₦airaland Forum

I think Nairaland should be a rallying point for real and pure re-branding, lets change people's orientations

thats efcc advert

Pharoh:
I have learned a lot in here and the reference is a good development.

THANKS FOR THE TESTIMONY

yeah, Good ooo. at least people learn from others good and bad side, be it sentiment of pure facts and figure, u tends to know how some ethnic group react to issues and how much love u have for your people

U-17 W/Cup can’t stop protest rally in Abuja - NLC - Don’t be violent, FG warns

Okey Muogbo and Soji–Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 29.10.2009

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, said the might of the Federal Government and the FIFA U-17 World Cup being hosted by the country could stop it from carrying out its protest rally against the government on the deregulation of the downstream oil sector and expected increase in the pump price of fuel products.

The labour union said it would use the time and opportunity to stage a peaceful protest rally and call attention to the continuous plight of Nigerians under a government that had subjected its people to all sorts of obnoxious policies.

The NLC, with its 37 affiliate unions, state councils and its civil society allies, will stage a protest in Abuja today against the deregulation policy of the Federal Government and to ensure the implementation of the report of the electoral reform panel.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the congress, which it tagged Mother of all Rallies at the Labour House in Abuja, on Wednesday, NLC Head of Information, Onah Iduh, said the FIFA U-17 championship could not affect or stop the rally from holding as planned.

Asked if the government was making overture to NLC and its allies to shelve the protest, Iduh said the only thing that could stop the rally was if the government dropped the planned deregulation and fuel price increase, announce a good package for Nigerian workers and the full implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led electoral reform panel.

He said the Federal Government could not stop the protest at this stage, saying that the Abuja rally was the last in the series of such protest rallies that had taken place across the six geo-political zones of the country.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the Labour House, preparations for the rally were in top gear and all materials needed, including banners, leaflets, posters and others, were already in place.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed to workers not to be violent in their protest. The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, made the appeal, on Wednesday, to the NLC and its affiliate unions.

It did not surprise me when this forum was a made a reference point during the 50 years of television in Nigeria,  one of the resource person make bold reference on how people and she indeed has learn a lot from this forum and recommend it for the so call journalist (television),  she extensively talked on the partisan face of NTA, and commercialization of NTA

UP All member
Up Nairaland
Up Seun

I think the man wan spend the money on his girls and women friends,

and to his appeal, Power to the pockets will appeal it to a 1 yr,

Thank God for Good minds , God bless those hands

Robbers on the rampage in Kogi, Oyo - Kill 12 people, including 5 policemen

From Oluwatoyin Malik, Adebayo Waheed, Dele Aderibigbe and Johnson Babajide - 29.10.2009

FOR two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) in Kogi and Oyo states, armed robbers went on the rampage killing 12 people, including five policemen. In Ibadan, the robbers were said to have robbed on Ososami Road before linking Anfani Road.

It was while trying to find a route of escape that they sighted a policeman in uniform riding on an okada and pursued him. The policeman, Corporal Augustine Otebolaje with force number 358706, on seeing the robbers in pursuit, attempted an escape by running into a building opposite Apostolic Faith Church at Lodge Street, Oke-Ado area.

He was, however, overwhelmed by the robbers who pumped hot lead into his neck and left hip. He died instantly. The armed men also invaded the popular Kollington Shopping Plaza area of Oke Ado, where a security man working with a fish depot behind the plaza was shot dead.

They were said to have attempted gaining access into the fish depot. The security guard, known as Dimeji, made efforts to prevent their entry by trying to lock the gate against them.

The robbers, in apparent anger, shot at the gate, which was pierced by the bullet, hitting Dimeji in the lower part of the abdomen. Dimeji was said to have walked a short distance within the depot, clutching his stomach from which blood was gushing out, before he collapsed and died.

However, they did not succeed in collecting any money, because they could not gain access through the door leading to where money was kept. The armed young men, who carried out their acts may have divided themselves into groups, as another set robbed the beer depot beside the fish depot.

The group that invaded the beer depot pretended to be customers intending to purchase a particular brand of beer, according to an eyewitness. One of the two gang members that entered the depot, it was gathered, opened his nap sack, as if to bring out money, but drew out a gun from it, assembled it and introduced himself as an armed robber.

The day’s proceeds were collected from the sales girl while the laptop belonging to the manager and his bag containing some documents and books were taken away.

The armed robbers were said to have driven in Toyota Camry cars, one red colour and the other ash colour. They escaped through the bridge at Popoyemoja area, where some boys who gave them a chase eventually lost sight of them.

A credible police source told Nigerian Tribune that the robbers abandoned the cars in Felele area and that one suspect has been arrested. Earlier, on Tuesday evening, a gang of five armed robbers had attacked a supermarket disposessing the supermarket owner of the entire day’s sale, jewellery and other valuables, after first outwitting men of the Nigeria Police, who were only 10 metres away from the scene of robbery.

The incident, which according to eyewitnesses lasted about 10 minutes, occurred at a supermarket directly opposite the popular Floreb Hotel, on Aromolaran Street, off Old Ife Road. The police, it was said, had been keeping a 24-houur illegal checkpoint, in front of the hotel, in the past four weeks.

Eyewitnesses told the Nigerian Tribune that the gang, which came on commercial motorcycles, had two of their members noisily arguing with the policemen over ‘settlement’ issues, a ploy which successfully kept the policemen distracted, while the other members of the gang robbed and completed their task and at whose signal, the “okada riders” finally ‘settled’ the officers and repositioned, for their gang members to hop on the bikes and rode off.

The supermarket owner, a middle aged woman who was still in shock, said she could not believe the attack could happen, not only because it was well before 8.00 p.m., but also because she felt the presence of the policemen should have deterred the gang.

Eyewitnesses who confirmed their helplessness said there was nothing they too could do, with the officers being so engrossed with okada riders, more so, as the gang was armed.

At the Agugu police station, though the DCO, Mr. A. Olayinka who confirmed the event, said he was yet to get the details, the station officer, who further confirmed the robbery incident, stated that the gang made away with jewellery and a yet to be determined sum of money and emphasised that the development had buttressed the need to continue to mount their checkpoint in the area.

