This year’s Independence Day celebrations will be low-key, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro has said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Abuja.

Nigeria’s National Day is celebrated every October 1st since she gained independence from Britain in 1960.

Moro explained that the decision was in line with the transformation agenda of the current administration which frowns at flamboyant and unnecessary spending.

“I wish to inform you that the year 2012 National Day celebrations just like the preceding one in 2011 will be very low-key.”

He added that “this is particularly in tandem with the current transformation agenda of Mr. President that is on course.”

The minister insisted that the transformation agenda is “anchored on some fundamental changes in the way we do things in this country in order to get results for the wellbeing of the Nigerian people.”

“The world today is troubled. Economy of most countries of the world especially Europe are on the downward trend. There are cries of decayed infrastructures in Nigeria and in most countries and there is no gainsaying that at the moment in this country, we have critical challenges in virtually all front of our National life no less than the challenge of insecurity, natural disasters that occur in many part of the country. Many lives have been lost, many properties and national wealth wasted.”

He added that “it’s only fair therefore that a responsive government in a situation of this nature, that glamorous activities will not take place at the expense of some of the plagues that have come on Nigeria’s way.”

 

Events

According to the Minister, the celebrations will begin with a presidential retreat for civil society organizations on Friday and Saturday 7th and 8th September 2012 respectively.

National honours award ceremony will hold on 17th while anniversary lecture will take place on 18th of September.

Also, conference of secretaries of state governments is slated for 25th and 26th while a visit to hospitals and orphanages and activities for women, youths and children will follow suit in a date to be determined by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

Juma’at Service will hold on 28th September while Patron’s Night of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs is set for 29th of the same month.

Anniversary broadcast is planned for October 1st but it would be preceded by an Interdenominational Church Service on 30th of September.

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news/176020-low-key-independence-day-celebrations-as-fg-outlines-programme

Nigeria is coming up, GEJ should be dogged in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorates.

Over nine hundred passengers escaped death on Friday morning when a 10-coach Iddo-bound train rammed into a truck at Ilupeju Railway Crossing near Oshodi, Lagos.

The accident, which occurred at about 7.30 am, led to traffic gridlock on the Ilupeju/Oshodi Road for several hours.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that each of the coaches has 90 seats, but they were usually overloaded.

An eyewitness told NAN that the articulated vehicle blocked the railway crossing when the train was already close by.

The loaded trailer had crashed into the double barriers on the railway crossing shortly before the train arrived.

On seeing the approaching train, the driver jumped out of the trailer and ran away. The train then dragged the truck for some distance, scattering the goods inside it — which were mostly empty cartons of Malta Guinness drink – along the track.
http://www.punchng.com/news/900-passengers-escape-death-in-lagos-train-accident/


The dragging of the truck also led to the damaging of some vehicles parked along the rail track by auto mechanics.

The accident caused some damage to the engine of the locomotive and the track.

NAN reported that the incident was the third time in the month of August that a passenger train would ram into vehicles at railway crossing in the Lagos metropolis.

The earlier two accidents occurred at the Ikeja railway crossing, and claimed some lives.

Confirming the accident, Mr Ademuyiwa Adekanbi, the Lagos District Public Relations Officer of the Railways, said that no life was lost in the incident.

Adekanbi said that the corporation had embarked on enough enlightenment campaign on the use of the railway crossings.

“We have done enough jingles on radio and television, we have rallies and distributed fliers to sensitise people of the right of way of a train at level crossings,” he said.

This is sheer waste of lives.

At least 36 persons have been convicted by the Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo Mobile Magistrate’s courts in Edo State, southsouth Nigeria, for flouting the state’s traffic law.
Their arrest and conviction followed a stop-and-search verification exercise of motorcycle and motor vehicle particulars in the state.
The offenders were driving with expired vehicle particulars, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 7 of the Traffic Law Cap 148, law of the Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 now applicable to Edo State and punishable under section 42 of Road Traffic Law.
Magistrates Alfred Osamudiamen and Aibeku A. Ihenyen of Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo Mobile Courts respectively, therefore convicted them.
Those found guilty were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with an option of fine.
Executive Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, stated that the exercise was a routine one, adding that the exercise was only aimed at ensuring that the people complied with the law.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/31/36-jailed-for-flouting-edo-traffic-law/

