₦airaland Forum

a police corporal identified as ‘Awilo,’

When his is deemed fit to be bestowed with a name like that what do you expect from him.

Well both sides have "big boys" in their camp so they are careful not to upset the apple cart. The new PDP if they eventually defect will be a bi blow to PDP so they need to tread carefully.

Well if we can achieve this feat i for one will be trilled but i think the owner and mods are really to be blamed truth be told, maybe because those argument generate traffic for nairaland that maybe why they tactically "allow" these tribal argument to reign in the political section.

The day they (Mods) take a strict approach to this that is when things may change, and for those of us that don't know the world now use the internet for information about a countries mind set, any foreigner on nairaland can clearly see to divide us is simple play the tribal or religious card. but if we use sense in forums such as this to show that togetherness then we all stand a better chance against external manipulation.

At the present i don't think this is possible because
1. some here find it fun to engage in these spats.
2. The owner's has to decide if getting more traffic or sanitizing the tread is important to him. (and note getting a lot of traffic equates potential for more money tru adverts, and i know majority of people will chose money over national loyalty)
3. The mods, some anyway are secret bigots, and am sure they have alternate user id where they fully participate in the mud slinging.
4. Our personal mind set has been so bombarded by the media of the tribal and religious differences that we unconsciously participate with out even being aware of doing so.

Personality Focus

The corruption allegations hovering over the Minister for Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, in a twist of irony, may have afforded President Goodluck Jonathan, a practical opportunity to show Nigerians, through his handling of the matter, what he means by tolerable corruption, writes Ojo M. Maduekwe

Reflecting on President Jonathan’s postulation about tolerable corruption during his last presidential media chat with journalists and placing same side-by-side with the corruption allegations against the Minister for Aviation, Stella Oduah, the picture that comes to mind is former President Olusegun Obasanjo reclining in a chair in the comfort of his Otta home, with a THISDAY newspaper covered to his face, while he burst out to the hearing of his domestic aides as they go about their morning duties, saying: “I dey laugh o.”

Life, many will agree, is full of irony. No sooner had a man made a statement, exuding doggedness, than a situation presented itself as test to either remain steadfast or take back his words. President Jonathan is currently caught in a dilemma to either stand by his position or take back his words on the fight against graft. From his earlier reactions over the public outcry on the corruption allegation against Oduah, it seems obvious where the president stands – perhaps on Oduah’s side.

During the presidential media chat earlier in the month, President Jonathan had argued that the corruption situation in Nigeria was not as bad as it was being portrayed globally. According to him, the fact remained that his government was not just winning the war against corruption; the perception of Nigerians towards corruption was being exaggerated, no thanks to the continuous and bad media exposure in conjunction with their allies in the civil society organisations.

As far as the president was concerned, corruption in the country was still at a ‘tolerable level’, despite the myriad of corruption allegations against government officials. Of course, the media and civil society whom he blamed for exaggeration did not waste time in condemning his position on a scourge that has been linked to the high poverty level, unemployment and infrastructure deficit in the country.

President Jonathan is back on the hot seat. As is now becoming a tradition of his administration through exhibiting a callous attitude regarding matters that affect the people, the president is being crucified for seemingly shielding Oduah, who has refused to resign her position, following the revelation that she compelled the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to finance from their account, two armoured BMW 760 Li vehicles to the tune of N255 million.

Although Jonathan has set up an investigative panel with a clear mandate, Oduah’s problem did not however start with the overpriced vehicles. It began with her comment regarding the ill-fated Associated Airline’s plane crash as ‘an act of God.’ In what was considered one of the most thoughtless remarks from a political office holder, the Minister of Aviation had suggested that there was nothing Nigerians could have done about the plane crash transporting the corpse of former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Agagu, for burial, along with 20 other passengers.

For a plane crash that claimed about 16 lives, Oduah’s comment sparked outrage among the citizens. Reactions trailed her comment from various quarters. From the preliminary report released days after the crash by the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), which revealed that the crash may have been caused by engine failure and human error, it was evident that the Minister whom should have known better, had jumped the gun.

Just when Oduah thought the dust was about settling, the news of her flamboyant toy cars worth $1.6 million went viral. After the initial denials typical of politicians, the Minister, through her Special Assistant on Media, Joe Obi, explained that both vehicles were bought to protect Oduah, whom in the course of carrying out her duties, has come under threats.