Residents who, however, spoke on condition of anonymity said the presence of the policemen, which initially gave them a sense of security, had now turned into another thing, as all the officers did was to waylay okada riders and force them to pay ‘settlement’.

They said it was also a common practice for junior officers of the station, to routinely visit neighbourhood and arrest youths in the area, claiming they were picking ‘roguers’.

Also, in Kogi State, no fewer than 10 people, including four policemen, were killed in separate armed robbery incidents that occurred within the last two days.

The robberies occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the worst hit being some banks (names withheld) at Ankpa area of the state, as robbers numbering about 20 stormed the banks in the town, killing four policemen while a man said to be a well known thug, one Shaibu a.k.a. Rambo, who had mobilised his men to confront the robbers, was killed along with two of his boys.

Two armed robbers were also reported killed during the operation which lasted several hours. Also, robbers who had laid siege to the Ankpa- Lokoja highway on Monday, robbed a vehicle carrying a corpse. The robbers were said to have dropped the corpse and forced the bereaved to lie face down at Adogo village and stole their belongings, which included money and handsets.

The corpse, according to the state acting Commissioner of Police, Mallam Abdullahi Magaji, was being conveyed from Abuja to Ankpa with the passengers on board before they ran into the roadblocks mounted by four robbers suspected to be Fulanis.

Magaji, who paraded the dead body of one of the Fulani robbers who was killed when security operatives patrolling the highway ran into the robbery, said that the three others fled the scene when one of them was killed.

Magaji who confirmed the bank robberies at Ankpa, on Wednesday, said that the policemen and the leader of the thugs were killed during the robbery incidents.

@ Topic ,

I think i agree the guy that said the charge paper is a computer prints , as at early 2000 we still use type writer to type court proceedings,

@ 2nd picture

is the picture the issue of discussion or looting?

@ Bukola mum,
Based on the discovery, Saharareporters’ investigators have determined that Governor Bukola Saraki does not share the same mother with Gbemisola Saraki as commonly believed. Our investigations reveal that the governor was born to a Jamaican mother who met the elder Olusola Saraki in London where she was a nurse and he practiced medicine. Saharareporters is still working to find the real name of Gov. Saraki’s mother. But one of our sources disclosed that the governor “has reunited with and resettled his mother in a lavish home in a Caribbean nation.”

Bukola mum is from OWO in Ondo state and she is late since bukola childhood, let say when he was still around 2 yrs

we need Freedom of Information Bill

and many people wey attend the wedding, dey tear turkey and fried meat go think say the guy don hammer, not knowing say the guy don Parker

anambra another Ekiti in likening

Al-Mustapha welcomes Bode George to Kirikiri prison
Headlines Oct 28, 2009

*Shuns prison food
*Gets appeal documents
*Visitors barred from seeing him

By Victor Ahiuma-Young, Albert Akpor, Evelyn Usman & Ifeanyi Okolie

LAGOS — FORMER Chief Security officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, was one of the high-profile inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum-Security Prison who welcomed Chief Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the prison on his arrival, Monday, Vanguard can authoritatively reveal.

Vanguard also gathered that Chief George, who was sentenced to 28 years jail term by Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, but to spend two-and-a-half years, has not eaten Prison food since Monday night, neither has he applied for food to be brought to him from his home.

Meantime, security at the Kirikiri prison was tightened yesterday as Chief George and five members of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, which he chaired, spent their first day in the prison after being jailed, Monday.
Bode George


Others jailed alongside George were former Managing Director of the NPA, Architect Aminu Dabo; Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Zanna Maideribe and Alhai Sule Aliyu.

Reports say they were allocated beds in the ‘Important Personalities’ block of the prison yard.

But it could not be ascertained whether Chief George is sharing his cell with some of those convicted with him.

Vanguard, however, gathered that between two and three inmates are allowed to stay together in VIP cells.

According to the source, prison authorities do not allow a single person in a cell whether VIP or ordinary cell, for security reasons.

Besides, two of his personal assistants, counsel, family members, friends, relations and political associates who thronged the prison were not allowed to see him as fierce-looking prison warders restricted movement in and around the premises of the prison.

Vanguard investigation revealed that visitors are not allowed to see convicts on Tuesdays.

“There are specific days of visit for convicted persons and today (Tuesday) is not one of those visiting days”, said Mr. Ope Fatinikun, the Lagos Prisons Command’s Public Relations Officer.
Al-Mustapha

Al-Mustapha

Inside prison sources said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart was unusually calm as he was ushered into the Prison yard Monday to a rousing welcome by inmates.

The source said Chief George occasionally stared into space and shook his head in disbelief.

Al-Mustapha, who is standing trial for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola and attempted murder of the Publisher of The Guardian newspapers, Alex Ibru, before Justices M.O Dada and Mufutau Olokooba respectively, exchanged pleasantries with Chief George and they had a brief discussion during a free period.

Bode George shuns prison food

Vanguard was reliably told that Chief George had not eaten since his arrival at the prison Monday, even as he was not accorded a VIP treatment contrary to expectation.

It was not too clear whether he is on hunger strike but sources said he had not officially applied for food from home neither had he eaten prison’s food.

This was confirmed by Prison sources who said although he was not locked up with other ordinary criminals, he was not given preferential treatment.
Asked whether food was brought for him by his family or friends, the state command’s PRO, said he had not applied for food to be brought from outside.
According to him, “he has the right to apply for food but he has not done so since he arrived yesterday (Monday).”

According to Vanguard investigation, among those who attempted to see him yesterday were the immediate past Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Dr Adegboyega Dosumu, some PDP Chieftains in Lagos and other prominent Nigerians who were said to have arrived the prison gate as early as 6:30am in exotic cars some with Federal Government licenced plates.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that final touches are being put to their appeal against their conviction as their lawyers were sighted on the prison’s premises believed to be part of efforts to get the convicts sign the notice of appeal drafted as well as the Motion for Appeal.

One of the lawyers who spoke with Vanguard on phone said, “we have concluded the typing of the process and ready for filing at the Registry. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet up by the time we got to the Registry of the High Court. Definitely, the process will be concluded first thing tomorrow (today),” he said.

