₦airaland Forum

IN line with its regulatory function, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed a warehouse in Lagos belonging to a Lebanese firm, H and H Integrated Nigeria Limited, for illegal importation, distribution and sale of unregistered products as well as non adherence to hygienic practices.

The warehouse, located at the Eric Moore, area of city was sealed, following a tip-off, which revealed that the company was involved in the importation and storage of illegal food products, particularly biscuits and cookies commonly consumed by children.

The NAFDAC’s action is coming after a month of a similar closure of the premises of Lagos–based confectionaries and multinational food outlet, Chocolate Royale, over what was described as “unethical practices” and non-adherent to good manufacturing and hygienic practices
Source:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/06/nafdac-shuts-lebanese-firm-over-alleged-fake-products/

When the Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, swore that the All Progressives Congress would not last one year, many Nigerians went after him in anger.
Maybe Okupe sowed some seeds that justify what he got, but the medic turned politician saw something that most of us did not pause to consider. In our anger, we condemned the message because of the messenger.
Experienced politician that he is, having been in the top echelons of a national party as far as 24 years back, Okupe must have seen the congregation of politicians from every shade of opinion and interest coming together in a hurry and concluded that at some point, there would, without fail, be a conflict of interests, which could precipitate a conflagration that the APC may be unable to weather through.
Those who were in a hurry to condemn Okupe must be having a rethink now. Reports following the elections of leaders of the National Assembly indicate that combatants in the APC are determined to snuff life out of the in-house opponent without regard to what that may do to the party and a country that is haemorrhaging.
Now, how that surprises anyone still baffles me. If you understand that no idea, principle or person is permanent in the contemplation of the average politician, you will not be miffed to see men, who smiled at each other last night, draw the daggers in the morning.
And this is not just about Nigeria. The flip-flop of politicians in more advanced democracies seems a little else obvious because while Nigeria adorns mortals in messianic garb, institutions are stronger in those countries. Which is why, whether it is a Barack Obama, a George Bush or a Bill Clinton, there are institutions which deal with malfeasance and beat a leader into line.
Here, we rely on human beings to save us from human beings. As a result, only a Muhammadu Buhari is believed to be able to fight corruption, only an Attahiru Jega is able to organise free and fair elections. Now that his tenure is over, we are at a loss about sustaining the credibility that attended the 2015 elections.
Rather than build the Independent National Electoral Commission into a reputable body where anyone can function with limited opportunity for manipulations, we prefer to seek another Jega or his clone. We would rather depend on strong individuals than on strong institutions. But I digress.
Politicians do not have to be nice. They are not clerics, bound by some ecclesiastic charter of charity to which they are eternally committed to. If something suits the purpose of the politician today, he is all for it but everything changes the moment that fancy object outlives its purpose.
For instance, why did President Barack Obama stand so solidly against gay marriage during his campaign in 2008 but made a total turnabout in 2012 with a recent claim that he “evolved” on the issue?
Obama’s volte face is so absolute that his administration held the passage of the anti-gay marriage bill against Nigeria! That is the way of the politician, he is not even sure of his own ways until some exigency presents itself. No matter what they say, ambition drives all politicians. As someone once alluded, only statesmen think about the future, politicians are too engrossed about winning the next election and the game for 2019 has started in earnest.
The attempt to impose leaders on the National Assembly and the move that blindsided those who were bent on imposition is all politics and we must come to terms with the fact that the political field does not have the sanctity of a religious place. In any case, every Nigerian politician of clout is guilty of some measure of imperialism or treachery in their areas of influence, so it would be hard for anyone to cast a first stone.
This is why the current travails of the APC which resulted from the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as the Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, respectively, against the wishes of their party could be fatal to the birthing of the change that Nigerians envisaged when they voted for the APC at the last elections. And when that happens, there would be no one to blame other than the party itself.
What I am saying is that only the APC is able to help us move on from the feeling of uncertainty that has gripped many Nigerians since the emergence of people, not sanctioned by the party as leaders of the National Assembly.
Unfortunately, the APC does not seem be in control of the situation. Although the Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, indicated that the party had no choice but to accept the elections of Saraki and Dogara, the fact that Tuesday’s first caucus meeting of the APC senators nearly resulted in fisticuffs is an indication that all is not yet well with the party.
Those who think they got bloodied by the elections early this month are likely lurking in the corner looking for an opportunity to take their pound. I smell that someone is cooking up plans to serve those who carried the day the cold dish of revenge, some banana peel of sorts.
This is where it gets scary. If anyone in the APC, no matter whose interest they represent, strikes back at Saraki and Dogara for any reason, the APC would be on its way to fulfilling the doom predicted by Okupe. And any disaster on the APC will tell negatively on Nigeria and may put paid to the promise of change that they made. And there would be nobody to blame other than the APC itself and its seeming unpreparedness to govern fairly.
Although there is a dearth of statesmanship on the Nigerian political landscape currently, President Buhari being the only one I see from where I stand, there is an inexhaustible list of politicians in the APC who qualify to be in the hall of statesmen, only if they would bury their personal ambitions and consider the future of the country.
For instance, penultimate weekend, Saturday Punch reported a subtle battle for the soul of the party between Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Now, each of these men has considerable following with which they can pull the plug at any time and so, a prompt cessation of this silent war, which has not been refuted by any of the parties, would be important to saving the party and helping it deliver on its promises to Nigeria.
Before Atiku, Tinubu and their supporters push the people off the bridge incurring   democratic fatalities, they need to imbibe lessons on the role of kingmakers from American politician and Catholic influencer, James Farley, who orchestrated the electoral success of politicians including Franklin D. Roosevelt without causing dislocations in the American political system.
What we ask of these gladiators is that if only for this one time in their career, they should put the interest of Nigeria first. I worry that unless President Buhari gets the full cooperation of his party, such that some far-reaching reforms can happen in Nigeria within the next four years, the trouble that we thought were over as a result of the peace that followed the 2015 elections will revisit us.
They must consider the interest of millions of Nigerians who have no food to eat, who die from common ailments that most of the world does not talk about again, of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs sweating under the harsh business conditions in the country, of the power and energy crises and a myriad of other problems that make life feel like hell for Nigerians.
Twitter:@niranadedokun
http://www.punchng.com/opinion/okupes-prediction-and-the-apc/
Cc:lalasticlala

