₦airaland Forum

The NOI Polls on October 11, released results from its poll carried out on January 22, 2013, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

The organisation’s report reads that, “On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Innovating for girls’ education,” focuses on smart and creative use of technology, policies, partnerships and, most of all, the engagement of young people, themselves, as important tools for overcoming barriers to girls’ learning and achievement.

“In order to commemorate this event and honour the girl child this special day, NOI Polls Limited released one of the polls we conducted in the first quarter of the year 2013, which was focused on the challenges faced by the girl child in Nigeria and indeed the world over as a result of the incidence of rape among women in the society.

“The results released by NOIPolls Limited revealed that almost 3 in 10 Nigerians admitted to personally knowing someone who has been a victim of rape; citing stigmatisation as the main reason why many rape cases go unreported. The poll conducted on January 22, 2013 which sampled over 500 Nigerians across the six geo-political zones of the country, also urged the government to create public awareness against rape.”

Participants in the poll were asked six questions:

1. To what extent is rape predominant in the Nigerian society?

Majority of the participants, with 38 percent, believed that rape was predominant to a little extent; 29 percent said rape was predominant to a little extent; 23 percent said rape was predominant to a very little extent; 9 percent said it was predominant to a very large extent and one percent said that they believed rape was not at all predominant in Nigeria.

Overall, 99 percent of the participants believed that rape was predominant in Nigeria to varying degrees.

2. Do you personally know anyone that has been a victim of rape?

Close to three out of ten of the participants, with 29 percent, said they knew a person who had been a victim of rape; the majority of them with 68 percent, however, said that they did not personally know any rape victims, and three percent refused to answer the question.

3. What do you think is the prevalent cause of rape in the society?

34 percent of the participants believed that indecent dressing was the main cause of rape in the society; 18 percent believed unemployment was the cause; nine percent believed it was caused by lack of moral values and another nine percent believed it was caused by the inability to control sexual urges; seven percent said it was caused by faulty upbringing. Five percent of the participants believed rape was caused by illiteracy about women’s rights, ungodliness and bad company...

The Founder of the Mental Health Foundation, Emmanuel Owoyemi, said on Thursday that 64 million Nigerians had one form of mental illness or the other.

Mr Owoyemi, speaking at a forum to mark the 2013 World Mental Health Day, in Lagos, attributed the situation to the absence of a mental health policy in the country.

“Sixty four million Nigerians today are going through one form of mental illness or the other because everything that would cause mental illness is on the increase in Nigeria,” he said. “Poverty is on the increase, hopelessness is on the increase, insecurity is on the increase. There is so much panic at heart, anxiety, high level depression.

And also, there is no mental health policy in Nigeria right now; the National Assembly has been delaying in passing the Mental Health Bill. None of the psychiatric hospitals in Nigeria today has up to 1000 beds and we have over 160 million people. We have about 150 psychiatrists; we have 34 neuro-surgeons in the whole country, meaning that, one point something million Nigerians is to one psychiatrist.”

The World Federation of Mental Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), set aside October 10 every year to raise awareness on mental health issues across the world.

Mr Owoyemi urged the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the Mental Health Bill to reduce high rate of mental cases.

“There must be law; there must be legal framework to work with; there must be policy,” he said. “That bill is what will help us to be able to do every other thing. If we say, let’s start putting facilities, structures, systems in place, it is the bill that will give us the legal framework to do all that. So, if the bill is not passed nothing else can be done, even to budget for mental health adequately, we need a bill that guides everything we do.”

A total of 51.18 million Nigerians were employed in the economy in 2011, while 16.07 million were unemployed, the National Planning Commission (NPC) said in a report in Abuja on Thursday.

The 2011 Performance Monitoring Report on Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies stated that figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) clearly illustrated the deep challenges in Nigeria’s labour market.

“The NBS estimates that Nigeria’s population grew by 3.2 per cent in 2011 from 159.3 million people in 2010 to 164.4 million in 2011, reflecting rapid population growth,” the report stated. “In 2011, Nigeria’s unemployment rose to 23.9 per cent compared with 21.1 per cent in 2010. Unemployment was higher in rural areas at 25.6 per cent than in urban areas, where it was 17 per cent on average.”

The report urged that efforts to create an environment conducive for job creation must be redoubled.

The report stated that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity reported resolving 279 of the 328 labour complaints it received in 2011.

This represent 85 per cent rate of resolution of complaints.

It stated further that the number of complaints received increased compared with 263 recorded in 2010, adding that the resolution rate of 85 per cent improved from 51 per cent in 2010.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity also reported a decrease in the percentage of man hours lost to strikes in 2011,” the report stated. “And an increase in the number of persons trained and equipped under skills acquisition programmes to establish their own trade.”

It stated that the number of jobs created in 2011 was reported as 209,239 by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

The Senate has ordered Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, and heads of key aviation departments, to appear before its full assembly and explain what lawmakers said was a troubling resurgence of airplane accidents in Nigeria.

Heads of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) are to meet with the senators alongside Mrs Oduah on an unscheduled date.

The decision followed Thursday’s crash of an Associated Airline which was to convey the body of former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, to Akure. At least 13 people died in the accident which came more than a year after the Dana airlines crash of June 2012, which killed 157.

During Senate debates on Tuesday, a spokesperson, Enyinnaya Abaribe, quoted a 2009 Associated Airlines report which he said detailed fraud in the maintenance of the Embraer 120 twin prop aircraft (5N-BJY) – the affected airplane.

Another senator, Smart Adeyemi, said there were evidences that the airline 5N-BJY was on a test flight to Akure but was “corruptly” deployed to convey the body in the ill-fated trip.

The Senate said the new wave of air crash was indicative of the systemic rot in the aviation sector.

“The resurgence of plane crashes in the country since 2011 is suggestive of a deep seated system problem that must be unravelled and resolved in other to avert further and unnecessary loss of lives,” said Hope Uzodinma, the chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation.

Nigeria has witnessed seven air accidents since 2011, with two incidents of near crashes.

The accidents include:

Allied Airlines (Cargo Aircraft), crash of June 2, 2012 in Accra, Ghana, with 10 people killed.

Dana Airlines, crash of June 3, 2012 in Lagos with 153 persons killed.

Nigeria Police Helicopter crash of March 23, 2012 in which a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), John Haruna, and three officers on board and several others people in Kabong Village, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state, were killed.

Odenegene Air Services (OAS Helicopter) crash enroute Akure in 2012, all on board killed.

Taraba State Governor’s aircraft crash in Adamawa state on October, 2012. Taraba Governor, Danbaba Suntai and others survived but seriously injured.

Augusta 109 helicopter crash in Bayelsa State. Former National Security Adviser (NSA) General Azazi and Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, two naval pilots and two aides killed on December 15, 2012.

Associated Airlines crashed on October 3, 2013 in Lagos killing 16 persons on board with 4 injured.

Misses:

Kabo aircraft conveying Sokoto pilgrims, crash averted on October 4, 2013.

Maxi aircraft conveying Taraba pilgrims, crash averted on October 4, 2013.

Senators said the leadership of the aviation ministry had failed to curb obviously rampant abuses in the sector.

“The life of every Nigerian must count,” said Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. “In some parts of the world, people resign when such things happen and in some cases people even commit suicide. The problem is the issue of safety standard and not about the planes.”

