₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court has introduced an electronic filing system to replace the manual method of filing court processes.

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At the official launch of the system in Abuja, the Chief Registrar of the Court, Mr Emmanuel Gakko, said the court would however temporarily continue the use of the manual method alongside the digital system.

Mr Gakko expressed appreciation for support of members of the bar towards the success of the initiative.

The Chief Consultant of the project, Mr Niyi Olaniyan, said the initiative would ease filing procedure in the court in line with global best practice.

Radio Nigeria Judiciary Correspondent reports that the occasion featured practical demonstration of the workability of the system and its advantage over the manual method.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/court-introduces-electronic-filing-system/

Sen. Udoma Udo-Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning says the Federal Government will adopt simple planning process to achieve inclusive growth and development in the country.

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Udo-Udoma said this when he was fielding questions from some participants at the 2016 Annual Public Lecture of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) in Abuja.

He said the country would learn from Ethiopia experience who had recorded 10 per cent growth rate consistently for over 10 years in agriculture sector.

The minister said that he had visited the country to learn the secret of their success and was ready to replicate it in Nigeria.
“I went to find out from Ethiopia how to achieve this and how they did their planning and the processes.
“I found out that they consulted farmers; they went down to the grassroots and made their planning very simple,’’ he said.
According to the minister, our plans are too complex and it is because we have top economists, who put the plans in a language that many do not understand.
“We need to do simply plan, we need to make use of a language that everybody can understand and we need to consult with economists.
“We encourage them (economists) to simplify it to be able to achieve inclusive development.
“We want a simply plan, a plan that will consult extensively, a plan that everybody will understand, a plan that will be internalised by everybody,’’ he said.

According to him, making the plan simple is the only way the country can achieve inclusive growth and development.

Meanwhile, Udo-Udoma explained the modalities for the implementation of social intervention projects, adding that N500 billion had been allocated for the projects in 2016 budget.

He said that the Federal Government would implement the projects in accordance with the campaign promises to support the poor and the vulnerable citizens.
“The process of selecting the beneficiaries might be difficulty but we will not run from challenges, we may not get it right the first time but we will keep on trying.
“The key thing is to cut out the middle man, in terms of getting the benefit down to the beneficiaries; trying to identify beneficiaries from rural communities.
“So, we will pay money directly to the beneficiaries’ accounts using technologies to achieve this in order to cut out the middle man.
“We have to check and double check to improve on it as the implementation progresses,’’ the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the topic of the lecture was entitled: “Strengthen Budget – Plan Link for Inclusive Development in Nigeria.’’

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Mike Obadan of University of Benin Foundation for Education and Development.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fg-adopt-simple-planning-process-gain-inclusive-development-sen-udoma/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has advised treasury looters both past and present to “vomit’’ what they stole in the interest of justice and the nation.

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This was stated by the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Osita Nwaja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday.

Nwaja reiterated the commission’s determination to bring corrupt office holders to book.

“Vomit what you stole.” He advised. He said that looters act are throws impunity at the face of the commission and that is not right.

He reiterates the EFCC’s determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The accused persons themselves they have stolen billions.

“And then they will go and hire all the lawyers they can and this is where we have the problems with some of these lawyers.

“Recently we took some of them to court and then they appeared in support of themselves.

“Over 100 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend one man. We are talking about 103 chambers in defence of one man.

“That is immoral to say the very least, he added.

The public affairs director said the common man is at most times at the receiving end as they are always denied their basic needs and used for public demonstrations by the looters when arrested.



Nwaja said that most at times these offenders try to blur the line so that the common man does not see the linkage between that man who is steals billions and trillions relates to his very callous regrettable situation in life.

“How the money meant for road, money for hospitals to take care of pregnant women, to send children to school are disappearing into people’s accounts, and people’s pockets and people’s stomach.

“Just a few people and their families and their friends and their associates and they are holding the Nigerian people to ransom.

Nwaja said the fight against corruption was fundamental to the country’s economic recovery.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/efcc-advises-looters-vomit-stole/

We talk about problems a lot in Nigeria, but rarely proffer solutions. There are people who not only talk about problems but also do something to change the status quo. In so doing they meet a lot of opposition and encounter challenges, but they keep going nonetheless. We often do not celebrate greatness and people making change happen but through AlphaIMPACT we will celebrate people doing great things for themselves and other people. AlphaIMPACT is not about awards, it is about celebrating excellence.

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Those words by Japheth J. Omojuwa, the Convener of AlphaIMPACT, set the tone for what turned out to be a truly inspiring night that left an indelible mark on the minds of attendees and speakers alike. Omojuwa, who is also the CEO of Alpha Reach, a new media and online strategy management company, stated his vision for AlphaIMPACT is to honour change makers, known and unknown, who are making Africa a better continent in their own little spaces.
From maternal and newborn health, to education, to entertainment and business, the line-up of speakers at AlphaIMPACT reflects a diversity of passion and efforts held together by a common purpose – birthing social change and impacting lives.
Faith Fookes, Geneva-based lawyer, is the Founder and Executive Director of Bridgewise, a not-for-profit organisation committed to the prevention and eradication of obstetric fistula in Africa. Faith was inspired by personal experience of what it is to suffer from pregnancy-related complications to embark on advocacy against fistula in Nigeria by raising awareness on preventive measures and sponsoring surgical treatment for fistula patients.
Ishaya Bako, a 29-year old award-winning film director and screenwriter studied at the London Film School. Ishaya is exploring the nexus between entertainment and advocacy by using his films and documentaries to raise the social consciousness of the public. “I love telling stories. I straddle between fiction and facts with the blurry lines between them” he said as he narrated his experience using the films Henna and Silent Tears to raise awareness on girl-child education and domestic violence respectively.
“We not only have an unemployment problem, we have an unemployability problem.” Simi Fajemirokun gave one of the quotes of the night speaking about her Read2Succeed initiative. Simi, whose Martin Luther King Jnr’s I have a dream narration held the audience spellbound, pointed out that nowhere in the world is education left in the hands of government alone. The impact of Simi’s advocacy is already apparent with a number of structural changes made at Utako LA Primary School in Abuja. “We didn’t dole out money to make this change happen, we just showed up!” she said.

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Richard Nyong has through his company, Lekki Gardens, brought about a revolution in Nigeria’s real estate sector. Richard narrated how he, armed with a N750,000 loan and a dream, embarked on an audacious quest to make housing affordable for Nigerians of all income groups. Five years later Lekki Gardens has delivered over 6,000 housing units, making a lot of people millionaires in the process. “To make it in life you must be tired of making excuses” said Richard as gave insight into how he and his company have surmounted setback at different stages of the business. The philosopher and businessman in Richard combined effortlessly to give one of the most impactful and memorable quotes of the night when he said “we are not children of our circumstances, we are fathers of our future.”

