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Danger: Boko Haram bottle explosives in can drinks!

2012-01-25T02:29:00.003-08:00

Following the several menace of the Islamic sect group, who
claimed that western education is a sin, fear of the unknown is
almost surrounding everything in Nigeria. Soldiers just discovered
eight (8) bottles of different cans of popular can drinks filled with
explosives.
The explosives which was found alongside other 300 unexploded
devices in the city of Kano was seen inside six abandoned vehicle
allegedly left by the Boko haram sect. Also found was about 100
home made bombs, a police officer disclosed.
Meanwhile well-armed but cautious soldiers have been mounted in
surveillance of the city and suburbs.
Security operatives has urged the general public and all well-
meaning Nigerians to report any suspicious movements and
activities to the police to help them tract the violent sect group.

2 Fulani Normads stab police to death in Asaba

2012-01-21T02:19:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I feel its better to wipe out the Nigerian Police due to
incompetence. A country with over 800,000 policemen, yet on
top of crime and insecurity saga. Fulani/Hausa Normads
yesterday, stabbed one police to death in Asaba.
Last year several police stations in the North was bombed, a
minimum of 100 policemen carelessly died last year.
I don’t want to mention the latest report by the IG of police
informing Nigerians about the sad escape of the dreaded
December 25th church bomber in Madala. Incompetence has
become a household name in the police force.
In each/any conflict or dissagreement between police and civilians
in the recent six month, there is always two similar results. Either
the police shot civilians dead or the reverse is the case. No more
court rule.
A news report from Asaba the capital of Delta state said two
common Fulani Cattle herders yesterday, stabbed a policeman to
death. Yet even the state Police Public Relations Officer PPRO could
not identify the police, his where about or what conspired between
him and the Herdsmen.
Thus reacting to a media interview on the incidence, the PPRO in
charge of Asaba said “ about the incident two Hausa/ Fulanis
attacked a policeman with dagger and mob lynched the two of
them.
But that policeman’s identity was yet to be known , we don’t know
if he is from this command and whether is dead or the hospital he
is”.
An eyewitness, Mr Charles said the Normads stabbed the Police
and he slumped before the angry crowd rushed on them and
lynched the later.

Man paraded for stealing tithe in pastor’s house

2012-01-19T23:44:00.003-08:00

This is not a joke, an Akwa Ibom state police command has
arrested a man for allegedly stealing church members’ tithes from
a pastor of Qua Iboe church in Eket.
In a statement released by the police, they stated that the suspect
confessed to have robbed some group of people earlier on
December 31st in the same area.
Following intelligent reports arising from the detained suspects, the
police also have arrested eight (8) persons during a cult initiation in
Uyo.
At the scene of the arrest, it was learnt that a bottle of spirit, a cup
and other items believed to be parts of the things for the initiation
were recovered. The police officer added that the suspects were
recruited into cult for criminal reasons.
Also paraded was David Godspower, who was arrested on
January 2 for allegedly being in possession of one Brownie pistol
marked BDA380425PM53327.
Another suspect, Edet Asuquo, was arrested on January 17 for
allegedly attempting to kill Victor Nyong by inflicting machete cuts
on him and pushing him into a river.
Asuquo was alleged to have dispossessed the victim of his
N40,000 and a telephone. He also allegedly duped the victim’s wife
of N200,000.

Daddy Showkey escapes Gunmen Attack in Lagos

2012-01-19T23:41:00.001-08:00

Barely one year after some armed men stormed his Alagbole
home killing a cherished aide, the Ajegunle based soldier and
music star Daddy Showkey escaped another attack from men
suspected to be hired assasins in Lagos.
Showkey was traced again on Tuesday on his way to a filing
station situated along Agidingbi road,
Lagos Nigeria. Explaining his ordeal, the music star said he was on
his way to the filing station when he first noticed two guys on a
Motorcycle following his closely.
Upon getting to the filing station, he joined the queue in a bid to get
some fuel. He was still on queue inside his Toyota Landrover LR3
vehicle when a young man approached by his car door to inform
him that he had a flat tire. Though he doubted, Showkey came
down to confirm the flat tire only to be saluted with two gun shots
from the armed men.
Luckily for him, he said the bullets missed him and he quickly
engaged one of the men in a fight. More shooting from the other
colleague made him let go of the fight.
Meanwhile while this was happening all the motorists on queue for
fuel took to heels. Showkey thanked God for saving him and
wondered why some people would want him dead. The report is
already in the Police net he said.

