₦airaland Forum

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that hoodlums snatched over 14,000 permanent voter’s cards from its officials during the collection of the cards in Rivers State.

The resident electoral commissioner in the state, Mrs Gesila Khan, who disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, expressed dismay that some of the cards were stolen from local government collection centres where the PVC’s were deposited to enable the rightful owners have unfettered access to them at the close of the collection exercise coordinated by INEC.

While assuring that over 50,000 PVC’s would be distributed to the rightful owners before the general election, Khan said over 80 per cent of the registered voters in the state have collected their PVC’s.

The resident electoral commissioner who expressed dismay at the action of the hoodlums regretted that Rivers State recorded one of the highest cases of stolen PVCs in the country.

She said, “I am appealing to Rivers people because we have lost a lot of cards. We have lost more than 14,000 PVC’s and it’s one of the highest figures in the federation.

“All the cards that are being snatched are useless and meaningless because we are going to use a new system called “card reader”. Your card reader is just like ATM cards. You take it there and they slot it into the card reader to confirm if it is yours before you are allowed to vote.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/hoodlums-snatched-14000-voter-cards-rivers-inec/

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has procured gadgets to facilitate the participation of the visually impaired candidates in its Computer Based Test (CBT) in March.

The Head, Media and Publicity of JAMB, Mr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

According to the statement the development is to ensure that no category of persons is left out during the forthcoming 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on the all CBT mode.

“The computers which are called Braillenote Apex is procured to ensure that the visually impaired candidates are all accommodated in the 2015 CBT.

“It will enable the visually impaired to read and answer questions via voice or Braille, hence making the examination all inclusive for all categories of candidates,” it said.

The statement said the Registrar of the board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, took delivery of the equipment.

It quoted him as saying that Braillenote Apex reiterated the determination of the board to give all categories of candidate equal chance, regardless of their challenges.

The Braillenote Apex was acquired from an international software giant, Humanware, which is based in Europe.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/2015-utme-jamb-procures-special-computers-visually-impaired/

Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has accused the Nigerian military of ignoring repeated warnings of impending attacks on the Borno towns of Baga and Monguno by Boko Haram and failing to take action to protect civilians.

Amnesty’s claim corroborates the January 26 exclusive report of the online medium, PREMIUM TIMES – which indicated the Nigerian military received reliable intelligence report indicating that the Boko Haram sect would launch a massive attack on Monguno.

The troops were taken by surprise when the insurgents struck early Sunday, suggesting the 5 Brigade stationed in the area failed to prepare adequately for the group’s onslaught.

In a statement on it official website, Amnesty International’s Africa director, Netsanet Belay, said that it was clear from this evidence that Nigeria’s military leadership woefully and repeatedly failed in their duty to protect civilians of Baga and Monguno despite repeated warnings about an impending threat posed by Boko Haram.

“These attacks are an urgent wake-up call for the Nigerian leadership, the African Union and the international community. It is essential to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians in north east Nigeria from Boko Haram’s continued onslaught,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/amnesty-international-military-ignored-advance-warnings-attacks-baga/

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on Wednesday that 22,000 Nigerian graduates benefited from the Federal Government’s Graduate Internship Programme.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, spokesperson to the minister.

She said the programme was meant to increase the employability of the graduates by enhancing their skills.

“The scheme targets up to 50,000 unemployed graduates in the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

“No fewer than 22,000 graduates have so far been placed on the programme,’’ she said.

According to her, the current administration has tried to ensure that jobs were created to unemployed youths nationwide.

She said that the Goodluck Jonathan administration was making in job creation by providing an average of about 1.4 million jobs per year by driving quality growth in key sectors of the economy.

She said the sectors included agriculture, financial services, and the creative Industries such as the Nollywood.

She urged the citizenry to support all the efforts of the Federal Government, adding that it was working in the interest of the common man.

She said the Community Services Scheme under SURE-P was developed to empower young unskilled Nigerians, women and people with disabilities.


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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/okonjo-iweala-22000-graduates-will-benefit-fgs-graduate-internship-programme/

The 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri on Sunday announced a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri, following suspected insurgents’ attacks near the city.

