₦airaland Forum

This is to inform all pre-degree students of the Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka that the dates of their examination is still as fixed.

The examination will commence on the 26th of August till 30th.

Students should please ignore any rumour that the time table for this examination has been changed. The ASUU strike did not affect the PD programme.

Light ke in anambra? Jst tell me you are kidding. Abagana hardly gets upto 3hrs supply daily if not total blackout. Guese this is politically oriented!!!!!! Fake rubish!

EEE.... Power house of technology!!!

No strike jare..... Got exams 2 write this week!!!

dats cool

Lagos—United States President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle have described the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.”

In a letter made available to Vanguard but addressed to the Achebe family and read by a White House representative, at the Celebration of Life event for Chinua Achebe, last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama said Achebe was a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.

“Achebe shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world. With a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world closer together. His legacy will endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with the everlasting power of his art.”

The event which also featured an arts exhibition and reception kicked off at 6 pm. Other highlights of the event included tributes from public and private friends and dignitaries, cultural dance troupes, music, masquerades and tributes.

The Francesca Harper project provided a thrilling ballet and the former Nigerian based US citizen, Chuck Mike theatre group enthralled the crowd with a theatrical production of a scene from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

Professor Mike reportedly had the audience laughing with his rendition of his experiences in Nigeria and the idiosyncratic tendency of Nigerians to respond with the phrase “we thank God” when asked a variety of questions in various scenarios.

The Afrobeat band Eme and Heteru thrilled the crowd with electrifying music. Speakers included the host, Johnnetta Cole, President emeritus of Spelman and Bennet Colleges and now director of the Smithonian museum of African Art; Ruth Simmons, former president of Brown University, Poet Sonia Sanchez, Micere Mugo and Simon Gikandi, Scott Moyers, president of Penguin, and Jules Chametzky, professor emeriti of Umass Amherst, where Achebe spent time in the 1970s and 80s.


vanguard news

http://..com/2013/06/achebe-drew-world-closer-obama.html

This is the artwork for Kanye’s forthcoming album called Yeezus, due out June 18. First he released a song titled 'I Am A God', now an album titled Yeezus. How ridiculous is this guy? See another photo after the cut....

The actor made the announcement on his BB a few minutes ago. He said his dad died this evening.

The ongoing reforms in tertiary institutions got a boost yesterday as the Independent Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) announced the closure of 41 out of the 67 universities whose operations were yet to be regularised. The action was the result of collaboration between the ICPC and the National Universities Commission (NUC) in carrying out systems review of the universities.

It is the first time such a large number of higher institutions will be closed down. Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, said the properties of the 67 universities have been seized. The agency has also arrested the owners. He said that prosecution of the proprietors will be carried out accordingly. Represented by one of his commissioners, Prof Olu Aina, the ICPC boss said: “In keeping with its warning delivered by the chairman last week, ICPC has today commenced a nation-wide operation to seal the premises of identified illegal universities, seize their properties, make arrests, prosecute and execute such other actions it deems fit.

“This action is the first in the series of implementing the outcome of an ongoing ICPC/NUC University Review Study and Review for which ICPC sought and obtained a Federal High Court warrant to crack down on illegal degree-awarding mills in Nigeria,” he said. The ICPC however, refused to disclose plans by the commission to cater for the well being of the students of the universities who’ve spent millions of Naira in securing admissions. “The order we got from the court permits us to freeze the accounts of these institutions. Where the student qualifies to gain admissions into universities, we will help them in getting such. We don’t have money to refund to such students,” Nta affirmed.

Nta said the exercise will end this week. “About 100 people have already been positioned in nine zones of the country. There are 67 of such universities involved and we’ve the addresses of 41 of them. Section 37 of the ICPC law empowers the commission to carry out such functions,” he added. “An inter-agency task team, compromising of ICPC, the NUC, Police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps will continue the exercise until all corrupt practices associated with the physical existence of such illegal institutions cease completely.

Roll call

1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies

2. Lagos Institute (Illegally affliated to Olabisi Onabanjo University for degree awarding)

3. University of Carribean

4. University of Education Winneba Ghana Nigeria Agency: Faculty Development Centre Study Centres:

5.Irish University Business School Doseg International College,

6. Christ Message International University

7. University of Nigeria (Illegal Degree Awarding Study Centre, Campaus)

8. University of Ibadan (Illegal Campus) Agent: Quality Merchandise Associate

9. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho

10. EC-Council University

11. Halifax Gateway University

12. Royal Institute Of Continuing Education (Illegally running degree of AAU, Akungba Akoko)



B. South-East Zone Abia State

1.Volta University College

2.Abia State University (Illegal study Centre) International Secondary SchoolAbia.

