₦airaland Forum

Bright2:
Thank you so much for your time wasted,iv'e already gotten more than i wanted from a member in ngmix .net through email & i have crossed that stage now.You can now keep your discouragement & the useless link you posted cause i got a better link & encouragement. I do help members one way or the other on Nairaland & i don't care to know how lazy or smart they are before helping them.Congratulation you are a programmer which you are not the first neither will you be last! To caption it all,am on the track now.

This is totally uncalled for and shows you are an ingrate.  You should even be grateful that someone responded to your request, or did you pay him to help you? People like you are the reasons some don't bother to help online.

Not only did he tell you how to find a solution, but he was teaching you how to have the right attitude to solving programming problems but you took it for an insult because you were looking for a quick fix. Fact is you will never become a serious programmer or serious in any other field if all you are looking for are quick fixes. You would have learnt more and better than you are now if you have followed his advice.


@Fayimora

Well done! You have done the right thing! Please don't let him discourage you.

[size=13pt]Utaka begs Siasia for starting role[/size]

Peter Utaka  has blamed his non performance for the Eagles on limited playing time given to him by coach Samson Siasia.

The Odense of Denmark striker who has made seven appearances and scored four goals for the Eagles, declared that he needs to get quality time to make the difference.

“You will see that I have not been given much playing time in the team of recent. The last time I played against Argentina I think I played like five, 10 minutes,” he revealed.

“There is a big difference starting a game or having like 45 minutes to play than coming in as a substitute for the last five or 10 minutes. So there is no way you can just settle down in time to score goals in such limited time.

“It’s not that easy at this level to get goals in a few minutes of play.

He added: “But I can’t blame the coach (Samson Siasia) because he has at his disposal many strikers for any match. I just need to wait for the time I will get enough playing time to start scoring again.

“I am even very grateful to him for picking me for the national team. But I am pleading for more playing time and I won’t disappoint him.”

Utaka, is realy lucky that he gets invited for the national team. His performance in the matches he started fell short of expectation.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/utaka-begs-siasia-for-starting-role/

[size=13pt]Banks are recovering, says Sanusi[/size]

• Over 90% drop in ATM fraud recorded
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said the dramatic drop in the levels of non-performing loans and the structured growth of the banks in  capitalisation, capital adequacy and liquidity ratio, are restoring confidence in the economy.

Sanusi, disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja,  at the second day of the three-day Strategy Execution Master Class, being facilitated by Dr. Robert Kaplan of the Palladium Group.

The banks, he said “are on the road to recovery and I have no doubt that we have put in place the relevant measures to grow the banking sector along the lines of international best practices.”

Sanusi, said the CBN is deepening the yield curve in the financial markets and the level of transparency and efficiency in those markets is rising dramatically. “Serious investors are coming back to the Nigerian market,” he added.

The FSS 2020 programme,  he explained,  is a holistic programme, which vision is to make Nigeria one of the safest and fastest growing economies, among the emerging markets. To this end, he said, the CBN plans “to create a financial system that is surplus to domestic requirements and also create a Nigerian International Financial Centre (NIFC).”

He said: “When the FSS2020 programme was launched, its diagnostic phase saw about 150 experts from across the financial system coming together to craft a road map for the financial sector reforms. At the end of the exercise, we agreed that we should set up a financial system that would make Nigeria, Africa’s financial hub.”

He said the FSS2020 initiative is, arguably, the most comprehensive financial reform programme going on in the world today. A development that has seen the various sectors of the economy showing “tremendous improvement, in spite of the adverse impact of the global financial crisis that has been on since late 2008.”

He said said Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud- related cases have dropped by over 90 per cent since the adoption of the Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020 initiative.
The three-day Balanced Scorecard event is part of that process. It is an event that brings together the captains of the financial system to enable them to revalidate their process of strategy execution and make necessary refinements.

Prof Kaplan is a renowned authority on strategy management and execution. As co-creator of the Balanced Scorecard concept, he has been at the forefront of making it the choice tool for strategy execution in many parts of the world.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/19608-banks-are-recovering-says-sanusi.html

[size=13pt]Ogun to reduce number of tertiary institutions[/size]

The Ogun State government on Wednesday gave an indication of its intention to reduce the number of its tertiary institutions, as it expressed worry over what was described as the proliferation of state-owned higher education institutions.

It would be recalled that the immediate past administration led by Gbenga Daniel had established six tertiary institutions in addition to the existing four in the state, bringing the total number to 10.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Odubela hinted at a reduction while addressing journalists at his Oke-Mosan office, in Abeokuta, the state capital. He said "as a state, we believe that this number is huge, but we don't want a situation where we will take a decision without bringing in experts who will look at it and then recommend."

He explained that the newly inaugurated panel of visitation and fact-finding is set to carefully look into the issues.

"They will look at it, look at the reasons why those schools were set up. Are they actually meeting those needs? Do we have good schools? We don't want to sit as a government and take a decision without bringing in proper professionals who will look into it and then recommend to us and that is what we have done," said Mr Odubela.



Following due process

On the controversial return of schools to missions, the commissioner condemned the action of Mr Daniel's administration, which, according to him, did not follow due process.

"At the time the past administration would get that MoU where they agreed to handover those schools, they were not considering the law which is still in existence. That law has not been amended, it has not been repealed and an MOU cannot supersede a law. It was not properly done and that MoU, to me, cannot withstand the position of the law," Mr Odubela said. "Secondly, we discovered that the past administration did not actually take a lot of things into consideration. If you just agree with the way they have done, almost about 30,000 of our students will be roaming the streets because they will not be able to pay those fees that will be charged by those missionary schools."