DSS officials orderOfficials of the Department of State Services attached to the Presidential Villa, Abuja were on Wednesday ordered out of the premises.
The officials belong to the Body Guard Unit of the DSS and had been working in the Presidential Villa since the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
THE PUNCH had reported exclusively that there were moves to replace the operatives with men of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
The situation, it had also been reported exclusively by this newspaper, led to the rejection of about 253 new operatives of the DSS recently redeployed from the service’s various state commands to the Presidential Villa.
Our correspondent learnt that trouble started for the DSS operatives on Wednesday when a security aide of President Muhammadu Buhari went round offices in the evening to chase the DSS officials out.
He was reported to have said that a directive had been given that they should no longer be allowed access into the premises.
Some of the affected officials who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity expressed shock over the development.
They however said they would still resume at their beat on Thursday (today) except they receive a contrary directive from their headquarters.
“We were asked to leave the premises or risk arrest. As I am talking to you now, some of us are gathering under the trees while some others have left.
“It is surprising but we have no choice than to resume here again tomorrow (today) and see what will happen.
“The only reason why we may not come here is if we receive any other directive from our headquarters,” one of the officials told our correspondent on the telephone.
But the Presidency in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari had not given any order for the expulsion of DSS officials from the Presidential Villa.
The statement read, “Rumours that personnel of the Department of State Services have been expelled from the Presidential Villa are unfounded.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has given no such order.
“While it is true that a reorganisation of security at the Presidential Villa which involves the realignment of personnel from various services is underway, the exercise does not translate to the expulsion of DSS personnel from the premises in any way.
“The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time.
Source : punch. News via : ”http://www.punchng.com/news/dss-officials-ordered-to-leave-aso-rock/#disqus_thread

Cc:

lalasticlala

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mrjojo:
When will 22nd be available for pickup pls?

hopefully , by friday or saturday

Michdear:
Please help me out nairalanders,a friend from Us send a phone if I don't give them money.

Add up on any of contacts on signature...lemme try my best to help out cos I do. Import too have some questions I need to ask u.

Baba is making hidden investigations....before appointment.

He has been running a make up and. Cosmetic. Government, he comes on air to say I feel your pain..etc, while he keeps settling his godfathers...soo sad for osun workforce and they gave him second term.

Mark4reel:
Great state, great people, great Governor. Lagos my great state.

Great, he has very good plans, we pray God gives him the strength and will power to accomplish these strides.