3.Pilgrims university

4.Triumphal university Omugbo Town

5.Atlanta International University

6. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology

7.Richmond Open University Arochukwu,

Ebonyi State

8. Rockvile University

9. Royal University, Izhia Abakaliki Ebonyi.

10.Urban university College of Nigeria

Enugu State

11.Luminar International Centre for Health and Alternative Medicine

12. Atlas University

13. Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University



C. South South Zone

Akwa Ibom State

1.Atlas University

Delta State

2. Imo State University (Illegal satellite Campus) Lucia Group of Schools Okwe Asaba

Kogi State

1.Atlanta University CMML Secondary School Ayamgba, Kogi State.

Benue State

2.Samuel Ahmadu University

3. Irish Univesity Business School London

4. North Central University

Kwara State

5.Concept College (London)

Abuja (FCT)

6. Open University of Nigeria

7.Temple University Mazarene Children Academy Orozo, Abuja.

8.University of Applied Management, Germany

9.Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria

10.Concept College London Abuja Camput

11.Imo State University

E. North-West Zone

Kano State

1.Houdegbe North America University

2.The International Universities (TIU) Missouri,

Kaduna State

3. Mr. David Lornem New Idea Management Consultant and Open Learning Network

TELECOMMUNICATION giants MTN Nigeria are offering about 20 school kids between the ages of 15 and 18 scholarship opportunity of combining education and football career in its season three of MTN Football scholar tournament.

According to the organisers, the kids would be selected after weeks of rigorous training and tests in Six zones which are Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin, Akure, Abuja and Enugu.

Ex Eagles International Segun Odegbami said Wednesday at a media briefing heralding the event that the tournament would give the children an opportunity to become successful in their educational pursuit and chosen career in football.

He said also that the programme was designed in such a way that young Nigerians will develop their skills through education abroad

" If you go to school and play football, the combination is a paradise. I thank MTN for sharing my vision, I am a living testimony that even after playing football you can still become a doctor, engineer whatever..

"The era of calling footballers drop out is over. When I was in Spain I had team mates who practiced different professions after playing soccer," the former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju quipped.

In the same vein, the Technical Director of the programme sponsored by MTN Kunle Raji said the event will take place in 6 zones which are Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin, Akure, Abuja and Enugu.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed support for the National Union of Teachers' proposed indefinite strike over non-payment of their 27.5 per cent enhanced allowance.

The NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The teachers in public primary and secondary schools plan to commence an indefinite strike from June 1.

Mr. Omar said that the 18 states that had yet to pay the allowance defaulted in the agreement reached with labour on the payment.

"It is the responsibility of the NLC to support the states whenever they think it is time for them to embark on a strike.

"We have written to the union to furnish us with details of the defaulting states, and I am glad that the union's National Executive Council took a decision on this," Omar said.

The defaulting states are Benue, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Nassarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Kogi, Niger and Sokoto.

The NLC boss said that the congress was also battling with the payment of minimum wage as some states had yet to commence payment.

He said that the congress had agreed on the modality of payment, adding that the state congress would decide the manner of implementation.

Mr. Omar said the states' councils are expected to negotiate and come up with the salary table, noting that "the NLC is on the negotiating table with the states on how to commence payment."

The newest couple in entertainment city is Dammy Krane & Yvonne Nelson. The Ghanaian actress is no stranger to love circles as her “relationship” with Iyanya was pretty well publicized and the way it ended was displayed for all to see. In the past year she’s also been linked to Ice Prince, but that was never confirmed.



Fast foward to a few weeks ago, and Dammy Krane’s new joint Really Love You dropped and made everyone think… hmmm… what is really up with these two.

Well it turns out the 2 might be seeing each other, and might have been for a while. Yvonne really likes the Naija crop of men sha. We Thank god.

(BBC)

The Blackberry Messenger (BBM) app is to be offered as a download to run on rival platforms.
Blackberry said it would initially offer texts, photo messages and group sharing functions on devices running Google's Android and Apple's iOS operating systems from "the summer".

It added it planned to roll out screen sharing, voice and video calls - all without charge - later in the year.
The move could prove disruptive to Skype, Whatsapp and other rivals.

