₦airaland Forum

Said Presidential Media Adviser, Reuben Abati, “The President believes that the athletes’ very impressive performance at the games, which culminated in Nigeria being ranked 8th out of the 71 participating countries, has further demonstrated the indomitable spirit of Nigerians and the great heights they can attain with hard work, commitment, dedication, courage and patriotism.”
by SR SPORTS Aug 05, 2014
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President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed delight at the performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and promised to meet with the contingent in Abuja upon his return from the ongoing US-Africa summit in Washington DC.

Blessing Okagbare Wins Gold in Women's 100m at the Commonwealth GamesBlessing Okagbare Wins Gold in Women's 100m at the Commonwealth Games goldenicons.com Said Presidential Media Adviser, Reuben Abati, “The President believes that the athletes’ very impressive performance at the games, which culminated in Nigeria being ranked 8th out of the 71 participating countries, has further demonstrated the indomitable spirit of Nigerians and the great heights they can attain with hard work, commitment, dedication, courage and patriotism.”

He added that Mr. Jonathan looked forward to receiving and honouring the medal winners and their coaches at the presidential villa.

The final batch of Nigeria’s athletes to the Games is expected to return home today. Two other batches arrived in the country late last night.

http://metronaija.com/jonathan-to-receive-commonwealth-games-athletes-in-abuja/

Popular Nigerian entertainer, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall the 1st was reportedly shot at by gunmen after a political rally in Osogbo, Osun on Sunday.

more details to come.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-gunmen-shoot-at-kwam-1-after-osun-political-rally/

Another delegate to the ongoing National Conference, Prof. Muhammad Nur Alkali, is dead.

Prof. Alkali, who is one of the six representatives of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, died at his residence in Maiduguri on Friday night, August 1, 2014.

He was 68 years old.

A Professor of History, he was a two-term Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (1985-1992), Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS (1993-1998) and Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee under the administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

He was a member of the Committee on Insecurity in the North East (the Boko Haram Committee).

He will be buried today Saturday August 2, 2014 in Maiduguri.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/another-confab-delegateprof-muhammad-nur-alkali-is-dead/

President Sirleaf Johnson of liberia London Evening Post President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has closed down all the schools in the West African country in an attempt to address the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

She also declared tomorrow, Friday, a work-free day to enable health workers in the country to disinfect and chlorinate all public facilities.

Sirleaf, who announced the measures in a nationwide, broadcast late Wednesday, also presented a National Action Plan against Ebola that would try to contain the spread of the disease. Her office said she was not only worried about taking care of those afflicted, but would focus of the goal of preventing new cases.

As part of the plan, government officials will no longer be allowed to travel unless it is “absolutely necessary and critical” and all non-essential staff — to be determined by the minister or head of an agency — have been placed on 30-day compulsory leave.

Sirleaf revealed that the Liberian government had provided an initial contribution of $5 million for the commencement of immediate implementation of the plan.

She also suspended her participation at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC next week, and thus sent the Vice President, Joseph Boakai and a handful of officials to attend the summit on her behalf.

Last week, Liberia closed it borders with neighbouring countries, only leaving a border entry points open. The nation’s bureau of immigration and naturalisation will intensify supervision and control of the border areas in conjunction with health authorities, to ensure strict adherence to announced preventive measures, including preliminary testing for fever.

“Other measures, without exceptions are that all schools are ordered closed pending further directive from the ministry of education,” she said.

“All markets at border areas, including Foya, Bo Waterside and Ganta, are hereby ordered closed until further notice.

“As previously directed, video clubs and entertainment centres must have improved sanitation, including facilities for the washing of hands prior to entering and exiting as well as to reducing opening hours, and the number of individuals permitted to enter those facilities. All citizens are seriously advised to avoid public amusement and entertainment centres.

“When these measures are instituted, only health care workers will be permitted to move in and out of those areas. Food and other medical support will be provided to those communities and affected individuals.

“The ministry of health and relevant agencies are also to consider the cremation of all victims of the deadly Ebola virus. This measure is intended to avoid tampering with the dead and contaminating water sources.”

At about the same time of Sirleaf’s address, President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, was declaring a state of emergency for Ebola and cancelled his participation at the US-Africa Leaders Summit.

