Petition To Designate Boko Haram As Foreign Terrorist Organization

As the U.S. State Department has refused to designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, Clarion Project asks those who disagree with the U.S. State Department's decision to sign the petition.
It will be send to the White House to call on the Obama administration to designate this brutal group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
At its site, clarionproject.org wrote:
Last week, Boko Haram, an Islamist terror group in Nigeria, slaughtered at least 30 school children for the crime of participating in Western, secular education.
To date, Boko Haram has been linked to the deaths of 3,600 Nigerians, with almost weekly attacks on Christian churches.
Please sign the Clarion Project’s Petition.

PETITION:

"We, the undersigned, ask that the U.S. officially designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization."

Help Stop Boko Haram
The Islamic extremist group Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, has killed over a thousand Nigerians in the last three years.
They are responsible for attacks on churches, schools, media houses and government buildings including the August 2011 bombing of the UN building in Nigeria's capitol city of Abuja. In the beginning of 2012 Boko Haram called for the genocide of all Christians who did not leave the north.
Since then their indiscriminate bombings have killed men, women and children, soldiers, police and civilians, Christians, Muslim and the followers of traditional African folk beliefs.
They have directly targeted Christians, ethnic minorities and any Muslims who dare to disagree with their genocidal ambitions. Unfortunately, despite all this uncontested evidence, the US government has refused to designate Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Join us in calling for the United States Government to do the right thing and acknowledge the terrorist status of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
At a Recent Congressional Hearing The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said: "Since its creation, the Boko Haram network has never hidden its agenda or intentions.
Boko Haram has openly stated that they reject the Nigerian State and its Constitution and seek to impose Shariah Law.
To this end, Boko Haram has waged a systematic campaign of terror and violence. They seek an end to western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria. This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances.
By refusing to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, the United States is sending a very clear message, not just to the Federal Government of Nigeria, but to the world that the murder of innocent Christians, and Muslims who reject Islamism are acceptable losses.
It is hypocritical for the United States and the international community to say that they believe in freedom and equality, when their actions do not support those who are being persecuted.
A non-designation for the group only serves to hamper the cause of justice, and has emboldened Boko Haram to continue to strike out at those who are denied equal protection under the law."
Tell our US Government that Boko Haram that has killed hundreds of innocent Nigerian civilians and other nationals serving under United Nations is using terrorist tactics and should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Sign in the petition at clarionproject.org!
Ya gazie
Maazi Kanayo Odeluga

FG Targets 18 Hours Uninterrupted Power Supply In 2014

The Federal Government on Wednesday said Nigerians will enjoy 18 hours uninterrupted power supply from 2014 when most of the current investments in the sector would have been completed.
Yerima Ngama, minister of state for finance, stated this while briefing State House correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Ngama, who spoke against the background of recent allegations from the House of Representatives that government was starving the power sector of fund, stressed that the “Ministry of Power has enjoyed tremendous release of funds” from the finance ministry and that Nigerians should be patient with government as it gradually rolls out the power projects that will guarantee up to 18 hours of electricity to consumers by 2014 as promised.
He declared also that the power sector had enjoyed the best of attention from the current administration, adding that the Ministry of Power actualises its mandate of providing adequate electricity supply for Nigerians.
He also cited the oversubscribed $1 billion bond floated by the Federal Government to fund electricity infrastructure in the country, as well as release of appropriate funds for power sector reforms.

RIVERS CRISIS: FG Plans Emergency Rule In Rivers

Eleven governors in opposition political parties, have condemned the crisis in Rivers State, describing it as a ploy by the Federal Government to declare emergency rule in the oil-rich state.

They made the claim just as the  embattled Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi, told visiting members of the  Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration, that the  state(Rivers) was under siege.
Amaechi’s  allegation is  almost in tandem with the Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu’s belief that the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command,  Joseph Mbu,  had become the governor of the crisis-ridden state.
The 11 opposition  governors, who are members of the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, Congress for Progressive Change and All Progressives Grand Alliance , said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, that what was happening in Rivers State,  was  an assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
Their statement, which was made available to journalists, reads in part, “Events in Rivers State resulting in the shameful occupation of the State Government House by members of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 are a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
“These developments are not only worrisome but outright condemnable as an affront to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Progressive Governors’ Forum unequivocally condemns the ill-disguised attempt to create a state of emergency in Rivers State by plunging the state into a needless and avoidable crisis.
“All available evidences surrounding the events of Tuesday and Wednesday  indicated that the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr.  Mbu, and his men did not act in a professional manner.
“Before now, the   Police Commissioner had exhibited very clear bias against the Governor (Amaechi) and other state officials. This is a dangerous development that would only produce anarchy with unpredictable consequences.”
They added that events  of July 9 and 10 in the state represented  “acts sponsored by anarchists,” whose interest   included subverting democracy and exposing the lives of democratically elected representatives to great danger.
According to them, “The constitutional responsibility of the State House of Assembly is being impeded and in the circumstance the House of Representatives has voted to take over the functions of the state   Assembly as provided under Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
“It is very clear to all discerning Nigerians that the crisis in Rivers State is a product of intolerance and highhanded attempts to undermine our rights  as  governors acting under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to freely choose our leaders.”

Suspected Terrorist Killed In Joint Army, SSS Operation In Sokoto

A suspected terrorist has been killed in Sokoto after a shoot out with soldiers and operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) on Thursday, the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports.
Brig.-Gen. Tasi'u Ibrahim, the Commander, 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, said the suspect was killed in the operation which lasted for about six hours at Gidan-Dare, near Kalambaina area of the city.
He also said one suspect was captured alive, while 11 members of the suspects' family, ``were rescued and secured''.
Ibrahim told a press conference in Sokoto after the operation that, six of those rescued were children while five were women, adding also that two of the women were pregnant.
The pregnant women are now receiving ante-natal care at the Brigade’s clinic," he said.
The commander disclosed that the joint operation was carried out following a tip-off, adding, ``the house was being used as a terrorist hide-out''.
The operation was clinically and carefully carried out in line with the existing global rules of engagement,’’ he assured.
Ibrahim listed some of the weapons recovered from the house to include: Six AK 47 and one pump action rifles, 13 IED Prima clocks and an Abuja vehicle plate number, EL 295 ABJ .
Other items were : 13 ammunition magazines, 7 Improvised Explosive Devices making materials, 32 (9 volts) batteries, one axe, four handsets, 56 SIM cards, three memory cards, 10 cartons of milk and N76, 685 cash, among others.
This group of people do not wish Nigeria and the state well. In this Holy month of Ramadan one may wonder how these people are bent on breaching the peace.
All well meaning and law abiding Nigerians will continue to be protected and secured. The Army will make every effort to ensure that the innocent do not suffer,'' he said.
Ibrahim commended the people of the state for their sustained cooperation to the security agencies, but cautioned them against renting their houses to unknown persons,
NAN reports that the house was immediately demolished and set ablaze after the operation.
The press conference was attended by the Commander, 55 Forward Operation Base, Nigeria Air Force, Sokoto, Air Commodore Hanbali Tukur, Commissioner of Police Shu’aibu Gambo and Director SSS Jubril Danmalam.

RIVERS CRISIS: How I Was Attacked – Hon. Chinda

Hon Michael Chinda, one of the five legislators opposed to Governor Amaechi who suffered several bruises during the fracas has spoken of his experience.

He said:
”Rivers state House of Assembly elected a new Speaker Hon. Evans Bipi and the old Hon. Daniel Amachree was impeached and everything concerning the enthronement of the new speaker was concluded. As we were  about to leave the  place, the governor broke into our chambers.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi led the group. They came into the chambers and started beating everybody.
“For my case, I have to be very specific. I was about leaving; I know Chidi Lloyd, very close to me in the House. I was misled by my closeness with him. I never had any idea that he could be so brutal to use such a weapon on me.
“My colleagues rushed me to this Saint Patrick Hospital in the pool of blood and I have been here since yesterday.
“If you look at my records from the very day we were inaugurated by the governor of Rivers State, I have never insulted the governor. I hold the office of the Governor of Rivers State in very high esteem, I didn’t even go close to the governor because we respect the governor until Chidi Lloyd and the policemen came and did what they did. Only God will judge. Why will I do that? Why will I insult the governor? I can never do that. If anybody said I did such a thing the person is not being fair to me. We formed a quorum, the normal number required to impeach a Speaker.”

