₦airaland Forum

I have always known these guys would never disappoint. Congrats Psquare

Why is this Hogson so after Liverpool players, why Henderson who did not impress last season. SMH

nahinbdis: Is anybody receiving signals from this station yet?

I tuned in yesterday and there was nothing on 96.1

Any news about Hulk? Heard its almost a done deal

Why is it that most Yorubas always claim to be Lagosian, so the question now is who are the people from Ogun, Osun, Abeokuta, and other hinterlands in SW

These Yoruba leaders sold this same man to their Northern masters and had him killed, now there is a noble gesture to name a university after his name and they are fighting. Trust me Tinubu might even be behind all these, cos dude is always full of jealous, the way he envies Femo lala(Awo). MAU has come to stay. Punto

She should go fight for her own share of her father's will and stop calling people baaastards, she should know more about basstards. Abiola was a well known thief like most Yorubas

This is so damnnn funny, dont even wanna imagine that

Yoruba and polygamy, why on earth should such a gal be getting married to a married man, not even a divorcee. SMH

Stale news, say something new. The oil should even dry up

042 The Coal City. You will never see any brown roofs unlike Ibadan and Abeaokuta

Nothing wrong with tattoos, its only seen as a bad thing in Nigeria. Even some medical doctors and bankers have tattoos in the western world. Its part of beauty and nothing wrong with it except it doesnt look good on you.

2015 is even far off. Nigeria is likely to break up before then. Who wants to be in the same country with people like Buhari and those abokis.

[quote author=tpia@]brixtonchute is obviously just jealous (its like you're flaunting your excess of girlfriends in front of him who cant even get a girl), but the cussing was a bit much sha.[/quote]The one and only Tpia. You missed Papi?

[quote author=Kevin_II]No you didn't. You have all freedom to make whatever choice you want. I may not agree though. I think Coogar has a very short fuse, therefore I don't see how you can use him and 'matured' in the same sentence...that's me exercising my freedom to think what I want there, so no hard feelings.[/quote]Kelvin is there more to this? You made your nominations earlier and I believe I did not intrude..... Those were my choices doesn't mean it is a must they would win. The best person for the role would get it. Based on my level of experience here I only nominated who gets to me with words. Short fuse? Well you might know him more than I do......I only pick the good things when I browse through romance section. I might be a little stale, maybe in my short break new developments have come up but while I was here, those two were good posters.

190: 190 nko

My guy I felt you were joking. You know you are easy going. Are you interested in the role? I didnt even really take note of your intentions. I only chose matured minds. You are a good choice as well

[quote author=Kevin_II]in what sense? age? number of years on nl? please explain[/quote]Is this question directed at my choice of Coogar or what exactly kelvin? I don't think I stepped out of line by nominating.

^^^Yes bro, we dont want kids

I nominate Pendo or Coogar . We need matured minds as MODs.

Yoruba and bank roberry, if they are not stealing with pen, they are stealing with guns. SMH

If this is true, then you shouldnt waste time divorcing her cheating asssssss

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday said the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives ad hoc committee, which probed the oil subsidy, was unfair to her.

The minister said it was the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua who refused to punish his Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, for allegedly failing to comply with his directive on the removal of kerosene subsidy in June 2009.

She said the House was unfair to her and President Goodluck Jonathan for not complying with the law, which she insisted has nothing to do with them.

The minister spoke in Abuja at the Ministerial Platform marking this year’s National Democracy Day and the first anniversary of the Jonathan administration.

Madueke said: “There was an issue on the directive of the late President in terms of the removal of kerosene subsidy, which happened apparently in June 2009 before I was appointed Minister of Petroleum. Now, under Section 6 of the Petroleum Act, the Minister of Petroleum may, by notice, publish in the official gazette, fix the price of petroleum products, which means that for it to actually become a law, the minister must publish that that petroleum product price has changed.

“I do not recall and I don’t think anybody in the country recalls any such directive published in 2009. It is not something that has to be hidden because it has to, by law, be published. Therefore, if it is not published by law and it is not in the gazette, it is not a directive that can be legally complied with. Many months have passed and the former minister did not comply with the direct of the President.

“The President also did not put in place any punitive measures, obviously for good reasons. He must have had very good reasons not to do that. So, it is very odd that a new administration and a new President and a new minister are being accused of flouting the law, which was given in the past to a minister and has nothing to do with us.”

On the deduction of funds from source by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the minister said the position of the House is subject to interpretation in line with the Appropriation Act.