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5741982-146/story.csp

[size=13pt]Fayose returns to PDP[/size]

[img]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=Fayose_returns_758379890.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was given PDP Card No. 4619857 and Ward Registration No. 841 at the party’s secretariat in Afao-Araromi ward by the Ward Chairman, Chief Olaiya Abiola.
Fayose also declared his intention to contest the seat of the party’s National Vice-Chairman next year.

Lamenting that no Ekiti PDP member had ever been elected into the position, he said he has the wherewithal to occupy the seat. Fayose said: “Osun State has occupied the position three times, but no Ekiti man has ever been elected as even National Secretary. It is time for us to fight for our own fair share in the PDP and this we are going to achieve if we are together.”

He said he returned to the PDP to restore its glory in Ekiti and the Southwest. Fayose left the PDP in a controversial manner, shortly after the 2009 re-run election, where he worked against former Governor Segun Oni, who was then the party’s candidate.

He said he left the party following the way he was treated before the re-run and only returned because his people pleaded with him to do so. Fayose said: “My people took the pains to look for me in Afao Ekiti and Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, not minding the risk. I am doing this to reciprocate their gesture.

“God has given me a rare opportunity and grace to be sought after by my people. I am not God and I will never play God.” He promised to work peacefully with Oni and other stakeholders to rebuild the party.

Fayose urged PDP members to shun the politics of bitterness and forget past grievances. The ex-governor resigned his membership of the Labour Party (LP) on September 12, in a letter to the party’s National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.

The receipt of the letter was acknowledged by a top member of the National Working Committee of the LP, Mr. Mohammed Salami.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/19607-fayose-returns-to-pdp.html

[size=13pt]Senate to probe NNPC[/size]

The Senate is set to investigate how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spent N771 billion on fuel subsidy.

The fund spent by the Federal Government between January and August this year, is far above the N240billion allocated for that purpose in the 2011 Appropriation Act.

This is contained in a motion to be moved by a former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki at plenary today.  The Federal Government has so far spent N931billion this year on fuel subsidy.

The motion, which is contained in the Senate notice paper, stated that N771billion is 700 per cent above the budgeted sum. Saraki contended that if the current rate of expenditure is allowed to continue, N1.2 trillion would have been spent by one agency of government as at December, this year, which would exceed the total capital budget of N1.1 trillion for the 2011 fiscal year.

Saraki planned to seek  Senate’s permission to set up a committee to investigate how the funds were sourced, saying he feared it may have been misappropriated.
He further expressed worry that the first three months of the year, both NNPC and Independent Marketers did not exceed N62billion monthly, but wondered that within the last three months, figures have ranged between N159 billon and N186 billion.

The notice reads in part: “A motion to investigate the current fuel subsidy management and consider the challenges it pose to the implementation of this year’s budget.
“The Senate notes that the Federal Government operates a fuel subsidy scheme to make petroleum products available and cushion the effect of the true market prices of petroleum products on the populace.

“Recognising that the fuel subsidy scheme is a long standing government palliative action to help the Nigerian masses, this motion does not aim by any guise to remove the fuel subsidy. “Recognising in the meantime, the need to make the scheme more transparent, corruption free and competitive within an appropriate legislative framework and in compliance with the Appropriation Act.”

It further added that the Senate, “notes that in furtherance to the implementation of the fuel subsidy,an amount is budgeted in the Appropriation Act. In 2011, the sum of N240 billion (N20billion monthly) was allocated.

“Note that the N20billion monthly allocated, N11.2billion was allocated for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (NNPC) and N8.8billion for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (Market) as stated in the Appropriation Act 2011.

“Observe that although N20 billion was set aside for subsidy monthly in the Appropriation Act 2011, in August 2011, the total figure expended was N165 billion of which NNPC was N88 billion and Independent Marketers was N77.7 billion.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/19606-senate-to-probe-nnpc.html

Tambuwal: PDP chiefs fear Senators, Reps’ revolt

FACTS emerged on Wednesday why the Peoples Democratic Party is afraid of sanctioning the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, for violating the party’s zoning arrangement.


Checks by our correspondents showed that the PDP was afraid of incurring the wrath of the sizeable number of Representatives who voted for the two men, and their sympathisers in the Senate. The thinking in the PDP, sources told our correspondents, was that the National Assembly might turn against President Goodluck Jonathan if Tambuwal and Ihedioha were removed for the party’s chosen candidates.


The Speaker and his deputy were enthroned on June 6 through a conspiracy between the PDP members of the House and opposition lawmakers. The aim of the plot was to rubbish the PDP zoning arrangement.


The ruling party had zoned the Speakership to the South-West but the lawmakers gave it to Tambuwal from the North-East. At the time, the lawmakers had described the move as the “triumph of democracy.”


But the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees and former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently asked Tambuwal and Ihedioha to resign their positions, arguing that their election violated the party’s power-sharing formula.


Our correspondents learnt that the party was unwilling to defer to Obasanjo because it feared that forcing the Speaker to resign might lead to a move by Tambuwal’s supporters and opposition lawmakers to plot the impeachment of Jonathan as a way of hitting back at the PDP.


“The PDP National Working Committee felt thatObasanjo’s demand was an invitation to chaos,” a member of the NWC told one of our correspondents on Wednesday. He asked not to be named.


The source said the President had more problems than he could cope with, including the Boko Haram challenge, and that it would be crushing “to have a hostile parliament at the same time.”


The NWC member explained, “If we insist on the Speaker’s removal, it is the President that will feel the heat. The House members will think that Jonathan is behind the move to get rid of the Speaker and they can transfer their anger to him. We do not want anything that will compound our problems.”