41 Percent Of Nigerian Children Stunted On Account Of Malnutrition

At least 41 percent of Nigerian children under age five suffer stunted growth as a result of malnutrition, according to the Federal Ministry of Health.
The ministry said that from surveys conducted in all 36 states of the federation, children below the age of five in northern Nigeria and the sourthern states of Ebonyi, Delta, Benue and Bayelsa, are at risk of acute malnutrition, a condition that has led to stunted growth among Nigerian children under that age category.
Making this known in an interview with BusinessDay, Osa Isokpunwu, Deputy Director/Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, said malnutrition, which is the insufficient, excessive/ imbalanced consumption of nutrients, is the leading cause of death among children under five years of age in the country.
Isokpunwu said cases of malnutrition are severe among children with low milk consumption and whose mothers have limited knowledge of its impact. He added that malnourished babies have a higher risk of dying in infancy and are likely to face lifelong cognitive challenges, leading to poor school performance and chronic irreversible health problems.
He explained that people suffer from under-nutrition which manifests in the form of wasting (low weight for height), stunting, (low height for age), underweight (low weight for age) or micronutrient deficiencies.
Making reference to the result of surveys from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Deputy Director  said 41 percent of Nigerians are stunted, 14 percent suffer wasting, while another 23 percent are underweight, as a result of malnutrition.
“The North-West has the highest incidence of stunting with over 53 percent cases and 20 percent incidence of wasting. This is followed by the North-East, with 49 percent stunting and 22 percent wasting. The North- Central has 44 percent stunting and 9 percent wasting among the entire population. The South-East region has the lowest incidence of stunting with 22 percent, while the South-South has the lowest cases of wasting, with 7.5 percent of the population.
“Stunting is high in the North-West, North-East and North-Central, while wasting is high in the North-Central. Apart from Kwara and Kogi states, all designated northern states, including Benue, are on red alert with regard to malnutrition. States like Ebonyi, Delta and Bayelsa have high incidence of malnutrition. So it is not only the North that has the highest burden of malnutrition. The problem may lie in low level of knowledge on how to properly arrange a meal that satisfies all dietary needs of the body,” Isokpunwu added.
With adequate nutrition seen as the remedy to acute malnutrition,  experts recommend regular consumption of milk. Low milk consumption is one of the factors contributing to malnutrition among children across the globe.

BILL CLINTON RECIEVES 100MILLION....

Just to speak at an event in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, a Nigerian company paid the former American President, Bill Clinton, $700,000 (over N100 million), the New York Times disclosed on Thursday.
The New York Times did not disclose the name of the company which handed Clinton the huge sum of money.
Clinton, since he left office, has visited Nigeria many times, the last two being a guest speaker at the launch of Eko Atlantic City and Thisday Awards.
America’s influential newspaper did not also disclose when the money was paid but said Bill Clinton made $17 million (N2.5 billion) from speeches last year alone.
The disclosure was made as the newspaper revealed also that Hillary Clinton will be paid $200,000 to offer pithy reflections and Mitch Albom-style lessons from her time as the nation’s top diplomat.
“The $200,000 she commands appears to be comparable to what Bill Clinton receives for speeches delivered in this country, though Mr. Clinton — who earned $17 million from speeches last year — has collected much more outside the United States, including the $700,000 he was paid when he spoke to a company in Lagos, Nigeria,” The New York Times said.
Some of the businessmen who had invited Bill Clinton to Nigeria include Nduka Obaigbena, publisher of ThisDay newspaper whose workers protested in May 2013 for being owed months of unpaid salaries.

3 Okada Robbers Burnt To Death

It was a sad end for three suspected okada robbers who was alleged to been terrorising the residents of Ikotun area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria; they were caught and set ablaze by an angry mob.  The suspected robbers were killed after their robbery operation was foiled by a member of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, vigilante group in the area.
The robbers, who allegedly operated with the aid of motorcycle, met their waterloo when they attempted to rob a woman, a wholesales recharge cards seller, at Governor’s Road, Ikotun at about 7 p. m. on Wednesday.
According to an eye witness account, on the fateful day, the suspected robbers parked their okada in front of the woman’s shop. While one waited outside, the other two suspected robbers went inside the shop to rob the trader.
It was alleged that one of the robbers pointed a gun at the woman and demanded for her bag containing recharge cards and sales proceeds for the day.
The woman refused and insisted that she will not hand over the bag to them. The argument between the woman and the suspected robbers alerted some of the residents of the area who fled when they  saw the gun pointed at the woman.
This caused commotion in the area and drew the attention of the  OPC member.
An eyewitness said, “When the OPC member confronted the robbers, one of them shot at him but the bullet did enter his body. The robbers were afraid and attempted to escape with their motorcycle. But as they attempted to zoom off, a motorist hit their motorcycle. They fell down and were rounded up by the residents”
According to the eyewitness, before the police could intervene the mob had gathered the suspects together and burnt them beyond recognition along with their motorcycle.
“The mob set them ablaze with the petrol they got from their motorcycle. Though the police were informed about the robbery,  before they got to the area, the suspects had been burnt by the angry mob,”  the eyewitness said.

Why I Changed My Name From ‘Nigga Raw’ To ‘Mr Raw’ – Ukeje Edward

The song “Obodo” is still as evergreen as ever but the singer of the song, Ukeje Okechukwu Edward, a.k.a Mr Raw, formerly known as ‘Nigga Raw’ , disappeared from the music scene and only recently reappeared with a new album featuring 2Face Idibia.
In this chat, role model of upcoming Hip Hop acts in Eastern Nigeria speaks on his absence, his music and why he changed his name from ‘Nigga Raw’ to ‘Mr. Raw’.
So what’s new about Mr Raw?
A lot of things are new about me because presently I am still recording songs and doing other businesses. And there are a lot of artistes I am actually trying to help push their songs under my label ‘Raw Deal Entertainment’. Presently, I have a new fifteen-track album titled ‘’ The Greatest “ featuring 2Face Idibia and some other acts.
And I can say the album is doing credibly well and two videos from the album titled ‘’Asanwa” and ‘’Forget Swagga ‘’ are already on air. Tell us about your Record label? My Record Label is called Raw Deal Entertainment. I started the Label in 2005 and presently I have three artistes who are signed onto the outfit. There’s nothing much about it.
Why did you decide to own a Record Label ?
It all started when I first released my first album” Right and Wrong” that was the album that contains ‘’Obodo’’, it made a big hit. After that album I decided to own my own Record Label since everything put into the production of the album was done solely by me.
Should we say the Record Label is actually taking your time enough to make you go off the scene for a while?
The Record Label has nothing to do with that, the thing is that I actually got myself involved in many other businesses within and outside the country. I am still very much around, doing my thing but the only difference now is that I don’t do just music alone anymore. I have other interests

Awaiting Trial: 292 Inmates Languish In Kirikiri

At least 292 inmates are currently languishing in Kirikiri Prison while awaiting trial in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye disclosed this on Thursday at the monthly briefing of the Ministry of Justice at the Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
According to Ipaye, the Office of Public Defender, OPD, visited the Kirikiri Prison last month and discovered that lots of inmates were still awaiting trial and that many of them had no case file.
The Attorney General disclosed that at the Medium Kirikiri Prison for female, 171 of the 226 female inmates in the prison were still awaiting trial, with only 54 inmates already convicted.
“At the Maximum Prison, we discovered that 121 inmates are still awaiting trial for various offences. It is important to note that the great majority of these inmates have no file or report awaiting legal advice in the Ministry of Justice.
“In those cases, our OPD and Directorate of Citizens Right, DCR, have started filing necessary applications before the courts to ensure that the deserving ones are released or prosecuted without further delay,” he stated.
The commissioner also disclosed that 1,764 minor convicts had been made to undergo community service such as sweeping the street, clearing drainages, among others, saying that these people could have been sent to jail under the old system.
“Our aim with the community service is restorative justice through rehabilitation and restoration of offenders. In the month of May, 2013, we had 230 completed cases and in June, we had182 completed cases,” he said.
Ipaye added that between January and June 2013, the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, received 657 case files from the police, saying that in the same period the directorate issued legal advice in respect of 757 case files.
“The difference in the number is a pointer to the fact that we have succeeded in clearing the backlog of legal advice that was usually the norm in the directorate,” he explained.

