₦airaland Forum

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has explained why the subsidy account is empty.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister said her ministry had made the N161.6 billion supplementary budget for subsidy payments which had been approved by the National Assembly available to the Central Bank of Nigeria since December 31, 2012.

However, the payments, according to her, are presently going through the CBN’s processes which include the conversion of the dollar equivalent from the foreign Excess Crude Account to the domestic Excess Crude Account and that will be concluded soon.

The minister noted that the process of converting the money from dollar to naira doesn’t normally take long.

“If there is already money in the domestic excess crude account to honour it they get it immediately. Sometimes you have to shift money from one account to the other,” she told journalists.

She explained that if the money is in the dollar equivalent of the excess crude account, the government will have to shift it to the domestic and that means it has to be converted into naira by the central bank.

“We have to authenticate the amount and this process normally takes five days and a week between the central bank and ministry of finance to accomplish. The central bank is very strict by trying to have all the documentation.”

“The process is on, the money has been released and is being converted into naira by the central bank and I don’t think there is any issue with this.

“Presently, the money has been credited to the account now by the Accountant General of the Federation. The conversion is being done and marketers who said they have not been able to access should go now to get their money. It is not something that takes some months,” she said.

On payments to marketers, Okonjo-Iweala confirmed that payments totaling N94 billion have been verified for 23 marketers who will be paid in the next few days.


http://news.naij.com/19285.html

Prof. Isaiah Ibeh of the University of Benin, on Tuesday announced the development of a new drug that can allegedly ‘cure’ HIV and AIDS. Ibeh, who is the Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences of the university, told reporters in Benin that the herbal drug had undergone “series of successful tests”.

He said “We are at the threshold of making history, in the sense that we seem to have with us something that will permanently take care of what over time seems to have defied all solutions. “We are talking about the latest discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandemic, HIV and AIDS virus.’’

According to him, research on the project was started in 2010 and culminated in the development of “Deconcotion X (DX)–Liquid or Bioclean 11 for the cure of HIV and AIDS”. “The existing retroviral drugs are intervention drugs for the management of AIDS but our new discovery is a possible cure.

“We have tried to look at the product first; its toxicological analysis and discovered that it has a large safety margin. “This means that if animals or human beings are exposed to it, they will not suffer any serious harm at all from the exposure. “It also helped us to know the quantity we can conveniently give to animals and will feel secure that nothing untoward will happen.

“We have also done the bacteriological analysis on it, after which we looked at its effect on the virus and the result was quite revealing and refreshing.” Ibeh also said that the drug had been exposed to series of medical examination both in Nigeria and in the USA. He added that the drug had performed well on patients with the HIV virus and had shown evidence of total restoration of damaged tissues.

“The result showed an increase in the body weight of the individual administered with DX. “The body weight was statistically significant when compared with the control group.” He said that further tests were being conducted to determine “at what point will a patient become negative after being administered the drug?”.

“This verification is necessary because it is what is used to measure whether infection is still there or not. So we need to know the siro-convention time. “But preliminary results showed that of the five latest patients orally administered with the drugs, our findings is that up to seven months , three of them were siro negative while two were sill faintly positive.’’ Ibeh appealed for support from the Federal Government and relevant bodies to assist the university with relevant equipment to sustain the research.


http://news.naij.com/19276.html

In order to generate the N499.105 billion budget for this year, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Nigeria’s Lagos State has set revenue generation targets for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

The governor signed the budget into law in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Monday, saying the implementation of the budget would begin in earnest.

The Lagos Inland Revenue Service, LIRS, has the sole task of raking into government’s coffer N253.2 billion, while N16.06 billion is expected to be generated from housing and community amenities.

The Lands Bureau has been giving the target to rake into government’s purse, N12.2 billion, while the Judiciary is expected to generate N1.56 billion this year.

Also, the government is expecting N6.58 billion from transportation, out of which N1.2 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA, N4.5 billion and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, N405 million.

More, so, N3.48 billion is expected from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, out of which the Lagos State Building Control Authority, LABCA, has been allocated N1.2 billion and the Lagos State Planning Permit Authority, LASPPA, N1.29 billion.

The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has to generate N1.5 billion before the end of the year while that of Waterfront Infrastructure Development is expected to rake into government’s coffer, N1.5 billion.

The Ministry of the Environment is expected to generate N2.38 billion into government’s purse, while Commerce and Industry is giving a paltry N148.6 million target and Agriculture and Cooperatives, N230 million.

The government also targets N1.84 billion from Public Order and Safety while N2.78 million is expected from the Ministry of Information and Strategy. The Ministry of Establishment and Training is expected to rake in N117.6 million.

The Ministry of Finance has been allocated N4.5 billion to generate this year. While N605 million is expected from the State Treasury Office, STO, N59 billion is expected from the Federal Government as statutory allocation and N58 billion from Value Added Tax, VAT.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/01/07/fashola-sets-revenue-targets-for-ministries/

It is often said that one man’s problem is another man’s blessing.

To commercial motorcyclists, a.k.a. okada riders, the recent restriction on some Lagos roads has been a major setback to their business, but to the men of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, it has been an opportunity to make quick money.

Reports reaching P.M.NEWS indicate that policemen and other security officials have been extorting money from okada riders that fall victim of the new traffic law.

P.M.NEWS investigations revealed that okada riders arrested by police officers for flouting the new traffic law in the state are often made to part with between N5,000 and N10,000 before their motorcycles are released to them.

The motorcycles of those who could not pay are seized by the policemen and taken to the office of the Task Force on Environmental Sanitation at Alausa, Ikeja where they are added to the huge pile of seized motorcycles in a parking lot.

The modus operandi of the policemen is to appear in mufti on some roads frequented by Okada riders so that offending riders will not be able to identify them. Immediately they see an okada rider, they will pounce on him and drag him to their station or a quiet corner where negotiation takes place. Offenders who refused to pay the stipulated amount, usually N5,000, on the spot are taken to the station where the amount will be increased to N10,000 to accommodate the interest of the Divisional Police Officer of the station (DPO).

Some riders told P.M.NEWS that in arresting them, some policemen will hit them with an iron rod or a big stick while on motion, causing them to suffer injuries. They cited two or three instances in which riders were killed as a result of this crude method of arrest by policemen.

Investigations also revealed that following the coming into operation of the new traffic law, all manners of government officials have been posing as law enforcement officers to arrest and extort money from offending okada riders.

These officials, it was learnt, usually act as fronts for policemen and any rider who refuses to play ball is dragged to the station and made to pay a hefty amount before his motorcycle is released.

“These policemen are wicked. They will hit you with a big stick on the road and seize your okada. If you cannot pay them N5,000 immediately, they will take you to their station where you will be made to pay N10,000. The extra N5,000 is for the DPO.

“If you refuse to pay the money, your motorcycle will be taken to the Task Force office at Alausa and you will never see it again,” narrated a rider who identified himself as Sunday Effiong.

P.M.NEWS also gathered that police officers now call okada riders ‘ATM’, a source of quick money.

Another okada rider, Ajose Yusuf: “I ply Aboru to Iyana Ipaja. Last week, some policemen patrolling Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi arrested me. They claimed they came from the Lagos State Police Command. They took my bike to the Command headquarters at Ikeja when I couldn’t cough out the N5,000 they requested. In the night, I approached one of the officers who arrested me, he asked me to come back the following day before 6.30 a.m. with N10,000.

“The following day, he rode the bike to PWD bus stop and handed it over to me after collecting N10,000 from me.”

A dispatch rider with a Korean company in Lagos, Tajudeen Aiyegbami, narrated that he witnessed policemen collecting N10,000 each from more than 50 riders whose bikes were seized by the policemen.

“Two weeks ago, the mobile policemen stationed under the bridge at Iyana Ipaja arrested about 50 motorcycles and asked them to pay N10,000 each before their bikes will be released to them. That’s a huge sum of money.

“The new traffic law has given them the opportunity to feed fat on okada riders. Government should be blamed for this because they are not monitoring their men. The police are not enforcing the law at all, they are extorting money from us.