He said that was why the PDP’s stand on the election of Tambuwal was diplomatic.


He said, “This is the first time that the party would be ridiculed by its members. As a political party which wants to take the issue of indiscipline seriously, we need to call them to order.


“Don’t forget that there is tension in the polity concerning the bombings that are going on, we decided that it is better not to heat up the polity as a result of this issue.


“Apart from this, we should not forget that we also have strong opposition among those who planted the Speaker and his deputy there. Our hands are tied because we have a strong opposition in the country and also the majority of our members in the House who belong to the PDP are even against us in this regard.”


The acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, recently told journalists in Abuja that the party would not prevail on the Speaker and his deputy to resign.


He said that Tambuwal and Ihedioha had apologised for violating the power-sharing arrangement of the party, adding that there was no need to punish them.


The PDP NWC member further said that the party’s investigations showed that the opposition lawmakers in the House and the northern elements who supported Tambuwal’s election were ready to cash in on the crisis that his removal would cause.


He said, “You will recall that it was yesterday (Monday) that we raised the alarm that the Congress for Progressive Change was plotting the impeachment of the President. It will amount to a political suicide, if we champion Tambuwal’s removal


“Remember, 252 out of 360 members elected Tambuwal. It will be disastrous if the members move against the President. Any move to remove him may result in a backlash against Jonathan. Even in the Senate, the Speaker has sympathisers.”


The NWC member, who earlier explained the stand of the party on Obasanjo’s demand, said the North deliberately worked against the PDP’s power-sharing arrangement because it felt it had been short-changed.


He said, “By the previous arrangement, the Senate Presidency should have gone to the South if the President came from there. You remember that during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, the South produced the Senate President.


“The North believes the Speaker should come from the North because the speaker is believed to be strong administratively than the Senate President. On the issue of the suggestion that Tambuwal and Ihedioha should spend only two years as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, honestly, I don’t know how this can be done.”


Meanwhile, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof Rufai Alkali, and the National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, have said that Obasanjo remains a leader in the party.


While fielding question from journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, Alkali and Oladipo said Obasanjo should not be criticised over his comments on discipline and the power sharing arrangement of the party.


Alkali spoke in Osogbo when he paid a condolence visit to Oladipo, who lost his father last Friday.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109153254260

[size=13pt]UK offers Nigeria access to 90 billion pounds fund to boost infrastructure[/size]

BRITAIN has urged the Federal Government to initiate plans to access part of the United Kingdom’s 90 billion pounds investment funds to boost the country’s infrastructure and economy.

The offer came barely over a month after the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited Nigeria.

Stating this was the Lord Mayor of the City of London; Alderman Michael Bear, when he led a trade delegation to the country this week.

Bear said for Nigeria to play important global economic role, the country need to have pursue the three Cs approaches: Commodity-which the oil represent, Capital leverage and Creativity that will enable the country diversify the economy.

The London Mayor, who was hosted by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) in Lagos, said Nigeria has the potential to attract part of the 90 billion pounds earmarked by the British government for investment in any part of the world that it sees as good opportunity.

According to him, since capital has a choice, Nigeria was among the countries chosen to attract part of the funds, adding that it is now left for government to access the investment fund.

Speaking at the September breakfast forum of the chamber, Michael Bear, said one of the major criteria for a major capital city to attract foreign direct investment is openness to other people and countries.

“We have something we will like to share with Nigeria and so do others,” he said.

The mayor also added that a country must possess a business-friendly environment based on transparency.

“What you need”, according to him, “is predictability, stability and transparency within the business and financial environment.”

He explained that transparency was very important in global business, stressing that Nigeria should entrench a level of predictability in policy, dispute resolution and common law.

Another criterion for making Nigeria a global finance and business centre, the Mayor added, was business infrastructure.

“Every business needs power and communication. People need to get to work without wasting time. Infrastructure pays for itself and creates good jobs. In the city of London, we have realised that one British pound spent on infrastructure generates about two and a half British pounds,” Bear said.

He maintained that the fourth prerequisite for a mega city was good communication, which opens the way for global attention. There should be electronic and physical information communication because businesses can only thrive where business risks, financing risks and sovereign risks are reduced to barest minimum.

“The fifth, according to the Mayor, is a business cluster, stressing that “those are the five reasons that make the city of London a world business hub, and we love to share with you a roadmap on how you can achieve your aspirations towards being a world business centre. If you follow our example, your GDP will increase to about $60 billion.”

Bear however, stressed that the five major criteria were what make the city of London a number one choice as a global centre for finance and business, adding that these could be replicated not only in Lagos State, but Nigeria as a whole to make the country a choice destination for more British investmentYou need to create jobs. You need to create exports and diversify away from a single commodity economy,” he said.

Earlier in his presentation, the NBCC President, Thomas Awagu, while welcoming the Mayor and his trade team, said Nigeria was willing and ready to have more British investments spread into various areas of the country’s economy that are yet to be fully tapped into.

“We are seeking to establish new business partnerships in London,” Awagu said.

The NBCC President however, called for greater support from the British High Commission, various government agencies in Nigeria and Britain as well as viable private sector leaders willing to have business ties with the British business community.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61114:uk-offers-nigeria-access-to-90-billion-pounds-fund-to-boost-infrastructure-&catid=31:business&Itemid=562

40 African nations recognise Libya’s interim govt

FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, has said that about 40 African countries have so far recognised the Transitional National Council (TNC) in Libya.

