigeria and to solve them.

“What happened to us at Aburi was that I couldn’t make it down (to Nigeria) because I was unfortunately down with a fever.

“Ojukwu got back (before me) and made a statement and that wasn’t what we discussed and that was the beginning of the misunderstanding"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKXK2Er8UZk

“Specifically, the council agreed that appointments to senior ranks in the police, diplomatic, and consular services as well as appointment to superscale posts in the federal civil service and the equivalent posts in the statutory corporation must be approved by the Supreme Military Council.

All attempts at salvaging the impending danger proved abortive
within Nigeria as Ojukwu reiterated that he would not hold any
meeting with any Nigerian officer within the country.

By then, Igbos had started moving to the eastern region and the secession of the eastern region out of Nigeria seemed inevitable.

Then came the Aburi Accord, a move that should have prevented the Biafra war.

Ojukwu led delegates from the eastern region to Aburi in Ghana to meet with Gowon who also led the delegates of the federal government and were hosted by Joseph Arthur Ankrah between January 5 and 6, 1967.

The atmosphere at the neutral ground was tensed although the officers tried to disguise the real nature of the situation by sharing food and laughing at small jokes.

However, an accord was reached and it was agreed that “the legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government should remain in the Supreme Military Council, to which any decision affecting the whole country shall be referred for determination provided that where it is possible for a meeting to be held the matter requiring determination must be referred to military governors for their comment and concurrence.

50 years ago, the future of Nigeria and how it affects the relationship between the three major tribes - Yoruba Hausa and Igbo - rested on a meeting in Ghana in January 1967.

IT WAS THE ABURI ACCORD.


Following the second coup in Nigeria that took place in July 1966 that led to the death of the head of state, Aguiyi Ironsi, tension between Igbos and the rest of the country began to strain.


The second coup which came six months after the first one and was considered a reprisal coup. Ironsi was accused of not taking actions against the Igbo soldiers that were responsible for the first coup and it was reported that although they were in detention, they were still being paid.


The killing of Igbos across the northern part of Nigeria began in May 1966 and this was fuelled by (false) reports that northerners were suffering the same fate in the eastern region. By November
of that year, there was tension between Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon who was the head of state and Lt-Col Odumegwu Ojukwu who was the governor of the eastern region.

Continue....

sho!

Mesentery: New organ discovered inside human body by scientists (and now there are 79 of them)


The finding opens up 'a whole new area of science'

https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/article_small/public/thumbnails/image/2017/01/03/15/mesentery-0.jpg

A digital representation of the small and large intestines and associated mesentery J Calvin Coffey, D Peter O’Leary, Henry Vandyke Carter

A new organ has been discovered hiding in plain sight inside the human body.

Known as the mesentery, it was previously thought to be just a few fragmented structures in the digestive system.

But scientists have realised it is in fact one, continuous organ.

Although its function is still unclear, the discovery opens up “a whole new area of science,” according to J Calvin Coffey, a researcher at the University Hospital Limerick who first discovered it.


www.independent.co.uk/news/science/new-organ-mesentery-found-human-body-digestive-system-classified-abdominal-grays-anatomy-a7507396.html

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people dey vex for chelse match u dy there dey claim feminist

They are Alhaji Shettima Lawan,chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, and the Vice chairman of Kaga local government also in the state.



Two council officials with alleged links with Boko Haram insurgents have been arrested in Borno State.

They are Alhaji Shettima Lawan, chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, and the Vice chairman of Kaga local government also in the state.

The Nigerian Army on Thursday confirmed the arrest of the two men for alleged links with the Boko Haram terrorists.

Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, made the confirmation during a news conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.

“All I can say is that the Chairman is a big supporter of Boko Haram. “We heard that he harboured Boko Haram members along with his father. That he kept the Boko Haram members because the father begged him to do so.

“The Chairman was in the habit of accommodating people that had fled from the bush.


“At some point he was valuable to us being with the Civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram. But that does not mean we cannot investigate him for a crime especially one like this.

“We have also arrested the Vice Chairman of Kaga Local Government and he is undergoing interrogation,” Irabor said.

www.saharareporters.com/2017/01/04/army-arrests-two-boko-haram-lg-bosses

8. Gigantic

Gigantic is an adjective which means of very great size or extent;
huge or enormous. Its synonyms include: huge, enormous, vast, extensive, expansive, broad, wide and so on.

It is usually pronounced as "jai-jan-tic." However, the proper way to pronounce this word is 'jai-gan-tik'.

The 'g' in the middle is pronounced like the first letter of the word 'goat'.


9. Prelude

A prelude is an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important
matter The common pronunciation is "pray-lood," but the proper pronunciation is "prell-yood."