Fire outbreak razes Warri motor spare parts market

2012-01-19T23:37:00.003-08:00

Barely a month after the popular Udu Harbour same market was
razed, a disastrous fire outbreak erupted in the Motor spare parts
market in Effurun Delta State on Thursday night.
The inferno which started at about midnight on Thursday razed
more than half the market before been doused by combined
emergency action of the state fire service, Chevron fire service and
Shell fire service the next morning.
Speaking to Newsmen, some of the traders whose shops were
burnt, seen lamenting their losses at the market located on the
Warri/Benin/Sapele Expressway, said they had lost all their
investments to the inferno.
Most of them lost not only shops but warehouses to the fire
outbreak. Counting their losses, they pleaded on the state
government to come to their aide.

Obama explains Nigeria’s fuel subsidy scam; OBJ, Ciroma may face trial

2012-01-19T23:35:00.001-08:00

In a reply to Nigeria after reviewing the Fuel Subsidy Equation
submitted to the American president by the former Petroleum
minister of Nigeria, Professor Tam David West, Barack Obama has
described the fuel subsidy arrangement by the Nigerian
government as a “scam”.
Prof. Tam West’s analysis has revealed that all things being equal,
the price of petrol in Nigeria (considering local refining) is not more
than N40.5o/litre. His analysis revealed that the government is the
cause of the sufferings the masses are encountering in the
country.
Reacting to the evaluation result, Obama condemned the subsidy
act by the Nigerian Government. Read his statement in a quote
below.

This economic puzzle in Nigeria is simple enough for anyone to
solve.
* Fuel subsidy itself is a scam
* Removal of self subsidy is a scam
* Turn around maintenance of refineries is a scam
* Non development of new refineries is a scam
* Insincerity of government is a scam

- Barack Obama.
Also on the fuel subsidy scam, reports emerging recently in the
ongoing subsidy scam probe is showing that the former president
of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, the then minister of finance,
Adamu Ciroma has a case to answer about the scam.
Defending the Nigeria Custom Service while reacting to allegations
leveled against them in Abuja
yesterday, Mr. Julius Ndubuisi, a deputy comptroller general of
customs, who appeared before the committee, said his service
was “warned” sometime in 2002, by the federal ministry of
finance, in a letter, not to press for documentations for petroleum
imports to “avoid crisis.”
The customs official’s revelation has opened a new vista into the
elaborate web of complications surrounding the importation and
clearance of petroleum products annually, and government’s
payment of trillions of naira in subsidy.
Meanwhile the probe into the fuel subsidy scam continues to gain
weight.

Produce Christmas day Bomber within 24hrs! GEJ to IG of Police

2012-01-19T23:29:00.001-08:00

The President and commander in chief of the armed forces of
Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday gave a 24-hours
ultimatum to the Inspector General (IG) of Police to produce
Christmas day bomber, Madala Kabiru Sokoto an alleged member
of the Boko Haram sect.
The suspected bomber had escaped from detention according to a
report released by the Nigerian Police last week. The President
could not believe the possibility of such a dreaded and wanted sect
member escape from police custody after he had been arrested.
The commissioner of Police in the state, Zakari Biu was suspended
by the IG of police over the alleged escape initially.
The president’s deadline ends today, Nigerians are waiting to see
what happens after that.
Meanwhile various christian clerics around the country and the
South Eastern Senators forum, following the recent incessant
killing of Christians by the sect group has urged Christians in the
North to be security conscious.

