₦airaland Forum

Beaf:
It is certain from the way he is behaving that anything he has to release would implicate him as well. Thats my reading.
Since he has little to lose, he is now playing a game of dare. So, he drops the names of a couple of dead guys and a General who is in poor health, he mentions he gave an increminating tape (which he possibly has copies of) to Obj. Then he namedrops Ribadu who is in Afghanistan. The only really serious name thats present in the country is Mike Okiro.
Al Mustapha might have enough to blackmail several people with in the hope that they will "negotiate" and pull strings, but because of the high stakes, he is likely to have to risk all (both his freedom and his life).

KAYD007:
^^^

The rebels in syria & libya, are they making any progress in
attempting to oust their leaders despite the west support, ?

they want immediate 100 % change, make dem come get am, bunch of death lovers

going by the mubarak treatment, these leaders would slaughter them like chicken in
order to maintain the stronghold on power so as not to be givin the mubarak treatment

the west would start their noise urging them on to be so slaughtered! see pple wey love death die!

despite regime change in egpyt as occasioned by the people's protest, se whts still going on
their, still protesting, wht else do they want? d syrian govt. massacre of protesters?

na2day!:
Its this kind of thing that is making people like Ghadaffi and dat Syrian guy - Bashar al-Assad hold on tenaciously to power.
What they have just done is to shoot the middle east revolution in the foot and effectively hobble the thing!
And that's the reason the revolution is no longer working, ask Assad whether he'd like the Mubarak treatment?
He will continue to massacre the people until they all give up while the west will continue to hold their di.c.ks in their hands, cos they don't want to commit another faux pas since their useless adventure in Libya is failing.

KAYD007:
^^
exactly,

wld not call what's happening in libya, a revolution!

an attempting murder of a sitting leader by the imperialist west,
subverting the sovereignty of another nation so the could
arrogate to them selves the economy surplus of libya,

annoying in this is African leaders playing wussies.

A Military attack on any sovereign African state should have

been decisively & collectively regarded as attack on
all Afri-states-all economic relations with the west
should have been placed on indefinite suspension
which would have jolted the world economy,
puttng the heat on the west to think twice,

Africa sure do have a definite role to place in the
international economy system
Our resources, our leverage
But our leaders seems not to be aware of this

they have corrupted themselves,their investments geared
towards foreign rather than national needs


fu.ckards
,

OAM4J:
I agree with Obj here. The caging is totally uncalled for. Put him on trial, if found guilty jail him. There is no need for this public humiliation.

ziga:
I agree with OBJ too on this.

1793 French Revolution
Execution of Louis XVI in what is now the Place de la Concorde, facing the empty pedestal where the statue of his grandfather, Louis XV, had stood.
In the Brunswick Manifesto, the Imperial and Prussian armies threatened retaliation on the French population if it were to resist their advance or the reinstatement of the monarchy. This made Louis appear to be conspiring with the enemies of France. 17 January 1793 saw Louis condemned to death for "conspiracy against the public liberty and the general safety" by a close majority in Convention: 361 voted to execute the king, 288 voted against, and another 72 voted to execute him subject to a variety of delaying conditions. The former Louis XVI, now simply named Citoyen Louis Capet (Citizen Louis Capet), was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793 on the Place de la Révolution, former Place Louis XV, now called the Place de la Concorde.[62] Royalty across Europe was horrified and many heretofore neutral countries soon joined the war against revolutionary France

Beaf:
It was really disturbing to see Mubarak treated that way. All the mind could think of was Saddam. There might be no good in the likes of both Saddam and Mubarak, however issues of state require decorum, gravitas and cerebral application. Mubaraks treatment stinks of the methods of despotic dictators, yet the Egyptian are groaning for democracy. Madness doesn't give birth to civility.

The man led the country, so trussing him up or caging him is the same as his prosecutors spitting on their own countries image. When a country reaches for crude means to resolve a problem, nobody expects civility, peace and progress as the outcomes. Saddam was hurriedly hanged like a chicken in public, but Iraq is all the worse for it, more divided, dangerous and backward than it ever was.

