Welcome to Chima's Blog

Prezzo is in Nigeria

2012-08-22T03:14:00.001-07:00

The BBA Kenyan Rep came into the country a few days ago. The One Campaign ambassador will hold a press conference today, Wednesday 22nd August 2012 at "The Place" (45 Issac John street) in GRA, Ikeja. 12 noon prompt.

Omotola Shoots Reality Tv Show

2012-08-22T03:07:00.001-07:00

Omotola Ekehinde is currently shooting a Reality Tv show tagged ‘The Real Omotola’. It will start showing in Nigeria and Uk in two months’ time. The reality show documents her day to day life and reveals what no one knows about her. It promises to be fun and exciting.

VIDEO: M.I Abaga Presents “OKAY” by Ruby

2012-08-22T02:57:00.001-07:00

Ruby’s Video for the beautiful song “OKAY” is finally out. It’s a simple poignant portrayal of the struggle love often is: the passion, the pain, the pure madness it sometimes is. And those moments when you realize it hasn’t been worth it, and you’re better off alone.” Directed by Clarence Peters. Download and Enjoy!!

Download Video

Abacha family loses bid to recover $800m loot from FG

2012-07-30T08:21:00.002-07:00

The family and 19 close associates of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, have lost their bid to recover $800 million seized by the Federal Government.

Abba Abacha, son of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha

The fund, allegedly looted by Abacha’s family, was recovered by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar – led government.

The family and 19 companies owned by the family had gone to the appellate court seeking to upturn the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja, which dismissed their suit, challenging the constitutionality of the letters written by the Federal Government to governments of some foreign countries.

Justice Suleiman Galadima, who delivered the lead judgment recently at the Supreme Court, threw out the appeal saying it is incompetent and lacking in merit.

The money was recovered by the government from Muhammed Sani Abacha and nineteen (19) other companies between 1999 and 2000.

The companies are Juinin Finance, Savard International, Venfold Investment, Sulgrave Holdings INC, Raw Materials Development and Trading Co. Ltd., Technical Management Service Ltd, Allied Network Ltd and Blue Rock Properties.

Others are Barven Holdings, Olmar Establishment, Peltora Establishment, Glotar establishment, KRH Capital establishment, Kurita Establishment, Tadil Overseas, Rike Limited, Warnbeck Holdings, Arwood Overseas and Larberidge Trading.

PHOTOS: Arsenal players take lessons on Azonto dance

2012-07-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

Three of the Arsenal First team Players currently in Nigeria, Per Mertasacker, Bacary Sagna and new signing Lukas Podolski were put through their paces by Nigerian Dance Queen, Kaffy on Sunday in a fantastic show sponsored by Malta Guinness.

The energetic Kaffy gave the Arsenal players lessons on several Nigerian and African dance steps, including the popular “Azonto dance” and other routines.

Images: Courtesy of arsenalfc.com

Suicide bomb, explosion hit north Nigeria police

2012-07-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

Two explosions have struck two police stations in a major northwestern Nigerian city in the latest attack to target authorities, witnesses said Monday.

Smoke rose over a compound containing a police station and regional police offices in the city of Sokoto Monday morning.

The head of the regional office, Assistant Inspector General of Police Mukhtar Ibrahim said two people had died in the attack, including "the suicide bomber."

An injured man at Specialist Hospital Sokoto who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said he saw a car race into the main gate of the compound. He was on a bicycle when the blast went off. He said the impact of the blast threw him off his bicycle and that he hurt his hand in the fall.

An Associated Press reporter heard another blast at the same time about two miles (four kilometers) away. Police then sealed off a road leading to a police station. Witnesses said that the station had also been hit.

It was not immediately clear what the cause if that explosion was or if there were casualties.

A Sokoto state police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.

The explosions come as Nigeria faces an increasing threat from a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

There has also been a spate of recent attacks targeting uniformed officers, some of which has been blamed on the sect.

Air Commodore Sani Ahmed, a Nigerian air force official in Kano, said motorcycle-mounted gunmen killed two air force officers Sunday.

The violence follows a Friday night clash in the northeastern city of Damaturu that left a policeman and a soldier dead.

Yobe state police spokesman Toyin Gbadagesin said police blamed members of Boko Haram for the Damaturu attack.

He said security officers then razed a house believed to be harboring sect members.

Witness Yau Zadawa said gunmen killed a policeman in the northeastern Nigerian city of Bauchi Saturday.

