₦airaland Forum

Some people are wicked

Instead of rush and wasting time in shoprite, why can't people sit down at the comfort of their bedroom and order black Friday 50% off deals

Ruggedman took to Twitter late Wednesay night to allege that the Anti kidnapping Squad who allegedly attacked businesswoman, Miz Nwanneka Nkumah a few weeks ago were at a Lekki hotel "harassing and extorting" other innocent citizens.

Miz Nwanneka ended up admitted in a hospital following the assault on her.

Less than a month after the incident, Ruggedman issued a "safety alert" to warn Nigerians that the men were out allegedly "harassing" Nigerians again.

He tweeted: "I just got a call that the same Anti kidnapping Squad that assaulted a miss Nwanneka a few weeks ago are right now on Orchid Hotel road lekki, after 2nd toll gate doing the same thing to innocent citizens."

He added: "SAFETY ALERT: Since these men wont protect us, let's look out for ourselves."

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/ruggedman-claims-that-anti-kidnapping.html

Amid concerns of Nigeria’s readiness for the Fifth Generation (5G) technology, stakeholders have stressed the need why the country cannot wait any longer to embrace the revolution.
Although to them, the current state of services as regards previous generations of technologies, including 2G, 3G and 4G still leave much to be desired in Nigeria, other countries are already moving towards 5G.
They said missing the 5G opportunities will be a big developmental challenge, which the country may not be able to recover from in the years to come.
Arguably, with Nigeria conspicuously missing in the past industrial revolutions, the benefits of the current Fourth Industrial revolution, seen as the era of technology advancement, should not elude it.

What is 5G?
Industry association, 3GPP, defines any system using ‘5G NR’ software as ‘5G’, a definition that came into general use by late 2018. Others may reserve the term for systems that meet the requirements of the ITU IMT-2020.
Think virtual realities, augmented realities, streamed Blu-ray quality video, driverless cars, drones and Internet of Things (IoT). All of these technologies require the extremely accurate and near instantaneous transfer of large quantities of data. 5G is programmed to all that.

Is Nigeria Ready for 5G?
Former Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, gave this analogy, “was Nigeria ready for the mobile telephone business in 1999? The answer from all available technological infrastructure was no! What the country lacked in technology in 1999 was present in foresight, market and a ready band of Nigerians ready to make the dream possible. We all know how much progress we have made since that first phone call in 2001.”
Indeed, the GSM service in the country went from an elite preserve to the must-have of every Nigerian willing to have a cell phone. SIM cards went from about N40, 000 in 2001 to N100, 18 years after.
Drawing from the strength of the past, and the partnership between Federal Government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and operators, especially MTN, Ndukwe noted that the possibility of 5G revolutionising peoples’ way of life is immense.
According to him, with the potential applications for medical imaging, video conferencing, and gaming, 3D holographic communication, 5G provides the needed speed, and required low latency that will support this kind of application on a network.

Any difference between 4G and 5G?
According to industry watchers, 5G is a transformational change from 4G. 5G has the potential to provide 20 times faster data speeds and carries a massive amount of data for a large number of simultaneous users. So, users in high-density areas like airports, stadiums or urban areas can still experience the fast speeds and low latency of 5G services.
In their view, as the world replaces more and more household items with ‘smart devices’ that connect to the Internet, also known as the IoT, this network capacity will be critical. They posited that 5G will potentially be able to handle more than 2.5 million connected devices per square mile.
Checks by The Guardian showed that 5G supports data transfer rates of up to 20Gbit/s. On top of that, wireless data delays drop to one millisecond. This opens up the potential for multiple driverless cars, where large quantities of potentially live saving data have to be transferred almost instantaneously.

How Nigeria plans to implement 5G
Ahead of the 2020 set date for the roll out of 5G networks in Nigeria, the NCC will look at three strategic areas of interest that will be beneficial to the country, cum Africa. These areas of focus include enhanced mobile broadband applications, the low ultra-reliable, low latency applications, and the Machine to Machine application.
According to NCC, Nigeria and other parts of Africa will subscribe quickly to the enhanced mobile broadband application. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the reason for this was because African countries are trying to roll out broadband infrastructure for broadband applications.
“So this will spur us on to ensure we put in place the necessary infrastructure,” he stressed
In terms of readiness of the Continent for 5G evolution, Danbatta said Nigeria and other countries within the region are trying to reserve the spectrum for the roll out of broadband services. Specifically, Danbatta said in Nigeria, the focus is on 26, 38 and 42 GHz. He noted that these frequencies exist and are not licensed for any other application.

