semid4lyfe:

Its 3 - O now.

3rd goal scored in the 16th minute

5th, 8th and 9th min respectively not 16th min

Germany 3 - 0 Nigeria

Lagos — Some good news came the way of Nigeria's aviation industry yesterday as the country attained the United States Federal Aviation Admi-nistration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) certification, known as Category 1 Status.

With this status, Nigeria's air safety rating has been enhanced and now puts the country in the premier league of nations that are highly rated in air transport in the world.

Henceforth, Nigerian registered aircraft can fly direct to any state in the United States with its Nigerian crew. Category 1 countries usually enjoy lower insurance premium for aviation industry. This will save millions of dollars for Nigerian airlines.

Also, Category 1 countries are very attractive to aircraft lessors that lease aircraft to airlines because it is believed that the country's airlines will have high level of maintenance standards.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Robin Sanders, handed over the certification to the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, in Abuja yesterday.

The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, while accepting the certification on behalf of the Federal Govern-ment, identified the gains of the new safety rating.

Njeze, who was elated, noted that Category 1 status "offers Nigeria a golden opportunity to become number 1 regional hub for West Africa and Central Africa," which means that Nigeria would be operational centre for both regional and international airlines from which they connect to other countries in the two regions of the continent.

Announcing the certification, Sanders said that with the attainment of Category 1 status, Nigeria would comply with international air safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the United Nations' technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

"This achievement is an important milestone for Nigeria and the US-Nigeria bilateral relations. It is only fitting that this coveted Category 1 rating comes at the dawn of the nation's year of golden jubilee. The US Mission, NCAA and FAA have worked together as a team in the true spirit of bilateral partnership over the last two years to achieve this goal. Hats off to everyone for a job well-done and rating well-deserved," she said.

She said the FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment Category1 rating was based on the results of a July FAA review of the NCAA.

"With the IASA Category 1 rating, Nigerian air carriers may now apply to operate to the laws and regulations necessary to overseas air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and its civil aviation authority-equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters-meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, and recordkeeping and inspection procedures."

Sanders also warned Nigeria not to go to sleep after attaining this status, noting that it could be withdrawn if the country fails to continue to meet the aforementioned standards.

Njeze assured the ambassador that Nigeria would do anything to ensure that it retained the status, acknowledging that some countries that achieved the certification lost it when they failed to maintain the standards that qualified them to attain it.

"Some countries that attained Category 1 have lost it when they allowed their safety standard to drop. As Nigeria attained Category 1 today, the work has just begun," she said.

THISDAY spoke with Chris Ndulue, the Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, the first Nigerian airline that was recertified and issued with the new Airline Operators Certificate (AOC), on how Category 1 would affect the airline's operations to the United States.

He said now that Nigeria has attained Category 1, Arik Air would register the aircraft it is using for Lagos-New York flights in Nigeria and fly Nigerian crew, adding that in the long run it would save the airlines a lot of money.

"We have to deregister the aircraft and then register it in Nigeria before we can stop using high flyer code (foreign crew and code) and as a safety-conscious airline it will take us some time. We are going to have a cost reduction operating to the US now. We pay for high flyer for us to fly to the US , but now we shall do it ourselves. It will also enable us to get the International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). There are so many benefits of Category 1. A lot of other airlines will be able to work with you because you are from a Category 1 country," he said.
Relevant Links

Also, the CEO of IRS Airlines, Isyaku Rabiu, said: "This is a very positive development for Nigeria. Category 1 means that the civil aviation in Nigeria is capable to monitor operations of the airlines in terms of the operational standards, safety standards, maintenance standards and other regulations. NCAA has worked very hard to enable us attain this certification. There are so many benefits including Nigerian airlines flying directly into America."

Demuren told THISDAY: "We're very happy on this development and it means Nigeria has joined the Ivy League in the aviation industry it is an evidence that efforts put by Nigeria to guarantee safety of air travellers are paying off."

However, the decision does not evaluate the safety of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, or the abilities of its civil aviation authorities.

Questions were raised about the airport's safety after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day with an explosive device hidden beneath his clothes.

He began his journey at the Lagos airport, where the device was not detected-but neither was the device detected in Amsterdam, where he took the connecting flight to the US.

Link:    http://allafrica.com/stories/201008240202.html

Abuja — In a renewed bid to improve its information management capacity, Federal Government yesterday formally launched the biometric registration of citizens of African countries resident in Nigeria.