Crude methods are highly visible and and 99% of the time, just for show; while ugliness and murky deeds are buried in the blood lusting animal instincts of the baying mob.
I fear for the future of Egypt, it is easy to see that Mubarak is a sacrifice for the continuation of the same old wicked Egyptian powers that be. That countries future is bleak.

Negro_Ntns:
Koruji,

We are not saying he should not face justice. The government brought him in cage, not ordinary people on the street. They can torture and do to him whaever they want but keep it veiled. When he is brought in public, he can be shown in handcuffs but parading him in a cage is not just undignified for Mubarak, the Egyptian presidency is likewise humiliated.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/world-news/25601-mubarak-trial-draws-emotions-of-egyptians
Mubarak trial draws emotions of Egyptians .
Thursday, 04 August 2011 17:06 Reuters

Many Egyptians struggled with torn emotions on Thursday as they reviewed images splashed over newspapers and repeated on television of their octogenarian former president, a day after he went on trial following 30 years at the helm.

"Mubarak in the cage ,  Now the revolution has succeeded," Al-Akhbar blared in a banner headline over a picture of Hosni Mubarak lying on a hospital trolley behind a cage in court.

"Mubarak and his regime present in the grip of justice," wrote the Al-Ahram, another state newspaper that would once have praised Mubarak's every move. A few Egyptians revelled in the scene and said his appearance in bed was an act to draw sympathy.

Others said this was no way to treat an old man. However, many of those asked for their views showed sympathy but said justice must be done. "I felt sorry for him but still that doesn't mean he should be spared from being held accountable for all what he did," said Michael Atef, 27-year-old accountant.

"This trial is a must." Those in the court gasped when they saw Mubarak, 83, a former air force commander, wheeled into the cage where defendants in criminal cases are customarily held.

The last time he spoke in the Police Academy on the outskirts of Cairo where the court was set up was when he was still in charge, praising the role of the police force. That was on January 23.

Two days later protests erupted against his rule. In the days that followed, police used live ammunition, rubber bullets and teargas to try to quell the protests. About 850 people were killed in the 18-day uprising.

Mubarak is now charged with their deaths and could face the death penalty. His only words on Wednesday from his bed were "Sir, I am present. I entirely deny all those accusations."

For some, even the sight of their weakened president did not dent their anger. "I would rather have mercy for a dog or cat than this man. This whole scene of him on a stretcher is an act. He could have sat down and talked.

This is just to try to gain the nation's sympathy," said Somaya Sa'ad, 63, retired. "He has caused so much oppression to this country for the past 30 years, let's not forget that."

For others images of him lying on a bed, occasionally lifting his head to watch proceedings was too much humiliation for a man who led Egypt's air force against Israel in the 1973 war and steadied the nation after his predecessor Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981.

"I had tears in my eyes watching him lie helplessly like that. We shouldn't forget the good qualities he had when he was president," said Badr el-Din Gabr, 56, who works in advertising.

"He shouldn't have been put in the dock with the whole world watching him. This is an insult to Mubarak and an insult to Egyptians." The trial, televised around the world, transfixed Egyptians and other Arabs, most of whom have spent their lives under authoritarian systems shaken by this year's "Arab Spring".

But most Egyptians said that, however pitiful they found the scene, justice must be done to fulfill the goals of an uprising that ejected him from power on February 11.

They blamed Mubarak for deeply dividing the nation between rich and poor and a powerful elite versus a powerless majority. "It's human to err and as humans, we should be merciful over such a scene ,  I wouldn't even wish it for my worst enemy.

But there is a difference between my heart sympathising and my belief that justice and accountability must be served," said Amal Abdel Haleem, a 40-year-old housewife.

Where many Egyptians could unite was in anger at his sons, Alaa, who had business interests, and Gamal, a banker-turned-politician who was once seen as being groomed for office. Many felt they used their father to amass wealth and influence.

"I do not sympathise with his sons. They both knew what they have brought upon their father, caring for their interests on his account by making him rule at an old age so they can benefit," Wael Badr, 40-year-old lawyer, said.

tpia@:
^^all that one you're yarning is neither here nor there.
this does not bode well for egypt.