Nigeria’s 5G demo trial begins with MTN
Meanwhile, by working with Huawei, MTN on Monday, in Abuja, had a 5G demo trial. At the trial, the first in West Africa, the operator was able to provide a glimpse into a range of 5G use cases and applications at a test Lab designed to show proof-of-concept. Standing alongside former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, attendees got to match their skills against an artificial-intelligence powered goalie; immerse themselves in a high-speed, low-latency virtual reality gaming world; experience ultra-high speed streaming and downloads on 5G devices; and engage in discourse with life-like holographic projections.
3D holographic communication has potential applications for education, medical imaging, video conferencing and gaming, and requires about four times as much data as a streamed 4K video. This means that 5G is best suited to support this kind of application on a mobile network and to enable its use. It also demonstrates how 5G has the potential to support key socio-economic objectives Nigeria has set for itself, and to be a key contributor to the emergence of a fully digital economy.
MTN explained that 5G will enhance technological development because of the extremely fast transfer rate of large quantities of data. The firm said 5G is designed to keep self-driving cars aware of one another, stream virtual and augmented reality experiences; allow delivery drones to function safely and efficiently. Overall, it enables interconnected devices for instant communication.

The importance of conducive environment
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, who spoke after the live demo, underlined the potential of 5G for sustainable growth. “I believe as long as we are able to handle the potential challenges, the deployment of 5G is very critical to our economy, because of so many advantages of 5G, the issue of latency, speed and many more.”
Stressing the importance of an enabling regulatory framework and protecting telecommunications infrastructure, Pantami said on the instruction of the President, he has signed a draft Executive Order declaring telecommunications infrastructure ‘critical national infrastructure’, which has been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for review.
The Minister referred to the proposed Executive Order as a short-term measure, adding that the President has instructed that a proper legislation be facilitated to deal conclusively with threats to telecommunications infrastructure.
Speaking on the partnership with the Ministry and other stakeholders, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman, said: “Pushing boundaries is easier when your aspirations are supported by likeminded people. We are here today because of the support and guidance of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission, who provided the trial spectrum used for this.”

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/why-5g-is-critical-to-nigerias.html

The embattled boss of Nigerian airline Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has dissociated himself from a human rights suit filed on his behalf by an Abuja lawyer.
The lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, filed the suit after the Air Peace boss was indicted in the United States for alleged bank fraud and money laundering.
Jideobi wanted the court to enforce fundamental human rights of Onyema.
But Onyema’e lawyers said on Wednesday that the Air Peace boss does not know the lawyer and has nothing to do with the case.
“We hereby state on behalf of our client, that at no time did he instruct the said Mr. Johnmary C. Jideobi to institute any action on his behalf in respect of the subject matter of the Indictment now pending against him in the United States of America,” the chambers of A. O. Alegeh & Co said in emailed statement.
“Our Client has no knowledge of the said action and did not consent to the filing of same. As a matter of fact, Our Client does not know the said Mr. Johnmary C. Jideobi.”

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/air-peaces-allen-onyema-dissociates.html

They are now exposing themselves.
Checkout special black Friday deals on amazon 50% off https://amzn.to/2rk70ip

Attacks from herders resulted in the death of more Nigerians in 2018 than the number of deaths caused by Boko Haram in the country, according to 2019 Global Terrorism Index (GTI).
The GTI report released on Wednesday ranked Nigeria, for the fifth consecutive time, since 2015, as the third country with the worst impact from terrorism, globally.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, has overtaken Iraq to become number one on the list, while the latter moved down to the second position.
Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, and India are ranked fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively in the GTI report, while Yemen, Philippines, and Democratic Republic of the Congo are eighth, ninth, and 10th.
The report said terror-related incidents in Nigeria increased by 37 per cent, from 411 in 2017 to 562 in 2018 and also deaths from terrorism in the country rose to 2,040 in 2018, a 33 per cent increase.
“The increase was due to a substantial escalation of violence by ‘Fulani’ extremists, whilst Boko Haram recorded a decline in deaths from terrorism,” the report said.