“You” are one out of 4.3 Million Nigerians registered on facebook

2012-01-19T23:27:00.001-08:00

I know you were astonished when
you saw this headline, I wonder why I caught you by surprise,
probably because you don’t believe you occupy some space in the
internet. Most internet users in Nigeria don’t know themselves, but
I will help tell you who you are today.
Back then in foundation school, my teacher would tell us that
“matter” is anything that has weight and can occupy space, thus
you are a matter and you occupy some free space in the internet,
on facebook atleat…lol
A statistical data released on the number of Nigerians currently
sharing the efficacy of living on facebook revealed that our
population on facebook has increased from 400,000 (four years
ago) to 4.3 million (December 31, 2011). And guess what, you are
one of them, your friends and families too!
Nigeria is currently ranked 3rd by population among 54 countries
in Africa. Taking after South Africa (9.4 million) and Egypt (4.8
million).
Moroco came fourth with 4.1 million Facebook users; Algeria with
2.8 million users maintains fifth position while Tunisia recorded 2.7
million Facebook users at the ended of December, 2011 making it
clinch the sixth position in the continent. Ghana on its part, beat
other African countries with a 1.1 million Facebook subscriber mark
recorded in the country as at end of 2011.

2012-01-17T23:42:00.003-08:00

The Banker Magazine has just published an official bank ranking in
the African continent. Not surprising though, eleven (11) Nigerian
commercial banks made it to the top 50 best rated banks in Africa
thereby placing Nigeria in the top list of all African countries in the
overall ranking.
Speaking on the ranking results, the Africa’s banker editor, Mr. Paul
Wallace commended banks from Nigeria, South Africa, and North
Africa for still maintaining their positions in the best 20. According
to him, only “one lender” from Togo-based Ecobank came up in
the first 20 banks in the continent in this year’s ranking.
Mr. Wallace mentioned that African banks have made practical
improvements recently and writes: “African banks have grown
rapidly in the past few years. Based on the 2010 results, nineteen
of them have Tier 1 Capital of more than $1 billion, a level that
roughly marks the cut-off point for the world’s biggest 500
banks”.
The banks that appeared in the top 50 African banks from Nigeria
are listed below:
Access Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank,
and Fidelity Bank. Others includes First City Monument Bank,
Stanbic Bank, Diamond Bank, Skye Bank and Eco Bank of Nigeria.
In the ranking Nigeria came first, seconded by Egypt and followed
by South Africa.

Who is dating rihanna currently? Find out here

2012-01-17T01:47:00.000-08:00

Question: Good day Wilfred. I have been hearing so many things
about Rihanna. Some say that Chris Brown is still dating her while
some say that her new date is Drake. Plz Wilfred help me. I want
to know her current date.
Reply from Wilfred: The funny thing about this question is that
the poster did not include name or contact. I guessed you might
be a guy however, and I do hope you are not planning to be
Rihanna’s next date…lol!
Well from the information I have, Rihanna is no more dating Chris
Brown for now, the two ex-lovers can be funny though. I will not
directly answer your question, but will attempt to give you
Rihanna’s date history from 2007 till late 2011. Maybe from there
you can infer…ok.
2007 Rihanna datedthree guys, (1) Shia
Labeouf, (2) Omarion Grandberry and (3) Josh Hartnett.
2008/early 2009 Rihanna dated Chris Brown, and also dated
Aubrey Graham late 2009.
Then in 2010, She dated Matt Kemp but was still hanging out with
her ex-lover (Chris Brown).
Finally in her date history, she is currently having a crush on
Dudley O’ Shaughnessy
Share this on facebook and tell your friends how current you can
be.

