₦airaland Forum

NDLEA nabs 14 suspected drug traffickers
… Confiscates 77.307 kg of narcotics
By CHRIS ANUCHA
Thursday, February 26, 2009
•Ogbuji Emmanuel
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 14 persons suspected to be drug traffickers.
The suspects were nabbed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Cannabis weighing 59.547kg, were recovered from two of them, while 1.827 kg of heroin was recovered from one of them.
Others had cocaine weighing, 15.933, in their possession. The estimated street value of the drug impounded from the suspects is put at N60 million.

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Victor Cole-Showers, gave the names of the suspects as, Emmanuel Ogbuji, 45, Mezue Obinna, 30, Eluma Ifeanyi, 30, and Okoro Onwuka, 35.
Others are: Onum Michael, 36, Anaeto Ugochukwu, 39, Obiora Celestine, 46, and David Monteiro, 35.

Eight of them were alleged to have ingested the hard drugs and were on their way to various destinations in Europe. Michael’s case is said to be critical and may be the next drug suspect to be operated on this year, to evacuate cocaine from his stomach. The suspect, a native of Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, had already confessed to have ingested 78 wraps of hard drugs, which was meant to be delivered in Hamburg for a fee of 3,000 euros.

The dream was not only dashed, his life is also in danger. As at the time of filing this report, he had excreted 77 wraps, while one is still stuck in his stomach. In his confessional statement, Michael said: “I suffered a big loss in business and somebody wanted to help me start all over again. That was how I found myself in this problem”.

A few weeks ago, another suspected drug trafficker, Anthony Hyginus, 39, was saved from premature death when doctors removed a ‘stubborn’ wrap of cocaine that got stuck in his stomach through surgical operation.

Chidi, a factory worker in Spain, was arrested during the screening of KLM passengers to Amsterdam. He allegedly ingested 71 wraps, weighing 1.434 kg, for a fee of 2,000 euros. The suspect said: “They said I would have been paid 3,000 euros if I had swallowed 100 wraps but I could not, because it is not easy”. The native of Orlu, Imo State, had been living in Spain for the past 10 years.
Obinna, an automobile parts dealer, living in Togo, was arrested while on his way to Hamburg. He allegedly ingested 70 wraps of substance, suspected to be cocaine, weighing 1.452 kg, for a fee of 3, 500 euros. Listen to his excuse: ‘‘I wanted to help my younger ones and my mother.’’ The suspect is from Dunukaofia Local government Area of Anambra State.

Ifeanyi is said to be living in Spain but has a shop, where he sells musical instruments at Ikotun area of Lagos. He was nabbed on his way to Madrid, Spain. Eluma allegedly ingested 73 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine, weighing 1.515 kg. The suspect, from Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, claimed it was circumstances that pushed him into drug trafficking. He said: “I was not going to be paid any money. The drug is mine, I bought it to sell in Europe.” The NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, told Daily Sun that the suspects would appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has again expressed deep concern about the rate of hard drug ingestion by traffickers, describing it as suicidal. “Cocaine induced surgical operations rather than sicknesses, are sad and regrettable. Ingestion of narcotic drugs is suicidal. I strongly believe that premature death, economic sabotage and image smearing, caused by illicit drug trafficking, are critical areas of justification, for our call for stiffer penalty for drug culprits, as enshrined in the Agency’s Act,” Giade declared.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/crimewatch/2009/feb/26/crimewatch-26-02-2009-002.htm

I took to armed robbery when armed robbers raided my shop and carted away my property’
By Adebayo Waheed - Updated: Tuesday 24-02-2009


Oladejii and his friend, Adetuyi during
the parade.KAZEEM Oladeji is a fashion designer in Port Harcourt, River State. He specialised in both english and native dresses. There was no doubt that he had a good number of customers.

But recently, men of the underworld visited his shop and carted away his machines and people’s clothes. As a result, he became indebted to some customers, while he was unable to have the three square meals.

He decided to look for an alternative. To him, the best and quickest way was to rob so that he could get money to get another shop with a view to starting afresh.

To achieve this, he allegedly sent for one of his friend, Olanrewaju Adetuyi, who is based in Lagos and who was into borehole drilling. They met in Ibadan, Oyo State, where they allegedly mapped out strategies on how to rob a popular supermarket in the town.