He said two motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot the policeman outside his house late Friday after he had closed from a shift guarding a local politician.

Meanwhile, army spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said suspected members of the Boko Haram sect shot dead a soldier in Maiduguri, a northeastern city 280 miles (460 kilometers) from Bauchi last week.

He said soldiers killed two of the assailants while fighting back.

Security officials are frequently targeted in violence in Nigeria's arid northeast. They have also been criticized for killing suspects in their attempt to stop spiraling sectarian violence

Queen opens London Games

2012-07-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

Seven promising young British athletes lit the Olympic cauldron early Saturday, capping the Games' festive opening ceremony in east London.

The torch, which minutes earlier had been on a boat driven by football star David Beckham down the River Thames, had been carried into the stadium by five-time Olympic gold medalist Steve Redgrave.

The retired rower then passed it to the young athletes, who lit part of the outer rim of the torch, setting off a domino effect as fire methodically engulfed the cauldron. The small flames eventually rose and converged into the sky at the stadium.

A short time earlier, Queen Elizabeth II formally pronounced the Olympics open for business, saying, "I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th Olympiad of the modern era."

Organizers had said they expected a billion people worldwide to watch the opening ceremony -- which was created by Danny Boyle, best known for directing the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" -- on television.

Patient vomits live lizards on hospital bed

2012-07-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

A strange incident is scaring the residents of a community near the Federal Capital Territory, writes FRIDAY OLOKOR

The residents of Kubwa, a community on the outskirts of Abuja, got the shock of their lives when an unusual incident involving a businessman occurred about two weeks ago.

The businessman, Edward Asuelimen, had woken up in the morning of July 16 with severe pain in his stomach.

“I woke up a few minutes after 5 am. In less than two hours, I had visited the toilet four times. Then I felt excruciating pain in my stomach. It got to a point where I could hardly prepare my children for school,” Asuelimen recounts.

Even his wife was very worried. But he managed to pull himself together and left their home with the children.

Halfway to the children’s school, the pain became unbearable and he decided to get some drugs from a store on the way.

Yet, a few minutes later, Asuelimen barely managed to walk out of the store by gripping the walls for support.

“I prayed hard to get back home. Anybody who saw me at that point wouldn’t have believed that there was something wrong with me,” he says.

He kept praying and fighting the pain raging in his stomach until he got home. He was so weak that he could not step out of his car.

Asuelimen’s wife was alarmed at his condition. She suggested that he should seek medical attention in a hospital after he gasped and said, “Help me quickly, I can’t breathe.”

The businessman had no choice other than to listen to his wife. Eventually, he was admitted at Unity Clinic and Maternity Home, which was nearby.

At intervals, his panic-stricken wife called out his name just to be sure that he was still alive.

“I had never experienced that kind of pain before. I was merely hanging on with all my strength and faith in God. At the hospital, the medical director and his staff were already having their morning devotion.

“When my wife called the doctor and he helped me to come out of my car, the only thing I could say was, ‘my tommy, my tummy’ I was given an injection and somebody stayed with me, all the while praying as the rest continued the morning devotion.

“The Holy Spirit pushed me to speaking in tongues at that point. Not long afterwards, I felt a strong urge to vomit and I did.”

Asuelimen vomited two live lizards in the hospital. The incident however caused consternation among members of the staff of the hospital and other patients present.

“When my wife tried to get something to clean my mouth and pack it, I saw a lizard crawling out from the vomit on the ground. The nurse that attended to me saw another one and wanted to kill it,” he says.

When he saw the lizards, the first thought that struck him was that he had been poisoned. But the pain ceased after he vomited the reptiles. The doctor told him that he had just received divine healing.

“I got well almost instantly. Even I joined the hospital staff in burning the lizards. I went home had my bath and continued the day’s business as if nothing had happened to me,” he says.

The news of the event spread like wildfire. Soon Asuelimen started receiving phone calls from his friends, relatives, neighbours and associates. They congratulated him for surviving a close shave with death.

Eventually, the incident became the talk among the residents of Kubwa. Everybody seemed to be mystified and for some time, they discussed the incident in hushed tones.

The lizards are sstill the subject of debate in the community and the residents are torn between accepting the mystery and waving it aside, since they are convinced that it cannot be proved scientifically.