Police reprimand man for impregnating his 17-year old daughter

2012-01-17T01:44:00.003-08:00

A man, aged 45 (name withheld for now) has just been arrested
in Idundu, Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River state for
allegedly r.a.p.i.n.g and impregnating his 17-year old daughter
thereby making her an expectant mother.
The investigating Police officer, Sergeant Eni who made the arrest
said the randy man was on his way to escape when apprehended
by the police.
The suspect however denied being responsible for his daughter’s
pregnancy claiming that he never had unprotected s.e.x with the
victim (his daughter).
The man who blamed his inglorious act said the wife was the
cause of everything because she goes about doing business
thereby denying him of s.e.x, and thus starvation for s.e.x
tempted him to lay hands on his daughter.
Narrating her ordeal to the police, the
17 year old girl said the whole thing started when her father
walked into her room few months back demanding to sleep with
her. Though she refused initially, she could not withstand the
father’s maltreatment.

ASUU strike is still ongoing, not called off yet-ASUU boss

2012-01-17T01:22:00.003-08:00

The striking lecturers of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian
Universities ASUU has called on the federal government to seize
the current opportunity of dialoguing with striking NLC and TUC to
also discuss issues on the FG vs ASUU face-off since December 5,
2011.
According to Prof Awuzie who spoke to the news agencies in
Lagos yesterday, the ASUU national boss, he explained that what
the union is clamouring for is also for the benefit of the country at
large.
The ASUU boss further denied rumours going on among students
that the union has called-off the ongoing strike, adding that the
strike is still going on. In his statement,and I quote below:
We want to call on government to use this period to resolve, not
only the NLC strike, but also that of ASUU.
We are still on strike and government must also start
looking into our matter ; so that if this is done, when NLC is
calling off their strike, we too can call off ours at the same time.
Government cannot afford to wish us away because we are
equally critical to national development, he said.
Note: A lot of people are deceiving students already that the strike
is over. Not true! Many students has already parked back to school
thinking strike is over only to meet campuses empty. Share this
news now and inform your friends that the strike is not over yet.
This will save them from risk and waste of resources on transport
to and back again from their respective schools.
To stay updated with the right information, accurate and timely,
just subscribe to my free up-to-date newsletter.

Government begins effectuation of 25 per cent salary cut-off

2012-01-17T01:18:00.001-08:00

The Nigerian government, on Monday began the implementation
of the 25 per cent reduction in the basic salaries of the members of
the Federal Executive Council as promised. This reduction is to
reflect in the January take- home pay of the members of the
council.
The effectuation followed the earlier announcement by the
Predsident of the federation to slash basic salaries of the FEC by
25% in a bid to reduce the cost of governance in the wake of the
nationwide strike over total removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
Dr Yerima Ngama, the minister of state for finance confirmed the
implementation of the directive while briefing journalists shortlyt
after a monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC)
meeting in Abuja on monday.
Ellaborating on the matter, Dr. Ngama said that “The process of
salary cut has begun and it is taking effect from this January. As a
matter of fact, the computation for the reduction of the 25 per cent
had already been done by the Accountant-General of the
Federation.”
At the meeting which lasted for about 3 hours, the committee
moved to ensure that civil servants got their salaries by January 20
as directed by the President. It shared N559.11bn, for the month of
December 2011, among the three tiers of government.
He further added that the amount excludes Value Added Tax (VAT)
of N57.1bn which was not shared earlier because of the
nationwide strike.

Gas explosion rocks Chevron oil rig in Bayelsa

2012-01-17T01:14:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, it was learnt that oil rig workers of the Chevron
Nigeria limited had some difficulty fitting-in a new gas well head.
The same gas well head had exploded early Monday morning in
Bayelsa leading to a disastrous fire out break in the area.
The explosion which happened in a new gas well head in Funawa
5 along the Koluama River to the South of Ijaw LGA has left one
expert missing and about 213 workers evacuated from the scene.
A community leader in the area who narrated the mishap to
Newsmen said it happened around 4.30am following a
thunderous bang that shook the community in the early hours of
Monday morning.
In his words, “We heard a big bang that shook our community.
The next thing we saw was fire coming out of the Chevron rig.
The thing happened around 4:30am. When we inquired, they said
they were working on a new well head. There was no sabotage.
Nobody went to attack them.”