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The impact of the truly inspiring event extended well beyond the packed Alpha Reach Power Library as tweets sent through the hashtag #AlphaIMPACTreached well over 800,000 people on Twitter and was the third trending topic in Nigeria behind football related content from the UEFA Euro Cup.


Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/richard-nyong-ishaya-bako-others-inspire-social-change-inaugural-alphaimpact/

…As FCT Abuja Wins 2016 NNPC Science Quiz Competition

In a bid to get its activities to impact Nigerians more positively in keeping with its payoff line, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has pledged to retool its channels of engagement with communities to help prepare the younger generation for leadership.

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Speaking at the grand finale of the 2016 edition of the NNPC Annual National Quiz Competition which held at the NNPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said he was immensely proud of the National Quiz Competition project as it has lived up to the objective of generating interest in science and technology among Nigerian youth.

The Minister who was represented by the Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, Mr. Isa Inuwa, said the Corporation would continue to support the National Quiz Competition and other community-based efforts aimed at promoting education and youth development.

“We would thus commit ourselves to executing many more strategic community development projects, particularly those that we reckon would rapidly improve the lives of Nigerians”, he said.

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Acting Director, Technology and Science Education, Mrs Tina Eyanru, commended the management of NNPC for initiating and supporting the science quiz competition for the past 15 years.

He said the poor economic condition in sub-Sahara African countries was a result of poor application of science, adding that there was need to change that trajectory by encouraging the development of the transition from science to technology which is what the Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) Competition sponsored by the Ministry of Education was about.

The grand finale of the NNPC Quiz which had the winners from the zonal level of the contest was won by students from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who clinched the first prize with 135 points.

The other winners are: Akwa Ibom which clinched the second prize with 125 points; Lagos – 110 points; Jigawa – 100 points, Abia – 90 points and Yobe – 70 points.

The contestants who represented the FCT – Master Aniagoh William; Anyacho Sopuruchukwu and Nwokolo David – would enjoy N300, 000 bursary throughout their education up to the first degree level.


Mallam Garba Deen Muhammad

Group General Manager

Group Public Affairs Division

NNPC, Abuja.

28th June, 2016.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nnpc-quiz-competition-fct-abuja-wins-2016-nnpc-science-quiz-competition/

The Nigerian Army said that Wednesday morning, the troops of 118 Task Force Battalion, 8 Task Force Division, on blocking position at Garere Junction, ambushed Boko Haram terrorists at Gudumbali, northern part of Borno State, while they were crossing to another location with some logistics items.

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This was made known in a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that during the operation, the troops killed 2 and wounded one of the Boko Haram terrorists.

“They also recovered 2 AK-47 and a G3 rifle. In addition, they recovered 660 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit and yards of military uniforms.

“The troops also recovered a truck earlier stolen by the terrorists in Kangarwa.” He added.

Pictures below:

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Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/troops-succesfully-ambush-terrorists-gudumbali/

…NNPC Pledges Enhanced Community Engagement

The Federal Government and stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have resolved to work together to stop the recent upsurge in attacks on critical oil and gas installations and ensure security, stability and economic development of the area.

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Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to check the resurgence of pipeline sabotage in the region.

Dr. Kachikwu said all the stakeholders resolved that solutions to the incessant attacks on oil and gas pipelines are within the communities, stressing that communities were now saddled with the responsibility of ensuring protection of pipelines within their domain.


He added that all the states in the region would nominate 4 or 5 representatives that would work hand-in-hand with security agencies to secure oil facilities in their respective states.


The Minister further stated that it was resolved that violence was not an option in resolving the problems of the Niger Delta and that all threats from the region should end henceforth.


He stated that there was need to reach out to all other stakeholders who were not part of the meeting to embrace peace and dialogue.


According to him, there was the need to restructure the Amnesty Programme so as to address the critical issue of neglect by the government and international oil companies.


“The Niger Delta Governors must be involved in providing lasting solutions to the resurgence of pipeline vandalism and there is urgent need to create business opportunities for the locals in the region,” Dr. Kachikwu stated.

Gov. Adams Oshiomole and other leaders of the Niger Delta region who spoke at the meeting urged the agitators to drop their arms and embrace dialogue as the Federal government was committed to the development of the area.

All the stakeholders who spoke at the meeting reassured that they would take the message of peace back home in order to provide a win-win situation for the Federal Government and the Niger Delta region.

The meeting was attended by high level government functionaries such as the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. General Mohammed Babagana Monguno(Retd.); Minister for Niger Delta, Usani Uguru; Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri , Coordinator Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Retd.); and stakeholders from Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Ondo States.

Mal. Garba Deen Muhammad

Group General Manager

Group Public Affairs Division,

NNPC, Abuja.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/federal-government-promises-economic-empowerment-niger-delta/

We’ve got used to seeing that tiny Uber cab wriggle about on its way to our pickup point. We know how much time it will take to arrive. And, of course, Uber can constantly track all its cars and ensure efficiency.

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How come we don’t see similar functionality in an ecommerce or grocery or food app? Won’t they too be more efficient if they track their deliveries in real time?

HyperTrack, a startup based in Delhi and the Bay Area, today launched a service that enables such a function. It will let developers implement location tracking easily in their delivery or other apps.

Kashyap Deorah’s payments app Chalo was acquired by OpenTable in 2013, mobile commerce marketplace Chaupaati was acquired by Future Bazaar in 2010, and his first startup Righthalf was acquired by US-based Stratify in 2001.

HyperTrack’s “location tracking as a service” API (application programming interface) has been in private beta for the past four months. “We are glad to share that over 20 companies are already testing our service on live trips while others are in various stages of rolling out,” says co-founder Kashyap Deorah.

Logistics startup ShadowFax, restaurant delivery service Scootsy, pharmacy delivery service Pharmeasy, and food delivery startups Holachef and Petoo are among the early adopters. Ridesharing app HeyTaxi is using HyperTrack to power Uber-like tracking for its vehicles. Indian craft beer maker Bira is using it to track its draft machines from warehouse to store. Education company Toppr is tracking sales visits, while on-demand services startup Skiwee is tracking service visits.

Clearly, there are a wide range of uses for location tracking powered by GPS chips in smartphones. The HyperTrack team initially created a SendETA app to test the tracking on the phones of friends and family. This later became a useful way to try the service for early adopters, before integrating it into their apps.

It was a service crying out to be provided

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HyperTrack co-founder Kashyap Deorah is a serial entrepreneur who sold his previous three startups. Payments app Chalo was acquired by OpenTable in 2013, mobile commerce marketplace Chaupaati was acquired by Future Bazaar in 2010, and his first startup Righthalf incubated in IIT Bombay was acquired by US-based Stratify in 2001.

