cris kester a force to reckon with in gospel rap....hes taking gospel rap to another level

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/cris-kester-force-to-reckon-with-in.html http://www.hulkshare.com/mobile/index.php#userPublic.php http://www.hulkshare.com/mobile/index.php#userPublic.phphttp://churchboiz.com/music/download.php?id=65 http://churchboiz.com/music/download.php?id=65 Christopher odu owan,popularly known as cris kester is an upcoming young gospel rapper signed to 3timez entertainment in 2010.cris kester is from d southern part of nigeria,cross river state to be pricise.he met his producer and ceo,remi omolaye,popularly known as sir remz.and was signed in 2010,he shot his first video in 2011,titled'carry am go'feauturing popular gospel minister obi shine. He has performed alongside great gospe ministers like'frankie edwards,eben,samsong,jadel,joe praiz and many more.in 2012 he was on loveworld plus on a programme dedications and was also interviewed on I tv abuja nigeria.recently he shot the video of his new single bonchi,and the video would be launched soon,but never the less,the bonchi audio has been geting good responds and airplay all over the country.cris kester indeed is coming up real strong,watchout for this great gospel rapper..

Suntai arrive Jalingo today

Governor Danbaba Sunatai of Taraba State will on Sunday (today) arrive Jalingo, approximately 10 months after he was flown abroad for treatment following an air crash involving his private jet in Yola. Sources close to the governor told our correspondent that Suntai arrived London from New York on Saturday. He was scheduled to leave London for Jalingo on Saturday night or early hours of Sunday. Suntai reportedly left New York for London on a chartered flight on Saturday due to the lack of seats on commercial flights. Our source, however, declined to name the flight, airport and time of departure from London as well as the time of arrival in Jalingo, but said the governor’s wife, Hauwa, had left for home to prepare ahead for the arrival of her husband. The governor’s wife had in a telephone interview on August 20, said that her husband was expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York, on August 25. Suntai spent four months at the rehabilitation centre after spending about six months in a German hospital. Barely 48 hours after he was transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, following injuries sustained in the plane crash, the Taraba governor was flown to Germany for medical treatment. Suntai was the pilot of his jet Cessna 208, 5N-BMJ Jet that crashed in Yola, Adamawa State on October 25, 2012. He was taken to an Abuja hospital around 10:57am on October 26, 2012, in a state ambulance. He was reported to have been in coma when he was flown out of the country. The governor, his aide-de-camp and chief security officer were all onboard the crashed plane. Suntai, who graduated as a pilot from the Aviation College in Zaria last year, flew the crashed plane. That was the second time he survived a plane crash.

Boy flies Arik Air from Benin to Lagos, hiding in tyre hole

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/boy-flies-arik-air-from-benin-to-lagos.html A teenager beat airline and airport security at the Benin Airport and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Lagos-bound Arik plane, where he flew safely to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Saturday morning. There was, however, pandemonium at the airside of the Lagos airport when passengers disembarking from the aircraft saw the teenager as he emerged from the undercarriage (aircraft tyre hole) to join fellow travellers. The adolescent stowaway, identified as Daniel Ihekina, was immediately arrested by security officials at the airport. The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and Arik Air confirmed the incident. Although the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said full and urgent investigation had commenced into the mysterious circumstances that led to the huge breach in airport and airline security, the situation has continued to beat the imagination of aviation authorities in the country. The situation, which has become a major source of worry among the authorities, has also led to a blame game between FAAN and Arik. FAAN, in a statement on Saturday, said it held “Arik Air liable for the circumstances leading to the stowaway of a teenage boy on its aircraft at the Benin Airport.” In a statement signed by Dati, FAAN, said, “Arik Air acted with impunity by not stopping the aircraft to check when the crew and ground personnel’s attention was drawn to an abnormality on the tarmac.” According to the FAAN spokesman, the procedure for such infraction is for the crew to abort the flight and return to the apron for check-up. He blamed the airline for the alleged impunity, warning that the airport authority would not tolerate such infraction from any operator. He said, “This is arrant display of impunity. The aircraft should not have taxied further, but return to the apron until a proper check is carried out on all parts of the aircraft. FAAN will not tolerate such impunity henceforth from Arik or any airline. Any violation would be met with applicable sanctions. Dati, however, said the teenager was already giving useful information to unravel this ‘misnomer.’ In a swift reaction, Arik, in a statement, blamed FAAN for the huge breach in security, noting that the incessant cases of security breaches at the nation’s airport had become a major source of concern to the airline. The statement quoted Arik’s Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, as saying, “We are worried by the incessant security lapses at our airports. We are appealing to the management of FAAN to immediately address the problem. “The management of Arik Air has expressed shock over the incident, wondering how the teenager beat the aviation security personnel at the Benin Airport to get to the runway.” Arik said its pilot had reported to the control tower the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200 – 300 metres at the end of runway before leaving the airport. Ndulue said the control tower had told its pilot that they were sending security men to the place to arrest the boy. Ndulue, however, said, “As the captain was making his final turn, preparatory for take-off, a cabin crew called his attention to the information by some of the passengers that they saw a boy running towards the airplane. The First Officer confirmed that they had observed it earlier and alerted the control tower which responded that they had sent the patrol team to arrest the boy. The captain again reported to the control tower and was informed that the situation was under control and that he had been cleared for take-off. “On arrival at the domestic wing of MMA, Lagos, a teenage boy, who apparently had sneaked into the aircraft main wheel well jumped out and was arrested by Arik personnel and handed over to FAAN security.” The Arik aircraft with registration number, 5N-MJG Flight 44, which left the Benin Airport around 9am for Lagos, was said to have on board top officials of the Edo State Government. A passenger aboard the flight, who spoke with Sunday Punch on the telephone said, “We felt the signs in Benin when the plane was about leaving and as it was moving slowly, we heard a loud noise as if the tyre crushed somebody on the ground and we all started shouting. It means the boy was already inside that tyre compartment before we left. We left for Lagos, but when we landed at Lagos Airport, the boy came out from the tyre hole, everybody started shouting. “But speaking seriously, this shows that we have a serious problem as regards securing our airports. This is a serious security breach. If that boy was carrying bomb, it means he would have succeeded in blowing up the plane. How can somebody be in an aircraft without being detected; we are in trouble in this country.” Though no official at the Benin Airport volunteered comment on the issue, it was gathered that the teenager may have gained entrance into the airport from the Akenzua road axis, where perimeter fencing is non-existent at different points. In 2010, a desperate young Nigerian, Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, who tried to smuggle himself to the United States, died in the tyre compartment of a Delta Airlines aircraft and was discovered on arrival in New York. Okeke, sneaked into the place at Lagos airport. In 2012, the dead body of a young Nigerian man was also discovered in the wheel well, the undercarriage compartment of a domestic airline, after it returned from South Africa.