The Spokesman of the Division, Col. Sani Usman, said this in a statement he signed and issued in Maiduguri.

He stated that “be informed of the imposition of a curfew on Maiduguri immediately.

“The curfew will remain till further notice.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that insurgents had attempted to gain entrance into Maiduguri through Jimtilo, on Maiduguri-Kano road on Saturday night.

But NAN learnt that the attempt was repelled by the military. (NAN)

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Ahead of the January 28, 2015 planned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, heavily fierce looking armed soldiers and policemen on Saturday took over the 40, 000 capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium at Igwuruta-ali, Ikwerre local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the soldiers had moved into the facility early on Saturday morning and kept vigil till dawn.

The APC-led Rivers State government and the state PDP have been engaged in war of words over the planned use of the stadium by the opposition party in the state.

It would be recalled that the state chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, had said that the state government turned down the request of the party to use the facility for its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, January 28.

Speaking on the issue, governorship candidate of the PDP, Nyesom Wike, at a meeting with the Goodluck-to-Goodluck Political pressure group in Port Harcourt, recently, assured that the APC used the same facility for theirs and therefore, the PDP will host President Jonathan there.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/pdp-presidential-rally-port-harcourt-armed-soldiers-takeover-rivers-stadium/

Nigeria’s Super Falcons player and African Female Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala has joined English women’s football club, Liverpool Ladies.

The Reds boss, Matt Beard, according to BBC Sport, described the new Liverpool signing as “one of the best young players in the world.”

Oshoala won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball – as Player of the Tournament – at last year’s Under-20 World Cup Finals, and becomes the first player from Africa to compete in the Women’s Super League.

“We beat a number of top American and European clubs to Asisat’s signature,” said Beard as he welcomed the 20-year-old striker. “Asisat is one of the best young players in the world.”

In addition to her star performances in the U20 World Cup, Oshoala also collected the Golden Ball award as the senior Nigeria team qualified for the2015 World Cup by winning the African Women’s Championship.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/liverpool-ladies-signs-african-female-footballer-year/

The reconciliatory visit of President Goodluck Jonathan was a tensed one as former president, Olusegun Obasanjo put him on the hot seat in his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta on Monday, Leadership exclusively gathered.

Flanked by the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, who were there as witnesses to the meeting on request of the Egba chief, asked him questions which he had earlier thrown up in his correspondence to Jonathan.
Questions from Obasanjo to Jonathan.

He queried, “Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

(1) Did you agree to run for only one term or not?

(2) What did you tell me was your reason for not going after Boko Haram insurgents even when I told you this will boomerang?

(3) What happened to Nigeria’s external reserve and Sovereign Wealth Fund?

(4) Did you give licence to Niger Delta militants (Dokubo and Tompolo) to import arms in the name of their privately owned companies? If so, for what reason?

(5) Did you not get correspondence from the United States consulate that a certain citizen named Buruji Kashamu is indicted for drug trafficking? Why did you appoint the same Kashamu as South West leader of PDP rather than hand him over to the US? And did the PDP give automatic Senate ticket to a wanted and convicted drug baron?

By Leadership

www.Monitor9ja.com

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday said that no fewer than 1.4 million candidates nationwide would write the 2015 All Computer Base Test (CBT) on March 4.

Mr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB Public Relations Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the board would be migrating all to computer-based mode of examination for the first time.

The Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, had in the last few years, sensitised secondary schools students on the computer-base mode of test effective from 2015.

NAN reports that prior to this time, candidates have been writing either of the CBT as the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) or the Dual Based Test (DBT) mode of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to Benjamin, JAMB is impressed with the number of candidates that have registered for the March examination.
“I want to say that we are expecting no fewer than 1.4 million candidates that will be attempting the examination in all computer-based mode of examination, commencing from this year.

“We are also happy to announce that we also have enough centres that will match the number of candidates that will be writing the examination.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/1-4m-candidates-2015-jamb/

Nigeria’s under-20 male football team on Tuesday said two of the overseas-based players they were looking at for success at the African Youth Championship (AYC) would not be available.