Dispute over ownership and usage of land has remained the major cause of the violent conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.
A concern was raised in the 2018 GTI report over the killings by herders. The report had warned that terrorism was shifting from Nigeria’s North-East region to the country’s Middle-Belt.
“Violence between Nigerian herders and farmers intensified in early 2018 with approximately 300,000 people fleeing their homes. The most recent escalation in violence follows increased militia attacks and implementation of new anti-grazing legislation.
“In 2018, Fulani extremists were responsible for the majority of terror-related deaths in Nigeria at 1,158 fatalities. Terror-related deaths and incidents attributed to Fulani extremists increased by 261 and 308 per cent respectively from the prior year. Of 297 attacks by Fulani extremists, over 200 were armed assaults. Over 84 per cent of these armed assaults targeted civilians.
“However, also active and not recorded as terrorist activity are pastoralist militias who target the Fulani, increasing the likelihood of reprisals,” the report said.

The deadliest terrorist incident in Nigeria in 2018, according to the report, occurred on May 5 when assailants attacked Gwaska, Kaduna.
The report said 58 people were killed in the attack, which it said was attributed to ‘Fulani extremists’.
The GTI report attributed the decline in Boko Haram attacks to a multinational task force fighting the terrorist group.
The GTI, which is in its seventh edition, is produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace, an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank with offices in Sydney, New York, and Mexico City.

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/herdsmen-killed-more-nigerians-in-2018.html

sweet mama. Happy birthday to her.

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has said it would amount to hate speech to call him or members of the pro-Biafran group Nigerians.
Speaking against the backdrop of the Hate Speech bill before the senate, during his regular weekly broadcasts, Kanu said it was sheer madness for anyone to propose death penalty on people convicted for hate speech, adding that it was a clear proof that Nigeria is governed with a clandestine agenda.
Making mockery of the proposed bill, Kanu said the fact he and members of his group were still being called Nigerians, a name he said was forced on them, was a hate speech against him and millions of his followers.

“This Hate Speech bill is exactly the same thing with Decree No 4 of 1984. What’s happening in Nigerian courts is enough to set any country ablaze. Calling me a Nigerian is hate speech.”
He said it was out of place for the ninth Senate to have even allowed such a bill to be introduced in a country where he said people were angry and must have to speak out or perish.
He lambasted the senate saying instead of legislating on jobs creation and infrastructural development, for people of the country to have basic necessities to live decent life, they went into frivolities.

“They’ve not hanged Fulani herdsmen, they’ve not hanged the bandits in the North, they’ve not hanged their fellow corrupt politicians, they’ll not hang governors that have not paid salaries and are causing untimely deaths to millions of homes. But what they’ll do very gladly is to say that they’ll hang people for free speech…People are busy talking about 2023 when danger is right before them,” he said.
While urging people to oppose the bill, the IPOB leader said: “Each time you remind them of their kleptomaniac psyche, it’s hate speech. Each time you remind them that Ruga will not work in our land, it’s hate speech. If you say there will be no movement of Fulani cattle in our farmland, it’s hate speech. When we say we’re being killed and slaughtered for no reason, it’s hate speech.
“But when it’s coming from the Fulani, nobody will say anything because it’s love speech. That’s the level of hypocrisy in Nigeria. People don’t reason very well anymore. If people do, the excesses of these current cabals would have been curtailed.”

The IPOB leader said the only solution to all the unpleasant things happening in the country presently was for each section of Nigeria to go its own way as IPOB is pushing for Biafra which he said would soon be a reality.

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/biafra-its-hate-speech-to-call-ipob.html

The least paid federal worker on Level 1 Step 1 will earn N360,000 per annum while the highest-paid at Level 17 Step 9 will take home N6,215,435 per annum.
These are the highlights of the minimum wage payment template released by the Federal Government.
The circular on the new wage, dated November 14 and signed by the Acting Chairman of the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, is copied to top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, among others.
It says: “Consequent upon the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019 and the negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour (represented by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council) in respect of the consequential adjustments of salaries of employees in the federal public service, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) with effect from the 18th of April 2019.”