“I hereby proclaim a State of Public Emergency to enable us take a more robust approach to deal with the Ebola outbreak,” Reuters quoted him as saying in a speech late on Wednesday, adding that the measures would initially last between 60 and 90 days.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/ebola-outbreak-presidents-of-liberia-and-sierra-leone-pull-out-of-us-africa-summit/

Barely three weeks after a 21-year-old student of the Redeemer’s University, Redemption Camp, Ogun State, Tolani Ajayi, was paraded by the police for allegedly killing his father, Charles Ajayi , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria , another undergraduate has been paraded for killing his father.

Chijiioke Ezebuiro , a 27-year-old undergraduate of Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, was yesterday, paraded by the Abia State Police Command for allegedly killing his 87-year-old father, Dr. Emmanuel Ezebuiro.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, who paraded the suspects at the Command’s headquarters, said the suspect was being fingered for his father’s death being the only one at home when the deceased was brutally murdered.

According to police, the deceased was left in the custody of the suspect when the incident occurred, and preliminary investigations revealed that there was no evidence of external incursion into their house where the incident took place.
Police said the heinous crime occurred on June 30, 2014 at the deceased home at Umuoriehi, Isingwu in Umuahia North local government area.

According to police, the elder brother of the suspect had gone to convey his children to school and left their bed- ridden father in the hands of the suspect only to discover upon return, that the octogenarian had almost frozen in the pool of his own blood.

Suspecting foul play on the part of the suspect who could not offer reasonable explanations on what happened to their father, the police was alerted.
The PPRO further said the complainant had told the police that the suspect had previously threatened his fathers life a number of times for reasons best- known to him.

Later in an interview, the suspect said the incident occurred while he was at the bathroom taking showers after felling some trees in the compound .
He said, “After taking my bath as I was going towards my room I saw people screaming in my father’s room, so I decided to go inside to know what was happening there.

“When I went there I saw my brother and my cousin in my father’s room and I saw my dad on top of his bed. I was shocked to see blood on his head. I was so scared I had to go down stairs to call one of my cousins.

“When I came back with him we were asking them what happened none of them told us anything. He told us to go down stairs the next thing was for me to see police coming to arrest me, took me to the police station, saying I am a murderer, that’s all.”
The suspect also denied threatening his father’s life at any time, saying he had maintained a very warm relationship with his father.

www.metronaija.com/another-undergraduate-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-father/

Nigeria U-20 women coach Peter Dedevbo has announced his 21-player-squad for the 2014 Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

The Falconets will be making their seventh appearance in this competition and have been drawn in the Group C with Mexico, Korea Republic and England.

Making the list is Courtney Dike who is the younger sister of Super Eagles’ forward Bright Dike. The tall forward from Oklahoma State University is the only foreign based player in the squad.
The team will depart for Moncton, Canada through Frankfurt in two batches aboard Lufthansa Airlines flight on Thursday and Friday, from Abuja.
There are three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six strikers.

FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers:Sandra Chiihii (Ibom Angels); Ibijoke Sangonuga (Inneh Queens); Chiudo Ehiudo (Delta Queens)

Defenders:Ebere Okoye (Nasarawa Amazons); Jiroro Idike (Delta Queens); Maryam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Sarah Nnodim (Delta Queens); Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels); Victoria Aidelomon (Pelican Stars); Gladys Abasi (Ibom Angels)

Midfielders:Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels); Patience Okaeme (Delta Queens); Halimatu Ayinde (Delta Queens); Yetunde Adeboyejo (Bayelsa Queens); Osarenoma Igbinovia (Inneh Queens)

Forwards:Loveth Ayila (Makwada Babes); Courtney Dike (Oklahoma State University, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Pelican Stars); Yetunde Aluko (Sunshine Queens); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pelican Stars); Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels)

www.metronaija.com/nigeria-announce-final-u-20-women-squad-for-world-cup/

With power comes not only fame but immense fortunes. Heads of state or government are supposed to be the servants of the people, but it this appears a Herculean task in this time and age. Those who serve should have genuine of their motherland at heart and provide leadership to the citizenry.

True leaders are those that are in tune with the pain and plight the people and know what the ordinary man really feels. Little wonder, there is great admiration for Jose Mujica, the President of Uruguay, who has eschewed all the perks of power to live a simple life among ordinary Uruguayans.

It is in this light that we are taking a look at the top 10 world’s richest presidents and their style of leadership.

1. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia – $40 billion

Vladimir Putin has been the Russian President since 2012, though he also served in the post from 2000 to 2008. Though his reported income is only $80,000, Putin is said to be a multi-billionaire because of his stakes in various Russian companies. He has had several houses built ostensibly as official residences of the head of state or government. One in Praskoveevka near the Black Sea is said to cost around a billion dollars.



2. Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand – $30 billion

Bhumibol Adulyadej is the beloved King of Thailand. He is the longest currently serving head of state and the longest reigning monarch in the history of his country. He has been the country’s King since 1946. He has made generous contributions to various sectors of Thai society. He is considered to be the richest royal in the world.



3. Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei – $20 billion

Hassanal Bolkiah’s complete name is Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien. He became the Sultan of Brunei after the abdication of his father in 1967. He has one of the largest car collections in the world, with some companies making new cars exclusively for him. He even has a Rolls Royce coated with 24K gold.



4. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia – $18 billion

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the third richest monarch in the world. He became King of Saudi Arabia in 2005 after the death of his half brother King Fahd. As the Saudi King, he is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Under his regime, the country has slowly been undertaking reforms, including allowing more rights to women. He is known for his immediate response to international disasters, like the 2008 earthquake in China and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.



5. Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates – $15 billion

As the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also the President of the United Arab Emirates. He took over as President in 2004 after the death of his father. He is the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. His family has an estimated wealth of more than $150 billion. He is known for his philanthropic work, making donations to orphanages in Turkmenistan, hospitals in the US and schools in Wales.



6. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai – $4 billion

As the ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is also automatically the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. He came to power in 2006, succeeding his older brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He owns 99.67 percent of Dubai Holding. He is also responsible for the construction of landmarks like the Palm Islands, Burj Al Arab and the Burj Al Khalifa. His family’s total wealth is estimated to be around $44 billion.


7. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechstenstein – $4 billion

His full name can be a mouthful: Johannes Hans Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d’ Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein. He owns the LGT banking group. His family also owns an extensive collection of art pieces. These are displayed for public viewing at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna. He is considered as the wealthiest monarch in all of Europe. He holds broad powers as head of state, including the ability to introduce legislation and the power to veto laws passed by the parliament.



8. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar – $2.5 billion

The ruler of Qatar comes from the Al Thani dynasty that began its reign in 1850 when Muhammad bin Thani ruled the country. The family comes from one of the largest tribes in the Arabian Peninsula called the Banu Tamim. The current Emir came to power in 1995 after deposing his father. He was one of the primary backers of the Al Jazeera news network, even providing a $137 million loan to help the company in its first years of operation. The Emir is also known as a huge football fan, having made bids to take over clubs like Manchester United and Rangers FC



9. Mohammed VI, King of Morocco – $2.5 billion

Mohammed VI became the King of Morocco in 1999 after the death of his father. He drew a lot of attention after promising to tackle the triple issues of poverty, corruption and human rights violations. These have yet to be solved, however, as evidenced by widespread protests in 2011. Corruption issues have also led to the King himself. He holds significant amount of shares in Omnium Nord Africain, or the ONA Group, that owns diverse investments in retail, financial services, mining and other sectors



10. Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile – $2.4 billion

Sebastian Pinera came to power in 2010 after being elected as the first billionaire to be sworn in as President of Chile. He owned Chilevision, a terrestrial television channel that broadcasted all over Chile. He also owned 27 percent of LAN Airlines after purchasing the shares of Scandinavian Airlines in the former state-owned firm in 1994. He also held a 13 percent share in Colo Colo, one of the country’s most popular football clubs. He was also responsible for introducing credit cards to Chile in the 70s.

http://metronaija.com/the-top-10-richest-presidents-in-the-world-2013/

source www.metroparrot.com

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, In a post on his Facebook page, asked the Federal government to come up with evidence if they believe APC leaders are part of the terror group, Boko Haram.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/produce-evidence-if-you-believe-apc-leaders-are-terrorists-atiku-writes-jonathan/#ixzz38CtFehwG

Members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Monday, July 21, 2014 impeached the Speaker, Mr Chukwuma Nwazunku.

According to reports, 18 out of the 24 members of the House voted for his impeachment.
Before carrying out the impeachment, the members lifted the impeachment of three members of the house who were on suspension.
The three members are Frank Onwe, Eni Uduma Chime and deputy speaker, Blaise Orji.