In a statement by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu, the Flying Eagles said English Premier League champions, Manchester City have sent words to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on this.

“The club said they would not release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 AYC in March in Senegal,’’ it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both players were among nine foreign-based players called up by the Flying Eagles for the AYC.

They were given a Thursday deadline to join up with the Flying Eagles in their training camp in Kaduna.

But in a mail signed by City’s scouting and recruitment operations manager, Fergal Harkin, the EPL side said Iheanacho was injured and might not be fit till mid-March.

The mail also indicated that Nwakali was about to be loaned out to a club in Europe.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/manchester-city-refuse-release-iheanacho-nwakali-2015-ayc/

Abuja, Jan. 12, 2015 (NAN) The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, has expressed the readiness of religious leaders to contribute their quota to the success of the forthcoming general elections.

Kukah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that INEC and other relevant agencies should spell out the role these leaders could play.

He said that the electoral body was saddled with the responsibility of holding peaceful and successful elections, hence the assistance of religious leaders could enable it achieve such task.

“It is the role of the electoral body to decide what it requires to organise a successful election.

“It is important that the electoral body seeks partnership so that it can enhance its preparations for the elections.

He expressed optimism that things would get better for the nation after the elections as the electoral process was paramount in order to strengthen democracy.

According to the cleric, various parties are showing interest in the number one seat, which shows that a party cannot dominate the political space for long.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/2015-elections-bishop-kukah-wants-specific-roles-religious-leaders/

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed the 2015 budget of N489.69 into law.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Fashola said the occasion was meant for Monday but that he had to call it forward to enable him attend a national meeting fixed for tomorrow in Abuja by the All Progressives Congress (APC), so that Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, could continue with work while he is in Abuja.

He said, “We are a government that is open to planning;, part of the planning is for government to set the budget for the beginning of the year. Lagos is the second state to sign the document after Ogun State, which is also an APC State.

“When we presented the budget, there were financial challenges but as you know, our revenue has been based largely on our common contribution; that is how we build our common wealth here.

“We need to be innovative, inventive and hard-working; that is what we have given in the last eight years and we won’t give anything less with the support of the people of Lagos. They are the owners of this government and all of its service delivery programmes and I think, as difficult and challenging as the revenue issue may be, we will consolidate and finish as many project as we possible.”

Also speaking , the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ben Akabueze said the oil slump in the international market had been factored into the budget and expressed hope that the price would rise as the year progresses.

See break down of budget
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/fashola-signs-n489-69-billion-budget/

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have disagreed with President Goodluck Jonathan’s boast on his administration’s performance.

Speaking through his aide on Socia media, Reno Omokri through a tweet @renoomokri with the hashtag #GEJisCHANGE, Jonathan yesterday said his administration’s performance in the health sector, which earned the country Guinea Worm-free status in 2013 and Polio-free status to be declared this month by the United Nations, did not happen by chance but as a result of change.

The tweet reads: “Nigeria became Guinea Worm-free in 2013. The UN will declare us polio-free this month. It happened not by chance but by change.”

But faulting the president’s claim, Buhari in his tweet @Thisisbuhari, said government’s job is to ensure security and peace of the nation and not the promotion of religious bigotry.

Buhari tweeted: “The job of government is security and peace, not religion.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/twitter-war-buhari-atiku-oppose-jonathan-performance/

Ahead of the February 14 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has started giving account of his stewardship, saying in 20 months of his assumption of office, he built nine universities and 20 Almajiri schools across the country.

The president, who spoke yesterday through his special assistant on new media, Reno Omokri, outlined his achievements via the social media platform, twitter, with a question hashtag #canyourcandidatesaysame?

Apparently responding to the barrage of criticisms on the performance of his administration by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Jonathan said he has prioritised education and led an open government, adding that no critic, journalist or newspaper has been jailed or banned for their criticisms.

Omokri who tweeted via his twitter handle @renoomokri, revealed that Jonathan was committed to the ethos of democracy, stressing that Jonathan has never privately or publicly called for violence because of desperation for power.