Medical Director Commits Suicide

The Medical Director of City Convalescent Clinic, Medical Director Commits Suicide this morning committed suicide at his residence, 13, Aliu Street, Kosofe by Ile-Iwe Bus-stop, Ketu, western Nigeria. The body of the deceased was found by his wife dangling from the ceiling fan in one of the rooms of their two-storey building, which also houses a clinic. The reason why he took his life could not be ascertained as he did not leave any suicide note behind. A neighbour of the deceased, medical 1 medical 1 , told P.M.NEWS that they woke up this morning and heard people wailing from the clinic and when they got there the wife of the deceased, who wept uncontrollably, narrated how she discovered the lifeless body of her late husband hanging from the ceiling this morning. Disu said from what he gathered from the widow, they both slept together in one of their rooms but when she noticed that the deceased was no longer with her, she decided to check in the vacant rooms. Disu stated further that the wife, while wailing, said she couldn’t phantom why her middle-aged husband would decide to commit suicide. “The wife of the deceased is yet to come to terms with the reality that her husband is no more. From what she said, her late husband left her in their room. And after waiting for a while, she decided to look for her husband only for her to find the lifeless body hanging from a ceiling fan in an adjoining room,” Disu said A woman, identified as Iya Kafayat, described the deceased as an easy going man who was always ready to treat an ailing patient that comes to his hospital. Iya Kafayat, who was close to tears while speaking with our correspondent, wondered what could have prompted the deceased to take his life. “I don’t think it is an ordinary thing. Maybe he was charmed into committing suicide but I don’t want to believe that because only the Almighty Allah knows what actually went wrong,” she said. Okechukwu Obinna, one of the onlookers in front of the clinic said he is still in shock over why a loving man would decide to commit suicide, when things are apparently going on well for him. An elderly woman who had known the deceased for close to two decades said the late Medical Director could have killed himself as a result of pressure from his erstwhile wife. According to her, the deceased was married to his first wife for 10 years without her bearing him a child. “He had to marry the present wife who bore him the two kids he left behind,” the woman told P.M.NEWS. She added that the hospital, where the deceased committed suicide, had been shut for close to 15 years before it was reopened. Attempts to speak with the Divisional Police Officer the Alapere Police Station proved abortive as our correspondent was directed to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide. When Braide was contacted, she said she is yet to be briefed about what happened. As at the time of filing this report people were still milling around the hospital in shock over the incident. The late Okereke left behind a boy and a girl.

Police Honour Odiase, Composer Of National Anthem

The event took place Friday at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, western Nigeria. During the solemn ceremony, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, said the contributions of Odiase would remain as an enduring legacy in Nigeria. Abubakar spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mamman Tsafe. A representative of Odiase’s family, Dr. Cyril Dokpesi, commended the Nigerian Police Force for honouring the late icon. He also frowned at the absence of a representative of Federal Government at the ceremony. Odiase, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police died at the age of 79. He was born on 25 August,1934 to the late Mr. Yusuf Odiase and Mrs. Oreh Odiase of Sobe in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, southern Nigeria. Odiase had his primary education at St Thomas Moore’s School,Sobe and Sacred Heart Catholic School, Warri in the then Mid-Western Region between 1942 to 1948.

Federation Cup: Enyimba pip Lobi 1-0, reach final

Two-time African champions, Enyimba, have reached the final of this year’s Federation Cup after defeating Lobi Stars 1-0 in a semifinal match on Wednesday. It was a second half finish by Ifeanyi Ede that ensured the People’s Elephant reach their fifth Cup final in eight years. Oghogho Oduokpe of Rangers is tackled by Odili Iyasele of Bayelsa United during their 2013 Glo Nigeria Premier League match at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu Oghogho Oduokpe of Rangers is tackled by Odili Iyasele of Bayelsa United during their 2013 Glo Nigeria Premier League match at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu Salisu Yusuf’s men got off fast out of the blocks with the Aba club getting five corner kicks inside the opening quarter of an hour in spite of their big stars, Bishop Onyeudo, Daniel Etor, Emeka Nwanna and Victor Ezeji being cup-tied. But Lobi Stars created the best scoring chances and their conversion proved their Achilles heels. The best chance of the opening half saw Chimaobi Nwaogu’s header come off the woodwork with Enyimba goalkeeper, Femi Thomas well beaten. In the restart, Yusuf threw in attacking winger Chimezie Amanfor and his dribble runs created problems for Lobi’s backline. On 59 minutes, Ede turned in Bright Esieme’s assist for what turned out the winner. In Bauchi, the other semifinals between Akwa United and Warri Wolves was called off with 10 minutes to time owing to heavy rain. After a goalless first half, Akwa United took the lead inside the last 20 minutes through Ukeme Davies before Oghenekaro Etebo evened scored for Wolves. No decision has been made on the called off game by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Enyimba now await the winners of the Akwa United versus Warri Wolves game ahead of the September 15 Federation Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Star hits social note with radio frequency tech

STAR lager beer and its digital marketing agency Bytesize have extended the real time experiences of attendees at Nigeria’s biggest music tour Star Music’s The Trek to social media platforms with the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The 10-city concert tour which featured Nigeria’s best artistes warmed its way into the hearts, ears and social timelines of music fans with the use of RFID-enabled devices and smart wrist tags to offer them a unique interactive experience where they can share pre-scripted and branded updates on both Facebook and Twitter. RFID According to Obabiyi Fagade, brand manager STAR, Nigerian Breweries Plc., “STAR continues to hold steady as a trailblazing brand by giving music lovers in this digital age the very first socially enabled concert in the country. Concert goers in 6 cities on the trek enjoyed the fun experience along with great music. We hope to improve this experience on subsequent activations on the Star Music platform, and also encourage our consumers and fans to stay close as they shine with us.” 17 RFID devices were deployed on this year’s Star Music Trek which started on June 8th in Festac Town, Lagos and ended in style on August 10th in Surulere. These devices allow users to automatically post pictures and messages on their social timelines. STAR’s social strategy for The Trek grows from the campaign objectives and the brand’s ubiquitous presence with a 250,000+ strong Facebook fan page, a verified Twitter account and other digital footprints. This integrated social campaign has driven impressive results. Bytesize CEO Bukola Akingbade believes that digital platforms offer the best solutions for brands seeking deeper connections with their consumers. “With the use of RFID technology, we have synchronized offline and digital platforms seamlessly in a way that enhances user experience and keeps the brand relevant to the consumer. The response by users has been both amazing and inspiring, as the concluded activations on The Trek saw crowds gather around to interact with the devices while letting out delightful oohs and aahs. As these interactions were posted online, it was interesting to see the fans that were not on the Star Music Trek had joined the conversation around it with diverse comments ranging from the excited and the envious to the cynical and the downright hilarious - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/star-hits-social-note-with-radio-frequency-tech/#sthash.YiUYgC9h.dpuf

Jalingo agog over Suntai’s planned return to Taraba

…As souvenir bearing his picture floods Jalingo Jalingo — Ahead of his expected return to the state, several mementos bearing the pictures of the injured Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, have flooded the state capital, Jalingo. Among the gift items currently being distributed free of charge to women, students and supporters of the governor, is a well designed blue-coloured wrapper, bearing the picture of the governor. The wrappers were being distributed by one of the aides of the governor from one of the government offices in Jalingo. The governor is expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home located in New York for home on Saturday, August 24. The governor’s wife, Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, made this known in a telephone interview with NAN on Tuesday in New York. Ahead of his expected return to the state, several mementos bearing pictures of the injured Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, have flooded the state capital, Jalingo. Sample of the Suntai wrapper in a tailor's shop in Jalingo, yesterday. Ahead of his expected return to the state, several mementos bearing pictures of the injured Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, have flooded the state capital, Jalingo. Sample of the Suntai wrapper in a tailor’s shop in Jalingo, yesterday. She said arrangements had been concluded for the return of the governor, who had spent some months at the rehabilitation centre, following the injuries he sustained after his aircraft crashed in Adamawa while attempting to land in October 2012. Hauwa also expressed the family’s appreciation to all who had in many ways supported the family throughout their trying moment. NAN also learnt that some Nigerians living in New York have volunteered to accompany the governor home. Findings by Vanguard revealed that those who collected the wrappers have already given them out to tailors to sew according to the groups invited to welcome the governor back to the state. One of the pieces, which Vanguard picked up from a tailor, has the picture of Suntai wearing a blazer and smiling broadly as if he was in a joyous mood. It has a bold message: “Welcome our Governor”. Competent government sources confirmed that the return of Suntai was imminent and that it was a matter of days before the governor would touch down on the soil he left in a precarious state of health 10 months ago. Vanguard gathered from highly-placed family sources that Suntai, who had since been relocated from Germany to Washington for medical attention following an air crash last October, had recovered considerably and could be released by his doctors any moment from now. “We are very delighted by the level of recovery recorded by the governor and we can confirm that he will soon be back in Jalingo, a member of the Suntai family, told Vanguard. It was learnt that in preparation for the governor’s ‘triumphant return’ to the state, top government officials had paid for a special aircraft to bring back the governor to Nigeria. The amount for the chartered flight, which the source declined to say, had already been paid for by the Taraba State Government. Vanguard also learnt that three senior aides of the governor- the Chief Security Officer, the Chief Detail and the Orderly-have already gone to the United States to accompany the injured governor back to Nigeria. As part of the preparations for the governor’s arrival, spirited efforts are being made by top officials of the administration to give the Government House Jalingo and the governor’s country home in Suntai community a facelift. It was also gathered that many cultural groups in the state were also rehearsing with a view to putting up carnival-like performances to herald the arrival of the governor. “I can confirm to you that Governor Suntai is returning to the state in a matter of weeks, having been confirmed fit to return to work by his minders in the U.S,” an aide of the governor told Vanguard. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/jalingo-agog-over-suntais-planned-return-to-taraba-2/#sthash.qjXeh6O2.dpuf