“Yes, it is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the honourable minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector.

“It should be noted that these vehicles are not personal vehicles and were not procured in the name of the honourable minister; they are utility vehicles and are for the office of the minister, and if she leaves the office, she will not be taking the vehicles along with her,” the statement stated in part.

According to Obi, his boss’ life was being threatened by some vested interests in the Aviation sector, whose pot of soup, his boss had snatched from them. “When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of the concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria.

“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive some imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles.”

This explanation nonetheless, what the generality of Nigerians were bitter about was not that the Minister who attributed plane crashes to being an act of God, couldn’t lead by example and place her being alive at the mercy of God as against a bulletproof car. What angered the people was that the vehicles were alleged to have been purchased twice their original price. And then, she lied about it at the break of the news.

After various public rage calling for her resignation or sack, the president according to media reports responded. First, it is alleged that in a memo tagged ‘Restricted’, Jonathan had asked the minister to explain in details, the role that she played in the purchase of the vehicle, the report of which would contain the cost, procurement processes and other issues relating to the transaction.

The second move by the president was the setting up of a three-man panel to investigate the corruption allegations against Oduah and report back to him within two weeks. Briefing state house correspondents after the council meeting the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the three-man panel will be headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Sali Isa Bello, while the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenavere (Rtd.) would serve as members respectively. According to the president, nobody would be exempted from the inquiry and that appropriate action would be taken against anybody found culpable.

While President Jonathan was still foot-dragging on the matter, the House of Representatives and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had swooped into action to ascertain the true nature of the allegation and the minister’s role.

THISDAY gathered that the House had on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the matter. The House gave the order after debating the issue following a motion moved by the Minority Whip, Honourable Samson Osagie. At the debate, the purchase was described as illegal, on the grounds that there was no provision in the 2013 budget for the procurement.

Also, the EFCC may have decided to probe the deal despite allegation of protection by the presidency. THISDAY’s sources hinted that the anti-graft agency had started making preliminary investigations into the contract and could start probing the exorbitant purchase of the cars that was believed to have bypassed due process. Given Oduah’s ties with the presidency and the pivotal role she played in Jonathan’s electoral victory in 2011 (and the role she is to likely play in 2015), it may be difficult for the EFCC to make any meaningful impact.

Now, back to Otta, where Baba continues to laugh at poor Jonathan, the former president, himself a master of satire, is one of the anti-Jonathan oppositions, along with the G-7 governors and the entire new PDP (if it still exists), not to mention the All Progressives Congress (APC), would most likely view the awkward position President Jonathan finds himself as somewhat amusing.

In the coming days, if not weeks, they, along with all of Nigeria, would be paying rapt attention to see how the president would wriggle his way out of the Oduah crisis. The gospel according to Saint Goodluck Jonathan has always been that his administration has zero tolerance for corruption. The Oduah saga would prove a test case. After all, in far away Italy, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has just been ordered to stand trial for allegedly bribing a senator. Let President Jonathan take the lead.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/oduah-s-tolerable-corruption/162566/

Chuks Okocha


In an apparent move towards reconciliation within the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has exonerated former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, seven governors of the party, Abubakar Baraje and other members of the splinter PDP from facing the newly inaugurated National Disciplinary Committee led by the Second Republic Minister of Transport, Alhaji Umaru Dikko.

This is coming as the breakaway PDP has appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court presided by Justice Elvis Chukwu to seek a stay of executive of the court order.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/pdp-exonerates-atiku-baraje-g7-governors-others-from-facing-disciplinary-committee/162537/