He started work on HyperTrack nearly a year back when he became curious why other apps were not providing Uber-like tracking. It turned out that it was hard for developers to build continuous tracking with the publicly available tools, which are point-in-time in nature.

“With the user’s permission, the smartphone OS allows apps to get current position. Maps let you plot the position. Cloud services powered by the maps companies let you lookup the address, distance from another address, traffic conditions on the way, etc. But there was simply no API to say “track until it gets there” that just works,” he says.

Ride-sharing apps like Uber built a great tracking experience but restricted its usage to their products. Kashyap figured developers of other products would love to implement this through a cloud service without having to build it themselves.

HyperTrack is such a service that opens up for public use today. The first 10,000 tracking tasks are free, after which there’s a charge of 4 cents per task.

Kashyap and co-founder Tapan Pandita pooled in their own money to start up HyperTrack, then raised an undisclosed amount in angel funding from Silicon Valley investors.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/entrepreneur-sold-first-3-startups-launches-uber-like-tracking-service-apps/

He’d been a jet-setter, a man who’d been on the board of directors of a reputed company for 10 years, a textbook case of what is considered success in India. Yet, when he finally put his feet up, life with his wife of 25 years turned into hell.

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He felt suffocated with her, but divorce was not an option. They had two growing daughters. What was he to do?

Emotional wellness startup YourDost opened a tiny window. During counseling, he realized he and his wife had hardly spent two full years together. They’d lost touch – and both would have to work hard to restore it.

“At least 50% of corporate sector employees in India have mental health issues,” says co-founder and CEO Richa Singh, who stepped into this minefield one and a half years ago.

Her startup has helped over 350,000 people since then. “This is a huge market,” says Richa.

And guess who else shares that belief? Leading VC firm SAIF Partners, which has invested a good $1 million in a pre-series A round of funding in the Bangalore-based startup.

“The anonymity and secrecy YourDost offers is well suited to address the issue of mental illness, which has stigma attached to it in India,” says Mridul Arora, principal with SAIF Partners.

Existing angel investors took this funding round to a total of $1.2 million.

The darkness within

Be it the youngster dreaming of his own startup, the student waiting for a placement, the housewife, or the parent, a huge cross-section of people struggle to cope with the pressures of modern day living in India – and find themselves alone.

“Rising aspirations, changing lifestyles, being on your own, far from your family or the place where you grew up, all these factors add to the pressures,” says Richa.

View image on Twitter

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So strong is the fear of being called “mad,” or “weak,” or “a loser” that people would rather sweep it under the carpet than talk about it. That’s what happened to Richa’s friend at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati back in 2008. Her shocking suicide was the primary trigger for YourDost.

Richa’s friend had been plagued by the anxiety of placements but had never discussed it.

Not only did Richa not forget, but she began to talk and write about emotional wellness. “I realized that 90% of my friends and others I spoke to grappled with such pressures, but didn’t approach anyone for counseling.”

An online space like YourDost, with its accompanying anonymity and trained counselors, could be just the place to unburden the despair within. Dost is Hindi for “friend.”

In December 2014, she launched the startup along with Puneet Manuja, Prakhar Verma, and Satyajeet Nandekar.

Tip of the iceberg

Research says one in every four Indians suffers from some form of mental illness.

Proof of it lies in around 800 people seeking out YourDost’s 350 counselors every day through the website or the app. “Around 30% of our clients seek help on relationships, pre- or post-marital,” says Richa. This category is followed by those anxious about their careers or in academics.

Up next are housewives who speak about difficult relationships with their husbands and in-laws or frustrations about giving up their careers, and then there are parents who want to know how to build bridges with their kids.

Almost 55% of YourDost’s clients are working professionals. Most are in the age group of 18 to 35. “Once a person speaks to our counselor, it usually takes around of six sessions to address the issue.”

Some patients are referred to psychiatrists, as they may require medical treatment.

The market for emotional wellness

Platforms like LoveDoctor and Healtheminds have been helping Indians cope with relationships or other triggers for emotional disorders.

But Richa says YourDost is not here just for counseling. “We are not an NGO. We want to do it as a business model,” she says. While the online chat sessions with counselors are free, they monetize by charging for voice or video calls.

Scalability is what investors see in YourDost.

It had raised angel funding in November last year. The pre-series A round has seen repeat investment from angels like Venk Krishnan and Subbarao Telidevara of NuVentures, Phanindra Sama of Redbus, Aprameya of Taxi4Sure, Paula Mariwala of Seedfund, Vibhu Garg of Unicommerce, and Gaurav Bhalotia of Flipkart.

The biggest slice of a million dollars has come from SAIF Partners. “This is an out and out commercial investment for us. We have done it with a 10-year view in mind, as there is high latent demand in this segment,” Mridul tells Tech in Asia. “The startup has been getting a lot of traffic and is monetizing,” he says.

The fresh funds will be used for offline activities like creating awareness and expanding the team. Richa says, “We also have a lot of data. So we will use the money for research and predictive analysis too.”

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/new-startup-seeks-fill-gap-indias-mental-health-system/

Another day, another high-profile Twitter account hacked.

This time it’s the account of Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, whose Twitter account is apparently still under the control of an unknown hacker, who used it to send a string of pranks, including the “announcement” of a new Oculus CEO.

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The hacker, who appears to be this Twitter user, changed Iribe’s cover photo and his bio (which says “im not testing ya security im just havin a laugh” — a reference to a recent string of celebrity Twitter hacks).

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IMAGE: STAN SCHROEDER, MASHABLE

In the last tweet, posted minutes ago at the time of this writing, the hacker proclaims he’ll give Iribe his Twitter back if he gets a free Oculus Rift so he can “watch porn the cool way.” Somewhat crude, but not an entirely unreasonable demand.

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IMAGE: STAN SCHROEDER, MASHABLE

Just like most of the hacks we’ve seen over the past few weeks, this one also seems to be related to a reuse of an old password. In one tweet, the hacker reprimands Iribe for using “the same pass for 4 years.”

The list of high-profile folks who had their Twitter hacked recently include Mark Zuckerberg,Drake, Katy Perry and Evan Williams.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/hacker-takes-twitter-account-oculus-ceo-good-laugh/

The Federal Ministry of Communications on Wednesday disclosed that government was making a move to counter seditious broadcast by rebellious groups in Nigeria.

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This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Communications and made available to newsmen.

“In a move to counter seditious broadcast by rebellious groups, which is an anathema to national security, the Federal Government is set to rehabilitate all International Radio Monitoring Stations (IRMS) across the country,’’ the statement said.

It equally warned land speculators to steer clear of the IRMS property in various parts of the country.

The statement explained that the IRMS facilities in the country were for security surveillance to monitor radio broadcast activities.

According to it, the IRMS facility at Ipaja, Lagos covering the South-West geo-political zone was one of such strategically located stations in various parts of the country.