Cost of governance: Ezekwesili challenges lawmakers to debate

Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has insisted that the National Assembly gulped approximately N1tn in the last eight years. She has, therfore, challenged the lawmakers to a public hearing to defend her claims. In a statement on Wednesday, she defended her submissions at the Civil Society Roundtable hosted by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, on Monday, where she gave details on the budgetary allocations to the National Assembly in the last eight years. Ezekwesili’s presentation was immediately contested by members of the National Assembly, who rebuked her for what they described as blackmail against the legislature. She said “I wish to state with absolute respect for our lawmakers and our institution that it will be more valuable and enriching for our democracy if instead of the abusive language in their recent reaction, the NASS immediately offered me and the rest of the Nigerian public, the opportunity of a public hearing on their budgetary allocation and the very relevant issue of their remuneration. “Doing so would be consistent with global practice across countries of the world, where emphasis is on tenets of Open Budget to enable citizens to track to the disaggregated level all use of public resources across every arm and level of government.” She argued that her presentation approached the topic more broadly, by calling attention to the fundamentally unsustainable economic structure that had caused Nigeria’s development over the last 53 years to lag behind those of countries with similar political history. She said there had been attendant high poverty level of 69 per cent of Nigerian citizens, as recorded by the National Bureau of Statistics. “As part of the aspect of my presentation that touched on management of public finance, I provided eight years data on budgetary allocations or transfers to the National Assembly. “The data in question is publicly available information from the Ministry of Finance, which reveals that the allocations to the National Assembly, known as Statutory Transfers, between 2005 and 2013 were approximately one trillion naira,” she said. The figures, according to Ezekwesili, are as follows: 2005, N 54.79bn; 2006, N54.79bn; 2007, N 66.4bn; 2008, N114.39bn; 2009, N158.92bn; 2010, N 150bn; 2011, N 150bn; 2012, N150bn; and 2013, N150bn.

PHCN: FG rakes in N358.04bn

All things being equal, the Federal Government may have raked in about $2.238 billion or N358.045 billion from the sale of 15 Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor companies, which transaction deadline ended yesterday. The amount represents 7.18 percent of the national budget of N4.987 trillion in 2013, making it the biggest privatisation sales ever in the history of Nigeria and Africa. PHCN-CARTOON The sum is derived from the $559.44 million already paid by the 14 bidders as 25 percent of the total cost of their bids for the respective distribution (Discos) and Generation (Gencos) companies unbundled from PHCN. Already economic experts have called for prudence in the spending of the funds, saying “the government should account for the disbursement of the money properly; it should not be used for politics.” However, there was no official confirmation on the proceeds realised from the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, or the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, which executed the sales. NCP Chair speaks Chairman, Technical Committee of NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, told Vanguard on telephone that at least 13 of the 14 bidders that had paid their 25 percent bond for the 15 PHCN successor companies beat the 5p.m. yesterday deadline for the payment of the balance of 75 percent of their bids. He said: “I can confirm that nine bidders out of the 10 for the Discos paid, four out of the five Gencos paid, one partially paid because of issues with banks transfers. “But we will only be able to say for sure by tomorrow (today) how much was realised. Don’t forget some paid in Dollars and some in Naira, and for some of those who paid in Dollars, the amount will not hit our bank until tomorrow.” Successful bidders Among those that met the payment deadline were Interstate Electrics Limited, Enugu Disco; Vigeo Consortium, Benin Disco; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Company, Ibadan and Yola Discos, respectively; 4Power Consortium, Port-Harcourt Disco, and Aura Energy for Jos Disco. Others are West Power & Gas, for Eko Disco; NEDC/KEPCO, Ikeja Disco; Transcorp/Woodrock Consortium, Ughelli Power Plc; Mainstream Energy Ltd, Kainji Power Plc; Kann Consortium, Abuja Disco; Sahelian Power SPV, Kano Disco; Amperion Power Company Limited, Geregu Power Plc, and North-South Power Company for Shiroro Power Plc. Taking possession By this payment, the bidders are now closer to taking possession of the respective PHCN distribution and generation companies they bided for, following approval by the Federal Government. This is even as organised labour has criticised the transaction in view of outstanding issues. However, any bidder which was unable to pay the balance of the 75 percent will lose the 25 percent already paid, and the slot for ownership for the company will be given to the reserved bidder in that category. Peterside said: “Any bidder that failed to meet his obligation will lose the slot for that company, and we will hand it over to the reserved bidder.” Although he refused to give more details, he expressed delight that the process had ended seamlessly, adding that it was left for the new owners to get to work and give power to Nigerians. Bidders’ plans Agreeing, one of the promoters of the Vigeo Group, Mr. Victor Osibodu, disclosed that his group plans to invest additional N40 billion into Benin Disco for infrastructure over the next five years upon takeover. He confirmed that his group paid $96.75 million as 75 percent balance for their bid. Similarly, West Power & Gas Limited, WPG, completed the payment of US$101.25 million (N16.2 billion) for the acquisition of 60 percent stake in Eko Disco. According to a statement by the company, the payment was made two days ahead of the BPE deadline, and follows payment of the initial 25 percent deposit of US$33.75 million (N5.4 billion) earlier this year. The company further disclosed that the total amount of the transaction is US$135 million (N21.6 billion). Commenting on the completion of payment, Mr. Charles Momoh, Chairman, WPG said: “Today marks a tremendous milestone and a major step forward towards the completion of the most significant privatisation of government assets in Nigeria’s history. “The success of the power transformation programme is critical to the future development of Nigeria. WPG, along with the other preferred bidders, fully appreciate the magnitude of the task before us and are honoured to have been selected. “As a sector, we must work together to ensure we achieve the desired results. “As well as securing the finance to complete the acquisition, WPG has brought together a world class team of local and international industry experts to implement the rehabilitation and expansion programme. “We look forward to the completion of the acquisition process and all matters to be resolved so we can begin the task of transforming the power sector in the country.” WPG raises N80bn He further stated that over the years, WPG had raised close to US$500 million (N80 billion) in equity and debt financing to fund the acquisition of the Eko Disco and the significant rehabilitation and transformation work required to improve distribution network infrastructure and operations. He noted that US$250 million (N40 billion) had been allocated to rehabilitation, while the company had allocated US$48 million (N7.68 billion) towards a power purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET. Giving a background of the company, Momoh said: “West Power & Gas Limited, WPG, is a Nigerian Power Investment Holding Company established to invest in Nigeria’s fast evolving power sector and to participate in the development of the sector as a whole. “The company is in the final stages of completing the acquisition of the Eko Distribution Company and will explore other opportunities for investment in the sector as a whole, including generation.” UBA finances Shiroro Furthermore, Pan African financial services group, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, Tuesday, entered into a US$82 million financing deal with North South Power Limited, a strategic investor in the power sector, to finance the acquisition of the Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Plc Concession. The funds, arranged by UBA Plc and UBA Capital Plc, facilitated payment of the balance of 75 percent of the acquisition cost to BPE ahead of yesterday’s payment deadline. UBA Plc is the lead bank and Mandated Lead Arranger to the transaction, while UBA Capital is the Mandated Lead Arranger, Debt Adviser and Facility Agent. According to the Group Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, the seamless completion of the transaction by all parties involved is a reflection of the capacity of Nigerian banks to champion the financing of power reforms project across the country. He said: “This transaction is a milestone for the bank and we are glad to be part of it. It is another demonstration of UBA’s commitment, appetite and capability for big ticket transactions. “Importantly, it is our commitment to Federal Government’s efforts in increasing capacity in the power sector. With our partners, UBA Capital Plc, we strongly believe that this financing will help in jumpstarting the much needed investment in the power sector.” Group CEO, UBA Capital Plc, Rasheed Olaoluwa noted that the investment group had been an important partner in the privatizasion process as it is currently advising three out of the six generation companies recently conceded by Federal Government. 800Mw target Engineer Olubunmi Peters, Vice Chairman, North South Power Company Limited, praised the commitment shown by UBA Plc and UBA Capital Plc in raising the funds. He said: “The two institutions have again shown commitment to the power sector. With this fund, we are set to modernise the Shiroro Hydro Electric Power. “Our company intends to add 600 megawatts into the national grid and add 200 megawatts in the third year. ”The financing was a major milestone for UBA Plc, UBA Capital Plc, North South Power Company Limited and, most importantly, the Nigerian power sector as the Federal Government’s induced incentives to attract private sector participation across the sector is coming into effect.” - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/phcn-fg-rakes-in-n358-04bn/#sthash.gJ8rvMAq.dpuf