AN Osun State judge, Justice Oloyede Folahanmi has called on the state House of Assembly to investigate the alleged mismanagement of the state’s financial resources by the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy in accordance with Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 constitution, saying there is no moral justification for their continued stay in office.
Folahanmi, in a 30-page petition urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Amnesty International, Transparency International among others, to investigate any other person found to be responsible for what he described as ‘’ deliberate mismanagement of the economy of Osun State.’’
The petitioner further accused Aregbesola of acting in defiance of some sections of the constitution which bordered on the welfare of Osun indigenes.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun celebrating his re-election in Osogbo on Sunday
The petition reads in part: ‘’I am propelled by the desire to see the pains of my fellow human beings ameliorated and to possibly, help take away the reproach of our state as “A bankrupt” and “A failed state” and the desire to join hands with other like minds to help salvage the sinking ship of Osun State.
‘’I declare that in addition to the media-hype of Osun’s parlous financial condition, I have firsthand experience which constitutes evidence of the unfortunate situation in which Osun currently finds herself.
‘’Even Mr. Governor has admitted publicly, the fact that Osun is in financial quagmire and that he is clueless on how to pull her out of the doldrums. Mr. Governor’s argument that salaries can only be paid from statutory allocations is also faulty, we demand that he substantiate his claim by giving the section of the law that so provides. In any event, all funds, all allocations and all expenditures are expected to be backed by legislation, and are statutory, otherwise, they are illegal.
‘’Consequently, the admitted inability of Mr. Governor and his deputy to pay pensions, salaries and allowances for periods ranging from eight to 11 months now, as a consequence of their own decision to accumulate debts beyond the capacity of the state’s internally generated revenue, whilst the very ‘ actors’ Mr. Governor and his deputy continue to enjoy their security allowances in hundreds of millions, is a violation of their oaths of office.
‘’Their action in this respect is as illegal as it is immoral and unconscionable. It is an evidence of their inability to discharge the functions of their office. There is therefore no legal or moral basis for their continued stay in office.
‘’Neglecting the welfare of members of the community under the guise of wanting to provide infrastructure, runs contrary to the teachings of Christ, the son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. The provision of infrastructures at the expense of human lives and the dignity of man is therefore repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience and must be denounced as abominable. It contradicts Principle 1 of the Stockholm Conference.
‘’Instead of pursuing the noble ideals enshrined in our constitution, the ideals of social order, and “ensure a just world economic order” and “universal brotherhood” Mr. Governor and his deputy are assiduously working against it, as exemplified by the cruel, and harsh debasement of pensioners and civil servants by deliberately and maliciously withholding their salaries for months, in an attempt to brow beat, subjugate to take away their God given free will, and reduce them to mindless robots, with herd mentality, devoid of the ability to take any decision for themselves and unable to assert or actualize themselves!
‘’To this end and for this reason I am sure other well -meaning and concerned members of the Osun community are hereby calling on honourable members of the state House of Assembly to pick up the gauntlet and redeem themselves by giving effect to the provisions of Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution, empowering them to investigate and bring to justice, all those who have corruptly enriched. themselves at the expense of Osun and her people
Source :’’http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/unpaid-salaries-serving-osun-judge-calls-for-aregbesolas-impeachment/
Cc:lalasticlala

President Muhammadu Buhari may shock state governors and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress by the time he releases the list of his ministerial nominees, investigation has revealed.

THE PUNCH learnt on Tuesday that indication that Buhari was keeping matters relating to the appointment close to his chest emerged during a meeting he held with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A governor who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that one of his colleagues raised the issue at the meeting.

He said the governor had asked the President when the names of ministerial nominees would be sent to the Senate for screening.

He said Buhari however refused to answer the question posed by the governor.

This, he explained, was an indication that the President did not want to talk on the matter.

“During the meeting today, a governor asked the President what is delaying the list of his ministerial list.