Negotiation Begins Between Nigeria Officials And Halliburton To Stop Dick Cheney's Nigerian Trial

2012-01-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

Nigerian officials led by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, along with an array of lawyers of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) met in London over the weekend with Halliburton and KBR officials to discuss matters relating to the proposed trial in Nigeria of former US Vice President, Dick Cheney, for bribery allegations relating to Halliburton, the company he led before becoming VP.
Halliburton officials and those of KBR are proposing a "settlement" to resolve the widely embarrassing charges filed in Abuja last week seeking to commit Mr. Cheney to prison in Nigeria over his superintending of Halliburon in the 1990s, a period that saw the doling out of over $180 million in bribes to Nigerian ruling party officials as well as government ministers. The allegations involve at least three former Nigeria Heads of State.
Halliburton reportedly reduced its initial offer of $500 million to $30 million, but Nigeria officials at the negotiations have instead on higher figures and are also asking for Halliburton to persuade Swiss authorities to release to Nigeria the $100 million it had frozen as proceeds of crime. An extra $30 million frozen by authorities in Monaco is also expected to be released to the Nigerian authorities if the negotiations work out as planned.
The entire exercise will add $150 million to the coffers of the Nigerian government. Halliburton is also expected to pay legal fees as was those of the victims of the controversial Pfizer's illegal drug test settlements in Kano, Nigeria.

In the agreement can be reached, Nigeria will drop last week’s charges against Mr. Cheney and Halliburton, as well as the KBR officials indicted.
Sources at the Prosecutor’s offices told SaharaReporters that French company, Technip, has refused to come to the negotiation table. In the coming days, the Prosecutor’s office plans to come down hard on the company over its intransigence.
Whatever becomes of the settlement, according to sources at the negotiations, Halliburton, which has its headquarters in Dubai, UAE, will indemnify KBR for the costs of settlement while Mr. Cheney can rest easy without further harassment over his sordid past at Halliburton.

Multi-Million Dollars Hidden Bank Accounts Of Jonathan’s Minister Of Justice, Bello Adoke Exposed

2012-01-13T05:59:00.000-08:00

Barely 48 hours after an online publication exposed the sordid details of a N1.2 billion mansion just purchased by President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,in Maitama area of Abuja, ireports-ng.com has uncovered four secret bank accounts where billions of naira, millions of US dollars and GB pounds are hidden by current Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Adoke was appointed as Justice Minister by President Jonathan on April 6, 2010 and has since then been enmeshed in various allegations of corruption and providing cover for the corrupt who are facing court trial by withdrawing corruption charges against them.
Weeks of underground investigations by ireports-ng.com have however revealed more shocking details about Adoke’s secret bank accounts in the nation’s federal capital territory, Abuja. One of such is an account number 002228052782 at a branch of First City Monument Bank located at Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way,Central Area Abuja. In the account is a stunning sum of $16 million US dollars.
Further investigations revealed that Adoke is keeping yet another $24 million US dollars in account number 041152000428 with Diamond Bank located at Plot 117 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2 while another 5.3 million Great Britain Pounds is also kept in the same account with Diamond Bank.

As if that was not enough, ireports-ng.com also revealed that Nigeria’s Justice Minister operates another secret account with the Ahmadu Bello Way branch of Zenith Bank, Abuja where a whooping sum of N6.2 billion is being kept.
Born on September 1st,1963, Adoke was not known for any serious legal practice until he was brought to the limelight in 2010 when he was appointed as Justice Minister by Mr Jonathan. Since then, there has been series of allegations of under the table deals by Mr Adoke using his official position. He has in the last 48 hours issued two statements to threaten protesting Nigerian workers to sack them and charge civil society activists involved in the protests with treason.
Last year, an online publication accused Adoke of taking bribes from an arranged sale of moribund NITEL property in Area 11, Abuja and buy back of same from Adoke’s kinsman popularly called Alhaji AA Oil. Adoke’s share of the deal was said to have been diverted to build a massive mansion for him on Gana street, Abuja. Though he denied ownership of the property saying it belongs to AA Oil, finishing works have since stopped on the sprawling property which was being worked on day and night before the scandal broke out.
Also last year, a civil society group called Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders,CACOL petitioned Nigeria’s anti-graft police, EFCC to probe allegations that Mr Adoke collected bribes running into over $23 million US dollars from a plea bargain deal he arranged between government and some multinational firms including Siemens, Halliburton and Julius Berger.Ironically, Adoke supervises the EFCC that is supposed to investigate the various corruption allegations against him. It is yet to be seen whether the present head of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde will have the courage to probe graft allegations against Adoke which his predecessor failed to touch.