Blackberry chief executive Thorsten Heins revealed the surprise news at the end of his presentation at the firm's annual developers conference in Orlando, Florida.

The company said that more than 60 million Blackberry owners already used BBM at least once a month, according to BBC report.
But Mr Heins played down the idea that offering the feature to rival devices would harm sales of the Canadian company's own handsets.

"You might ask the question why is Blackberry doing this now," said Mr Heins.
It's a statement of confidence. The Blackberry 10 platform is so strong and the response has been so good that we are confident the time is right for Blackberry Messenger to become an independent multiplatform messaging solution."

He added that for the app to work iPhone users would need at least iOS 6 and Android users the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's software. There was no mention of Windows Phone.

Wider impact
One analyst said it was too soon to know if the move would force competitors to change their own strategies.
"BBM has been a significant traffic driver for Blackberry - particularly the consumer audience," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe.

"Expanding it to be multiplatform not only widens the consumer appeal but also may help woo back corporate customers it lost due to earlier technical problems.

"However, other players like Whatsapp will only drop their fees if they see BBM making major inroads into other platforms."
Ben Wood from telecoms consultancy CCS Insight added that Blackberry might have felt forced into the move because of the growing popularity of cross-platform alternatives which also includes Facebook Messenger.
"It will increase feature competition among mobile messaging platforms," he said.
"It dramatically increases BBM's long-term relevance - but it is unclear how Blackberry will ensure the move benefits its own hardware sales."

Cheaper phone
Blackberry also announced a new smartphone powered by its BB10 system - the first to be targeted at emerging markets.
The Q5 features a physical Qwerty keyboard and a 3.1in (7.9cm) touchscreen. The Blackberry 10 device will be released in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America in July.

It should be cheaper than the Z10 and Q10 which were unveiled in January. However, the firm has yet to confirm pricing.
"We understand the importance of having devices to suit all markets and needs," said Mr Heins. "It's a sleek, slim high-performance device."

One company watcher said it was important for Blackberry to have a device running BB10 on sale in parts of the world where its handsets were still bestsellers.

"The Q5 could be a very significant device for the company because there is a significant opportunity for high-quality low-cost smartphones," said Adam Leach, devices analyst at telecoms consultancy Ovum. The Q2S is being offered in red and pink colours as well as black and white options

"If Blackberry can replicate the success of the Blackberry Curve in emerging markets then it will certainly help establish the Blackberry 10 platform.

"However, Blackberry has significant competition in this area with low-cost Android devices and with Nokia's Asha 501 which sells for just under $100 [£65]. It will be crucial to see if Blackberry can match or undercut that."
Ovum predicts that emerging markets will account for 40% of smartphone shipments by 2017.

According to data from IDC - another tech consultancy - Blackberry devices accounted for just over 19% of global smartphone shipments at the start of 2010. But the firm suggests that figure had dropped to less than 4% by the end of last year.
What does BBM offer?
Blackberry Messenger began life as a simple instant messaging tool offering owners of the firm's handsets a free alternative to SMS texts.

Over the years the company has added functions including sending pictures, audio messages and other files as well as making voice and video calls, all over the internet.

In addition it offers a Groups facility which allows users to share photos, lists and calendar appointments with trusted contacts.
The latest addition is Channels - a feature allowing brands and celebrities to send news and status updates to users who want to follow them through the app.

Blackberry has a chance to leapfrog existing cross-platform rivals by bringing all these facilities to Android and iOS users.
However, with reports that Whatsapp could shortly add voice calls and that Google has been working on its own unified messaging service, Blackberry may find competition in the market is about to intensify.

