₦airaland Forum

It was postponed not suspended are some of us this daft? Maxymilliano just gave one of the reason it was postponed and channels just announced it

Channels Forum Postponed
We would like to inform invited guests and the public that Channels Forum earlier scheduled for tomorrow, 22 January 2013 at the Muson centre has been postponed.

A new date will be announced later.

We apologize for any inconveniences.

Posted by Channels Television on January 21, 2013.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/01/21/gunmen-seize-nigerian-fuel-tanker-off-cote-divoire/

Haters come and counter what the siemens boss said.were waiting to here your propoganda statement

Power Station

Ejiofor Alike

Siemens Nigeria Limited has restated its commitment to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed last year with the Federal Government for the construction of a10, 000-megawatt (MW) capacity power station in the country.

The new Managing Director of the company, Mr. Michael Lakota, told THISDAY that his company would contribute to the construction of the power station, as agreed in the memorandum of understanding.

Under the MoU, Siemens would take 15 per cent equity in the proposed power generation plant.

Lakota said the power sector would remain a major focus of the company’s activities in Nigeria.

He stated that Nigeria had a challenging environment with a lot of potentials and market, stressing that the company was prepared to harness the market.

“The most important thing I am bringing to Nigeria and Siemens is also bringing to Nigeria is the full commitment to operate in Nigeria and to be here in Nigeria for Nigeria,” he said.

On the 434MW capacity Geregu Power plant, his company built in Kogi State, Lakota said the plant was one of the biggest projects the company executed and was successfully running in Nigeria.

“I had a chance to visit the site, close to Ajaokuta and what I saw was really impressive. I heard from our customers that we are the only company in this country that was able to deliver a power plant on schedule. This is something very unique because what I heard is that projects are usually delayed for years in this country,” he added.

Lakota noted that his company operated the Geregu plant for two years without any fatality or major injury, adding that the feat was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to its values.

He noted that Nigeria was a very good place for a multinational company like Siemens to operate.

According to him, the company was not in Nigeria to operate for short-term profit but to operate as a professional multinational company with the highest standards.

“One thing, which is very important, is training. We train our people so that they can deliver the quality of work we are expecting. We want to have very high standards. I see the right people in our company and we even want to improve and give a chance to the people to develop themselves. We want to contribute to the 10,000megawatts power capacity MoU we signed last year with the President. This means a lot of work ahead of us and we are fully committed to deliver,” he said.

Lakota disclosed that his company would assist the country in the provision of world-class technology to provide stable power supply.

He stated that the president had visited their factory in Berlin to see the world-class facilities.

The Siemens Nigeria also stated that his company had pulled out of the telecommunications sector.

“We no longer operate in the telecoms sector. We are now active in four sectors – energy, healthcare, industry and infrastructure. These are our activities as Siemens AG worldwide,” he added.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/siemens-restates-commitment-to-10-000mw-power-station/137123/

African force in Mali now numbers 1,000: French army

Reuters) - There are now 1,000 soldiers from West Africa and Chad on the ground in Mali forming the basis of a force to fight Islamist rebels in Mali, France's armed forces spokesman said on Monday.

The African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), which should eventually number several thousand troops, currently has 830 soldiers from West African nations such as Togo, Benin, Niger and Nigeria and 170 from Chad.

They are engaged with France's 2,150-strong force, helping the Malian army push back the rebels. France, the former colonial power, has made 140 bombing sorties since its aerial campaign began on January 11, Burkhard said.

On Monday, French and Malian armoured columns moved into an area of central Mali around the towns of Diabaly or Doeuntza as al Qaeda-linked rebels withdrew. There was no fighting, according to the French spokesman.

A U.S. flight bringing logistical support to France's campaign arrived on Sunday evening, he said. Cargo planes from European nations including Britain have already arrived.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/21/us-mali-rebels-afisma-idUSBRE90K0NX20130121

If this topic was Jonathan bars ministers u would see how nairaland trolls and AC.N hypocrites would have made a meal out of it. An era when GEJ reveals how much he spends on feeding and allowing freedom of infomation others are swearing oat of secrecy that the same AC.N criticized OBJ for doing when he was head of state.

Mali conflict: French troops 'enter Diabaly'

A column of French and Malian troops has entered the key central Malian town of Diabaly, without resistance from militant Islamists, officials say.

About 30 armoured vehicles carrying some 200 French and Malian soldiers moved into the town, said an AFP reporter with the soldiers.

The Islamists fled the town on Friday after it was hit by French airstrikes.

France launched its military action in Mali more than a week ago to end the Islamist control of northern Mali.