’2015: Only Supreme Court can determine Jonathan’s eligibility’

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/2015-only-supreme-court-can-determine.html ABUJA—AHEAD of 2015 presidential election, Adamawa stakeholders in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Wednesday, that only the Supreme Court can determine whether or not President Goodluck has the right to run for the presidential election. According to the PDP stakeholders, if President Jonathan contests for another term of four years in 2015 and gets the position, he will have then succeeded himself in office as President for a cumulative period of nine years 23 days, against the constitutional provision of eight years. The PDP stakeholders, who warned that PDP must be careful not to play into the hands of the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM and others, stressed that those currently pushing for Jonathan’s Presidency come 2015 on the basis of ethnicity or religion as a yardstick for their support for him, were not doing him or the polity any good. In a statement signed by former governorship aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo, the stakeholders said: “It has the tendency of alienating other ethnic and religious groups against the President. How then does that help the cause of the PDP and the President, seeing that the alienated groups are by far in the majority? President Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan “The President needs the majority, and not the minority, to win his elections. With all due apologies to the Governors Forum, let it be always remembered that elections are won with higher votes, and not with lower votes. “But I want to emphasize one most important thing here though, ultimately only the Supreme Court can determine whether or not President Jonathan can even contest the 2015 presidential elections. “As I said some time ago, if the President contests for another term of four years in 2015, he would have self-succeeded himself in office as President for a cumulative period of nine years 23 days. This is beyond the eight years maximum period prescribed by the constitution and vicariously interpreted by the Supreme Court. “Most people may not see it, but this issue is a very serious constitutional barricade standing against the candidacy of the President in 2015. Neither the President’s supporters nor his opponents, nor even the President himself can determine this matter. ‘ ’Only the Supreme Court can do so; certainly not even the pronouncement of a High Court can suffice. To take it as given that the president can contest in 2015 is a grave error of judgment. I am making this press release against the backdrop of the current agitations for and against President Jonathan’s candidacy in 2015 that have lately been tearing, especially the peoples of the core North and the Middle Belt, apart.”

Boko Haram Gunmen In Army Uniform Kill 4

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen, dressed as soldiers opened fire on residents of Gamboru Ngala, a border town, in northeastern Nigeria on Wednesday after luring them out of their homes. Four persons were killed, residents said. The incident involving suspected members of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram occurred around 1:00 am in the town near the border with Cameroon. Residents said the attack appeared to be in reprisal for the recent arrests of Boko Haram members. The gunmen dressed in military uniforms went into the Fulatari neighbourhood and called on residents to come out and see Boko Haram members they claimed they had arrested. “They took up positions and shot whoever came out of his house to see the Boko Haram men they claimed they arrested,” Musa Zango, a member of a local vigilante group helping the military hunt Boko Haram members, told AFP. “They deceived the people in the area into believing they were part of the (vigilante groups) that have sprung up in the town recently to fight Boko Haram.” The gunmen shot dead three residents and strangled another when the gun they fired at him failed, Zango said. On Monday, troops stationed in the town arrested 17 Boko Haram suspects after a shootout following a tip-off by residents who feared an imminent attack, said Bukar Galadima, a local youth leader. It was unclear if anyone was killed in Monday’s violence. Wednesday’s incident occurred after Nigeria’s military on Monday claimed that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau “may have died” from a gunshot wound suffered during a clash with soldiers on June 30. There has however been no further confirmation and violence attributed to the extremist group has continued. Boko Haram’s insurgency has left at least 4,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces. The Nigerian military launched an offensive in May aiming to end the insurgency and has encouraged the formation of vigilante groups to assist them.

Death Of Okada Rider: Killer Cop Arrested

A policeman who killed a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider) in Ikorodu on Tuesday has been arrested and detained, according to P.M.NEWS findings. The policeman, identified as Haruna, who was on a routine patrol with the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, anti-crime team, was said to have shot and killed a motorcyclist simply identified as Lekan a.k.a. Oosa, when he allegedly resisted seizure of his motorcycle. The victim was a student of Federal University of Technology, Akure, in Ondo State. Chairman, Motorcyclists Association Of Lagos State, MOALS, Kayode Jimoh, who spoke wth P.M.NEWS this morning during a protest organised by the motorcycle riders, said that the motorcyclists were not going to look the other way while policemen keep killing people unjustly. Jendor, as the chairman is popularly known, also informed our correspondent that the worst had happened but a repeat of such incident could result in a violent backlash in the area. •Ikorodu residents and Okada riders protesting against the death of a rider this morning •Ikorodu residents and Okada riders protesting against the death of a rider this morning He said policemen shouldn’t disturb motorcyclists who were plying inner routes as they have been complying with the state’s traffic laws by not plying the major routes and expressway. “This is just the beginning of our protests if the government decides to keep quiet and watch policemen kill innocent lives like fowls. We won’t keep quiet and watch all of that happen. “Lekan is dead now and left some children behind. We are glad that the policeman has been arrested and detained but we don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday. They should leave those of us plying the inner routes and stop disturbing us,” he said. While pleading with the irate mob at Ladega Junction, Ikorodu, this morning, the Area Commander, Ijede Police Command, ACP Amos Marcus, appealed to the motorcyclists to get back to work, assuring them that their grievances were understood and promised to ensure safety of the people. Marcus explained that the fact that neither tear-gas nor gunshot was used to disperse the crowd this morning should tell the protesting motorcyclists that the authorities were not happy with what had happend. •Some of the okada riders. PHOTOS... DAMILARE OKUNOLA •Some of the okada riders. PHOTOS… DAMILARE OKUNOLA Addressing the angry mob in Yoruba, he said: “We are not happy about what has happened because we are also human beings like you. We are not happy with the death of your colleague but this your protest must stop. “If you watch very well, nobody used tear-gas or even shot guns in the air to disperse you because we understand your grievances. Please, leave the streets and go back to work. Let peace reign, we shall get to the root of everything.” P.M.NEWS gathered that the deceased was the only surviving child of his parents after his other siblings had died and that he is survived by a wife and five children. Violence broke out yesterday after Lekan was shot dead as commercial motorcycle riders took to the streets to protest his death. Lekan was said to have been shot dead while struggling with the police patrol team. According to an eye witness account, “the policeman shot Lekan three times before the patrol team sped off in their vehicle, but the other okada riders pursued the policemen and caught them at Agric area of Ikorodu. The policemen were attacked and the particular one that shot Lekan was bady injured.” The victim was rushed to Ikorodu General hospital but he died before doctors could attend to him. Sources saidthe police team that caused the chaos came from Ikeja. The mother of the victim could not speak to our reporter as she was seen weeping yesterday.