He stated in his tweet, “In Jonathan’s first 20 months in office, he built nine universities and 50 Almajiri schools. Under Jonathan, education always had either the highest or second highest budgetary allocation.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/jonathan-built-9-universities-50-almajiri-schools-20-months/

GEJ Must Go, Change Is Here in Nigeria! Those were the word of the fiery Catholic priest and founder of the highly regarded Enugu-based Adoration Ministries, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka. watch video For more details.

Click Link Below to watch the video
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/watch-video-enugu-catholic-priest-saying-jonathan-must-go/

More light is set to be shed on Nigeria’s murky oil sector as a new anti-corruption rule comes into force this week in the U.K.

The UK is the first member state to implement the EU Directive on Extractive Industries, which requires detailed disclosure of a range of payments, including taxes, royalties and dividends made to governments on a country and project basis as of January 1, 2015.

Directors at UK oil and gas companies could face criminal conviction and unlimited fines if they fail to properly disclose payments made to overseas governments, under the rules, which is part of a pan-European drive for greater transparency of dealings between operators in extractive industries and foreign governments.

Other EU member states are set to follow the UK in July.

The new laws would be a welcome development in Nigeria whose NNPC is adjudged to have the poorest transparency record out of 44 national and international energy companies, according to Transparency International and Revenue Watch Institute.

Last year, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, alleged that up to $20 billion in oil revenues were ‘missing’.

In a 146 page report by Nuhu Ribadu, the former head of the anti-corruption agency EFCC, covering the years 2002 to 2012, released in 2013 concluded that oil majors, Shell, Total and Eni, made bumper profits from undercutting Nigeria on gas prices.

“The estimated cumulative of the deficit between value obtainable on the international market and what is currently being obtained from NLNG, over the 10 year period, amounts to approximately $29 billion,” the report said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/new-european-law-may-expose-nigerias-corrupt-oil-deals/

Nigeria international goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has been named best goalkeeper in France for 2014.

The Super Eagles’ captain was chosen in the Ligue 1 team of the year by L’Equipe thanks to outstanding performances with Lille. he is also competing for the African Ballon d’Or with Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and Dortmund’s striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Congratulations to Vincent Enyeama.

www.Monitor9ja.com

The Police on Thursday confirmed a bomb explosion at the entrance of Tudun Wada ECWA Church, Gombe.

The Spokesman of the state Police Command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe that a suicide bomber rode on a motorcycle and tried to enter the church a few minutes after 8 a.m.

“He came with a motorcycle and tried to enter the place but as a result of the security measures put in place, he was blocked and the bomb exploded instantly and he was killed,” Atajiri said.

He called on the public to remain vigilant and also report any suspicious movement around them.

An eye witness, Malam Aminu Muhammad, whose house is close to the blast scene, told NAN that he was indoors when he heard a loud sound.

“When I heard the sound, I immediately came out, and what I saw was horrible.

“I just saw human parts scattered everywhere with blood and pieces of motorcycle which the suicide bomber rode on,” Muhammad said.
Malam Abdullahi Isah, the Secretary, Gombe Specialist Hospital, said 10 injured persons were brought to the hospital.

According to him, the victims sustained various injuries and were undergoing a treatment, adding that one of them was taken to the theatre.(NAN)

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The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on Wednesday said it had added street washing in some highbrow areas to preserve investments on some new roads in the state.

Mr Ola Oresanya, the General Manager of the authority, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the authority had ten mechanical sweeping machines which sweep, wash and scrub roads in the night.

http://leadership.ng/news/398846/lawma-begins-streets-washing

www.Monitor9ja.com

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of the 11 presidential candidates and their running mates who will contest the 2015 general elections.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman in Abuja.

List Of Candidate and their political party

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – President Goodluck Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo.

All Progressives Congress (APC) – Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo .

Kowa Party – Oluremi Sonaiya and Saidu Bobboi

Hope Democratic Party – Ambrose Albert and Haruna Shaba.

Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) – Ganiyu Galadima and Balarabe Ahmed

Alliance for Democracy (AD) – Rafiu Salau and Clinton Cliff Akuchie

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/inec-official-releases-names-candidates-2015-presidential-election/

Former Oyo State governor and Labour Party flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, yesterday gave out his 13-point agenda aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the people of the state.

The former governor, while inaugurating the Alao-Akala Campaign Committee in Ibadan yesterday, said the party would work assiduously to transform the society into a better one and actualise the dreams of the teeming supporters to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

He listed the 13-point agenda to include good governance, health/sustainable environment, poverty alleviation, industrialisation, employment opportunities, infrastructure regeneration, international trades, education, power and security among others.

While noting that the country faces serious economic crisis as a result of the dwindling price of oil in the international market, he said the implication is that there is a major challenge ahead.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/2015-election-alao-akalas-13-point-agenda/

European Union (EU) and Federal Government of Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the monitoring of the 2015 general election.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Danjuma Sheni, who led Nigeria’s delegation at the occasion in Abuja yesterday, said Nigeria was committed to conducting credible elections in 2015.

Sheni, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said Nigeria welcomed the EU team to observe its elections because of the importance of neutral observers in the electoral process.

“Nigeria welcomes the European Union as observers of its elections just as others because of the importance of neutral observers in the electoral process.

“Such observers tend to lend credibility to the legitimacy of the elections. This is precisely the reason why Nigeria is willing to sign this MoU with the European Union delegation.

“The EU observed our 2011 elections which were declared as one of the freest and fairest elections in Nigeria”, he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nigeria-signs-mou-2015-election-eu/

All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has attributed the poor implementation of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to its alleged hijack by chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Osinbajo spoke with reporters at a restaurant in Lagos, in continuation of his meet-the-people campaign tour.

Claiming that the Federal Government might have had the best of intention in establishing the programme, he noted that its stated objectives have not been achieved due largely to its abuse and mismanagement by government’s cronies.

He said: “I make bold to say that in terms of stated objectives, the SURE-P has failed due to the wrong strategy adopted in its implementation.

“The subsidy fund has been mismanaged and abused. The way and manner it was set up makes it open for abuse.”

On the objectives of his campaign tour aimed at interfacing directly with the people, Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said it was part of listening to the concerns of the people and explaining the vision of the APC, if it forms the next government at the centre.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/sure-p-failed-says-osinbajo/

Despite falling oil prices, Nigerian Billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija has taken over from Oprah Winfery as world’s richest Black Woman, with a fortune of $7.3bn. On the other hand, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.9billion, according to Forbes.

According to Ventures Africa magazine’s Rich List, Alakija generated her wealth from oil and gas.

“It is widely believed that Alakija’s friendship with Maryam Babangida, the late wife of former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, played a huge role in her relatively inexpensive acquisition of the oil block back in 1993,” the magazine noted.

United Kingdom-based Business Consultant, Philip Obi cautions that Alakija’s stand is shaky because oil is fast losing value in the face of falling oil prices. “Except she decides to diversify, 90% wealth in oil look unsteady considering the alternative energy potential,” Obi said.

“The world is going digital. Very soon, wealth will no longer be what we use to know; look at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. That is where the world is going into- Digital world. The people who will continue to rule will be those in communications, food and health, social media, finance. These pillars are going to be critical to run the world. People are becoming multi- millionaire by just building smile apps.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nigerian-billionaire-folorunsho-alakija-now-worlds-richest-black-woman/

No more when is Nigeria going to get better, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that although his administration is yet to take Nigeria to its rightful place, if the progress he has recorded so far continues in the next four or five years, the country would be better off.

Speaking during a church service at the Christ Apostolic Church, Area 1, Durumi, Abuja, where he worshiped yesterday, the president noted that the country was making progress even though the result of his government’s effort may not be obvious immediately.

He said, “For me and members of my team, in spite of the challenges, we will continue to do our best. As a nation, we have not reached where we want to be – definitely not – but we are coming up with a number of policies.

“Those who are taking pains to look at what we are doing will agree with us that if we progress as a nation steadily in this manner, in the next four or five years, this country will be a better place.”