France has sent some 2,000 troops to help Malian forces fight the militants, some of whom are linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

It has called on West African countries to speed up the deployment of a regional force of more than 3,000.

An Islamist group in Nigeria, says it carried out an attack last week which killed two Nigerian troops as they prepared to deploy to Mali.

Ansaru said it targeted the troops because the Nigerian military was joining efforts to "demolish the Islamic empire of Mali".

Nigeria has pledged to send 1,200 troops to Mali, with the first 50 deployed on Thursday.

Togolese and Senegalese solders make up the remaining 100 troops already in Bamako, AFP reports.

'Total reconquest'

Mali's Islamist fighters seized control of Diabaly, about 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, soon after France's intervention.

On Monday, French soldiers from the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment as well as parachutists and Malian troops entered the town after reconnaissance flights by Gazelle helicopters, said an AFP reporter with the soldiers.

They had set out at dawn from the nearby government-controlled town of Niono, which French troops entered on Thursday.

Army commanders had earlier expressed fears that Islamists fleeing Diabaly had planted landmines.

On Sunday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France was seeking "total reconquest" of northern Mali.

"We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, he told French television.

The Islamist groups currently control a vast area in the Sahara Desert, larger than France.



http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21121262

Kama henry kama! Those lives you took are coming back to hunt you!

Another FG project in EDO state.Good one from the FG.

FEDERAL Government’s efforts to sustain the existing improvement in power supply received a boost at the weekend with the unveiling of the Oredo Integrated Gas Handling Facility (IGHF) by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

It was at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated Oredo field in Edo State.

The facility which currently supplies 65 Million Metric Standard Cubic Feet per Day (MMscfd) has ramped up NPDC’s total gas production to a record level of 400MMscfd with projected growth to 600MMscfd by year end is envisaged to significantly enhance the Federal Government’s power supply drive.

At the ceremony, Mrs. Alison-Madueke noted that the project was in line with the ongoing reform process in the industry designed to vigorously ensure the monetisation of the nation’s gas endowment through gas-to-power and other gas-related industrialisation.

However, the Federal Government has threatened to revoke the contract for the 132KV power sub-station in Umuahia, Abia State if the contractor handling the project which was awarded to Valence Nig. fails to rectify a fault with one of the transformers meant for the facility.

The 132KV Sub-Station, which was commissioned despite the fact that one of the transformers was faulty, has the capacity to generate 64MWTs of electricity to Umuahia and its environs. At present, it supplies 33megawatts of electricity due to the fault.

Meanwhile, arrangements have been concluded for the take-off of the first private power plant in the country, Geometric, in March this year.

The company, which belongs to the immediate past Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, is working out ways to absorb and train some former workers of PHCN for employment at the plant.

Managing Director of the firm, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji who disclosed this when the National Good Governance Tour Team inspected the plant in Aba, Abia State, said that three turbines had been installed and that the company had entered into an agreement with Shell Petroleum Company for the supply of gas.

And the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that 2013 is a year of project delivery for the Federal Government.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting to round off the National Good Governance Tour of Abia State in Umuahia, she noted that the plan of President Jonathan was to make all federal roads motorable within the shortest possible time.

She observed that in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, many projects are being executed, adding that the most important factor was the peaceful atmosphere, which had enabled economic activities to thrive.

Earlier, the state’s Information/Strategy Commissioner, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, said that in line with the common vision shared by Abia and the Federal Governments, Governor Theodore Orji wholeheartedly supported the good governance media tour. He added: “Having now seen Abia and what are on ground, the people are now in the position to assess and judge the state themselves.”

Alison-Madueke stated that the Oredo gas project, which is 100 per cent local content in both design and construction, is reflective of the Federal Government’s desire to grow and support effective indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.

“It is this commitment to support indigenous oil and gas production growth that led to the assignment of a number of assets to NPDC. Government’s commitment is further reflected in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2012 currently before the National Assembly, where special consideration has been given to indigenous players in the industry,” the minister said.

Providing technical details of the project, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, said the IGHF, which symbolises its response to the Federal Government gas to power initiative is the first major gas development project aimed at realisation of NPDC’s strategic growth plan of being an integrated oil and gas company.

“The Oredo gas plant is an Integrated Gas Handling Facility (IGHF) designed with a module for LPG production and other liquids extraction facilities. While substantial volume of gas from the facility is designed for the Ihovbor power plant, the balance will be injected into domestic gas supply pipelines grid. This facility also has the capacity to eliminate gas flaring in compliance with Federal Government environmental requirement,” he said.

He explained that currently, the Corporation through the NPDC is pursuing with vigor the development of more resources in order to provide gas to PanOcean Oil Company (POOC) to achieve optimal utilisation of their gas plant.