The statement stressed that the facilities were to guide against illegal use of the radio frequency airspace for unauthorised broadcast by proscribed groups, political and ethnic-motivated dissidents.

“The federal ministry of communications has adequately appropriated for rehabilitation works on the IRMS facilities across the country in the 2016 federal government budget.

“Government has consequently warned against any illegal occupation and acquisition of any fraction of land on which these infrastructures are located.

“Because of the strategic importance of these infrastructures, the general public is warned against purchase or acquisition of any part of the monitoring stations.

“The IRMS facilities are located in Azare, Gusau, Ipaja and Ogoja, to monitor broadcast activities across the country and its borders,’’ it said.

The statement said the warning was coming on the heels of what government considered as unauthorised acquisition of part of the land on which the IRMS at Ipaja, Lagos was situated.

It said that the land was currently a subject of litigation in a suit No ID5764/14 between Oguntoyinbo Abiola, Falola and Illo families of Ipaja, Lagos and the minister of lands and minister of communications.

The statement said that the title of the land on which the Ipaja IRMS was situated was still under litigation and pending before a competent court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It said that the ministry was thereby forestalling anybody, group or family from encroaching upon the land acquired by the Federal Government since 1971.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/federal-government-counter-illegal-radio-broadcasts/

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, has advised Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, to leave National Assembly out of their court trials.

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Lawal, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, faulted statements credited to the two leaders of the Senate after their arraignment, which according to him, gave the erroneous impression that the entire Senate was on trial

The statement said Saraki had insinuated that a cabal was currently running the government and that President Muhammadu Buhari was not in control of his administration.

It said Ekweremadu had insisted that Buhari was exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that could derail the nation’s democracy.

“It is important to emphasise that this case involved only the four accused persons and should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate.

“The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the Police by some aggrieved Senators, who specifically accused certain persons.

“It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives,” the statement said.
According to the statement, bringing the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted and can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

“A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals as was the case with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery.

“What he did was to resign, honourably,” the statement added.

The statement said the country’s democracy was still evolving and being deepened, adding that the rule of law was supreme to the present administration.

It would be recalled that Saraki and Ekweremadu were on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court over allegation of forgery of Senate Rules.

(NAN)

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/sgf-ask-saraki-ekweremadu-leave-nass-trials/

Since the arraignment of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and, his Deputy Senator Ike Ekweremadu before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, the two leaders of the Senate, have issued two separate press statements conveying messages that are far from being complementary to the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

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Senator Saraki in his statement clearly insinuated that Mr. President is not in control of his administration and that a cabal now runs the federal administration. On the part of Senator Ekweremadu, he insists that President Buhari is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail our democracy.

From their statements, the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate and indeed, the Legislative Arm of Government that is on trial.

They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the Executive Arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise.


Since this case is in court, the Judiciary should be allowed to do its job. However, it is important to emphasize that this case involves only the four accused persons and should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the Police by some aggrieved Senators who specifically accused certain persons. It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives. To bring the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

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A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals. This is not different. As was the case with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honourably. The matter did not even go to court. In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire Legislature into the matter.

Meanwhile the separate statements by the Senate President and his Deputy are indeed contradictory. While Senator Saraki believes Mr. President has abdicated his powers and that a cabal is in charge of Federal Administration, Senator Ekweremadu says President Buhari has become a dictator.

Our democracy is still evolving and being deepened. The provisions of the separation of powers are entrenched in our Constitution and should guide everyone in our conduct. The rule of law is indeed supreme. This particular case is before the judiciary and is not being decided by the Executive Arm of Government. All that has transpired is still within the confines of our laws. These are the rights to accuse, to be investigated and be arraigned before the court.

To impute other considerations to the process is unfortunate. We should allow the process to take its course, in consonance with the dictates of the law and total obeisance to the cardinal democratic principle of the separation of powers.

Babachir David Lawal.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/saraki-ekweremadu-case-not-legislature-vs-executive/

Today, people purporting to be National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) members converged at Government House, Ilorin demanding audience with the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed who was then preparing for his ongoing interaction with state workers which started last Monday.

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The workers were offered three options: Select ten officials to meet with the Governor, come into government house as a body to meet with the Governor or wait till after his meeting with state civil servants and come into the Banquet Hall for your dialogue.
The workers refused all three options, insisting that the Governor Ahmed comes out to address them at the gate. However, His Excellency was advised against this option by the Police and other security agencies present in the interest of public order and the fact that the protesting workers had been infiltrated by suspected miscreants.

While the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration sympathises with the workers regarding the unfortunate salary crises at the local government level, the Kwara State Government is not constitutionally responsible for payment of local government workers’ salaries.

As everyone is aware, the local government arrears were caused by the huge drop in their Federal allocation from N2.7b to N1b monthly.

Meanwhile, salaries of basic education teachers alone is N1.2b monthly. As a result, the administration has helped them by augmenting allocation and approving bank loans in the past.

However, the local governments currently lack the capacity to repay bank loans while the state government, which has also suffered a 40% drop in its monthly allocation, cannot afford to augment local government allocation from its meagre resources which barely cover state workers and pensioners.

We advise the workers to be patient and make do with their reduced allocation as it is a national problem while government strives to increase Internally Generated Revenue and block leakages through the ongoing workers verification.

Finally, we must emphasize that the recent reprioritization of SUBEB workers’ salaries by JAAC was a unanimous decision of its technical committee which included Local Government chairmen and their treasurers. The decision was announced at a meeting which had NULGE officials in attendance.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/kwsg-not-constitutionally-responsible-lg-salaries/

The three-member Appeal Committee for the June 18, 2016 Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Election on Wednesday submitted its report at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

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The Election Appeal Committee is chaired by Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, a former member of the House of Representatives. Other members are: Alh. Mustapha Salisu and Mrs. Ekwy Onyido.

Bamidele who submitted the report on behalf of the Committee stated: “On behalf of our committee, I thank you for the opportunity to add value in our own little way and also assure you that we have tried our best in good conscience and in good faith to ensure that we are able to do what we needed to do and put a report together for the National Working Committee (NWC) that gave us an assignment. As to the content of the report, recommendations and conclusion drawn, we will hear further from the Party. I am not in a position to speak to that.

“All the petitioners appeared before our committee, we gave them the latitude to even bring their agents. Up till yesterday (Tuesday), they (petitioners) kept updating documentation and we were not closed to them at any point. We kept receiving material and considering such materials. We appreciate the fact that officials of the Party, who we invited, came to appear before our committee to clarify positions and at every time we insisted on seeing certain materials, they also made them available without which our job would have been extremely difficult.

“You did not just give us an assignment, you gave us free hand to carry out the assignment. The only time I heard from the National Chairman since the day of our inauguration was at 1.30am (Monday) when he replied my text in a few words saying it was okay to present the report at 1pm.