NFF May Unveil Eagles List For Malawi Clash Today

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/nff-may-unveil-eagles-list-for-malawi.html he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected today, to release the list of players to be invited for the crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match with Malawi billed for the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on September 7,According to Daily Independent, NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, confirmed on Monday that the list had already been submitted to the NFF’s technical subcommittee which is going through it. “I can tell you that the list has been concluded and will be made public perhaps Tuesday (today),” Olajire disclosed. Among the players expected to be in the list are Mikel Obi and Vincent Enyeama who were both left out of the Eagles last international friendly match against South Africa and Emmanuel Emenike who last played for the team at this 2013 AFCON. Meanwhile, defender Kenneth Omeruo has revealed that he is healing fast from his surgery. The Chelsea signing who was on loan to ADO Den Haag of Netherlands throughout last season revealed on his Twitter handle that he was recovering faster than expected. “My shoulder is getting better thanks to God. Surgery was a success. Great treatment and therapy here in Chelsea… I think I am back early,” Omeruo said on Sunday.

FOOTBALL LOVING COUPLE MARRY AT THE STADIUM IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF FANS DURING MATCH BETWEEN SPURS AND STOKE CITY

A couple proved a real match of the day when the groom surprised his bride-to-be by arranging their wedding for during half-time of a Premier League football game. Jade Barker, 23, was eagerly anticipating tying the knot with fiancé Levi Stone, 23, when she turned up at Stoke City FC’s Britannia Stadium on the morning of her wedding. Even though their big date had fallen on Stoke’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur that didn’t stop determined Levi from giving his bride her special day. The pair enjoyed VIP seats of the action as stunned Jade sat in the stands wearing her lavish white wedding dress. And at half time the pair got to tie the knot and said their vows in front of 28,000 screaming football fans on the pitch to chants of: ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ The blushing bride was even made to wear football boots so as not to damage Stoke’s hallowed turf with her high heels. The newlywed couple then enjoyed a lap of honour of the ground before settling down to watch the second half. Stoke went on to lose the game 2-1. The pair, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staff, and 150 guests then danced the night away on a special Astroturf dance floor complete with goals and cardboard cut-out footballers. Jade admitted that although her original thoughts were ‘what the hell are we doing here?’ she thoroughly enjoyed her big day. Jade, a lifeguard trainer, said: ‘I didn’t know what was going on but I trusted him. He did amazingly. We both got what we wanted. ‘My dress was amazing and he got lads wedding at the stadium. ‘The worst part of it was being away from him for so long. ‘I didn’t think about all the people watching because I hadn’t seen him for three weeks so I was just so happy to be back with him saying our vows. ‘Although when we got there I did ask “what the hell are we doing here?” I couldn’t believe I was at a football match on my wedding day. ‘The worst part was walking through all the Spurs fans and I heard some people chant “you don’t know what you ’r doing.” ‘But I wanted to marry him wherever it would be and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.’ The pair’s story is about to hit the screens in the BBC Three show Don’t Tell The Bride, which sees men organise their weddings behind their partners’ backs. Producers gave the groom £12,000 to plan a wedding in just three weeks while the bride moves back in with her parents and is allowed no contact with her fiancé. Levi explained his risky reasoning behind choosing his beloved Stoke City FC as the wedding venue. Levi, who works as a project manager, said: ‘I’ve been watching Stoke City for about 10 years. ‘It’s like my church so I thought it would be a perfect venue. ‘Firstly it was brought up at the pub as a joke but then me and my best man Damien started to seriously consider the idea. “Some parts were stressful but I was optimistic and organised so it I managed to stay on top of it. ‘We both knew that we wanted to get married and we never wanted a long term engagement so it worked perfectly.’ Jade came up with the idea for Levi to apply even before he had proposed. Levi popped the question on March 21 and the pair tied the knot on May 12. Best man Damien, 22, added: ‘Every minute of the planning was such a laugh and the actual day was amazing.’

SAUDI KING SENDS MILITARY PLANE TO TAKE SECOND HEAVIEST MAN WITH 610 KG TO HOSPITAL

A Saudi Arabian man who officials say weighs 1,345 pounds has been fork-lifted out of his house on the orders of the king for treatment. King Abdullah paid for a specially-equipped plane to take Khalid Mohsin Shaeri, who has become one of the heaviest people in the world, to hospital. He has not been able to leave his bedroom in two and a half years and part of his home had to be demolished so he could be brought out from the second floor.heaviest man 2 The king asked for Mr. Shaeri to be taken to hospital six months ago but treatment was delayed until a special bed could be made for him in the United States. Saudi Arabia’s health ministry worked with civil defence and the Saudi Red Cross to organise the patient’s evacuation. Reports in Saudi Arabia say Mr Shaeri weighs 1,345 pounds (610kg). If correct he is the second heaviest man ever recorded. Pictures of the operation show him sitting in bed while members of the civil defence lift it onto a forklift truck. One officer even holds an umbrella to shield Mr. Shaeri from the sun. He was then transferred by ambulance to a local airport near his home in the southwestern town of Jizan. A spokesman for the Ministry of Health told CNN that Mr Shaeri is aged between 18 and 20 and will be treated with various dietary and physical programmes to help him lose weight. No surgery has been scheduled so far. From there he was flown on a specially-equipped plane to the King Fahd Medical City in the Saudi capital of Riyad, paid for by King Abdullah.heaviest man 3 Mr. Shaeri’s cousin Naser Makke said he was relived he had finally been sent for treatment. He said: ‘We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, the King, may God protect him and give him the long life, had given his instructions to the ministry of health to do all the arrangements to transfer the patient for treatment in a safe way.’ Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told the Saudi Gazette: ‘It is really a humanitarian gesture from the King to order the transfer and treatment of the patient. ‘It is one of the King’s traits that he always demonstrates whenever someone is in need. ‘Once the ministry received the royal order it formed a medical team specialized in intensive care to work out the best plan to transfer the case to Riyadh and handle it as best as possible medically.’ Only one person has ever been known to weigh more than Mr. Shaeri. And it was American Jon Brower Minnoch, who died in 1983, he was 1,400 pounds (635kg) – 55 pounds heavier than Mr. Shaeri.