In the breakdown, a worker on Level 1, Step 1 will earn N360, 000 per annum, while Level 1, Step 15 will earn N422, 566 per annum.
Level 5, Step 1 officer will earn N394, 498 per annum and on Step 15 earn N534, 834 per annum.
Level 7, Step 1 officer will earn N638, 133 per annum and Step 5 will earn N961, 577 per annum.
Level 10 step 1 will earn N1, 060,833 per annum, while Step 15 of the same level will earn N1, 535,417 per annum.
Level 14, Step 1 will earn N1, 503,149 per annum. Step 11 of the same level will earn N2, 101,600.
Organised labour has received the template which they have shared with their state councils to guide them in their negotiations.
President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quadri Olaleye, yesterday said the circular had been sent to all state chapters.
“We have received the circular and we have sent it to all our state chairmen.”
Asked if state councils have opened negotiations with governors, he said: “There is no update yet because they were waiting for that document.
“We have just sent the document to them. We have to be patient to allow them to kick-start negotiations.”
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/11/fed-govt-releases-minimum-wage-circular.html

Thumbs up Nigeria. That's the way Nigeria companies suppose to grow if not because of our messed up Nigeria history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npKjcBzmMLM

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.
We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:


Job Title: Programme Associate
Job ID: 26012
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: G7
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Practice Area – Job Family: Crisis Prevention and Recovery – STABILIZATION
Slot: 2 Openings
Background

The nexus of security-humanitarian-development issues around Lake Chad has given rise to an intractable extremist insurgency that has left tens of thousands of people dead, approximately 2.5 million displaced, and more than 10 million people in the region affected and in need. While robust national and multi-national military operations have re-taken territory previously controlled by Boko Haram, UNDP recognizes that a new approach is required to consolidate these gains and establish the conditions necessary to transition from military to civilian responsibility for security, and from the provision of humanitarian assistance to the resumption of stalled development processes.
In this context, the UNDP is strengthening its presence in the North East region by establishing a sub-office in Maiduguri. The sub-office will serve as the centre of operations for programming which will include a Regional Stabilization Facility, a Disengagement, Disassociation, Reconciliation and Reintegration (DDRR) and Recovery and Resilience programme. The Sub-Office (SO) for North East Region of Nigeria has been operational since 2017 and UNDP has established an Operations Service Centre to support management and operations functions related to the effective delivery of programmatic results.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist – Early Recovery, the Programme Associate plays the key roles in execution of services in the Sub-office, supports the design, planning and management of the projects in the NE Region by managing data and document records, providing logistics and secretariat support and facilitating administrative works for implementation. The Programme Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
The Programme Associate supports the project teams in the Sub-office. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the Sub-Office and the UNDP CO staff for resolving complex programme-related issues and information delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:

Supports planning and implementation of programme activities in his/her assigned substantive and/or geographic programme outputs;
Ensures efficient collection of data and inputs related to activity implementation, monitoring, communications and reporting thus contributing to the required standard of quality and within specified constraints of time and cost; and
Administrative support to the Project Teams in NE Sub-Office,

Supports planning and implementation of programme activities in his/her assigned substantive and/or geographic programme outputs:

Support the sub-office in its partnerships with relevant counterparts and target groups in specific locations in the three targeted states
Supports planning, implementation and monitoring of NE programme components/projects
Monitors progress and collects data for reporting
Facilitates and monitors completion of specific works and services as conducted by contractors
Produces stories, audio-visual and other materials in support of UNDP sub-office and CO communications efforts.
Supports and facilitates the work of contracted parties and individuals for specific substantive or geographic outputs
Implements UNDP rules and regulations as well as sub-office directions and procedures.
Tracks and documents UNDP activities and results as per formats, milestones and other requirements for specific substantive or geographic outputs

Ensures efficient collection of data and inputs related to activity implementation, monitoring, communications and reporting thus contributing to the required standard of quality and within specified constraints of time and cost:

Contributes to monitoring and data collection on UNDP’s work
Conducts orderly filing of documentation
Ensures distributions and mailing of various documentation
Suggests and facilitates potential partnerships for the benefit of UNDP
Suggests areas for improvement in programmatic and operational areas.
Takes minutes of the meetings

Provides administrative support to the Project teams in Sub-office, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of DIM projects’ financial Reports.
Facilitates travel, ticket-booking, DSA payments through ALTAS T&E.
Provide administrative support for the project team, including arranging meeting/conference logistics and managing office stationery/equipment.
Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas.
Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall Sub-office efficiency in programme and success in implementation of programme strategies. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision making of the management

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

Secondary Education with certification in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Political or Social Sciences.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level.
Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization, notably with UNDP, is highly desirable.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages,
Experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences
Makes research of contacts in the media, government, private sector, donors, other agencies, civil society in other stakeholders for UNDP’s advocacy efforts

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration
Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
Participates in the formulation of project proposals

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
Maintains databases of donor information
Tracks and reports on mobilized resources

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes solutions
Responds positively to new approaches

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors
Maintains database of project files
Provides data and information needed for preparation of project documents

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
Documents innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools, and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
Maintains a network of contacts in the media and civil society, for use in UNDP’s advocacy efforts

Client Orientation:

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
Responds to client needs promptly

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
Creating synergies through self-control
Managing conflict
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
Informed and transparent decision making
Self-development, initiative-taking
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
The ability to communicate effectively in Kanuri, Hausa, or any other local language spoken in the NE region is an asset.