The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who received the Committee’s report thanked the Bamidele-led three-member Edo State governorship Election Appeal Committee for successfully carrying out its assignment and submitting a report.

Odigie-Oyegun stated: “We gave you an assignment and as you also said, we gave you a free hand to do that assignment. I am pleased by the fact that you decided to do a thorough job. I am pleased because of the unfortunate level of sensitivity of the primary situation in Edo state. It was necessary that you had the freedom to do whatever you needed to do, see whoever you needed to see and have access to whatever documentation that was available for you to examine.

“Like we took trouble to lay out the primaries so that the whole world can see the conduct of the primaries, it was also necessary for you to have the freedom and the access to whatever materials you needed to see. It is my hope that at the end of the day this report will enable us (NWC) in the next few days lay to rest finally the primary exercise that took place in Edo state so we can proceed with the essential task of trying to win an election.”

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/bamidele-submits-edo-state-apc-governorship-primary-election-appeal-report/

Clearing operation to flush out the fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Area of Responsibility (AOR) continues to yield positive results. The troop of Sector 1 with its relocated Tactical Headquarters in Makary, Northern Cameroun intensifies clearance operations along the borders between Nigeria and Cameroun to block the fleeing terrorists. Recently, the terrorists in attempt to escape the firepower of MNJTF troops were migrating to some villages adjacent to the Sector 1 AOR.

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Acting on credible information, the troops successfully cleared the six villages occupied by the terrorists, seized some logistic equipment and apprehended Twenty Four suspected Boko Haram accomplices.

The cleared villages are SAGUI, KIRTA-WOULGO, GORE MAHAMAT, GORE BLANGAFE, CHAUGRY and DAMBOURE. The recovered equipment are 20 x Outboat Engines, 2 x Motorcycles, 9 x Generating sets, 1 x Solar panel, 1 x Grinding machine, 1 x Handset, Flags and some Islamic religious books. However, one soldier was killed by Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and another fatally wounded and lost his one of his lower limbs during the operation.

Addressing the troops during his operational assessment tour in Makary, the Commander, MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun commended their display of exceptional bravery and charged them to keep up the good work, while encouraging the traditional authorities in the area to set up vigilante groups to compliment the effort of the security forces.

Equally, on a similar visit to Sector 2 troops (Chad) at their temporary Harbour Area in Littri, the Commander expressed delight for their initial operational exploits, which despite difficult terrains and other operational challenges were able to clear terrorists from some villages on the Lake Chad Islands. He couraged them to maintain their high fighting spirit and keep up the momentum of the operation despite the challenges of the slow go terrains.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/mnjtf-task-force-clears-six-villages-boko-haram-control/

Sen. Walid Jibril, The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Board of Trustees confirmed the death of
Chief Ojo Maduekwe, in Abuja on Wednesday evening. He died aged 71.

Ojo Maduekwe was the secretary of the Board until his death. The cause of death is unknown.

Chief Ojo Maduekwe (May 6, 1945 – June 29, 2016) was appointed Foreign Minister of Nigeria on July 26, 2007 by President Umaru Yar’Adua. He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet. He was National Secretary of the ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He worked as the deputy director of PDP presidential campaign 2011 Goodluck/Sambo ticket.

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The Maduekes with the Obama(PHOTO: Wikimedia)

Previously, Maduekwe had been appointed Culture and Tourism minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. He was appointed Minister of Transport in 2001. In this position, he advocated greater use of bicycles, although critics said that the roads were unsafe for cyclists and Maduekwe himself was pushed into a ditch by a bus while he was cycling to work.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ojo-maduekwe-ex-transport-minister-dies-71/

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has declared his China Investors Roadshow 2016 as the most successful in a very long time, haven received commitments and signed agreements in excess of US$60 billion.

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In an interview with NTA at the Nigerian embassy in Beijing, the minister said for all these investment to have lasting impact on the country, there must be lasting peace in the Niger delta.

More reports later from Julietta Aina

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/china-petroleum-minister-visit-embassy/

About 24 PDP state chairmen has throne their weight behind the PDP National caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

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Leading the state chairmen on the solidarity visit, the FCT chairman of the PDP, Yunusa Suleiman said they are concerned about the happenings in the party.

In his speech, FCT chairman of PDP appealed to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to sheath his sword and accept the decisions of the Port Harcourt convention.

In his words;
“While we appreciate the enormous services and contributions of Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff during his tenure in office, we wish to appeal to him to accept the decisions of the Port Harcourt convention, believing that other opportunities may arise in the future for him to serve the
party in other capacities.”

Senator Ahmed Muhammed Makarfi described the leadership crisis in PDP as sign that PDP is still strong. He however said that this should not be taken too long because of its repercussion


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In a related development, the caretaker committee has received the report of recent primary elections of the PDP in Edo state from Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state.

The caretaker committee chairman announced that all issues of leadership will be resolved by first week of July and the date of National convention to be fixed.


Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/pdp-state-chairmen-pay-solidarity-visit-makarfi/

The Lagos state government in conjunction with the Sports Writer’s Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, have set up a committee to oversee the Lagos Farewell Testimonial Match for the two departed former Super Eagles chief coaches, , which has been scheduled for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on July 23, 2016.

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The Chairman of the committee who is also the President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, said the event which is meant to raise money for the families of the departed coaches, would also celebrate the two illustrious sons of Nigeria. The money raised would be added to whatever the two families get from other donations across the country.
“The Farewell Testimonial match would see the Super Eagles players battle against Lagos All Stars team in the main match of the day, while the curtain raiser would be a game between the Lagos SWAN team and the Supporters Club. This would be followed by Musical Concert where prominent Nigerian musicians and comedians would perform in the entertainment aspect of the programme. This aspect of the event is coordinated by veteran music act, Chris Mba.”
Ladipo noted that, the involvement of the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, will help boost the goal of the event which is basically fund raising.
The Coordinator of the event, Mr. Effiong Nyong, said yesterday at a media parley organised to announce the plans of the committee that: “Amodu and Keshi must be celebrated with a fanfare as they left solid footprints on the sands of time. It is sad that we won’t see the two indigenous coaches that qualified Nigeria for three editions of the World Cup out of the five the country competed in, again.
“We intend to celebrate Lagos as the state where these coaches were made. Keshi started from St. Finbarrs College in Lagos and also played top international matches as a junior and senior at the National Stadium in Lagos, while for Amodu, as he achieved all the feats at the club and national team levels chose Lagos as his home. He left his family in Lagos to go to Abuja and Benin City to pursue owed monies before he met his death.”
Nyong hinted that the focus of the committee may extend to make the event annual, as the success of the July 23 event will go a long way in determining what happens next.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-farewell-testimonial-amodu-keshi-holds-july-23/

ABUJA (MoI’s REPORT) – Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd) has described sports as a unifying factor in Nigeria that embodies the country’s motto of unity, faith, peace and progress.