“Yesterday, some officers appeared in mufti, claiming to be from Area ‘G’ Ogba and seized about 20 motorcycles. They drove through Daddy Salvage, Fagba, Agege area of Lagos State. They later released the bikes to their owners after collecting money from them. I heard an officer calling okada riders ‘ATM,’” he stated.

Another rider in Obawole who identified himself as Taju accused policemen of enriching themselves through the state traffic law. “Some policemen arrested okada riders at Ifako Ijaiye. When I approached them to know where they were from, they claimed they were from Pen Cinema Police Station. They took those arrested to a corner and threatened to take their motorcycles to Alausa if they refused to pay. After much begging, they asked us to pay N10,000 each,” he narrated.

Tunde Adunola, another okada rider added a new dimension to the plight of okada riders in the state when he accused policemen of taking motorcycles seized in Lagos State outside the state for sale. “These policemen are callous. They will seize a number of motorcycles and select the good ones which they will take to their towns for sale. I ply Iyana Ipaja to Ayobo, but the way policemen are arresting okada riders is bad. They arrest anybody found on the road. It doesn’t matter even if you are not on the roads where our activities have been restricted.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the former DPO of Ipaja was redeployed because the authorities found 15 new motorcycles in his compound.

Olukayode Amadi, Branch Chairman of Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS), Ikeja branch ‘A’ accused the police of corruption in the way they go about enforcing the traffic law.

“Policemen are milking us. Now, they see us as their ATM. They will just appear on a street and begin to seize motorcycles found there. They will take all the seized motorcycles to their stations and ask riders to come and pay before the motorcycles can be released.

“As a branch chairman, Ikeja Unit, I know how much we have paid to the police to secure the release of motorcycles seized.

“At least, I pay between N15,000 and N20,000 a day to the police. It is not everyone of my member that can afford to pay this money and if you don’t have any at all, they will impound your motorcycle. You can see the way the police are killing us in Nigeria.

“Policemen are the most corrupt government officials I have ever seen. Government should find a way of monitoring their activities. They have been abusing the traffic law in the state and something should be done to check their activities,” Amadi stated.

When contacted, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, condemned those extorting okada riders. “If what you have told me concerning some policemen extorting riders is true, then it is bad. It’s totally wrong. Any officer caught would be brought to book.

“Nobody sent them. The Commissioner of Police will never send them. Even the Area Commanders will never send them. The Command will not take it easy with those people if they are caught in the act,’’ she said.

—AYODEJI DEDEIGBO


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/12/04/traffic-law-police-feed-fat-on-okada-riders/

The Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) Mrs. Bolanle Onogoruwa has been relieved of her appointment with immediate effect.

She is to hand over to the most Senior Director in the Bureau, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki who is to hold the position in an acting capacity.

A press statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity)
to the Vice President Umar Sani said " Mr. President extends his sincere appreciation to Mrs. Bolanle Onogoruwa for her services to the nation and wishes her the best in her future endeavours".



http://news.naij.com/15569.html

The Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) yesterday arrested a member of the House of Representative, Honourble Samson Okwu, for driving against the traffic.

Okwu, who represents Uju/Obi federal constituency of Benue state, said he was compelled to beat the traffic to enable him keep an appointment.

He further defended his action by challenging the officer on duty to watch-out for public officers who have exception while using the road as according to him, the rules should be bent for their sake.

His words: That is why I am telling you that in a government there are people that are allowed to bend some of the laws. There are rules, I explained to the gentleman, but he wanted to use his position to intimidate me but my car is carrying a government number that is why they gave me that number. So if he is using his uniform as a government personnel, I am using my number.”

He further argued that the VIO officials would not dare stop a vehicle with sirens driving against traffic as he did to the lawmaker, describing their action as act of insubordination.

“You know in law there is an exception that is why you see ministers use siren because you have exigencies. I am going to attend a function with the minister of finance this morning.

"I was there for over one hour plus. You do expect me to remain there because I do not have siren. That does not mean that I shouldn’t go but I was there, I do not know the exercise that was going on here keeping cars here, I think it is indiscipline,” Okwu stated.

He challenged the enforcement team to ensure that as they carry out their duty, they should make sure that the traffic flows faster so the people who are going to work would be early to their respective offices.

The mobile court recorded over 28 convictions with various penalty meted out to the drivers while some were warned and asked to go and sin no more.



http://news.naij.com/15219.html

No fewer than three persons were crushed to death yesterday when a 40-feet containerized vehicle fell on a Mazda car on the Badagry-Seme Expressway.

The accident which occurred at about 1.15p.m, was attributed to the bad road which has been a nightmare to commuters and other users of the road.

The containerized vehicle with registration number XT 339 AKD was said to be conveying some goods when it lost control and fell on the car, with four occupants. Three of the passengers died instantly, while the driver was in a critical condition.

The accident caused a heavy traffic while passers-by went on an immediate rescue mission of the trapped persons, before officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authourity, LASTMA, came to the scene of the accident.

Three of the occupants pulled out from the crushed car had already died. Vanguard learnt that the driver of the truck fled immediately the accident occurred. Eye witnesses told Vanguard that the bad portion of the road has been left because of the on going reconstruction and that the danger has been there all along.

“For the fact that the road is no longer manageable, road users often drive against traffic to avoid container carrying trucks; now it has claimed lives,” exclaimed a regular road user.

The accident attracted a lot of condemnations of the government towards its people, with an eye-witness saying; “This is an indication that we are all driving on a time bomb. It could be I or you tomorrow”

As at the time LASTMA officials arrived the scene of the accident with a towing van in order to lift the container off the compressed car, a large number good spirited Nigerians, who swung into action almost immediately the accident occurred, had already evacuated the passengers on board the car with registration number UK 641 KJA.



http://news.naij.com/15118.html

The Lagos State Police Command has impounded over 12,000 motorcycles in less than two months since it began the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcyclists from plying 475 roads in the state.


Some of the seized motorcycles at Alausa Secretariat. Photo: Idowu Ogunleye.

P.M.NEWS also gathered that the special court to try offenders located at the office of the Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has convicted over 50 riders arrested plying the prohibited routes.

Investigations revealed that the taskforce yard where the impounded motorcycles were dumped was filled with thousands of motorcycles while more places were being created to accommodate more.

A top police source told our reporter that over 12,000 motorcycles had so far been impounded by the various police divisions across the state in compliance with the traffic law restricting commercial motorcyclists from plying the prohibited routes.

Our source said motorcycles were still being impounded for violating the provisions of the traffic law, adding that the police would continue to clampdown on commercial motorcyclists until they stop plying the prohibited roads. Investigations also revealed that the police adopted several methods to arrest erring commercial motorcyclists plying the prohibited roads. Some of the law enforcement officers often appear in mufti and pose as passengers on the roads to arrest offenders who are immediately taken to the taskforce office for prosecution.

On Tuesday, some commercial motorcyclists were arrested at Ketu, Ojota, Obanikoro, among other places and brought to the taskforce office by the police to be arraigned in court.

When P.M.NEWS visited the taskforce office at Alausa, Ikeja to seek clarification on the fate of the riders arrested across the metropolis for violating the law, Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that erring commercial motorcyclists were usually arraigned in court after their motorcycles had been impounded.

He said this was the provision of the traffic law, adding that any commercial motorcyclist found guilty would be made to pay a fine of N20,000 or sentenced to do community service in some areas of the state.

According to him, over 50 riders had so far been convicted by the court. “Some were asked to pay N20,000; others were sentenced to do community service in some areas of the state. Some of them were sentenced to do community service for 15 hours yesterday at the Old People’s Home, Yaba,” he stated.

The task force chairman said the government decided to charge the riders to court to serve as a deterrent to others.

Sulaiman lamented that some motorcyclists were still plying Ikorodu road, one of the routes listed in the traffic law where they cannot operate. He warned that his men would soon move in and arrest them. He pleaded with the riders to stay off the prohibited roads in their own interest as anyone arrested would be dealt with.

Sulaimon also confirmed that the rider who stripped himself naked on Acme Road, Ogba after he was arrested for violating the traffic law has been convicted by the court and sentenced to two months imprisonment with an option of N30,000 fine.