Mass Protests

2012-01-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

Occupy Nigeria protesters across Nigeria continue mass rallies, marches and strike actions in various cities across Nigeria

Nigerians Occupy Atlanta

2012-01-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Nigerians, both at home and abroad seem to have found unison in decrying the lack of progress in the development of their country.
Continuous corruption, a lack of leadership, lack of security, the menace of Boko Haram terrorism, unemployment, a disengagement between the rulers and ruled. Nigerians all over the world including in the United States of America have had enough. They are expressing solidarity with their country folks, from New York to Texas to California to the state of Georgia. Here today is a tip of the iceberg, at the
recent “Occupy Nigeria-Atlanta."

Nigeria’s Arab Spring? - Fuel Subsidy Cuts Spur Protests - New America Media

2012-01-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON – As Occupy protests continue across the country, members of the Nigerian-American community rallied Monday in front of the World Bank headquarters to voice opposition to the Nigerian governmentʼs cuts to domestic fuel subsidies. The repeal of subsidies to oil companies that went into effect on Jan. 1 has caused the price of fuel at the pump to more than double to $3.50 a gallon, placing a disproportionate burden on the poor.
Massive protests have rocked Nigeria since the subsidy cuts, with thousands of people demonstrating, an outpouring reminiscent of popular protests in Tunisia and Egypt. Thousands of miles away, fellow countrymen and allies in America are also supporting the protestors back home.
Shouts of “enough is enough” and “solidarity” by protesters punctuated the moments between speakers at the World Bank entrance in Washington D.C., where a contingent of security officers was hastily deployed to contain the small but very vocal crowd of approximately 75 participants.
Victoria Tairu, related on her motherʼs side to Babatunde Raji Fashole, the governor of Lagos State, was unabashed to be part of the demonstration. Born in America to Nigerian parents and now living in Prince Georgeʼs County, MD, neighboring the nationʼs capital, she said she was participating in the protest because “I really want to help directly my cousins and family back in Nigeria.”
Holding a sign, “No Fuel Price Hikes in Nigeria,” Tairu said she hoped her message would reach “the right seats and the right political positions” and lead to the reinstatement of the subsidy, as well as letting the Nigeria people know they are not alone. “Thatʼs my family; thatʼs my blood.”
Tairu said members of her Nigerian church in Prince Georgeʼs County “stay well connected” to friends and relatives in Nigeria through frequent visits to the country and Facebook. Through her informal monitoring of Facebook posts, she has concluded that any popularity the Nigerian president enjoyed has eroded.
Attendees and speakers at the Occupy Nigeria protest accused and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan of following World Bank and International Monetary Fund recommendations on allowing fuel subsidies to lapse.
The Nigerian ambassadorʼs office in the United States referred inquiries about subsidies to a news article on the embassy website. “The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke,” the article reads, “has enumerated the benefits of subsidy removal to Nigerians and the economy. The minister said the discontinuation of fuel subsidy is because it poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy, encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure.”
The repeal of the fuel subsidies is expected to save the government an estimated $8 billion annually. Folabi Olagbaju, of Amnesty International, a speaker at the protest, said the subsidy cut was, “a very rude New Year present for Nigerians,” particularly, as he and others noted that the majority of the countryʼs over 155 million people live on less than two dollars a day.
He urged the Nigerian government to restrain from using violence on protestors. Already there have been reports in the Nigerian press of the deaths of and injuries to protesters as police seek aggressively to quell demonstrations numbering in the thousands in some cities, bringing normal day-to-day activities to a standstill.
The Washington protest was timed to coincide with the beginning of a general strike in Nigeria called for last week by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) -- if the Nigerian government left the subsidy cuts in place.
A NLC statement read at the rally said, “This action was [taken] without adequate consultation and without regard for the well being of the Nigerian people and will adversely affect the working class in our country. It is precisely because the policy prescriptions of the World Bank and IMF are swallowed whole by our government without regard for the socio-economic impacts on our people that we find ourselves in this situation today.”
A statement by a World Bank spokesman did not address policy recommendations. “We strongly support people's right to make their voices heard.