APC Is A Political Fraud – Gov Lamido

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido in a recent interview talks about politics in Nigeria, the on-going crisis in the Nigeria's Governor Forum and the new APC party.

Excerpts:
Would you consider volunteering yourself to fill the perceived leadership vacuum in the country?
This country is applying democracy with idiosyncrasies and our own peculiarities. That it is not the turn of the person yet. It is the Nigerian chemistry you have to look into, which has been hijacked by people who manipulate it.
Today, if you go to somebody in the South-South he would say ‘my son is there, he must be!’ It would not matter whether that man is killing him. So, first and foremost, the Nigerian chemistry, is it thoroughly healed? The elites are they honest enough? The people, are they courageous enough to do the right thing.”

If you fall into our own compartment like South-South, South-East, Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, you cannot win any national election. You must campaign as a Nigerian leader, but after winning election somebody will come and start saying “he is our son, he must serve a second term”.
After winning a national election some people will claim him as an ethnic or regional property. It is when you win election then, Chief Edwin Clark would say “our son must have a second term.” If he said he must get the PDP ticket, you can say so because ticket is a party affair, but even that is to be decided by party delegates.

Katsina State's "No Future" Budget, By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
In the days and weeks leading up to the faux pax that became the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) election, the Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema was mentioned several times as a possible compromise candidate, largely on account of what some perceive as his ‘performance’ as governor. The same was said of late Umaru Yar’Adua even though most residents of the state vehemently disagreed then, and now. Shema is being touted as the likely running mate of President Jonathan if he is able to secure the nomination of his party to run for another term as president.
What is it about this man – Ibrahim Shema – that elicits such strongly ambivalent reactions? What is his style of governance and financial prudence, and why is it that so many think there is more to him that meets the eye in the way he runs Katsina state? How are the state’s finances and budget managed? If Shema is doing well in this area, why did the state house of assembly suspend the minority leader because he criticized the government’s poor budget implementation? We will analyze the 2013 budget of the state today to assist our readers answer some of these questions.
Barrister Ibrahim Shema claims to focus his administration’s six development priorities; Education, Agriculture, Human Development, Infrastructure, Health and Crafts. It appears that in Katsina lingo, human development does not equal investments in education and healthcare, as the three are treated separately. Beyond this definitional incompetence however, a look at Katsina’s 2013 budget reveals a level of policy misdirection, indeterminate political will to address the priorities of the state, allocation of funds to areas where monitoring is difficult, and level of non-implementation of past budgets that amounts to impunity.

Katsina State's "No Future" Budget, By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
In the days and weeks leading up to the faux pax that became the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) election, the Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema was mentioned several times as a possible compromise candidate, largely on account of what some perceive as his ‘performance’ as governor. The same was said of late Umaru Yar’Adua even though most residents of the state vehemently disagreed then, and now. Shema is being touted as the likely running mate of President Jonathan if he is able to secure the nomination of his party to run for another term as president.
What is it about this man – Ibrahim Shema – that elicits such strongly ambivalent reactions? What is his style of governance and financial prudence, and why is it that so many think there is more to him that meets the eye in the way he runs Katsina state? How are the state’s finances and budget managed? If Shema is doing well in this area, why did the state house of assembly suspend the minority leader because he criticized the government’s poor budget implementation? We will analyze the 2013 budget of the state today to assist our readers answer some of these questions.
Barrister Ibrahim Shema claims to focus his administration’s six development priorities; Education, Agriculture, Human Development, Infrastructure, Health and Crafts. It appears that in Katsina lingo, human development does not equal investments in education and healthcare, as the three are treated separately. Beyond this definitional incompetence however, a look at Katsina’s 2013 budget reveals a level of policy misdirection, indeterminate political will to address the priorities of the state, allocation of funds to areas where monitoring is difficult, and level of non-implementation of past budgets that amounts to impunity.

Katsina State's "No Future" Budget, By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
In the days and weeks leading up to the faux pax that became the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) election, the Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema was mentioned several times as a possible compromise candidate, largely on account of what some perceive as his ‘performance’ as governor. The same was said of late Umaru Yar’Adua even though most residents of the state vehemently disagreed then, and now. Shema is being touted as the likely running mate of President Jonathan if he is able to secure the nomination of his party to run for another term as president.
What is it about this man – Ibrahim Shema – that elicits such strongly ambivalent reactions? What is his style of governance and financial prudence, and why is it that so many think there is more to him that meets the eye in the way he runs Katsina state? How are the state’s finances and budget managed? If Shema is doing well in this area, why did the state house of assembly suspend the minority leader because he criticized the government’s poor budget implementation? We will analyze the 2013 budget of the state today to assist our readers answer some of these questions.
Barrister Ibrahim Shema claims to focus his administration’s six development priorities; Education, Agriculture, Human Development, Infrastructure, Health and Crafts. It appears that in Katsina lingo, human development does not equal investments in education and healthcare, as the three are treated separately. Beyond this definitional incompetence however, a look at Katsina’s 2013 budget reveals a level of policy misdirection, indeterminate political will to address the priorities of the state, allocation of funds to areas where monitoring is difficult, and level of non-implementation of past budgets that amounts to impunity.

My Africanness Stands Me Out – Anu

Although Anuoluwapo Ozigbu started displaying her talent at musical and dramatic performances right from when she was in  primary school, she ended up studying Economics at the University of Lagos. The fast-rising R&B singer has, however, found her way back to the stage.
The Atunda Entertainment artiste, who has shared the stage with stars such as American R&B singer,  Jay, King, Iyanya – this happened during Easter&More Easter Concert at Motherland Beckons at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort – first had a taste of limelight when she won the Sisi Oge beauty pageant in Lagos. She has also found a voice that makes her music appealing to many who have listened to her. Now, she says there is no looking back until she gets to the top as an artiste..
Born in Florence, Italy to a mixed parentage (her father is from Imo State while the mother is from Lagos State), the singer who had  her foundation education at Saint Saviours Primary School Ikoyi and Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, says her experience in the industry so far has confirmed that it is not as rough as she used to think it was. According to her, the mentorship she had at Atunda reinforced this.
‘‘I was intrigued by the ways things were done at Atunda Entertainment, which were quite different from others. Because of this I decided to apply and be part of the group,’’ she says.
 Anu, as she is simply called, is also a beautiful dancer. She dances  with energy and bliss, traits that combine with her vocal power to win the audience to her side.
She enthuses, “I believe that one of my strongest points is my ability to perform different roles on the stage. I can sing to touch your emotions and I can also do dance hall music. Well,  I also cherish the way I take advantage of my Africanness.
''But I am still taking my time, honing my talent to be the best. I don’t want to appeal to the African market alone. I want to produce works that will be both entertaining to Nigerians and the world at large.''

Gulak Names Namadi Sambo "Most Loyal Vice President"

Kaduna -- Adviser to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak characterized Vice President Namadi Sambo as "the most loyal vice president in the history of Nigeria".
Making this statement in Kaduna at a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, Gulak added: "We are in a zone of the Vice president. The most loyal Vice president in the history of this country.
"God has brought them together to develop Nigeria. Jonathan is in China, he is happy and is watching us.
"Goodluck and Namadi Sambo's administration has resuscitated the railway, the lines are now working, electricity has improved, the roads are being improved. It's the only administration that wants to improve the Almajiri system," the Presidential adviser said.
Gulak futher maintained that the President Jonathan-led administration has fulfilled its promises to Nigerians with the disbursement of the SURE-P cash to thousands of youths.
He admitted the fact that there are and always will be people who don't want progress in Nigeria and will "work against what will benefit the common man," but confirmed that the Jonathan administration is committed to peace-building, as peace is "paramount to the development of every country". He therefore urged the people to support Jonathan in peace-building.

1 in 10 Americans Use Smartphones During Sex

There's a time to be connected and a time to unplug, but those lines are blurring for many Americans addicted to their smartphones. In fact, according to a new study, about 9% of people have used their mobile device during sex.
The 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits study reveals some fascinating habits of smartphone users, including that three in four Americans (72%) are within five feet of their device most of the time.
Although similar studies crop up about once a year, and in many cases, reveal people are engaging with mobile devices during sex — such as checking text messages or fielding phone calls — and at other times typically reserved for your full attention, the latest results indicate many are not curbing their habits.
"It's no wonder people in relationships feel like their phones are cramping their love life — 12% of respondents in a relationship said they believe their smart phone gets in the way of that relationship," the study noted.
Other surprising places people are using smartphones include at church or a place of worship (19%), on a dinner date (33%) and in the shower (12%). About 55% of survey participants admitted to texting while driving.
For a full look at inopportune times smartphone users are staying connected, check out the graphic below (click on the pic to enlarge it!)