Right after being re-instated, Frank Onwe moved the motion for the Speaker’s impeachment which was seconded by the minority leader, Enyi C. Enyi.
Thereafter, Eni Uduma Chima representing Afikpo South West moved the motion for election of Helen Nwaobasi representing Abakaliki South state constituency.

The motion was seconded by Jerry Obasi.

www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-ebonyi-speaker-impeached/

Mr. Dokpola had argued that the conference decided that the state remained the federating unit in the country, adding that oil-bearing state will now be expected to pay some percentage of tax to the center.

Mr. Kutigi said the plenary has come to an end but the final report will be tabled on August 4, for adoption.

Ibrahim Ida moved the motion to adjourn the plenary until August 4 and the motion was seconded by Okon Osun from Akwa Ibom

Read more: http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-national-conference-adjourns-till-august/#ixzz37SInaNBu

Facts are beginning to emerge on how Barrister Olakunle Fadipe was killed in front of members of his family at his Adeleke Odunga street residence in Harmony Estate in Ifako Ijaiye,Lagos Nigeria recently.

In an exclusive investigation by. METRONAIJA in Lagos, Nigeria ,a source within the Nigerian Police Force at Area G told this reporter albeit exclusively that the lone wolf was not an assassin but an armed robber.

The source said that the killer was actually called Seun Adelabu and was about 25 years of age but he did not reveal the state of his identity.
Mr Seun Adelabu is also known commonly by his nickname called “Agba”and is said to always move around in abike around the Ifako stadium where he is said to always be while playing soccer with his friends.

According to the police source the killer actually lived at Olufemi Ajayi Street within the Ifako Ijaiye axis before he relocated to Fagba area within the Iju Ishaga axis before committing his latest crime.
He explained that the armed robber had gone to the deceased home with the clear intent to rob as he had requested for a laptop,money and mobile phone which he was given but quickly added that instead of the initial N500,000 he wanted from the late lawyer in raw cash he only got a paltry sum of N20,000.

His words:”It was when Late Mr Kunle Fadipe discovered that he was alone and was on his way out of his compound that he then went to accost him by challenging him unarmed as the robber made to climb the fence through which eh had come into the compound initially”

“This was when he decided to fight back by using his dangerous weapons on the hapless victim which later had devastating consequence”
“in the course of our investigations we discovered that he has been to South Africa before now and only returned very recently and presently he has a visa to travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates ,it is not the first time that he has done this as this is how he earns his living”

“He was actually looking for money to enable him travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and this is our logical conclusions on the matter”
Sources later told Paedia Express Multimedia that a crack team of members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police,Lagos Command have swung into a high gear action on the matter as they were seen combing the entire Olufemi Ajayi Street in Ifako –Ijaiye and his Fagba residence yesterday to possibly arrest other accomplice in the crime which has shaken the legal profession and the human right community to its foundations since it became public.

Another source told this reporter that he could not believe that with the late lawyers social standing he only lived alone with members of his family,the source also queried the rational behind the deceased not having an alarm at home aside from other personal security measures.

Miss Jumoke Fagbamila ,a resident of Oko-Oba told Paedia Express Multimedia in Lagos, Nigeria that a certain woman who she did not disclose her full identity but who recently lost her husband and attends the Redeem Christian Church of God:Jesus Embassy Parish with the family of the deceased has still not been able to get over the tragedy as at press time because of the role Mr Fadipe played at her husband’s funeral and after that.
Paedia Express Multimedia was also told that the late lawyer had not less than four close shaves with death before his unfortunate demise.

In 2004,a group of bandits said to have numbered about 16 were said to have attacked him at his home and it was an Oodua Peoples Congress[O.P.C.]detachment led by one of its militant leaders simply called “Snake”that came to his rescue on that occasion .

There was a time he is said to have escaped an attack at a petrol station ,in his office aside from an instance when he was said to have been shot at close quarters on the leg.

As at press time,cross examination and investigations by members of the Nigerian Police continues as there could be other leads to the crime in question.

www.metronaija.com/photo-killer-of-lagos-lawyerbarrister-olakunle-fadipe-arrested/

so nairaland no like people from ipaja

A fire has broken out at a sawmill market at Pako bus stop, along Ipaja road, Lagos.