Negro_Ntns:
The Presidency is a cult. We'd love to kniow and see what they do but certain activities and actions of what they are and do must be kept out of public gaze, that way the mystery of the office does not loose its enchanting effect over us.

Negro_Ntns:
I agree with Obj.

The manner in which Saddam was executed was wrong. The manner in which Mubarak was brought in is wrong.

Look, you don't humiliate someone in public who has had the honor to sit in a presidential seat and has had stately people bow to him.

America gave Osama a more befitting execution than they did Saddam.  

When you put an ex president of Egypt in a cage for public view and humiliation, then you have humiliated the throne of power in that nation.

Another dimension to look at. American image really started taking hit when Republicans tarnished the power of their presidency by bringing what ought to be private in the white water probe to the public gaze and mockery, including a clothing belonging to Monica that was stained with the president's Fluid. That's when America lost its glory.


The Presidency is a cult. We'd love to kniow and see what they do but certain activities and actions of what they are and do must be kept out of public gaze, that way the mystery of the office does not loose its enchanting effect over us.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5737693-146/story.csp
By Kayode Dimeji-Adedeji
August 5, 2011 12:57AM

The Ogun State government Thursday surprised its workers by approving that the least paid worker in the state will earn a monthly wage of N18,250. What the National Minimum Wage provided for by law is N18,000.

In an agreement signed yesterday between the state government and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), the group agreed that the implementation of the new minimum wage will commence from August 1, 2011.

The two teams also agreed on a table reflecting how the minimum wage will affect workers on other salary scales.

The agreement was arrived after negotiations led by the state Head of Service, Iyabo Odulate. The labour team consisted of Akeem Ambali, state chairman of NLC; Seyi Adebanjo, state chairman of TUC; Sunday Adeegbe, chairman of JNC; and Steve Modupe, secretary of JNC.

Describing the agreement as a good gesture, Mrs Odulate said: “It is the hope of the state government that the civil servants will reciprocate this good gesture of the government with continued dedication, loyalty and improved efficiency in the discharge of their duties.” She explained that Ogun State workers would rank among the first to enjoy the new salary package, reiterating that the state government recognises the importance of the civil service to the smooth running of its administration.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/14757-acn-seeks-suspension-of-night-travels-by-passenger-buses.html
By Olamilekan Andu
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged relevant authorities to work with luxury bus operators to suspend night travels.

The party was reacting to the death of 14 passengers as they were being attacked by armed robbers on the Okene-Lokoja road on Tuesday.

In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN said suspending night journeys has become necessary to save Nigerians from similar armed robberies.

The party said it was aware that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been advising travellers against night trips, because of their safety.

It noted that it is necessary for the FRSC “to go a step further by working with the commuter bus operators to stop night travels until there is adequate security on the roads”.

ACN urged the Federal Government to ensure the security of lives and property, saying security, along with welfare, is the raison d’etre of any government.

The party noted that the same day the heartless robbers put the hapless passengers on harm’s way on the Okene-Lokoja road, another group of armed robbers used explosives to blow up a bank in Ilesha, Osun state, forcing all banks in the town to close shop.

“These are just a few recent cases in a series of armed attacks against ordinary Nigerians across the country. No government worth its salt will sit back and allow armed gangs to take over its roads and towns, as if we are living in a failed state,” ACN said.

It expressed shock at the horror of the incident on the Okene-Lokoja road, when  passengers were made to lie face down on the road, only for oncoming vehicles to run over them.

“A similar mass deaths, caused by robbers who attacked a passenger bus, was said to have occurred in the past, even though it was denied by the authorities. Whatever happens, we should never allow this horrific incident to happen again in our country, even when we seem to have now become so numb that news of such deaths only dominate the media for a few days before disappearing from the headlines,” ACN said.

The party praised Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris  for visiting the survivors in the hospital and offering to foot their bills for their treatment.

It said such show of concern by people in positions of authority could be a soothing balm at times like this.

ACN also commiserated with the families of the victims, saying the only way to ensure they did not die in vain is to prevent a recurrence.

Beaf:
Poor Ghanaians and their lil insignificant country. Its sad to see how their jealousy is causing them such unhappiness.
Which Nigerian has the time to sing about Ghana? Boys get levels and our swagger too tight.