According to her, only a court of competent jurisdiction is vested in the judiciary of this country.

Mrs Alison-Madueke the court may, therefore, take a different view of the position of the House, which she said was “unfair to conclude that the minister, myself, did not take appropriate steps to stop the practice which, by the way, had been on before I came to office”.

On fuel subsidy removal, she noted that there is no 100per cent removal of petrol subsidy at the moment.

According to her, the pump price is N97 per litre, the landing cost of the crude is about N141; and the fuel is about N141 per litre.

The minister insisted that the Federal Government is still paying subsidy.

She said there are bridging costs because it is difficult to get the product in some parts of the country.

Mrs Alison-Madueke said the government has no plans to rush into a total removal of petrol subsidy to avoid the type of the January 1 nationwide protests.

The minister said the Federal Government would examine the matter with stakeholders for some months.

She added: “From our point of view, I think it is actually a security issue quite a bit. You may have heard that even two or three days ago, I called a major meeting of oil multi-nationals and indigenous operators and the service chiefs to discuss the very high incidents of oil bunkering or theft. We have immediately set up a very high level internal task force to begin to look at creating solutions for dealing with the longstanding problem.”

The task force, according to her, will tackle oil theft by foreigners.

On Greenfield refineries, Mrs Alison-Madueke said the ministry has changed the structure of 66per cent equity in the project, adding that the arrangement is on course.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/47485-oil-subsidy-probe%3A-minister-blames-it-all-on-yar%E2%80%99adua.html

Barring a last-minute change of mind, the Federal Government will soon begin a comprehensive investigation of politicians suspected to be behind terrorism, especially in the Northeast – hotbed of the deadly Islamist group, Boko Haram.

This development follows the acceptance of the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the Northeast.

Also, the committee, headed by Amb. Usman G. Galtimari, has identified some routes in the Northeast where arms and explosives are allegedly being imported into the country for terror attacks.

Besides confirming the involvement of aliens in terror attacks, the panel urged the Federal Government to deport illegal foreigners.

It traced the Boko Haram crisis to the extra-judicial killing of the sect’s leader and his followers in 2009 and the failure of the police to bring the culprits to justice.

On the whole, the committee endorsed dialogue with Boko Haram if the sect leaders are ready to renounce violence.

The panel made 10 short-term recommendations and three long-term options.

The findings and recommendations of the panel are contained in the White Paper on Galtimari Committee which has just been released by the Federal Government.

The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, on August 2, last year.

Members of the committee are: Amb. Usman G. Galtimari(Chairman); Senator Ali Ndume; Chief Joe-Kyeri Gadzama(SAN); Col. Musa Shehu(rtd); Senator Bala Mohammed; Dr. Bello Mohammed; Chief Emeka Wogu; and Alhaji A.B. Shehu.

Following the submission of a final report by the panel in September last year, the SGF raised a seven-man White Paper Drafting Committee, which was headed by Comrade A. Mora.

Other members of the committee are: Alh. Bukar Tijani; Esther G. Gonda; Alh. Abdullahi Yola; Mr. Usman Abubakar; Mr. Jubril Adeniji; Mr. L.E. Njoku; and Mr. U. Onwuanuokwu.

The report reads in part: “The report traced the origin of private militias in Borno State in particular, of which Boko Haram is an offshoot, to politicians who set them up in the run-up to the 2003 general elections. The militias were allegedly armed and used extensively as political thugs. After the elections and having achieved their primary purpose, the politicians left the militias to their fate since they could not continue funding and keeping them employed. With no visible means of sustenance, some of the militias gravitated towards religious extremism, the type offered by Mohammed Yusuf.

“It recommended that the Federal Government should direct the security agencies to beam their search light on some politicians who sponsored, funded and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram and bring them to justice.

“Government accepts this recommendation and directs the national Security Adviser to co-ordinate the investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel the individuals and groups that are involved.”

“It was reported that members of the sect have transformed themselves into dreaded criminal groups recently and were now known by various pious sounding Islamic names.

“The groups, which had hitherto employed the use of crude and locally made arms with few automatic weapons, are now linked to highly sophisticated weaponry and explosives imported or smuggled into the country.

“Equally, their modus operandi had drastically changed from mere confrontation with security agents to modern day terrorism with a high precision rate.

“Politicians in the country have employed the services of thugs and other groups and associations with large youth membership to intimidate their political opponents during electioneering activities.