The move is a follow up to the earlier registration of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit Card (CERPAC) which provided electronic records of all legal resident non-Africans.

Flagging off the e-registration of Africans in Nigeria, Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, said the exercise was an indication of government's determination to improve its information management capacity. He said information gathered in this regard would be used for planning and administrative purposes as well as provide government with accurate statistics of African nationals resident in Nigeria.

The minister stated that with the commencement of the exercise, Nigerian Immigration Service formations in the 774 local government councils in Nigeria would follow suit.

"It is important to inform the general public that the registration exercise and the accompanying card being issued to applicants is free of charge. It is not a resident permit neither is it meant for the verification of the immigration status of the holder, it is purely a registration card meant for ease of identification.

"I appeal to all Africans resident in Nigeria to visit the office of the immigration attaché at the nearest local government office to his residence for registration. I also call on every Nigerian citizen to encourage all Africans living in their midst to take advantage of this opportunity and register their presence in Nigeria", he said.

In his remarks, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Chukwurah Udeh, said the ECOWAS protocol of free movements of persons, right of residence and establishment as well as various visa abolition agreements between Nigeria and the Republics of Cameroun and Chad had contributed in no small measure to the population of Nigeria by non Nigerians.

He noted that the with the exercise tagged "Know Your Neighbour" immigration officers would be in a position to perform their duties effectively in enhancing national security.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201006160067.html

Can someone pls tell me the meaning of these names in English.
Thanks

Mobolaji
Omolara
Adetoun
Adeokun
Folubi

nethacker:

val2rhyme@yahoo.com

Thanks man

nethacker:

AZ just dey there jare my guy

Nethacker my guy, How far?
We need to have a lil chat, Can we talk online?
PLs drop ur ID here, I'll add u up.

Yoo Dawg Its 14 countries not seven

Air travellers from Nigeria, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and nine other countries will face full-body pat downs before boarding airliners under new security screening procedures targeting foreign passengers announced by the United States on Sunday. Skip related content

The procedures, which go into effect on Monday, follow the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound U.S. airliner blamed on a Nigerian man who U.S. officials believe was trained by al Qaeda in Yemen.

Passengers travelling from or through nations listed as "state sponsors of terrorism" -- Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria -- as well as Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen will face heightened screening, an Obama administration official said.

Nearly all of those are Muslim countries.

Such passengers will be patted down, have their carry-on luggage searched and could undergo advanced explosive detection or imaging scans, according to the official, who spoke on condition on anonymity.

The Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. agency responsible for air security measures, announced the "enhanced screening" procedures, adding that any passengers on U.S.-bound flights could be subjected to random security searches.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, was arrested by U.S. authorities after being accused of carrying a bomb sewn into his underwear onto a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25. He got through security screening in Amsterdam, and was subdued by passengers and crew after trying to blow up the plane.

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday it appeared Abdulmutallab was a member of al Qaeda and had been trained and equipped by the Islamic militant network in Yemen.

RISING CRITICISM

The announcement of the new security steps comes amid rising criticism by U.S. Republicans and others that American diplomatic and intelligence officials failed to prevent the December 25 incident despite having evidence about Abdulmutallab.

U.S. intelligence officials have said they believe that al Qaeda leaders are hiding out in Pakistan after being chased from Afghanistan during the war that began in 2001 in the weeks after the group's September 11 attacks on the United States. Most of the men who carried out the September 11 hijackings of U.S. airliners were Saudi-born.

Yemen also is emerging as a major area of al Qaeda activity, according to security experts.

The new rules apply to anyone with a passport from any of the 14 countries, and anyone stopping in those countries, the administration official said.

The Transportation Security Administration said it issued security directives to all U.S. and international airlines with inbound flights to the United States that would include random screening of passengers. This random screening policy applies to any airport in the world for flights coming to the United States, the official said.

"Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world travelling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening," the agency said in the statement.

"The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S.-bound international flights," it added.

NEW RULES AGREEABLE TO AIRLINES

All passengers are screened electronically for weapons and bombs regardless, and the new rules that include random enhancements appear more agreeable to airlines, which chaffed at broad requirements imposed after the December 25 incident.

Carriers complained about widespread delays and other passenger inconveniences, especially in Canada and Europe.

However, airlines will not be able to assess the full impact of the new regime on their operations for a few days.