The Yobe state governor has only visited only one country, Saudi Arabia, for religious purposes.
The Governor of Yobe State has described the frequent foreign travels of State Governors, under the guise of seeking foreign investors, as ‘globetrotting’ and said he would not engage in it.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said he would rather use money meant for such trips to provide social amenities in the state.
Mr. Gaidam said the recent ban on foreign trips, imposed on government officials, is to save vital funds for development.
The governor who spoke through his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Maimala Buni, said on Friday that the government has taken the measure to save scarce resources.
“The state government’s policy of no globetrotting to canvass for investors has saved the state huge resources for development,” Mr. Buni said in Damaturu, the state capital.
“Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has, as a deliberate policy, refused wasting scarce resources on foreign trips and invested in road and other infrastructure that will naturally attract investors.
“Experiences have shown that huge resources were invested in foreign trips without corresponding dividends. So, the governor opted to inject these resources into basic infrastructures that will improve the lives of the people,” he added.
Mr. Buni pointed out that the governor deliberately refused to tour the world except Saudi Arabia, where he went for spiritual obligations.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/98478-i-wont-globetrot-like-my-fellow-governors-yobe-governor-says.html

DESPITE instability in crude oil prices at the international market, the country’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a two-year high of $38.38 billion by August 27, representing 5.35 per cent up on the record of the previous month, which stood at $36.43 billion.

According to the data displayed at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website, the foreign reserves stood at $33.47 billion a year ago.

Only on Tuesday, the Federal Government appointed a team to invest the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

Finance Minister, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the fund would start with a cash hoard of around $1 billion.

She also said by the end of the year, the team would have laid out plans for the $1 billion, but did not say when investments would start.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/46788-foreign-reserves-hit-3838bn-in-august

haba, does it mean no replacement for nnaji because GEJ cant add dis to his seemingly overburdened schedule. we need another credible person ooo

A policeman serving with the Bauchi State Police Command has been arrested for allegedly having anal sex with children between the ages of nine and twelve.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the incident while speaking with Daily Trust.

“A division was investigating the matter, but I have directed them to transfer the case to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). The accused is in detention at the moment, and after investigation, we will make our discovery known to the public,” he said.

A source told us that the policeman was accused to have slept with about eight children in Kandahar area of Bauchi metropolis. He said the policeman following a report by some parents. A senior staff at the Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, who doesn’t want his name in print told our correspondent that about nine children were brought to the paediatric ward of the hospital by the policemen from the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, and that they were treated and discharged.


http://www.newsacross.com/policeman-arrested-for-having-sex-with-children-in-bauchi-em/














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Yea, however we need speedy resolution and end to this menace depleting our human and material resources geometrically

For those who thought former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s anger towards Nigerian rapper, Eidris Abdulkarem’s 2004 hit song, “Nigeria jaga jaga”, has subsided and gone with the years goofed because the dust is yet to settle on the matter.

According to him, “One of the worst problems Nigeria is facing is disbelief.

Nigerians no longer believe in themselves neither do they believe in their country. That takes me back to that song ‘jaga jaga’. How could a sane man dare to call his country jajajaja? It is the height of blasphemy.

We are grooming our youths for tomorrow’s leadership and with such persons I don’t think the country can move forward.
Concretely put, leadership connotes ability to inspire, direct, move, motivate, propel and encourage others positively to the targeted end. It is simply the ability to lead others.

An effective leader strives to avoid failure by guarding against inability to organize details, unwillingness to render humble services, fear of competition from followers, lack of imagination, selfishness, intemperance, living on rumors and gossips, favoritism and nepotism, emphasis on title and authority, excessive stress and burn out.

He must also remember that leadership is an interaction between the characteristics of the leader himself and the characteristics of the situation in which leadership takes place.”