@ all,
My intention was to comment on this topic https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-343318.0.html
but the privileged of member replying is disabled,

I think the Politics Moderator should try not to be sentiment in his moderation, i was once a victim of banning and deleting of post, i think people have tried to follow the rules of the forum, the supposed moderator (umpire) where not the idea ones, pls lets try to learn from each other rather than persecuting or hanging ur fellow lander

I think the year broadcast by NTA was shorten because he Bode form part of those that control the station, NTA says 2 years

Q Result, all boil down to the fact that we have bad Leaders, Look that Ghana, with Good leader , God is with them
but nigerian all we know is to snatch ballot boxes during election amnd let the bad egg come into poower

Amnesty is not a farewell to arms, says Afejuku
Special Reports Oct 23, 2009

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City
Former Head of Department at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Professor of English and Literature, Professor Tony Afejuku is a household name in the Niger Delta struggle. In this interview, the blunt defender of the rights of his Itsekiri people, critic of the President Umaru Yar’Adua policies in the Niger Delta and controversial commentator on contemporary issues, says the amnesty programme of the Federal Government will fail.

He gives an insight into the formation of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), and warns that the much attention being paid to the Ijaw as if they are the only ethnic group in the region will backfire. Excerpts:

The amnesty programme seems successful.

Militant leaders have agreed to lay down their arms. As an Itsekiri activist, how do you review the entire situation?


I want to tell you that this so called amnesty is not a farewell to arms. It is not at all any good bye to arms in the Niger Delta. What they have now is a kind of lull and sooner or later, I will tell you that the Niger Delta leopard, sooner or later will proclaim its leopardhood.

In other words, I am saying that the Niger Delta shark will sooner or later proclaim its sharkhood. Having said that, with what has happened, the impression this government is driving at is that it pays to loot, to kidnap.

It pays to be a looter, a rapist, to be a murderer of innocent persons. That there is some kind of reward for carrying out some kind of criminality. And they also underscored the point that it does not pay at all to take measures that pertain to due process, justice and equity when those who committed various acts of criminality as it were, in the name of so called militancy, are put in a presidential jet and flown all over the place.

Then, you are sending some kind of message that will reverberate for a very, very long time. Not just to select so called Niger Delta militants who have been priding all over the place, who have been given the status of governors and presidents.

Other people will copy the examples sooner of later. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), went on strike for more then three months and when there seemed to be some break way, the President in his wisdom, did not think it wise and necessary to even invite the President of ASUU to come in a Presidential jet to resolve academic matters.

What I am trying to say is that this amnesty is not a remedy to this situation. In medical science, we are told that every drug has its side effect. What I am saying is that the amnesty drug that was prescribed, those in government are aware of the side effect of the action they have taken. You do not solve a problem by creating another problem.

We solve a problem with an answer. I will not tell them the answer but I am saying that this is wrong prescription. It is a wrong remedy.

If this is not the remedy, what is it?

I just told you that I am not in government and not a Political Adviser. I will not talk. Let them solve their problem. But these guys now will fade away, others will re_generate and come up. That is number. Another question you will ask is that the Ijaws, are they the only owners of the Niger Delta? What have they given to the Itsekiris.

What have they given to the Ibibios, the Binis, the Isokos, the Urhobos, the Effiks, the Ndokwas? So, people are watching. The Ijaws do not own the Niger Delta and I will say that as an Itsekiri man. They call us the South South but nobody consulted us before they put us in the South South.

Why don’t you establish a Midwest zone and let us determine where we want to go? Who even said the Itsekiris cannot belong to the South West or South East zone? Who consulted us? The point I am trying to make is that those in government who feel that they have all the wisdom, let them see how it will go.

Like I have just said, the war is not over. Amnesty is just a lull. It is not a farewell to arms. What the government has done now is that, there is this kind of idiotic feeling to say that you want to go to school.

What the government is saying now is that go and carry the gun. The point I am making is that if tomorrow I leave the classroom to become a gun runner, I go to Angola, Lebanon, Pakistan and negotiate for arms, I hope I will be given amnesty too for being a gun runner.

Looking at steps taken so far by the President UmaruYar’Adua- led administration, doesn’t the Niger Delta need peace for development?

I am one person who believes in due process, equity and justice. We know those who looted and raped the Itsekiri kingdom. We know who kidnapped people and this has gone all over the place. And do you think that this is the answer? What I am saying is that amnesty is a horse that won’t run; it is a fish that won’t swim. We will know sooner or later.

In the scheme of things, where do we belong? In the point of human rights, where do the Itsekiris belong. People who are trying to establish kingdoms in Itsekiri lands and you are trying to pacify them. So what the President is trying to demonstrate is that he is a kind of pacifist but this is pacifism that is standing on his head.

A President who believes in granting what I will rightly refer to as compromise and concession that will lead to no where. I am telling you, if you know this about me, I am only trying to resist the conformity of the conformity of compromise.

The President should not because he wants to be a pacifist, go ahead and continue to do that which is wrong. This country has laws. Are we saying that what he is doing is in the spirit and letter of the constitution? The politics of appeasement never pays.

Tomorrow too, other groups will come up. Then you now appease them. That is why I said I may decide to resign tomorrow and become a gun runner, and if I am apprehended, I will ask for amnesty. You do not give concession to one group to the detriment of other groups.

That will lead to anarchy. Something leads up to some thing and something cannot stand on nothing. Justice must be allowed to prevail.

The FG is yet to implement the reports of Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform committee and the Niger Delta Technical Committee.

The President is only conforming to precedents.So, what he is doing is not abnormal. Right from the time of the Willinks commission to right the wrongs of the Niger Delta, they do not have the heart to it. The Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole is a country of contradiction.

And our men in power have always followed the part of contradiction. So, let me try to contradict my self too, by saying that he is trying to do the right thing in the wrong way and he is doing that to appease a section of the Niger Delta. Look at the members of the committee.

They now nominated Ledum among themselves to chair the committee. Like I said before, he loves to compromise and he feels comfortable in this zone of conformity of concession. And look at the man heading the Niger Delta Ministry for example. He cannot perform. He is too old for that. He is somebody they can arm twist.