Like a bolt from the blues, news of the emergence of yet another deadly militant group shot onto the national landscape last week. Identified by the bombastic name of Ombatse Militia Cult, and operating in Nasarawa State, the group members signified notice of their intention to be taken seriously by the Nigerian authorities with their brazen murder of about 35 policemen in Alakyo Village, which is less than 10 kilometres to the Nasarawa State capital, Lafia. Some officials of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) were also killed in the incident that is tantamount to nothing but a dirty slap on the Nigerian government, the nation’s security agencies and, indeed, the entire country.
Apparently, the Ombatse Militia had been terrorizing the people of Nasarawa for some time, but somehow, its operations stayed well off the national security radar. But, with the killing of the policemen and other security agents in Alakyo, the Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, had no choice but to make an official report of the group’s activities to the Presidency in Abuja.
In the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who was away to Namibia last Wednesday, Al-Makura told Vice President Namadi Sambo how he had convened a security meeting on the activities of the militia group in Nasarawa where it was decided that security agents in the state would raid the shrines operated by the group in Alakyo and arrest its members.
But, the plan apparently leaked to the cult group, which then ambushed the security agents. At the end of the bloody encounter, 35 policemen were confirmed killed by the cult group with several operational vehicles burnt. About 30 corpses of security operatives killed during the ambush were initially confirmed to have been recovered, while many of the 90 policemen deployed for the operation are yet to be accounted for. Twenty-eight of the missing agents were, however, released by the group last Friday. President Goodluck Jonathan immediately cut short his state visit to Namibia. He met with his security chiefs last Friday and, as expected, ordered an investigation.
Since that gruesome incident, many people have been understandably worried about the matter. While some of the operatives that survived the ambush alleged that the militia group might have charmed the murdered policemen, some security chiefs and the Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida, have attributed the massacre to failure of intelligence and inexperience on the part of those who directed the operation.
The mindless slaughter of so many policemen in the Nasarawa incident is a tragedy. Tufiaka! Ee wo! Ye pa ri pa! Ombatse Militia has joined Boko Haram in wanton killing of Nigeria’s security agents! .Abomination is now walking on four legs in Nigeria, in broad daylight. Policemen have become like mere flies, killed at will by militants.
If there had been any argument up till now over the fact that Nigerian policemen and other security agents have become endangered species in the hands of militant groups in the country, the Nasarawa incident has rested it. Anyone that did not come to that disheartening conclusion following the massacre of security agents in Bama, Borno State, last week, must surely be convinced by the latest incident in Nasarawa.
It is noteworthy that the image of policemen as overlords that the authorities needed to convince us are our friends, on account of their general high-handedness, unfriendliness and wickedness, is now giving way to that of the operatives as pitiable sitting ducks for militant group across the country.
These militant groups apparently have an upper hand over the police, and they seem to derive joy from killing policemen. This is a scenario that Nigeria cannot afford. Policemen should not be targets of all manner of disgruntled people in the country, especially when the nation is not officially at war.
Apart from addressing the failure of intelligence and inexperience of security operatives deployed for this assignment mentioned by the Niger State Governor, the police and other security officials need to tackle the problem of infiltration of their ranks by militants. Otherwise, how did the matter of a raid to be carried out by the operatives become known to the Ombatse Militia to the extent that the cult group was able to muster superior fire power to rout the security agents and send them to early graves? How did the Ombatse group know about the planned police raid, without the police getting a hint of the ambush planned by the group? Is this a case of the Ombatse being more adept at intelligence gathering than our police and the Directorate of Security Service?
One other thing that appears glaring is that the Police Command in Nasarawa did not appear to have a full grasp of the strength of the Ombatse militia. Even if it did, as the number of operatives deployed for the raid suggests, the Command obviously did not envisage that the cult boys could run over its team so easily. The team was apparently unprepared for the challenge of its planned raid of the group.
As Governor Aliyu put it at the opening of the Geo-political Security Awareness workshop in Minna, recently, intelligence gathering and security operations require silence, speed and surprise. The planned raid of the Ombatse group lacked all three. It was not at all silent, and it was no surprise to the militia, which was apparently well prepared to confront them.
Serious security operations like the one that went awry in Nasarawa should be handled with all seriousness. They require careful planning and could be postponed if there is the slightest chance that they might have leaked to the targets.
Again, security agents must employ the best of equipment available for such operations. It is saddening to hear after the massacre that the state command could have asked for patrol jets and Armoured Personnel carriers from Abuja, but failed to do so, apparently because it expected to have an easy ride over the cultists.
This type of approach to such serious security problem must be avoided in future. With what has happened, one can only sympathise with the victims and the families they left behind. It is so sad to lose loved ones to avoidable deaths such as this.
Nigeria Police, which has been losing its men in droves of recent, deserves to be encouraged by the authorities. There is obviously need for training and retraining of officers charged with security duties. Critical operations such as the one in Nasarawa should involve higher levels of police authority, especially at the planning stage. Our security agencies must put their best foot forward at all times.
The Ombatse cult has dared the Federal Government of Nigeria. An attack on policemen by anyone in a country is an attack against the entire country. What the Ombatse Militia has done is to run its hands over the blunt knife-edge of Nigeria’s security agencies, and dared them to bring it to book.
Nigeria must not fail to respond appropriately to this open challenge by the cult. The militia group has to be unmasked and made to account for this heinous crime, otherwise, Nigeria risks similar deadly groups rising up and killing policemen and other security agents with impunity all over the country.
In addition, the problems of unemployment, poverty, devaluation of our moral values and other ills that make a life of criminality attractive to youths should be addressed. Idle minds and hungry stomachs make a volatile mix that is the Devil’s ideal playground.