Conclusively, the Ota farmer buttressed that, “leadership should be a relay race and not an obstacle race.”

http://news.naij.com/6803.html

OK, GEJ is trying, however, his administration has more to do on finding a lasting solutions to boko haram menance and spate of insecurity

President Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration is highly committed to strengthening the power sector so that it can efficiently deliver adequate, qualitative, reliable and affordable power in a deregulated mark. Noting that Nigeria was on the path to achieving a sustainable power by the year 2020.
The president gave this assurance on Thursday at the launch of the Sustainable Energy for All, SE4All, an initiative of the United Nations Development Organisation, UNIDO, in Abuja, noted that the programme “aims at assisting Nigeria to redefine its energy plans and programmes to provide access to affordable, clean and reliable modern energy services to all citizens.”
President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said Nigeria was “fully committed to achieving our set targets in less than a decade. All tiers of government are being mobilized to play their roles in ensuring that Nigeria achieves its targets.”

“This determined response to the challenges of energy poverty in the world requires  stakeholders to take concrete measures towards achieving universal access to modern energy services. It also requires the doubling of both the share of renewable energy in the global mix, and the global rate of energy efficiency. These three critical interlinked objectives are all to be achieved by 2030,” the President observed.

According to Jonathan, “Limitless opportunities abound in renewable energy. Bearing this in mind, we have set national goals and developed a power sector roadmap that will fast-track our realization of the UN targets. At our current rate of power development, through the full implementation of the roadmap, we plan to meet these targets by the year 2020.”

He added that, “Our administration is highly committed to strengthening the power sector so that it can efficiently deliver adequate, qualitative, reliable and affordable power in a deregulated market. The roadmap for the reform of the power sector, launched two years ago, brings into practical effect the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act.”

The president further maintained the fact that hydro power generation sources are being exploited. “Only yesterday we had our initial meeting with the consultants and contractors for the construction of the large Mambila Hydro-power plant that will produce 3050MW.

“The processes for the construction of Zungeru 700MW hydropower plant have reached an advanced stage. Several small and medium hydropower projects are also in progress; as well as solar power projects. An MoU has already been signed with Seimens of Germany for the production of 450MW (with 7 states as first phase)”.

“Bauchi State is already off-taking. 30Mw coal to power is being pursued under PPP arrangement as well as a pilot wind power scheme in Katsina with 10Mw. Waste-to-power schemes are also being implemented in various states. To support the expected developments in addressing power, we are also addressing other areas that are militating against our growth. Education, transport; railway-waterways seaports, airports, agriculture, etc.,” he added.

The Director-General of UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella,  stressed that Nigeria was on a path to achieving the goal of sustainable energy a whole decade ahead of the target.

He said, “As a country with vast oil and gas reserves, abundant sunlight and significant hydropower potential, Nigeria should not be suffering energy crisis. Over the years, the challenge has been in formulating a consistent energy policy.

“However, going by the discussions we have had with officials of the Nigerian government, and the vision we see that the administration has already put in place, we are confident that the country is on a viable road to meeting the targets as set by the United Nations towards sustainable energy for all.”
“What is now required is a sustained political focus. Energy access must move up the political and development agendas to become a central priority,”
“The obstacles to energy access are well known. These barriers, while complex, can be overcome and international cooperation can help this process.” He added.
It would be recalled that the United Nations had in September 2011 launched the sustainable energy for all initiative to accelerate the attainment of the overall objectives of the declaration of 2012 as International Year for Sustainable Energy for All.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/08/24/nigeria-experience-constant-affordable-electricity-2020-jonathan/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said strict adherence to the implementation of policy guidelines on cashless economy will help achieve its purpose.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said this in an interactive forum on Electronic Payment Systems organised by E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, (E-PPAN) in Abuja.

He was represented by the Director, Banking and Payment System Department, Mr. Dipo Fatokun.

According to the CBN Governor, the apex bank had already released guidelines on Point of Sale (POS); regulatory framework for mobile payments; cheque truncation; ATM fraud prevention; migration to electronic magnetic valve cards, and establishment of policy and oversight office, but insisted that these policy guidelines must be strictly adhered to, if Nigeria must achieve the CBN initiative on cashless economy.

Sanusi said the Nigerian economy was too heavily cash-oriented in transactions of goods and services, which negated global trends and might hamper Nigeria's ambition to be among the top 20 economies of the world by the year 2020.