Last week, airlines told Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that the system could not manage efficiently under a 100 percent pat-down mandate over the long term. Any changes to that routine would be welcome.

"Our goal remains to improve security and reduce the hassle factor for passengers," the International Air Transport Association, the lead trade group for international airlines, said in a statement to Reuters.

There were 25 million visitors to the United States in 2008 from Europe and Asia, according to IATA figures.

Carriers with trans-atlantic and trans-pacific flying include Delta Air Lines; Continental Airlines; American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp; United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp; British Airways; Air France/KLM; Germany's Lufthansa; and Japan Airlines.

Category 75

Best Contemporary World Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Welcome To Mali
Amadou & Mariam
[Nonesuch]

* Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 — Africa Sessions
Béla Fleck
[Rounder]

* Day By Day
Femi Kuti
[Mercer Street Records]

* Seya
Oumou Sangare
[Nonesuch]

* Across The Divide: A Tale Of Rhythm & Ancestry
Omar Sosa
[Half Note Records]

Final Score
HeartLand   2  -- Tp Mazembe   1

HeartLand 1 Tp Mazembe 1

Pls people where can i get a good/the Best Forex Trainning sofar?

Lagos — The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared a temporary ceasefire in its attacks on oil facilities in the country.

MEND, which is believed to be the main militant group, made this declaration with effect from "0000 Hrs, Wednesday, July 15, 2009", it said in an email sent by the spokesman, "Jomo Gbomo".

MEND said the ceasefire would be observed for 60 days, revealing that "several factors necessitated our decision; chiefly the release of Mr. Henry Okah from government custody".

The email continued: "During this period, the Aaron team of wise men and women will be put together after consultations with relevant stakeholders. They will speak on our behalf and convey our demands to government."

It demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from some parts of the Niger Delta, maintaining: "a compulsory prelude to talks is the withdrawal of the military Joint Task Forces from the Gbaramatu communities and the return of all the displaced persons back to their various homes."

It further said: "Hopefully, the ceasefire period will create an enabling environment for progressive dialogue."

MEND had declared a similar ceasefire in 2007 when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua came to power, but resumed its attacks on oil installations after its leader, Okah, was arrested, detained and put on trial for treason, among other charges, same year.

Its intensified bombing campaigns this year, codenamed "Hurricane Piper Alpha" and "Hurricane Moses", have virtually crippled Nigeria's oil export, with the country exporting a little above one million barrels per day, almost half of the budget estimate, compared to the high of nearly three million barrels per day it was doing three years ago.

The attacks have also worsened the power situation as the gas pipelines have been incapacitated, thereby derailing gas supply to thermal stations across the country.

Before this morning's ceasefire declaration, and following the bombing of Atlas Cove Jetty belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Lagos State on Sunday night, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had said it was beefing security at all the airports in the country to forestall possible militants attack.

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, had explained that his trip to Sao Tome and Principe last week was official and was permitted by the Vice-President.

He was reacting to the allegation published by THISDAY yesterday that the militants attack on the Atlas Cove on Sunday was caused by his delay in effecting the release of Okah, as directed by President Yar'Adua Wednesday last week.

In another development, the President yesterday effected a minor cabinet reshuffle, moving the Minister of Interior, Gen. Godwin Abbe to Defence, and the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha, to Interior.

Also moved were the Minster of State (Interior), Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu, who swapped positions with the Minister of State for Defence (Navy), Mr. Ademola Seriki.

No official reason was given for the reshuffle, but it is thought that it is part of government's attempt to strengthen the peace process in the Niger Delta.

In reaction to the unprecedented militants attack on Lagos, police have deployed more officers, vehicles and explosive detectors in the airports across the country.

According to a statement made available to THISDAY by FAAN, the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, held a closed door meeting with the new Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Anti-bomb Squad, Mr. Chris Olakpe, on how security could be improved at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and other airports in the country.

Aisuebeogun was quoted as saying at the meeting that the security situation in some parts of the country had become "a big challenge" and directed all its aviation security officers to be on the alert for any suspicious baggage and packages.

He assured Nigerians that security officials at the various airports in the country would take pre-emptive action to ensure maintenance of safety and security.

Olakpe said his department would take delivery of some explosive detectors and 28 vehicles, which would be configured for explosive ordinance disposal at the airports.

He revealed that more policemen and officers would soon be deployed in the airports to boost security measures at the nation's borders.