He spoke when he inaugurated the 19-member Organizing Committee of ministry of interior Games

Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) inaugurating the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games
Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) inaugurating the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games.

The Minister charged members of the committee with the responsibility of organizing a biennial sports event for the Ministry and its agencies, the first of which would take place in October this year.

While trusting the ability of the Committee to perform the task before it, he assured them of the support of the management and staff of the Ministry.

Earlier, in an opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr. Bassey Okon Akpanyung tasked the Committee to live up to expectations.

He urged the committee to map out strategies for this year’s Ministry of Interior Games and to see to the full participation of all the agencies under the Ministry.

Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, and a cross-section of members of the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games
Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, and a cross-section of members of the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games.

In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Committee, who is also the Director, Human Resource Management, Mr Patrick Elaigwu, pledged that the Committee would work assiduously to accomplish its assignment.

The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd) is the Grand Patron/Icon of Sports of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPGA), and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr. Bassey Okon Akpanyung, is the Patron of the Sports Club of the Ministry of Interior.

Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, and a cross-section of members of the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games
Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, and a cross-section of members of the Organizing Committee of Ministry of Interior Games.

Membership of the Committee cuts across the five Services under the Ministry: Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Federal Fire Service.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/sports-avenue-unity-nigeria-dambazau/

ABUJA (MoI’s REPORT) – Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd) has said that the Ministry is exploring areas of collaboration with Kaduna State, especially in matters of prison reform as Kaduna State has one of the largest prisons in the country.

He stated this when the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Gen. Dambazau (rtd) said that he would leverage on his personal relationship with the Governor to map out how the Ministry and Kaduna State could cooperate in security issues for their mutual benefit.

Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) receives Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) receives Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Speaking earlier, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai said he was in the Ministry to congratulate Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd) on his appointment and to discuss issues of mutual interest.

He noted that the Ministry of Interior, as the hub of internal security, is central to realizing the Change Mantra of the present administration, as improving security is one of the three-point agenda of the Government.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ministry-interior-kaduna-state-collaborate-security-issues/

ABUJA(VP’s OFFICE’ REPORT) – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has once again challenged the elites to live up to the expectation of Nigerians and that of the Buhari’s administration. He said the role of the elite in the development of Nigeria is important: “My view is that the future of our nation, strangely enough, depends on us, the elites.”


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According to Prof. Osinbajo, the elites are repository of a lot of knowledge and information, therefore, “Whether we accept it or not, the weight of what happens in our society really rests on our shoulders.” The elites are yet to form a consensus on ethics, integrity and even corruption, for instance, “To what extent do we accept corruption; in other words, to what extent do we think it is most unacceptable, it would destroy our country?”, he observed.

Speaking to a congregation of mostly lawyers, at the 10th Annual Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law Conference on June 22, 2016 held at Transcorp Hilton, he stated that there is no society that has been successful, where the elites don’t have a consensus on questions on integrity and morals. It is pertinent therefore, that Nigerian elites find a way to forge such consensus on critical issues.

According to the Vice President, we need consensus on what is right to do, for self preservation and for that, (the preservation) of the country. “The challenges facing Nigeria is huge, yet the elites are yet to come to a consensus”, forging such consensus regarding vital issues is the only way to go, if our society is to grow, he reiterated.

Stressing the fact that, “We don’t have to belong to the same religion or tribe, State or Geo-political zone”; he harps on the need for the elites to commit to selflessness, to encourage enforcement of ethics and laws and to show more commitment to them; “If we want our country to grow, it is essential that we are united”, he insisted.

On the ease of doing business, VP stated that the Buhari administration has recently inaugurated a Presidential Ease of Doing Business Council which he chairs, adding that the Council will work to “Create an enabling environment for business, which might necessitate removal or relaxation of some rules and making more use of technology with electronic applications, to shorten the time and be able to say specifically how long getting necessary documents/certificates will take.”

Noting the area of adjudication he stated that, “The area of adjudication requires some radical thinking and changes; commercial litigation is the area that feels the pinch most” noting that the system is so slow that, it has attracted a lot of negative comments outside the country.

Earlier, Dr. Ajibade, chairman 10th SBL conference planning committee stated that, the economy needs a little injection shot in the arm, to enable a viable environment for business. He however, cautioned that it should be done with care, so that uncontrollable monsters are not created. According to Mr. Alegeh, President of the NBA, Section on Business Law (SBL) is the pride of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohamed, who was represented by Mr. Wali Uguata stated that, Law must be gender-less, colour-less, tribe-less and of no particular religion.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/osinbajo-10th-nba-annual-conference-says-future-nigeria-rests-heavily-elites/

ABUJA (FMoH’s Report) – Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has flagged off the ECOWAS Regional Center for Disease Control (RCDC), with a view of increasing surveillance and information system for early detection, strengthening of laboratory capacity, preparedness and emergency response, and retention of trained healthcare workforce in West Africa.

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Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Governing Board in Abuja, the Minister charged members to build upon existing structures and successes recorded by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Minister noted that the center was a pilot, testing an open source surveillance and outbreak response management and analytic system (SORMAS) software, that uses smart phones to improve bi-directional communication and management of outbreak, thereby significantly reduce outbreak response time. This, he said contributed to making our health system more resilient and improved response time to health emergencies.

Prof. Adewole reiterated Federal Government’s commitment towards providing necessary infrastructure for immediate operationalization of the ECOWAS RCDC, as contained in the MOU, and Nigeria’s acceptance to use her center for disease control as platform for immediate take off of the regional center.

In his speech, the Director General of West African Health Organization (WAHO), Dr. Crespin Xavier said the Governing Council has difficult task of supervising activities of the Center, in strict compliance with ECOWAS rules and regulations. He pointed out rampant outbreak of diseases and epidemics in this environment of scarce resources.

“The stakes are high, the task is difficult, but there is no doubt that we have what it takes to deliver best practices for disease surveillance and control, which already exist. Indeed, we have the support and goodwill of our Heads of State and Government’’, he said.

Dr. Xavier expressed gratitude to Nigeria Government for the support given to WAHO for the smooth take off of the regional center in Nigeria. He also thanked the technical partners for their supports.

In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki, represented by Director, Public Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Evelyn Ngige, urged the Governing Board to use their expertise in carrying out the assignment for the overall benefit of the West African populace.

Members of the Governing Board are: Dr. Xavier Crespin (DG, WAHO) – Chairman of Governing Board, Prof. Dagnan N’cho Simplice (Cote D’ ivore), Dr. Badu Sarkodie (Ghana), Dr. Placido Monteiro Carddoso (Guinea Bissau), Dr. Lamine Koivogui (Guinea), Dr. Abdoulaye Bousso (Senegal), Dr. Henri Kabore (Mali), Dr. Carlos Pedrio Faria de Brito (WAHO), Mr. Richard Awunyo (WAHO), Mme Savage Ami Ibrahim (WAHO), and Maitre Ely Diallo – (WAHO).