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA—Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, yesterday, declined to halt further hearing on the criminal charge that was preferred against the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawal, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Refusing to hands-off the trial, Justice Oniyangi, ordered both Farouk and the erstwhile Secretary of the probe committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, to appear before the high court on November 27.
The duo had in a consolidated application they filed through their counsel, Chief Ricky Tarfa, SAN, sought for the stay of proceeding on their trial until the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, decides on an appeal they have lodged before it which is challenging jurisdiction of the court to try them.
Specifically, Farouk and Emenalo were accused of demanding and collecting bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Otedola, as an inducement to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Reps Ad-hoc committee on monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.
ICPC alleged that they demanded an aggregate sum of $3 million, with a view to ensuring that the company escaped prosecution even though the probe committee had ab-initio found it culpable in fuel subsidy fraud.
Farouk was said to have pocketed the sum of $620,000 as part payment for the illegal deal.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Emenalo, while being a public officer, an Assistant Director and Clerk of the Committee on Education of the House of Reps, sometime in April 2012, while acting as the Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee, was offered gratification by Otedola but failed to report the offer to any officer of the ICPC or any police officer.
The offence according to ICPC is contrary to section 17 (1) (a), section 8(1) (a) (b) (ii), and section 23 (i) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 8 (1) 17 (1) and 23(3) of the same Act.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/3m-bribery-scam-court-declines-stop-farouk-emenalos-trial/#sthash.Dz1bshCS.dpuf

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/3m-bribery-scam-court-declines-stop-farouk-emenalos-trial/

*Want Caverton prosecuted for falsehood
By Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, cleared the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi of any offence in the operations of the state-owned Bombadier B700 Global Express jet and indicted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for illegally grounding the Rivers State owned aircraft.
The verdict was delivered when it considered and adopted report of its joint committee on justice and aviation on the urgent need to investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the controversial grounding of Rivers State Government Bombadier B700 Global Express aircraft last April.
Briefing
Briefing the committee of the whole House presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, chairman of the committee, Rep Ali Ahmad (PDP, Kwara) explained that the allegations on which the NCAA based its actions on grounding the aircraft were false. He said the aircraft was registered in the US and the committee also found out that over 70 per cent of private jets in the country were registered abroad.
While adopting the recommendations, the House requested the attorney-general and minister of justice to consider prosecuting Caverton Helicopters for misleading the NCAA to illegally ground the aircraft.
The House noted that “for providing information that led the authorities to wrongly believe that Rivers State Government falsified documents thereby leading to grounding of its aircraft, the Attorney-General is requested to consider prosecuting Caverton Helicopters under the provisions of section 36 (4) Civil Aviation Act. C13, 2004”
Resolution
It was also resolved that “the Rivers State Government should be allowed to comply with the necessary conditions for granting of all required permits and licences of Rivers State-owned Bombadier B700 Global Express with registration number N565Rs”
It urged the ministry of aviation to desist from undue interference in the day to day operations of the aviation regulatory authorities as envisaged by the law.
It equally asked the aviation regulatory authorities to operate professionally and ensure compliance with international best practices in the industry”
It will be recalled that the Rivers State-owned private jet was grounded in April, 2013 by the NCAA.
NCAA reacts
A statement from the NCAA had read “By our records, the last flight clearance for this aircraft was approved for operation on Thursday, March 28, 2013 on Accra—PH–Accra and to terminate on April 2, 2013. With this development, the aircraft has exceeded the extra two days or 48 hours leeway for it to leave the country.
“While still operating illegally, the aircraft has been sighted in several places including Owerri and Akure. The owner of this aircraft according to the Certificate of Registration is Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The clearance for the aircraft was sought by Caverton Helicopters on March 27, 2013. Consequently, this aircraft in reference is hereby grounded at any airport that is located right now in the country.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/grounding-amaechis-aircraft-illegal-reps/#sthash.4caNg3iz.dpuf

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/grounding-amaechis-aircraft-illegal-reps/

I recall a similar episode with the petroleum minister, what transpired then? what of the other countless public outcry against frivolous spending and extravagant lifestyle of public office holders and their families? what has become of them?

Please when they are serious to prosecute and go all out to ensure removal of such silliness in our government they should inform the people if not they should zip it. They have been known to be toothless bulldog that just bark and no bite.

Personally he is barking up the wrong tree once again, the whole system need to be heavily audited and drastic actions taken on those found wanting. those to really bear the heat should be the head of those aviation units like FAAN, NAMA etc put the heat on them, threaten them with sack with out pension, then you will see the ensuring cleansing, whistle blowing and finger pointing that will occur and if we are sincere in changing the sector all the accusations should be investigated from the cleaners to the pane inspector through to the head of department and finally the minister. Any one of then that is indicted for complacency, incompetence, delay in decision making etc. should be given the boot.

In as much as the minster will not check these planes herself, she should hold those in charge of the erring facility make a scapegoat of a few people no matter how well connected they are, the next person to take over will sit up knowing he will be held unaccountable for failure in his department.