“The President did not answer that question. That, to me, means that he is keeping details to his chest,” the source said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; and his Senior Special Assistant and Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/news/president-parries-question-on-ministerial-list/#disqus_thread

The chances of a former House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, emerging as the Majority Leader of the 8th House of Representatives looked grim on Tuesday as his backing among the majority northern lawmakers began to drop.
The PUNCH gathered that except the All Progressives Congress stamped its foot on the matter by insisting that the Lagos lawyer should take the seat, he was likely to be out of reckoning for the job.
“Regarding the issue of the House Leader, there is a big problem.
“It is not that Gbajabiamila is not qualified; he is eminently qualified, just like his qualities were recognised during the contest for the position of the Speaker. He is the most qualified.
“But, you see, a South-West person (Mr. Yussuf Lasun) has already been elected as the Deputy Speaker.
“We cannot afford to allow the same zone take the House Leader again. That will be too much legislative powers in one area”, a senior member from the North confided in The PUNCH on Tuesday.
The development came as a group, Concerned All Progressives Congress Stakeholders, dismissed calls on Lasun to resign as unnecessary.
Investigations showed that many North-West members with the APC controlling majority of about 87 lawmakers were now opposing Gbajabiamila.
Incidentally, his major backers for the position of the Speaker, which Gbajabiamila lost to the winner, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on June 9, came from the North-West.
Findings indicated that the agreement before the election was that Gbajabiamila would be the Speaker while Mr. Mohammed Monguno would be his deputy.
The position of the House Leader was to have been taken by a member from Kano State, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.
However, Gbajabiamila lost the election while a member from Osun State, Mr. Yusuf Lasun, also beat Monguno in the race for the Deputy Speaker’s seat.
It was learnt that the North made a U-turn backing Gbajabiamila after the elections and sought to keep the position of the House Leader “since the South-West has already picked the post of Deputy Speaker.”
The PUNCH gathered that following an intervention by the leadership of the APC last week, the aggrieved members were said to have conceded that Gbajabiamila should be allowed to occupy the seat of the House Leader, only for them to have a rethink on Monday night.
“As it is, there are still no announcements and the seat remains vacant. Other positions, like the Chief Whip, the Deputy Leader and the Deputy Whip too have not been decided.
“The party has called another round of meeting this week and the discussions will have to continue until an agreement is reached”, another National Assembly official disclosed to our correspondent.
Efforts by The PUNCH to get the comments of the Chairman, House Ad Hoc Committee on Media, Mr. Sani Zoro, failed on Tuesday.
A text message our correspondent sent to him was also not replied as of press time.
The stakeholders, expressing support for Lasun, spoke against the backdrop of calls by those they described as “faceless”, asking Lasun to resign.
The faceless persons were said to have advised Lasun to relinquish the position for Gbajabiamila.
Part of a statement by Lasun’s backers read, “We make bold to say that apart from the emergence of Hon. Lasun through a democratic, open and transparent election, the process of the election complied with Section 50 (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution.
“We warn all those who have allowed themselves to be used for this reprehensible act to allow reason to prevail.
“For the change which our party promised Nigerians to materialise, all hands must be on the deck.
“The least President Mohammadu Buhari expects from genuine APC members at this critical moment is for everybody to be on the same page with him.”
Meanwhile, the South-South caucus in the House has rejected the position of the Deputy Whip, which it said was suggested to the party to be allocated to the zone.
The caucus, which is chaired by Mr. Pally Iriase, said the position of the Deputy Whip was an attempt to marginalise the zone.
Iriase had contested the position of the Speaker but later stepped down to support Gbajabiamila.
Part of a statement the caucus issued on Tuesday read, “It has come to our notice that a proposal purportedly emanating from the House of Representatives had been sent to the National Working Committee of the APC, wherein the South-South is said to be allotted the position of the Deputy Chief Whip.
“Our immediate reaction is to repudiate the fraudulent and insensitive proposal.
“We are members of the Loyalists Group, and to the best of our knowledge, no proposal for the zoning of principal officers was discussed and agreed to by any member of the South -South in the group.
“Unilateral and self-serving proposal by a few members cannot be said to have come from the group"
http://www.punchng.com/news/house-leadership-northern-reps-make-u-turn-mobilise-against-gbajabiamila/#disqus_thread.
Cc: lalasticlala

Akure—Former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA, Prof Albert Ilemobade was yesterday abducted by gunmen.
Ilemobade was the vice chancellor between 1987 to 1995.
He was said to have been abducted alongside with his gateman at his Ijapo residence, in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
Ilemobade, a septuagenarian was said to have been abducted by gunmen at his residence.
The house maid reportedly saw  the gunmen when they took the former don away.
The gunmen on their arrival at the residence of the former Vice Chancellor approached the gateman, but before he knew what was happening a gun was reportedly pointed at him and he was asked to lead them to the living room where the former Vice Chancellor was accosted and asked to follow them to their vehicle.
Vanguard gathered that the gate man was bundled into the vehicle when he attempted to raise an alarm.
They reportedly whisked them away to an unknown destination.
His car was later abandoned by his kidnappers along Ijare road .
Family members of the abducted former Vice Chancellor have besieged his residence.
The Police Image Maker Wole Ogodo said investigation into the matter is in progress.
It will be recalled that the Executive secretary of Cocoa Association of Nigeria CAN Mr Michael Adewunmi who was kidnapped last week has been released after the family paid an undisclosed amount as ransom.
Adewunmi was abducted on his way to his office in Akure. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/gunmen-abduct-futas-septuagenarian-ex-vc/

Shinner2010:
Hello house.
Pls is there anybody here wey don receive this 22nd invoice ?