The minister at a briefing in Abuja to spotlight the strides of the nation’s foreign policy in the first 100 days of the present administration, also explained the rationale of the agreement in principle between Nigeria and Kosovo, to set up trade offices in both Abuja and Pristina among others.

He gave an update on the TNC recognition chart saying: “As at today, over 40 African countries have now recognised the TNC following Nigeria’s leadership initiative. Our overriding interest in the fastly developing situation in Libya are threefold. One, to achieve an early end to the conflict, thereby preventing further loss of innocent lives  regardless of who the culprits are, Two, to support the process which would allow the Libyan people decide the future of the country and the third, superior logic,

“We are working closely with the council members on a range of issues, including the conflict in Libya, the crisis in Syria, Somalia among others,


Nigeria’s positive image and good standing in the international community has also attracted high level visits by chiefs of state including Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Ian Kama of Botswana, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai of Zimbabwe, Alhassane Ouatarra of Cote d’ Ivoire, as well as President Mahamaddou Issoufou of Niger Republic among others.”

He added that the need to ensure maximum security for Nigerians, coupled with the urgency of engendering co-prosperity without any negative effects on the Nigerian local environment are the twin driving forces behind the “intense bilateral engagement” which Nigeria is starting with its neighbours.

Delving into the international politics of promoting Nigeria’s interest in the West African neighbourhood through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s  functional co-operation and economic integration yesterday, the minister said: “ This strategy is as valid today as it was, at the time it was conceived, precisely because Nigeria’s security and prosperity and well-being of her citizens are inextricably tied to the stability and prosperity of its immediate neighbours.”

At the multilateral level, the minister noted that Nigeria continued to provide a credible African leadership role through its membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

The ministerial briefing also touched on Nigeria’s exertions in international consensus building, the creation of a positive image and fair standing in the international arena, a floodgate of goodwill and high level visits as well as the immediate and expected gains from its recognition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) of Libya.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61159:40-african-nations-recognise-libyas-interim-govt-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[size=13pt]Bankole’s return bid causes ripples in House[/size]

The bid by immediate Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, to return to the House is reportedly causing ripples among the lawmakers.


But, Mr. Segun Williams, who defeated Bankole in the race for the Abeokuta Federal Constituency seat last April, told journalists on Wednesday that the ex-speaker’s return moves did not bother him.


Bankole had congratulated Williams, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria shortly after the result of the poll was declared.


The ex-speaker said that he would not contest the victory of Williams in court.


However, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, later went to court to challenge the outcome of the poll and joined Bankole as co-plaintiff.


Findings showed that some lawmakers were said to be worried over the ex-speaker’s moves.


“He has not been leaving anything to chance since he lost the election.


“The ex-speaker has been moving like a wild wind and wants to return to the House”, a National Assembly source told The PUNCH in Abuja on Wednesday.


Williams dismissed the return bid, saying that he won the election by popular votes and had no reasons to entertain fear.


He said, “I don’t have anything against him going to the tribunal.


“ACN won the election, adjudged to be free and fair.


“So, I can not entertain any fear. I have confidence in God and the judiciary.


“There is no way my party or I will be jittery.”


Williams also described as “blatant lies”, rumours that his party might abandon him.


“This is a complete lie; there is nothing like that. What for?


“It is unthinkable; we have a loyal and faithful party in ACN”, he stated.


Insiders at the House said that some influential lawmakers were allegedly forecasting on what the scenario would look like should the speaker win the court case.


It was gathered that certain powerful groups in the PDP were aligning with Bankole and backing his return bid.


A prominent member of the House siad, “All this is happening at a time when former President Olusegun Obasanjo is insisting that the office of Speaker must be held by the South-West.


“The PDP in the South-West is saying the same thing. We don’t know the direction they are headed.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110915318040

[size=13pt]How ethnicity, graft, others ruined Nigeria, by Achebe[/size]

Anyaoku, Jesse Jackson, Amaechi on way foward

LITERARY icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe yesterday lamented the nation’s woes, painting a picture of how the Nigeria-Biafra war which was precipitated by the bile of ethnic hatred, created a clique of military class and political adventurers that ruined the country.

He said this ugly development has been made easy by Nigerian academics who have presided over the liquidation of the university system in Nigeria and the rise of a culture of anti-intellectualism in the country.

Achebe made the remarks in a keynote address titled “Literature and Ethnicity” which he delivered at the Garden City Literary Festival taking place at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State. He was represented by his third son, Dr. Chidi.

The renowned professor of literature who spoke to the audience through a recorded video, recalled that though Nigeria is today steeped in ethnic and religious tensions, there was once a time when it was seen as a land of great hope, progress; a nation of immense resources including a great diversity of vibrant people who have not always been on the best of terms, but had collaborated to produce great results for the betterment of all. He said the Nigeria-Biafra war changed all that.

Present at the event were the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, American civil rights activist, Jesse Jackson, Vice Chancellor of UPORT, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, Prof. Molara Ogundipe, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Nkem Okoh, Prof. Chidi Maduka and other dignitaries.

Achebe said: “Since the war, Nigerians have been subjected to a clique of military and civilian adventurers and a political class that have exploited the ethnic divisions in Nigeria. This group, unfortunately, has been completely corrupted, spearheading the enormous transfer of the country’s wealth into private bank accounts, a wholesale theft of the national resources needed for all kinds of things - health, education, roads. The result has been that the nation’s infrastructure was left to disintegrate unleashing untold suffering on millions of innocent people.”

He noted that what upsets him most is that the entire mess, which Nigeria has found itself today was quite avoidable. According to him, the leadership appears not to really care for the welfare of the country and its people.