And what about you, our fellow Nigerians? Are you as addicted to your phones as the Americans? How do you feel when you can't find your device -- stressed, panicked? Would you be able to 'survive' without your phone for a period of time? Leave your response in the comment section below!

How 27-Yr-Old Man Met His Death On A Peace Mission (Photo)

An attempt by a 27 years old apprentice, Elijah Chiama to make peace, in a case involving two of his relations ended in tragedy when he met his untimely death in the hands of a killer gang.

The incident occurred in Ukpata community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, on May 15 when Chiama accompanied his cousin Ebuka Eze to a neigbouring village, Umunakwe Village  in the same community to resolve a misunderstanding which was already taking a violent dimension.
According to a source which spoke with LEADERSHIP, trouble started when his cousin, Ebuka, had a little misunderstanding with one Miss Chinasa Okeke, also one of his extended family members.
The source disclosed that another man, one Okeke Okoro  who was contacted by Chinasa’s cousin, Ndidiamaka Iheatisi, to deal with Ebuka, said to be having love affairs with Chinasa, went to Ebuka and ordered him to go and apologise to Chinasa, failing which, he should be ready for any trouble.
Ebuka was said to have declined insisting that the right thing would be for Okoro to invite both of   them and resolve the problem instead of ordering him to apologise. According to him, he did not commit any offence and so would not apologise to anybody.
Irked by Ebuka’s response, Okoro and four other young men from Umunnakwe Village, were said to have laid an ambush for Ebuka when he went to recharge his mobile phone and gave him the beating of his life.
His assailants were said to have made away with his face-cap and sandals after the assault.
It was further learnt that the following day Elijah accompanied Ebuka to the home of his attackers to strike a peace deal and also recovers Ebuka’s items that were seized from him during the attack. It was learnt that they were still halfway on the journey when Okoro, accompanied by others, including Chikwado Okoro, Amaechi Okoro, Udoka Ugwu and Emeka Ogbonna confronted them armed to the teeth.
The eye-witness told LEADERSHIP that the attackers who came with knifes, axe, sticks and a pump action gun allegedly given them by the father of two of the suspected killers, Chikwado and Amaechi Okoro, beat the duo so much that Elijah was killed on the spot while Ebuka managed to escape with a deep gash on the head from the axe. It was however not confirmed that there was any gunshot wound.
Speaking with one of the deceased’s family members, Mr Livinus Chiama who said that the police should ensure that no stone is left unturned to ensure that the killers of Elijah pay the price for their crime lamented that what made the case more painful is that Elijah actually went to make peace between his cousin and the attackers.

Three Fake NYSC Members Nabbed & Jailed

The Chief Magistrates' Court in Dutse has sentenced three University graduates to three months imprisonment for possessing fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letters.
The suspects, Ale Oluwaseun, 25; Owolabi Saheed and Makinde Lanre, both aged 23, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Kabir Lamido on one-count charge.
The prosecutor, Garba Abdul, told the court that the three men came to an NYSC Orientation Camp with the fake letters and pretended to be intending corps members, adding that an employee of the NYSC, Ejibunu Zachary, reported the case to the Kubwa police area command on June 26.

He said that the offence contravened Section 366 of the Penal Code.

The graduates pleaded guilty when the charge was read to them and begged for leniency, saying they were Nigerian graduates of the University of Cotonou, Benin Republic, desirous of serving their fatherland.
The suspects said a man who claimed to be an official of the NYSC, issued the letters to them when they were making enquiries about the scheme.
Lamido, however, gave each of them an option of N5,000 fine and warned them to desist from illegal acts.

UI Students’ Protest Paralyses Commercial Activities

Students of the University of Ibadan, yesterday, paralysed commercial activities in the ancient city when they moved out of campus to protest Federal Government’s alleged insensitivity to myriad of problems in education sector.
During the protest that lasted for hours, vehicular movements were paralysed as motorists going to places like Mokola, Dugbe, Ilorin and other northern parts of the country could not.
As a result, commuters, transporters and passengers groaned while trekking long distances. The students called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai.
The  protest was supervised by Divisional Police Officer of Sango, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, who ensured that hoodlums did not hijack it.
Led by SUG President UI, Babatunde Badmus, the students in a communiqué read during the protest, complained about unnecessary establishment of more tertiary institutions in Nigeria while the available ones suffer neglect.
They also  called for modernisation of decayed facilities and obsolete style of teaching in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the best interest of the future of the nation and Nigerians.
“While politicians like Chief Obafemi Awolowo spent so much on education our president today, is non-chalant to the extent that he takes pride in jetting out while pressing national issues that need his attention arise. Ruqayyatu Rufai should resign if she lacks the clue to the problem in the education sector.
“They take their children out of the country to private universities and cripple public universities in order to deprive the children of the masses right to education. We shall resist this attempt,” the student union leader said.

300 Illegal Immigrants Rounded Up In Edo

The Nigeria Immigration Services in Edo State in collaboration with the state government, has apprehended more than 300 illegal immigrants in the state during operation conducted in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Controller of Immigration, Edo Command, Mr David Akwo, said, yesterday, that 120 of those arrested would be deported, while the Malians among them would  be handed over to authorities of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, in line with UN resolution.

Parading the illegal immigrants at the command headquarters, Akwo cautioned citizens of West African countries not to misconstrue the ECOWAS Protocol on movement of citizens of member states across the region.

He said, “You are all aware that recently, foreigners have been arrested for crimes in the state. So with the assistance of the governor, we decided to raid and apprehend illegal immigrants.

“In the course of that, we arrested about 400 persons, but during our screening we found out that some of them are Nigerians, so we left those ones. And of course some of these immigrants who have legal documents that qualify them to stay, we had to release them too.

“That left us with 120 illegal immigrants who do not possess valid travelling documents, so they are liable to be sent back to their countries.''

On ECOWAS protocool of free movement, he said there was a proviso, that is to say for ECOWAS citizens to move freely and gain entry into ECOWAS member states, they have to possess valid travel documents.

“Secondly, they have to come in through authorized route, that is where you have immigration clearance, either through the airport or of course the sea port, where your passport will be stamped and may be given 90 days to stay.

Now, some of them present National ID cards but you and I know that these are not travelling documents, they are just to identify you as citizen of your country. So all these persons here majority are Nigerien, we have a few Ghananians, we have some from Guinea, we have Malians and or two Chadians.

Residing Abroad, What You Should Know

It is important to note that residing abroad comes with lots of uncertainties and as such, Nigerians who intend to migrate to choice countries for diverse purposes are promptly advised to plan well ahead of time, putting into consideration, some of the merits and demerits behind migration.

It has often been said that a large number Nigerians engage in demeaning jobs abroad, placed under stricter laws in countries they have migrated to, and also constitute the highest number of individuals found in foreign prisons. Nigerians should, however, welcome the fact that they are generally known to be hard working and efficient individuals who can surmount various forms of pressures to bring about a better and prosperous Nigeria.

Migrating to Canada: Herein, prior to their planned trip, intending Nigerian immigrants should endeavour to update themselves with a few primary knowledge concerning the people, culture, climate condition, rules and regulations in Canada, as to which the citizens and migrants must abide. It is important also to note that while usual courtesies are observed in Canada, the country is known to be conservative, good, and uptight in nature.

Applicants must, however, familiarize themselves with these facts for a better cordial relationship with the Canadians. Generally Canadians condemn presentation of gifts, mostly, in business settings, as such act(s) are unusual, considered unethical and in real sense, treated suspiciously.

Unlike the culture of attaching bourgeois titles to peoples names, both at formal or informal situations here in Nigeria, it is common to address superiors, co-workers, friends, and so on, by their first names in Canada, as they often appreciate getting right to the point. Canada has immense natural resources with a high standard of living, although, the country unfortunately, is now suffering housing ripples, as prices of houses have rocketed.