The timely arrival of emergency workers on Tuesday afternoon saved hundreds of pupil of Ogba Primary School from being drowned.
Some of the primary school pupils, however, sustained varying degrees of minor injuries and were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

Many people were injured as many parts of Agege and Ogba were, on Tuesday afternoon, flooded as a result of the mid-day downpour in the Lagos communities.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Authority(NEMA) , Lagos State Emergency Agency and LASAMBUS prevented what would have been a serious tragedy at Ogba Primary School, Ogba, Lagos.
The school was submerged in flood, making it very impossible for teachers and pupils in the school to trace their ways out of the school premises.
The situation was getting out of hand when a distress call was put to the state ministry of education , from where the different emergency management agencies were contacted.
Many of the pupils had gone out of their classrooms and were playing in the overflooded school premises.
A source in the area, who simply identified himself as Bayo, stated that the teachers had initially wanted to see if they could evacuate the pupils but outside the school was also flooded.
The situation became worse as teachers and the school authorities became very worried before the emergency workers arrived.
Ibrahim Farinloye, the South-West spokesperson of the NEMA , while speaking on the incident. ,insisted that all the pupils were rescued.
The NEMA spokesperson noted that the few of them who had minor injuries were treated by officials of LASAMBUS.
He appealed to school authorities to always take precautionary measures on their wards , while also advising drivers not to stay in their vehicles , during heavy rainfall.
In a related development, scores of residents of Ijaiye, Sowonuola and Adeyemi Streets, Abiola Market area as well as other communities in Agege and Ogba were injured as a result of heavy flooding in the area.
The wounded people were those who got injured while trying to run away from the flooded area and others, trying to salvage their belongings from their homes and shop.

Residents of Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos State are still talking about 18-year-old Olanrewaju Kayode-Aremu, who stabbed his father, Victor Kayode-Aremu, to death.
Police authorities said the suspect stabbed his 46-year-old father to death while the man was attempting to enter his room.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Olanrewaju was a student of University of Ilorin, Kwara State, but was expelled because he had poor grades.

A police source at Langbasa Divison, where the suspect was detained, told our correspondent that the incident occurred on May 1, 2013.

He said, “Olanrewaju is the first of five children. He lived with his parents and siblings in a duplex in Langbasa. He was enrolled in University of Ilorin to study Geology in 2011 but was later asked to withdraw because he had very poor grades.

“Since he was not attending any school, he started working with his father who was a civil engineer. The arrangement his father made with him was that he would be working with him until he could get admission to another school.”

The senior officer told our correspondent that the suspect was not happy about the arrangement. He said the frustration later led him to laying an ambush for his father while he was trying to enter his room.

He said the suspect stabbed his father in 10 different places, causing him to bleed to death.

He said, “Around 10pm on that day, the whole family had just had dinner and they were watching television when their father received a telephone call. He went upstairs and when he got to the entrance of the room, Olanrewaju appeared from nowhere with a kitchen knife.



“He stabbed his father in the back, sides, hands, legs over 10 times. The man, who was screaming in pains, attracted the attention of other members of the family who were downstairs. When the mother came upstairs, she found her son still stabbing her husband. The presence of other children did not also stop Olanrewaju.



“When she tried to save her husband, Olanrewaju threatened to stab her if she came close. The woman then went outside and called on neighbours for help.”



PUNCH Metro learnt that it took the intervention of neighbours to overpower the 18-year-old and wrest the knife from him.

It was learnt that the victim was rushed to J-Rapha Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A resident, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the family had been in shock and had not been staying home since the incident occurred.



He said, “The family is a young one. Olanrewaju is the first born and he had four younger siblings.”



The suspect, who was not remorseful, said he killed his father because he was convinced that his father did not love him.



He said he was not worried about his predicament since he was too young to be prosecuted.



“The case is a very long story. The truth is that my father never loved me and the only form of care he showed me was paying my school fees. I am just 18-years-old so I know I cannot be prosecuted. I have no regrets for my action,” he said.