Got. Mine too

Lagos—Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the weekend unfolded his strategic thinking about improving road network, affordable housing scheme, upgrading the transport system and improving public service in the state, among other issues.

He particularly assured residents that the state will not collect any toll at the completed second toll point on the Lekki- Epe Expressway.
The governor, who spoke at an interactive session at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said more importantly, his concern is about ensuring the Lekki – Epe Road is completed.

“We must start thinking of the future concerning that road. We said we will have an International Airport in Epe and an Export Processing Zone in Lekki and a Deep Seaport also in Lekki. What does that mean for that road?

“When you take your freight from the Deep Seaport and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) are we going to make them pass through that same road. So what is the future? We missed something between Oshodi and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, there is no fast track rail that can take goods straight to the Airport. Should we also miss that here? Those are the issues that we are looking at.

“Should we not start thinking about how to improve and create a 10-lane road between Ikorodu, Itoikin, Epe and Ijebu Ode so that people can go out through there? Those are some of the things that we are looking at. There is no point constructing the road, paying tolls and in five years time, the road is gone”, Ambode said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna.

On the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which is being expanded into a 10-lane road, the governor said once the road is completed, the neighbourhood and the axis would be opened up as a business hub for the whole sub region.

He said his administration will make careful efforts to grow the tourism potentials of the state noting that a summit will be conveyed with stakeholders in the sector to explore the potentials that abound in the state.

The Governor said as a way of tackling the housing deficit, the state is considering adopting the Rent-To-Own Policy which would be a follow up to the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme which was about owning homes through mortgage after 30 percent initial payment.

He said it was unnecessary for a bachelor to own a three bedroom flat, emphasizing that it was better for those in this category to rent studio apartments and later upgrade to more spacious accommodations when they are married and have children.
“There are some people who cannot afford the initial payments but who can move from rent to buying the homes when things improve for them. That is the area where we want to lay more emphasis to allow access for our younger people and lay emphasis on studio apartments for those who have not got married”, he said.

He reiterated his readiness to improve upon the multi modal approach to tackling the problem of transportation in the State stating that presently 236 operators are licensed on the waterways conveying over one million people per day but is not integrated with the roads same as the rail system.

“As more means of transportation come on board, the more than 600,000 private car owners and 120,000 motorcycles that are being put on the road in the state daily will reduce in number”, he said.

He said his administration has decided to scale up governance by rearranging the civil service through the realignment of some ministries, agencies while scrapping some and creating a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.

“We would set up an Office of Overseas Affairs directly under the Governor’s Office. We want to take advantage of our position to improve on commerce and on trade and we will increase the GDP of Lagos and will create more jobs”, he said.

He also spoke of the readiness his administration to bring more people into the tax net of the State to shore up its revenue base, stating that presently less than 50 percent of the taxable adults are paying taxes to the State coffers.

“People should be ready to come and pay their taxes willingly and that is why we are speaking to agencies like LASTMA that we have to be civil in our dealings with members of the public. We can even apply technology also to deliver services.

“Yes we have said this is a government of continuity but it is continuity with improvement. It is about making life easier for the people. We are receptive to new ideas and that is why we are going to be creative, innovative, thinking out of the box”.

While seeking the collaboration of the media managers, the Governor said, “I will appeal to you that in areas where we are not getting it right, please be bold enough to tell us because you are representing the larger population that don’t have a voice.

“We are in it together, we are not perfect, we want to run a government of inclusion. We don’t want to leave anybody behind. We want everybody to have a voice. Speak to us truthfully”.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello said the meeting was convened to express appreciation to the media gatekeepers for their contribution during the last elections through robust reportage of events before, during and after the elections.