Keeping in touch: Communication is one of the vital aspects of life and in view of this, Nigeria immigrants are promptly advised to ensure that they keep in touch back home, as well as with the Nigeria embassy in the country where they have migrated to. Although, it may appear difficult when trying to penetrate through certain situation(s), the point remains that it will be to the advantage of the immigrant when he or she, at point of entry, immediately register his/her presence and itineraries with the Nigerian embassy in the country of resident.

In these days and time where public telephones are becoming harder to find, due to the growing popularity of mobile phones, migrants are better off subscribed to telephone companies that offer reduced long-distance call rates, and or make use of telephone cards that are readily made available at reduced cost. It definitely would be pretty expensive for a migrant to subscribe to any form of mobile phone roaming agreements with any international mobile phone companies, because of its high rate. The coverage may be near perfect in major urban areas, but it is good you understand that it is almost always spotty in remote locations, and very high to maintain, in terms of agreement rate(s). Subsequently, internet services are also made available throughout Canada, as are internet cafes.

You can often find pay-per-use Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, fast-food outlets and airports, and in some cases it is rendered free, as long as you buy food or a drink. Although, you can also find free public Wi-Fi in public libraries and in some hotels, some others continue to charge exorbitant daily fees on users.

Best time to visit: As you are considering migrating to Canada, it is important to note, if you are under the category of individuals who enjoy winter sports that the best time to travel would be between the month of December and April. And if you love the great outdoors without the snow, then you have to consider travelling between the month of May and September.

Ask Naij: "I Like Much Older Guys, Am I Crazy?"

I am 26 and since I can remember I've always had a thing for older guys. 
I have dated guys that are my age and I have enjoyed their personalities and had (somewhat) successful relationships and although I was attracted to them, I never felt like I was in love.
I just find older guys physically appealing. I get really turned on by grey hair and male pattern baldness. And dare I even say the slight paunch that men get when they are older.
I have not found a man in his 20s or 30s attractive in a few years now. This is pretty weird, because I am definitely a young-looking 26 year old, and I am quite fit, dress for my age, often get approached by guys my age etc.
I would not say I am craving the security and stability that comes with being older or dating someone who is older, although those are things most people who would like a relationship would logically desire... including me.
By the way, this is definitely not "Daddy Issues." My parents have a long, healthy, happy marriage and I come from a very close-knit loving family.
It's also definitely not financial. I am pretty successful and independent (have lived by myself and paid my own way since 18), and do not want someone to take care of me or buy me things in order to feel appreciated. Nor do I feel at this stage that I want to be nurtured and treated in a juvenile manner.
I am currently dating a man who is 41. We started dating about 3 years ago and I originally lied to him and said I was a young-looking 30 year old for our first three dates so he would take me seriously — we met through online dating. Although I love him dearly and think he is very attractive, I still find men that are much older than him more appealing. Like around 60 would be ideal for me.
I've tried talking to my best and closest girl friends about this, and they usually just laugh it off as a joke. But I'm being serious. I am considering leaving my current relationship because these feelings are causing me to feel a bit distracted. I think I should try pursue this. I am worried about what my family and friends will think.
Everyone knows I have always liked older men, but I'm afraid that dating anyone older might cause my parents to have... um... heart attacks.
Do I need help? AM I CRAZY?!

Nollywood Actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus Rocking Her Blonde Hair

Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus Idahosa is definitely rocking her blonde hair.
Hot or not?

RIVERS CRISIS: PENGASSAN Threatens To Withdraw Members

Following the violent actions of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly this week and the counter-reaction of others, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to withdraw its members from Rivers State if the politicians cannot conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status.
Speaking on behalf of the union, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun said it shows that political leaders in the country lack respect for the constitution and lack elementary democratic decorum.
Besides, he said, the state of fear that now prevails in Rivers is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry
Condemning the violence, the union pointed out that it could lead to the breakdown of law and order that will affect not only the state but spread to other parts of the country.
“The events in recent times are strong indications that the government may not be able to guarantee the security and protection of lives and properties of our people. In that wise, we cannot continue to risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until when the situation is under control,” it threatened.
Comrade Ogun stated that the actions of the parties in the crisis have shown that political leaders only seek office in their personal interest, stressing that the public interest supersedes and is superior to individual interests.
He expressed the view that those trying to subvert Nigeria’s nascent democracy are some of those who never fought for it, saying, “Many people, especially labour leaders laid down their lives for this democracy to be in place. Many of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The union president urged all parties and individuals involved in the fracas to pursue the path of peace and reconcile their differences, adding that they should take cognizance of the root causes of the North Africa and Middle East crises.
“If we dismiss the events in Rivers State, then we should know that what happened in North Africa, especially Egypt and Libya can equally come to play in Rivers and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

Relationship TIPS: So You Cheated, Now What?

Few people would argue with the idea that honesty is the best policy. Policies however are not always adhered to, even those that we believe in and support. Regardless of how much we may desire to live a life of integrity in which we “walk the talk” and live in accordance with our inner principles, it’s likely that there will be times that we miss the mark. Nobody’s perfect. Every relationship is going to have occasional slippage.
Great relationships however, require a high level of integrity in order to thrive. When a violation of trust, large or small, occurs, it’s important to examine the conditions that contributed to the situation and to engage in a healing process that will restore trust and goodwill to the relationship.
A betrayal is a broken agreement, implicit or explicit, that is considered vital to the integrity of a relationship. The capacity of a relationship to recover from a betrayal has a lot to do with the responses, particularly on the part of the betrayer to the situation. The more open and non-defensive they are, the more likely it is that there will be resolution. When both partners are committed to this as an outcome, the likelihood increases exponentially.
When there has been a cover-up to a transgression, the lies and denials can do much more damage to the integrity of the relationship than the violation itself. Even if the offense is never revealed, there can still be great harm done to the foundation of the relationship. Trust is inevitably sacrificed even when secrets go undetected. Most, but not all betrayals and acts of deceit can be healed. While there is no generic template to apply to these situations, there are some guidelines that can facilitate the recovery process.

Relationship TIPS: So You Cheated, Now What?

Few people would argue with the idea that honesty is the best policy. Policies however are not always adhered to, even those that we believe in and support. Regardless of how much we may desire to live a life of integrity in which we “walk the talk” and live in accordance with our inner principles, it’s likely that there will be times that we miss the mark. Nobody’s perfect. Every relationship is going to have occasional slippage.
Great relationships however, require a high level of integrity in order to thrive. When a violation of trust, large or small, occurs, it’s important to examine the conditions that contributed to the situation and to engage in a healing process that will restore trust and goodwill to the relationship.
A betrayal is a broken agreement, implicit or explicit, that is considered vital to the integrity of a relationship. The capacity of a relationship to recover from a betrayal has a lot to do with the responses, particularly on the part of the betrayer to the situation. The more open and non-defensive they are, the more likely it is that there will be resolution. When both partners are committed to this as an outcome, the likelihood increases exponentially.
When there has been a cover-up to a transgression, the lies and denials can do much more damage to the integrity of the relationship than the violation itself. Even if the offense is never revealed, there can still be great harm done to the foundation of the relationship. Trust is inevitably sacrificed even when secrets go undetected. Most, but not all betrayals and acts of deceit can be healed. While there is no generic template to apply to these situations, there are some guidelines that can facilitate the recovery process.

SHOCKING: Women Charged Every Scream During Childbirth in Hospital

A hospital charges mothers-to-be $5 every time they scream while giving birth, according to an extensivenew report from Transparency International on corruption around the world.
It is not a joke, a local hospital in Zimbabwe has '$5 hospital screaming fee', purportedly a charge for “raising false alarm” but clearly aimed at separating mothers from their money.
Zimbabwe, one of Africa’s poorest countries, has only $500 of gross domestic product per capita, average annual income per person is about $150.
Zimbabwean hospitals also charge a $50 delivery fee. This means that, in a country where underemployment is 95 percent and poverty is rife, a mother who screams a few times during delivery might owe half her annual income after giving birth.
According to a follow-up by Transparency International, women who can’t afford the high fees are sometimes detained at the hospital and charged interest until their family can pay up. As a result, many Zimbabwean mothers give birth at home because they can’t afford the charges. The United Nations reports that, on average, eight mothers die during childbirth every single day in Zimbabwe.
Transparency International says its Zimbabwe office contacted the national health ministry about the issue by sending, as such offices often require, a formal letter. The health ministry said it had received the letter, then apparently did nothing, and when the NGO followed up an official told the organization that they had lost the letter.
Finally, a member of Transparency International was able to meet with Zimbabwe’s deputy prime minister, who promised to look into. Since then, the NGO says, it’s heard no more complaints about screaming charges – although the $50 delivery charge, impossibly expensive for many in Zimbabwe, remains.