Boko Haram Film Producer Arrested

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/boko-haram-film-producer-arrested.html John Dada Adedayo, the producer of a new film called ‘Boko Haram,’ has been arraigned before court after he refused to wait for the Ghana Cinematography Exhibition Board to censor certain parts of the film before giving him the green light to distribute it to the public. The accused person was put before a court presided over by Audrey Kocuvie-Tay and charged for refusing to subject himself to censorship laws, but he denied any wrongdoing. He has been remanded into police custody while the case has been adjourned to August 19, 2013. Narrating events leading to the arrest of the accused person, the prosecutor, DSP Cletus Abadamloora said the complainant is Alfred Kumi Atiemo and a member of the Ghana Cinematography Exhibition Board (GCEB) while the accused person is a producer and a Nigerian living in Ghana. He said on July 4, 2013, the accused person produced a film called ‘Boko Haram’ and sent it to the GCEB for clarification and approval but failed to wait for their approval. The prosecutor noted that Adedayo started distributing the film to the public and when the cinematography board was informed it launched investigation into the matter. In addition, the police officer stated that the board, during the course of operation in July, found that 10,000 copies of the film had been distributed and also found that 700 copies of the film were on the market. Furthermore, he said a search on the accused person revealed 913 copies of the film. He admitted distributing the said copies and the board lodged a report with the police. He said Adedayo was accordingly arrested and arraigned before court after the investigations.>

Why I Shunned Amaechi’s Deputy In PH – Patience Jonathan

Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has said that the refusal of senior officials of the Rivers State Government to pay her a condolence visit when she lost her foster mother was the reason why she shunned the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, at the Port Harcourt airport. Why I Shunned Amaechi’s Deputy In PH – Patience Jonathan She said despite the fact that several groups and individuals from across the country came to commiserate with her, she did not receive any delegation from Rivers State. Mrs. Jonathan said this in a statement by her spokesman, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba. She was reacting to media reports that she snubbed Ikuru, when she arrived at the Port Harcourt airport on Sunday. The President’s wife said she decided to make her visit to the state as quiet as possible so as not to give room for those who she described as mischief makers to succeed in their plans of involving her in the political intrigues in the state. She said since the wife of the state governor ordinarily receives her whenever she visits any state, that was why the wife of Bayelsa State governor came to Port Harcourt from Yenagoa to receive her. The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some media claiming that the First Lady, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan snubbed the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, who was said to have gone to the Port Harcourt International Airport to receive her. “The reports, by all indications, represent a contrived motive of some gladiators in the Rivers State crisis to continue to paint the First Lady as an aggressor. “It should be clear to all that for quite some time now, the First Lady has refrained from commenting on issues relating to the Rivers State crisis while these gladiators have continued to use every media at their disposal to fan the embers of disharmony and hatred. “It is for this reason of the intrigue at play that the First Lady would want to be left out of Rivers State crisis, hence making her visit to the state as quiet as possible, so as not to give room for mischief makers to succeed in their plans. “Ordinarily, the wife of the state governor receives the first lady whenever she visits any state. That is why the wife of Bayelsa State Governor travelled from Yenagoa to receive the First Lady.” “In addition, as a daughter of Rivers state, the First Lady is free to visit the state any time she desires. But we are forced to ask: why the presence of the First Lady in Rivers State always generate rumpus? “It should be noted that while several groups and individuals from across the country came to condole the First Lady and Mr. President on the death of her mother, no official of Rivers State government deemed it fit to pay the first family condolence visit, yet they claimed the First Lady is a daughter of Rivers State. “He who must go to equity must go with clean hands. They should learn to give respect to those who deserve respect so that they too can earn respect.”

Pastor’s Wife, 3 Children, 4 Others Perish In Auto Crash

Tragedy struck, Saturday night, as at least eight persons including a Pastor’s wife, Pastor (Mrs) Hellen Samuel, her three children, Saviour, Ensigne and Purity, were reportedly killed in an auto crash in Katagbegi village of Niger State. Pastor’s Wife, 3 Children, 4 Others Perish In Auto Crash Pastor’s Wife, 3 Children, 4 Others Perish In Auto Crash The accident occured when the bus owned by the Niger State Transport Authority they were travelling in ran into an articulated truck at a bad spot along Bida-Minna road. The family of Pastor Abraham Samuel of the PotterPorchChurch, Minna and the other passengers in the bus were said to be travelling from Lagos to Minna when the crash occured at about 8pm, Saturday night. The bus, according to eyewitness, was said to have caught fire shortly after the accident, thereby making rescue efforts difficult. It was, however, gathered that only one passenger was rescued alive with serious burns. Special Adviser to the Niger State Government on Emergency and Disaster Management, Mohammed Shaba, confirmed that the eight bodies had been recovered from the scene of the accident, even though the bus was believed to be carrying 18 passengers at the time of the accident. Shaba said corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Minna General Hospital. The passengers were said to have been burnt in the vehicle because the local people that rushed for the rescue efforts lacked the capacity to curtail the fire. Our correspondent who went to the church met the Pastor preaching during yesterdy’s church service after which he announced the demise of his wife and three children. Members of the church screamed at the news but the Pastor remained calm with elders of the church around him. According to Pastor Samuel who, however, maintained sober mood “My wife and the kids are resting.”

PDP Crisis: I Won’t Resign As PDP Chairman – Tukur

http://galumje.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-national-chairman-of-peoples.html The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has declared that he will not resign his office, advising that it is in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan that the party get back on the track to peace ahead of 2015. PDP Crisis: I Won’t Resign As PDP Chairman - Tukur Tukur Some stakeholders including some governors have reportedly called for the resignation of Tukur to pave way for peace within the ruling party. But dismissing media reports about moves to remove him from office, Tukur said he was never under any pressure to resign as often reported in the media, noting that he was in good accord with President Goodluck Jonathan and other elders of the party. In a statement personally signed by him, Tukur said: “Let me reiterate that I am not resigning and I have no intention of doing so as an elected national chairman of PDP. I accepted to become chairman based on my conviction that I can use my wealth of experience to help my party and my country. I am not looking for anything at my age other than putting it on record that God has helped me, and then I am using the opportunities he gave me to serve the rest of Nigeria to the best of my abilities. “I will not relent in using the good office given to me by God to bring peace into the party. It is on this note that I appeal to all our members to come together to face the challenges confronting us as a party. If we must remain the strongest party that we are in Africa, it is high time we buried the hatchet and then begin to close ranks. “It is in our party’s interest and, indeed, in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan to have us get back on the track while regaining the grooves that have been making us tick, unbeatable and widely accepted. To do otherwise is to yield the grounds to the propagandists who have been masquerading as our opponents even with the nebulous interest of getting power in 2015.” Tukur further said he was aware of the antics by “some black legs in and out of the PDP” who have been funding negative media reports on the activities of the party both at the state and national levels. He stated that such antics would amount to naught because no sponsor of such reports would go far. He said: “I had hardly settled down in office when some newspapers predicted that I would not last three months. Later, some newspapers wrote that I would resign in December. Another one said two days ago that I had been asked to resign. Well, I have spent more than one year in office and they still continue to write same and same thing all over. I really do not understand whether Bamanga Tukur is really the media problem, or the problem of faceless individuals who were manufacturing the miserable reports. “It was more ludicrous that some people funded a report that I had resigned when, indeed, I was on my way to Canada for an official engagement, and yet our so-called media bought the untruth without shuddering. Then I ask myself, where is the sense of fairness and professionalism by our media in this regard? “The problem is so bad that when members of our party meet and discuss behind closed doors, the media would say Bamanga Tukur is the issue. The media do not seem to know that we have better things to discuss in our party than issue of crises.”