Achebe noted that for him, it was such a cataclysmic experience that has virtually changed the history of Africa and that of Nigeria such that he had to rethink all his optimism about the country.

He berated the academia for allegedly collaborating with the military and the civilian authorities to foster a culture of anti-intellectualism and misgoverning the country.

“If a political class, including intellectuals, university professors, and people like that, who have read all the books and know how the world works, had based their actions on principles rather than on opportunity, Nigeria would not have been in this predicament.   But Nigerian leaders, beginning with the military dictators, looked around and saw that they could buy intellectuals,” Achebe said.

He said he despairs over Nigeria daily because of her missed opportunities and the fact that nobody has had the imagination to transcend all the ethnic pettiness and become a leader of modern Nigeria.

“So, let us stop all this nonsense about religion, about tribe and so on. Let us organise Nigeria and make it a working entity so that it can fulfil its mission in the world,” he said.

Achebe tasked Nigerian writers and their counterparts around the world to continue to point out the ills in the society even if it produces headaches in the halls of power.

Patron of the festival, Governor Amaechi, said the choice of literature and politics as the theme of this year’s edition of the festival was informed by the fact that politics permeates every aspect of life.

“From the role of women in our society to the struggles of those who feel their points of view are not clearly heard, to the development of our environment, literature probes every facets of our experience, including those bearings on political matters. This year’s festival offers a forum where writers, public figures, scholars and other citizens can discuss the nature and implications of the relationship between literature and politics. My hope is that at the end of this festival, we will come away with deeper insights and a renewed sense of the vital link between literature and politics.”

Amaechi also urged writers to reflect reality, noting that one of their major roles is to identify problems of the society and provide solutions to them.

Anyaoku who chaired the event, stressed that though education is the gateway to the development of any nation, such development would remain far from being achieved if it lacks a good literary culture.

He explained that if politics is to produce a non-dysfunctional world, politics needs literature because the two reinforce each other for good policy.

On his part, the American civil rights leader and former presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Revd. Jesse Jackson stated that Nigeria’s stability and growth are huge things to the world, saying that, literacy, as the Garden City Literary Festival is promoting, is the key to liberation and that those who have the strong minds break strong chains.

He stated that literacy and poverty cannot co-exist, thus education is a key to competing into this world and “that thinking enables us to co-exist.”

Festival director, Koko Kalango observed that the GCLF has become a yearly forum for networking and conducting business with books, with intellectual ideas as common denominator.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61164:how-ethnicity-graft-others-ruined-nigeria-by-achebe&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[size=13pt]We didn’t take hasty decision on Libya -FG[/size]

Written by Christian Okeke, Abuja


THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, said there was nothing hasty about its decision to recognise the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya and noted that before taking the position on the Libyan crisis, Nigeria was patient and  hoped that the superior logic of dialogue would prevail.

This revelation came just as government denied reports that Nigerians were killed in the war-torn country, insisting that no Nigerian was harassed or killed in Libya.

Making the disclosure in Abuja during a media briefing to mark President Goodluck Jonathan’s 100 days in office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, noted that Nigerians were being protected in Libya as a result of the recognition accorded the NTC which he described as, “the group we felt was gaining ground.”

He maintained that if Nigeria had not taken the stand, there would have been more bloodshed and the victims would have blamed the country.

The minister stated that the Federal Government put a phone call across to the NTC that no harm should come to any Nigerian or any black in Libya.

He said, “Nigeria took the principled decision to recognise the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people on August 23, 2011. Our over-riding interest in the situation in Libya are threefold. One, to achieve an early end to the conflict, thereby preventing further loss of innocent lives, regardless of who the culprits are. Two, to support processes which would allow the Libyan people decide the future of their country. This is consistent with our new foreign policy focus to support the consolidation of democracy in Africa.

“In taking the position we took on the Libyan crisis, Nigeria was patient, always hoping that the superior logic of dialogue would prevail. For instance, our support for the AU Road Map was premised on the expectation that the protagonists would see the wisdom in embracing dialogue rather that a recourse to military solution.

“The AU Road Map  failed because of lack of faith on the part of the belligerents. In the circumstance, Nigeria had to act to reaffirm its leadership and also to continue to demonstrate our country’s commitment to the consolidation of democracy in Africa, a value which is central to our country’s new foreign policy focus,” he added.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/28183-we-didnt-take-hasty-decision-on-libya-fg

[size=13pt]CPC: PDP Printed Excess Ballot Papers to Rig Poll[/size]

By Tobi Soniyi

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Tuesday told the Court of Appeal in Abuja, sitting as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) printed excess ballot papers, which it alleged, the party used to rig the April 16 election in favour of its presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The CPC also told the tribunal that the ballot papers were printed by a local firm, Tulip Press Limited.
This is contained in the testimony of CPC’s Secretary, Buba Galadima, before the tribunal.

According to him, the excess ballot papers were used to inflate the scores of Jonathan in the presidential election in the South-south and South-east zones of the country.

He said that contrary to the claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the ballot papers were printed abroad for security reasons the papers were indeed printed in Nigeria by the local printer.

“That I know as a fact that fake papers meant for the presidential elections scheduled for April 16th, 2011 in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and other parts of the North-west geo-graphical zone were printed by Tulip Press Limited,” he added.

Galadima averred that the votes recorded in favour of Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, and the PDP were as a result of multiple thumb printing by few individuals who secured unlawful access to the many ballot papers.

He said that the multiple thumb-printing gave an undue advantage to Jonathan.

In spite of the low turnout of voters in many states of the federation, INEC still went ahead to score Jonathan with over 95 per cent of the total votes cast in many states of the federation, he said.