Shell, the oil company, if i recall correctly had a fire incident in one of their operations, after the investigation they not only sacked the those in the field directly responsible, thy sacked the supervisors, head of unit and even the manager of that department even though he was on leave when the incident occurred.
That is how they operate and still do, you will see their bosses worried if there is any minor activity, fervently praying for all to go well.

we need that kind of attitude in the aviation sector, where the top management worry if the supervisors are actually doing their jobs well because it will kick them out if they fail. but no here we have favoritism being the order of the day and the general carelessness know in all federal ministry

Personally he is barking up the wrong tree once again, the whole system need to be heavily audited and drastic actions taken on those found wanting. those to really bear the heat should be the head of those aviation units like FAAN, NAMA etc put the heat on them, threaten them with sack with out pension, then you will see the ensuring cleansing, whistle blowing and finger pointing that will occur and if we are sincere in changing the sector all the accusations should be investigated from the cleaners to the pane inspector through to the head of department and finally the minister. Any one of then that is indicted for complacency, incompetence, delay in decision making etc. should be given the boot.

In as much as the minster will not check these planes herself, she should hold those in charge of the erring facility make a scapegoat of a few people no matter how well connected they are, the next person to take over will sit up knowing he will be held unaccountable for failure in his department.

Shell, the oil company, if i recall correctly had a fire incident in one of their operations, after the investigation they not only sacked the those in the field directly responsible, thy sacked the supervisors, head of unit and even the manager of that department even though he was on leave when the incident occurred.
That is how they operate and still do, you will see their bosses worried if there is any minor activity, fervently praying for all to go well.

we need that kind of attitude in the aviation sector, where the top management worry if the supervisors are actually doing their jobs well because it will kick them out if they fail. but no here we have favoritism being the order of the day and the general carelessness know in all federal ministry

Personally he is barking up the wrong tree once again, the whole system need to be heavily audited and drastic actions taken on those found wanting. those to really bear the heat should be the head of those aviation units like FAAN, NAMA etc put the heat on them, threaten them with sack with out pension, then you will see the ensuring cleansing, whistle blowing and finger pointing that will occur and if we are sincere in changing the sector all the accusations should be investigated from the cleaners to the pane inspector through to the head of department and finally the minister. Any one of then that is indicted for complacency, incompetence, delay in decision making etc. should be given the boot.

In as much as the minster will not check these planes herself, she should hold those in charge of the erring facility make a scapegoat of a few people no matter how well connected they are, the next person to take over will sit up knowing he will be held unaccountable for failure in his department.

Shell, the oil company, if i recall correctly had a fire incident in one of their operations, after the investigation they not only sacked the those in the field directly responsible, thy sacked the supervisors, head of unit and even the manager of that department even though he was on leave when the incident occurred.
That is how they operate and still do, you will see their bosses worried if there is any minor activity, fervently praying for all to go well.

we need that kind of attitude in the aviation sector, where the top management worry if the supervisors are actually doing their jobs well because it will kick them out if they fail. but no here we have favoritism being the order of the day and the general carelessness know in all federal ministry

I have always suspected that we are having funding difficulties ever since the fuel subsidy removal, the fact is their is no Nation that does not undergo such periods, you may not get to hear about it does not mean it does not occur. It is the ability of the country involve to close ranks and manage the situation without alarming the public unduly except it get to the point the country cannot manage it further and seeks assistance from external source. Like Greece did.

Recall over the last months one or two Peoples mainly Governors have raised alarm over their funding or failure of one arm of he government or another to remit generated revenue to the federation accounts. That was when, i suspect, things started getting tough for the country. If Nigeria had sincere and progressive leader and subordinates, they would have called everyone together and advised them on future financial strait and they should proceed with caution on all their future financial projects for the time being.

However going by the kill or be killed attitude of our political class, the FG will rather buster through the issue alone than admit difficulties, and our Opposition parties instead of rendering support to overcome the problem will seize this as an opportunity to deride the ruling party forgetting that it is the mass that the profess to care for will finally bear the brunt of everything.

I have always suspected that we are having funding difficulties ever since the fuel subsidy removal, the fact is their is no Nation that does not undergo such periods, you may not get to hear about it does not mean it does not occur. It is the ability of the country involve to close ranks and manage the situation without alarming the public unduly except it get to the point the country cannot manage it further and seeks assistance from external source. Like Greece did.