ASUU Strike: No Retreat, No Surrender —President

Ahead of today’s meeting with the Federal Government, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has declared that the union will not back down on the ongoing strike if a compromise is not reached. Dr. Fagge who made this disclosure to P.M.NEWS via a telephone chat this morning, maintained that the strike action was not embarked upon just for the demands, but for the Federal Government to honour a Memorandum of Understanding which it signed in 2012 with ASUU. He said: “Who’s talking about demands here? We presented our demands in 2006 and it took us three years to get it into an agreement. “The Federal Government signed an MOU in 2012, that’s what we are asking them to honour, period. The strike action will not continue only if they implement the MOU we had last year.” Dr. Fagge further disclosed that “If we call off the strike when the MOU has not been implemented, of what use was the strike action in the first place? We are holding on until everything is sorted out.” The industrial action by the lecturers will be forty-nine days old if ASUU does not reach an agreement with the Federal Government at the meeting scheduled to hold later today.

Terrorism: Okiro Advocates Civil Security Force

Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Mbama Okiro has advocated for an establishment of a Civil Security Force (CSF) to complement operations of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), at the grassroots level. The former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) believes that the Civil Security Force which should be an arm and under the supervision of the police, will immensely curtail terrorism and other criminal activities at grassroots (village) level. Okiro made the call recently at the Corporate Council on Africa in Washington, United States of America (USA) with members of the Corporate Council. They included Nigerians in diaspora who invited him to deliver a lecture during a round table discussion on Civil Security in Nigeria. Citing the Civilian JTF in Borno State, he noted that “the positive impact of the youth civilian volunteer group in Borno State justifies such reasoning.” Okiro based his belief on the principles of the American Homeland Security, stressing that the operation of the CSF should be in line with Bahama and Sri-Lanka models, which are under the command of the police. He noted that after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, the United States under former President Bush, set up the Homeland security, and designed a National Strategy for combating terrorism – a strategy that seeks to defeat terrorist organizations, deny terrorist sponsors, diminish the causes of terrorism, and defend the United States. This strategy made provision for a role for the American Public/Civil Security – based on the principles of shared responsibility and partnership with the Congress, state and local governments, the private sector and the American people,” he explained. He recalled that available records have it that due to terrorist attacks on villages during the outbreak of civil war in Sri-Lanka, the villagers organized themselves and formed a security group to protect themselves. “They were known as Home Guards; recognized and armed by government. Government created the Home Guard Service and issued them uniforms and weapons and they were under the Command of the local Sri – Lankan Police Units. In 2006, they were renamed the Civil Security Force, following the establishment of the Department of Civil Security, which was published as a Gazette,” he explained. He stressed that “it is important to note that these patriotic Sri-Lankans were volunteers (male and female), deployed in their home towns and villages, to protect the civilian population from terrorist attack.” He told the gathering that “Nigeria is a veritable haven for investment,” assuring that “the government of Nigeria fully aware that there cannot be any meaningful socio-economic development without adequate security is determined to take deliberate and far reaching measures aimed at enhancing human security as a prelude to civil security.” The PSC Chairman disclosed that he has three policies he wants to implement to enhance the performance of the Nigeria Police Force to be people police. He said they include, crime prevention and control, along the United Nations guidelines which specifically emphasizes on planned police/public partnership programmes, such as Police Community Relations Committee PCRC); police/private security guards partnership as well as mass public enlightenment on the need for every citizen to be security conscious and contribute to collective community security.

Dangote, Elumelu jostle for 10 NIPP power plants

President of Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote and the Chairman of Transcorp Hilton Hotel Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, were among the 82 Nigerians, who the Federal Government has approved their companies to move to the next stage of acquiring the 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) plants. In a joint meeting, the National Council on Privatization (NCP) and the Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, (NDPHC) at its second meeting, approved the pre-qualification of 386 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submitted by 82 of the 110 consortia that earlier expressed interest in the acquisition of 80 per cent equity in the 10 NIPP power plants jointly owned by the Federal, State and Local Governments. While Dangote expressed interest in three of his firms, namely, Dangote Industries Limited/Sewa West Africa Limited, Dangote Industries Limited/ESSAR and Dangote Industries Limited/Sogenal Limited, Elumelu used Transcorp – GE Consortium to seek for the firms. The 10 generation plants include, Gbarain Generation Company, Benin Generation Company, Omotosho Generation Company, Egbema Generation Company, Omoku Generation Company, Geregu Generation Company, Calabar Generation Company, Ogorode Generation Company, Alaoji Generation Company and Olorunsogo Generation Company.

Messi doubtful for Barcelona opener

Barcelona are concerned over the fitness of Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday’s season-opening Primera Division meeting with Levante. The 26-year-old did some special rehabilitation exercises in the gym at the Ciutat Esportiva training complex on Wednesday with Barca physio Juanjo Brau, designed to help him recover from his quadriceps injury. The Argentina star had flown back from Rome before his country’s 2-1 friendly victory over Italy and, in a statement on their official website, Barca insisted they will not be talking any risks in rushing Messi back for the Levante match this weekend. Also announced on Thursday, Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has begun his recovery following knee surgery as he took to the training pitch on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Barca veteran, who underwent an operation to have a Baker’s cyst removed from his right knee in June, was put through his paces at the Ciutat Esportiva, working alongside club physio Juanjo Brau.

Mourinho’s not worth it – Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to speak about Jose Mourinho following recent comments in the press from the former Real Madrid boss, suggesting that his compatriot is “not worth it”. The new Chelsea manager struck a nerve with the forward when he said that the Blancos star was not the “real” Ronaldo earlier in August, with the Santiago Bernabeu icon subsequently ruffled but wanting to stay out of a public slinging match. Although Mourinho has since sought to clarify the issue, claiming that his initial quotes were blown out of proportion, Ronaldo is still refusing to answer questions regarding his fellow Portuguese. “I will not mention the name of that person [Mourinho],” he told reporters following Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Netherlands, in which he scored a late equaliser. “He’s not worth it.” Ronaldo did, however, laud his current Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti and hopes that Madrid can complete La Decima and win back the Primera Division title from Barcelona this season. “Ancelotti is a great coach, a great man and I am very happy to work with him,” he added. “We will try to win La Liga and the Champions League. It is difficult but this team is good, we have a great coach and we will try to make it happen.

Alcoholism

There are different diseases that are caused by common things, such as vices. This has been usual and you would find it easy to track these diseases’ treatments since the common cause of which is the lifestyle of people, especially in handling vices. You should know that many people do have vices. But this does not mean that you should also have one for yourself. Dependence on the societal whims would not be helpful as it looks. You may look accepted and belonged, but still, your health would still be the ending statement after all. One of the common vices you should be concerned about is the alcohol drinking. More and more people tend to drink more alcohol even at their early ages. They are too ignorant of what this could bring them. But of course, there is nothing better than seeing their fears as hopes for their changes. This article would relatively give way to a change and promotion against alcohol drinking. The preceding statements would be concerned with the diseases brought by alcohol drinking. This information would then give you better ways of understanding alcohol dangers, especially if you already made yourself fit to one of these diseases: Mental Health Problems Do you know that alcohol could impose self-harm in your mind? It has been reported that more people drinking alcohol cause harm to themselves. Moreover, alcohol is also one of the reasons why some people suicide. Plus, it has been studied that whenever you drink 30 units per day, you would find yourself prone to a certain mental illness called psychosis, which would trigger hallucinations as well as delusions. Mental health could get any worse especially now that alcohol could promote damage to your brain. This could affect your emotional and planning control. Cancer It has been unknown how cancer is linked to alcohol. But as the studies suggest, it has been said that one out of five causes of cancer is due to alcohol. The most common types of cancers caused and linked to alcohol are bowel and liver cancers. Moreover, alcohol could still be liable in causing risks of breast cancer and mouth cancers to a person. Diabetes There are evidences showing that alcohol could cause diabetes since the sensitivity of a body from insulin could be reduced by drinking. If this happens, type 2 diabetes would come into the scene. Moreover, one of the side effects of diabetes is caused by alcohol, which is the chronic pancreatitis. Being overweight as caused by alcohol could also lead to diabetes. Heart Disease The weakening of the cardiomyopathy, which is a heart muscle, is actually linked to alcohol drinking. On the other hand, binge drinking has been considered to be contributive to the development of coronary heart diseases. This type of heavy consumption of alcohol could also cause irregular rhythms of the heart. There are more things that could prove how alcohol could be held responsible for certain diseases. This has been studied extensively and all evidences just proved how detrimental alcohol is.