So, I do not see any destination. Where we are heading to as far as the Electoral Reform or the Niger Delta Ministry are concerned? What is the place of the minorities, that is the question? Even in the so called Niger Delta, there are minorities and minorities and minorities and what the big minorities who are actually majorities in Niger Delta are doing to check the rulers at the centre is not what they are doing.

This will lead us to nowhere. You do not solve a problem with a problem. The problem is a very contradictory thing. But Nigeria, as I told you, a country where contradictions are ever present. The more you try to understand Nigeria, the lesser you seem to understand that Nigeria is a failed state. Here in Nigeria , particularly the Niger Delta, we have what we call instability of instability.

But do you foresee doom for the Nation if before the next general elections things are not corrected as regards the electoral system?

My poetic instinct tells me that there may not be 2011 elections. We should prepare for the unexpected.
What is the unexpected?

The unexpected is the unexpected. That is all I want to tell you. Just prepare for the unexpected. I will say more than that. I am preparing for the unexpected so you just prepare for the unexpected. A word is enough for the wise.

There are campaigns for the second tenure of President Yar’Adua. Looking at his performance so far, do you think that the President deserves a second tenure?

If he is doing that, it means he is not preparing for the unexpected. My poetic writing and critical hunch tell me 2011 may not be a reality. God will dispose in 2011. That is all I can say. What progress have you made as a nation?

A country that does not give respect to education. Without education, there is no country. Militancy is the only trade that excels now.

There is crisis in the educational sector but nobody cares. The two senior citizens of this nation, who are university graduates for the first time that Nigeria ever had it, they never cared. You are subjecting university dons or lecturers to the regime of penury.

Let me just say this, the Nigerian academics, my colleagues, their courage is only just courageous powerlessness. Nothing works in the educational sector anymore. There was this publication, the best universities in the world.

UNIBEN which was the first placed Nigerian university scored above six thousand, followed by Ife , seven thousand plus. When I was finishing my university career, who wanted to be Minister? Nobody gave athought to that.

I came into academics because of what I saw. But now in the Niger Delta, nobody wants to go to school. The Igbos do not want to go to school anymore. We are thinking of business, money, money, money.

Nobody cares anymore and you think we are making progress? Without education, a nation perishes. And they are trying to turn this generation into a sterile world and may we not be the product of a sterile generation. There is no progress as it were. Forty nine years of independence what have we achieved. I just came back from the US.

Most of the products they have there come from Asia, Indonesia. What do we send abroad, just oil? We are not thinking because our leaders are bad and also the followers are bad. I have talked to you now, giving example from my experience.

I am not an ethnic war lord. I am an ethnic peace maker. But naturally, I came from somewhere. Itsekiri gave me birth. Now, given an example, we are used to be known as a tribe that goes to school. How many Itsekiris go to school today?

How many Igbos go to school today? We are in a sorry state, my dear. I see no progress. I am not a prophet of doom. But what I am saying is a reality. From what is happening in Nigeria today, I regret being intelligent.

I have the courage to say my mind but my courage is powerless courage. The Soyinkas have spoken and spoken but no progress, and there will never be until the followers insist that the right leaders must come.

Not primordial interest. Leaders can come from any part of the country but they must be leaders who can lead us properly.

From what you said earlier, you talk as if it is only the Ijaw that are in possession of arms in the region? But we are aware that they also surrendered the arms. Do you not think that they also have the same problem with the Ijaw?
Thank you very much for this question. Yes, Itsekiris have arms but the arms were for defensive purposes.

To defend themselves against rapists, those who want to establish kingdoms in Itsekiri lands. Lands that we won by court judgments, lands that have always belonged to Itsekiris historically. Now, somebody woke up, because of the power of militancy he wants to take over.

I said before that there will be no peace unless there is justice and fair play. The Federal Government and the state government did not care: because minorities are involved, let them die.

All they care is the oil, not the people. If the federal and state governments fail to protect their citizens, you think the Itsekiris will fold their arms to be wiped out. No. We are not aggressors. We have never taken part in any war of aggression but we must defend ourselves and we will continue to defend ourselves, even with stones.

So the arms they surrendered were all for defensive purposes and the Federal Government knows because they have intelligence officers. Name one Itsekiri kidnapper, name one Itsekiri war general or field Marshal who was given a plane to Abuja.

The Federal Government forced the Itsekiris to acquire arms to protect their territories. We do not kidnap. So the Federal Government must do its duty to let the rapists who are still occupying Itsekiri territories to leave.

Who are the rapists?

You know the rapists of Itsekiri land. You know the arsonists, the looters. You know the murderers of Itsekiri children. Everybody knows them and it is unfortunate that we do not have a government that protects its people.

Their only interest is the oil. And let me tell you as an Itsekiri man, I know who created the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Let me not say too much.
But MEND was created by the Ijaw militants

I know who created MEND, just take it like that. What you don’t say is more important than what you say. So, I will leave it at that.

Are you saying that the Itsekiris created MEND?

Leave it like that. It’s a big power broker. I know who created MEND because I am involved. I do not carry guns but what the Federal Government is telling me now is that I should retire and be a gun runner.

Some Niger Delta leaders are calling for the removal of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the region. Do you think it is the right time for JTF to go since the militants have laid down their arms?

To say that is like saying that policemen should be withdrawn from the various cities and villages. Do we not still have armed robbers all over the place?

Anybody whose mind is sane will not suggest the removal of JTF because you are going to create more chaos. The JTF is a necessary evil in that region. JTF must not quit. It is in the interest of the region and the country as a whole.

And if you believe that the boys have surrendered all their arms, then you can believe anything as a journalist. First of all, I told you that the amnesty has failed. New waves will come. The old waves will be washed away.

Are you saying that even the Itsekiris did not submit all their arms?

I have not said that. Itsekiris never vandalized pipes. They have never been aggressive. They have only defended themselves and if there is any aggression against our people, we will use sticks to defend ourselves.
Majority of these militant leaders are freedom fighters, due to the federal government neglect of their communities. Are you saying they do not have the right to fight for their rights?

They did not start that way.