Meanwhile, the O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONC), a body representing various Yoruba ethnic groups, on Tuesday urged states in the South-West to ban commercial motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada’ in their capitals.

Mr. Sunday Agbana, the ONC Coordinating Chair, gave the position of the group while addressing newsmen in Lagos on the restriction of commercial motorcycles in some parts of the state.

He said that the step should culminate in a total phase out of motorcycles as means of transportation in the region.

“We call on South-West states including Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Kwara and neighbouring states of Delta and Edo, to follow the examples of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, where Okada has been banned in the capitals.

“The long term plan must be to stop the usage of Okada as a means of transportation in the entire South-West region,” he said.

Agbana said that there was a need for states in the region to urgently consult with the Federal Government to deal with the chains of illegal migration into Nigeria from troubled zones in Africa.

The ONC coordinator observed that such illegal migration into Southern Nigeria states had serious implications.

He said that many had been moving from Mali, Mauritania, Southern Sudan and Chad to Lagos and other South-West states.

“There are no records of these immigrants; there are no data on them and they can commit crime and vamoose.

“The easiest job available to them in Nigeria is Okada,” he said.

According to him, there is a serious negative impact on utilities in the South-West which will get worse if the huge migration continues.

He said that the disclosure by the Lagos State Police Commissioner that 98 percent of crimes in Lagos were committed by Okada riders further underscored the need to address the issue.

Agbana urged the governments of the South-West states to have a long term plan of five years to phase out Okada as a means of transportation in the region.

“Okada riders should be divided into cooperatives with a life span of five years, after which the money contributed by each rider will be converted into returns and investment enough for them to start a new life,” he said.

The ONC coordinator commended the Lagos State Government’s restriction of Okada in some specific routes across the state.

“This will increase the wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Lagos,” he said.

He also urged Okada riders to support the initiative and diversify their business.

“This is the only way out; wanton destruction of public utilities by some Okada riders that went on rampage recently in Lagos following their restriction is counter-productive,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the commercial motorcycles were restricted in 475 roads in Lagos in accordance with the new Traffic Law in the state.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/11/21/traffic-law-12000-motorcycles-impounded-50-riders-convicted/

A top Boko Haram commander, Sani Mohammed has reportedly escaped from police custody in Abuja on Thursday.

The suspect who was arrested with another Boko Haram operative, Kabir Sokoto in January, 2012, allegedly escaped from the cell where he was kept with other terror suspects.

Though, the Force Headquarters claimed that no terror suspect escaped, security sources confirmed that Mohammed absconded from custody.

The details of his escape was however sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

A similar incident happened early this year when Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, escaped from police custody at Abaji, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory.

Arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, Sokoto was said to have escaped while being taken for a search of his apartment 24 hours later.

But Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said no terror suspect escaped from its custody, adding that a check of its records showed no such name as Mohammed on its list of detainees.

He said, “The police authority hereby informs the public that the information being circulated by TV Station is totally untrue and should be disregarded in its entirety.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-commander-escapes-from-custody/

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa states as well as elders and leaders of the host community involved in the dispute over oil wells to cease media hostilities pointing out that the escalation in the media war would not help in the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

The president’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.

According to the president, the media campaign is not only unbecoming, it was also unnecessary and unhelpful to the reconciliation process.

The statement reads:

“The Presidency has noted with concern the rather unbecoming, unnecessary and unhelpful media war between the Bayelsa and Rivers State Governments over the rightful ownership of some oil wells.

“The Presidency believes that this media war which appears to be escalating with each passing day can only hinder and negate efforts already initiated by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to achieve an amicable resolution of the dispute in the best interest of the affected communities, the two states and the nation.

“President Jonathan therefore requests the Governors of both states to facilitate and help to create the right atmosphere for the successful conclusion of the peace process by ordering an immediate stoppage of all acrimonious public comments against each other over the dispute.

“Having already had very useful discussions with the Rivers State Governor and Kalabari elders over the weekend, President Jonathan intends to take the process forward at another scheduled meeting at 11 am at the Presidential Villa on Friday, November 9, 2012 with the governors of the two states, leaders of the affected communities and all concerned stakeholders.

“President Jonathan consequently urges the two governors and leaders of the affected communities to ensure that no further spiteful or inciting comments are made against each other to pollute the right atmosphere for constructive dialogue and brotherly reconciliation which he is striving to promote for the amicable resolution of the dispute.

“He looks forward to receiving the Rivers and Bayelsa State delegations in Abuja on Friday”.



http://news.naij.com/13722.html

There has been a mass sack of workers at the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) PLC, publishers of the Tribune titles, based in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria. At least 160 workers in all the departments were affected in the mass purge which took place last week.

The retrenchment exercise which took place barely a month after the appointment of Mr. Edward Dickson as the new Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the company, was a shock to many of the affected workers. According to sources, the management felt that it was necessary to prune down the over bloated staff strength estimated at 700, adding that a staff survey they conducted revealed that other media houses have not more than 300 workers.

A source said, “they went to other newspapers and found out that their staff strength are far less than our own. They claimed that they went to a Lagos-based newspaper and found out that they employed not more than 300 staff and they do not see the reason why they should have 700 staff.”

Other reasons adduced for the retrenchment include drop in the company’s working capital and its inability to give dividends to shareholders.

Our source revealed that the new MD in a meeting with the staff pointed out that it was necessary to down size in order not to disappoint the founding father of ANN, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adding that he was not ready to preside over an establishment that would go into extinction during his tenure.

It was gathered that he pleaded with the affected staff that they should not see the retrenchment as a vindictive exercise but rather a necessary one to ensure that the company does not die. Some of the affected staff were immediately given half of their entitlements and asked to pick a cheque for the balance of their entitlements in a month’s time.

P.M.NEWS gathered that workers who had not spent up to five years with the company were not given any money. They have therefore appealed to the management to consider them for severance allowance.

One of the affected workers who spoke with our correspondent said: “My brother, I have been thrown back to the labour market. I am now jobless and don’t know what to do for now to maintain myself and my family.”

Another worker who was not affected and also spoke with P.M.NEWS under anonymity said: “Thank God I am not affected. It was a big tsunami that passed through my office last week. Could you believe that it affected line editors like assistant editors and the rest?”

—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/11/01/tribune-sacks-160-workers/

Armed robbers in the early hours of Tuesday reportedly killed about 18 residents of a village, Kubaro, in Dansadau emirate council of Zamfara state.

The area has been plagued by a notorious gang of robbers two have killed scores of residents over the last one year, usually in retaliation for attacks against them or arrests of their members.

The Zamfara state Commissioner of Police and other high level government officials are said to have departed for the community for an on the spot assessment.

More details soon...


http://news.naij.com/13174.html

Now that Fashola has decided to ban Okada on Lagos roads and suggested we start trekking, here are some few tips that you use to help you cope without our usual quick bike rides to our daily destinations.


















10. Buy shoe protectors, replace as the need arises.

9. In relation to number 10, carry an extra pair of foot wear (preferably slippers) in your bag (men inclusive). That bag should also carry the following: a small umbrella, water bottle and small chops to go.

8. Wear casual clothes to work, change into your official clothes at work, then change back to the casual clothes for the journey back home. You don’t want to look too official while trekking.

7. For the ladies, this is the time to smile from ear to ear with that ugly male colleague who drives a car and lives near your residence.

6. For the guys, buy a car before your girlfriend's colleague starts to take her home.

5. Save the money for your gym membership, you are getting enough exercise already.

4. Start trekking groups in your office, class, church, mosque etc. After all it is said that a trek trekked with companion is no trek at all.

3. Learn how to entertain yourself in your own space. Stock up on game consoles, books, magazines, movies etc. Pay that DSTV subscription too.

2. As the crime rate increases due to the okada ban, buy a gun.

1. If none of the above works, pack go your village and fulfil Fashola’s innate dream for Lagos state.


http://news.naij.com/12619.html

Commercial bus drivers and conductors will begin to wear uniforms and badges as from January 2012, says the Lagos State Government.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed this at the weekend at a sensitisation programme for transporters on the new Road Traffic Law at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

Thousands of transporters had converged on the Auditorium, where they were sensitised on the dos and don’ts of the new law.