Ultimately, the Nigerian government and its citizens must determine how Nigeria's resources are spent to achieve significantly less poverty and more opportunity for all.”

Since Monday, the major oil workers union in Nigeria also has threatened to initiate a work slowdown on Jan. 15 in order to force the government to reinstate the subsidy. As Nigeria, the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, depends on oil exports for an estimated 80 percent of its revenue, any major curtailment of oil production would most likely have adverse consequences for its economy. Despite the oil wealth, most Nigerians typically experience an unreliable electrical power supply, with most people and businesses relying on gas-powered generators.
Michael Leslie, of the AFL-CIOʼs American Center for International Labor Solidarity, who attended the Washington protest, explained that the removal of subsidies dips not only into the pockets of the poor for transportation, but across class lines and into the operating costs of entrepreneurs as well as small and large businesses which rely on gas-powered generators when, with regularity, blackouts occur. Leslie said data would likely show that Nigerians purchase more gas-powered generators than any other country in Africa.
Though Nigeriaʼs government says it plans to reinvest the savings from the fuel subsidy cuts into infrastructure improvements, Leslie said few Nigerians have confidence that revenue saved will be used for that purpose, because of rampant corruption.
“Nigerians have heard this before; nothing has happened. Theyʼre angry,” Leslie said. Omoyele Sowore, of SaharaReporters, an online news source of Nigerian-American perspectives, agreed, but cautioned against miscasting the protests as “merely a demand for a welfare state.” He noted, for example, that U.S. oil companies receive similar subsidies from Washington that help cushion fuel costs for consumers.
Alafaka Opuiyo, a Nigerian-American and a former journalist who donated her public relation skills to promote the rally, said she also plans to attend Fridayʼs march at the International Monetary Fund. Eyeing the crowd gathered at the World Bank, Opuiyo said, “I expect there will be a larger protest at the IMF. Weʼre just beginning.”

NLC Declares Weekend Break For Strikes, Rallies And Protests

2012-01-13T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Action Front (JAF) commend the Nigerian people for turning out in their millions since Monday January 9, 2012, to protest the astronomical increase in the price of PMS (Petrol). We commend them for their resolute stand and insistence in struggling for a better country.
The Labour Movement and its civil society allies after nationwide consultations has decided that this weekend, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, 2012, will be observed as strike, protest and rally-free days.
We ask Nigerians to utilize these days to rest, restock and get re-energized for the continuation of the strikes, rallies and protests from Monday 16th January, 2012.
Discussions with Government
The NLC, TUC and their allies in the Civil Society Movement on Thursday 12th January 2012 met with the Senate leadership, Nigeria Governors Forum and the Executive Arm.

At the meeting, Labour asked the Presidency to suspend the new petrol (PMS) price increases announced on January 1, 2012. In return, we offered to suspend forthwith, the strikes, mass rallies and street protests. We also suggested that an expanded committee be set up which would discuss the fuel subsidy issue and pricing for petrol.
The Government side presented a counter proposal asking Labour to negotiate new fuel prices. Since we had no such mandate, Labour declined and decided to return to its National Executive Council meetings, which will be held on Saturday 14th January 2012 for a possible expanded mandate.
Labour commends the National Assembly for its intervention and further urges the Presidency to be more reconciliatory towards the people and show more understanding and sensitivity to their feelings and collective interests.

2012-01-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

Activists in Lagos today continued massive protets against the removal of gas subsidy. At the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos. Some five hundred thousand protetsters listened to activists seap at a rally as labour strikes enter the 3rd day.