10. Antarctic

The Antarctic is something of or relating to the south pole or to the region near it. For most people it is tempting to drop that first "c," and pronounce it as "Ant-ar-tik".

However, the correct way to pronounce it is "Ant-ark-tik."


11. Stipend

A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship.

It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed.

Instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be
exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried employment in order to undertake a role that is normally unpaid.

It is pronounced "stai-pend" and
not "sti-pend."

4. Banal

Banal refers to something boring or ordinary, not interesting. Many people pronounce it as "bay-nul" or "bay-nal".

While it might feel weird to say it like this, the correct pronunciation is "buh-nal."


5. Flaccid

The word flaccid is an adjective that describes something that is not firm, not hard or solid.

Unlike what most people think, this word actually doesn't rhyme with "acid." The proper pronunciation is "flak-sed," not "flas-sid."


6. Quasi

Quasi refers to when something is in some way or sense but not in a true, direct, or complete way. Mostly incomplete.

According to the Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and MacMillan dictionaries agree:

This word is pronounced "kway-zai," not
"kwah-zai."


7. Fuel

This refers to material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power. It can also refer to something tha sustains or keeps a thing going.

It is usually pronounced as "fu-el," however the correct pronunciation is "few-l."

1. Niche

A niche can be defined as a place, employment, status, or activity
for which a person or thing is best fitted.
There are two pronunciations of the word: 'Neesh' and 'Nitch' Most people use 'nitch', 'neesh' is a more recent pronunciation.


2. Gala

Gala does not refer to the beef sausage, which is common in Nigeria, it refers in this case to a festive celebration.
The pronunciation differs in most cases, some dictionaries use: "gay-la", some use "gah-la," but "gay-la" is preferred in most cases.


3. Valet

A valet is an employee of a hotel or a public facility who performs personal services for customers, usually they are commonly
those who help in getting cars parked.
The Merriam-Webster says this word should be pronounced "val-ett," though most of people tend to stick with "val-ay."

https://www.naij.com/1080376-11-words-nigerians-mispronounce-everyday.html

lalasticlala
seun
mynd44

And he can still do better 2017

Responding to Governor Wike’s allegation, Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, simply said: “The President will not descend to Wike’s level. He is the President of Nigeria.”

Similarly while the Police in the state said they were not aware of the plot, APC in the state said the governor was being hunted by his past.

According to the state Police spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the allegation had not been brought to the attention of the command.

He is hunted by his past—APC

On its part, APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone, said the governor was merely frightened by his past, saying: “The APC believes that Governor Nyesom Wike’s utterances today, (yesterday) at his party’s event in Port Harcourt remains typically symptomatic of someone caught committing a heinous crime who has become confused and decides to pour dirt on anyone in sight. Governor Wike’s accusation that APC is planning to bomb his plane simply underscores the extent to which the governor has become hysterically frightened by his own shadow and his past iniquities.

“It is unfortunate that Governor Wike has become helpless in dealing with the outcome of his past actions but constantly suffering psychological relapses. However, it is unfortunate that for want of credible defence of the many serious accusations against him, Governor Wike is resorting to releasing wild accusations against the APC to mask his helplessness.

The APC simply takes pity on the condition of the governor and honestly prays he gets help very quickly before his situation gets out of hand.”

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/plane-bombing-allegation-buhari-cant-descend-to-wikes-level-says-presidential-spokesman/

The governor spoke Thursday in Port Harcourt at an end of year party by his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state.

Continuing, he said the alleged plot to bomb his plane was part of desperation on the part of his detractors to eliminate him,
stressing that no man can destroy whom God had lifted.

He said his political opponents were unhappy with the successes recorded by his administration since he came on board, adding that he would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the state.

Wike also spoke of effort by his government to guarantee security of lives and properties in the state, noting that those who wanted blood to flow freely in the state would not succeed with their evil dream.

Governor Wike who said the state was peaceful recalled that on December 10 during the rerun elections leaders of the All
Progressive Congress, APC allegedly invaded the state with security agencies who allegedly maimed and killed innocent voters with an intention to allegedly rig elections.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/breaking-wike-alleges-plot-bomb-plane/

two §@&# governors

The 2017 budget, christened budget of growth and recovery,
presented to the National Assembly by

President Buhari on December 14, shows that the State House budget for the fiscal year would be N42 billion, with expenditure on food, cooking gas and kitchen utensils expected to gulp well over N850 million.

Specifically, N100, 820,300 would be spent for the purchase of kitchen utensils such as forks and knives for use in Aso Rock.

The budget document indicated three expenditure items that relate to food and feeding, namely, food stuff and catering materials, purchase of canteen and kitchen equipment and cooking gas.