According to Opeifa, from 1 January, all commercial bus drivers and conductors would begin to wear uniforms and badges in line with the provision of the traffic law.

He explained that the state government wants to sanitise commercial road transportation in the state so that operators in the sector could be proud of their job while quacks would be eliminated.

While noting that attacks on BRT buses had gone down, the commissioner appealed to members of road transport unions in the state to desist from attacking BRT buses in the state.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, declared that the state Road Traffic Law was not intended to be another source of revenue generation for the state government, stressing that the law was rather enacted for public good and to protect the interest of the citizens.

Ipaye stated that the penalties for road traffic offences were to serve as a deterrent to road traffic offenders thereby guaranteeing safety on the roads.

He called on law enforcement agents to always seek how they could assist road users to comply with traffic rules rather than focusing on arresting of people on flimsy excuses.

The commissioner enjoined members of the public who feel unjustly arrested or penalised for traffic offences by security agents to report such law enforcement agents to relevant authorities of the state government or seek redress in court.

To further assure Lagosians of the sincerity of the state government on the law, the Attorney-General stated that indigent members of the public who were aggrieved by their arrest and penalties imposed on them on account of traffic offences could approach the Office of Public Defender which would defend them free of charge.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba urged them to first comply with the law, insisting that in any civilised society there must be rules and regulations which must be obeyed for there to be peace and order.

Special Adviser to the State Governor on Political and Legislative Powers, Muslim Folami, stated that the sensitization programme was aimed at educating members of the road transport unions on their rights and obligations under the road traffic law so as to facilitate compliance to the law



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/23/traffic-law-bus-drivers-conductors-to-wear-uniforms-from-january/

Heavy explosions and gunfire rocked Potiskum, the Yobe state capital Wednesday, residents said, after violence this week left at least 24 people dead in the sister city of Maiduguri in Borno state.

Blasts and shootings shook residents of the town, previously hit hard by violence blamed on the extremist group Boko Haram, residents said.

The police commissioner for Yobe state, where Potiskum is located, said there had been a bomb explosion and security forces afterward cordoned off the area and began house-to-house searches.

He did not say whether there had been any casualties.

“There was a bomb explosion this morning and the Joint Task Force has already cordoned off the area for the safety of residents,” Patrick Egbuniwe said, referring to a military and police task force.

“Right now, there is a house-to-house search by JTF to fish out the perpetrators of the terror attack.”

Residents said the unrest began just before 6:00 am.

“It started with a huge explosion followed by successive blasts and gunfire,” one resident told AFP.

The blasts and gunfire came from an area of the town where a bank, a military base and the office of the anti-narcotics agency are located, residents said.

Potiskum, the capital of Yobe state, has been hard hit by Boko Haram attacks in recent months.

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s military said 24 Boko Haram members were killed in violence that rocked the city of Maiduguri after the extremists launched attacks with bombs and rocket-propelled grenades.

The military has been regularly accused of abuses, including the killing of civilians. Tuesday’s statement said there were no civilian casualties and one soldier was wounded, but the claims could not be independently verified.

Maiduguri is considered the base of Boko Haram. The conflict is believed to have killed at least 2,800 people since 2009



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/17/heavy-bombing-in-potiskum/

RATHER than drive to the shop, club, church or mosque or wherever else that is not distant, the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is urging Lagosians to walk instead and reap numerous benefits doing so.

Such benefits include saving on fuel costs, reducing the polluting emissions into the atmosphere and improvement in general health, lowering blood pressure and improving the heart condition and mental health.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami, spoke on Saturday at the 2012 Walk for Nature organized by the Ministry of the Environment in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) with the theme: Sustainable Energy for Us All, which was held at State House, Marina, Lagos.

He said the energy consumption pattern at present was not sustainable and that since the transport sector was a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer and thus climate change and its devastating consequences across the world, walking on short journeys becomes a delightful alternative.

“Walking as a natural exercise endears us to nature, it gets us close to God and helps our body’, Fashola said.

The President Nigerian Conservation Foundation said the theme for the 2012 Walk for Nature was instructive, especially now that Nigeria cannot afford to sit-on-the-fence on the issue of global warming.

He commended the Lagos State government’s greening programme and called for the utilization of eco-friendly and renewable energy resources, such as solar energy which can be popularized as is happening in many parts of the world for the benefit of Nigerians.

Earlier, the Commissioner for the Environment represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adebola Afun had also urged Lagosians to walk rather than driv, even as he noted that the construction of walkways on all major roads was an invitation to people in the metropolis, to, as much as possible, walk rather than drive.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101844:fashola-urges-lagosians-to-walk-rather-than-drive-whenever-possible-&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

If Nigeria should be respected, the National and State Assemblies should be courageous enough to pass Bills reducing substantially the staggering, alarming funds which the State Governors collect as Security Votes. Most Governors misuse the fund for personal benefits, including intimidating opponents, sponsoring political thugs and cultism.
Former Governor Peter Odili’s regime encouraged political cultism which gave rise to militancy and other vices that followed. Today this situation has spread across many other States in the federation; because the State Chief Executives are swimming selfishly in public funds.
Ironically, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State Governor) as then Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly approved N1.5billion (monthly) to former Governor Odili as Security Vote but today Governor Amaechi is instead collecting only N300million, making his Security Vote the lowest among the rich States. Recall the transporting (from Anambra to Lagos) of N240million in suite cases with official vehicle of Anambra State Governor Peter Obi which was later traced as part of Obi’s Security Vote but the State House of Assembly allegedly cleared him; after Ghana-must-go? Governor Godswill Akpabio whose State is the highest federal revenue earner (made possible by the abrogation of the on/off shore oil dichotomy) takes N1.8billion monthly as Security Vote and if he was sincerely utilizing the amount on security, Akwa Ibom would have remained the safest as it used to be. But his people are aware that he deploys most of this; personally and against his opponents. Governor Theodore Orji of the poor Abia State once asked his State House of Assembly to increase his Security Vote from N400million (monthly) to N700million and he got it

Korean eletronics giant Samsung will begin selling television sets in selected African markets that come bundled with a satellite tuner that will allow consumers to watch a free television bouquet of more than 60 channels provided by satellite operator SES.

The LED-backlit LCD flat-panel TVs, known as the Samsung LED TV Free Satellite, will be available to consumers in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in the third quarter of this year.

A Samsung spokesman wasn’t immediately able to say when or even if the service will be available in SA.

The company says in a statement that it hopes to bring more channels to more African regions in 2013 with a new satellite from SES to be used for this project.

Through its agreement with SES, Samsung says it will provide approximately 30 English channels and more than 30 French channels to television viewers.

Christoph Limmer, SES’s senior director of marketing development and marketing in Africa, says the deal with Samsung will bring digital content to more African consumers and encourage African broadcasters to launch more free-to-air content in the region.

“In serving more than 40 African countries, we are well aware of the huge demand for greater services — both quality and quantity,” says Limmer. — Staff reporter, TechCentral

http://www.techcentral.co.za/samsung-to-offer-free-satellite-tv-to-africa/30488/

Armed robbers, in the early hours of today, killed two police officers, Inspector Haruna and Supol Funminiyi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and made away with their two rifles.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the policemen attached to New Oko Oba Police Division, were on patrol when they ran into the three vehicles the robbers used for their operation at about 2 a.m. at Paying Junction near Olaniyi Street, New Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

Investigations revealed that the policemen mistook the robbers’ vehicle for the patrol van of Area ‘G’ police. They parked to make way for them to pass.

Instead of the robbers moving on with their two Toyota Sienna SUV and the third vehicle, they opened fire on the four policemen inside the patrol van.

Supol Funminiyi, who tried to escape, was shot first in the legs. He was later sprayed with bullets and he died on the spot. Inspector Haruna, who made frantic efforts to reach their office through his mobile phone to seek reinforcement, was also sprayed with bullets and he also died instantly.

Two other policemen, the corporal who was their driver and a sergeant managed to escape. The corpses of the slain ASP Funminiyi and Inspector Haruna have been removed and taken to the mortuary.

When P.M.NEWS visited their office at New Oko Oba Police Division this morning, officers and men of the division were in sober mood.