He added that it is also an avenue for the editors to know what the present administration in Lagos was doing and what it intends to do going forward.
source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/ambode-unfolds-plans-for-roads-housing-transport-others/#sthash.pF5llz2w.dpuf

Four Nigerians will be presented the inaugural Queen’s Young Leaders Awards, on Monday, at the United Kingdom’s Buckingham Palace.
The awards will be presented by the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II. The four Nigerians are: Isaiah Owolabi, Kelvin Ogholi, Nkechikwu Azinge and Oladipupo Ajiroba.
According to a statement issued by the QYL, the awards are being given to exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth. Apart from the four beneficiaries from Nigeria, Canada, India, Cameroon and South Africa have three winners each.
The award winners aged between 18 and 29 are being recognised by the UK monarch for taking the initiative to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of different issues including education, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the first Queen’s Young Leaders to London on the 22nd (of June). It will be such an honour to witness these exceptional young people receiving their awards from Her Majesty the Queen for their incredible work in their countries and across the Commonwealth,” the Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Dr. Astrid Bonfield, said.
One of the winners, Owolabi, a co-founder of Hacey’s Health Initiative, told SUNDAY PUNCH, during a courtesy visit on Wednesday by the British High Commission represented by Theresa Adeniyi and the QYL Nigerian ambassador, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, that the QYL award placed further responsibilities on him.
“The success is collective. I am happy and also surprised by the award. I see the award as a bigger responsibility and an opportunity to further impact on the life of others. This award will provide needed boost to our efforts at the HHI to continue to engage the public and private sectors and the people on the need to pay more attention to health, women and girls issues in the society,” he said.
In addition to meeting the UK monarch, the winners before receiving their awards at the palace will meet the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, visit the UK headquarters of Twitter and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Copyright PUNCH.

http://www.punchng.com/news/queen-of-england-honours-four-nigerians/

By Daud Olatunji
The visit of the   Senate President,  Senator   Bukola Saraki, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence   could be said to be suspicious.
The visit, attended by only members of New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and  some senators loyal to Saraki added credence to the insinuation that  the nPDP was plotting big in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It is being insinuated that   the members of the nPDP  led by a  former acting National Chairman, of the PDP  Kawu Baraje, might soon ditch the APC and rejoin their former party.
The claim has meanwhile been denied by Saraki and his supporters.
The meeting with Obasanjo has been interpreted to be a preparatory step by the APC chieftains to return to the PDP.
Journalists were barred from covering the meeting.
Both Obasanjo and Saraki, while emerging from the meeting, laughed while they whispered  to each other.
Expectedly, none of the parties (Obasanjo and Saraki)   wanted to divulge the details of the meeting which began   at 9:10am immediately   after the Senate President arrived the palatial home of the former President and ended 11:10 am.
But, there were some activities that took place prior to the secret meeting .
For instance, a   day to the meeting,   there was an insinuation   that, Obasanjo might not attend to the Senate President.
To lend credence to this, the former President was said to have   travelled out of the country.
It was reliably gathered that Obasanjo apparently travelled to  Norway,   but flew back to Nigeria the previous night   to attend   the meeting.
Many things   had sparked   off the   controversy over the meeting.  That Saraki was accompanied by some   members of nPDP who defected to  APC is believed     not to be  mere coincidence.
Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State and a former member of the PDP, had defected   to the APC along with some aggrieved members of the party, including five governors, following irreconcilable differences between them and their former party leaders .
Their defection, political analysts believed, aided   the   victory of the   APC at the general elections.
But, after their victory, there seems to be  disagreements between the group and the APC on the sharing  of some positions.