The breakdown of the budget for Aso Rock come 2017 shows that expenditure on kitchen utensils will be N431 million, food stuff and catering materials will swallow N360 million while cooking gas is expected to take N63 million; making a total of N850 million.

For president’s office, N114,967,140.00 has been voted for food stuff, kitchen utensils or equipment to take N100,820,300 while cooking gas will consume N21,600,000 million.

The budget breakdown further shows that the Office of the Vice President will spend N53, 494,992 million on food stuff, N12,470,000 on kitchen utensils while N246,000 million would be spent on cooking gas.

The expected food related expenditure for office of the Chief of Staff is N16,282,000 while Lagos Liaison Office of the Presidency will devote N140,418,300 on food and food related items in the 2017 fiscal year.

The maintenance of infrastructure and technical facilities in the Defence House and other Safe Houses would gulp N367.980 million, while the rehabilitation and infrastructure of security quarters in the Villa would take N284.587 million.

Perhaps, in line with the determination of President Muhammadu to root out corruption in the country, N17.202 billion is allocated to
the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), making it the largest single allocation among the agencies under the Presidency.

www.sunnewsonline.com/2017-budget-fg-to-spend-n100m-on-kitchen-utensils-for-aso-rock/

IBADAN—NOT fewer than 1,260 policemen from the six South
West states of the country recently transferred to Northern states,
especially the North East, where Boko Haram insurgency was rampant, have complained bitterly against what they termed ‘lopsided transfer that attracts no incentives.

According to a signal by AIG Abdul Bude from Force Headquarters, Abuja, dated December 24, 2016 with reference No CB 4770/FS/FHQ/ABJ/Vol. 5/232, the affected policemen have
been mandated to assemble in Kaduna on January 4, 2017.

Though, they said as security agents, their primary duty is to protect lives and property, they are not comfortable with the way
the transfer which dates back to 1997 is being handled.

An impeccable source told Vanguard that the transfer carried out in 1997, 2003 and 2015 had recorded heavy casualties among the
policemen from the South West due to inadequate facilities.

They are principally unhappy because they are allegedly not treated equally with their Northern counterparts.

One of the affected policemen who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said their northern colleagues
who are equally transferred at the same time are treated as sacred cows because despite disobeying the police authorities, by shunning the transfer, still get to collect their salaries.

According to one of them: ‘’Lives of several policemen from the South West that were transferred in the past had been wasted by
the insurgents.’’

Other grievances of the aggrieved policemen include non-provision of vehicles to convey them to their new stations; non-provision of accommodation and other welfare packages,
language barrier and non-familiarity with the northern terrain.

He said; “Since they started the transfer, lives of several policemen of South West extraction have been wasted because when they
transfer them, the authority would not provide necessary facilities such as money, accommodation which make them prone to
attacks by the insurgents.

“We are not happy at all. This transfer was earlier stopped by the National Assembly and a powerful politician from the South West
in 2015. It is the same policemen that are being transferred now.

We knew this because their transfer letters bore their former ranks under the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.”

With the transfer, he said the police authorities ran foul of an earlier document which states that no policeman should be
transferred outside his zone of origin.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/1260-policemen-s-west-protest-transfer-northern-states/

An auxiliary nurse, identified only as Oyekanmi, has been arrested by the police for her role in the death of a baby she took delivery of in the Odogunyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim’s mother, Adeola, had been taken to Oyekanmi’s residence last Saturday when she went into labour.

Oyekanmi, while attempting to force the delivery, was said to have pulled off the baby’s hand.

She was said to have advised that the child be taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where the dead child was finally delivered.

Doctors at the hospital were reported to have queried the baby’s parents on what truly transpired, and they opened up.

The hospital management then alerted the police to the incident.

A source said Oyekanmi was picked up by the police. The source said, “What happened was that the auxiliary nurse tried to deliver the woman of the baby, during which there was a complication. But she continued and in the end, the hand of the baby was pulled off while she tried to force the child out from the mother’s womb.

“Afterwards, they quickly packed the woman together and brought her to the general hospital. It had become a critical case by then. The remains of the dead child were brought out, while the matter was reported to the police.”


The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were ongoing.


She said, “The doctor at the hospital discovered that something was amiss after taking a close look at the dead child and seeing that one hand had been pulled off. All the parties were invited to make statements. It is a case of infanticide investigations are ongoing.”

The spokesperson for the state’s Ministry of Health, Adeola Salako, promised to get back to our correspondent, but she had yet to do
so as of press time.

www.punchng.com/nurse-pulls-off-babys-hand-delivery/

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dominique

cool !

Keep fooling ursef

The traditional rulers in Ondo sate had a meeting and its outcome was that, they banned the Igbo traditional title of Eze Ndigbo in all towns and villages in the state.

Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo who holds the title of the Deji of Akure, announced that this was the resolution of the traditiona rulers in the state.

Speaking in a statement issued by Mr Michael Adeyeye, his chief press secretary, he said that the title of Eze Ndigbo no longer exists in the state.

He reiterated for emphasis that it was a decision reached by all the traditional rulers in the state. There had been rumours that the Deji of Akure planned to install a new Eze Ndigbo against the wish
of many Igbos in the state.

However, the monarch said: "For the benefit of doubt, we have no intention to install any leader for the Igbo community as being speculated.“

The Akure monarch in the official statement said: “The title of Eze Ndigbo does not exist anywhere in Akure or Ondo state.

Therefore, there could not have been any move to install anyone with such title.

"Hence, it remains a figment of the imagination and mere wishful thinking for anyone who claims such.

"An earlier act of insubordination to the Yoruba monarchy and culture by one Mr. Gregory Iloehika, has been deplored by all and sundry, in all its ramifications, as against the traditional norms and practice of the Yoruba people and this led to his removal and subsequent ban of the title of Eze Ndigbo in Akure Kingdom and
the entire Ondo state.”


According to Punch, he explained, however that: "It remains within the purview of the Igbo community to choose its own leadership and it is at liberty to present a leader from among itself if it so desires.”

In conclusion, he made it clear that he would deal decisively with anyone that tried to “fan the ember of discord through this means, thereby creating unnecessary panic and misinformation in Akure and Ondo state at large.”


https://www.naij.com/1079338-breaking-ondo-bans-eze-ndi-igbo-title-entire-state.html

President Muhammadu Buhari says his government is ready to dialogue with rampaging Niger-Delta militants who have continued to bomb oil installations in the Niger Delta.

Mr Buhari said the dialogue would afford both the government and the militants the opportunity to decide how the nation’s resources could be managed instead of agitators picking up arms against their fatherland.


“I want you to talk to people to be patient with the government.

We are always thinking about our country and we are thinking about our people.

“I assure you that the country and the people of the country are always uppermost in our minds.

With our performance in the North-East, Nigerians know that this government is serious.


“For our friends in the Niger Delta area, we will persuade them that they should please sit down with us and agree to manage our resources rather than think of fighting it out,” the President told residents of the Federal Capital Territory, led by the Minister, Muhammad Bello, paid him a Christmas visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

While saying that the problems he identified during campaigns were still the nation’s fundamental problems, Buhari specifically
identified power and lack of infrastructure as major challenges.

He regretted that during the oil boom, the nation’s handlers at that time failed to save for a rainy day.

Mr Buhari promised that his government would concentrate on infrastructure development, stating that jobs would be created through the process.

“It is about 18 months since we resumed here. I believe some of you followed us during our campaigns and what we identified are still fundamental problems.
“The first is security, and we kept on saying whether it is an organisation or a country, we have to first secure it before we can manage it properly. Without security, nothing can work.

“Secondly, the economy and the unemployment of able-bodied persons. From 1999 to 2014, the crude production was over 2.2m barrels per day. The average cost per barrel was $100.

“When we came, it was $37. I think it is now between $40 and $50. I asked for savings, there was no saving. I asked them what they used the money to buy, they said they bought food and oil.


I do not know how long it took me to recover from the shock. “Some of you will recall either by history or discussion that it was cocoa, palm kernel, cotton, agro allied industry that we used to build infrastructure, be it rail or school.

“We also used the proceeds to develop oil. When we got the oil, we threw everything away. We thank God this year, the harvest
was quite good; otherwise, I do not know what we would have done.

“There was no money saved, no infrastructure built, and power is still our main problem. Old roads are dilapidated and they need to be repaired from Lagos to Kano, Port Harcourt up to Maiduguri. There are rail lines we want to develop from Lagos to Calabar, from Lagos to Kaduna and the Abuja one.

“If we can get the infrastructure done, we cannot even know the number of Nigerians that will get jobs. So, we have to get
infrastructure. It will take tankers and other articulated vehicles off the road; we will save vehicles and we will save lives and we will
get jobs for a lot of Nigerians.”


On their part, the Chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria, FCT branch, Rev. Jonah Samson, said they were in the Presidential Villa to identify with Buhari and commend him for his leadership, which he said had impacted positively on Nigerians.

Samson particularly commended the President for his administration’s anti-corruption war. “Corruption is a cankerworm. It is a terrible thing that we must kill. We urge you to ensure that the war continues. It should not end during this administration.

“We thank God for the victory over Boko Haram. It is a thing of joy worthy of celebration.”


https://politics.naij.com/1079344-im-ready-dialogue-militants-buhari.html

good job boys