Recall over the last months one or two Peoples mainly Governors have raised alarm over their funding or failure of one arm of he government or another to remit generated revenue to the federation accounts. That was when, i suspect, things started getting tough for the country. If Nigeria had sincere and progressive leader and subordinates, they would have called everyone together and advised them on future financial strait and they should proceed with caution on all their future financial projects for the time being.

However going by the kill or be killed attitude of our political class, the FG will rather buster through the issue alone than admit difficulties, and our Opposition parties instead of rendering support to overcome the problem will seize this as an opportunity to deride the ruling party forgetting that it is the mass that the profess to care for will finally bear the brunt of everything.

I have always suspected that we are having funding difficulties ever since the fuel subsidy removal, the fact is their is no Nation that does not undergo such periods, you may not get to hear about it does not mean it does not occur. It is the ability of the country involve to close ranks and manage the situation without alarming the public unduly except it get to the point the country cannot manage it further and seeks assistance from external source. Like Greece did.

Recall over the last months one or two Peoples mainly Governors have raised alarm over their funding or failure of one arm of he government or another to remit generated revenue to the federation accounts. That was when, i suspect, things started getting tough for the country. If Nigeria had sincere and progressive leader and subordinates, they would have called everyone together and advised them on future financial strait and they should proceed with caution on all their future financial projects for the time being.

However going by the kill or be killed attitude of our political class, the FG will rather buster through the issue alone than admit difficulties, and our Opposition parties instead of rendering support to overcome the problem will seize this as an opportunity to deride the ruling party forgetting that it is the mass that the profess to care for will finally bear the brunt of everything.

talk true: They rejected the house simply because they want it at Three Arms zone.

What then happens if there is another security incident near there after construction is underway? Humm.. let me guess.... they convert the houses to guest houses again or better yet auction it off to themselves, and site another location for themselves again.

So adequate security is only suitable for their selves and families only every other citizen is "on your own"
Why dont they just relocate to Mars and leave us in peace.

It is all good and well that they require official houses, however rejecting a huge financial project that is over 50% complete at this time Nigeria is going through a finical crunch and the on going face-off with ASUU, is ridiculous.

What is it and the Federal Government always building Houses for thee guys? the next set of lawmakers can just declare these houses 'unfit' for them and approve new set for themselves.

The Federal Government should just place them all in a collective place and install what ever security measure needed and anyone that does not like it should source for his/her "suitable" accommodation elsewhere at their own personal expenses. Every year there is a budget for houses for lawmakers, why wont ASUU insist on getting their own demands as well.

Now these hoses that has been rejected will now be rebuilt at whose expense? and the guest houses that the former will be converted to (as if we do not have enough guest houses already) who will stay their as they all prefer hotel and such.

The queen of England's house hold budget has been reduced over the years (she even brings in some revenue), here the Oga's @the top, are wasteful and what have they done to bring money into the coffers of the country?. and if i may ask what is wrong with their current residence? and the security threat that they are running away from, who are they leaving it for?

Buildings to be converted to guest houses, says minister

• Explains delay on Vice President’s residence

FOUR presiding officers of the National Assembly have rejected official houses being built for them by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha have cited insecurity and delay in the provision of infrastructure as the reasons for their action.

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, who gave the hint at the weekend, disclosed that the authorities had consequently discontinued the construction of the N3 billion official houses by the construction giant, Julius Berger, at the Maitama Extension (renamed Goodlock Jonathan District) located behind the Lungi Military Barracks in the city centre.

The FCTA last year proposed to spend N1.5 billion on construction of the new official houses for the National Assembly’s presiding officers as well as another N1 billion for completion of the official residence of the vice president.

During the 2012 budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Mohammed said the total cost of the project was N3.044 billion.

He said while N324 million was appropriated in 2011 for the new residences, only N146 million had been expended, leaving a balance of N178 million. He explained that for 2012, N1.5 billion would be required for the project.

Mohammed said that the National Assembly’s presiding officers that would benefit from the new residences were the Senate President and his deputy as well as the Speaker of the House and his deputy.

For the vice president’s residence, the minister said N2.452 billion was required to complete the project, which was already 66. 8 per cent completed last year.