Oladeji, while speaking in Ibadan with Crimes and Security during a police parade, confirmed that it was true that they robbed the supermarket, but the money they allegedly stole had been taken from them.

According to him, “when I lost everything to robbers in Port Harcourt, I was frustrated, so I decided to look for an alternative.

“I invited my friend from Lagos to go and rob so that we can make money to rent another shop. This is because when I told my brother about the incident, he was not ready to assist me, so I decided to steal.

“So, we decided to rob a supermarket at Oyo, we stole money but we were arrested because, we were not familiar with the town.

According to the police, at about 7.30 p.m, there was a distress call to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo and Ogbomoso axes that three armed men were operating at Oyo town.”

Men from SARS were said to have swung into action and stormed the scene, where they met the hoodlums in action.

The police commissioner, Mr. Bashiru Azeez, while parading the suspects, said they shot one of their victims on the thigh and when they sighted the police, they opened fire and in the ensuing gun duel, Kazeem Oladeji and Olanrewaju Adetuyi both from Ojoo area, Ibadan, were arrested.

Items recovered from them were two cut-to-size guns, two live catridges, one expended catridge, one dagger, and a Jincheng motorcycle with registration number OY 3262 JD which they allegedly brought for the operation.

The third member of the gang, Samuel, escaped arrest.

Meanwhile, a suspected fake lawyer, “Barrister” Olusola Olutayo paraded by Oyo State police command has said that the urge to travel to Canada led him into crime.

The 51-year-old Olutayo was one of the suspects that were paraded by the Oyo State police command for various offences ranging from armed robery, pipeline vandalisation, defilement of a 12-year-old girl to hand bag snatching.

The suspect, while speaking with newsmen, confirmed that he did not go beyond secondary school, but he was able to acquire the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University law degree certificates.

The fake lawyer, who claimed that he attended Okebadan Boys HIgh School and graduated in 1974, said that he was unable to further his education because there was no financial support.

According to him, it was when he could not further his studies that he thought of travelling to Canada possibly to further his education, hence, the need to acquire the certificates.

“I wanted to travel to Canada, I contacted somebody who asisted me to acquire fake visa and certificates. I paid N350,000 for the Canadian visa and the institutions’ certificates,” he said.

The suspect, however, said “I have never attended any court or practiced with the acquired certificates.

“I bought the gowns and the wig at open market in Lagos. I have not been using them. I have not been to any court before,” he added.

On the alleged crime he committed by duping his victim of N362,000, the suspect said “I did not defraud anybody. He was the one who introduced me to the person. I did not know the person. He collected the money.

“Now, we cannot find that person again, he now said I have to pay for the money which I agreed,” he said.

He explained that during a search in his house by the police, a gun which he allegedly inherited from his father and other items were found.

Speaking during the parade of the fake lawyer and other armed robbery suspects, Azeez said that the suspect, who never saw the four walls of a university and a mission school, had an array of university degrees in law.

According to him, the self-acclaimed “Barrister” Olutayo, who had been hiding under the cloak of S. O. Alli and Co Chambers, Ibadan, had been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public who require any form of legal services.

Trouble started when one of his victims reported to the police that the transaction between him and the suspect had not been fruitful.

The transaction, the police boss said, began in February 15, 2006, when the victim met the suspect at their church and told him that he needed the services of a lawyer to verify the genuineness of a property in Lagos State which was introduced to him for purchase so as to process the certificate of occupancy in respect of the property.

The suspect was said to have responded that he was a lawyer and could render him the legal services.

According to the police boss, the deal was perfected and he charged the unsuspecting victim N362,000 for processing of C of O, five per cent of N1,600,000, that is N80,000 as commission for the cost of the property and other sundry fees which the victim paid to the suspect.

Azeez added that the suspect allegedly gave the victim a purported C of O of the property and other documents which investigation later revealed to be fake.

Items allegedly recovered from him were one locally-made single barrel gun, a lawyer’s gown, a wig, a white shirt, a call to bar certificate and NYSC certificate, a University of Ife LLB certificate, a University of Ibadan LLB certificate and some legal documents.