He explained that about 65 per cent of cash in circulation in the country was outside of the banking system and were severely limiting the impact of CBN's effort at price and economic stabilisation.

In a paper titled: ‘Getting Government Closer to the People Through Cashless Initiative’, Director Payment Solutions and Value Added Service (VAS) for Interswitch, Mr. Charles Ifedi, said the current attempt by CBN to entrench cashless transaction structure in the country was a laudable initiative that could easily place Nigeria among the 20 world economies on or before the year 2020.

He however warned that the initiative might suffer setback if past mistakes of government were not adequately addressed and corrected. According to him, “several failed attempts at entrenching e-government initiatives like the National ID card project created some form of mistrust among the people, for lack of proper implementation of the project.”

Ifedi berated the insufficient and low presence of E-Payment Channels at various service points such as the hospitals, motor parks, and other centres.
In another presentation titled: “FGN e-payment Adoption: The Story so far”, the Group Head, Remita Services, SystemSpecs Limited, Mr. Demola Igbalajobi said the federal government through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had committed to implementing a Treasury Single Account as part of the economic reform programme.

This, he said, included the implementation of an Enterprise Financial Management System (GIFMIS) to be integrated with a robust e-Payment system, describing the event as an important opportunity for a synergy among major institutions in the financial sector.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/policy-implementation-key-to-cashless-economy/122990/

of a truth, power supply has improved in my area, however, the FGN can still do more to make power stable even if it is the only thing the govt can achieve.

Residents of Mpape community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Thursday got reprieve as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, intervened in the demolition of their settlement.

Adoke in a letter signed by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Abdulahi Yola, advised the FCT Minister to decline from the proposed demolition pending the determination of the court cases.
Adoke advised the minister to ‘put on hold’ the planned demolition of the Mpape settlement.

The letter reads “All proposed actions be stayed in respect of the subject matter pending the determination of the substantive suit and any appeal arising therefrom.”

Yola stated that Adoke’s advice was sequel the petition written to the AGF’s office by human rights lawyer, and counsel to resident of Mapape community, Femi Falana.

Meanwhile, an Abuja High Court yesterday granted residents of Mpape community the leave to appeal the August 3 ruling delivered by Justice Abubakar Kutigi which refused the application for interlocutory injunction against the proposed demolition of their settlement.

Vacation judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, granted the application for leave of appeal, but declined the application to compel the FCT authority to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Counsel to plaintiff applicant, Femi Falana had approached the court seeking leave to appeal the ruling made by Justice Abubakar Kutigi the Abuja High court sitting in Bwari and an order compelling the FCT minister Senator Bala Mohammed to maintain status quo until the matter is decided.

He informed the court that the FCT authority despite the advice of the court that status quo be mentioned pending the determination of the matter was planning to go-ahead with the demolition exercise.

Falana urged the court to give an order restraining the FCT minister from carrying out the demolition, as he said the appeal would be reduced to an academic exercise if the demolition was carried out before the judgment of the court.

However, counsel to the FCT, Ameachi Nwaiwu (SAN), in opposing to the application stated that land was indestructible.

He also said that the FCT authority was not incapable of compensating even in monetary terms anyone whose land has been illegally demolished.

Justice Yussuf however held that he would not emphasize the ruling of a court of coordinate jurisdiction, as he said the letters of Justice Kutigi’s ruling were clear and it meant its intendment.

He also stated that it was important for parties to protect the sanctity of court processes when a matter is before the court.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/adoke-cautions-fct-minister-over-demolition/122577/

Chief Imam of Benin, Edo State, Mallam Abdul-Fatai Enabulele, has said the Boko Haram sect negates all that Islam stands for.

He spoke on Monday at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Edo State Police Command in Benin.

Enabulele described the problem in northern Nigeria as “a long term manipulation and double standard.”

It will be recalled that a suspected gunman, who reportedly took part in last week’s shooting at a Deeper Life Church in Okene, Kogi State, were traced to Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo, where they had gone to seek treatment for bullet wounds sustained during a shootout with the police.

Enabulele said Muslims in the state would pay courtesy visit on the leadership of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, after the Ramadan period.