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fg-inaugurates-governing-board-ecowas-regional-center-disease-control/

ABUJA (FMoH’s Report) – Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has flagged off the ECOWAS Regional Center for Disease Control (RCDC), with a view of increasing surveillance and information system for early detection, strengthening of laboratory capacity, preparedness and emergency response, and retention of trained healthcare workforce in West Africa.

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Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Governing Board in Abuja, the Minister charged members to build upon existing structures and successes recorded by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Minister noted that the center was a pilot, testing an open source surveillance and outbreak response management and analytic system (SORMAS) software, that uses smart phones to improve bi-directional communication and management of outbreak, thereby significantly reduce outbreak response time. This, he said contributed to making our health system more resilient and improved response time to health emergencies.

Prof. Adewole reiterated Federal Government’s commitment towards providing necessary infrastructure for immediate operationalization of the ECOWAS RCDC, as contained in the MOU, and Nigeria’s acceptance to use her center for disease control as platform for immediate take off of the regional center.

In his speech, the Director General of West African Health Organization (WAHO), Dr. Crespin Xavier said the Governing Council has difficult task of supervising activities of the Center, in strict compliance with ECOWAS rules and regulations. He pointed out rampant outbreak of diseases and epidemics in this environment of scarce resources.

“The stakes are high, the task is difficult, but there is no doubt that we have what it takes to deliver best practices for disease surveillance and control, which already exist. Indeed, we have the support and goodwill of our Heads of State and Government’’, he said.

Dr. Xavier expressed gratitude to Nigeria Government for the support given to WAHO for the smooth take off of the regional center in Nigeria. He also thanked the technical partners for their supports.

In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki, represented by Director, Public Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Evelyn Ngige, urged the Governing Board to use their expertise in carrying out the assignment for the overall benefit of the West African populace.

Members of the Governing Board are: Dr. Xavier Crespin (DG, WAHO) – Chairman of Governing Board, Prof. Dagnan N’cho Simplice (Cote D’ ivore), Dr. Badu Sarkodie (Ghana), Dr. Placido Monteiro Carddoso (Guinea Bissau), Dr. Lamine Koivogui (Guinea), Dr. Abdoulaye Bousso (Senegal), Dr. Henri Kabore (Mali), Dr. Carlos Pedrio Faria de Brito (WAHO), Mr. Richard Awunyo (WAHO), Mme Savage Ami Ibrahim (WAHO), and Maitre Ely Diallo – (WAHO).

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fg-inaugurates-governing-board-ecowas-regional-center-disease-control/

The African Development Bank ranks Mauritius the most competitive economy in sub-Saharan Africa
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The Mauritius capital Port Louis: concern that too much FDI is concentrated in real estate. (Photo/Ashok Prabhakaran/Flickr).
The Mauritius capital Port Louis: concern that too much FDI is concentrated in real estate. (Photo/Ashok Prabhakaran/Flickr).
MAURITIUS’S government expects foreign direct investment to increase as much as 46% this year, even as the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union may curb inflows to the Indian Ocean island nation.

Foreign investors are expected to commit 14 billion rupees ($395 million) by the end of 2016, compared with 9.6 billion rupees last year, Board of Investment Chief Executive Officer Ken Poonoosamy said in a phone interview Tuesday from the capital, Port Louis. The country received 3 billion rupees in the first quarter, Bank of Mauritius data shows. FDI slumped last year from 18.5 billion rupees in 2014, when the $12 billion economy saw several hotel acquisition deals, according to the BoI.

“With uncertainties like Brexit, we need to be very cautious in terms of figures,” Poonoosamy said. The board has some visibility “on projects that have been already been secured,” he said, without elaborating.

The U.K. is the third-biggest source of FDI flows into Mauritius, accounting for about 9% of the total, according to a U.S. State Department report. The country is the easiest place in Africa to do business, according to the World Bank, while the African Development Bank ranks it as the most competitive economy in sub-Saharan Africa. The sugar- and textile-exporting nation is targeting becoming a high-income country, which is defined as an economy with a gross national income per capita above $12,735, by 2025. It’s currently $700, according to the World Bank.

Real estate attracts the largest share of FDI in Mauritius, with 80% of the amount received in the first quarter of this year invested in the sector. In 2015, 84% was plowed into similar projects. The Integrated Resort Scheme and Residential Estate Scheme introduced in 2002 facilitates the acquisition of resort and residential property by non-citizens on the island. International buyers can become Mauritian residents once they acquire a luxury property with a minimum investment of $500,000.

The government has introduced a Property Development Scheme that expects future developments to contribute social amenities and facilities that benefit the community.

“We are aware of the concentration of FDI in real estate and the BoI is doing everything possible to make sure there is diversification and that we attract investment in other sectors, mainly in manufacturing,” Poonoosamy said, adding that there are several plans by investors to build factories.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/mauritius-easiest-place-business-africa/

Justice M.A Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced a former banker,Ikechukwu Chukwuma, to six months imprisonment for defrauding his bank, Diamond Bank, a sum of N28, 000, 000. 00(Twenty Eight Million Naira). The judge also ordered the convict to pay the sum of N15, 000, 000. 00 ( Fifteen Million Naira) as a restitution to the bank. The sentence is to run from the day he was convicted. 15 March, 2016. Also, an illegal oil bunkerer, Basil Anoliefo was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment.

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Chukwuma, a Resident Internal Control Auditor in charge of Ikwerre Road and Oyigbo Branches ( both in Port Harcourt, Rivers State) and Yenagoa Branch (Bayelsa State) of Diamond Bank Plc, used his position and influence to fraudulently transfer the sum of N28, 000, 000. 00 into his account. He was first arraigned on 2 July, 2012 where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Onyetenu found him guilty of the three count charges proffered against him and sentenced him to six months imprisonment accordingly.
One of the count reads, “that you Ikechukwu Chukwuma being a staff of Diamond Bank and acting as the Resident Control Officer of the Bank, on or about the 1st day of April, 2009, at No 40 Ikwerre Road branch of Diamond Bank, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, did obtain by False Pretence the sum of Three million Naira (N3, 000, 000. 00) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Another count reads, “that you Ikechukwu Chukwuma being a staff of Diamond Bank and acting as the Resident Control Officer of the Bank, on or about the 18th June,2009 at Oyingbo and Fot Onne branches of Diamond Bank, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, did obtain by False Pretence the sum of FifteenMillion Naira (N15, 000, 000. 00) 00) from Diamond Bank by presenting a cheque and overdrawing your staff account number 0162030013059 to the tune of the said amount after deceiving the Bank that the said amount is about to be credited to your account by your uncle in Lagos and later caused the said sum to be transferred to your savings account number 0091060003322, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
In the same vein, Justice Onyetenu convicted and sentenced Anoliefo to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The judge found the convict guilty of two count charges of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products brought against him by the EFCC and sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. The sentence is to run from the day he was convicted, 9 May, 2016.
Anoliefo was arrested by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and handed over to the EFCC on 15 April, 2008. The convict was first arraigned on 15 March, 2011 where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/court-jails-banker-twenty-eight-million-naira-oil-thief/