Others were S. O. Alli and Co official stamp, which he claimed he stole from the chambers a decade ago, a new generation church stamp, S. O. Alli and Co letterheads, two travelling passports bearing Mr. Olusola Ogunshola with the suspects passport photograph embossed on them.

Speaking with newsmen, the suspect confessed and stated that all the documents procured for the victim were forged and the documents recovered from him were fake.

Armed robbery in Oyo State
Cases of armed robbery are rife in Oyo State. And the state government is doing everything possible to checkmate the situation. One of such is the drafting of policemen to guard establishments.

Vigilance committees have been set up at ward levels while organisations like the Civil Defence Corps and Oodua People’s Congress have joined in the crusade against robbery and other criminal activities in the state.

It will be recalled that at the tail end of last year, robbery cases were recorded in Iwo Road and Idi-Ape area of Ibadan resulting in the bizarre killing of innocent people and the carting away of huge sums of money.

The robbery attempt at Oluawo compound, Orita Basorun/Ashi in the same city was however, foiled by the vigilante security men on guard.

Only recently, the robbers renewed their attack by waylaying some officials of the state government ordering them to alight from the Camry car they were in and the driver ordered to take them(robbers) to an unknown destination.

Up till now, nobody knows what happened to the driver or the car. Recently too, two armed robbery cases were reported by the media.


Armed robbers launched an attack on an old generation bank in Oluyole area of Ibadan and another along Ibadan/Iseyin road resulting in the killing of innocent traders who were travelling on the road at the time of robbery.

In finding a permanent solution to the problem, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, late last year, made known his intention to write a letter to President Yar’Adua, for approval for a joint patrol of soldiers and policemen in a bid to put the situation under control. I don’t know if the governor has done as he had promised.

Nevertheless, it is pertinent to state that, it is only in peace time that good governance can be achieved.

Ekiti Acting Speaker escapes assassination bid 26/2/2009


From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Acting Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Saliu Adeoti, has escaped an attempt by gunmen to attack him.
The suspected assassins, numbering about five, stormed a hotel in which he lodged in his Otun-Ekiti hometown on Tuesday night.

Adeoti told reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that the gunmen came to the hotel at about 9.45 pm, acting on a tip-off that he was around.

The acting speaker, who is a member of the Action Congress (AC), fingered some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the failed attempt on his life.

The suspected assassins were reportedly armed with guns, machetes and acid and were said to be combing the community in search of the Acting Speaker.

Adeoti said he received calls from unknown persons before he left Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, same day threatening his life over his pronouncement on the floor of the Assembly that the Acting Governor, Mr Olatunji Odeyemi, should dissolve the state executive council constituted by the ousted Governor, Mr Olusegun Oni.

He said he had reported the incident to Odeyemi and the police authorities.

He said on arrival at an Otun-Ekiti hotel, he was advised to leave immediately by a kinsman who was aware of the alleged plot to eliminate him.

He said his saving grace was the instruction he had left that anytime he was in the hotel, nobody must be allowed to come in.

Besides, he added that an arrangement had been made to pay for unoccupied rooms.

Adeoti said based on the instruction he left with security men at the hotel, when the suspected assailants came, they were restricted.

He wondered why some people are planning to eliminate him when the legislators had resolved to work together for the good of the state.

He warned those he referred to as "anti-democratic forces" not to plunge the state into trouble.

"Let me sound a note of warning that if anything should happen to any member in the House, especially now that we have decided to work as one body, the entire people of Ekiti State would rise up in defence, "Adeoti said.

The PDP Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr Jackson Adebayo, absolved members of his party from the alleged assassination attempt on Adeoti.

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=78200

14,000 died in religious riots in Nigeria’
By Agency Reporter
Published: Thursday, 26 Feb 2009
ABOUT 14,000 people have lost their lives due to waves of ethno-religious and communal violence in the last 10 years, according to the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organisation.

The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde who disclosed this in Lagos on Wednesday said about three million people had been displaced during the period.

He said since 1980 to date, many religious riots and ethnic violence depicting hatred had been recorded mainly in the Northern part of the country.

Makinde said these included, the Kafanchan students religious riot of 1987; Kano religious disturbance of 1991; Tafawa Balewa crisis of 1991; 1995 and 2001; Zango-Kataf/Zaria crisis of 1992, Kaduna religious riots of 1999 and 2000, Jos crisis of 2001 and 2008.