They started by way of protesting the relocation of a local government council. And when the government did not do anything about it, they said yes, we have power here. If the government had done what they should do, they would have checked their excesses immediately. It all started through a protest against the Itsekiris. That is the reality.

The war started with the burning of Itsekiri villages, and that was when they started acquiring arms, then the bunkerers. That was what happened. The Itsekiris, we may be small but we still have brains and in fact patience is one of our greatest weapons.

Poor medicals : Minister runs to Delta
Sports Oct 25, 2009

Determined to settle problems emanating from inadequate medical facilities for the ongoing FIFA Under 17 World Cup, sports minister Sani Ndanusa, we gathered intervened and appealed to Delta State to assist the LOC with Ambulance Vehicles.

The vehicles had been procured by Delta for the Warri centre that was not eventually approved by the Jack Warner delegation. Warri remains one of the best centres in terms of facilities and readiness to host. The problems Warner noted on the pitch could have been rectified in seven days as the turfs for the training pitches were already on ground in Warri at FIFA’s last inspection visit. Kano was given eight days and Enugu nine to effect changes in their venues. Warri was not so considered, giving indications that the decision on Warri had other undertones which, for some reasons, were not made public.


The media centre in Warri had over 40 computers, all internet connected as at Fifa’s last inspection visit. Their medical facilities were rated the best and accommodation was superb. Many of the venues were still battling to get computers and fax facilities last Saturday.

We gathered that Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, for patriotic reasons, lent the LOC five Ambulance vehicles. The FIFA report that we stumbled on two days before the commencement of the championship complained of inadequate Ambulance vehicles. The report stated that one vehicle was supposed to be attached to each team.

I wonder why so-called Learned people do after serving PDP on professional level retire and join them to continue in the looting, am talking of Soludo now, i will not surprise me if Maurice Iwo retire now and Join PDP, i willl always pray that Soludo did not get to the G.House

nnggiiggee

No Nigerian linked to $10m Polymer bribe
Headlines Oct 26, 2009

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor
LAGOS — GOVERNOR of the Central Bank, CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has said that no Nigerian has been mentioned in relation to the $10 million polymer bribery scandal.

He said when the money is eventually traced to Nigeria or to a Nigerian, he would expect the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to swing into action.

Sanusi added that many media houses and other Nigerians have called to ask for CBN’s position, wanting him to confirm that the said scam took place.

NOTES
He said at this time when some people are seeking political office, some are looking for what to use against their opponents.

The CBN Governor said no Nigerian has so far been named or accused of taking the said bribe, stressing that no official reaction has come either from CBN or the Federal Government.

Sanusi declared this at a session with Vanguard Editors, in Lagos last Thursday.

According to him, investigations are ongoing and that until names are mentioned, there is nothing any government official can do about it.

He dispelled speculations by some international and local media reports that he has asked the Australian Central Bank to investigate the company that supplied Nigeria the polymer notes and disclose the names of Nigerians that were allegedly bribed by the company.

According to him: “Concerning the polymer issue, I cannot add anything to what I have said about the issue.
”There is a story that says that there is an investigation being carried out on an Australian company, that gave $10 million bribe in connection with the contract for printing polymer notes in Nigeria.

”None of the people mentioned so far, among the recipients of the bribe, are Nigerians. Nobody has said that the bribe was given to somebody in CBN. It said it was given to some top government and political officials in Nigeria.

“As far as I am concerned, at this level, I place them on the same level of accusation that the Governor of the CBN is pursuing a Northern agenda. When they begin to give names, when they trace the money to Nigeria or to a Nigerian, I would expect EFCC to swing into action.

“As I speak to you, to the best of my knowledge, not a single Nigerian has been named in the issue. Is it a true story? I do not know. I think that as they continue tracing the money, they would end up finding where it went.”

The immediate past Governor of the apex bank, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, had in an interview with Vanguard in 2006, when CBN was planning to introduce the polymer notes, said: “We are planning or not planning is not the word. The whole issue of this currency policy is evolving include the clean note policy.

”That is part of the master-plan that we are planning. It links also to the design, to the restructure that we mean. The polymer technology is new, and is not being used widely around the world.

”People who advocated the idea do think that is the best thing that has happened while those against it think it is the most horrible thing.

”We, at CBN, are open to examine our actions, but will be guided by what is in the best interest of Nigerians.
”For example, I want to get down to what you said about security features.
CBN-GOV-2

Mr. Lamido Sanusi, Governor Central Bank has said that no Nigerian has been mentioned in relation to the $10 million polymer bribery scandal

”Most people think that the polymer is more difficult to counterfeit than the paper, and that the major reason people are moving to the polymer is because of the security.

”In Chile, they launched it last week, and was the major argument that they had.

”People say the marks can washout because they are plastic. We are open. We are going to have presentations from the various groups.

”If we have any cause to change one side or the other, we will also subject it to serious scrutinising in terms of technology and compatibility with the master-plan that we are developing for the mint.

”The cost-benefit analysis will also be considered. The major reason people call for the polymer is that it is durable, it is plastic and it can last for an average of three to nine years or more. It is also more expensive to print.

”For us, it is going to be another cost-benefit analysis and also given the technology that we have.
”It will cost us a lot of money to begin to redo them. We have spent quite a lot of money to do it better. In short, we are open to proposals but we have to make the best decision for Nigeria.”.

Media reports had it that a Reserve Bank of Australia company is under Federal Police investigation for allegedly bribing Nigerian officials to win a bank-note deal in the most serious development yet in the cash-for-contracts scandal.

DEREGULATION: NLC takes battle to Abuja - Says FG plans to sell fuel at N104

Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 26.10.2009

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has hinted at the plan of the Federal Government to increase fuel price to N104 per litre, following unsuccessful dialogue between labour and the government.

However, the NLC is planning to stage, on Thursday, what it calls “mother of all rallies” in Abuja, to kick against the plan.

Acting President of NLC, Mr. Promise Adewusi, who led the meeting between the NLC and the Federal Government, in an interview with some labour correspondents in Abuja, said government agencies and officials were already giving an indication that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, would go for N104 per litre.