The government of Buhari, elected last year on an anti-corruption platform, said it has recovered more than $500 million of missing state funds


[img]http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-29-nigeria-court-accuses-ex-president-jonathans-campaigners-of-stealing-taxpayers-money[/img]

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan (L) with his successor Buhari (R).
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan (L) with his successor Buhari (R).
A NIGERIAN court charged the media and finance directors of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s failed re-election campaign with embezzling 4.9 billion naira ($17.4 million).

Femi Fani-Kayode, the director of media and publicity of the People’s Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, and its finance director Nenadi Esther Usman, both former cabinet ministers, were arraigned in the Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday with two co-defendants, according to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The accused were alleged to have stolen and illegally disbursed about 4.9 billion naira belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria for personal and political uses,” according to the statement. The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, are being held in police custody until the case resumes on July 1.

This is the latest case to bring officials close to Jonathan under scrutiny, including his national security adviser and former party spokesman. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected last year on an anti-corruption platform, said it has recovered more than $500 million of missing state funds.

Jonathan said in an interview with Bloomberg television this month that he was also being investigated, while defending his record on curbing corruption in Africa’s biggest economy.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ex-president-jonathans-campaigners-accused-stealing-taxpayers-money/

Today, Tuesday 28th June 2016, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade, accompanied by a large number of Civilian JTF from Gwoza, embarked on a very aggressive patrol that dislodged remnants Boko Haram terrorists hibernating at Ngoshe and Gava villages, located close to Gwoza on the mountainous terrain.

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The essence of the robust patrol which was supported by the Nigeria Air Force and Cameroonian Defence Forces who provided air cover and real time Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, was to clear the remnants of the terrorists hiding in the mountainous area and rescue all persons held hostages by the Boko Haram terrorists.

While advancing towards their objective in Ngoshe, the patrol team encountered Boko Haram terrorists. They have to clear the delay positions staged by the terrorists through the support of the Nigeria Air Force fighter jets.

Although the number of terrorists killed could not be ascertained, quite a number of them where seen falling over the mountains when engaged. It is equally believed several others escaped with gun shot wounds.

The troops were however able to recover quite a number of arms and ammunitions. These include; 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, 4 RPG Bombs, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 1 Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle and 3 AK-47 rifles.

Other items recovered include 1 Sub-Machine Gun(SMG), 1 Locally made Pistol, a locally made Double-Barrel gun, 1 Smoke Grenade, 243 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 1 round of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

They also recovered 18 rounds of MI16 rifle, 3 G3 Rifle magazines, 2 AK-47 magazines, 1 mobile telephone handset and a SIM card, as well as a pair of military desert camouflage uniform.

Other items were an address card, 3 Boko Haram terrorists flags and a Toyota Hilux vehicle painted in desert camouflage colour and motorcycles.

The troops did not find any hostage in Gava. However, they rescued 16 civilians held in Ngoshe prison, while many residents of the town saw it as an opportunity to flee from the town. Both the rescued and freed persons are being profiled by the troops.

You are please requested to kindly disseminate this information to the public through your medium.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/troops-clear-boko-haram-terrorists-ngoshe-gava/

As part of the continuous efforts of making parts of the north western geo-political region of Nigeria free of the menace of cattle rustling, armed banditry and other criminal activities such as kidnapping, today, troops of 223 Battalion, 1 Division Nigerian Army, deployed at Bena, raided and destroyed suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits camps in Zamfara State.


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The raided camps were located at a forest in Rikwa village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The troops recovered 3 local made pistols, 2 Dane Guns, 4 AK-47 magazines and 97 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition. They also recovered some stolen animals which include 147 cows, 432 sheep, 2 goats and a camel. The recovered livestock were handed over to local authority.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/armed-bandits-camp-bursted-rikwa-zamfara-state-nigerian-troops/

In a bid to get its activities to impact Nigerians more positively in keeping with its payoff line, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has pledged to retool its channels of engagement with communities to help prepare the younger generation for leadership.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2016 edition of the NNPC Annual National Quiz Competition which held at the NNPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said he was immensely proud of the National Quiz Competition project as it has lived up to the objective of generating interest in science and technology among Nigerian youth.

The Minister who was represented by the Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, Mr. Isa Inuwa, said the Corporation would continue to support the National Quiz Competition and other community-based efforts aimed at promoting education and youth development.

“We would thus commit ourselves to executing many more strategic community development projects, particularly those that we reckon would rapidly improve the lives of Nigerians”, he said.

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Acting Director, Technology and Science Edcation, Mrs Tina Eyanru , commended the management of NNPC for initiating and supporting the science quiz competition for the past 15 years.

He said the poor economic condition in sub-Sahara African countries was a result of poor application of science, adding that there was need to change that trajectory by encouraging the development of the transition from science to technology which is what the Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) Competition sponsored by the Ministry of Education was about.

The grand finale of the NNPC Quiz which had the winners from the zonal level of the contest was won by students from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who clinched the first prize with 135 points.

The other winners are: Akwa Ibom which clinched the second prize with 125 points; Lagos – 110 points; Jigawa – 100 points, Abia – 90 points and Yobe – 70 points.

The contestants who represented the FCT – Master Aniagoh William; Anyacho Sopuruchukwu and Nwokolo David – would enjoy N300,000 bursary throughout their education up to the first degree level.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nnpc-pledges-enhanced-community-engagement-fct-abuja-wins-2016-nnpc-science-quiz-competition/

The report from Force spokesperson, DCP Don N. Awunah stated that the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim IdrisNPM, mni, has ordered the immediate deployment of a Special Strike Force to Kogi State to combat the menace of kidnapping and other lurid crimes within the State and its environs.


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IGP Idris said the deployment of the Special Strike Force becomes imperative as the Nigeria Police Force can no longer watch innocent citizens suffer in the hands of dreaded criminals rampaging within Kogi State and its environs.

He further said that with the presence of the Strike Force, Kogi State and its environs will enjoy peace and tranquillity, but however advised those deployed on the assignment never to turn themselves as demi-gods, but servants to the people.

IGP Ibrahim Idris urged members of the public to avail the Special Strike Force with desired cooperation and assistance.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/igp-orders-special-strike-force-kogi-state-combat-rate-kidnapping/