He said the failure of the Federal Government to apprehend and punish the offenders and perpetrators of these acts was responsible for the latest attack.

Makinde who spoke at a media briefing said that many people, especially Christians, had been killed, maimed or their property destroyed as a result of avoidable crisis.

He lamented the recent killings and destruction of property in Bauchi State.

He warned that such crisis was threatening the peaceful coexistence of the people, and advised the government to fish out perpetrators and punish them accordingly.

The Prelate also called on the Federal Government to diversify the revenue base of the nation.

He said there was the need to develop other sectors of the economy and avoid dependence on oil, adding that mechanised farming should be improved upon to make food abundant and create employment.

According to him, there should be the aggressive exploration of mineral resources all over the country.

Makinde also applauded the judiciary for its landmark judgments and for proving to be a beacon of hope for the nation’s democracy and as the last hope of the common man.

According to him, President Umar Yar’Adua through its policy of the rule of the law has shown non-interference in the activities of the judiciary and had created enabling environment for justice to thrive.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200902261591757

336,442kg of drugs seized in 2008 — NDLEA boss
By John Ameh, Abuja
Published: Thursday, 26 Feb 2009
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, on Wednesday, said that the agency seized 336,442.84 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in 2008 and arrested 7, 899 suspects for various offences.

He added that majority of the 7,899 suspects, were males while 315 were females.

Giade gave the statistics in Abuja during a press briefing on the operations of the agency in 2008.

Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, dominated the seizures accounting for 335,535.34kgs, while psychotropic substances were 530.4033kgs and Heroin, 365.4904gs.

Giade said that the seizures and arrests outweighed those of 2007 as the NDLEA seized 211, 476kgs of drugs that year and arrested 6, 308 offenders.

Like in 2008, Indian hemp also dominated the seizures in 2007 accounting for 210, 262.90 of the total seizures.

He said, “The statistics of drug suspects arrested in 2008 shows that there is an increase of 1, 591 representing 20.14 per cent over that of 2007.

“The bulk of cocaine and heroine seizures were made at the international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port-Harcourt.”

The NDLEA boss regretted that Africa, especially the West-African sub-region, was becoming attractive routes for Latin American drug syndicates for the smuggling of hard substances into Europe and America.

He said, “Recent estimates show that about 42million people abuse illicit drugs in the continent. Africa also accounts for 26 per cent of global cannabis production.

“The situation, therefore, calls for urgent attention from all stakeholders.

“The degree of our determination today will determine how safe the continent will be tomorrow with regards to curbing the growing illicit drug trend and threats.”

According to Giade, in Nigeria, Kano led the five top states with the highest number of arrests in 2008 with 1, 145 suspects but clarified that more drug seizures were made in the Southern part of the country.

He stated that 481 suspects were arrested in Katsina State, Abia, 327, Kaduna, 320 and Rivers, 298.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200902261445776

Six feared killed as fresh violence erupts in Ilaje
By Femi Makinde, Akure


Published: Thursday, 26 Feb 2009
Fresh violence on Wednesday erupted in Ugbo and Ugbonla over the lingering chieftaincy tussle in the riverine communities.

Six persons were said to have died in the mayhem which left the two communities deserted following the terror unleashed on the communities by gunmen who were accused of being sent by a well-known indigene of Ilaje.

No fewer than 20 persons were also said to have sustained gunshot injuries in the crisis. Most residents were hiding inside the bush for fear of being killed by the hoodlums.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 50 and dressed in army uniform, stormed Ugbo and Ugbonla and set ablaze houses, including the palace of the deposed Olugbo of Ugbo, Prince Adebanjo Mafimisebi.

The palace of the monarch of Ugbonla, Oba Henry Ogunfeyimi, and other houses in the town were also reportedly set on fire.

The whereabouts of the deposed Olugbo was still unknown as at 8pm when this story was filed.

The gunmen, who headed straight to Ugbo, were said to have invaded the town at about 4:15pm. A source said that the hoodlums started shooting and setting on fire houses and other property.

Ogunfeyimi told our correspondent on the telephone that “My palace and other houses in Ugbonla are on fire now as I am speaking with you.”