“The roots of terrorism, especially in Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Bauchi states could be traced to groups or associations, such as ECOMOG, Yan Kalare and Sura Suka which have links to prominent politicians in these states.

“However, similar to the militant groups in the Niger Delta area, the groups usually grow out of control and become a threat to the politicians that supported and financed them.

“States where sect members thrive should exercise the necessary political will to deal with this problem, notwithstanding the perceived implications to their sponsors.

“Government accepts this recommendation and directs the security agencies to work with the state governments to deal with this matter.”

On the rise of the Boko Haram menace, the panel attributed it to the killing of Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and many members of the sect in 2009.

The White Paper added: “The immediate cause of the escalation of the sect’s violent activities is the extra-judicial killing of the sect’s leader and his followers in 2009 and the failure of Police authorities to bring the culprits to justice. The killing of Mohammed Yusuf, which was captured and circulated by video clips, was described as horrific, barbaric and unprofessional.

“Although late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua later ordered an inquiry into Police handling of the case, no Government White Paper was issued on the outcome of the enquiry. The Boko Haram sect members believed that their leader and members were unjustifiably killed.

“It recommended that the trial of the Police personnel responsible for the extra-judicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf and some of his followers should be expedited and publicised.

“Government notes that the late President Yar’Adua did not order any enquiry into this matter, rather he directed the Police to investigate the matter and the result of that investigation had led to the on-going trial of the suspects.”

The panel also demanded the review of Explosives Act of 1964 to prevent easy access to deadly substances by terror groups.

It said: “The report expressed concerns over the easy availability of explosive materials through illegal dealers conniving with staff of registered explosives companies.

“The committee observed that there is uncontrolled proliferation and circulation of illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives in the country. More worrisome is the availability of local expertise in the assemblage of explosive materials.

“The country is presently awash with illicit arms procured from crisis-torn contiguous countries, which usually find their way into the country due to porous and poorly manned borders arising from the under-funding of the para-military agencies. Some of the firearms were also believed to be sourced illegally from unpatriotic members of the security forces while some explosives were sourced from the magazines of quarry companies.

“The Explosives Act of 1964 should be reviewed in order to tighten the procedures for licensing as well as monitoring of companies dealing in explosives.

“Government notes this recommendation and notes the further steps already taken to control the manufacture, importation, transportation and storage of explosive and accessories used for producing Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs).”

The Galtimari panel confirmed the involvement of aliens in terrorism and recommended mass deportation of those suspected to be identifying with terror groups.

It explained how Boko Haram members were trained and the routes through which they bring arms and ammunition into the country.

It said: “The committee reported that leaders of the sect visited the Sahara Desert where their members were trained and provided assorted equipment.

In addition, there were reports of transportation routes from Chad to Nigeria through Gamboru/Ngala border where trucks destined for Nigeria were loaded with goods and weapons possibly meant for terrorists and other criminals.

“Some other identified routes include Tetewa from Cameroon through Bosso and Tudun Mota into Saga.

“Also in Chad , it was found that the Banki border was a notable hub of smugglers. Others were Duji and Gashigar in Mobbar LGA, New Marte and Mafa, all of which link up in Maiduguri .

“The report observed that there is massive influx of illegal aliens from neighbouring countries into Nigeria and beyond. Past enquiries on religious crises in the country have pointed out the involvement of illegal aliens in prosecuting sectarian crises. Most of them are unskilled and have no visible handwork which makes it easy for them to be mobilized for violent activities.

“It was recommended that the Nigeria Immigration Service should reinforce security in the border areas to ensure that illegal aliens suspected of contributing to the prevailing insecurity in the zone are quietly eased out of the country.

“Notwithstanding, the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Persons as well as any cultural affinities existing between Nigeria border communities and their kith and kin in contiguous countries.

“Secondly, it was recommended that foreigners identified to have been staying illegally or have possible links with criminals or extremists should be profiled and repatriated to their countries.

“If the insecurity arising from the activities of illegal aliens persists, government is advised to consider temporary closure of Nigeria ’s Northeast border and organising a summit with the affected countries to find a way out of the situation.”

Notwithstanding, the panel implored the government to engage in dialogue with Boko Haram leaders upon renunciation of violence.

It said: “The Committee observed that there have been no attempts by the Government and the security services to understand the ideology and motives of the Boko Haram sect by engaging sect members in dialogue.

“The Committee recommended the urgent need to constructively engage and dialogue with the leadership of the sect as an essential strategy in bringing them on board. However, it advised that government should negotiate from a position of strength by allowing the security forces dominate the environment.