When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she had yet to be fully briefed on the incident.



http://www.punchng.com/metro/18-year-old-undergraduate-stabs-father-to-death/


http://..com/2013/05/18-year-old-undergraduate-stabs-father.html

One of the leaders of the Boko Haram sect, Aliyu Tashaku, monday ruled out going into talks with the federal government unless it met its condition for peace.

Speaking during an interview on the Hausa service of Radio France International (RFI), monitored in Sokoto, Tashaku said the federal government would need to convince the sect of its sincerity of purpose by releasing Boko Haram members in detention and ordering security agents to stop further arrests.

The conditions given by Tashaku, which were reaffirmation of earlier ones that the sect had given to embrace dialogue, came against the backdrop of the release of video clips by the insurgents, showing women and children the Boko Haram had kidnapped in retaliation for the arrest of its members' wives and children.

Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the attacks in Baga and Bama, in which scores of people were killed.

Tashaku who expressed reservations about the constitution of the Presidential Amnesty Committee for Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, also said the federal government should rebuild the sect’s mosques and members’ houses demolished by security operatives, adding that members of the Boko Haram sect should be allowed to perform their religious obligations like other adherents of other faith.

He also called for the withdraw of soldiers from their religious centres after which their leader, Sheik Abubakar Shekau, would come out and give the sect’s commitment to the negotiation process.

He explained that the sect had decided that it would meet with the amnesty committee because it believed there was a plot against Muslims and the north in general.

"In the first instance, the Boko Haram sect opened up to the amnesty committee because we realised that some members of the committee are men of integrity who will stand on the path of truth and ensure
justice and fairness," he said.

He accused the federal government of discrimination in handling thee security challenges in the country, adding that nothing has been done by the federal government against those who massacred policemen in Nasarawa State last week.
Meanwhile, in a new video clip purportedly released yesterday by Shekau, Boko Haram said it had abducted women and children in response to the arrest of its members' wives and children.

If confirmed, these would be the first Nigerians taken hostage by Boko Haram.

In the video, Shekau also said the group was behind two recent attacks in the north-east, which left an estimated 240 people dead.
Shekau did not name the women and children whom he said the group had seized, or say how many they were.

This was in response to the security forces arresting women, children and infants related to Boko Haram members in Kano, Bauchi and Damaturu, he added.
"In a single house in Damaturu, eight of our women and 14 children were arrested.
"No one in this country will enjoy his women and children" if the relatives of Boko Haram members were not released," he said.

Shekau confirmed that the group carried out a series of attacks in recent weeks - including a raid on May 7 by about 200 heavily-armed men on Bama village, in Borno State near Nigeria's border with Cameroun.
"We are the ones that carried out the Bama attack," he said.

Five-five people were killed and 105 prisoners freed in the raids on a police station, military barracks and government buildings.
Shekau said Boko Haram had also carried out a "small operation" on the northern town of Baga on April 16.



http://..com/2013/05/boko-haram-leader-reiterates-conditions.html

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced an Iranian, Azim Aghajani, and his Nigerian accomplice, Ali Jega, to 17 years imprisonment each for illegal importation of firearms into the country in 2010.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke found the two guilty of four, out of the five counts preferred against them by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Aghajani and Jega were alleged to have illegally imported 13-by-20 feet container load of firearms and explosives into Nigeria from Iran on July 17, 2010 by falsely declaring on the Bill of Lading that the consignment contained construction materials.

The judge sentenced the two to five years for each of three counts and to two years for the fourth count, ruling that the sentences would run concurrently from February 1, 2011, when they were arraigned.

He also ordered that all the items seized from the accused be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge however discharged and acquitted Aghajani and Jega of the offence of “being in control” of the imported firearms.

“As for count 1, which has to do with importation of firearms into the country without licence, there is no doubt that the accused persons actually imported the consignment,” he said.

He discharged and acquitted them of the offence in the second count, saying having not paid the necessary custom fees, the accused “could not be said to have been in control of the consignment”.

“There is no evidence that the payment of the custom duty was made. If they had made any payment, I would have taken it that they were in constructive possession of the consignment,” he said.

He added, “It is not in doubt that the Bill of Lading which disclosed the consignment to have glass wool and pallets of stone actually contained arms and ammunitions.

“It is my view that the accused made a false declaration on the Bill of Lading they claimed contained glass wool and pallets of stones whereas it contained arms and ammunition.”

The judge also asked Aghajani’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), to liaise with the federal ministries of Justice and interior on his request that his client be allowed to serve his jail term in his home country.