“INEC had claimed in many forums prior to the election that the contract for the supply of sensitive electoral materials such as ballot papers was awarded to a foreign company for security reasons.

“Jega also made this declaration when he addressed a meeting of the leadership of political parties in the country in preparation for the election in the country on steps he had taken to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.

“It was later discovered that the statement of Jega that the contract for the supply of sensitive electoral materials such as ballot papers was false, misleading and calculated to deceive Nigerians including the petitioner.

“I know for a fact that the contract was awarded to local companies owned by stalwarts/agents and members of the PDP that eventually took unilateral responsibility of distributing election materials with the exclusive collision of INEC and Jega while the petitioner was excluded,” he said.

Galadima alleged that Tulip Press Limited, which he claimed belonged to leading members of the PDP, was one of the local printers that printed the ballot papers.

He said further that on or about April 10, two men - Messrs Akinolu Akinto and Habila Stephen - were caught with a van loaded with about 100,000 ballot papers for the presidential election scheduled for April 16 by the police in Abuja.

“That on investigation by the police, it was found that the ballot papers were printed by a printing press, Tulip Press Limited, belonging to one Bello Gwandu, a former managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and a staunch member of the PDP,” he stated.

He also claimed that the postponement of the April 9 election on the ground that foreign contractors were unable to meet the deadline for the delivery of the ballot papers, was false.

According to him, the postponement of the election was deliberate and intentional when voting had commenced in most parts of the strongholds of the petitioner thereby giving the 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents (Jonathan, Sambo and PDP) an opportunity to study the voting pattern of the electorate with a view to taking neutralising measures.

“But INEC and Jega attributed the postponement to inability of the contractors to airlift election materials on time due to the civil war in Libya and the Tsunami disaster in Japan even when Jega had in less than 24 hours to the election addressed the nation and assured it of adequate preparations for the election and that the sensitive materials were already in the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” he added.

Galadima noted that after a thorough search of the printing press, an additional one million copies of the ballot papers meant for the presidential election scheduled for April 16 was found.

He said about 12 people were arrested by the police and were kept in custody at Utako Police Station, Abuja.

He further said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Utako Police Station, Usman Umar, told the press that the case was transferred to the Force Headquarters and that until yesterday, the 12 people arrested had not been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The CPC secretary further alleged that just before the presidential election of April 16, a lorry load of ballot papers was removed from the stores of INEC to the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja ostensibly for the viewing of Jonathan and when INEC was confronted with this fact, it said that the matter was under investigation.
Hearing on the petition continues today.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/cpc-pdp-printed-excess-ballot-papers-to-rig-poll/98434/

[size=13pt]UN releases names of Abuja bomb attack victims[/size]

The United Nations on Wednesday released the names of its 11 employees who died in the August 26, 2011 bomb atack on its Nigerian headquarters in Abuja.


The 11 employees, who were caught in the suicide bomb attack on the UN‘s Aruba House


building, were among the 23 casualties of the incident. Prior to the attack, claimed by the outlawed Boko Haram sect, the building was home to 26 aqgencies and 400 UN employees.


A statement by the United Nations Development Programme listed their names and agencies as Ms. Rahmat Abdullahi, UNDP; Mr. Musa Ali, World Health Organisation; Mr. Johnson Awotunde, UN Children’s Fund; Dr. Edward Dede, WHO; Mr.Elisha Enaburekhan, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); Mr.Adewale Kareem, UNICEF; Ms. Ingrid Midtgaard, UN Office on Drugs and Crime; Mr. Iliya Musa, UNDP; Mrs. Felicia Nkwuokwu, UNDP; Mr. Stephen Obamoh, UNDP; and Mr. Abraham A. Osunsaya, WHO.


In a tribute, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Touré, asid, “These men and women devoted their lives to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians across the country. We will never forget them. Nor will we forget the passion and courage with which they proudly served the mission and ideals of the United Nations.”


n additional 116 people were injured in the Abuja explosion, including 64 UN staff members, 36 non-UN staff and 16 who currently remain unidentified, the statement added.


”Since August 26, the UN has focused attention on securing medical care, counselling and other essential needs for staff members and their relatives. The Nigerian government has been ensuring medical coverage forinjured non-UN staff.


”UN work in the country continues with a business-continuity plan and ongoing delivery of the organisation’s 2011 programme focused on improving the lives of the poor, addressing hunger, disease and illiteracy, and promoting respect for civil rights and freedoms,” the statement added.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011091417444321

Well let's wait for like 2years and see what becomes of Libya after Ghaddafi. If it get worse, Libyans only have themselves to blame, and who knows, things might just get better.

bittatruth:
[color=#550077]That's why i will go for experienced vargin guy. . .yu can't turn me into flat tire [/color]

How can he be experienced and at the same time a virgin? And no one is sure of what a virgin will turn out to be.

ebonyvibe:
They should both meet each other half way. Atleast the woman was satisfying him b4 they got married.

They should make love like 5X a week or he needs to get  medical help. A second wife will spoil the home that he wouldnt even be thinking of love making by the time the catacata burst

i agree with you.

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=757476.msg9142526#msg9142526 date=1315972763]^-- Ogun wants to become the Taiwan or Singapore of Africa, it seems.

We just need to sort out this power situation.[/quote]It is possible if the infrastructures can be put in place, especially power and transportation (roads/rails).

I actually expect Lagos, Ogun and Oyo to focus on trade, commerce and industries, while Osun, Ondo and Ekiti should focus on attracting investments in agriculture and aggro-allied industries

Not bad at all. Hope he is able to achieve that.