Citing insecurity at their Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja, the minister in February 2011 told the parliament during a budget defence that four principal officers of the National Assembly would benefit from a new set of residential accommodation being planned by the FCTA at the Maitama Extension Area in Abuja.

His word: “The National Assembly is the highest democratic body we have apart from the Presidency. And the National Assembly complex at Apo has been sold out to the public. The place is being inhabited by all sorts of people. Leaving them there will expose them to the vagaries of the society. And anybody can be a principal officer; so whoever is there and you leave him there, you are not being fair to him.”

On why the government was embarking on the multi-billion naira project when the principal officers were already accommodated at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja, the minister had told the Sixth Assembly FCT Committee that the decision was predicated on the insecurity in Abuja and some parts of the country.

“Our decision is taken out of a sheer sense of responsibility. But with responsibility comes the issue of security, the issue of the latitude and leverage which officers holding certain offices must have.

“The National Assembly is the highest democratic body we have apart from the Presidency. And the National Assembly complex has been sold out to the public. The place is being inhabited by all sorts of people.

“We were there on inspection and so we cannot guarantee the safety and security of principal officers of the National Assembly who take decisions on very serious and sometimes critical issues that may impinge on the sensibilities, perception and feelings of others. We must, as a government, protect the principal officers of the National Assembly.

“Leaving them there will expose them to the vagaries of the society. And anybody can be a principal officer; so whoever is there and you leave him there, you are not being fair to him. That is why government decided that as a second tier of government, we will go to an area which is secure and safe for our principal officers to live”, the minister had said.

But fielding questions last weekend on the progress made so far on the project, the minister, represented by the FCDA Director of Public Building, Bernard Lot, said work had already begun on the project before the recent rejection of the area by the principal officers.

“You will recall that we had started that project, and there is a contractor carrying out the road work. You can actually access the place because the contractor has actually commenced work and has also done reasonably well on that.

“But that too was affected by budgetary provisions. You know government has dwindling resources, but there is an issue there because development is not taking place fast in that area. And so the principal officers of the National Assembly have said that they don’t want that place because of the current security situation in the country.

“Though it is behind the army barracks, we cannot isolate them there, and government in its own wisdom has said that since they don’t want it, the authorities have decided to convert the buildings to guest houses and scale down the initial cost of the project. That is what we are doing now. We are scaling down the cost of the project to serve as guest houses to the principal officers of the National Assembly.

“As for their new residences, you are all aware that we have already cleared a new site located in the Three Arms Zone in the Central Area. The President has already given his anticipatory approval and the contractor has been asked to commence work on the project,” he said.

On the vice president’s residence, the minister explained that paucity of funds in the 2012 budget was responsible for the delay in the completion of the project.

“For a whole year (2012), there was no budget for that project but under 2013, we had an appropriation and the contractor is working. We had a cause to seek a variation on the contract to implement the second phase of the project. But it was stood down on the grounds that no project will have a variation above 15 per cent.

“So, we are having an implementation strategy to ensure that we complete that project on time, including the very essential aspects of the work, including the holding, gatehouse, bedroom, storage, among others.

“The contract is ongoing and we are going to complete the contract while we leave the issue of furnishing. The issue of furnishing is part of the phase two of the project such as the banquet hall, guest houses, and some security installations which are very vital for the vice president to live in because of the current security situation in the FCT,” he said.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/national-news/135453-nass-presiding-officers-reject-n3b-official-residence

They should hurry and release it so that the price of S4 will drop.

According to Korean media outlets citing sources inside Samsung, the Galaxy S5 will see its official announcement in January next year. The earlier than expected release is dictated by the disappointing sales of the Galaxy S4.

It appears that despite the excellent sales performance of the flagship, Samsung is still not really pleased and think it could've done better. As a result, the company is pushing the Galaxy S5 release to mid-January, instead of March as was the case this year and May as it was in 2012.
The actual market availability of the next Samsung flagship is tipped for February, which makes sense if the actual announcement is pulled for the start of the year.
As far as actual specifications of the Galaxy S5 are concerned, Samsung is expected to debut its 64-bitExynos 5430 chip, which will feature 8 cores with Heterogeneous Multi-Processing capabilities.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is tipped to boast an updated 16MP camera with enhanced low-light performance and optical image stabilization. Earlier, the company unveiled its ISOCELL image sensor, which is expected to debut on the upcoming flaghip.
All of the information above is nothing more than speculation and hasn't been confirmed by Samsung in any way. However, given that Samsung has pushed its last flagship 10 months after its predecessor, it won't be a surprise if we get another update just as quickly.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_suggested_to_release_the_galaxy_s5_in_january-news-6955.php

Seriously can this be sent to those tribalistic poster we have here?