Application Deadline 19th September, 2019

https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=26012&hrs_jo_pst_seq=1&hrs_site_id=2

Faction of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has blamed alleged plans to forcibly resume oil exploration in Ogoniland for the criminal gang wars ravaging Ogoni area of Rivers State.
The MOSOP group, led by Fegalo Nsuke, has also sought independent inquiry into the cult clashes, insisting that such an investigation would uncover stunning revelations about oil industry sponsorship of crime in Ogoni.
He alleged that campaigners for the resumption of oil exploration and production in Ogoni were being sponsored by the oil industry to destabilise Ogoni and force oil resumption against the wishes of the people.

Nsuke cautioned that resumption of oil exploitation in Ogoni ought not to be encouraged by any responsible government, as the lives of Ogoni people were more important than oil prospecting.
“If the government goes ahead to resume oil production in Ogoni, the people will protest and as usual, the government will send in soldiers to kill us and that is why we are against the forced resumption of oil production now. We do not want any Ogoni lives to be lost again,” he said.
He claimed that the intention of the oil resumption campaigners was to completely destroy the Ogoni social life with the hope that the people will become helpless and unable to resist any military intervention.
According to him, the calculation of the oil industry and their allies was to create room for a military barracks to be sited in Ogoniland to pave way for the resumption of oil production in the area.
Besides, a protracted land dispute between Oyigbo and Ogoni communities has been blamed for the violent attack that claimed three lives on Monday.

The Rivers State Police Command’s spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, who disclosed this yesterday, said the police were on the trail of the perpetrators of the attacks on Azubuogu, Obete and Okpontu communities in Oyigbo Council Area.
Unidentified gunmen, who allegedly came from Ogoni area of the state, had invaded the communities in Oyigbo on Monday, shooting sporadically and killing three persons in Azubuogu community.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege has commended Belema Oil Producing Limited for heeding Federal Government’s directive for Nigerian and multinational oil and gas companies to relocate their operational headquarters to the Niger Delta.
In a letter addressed to the company, Omo-Agege, said the company has set an example worth emulating by other oil and gas firms.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Yomi Odunuga and made available to Senate Press Corps yesterday.
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/08/alleged-plan-to-resume-oil-production.html

Governors of the South East geopolitical zone have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the ban on movement of cattle on foot in line with their earlier resolution.
In a letter to the president, the governors said banning herdsmen without cattle and movement of cattle by foot in the zone would eliminate increasing cases of killing, maiming, raping of our women, kidnapping and destruction of our farmlands mostly carried out by foreign herdsmen and in most cases with the backing of some compromised local herders.
They also appealed to the president to extend the time when the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu would be closed to the end of October 2019 to enable them make adequate preparation for the airport users in the zone.
The Federal Airport Aviation Authority (FAAN) announced recently that the Enugu Airport would be closed August 24 to enable it carryout repair work on its runways.

But the South East governors, though elated that their earlier request was being heeded, said the announcement was sudden as they needed more time to make adequate arrangements for airport users in the zone and few remedial works in the airport.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, in the letter made available to newsmen in Abakaliki by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, called on Buhari to direct the Aviation sector of the Federal Ministry of Transport to provide immediate palliatives in form of transportation with armed escorts and helicopter services to prospective passengers from alternative airports that connect the zone.

In addition, the governors suggested that the Federal Ministry of Works in collaboration with the South East Governors’ Forum should be directed to carry out palliative repairs on the major roads leading to the alternative airports and as well, clear all the bushes along the routes for better view of road users.
They also appealed that 24-hour joint security patrol be provided for the safety of the people and visitors to the South East who will be using the roads day and night through the alternative airports.
The letter partly read:
“We plead with Mr. President that we publish this letter to assuage our people’s feelings who erroneously think that no efforts are being made by the leaders of the South East to tackle insecurity and economic challenges facing the zone and to let them know that her leaders before now have been working very hard without making noise as issues of security must not be discussed in the public.”
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/08/south-east-governors-seek-ban-on-cattle.html

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Friday August 16, announced the seizure of 21 contraband drugs including tramadol valued at over N5 billion.