This will require drilling more wells, construction of manifold and flow lines, 22km pipeline and separators. These activities will come along with the related business and employment opportunities,” Yakubu stated.

Managing Director of the NPDC, Victor Briggs, pledged the commitment of management and members of staff of the company to achieving NPDC’s growth plans and business projections.

“I will like to give the Honorable Minister comfort that NPDC will not only meet its gas supply target of 200MMdcfd from OML 111, but will be able to sustain this production for the next 20 years based on existing reserves in this OML; however there are additional exploration potentials,” Briggs enthused.

Established in 1988 as a fully owned company of the NNPC, the NPDC aspires to emerge as Nigeria’s flagship indigenous exploration and production company with world class standard.

In line with that vision, NPDC is today involved in exploration, exploitation and production in 20 concessions covering both onshore and offshore blocks. These efforts translate to current reserves of 2.1 billion barrels of crude oil and 10.17 trillion cubic feet of gas.

As at the last check, NPDC produces an average of 130,000 barrels of crude per day and currently ranks the fifth largest oil producing company in the country. Records indicate that going by recent performance, NPDC is poised to surpass its growth target of 250,000 barrels of oil per day by the year 2015.

The NPDC Oredo IGHF is sited on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 111. The Lease consists of three fields with an average production capacity of 6,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) with more prospects for further development.

Mrs. Nnaji explained that the power plant with the capacity to produce 140 megawatts power of electricity also have an overhead line, a 27-kilometre gas pipeline and a sub-station, which had been completed

She noted that the company had completed all the major works on the project, laid the pipeline for the supply of gas to the plant, adding that the distribution facility is also near completion.

“By March, the first turbine will be fired and the remaining two will follow shortly,” she said.

She added that the company had completed the construction of four sub-stations at different locations in Abia State and acquired and refurbished three sub-stations from PHCN.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, lauded the management of the company for their foresight and courage in venturing into the power business.

He said that the commencement of operation at the power plant would boost public confidence in the present administration’s power reforms.

He stated that take-off of the power plant would be the first evidence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s power roadmap which is being driven by the private sector.

In a related development, four gas turbine units of the Alaoji Power Plant in Abia State will become operational in June this year.

The plant has a combined capacity of generating five hundred and four megawatts of electricity.

The Site Manager of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Umeh Godson, stated when the delegation of the National Good Governance Tour visited the power plant that already, two units had been commissioned and linked to the national grid while the other two are at the pre-commissioning stage.

Umeh explained that all the equipment needed for the steam turbine units have arrived and that they are now constructing the foundation to lay the turbines.

“The first unit will be in service by the end of this year and the second unit will come on stream next year”, he stated.

The Site Manager disclosed that by the time the entire gas and steam turbine units are functional, a total of one thousand and seventy-four megawatts of electricity would be generated from the Alaoji Power Plant.

He, however, said the challenges of gas supply to the power plant are being addressed by the Nigerian Gas Company.

Maku said the Alaoji Power Plant is one of the 10 new power plants being constructed by the present administration across the country to stabilise power supply.

“Alaoji with the capacity of one thousand and seventy-four megawatts of electricity is going to be the largest power plant in the country.

“In the meantime, you have seen that all the equipment including the turbines and the generator of the steam turbines are here and the foundations are being laid”, Maku assured.

Okonjo-Iweala said: “Much has been done, we know there is need to do more but we also need to acknowledge the achievements that have been made. The President instructed me to release the sum of N47 billion for road rehabilitation in December 2012 and the reports reaching the Federal Government indicate that there is a great improvement on the roads”.

She noted that efforts were on to ensure that all the ongoing road projects across the country are completed.

Maku noted that Nigeria would witness a tremendous restoration of the rail system nationwide before the end of 2013 while the modern rail lines would start operation in Nigeria by 2014.

He noted that it would take the North more than 20 years to recover from the socio-economic loss inflicted on the region due to insecurity, particularly the activities of Boko Haram and warned the South-East not to allow insecurity to destroy the development it has achieved over the years.

http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=10028

asha 80: i am suprised i did not see ararume's name on that least.

me too his also an Ac.n big wig that wants to liberate us from PDP! LOL

Chief tom ikimi, Sen. George Akume Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Achike Udenwa, Sen. Chris Ngige, some formal PDP big wigs in th e committee. Audu agbe was infact one time Pdp chairman.

At least nairalanders now knw is not a propoganda as claimed by paid critics on nairaland.more should be done NRC should get the private sector involved in the area of providing more trains there is money to be made in this sector.