Aondoakaa, who denied that he delayed the release of Okah, said everything he did concerning the presidential directive was well known to the president.

"It may be true that I did not attend the security meetings, but that did not have any impact on the release process. I was not attending those meetings before. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has always been the one representing the Justice Ministry," he told THISDAY, maintaining that Monday was the most feasible date for the termination of the prosecution of Okah.

He gave an assurance that MEND would come to terms with the Federal Government after the release of Okah.

The minister, who also spoke with journalists yesterday, said the government could not afford to play politics with the issue in the Niger Delta area.

According to him, "It is left for their conscience to judge them. The entire country and the international community can now see the extent the president has gone to ensure that there is an end to the crisis. Their action was criminal."

He added that with the release of Okah, an action he said was the climax of the level of sincerity of the President, "We are hopeful that the matter can be resolved. It is beyond party politics. We can't afford to play politics with this issue because we may be playing with our security".

Also, the Presidential Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament of militants in the Niger Delta yesterday met with Yar'Adua to brief him on the release of Okah.

The meeting, which held at the President's office at the State House, Abuja, and attended by the Committee Chairman and new Minster of Defence, Abbe, lasted more than an hour.

Emerging from the parley, Abbe told newsmen that Okah had assured him of his cooperation in returning peace to the Niger Delta.

Abbey disclosed that from Okah's assurances, government would use him as a facilitator for peace in the troubled region.

While saying Okah is not God and could not guarantee peace in the region single-handedly, the minister said the militant leader would all the same play a pivotal role on Nigerians request to God for a peaceful country.

The Committee's Media Coordinator, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said the amnesty offer was fully on course and making progress.


In Lagos, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ibrahim Idah, who addressed defence correspondents immediately after a facility tour of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi yesterday, said the National Assembly was worried over the frequent blasting of the nation's oil facilities.

He said there were "civilized methods" to addressing issues "rather that resorting to the destruction of the country's resources", describing the action, which led to the death of three Naval officers, as an attack on the nation's economic base.

The Nigerian Navy yesterday said it had commenced a full-scale investigation into the attack.

Its Director of Information, Commodore David Nabaida, told THISDAY on phone that it was too early to speak on the issue, but that the Nigerian Navy would let the public know what happened after investigations.

You dont need a visa if u wana Transit tru Brazil. Jus make sure you have your Return or Onward ticket and you wont be able to leave the transit area.

I think you fall under the Visitor's Category. You should apply for Business Visa- general

For more information, log on to http://www.ukvac-ng.com/index.aspx

@ flasher, it depends on what you want to do in the UK.
If u want to visit friends and relative, just apply for Visitors Visa. Thats it.

If you're traveling for other purpose, then I think u should post it here so that I can help

Figurehead:

oh, it seems you dont know that as a business woman who has travelled to china 2 times, you are qualified to apply for the uk passport even from nigeria. all you need to do is to present a letter of recommendation and reference from the chinese embassy, and a photo copy of 500 naira note and also, a picture of yourself sitting by your computer (this reference and recommendation will enable them know that you that you re a person with good characters, the 500 naira photo copy will assure them that you can afford to pay for the passport while a photo of yourself by your computer will convinced them that you re computer litterate and will surely find a job in the uk. goodluck

Hey Blunt head. She needs an urgent advice and if u cant help her out then stop posting shit. Why cant u advice her to apply for US passport not only UK passport, slowpoke.

Abuja — The Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, has announced plans by Federal Government to halt the export of crude oil, just as plans are afoot to embark on the refining of all crude produced in the country.

He disclosed this yesterday at an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream Sector) under the chairmanship of Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

The session was convened by the committee to find a solution to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country. The session closed yesterday with an assurance by Lukman that the scarcity would end within the next two weeks.

Lukman also told the committee that government was determined to pursue the proposed policy of full deregulation of petroleum downstream sector.

He stated that poor maintenance culture of the refineries had been the bane of the refineries, pointing out that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has come out with timelines for accomplishing the turn-around maintenance of the nation's refineries.

According to him, "Our ultimate ambition is to stop exporting crude oil, add value to our crude so that we can export refined products. This is what is done in other countries."

He told the committee that although the refineries in the country were old, but they were not beyond repairs as, according to him, older refineries in other parts of the world are performing at optimum capacity due to good maintenance.