The two slain officers were described as gentlemen but none of the policemen were in the mood to comment on the incident.

Contacted on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, an aide directed our correspondent to call the Administrative Officer simply called Hilary because the PPRO was at a seminar. However, when contacted, Hilary said he was not in the position to speak.

He insisted we should reach out to the PPRO.

—Yusuf Mohammed

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/08/robbers-kill-supol-inspector/

The leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had been told to perish the thought of annexing Ondo State to its empire, the Mimiko Campaign Organisation has stated. It adduced expansionist tendency and the refusal of Dr Olusegun Mimiko to allow them have access to the funds of the State as the major reasons for their desperation to annex Ondo State and not any integration of the South West as they want the world to know.

MCO which spoke against the brickbats being bandied by the ACN leaders in the wake of their rallies in the State noted that Lagos State which they are ever wont to showcase as the template for good governance is not better managed than Ondo State.

The MCO in a release issued by its Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, said it took exceptions to the invectives not only against the person of the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko but against the psyche of the Ondo man and woman from supposedly Yoruba elders in their vaunted quest to conquer the State saying that such remarks were anachronistic and a negation of the Omoluabi ethos the Yoruba are noted for.

“Let us remind them that by their gutter languages akin to that taken from the parlance of area boys, those who are supposed to be sagacious elders have thrown decorum to the dogs because they want to rule Ondo State by force by fire and annex it to their empire as they have shamelessly stated publicly.

The truth is that they wanted Ondo State to be added like a feather to their treasure throve. And because Dr Olusegun Mimiko refused to allow them to lay their hands on Ondo funds, those who profess to be elders now practically dance naked in public hauling abuses and saying things which area boy would naturally flinch from on a man who had shown restraint and respect for them by not replying them.

“Let it be told that in Ondo State, we have had four (4) bye-elections including the last election for President, National and State Assemblies and ACN lost woefully by coming a distant third in all of these elections. Those occurrences in all the four elections could only mean one thing; that CAN is not on ground in Ondo State!

“Thus, all their posturing and demand that Mimiko should join ACN, a party which was not on ground by collapsing the LP, which has become the biggest party in Ondo, into a non existent party (ACN) amounts to placing something on nothing!

“The truth is that in Ondo State, the people are the political barometer and they are the one who determines where the political pendulum would swing and the people are still happy with the LP so there was no need to jump ship as they wanted us to do, the MCO spokesperson disclosed.

The MCO, therefore, warned the ACN leadership to retrace their footsteps and allow democracy to thrive in Ondo State by embarking on issue based campaigns rather than resorting to personality attacks and unleashing violence on the people of the State.

“In any case, we want to tell them that Ondo State is today one of the best administered State in Nigeria, indeed, Lagos is not better administered than Ondo State and we have empirical data to prove that be it in health, education, agriculture, name it and accolades from international organisations from within and outside Nigeria attest to this.

“We urge the ACn leaders to wait until October 20 and stop resorting to abuses unnecessary grandstanding and name calling as those do not win election. What win elections are manifestoes, ideology and performance not violence, maiming and killing. On October 20, they will all lose. We want to remind the Pharaohs of today that, the God who saved the children of Israel is still there and he will see us through and these Egyptians we see today, we shall see them no more,” Olabisi intoned08u







http://www.worldstagegroup.com/worldstagenew/index.php?active=news&newscid=6221&catid=8

The Lagos State Local Government Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja has declared Babajide Obanikoro, son of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, as the winner of the Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area election conducted in October last year.
Babajide Obanikoro had challenged the result of the council polls declared in favour of Adewala Adeniji of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) by LASIEC, claiming that the result was manipulated against him.
In its judgment today, the five-man Tribunal headed by retired Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, held that from evidence before it, Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the election by 6,780 votes as against 6,248 polled by ACN.
Although the tribunal voided some results of some polling units and wards due to irregularities, it computed the result of other units and ward and declared PDP as winner of the election.
The tribunal consequently ordered that Babajide Obanikoro be declared as winner and sworn in as the council chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA.
Some ACN supporters who were in court this afternoon when the judgment was delivered were visibly shocked.
Babajide Obanikoro was not in court when the judgment was delivered but hundreds of his supporters jubilated after the verdict was delivered.
By Henry Ojelu & Anthonia Ohiero


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/04/tribunal-declares-obanikoros-son-lg-election-winner/

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, says that majority of those winning the bids to acquire Power Holding Company of Nigeria and its assets have questions to answer.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, accused the National Council on Privatisation of selling out assets of the power generating company to those who have cases to answer even though he did not mention names.

He warned the buyers, which include a former military leader, to beware as they may face the consequences of having the assets revoked when they least expect.

Falana’s warning is coming hours after the council announced that some companies in which General Ibrahim Babangida, oil magnate, Femi Otedola and ex-Chief Executive Officer of the UBA, Tony Elumelu, have stakes, have won bids to acquire PHCN.

The bid for Shiroro Power Plc was won at a fixed annual fee of $23,602,484 and a commencement fee of $111,654,534.30 by North South Power Company Ltd in which Babangida has an interest.

Also Amperion Consortium, where billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, has an interest, was announced as the preferred bidder for Geregu Power Plc with a bid offer of $132 million while Transcorp and Wood Rock/Symbion/Thomasen PSL Power Consortium, in which Mr. Tony Elumelu has a large interest, emerged the preferred bidder for Ughelli Power Plc with a bid price of $300 million.

According to Falana in a statement, “it is the height of shameful impunity on the part of the National Council of Privatisation to sell the PHCN to the unpatriotic individuals who have diverted and cornered public funds earmarked for the uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country.

“Bidding consortiums tied to retired military officers and serving political office holders are alleged to have been short-listed by the management of the National Council of Privatisation to buy the assets of the Nigerian people in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at give-away prices.

“Apart from the embarrassing fact that retired public officers who committed serious economic and financial crimes have become so audaciously daring to the extent of openly engaging in money laundering by buying public assets, it is the height of shameful impunity on the part of the National Council of Privatisation to sell the PHCN to the unpatriotic individuals who have diverted and cornered the public funds earmarked for the uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country.”

Giving details, Mr. Falana accused the Council of selling PHCN assets below what they are worth.

“To add insult to injury the assets of PHCN including over 400 buildings and undeveloped properties in Lagos, Abuja and other cities in the country, thousands of plants, turbines, transformers, vehicles and millions of electric poles worth over N5 trillion are being undersold to corrupt ‘investors’ at a paltry sum of N200 billion.

“Aside the over $16 billion invested in the power sector under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration the recent review of electricity tariff has increased the revenue generated by PHCN from N96 billion to N300 billion per annum.

“To trade off such huge investments for the sum of N200 billion is tantamount to an economic crime of gargantuan dimension,” Falana declared while asking if the NCP wanted Nigerians to believe that in the course of investigating the ongoing suspicious transactions, it did not confirm that serving and retired public officers were linked with the companies short-listed to purchase the PHCN.

He said with the sack of former Power Minister, Barth Nnaji, no public officer should be allowed to buy PHCN with “stolen money being laundered through the dubious privatisation being conducted by the National Council of Privatisation.”

He urged the Federal Government to sustain the noticeable improvement in electricity supply while those who are genuinely desirous to invest in the power sector be advised to set up their own plants and compete with PHCN.

“However, in view of the undeniable fact that arrangements have been concluded to hand over the PHCN to serving and retired public officers whose sources of wealth are questionable, let buyers beware as the illegal sale will be revoked sooner than later,” he warned.

Those who acquired PHCN are:

•Femi Otedola

•Ibrahim Babangida

•Tony Elumelu

•Julius Berger

•First Bank

•Shanghai Municipal Electricity Power of China

•XS Energy Ltd.

•BP Investment Ltd.

•Urban Shelter Ltd.

•Road Nigeria Ltd.

•China Int Water Electricity

•China Three Gorges Corporation

•Colonel Sani Bello

•Nigelec of Niger Republic



By Eromosele Ebhomele



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/26/those-who-acquired-phcn/

A Federal High Court in Abuja will give a verdict 23 November on the controversial $12.4 billion oil windfall that Nigeria made in the wake of the first Gulf war, which remains unaccounted for.