Nigerian dies of alcohol overdose in India

A 28-year-old Nigerian has died while undergoing treatment at Inamdar Hospital, in India only a few minutes after a group of seven persons dropped him off at the hospital, then fled the scene. According to PuneMirror, an Indian news portal, the man identified as Mbamara Chideara Festus, normally stays in Nigeria, but at the moment lives in Mumbai. A post-mortem conducted at Sassoon General Hospital, said Festus died of alcohol overdose after a party at Hotel Shalimar, Kondhwa. After he fell unconscious, seven of his friends — five men and two women — dropped him off at the hospital in a Swift and left immediately. He was declared dead minutes later. A guard at the hospital noted down the registration number of the car and the Wanowrie police managed to track it down in Kondhwa. Senior police inspector B D Mohite who is in charge of Wanowrie police station said, “As per primary information, Festus is from Mumbai, and originally from Nigeria. His friends are students in Mumbai, mostly from Nigeria as well. They had all come to Pune on Friday to attend a party at Hotel Shalimar in Kondhwa. It looks like he may drunk beyond his limits and then faced its ill-effects.” Mohite added, “We established contact with his friends in Mumbai. They came Pune in two separate cars at the invitation of one of their friends here. While partying, Festus suddenly collapsed. One of his friends, identified as Chukwuma took him to the hospital, along with six others. While treating him, doctors declared him dead. On hearing this, his friends panicked, thinking they might get into trouble with the police, especially since they did not have their passports with them. They left the hospital at once and got in touch with us only after they got back to Mumbai.” Mohite further said that, as per the post-mortem report, Festus had no external or internal injuries. The report states that the details of the cause of death have been kept confidential. “However it is part of the investigation as to whether any other narcotic substances were used,” Mohite said. Sunil Date, administrative officer, Inamdar Multispeciality Hospital said, “Around 3:15 am, around 7 to 8 people came in two cars. They took the patient to the Casualties ward, then left in a hurry. He was in a very bad state. When doctors took him and checked his ECG, they found he was already dead.” Date added, “Our security guards chased the car and noted the registration number, which we then handed over to the police. Since the death occurred before we could treat him, we do not know the exact cause. We have already given the police CDs of our CCV footage to help them in their investigation.">

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We’ll hunt down Boko Haram leaders –FG

The Presidency on Friday said the government and security agencies would hunt down the leaders of the violent sect, Boko Harram. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja. Abati was reacting to a statement credited to the United States Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, that leaders of the sect must be captured and prosecuted for Nigeria to achieve its potential as a stable regional leader. The presidential spokesman said security operatives had succeeded in hunting down many members of the sect and were intensifying efforts aimed at tracking down their leaders. Abati said security agents had destroyed the enclave the sect carved for themselves in the northern part of the country. He said, “Our determination is to make sure that wherever they are, the leaders of the terrorists’ group will be hunted down and brought to justice. “What has been done in the three months of emergency rule in three states is that a clear message has been sent out that government will not condone terrorists’ activities. “The enclave they already carved out for themselves have been wiped out and destroyed and many of them have been captured and hunted down. This has sent out a very strong signal. “The government is already getting close to destroying the leadership cadre of Boko Haram and those caught will definitely be brought to justice.” On whether the Federal Government will seek the assistance of US in tracking down the sect’s leaders, Abati said there was already existing partnership between the US and Nigeria and also between Nigeria and neighbouring countries on the matter. When asked how soon the government would get the sect leaders in its custody, he said it was an ongoing security operation, adding that as successes were recorded, the public would be duly informed. Abati explained that the essence of the security effort in the north-eastern part of the country was to check insurgency and bring the perpetrators to book. He said the government had made it very clear that it would not tolerate any act of terrorism and that was why it had declared Boko Haram a terrorist organisation. The presidential spokesman added that in applying all the sanctions spelt out in the Terrorism Protection Act, whoever was arrested or identified as a terrorist would be brought to justice. Abati added, “I see the statement by the US Under Secretary on Political Affairs generally as a statement of support. She made it very clear that the US is solidly behind the Nigerian government. She placed a lot of emphasis on partnership between countries and made it very clear that Boko Haram poses a threat not only to Nigeria but also to the United States. “What you must know is that there are many areas of collaboration between the US and Nigeria in terms of information sharing, capacity development and operational strategy. In terms of strategy, the approach that has been adopted by the Jonathan administration is a multi-track strategy divided into short term, medium term and long term. “In the short term is the military intervention in that part of the country to check the insurgents. And in that regard, a lot of success has been made. “And of course we have the option of dialogue and reconciliation in which we have the amnesty committee. Meanwhile, Abati, on Saturday warned unnamed persons who he said are playing the politics of 2015 to desist from dragging President Goodluck Jonathan into every conflict. He said while the Presidency conceded to the people their right to play politics, they should do so without blaming Jonathan for everything that happened within the polity. Abati made the call in an interview he granted an online television, Sahara TV, monitored by our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday. Abati also took on those who have been accusing him of taking up the job of defending the President and his wife, Patience, who he had before now severally criticised in his celebrated column in a national newspaper. He said he would not be intimidated by such sentiments as his focus was to continue to support Jonathan to achieve his objectives.

We Don’t Need Jokers As Leaders ~ Ribadu

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday said Nigeria was suffering from collapsed institutions and needed more than mere change of leadership to survive. He also said hurdles were placed on his way to fight corruption when he was appointed as the pioneer chairman of the anti-graft agency. Ribadu, who spoke at a mentoring session with corps members in Abuja, likened Nigeria to a man “who sows maize grains yet expects to reap mango fruits.” He said, “Our trouble in this country is principally the collapse of our institutions. Our potential is lost in our civic decadence, which stares us in the face wherever we go. We see the decadence in the eyes of the policeman flipping through our particulars; we see the decadence in the eyes of the university registrar demanding bribes to grant or facilitate admissions; we see the decadence in the eyes of every citizen who has lost hope in Nigeria.” Ribadu, who said he rejected offers from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Afribank, Corporate Affairs Commission, United Bank for Africa and a big family business to pick-up a career in the police, maintained that he had no regrets for his actions as the EFCC boss. He advised the corps members to be the change agents the country needed. Ribadu said, “To inspire change you must become something different; do something worthy of emulation, something whose memory even comforts you no matter what.” “My appointment as chairman of the EFCC, for instance, was to a turbulent task. I had to follow the statements of my previously written will to serve in a country where, there is a lack of functional institutions to check mismanagement of public funds and related criminal misconduct. Trust in public institutions had been demolished and perpetrators went about wearing their crimes like badges of honour. “I was given an appointment to stand in the way of these celebrated fraudsters, without an office and funds to launch my operations. But we went on to form what became a prime anti-corruption body in the country. Our activities are left for history and honest critics of political evolution to gauge and tell of our impact.” Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “Nigeria: A Generation’s Quest for Home,” the former presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, said, “What Nigeria needs to realise its potential is, unfortunately, not mere change of leadership.” “We don’t need anyone from outer space to come organise our polity. What we need are ourselves–our virtues and belief in a collective struggle for good governance. “What we need are functional institutions; we need institutions that pander to the principle of honesty, that socialise successions of citizens who will extol this principle. We need leaders for whom the sufferings of the masses are immediate concerns, not jokers that insult the yearnings and honest observations of the electorate.”