From right Alhaji Danjumu Goje, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Senatoe Bukola Saraki, Senate President and Alhaji Sanni Yerima in group photograph during a visit to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for Former President of Nigeria at his Hill Top Mansion, Presidential Hill, Abeokuta on Friday
Findings  showned that the group had wanted one of them   to fly   the APC  flag at   the presidential election,   but, was blocked.
Also,   the position of vice-president was not given to the group.  After these,   another    attempt to    shove the group   aside in the leadership   positions of  the National  Assembly hit the   brick   wall as   one of them emerged Senate President.
Saraki ,who emerged the Senate President under controversial circumstances, was believed to have incurred the wrath of Obasanjo and other leaders of the party.
Obasanjo,   though claimed he was not a member of APC,   has ceased  to be a member of the PDP and was seen as more of a member of APC.
All his ‘boys’ have defected to  the APC while he hosts many leaders of the APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari   and the National Leader of the party,   Asiwaju   Bola   Ahmed Tinubu.
At the initial stage of the campaign for the election of the Senate President, Saraki was not the preferred candidate of the party,   but he  refused    to step down for   the party’s choice, Ahmed   Lawan, and he eventually emerged with 57 votes.
After his victory, he is believed to be mending fence with some party leaders.
Part of the moves was his meeting with former Vice-President   Atiku Abubakar.
But his choice to visit   Obasanjo and not Tinubu   is interpreted as extremely political and strategic.
According to an insider who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the details  of the meeting,Saraki’s visit was to lobby Obasanjo.
The source further said that the meeting was held to set agenda for the Senate President  and to ensure the party embraces him despite his alleged insubordination.
According to the source,   the meeting also centred on how to handle some sensitive issues at the National Assembly.
Obasanjo,   according to the source, suggested some   way out on the logjam   and how to be a successful Senate President.
Meanwhile, there was an indication that the leadership of APC might not have forgiven Saraki completely despite its statement of pardon issued recently.
The indication was that  no APC leaders in the South-West, including the host state, Ogun, was seen with Saraki.
The tradition is that the host governor would either be physically present at the meeting or be represented.   Apart from that,   the Senate President would also pay a visit to the governor. None of these happened.
The governor of the state,   Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was said to have travelled out of Abeokuta shortly before the meeting   between Saraki and Obasanjo ended to attend a funeral ceremony in Ijebu.
This was unlike during the visit of a  former Senate Present, Senator David Mark, to Obasanjo when many of the party (PDP) leaders were present.
Mark paid a visit to the governor who was not even a   member of his party.
It was reliably gathered that there might have been a directive by the APC leadership   to stay away from Saraki pending the resolution of some issues.
The party,   according to the findings, may have reached out to Amosun and others in the South-West prior to the Saraki meeting with Obasanjo.
The Senate President, when asked to comment on the alleged disobedience to the APC directive on the choice of the candidate for the Senate President seat, kept mum.
However, he denied any rift between him and his party,   saying  the relationship was cordial.
Source Sunday Vanguard http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/controversy-over-obasanjo-saraki-secret-meeting/
Cc: lalasticlala

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This flood is seemingly mostly caused by bad drainage. The State Government should urgently work on drainage systems as this might get worse, with time.

Nice one OP, even now they are ruling, they still tell lies about their Government.

Goods to be delivered to clients

LIB already captioned this last week, sure she wouldn't be there as at now..because the. State Government would have wedged in...occupants close to the address given..kindly confirm if she is. Still there...will send an sos to the rescue section of the Lagos state social welfare. Directorate asap.

Four Nigerian and a New Zealander have received long jail terms for their roles in an international drug smuggling ring, the New Zealand Police said on Friday.

The Nigerians were jailed for terms of 15 to 18 years after being found guilty of importing and possessing methamphetamine for supply, while the New Zealander was jailed for nine years for the same offence.
A police statement said the sentences handed down at the Auckland High Court on Thursday marked a successful end to a combined police and customs operation that began in November 2013.

Operation Gatsby was launched after Customs officers discovered methamphetamine with a street value of 1.04 million dollars in the luggage of an Auckland man who had just returned from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

Detective Senior Sgt. Lloyd Schmid said officers determined that the man had been duped and used as a drug mule by an international syndicate and launched an operation to track the destination of the methamphetamine.

“During the five-week investigation, they identified two further importations containing over 1.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.

“Both had been sent to New Zealand through the international mail system from the Philippines and Cameroon.

“Operation Gatsby demonstrates that the New Zealand drug market is being targeted by organised crime syndicates from every corner of the globe,’’ Schmid said in the statement.

Two other members of the drug syndicate had been sentenced previously for their roles in the operation.
In August 2014, a 39-year-old woman was jailed for four years for possession of methamphetamine for supply, and in January, a 40-year-old man pleaded guilty to a similar charge and was jailed for five years and eight months.