The judgement day was fixed after Justice Gabriel Kolawole heard arguments the hearing of arguments and adopted the written addresses by lawyers to the parties yesterday, according to Sola Egbeyinka of Falana and Falana Chambers, solicitor to the Registered Trustees of Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) and five other right groups that instituted the suit.

At the hearing yesterday, the Federal Government insisted that the enactment by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria Idris Legbo Kutigi of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 “exceeded his Constitutional powers by liberalising the rules on locus standi, permitting public impact litigation, and allowing the inclusion of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in the Rules.”

The government also said that it could not find the Okigbo report, and had no duty to render account on the spending of the accrued revenue. The Plaintiffs disagreed, arguing that “such duty exists on the basis of Article 9 of the African Charter, which has become part of our national laws. Also, the Freedom of Information Act has been enacted which also imposes a legal duty on public institutions and agencies to render account, and allow access to public documents.”

It was also argued for the government that “only the AGF as a defender of public interest has the right to seek information on the spending of the $12.4 billion oil windfall,” and that the Plaintiffs have no such right. The Plaintiffs countered by saying that it was “the failure of the AGF to carry out his duty in this respect,” that prompted their legal action against the government in the first place.

It would be recalled that the case initially set down for judgment on Thursday 24 July 2011 has suffered several adjournments. The case was previously adjourned to 16 March 2012 for re-adoption of written addresses but was not heard as the court did not sit.

When the matter first came up for judgment, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, said the judgment was not yet ready to be delivered. According to the judge then, “the judgment is not yet ready. I have to give priority to criminal cases which are very important. I have a backlog of judgments which are older than this case. I regret the delay.” The judge subsequently adjourned the case to October 21 2011 to deliver the judgment.

However, when the case came up on 21 October 2011 it was again adjourned indefinitely because the court did not sit. It was at this point that the suit became affected by the provisions of Section 194 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that, “Every court established under this Constitution shall deliver its decision in writing not later than ninety days after the conclusion of evidence and final addresses and furnish all parties to the cause or matter determined with duly authenticated copies of the decision within seven days of the delivery thereof.”

The suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/640/10 was brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

The non-governmental organisations had dragged the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) before the court over the much publicised 12.4 billion dollars oil windfall, which the country recorded between 1988 and 1994, while former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida was in power.

The plaintiffs asked the court to make an order compelling the apex bank and the AGF to publish detailed accounts relating to the spending of the colossal sum of money between 1988 and 1994. They also sought for an order of the court compelling the respondents to diligently and effectively bring to justice any one suspected of corruption and mismanagement of the 12.4 billion dollars oil windfall.

They also want an order directing the respondents to provide adequate reparation, which may take the form of restitution, compensation, satisfaction or guarantees of non-repetition to millions of Nigerians that have been denied their human rights as a result of the respondents’ failure and/or negligence to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall between 1988 and 1994.

According to the plaintiffs, “The need for information regarding the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall is important to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and to fulfill Nigeria’s international obligations to promote the development of the country. Access to information of this nature is especially important in this country, which is struggling to establish the rule of law and democracy in the face of underdevelopment, poverty, illiteracy and diseases. The right of access to information is also crucial to the realisation of all other human rights, including the peoples’ right to their natural wealth and resources.”

The plaintiffs also argued that: “The diversion and/or mismanagement of the $12.4 billion oil windfall is a violation of Nigerians’ right to natural resources and wealth and to economic development, as recognised and guaranteed by 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act). Under the African Charter, the Nigerian government has a legal responsibility to utilise the natural resources of the country so as to benefit the whole people. Just as the people of every sovereign state have a permanent right to choose their form of government, so the people are entitled to insist that the natural resources of the nation be exploited in the interest of the people.”

A coalition of six civil society groups led by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sued the AGF and CBN in September 2010, seeking information on how $12.4 billion oil windfall of between 1988 and 1994 was spent.

The other plaintiffs in the suit are: Women Advocates and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Access to Justice (AJ); Partnership for Justice, and Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

Signed



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/26/judgement-date-in-ibbs-12-4-billion-oil-windfall/

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday signed into law the new Lagos State Polytechnic Law, saying it will give muscle to the State’s technological and Science Education in such a way that is impactful.

The new Lagos State Polytechnic bill was passed by the State House of Assembly following the repeal of the old Lagos Polytechnic Law as a result of the several amendments made to it by the House.

The Governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, added that Polytechnics are the bedrock of industrialization and innovation in the society where they are optimally utilized.

He described Polytechnics as a place where things are done rather than where they are propounded, stressing that they are the bulwark of productive activities in societies where they are optimized.

According to the Governor, “the new law will position the Lagos State Government to fully utilize its Polytechnic by laying emphasis on not only the objective of Polytechnics but focusing on how the government deploys its strongest resource, which is human capital, within the confines and precincts of the Polytechnic given a longer planning period”.

Governor Fashola added that the new law will ensure that academic staff give more of their skills before they are compulsorily taken out of service just as it also gives the government the opportunity to get the greatest value for its resources. Thanking the State House of Assembly for its continuing intervention in a legislative manner in improving the wellbeing of residents of the state, Governor Fashola declared: “The new law will give muscle to the state’s educational commitment as a people to skill development, technical and science education at a level where it is able to be impactful on the nation’s development plans.”

Earlier, while giving an insight into the new law, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye, said while the Lagos State Polytechnic is not a new institution, in view of the several amendments made to the old law by the State House of Assembly, it was decided that a new law be enacted.

He added that the new law gives statutory powers to the State Polytechnic with all powers identified with statutory bodies in the education sector adding that part of what is included in the new law is a provision for the constitution of the governing council which has a four year tenure that is renewable once to now include a representative of the academic board, a representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), a member of a relevant professional body, the Alumni association and two representatives of the congregation made up of one academic and one non-academic members.

The law also makes the Governor the moderator of the Polytechnic with power to set up a Visitation Panel to the institution at any time he considers it necessary while the Rector of the institution will now be entitled to a single term of five years with two deputy rectors, one for the academics and the other for administration with a two year tenure that is renewable once.

Prominent among those who witnessed the law signing ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a member of the State House of Assembly, Egberogbe Mufutau, members of the State Executive Council and Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Oloruntele Folami


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/25/fashola-signs-new-law-on-lagos-polytechnic/

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday signed into law the new Lagos State Polytechnic Law, saying it will give muscle to the State’s technological and Science Education in such a way that is impactful.

The new Lagos State Polytechnic bill was passed by the State House of Assembly following the repeal of the old Lagos Polytechnic Law as a result of the several amendments made to it by the House.

The Governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, added that Polytechnics are the bedrock of industrialization and innovation in the society where they are optimally utilized.

He described Polytechnics as a place where things are done rather than where they are propounded, stressing that they are the bulwark of productive activities in societies where they are optimized.

According to the Governor, “the new law will position the Lagos State Government to fully utilize its Polytechnic by laying emphasis on not only the objective of Polytechnics but focusing on how the government deploys its strongest resource, which is human capital, within the confines and precincts of the Polytechnic given a longer planning period”.

Governor Fashola added that the new law will ensure that academic staff give more of their skills before they are compulsorily taken out of service just as it also gives the government the opportunity to get the greatest value for its resources. Thanking the State House of Assembly for its continuing intervention in a legislative manner in improving the wellbeing of residents of the state, Governor Fashola declared: “The new law will give muscle to the state’s educational commitment as a people to skill development, technical and science education at a level where it is able to be impactful on the nation’s development plans.”

Earlier, while giving an insight into the new law, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye, said while the Lagos State Polytechnic is not a new institution, in view of the several amendments made to the old law by the State House of Assembly, it was decided that a new law be enacted.

He added that the new law gives statutory powers to the State Polytechnic with all powers identified with statutory bodies in the education sector adding that part of what is included in the new law is a provision for the constitution of the governing council which has a four year tenure that is renewable once to now include a representative of the academic board, a representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), a member of a relevant professional body, the Alumni association and two representatives of the congregation made up of one academic and one non-academic members.