All these while, were there no armed forces on the ground? I thought the JTF on the ground are mostly army officers.

ShipIt:
This seems like a pathetic attempt at blackmailing the government to deregulize the power sector, I don't see how raising prices on something that doesn't work is supposed to make it work better,

Actually it is expected. The low tariff is a major reason why we have not seen lots of  private investments in the sector like we saw in the telecommunication sector. The present tariff simply doesn't make sense for private investment.

If the increased tariff will yield the desired investment in the sector and bring constant supply of electricity, then so be it.

Cipriani:
I can fuçk you for free, you keep the children and you bear Mrs Cipriani. How about that? I will visit you on weekends and nothing more. and I am not sharing financial expenses.   

lol 

@OP

It's not by force to be married. Why go through all these stress just to answer 'Mrs'? Doesn't worth it IMO.

Anyways, good luck in your search.

NFF to determine Enyeama’s future


Nigeria coach Samson Siasia says he has accepted goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s apology after Enyeama led players’ agitation about the team’s mode of travel to Madagascar for the African Nations Cup qualifier.

But despite his acceptance, Siasia stated that the goalkeeper’s future with the national team now rests with the Nigeria Football Federation. Siasia stressed at the time that his act of indiscipline was totally unacceptable, while Enyeama insisted that his concerns were ‘completely misunderstood’.

“I have accepted the apology. I have nothing against him as an individual.” Siasia told the BBC.

“It was very unfortunate that the incident happened before our departure to Madagascar.

“Sincerely, I dropped the player because I was afraid of his state of mind before such an important match. It was a sensitive case yet the right thing to do to avert it spilling over and affecting the morale of the squad.

“But it is now left for the Federation to decide on his (Enyeama’s) future with the team.”

The NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari had hinted to THE PUNCH on Monday that the matter could be discussed at the emergency executive meeting held in Abuja on Monday. But a communiqué released from that meeting suggested that the matter was not discussed. The Technical Committee of the Federation is now expected to handle the matter.

Despite concerns raised over Eagles team’s spirit after the 3-1 defeat to Argentina in a friendly, Siasia said his focus is on the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Our main focus for now is not beating the Syli Nationale of Guinea, but to beat them silly,” said Siasia, who will release his list of call-ups for the crucial qualifier next week.

“We want a convincing win, so we need to beat them by as many as three clear goals. We have to prepare well and find a way to win convincingly to earn the sole group ticket.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011091426431

Pupil sues teacher for N500m over loss of eye
On September 14, 2011 · In News

By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—A 10-year-old primary four pupil of Okhoro Primary School, Okhoro, Benin, Edo State (names withheld) has instituted a N500 million suit against her teacher, Mrs. Mercy Iyobosa, before a Federal High Court, Benin, for allegedly beating her with a broom, which caused blindness in her left eye, over failure of a Mathematics test.

Joined as defendants in the suit are Edo State Universal Basic Education Commission, SUBEB; Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEB, Edo State Government, and Egor Local Government Education Board.

The pupil is praying the court to declare that the accusation of witchcraft and flogging/beating with a big cane and then a broom by her class teacher for failing a Mathematics test amoun-ted to physical, emotional abuse, maltreatment, punishment, cruelty, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

She is further contending that the action of her class teacher has grossly violated her fundamental right to respect for the dignity of her  person as guaranteed by Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, among others.

She also wants the court to hold that the blinding of her left eye by her teacher, after the beating, while acting as an agent/servant of the other defendants, amounted to physical, emotional abuse, maltreat-ment, punishment, cruelty, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and consequently a violation of her fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ACT, and Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.

She is claming N100 million jointly and severally against the defendants as general and exemplary damages/compensation for the excruciating pains, suffering, slander, humilia-tion, inhuman and degrading treatment and discomfort she suffered.

She is also demanding an additional N400 million jointly and severally against the defendants as general and or exemplary damages/compensation for unlawful and unconstitutional blin-ding and eternal loss of her left eye, future pains, inconveniences and suffering.

The pupil wants the court to award another N175,000 jointly and severally against the defendants as special damages for the medical and other expenses that she has incurred.

since the incident.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/pupil-sues-teacher-for-n500m-over-loss-of-eye/

[size=13pt]Electricity tariff to rise by over 50%[/size]

Nigerians are to start paying between 50 and 100 per cent more for electricity as from January next year, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, has said.


Contrary to some reports on Tuesday, Amadi said the approval of the review was likely to be done in November this year after wide consultations with stakeholders.


The NERC boss, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday, said that discussions were ongoing with government in this regard.


He said, “From all indications, after the review, tariff will go up by 50 to 100 per cent. The approval of the review will be done by NERC. What we are doing now is having consultations with all stakeholders, as well as discussing with government.”


The new electricity tariff being proposed in line with the ongoing reforms in the power sector will take effect from January 2012, according to Amadi.


With the planned tariff increase, those in the Residential Two category (residential customers with single-phase meters), where most customers belong, will pay between N10.85 and N14.60 per kw/h as against the current rate of N7.30 per Kw/h.


For the R3 category customers, who are currently paying N11 per Kw/h, the reviewed rate would be between N16.50 and N22.


For Residential One category (comprising the lowest-paying customers), who are now paying N2.20 per Kwh, they will be made to pay between N3.30 and N4.40.


Highest-paying customers, who now pay N15.60 per Kw/h, are to pay between N23.40 and N31.20.


He had earlier in the year said the planned tariff structure was hinged on the ability of price to play its natural role of catalysing efficient allocation of resources, thereby promoting availability, affordability and accessibility of electric power to all Nigerians.