“In addition, dialogue with the sect should be contingent upon their renunciation of violence and surrender of arms.

“Government accepts this recommendation and encourages the intermediaries who have access to them to initiate this dialogue.”

The White Paper also X-rayed the operation of the Joint Task Force in Borno State.

It added: “The Joint Task Force (JTF) currently deployed to Maiduguri , Borno State , was in response to the breakdown of law and order in the city.

“The JTF had somewhat succeeded in bringing the situation under control. Schools and markets that had closed at the height of the crisis have started re-opening.

“Many of the sect’s kingpins have relocated to neighbouring countries due to sustained pressure exerted on them by the ongoing security operation.

“However, there were allegations of high –handedness against the JTF, bordering on rape, destruction of property belonging to sect members, extrajudicial killing and harassment and intimidation of Maiduguri residents.

“The Report recommended that a judicial Commission of Enquiry should be set up to look into the alleged atrocities committed by some members of the JTF while the Rules of Engagement (RoE) should be reviewed to reflect the low intensity nature of the military operations not only in Maiduguri, but in all similar operations.

“The Report further recommended that the JTF should Endeavour to win the hearts and minds of the people but that in the present poisoned atmosphere, this would be difficult, if not impossible to achieve, since relative peace had to be attained before the JTF personnel could feel free to mix with the people in the State.

“The Report recommended the replacement of the present troops with new ones from other unties, preferably with those who are familiar with the terrain and the peoples’ socio-political and cultural values.

“The security agencies were also urged to commence immediate de-radicalization of the sect members who are found to be willing to renounce violence and embrace the Federal Government’s olive branch.

“Government notes recommendations and the steps being taken by the DHQ to investigate the allegation and deal with it appropriately.

The White Paper committee asked the government to act swiftly on its recommendations.

The committee said: “The White Paper Committee wishes to underscore the Presidential Committee’s recommendation for a prompt implementation of the Report.

“The timely implementation will, inevitably, serve as a lasting solution to the security challenges thrown up by the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

“It is therefore recommended that the Federal Government should circulate the report to all levels of authority, the security agencies as well as sensitize the generality of Nigerians to the necessity of supporting the security forces in safeguarding the nation’s security.”



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/47531-govt-to-go-after-politicians-behind-boko-haram.html

Ibime: Except to say that Abramovic could not find his ar.se with his hand when it comes to football matters nor could he "critically evaluate" anything to do with football (which he only started watching in 2003) as he has proved time and again.

Just because RA is owner and billionaire does not prevent me from saying he knows nothing about footbal. . . and you my friend are talking absolute rubbish.

RA "critically evaluated" the signing of Torres and Shevchenko without asking the manager whether they fit in with the style of play, "critically evaluated" the sacking of Mourinho, "critically evaluated" the sacking of Ancelotti, then "critically evaluated" that AVB was better to replace him than Guus Hiddink.

My friend, quit talking jargon. My neice knows more about football than Abramovic.


Luck is RDM winning one competition, not TWO.

You might say he used tactics combined with some good fortune to win the UCL, but what do you expect him to win with. . . better players that Chelsea dont have?

A man used Salomon Kalou, Ryan Bertrand and Bosingwa to win Champions League and all nincompoops like yourself know to do is shout "luck, luck, luck".

Perhaps a footballing neophyte like yourself expected him to use these players and outplay Barca and such.

He finished 6th in the league yes, but you forgot he played 20 games in 60 days and used his reserve team for those league matches, besides those matches were not like Bolton or Stoke, more like Man City, Spurs, Arsenal, Newcastle sandwiched in between Barcelona and Napoli and other heavyweight matches and no way he could use the first team for those matches and still stay in Europe.

You think RDM is going to accept "probation" contract when at least 5 clubs would offer him good contract this summer?


Roman Abramovic is a fool when it comes to football matters. . . .and so are you!

Thank you Ibime

anonymus1X1: ruler of darkness nl............who wants to meet wit a molestor for coffee

My man thats so scary

Ronaldo we know you are the best, but thanks for re-affirming that to us. Am glad you know your worth. You have proven your worth in different leagues and different teams, until Messi does that he is not worthy to be compared to you.

afam4eva: Why are you always on the wrong side of the divide? Chelsea ko dry gin ni. You better stick with D'Banj. At least he has some pedigree. Chelsea is just another mushroom club like Wigan.

You are the one on the wrong side, e go be you like Nollywood when Chelsea wins tonite.