Lol! The life of a wannabe! Sad low self esteemed oyibo arse lickers.

By Agency Reporter

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday called for dignified treatment of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, saying as a former head of state, Mubarak was entitled to personal dignity befitting his status.

Speaking in Mombasa, Kenya, where he is attending the African Leadership Conference, which is to round off on Friday, Obasanjo said the treatment meted to the former Egyptian leader was bad for the image of Africa as a continent.

“Put him in a cage? It is not proper. He deserves a better treatment. This is not good for the image of Africa,” Obasanjo told a gathering of African leaders, including former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and other governance experts gathered for the conference.

Egypt has put its former President on trial for the killing of protesters calling for his resignation in late January to early February this year.

Obasanjo, who had earlier addressed the African governance conference on the need for African governments to continue improving their governance ratings, also called on the African media to maintain high ethical standards to gain credibility.

He said the media in Africa could not claim a high moral ground and attempt to police good governance while still being held back by corruption within its ranks.

The African leaders at the conference, including ministers, top civil society voices across the continent and African scholars, called for massive infrastructure improvements to put the continent on a faster lane for the achievement of its economic development goals.

Speaking on the role of the media in advancing continental development, Obasanjo said from his knowledge of the Nigerian press, the media could not be trusted to champion governance.

He drew parallels with the likes of the British media, which he said engaged in gate-keeping of the news to ensure that news that would portray Britain in negative light was not publicised.

“I used to know that the BBC used to have a foreign relations officer whose duty it was to ensure that only news that does not hurt the image of Britain or its foreign relations are cleared for publication.

“I do not know if the system is still in place today,” he said.

1025:
nigerians are pure haters of truths. any single word that comes out of mustapha's mouth has its proof. try him.

http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24637:contractor-yet-to-dredge-imo-river-5yrs-after-collecting-n192bn&catid=1:news&Itemid=2
Written by Mohammed S. Shehu Wednesday, 03 August 2011 05:16

The Federal Government yesterday said Dayson Holding Limited – core investor of the multi-billion naira Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) – has collected a total sum of $120,000,000 (N19.2bn) in 2005 for the dredging of the Imo River channel but was yet to mobilize to site six years after the contract was awarded.
 
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo also issued a two-week ultimatum to the company to come up with a technical implementation strategy, bill of quantity, operational plan and design and roadmap for the dredging of Imo River.
 
ALSCON was privatized by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the dredging was part of the conditions issued to preferred bidders of ALSCON by the BPE.

Sambo gave the order at a meeting with the Minister of Transport Senator Idris A. Umar, management of Dayson, officials of BPE and other stakeholders in his office at the State House, Abuja.

Sambo noted that it was unacceptable for Rusal which is a technical partner of Dayson but not mentioned in the privatization agreement to be running ALSCON and directed that the relevant clause in the agreement be amended to reflect the situation on ground.

The Vice President also constituted a Committee comprising Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), BPE, National Gas Company, Gas Aggregator, Shell and Dayson to ensure that Dayson obtains a licence to be able to generate, sell electricity and guide Dayson on all procedures to be adopted.

The Committee has two weeks to submit its report.

Sambo directed BPE, Dayson and the legal department of his office to meet and address the lingering lacuna in the privatisation agreement.

He said that government was ready to offer all the necessary guarantees to Shell Petroleum Development Company to enable them supply the gas requirement of ALSCON so that they can put the Power Plant of 500 mega watts to effective use. He also directed them to report their actions in two weeks time.

Earlier, Dayson said it had planned to produce electricity and sell it to the unbundled companies for connection to the national grid but that there should be a commercial framework for gas to be supplied to the company. It said by the end of 2012, it will ensure that it attains its desire to connect to the national grid but there is not enough gas for now to get the company work half of its capacity.

The National Gas Company also complained that unless the issue of unpaid subsidy is cleared it may not be possible to supply the product.