Jonathan added that his economic management team had been working hard to stabilize the oil price in order to ensure that it does not drop to, or below, $40 the way it happened between 2008 and 2009.

“We have talked about the drop in the global price of oil. Of course, if there is a drop in oil price, it will affect us in one way or the other. We tell our people to bear with us. It has happened before – in 2008, 2009. It came down to almost about $40, but we survived as a nation.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nigeria-will-better-next-5-years-jonathan/

The chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited, Transcorp Plc and founder of The Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu said the Nigerian economy is more resilient to the falling oil prices and is better than the image that is being projected.

Elumelu who spoke on Quest Means Business on CNN, expressed optimism on the economic situation in Nigeria. When asked how worried he is about economic situation in Nigeria, amid dwindling oil prices, Elumelu said that the economic situation in Nigeria is far better than the impression being created.

According to him, the “present administration and the one before it, has significantly and structurally altered the economic landscape of the country,” making the economy more resilient to the vagaries of fallen oil prices as being experienced currently.


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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nigerias-economy-resilient-oil-price-elumelu/

Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole has said that Nigerians must reject the PDP at all levels in next year’s general elections, saying for as long as the PDP remains in power, Nigerians will remain in darkness.

Speaking yesterday when he received about 2,000 PDP defectors from Oredo and Egor local government areas of the state led by Mr. Festus Osaretin Oviawe and Igbe Kingsley respectively, Oshiomhole said the choice before the people in next election is very clear, a choice between darkness and change.

According to him, “In 16 years, Edo has gained nothing from the PDP besides the resurfacing of the Ofosu-Benin road and the attempt at the dualisation of the Okene-Benin road, with all its imperfections, which they were forced to embark on after we cried out that, how could they dualise the road from Abuja and stop abruptly in Okene without extending it to Edo.


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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/oshiomhole-pdp-must-go-2015/

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will no longer mobilise graduates of medicine, who have not completed their housemanship and registered with appropriate authorities.

The NYSC Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, made the announcement in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Aderibigbe said that the decision was taken at the end of the NYSC 2014 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, held in Abuja.

“Graduates of medicine who are yet to complete their housemanship and have not fully registered with the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will not be mobilised for service any more.

“Receipt of payment for registration would no longer be accepted in lieu of certificate of registration.’’

She advised parent institutions to carry along affiliated institutions and ensure that names of graduates were not expunged from Senate/Academic Board Approved result lists submitted to the NYSC.

The director said decision was taken to ease the problem associated with exclusion of graduates of affiliated institutions from mobilisation for service.

“Relatedly, all matriculation numbers that were assigned to graduates, but found to be invalid should be brought to the attention of the registrar, JAMB for verification.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nysc-will-no-longer-mobilise-graduates-medicine-not-meet-certain-criteria/

The chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki has advised the federal government to stop tax rebate being enjoyed by oil multinationals.

He also asked the government to review waivers earlier granted some individuals and firms operating in the country.

These measures, he said, are necessary to boost the nation’s economy, given the drop in oil revenue and what he described as poor budget performance for 2014.

Saraki, who was asked to review the 2014 budget ahead of considerations of the 2015 appropriation bill submitted to the Senate last week, also recommended the immediate stoppage of the swop system whereby Nigeria pays foreign oil refiners with crude oil, saying the country should go for direct importation instead.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/dr-bukola-saraki-advises-fg-stop-tax-rebate-oil-companies/

Former captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, on Friday led a group known as PDP Ward 2 Ward Initiative to the Presidential Villa Abuja to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.

Addressing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the president, Yobo said Jonathan deserved a second term to continue the “good work” he had started.

The ex-international, who is the group’s brand ambassador, said the president had done so well for the youth and called on them to re-elect him in 2015.

He stated that his organisation had a short, medium and long-term plan to partner the president on his transformation agenda.

“I’m here to endorse His Excellency, the president of our great nation, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for his re-election. He has done so well.

“I stand here as a youth to say that he deserves a second term to push forward the good work he has started.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/2015-election-yobo-endorses-jonathan-second-term/