I hope people. Now see why the north are against the present government.by calling the chief of army staff a south south -south east chief of army staff shows how he and so many northerners view this government expecially the moslems.they view GEJ as a south south - south- east president. But come 2015 we shall see how the moslem north would rule nigeria we are watching and taking note of uttrances like this from the like of shack gunmi and some of his fellow bitter moslem northerners on nairaland.

West African states meet again on Mali crisis


CNN) - The number of French troops in Mali could top 2,500, France's defense minister said Saturday as West African leaders discussed plans for additional forces to help battle militants in the north.

There are about 2,000 French troops in Mali so far, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told CNN affiliate France 3.

The number of boots on the ground is a top priority as West African states met Saturday in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan.

At the gathering, the leaders were to discuss ways to speed up deployment of African troops to help their French counterparts push out the Islamist militants.

The regional bloc -- the Economic Community Of West African States -- has said it has 3,300 regional troops on standby.

France intervened in Mali about a week ago after militants started advancing toward the capital, forcing world leaders to fast-track decisions on intervention.

French and Malian forces retook the key town of Konna from militants Friday, a French source said.

Militants said they had seized Konna on January 10, which prompted France to start its offensive over fears that fighters were inching toward the capital.

The fighting in Mali has captured the world's attention.

It was one of the most successful democracies in Africa until last year when a coup toppled the president and Islamists capitalized on the chaos and established themselves in the north.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/19/world/africa/mali-unrest/index.html

Picture: AFP
By David Blair, Sarakala6:56PM GMT 18 Jan 2013
French soldiers have achieved their first victories in Mali, recapturing a key town from al-Qaeda and foiling an Islamist advance towards the Niger river.

Convoys of French armoured personnel carriers moved north of the Niger, heading past the village of Sarakala and driving into the Sahelian plains.

The national army, supported by the French, seized back the town of Konna in central Mali from "al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" (AQIM) and its allies.

The fall of Konna last week was the key event that triggered the French intervention. Its capture left only a single weak garrison standing between AQIM and the capital, Bamako.

But the army announced that Konna was back in their hands. A military statement said: "We have wrested total control of Konna after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy." France later confirmed the Malian army's claim. The recapture of Konna lifts the immediate threat to Bamako and the rest of southern Mali.

But AQIM's fighters have also opened a new front in a different region of southern Mali, seizing the town of Diabaley on Monday and striking towards the north bank of the Niger.

France responded by deploying troops to guard the bridge at Markala, while sending special forces across the river to help the Malian army to counter-attack.

Early reports suggested that AQIM lost Diabaley Friday, although mopping up operations were said to be continuing. French troops have called in air strikes by Mirage and Rafale jets.

Some 1,800 French troops are now in Mali, with the total force expected to reach 2,500. While AQIM's advance into southern Mali has been blocked and partially rolled back, the Islamists are still in control of the northern two-thirds of the country, including the cities of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.

So far, France has prevented them from taking the rest of Mali, but its troops have not tried to break AQIM's dominance of the north.

That task will probably fall to the Malian army and an African force comprised of 3,000 troops from neighbouring countries. When this new unit will be ready to take the offensive is unclear: many of its soldiers have not yet arrived and a European Union training mission will not deploy in Mali until next month.

Many ordinary Malians want their country to be reunited as soon as possible. Fatoumata Maiga, 45, fled Diabaley shortly before it fell to the Islamists. "My neighbour came and said 'don't you know about the fighting that is coming, you must get away from here'." She gathered her five sons and five daughters and fled to the town of Marikana, leaving all her possessions behind.

Marikana now serves as the local hub for the French forces and the base for the counter-attack towards Diabaley.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9812310/French-troops-take-back-key-Mali-town-from-militants.html

[quote author=A-ZeD]Insincere Nigerian
Thisday, Guardian and Tribune did not report anything GEJ said during the visit. Is it that GEJ did not speak at during the visit or those newspapers decided not to report it.[/quote]what of what channels tv who were on ground and reported what GEJ said and I quote "Apparently responding to pictures of rot in infrastructure broadcast by Channels Television, a visibly angry president queried the authorities of the college on the state of the institution.

He promised to change the tide in the college saying that his government

“Will do something about the institution”, the President vowed.

The chairman of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh was present during the president’s visit.