Attahiru Jega, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, decried under funding of the agency, saying it was a big threat to its operations.

Speaking at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, Prof. Jega said that in spite of its enormous responsibility to the nation, the commission was not getting adequate funding.

“It is a very challenging task indeed, because a lot of the activities require funds and budgetary provisions,” he said. “:egrettably, we don’t always get what we need all the time to be able to address the challenges. There is the need to fund INEC properly for it to be able to carry out its functions; poor funding is a big threat to INEC’s operations.”

The INEC boss said the commission would continue to engage government and the lawmakers, to have more resources to be able to improve the working conditions and other needs to make its job satisfactory.

He, however, stressed that INEC could not afford any delay in the execution of its programmes toward 2015 general elections.

The chairman said the activities of the electoral body required that the trend be reversed in good time for effectiveness and efficiency of the commission.

He said that in spite of challenges facing the commission, “remarkable progress” had been recorded under his stewardship due to the hard work of the RECs at their various states.

He commended them for doing “a good job” and challenged them to keep working toward improving the democratic integrity of the country.

“The energy, sacrifices and challenges you have to contend with in your various areas of assignments would not go unnoticed, but the Almighty God will continue to assist you all,” he said. “I urge you all to keep focused, remain incorruptible, non-partisan, unbiased and work within the legal frame work.”

Prof. Jega said as the nation moved toward 2015 elections, there would be series of criticism and unpleasant accusation by gladiators from the various political arenas.

“It is natural that in the kind of environment we operate, we will not please everybody,” he said. “If we take a decision and one side is happy, in most cases the sides that are not happy will always lose their senses. They will throw all sorts of things at us, and often display a tendency of throwing the baby away with birth water; that is the nature of the country’s political terrain.’’

The meeting, attended by RECs across the states and FCT, was aimed at finding ways to ensure laudable elections in Nigeria.

In response to the ongoing political debate on whether or not he will run for a second term, President Goodluck Jonathan has told the opposition that the Constitution allows him to run for two terms of eight years.

The President said this while speaking at a lunch with Nigerian professionals in diaspora after his arrival in New York, United States.

President Jonathan also said that the opposition should allow whoever has been voted into office to work for the good of the country and stop the distractions.

“Already we have a constitution that makes provision for maximum of eight years for anyone, who wants to become a president or a governor. At the end of an election if somebody emerges, you must allow the person to work. If you love your country, you would want your country to work. ” the president said.

He further noted “that does not mean that you will not vote against the person if you don’t like the way he works but you must allow him to work.”

Mr Jonathan further appealed to politicians “that no matter how you feel about the political situation in the country, consider the interest of your country first before yourself.”

He dismissed insinuations that his administration was not doing enough to fight corruption as he stressed that before now previous governments were spending 25 billion on fertilizer in which only 11 percent got to farmers.

According to him, “so many people are saying we are not doing well in fighting corruption and before you say that, there must be a parameter for judging us. What are the yardsticks they are using to judge us?

“Government now spends between N5 to N6 Billion on fertiliser and we are getting 80 per cent reach. If we wanted to continue to steal money or look for money for election, we could have continued.”

The investigation into the brutal murder of two men, Ifechukwudi Nwanikpor and Kazeem Onayemi is nearing conclusion as the corpse of Onayemi (26), one of the victims of the Badagry lynching, has been exhumed by the police.

Nigerian Telegraph gathered that a team of policemen led by a former Officer- in -Charge of the Homicide Department at Panti Yaba, visited the burial site at Badagry on September 21, exactly two months after the daylight lynching and exhumed Kazeem’s corpse for autopsy.

It was further gathered that the police also exhumed the corpse of Asharigbo, the head of the vigilante group at Tozukame community in Badagry, who allegedly shot himself in the stomach after he arrested Kazeem and Ifechukwudi, the two young men lynched over his death.

Mr. Tajudeen Onayemi, Kazeem’s father confirmed his son’s corpse was exhumed by the police.

He said, “Yes, the police came to Badagry yesterday (Saturday) and they exhumed my son’s corpse and took it to LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) for autopsy. They told me they want to examine his corpse to know what killed him. I could not go with them to the burial ground but my younger brother went with them.

The police have returned Kazeem’s corpse to the burial site on Sunday and I was with them when they returned him. The police also exhumed the body of the vigilante man (Asharigbo) the community killed my son because of that man (sic). Well, I am still waiting for the outcome of their investigation,” Mr. Onayemi said.

Kazeem was an ‘Alumaco’ fabricator apprentice and the only son of his father but was lynched alongside his friend Ifechukwudi, a graduate of Geology and Mining, by villagers from the Tozukame community Ajara, Badagry over allegations that the young men were armed robbers, who caused the death of Asharigbo.

The brutal murder of the two men on July 21 would have gone with the wind but for a video recording of the gruesome murder, which went viral on YouTube.

The video exposed policemen attached to the Badagry police station as they stood by with their patrol van and watched the villagers club the young men to death.

A special team set up by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, arrested the policemen and some perpetrators of the brutal murder. About seven suspects, including three policemen, are said to be in police custody over the murder.

Ifechukwudi has since been buried after an autopsy was carried out. However, his family has relocated from Badagry as they could not bear the trauma of his brutal death.

Samuel Nwanikpor, Ifechukwudi’s father, said he was looking forward to the prosecution of his son’s killers. “The police should do all they can to carry out a thorough investigation. The video recording of how my son and his friend were murdered is there for the world to see. I am going with my lawyer to see the police and I am seeking justice for my son.

Everybody involved in the killing of those young men would be made to face the full wrath of the law. I will not give in to any blackmail until I get justice for my son,” he said.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Akwa Ibom State chapter has said it will embark on an indefinite strike on Monday over plans by Mobil Producing Nigeria to sack some oil and gas workers in the state.

The workers gave the notice in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, which was signed by Isaac Aberare, NUPENG General Secretary.

“We warn against the alleged plan to disengage 80 per cent of the labour contract workers and replace them with service employees by the end of September,” it said. “We find this plan unacceptable and unfair after our members have helped to contribute their quota to the growth of the company. We will resist it.’’

The statement read that some contract staff in Mobil were sacked and replaced with new ones on new contracts terms that contravened the collective bargaining agreement signed with NUPENG.

“The union cannot watch and see its members being sacked indiscriminately. It will lead to bad precedence in the oil and gas industry,’’ it read.

It said that the new employees use tools, equipment, machinery and vehicles that belong to Mobil to perform their jobs but they were denied other benefits provided by the agreement.

According to the statement, Mobil had also refused to give mandate to labour contractors to hold the quarterly Joint Consultative Council (JCC) meeting, adding that the body had written several letters to Mobil management to that effect but all entreaties for dialogue were ignored by the oil company.

Arsenal FC manager, Arsene Wenger, has once again shown his love for signing little known stars, after taking on Nigerian highly rated central defender, Semi Ajayi, on a free transfer from Charlton.

Ajayi (19) announced the news on his Twitter account, saying: “Thank you everyone for the messages wishing me well on my move to Arsenal. I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount and I’m truly grateful.

“It was sad to end my ten year spell with Charlton this summer but I can’t speak highly enough of all of the wonderful people I met during my ten years there & I wish all those at @CAFCofficial the best for the future as I will always have a soft spot for the club & it’s fans.