Middle East Carriers Look To Nigeria’s Bouyant Air Travel Market

The big boom in Nigeria’s air travel market in the last one year, is attracting major players from the Middle-East, now regarded as the emerging hub of international air travel.
Etihad Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, the national carriers of the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) and Jordan, launched daily and fortnightly flights into Lagos consecutively, within one year, and indications are that more big players in that region are gearing up to launch operations into Nigeria.
This is besides the 14 weekly flights already being done by Emirates, another 14 by Qatar Airways, and others still, by their counterpart border airlines, such as Afriquiyya Airways (Tripoli), Egypt Air (Cairo) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul).
At the launch of Royal Jordanian into Nigeria last week, a senior official of the airline said “a survey conducted showed that daily operations into Nigeria would be useful to our expansion strategy into other networks”.
“Feasibility studies show that running  regular flights to Nigeria will be useful to our expansion strategy that goes beyond flying to the traditional markets of Europe, United States and the Far East”, Bassel Kilani, the airline’s spokesman said, adding that “The importance of Africa, as well as the economic and industrial boom that the continent is witnessing, called for the decision by Jordan to operate direct flights to Lagos”.
Etihad Airways commenced flights between Lagos and Abu Dhabi in July last yaer, operating six flights per week, with the frequency quickly increasing in March 2013 to a daily service, as a result of its success on the route.
“There is a huge amount of international interest and investment focused towards Nigeria. Our fast growing global route network continues to prove popular for the large numbers of international traders and the business community flying between West Africa and the United Arab Emirates, and the major cities in North and Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent”, Maurice Phohleli, Etihad Airways’ general manager, Nigeria and West Africa, said during the airline’s first anniversary in Nigeria.
Speaking on the development, John Ojikutu, a travel analyst said the Middle-Eastern carriers have no choice but to work on the gaps that have been created as a result of lack of capacity from Nigerian carriers, adding that apart from this, travellers now see an international travel market hub in countries in the Middle-East, as against Europe and the United States.
“With over 15 million air travellers from Nigeria and six million accounting for international, Nigeria has no competitor as a hub in the sub-region for now. Sadly, Nigerian carriers which tend to be small operators, rather than merging into one or two strong airlines, so as to muster the muscle required to compete with the foreign airlines, are competing among themselves.
“Meanwhile, individually, they all cannot absorb the Nigeria or regional markets. These are the gaps that the Mid-East airlines are exploiting. Don’t forget also that for Nigerian traders/travellers, the market is in Dubai, Qatar, Far East, China, and not in Europe or the United States anymore”, he said.

BREAKING NEWS: Court of Appeal Sets Al-Mustapha Free

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has discharged and acquitted Hamza Al-Mustapha from the murder of Kudirat Abiola.
The judgment overturns that of the Lagos High Court which sentenced both men to death by hanging.
The presiding judge accused the lower court of being “stroked to secure a conviction by all means.” Mr. Al-Mustapha was a former chief security officer to the late dictator, Sani Abacha.
He was sentenced to death on January 30 for conspiracy and murder of Mrs. Abiola. Mrs. Abiola, 45, was shot in Lagos on June 4, 1996, as the lower court ruled, on the orders of Mr. Al-Mustapha.
More details coming soon ...

World Bank Group, UNFPA Simplify Procurement Of Reproductive Health Supplies

The World Bank Group (WBG) yesterday released a new standard agreement form that will make it easier for World Bank Group borrowers to procure reproductive health supplies through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The agreement comes as part of a coordinated effort to step up support to developing countries to improve women’s health in the countdown to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the end of 2015.
The new agreement is a result of an ongoing partnership between the World Bank Group and UNFPA to advance women’s health. The agreement has dramatically simplified the procurement process that countries have to undertake under World Bank Group-financed projects, as well as streamlined invoicing, billing, and financial reporting.
"The beauty of this new agreement is that it is no longer using World Bank-specific ordering, invoicing and payment systems. The countries can now review specifications and select reproductive health supplies from UNFPA’s online catalogue to place their orders.
The process is the same irrespective of whether the funding comes from the World Bank or public budget," said Christopher Browne, Chief Procurement Officer of the World Bank Group. “This is an important step in facilitating achievement of health and development outcomes and working toward seamless partnerships that ultimately benefit our clients and people who use these health supplies.”
Under the new agreement, the countries can place individual orders using UNFPA’s online procurement portal, MyAccessRH.org, in accordance with the time schedule set in the project's procurement plan. UNFPA reviews and quotes a fixed price for the ordered items. The exact amount is then transferred from the project account within 30 days for UNFPA to commence procurement.
"This arrangement can benefit a broad range of countries," said Eric Dupont, UNFPA Chief of Procurement. "Smaller countries that cannot access quality assured or competitively priced goods; governments that don't have enough staff to conduct timely procurement; and countries that need to fill supply gaps while they are conducting a local bidding process -- all can benefit. What we hear most is that AccessRH saves time and money, and, most importantly, ensures the safety and efficacy of much-needed reproductive health supplies."

World Bank Group, UNFPA Simplify Procurement Of Reproductive Health Supplies

The World Bank Group (WBG) yesterday released a new standard agreement form that will make it easier for World Bank Group borrowers to procure reproductive health supplies through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The agreement comes as part of a coordinated effort to step up support to developing countries to improve women’s health in the countdown to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the end of 2015.
The new agreement is a result of an ongoing partnership between the World Bank Group and UNFPA to advance women’s health. The agreement has dramatically simplified the procurement process that countries have to undertake under World Bank Group-financed projects, as well as streamlined invoicing, billing, and financial reporting.
"The beauty of this new agreement is that it is no longer using World Bank-specific ordering, invoicing and payment systems. The countries can now review specifications and select reproductive health supplies from UNFPA’s online catalogue to place their orders.
The process is the same irrespective of whether the funding comes from the World Bank or public budget," said Christopher Browne, Chief Procurement Officer of the World Bank Group. “This is an important step in facilitating achievement of health and development outcomes and working toward seamless partnerships that ultimately benefit our clients and people who use these health supplies.”
Under the new agreement, the countries can place individual orders using UNFPA’s online procurement portal, MyAccessRH.org, in accordance with the time schedule set in the project's procurement plan. UNFPA reviews and quotes a fixed price for the ordered items. The exact amount is then transferred from the project account within 30 days for UNFPA to commence procurement.
"This arrangement can benefit a broad range of countries," said Eric Dupont, UNFPA Chief of Procurement. "Smaller countries that cannot access quality assured or competitively priced goods; governments that don't have enough staff to conduct timely procurement; and countries that need to fill supply gaps while they are conducting a local bidding process -- all can benefit. What we hear most is that AccessRH saves time and money, and, most importantly, ensures the safety and efficacy of much-needed reproductive health supplies."

Two Dead, 20 Injured As Obosi Youths Attack Parks in Onitsha

In the early hours of yesterday Obosi youths attacked motor parks in Onitsha. During the attack two persons were allegedly killed and over 20 others sustained serious injuries.
According to a eyewitness, the youths, armed with dangerous weapons, stormed the park where they allegedly apprehended some people including passengers traveling to various parts of the state.
The agent in charge of the park, Lutas Collections, managed with the help of Sir Ifeanyi Okafor to escape death in the hands of the youths who invaded the park and started collecting money from the motorists operating in the park.
One of the victims, who spoke to the reporter on the condition of anonymity, said, “The youths, who were wielding dangerous weapons including dane guns, matchetes, and axes chanted war songs and over powered over 50 policemen drafted to maintain peace and order in the park.”
He further disclosed that some of the victims of the attack were rushed to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Orlu Teaching Hospital and Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka as at the time of filing this report.
Sir Okafor said he was in the park at the time of the invasion to direct his workers on what to do for the day, when he suddenly noticed some rowdy movements and saw some boys beating and maiming people with all kinds of dangerous weapons. He said he decided to run for dear life.
He urged the Anambra State Government to come to their aid as the menace of the hoodlums, who invade parks and extort money from the managers was becoming unbearable. He said the presence of the policemen, who also helped to take some of the victims to the hospitals saved the lives of the victims, whose injuries were serious.
He said they had gone to Awka with some of the victims of the attack to report at the police headquarters. Former special adviser to the Anambra State Government on Markets and Parks, Chief Sylvester Nwobualor, under whose administration the government gave out the parks, condemned the activities of the Obosi youths, who invade parks at will irrespective of the presence of the police and the army.
He warned that people should not take the peaceful nature of Governor Peter Obi for cowardice, inefficiency and inactivity, warning that enough was enough and that the government would not take the insult any longer.
He called on security agencies in the state to pay attention to government facilities in the state and protect the people working in such facilities to avoid blood shed, while commending the security agencies for taking control of the situation of things at the park.
However, bodies of the two victims had been deposited at the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary while police said they were investigating the cause of the incident. When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr Emeka Ugwu said he had deployed his men to take control of the situation at the park and said the situation was under control.