The law also makes the Governor the moderator of the Polytechnic with power to set up a Visitation Panel to the institution at any time he considers it necessary while the Rector of the institution will now be entitled to a single term of five years with two deputy rectors, one for the academics and the other for administration with a two year tenure that is renewable once.

Prominent among those who witnessed the law signing ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a member of the State House of Assembly, Egberogbe Mufutau, members of the State Executive Council and Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Oloruntele Folami


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/25/fashola-signs-new-law-on-lagos-polytechnic/

Activities were paralysed in all public schools in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, today as teachers began indefinite strike to press home their demand for the implementation of the 27.5 percent salary increase.


Student of Ikosi Junior High school sitting outside their classrooms today following the strike by their teachers. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi

The schools were to resume this morning after the long vacation but the gates of the schools were shut against the students.

Thousands of students who thronged the schools this morning for resumption were disappointed as they were turned back home.

The teachers had warned that they would not resume until the government begins paying the 27.5 percent increaseTeachers’ Salary Scale, TSS.

In Alimosho, the strike was effective in over 125 primary and secondary schools in the area as teachers shunned work in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT. At Model College and Community High School, students were sent home. They were seen loitering around the gates of the schools.

Same goes for Government College, Iyana Ipaja, Oke-Odo Junior and Senior High School, Temidire Primary School, Aanu Oluwapo Primary School, among others.

In Agege, students were sent back home from Dairy Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary schools. Other schools in Agege were also shut.

In other parts of the Lagos metropolis, the situation was the same as teachers shunned work and students were sent home from schools. A senior Secondary School 3 student of Oke-Odo Senior High School, Ajibade Olashile told PM NEWS that he was disappointed that teachers had gone on strike as he expected to get back to his studies after the long vacation.

Another student, Ibrahim Tijani said he was not happy that he was sent home from school as public school students would now lag behind their counterparts in private schools.

Chairman, NUT, Alimosho branch, Comrade Claudius Sofoluwe told PM NEWS that the strike was total and that it was never called off as being reported in the media.

He said in 2008/2009, the state government reached an agreement to pay teachers the new 27.5 percent TSS and that government paid the full rate for 13 months only for it to back out of the agreement.

“In February, 2011, government stopped paying the money. We complained and they promised to begin implementation by April 2011. They started paying 9.2 percent and promised that they would pay the full rate as from January 2012 and till now, nothing has been done.

Sofoluwe said that despite countless meetings to resolve the issue, the state government refused to pay and promised that it would pay 16.5 percent of the 27.5 percent by 2013, saying this was not acceptable.

He stated that the teachers would continue the strike until the government complied with their demands.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/24/lagos-public-schools-shut-as-teachers-begin-strike/

The Lagos State Government’s special security unit, Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, has arrested a lance corporal and a driver for driving against traffic.

The soldier, Umaru Usman, and the driver, Sagir Abubakar, were arrested between 1pm and 3pm on Tuesday for driving a truck against traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Task force Chairman, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, a Superintendent of Police, on Wednesday said the action was contrary to the new state traffic law.

He added that the truck with number plate, YOBE XB 323 FKA, had been impounded by the task force.

Sulaiman said, “The truck was carrying bags of rice, bags of cement and boxes of sugar when it was impounded.

“The truck has been forfeited to the state while the lance corporal, who acted as a pilot to the truck, has been handed over to the military authorities because we found out that he had no pass.

“Of course, the driver will be charged to court for violation of the state traffic law.”

The chairman said the enforcement of the traffic law had commenced since the day the law was signed by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He added that law enforcement agencies were enforcing the law gradually to allow the people to adjust.

He said, “For instance, we are concentrating more on ridding the state of touts, popularly called agbero.

“We arrested and prosecuted more than 60 touts in the last two weeks.

“We are also concentrating on the state bridges to arrest commercial motorcyclists that would want to flout the restriction order on their operations.”

He said the task force would soon move from the bridges to Ikeja and Alausa to enforce the okada ban.




http://www.punchng.com/news/lagos-arrests-soldier-driver-on-third-mainland-bridge/

After chasing his sweetheart unsuccessfully for close to two years, Francis decided to woo her with what is considered here as one of the most appreciated gifts, a motorcycle.

He raised money for another six months from his new job, cut down on his monthly expenses and bought her “Daylong”, one of the most-sought after motorcycles here for women that costs about $700 or N104,000.


A lady riding motorcycle in Agbor, Delta State. Photo Emmanuel Osod.

Few days after, she fell in love with him and a love affair began here in Agbor, a community in Delta State, south south Nigeria.

The sight of women, young and old, on motorcycles here can be overwhelming for first time visitors.

A ride on Owatan, Owalero, Asanagbor, Obi Agbor or Lagos Asaba roads, some of the major roads in Agbor, gives the impression that there are as many motorcycles as there are people.

Virtually all women in this city have motorcycles that take them to work, market place, farms, church or weddings. The type of motorcycle, however, determines the status of the husband.

Daylong is for the wealthiest women or women married to the wealthiest men in this community. Nasara and Lifan, which go for about $600 or N89,000, are very popular and ridden by other privileged women.

Many women who cannot afford Daylong ,Chonsmic, Nasara and Lifan go for other cheaper motorcycles.

Men are seen riding Lifan or Qlink brand of mortocycle. All the streets and major roads are filled with motorcycles.

If the story of Francis, who did not want his surname published, was successful, that of Jude Ofuebuzor, who fixes broken motorcycles at garage market, was devastating.

Jude could not afford to buy motorcycle for his girlfriend. She made a second request. She needed a mattress with a pillow so she would stop sleeping on a mat.

“I raised N20,000 and bought her a mattress. That was the last time I heard from her,” he says.

“You know women are wicked. Very very wicked.”

Asked if he can buy a motorcycle for a girlfriend or a wife, Jude cackles and says it is a very risky investment, even when dealing with a wife.

“That is impossible. Why should I invest so much on a woman. No, I can never buy a motorcyle for a girl. It is risky. She may start going about town and before you know it, she escapes with other men.

“The best thing is you buy a motorcycle for yourself and drop her at her shop in the morning and come and pick her in the evening. That way you will know where she is at every point in time.

“In any case, if your wife has a machine (motorcycle), and you have one too, how do you show her you are the man? You know when a man has a motorcycle, on Saturday, you take her out and on Sunday you take her to church and she feels good. She feels loved and protected,” Jude says.

Jude says girls in Agbor are very materialistic. He now dates a girl in Lagos.

“She has never asked me for anything. All I have spent on her since I started seeing her two years ago is N600 or $4. She is in Lagos and we talk on phone everyday. She is the one now buying things for me. She’s not like all the girls I met before.

“I don’t care if she has a boyfriend in Lagos because in this life many men will ‘use’ your woman before you also use her. Once you marry her, you begin to use her alone,” Jude says smiling.

Asked if he can buy a motorcycle for her, he smiles and says “maybe later when she has children for me. She promised to come back on 20 December this year and be with me for ever.”

To Mrs. Success Edosa who runs a big shop at Owa and drives a Daylong motorcycle, it is a necessary mode of transportation.

“Men cannot afford to buy us cars so they go for bikes,” she says.

According to Jessica, who says she’s self-employed, it is a mistake to buy a motorcycle for a girlfriend.

“You can buy a bike for your wife, not your girlfriend. Bikes are important here because of our bad roads,” she says.

Idris Ibrahim, who hails from northern Nigeria and runs a recharge phone business at garage market says buying your mother or father in-law motorcycles can buy you blessings and honour.

“You see if I am dating her now,” he says, pointing at a young girl nearby, “and I buy a bike for her mother, it will bring me blessings. She will love me even more and her daughter will be mine, even quicker.”

—Simon Ateba

Thunder felled tree kills Niger CPC legal adviser



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Barely one week after flood killed two brothers in Minna, the Niger state capial, disaster struck again as a tree fell on a major road in the capital city during a two hour heavy downpour and killed the Legal Adviser to Niger State Chapter of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Barrister Joseph Kolo.

Eye witness told Channels Television that the 40 year old barrister arrived from a journey during the rain and decided to park under a tree while waiting for the rain which had made movement difficult, to stop, only for the tree which was supposed to shelter him from the rain fell on top of his car killed him instantly.