The judge, who had given the accused persons and their lawyers the opportunity to plead for mercy, said their plea for mercy was “touching and moving” but that he had to follow the law.

As Lagos State government moves to further strengthen the Road Traffic Law, commercial bus drivers and conductors will soon begin to wear uniform and badges.


Besides, owners of such buses will have their identities aboard the vehicles. This is part of the revelations by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, while briefing journalists on the activities of the ministry in the last 365 days.


He said, “The transport unions have agreed on the type of uniform and the badges they will give to the commercial bus drivers and their conductors. The identities of the owners (owners’ cards) of the commercial buses will also be aboard these buses.”


Again, the commercial bus drivers must be re-certified by attending the drivers’ institute, where they will undergo comprehensive tests - including vision and driving tests.


The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State branch, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede, reacting to this development, said the union would always support the government in its efforts to actualise the contents of the Road Traffic Law, which, he noted, aim at saving lives and ensuring sanity on Lagos roads.


He stated, “We are always in support of government by making sure our members obey the Road Traffic Law. It is for the good of everyone in the state.”

THERE is a disturbing development in the banking industry as some banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) now dispense counterfeit currencies, particularly the N1000 notes, which is the highest denomination in the country.

A drama played out last week in Lagos when a customer who withdrew money from an old generation bank went to another bank few metres away to deposit part of the money in another bank, but was shocked when the cashier told him that some of the N1000 notes were fake. Efforts to explain the source of the money were rebuffed. The cashier and customers in that bank confirmed that the development was not strange but was now becoming rampant.

Another victim who withdrew some amount of money from an ATM in Ibadan was stunned when he was told by a cashier in his office, in an attempt to make some deposit, that two of the one thousand naira notes were fake.

Efforts by Nigerian Tribune to get response from the affected banks proved abortive as they claimed ignorance.

Different opinions have been expressed on this disturbing situation. An ex-banker, Paul Ejodamen told Nigerian Tribune that, there is human factor in the whole arrangement, urging banks to put measures in place to stem the trend.

A head of corporate affairs in one of the banks who pleaded anonymity, did not rule out the handiwork of people he described as ‘bad elements’ in the system.

According to him, there is need for the banks to take extra vigilance on those uploading money into the ATMs and double-check bundle of currency notes being put in the vaults by the Tellers.

A financial analyst and Chief Operating Officer, Twinsronk Consulting, Okechukwu Amadi, said ATM has revolutionised banking in Nigeria, calling on the industry regulator, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take bold step to stop the disturbing trend.

He warned that the act should not be allowed to spread as it was capable of rubbishing the nation’s banking system.

“I have it before but I thought it was all a rumour. One can understand the use of fake currency in public place certainly not in the bank. CBn and banks must put measures in place to stem it or else, people will lose faith in the ATM technology,” he said.

It is recalled that when the issue of counterfeiting was becoming rampant, CBN advised members of the public to always look out for in-built security features on the note before accepting it for any transaction.There are three major features which are easily identifiable with the original N1000 currency, silver lining which is difficult to tear, imprint of picture images on the water mark side of the note and imprint of N1000 figure on the golden spot of the note, he explained.

Analysts see this as a huge challenge as the apex bank is still contending with the issue of excess charges on customers.

Only recently, CBN said it had recovered N8.6 billion excess charges that banks charged customers in the first quarter of the year.

According to the Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Department of CBN, Mrs Umma A. Dutse, the amount also included what was recovered for customers who complained about conversion, frauds and others.

She said the department received and treated over 2,800 complaints from consumers against their banks at the end of the first quarter.

According to her, “we have also been able to recover more than N8.6 billion in favour of various customers. The figures that I have just mentioned exclude complaints that have to do with Automated Teller Machines and electronic-related complaints, and also complaints from other financial institutions like microfinance institutions and primary mortgage institutions. They are just complaints against Deposit Money Banks.”

The department was created with a view to promoting consumer confidence in the banking industry.

Its roles also include advocacy, enlightenment, education and promotion of awareness among customers.

Pope Francis broke the record for declaring new saints yesterday as he canonised more than 800 Martyrs of Otranto. But the move was questioned by an oncologist who challenged the “miracle” attributed to the new saints.
The Pope, in his first canonisation, made saints of Antonio Primaldo and 800 fellow Christians who were massacred by the Ottoman Turks in 1480 for refusing to convert to Islam. At a stroke, he beat the record of 91 saints created by Pope John Paul II during his 27-year reign.
The only Otranto martyr whose name is known is the cobbler Antonio.


source: http://..com/2013/05/cancer-survivor-is-no-miracle-doctor.html

Many candidates that sat for the 2013 joint admission and matriculation board examination (JAMB) has complained bitterly of their result been withheld. Most because of biometric issue.