“Delighted to announce that I have officially signed for @Arsenal FC. Can’t wait to see what the next two seasons here have in store for me.”

The British-born youngster has played for Nigeria three times. He was first called up to the Nigeria U20 team for the African Youth Championships in March 2013, he could, however, not honour the invite. He was later called up for the Toulon U21 Youth Festival where he gained 3 caps playing against the likes of Brazil, Belgium and Portugal.

Dutch oil giant, Shell, has closed the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Nigeria, less than a week after the 24-inch trunk line was reopened.

In a statement released on Saturday, Shell said the troubled pipeline was closed due to continued leaks from crude oil theft on the TNP.

Telegraph recalls that the 24-inch trunk line, which is part of a broader pipeline route that carries 150,000 barrels of oil a day through the Niger Delta to the Bonny terminal, was shut on July 16.

The TNP had, before then, been shut down in June following an explosion and fire at a point that had been targeted by oil thieves at Bodo West in the Niger delta Ogoniland. It was re-opened in the first week of July after the point where crude oil theft led to an explosion was repaired and six crude oil connections where thieves had tapped in were removed.

Shell’s statement said that the latest shut-in occurred on Wednesday September 18, “following reports of a leaking crude theft point at Bodo West in Ogoniland.”

The statement also said that the Nembe Creek Trunkline is closed as Shell is removing illegal connections.

It added that in the western Niger Delta, the Trans Escravos Pipeline was shut down on September 12 for removal of illegal connections and reopened on September 16.

Jeffery Hawkins, U.S. Consul-General, on Thursday, gave reasons why Nigeria was banned from participating in its 2015 Diversity-Visa-Programme registration.

Mr Hawkins told journalists at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, that Nigeria was among other countries that had in the last five years, sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. through the programme.

“As at today, Nigerians have graduated from being under-represented to being a fully well represented group in the U.S,” he said. “There is therefore no longer any need to encourage Nigerians to apply to travel to the U.S. through the Diversity-Visa-Programme. Already there are too many Nigerians in the U.S. that have benefited from this programme.”

The envoy explained that the diversity visa was created to promote countries with low rates of immigration to the US.

He, however, said that the U.S. authorities would continue to give preference to Nigerians travelling to U.S for visits, business transactions, studies and professional engagements.

“All other types of immigration from Nigeria to the US, apart from the diversity visa, would continue unabated,” he said. “Also, let me say that the ban has nothing to do with our relations with Nigeria now, and in the years ahead.”

He also dismissed insinuations making the rounds that the move was to reduce the number of Nigerians travelling to the U.S.

The U.S official also said that the development had “nothing to do with insecurity, activities of Boko Haram and other forms of upheaval in Nigeria”.

The U.S. Department of State recently banned Nigeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and Haiti from participating in the 2015 Diversity-Visa-Programme. Other affected countries are: India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, U. K. and Vietnam.

Phone and internet communications made by Nigerians daily will be open to government monitoring and when necessary, interception, according to a new law given a second reading by the Senate on Wednesday.

The law will allow government law enforcement agents filter and tap into communications and will also outlaw unauthorised interception of internet and phone communications.

The proposal, titled ‘A Bill for An Act to Provide for the Interception, Development And Protection of Communications Networks and Facilities For Public Interest And Other Related Matters, 2013’, passed a second reading on Wednesday.

After the passage on Wednesday, the bill will be considered by committees on Communications, Judiciary and National Security which will hold public hearings on the merits and demerits of the bill. It will then be given a third reading before similar approval by the House of Representatives and the president’s assent to make it a law.

The Senate said the move was aimed at tackling terrorism.

“The bill intends to provide for certain instances where lawful interception of communications data by law enforcement agencies shall be allowed while at the same time ensuring that privacy and communications of citizens is maintained,” sponsor of the bill, Isa Galaudu, from Kebbi north, said on Wednesday.

phoneHe cited similar laws in other countries, including Information Technology Act, 2000 of India; Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, 2003 of South Africa; and the USA Patriot Act, 2001.

Amongst other things, the bill when passed into law, will provide for the protection of communication network against abuse for public interest; protect the interest of communication users through prohibition of interception and provide circumstances under which interception may be permitted for public interest.

It will also ban the provision of telecoms services which do not have the capability to be intercepted, bar the manufacturing, assembling, processing, selling, and advertising of equipment illegally used as interception devices.

Mr Galaudu said the law will strengthen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Terrorism Prevention Law.

“In most cases, these communications may be the only source for proving that individuals have been involved in such criminality or that their activities threaten national security,” he said.

Nigerians have grown wary of a planned internet spy programme since it became public knowledge the government was planning one, allegedly awarded to an Israeli firm.

The House of Representatives had kicked against the contract and announced an investigation which has yet to hold.

Many Nigerians express concerns that the law may be abused by the government.

The “lawful interception” will allow the police, States Security Service, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), EFCC, ICPC and other agencies to examine the contents of users’ telephone calls, e-mail messages, text messages, and multimedia applications.

“It is pertinent to note that the bill strengthens the terrorism prevention act, which empowers the Attorney-General of the Federation, National Security Adviser or the Inspector-General of Police to acquire information relating to terrorist groups and terrorist acts and conduct investigations or search with or without warrant to prevent or establish a crime of terrorism in Nigeria,” said Mr Galaudu.

On Tuesday, the NOI polls released its latest weekly poll results which was aimed at finding out the perspective of different Nigerians on the new scheme and it’s processes. The results of the poll showed that eight out of ten Nigerians were in support of the new national identification card scheme.

Participants in the poll were asked five questions:

1. Are you aware of the proposed new National Identification card scheme in Nigeria?

Results showed that less than 42 percent of the participants were aware of the new scheme. The other 58 percent claimed that they were not.

Based on geo-political zones, the results showed that the South-South zone had the highest percentage of Nigerians aware of the scheme with 53 percent. The North-West zone had the highest percentage of Nigerians who were not aware of the scheme with 68 percent.

2. At present, do you have/have you ever been issued a national ID card?

62 percent of the participants indicated that they had been issued national ID cards previously while 38 percent indicated that they had not.

The results based on geo-political zones showed that the South-South zone, with 73 percent, had the highest percentage of participants who currently had ID cards. The South-East zone was the second highest with 68 percent and the North-West with 65 percent. The North-Central zone, with 50 percent, marked the highest number of participants, who claimed that they did not have national ID cards.

3. What is your perception regarding the processes involved in obtaining a national ID card?

48 percent of the participants reported that they had experienced different levels of difficulty during the process: 22 percent claimed that they found the process “somewhat difficult” while 26 percent said they found the process “very difficult”.

45 percent of the participants reported different levels of ease on the process: 21 percent claimed that they found the process “somewhat easy” while 24 percent claimed the process was “very easy”. 7 percent of the participants stated that they were neutral as they claimed that they found the process “neither easy nor difficult”.

Results based on geo-political zones showed that the North-East zone, with 57 percent, had they highest percentage of participants who found the process “very difficult”. The South-West zone, marked the highest percentage of participants who found the process “very easy”.

4. Do you think the proposed new national ID card scheme is a priority in Nigeria now?

80 percent of the participants expressed support for the scheme and stated that they believed it was a priority to the country. 20 percent of the participants said that they did not support the scheme and that it was not a priority for the country.