The drugs were intercepted when its smugglers attempted to move them from Lagos to other parts of the country during the last the Eid-el-Kabir. National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of NCS, Assistant Comptroller Joseph Attah confirmed the seizure and further disclosed that the warehouse where the drugs were stocked was immediately sealed with a detachment of well armed officers to guard the place.


”On Aug. 13, at about 2 am, operatives of the Headquarters Strike Force Zone A intercepted a truck laden with dreaded codeine, tramadol and other controlled pain killers along Maryland, Ikeja road.
“The intercepted trailer contains illicit drugs and was immediately brought to the attention of the team leader of the force, Assist. Comptroller of Customs Usman Yahya, who deepened preliminary investigation that led to the discovery of a warehouse along Oshodi-Mile 2 road.
“The warehouse was stocked with tramadol, codeine and other unregistered pharmaceutical products without the National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number,” Attah said.


He told newsmen that the truck's driver was apprehended, while a manhunt to arrest other members of the smuggling gang is already in play.

https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/08/n5billion-worth-of-tramadol-intercepted.html

For Jamil Abubakar, elite pilot first son of the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, is renowned for living his life on the fast lane: fast cars, wristwatch collection and exciting rave up. But in 2017, he suddenly became a subject of interesting discourse among the people and even hit the cover of some mainstream journals at that time.

The dude gained more popularity among people in the social establishment when news broke that he has hooked Fatima, the calm, cerebral daughter of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Jamil and Fatima, an executive director with Dangote Group, later had a fairy-tale wedding, which held in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos, respectively. For two years after, Fatima has constantly been in the media, for obvious reasons. She has been seen at high net-worth parties and events unaccompanied while Jamil seems to have disappeared from the social circle, making many to wonder about his whereabouts. Many have wondered aloud why the dark-complexioned Jamil, a Kingston University-trained Computing Information Systems and Multimedia graduate, appears to shy away from stepping out with his wife.
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/06/aliko-dangotes-son-in-law-jamil.html

Mali have expelled striker Adama Niane from their squad for indiscipline, the third player to be turned out by his team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“Adama Niane was excluded from the Eagles group for non-respect,” said the team’s media officer Ibrahim Coulibaly.
Reports said the 26-year-old Belgium-based player had slapped a team mate in an altercation over queuing.
The decision came on the eve of Friday’s Group E match against Tunisia in Suez.
Burundi had sent home 32-year-old midfielder Selemani Ndikumana for ill-discipline before their first game without offering any further details.
On Wednesday Egypt sent Amr Warda packing for what the Egypt Football Association described as “disciplinary reasons”.
Warda, who plays for Greek club Atromitos on loan from PAOK, has been widely accused of trolling women on social media.
He has been the subject of a previous complaint, filed with Egypt’s Attorney General, of harassing a fashion model on Instagram.

Warda has since posted a video on Facebook in which he apologised.
He apologised to his family, his team mates, to the EFA and to “anyone who is upset at me or anyone I have upset” as his team mates rallied around him.
Among them was Mohamed Salah who said: “Women must be treated with the utmost respect.
“But I also believe that many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn’t be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out.
“We need to believe in second chances… we need to guide and educate. Shunning is not the answer.”(Reuters/NAN)
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/06/mali-expel-player-from-2019-afcon.html

Former Aviation Minister has opposed the call by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, for the establishment of Fulani Youth Vigilante body within their host comminuties in the South East.

The group at a press conference in Abuja said forming a Fulani vigilante in the South East would help to stop the killings in the region that are mostly attributed to herdsmen. The group added that the Fulani Youth Vigilant body will be working with the security, the neighborhood watch or vigilante to ensure security in all communities that host them and their cattle.