Dayson is said to be registered in the British Virgin Islands specifically for the acquisition of the Nigerian smelter plant with one Martins John Parker as sole director.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108042475826

By Tunde Odesola, Osogbo
Thursday, 4 Aug 2011

The National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande, has condemned the allegation by Maj.-Gen. Hamza al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to the late Gen Sani Abacha, who alleged that prominent Yoruba leaders were culpable in the death of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election.

In the same vein, Muyiwa Ige, the son of the late Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, who was murdered in his Ibadan home on December 23, 2001, described al-Mustapha as demented.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, on Wednesday , Muyiwa expressed shock at the allegation of Al-Mustapha, saying the former CSO “is suffering from hallucination.”

Muyiwa, who repeatedly paused and said “ha” during the eight-minute telephone interview with our correspondent, stressed that Al-Mustapha’s allegations were “senseless and reprehensible.”

He said, “The two personalities he has mentioned have great achievements that cannot be rubbished by anyone. Why has he mentioned only the names of dead people?”

A text by Muyiwa said, “It is obvious that the guy is demented. He is barking up the wrong tree. Thirteen years later, a hallucinating killer is seeking attention. He needs psychiatric attention.

“A killer should not be allowed to attempt to rubbish the legacies of distinguished Nigerian statesmen and revered Yoruba leaders that have gone to the great beyond.

“Why hasn’t he mentioned the names of people who are alive that could contradict his lies? Nigerians are sensible people, who can read between the lines. I don’t think Al-Mustapha should be dignified with a reply. He’s seeking attention.”

Media aide to Akande, Mr Lani Baderinwa, who spoke with our correspondent, on Wednesday evening said “Al-Mustapha is a liar and a joker. Why has he not named one living person in his stupid allegation?”

The Director of Research and Strategy, Osun ACN, Mr Sunday Akere, described al-Mustapha as “a jester, who is being sponsored. Why has it taken him more than a decade to say this rubbish?”

Beaf:
^
LOL! You are really a sound machine like Aregbesola, sir! Don't do this to yourself.
One question: will disrepecting GEJ cause Aregbesola to start working instead of grand talking and disturbing Fashola in Lagos?
I'm at a loss here.

mdsocks:
@koruji

From what you posted, This is just one step,

The major problem most farmers have is not that of planting but storage, I have seen vast fruits like oranges go rotten due to improper storage and lack of

immediate market for these agro products,

And please whats fantastic about him disbursing loans out to farmers, Isn't that one of his job, Maybe he should resign if he can't perform simple tasks of

governance without  all these praise singing coming from you, and even the way the loan is structured i see it as a pain in the Bottom, You have to complete

a stage before you are given more cash , Agric biz is more time factored in Nigeria and these time wasting will only hamper its developments

Do you know the time wasted before those financial institutions [b]evaluate [/b]what a farmer has done and the time it takes to actually give out the next

batch of loans.

Furthermore, i just dont like all these name tags given to all his projects, this one O'yes; that one O'reap; another one O'something , This kind of

tactics cant sustain itself in the democracy we practice in Nigeria. Next minute another Gov. comes and pulls down all these structures,

To me are just self serving,

Beaf:
^
Of course, GEJ cannot be compared to a mere governor. The reason we see such disrespect is 100% down to ethnically bigotted politics. It is a very strange thing that beggers belief to compare Osun state to the whole of Nigeria. Osun is just a state. Lol! What would you think if I decide to compare my LG to Osun state? Lol!
When you people talk like that, noone takes your words seriously.

You feel Oyinlola was the most useless governor on Earth, but he didn't wait for the "dry season," while making nebulous speeches from his indolent station in far away Lagos like the new Jesus. . . Only he is one with a barren quiver of miracles. A bumbling megalomaniac.

No commissioners and no plans, while Osun waits for the dry season and the second year of Aregbesola's delusional supremacy.

Beaf:
Lol, defend your megalomaniac and forget about GEJ, they don't stand on the same pedestal. One is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the other is the governor of a small, rural state in dire need of unsupplied governance.
Unfortunately, the governor can only come up with promises to build schools in the dry season, road maintainance in the dry season, farming without plans in the dry season, the commissioners we desperately pray for will be in place in the dry season too!