Results based on geo-poloitical zones showed that showed that The North-East zone, with 92 percent, had the highest number of persons who believed that the scheme was a priority to Nigeria. The second highest was the South-East zone with 91 percent. The South-West zone, with 40 percent, had the highest number of participants who believed that the new ID card scheme was not a priority to Nigeria.

5. In your opinion, what benefits do you think the proposed new National ID card will bring to Nigerian?

60 percent of the participants stated that the main benefit of the new ID cards was that it served as a means of identification for citizens “especially for banking and international purposes”. 15 percent of the participants claimed that they did not know/ had no idea. 11 percent stated that it would “help in security, safety and crime checks”. 8 percent claimed it was of “no benefit and not necessary”.

Results based on geopolitical zones showed that the North-East zone marked the highest number of participants who stated that the new ID cards would serve as a means of identifying citizens.

The conduction of this poll followed the recent partnership between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and MasterCard Incorporated, to create new national ID create entity cards in Nigeria. The Federal Government, had earlier on, approved of creation of new national Identity Cards in Nigeria.

Reports state the new ID cards would include the MasterCard’s prepaid payment technology and boost the effectiveness of the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The new national ID card would also serve as a means of electronic payment in the country, thereby creating a more convenient and reliable method of making electronic payments through National Identification Numbers unique to their registered owners.

In May 2013, the NIMC and MasterCard produced 13 million MasterCard-branded National Identity Smart Cards with electronic payment capability. The challenges associated with obtaining National Identification cards in the past have caused many to receive this new scheme with suspicion. Some persons are optimistic about the possibilities in the new scheme while others believe it would be another waste of funds like the previous schemes.

The NOI polls stated that following the results, it was important for the NIMC to make the process of obtaining the national ID cards easier for Nigerians.

“Considering the large Nigerian population (currently estimated population at 174 million), great consideration has to be made in setting up facilities and procedures for the scheme, in order to improve the efficiency and make the process comparatively easy. Finally, the National ID Card Management Commission (NIMC) needs to engage on more public awareness campaigns on the new ID card scheme and the benefits of registering to obtain an ID card, particularly its implications for security, immigration and financial inclusion”.

Violence broke out Tuesday evening at a meeting between members of the House of Representatives and the leaders of the Abubakar Baraje-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction, marring lawmakers’ resumption after two months break.

Mr Baraje, and the seven governors belonging to the faction, had earlier met with Senate President David Mark, before meeting the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and other lawmakers.

Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara met first with Mr Mark and then with members of the House of Representatives.

The meeting followed another held on Monday night between the leadership of the faction and its supporters.

The meetings, which were also attended by the group’s secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, alongside several senators and other party officials, were led by Mr Baraje.

Same old demands

Mr Baraje told the lawmakers that the group was opposed to a new term for President Goodluck Jonathan. The group also called for the recall of Mr Amaechi, who was suspended by the party leadership, and his recognition as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Other demands of the group outlined publicly for the first time, include restoration of the PDP executive loyal to Messrs Nyako and Amaechi.

The group also demanded the removal of Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, and called for strict adherence to party constitution.

The faction emerged more than two weeks after the seven governors stormed out of a special convention of the meeting of the PDP. They accused Mr Tukur of highhandedness.

The two sides have failed to resolve the differences despite several meetings. Lately, both sides have reached out to seemingly neutral members seeking to gather support.

At the Senate, Mr Baraje said Jonathan was pursuing a “third term” through the “back door” and accused the president of reneging on an agreement not to run.

“This group is fighting to ensure an end to impunity and for the protection of democracy,” he said. “If we continue like this, I don’t think the PDP can win any election henceforth.”

Cracks on the wall

Responding, the senate president told the group that he will stand for “justice and equity”.

“Even if you have a knife in my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity,” he said.

He, thereafter, urged the two groups to come together and uphold a strong and united party; adding that he will remain in the PDP.

“We are stronger and better as one big, strong and united party,” he said. “We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”

But the meeting at the House of Representatives, which came after the Senate’s, degenerated into confusion as supporters of Mr Tukur, who also support President Jonathan, booed Mr Baraje as he made his speech...

South Africa, Africa’s largest economy, will for the time being at least, remain at the forefront of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the continent but it has recently had a significant proportion of its inflow stolen by very attractive yields in Nigerian markets.

According to the Rand Merchant Bank’s (RMB’s) annual “Where to Invest in Africa: A guide to corporate investment”, Nigeria is nipping at South Africa’s heels and may overtake it as soon as next year.

The report says that in 2012 Nigeria moved into second place, from third the previous year, and in the process overtaking Egypt which is now in third position despite its continuing political upheavals. The report places South Africa 33rd in the overall world rankings — its worst position ever. Nigeria, on the other hand, has improved 35 places in the past decade to rank 38th in the world index.

This may be as a result of South Africa’s current-account deficit which widened to 6.5 per cent of gross domestic product in the second quarter as a weakening rand failed to damp imports and boost exports.

The gap on the current account, the broadest measure of trade in goods and services, grew to an annualised 216.2 billion rand (3.53 trillion naira), the Reserve Bank said in its Quarterly Bulletin, released recently in the South African capital, Pretoria.

The median estimate of 15 economists surveyed by Bloomberg was for the deficit to widen to 6.2 per cent of GDP, from 5.8 per cent the first three months of the year.

Nigeria’s report card

Though in analysing the yield environment in all of the member countries of the JP Morgan basket using the shorter and longer tenured instruments as proxy, Nigeria’s average yield of 13.93 per cent and 13.72 per cent on 5 and 10 year government bonds place as second highest in their class after Egypt; making it highly attractive to foreign investors.

South African exports have come under pressure amid a slump in demand from Europe and strikes in the mining industry that have disrupted output and undermined growth in the continent’s biggest economy.

This has contributed to the rand’s 15 per cent plunge against the dollar this year, the worst performer among 24 major emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The rand declined for the first time in five days, dropping 0.2 per cent to 9.9730 per dollar in Johannesburg.

In contrast, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), for the last few months, has enjoyed a considerably high inflow of foreign funds to both its capital and bond markets. The NSE also boasts reports of Exchange polls trading figures from major custodians and market operators on their foreign portfolio investments (FPI) that analyse transactions Month on Month.

Noting that the FPI outflow includes sales transactions or liquidation of portfolio investments through the stock market, whilst the FPI inflow includes purchase transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (Equities only).

Analysis shows that FPI transactions, which started at 36.9 per cent at the beginning of the year, increased to 62.5 per cent at the end of July 2013, representing an increase of 25.6 per cent; with domestic transactions on the other hand decreasing from 63.1 per cent at the beginning of the year to 37.5 per cent at the end of July representing a reduction of 25.6 per cent.

The researcher and co-author of the guide, Celeste Fauconnier, said the gap between the two African giants was narrowing because Nigeria was “doing well” while S A was “stagnating”.

South Africa is placed second last in comparison with its fellow Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economies. China is ranked first, India eighth and Brazil 27th with Russia in last place at 34th.

Timeline of displacement

Nigeria could replace South Africa in top place within the next half decade, or even sooner, if the revisions to gross domestic product (GDP) under way see the size of the former’s economy adjusted upwards as much as 40 per cent. This would put us close to South Africa’s GDP of $384 billion...