However, I have tried to help by contacting the JAMB board officers. Have got a positive response from them anyway. The response goes thus

"ALL CANDIDATE HAVING BIOMETRIC ISSUES FOR RESULT CHECKING SHOULD VISIT THE NEAREST JAMB OFFICE BEFORE FRIDAY 10/05/2013 WITH THIER RESPECTIVE PHOTOCARD. THE WITHHELD RESULTS WILL HOPEFULLY BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK"

goodluck to you all.



source: http://..com

no verification, i guese

Scam!!!!

Any lapi?

SCAM!!!!!!

It has been written. Result yet 2 b out...

A warning strike by SSANU.

check ur mails

This is to inform the general public that online application for admission into the 65th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna is available for sale from
7th November 2012 to 28th February 2013 .

Admission into NDA is open to both MALE and FEMALE Nigerians. Upon purchase of Access or PIN Codes, prospective candidates should follow the link on the NDA Official Website or log on to the Application Portal and complete the online application form.

METHOD OF APPLICATION
Interested candidates are advised to purchase access or PIN codes from any of the branches or cash offices of Zenith Bank Plc nationwide, at the cost of ₦2,500.00 only, excluding bank charges of ₦500.00 for an online application. Applicants applying for admission into NDA MUST also apply to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and carefully select Nigerian Defence Academy as their First Choice of university. Such applicants are expected to sit sit for the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Applications should be submitted online. On completion of the online application, candidates are to download an Acknowledgement Form. Upon release of the JAMB results, candidates should return to the applications portal and download their Examination Admission Card . Only candidates who make the JAMB national cut-off marks will have access to print out the Examination Admission Card.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The requirements for various undergraduate degree programmes are as detailed in the NDA website / applications portal, as well as in the JAMB Brochure and website. All other information concerning degree courses, eligibility and examination centres are as contained in the NDA website / applications portal.
Nigerian Defence Academy.

EXAMINATION CONDITIONS
Only candidates who meet the JAMB national cut-off mark will be eligible to sit for the examination at the Examination Centre of choice.

EXAMINATION DATE AND REQUIREMENTS
The examination will be conducted as a Selection Examination (similar to Post–UTME examination), and is scheduled to hold on Saturday 18 May 2013 . Therefore, all eligible candidates are to please bring along their Acknowledgement Form , JAMB result slip , Examination Admission Card and TWO (2) postcard size (3.5 x 5 inches) photographs to the Examination Centre on the examination date. The photographs should show only from the chest upwards and should contain candidate’s Name, State, Centre and Signature at the back. Only successful candidates at the NDA Selection Exams will subsequently be invited for the Armed Forces Selection Board following which the list of admitted candidates will be published.

NATURE AND DURATION OF TRAINING
Admitted candidates into NDA for the Regular Course will undergo military and academic training as Officer Cadets for a duration of 5 years. On successful completion of training, graduands will earn a university first degree (BSc, BEng, BA) and a commission into the ArmedForces of Nigeria. Nigerian Defence Academy.

ADMINISTRATION
Regular Course cadets will train at NDA Permanent Site, Kaduna. Cadets will be kitted, accommodated and fed at Federal Government expense throughout the duration of training. Officer cadets will also receive a monthly allowance for general upkeep.

REFERENCE MATERIALS
In response to request from candidates for reference materials, the Academy has offered a Compendium of Past Questions & Answers at a cost of ₦3,000.00 only. This can be purchased from the Registry Department, NDA Kaduna or from designated Zenith Bank branches.

Good luck to applicants.[color=#990000][/color]

The University of Ibadan yesterday released her 3rd & final admission list for the 2012/2013 session, this list is just for those who didn't find their names in the 1st & 2nd batch admission lists.

To check your name in the UI 3rd admission list visit http://www.ui.edu.ng/content/20122013-acceptance-offer-provisional-admission.

Instructions for successful Candidates


Candidates who find their name on the admission list are expected to pay N10,000.00 ACCEPTANCE FEE into the ‘U.I. Admission Processing Fee Account’ (Acct. No - 2018156959) at any First Bank of Nigeria Plc branch nationwide, as an indication of acceptance of the offer of provisional admission into the department / course indicated against their names.