To this end, Mr. Adewusi, who is a deputy president of the congress and who represented the NLC president, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, who was outside the country, at the emergency meeting, called on Nigerians to take their destiny in their own hands by coming out in their large number as the NLC holds what he tagged “mother of all rallies” in Abuja, on Thursday, against deregulation, fuel price increase, minimum wage and other vital issues.

He revealed that the government called them for the urgent meeting to help it build the confidence of Nigerians in its deregulation policy but stated that the congress rejected the policy because, according to it, deregulation in Nigeria was synonymous with fuel price increase.

Answering a question, Adewusi said: “We don’t need a prophet to tell us that the price of fuel will increase because deregulation in Nigeria is very synonymous with price increase. Already, we have prices being bandied about that a litre of PMS will go to N104, and some other time they said N94 a litre.

“Nigerians should be very prepared to pay more, and that is why we are calling on them to join the NLC to come out in their large numbers to protest the move. The NLC is ready to lead the way and as usual, will not disappoint Nigerians. But they must also come out to support the efforts. We are prepared to mobilise from North to South, East to West to stop the few from enjoying our commonwealth.”

He added: “As you know, I am just a deputy president of the NLC but directed to lead the meeting in the absence of President Omar. On your question about our meeting with the Federal Government, I will say essentially it was an explorative meeting. We used the opportunity to reinforce our opposition to deregulation and we also insisted that should government go ahead to carry out deregulation, we are going to mobilise Nigerians to come against this further act of aggression against our people. Whether they go ahead or not, on the 29th of this month, we are mobilising the Nigerian people in a very massive rally in Abuja against the total deregulation of the downstream oil sector.

“Basically, they wanted to acquaint us with their reform in the petroleum industry, particularly as it affects the downstream sector and also to deny that what we found in the newspapers were merely speculations that they had not taken a date for the commencement of the policy.

“They also used the opportunity to tell us what government thinks about deregulation. After that, what we did was to confirm if truly they had made up their mind to deregulate the sector, and we told them that, in the Nigerian context, deregulation is a direct translation to petroleum price increase. After the clarification, our worry was that they told us that their greatest challenge is how to win the confidence of Nigerians in the whole process.

“In our response, we said since you are confirming to us that you want to deregulate and that since deregulation is tantamount to fuel price increase, we are opposed to it, and we are not going to buy into it. We went ahead to give them the reasons.”

Adewusi stated that the present prices of diesel and kerosene, justified NLC’s position. He said the price of diesel before deregulation was N45, “but as I speak with you now, the price of diesel is between N120 and N250, depending on the part of the country.

“We said this cannot work because there is no way you can win the confidence of Nigerians with that kind of argument. It is the same thing with kerosene. Kerosene is not only scarce, it is also totally expensive,” he said.

Mr. Adewusi pointed out that Nigerians were already in the grip of poverty and misery, warning that workers could not afford to watch government increase this suffering and pain on the people.

“If your challenge is how to win the confidence of Nigerians, then deregulation is a very bad advertisement, because of the centrality of oil in the economic calculation of the country. It has become the nerve centre. Once you touch it, you touch every other parts of the body. Nigeria has become a generator-driven economy; industries are closing down, because there is no electricity,” he said.

He said deregulation and price increase at this time would be catastrophic, advising the government to steer clear of it.

Going by the purchasing power of the naira now against other currencies, he stated that no average Nigerian could sustain himself and his family, hence, “we said no, you can’t do this.

If you want to win the confidence of the Nigerian people, the state ought to pay for a tolerable level of comfort within this system.”

Ahead of 2011: Buhari, Atiku, Bafarawa sign pact
Headlines Oct 25, 2009

* To give unconditional support to party’s candidate
* Zone presidential ticket to the north
* Party yet to be named
* We are not disturbed, PDP leaders

By Jide Ajani, Deputy Editor & Henry Umoru

Abuja – Former military head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the immediate past governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Atahiru Bafarawa have signed a pact which binds them all to give unconditional support to whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of their yet-to-be formed political party.

The pact zones the presidential ticket of the party to the north. Besides, all the party’s candidates for elective office, shall emerge through the process of a free and fair party primary. This covers election into any of the party offices.

Apart from the three politicians, Sunday Vanguard gathered that the group pushing for the emergence of a new political party which the sponsors insist is to enthrone a new political order has 20 other very strong members.
The name of the group is G-23.

The G-23, has on its membership list the names of some notable members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

This development is said to be already creating ripples in the parties especially the PDP.

In fact, the reason the veil is still being put on the membership of the group for now is because of the strategic positions of members in PDP.
*Atiku, Bafarawa and Buhari

*Atiku, Bafarawa and Buhari

A meeting has already been scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, in Abuja to ensure the sponsors agree on a name for the political party which is still in its embryonic stage.

Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that the trio of Atiku, Buhari and Bafarawa decided not to go public with their activities until the details of the pact had been agreed to.

It was after the pact was signed by the three individuals that details of their moves began coming out.

A copy of the agreement, Sunday Vanguard was also told, is in the possession of each of the signees and would form the basis upon which the party to be formed would derive its working principles in line with democratic ethos,
A source close to the arrangement told Sunday Vanguard yesterday, “the reason why the three men took their time before going public was because most people had expressed pessimism at the development.

“The pessimism was based on the wrong assumption that the three men are too powerful in their respective rights to be able to work together and subsume their interests for the general good of all.”
The trio were all presidential candidates in 2007.

Atiku flew the flag of Action Congress, AC, Buhari, that of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in 2003 and 2007, and Bafarawa, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP.

Some leaders of PDP contacted by Sunday Vanguard for their reactions to the development spoke as follows:

Alhaji Umaru Ndanusa, a member, BoT of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“The meeting between former Head of state, Muhammadu Buhari and Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar will not in any way affect the PDP, it will not in any way cause sleepless nights for the party. The more our leaders come together, and grow the country, the better it is for Nigeria. It is not the meeting that is the issue, what should concern everyone in this country should be the mission, the mission of developing Nigeria, it should be a mission of development.

“As leaders, they are free to come together and they should know that as past leaders and as hero past, they have a responsibility for this generation and the next one to come. What we should be talking about now should be meetings tailored round development irrespective of the party one belongs, they are gathering as leaders, so PDP is not jittery, they are free to meet”.

Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Member BoT of the PDP and member Ike Nwachukwu’s Elders Committee

“I tell you that the meeting has no effect on the PDP at all. We hope and pray that the opposition will be strong this time because the problem with them is that, they are not serious. The PDP is very cohesive and close to the grassroots and by 2010, you will see and feel more of that cohesiveness with the people. As you can see, in preparation for this, the party set up the Elders’ Committee to reach out to aggrieved members and where the PDP has crisis and we are achieving success in this regard. So, they can meet, PDP is not in any way disturbed at all”.

Senator Walid Jubril, Member BoT of PDP
“There is no any jittery at all, it is just a gathering, it will not affect the PDP. It is a positive achievement for the PDP. PDP does not fear that, they can hold the meeting 100,000 times, the PDP is not shaken about that, they have been meeting in the past and they are free to meet. The bottom line is that PDP is not moved and will not affect us.

Another member of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) who spoke with Sunday Vanguard said, “They won’t go any where, we have passed that stage where people are not in touch with those at the grassroots, where the actions of some individuals in the country do not have any positive effect on the people except to grasp power at all cost, they will not succeed, so PDP is not moved and disturbed in any way”.

Olatokunbo Fehintola Ajai is alive.
Seasoned broadcaster and consummate professional, it is very difficult to forget her. It is not unusual to recall her rich voice and her unusual tomboyish simplicity on the Network News of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Her memory has refused to fade, her contribution to broadcasting and news casting still fresh in our memory. She read the news with gait and a golden voice. Tokunbo was unique and highly unforgettable. I think it was at the NTA channel 7 in Tejuoso, Suruler, Lagos that I first saw Tokunbo, long before she moved to Victoria Island's national station of the NTA. In the company of the likes of Toyin Olusola, the daughter of the guru of television drama production and the producer and creator of the Village Headmaster, Femi Abdul, an engineer at the NTA 7 and some other fellows and friends whose names now play at the very edge of the unseen, Tokunbo worked hard and played hard.


Tokunbo joined the pantheon of revered newscasters and broadcasters on her own merit at the NTA Network News Headquarters in Lagos before the group was moved to Abuja. She earned her respect among the notable newscasters of the time. The group had the velvet voice of Cyril Stober, the sandpaper sharp Siene Allwell Brown, the sweet and solemn voices of Ruth Benemesia Opiah, Lola Ogunbambi and Eugenia Abu, and the soulful John Momoh. It was an enviable cast and the best in a very long time. It was always a luxury to have two of them read the news at 9:00 p.m. which made many to still stay tuned even when the NTA has lost its credibility and daily dole out lies and propaganda for the dictatorship of the lowlife, Ibrahim Babangida. The group put a brave face to the work and many of them showed their displeasure in their attitude to the lies and worthless information Ibrahim Babangida was getting out through them at the Network News.



Tokunbo Ajai died in London, England on August 18, 2000. The news of her death caught many by surprise. The shock and suddenness of Tokunbo's demise has left many wondering about what really happened to her. She was said to have been on holiday in the United Kingdom when she died. An unnamed source at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) only said Tokunbo died in her sleep. It was said that she arrived in London just a few days before her death after going through a traumatic experience in her home in Abuja. The facts of that Abuja experience have never been made public but many have said they resulted indirectly in her death. The Nigerian system is so bad and unfriendly, so devoid of security and protection of the citizenry that public safety is almost non-existent.

Tokunbo was 37 years old when she died. She had dreams and hopes that died with her. Her death left a vacuum in her family and her three brothers miss her a lot. Her aged parents are at a loss of word about their loss, the loss of a daughter with huge promise and future. Tokunbo attended Queens College in Yaba, Lagos and the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos where she obtained a Diploma in Mass Communication.

Tokunbo loved broadcasting and news casting was her major forte. She loved it and enjoyed it. She gave it her all and was determined to leave her mark. One of her friends and colleague at the NTA Network News service those days, Eugenia Abu felt the loss personally. In an interview with The Street Hawker, a Nigerian Magazine, Eugenia said:

"We miss Tokunbo Ajayi very much. She was a very special broadcaster with very special skills and very professional to the core. Tokunbo my friend, and when she died I was totally shattered, partly because, today in broadcasting you are not likely to see such professional. At the top, yes, but at the bottom, it is an all comers affair. You see a lot of people who think they are pretty, but fail to understand that beauty is not synonymous with professionalism."



How do you account for the loss of such a talented news personality and presenter? How do you deal with the way she was said to have been humiliated and her life cut shot, which resulted in her death? Tokunbo devoted her entire life to broadcasting and news casting and she was simple and selfless. How could a society like ours continue to waste lives and annihilate dreams? The loss of Tokunbo Fehintola Ajai is just one of many in Nigeria but for those who have lost loved ones and friends in such grueling manner, this is just senseless, painful and unforgettable. We will never forget that lively, bright and consummate broadcaster who held so much promise and was determined to do very well among the pantheon of news casting gods at the NTA. How can we ever forget her and her rich voice that daily bring news to us, a face and a strong voice that we often look forward to seeing and hearing?

So the Old man wants us to take up Arms kill the old thieves

iz2much:
@Niger_d

we will pefer the source

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/21/fg-ASUU-end-rift-sign-deal/

mogentle:
The new universities are: Wellspring university, Evbuobanosa in Edo State; Rhema University, Obeama-Asa, Rivers State (South-South); Paul University Awka, Anambra State; Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State (South-East); Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State; Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (South-West) and the Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, Abuja, FCT (North Central).[b][/b]

None in the north? ha O ma Se o, 

but Abuja is in the North , so eya ,

I think FG thought it wise that students should disrupt the FIFA Events in few hours time,

I think Some Tribal WAr Lord, has their hand in it, i  can remember , my post in some thread were deleted from, why? because some BIARFAN WAR LORD where against some revelation on their short coming and i think the page moderator was a south easterner, i was even banned with the ID n_delta, i think the rules are not followed in banning people from the Forum

FG, ASUU end rift, sign deal


*Govt approves seven private varsities

By Daniel Idonor & Chris Ochayi

ABUJA — THE Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday signed the re-negotiated 2006 agreement, ending the protracted strike, which has crippled academic activities in the nation’s universities in the last four months.