Perhaps the biggest problem facing Nigeria today is its massive illiteracy rate; with recent (and embarrassing) revelations that while global illiteracy levels are on the down swing, that of Nigeria continues to rise. According to the federal government, an estimated 35 million Nigerians are illiterate.

We have cause to believe that this figure is a gross underestimation of the true reflection of things.

UNESCO puts the figure closer at 50 million Nigerians; and the fact that the country sits comfortably among the nine countries in the world with the highest illiteracy rates is ample proof of where we stand.

We believe that things are even worse than as presented above; for among the so called literate Nigerians, a substantial percentage are functional illiterates.

Functional illiterates are those university graduates whose reading and writing skills are barely adequate, or sometimes inadequate, to manage daily living and employment tasks. For further proof of how bad things really are, a survey of the comment boxes of several high-traffic websites in the country paints a vivid picture of the level of functional illiteracy that confront us.

Irina Bokova, the director general of UNESCO, in her speech at this year’s anniversary of the International Literacy Day, which holds on September 8 annually, said that illiteracy in the world has fallen over the past two decades, thanks to international efforts and work towards the Millennium Development Goals.

“Today, 84% of the world’s population can read and write, compared to 76% in 1990,” she said. “In 20 years, the illiterate population has been reduced by more than 100 million people. This is still not enough. Behind these figures there are still serious inequalities…Even in economically developed countries, the proportion of the population lacking basic reading and writing skills is too high. This is a serious obstacle to individual fulfilment, to the development of societies and to mutual understanding between peoples.”

Nigeria, if it has any hope of attaining a significant percentage of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2020, has no business being in this group of nine.

On Monday, the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, wrung his hands at the latest statistics, while addressing journalists as part of activities to mark the 2013 International Literacy Day. However, Mr Wike was quick to point out that the federal government needs help in addressing this troublesome issue.

Of the estimated 100 million youths that make up around 60% of Nigeria’s population, more than 80% are unemployed while about 10% are underemployed. Data provided by the National Manpower Board and Federal Bureau of Statistics in 2012 indicated that only about 10% of the graduates released into the labour market annually by Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions are able to get paid employment.

Mr Wike is right. It is time the millions of functional illiterates that are churned out of the country’s abysmal educational system adopted some form of self-help...

The Progressive Governors’ Forum has condemned the incident of Thursday night in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when officers of the Nigeria Police Force barred the state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi from entering the Government House through the private gate.

The Forum made up of 11 governors of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in a statement titled, ‘Blockade to Rivers Government House: Assault on Constitutionalism and Descent to Anarchy’ issued on Friday, described the incident as a threat to democracy.

The forum said that it received the news of the alleged action against the Rivers Governor House with “shock and disbelief.”

“Amaechi, was as a result, refused access to his own office in a manner that only translates to illegal takeover of Rivers State Government by the Police authorities and suspension of all relevant powers of the governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State as provided by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. This action of the Rivers Police Command is an assault on constitutional rule and portends a descent to anarchy.

“Since July 2013, the situation in Rivers continues to constitute a major threat to our democracy. The inability of Federal authorities to exercise all the necessary constitutional and moral authority to ensure speedy resolution of the crisis has remained a source of danger for our democracy and the life of Governor Amaechi and those of other public officers serving in the state. This is a bad precedent and we wonder if this is not a signal for a similar blockade to be mounted against the President at the Presidential Villa,” it said.

The group pointed out that a situation whereby the Federal Government would use powers vested in it under the constitution to bully and intimidate state governments was unacceptable and should be resisted by every democratic government.
“We view events of September 12 in Rivers as a direct affront on constitutional order in the country. We wish to unequivocally state our resolve to work with all democrats in the country to ensure adequate protection of democratic governance,” it said.
The statement quoted Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State as describing the blockade as ‘treason,’ although the People’s Democratic Party countered by alleging that Amaechi was distorting facts.

Speaking in Dutse, Lamido expressed doubts over allegations that the police carried out the act, noting that if they did, it amounted to treason.
“No, I don’t believe it. It cannot be Nigeria Police. My worry is that today in Nigeria, hooligans or thugs or armed robbers can go to a Government House, disarm Police, take their arms, wear their uniforms and then abduct a governor. I don’t think it is the Nigerian Police. But if it is indeed the Nigeria Police, then they know the consequences: what they did was treason,” Lamido said.
“Honestly, whatever might have been the circumstances, that act will spell doom for Nigeria because it could have been a coup; because maybe those policemen, who were there were fake ones. The genuine ones might have been taken and locked up somewhere and fake ones put there. It is possible. Whatever it was, it was treason.”
According to him, there are clear functions for the security forces and the police under the constitution except those that came from somewhere else, suggesting that armed robbers could have disarmed police and held them prisoner at another location.
“That’s my feeling. Because I do not see the Nigeria Police, with clear understanding of their roles, dare do that kind of thing. No, I don’t think so,” he said.

PDP accuses Amaechi of manipulating the press

The People’s Democratic Party on Friday warned Amaechi against “manipulat(ing) the press and distorting the facts in the crisis within the party to mislead Nigerians and creat(ing) an impression that he was barred by the Police and the Federal Government from entering the Government House...

The indigenes of Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have rejected the N7.5 billion offered by Shell as compensation for the damage done to their livelihoods by spills from the oil company’s pipelines.

Leigh Day, the London-based law firm representing the villagers, said the sum, when shared between those affected by the spills, will amount approximately to N277,100 or ($1700) per individual.

The community and the oil firm had been in discussions in Rivers’ capital city, Port Harcourt, since Monday. Speaking about the discussions, Martyn Day of the law firm described it as “deeply disappointing”.

“The settlement figures are totally derisory and insulting to these villagers,” he said.

The community had launched a lawsuit against Shell at the High Court in London in March 2012, compensation for two oil spills in 2008, but both sides agreed to try and settle in compensation talks in Port Harcourt.

Shell accepted responsibility for the Bodo spills but the two sides disagree about the volume spilt and the number of local people who lost their livelihoods as a result.

The community’s lawyers, who cited independent reports from experts, said the spill in the Bodo fishing community is the worst in history. They estimated that about 600, 000 barrels of crude were split.

Shell initially placed the volume of oil split at 4,100 barrels but later accepted that a significantly higher volume of oil might have been split due to other factors including sabotage.

Leigh Day will now go back to a British court to request a trial timetable.

The battle line has once again been drawn between two rival cult groups: the Eiye confraternity in Somolu and the Aiye confraternity in Bariga, with the cultists taking on each other, gun to gun, in a show of power and supremacy over the last three consecutive days.

On Tuesday, September 3, in the Ajose area of Somolu, the Aiye group shot dead one Tunde Lawal, A.K.A Ogbon, an alleged member of the Eiye confraternity popularly called EFCC Boys.

Tunde had allegedly raped a five-month pregnant lady at the Ponraele area of Abule Ijesha, sparking anger in the Aiye group and leading to his killing.

At about 10.30 p.m. on Friday, September 6, suspected cultists stormed Fadipe Street, an area in Somolu, moved towards Oreofero where, unknown to them, residents of Popoola, Olorunkemi and Oreofero had laid ambush for them. The two sides engaged in a gun duel that lasted for hours.

The gun battle continued till Sunday, September 8, as the boys met intermittently at the canal separating Somolu and Bariga and engaged in duels.