He said, “The problem in northern Nigeria is that of long term manipulations and double standard.

“Boko Haram has never fought for Islam. Beginning from the days of the prophet in Medina and Mecca, he preached Islam with diplomacy. There is nothing like western knowledge, so knowledge is knowledge, which is why Islam told us that knowledge is continuous.

“Let me assure everybody that in Edo State, we‘ll never collaborate, support or tolerate Boko Haram or kill.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-not-defending-islam/

shun corruption, and put a round peg in a round hole. chikena

Following the prevalence of misconduct in banks and other financial institutions in the past few years, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said Tuesday that it had developed guidelines for whistle-blowing in banks.


The apex bank also disclosed that it was currently reviewing its extant code of corporate governance for banks.


The banking sector watchdog, which made these known in a circular titled: “Exposure Drafts of the Revised Code of Corporate Governance for Banks in Nigeria and the Guideline for Whistle-blowing in the Nigerian Banking Industry,” posted on its website yesterday, called for the input of stakeholders on the matter.


Whistle-blowing, therefore, is the reporting of alleged unethical conduct of employees, management, directors and other stakeholders of an institution by an employee or other person to appropriate authorities.


A whistle-blower is any person(s) including the employee, management, directors, depositors, service providers, creditors and other stakeholder (s) of an institution who reports any form of unethical behaviour or dishonesty to the appropriate authority.


The CBN stressed that the move became important as “the banking system relies on the effective operation of a range of ‘integrity systems’ for keeping the institutions and their management honest and accountable. One of such system is whistle-blowing.”
It said that a compliance date, which shall be mandatory for all banks would soon be fixed.


The CBN said: “Banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) are expected to forward copies of their whistle-blowing guidelines to the CBN within three months, effective from the date of issuance of the guidelines.


“Banks and OFIs shall render quarterly reports on their compliance with the provisions of whistle-blowing guidelines along with their corporate governance status returns. The external auditors of each bank and OFIs shall report annually to the CBN, the extent of banks and OFI.”


According to the CBN, the objective of whistle-blowing mechanism was to encourage stakeholders to bring unethical conduct and illegal violations to the attention of an internal and or external authority so that action would be taken to resolve the problem.


It explained: “This will minimise the institution’s exposure to the damage that can occur when internal mechanisms are circumvented. It will also demonstrate to stakeholders that the institution is serious about adherence to codes of ethics and conduct.


“It is believed that an effective whistle-blowing mechanism in banks and OFIs in the country would go a long way in entrenching good corporate governance. However, in order to gain the protection afforded to whistle-blowers by this guideline, such disclosures must actually be made in good faith and the information provided must also be substantially true.”


The whistle-blowing mechanism, according to the regulator, shall include a dedicated “hot-line” or e-mail and other electronic devices that could be used anonymously to report unethical practices.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/cbn-moves-to-strengthen-whistle-blowing-in-banks/121880/

By: PAUL OSUYI, Asaba
Date: Thu, 08/02/2012 - 22:26
A 20-year-old nurse, Philomena, who is being held by the State Security Service (SSS), Delta State Command, over the kidnap of a top politician in the state yesterday narrated how she lured the victim with sex into the arms of his abductors.

The politician (names withheld) was on April 13 kidnapped at a bush path along Oleh Road, Ozoro in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state where he was having illicit affair with the nurse inside his car.

The victim squeezed out N800,000 ransom to secure his freedom after four days in captivity. The female suspect, while being paraded by officials of the service, told newsmen that she arranged the abduction with her boyfriend, Daniel, who was also paraded along with another suspect, Kingsley. The kingpin of the gang, one Jersey, was on the run.

Philomena said on the day of the incident, she had arranged with Daniel and others to meet her and the victim at the bush path after they left the hotel where she said she refused having sex with the victim. “He touched me but didn’t have sex with me. He said we should go so that his wife will not start to suspect him. While we were going, he said I should see what I have done to him, asking if I was a nurse, that I know the way everybody used to do when urged for sex.