He said that the approval would enable the commission to engage further with all stakeholders and also align the review date with the calendar of most businesses, especially those in the electricity supply industry.


He said that the commission would spare no effort in ensuring that data supplied by operators for the process were subjected to the highest level of scrutiny and verification to demonstrate fairness to all stakeholders.


The NERC boss, who had also commented on the Multi-Year Tariff Order, said it provided for a periodic review of the cost parameters through the minor annual and major five-year review windows, adding that the annual review of framework took into cognisance changes in gas price, inflation and exchange rates, while the major review considered holistic changes in major parameters.


“The review is aimed at ensuring that prices at all times reflect the prevailing economic circumstances in Nigeria. It is on record that between 2008 and now, the MYTO has undergone two minor reviews in line with the methodology,” he said.


According to him, despite these attributes of MYTO, the market has yet to become robust; it has also failed to achieve optimum efficiency and milestones as envisaged by the commission.


He said, “The much needed private sector investment, especially in the distribution sector, has not materialised. And this is likely to continue as long as the Federal Government continues to hold on to the responsibility for policy making, regulatory and operational management across the three sectors of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.


“Such market imperfections as low generation capacity, low private sector participation, high and unprecedented operating costs and overheads still abound in the industry today as in 2008. Prompt payment for gas feedstock has persistently been difficult even as gas supply has improved in the last few months.”


Amadi also said that the general belief in the electricity sector was that the current MYTO prices still could not support investments therein as they were much lower than in most developing countries.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110914132350

US, UN condemn killings of Nigerians, others in Libya

The United States and United Nationshave condemned the reported killings of Nigerians

and other nationals of sub-Saharan African countries by forces fighting for and against fallen Libyan despot, Muamar Gaddafi, Empowered Newswire reports.

A press statement from the US State Department on Monday evening said the US was ”deeply concerned about reports of arbitrary detention and abuse of sub-Saharan African,” people in Libya as the country continues a tumultuous political crisis that is bringing to an end the 42-year rule of Gaddaffi.

The State Department noted that the US was looking forward to the prompt implementation of measures that would end the abuses.

”We also understand that some Libyans are being victimised based on the colour of their skin. Nobody should be detained or harassed due to the colour of their skin or their nationality, and measures must be taken to protect individuals from acts of violence,” the statement added.

The US government stated that it has welcomed the Transitional National Council‘s assurances of their commitment to safeguard the well-being of individuals throughout Libya and the TNC leadership‘s cooperation with those international agencies engaged in identifying and assisting those at risk and/or detained.

Other international agencies working to end the rights violation are said to include the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration, the US government stated.

The United States added that it is working with its international partners to facilitate safe passage out of Libya for those foreign nationals, ”including sub-Saharan African migrants, who wish to depart for their own safety.”

Also, the UN Secretariat, speaking through the Deputy Spokesperson to the Secretary-General Eduardo del Buey said in response to questions from Empowered Newswire that the ”Libyan National Transitional Council knows that our position is that all people must be protected and that human rights must be respected in all situations.”

He noted that during a recent visit to Libya, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for post-conflict planning, Ian Martin, visited two police stations and the Al-Jedaida prison in Tripoli, and also spoke to both Libyan and non-Libyan prisoners, including sub-Saharan Africans detained during the fall of Tripoli.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109131534146

Dangote donates N60m to flood victims

Meantime, an industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has donated the sum of N50 million and another N10m worth of relief materials to the Oyo State Government for onward transmission to the victims of the flood disaster that ravaged the state on 26 August, 2011.

This came as the Distrcit Governor, Lions Club, District 404B Nigeria, Dr. Ayoade Adesokan donated relief materials worth N3m to the victims at the headquarters of the Oluyole Local Government.

The items donated by the club included matresses, bags of rice and semovita, detergents, clothing materials and many other things.

Alhaji Dangote announced the donation when he paid a condolence visit to the governor ont the disaster.

The industrialiast said the state was lucky with the type of governor the people voted for in the last general election.

He said he would like to be partner to the progress going on in the state by investing in it adding that very soon Dangote Group of Companies would come and see the type of investment that would be beneficial to the people of the state.

Alhaji Dangote commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed that god would not allow such disaster int he state again.

He added that the government must do something to find a lasting solution to the recurring flood disasters in the state stressing that the governor shouald advise his people to avoid blocking water ways with structures and other things that could obstruct free flow of water.

Responding, Governor Abiola Ajimobi commended the large heartedness of the business tycoon and described him as epitome of simplicity.

Ajimobi noted further that the disaster happened exactly 31 years after the ogunpa of 1980 which measured 78.9mm adding that the recent one was more devastating because it measured 89.5mm and was propelled by wind that travelled at 65.2km per hour.

He restated that his administration would not go back on its decision to demolish all the structures obstructing the waterways.

However, he said arrangements had been made to provide alternative accommodation for the displaced people.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/dangote-donates-n60m-to-flood-victims/

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=759175.msg9141719#msg9141719 date=1315954763]if you believe that then u can believe anything

why would they want to close the gap

what do they have to gain from this relationship ?[/quote]

mitofag:
SMH

Believe Indians? Now we now look up to dem Indians?

I really do not place much trust in Indians, just hoping there is a way that those points can be enforced by the government/health ministry.

All the same, its a shame that in 2011 Nigerians still have to travel abroad for many of these specialized treatments despite the number of medical practitioners we have everywhere

Well at least  it will save the time/cost of travelling abroad, especially for many underprivileged patients who have to raise money from the public for treatment of their special ailment.