He said that he was lucky as he escaped from the palace before the hoodlums stormed Ugbonla. The monarch said that he was hiding in an undisclosed place.

The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Council, Mr. Olasehinde Mesogboriwon, told our correspondent that soldiers had been deployed to quell the crisis.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, could not be reached for comments on the incident. Calls to his mobile phone were not answered.

There has been a lingering crisis over the Olugbo stool since the Supreme Court removed Mafimisebi from throne in January 2007. There have been crises in both Ugbo and Ugbonla since.

Some gunmen had on December 27, 2008 stormed Ugbonla and rained bullets on Ogunfeyimi’s palace. Although the monarch escaped unhurt, about 10 vehicles parked in the palace were destroyed.

Ogunfeyimi, who is also the head of the Cherubim &Seraphim Church of Zion, on February 15, 2009, told our correspondent that a prominent indigene of Ilaje was planning to unleash terror on Ugbonla.

Ogunfeyimi alleged that the planned attack was aimed at disrupting the 61st anniversary of the town which was scheduled to begin on Monday, February 16, 2009.

He called on security operatives in the state to beef up security around the area saying hoodlums had been recruited and armed to start maiming and killing innocent persons beginning from February 16.

But the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr.Adeniran Aremu, in an interview with our correspondent allayed the fear of the people of the town

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200902261495740

Abia Gov Named in Illegal N5bn Transfer
From Funso Muraina in Abuja, 02.25.2009


Abia State Governor Theodore Orji was yesterday in Abuja named as the principal facilitator in the N5 billion of the state fund allegedly transferred into the account of Sloks Nigeria Limited belonging to his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who said the transfer was done without his knowledge.
Kalu, a two-time governor of the state, said the alleged money transfer was done without his knowledge because he had directed that his name be de-listed as a director of the company since 1999 when he became governor.
Orji who was then the Chief of Staff to Kalu was alleged to have ordered the Director of Finance in the Umuahia Government House, Mr. Udeh Jones Udeogu, to effect the fund transfer to the private firm.
Making the revelations at a Federal High Court in Abuja to justify the trial of Kalu for money laundering, the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) alleged that the N5 billion was transferred in 36 installments from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Government House bank account at Umuahia to Sloks Inland Bank account at Apapa, Lagos.
Abia Government House Cashier, M. A Udo, allegedly acted as a clearing agent in converting the UBA cheques to drafts and paying them into Inland Bank account of Sloks.
Lead counsel to EFCC Rotimi Jacobs presented to Justice Adamu Bello the graphic details of how the fund was allegedly transferred directly from the state account to the private firm of the former governor.
The statement of the Fund Transfer Officer (FTO) of UBA in Umuahia, Ohiri Christy, explaining the details of the transfer was also presented in the proof of evidence supplied to the court in a bid to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.
Kalu along with two others, Udeh Jones Udeogu and Sloks Ltd, standing trial for alleged money laundering involving N5 billion had approached the judge to dismiss the criminal charge against them because the EFCC allegedly failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
In a preliminary objection against his trial, the former Abia governor claimed that the alleged fund transfer was done without his knowledge and that the charge against him was illegal having been done in breach of an order of Umuahia High Court that no court action should be instituted against him on the issue.
The motion argued by his lead counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), claimed that the charge was brought in bad faith by EFCC and should be dismissed for lacking in merit.
He submitted that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit because the alleged fund belongs to the state and any dispute arising from it could only be looked into by Abia courts.
The counsel argued that the the state House of Assembly, the only body that has power to investigate the state finances, had at no time indicted the former governor while he was also not accused of any wrongdoing in the financial regulations of the state.
Besides, the counsel said the Money Laundering Act 2004 under which the former governor was charged to court had been repealed by Money Laundering Act 2007 and as such was a non existing law.
He, therefore, asked the court to nullify the charge and strike out the trial of his client.
Opposing the application however, EFCC asked the judge to turn down the request on the ground that Kalu had full knowledge of the fund transfer and gave directive to its spending by the company.
Jacobs informed Justice Bello that there was no abuse of judicial process as both the Umuahia High Court and Federal High Court have concurrent jurisdiction while their orders could not stop each other from functioning.
EFCC submitted that contrary to Kalu’s claims, he was a director of Sloks Nigeria Ltd till 2004 when the fund was transferred and as such could be held accountable.
The commission admitted that the Money Laundering Act 2004 had been repealed by the 2007 Act but insisted that the offence committed while the 2004 Act was in place could be tried under the repealed Act.
He described Kalu’s motion as frivolous, baseless and lacking merit and urged the court to hold that the former governor has a criminal case to answer.
Justice Bello will, however, give ruling on April 7 on whether or not to sustain the criminal charge against the former governor.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=136624