The Root of the Rot

A source, who requested anonymity, said the boys causing the mayhem were well known in the community, adding that some of them who had just finished serving sentences in the Kirikiri Prison, and other members numbering over 100, were being led by one Yesiru.

According to the source: “The scene was like watching the movie, TROY. Cutlasses, sophisticated guns ranging from pump action guns and shot guns, and different weapons were used.

“Areas like Balogun, Anifowoshe ,Fadipe Ajose Okoh close Salami Odubanjo and all the streets around the canal became a ghost town as residents had to flee for their lives.”

The cultists have completely taken over Okoh Close, Majiyagbe, Fadipe, Anifowoshe, Odubanjo, Ajose, Fagbeyiro Sodimu and all the streets close to the canal.

Residents opine that the activities of the boys cannot be curtailed, claiming politicians are funding them.

The residents — who say that apart from Yesiru whose mother sells yam and beans, and Rasaki Oseni A.K.A Elewure, others are boys whose parents have relocated — are beginning to seek alternative housing options, with many already relocating out of the troubled streets.

Looting

The boys also capitalised on the opportunity to steal and vandalise public property. In the mayhem, people were robbed and some wounded...

The police in Rivers state yesterday sealed off the newly opened secretariat of the ‘new PDP’. The building, located on Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt, was sealed off less than 20 minutes after its inauguration.

Sam Okaula, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who led the operation, said that the police would ensure the maintenance of law and order in the state. He said anybody who took the laws into his hand would be dealt with.

Okaula said that there was no existing secretariat for a splinter PDP group and that nobody had the right to hoist any flag for them. He followed that with a warning that the command would not condone actions capable of causing the breakdown of law and order in the state.

“I want to restore law and order and nobody will be allowed to take the laws into his hand,” Okaula said.

Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had said while inaugurating the secretariat of the ‘new PDP’ that the group had to break away to check the alleged “excesses of the old PDP”.

Okocha said the ‘new PDP’ would usher in officers at the state and federal levels to “reposition the party”. He called on officers of the party to commence mobilisation of party members to create awareness on its emergence.

Soon after the inauguration and hoisting of the party flag by Okocha, the police arrived, dismantled the flags and sealed off the secretariat.

The Victoria Island police station, Lagos State police command has emerged the top police station and regional winner of the Police Station Visitors Week(PSVW) 2012 in Africa.An award ceremony was held to honour the station on Tuesday, at the HS Continental Blue Ribbon hotel in Lagos, where the District Police Officer (DPO) of the Victoria Island, Adegoke Fayoade, was presented with the award.

The police station emerged winner during the Altus Annual Award ceremony which took place on August 9, 2013, at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nariobi, Kenya. The Victoria Island police station came first over 343 police stations from five other African countries: Benin,Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia and Ghana. Blessing Abiri, Altus Regional Representative/Senior Programme Officer, CLEEN Foundation, stated that Victoria Island police station was rated across the five indicator areas in the 2012 Police Station Visitors’ Week based on Community Orientation(100%); Physical Condition(96.67%); Equal treatment of the public (96. 67%);Transparency and Accountability(100%) and detention condition(100%). She added that the station showed innovative policing practices that could help improve the service delivery of police stations. She said, “The sixth edition of the Police Station Visitors Week held in 2012 was organised by the Altus Global Alliance in 17 countries, to provide local civilians with an opportunity to visit local police stations and assess the services they provide. In Africa, six countries-Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Nigeria, participated in the 2012 Police Station Visitors’ Week with a total of 343 participating police stations across the six countries. A total of 1,153 visitors participated”. The report also revealed that 262 police stations were visited in Nigeria with seven police stations in the Lagos police command getting top ranks among police stations in Nigeria. These stations are: Victoria Island police station(98. 67%); Alakuko police station(96. 25%); Badagry police station,(87%); Ajah police station (83%); Ilupeju police station (83%); Ijaniki Police station (88%); Alakara police (85. 67%). Others are the Kuje police station FCT (82. 67%); Central police station Akwa Abia State (83. 33% and the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station,Rivers State (82%). Speaking on the award, the Divisional Police Officer, Victoria Island police station, Adegoke Fayoade, stated that the station adopted a “people centric” policing style which was based on community participation in securing life and property. He said, “In line with the IGP transformation agenda to build a people friendly police force that is professional, disciplined, dedicated, effective, selfless, efficient, upright and a force that will respect the rights of the citizenry, we keyed into this to create a people centric , prevention and basic enforcement module based on what the demands of the people are. We created an enabling environment that encouraged members of the public to visit the station, report cases and pass vital information. Police visibility and accessibility were enhanced. Neighbourhood policing was introduced and policemen on vehicular, motorcycle and foot patrol dotted everywhere on the Island. Our cells are among the best in the world”. Former commissioner of police, Frank Odita, who was the special guest at the event urged other policemen to emulate Adegoke, and contribute to the development of the Nigerian Police Force.

The duo of Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel were missing in the Super Eagles squad that departed Calabar ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The Eagles, who checked out of the Transcorp Hotel some minutes before noon on Sunday are expected to travel to Kaduna en-route Abuja for the friendly, which is a repeat pairing of the Africa Cup of Nations final in which the Eagles edged out their West African neighbours 1-0 to lift the continent’s top football trophy.

While no official reason was given for the absence of Mikel and Moses from the travelling roster to Kadauna, Nigerian Telegraph gathered that the two, who were outstanding in Saturday’s World Cup qualifying match where the Eagles defeated the Flames of Malawi 2-0, suffered slight knocks in the course of the game.
Over the weekend in Calabar, Mikel was voted Man of the Match and was handed a $5,000 cheque by Tom Tom, one of the sponsors of the national team, to appreciate his contribution to the victory that takes Nigeria a step closer to making it to the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Also Moses sealed the victory for Nigeria from the penalty spot in the 51st minute to ensure Nigeria finished top of group F with 12 points but Kaduna fans will not have the privilege of seeing the two super stars in action on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Burkina Faso team expected in the country tomorrow, are also basking in the euphoria of making it to the final phase of the World Cup qualifiers as the Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist booked their ticket to the final round of the qualifiers following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Gabon also this weekend.

The last time the Eagles played a match in Kaduna was the first leg of the CHAN qualifiers against Ivory Coast, in which they handsomely emerged 4-1 winners.

Gareth Bale may have stolen the global limelight of this summer’s transfer window, but Nigerian players were not left out of the frenzy of the football market.

Nigeria’s profile in the game improved after the national team, the Super Eagles, returned to the summit of African football following their conquest at the African Cup of Nations in South Africa early this year, their first in 19 years.

That continental success also earned them a berth at this summer’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, testing their might against the South American champions, Uruguay; as well as the world and European kings, Spain. The Super Eagles were eliminated in the first round but they nevertheless contributed some exciting moments to the tournament that served as a prelude to the Mundial.

So how has this impressive football year impacted on some of our best talents, in the just ended transfer window?

England

Two of the best players at the Nations Cup, Chelsea’s duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, would look back at the summer window with uncertainties in terms of accomplishment. Moses was at the heart of the Eagles success in South Africa but suffered a dip in form for the Blues on his return. Though he played a key role in the club’s Europa League success last season, he struggled to recreate the form in the Premier League.