Lukman expressed concern that private investors who got approval to establish refineries have not done so, pointing out that the level of profit on investment and partial deregulation were discouraging them

According to him, "We have given licences to people to build refineries but they are useless licences as long as subsidies stays nobody is going to bring in money from outside.

"Our refineries have not performed well; they have not performed well and they cannot be allowed to continue to perform the way they are doing.


"They can perform better and more importantly we will encourage people to set up more refineries; two or three more refineries are now being considered partly by private and partly by joint ventures with NNPC.

"Our thought is that when the current refineries are put into an acceptable level of performance, they will be partially privatized so that they can perform largely better more than when they are fully owned by government."

Stakeholders present at the session all supported the policy of full deregulation.

Secretary General of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir, told the forum that what Nigeria needed was functional refineries.

use online voip calls.
voipraider.com is the cheapest to nigeria

Expat e-mail: Nigeria
Justin (right) and a family at water well, photo by VSO/Karl Lang
Many Britons dream of giving up the rat race and volunteering abroad. This is what Justin Scully has done, as he tells in our series featuring expatriate readers of BBC News Online.

I came out to Nigeria last February on a two-year placement with VSO, having left my job managing pubs and restaurants for Scottish and Newcastle.

I decided to volunteer because after 10 years working in and benefiting from the "system", I wanted to give something back.


I've come across no anti-Western feeling except T-shirts with "Osama bin Laden - My Hero". I feel safer in Nigeria - its unique internal problems aside - than I would in the UK. Nigeria might do many odd things, but it's never going to bomb Iraq to get oil.

After 11 months here, the hardships and joys will stay with me forever: sharing a taxi with six people, two children, a basket of chickens and a goat; the immense delight when a parcel of chocolate gets through from the UK; picking mangos straight from the tree; the stranger who takes my hand, asks my name and bids me welcome.

'I've been shot at'

Nigeria is a country that has a very poor image in the West; I find it diverse, vibrant, fascinating - and frightening. Security can be an issue, as shown by the furore over the Miss World contest.

It's not unusual to pass 10 armed police checkpoints in a 100 km journey. To travel at night is to run the gauntlet of all too frequent armed robberies - I'd been shot at twice before I'd been here three months.

Corruption is endemic and political; religious and ethnic tensions are not far below the surface in a country where immense wealth and extreme poverty are everyday sights.

Basic facilities are erratic at best: electricity is provided by NEPA, which I am assured stands for No Electric Power Always. I'm regularly without power for five hours a day, but I've learnt to cook and shave by candlelight.

Clean running water is a luxury - my longest period without it is six weeks, but collecting water from the well is a great way to learn village gossip.

I have no TV (even if I had one there is only one channel, and back to the electricity problem), no cinema, no theatre, no phone, no cheese, no fresh milk, no wine and, worst of all, no chocolate.

But after you get used to all these deprivations - and you very quickly do - it's the immense kindness, humour and generosity that keeps you going a long way from home.

Instant celebrity

To begin with, rural Nigeria outside the oil producing areas sees very few Europeans. On my initial trips to market I felt like the Pied Piper leading a crowd of small children all chanting "oyibo pepe". Oyibo means white man; pepe is pepper, for the strange colour white people go in the sun.

Women at market, photo copyright VSO/Karl Lang
Every sight and sound has been an eye-opener
Now if I leave my village for more than a few days, on my return I am embraced by a crowd of children shouting "Mr Justin, ekaabo", which means welcome.

That a European would come to Nigeria and live in a village rather than an air-conditioned compound has endeared me to the community. The fact that I earn about $100 a month - much more than a teacher or policeman - has been greeted with incomprehension.

And being an ex-pat has given me a new perspective on my home country. A Nigerian who comes to the UK will certainly have access to electricity, running water, education and healthcare - which only the rich have access to in Nigeria - but would they enjoy the overwhelming welcome I've received here?


Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2632861.stm

Yea, the first leg ended 2 - 1 in favor of Heartland FC.

The Agg is 3 - 2

Cotonsport - Cameroon 1 Vs Heartland FC - Nigeria 1

Agg 2- 3

Yea, UP KANO PILLARS

Al Ahly 2 - Kano Pillars 2

3 - 3 agg

Kano Pillars has scored, wooooooow, Unbelievable.

watch the Match Live online. Follow this link

http://www.justin.tv/ahlawytv