This is the first time a sitting President would be visiting the Police College built over 70 years ago" I still stick with what channels reported and not the failed on arrival propoganda of paid critics.

fkaz: Sincere 9gerian, Hope you will believe this version

President Goodluck Jonathan was on his way a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Cote d’Ivoire today when his plane was diverted to Lagos for his ‘surprise’ visit to the Police College in Ikeja, the State capital.
Sources say that even his top aides were unaware of the unscheduled stop, but SaharaReporters later learned that the owner of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, was somehow on hand to cover the visit, suggesting it may have been a scheduled public relations stunt between Jonathan’s people and Mr. Momoh’s Channels.
The authorities of the Police College were also caught unawares. They had in fact rented the college to host a private wedding, which is illegal, although illegality is not necessarily a crime in the current administration, where they routinely go unaddressed.
Still President Jonathan demanded that the top brass explain their action, to which they had no real answers. Jonathan was also concerned about the filming of his ‘surprise’ visit by Channels TV, and demanded to know who had given them permission. He wondered if the filming was done to embarrass the government.
The President undertook an inspection of the college, discovering in the student hostels dilapidated conditions and a lack of beds, mattresses and functioning toilets.
During the inspection the President commented on the TV clips that earlier aired in documentary aired on Lagos-based Channels TV. He stated, “Of all the TV clips, the most offensive was the one showing police cadets eating like poultry fowls.”
Strangely, the commandant of the Police College, Commissioner of Police Irimiya Yerima, boldly told President Jonathan that the Lagos police college was far better than the one in Kaduna. It was not clear if Mr. Jonathan would pick up the implied challenge.

From sahara

another paid opposition news outlet !can u see the similarity between sahara,punch, and the nation report they are the only newsnetwork that reported the beer palour gist.very funny bunch even channels that were on ground when GEJ came calling didn't report it na wah it most be hard times for this news agencies but the truth would alway over shadow lies that is what they don't knw

Is only the opposition newspaper that were not even on ground when the presido was at the college even channels tv did not report this stupid lies by the opposition una go soon commit suicide for jona matter

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/01/18/jonathan-visits-police-college/

The paid critics as usual and the AC.N trolls would always shy away from this thread bad belle people una go sson get heart attack kudos to the FG

Here's the report from channels tv who were on ground when the president visited the police college and no where they reported the trash that punch newspaper is reporting!!!


Jonathan visits Police College
Following the week-long report by Channels Television on the dilapidated state of the Police Training College in Lagos, President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday paid a surprise visit to the college.

Dr. Jonathan who arrived in company of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, expressed shock at the level of dilapidation at the foremost institute.

Apparently responding to pictures of rot in infrastructure broadcast by Channels Television, a visibly angry president queried the authorities of the college on the state of the institution.

He promised to change the tide in the college saying that his government

“Will do something about the institution”, the President vowed.

The chairman of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh was present during the president’s visit.

This is the first time a sitting President would be visiting the Police College built over 70 years ago.

The President’s visit lasted for about an hour, during which he undertook an inspection tour of the school, including the students’ hostel which is in a terrible state.

Throughout the week, Channels Television has broadcast series of reports on the police college.

The police project is the station’s corporate social responsibility for year 2013, and on Tuesday January the 22nd, there would be a forum in Lagos where the private sector will be sensitized on the need to come together to rebuild the college and bring it  to international standard.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/01/18/jonathan-visits-police-college/



I believe channels more than the opposition bought and beer palour gist peddling punch newspaper

^^Propogandist and liars are at it again una go get heart attack apart from punch newspaper pls post another news article that captured ur beer palour theory even the station that did the documentary that was on ground when the president came didn't report the thrash u posted na punch you guys are becoming ridiculous and very desperate in ur quest to bring down GEJ but you know what u can never bring a good man down!

Security agencies have discovered that the spiritual leader of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, Abubakar Shekau, who was wounded in a gun duel between soldiers of the Joint Task Force and members of his sect early this year, is hiding in Gao, a city in Northern Mali, receiving treatment from the Tuareg rebels.

Military Intelligence sources told Saturday Tribune on Friday that Shekau was ferried to Mali through porous routes in the vast Nigerian border with a neighbouring country in the north.

The source cited the discovery of Shekau’s hideout and the training base for Boko Haram sect members to unleash terror on Nigerians as a further justification of the action of the Federal Government to deploy 1,200 troops as well as Airforce fighter and transport aircraft to Mali to help flush out the Tuareg militants and their sponsors.

Shekau was said to have been shot at a checkpoint while he attempted to deceive operatives of the JTF by posing as a nomadic Fulani man who was returning from a journey.

A gunfight ensued when the vehicle carrying him and members of the sect approached a checkpoint and they discovered that the soldiers were waiting for him.

During the exchange of fire, Shekau and two other sect members with him escaped with gunshot wounds, while two other members of the sect were killed on the spot. About six AK-47 rifles were recovered from the vehicle.

The source noted that most of the weapons, including IEDS (Improvised Explosive Devices) recovered from Boko Haram members have been linked to those used during the Libyan uprising against the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

Addressing troops shortly before being airlifted to Mali on Thursday in Kaduna, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika, spoke of the need for officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army to be extra-vigilant, as there are indications that some terrorists may have sneaked into the country.