Meantime, the Federal Government, yesterday, gave provisional licences for the operation of seven private universities in the country.

Leader of the Federal Government’s negotiation team, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode, signed the agreement on behalf of government, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, signed on behalf of members of the union and Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors, Dr. Wale Babalakin, signed on behalf of the Pro-Chancellors.

Those who witnessed the signing of the agreement include two former ASUU Presidents, Doctors Dipo Fasina, and Abdullahi Sule-Kano; Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aisha Dukku; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Professor Dapo Afolabi, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie and Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund, ETF, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

ASUU President, Prof. Awuzie however warned the Federal Government not to attempt to break the ranks of the union, insisting that the government must ensure that the contents of the agreement are implemented to the letter.
ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie (left) receiving the signed agreement between ASUU/FGN from the Chairman, ASUU/FGN negotiating Committee Wednesday in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie (left) receiving the signed agreement between ASUU/FGN from the Chairman, ASUU/FGN negotiating Committee yesterday in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

On his part, Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors, Dr. Babalakin appealed to government to jettison the no-work-no-pay policy and ensure that all arrears owed the lecturers are settled immediately.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, ASUU President, Prof. Awuzie said the resolve to sign the agreement was a sign of patriotism on the part of the union.

According to him, we signed the agreement because we are all patriots. We want the best for this country. So, all of us had to make compromises here and at the end we have an agreement which have now been signed.

“We have made commitments in writing. We hope every party to this agreement will keep their own part. When this is done, there will be harmony and we will go. I don’t even want to answer the question on strike because no academic wants the university to go on strike but we can not sit and watch the system decay”.

He said, “what I discovered is that those who ask questions about strike are those who have their children in school, I have mine in school too and they are at home.

“But we have a duty to this nation and to posterity to give them education that is competitive in Nigeria and in the world.

“The in-thing is that we have signed the agreement. We have left war stage, the stage of community bargaining; we have finished with that. We are also going to foresee the next stage which is the implementation of the agreement.

“Signing agreement is one thing, implementing it is another. So we are going to wait for that stage and we are hoping that all parties will keep their part and we will move education forward.

“I am going to go back to my NEC and call a meeting for us to take decision and I will inform the public accordingly. This agreement is the greatest benchmark for every university,” he said

On his part, Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu said both parties to the disagreement decided to shift ground to ensure the crisis is resolved.
From left; Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshoihmole, Chairman ASUU/FGN negotiating committee, Gamaliel Onosode and Minister of Education Dr Sam Egwu at the signing of the ASUU/FGN agreement Wednesday in Abuja. Photo:Gbemiga Olamikan

From left; Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshoihmole, Chairman ASUU/FGN negotiating committee, Gamaliel Onosode and Minister of Education Dr Sam Egwu at the signing of the ASUU/FGN agreement yesterday in Abuja. Photo:Gbemiga Olamikan

According to him, “I think we have made some concession. We have shifted ground, so that we can move forward. What we did was in the best interest of this country.

“The Federal Government shifted ground as well as ASUU and that was made for the interest of the university system in Nigeria.”

On his part, Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, who brokered the meeting thanked President Umaru Yar’Adua for his statesmanship in reversing his earlier stance not to sign the agreement saying it was in the best interest of all. For him, what has happened in the last four months has shown that there is no substitute to dialogue.

According to him, “Mr. President has demonstrated enough statesmanship, while ASUU has demonstrated a high level of patriotism. At the end the day, they mean well, you might not appreciate their style but Nigeria is all that we have.

“For me, the lesson to learn is that at the end of the day, there is no substitute to dialogue. The challenges now is to ensure that this time around, this agreement is implemented to the letter so that next time ASUU and government will not have this crisis of confidence that has led to this prolonged situation. I’m satisfied with the outcome and let me thank Mr. President for the rare privilege of being part of the resolution process and be of some help in the service of the only country we have,” Oshiomhole said.

Govt approves 7 private varsities
This brings to 41, the number of private universities and 103, the total number of universities in the country

The newly approved universities, according to government, will reduce the unhealthy competition over admissions whereby a high percentage of eligible applicants are denied university admissions every year.

The decision was made during the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Umaru Yar’Adua, yesterday.

Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Minister of State for Education, Hajiya Aisha Dukku who jointly addressed State House Correspondents said the number of universities presently in operation in the country were inadequate to cater for the academic needs of the nation and that the new universities which have met all National University Commission, NUC, requirements are to commence academic activities immediately.

The new universities are: Wellspring university, Evbuobanosa in Edo State; Rhema University, Obeama-Asa, Rivers State (South-South); Paul University Awka, Anambra State; Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State (South-East); Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State; Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (South-West) and the Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, Abuja, FCT (North Central).

“Considering our rising population and this administration’s desire to improve skills and enhance standard as one of the 7-point agenda, Council therefore considered and approved the issuance of provisional licences for the establishment of the seven private universities”, Prof Akunyili said.

On why the private universities are concentrated on one side of the geopolitical divide, the minister said, “That is not the idea of government as what is paramount is the ownership and who is interested in providing such a tertiary service. Government cannot decide for whoever and the number of those who wish to contribute. As individuals, they can be in one place, but as long as they meet the requisite conditions of the NUC, they can operate.”

Dukku added that this year alone, over 1 million candidates applied for admission through JAMB, but only 220,000 could be accommodated.

Other decisions taken by FEC include the award of engineering contract for the design, manufacturing, supply and installation and commission of 360 MVA 132 transformers at Hadejia, Katsina and Kontagora at the sum of 5.81 million euros payable at the prevailing exchange rate of N500.38 million, and another contract for the rehabilitation of the Sapele power station for $526.66 million and N84.35 million.

FEC also adopted a memo by President Yar’Adua for the Federal Government service delivery initiative under SERVICOM, and the contract for complete overhaul of water de-mineralisation plant and rehabilitation of the water treatment plant at Egbin Electric Power Plc.

Aloy~Emeka:
Is it the Fani Kayode of EFCC?. When will Bode George unleash his resume too?

I wonder oooo

I Think he was conceive with his likes to defraud niaja