40 million Nigerian youths unemployed - FG - Plans summit on youth unemployment - 80% Nigerian graduates unemployable - Education Minister
Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Clement Idoko, Abuja - 25.02.2009

THE Federal Government on Tuesday stated that about 40 million Nigerian youths were currently unemployed. The figure, according to the Labour Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, was presented to the government by the World Bank on Monday.


In a swift reaction to the development, however, the Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated a planning committee on National Employment Summit to halt unemployment among Nigerians.


Prince Kayode inaugurated the committee on behalf of President Umaru Yar’Adua at the Ministry of Labour, Federal Secretariat, Abuja. The minister said the alarming figure of 40 million unemployed youths given by the World Bank was not even captured in the unemployment index.


“The figure World Bank gave was that we have about 40 million [unemployed] youths between 18 and 25 years. The figure is not even captured by unemployment index because they are not looking for jobs as the jobs are not there. However, we are doing whatever we can do to attack and address this huge problem,” he said.


Inaugurating the 21-member committee, Prince Kayode said the problems of unemployment and underemployment had constituted impediments to the country’s strive for national growth and development.


He regretted that despite efforts by previous administrations and different strategies to combat the problems, socio-economic indicators continued to show that the number of men and women joining the ranks of the unemployed, working poor and those in the vulnerable groups was perpetually on the increase.


The minister said: “Unemployment has assumed a different and worrisome dimension in view of the effects of the current global financial and economic crisis on the people, especially in terms of job losses and the creation of new ones for the ever-growing populace.


“Nigeria, no doubt, is not an exception and, indeed, has been classified by the World Bank Report on “The Global Economic Crisis: Assessing Vulnerability with a Poverty Lens’ as a nation with exposure to poverty,” the minister said.


Prince Kayode said in recognition of these concerns and many others and their implications for national peace, growth and development, the need to urgently convene a national summit to address the problems had become compelling.


The minister said the Ministry of Labour, which is saddled with the responsibility for promoting and coordinating employment creation efforts in Nigeria, had decided to drive the process of convening a national employment summit that would address and develop practical strategies to meet the employment challenges of the global financial and economic crisis.


The committee, which will be chaired by the minister, has as members, all stakeholders in the labour and employment generation sector and all Federal Government agencies in the area of job creation and poverty alleviation.


The terms of reference of the committee are: To discuss and approve the working brief submitted by the technical working group with regard to the concept, contents, scope and modalities of the summit; to develop strategies for the effective mobilisation of funds through ownership and sponsorship of the various components of the summit by stakeholders; to discuss modalities for post-summit activities that will ensure proper implementation of recommendations and strategies for the creation of jobs at sectoral levels; and to discuss other matters relevant to the success of the employment summit.


He said that the summit would not be a jamboree as it was targeted to solve the problems of unemployment in the country, adding that with the calibre of eminent persons and experts in the committee, the National Employment Summit would be a success.

The Federal Govern-ment on Tuesday lamented the declining standard of university education in Nigeria, saying that about 80 percent of the country’s university graduates are unemployable.


Education Minister, Dr. Sam Egwu who said this while speaking at the retreat held for newly reconstituted Governing Council Boards for Federal Universities in Abuja, attributed this ugly trend to poor teaching in the system.


He, however, regretted the problem of access to university education, saying that less than 10 percent of Nigerians who take the matriculation examination annually are being offered admission into universities, a number said to be less than the minimum international standard of 16 percent.


This according to him, is as a as a result of the low carrying capacity of tertiary institutions which stands at less than 200,000 for the Nigerian university system as against an annual demand of one million. “The problem of access to tertiary institutions is further compounded by inadequate and obsolete infrastructure and equipment as well as poor library facilities,” he added.