Two Alpha jets, led by newly decorated Air Vice Marshal Tayo Oguntoyinbo, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport at about 4:25pm on Friday to Niamey, Niger Republic, from where they will launch the attack on the stronghold of the Malian Islamists Tuaregs.

Saturday Tribune gathered that part of the mission of the Nigerian troops deployed to Mali is also to fish out Shekau from his hideout in Gao, where he is currently receiving treatment, and bring him back to Nigeria to face trial for crimes against humanity.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/3422-boko-haram-leader-shekau-found-in-mali

Aisha Wakaso in Minna

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced cargo operations with the haulage of goods from Ogun State to Niger State after 10 years.
The cargo train which contained 675 tonnes of cement, arrived Minna yesterday where it was off loaded to be dispatched to different locations.

Speaking with journalists when the goods were being offloaded from the train, the Public Relations Officer of the Minna railway station, Abdulraouf Akinwuye, said the cement was transported from Lafarage Cement Company, makers of WAPCO cement at Ewekoro in Ogun State.
He said the rebirth of the cargo train would create job opportunities for the youths in the state, adding that 50 youths are expected to benefit from the loading, off-loading and transportation of the goods. He also said that other duties like security, clerical duties and sale of the cement would provide job opportunities for the youths.

Akinwuye further said that the company decided to use the cargo part of rail service because of its affordability since it was ready to exploit cheaper means of transportation in order to reduce the cost price of cement in the North.
He said the cement received in Minna would be distributed in Niger State and Abuja, adding that the service of the cargo train will start regularly.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nrc-resumes-cargo-train-operation-after-10-years/136743/

jmaine: Stop clutching at straws . . . .It's needless here . .accept you erred by mixing them up . . . .

GEJ visit to the Abuja National made news and not that of Lagos . . . .

wether they like it or not GEJ is the first sitting president to visit that police college since 70 years!!! He keeps proving his haters wrong each passing day. Even when the capital of Nigeria was lagos our past leaders like obj,shagari, buhari,ibb who ruled from lagos never visited the college shame and some idiats are here hating don't worry when the place is fixed by GEJ I would like to hear what these set of people would say!

Sincere 9gerian: Something shocking is unfolding on this thread. We'r on the 3rd page now but still no evidence of activity in Nasarawa state? What is happening? This is unbelievable!

@Moderator pls can you move this thread to the front page for more input.

What a Shocking development! Where is the magic of Buhari and his CPC in Nasarawa state?

that's becos there is nothing to show apart From sharia law.when he was ANPP leader it was the same thing with the ANPP states

awodman: Great transformation indeed..imagine the words Edo state governor used τ̅☺ describe what the president has done ..with time I believe the silent works this man is doing will become more glaring

he is the only AC.N governor who is not a hypocrite. He says it as it is.when he won his second term he heaped the same praise on the president so don't be suprised

@op u would have started when he was the leader of ANPP. He was the leader of the party when all the ANPP states in the north disregarded the nigerian constitution and governed with sharia law in their ANPP states. How did those ANPP states fare when buhari was the leader of ANPP?

INDICATIONS emerged on Thursday that the renewed vigour towards the formation of an oppositions grand coalition party ahead of the 2015 election was as a result of a fresh deal entered into between the camps of former head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and the leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),  Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune indicate that Buhari, who leads the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Tinubu had struck a fresh deal on the sharing formula for the emerging political coalition.

The power sharing formula had been the huge challenge that delayed the take-off of the merger plans all through 2012, sources had said.

It was confirmed that some leaders of the CPC rejected the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which gave details of the planned merger when the document was presented to them. Some of the leaders were said to have rejected what they termed ‘Buhari’s blind agreement with the ACN’.

But Buhari, at a Board of Trustees meeting of the CPC in Abuja on Wednesday said that the opposition parties were sure of forging the coalition ahead of the 2015 elections.

The development is coming on the heels of huge resentment among Buhari’s trusted loyalists in the CPC, many of whom had secretly accused the former leader of succumbing to the propaganda mounted by the ACN to the effect that the opposition parties cannot survive the 2015 election without a merger.

Investigation by the Nigerian Tribune however confirmed that the CPC and the leaders of ACN, have agreed on the sharing of party and political offices and that Buhari might have tacitly given indication of withdrawing from the 2015 race.

It was gathered that the former head of state had agreed with Tinubu to play the godfather role to the planned coalition and that the emerging party would then search for a younger element to carry the flag.