However, the remains of the late barrister has since been deposited in Minna General Hospital morgue.



http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/07/thunder-felled-tree-kills-niger-cpc-legal-adviser/

Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone is to feature wireless charging, and the Finnish handset company has struck deals to put charging pads on airlines and coffee shops. Is this enough to make the technology mainstream.




By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0 | September 6, 2012 -- 10:39 GMT (03:39 PDT)














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Wireless charging is not new. Even the much-loved Palm Pre, released back in 2009, wasn't the first handset to have this feature baked into the device. Now, Nokia is hoping that its new Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia 920 will take wireless charging and make it mainstream.

Nokia has embraced the Wireless Power Consortium's standard called Qi -- the Chinese word for energy flow, pronounced "chee" -- and hopes that the attraction of being able to recharge a smartphone without having to juggle cables and fiddle connectors into charging ports will be enough to win over consumers.

Moreover, while the flagship Lumia 920 has Qi wireless charging built in, the lower-spec Lumia 820 will come with an optional wireless recharging shell. Even Nokia isn't certain enough of the interest in wireless charging to add it to both handsets.

The Finnish smartphone company has gone as far as collaborating with Fatboy to create a recharge pillow, and has partnered with Virgin Atlantic airline and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chain to make charging pads available to customers.



Read this

Only Android can refloat Nokia's sinking ship

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It's unlikely that Virgin Atlantic and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are making this hardware available to consumers out of the goodness of their own heart. This is a deal, and it's likely that Nokia is bankrolling it. Nokia is hoping that the social buzz created by people seeing wireless charging pads on airlines and in coffee shops will encourage people to buy Lumias over the competition.

Microsoft has a history of trying -- and, mostly failing -- to leverage the social aspects of hardware. Two recent examples are the Zune media player and Windows Phone 7. The Zune had a "sharing" feature that allowed the owner of one Zune to send a song to another Zune owner -- assuming the owner could find another Zune owner -- with a 3-day/3-play limitation.

At the core of the Windows Phone 7 operating system was "social sharing," where a Windows Phone 7 handset will become the hub for all the owner's social interactions.

Using new hardware -- with minimal market penetration -- doesn't work to create a buzz. That buzz has to be generated initially by making people want to buy the hardware, in other words, marketing. Then, people see other people using that hardware, and they want it. That's the point at which trying to leverage the social aspect of hardware -- when enough people have it to make it truly social.

Speaking to AllThingsD, Menno Treffers, chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium, said: "there's a real network effect in that the more products that have it [wireless charging], the more useful the feature becomes". He went on to say that: "the next step for wireless power is integrating Qi directly in mobile devices and in everyday spaces, so that you can take out your device at the coffee shop or in the center console of your car, for instance, and set it down to charge without wires".

This is a problem for Nokia. Qi is third-party technology -- like the Synaptics ClearPad touchscreen that enables gloved finger support -- and, as such, the Wireless Power Consortium wants to see it baked into as many products as possible. I'm betting that the consortium would love to get its technology into a mass-market smartphone like the iPhone. The consortium has no loyalty to Nokia. Getting into the Lumia 920 is a nice win, and if it doesn't end up being a profitable deal, the publicity will no doubt raise awareness of the technology.

It's unlikely that Nokia will take wireless charging and make it mainstream since the Lumia 920 is just one handset, and it's powered by Windows Phone, a virtual no-name compared to the iOS and Android mobile juggernauts. But this could well be the catalyst that raises awareness of wireless smartphone charging in the consciousness of the masses. And that could find it making its way into more smartphones, along with a range of other consumer electronic devices.

Whether that will take the technology and make it mainstream remains to be seen.

Image source: Nokia.

Topics: Nokia, Microsoft, Mobile OS, Smartphones


About Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology

Four lecturers of the Igbinedion University, Okada, were on Thursday feared dead after their vehicle plunged into the Ovia River.

Details of the accident are still sketchy at the time of this report.

Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps, John Aniedi, confirmed the accident, but said rescue operation was still on.

He said the vehicle and its occupant had not been retrieved from the river.



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/news-update/60529-auto-crash-four-varsity-lecturers-feared-dead.html

Commercial motorcycle operators, also called Okada riders, in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria have vowed to resist the new traffic law banning them from operating on major roads in the metropolis.

The okada riders have gone to court to seek an injunction retraining the government from banning them.

The new road traffic law banned okada riders from plying 475 roads across the Lagos metropolis and the state government has gazetted the law and is preparing to enforce it any moment from now.

Okada riders under the aegis of the All Nigerian Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers Association, ANACOWA, through their solicitor, Bamidele Aturu, said they were ready to engage the government in a contest at the court.

“The okada riders are saying no retreat, no surrender on this matter. The Lagos State Government always claims to abide by the rule of law. The constitution has said the states cannot impose a state traffic law on federal highways in their state.

“They are expecting the court to come to their aid. If these people are thrown out of jobs, there will be increase in robbery. The battle is on again,” he said.

In the suit filed at the High Court of Ikeja through their counsel, Aturu, ANACOWA is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants (LASG) whether by themselves, agents, servants, officers, and or privies by whomsoever and howsoever from prohibiting the claimants and members of their associations (ANACOWA) from riding, driving and or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the major highways in Lagos listed in items 1-11 and other parts of Schedule II thereto which Major Highways are Federal Trunk or Highway Roads within the meaning of the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and from molesting, harassing, arresting, seizing their motorcycles or vehicles and in any other way subjecting them to any treatment, disadvantage or disfavour not suffered by any other road user.”

The okada riders are also seeking an order directing the defendants to release forthwith all motorcycles belonging to the claimants and their members seized by and in the custody of the defendants and their agents and or officers.

In the suit, the okada riders are seeking a declaration that the Major Highways in Lagos listed in Items 1-11and other parts of Schedule II to the Lagos state road traffic law, No 4 of 2012 are federal trunk or highway roads within the meaning of the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They also sought a declaration that section 3(1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 to the extent that it prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the major highways in Lagos listed in Items 1-11 and other parts of Schedule II thereto which major highways are federal trunk or highway roads within the meaning of the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is in fundamental conflict with section 4(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and is therefore ultra vires, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void, oppressive, inoperative and of no effect whatsoever.

The motorcyclists want a declaration that the defendants have no power whatsoever to make any law to regulate traffic on any of the Federal Trunk or Highway Roads listed in Schedule II to the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 and in the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and that section 3(1) of the said Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 to the extent that it prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any Federal Trunk or Highway Road is in fundamental conflict with section 4(3)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and is therefore ultra vires, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void, oppressive, inoperative and of no effect whatsoever.

In the Suit No ID/713M/2012 against Lagos State Government, the Attorney General of Lagos State and Lagos State House of Assembly, the okada riders are further seeking a declaration that section 3(1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 to the extent that it prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the routes in Lagos listed in Schedule II thereto constitutes a wanton and an unjustifiable violation of the right to freedom of movement of the claimants and their members guaranteed by section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act, cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

They want a declaration that the incessant seizures or forcible possession of the motorcycles of the claimants and claimants’ members by agents and or officials of the defendants constitute a wanton and an unjustifiable violation of the right of the claimants and claimants’ members not to have their moveable property, to wit, their motorcycles taken possession of compulsorily guaranteed by section 44(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null void and of no effect whatsoever.

The okada riders want the court to declare that section 3(1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 to the extent that it prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the routes in Lagos listed in Schedule II thereto constitutes a wanton and an unjustifiable violation of the defendants’ duty to ensure that all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment provided for in Section 17(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null void and of no effect whatsoever.

The riders are also praying the court to declare that section 3(1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, No 4 of 2012 to the extent that it prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the routes in Lagos listed in Schedule II thereto constitutes a wanton and an unjustifiable violation of the right of the claimant and their members not to be discriminated against expressly, or in the practical application of any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other trade are not made subject guaranteed by Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights(Ratification and Enforcement) Act, cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null void and of no effect whatsoever.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/04/lagos-traffic-law-okada-riders-vow-resistance/