Nigerians In Ghana Say no to Fuel Subsidy

2012-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

The coalition of concern Nigerians in Ghana on Wednesday occupied the country’s High Commission in Accra, calling for the immediate resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group condemned the killing of more than 15 Nigerian protesters since the beginning of the protests against the removal of petroleum subsidy, blaming the president for the killing of innocent citizens protesting for their better future.
“This government is murderous; President Jonathan may end up like Mohammed Ghaddafi if he continues to kill the people who elected him,” said Omolara Balogun, a policy advocate officer for West Africa Civil Society Institute.

Michael Ajayi, a coordinator of "Occupy Nigeria" campaign in Ghana read the declaration of the rally, saying there is a need for an urgent conference to discuss the Nigeria project. “Nigeria needs immediate convocation of a Sovereign National Conference to renegotiate our existence as a nation,” said the communique signed by all participants at the rally.
Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine spoke at the rally saying, “the government of President Jonathan should remove corruption not fuel subsidy.” He lamented the president of Nigeria has budgeted 1 billion naira for his kitchen just for 2012, wanted new presidential aircraft for himself while Nigerians cannot afford bicycles, has removed the small support that the common masses enjoy. “The people will continue to occupy the streets around the globe until his government collapse,” he added.
“This is the long awaited Nigerian spring; we have to reclaim Nigeria now,” said Oludare Ogunlana, a former NANS president and one of the coordinators of the Wednesday assembly in Ghana. “We may not have this type opportunity again and we must not back up until we see the end of the cabals.

Protesters Set Minna On Fire

2012-01-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

Anti-deregulation protesters in Minna has torched the campaign offices of Governor Babangida Aliyu of , Niger State. The protesters also burnt down the offices of Tanko Beji, the state Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Several parts of the city is on fire as strikes and mass actions called by the Nigerian Labour Congress and civil society groups fighting against corruption and mismanagement spread across Nigeria. Saharareporters sources said the angry mob of protesters are now heading to the sprawling farm complex owned by the governor.
PUNCH Newspaper Report:
Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, has declared a dawn to dusk curfew in Niger State, in the wake of today’s deadly riot that gripped the state capital, Minna.

The curfew is from 6am to 6pm and has taken effect.
Rioting broke out on Wednesday morning when the head of service of the state ordered workers to resume work or get sacked.
This infuriated the people, who were already on a protest march in the city. A large crowd swiftly attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission on David Mark Road and the governor’s campaign office at Mobil Roundabout.
Also attacked was the house of Senator Awaisu Kuta and the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat, where the office of the deputy state chairman was burnt.

JayZ signs on for Duracell Powermat Wireless Power ad campaign

2012-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

While Jay-Z celebrates the birth of his daughter Blue Ivy, it’s business as usual as it was announced today that the business mogul has signed on to be an investor and the face of Duracell Powermat wireless power through a deal with Proctor & Gamble.

Here is more information courtesy of MarketWatch: Duracell Powermat, LLC, the joint venture formed in September 2011 by Procter & Gamble’s PG +0.24% Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies announced today that entrepreneur and 13 time Grammy award winning cultural icon Shawn “JAY Z” Carter has signed a multi-year global agreement with the company as an investment partner. He will also be the face and voice of the Duracell Powermat JV.

As a well-known trend-setter that helped redefine the music industry, JAY Z is uniquely positioned to bring wireless power to the people. His proven capability to mobilize and speak to a technology-savvy generation that lives and dies by their smartphones will enable Duracell Powermat to deliver the message that consumers need not forgo their richly mobile lifestyles because of insufficient battery power.

“I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution,” said Mr. Carter. “I’m partnering with Duracell Powermat because they’re providing the solutions for the future.”

Mr and Mrs Carter release official statement about new baby

2012-01-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

Here is the couples official statement on the birth of daughter Blue Ivy Carter:

“We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.

“We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support. Beyonce & Jay-Z.”