Two fire trucks, with 50,000 litres of water each, from the state fire department are currently battling the inferno which began at 3.08 a.m. according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

www.metronaija.com/exclusive-photos-fire-destroys-saw-mill-in-lagos/

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, announced the appointment of Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi as the new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The statement said Olawumi’s appointment took effect from December 23.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olawumi, who hails from Iyin Ekiti, in Ekiti State, attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on September 23, 1989.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florin.
Olawumi, who also has a Masters degree in Defence Studies from King’s College, London, is happily married and has children.

The statement also said that Mr Ibrahim Waziri, whose appointment took effect from December 24, is to serve as Chairman, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

It said that Waziri, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an MBA from the University of Lagos, served as a non-executive Director of FirstBank of Nigeria.

The statement said Waziri also served as a member of the Federal Government Technical Committee on Expenditure Review that advised the government on enhancing value of overhead expenditure and reducing waste in government spending.

It said that Waziri attended various local and international trainings and conferences, including the famous University Executive Management Programme, the Harvest University Advanced Management Programme and the Oxford University Advanced Management Programme.

“He was Group Executive Director, Corporate Service at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2003 and 2009 and is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School,” the statement said.

www.metronaija.com/federal-government-appoints-new-dg-for-nysc/

Nigeria’s Joint Action Task Force has killed over 50 Islamists and destroyed more than 20 vehicles during a massive hunt for fleeing Boko Haram insurgents who attacked an army barracks in a restive northeastern town, a spokesman said. Boko Haram gunmen stormed the Mohammed Kur Barracks in Bama early Friday, spraying it with bullets before torching the compound.

“Although a good number of the insurgents escaped with bullet wounds while some have been arrested, over 50 of them died in the course of exchange of fire with ground troops in the ongoing operations to apprehend fleeing terrorists,” Major General Chris Olukolade said in a statement yesterday.

He said the military lost 15 soldiers, mostly from the attack, while some died during the pursuit around the border with Cameroon.

“A total of five civilians also died during the attack,” he said.
Olukolade said the military destroyed over 20 vehicles conveying fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

“The vehicles were the ones used during the attack on the barracks and were sited through air surveillance as the terrorists were making efforts to cross the borders back to their haven in Cameroun,” he said.

He said the military would continue to search for more insurgents who might be on the run.
Several Bama residents told AFP the insurgents abducted several of the soldiers’ wives and children during Friday’s attack. They said the attackers fled to the nearby village of Abbaram, prompting the military to pursue them.
Olukolade said the families affected by the attacks had been relocated to other military locations.

In November, Human Rights Watch reported that Boko Haram has increasingly used kidnappings as a tactic, abducting scores of women and children this year.

The Bama attack was the second major Islamist assault on the army this month, casting further doubt on official claims that the rebels have been weakened by a seven-month-old military offensive in the northeast.

The military offensive, launched when the state of emergency was declared in May, has partly succeeded in driving the Islamists out of major urban centres, but attacks have continued in remote communities.

Boko Haram, declared a terrorist organisation by the United States last month, is fighting to create in Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north. The conflict has killed thousands since 2009.

Nigeria has extended the emergency measures through to May in a bid to permanently crush the insurgency.

www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-jtf-kill-50-boko-haram-members/

Dear Compatriots, I greet and felicitate with you all as we celebrate Christmas once again. I join our Christian compatriots and all other Nigerians in giving thanks to God Almighty whose Grace and Benevolence has helped our nation to overcome the many challenges it has had since we celebrated Christmas last year.

The annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is a most auspicious time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to rededicate ourselves to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.

Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more manifest in our interactions with others.

It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.

My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.

It is also my expectation that the national conference will contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues which currently hinder our progress as a nation.

With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My Administration will continue to implement its Agenda for National Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.

We will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and build on our achievements in several sectors including national security, power supply, communications, transportation, health and education.

As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for others, by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by being ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always extending goodwill towards others.

On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

www.metronaija.com/president-jonathan-christmas-message-to-nigerians/

The inventor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, has died aged 94, Russian TV reports.
The automatic rifle he designed became one of the world’s most familiar and widely used weapons.

Its comparative simplicity made it cheap to manufacture, as well as reliable and easy to maintain.
Although honoured by the state, Kalashnikov made little money from his gun. He once said he would have been better off designing a lawn mower.

Mikhail Kalashnikov was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding in November.