Damn! The next dry season will be the second one Aregbesola is witnessing in govt house Oṣogbo. Mr plenty words and zero action! Mr airy promises and zero commissioners!
When will the prayers of the poor and wretched be answered in Osun? It can't go on like this for much longer, somethings got to give.

Beaf:
"Tenure elongation?" LOL!!! Oga, don't sink to the level of the many dishonest folk that parambulate NL, you're way above that and I am one of your admirers.

Back to the mad one, Aregbesola and his "dry season farming." What exactly does "dry season farming" mean? Unu go wound pesin wit laf o!
There is nothing ground breaking or visionary about providing farmland without plans (for subsistence farming by all indications). Indeed if his idea of developing Osun state (ridiculous as it may sound) is to export yams to Lagos and import farming implements by rail in order to build Osuns states version of Oke-Arin market; don't you think 67 farming groups and 3,000 acres are laughable? The average farm size in Scotland is 309 acres and they aren't building some glorious Oke-Arin market.
Need I mention that serious people would actually have plans for storage, transportation and outlets at the very least; not wait with prayers for some dry season subsistence farming miracle. I see the same loud winds and inertia that Aregbesola has come to be known for.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/01/somalia.ramadan/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
By Nima Elbagir, CNN
August 2, 2011 10:36 a.m. EDT


Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) -- The Ramadan offensive has begun here, an obvious date to rally supporters of the al Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab militant group, but this year feels a little different.

I was in the Somali capital two years ago and every night, just before the call to prayer signaled the breaking of the fast, we'd hear a cacophony of mortar rounds and gunfights.

Somali friends told me back then the militants believed dying in battle while still fasting would ensure they "entered heaven without even taking their shoes off."

This year Al-Shabaab's grip on the capital and the loyalty of Somalis feels more tenuous. Since I was last here in 2009 the rains have failed and the drought has spread bringing with it famine and desperation.

Ramadan strike launched in Somalia

Al-Shabaab insists that the famine crippling their families and communities is a "crusader" invention -- an excuse for occupation. For al-Shabaab, the crusader term can apply to anyone opposing them and can include the U.N., international aid groups and the African Union.

Even as crops withered and livestock starved, Al-Shabaab kept its ban on aid groups operating in territory it controls in Southern and Central Somalia, and parts of the capital.

That's when people began defying them and making their way -- many walking for days -- to the capital, Mogadishu.

The drought is Somalia's worst in 60 years and the U.N. refugee agency estimates 1.5 million Somalis have arrived in the capital.

Meanwhile, African Union intelligence sources say Al-Shabaab is massing hundreds of troops in the parts of Mogadishu it controls for a show of force during Ramadan, which began Monday.

The migrants have made their way to the areas of the capital controlled by the African Union forces supporting the fragile Somali Transitional Federal Government.

Even that is not enough to guarantee their safety.

We met Faiza and her three-year-old daughter, Hanim, in the ward of an AU clinic.

After Hanim recovered from the malnutrition that first brought her to the clinic a month ago, her mother told us, she was readmitted a week later for surgery to remove a stray bullet.

But Al-Shabaab, which has regularly operated from civilian areas, has been left militarily exposed as the civilians flee from them. Without the civilians for cover Al-Shabaab is more at risk from a military offensive.

Perhaps realizing that, they've tried to target the displacement camps in the capital -- an attempt to scare people into returning home.

For now that tactic isn't working but it has raised concern among U.N. agencies at the potential risk posed by Al-Shabaab to jeopardize aid deliveries.

Some people here now see Al-Shabaab as the architects of this famine. One man we met in a camp said: "Nature is always cruel but Al-Shabaab are the real killers."

The last time I was here, the AU controlled just the sea port, airport and State House. Today it also controls eight of the 17 districts that make up Mogadishu.

They're hoping these successes will convince the world that Somalia is not a lost cause and most importantly finally secure some much needed support before it's too late.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=18744

Osun State government will not hesitate to prosecute parents, who fail to send their children of basic school age to school and fully support them, as enshrined in section II of the Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, which empowers the magistrate courts of the state to impose punishment on parents, who violate the provision of the Act.