However, the former Aviation Minister says this is not an idea that should be welcomed by the South East. Reacting via his Twitter handle, the former Minister said

''The biggest mistake the Igbo can make is to allow Fulani herdsmen to form their own militias and armed groups anywhere in the east. This is not about politics: it is about survival. It is like allowing vicious and hungry wolves into the lamb pen. The result is predictable.
Now you know why IPOB was proscribed and why they are equally terrified of OPC and YOLICOM. Every single Fulani terrorist herdsman in the south should be disarmed and expelled. Instead of asking for their own armed militia they should be asking for a oneway ticket back to Arewa.''
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/06/ffk-kicks-as-miyetti-allah-calls-for.html

• Alleges poor consultation on AfCFTA, fiscal indiscipline
• Nigeria’s renegotiation delaying ratification, says official
• Russia seeks more commitment to raise deals above $20b

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented that nepotism in Nigeria is obstructing the fight against corruption.In what seemed like reporting the country’s leadership to the world, the elder statesman, before a gathering of investors at the ongoing yearly meeting of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Moscow, accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of fiscal indiscipline and bias in the fight against corruption.

He described corruption and development as strange bed fellows, warning that people in authority would remain deluded as long as their definition of corruption is when money, goods and services are involved.

“Nepotism is a form of corruption and condoning what is bad is a height of corruption. Lack of fiscal discipline is corruption. So, corruption and development cannot meet. You must eschew corruption to make sure that you make significant progress.

“Fighting corruption is not a matter of do it today and tomorrow you are absent. It must be consistently fought. There must not be sacred cows, and it must be comprehensive and inclusive,” he said.The Buhari administration has repeatedly come under criticism for allegedly favouring a section of the country on appointments and targeting the opposition in its campaign against graft.

The government’s alleged shoddy consultation was also blamed for the delay in the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade and Agreement (AfCFTA), acclaimed the largest free trade agreement in the world. Obasanjo told investors that while there is no confusion on what the deal is, private sector operators became disillusioned over the government’s alleged inaction and poor consultations after it had taken the lead in design and execution.

He expressed hope that Nigeria would sign the deal before the July 7 launch in Niamey.“Nigeria will not be absent at the launch of the AfCFTA. But I see no reason why Nigeria can be present at the launch when it has not signed the agreement. It is out of place. Eritrea and even Niger and Benin who are our neighbours have signed, and Nigeria is counting itself out.

“If you heard the statement of the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade today, there is nothing more beautiful than that, but he is not a policy maker, he is a policy executor.

“He will have to go home and tell the policymakers that he made the right statement, so it’s now their turn for action. I hope that when he gets home and says it’s time for right action, they will follow through,” he said.

But Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary (Political and Economic Affairs) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the delay was not indicative of government’s doubt on the initiative, but the consequence of ongoing renegotiations.He explained that Nigeria wants to ensure that some protective steps are put in place, lest the country becomes a dumping ground.

“With time, Nigeria is going to sign. But we have to do what China did, even with the world trade agreement – they gave a condition. And that is what we are going to do. You do not expect a country like Nigeria to be given the same size of cake with a country like The Gambia, even though we are all in Africa.

“You cannot just go ahead and enter into an agreement with a neighbouring nation without looking at who is standing behind that nation. How are you going to protect yourself?

“Though we need a free and fair deal, how also do we protect ourselves to ensure that we do not just become a dumping ground? These are some of the issues we are looking at, at the moment. Absolutely, we are coming back to the table to say, “this is what we want,” Aduda said.

Earlier, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his country’s willingness to contribute more to the development of the African continent, disclosing that over $20 billion worth of investments was done in Africa in 2018.

“Russia is building a long-term relationship with Africa and has become a shareholder in Afreximbank. To give an additional impetus to all our cooperation, including commercial and economic, it was decided to jointly organise the first Russia-Africa summit in October 2019 in Sochi.

“We are waiting for African Heads of State and Government, leaders of the African Union and other major sub-regional organisations to key into our partnership and hope that Afreximbank will contribute to the substantial content of the economic part of the programme, which seems very solid,” he said.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/guardian.ng/news/nepotism-is-corruption-obasanjo-tells-presidency/amp

Following the Ebola virus scare which went viral earlier in the week, the Federal government on Thursday dispatched officials from the Ministry of Health to ensure that the facilities of Port Health Service (PHS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos were at their optimal capacity to curtail the entry of a carrier of the virus into the country.
This comes even as Port Health workers at the Lagos airport while demonstrating their capacity to curtail the entrance of an infected Ebola passenger into the country, complained to the visiting government team of inadequate personnel noting that they had only one medical doctor at the airport, while nurses were retiring in droves without replacement.