He was born on 10 November 1919 in western Siberia, one of 18 children.

www.metronaija.com/photo-ak-47-inventor-mikhail-kalashnikov-dies/

A total of 836 teachers have been sacked by the Edo State Government following a verification exercise carried out by the department of Information and Communication Technology.

The affected teachers learnt of the sack when they discovered that their names were missing from the December salary voucher.
Those sacked were found to have overstayed, mentally unstable, physically blind and have falsified their age and credentials.

A man who gave his name as Osahon said his wife was affected.
The state Commissioner for Basic Education, Patrick Aguinede, who confirmed the sack, said those affected were certified by the ICT after the screening.

He said those that have overstayed in service gave a scenario that the state government could not recruit new teachers.

According to him, “The teachers were found to have stayed above 35 years. Some were physically blind, some manipulated their results and age which later showed they finished school before they were born.”

www.metronaija.com/edo-government-sacks-836-teachers/

The nearly six-month old strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) may continue in some state universities as the national body of the association is likely to call off the strike this week.

asuustrikingstudents123It will be recalled that the Federal Government and ASUU signed an agreement recently to facilitate end to the industrial action that has paralysed the nation’s public universities.

In an interview with journalists after signing the agreement in Abuja, ASUU President, Nasir Fagge, said the association would make its position over the agreement known to the government “within one week.”

However, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Benue State University, Makurdi, Dr Samson Sambe, said the strike could continue in some state universities.

Sambe disclosed this to National Mirror in a telephone interview when asked how he was preparing for ASUU’s much-anticipated resumption on campuses.

He said: “It depends on individual state universities. For us in the state university, even though the strike is called off, there are issues, local issues which have to be addressed.

“These are issues of payment of salaries and so on. So, though the strike is called at the national, there are states which have issues that bother on the payment of their salaries.


“We are not so enthusiastic yet. But, we just hope that, maybe, the various state governments will also be able to deal with such issues, believing that the right thing has to be done.”

Unresolved issues between states and ASUU, as said by Sambe, might dash the hope of students who are looking towards receiving positive pronouncement from the union to enable them resume school.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/ASUU-strike-state-universities-may-resume-senior-lecturer-reveals/#ixzz2niyOMiRZ

Twenty-five students and two teachers of Ogba Junior Grammar School in Ogba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, were on Thursday evening rushed to a hospital after they inhaled emission from a toxic chemical.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the unconscious students and teachers were immediately rushed to Blue Cross Hospital, located opposite the shopping mall for urgent medical attention.

A medical doctor at the hospital declined to comment on the condition of the students and teachers. Two of the affected female students whose condition was critical were transferred in a Lagos State Emergency Ambulance marked LA 156 A08 to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, in Ikeja.

P.M.NEWS learnt that at about 12 noon, the students and teachers were in the school when they began to feel dizzy and collapsed after inhaling the emission from chemical spread to their school premises by air.


Following the incident, some of the teachers raised an alarm which attracted some members of the public, who immediately called officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency on their toll free lines.


One of the officials of LASEMA told P.M.NEWS that the gas emission was traced to Bizcircuit Colour Laboratory, located within the premises of Ogba Shopping Mall just at the back of the school. According to the official, the chemical in the lab may have expired.


Speaking on the incident, Femi Giwa, Head of Logistics for LASEMA said that it was not an explosive as some members of the public were saying, but an emission, which was immediately traced to the lab, after carrying out an emergency assessment of the entire place.

Security agents comprising the police, NSCDC officials, and LASEMA officials cordoned off the entire area to prevent people from gaining access to the school and the shopping mall.

http://metronaija.com/photos-25-students-2-teachers-hospital-inhaling-chemical/

The United Nations General Assembly Thursday elected Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2014.

The five countries obtained the required two-thirds majority of those Member States present and voting in the 193-member Assembly. Elected in one round of secret balloting, they will replace Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo, whose terms will conclude at the end of this year.

The five permanent Council members, which each wield the power of veto, are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Non-permanent members Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda will remain on the Council until the end of 2014.

Under the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and all Member States are obligated to comply with its decisions.


In addition, the Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls on the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.

In some cases, it can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

http://metronaija.com/nigeria-elected-serve-un-security-council/

To ensure rapid development of electricity distribution, the Federal Government has appealed to the Brazilian Government to invest in Nigeria’s power sector with a view to revamping the ailing sector.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo who said this while receiving a Brazilian delegation led by Vice-Minister of Development, Industry and International Trade, Mr. Ricardo Shaefer, said the government needs assistance from around the world to revamp the ailing power sector.