Not just the over zealous religious members but those tribalistic hater spewer that foul sensible tread with their demented bigoted views.

Honestly the MOD's on this section should just try harder to stop the snide and lewd comments i see regularly.

Mod if you are not up to bringing a little sanity here call it quits, or are you secretly enjoying this silly and very irrelevant tribal squabbling going on on daily?

And to those abusing one tribe or the other, some may take it as a joke in slinging mud at the opposite tribe, but the truth is that for you to type insulting comments about another's ethnicity makes you a bigot first and for most, it is best we try and uproot that seed of tribalism in ourselves before it takes root and becomes and iroko tree in our souls.

[quote author=eguity&justice]Read the article very well. the minister said no life was lost. or are u saying he was not saying the truth?[/quote]The attack i think was due to the murder of a kidnapped victim, where some Nigerian were lynched to death, Nigerians residing there then ran to the embassy for protection but it was still attacked before the Guinea authorities then sent armed personnel to protect the embassy. Aside from those lynched i heard on the radio that one person was feared dead during the attack. However that is yet to be verified.

What about the victims? what are they saying about that? or is it just to apologies and leave the bereaved to bear their losses in sorrowful isolation and misery.

What of the suspension given to the Rivers Governor? or has it been lifted?

They are just playing cat and mouse or in kid language Tom and Jerry. As long as it is between themselves no problem.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has invited the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to a meeting in respect of a petition against the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.

Amaechi had in his petition raised issues against Mbu and alleged that the human rights situation in the state had deteriorated as a result of the attitude of the commissioner of police.
Investigation by THISDAY however, showed that many of the issues raised in Amaechi's petition were outside the jurisdiction of the commission.

Some of the issues were also matters pending in different courts, a factor that may restrict the commission from considering them.

The Director of Communications, Mr. Mohammed Ladan, said Mbu would also be invited to state his own side of the story based on the allegations by the governor.

The commission had last Sunday confirmed the receipt of a petition from Amaechi over allegations of the deteriorating human rights situation in the state.
He said the commission was already looking at the petition.

In the petition, Amaechi accused the Mbu of exercising his duties without recourse to necessary constitutional and legal standards.

The petition reads: "The Rivers State Commissioner of Police is presently led by Mbu whose pattern of actions and public utterances are manifestly contrary to basic standards of behavior for a person occupying his very sensitive office; the constitutional framework for controlling the security structures of a state, the unique security challenges, formations networks and infrastructure of Rivers State, and the mission statement of the Nigerian Police 'the creation of a safer and more secure environment conducive to meaningful socio-economic development through crime prevention and control.

“Mbu's mode of exercising his duties without recourse to necessary constitutional and legal standards is creating an environment rife with fear, distrust of security of security operatives and public institutions, strife, impunity, criminal behaviours and brigandage, factors which were all implicit it in the build up and escalation of the pre-amnesty Niger Delta crisis."

The governor said the state commissioner barely acknowledged official communications from him- not to mention other principal agents of the state.
He said: "The avenues for giving him lawful directives in my constitutional role as the Chief Security Officer of the state has been unilaterally and unlawfully precluded by Mbu.

"Mbu has joined an unprecedented disposition to publicly ridicule the person and office of the principal members of a state government, including the Governor by a State Police Commissioner with unilateral and unreasonable actions made to undermine inter-agency security collaborations, democratic activities of elected and appointed public officers and the operations of whole units of government."

He charged the commission to "leverage its independence and capabilities to urgently investigate and ascertain if the Mbu is still fit and proper to superintend the police formation of a sensitive state in Nigeria with a complex human rights dynamics leading down to a general electioneering period due to his penchant for compromising democratic practices, structures, institutions and authorities necessary to secure law and order, good government and basic human right guarantees.”

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/rivers-crisis-human-rights-commission-invites-amaechi/161225/

Enough already.
I don't know about you but this incessant squabbling should stop. Each should face his or her respective business and learn how to turn a blind eye once in a while to critics.