Moses had great enthusiasm and showed promises in pre-season and was hoping to impress Chelsea’s new manager Jose Mourinho to see him as part of his plans. Sadly, not only did Mourinho sign Andre Schurrle, a wing forward like the Nigerian, he added Brazilian winger, Willian in a mouth-watering £26m deal from Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkala, in a surprising late bid.

Moses, 22, had to settle for a deadline day loan move to Liverpool and his disappointment could not be hidden during his first interview at Anfield; even though he chose the right words.

Mikel, the most outstanding player at AFCON, had a torrid time under Rafa Benitez but following the appointment of Mourinho, it was understandable for him to hope for the return of happy days. The Portuguese manager brought him to the London club as a teenager after a bitter move from Norwegian club, Oslo Lyn, but the Eagles playmaker hasn’t impressed his boss to start any of Chelsea’s first four games this season.

His agent, John Shittu, refused to deny talks with Galatasaray, who were interested in the player all summer; and it won’t be surprising to see the move reignited if his situation does not improve till the next window in January.

26-year-old Mikel and Michael Essien are the most experienced defensive minded midfielders currently at Chelsea, but Mourinho has preferred to adapt Ramires to combine with veteran goal-scoring Frank Lampard, 35, to shield his back line.

The third of Nigeria’s Chelsea contingent, Kenneth Omeruo’s profile has cooled despite promises of first team involvement after his development at Den Haag of Holland last season. He has been listed has an U-21 player and the decision to keep him at the club may do more harm than good to his growth. Perhaps a loan to a Championship side could be a good option.

Osaze Odemwingie has ended his sojourn at West Bromwich Albion after an unfortunate season at the club. The striker, who holds the club’s all-time record of the highest Premier League scorer in a single season, has joined newcomers – Cardiff City for £2.5million. It came after a potential move to Queens Park Rangers emerged as an unforgettable transfer farce in England.

Odemwingie is delighted with his new start and will be expected to redeem his reputation more on the field of play this time, than making waves in the media for the wrong reasons.

France

Nigeria’s top goalie, Vincent Enyeama, is back at his club Lille in France after a loan spell at Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv. He has started all of the club’s four league games this season and kept three clean sheets, making nine saves in the process.

Enyeama has not enjoyed the rave reviews he deserved. He has remained his country’s top goalie for over a decade and is no doubt one of the greatest shot stoppers to have emerged from Africa with two CAF Champions League titles and a Nations Cup winning medal. He has kept his profile with his return to France which will help his competitiveness as Nigeria’s number one.

Meanwhile Sunday Mba who had an impressive outing at AFCON, thought he had completed a move to Ligue 2 side Bastia before the French side...

Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, says she has decided to channel her efforts into acting and keep her relationship away from the press.

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else apart from acting”.
The actress made this known on The Juice with Toolz, as she opened up about why she was discreet about her private life.

“I don’t talk about my personal life because some years ago, I was in this relationship that became public, and the press killed it! The relationship didn’t work out because of the press cos they put a lot of pressure on it.
“My second relationship that lasted for four years, we almost got married, then we broke up all of a sudden,” she said.

She was in another relationship that lasted a year. “With the break-up, I decided to pour my passion into producing great movies and I recently co-produced a movie, “The Meeting”, she noted.

The actress revealed that she is currently in another relationship.

Officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS), attached to the Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, arrested a seven-man robbery gang and its female leader.

The arrest was made while the suspects were planning to rob Bolatito Hotel, at Kola Bus Stop, in Ijaiye area of the state.

The police gave the names of the suspects as Amadi Igwe, 41, Raymond Chukwuka, 24, Ignatius Okeredi, 27, Michael Madu, 52, and one Okechukwu Jerome, 28, who is currently at large.
The police said they acted on a distress call from a staff of the hotel when he noticed suspicious men loitering close the hotel.

The security operatives were said to have surrounded the hotel and carried out a room to room search of all its occupants.
The officers discovered two locally made guns and 12 live ammunition were recovered from the robbery suspects.

According to the alleged gang leader, Chioma Ezekwesiri, she arranged for the guns from one Raymond Chukwuka, also known as Stubborn, claiming that it was supposed to be used for a land matter, but the police alleged that the group was preparing to rob a fertiliser dealer of about N8 million during his stay at the hotel.

The 35-year-old alleged female leader of the gang also claimed that she graduated from UNILAG in 1999, and was called to the bar in 2000.She said she operates a Non-Governmental Organisation, called Youth of All Nations Empowerment Association.

Authorities of the University of Lagos have refuted her claim of graduating from the institution, as well as her call to bar by Tunji Busari, of Cognate Solicitors.

The chairman of Youth of All Nations Empowerment Association, J.E. Joshua, also denied that Chioma, was the founder of the association.

The seven man gang were remanded in court, and are currently facing a three count charge of robbery, conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.

A LAGBUS, with registration number, Lagos XU998-AAA, at about 2:15pm on Wednesday, crashed into four stationary vehicles parked under the Carter Bridge, at Ebute-Ero area of the state.

Eyewitnesses said the bus, which was carrying passengers, was heading towards Leventis, on Lagos Island.

The brakes of the bus, said to be on top speed, failed and skidded off the road, dragging a pedestrian, identified as Francis, under a parked car by the side of the road. The bus then crashed into four other cars as the driver tried to regain control of it.

LAGBUS, with registration number, Lagos XU998-AAA, at about 2:15pm on Wednesday, crashed into four stationary vehicles parked under the Carter Bridge, at Ebute-Ero area of the state.

Eyewitnesses said the bus, which was carrying passengers, was heading towards Leventis, on Lagos Island.

The brakes of the bus, said to be on top speed, failed and skidded off the road, dragging a pedestrian, identified as Francis, under a parked car by the side of the road. The bus then crashed into four other cars as the driver tried to regain control of it.

An eyewitness who identified himself as Samson Momoh, said, “We were standing by our car at the Carter bridge when a LAGBUS lost control and skidded off the road. The driver tried to control the bus but it ramp into a pavement and hit a businessman, Francis, walking on the roadside. Francis was walking towards his car parked under the bridge when the bus hit him and threw him under a car parked under the Carter Bridge. There was commotion and the passengers in the bus screamed to escape but the bus ran into three other vehicles before it came into a halt”.

Telegraph was informed that the driver fled when he saw the damage he had caused.

The vehicles damaged include a Volvo 740, which was crushed beyond repair, two Sienna LE cars and a Hyundai bus.

The owner of the Volvo car, Saka Owoyale, a father of eight, said he was shocked to see the car he drove this morning crushed.

“I have been driving this car for the past four years and I always park my car under the bridge but I was shocked when I was called that a LAGBUS has destroyed my car. I ran to see the damage but it was beyond repair. I will report the incident at the Ebute-Ero police station and I will ensure that the LAGBUS management buy another car for me,” he said.

Olasunkanmi Babalola, who was also affected, said the LAGBUS ran into his DMT mobile toilets and destroyed two of them.

“I am happy that the bus did not kill my customer who was easing himself in one of my four toilets. The bus destroyed two of the toilets. Each toilet costs me about N95,000 when I bought it in 2009. I will need them to be replaced,” he said.

Telegraph was informed that Francis, was rushed to the Island General hospital and he is in critical condition.
Police officers from the Ebute Ero police station, have towed the bus away from the scene to prevent miscreants from setting it ablaze.