On the low quality of graduates and the cause, Dr. Egwu said about 15 -30 percent of the instructional and infrastructural facilities are non-functional, obsolete or dilapidated. These have adverse consequences on the quality of teaching, learning and research,” saying the quality of graduates of tertiary institutions is also a cause for concern. Only 20% of graduates from Nigerian universities are employable.”

http://www.tribune.com.ng/25022009/news/news3.html

Obi, Ngige clash over projects
Written by Vincent Ujumadu
Wednesday, 25 February 2009

AWKA- THE camps of Governor Peter Obi and his predecessor, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday continued their war of words over projects being executed in the state, with both sides accusing each other of lying over who was responsible for what.
What sparked off the latest controversy was last week’s inspection of the on-going over-head bridge being constructed in Awka by Ngige, when he drove past the area.

Angered by the development, the state government issued a statement through the Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Chuks Iloegbunam, warning the former governor to leave Obi’s government alone.

But in a reaction in Awka, the Director of Ngige campaign organisation, Chief Charles Amilo said that nobody should stop the former governor from taking a look at projects in the state, especially when most of the projects were initiated by him.

“The Ngige administration, while executing the projects was urging Anambrarians, town unions, etc to monitor and constantly inspect projects being executed in their areas to ensure good quality job and to make sure contractors do not exhibit lackadaisical attitude to the jobs in terms of speed. Governor Obi has wisely given same advice to Anambrarians through his various pronouncements in same direction, that all Anambrarians should continue to monitor the projects being executed for them”.

“Where then did Ngige, a bona fide citizen of Anambra State and a major stake holder in the state, run foul of the law and regulation, because he stopped over for five minutes at the UNIZIK Awka Junction to inspect the quality of work being done and to congratulate and thank the workers on the site for a job well done and encouraging them to continue with the good quality work, which did not deviate from the 2005 concept of the project?”.

“We wish to make it clear that Ngige as a bona fide citizen of this state will continue to take a look at projects being executed in this state, whenever his busy schedule permits him to do so. We are also interested in all abandoned Ngige projects being completed to save the state’s funds which are being “frittered away” under the fluctuating contract price. To accuse Ngige of meddlesomeness in this matter means that Obi’s government is unnecessarily jittery.”

But the Special Adviser on Communications to Governor Obi, Iloegbunam insisted that Ngige has been laying claims to Obi’s projects, citing the accreditation of Onitsha General Hospital and other health institutions in the state, the dualization of Zik’s Avenue, the construction and fencing of the State Secretariat, the handover of schools to missionaries and the construction of two mini stadia at Onitsha as examples.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29573/45/

Imo community razed over leadership tussle   
Written by Chidi Nkwopara     
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 

Owerri—Properties worth millions of Naira have been razed in Akabor community, Oguta local government area of Imo State, following the bitter struggle for the traditional stool of the community.
As at the last count, no fewer than 17 residential houses have been set ablaze, while scores of people have taken refuge in the neighbouring communities, or in Owerri, the state capital.

Feelers from the community revealed that the current bloody skirmish was triggered off by what a source claimed was “the mysterious murder of one Mr. Joseph Amakonze, a youth, whose loyalty to one of the factions, was not in doubt”.

It was further gathered that the dead youth’s colleagues claimed that his murder was the handiwork of their opponents and immediately started a reprisal attack.

A source who pleaded anonymity for fear of being attacked, said that “the rampaging youths, who wanted to avenge the death of their colleague, were armed with all manner of dangerous weapons and started burning, damaging and looting the properties of some people opposed to their choice royal father”.

He appealed that something urgent be done to avert further loss of lives and properties  in the community.

It would be recalled that the tussle for the traditional stool started about two years ago, after the death of the royal father of the community, Eze Emetuma.

When Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Linus Nwaiwu, was contacted on the incident, he confirmed the story,  but added that a detachment of policemen have been drafted to the area to maintain peace.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29584/45/

:-x

Lightskin Nigerian
Efik
Ibibio
Esan
Auchi
Fulani
Ilesha women.
Kalabari

,

no.

:-x

:-x

:-x

:-x

osuland,

:-x

lol.