“He asked me to touch him on the way and I asked him how did he expect me to do that when he was driving. He decided to park at Oleh Road at the clinic side. I told him to go a bit further and stop and he did. Before now, Daniel had asked me the place we were and I told him.

“After parking the car, the man collapsed my chair and his own. He brought out his dick and told me to masturbate him and he was touching me. While we were there, Daniel and his friends came and drew him out of the car and blinded both of us and took us to a place where they kept us for four days,” she stated.

The suspect said she got N100,000 out of the N800,000 ransom paid by the victim, adding that her initial plan was to blackmail him (victim) before Daniel and his gang convinced her about the kidnap that it would fetch them more money.

Corroborating the suspect’s claim of her share of the money, Daniel said he was given N95,000 from the proceeds, adding that leader of the gang, Jersey, who had since disappeared, stole the money. “Philomena and Jersey brought the ransom and they said the man paid N800,000. They gave me N95,000 but Jersey took my money and ran away. They gave her (Philomena) N100,000. They gave Kingsley N85,000. I have not seen Jersey since he made away with my money,” he stated.

Director of the SSS in the state who paraded the suspects and three others who allegedly super-imposed the picture of a management staff of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun (names withheld), with pornographic pictures, said all the suspects would be charged to court.

Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Charles Muka, yesterday said his men had intensified manhunt for the kidnappers of a female political activist in the state, Mrs. Benedicta Offorkachi. Five armed men, in military uniforms, abducted Offorkachi, wife of a prominent politician, at Mariam Babangida Way, Asaba Delta State capital yesterday.

An eyewitness said the victim’s car, a Toyota Camry on her way to the state secretariat was intercepted by the gang and shots sporadically into the air to scare away any resistance before she was sandwiched into their car, a Honda Accord.

Dr Muhammed Pate, the Minister of State for Health on Wednesday in Abuja, said that Nigeria was not at risk following the outbreak of Ebola virus in Uganda.

Pate said that the country had a strengthened infectious disease surveillance system.

``Regarding Ebola virus in Uganda, I understand that we are not considered at risk.

``But regardless of that, we have strengthened infectious disease surveillance system through which diseases like cholera, Lassa fever, meningitis, polio and others are routinely monitored and reported.''

He said the country would continue to focus on improving the core public health functions in the sector.

http://nigeria.news24.com/National/News/Nigeria-is-not-at-risk-of-Ebola-virus-20120808

The encyclopaedia says the Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe disease in humans and in non-human primates in the form of viral haemorrhagic fever.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also outlined the key facts about the virus causing severe viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreak in humans, saying that it has a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent.

According to WHO, Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

``Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus and there is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals,’’ WHO further said.

ifysoft: Sometimes i wonder why most people dont think before commenting..
The poster should have understood the fact that

The shirts belong to the SSS and they simply give the shirts to criminals to wear for photo shots..

I beg you guys should go and watch olympics and stop worrying about Naija issues...

@ifysoft, you are right and I quite consent to your submission. One begins to wonder the level of reasoning and IQ of some NLs. Can one see any facial semblance between the Boko haram suspects paraded in march 2012 and killers of oshiomhole's aide paraded in July 2012, and so what logical reasoning does the issue of same shirt portrays. The issue and fact here is that the two sets of criminals paraded were not same, whether the SSS gave them same shirt is irrelevant . I guess the shirts are operational attires for parading suspects and one cannot say they should keep buying new shirt for every suspect or criminal that is to be paraded. I submit we should always hold substance and stop chasing shadow

Lagos State Government on Friday banned activities of National Union of Road Transport Workers across the various motor parks in the state.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Alausa, Ikeja.
The briefing was also attended by his counterparts in the Justice and Information and Strategy Ministries, Mr. Ade Ipaye and Aderemi Ibirogba.
The meeting was convened to highlight the operational mechanism for the newly signed Road Traffic Law in the state.
Opeifa said, “The government recognises the right for NURTW members to associate. But it believes that the motor parks should be made easy for those who want to carry out their business of commuting in the state to do so without interference.
 “Henceforth, union activity is no longer allowed in all the garages in the state. What they need to do now is to operate the way other unions in the state operate by using a recognised office.”
The commissioner revealed that the development also prohibits members of the NURTW from collecting money on the roads from commuters.
“No union member should be seen on the roads collecting money from transport operators. It is illegal and this is how it is contained in the white paper adopted by the state government,” he told journalists on Friday.
He said drivers and conductors in Lagos will be required to wear uniform, adding that this is meant to improve the safety of lives and property within the state.
“Government will soon commence the re-registration of motor parks across the state. The situation where people just park vehicles in some areas and converting them to motor parks is now illegal,” Opeifa noted.
He said there will be differentiation between motor parks, garages and bus stops.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/56204-lagos-ban-nurtw-from-motor-parks.html