The government team was led by Mr. Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health who debunked rumours making the rounds that an Ebola infected passenger had entered the country through the Lagos international airport. In the same vein, Abdullahi assured that extra steps were taken in the screening of in-bound passengers to ensure that those infected by the virus don’t gain access to the country.
In recent months, Uganda and Congo DRC have been severely hit by the virus with fears it could spread to Nigeria through travellers going to both countries.
“I am here on a familiarisation visit to access the facilities on ground. On the issue of the Ebola virus scare, there is no truth in the earlier rumour that a traveller with Ebola virus entered the country,” he said.
“On inadequate personnel and the complaints of the service at the airport, we have noted all that. We have excess of staff (in the country) and this thing will be addressed. I can assure you that more personnel would be deployed to this airport very soon,” added Abdullahi.
The Director, Port Health Services, Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh, who spoke during the facility tour of health equipment had decried the poor service at the airport saying they had only one medical doctor at the airport with two ambulances and also lacked drivers to drive the attached vehicles in case of emergencies.

She urged government to provide all the necessary working tools to in order to enable health workers function optimally, stressing that with this, more lives would be saved in emergency situations.
Also speaking, the International Terminal Manager for the Lagos Airport, Mr. Olatayo Ogini, said FAAN was collaborating with Port Health Service to prevent Ebola-infected passengers from entering the country.
He said: “Since the outbreak of Ebola virus some few years back, we have been collaborating with Port Health Service.
“In D and E arrivals, which are the two points of entries into the Lagos airport, we have facilities for screening passengers. Also at the avio bridge to the boarding area, PHS has equipment there for screening of everyone, which was demonstrated before the permanent secretary and I think he was satisfied with that.
“They have a permanent clinic at our E arrival where we make sure we provide all the equipment they require. We also have isolated clinic for emergency services,” he added.
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/06/ebola-scare-fg-to-boost-emergency.html

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), will start the issuance of 10-year validity e-passport at the Ikoyi passport office on June 25, 2019.
A statement in Abuja on Thursday by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James said: “The enhanced 10 year validity e-Passport will be rolled-out at the Ikoyi Passport office on Tuesday 25th June 2019.
“In view of the above, the Service plans to shut down the existing payment platform for Ikoyi Passport office to give way for the new one.
‘Hence, the Ikoyi Passport office will only attend to Passport applications for the enhanced e-Passport effective from the stated date.
“The public is to note that: All pending applications in Ikoyi will be processed before the roll-out date.
“Alausa and FESTAC Passport offices will continue to issue the existing e-Passport for applicants desirous of same.”
https://www.nigerianewspaper.com.ng/2019/06/immigration-commences-issuance-of-10.html

BRUSSELS —

European Union regulators have hit Google with a 1.49 billion euro ($1.68 billion) fine for abusing its dominant role in online advertising.

It's the third time the commission has slapped Google with an antitrust penalty, following multibillion-dollar fines resulting from separate probes into two other parts of the Silicon Valley giant's business.

The EU's competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, announced the results of the long-running probe of Google's AdSense advertising business at a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

"Today's decision is about how Google abused its dominance to stop websites using brokers other than the AdSense platform," Vestager said.

The commission found that Google and its parent company, Alphabet, breached EU antitrust rules by imposing restrictive clauses in contracts with websites that used AdSense, preventing Google rivals from placing their ads on these sites.

Google "prevented its rivals from having a chance to innovate and to compete in the market on their merits," Vestager said. "Advertisers and website owners, they had less choice and likely faced higher prices that would be passed on to consumers."

AdSense is an older Google product that lets web publishers such as bloggers place text ads on their websites, with the content of the ads based on results from search functions on their sites. Microsoft filed an EU antitrust complaint about the service in 2009 and the EU Commission formally launched its probe in 2016, although it said at the time that Google had already made some changes to allow affected customers more freedom to show competing ads.

Last year, Vestager hit the company with a record 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine following an investigation into its Android operating system. In 2017, she slapped Google with a 2.42 billion euro fine in a case involving its online shopping search results.
https://www.voanews.com/a/eu-fines-google-1-7-billion-for-abusing-online-ads-market/4839305.html

Wenger take it easy

Let them get better jobs. This recession is too much a beg.

money talking. These Otedola daughters are beautiful.
nigeria newspaper

fashola you don hear am. Let them give us free pre-paid meter. In Ghana, even mud house get pre-paid meter.
nigeria newspaper

I hope he will be seen alive at the end
nigeria newspaper

So many things happened while in prison
nigeria newspaper

Let them kill this kidnapper.
nigeria newspaper

As a female, I like playing games a lot mostly car race.These games are nice.