Sources, however, said that Tinubu is planning to contest the presidential election, while he would also consider a running mate position if he loses the race for the ticket of the proposed party.

However, contrary to public pronouncements which indicated that all was well with the merger effort, it emerged on Thursday that the planned formation of the mega opposition party is still facing serious hitches arising from personality clashes among key opposition leaders.

Investigation by the Nigerian Tribune across the opposition parties showed that divisions still exist on how to proceed on the merger plans in addition to the existence of some factions within some merger partners who are suspected of working actively for the ruling party.

It was gathered on Thursday that already, the merger politics has pitched Buhari and former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai against each other as the Buhari caucus believed the minister was angling for the presidency even before Buhari made up his mind on 2015.

While el-Rufai has regularly denied interest in the presidency, pro-Buhari forces within the CPC allegedly accused the former minister of planting structures and creating alliances towards a presidential run.

This in-fighting was reported to have openly manifested in Abuja on Wednesday when Buhari approved and inaugurated CPC merger team without Mallam el-Rufai or any of his allies being included, contrary to original plan which has el-Rufai as team leader.

A CPC insider told the Nigerian Tribune that the exclusion of el-Rufai has created another aggrieved party within the CPC, in addition to the yet to be resolved court cases over the authentic leadership and ownership of the party.

While no official reason has been given for the exclusion of el-Rufai, party sources confirmed that traditional Buhari allies have deep-seated suspicion for new members of the party, especially those who joined the CPC from PDP, among whom, el-Rufai is a leading figure.

Buhari, ANPP crisis deepens
As CPC grapples with its internal challenges, there are also strong indications that all is not well between the Katsina General and his former party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party over the merger plan.

It was learnt that the General prefers a merger between his party and the ACN to the exclusion of ANPP, leading to his direct statements on Wednesday on his relationship with the ACN.

ANPP leaders contacted on Thursday in Abuja were unhappy that the General repeatedly cited the ACN as the merger partner when the merger talks in deed involve four parties namely CPC, ANPP, ACN and APGA.

An ANPP chieftain told the Nigerian Tribune that the ANPP had gone far with the merger plan, long before the CPC inaugurated its negotiation committee, noting, “we have met ACN leaders at Ibadan and APGA leaders in Enugu.

“We are even more involved in the merger than CPC. But the General is still holding grudge against the ANPP. He believes he was pushed out of the ANPP,” an official at the ANPP secretariat confided in the Tribune.

Buhari was reported to be particularly unhappy that former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, was chosen as the chairman of the ANPP merger negotiation team. Shekarau is said to be in the bad book of the General as he was fielded after Buhari‘s exit from ANPP.

Details of the sharing formula adopted by the opposition parties have also emerged, with sources confirming that the leaders have now adopted the contentious  MOU. This is reported to be the focus of discussion at a meeting earlier this week in Abuja.

Insider sources disclosed that five key positions are for sharing at the federal level among the partners namely president, vice president, Party chairman and senate presidency.

Each of these key positions will be zoned to the merging parties which will now nominate their candidates. Similar approach is reportedly planned for the state level.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/3319-cpc-acn-merger-buhari-tinubu-agree-on-sharing-formula

Political History of the so called PDP BOKO HARAM Members

Mohammed Ali Ndume

Ndume was elected to represent Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in April 2003 and was reelected in April 2007, on the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) platform.[1] He was appointed Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.[2]

In an August 2010 interview, Ndume said "the PDP in the last 11 years has vandalized Nigeria; they have only introduced kidnapping, assassination, militancy, armed robbery, power degeneration and widespread religious crisis".[3] In a September interview he praised the record of the ANPP in Borno State, building roads and hospitals. He said "The PDP government has been holding the Federal Government for 11 years now and they have done nothing, except cause chaos in Nigeria".
In December 2010 Ndume decamped to the PDP, citing the injustices going on in the party as his reason for leaving the ANPP.and was arrested in 2011 for boko activities!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Ali_Ndume


Ndume joined pdp in december 2010 he has been an anpp chieftain throughout his political career untill december 2010 he has not even spent 6 months as a pdp member before he was arrested by same pdp government and during that time that he was a member of the ANPP he was a very close associate of BUHARI who was the leader of the ANPP so he is more close to buhari than pdp that some fools would want idiats to believe. Same as Hon. Tijani Umar Kumalia he was an ANPP cheiftain before decamping to PDP.show us a true PDP member that has been linked to terrorism not decampees like ndume and kumalia who came from BUHARI controlled ANPP then reasonable people would take your "PDP is BOKO HARAM" propoganda seriously

Muhammad Bello

The first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the year held yesterday in Abuja and approved three new federal universities to be sited in Gashua, Yobe State; Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital; and Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Following the FEC’s approval, every state of the federation now boasts a federal university.