This warning was given by the deputy governor of the state, Otunba (Mrs)  Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, at the flag-off of 2011 Kindergarten and Primary School Pupils Registration Exercise, which commenced at the African Church Primary School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, Osun State capital.

Laoye-Tomori, on the occasion, stated that the exercise marked the fulfillment of one of the cardinal programmes of Aregbesola-led government, which recognised the importance of education in the overall development of the society.

She added that as beneficiaries of free education programme of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the new government in Osun State owes it a duty to propagate and build on the worthy legacy bequeathed to generations by the great legend.

She stressed further that primary education remains the foundation for the success of the entire educational system.

Given the importance of education as a major vehicle for national development, the deputy governor said that Osun State government has allocated a total sum of N8.9billion of its capital budget to the sub-sector.

She highlighted that out of the disclosed amount, N33.5 million was for the provision of furniture to primary school pupils and to their teachers.

Laoye-Tomori stated further that data on dilapidated school buildings have been collected, and work would soon begin on rehabilitation of old buildings and construction of new ones, to make public schools in the state learner-friendly

Earlier in his address, the Executive Secretary of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the State, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, enjoined parents to troop out to get their children registered for 2011 academic session, as the registration and admission into public schools is free. He affirmed that child education was a collective responsibility.

Kolawole, however commended the Aregbesola led-government in the state for demonstrating in concrete terms, the seriousness attached to education sector.

Part of the activities included the registration of new kindergarten intakes by the deputy governor.

The occasion was witnessed by officials in the state ministry of education and teachers across the state.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=18812

In line with his Six-Point Integral Action Plan, efforts by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to ensure massive food production in Osun State has received a boost, as 3,000 acres of arable land have been ploughed and planted for 67 farmers groups based in all the 30 Local Governments for the latter year farming. .

The programme which was flagged off by Aregbesola on March 31 has also recorded a major breakthrough in the disbursement of N153.26 million loan facility in cash and kind to the 67 farmers groups.

Executed under the Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP), it was designed to speedily assist co-operative farmers to seize the opportunity of early rains to cultivate arable crops including the provision of inputs like tractorization of farmlands, fertilizers, herbicides and seedlings.

The QUIP model was initiated by the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (O’REAP) to serve as catalyst for the achievement of bumper food harvest.

Modelled to utilize the on-going raining season to assist farmers to achieve improved food crop production, the QIIP model was deployed to provide inputs and land preparation to remove drudgery associated with traditional farming practices.

So far, a total of N49,110,225.00 has been disbursed by the Bank of Agriculture to farmers who have planted food crops like maize, cassava and rice on at least 47 hectares of land.

Beneficiaries of the loan are being given access to the facility in installments for specific operations so as to guarantee judicious usage and prevent misapplication of the fund.

It is after an operation has been satisfactorily completed that the farmers would be able to access the next stage of the loan to carry out the purpose for which it was provided.

O’REAP devised this method to curtail incidence of loan diversion or misapplication in addition to guaranteeing the success of QIIP.

Giving insight into how the project was carried out, Co-ordinator of OREAP and Team Leader of the Planning Group on Agriculture of the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola disclosed that the multi-agency group was partnering with the Bank of Agriculture to showcase early demonstration of partnership with the private sector and service providers.

He advised members of the public to expect bumper harvest and increased assistance from the Aregbesola administration as the second cropping season of the year approaches.

Akinola stressed that “what we are doing is to aggressively scale up so that we can realise broader impact of O’REAP intervention as we move into the second cropping season and preparing for next year’s planting season”.

Princek12:
Nitel's fiber optic cable could be used to transmit broadband internet and cable TV to consumers, which will be faster and reliable than satellite.

ekt_bear:
@koruji: What of the landlines? And doesn't NITEL have a monopoly on installed new landlines for data/voice?

It is that monopoly which I'd be keen on acquiring if I had the money to buy NITEL.

[url]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/14386-fashola-signs-bill-to-regulate-govt%E2%80%99s-borrowing.html[/url]
By Miriam Ndikanwu1 hour ago

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday assented to a bill geared towards curtailing the powers of his administration to borrow funds for implementation of capital projects.