The Inspector General of Police(IGP), M.D. Abubakar, has admonished his commissioners of police to give communities better service from what they are currently getting.

According to him , his administration was poised to work harder to meet the needs and expectations of the Nigerian public and “we must not fail as we should all live above board.”

Speaking at a one-day conference on community policing for commissioners of police in Abuja, the IGP charged them to take the lead and utilise the knowledge they had gained from the workshop in their dealings with the general public.

He noted that the workshop, organised by the Department for International Development (DFID),with the theme: “Justice For All: Connecting with our communities” would assist the police to introduce and sustain positive changes

The IGP said that the Nigeria Police needed officers who were confident and competent to exercise judgment and common sense while on the field.

He declared: “Your role in making the reform happen is vital. You are leaders, you are decision makers, facilitators and agents of change. I want to see that change in your respective commands with enhanced delivery of police services in all of your respective communities,” he said.

The chairman, Police Service Commission, Parry Osayande, recommended that the Nigeria Police should develop a democratic leadership style for its executive, “but in exceptional occasions, an autocratic leadership style is more appropriate.”

Poor and total lack of record keeping have been identified as factors responsible for the poor rating of Nigeria in international trade. Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Robert Orya, who spoke in Makurdi yesterday, said that for over 30 years, the country participated actively in international trade, but that there is no record to show how it has performed so far. Orya said he has already started correcting the unfortunate trend, and expressed hope that Nigerians will soon begin to feel the impact. He lamented over a situation where a country which has products in virtually every market, especially in the West African sub-region, is abysmally rated, saying NEXIM under his leadership is doing everything possible to correct the anomalies.

“We have a situation today that in this sub region of about 300 million population, Nigerian products take care of 50 per cent, but during ratings, smaller nations are rated higher than Nigeria”, he said.

He called on Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunities NEXIM has presented and engage in ventures that will boost the economy of the nation. He added that the bank is more interested in giving out loans which are revolving rather than giving out contracts to individuals.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news/173131-poor-record-keeping-affects-nigerias-rating

In a swift reaction to Sunday’s tirade by the House of Representatives on the implementation of the 2012 budget, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the prudent management of the nation’s resources, adding that this has enabled the government to achieve 56 per cent budget execution by June 20.

The House had over the weekend taken exception to the “poor and selective” implementation of the 2012 budget by the executive arm of government and the attitude of officials of government saddled with the responsibility of implementing the budget.

It specifically singled out Okonjo-Iweala and accused her of subjecting the 2012 Appropriation Act to her personal whims and caprices which, the House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who addressed the press on the issue, said was unlawful.

“It is not within her powers to pick and choose projects and programmes to fund as has been the case with the Appropriation Act, 2012. Her piecemeal and discretionary release of funds for projects, contrary to the schedule approved in the Appropriation Act, is unlawful. She is, in fact, breaking the law,” he had said.

But in a statement signed by her Senior Special Assistant, Paul Nwabuikwu, Monday, the minister gave a breakdown of the milestones of the budget, stating that the total capital budget for 2012 was N1.3 trillion, of which N404 billion had been released so far and N324 billion had been backed by cash.

The percentage of the cash-backed portion that had been utilised, she maintained, was 56 per cent.

She explained that the improvement in the implementation ratio from 39.2 per cent by the end of May to 56 per cent utilisation of cash-backed resources by June 20 was made possible by the direct leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan “who is personally leading the drive for better budget performance.”

Okonjo-Iweala assured the public that the 2012 budget was being managed in a way that protects and enhances the best interests of the country, stating that “transparency and prudence remain the key priorities of the Federal Government in the management of the 2012 budget.