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who disclosed this at the end of the meeting, said the decision was in fulfillment of government’s plan for each state to have a federal university.

FEC’s approval came on the heels of the disclosure by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, that the transformation efforts of the administration has secured Nigeria a slot among 16 developing nations to be allotted more shares in the World Bank, thus giving the country a louder voice and more influence in the global financial institution.

Speaking on the development, Ngama said Nigeria was on its way to becoming one of the top economies of the world alongside the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations.

He said the opportunity the selection has given Nigeria is that it now has 109 shares added to the ones that the country previously held in the World Bank.

“The shares will not be revealed immediately,” Ngama explained, adding that “payments for the shares will only be made when the shares are called up. We will pay whenever the World Bank calls for payment to be made.

“The significance of having more shares in the World Bank is that the more you have, the greater the voice the country will have in the bank and this would pave the way for Nigeria to join the league of BRICS.”
According to him, the criteria for the selection of a country by the World Bank are: Strength of the economy, rate of growth and impact of its fiscal policy on global economic affairs.

The minister, who listed the economic performance of Nigeria as including improved rate of growth in non-oil exports to about 3,000 per cent and significant GDP growth, posited that Nigeria was growing faster than many countries that were ahead of her before.

He said: “At the end of 2011, Nigeria became the third highest growing economy in the world.”
Earlier, Maku, alongside his colleagues from the Ministries of Education, Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, and Finance, said the president had given the ministers their priorities for the year.

“He gave marching orders to all ministers to work faster and decisively. He argued that having laid the foundation for various programmes, ministers should build on what has been done to deliver to Nigerians. Work as a team and take responsibility for their various MDAs,” Maku explained.

Maku also stated that a lot has been done in the last one-and-a-half years, adding that a key landmark achievement was made in the railway sector, as train services started running from Lagos to Kano.

He added that petroleum products are now being moved by rail and “we envisage that this year, trains will start running from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Once this starts, the economy will take off.”

According to him, the objective of the government regarding power this year was to commission more projects initiated last year and increase the generation capacity.
He said with the synergy among sectors such as agriculture, roads and others, the Federal Government was looking forward to greater synergy between ministries.

In her briefing, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, who made a case for the approval of three more federal universities and got FEC’s approval, pointed out that access to education has been an annual problem that the government is worried about.

She said council approved the establishment of federal universities in Birnin Kebbi, Gashua and Gusau in Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States, respectively.
“There are 1.3 million to 1.5 million applicants for JAMB every year. For all categories of subjects sought by students, there is no space or capacity beyond 10%. Lack of ability to provide space is creating a problem for other sectors of the economy,” the minister explained.

The three new federal universities, she disclosed, have been mandated to start skeletal services, adding that they are scheduled to take off before 2014.

On his part, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, said the tourism brand identity presented to the FEC was approved. Titled Tourism Transformation Agenda, Duke said it is linked with the desire of the president that priority national attention must be given to tourism, culture and national orientation.



http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/yobe-zamfara-kebbi-get-universities/135889/

The Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) Implementation Committee in Ekiti State has commenced the process of recruiting the first 3,000 beneficiaries of its Community Services, Youths and Women Employment

Scheme with another 2,000 to be recruited thereafter.

At the meeting held with community leaders and representatives of traditional rulers on Friday, in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, community services to be rendered by the SURE-P beneficiaries were submitted by leaders of all towns and villages in the state. 

Speaking during the meeting, Chairman of the State Implementation Committee  Hon. Femi Akinyemi said the committee would embark on another round of sensitisation exercise by visiting all towns and villages in the State during which the recruitment exercise would also go on.

He described the SURE-P as a programme specifically designed by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government for the eradication of poverty, upliftment and development in Nigeria, adding that his committee was prepared to carry out the programme with zeal and vigour.

Akinyemi who urged interested graduates that are yet to register for the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) to do so by visiting www.wyesurep.gov.ng, added that company owners who are desirous of benefiting in the scheme by having beneficiaries of the scheme posted to their companies, should also register by visiting the website. 

He said interested companies will require Corporate Affairs Commission registration, Tax Clearance and VAT number to qualify for the programme.

"Apart from the GIS, there is also the Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme under which 3,000 beneficiaries are being recruited now, while another 2,000 will be recruited thereafter," he said.

While noting that beneficiaries of the SURE-P programme would render services for which they would be paid, Akinyemi said; "The programme is however not a free wheel programme but a well designed and thoughtful programme, which is part of the transformation agenda of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. 

http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/news/news/national-news/10685-sure-p-begins-recruitment-of-3-000-youths-in-ekiti