(Xinhua/NAN)
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/185358-new-zealand-jails-nigerians-18-years-for-drugs-smuggling.html

The Federal Road Safety Corps has said it will enforce a compulsory resting period of 30 minutes for tanker drivers after four hours of unbroken driving.
An agreement reached at a National summit attended in Abuja on Monday by the FRSC and the petrol tanker industry workers, said the enforcement of compulsory resting time is due to Nigeria’s road network density and length, especially in relation to dispatch of petroleum products across Nigeria.
The petrol tank drivers agreed on the need to establish standards for haulage operators through enforcement of safe-to-load program, the need to decentralize the concentration of tank farms within the same location, accessibility to Lagos, as well as closing down the illegal farms.
They also agreed that there is the need to checkmate indiscriminate parking of vehicles along the highways, set up task force to check drivers’ activities in order to decongest all port roads and ensure that all erring drivers face the wrath of law.
At the summit, the attendees agreed that Nigeria’s roads must be improved on, to get rid of potholes.
They also agreed on the construction of better road networks and elimination of illegal buildings to ease traffic flow and continuous public enlightenment by the corps.
Participants also agreed on full compliance with the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme provisions, implementation of the Maximum Road Speed Limiter for Vehicles to commence with subtle enforcement – with no booking – from June 1 with full compliance effective from September 1.
All haulage drivers were also advised to respect road traffic regulations and traffic officers to reduce constant conflicts on the highways.
The participants also set standard for haulage operations in Nigeria which include: more attention on vehicles’ technical wellness by haulage operators and need for the introduction of modern vehicle testing across Nigeria.
Others are establishment of age limit for trucks used for haulage purposes, comprehensive welfare package for haulage drivers by their employers – a form of motivation for adherence to road traffic rules and standardization of speed limiters installation in all newly manufactured vehicles in Nigeria.
It was also agreed that there should continuous training and retraining of drivers, renewal of petroleum tankers and other haulage vehicles the through Fleet Acquisition Renewal Scheme with collaboration with financial institutions and the urgent need for life insurance for all Nigerians so that there would be easy compensation for citizens in case of loss of lives in road crashes among others.
The drivers also recommended that state governments relocate markets away from highways as a matter of urgency and provide standard garages and rest areas. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/185315-frsc-to-enforce-compulsory-30-minutes-rest-for-tanker-drivers.html

kodded:
inferiority complex

most of this girls don't want other "big girls" to see them as a "poor girl"

Yes ooo dats their way

if you find out well, this girls parents must not see this...she might be from one humble background , low key home , but based on influence she does all this , have a female friend like that who before she got admission into unilag , she was like an su , her mum sells at mile 12 , she even admitted she was given birth too at the market , now all because of expose to school she form posh , ladiva , mhiz etc God help our young gals of nowadays .

Konga I know isn't scam, you. Just need to mail the appropriate quarters for resolution....I sell on konga and also buy.. send a mail to mall@konga.com, giving your order no. Sure you will get a reply.

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday clarified that Heads and Chief Executives of Government- Owned Agencies and Parastatals are not affected by the dissolution of Boards of Parastatals and Agencies as recently directed by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the State Government also announced that the State House of Assembly Commission was also exempted from the dissolution directive.

The State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode had on Monday approved the dissolution of all Boards of Parastatals and Agencies of Government in the state with the exemption of the State Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

The clarification had become necessary because of different wrong interpretations given to the media announcement of the dissolution.
Source PM News http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/06/17/lasg-clarifies-on-dissolution-of-boards/.
Cc: lalasticlala

vivaciousvivi:
People would lose jobs. Not a nice though.

People will really nt...they will just join them to their corresponding Ministry, we gat too many multiple agencies eg. lagos state water corporation, lag. State. Water regulatory commission, lagos state water ways authority, lagos state waste water mangement office, lagos. State ferry service company.. dats just one of the. Duplicated agencies..

vivaciousvivi:
Kai, Babatunde Disu |(LAGBUS). Na so?

Na. Sooo...its good..sure he will collapse some of the agencies...too many duplication of. Functions .

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the redeployment of Mrs. Abimbola Shukrat Umar as the Accountant General/Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office.

According to a Statement issued today by the Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji, the redeployment takes immediate effect.

A graduate of Economics from the University of Ibadan, 53 year old Mrs. Abimbola Umar also holds a Masters degree in Corporate Governance from the Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.

The new Accountant-General, who is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), is also a member of Chartered Management Institute, United Kingdom, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Economic Society.

In addition, she has Oracle Certification in e-Business Suite, General Ledger and Payroll Modules. She cut her teeth for over fifteen years in the private sector, particularly with the renowned KPMG (International) before joining the Lagos State Civil Service as Chief Accountant in 2002.

Until her redeployment, Mrs Umar was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce andIndustry
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/06/15/shukrat-umar-new-lagos-state-accountant-general/
Cc: Afam4eva
Cc: lalasticlala