Two Dead, 20 Injured As Obosi Youths Attack Parks in Onitsha

In the early hours of yesterday Obosi youths attacked motor parks in Onitsha. During the attack two persons were allegedly killed and over 20 others sustained serious injuries.
According to a eyewitness, the youths, armed with dangerous weapons, stormed the park where they allegedly apprehended some people including passengers traveling to various parts of the state.
The agent in charge of the park, Lutas Collections, managed with the help of Sir Ifeanyi Okafor to escape death in the hands of the youths who invaded the park and started collecting money from the motorists operating in the park.
One of the victims, who spoke to the reporter on the condition of anonymity, said, “The youths, who were wielding dangerous weapons including dane guns, matchetes, and axes chanted war songs and over powered over 50 policemen drafted to maintain peace and order in the park.”
He further disclosed that some of the victims of the attack were rushed to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Orlu Teaching Hospital and Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka as at the time of filing this report.
Sir Okafor said he was in the park at the time of the invasion to direct his workers on what to do for the day, when he suddenly noticed some rowdy movements and saw some boys beating and maiming people with all kinds of dangerous weapons. He said he decided to run for dear life.
He urged the Anambra State Government to come to their aid as the menace of the hoodlums, who invade parks and extort money from the managers was becoming unbearable. He said the presence of the policemen, who also helped to take some of the victims to the hospitals saved the lives of the victims, whose injuries were serious.
He said they had gone to Awka with some of the victims of the attack to report at the police headquarters. Former special adviser to the Anambra State Government on Markets and Parks, Chief Sylvester Nwobualor, under whose administration the government gave out the parks, condemned the activities of the Obosi youths, who invade parks at will irrespective of the presence of the police and the army.
He warned that people should not take the peaceful nature of Governor Peter Obi for cowardice, inefficiency and inactivity, warning that enough was enough and that the government would not take the insult any longer.
He called on security agencies in the state to pay attention to government facilities in the state and protect the people working in such facilities to avoid blood shed, while commending the security agencies for taking control of the situation of things at the park.
However, bodies of the two victims had been deposited at the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary while police said they were investigating the cause of the incident. When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr Emeka Ugwu said he had deployed his men to take control of the situation at the park and said the situation was under control.

Odd Moment: See Thief Who Falls Asleep While Robbing

Police say they caught a robber in Lady Lake area in Florida taking jewelry and a nap.
Domonique Pinkard, 21, was allegedly asleep on the couch of a residence on Winners Circle when the home owner walked into the living room, reports say.
The homeowner called the cops, who determined that Pinkard and his accomplice, 20-year-old Julian Evangelist, kicked in the back door around 7:30 a.m.
Pinkard then conked out on the sofa while Evangelist allegedly made off with a TV.
Evangelist, it seems, failed to wake up his partner in crime.

Investigators say Pinkard told them he’d been “working hard all day and he just needed to sit down for a moment, and evidently, he fell asleep.”
Police also say they found an estimated $500 worth of the victim’s jewelry in Pinkard’s pockets, according to NBC Miami.
Other items, including clothing and electronics, were allegedly found at Evangelist’s home.
Both men were jailed on charges of burglary and grand theft.

Hoodlums No Longer Defecate Inside Our Classrooms —Pupils

The pupils of Idimu Community Primary School can now heave a sigh of relief as the hoodlums that had, hitherto, turned their school to a toilet, football pitch and arena for other illicit pastimes have given it a wide berth.
This new development came against the backdrop of a story published in The PUNCH edition of Friday, May 31, 2013. The story had revealed how hoodlums who live in the neighbourhood had turned the school into a toilet as well as a place where they sexually assault unsuspecting women.
While the ‘invasion’ lasted, the invaders defecated in polyethylene bags and stuffed them in various parts of the classrooms that caught their fancy, including the ceilings and desks. The pupils and their teachers only got to know what had taken place the previous night when the entire classroom started reeking of foul odour or, worse, when the pupils accidentally dipped hands in the obnoxious packages tucked inside their lockers.
For many of the pupils, there were many unanswered questions concerning the contents of rubber sheathes that hoodlums left unceremoniously all over the place after they might have had sexual intercourse with their victims.
Indeed, the teachers disclosed that pupils resumed on a daily basis not only to clean up human faeces, but they also had to contend with picking used condoms and stained or torn women’s undergarments before lessons could commence.
It was also reported that these hoodlums were fond of harassing the teachers, who they chased away if they stayed a minute longer than the 2pm official closing time.
But after The PUNCH published the story, the Lagos State Government stepped in by deploying officials of the Rapid Response Squad and policemen in Area M police unit covering Idimu and its environs. They were mandated to keep watch over the school.
When newsmen visited Idimu Community School on Monday, it was an elated head teacher, Mrs. Christianah Aghelegin, that welcomed him.
She said since policemen began a routine patrol of the vicinity some weeks ago, the hoodlums and those who usually besieged the premises to play football every evening have since disappeared.
She says, “The school, pupils and the teachers now have peace. We noticed that the state government had deployed a patrol team from the Rapid Response Squad and policemen from Area M in Idimu to provide security surveillance for the school.
“Since this started some weeks ago, the hoodlums and those who usually jumped the fence to play football within the school premises have all disappeared.”
When the hoodlums held sway, apart from defecating on the premises, they broke into the office of the head teacher and looted it.
Then the pupils narrated the story of anguish they had been subjected to. According to them, the vagabonds, who usually scaled the fence to enter the school premises, carted away the desks and tables and used them as firewood, leaving pupils without classroom furniture to use.  As a result, some of them took to sitting on the bare floor during classes.

Plan To Kill Sultan of Sokoto Failed

According to reliable security sources, the attack of Wednesday that spilled to yesterday, at the seat of the Caliphate, Sokoto, was actually targeted at the Sultan of Sokoto.
A source from the joint team of security platforms that repelled the attack indicated that His Eminence Alhaji, Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan, was actually the focus of the attackers, who came in large numbers.
In the past, there had been insinuations that the Boko Haram sect and other insurgents are not happy with the Sultan, who is the head of Muslim Ummah in Nigeria on his avowed peaceful disposition, which is at variance with theirs.
Boko Haram and other insurgent groups claim to be holders and defenders of the true Islam, while the rest, by their thinking, are unfit for the religion and should be treated as enemies of the faith.
Our source hinted that it was the Department of State Security Service (DSS) that divulged the intelligence to them of the planned attack, which they said, was of alarming magnitude. Reliable sources revealed that the foiled attack on Sultan was planned by a faction of Boko Haram, which, in an attempt to prove that it’s not part of the ceasefire agreement, wanted to target a known figure to attract attention.
On getting tip-off of the planned attack, the joint security forces, including the main organs of the military moved in to counter the move.
“The operations started yesterday (Wednesday) and was sustained till late afternoon of today (Thursday). I can tell you that they came really prepared. The number was large and they were fully armed and determined to carry out their threat. But the timely intelligence saved the day, as we encountered them headlong.
“At last, we overpowered them and I can assure you that even after outwitting them and dislodging the assailants with some killed, we lost no officer,” a source stated.
In the raid of the Islamist sect’s hideout, a gun duel had ensued leading to the killing of one of the prime suspects. Another suspect was arrested and taken into military custody.
The security operatives also rescued 11 family members of the suspects, including six children and five women, among them two pregnant women. Briefing journalists on the incident, Brigadier-General Mohammed Tasi’u, Commander, 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, described the operation as a “huge success.”