“Our objective is to achieve both higher budget implementation and better management of the country’s resources.

“We will not toy with public resources because they belong to all Nigerians.”

She expressed confidence that there would be further improvement in the level of implementation before the end of the year, stressing that to maximise results, the ministry was careful and methodical in releasing funds to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.

She stressed that given the rate of utilisation, there was still room for more implementation, adding that her ministry was not holding any budgeted funds back and that more releases of funds would be made in the near future.

Also joining the fray Monday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that by embarking on the execution of constituency projects in the 2012 budget rather than completing the old ones, the legislature had slowed down the implementation of the budget considerably.

He told State House correspondents after his ministry presented its budget performance before the president that the rift between the legislature and the executive was an indication that old projects should be completed before new ones are initiated.

The minister said: “But there are also those that have not been completed, so if you insist that we do new programmes, obviously there will not be enough money to complete those other previous constituency projects that were there.

“If you go through the records, you will find that there are a lot of constituency projects that are yet to be completed because those people who were representatives of the people before are no longer there, they have left. However, the new members are insisting that new projects must be executed first.”

Throwing more light on the delayed implementation of the budget, Chukwu said: “The reason is the procurement process; the budget was signed in April and it is after the budget has been signed and MDAs have been advised on what has been appropriated, that they will begin the procurement process.”

He said his ministry had attained 39 per cent budget implementation so far, blaming the National Assembly’s reduction of the ministry’s budget proposal on disease prevention, surveillance and control from N582 million to only N78 million for the ministry's inability to effectively respond to emergencies.

He listed such emergency situations to include Boko Haram attacks, road accidents like where fuel-laden tankers had fallen, and similar disasters where the ministry is ordinarily expected to intervene to check the spread of epidemics and other health challenges.

The executive arm of government and the lower legislative chamber have been at daggers drawn for almost two weeks now over the implementation of the 2012 budget.

The imbroglio started when the budget execution was considered at a plenary of the House of Representatives on July 19, and a motion was passed blaming the president for its poor execution.

During the heated debate, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, also stated that the House would kick start the process to impeach the president if he failed to attain 100 per cent execution of the budget by September 16 when the legislators returned from their recess.

However, in response to the debate and threat by the House, Okonjo-Iweala had said last week that 100 per cent implementation was not possible and blamed the inclusion of constituency projects into the budget, which had to go through due process before the contracts are awarded, for the hitches in its implementation

Mr Duke Okezie, a staff of Due Process Office, Government House, Asaba, Delta State, was, weekend, kidnapped with his son in the state.
Duke and his son were rescued, yesterday, though one of the policemen involved in the rescue mission was killed in the process, while the son of Mr. Okeze, kidnapped along with him received bullet wounds.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, in a statement, said: “Mr. Okeze of Due Process Office, Government House, Asaba, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along with his son. But they were rescued at 6.30a.m., Monday, by a combined team of SARS, STORM in Issele-Uku division at Atuma Iga.

“Three suspects, including a lady, were arrested and his Toyota Corolla car was recovered. In the process of rescue, his son, Emma, sustained minor bullet wounds from the kidnappers’ guns while a police Corporal was killed. Efforts are on to arrest other fleeing gang members.”

He added that “Three armed robbers, including one dressed in National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, uniform were arrested in Asaba, with a rifle, three battle axes, three cartridges, a laptop and a camera


http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/07/31/police-murdered-rescuing-kidnapped-government-house-staff/

Nigeria could save up to N200 billion annually through liquefied petroleum gas better known as cooking gas, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), said in Lagos yesterday.

The managing director said at this year’s first quarter business forum of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) that cooking gas could substitute for large volume of kerosene imported into the country, saying Nigerians consumed 11 million liters of kerosene daily and of the number, eight million liters were consumed by Nigerians who were under-privileged.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news/173108-nigeria-can-save-n200bn-from-cooking-gas

Let d rule of law prevail

Satanic and horrible

This is fair to be realistic, however, concerted efforts are to be geared towards full or near full implementation of the budget so as to give a better score card