The minister also requested for synergy and co-operation of the Brazilians in Nigeria’s quest to ensure all her nationals are connected to electricity.
According to him, “Brazil has not penetrated enough in our on-going sales of power assets. We are prepared to link you with Nigerian partners, so that we can benefit from your expertise in generation, distribution, technology access and capacity building.”

He added that “Brazil has done well in many aspects of electricity especially in big hydro, biomass, solar, wind and coal. Nigeria intends to learn from the experience of Brazil, as the country has already leap frog in the attainment of development goals.

On Rural Electrification, Prof. Nebo said, the leadership shown by Brazil to other countries in the so called Third World has provided the ray of hope that soon Nigeria will outcome her developmental challenges.
He also spoke about the challenges Nigeria is facing in addressing the metering gap, this, he said, has become a problem against the backdrop of the fact that over 50% of electricity consumers have no meters.
In a privatised electricity market, prospective investors will be scared, as this may translate to their inability to recoup from their investment.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, said that opportunities in the power sector is in mega dimension. He added that the nation’s target of moving from over 4,000 mega watts to 40,000MW in the next seven years would require double efforts from Nigeria’s friends abroad.
He noted that there are opportunities in the planned expansion of generation capacity, which will attract specialised companies interested in cables, switches, transformers are all welcome, describing the market as huge.
“We are interested in Brazil; we want to share from the knowledge and experience of Brazil, in renewable, the reform process and training of our young engineers.”

Speaking earlier, the Brazilian delegation commended Nigeria’s commitment to the revitalisation of the power sector.
He said the mission of the group is to identify the challenges faced by Nigeria in the sector with a view to assisting in proffering workable solutions.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/fg-woos-brazilians-invest-power/#ixzz2htgeCsuF

The federal government on Wednesday appealed to primary and secondary school teachers not to embark on strike in solidarity with striking university lecturers.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday also disclosed that 80 per cent of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s demands had been met by Federal Government.
Mr. Wike, who stated these in a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Abuja, said the yet-to-be resolved issues were those of earned allowances.

He said that the other unresolved issue was the N400 billion annual capital expenditure to universities demanded by ASUU.
“The N400 billion they are demanding is not part of federal budget or Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention.
“And out of the N92 billion earned allowances demanded by ASUU, government has offered N30 billion to them for a start,’’ he said.

According to the minister, ASUU is considering the offer and had asked to be given untilThursday to enable it meet with its branches for a resolution.
“So, the purpose of this meeting is to tell you (NUT) how far we have gone because of the reports and the letter we got from the union that you are going on a solidarity strike with ASUU,’’ he said.

Mr. Wike also apologised to the NUT for his comments on Monday that the union had no business going on a solidarity strike with ASUU strike, saying he spoke “unofficially’’.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, appealed to the NUT not to go on the proposed strike as it would only complicate issues.

Mr. Wogu said that NUT might not have been briefed appropriately on government’s efforts to resolve the crisis with ASUU and so appealed to the union to embark on the planned sympathy strike.

“One thing that is clear is that the Federal Government has started the implementation of the 2009 agreement. The matter can still be resolved,’’ he said.

In his response, the National President of NUT, Michael Olukoya, said teachers, under the umbrella of NUT were concerned with the lingering ASUU strike that was threatening the collapse of the education sector.
Mr. Olukoya said that all stakeholders should come together and explore ways of ending the crisis.

He advised both ASUU and the Federal Government to “put Nigeria first’’ in their negotiations and shun the idea of “buck passing’’.

The NUT boss also called for the review of the conditions for accessing the intervention fund as the stringent conditions was preventing the institutions from benefiting from the fund.

He said that NUT was not threatening to go on the solidarity strike in the interest of ASUU, but in the overall interest of Nigerians.
(NAN)

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Workers of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) in Kaduna have joined the ongoing three-day nationwide warning strike to press for improved working and retirement conditions.

The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE), were protesting over non promotion, delay in payment of allowances and non remittance of deductions into the National Housing Fund.

At the office located on Yakubu Gowon road, the workers were seeing discussing the issue in groups while officials of the union shut the entrance to the NIPOST building to prevent members from going in.