An eyewitness who identified himself as Samson Momoh, said, “We were standing by our car at the Carter bridge when a LAGBUS lost control and skidded off the road. The driver tried to control the bus but it ramp into a pavement and hit a businessman, Francis, walking on the roadside. Francis was walking towards his car parked under the bridge when the bus hit him and threw him under a car parked under the Carter Bridge. There was commotion and the passengers in the bus screamed to escape but the bus ran into three other vehicles before it came into a halt”...

Bamidele, a first year student of the University of Lagos who could not wait to be in his second year, was preparing for his second semester examination, which was two weeks away, when he heard about the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike.

“When I heard of the strike, I felt very bad because we were preparing for our exams. Initially, we felt it was something that would soon go away, but it is very bad because it has disrupted our programme,” he said.

Bamidele is not the only person feeling a sense of displacement as the ASUU strike continues to look like a problem not going away anytime soon.

Recently, ASUU refused to call off its nine-week-old strike despite the federal government’s purported injection of N130 billion into the country’s university system.

Bright, a student of Unilag, said: “I am not happy because the strike shows the degradation of the Nigerian educational system. We are praying the FG should answer ASUU so we can return to school. The government should take the educational sector seriously.”

While Osheji said he supports the strike “because if the problem is not solved now we will be sitting at home again next year”, Modupe Akande, a philosophy student, said it is just a gimmick and “we all know that when they (ASUU) are tired of the strike they will come back, but they should put the student into consideration. If they knew they were going on such a long strike, they should have allowed students to be through with the examinations.”

The strike, which began on July 5, was embarked on by the Union for what they termed the federal government’s refusal to honour an agreement made between it and the union in 2009, and they insisted that what was due to them was N500 billion not N100 billion.

When Two Elephants Fight

A letter from the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, to the Head of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) Assessment and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, said the figure was based on the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both parties.

“If the implementation is to be related to the funding requirements in the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 MoU, what is due for 2012 and 2013 is N500 billion not N100 billion. Only the provision of this sum will meet the immediate needs of the universities,” Fagge said.

“Our Union is very apprehensive of the manner in which the sources of the initial N100 billion to be used for the stimulation of the process are shrouded in secrecy. We believe that monies that already belong to the university system should not be blocked and recycled...

The Lagos State Government, on Saturday, demolished a four-storey building of 20 flats at No. 34, Adeyemi Street, Mushin; with two others near it likely to be demolished as well.

The demolition was carried out by the Lagos State Building and Control Agency during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The leader of the demolition team, who did not want his name published, said that the building was demolished because it was no longer safe to be inhabited.

According to him, the structure had obvious cracks, and had become dilapidated, which warranted the government’s action.

He said that the state government had given the owners of the affected buildings notices three months ago to direct their tenants to vacate the properties.

The official, however, said that houses 32 and 33, which had also been marked, would not be demolished for some time.

He said that that the agency would carry out integrity tests on the marked properties to determine their level of damage before a decision would be taken on them.

Some of the residents of the area said that the demolished building had become a threat to its occupants and other residents of nearby buildings because of its level of dilapidation.

Rakiyat Aliyu, of No 12 Adeyemi Street, advised the government to demolish all dilapidated structures in the area and instruct the owners to build more befitting ones.

Thomas Dauda, a resident of the demolished building, said that he rented the property three months ago.

“I just rented the place three months ago with the sum of N800,000 and the caretaker promised to repair my apartment before the end of August,” he said. “I was shocked after payment when some of the tenants told me that the building had been marked for demolition and they have been asked to pack out.

The matter is in court because the caretaker told me he had given the landlord my money. I just packed my belongings last night at10.00 p.m. when it was obvious that the state government was coming to demolish the place.”

Supporters of the two parallel governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 14 Anambra State election, Senator Andy Uba and Tony Nwoye, on Saturday, clashed at the convention ground.

Mr Nwoye’s supporters initiated the fray when they attempted to yank Mr Uba’s younger brother, Chris, off his seat. The three Uba brothers, Ugochukwu, Andy and Chris were seated next to one another.

Some of the Uba supporters resisted the attempt to drag Chris away from his seat, a development that led to exchange of blows among the supporters.

Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah who was at the scene quietly walked away from the rowdy scene. Looking unruffled, the Uba brothers sat quietly and watched the drama that lasted for about 20 minutes before normalcy was restored.

One of the factional chairmen of the Anambra chapter of the PDP, Ejike Oguebego, sat close to the Uba brothers; while his rival, Ken Emeakayi, sat close to Nwoye.

Andy Uba emerged the PDP candidate through a congress organised by Mr Oguebego, while Mr Nwoye emerged through the Emeakayi faction.

The leadership of the PDP has given recognition to the Emeakayi faction, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Oguebego as the authentic chairman of the Anambra chapter of the party.

Manchester United will be wary of on-form Daniel Sturridge when they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as they look to return to winning ways following their goalless draw against Chelsea.

Sturridge took his goal tally to four with a brace in midweek’s Capital One Cup win over Notts County, after netting once in each of his club’s opening two games against Stoke and Aston Villa.

United would recall the England international struck against them last season- first as a Chelsea player in the COC and again after moving to Liverpool in January, scoring on his league debut for the Reds in their 2-1 loss at Old Trafford. With Luiz Suarez still out due to suspension, the former Blues striker will be expected to lead the charge for a big home win.

The match is expected to rekindle the age-long fierce rivalry between the two sides, albeit the Merseysiders have drifted away in terms of title challenge. Brendan Rodgers will be happy with his club’s start of three wins out of three in the new season but he is also aware that the Premier League champions will offer the first big test to his aspirations in this campaign.

Robin Van Persie was kept quiet by Chelsea’s defence led by Man of the Match John Terry on Monday night but United manager David Moyes can still count on the predatory instinct of the Dutch man who scored the winner for the Reds on their trip to Anfield last season.

Moyes will be encouraged by the performance of Wayne Rooney, who was impressive against Chelsea despite strong interest from the London club. Rooney enjoyed a great support from his fans and the manager is likely to retain him in the playmaking role for the clash at Liverpool.

United will be looking for a win to keep their title momentum going and returning Rooney to the substitutes bench is not likely to be an option for Moyes if he hopes to keep the striker happy at the club.

The North London derby

Arsenal will face a big test on their fragile squad when they welcome North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs at the Emirates later on Sunday.

Spurs have bolstered their squad with the acquisitions of Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli Etienne Capoue and Erik Lamela, with further additions expected. Lamela may not be ready for the Emirates clash but the Spurs boss would be hoping his side can cope with the departure of star player, Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

Andre Villas-Boas and his side has started the season steadily with successive wins over Crystal Palace and Swansea City but the fixture with the Gunners will be a huge test of character both sides.

Arsene Wenger revealed on Thursday that Lukas Podolski has joined his injury list after suffering a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for up to 10weeks. Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thomas Vermaelen are also on the treatment table, so Wenger would do a great job to navigate a win against Spurs.

Aaron Ramsey, has been in impressive form and Wenger has assured he is expected to be available alongside influential midfielder Jack Wilshere, both of whom suffered slight injury problems during midweek victory over Fernabahce in the Champions League qualifiers.

Madrid face Bilbao; Valencia host Barcelona

Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid are expected to take all three points against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at the Bernabeu. Los Merengues have not enjoyed a terrific start by their standards, but they have still managed two straight wins from their opening two fixtures against Real Betis and Granada...