The bill titled; ‘Bill to Regulate Financial Management of the State, Local Government and Local Council Development Area’ will also help checkmate the spending power of the state government, local governments and local council development areas as well as hold public officers accountable for funds placed in their trust.

Fashola in signing the law at the Conference Room, said it was in consonance with the problems besieging the nation today.

The law seeks to regulate the state and local governments in the way funds put in the trust of public officers are managed and to the extent that it seeks to utilise those funds to the manner that gives greatest value for money. The challenges before us, is the urgent need to renew decadent infrastructure and provide new infrastructure in many places where they are not in existence", he said.

"That should be the test for any law that parliament or government is either passing or championing", he added.

Fashola, who also assented a Bill to establish Customary Court said the law would help to regulate and promote the administration of justice with regards to customary courts and practices.

"It helps us to promote the values that are essentially ours, that defines our origin, but perhaps more importantly, it helps the executive arm give meaning to the outlook of government. It will help us complete the administration of justice, not just the apprehension of offenders we are concerned about or the management of civil order, but also, where there are disputes, offenders are apprehended, they get justice very quickly and efficient time and you need good courts to do that, including civil disputes", Fashola added.

Presenting the bills to the governor, Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Ajibayo Adeyeye explained that the Customary Court Law also empowers the Judicial Service Commission to establish Customary courts in the state.

On the Financial Management Law, Adeyeye said it seeks to legitimise modern day financial best practices that the state government has brought to fore in the last four years.

"All revenues henceforth shall be deposited in the State Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) except for funds set out for specific purposes. The bill also prescribes the process for withdrawal from the CRF and also establishes the Development Fund from which all capital expenditure in the state shall be paid", Adeyeye explained.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/fg-to-refine-1m-bpd-of-petrol-by-2014-minister/
On August 1, 2011 · In News

Lagos: The Federal Government said on Monday that it would refine more than one million barrels of petrol per day (bpd) by 2014.

The Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, disclosed this at the Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE) yearly conference and exhibition in Abuja.


Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke

Alison-Madueke said that the nation’s refining capacity would receive significant boost in the next three years with the building of three new refineries.

According to the minister, the turn-around maintenance of the four refineries in the country will be handled by the companies that first built them to ensure efficiency.

“The new refineries and the old ones will actually give us the result that we desire in this country,’’ she said.

The minister said that the turn-around maintenance of the four refineries would be completed within 24 months, beginning with the Port Harcourt refinery.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Austen Oniwon, said that a Japanese firm, vast in the repairs of refinery, would handle the Port Harcourt refinery.

Oniwon said that talks were on with another firm in Italy, adding that hopefully by next year, the firms would move into Port Harcourt refinery to begin work.

“It is not just the turn-around maintenance, it is the full rehabilitation of the refineries,’’ he said.

According to Oniwon, the refineries have no limited capacity and there is not going to be a major change in configuration of the facility since the plant is still the same.

He said the major challenge of one of the refineries was the imbalance in one of the units, which had been expanded by the licensor of the unit in July.

“So our team will be going to U.K. to meet with the consultant to review the feasibility study.

“Thereafter we will engage the financiers and the contractors to examine the feasibility study to determine appropriately the type and the configuration of the Greenfield refineries,’’ Oniwon said. (NAN)

ekt_bear:
OYES was arguably a mistake, but probably not a killer one.

The lack of commissioners may have been a mistake, but he has them in place now.

But neither of these are relevant to the current topic. Which I've not yet seen a good objection to.

0lumide:
So it all boils down to mismanagement,  Not like I support the selling of Nitel because if well maintained will be the people's bargaining power against other telecom giants! But at the same time, I haven't heard the phone ring since I've been going to back to Nigeria,   I think out of mismanagement, it has become obsolete,  Nitel should have expanded to internet provision etc,  but it failed at that too,  I don't know about mtel though!!

1st estees:
Na wa oh. Call a dog a bad name just to nail it.
The last i can recall, BH has no issues wt churhes. Their grouse is clear, they are after d police for killing dr adherents and dr spiritual master; MYusuf. They extended ds again to soldiers whenn fg replaced policemen wt soldiers in MDGRI.
Beware of those who now hide under d name of bh to commit crimes. They dont target places of religious worship