Protect Your Sperm From Injury

Young men who are not yet thinking of raising a family sometimes take things too far. They engage in some risky behaviours that not only jeopardise their health but the health of their sperm also.
This is not to say it’s only young men that unwittingly toy with their sperm’s health. Adult men do, too, by making unhealthy and unwise life choices that may make it difficult or, sometimes, impossible, to impregnate a woman.

Family physician, Dr. Toun Agbaje, says, generally, sperm health depends on three major factors — the quantity, quality and motility (movement). She says a man is deemed fertile if the quantity of semen he discharges in a single ejaculation is more than 15 million sperm per milliliter.
But how can a man mess up his sperm’s health?
In no particular order, one of the problems has to do with the temperature that the male sex organ is exposed to. Have you noticed the dressing style among the youth? It has become the norm for young men to wear multiple underwears.
Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology, Oladapo Ashiru, warns that raising scrotal temperature may reduce sperm production. He explains that testicles hang outside of the body because optimal sperm production requires a temperature that is one to two degrees centigrade below the core temperature of 37°C.
Certain occupational risks also affect sperm health, we are told. Ashiru warns that working in hot environments, such as a bakery or a foundry, or sitting for long periods has been linked to raised testicle temperature.
“This may affect sperm’s ability to mature, leading to poorer sperm quality and a temporary drop in sperm production. If you have a job that involves sitting for long periods, have regular rest breaks and get up and move around,” the professor of anatomy counsels.
More so, placing the laptop on the laps while working has its downside for men.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook say, “There is a direct correlation between laptop use and increased scrotum temperature by up to 35˚C in certain positions.” They therefore counsel laptop users to let it sit on the table when being used.
Men who love tight undies are also advised to take it easy on their organs. Scientists say, “The more constricted a man’s pants are, the less hospitable an environment he creates for sperm production.”
Body weight also affects sperm health, experts say. Ashiru says while maintaining a healthy weight helps to keep the sperm in good condition, being overweight may lower sperm quality and quantity.
In addition, a 2009 study by the World Health Organisation notes that, compared to normal and overweight men, obese fertile men have reduced testicular function and significantly lower sperm counts.
And if you love the bottle, experts say heavy drinking can be harmful to sperm. A research concludes that men who drink heavily on a regular basis have lower sperm counts and testosterone levels.
Worse still, experts say, those who use ‘recreational’ drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, Indian hemp, etc., risk sperm damage; as these drugs can lower sperm quality and, in effect, reduce fertility.
As for young men who sit for hours watching TV, there’s the need to wise up.
In a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health warn that healthy young men who were sedentary, as measured by hours of TV viewing, had lower sperm counts than those who were the most physically active.
Senior author of the study/assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH, Dr. Jorge Chavarro, says “men who watched more than 20 hours of TV weekly had a 44 per cent lower sperm count than those who watched almost no TV.”

Shell Again Shuts Major Nigeria Pipeline Due To Leak

Shell has shut a major pipeline in Nigeria for the second time in less than a month after locating another leak on the line repeatedly hit by oil thieves, the company said on Friday.
The shutdown of the Trans Niger Pipeline will result in a cut of about 150,000 barrels of oil per day in Africa's biggest oil producer. Nigeria's total output has been at around two million barrels per day.
The joint venture Shell operates in Africa's biggest oil producer on Thursday "shut in the 24-inch Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) as a result of a confirmed leak on this line at the Bomu-Bonny section at Owokiri," it said, naming an area of southern Nigeria.
"With the 28-inch TNP already shut in for removal of illegal oil theft connections, a total of about 150,000 barrels per day of oil have been deferred."
The British-Dutch company said details were unclear on the latest incident, "but the TNP has been variously targeted by crude oil thieves in recent months and shut down several times to enable the removal of theft points."
Crude oil theft is a major problem in Nigeria, with estimates that the country loses some $6 billion in revenue per year as a result.
Such theft can involve thieves tapping pipelines to syphon crude for sale on the lucrative black market. It can lead to explosions, fires and oil pollution.
The International Energy Agency said on Thursday in its monthly review of the oil market that the theft of oil from pipelines in Nigeria had damaged infrastructure, and was one factor in a fall of output by the Organization of Peteroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of which Nigeria is a member.

RIVERS CRISIS: CP Mbu Now The Governor – Babangida Aliyu

Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babaginda has described the current crisis in Rivers State as an indication that the Commissioner of Police, Mbu has assumed the position of the Governor.

Aliyu, who received  the Commissioner for Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, at the Government House, said, “You saw what is happening in Rivers State?  A Commissioner of Police has now become the Governor of Rivers State. Is that the image we want the world to look out to?
Governor Aliyu who happens to be the chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, recalled that since he became his state’s chief executive, “there has not been a Police Council Meeting.”
According to him, the PCM is supposed to “decide  the appointment of Police  Commissioners and  their deployment.”
The Governor said the Federal Government had no business in the provision of health, water, agriculture and education and as such calls for reduction of funds and powers made available to the federal government.
According to him “There is too much money at the centre for the Federal Government to spend  and  that is why they are creating problems for the states, “ Aliyu advised.
Pointing out that  Nigeria  was  in a bad shape, he claimed that nobody knows the amount of oil the country produces.

Anambra Poll: No Imposition Of Candidates — Labour Party, APA

The Labour Party, LP, has promised to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket in the November 16, 2013, gubernatorial poll in Anambra State.

This came on a day Anambra State chairman of African Peoples Alliance, APA, Mr. Chukwunonso Anadu, said the party would resist attempt by anybody to impose candidates on it.

National Chairman of LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, who said this in Abuja, assured the aspirants that  LP was a democratic party and would, therefore,  not impose any candidate on the people. He said the party’s candidate would emerge through a party primary, for which a date will be announced in a due course.

Chief Nwanyanwu, who vowed that the party will clinch the election in Anambra State, said those dropping the name of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the election would be disappointed because the party was ready to make a difference.

The party chairman, who recently received a governorship aspirant for the election, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, and hundreds of his supporters into the party fold in Abuja, said LP will neutralise the influence of godfatherism from the state’s politics.

He said, “We have killed godfatherism in Edo and Ondo states. So for anybody to think he can impose governor again in Anambra State, he is day dreaming. We are going to bury it in Anambra in 2014. Those banking on President Goodluck Jonathan should know that the president won’t vote; he will just provide security for the election, he believes in rule of law.”

The meeting also afforded Chief Ubah the opportunity to interact formally with members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

He described Chief Ubah who recently joined the party, as a philanthropist who had continued to put smiles on the faces of ordinary citizens through his kerosene-direct programme that sold the product at N50 per litre.

Traditional Beliefs Pin Mandela's Health to Grave Dispute

Ngqwara, South Africa -- For weeks, South Africans have been holding a vigil for their first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.
The 94-year-old statesman has been lying in a hospital in Pretoria for more than a month.
Away from the capital, in the rolling farmlands where Mandela was born and raised, many South Africans believe his precarious condition has been adversely affected by a messy public dispute between members of his family.

Rivers Crisis: PENGASSAN Threatens To Withdraw Members

Following the violent actions of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly this week and the counter-reaction of others, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to withdraw its members from Rivers State if the politicians cannot conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status.
Speaking on behalf of the union, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun said it shows that political leaders in the country lack respect for the constitution and lack elementary democratic decorum.
Besides, he said, the state of fear that now prevails in Rivers is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry
Condemning the violence, the union pointed out that it could lead to the breakdown of law and order that will affect not only the state but spread to other parts of the country.
“The events in recent times are strong indications that the government may not be able to guarantee the security and protection of lives and properties of our people. In that wise, we cannot continue to risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until when the situation is under control,” it threatened.
Comrade Ogun stated that the actions of the parties in the crisis have shown that political leaders only seek office in their personal interest, stressing that the public interest supersedes and is superior to individual interests.
He expressed the view that those trying to subvert Nigeria’s nascent democracy are some of those who never fought for it, saying, “Many people, especially labour leaders laid down their lives for this democracy to be in place. Many of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The union president urged all parties and individuals involved in the fracas to pursue the path of peace and reconcile their differences, adding that they should take cognizance of the root causes of the North Africa and Middle East crises.
“If we dismiss the events in Rivers State, then we should know that what happened in North Africa, especially Egypt and Libya can equally come to play in Rivers and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.