Abdlkareem Akande, the Kaduna State Chairman of NUPTE told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the strike was in line with the resolution of the national body and was meant to accelerate compliance to their demands.

Akande said all the issues in contention had been discussed and agreed by the union with NIPOST management, but that nothing had been done to implement any of them.

``We issued a 21-day and 14-day ultimatum, respectively, on these issues a few months ago and management did not address them.''

He said all activities were suspended in all the NIPOST offices in the state, assuring that the union would decide on the next line of action at the end of the warning strike. (NAN)

www.metronaija.com/nipost-workers-join-strike-in-kaduna/

Mr Beks Dagogo-Jack, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, on Wednesday said the Federal Government would complete the payment of all outstanding entitlements of PHCN workers by December.

Dagogo-Jack, speaking at a Power Investors’ Summit organised by the EnergyNet Ltd. in partnership with Nextier Capital in Lagos, said that all other labour issues would be addressed.
“We have an agreement with the PHCN workers unions and we have almost completed the payment, but they will all be settled before Jan.1, 2014 deadline,” he said.

The taskforce chairman said that the Federal Government only presented certificates to the investors on Monday.
According to him, the physical and structural aspect will be handed over before the end of 2013.
Dagogo-Jack said the desire of the stakeholders was that between now and December there should be a transition period in the management of the industry.
He said that the transition period would enable investors to make necessary adjustments.

The chairman said that it would also provide avenue for them to test run the market so that they would know where they were heading to.
“In the transition setting, it gives you an opportunity to test where you are heading to so that when you get there you cannot go wrong,” he said.
The task force chairman said that most of the contracts in the power sector would be completed between now and December

“All the contracts will be put in place and other things will be tidied up within this period,” Dagogo-Jack said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday handed over certificates and licence to buyers of successor companies of the PHCN.

NAN reports that the gesture signalled government’s disengagement from the management of the plants, but will continue to oversee the transmission network in the interim.

Some disengaged workers of PHCN, had on Monday, staged protests over non-payment of their terminal benefits before handing over to the new investors.(NAN)

www.metronaija.com/fg-to-complete-payment-of-electricity-workers-entitlements-by-december/

After several warning strikes to press home their demands to no avail, the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria has announced the commencement of an indefinite strike action from Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

The association’s president, Dr Jibril Abdullahi, who spoke with reporters today in Kano said the decision to embark on strike though painful, is as a result of the Federal Government’s refusal to meet its demands.

The Resident Doctors’ demands include the following:

• That the payment of the arrears of salaries owed to House Officers has been cash backed and would be effected within the second week of September;

• That names of House Officers would be expunged from the Integrated Payroll Payment System (IPPIS);

• Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) would direct the various hospitals to prepare payment vouchers accordingly; and that

• The 2014 Budget would aptly capture and address the challenges currently experienced in the implementation of IPPIS in the sector.

www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-resident-doctors-begin-nationwide-strike/

Over 4 weeks after his sudden death, one of the aides of late Pastor Iretiola Ajakanu is still claiming the man is not dead.

In a recent interview on Encomium magazine, the secretary of the church one Mrs Rose was angered when her spiritual father was addressed aslate Prophet Ajanaku.

Angered by the remark, Rose said;
“Who told you he is dead? He is not dead yet. Stop referring to him as late Prophet Ajanaku.”
As we speak, Ajanaku’s church members are still holding vigil for his resurrection.

An official announcement of his death hasn’t been made in the church.
Mrs Joy Ajanaku, the widow of the late pastor is now officially in charge of the church.

Despite problem with her in-laws, she has bravely taken over the pastoral duty as if her hubby travelled out of town.

So if he is not dead, where is he now?

www.metronaija.com/prophet-ajanakus-death-is-a-rumour-who-told-you-hes-dead-church-secretary/

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Nigeria’s representative to this year’s Miss World Pageant, Anna Ebiere is currently in Bali, Indonesia set to hit the competition running. The finale ceremony is set to hold this saturday, September 28th, 2013. Originally scheduled to hold in Jakarta, the finale will now take place in Bali after threats from extremists groups.

Anna along with other beauty queens are engaging in many activities around the city including Miss World Talent, International Peace Day and pretty much having fun while engaging in the scheduled activities.

http://metronaija.com/photos-mbgn-2013-winner-anna-ebiere-indonesia-miss-world-pageant/