But Asuelimen says, “I am not a medical doctor, and I know that it cannot be proved scientifically. I know that faith is older and stronger than science. The faith we are talking about is God himself. God is the creator of the universe, so invention and science itself is dependent on God.

“Some things are real and beyond proof. We don’t have to subject God’s miracle and existence to scrutiny. It does not make sense because I know there are many things that God can do, which science cannot prove. I am talking about divine healing and miracles in particular. The fact that science cannot prove it does not mean they are not real.”

The Medical Director of Unity Clinic and Maternity, Dr. Stephen Nwaedozie, confirmed the incident. He says, “When I got to the car, I saw Edward writhing in pain. I brought him out of the vehicle and attended to him. We started praying for him. Not long afterwards, my nurses told me that he had vomited lizards.

“I personally burnt the lizards and poured anointing oil on them and buried the carcasses. As soon as we did that, the man recovered from the stomach pain. He is a child of God and with faith he told them to bring him to my hospital and when he came here, God delivered him. So we praise God.”

Nwaedozie admitted that there was no way science could explain the appearance of the lizards in Asuelimen’s vomit. “If I was not there and it didn’t happen right before me, I won’t believe. So that is why we have to tell the world the truth,” he says.

Pirates attack Agip workers, kill three in Bayelsa

2012-07-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Tragedy has befallen the Nigerian Agip Oil Company as pirates attacked and killed three of its workers around the Clough Creek waterways, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

Our correspondent gathered that one of the deceased, Mr. Hector Abbey, drowned after jumping into the water in a bid to escape from the bandits.

The boat of the workers, identified as MV Terra, was said to have been ambushed by the gunmen when it was heading for the firm’s Clough Creek flow station.

It was gathered that the boat was not being escorted by security operatives when it was attacked.

The remains of Abbey have been deposited at a private mortuary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while the driver of the boat was said to be receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The assailants were said to have attacked their victims at about 6 pm on Thursday.

They were said to have double-crossed the workers, who were travelling in a speedboat and opened fire on the driver.

Abey, 42, out of panic, was said to have jumped into the water, but was unable to swim safely to the shores.

While his remains were later recovered later by local divers, two other persons have been declared missing.

The Joint Task Force codenamed, Operation Pulo Shield, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

JTF’s Media Coordinator, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the workers were travelling without an escort when the incident happened.

He, however, said only one person drowned while trying to escape from the bandits.

Oil marketers continue strike despite FG’s promises

2012-07-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Oil marketers in the country are still on strike despite the promises by the Federal Government on Thursday that verified subsidy arrears would soon be paid to them.

The marketers, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, confirmed that the government had yet to contact them for deliberations.

The FG on Thursday, through the Ministry of Finance, directed the Debt Management Office to pay marketers all subsidy claims that had been verified.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had said the claims would be paid as soon as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency provided the supporting Sovereign Debt Notes. But she did not disclose the total amount to be paid to the marketers.

The minister, in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Mr. Paul Nwabuiku, had said there was no need for the marketers to go on strike since the government was already addressing the subsidy payment issue.

Confirming the position of the marketers on Friday, the President, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, Chief Dapo Abiodun, said, “Of course we are still on strike. We have not heard from the government yet. There has been no meeting between us and government.”

He said officially, neither the association nor its members had been communicated to in that regard.

He said, “What we hear are just rumours that we’ll be paid.”

Our correspondent learnt from some members of the Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria that the government had yet to reach them on the development.

Marketers had said on Wednesday that they were awaiting proof from the government that it would actually pay the claims.

When asked if the current strike would be called off following the promise by the government to pay, they had said, “We will wait until we have a proof of that. Nobody has told us that.”

DAPPMA had said it would wait until the government’s intention to pay the verified subsidy arrears was formally communicated to it.

Abiodun, who spoke on behalf of the association, also said if the development was confirmed, the association might do some reconsiderations as regards the current strike embarked upon by its members.

The Chairman, Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, had said before the association would call off its strike, the government must meet its conditions.

He said, “We must have a Memorandum of Understanding with the government on how this business will be run. The government should settle the subsidy claims and design the future of this industry.”

In the same vein, the Executive Secretary, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, had told our correspondent that, “Let the government pay; we are waiting.

“We don’t expect them to pay unverified claims; but they should be fast in verifying all the claims.”

How PDP chieftain’s sons allegedly defrauded subsidy treasury – EFCC

2012-07-26T23:43:00.002-07:00

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned two sons of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains before the Lagos High Court over Lagos for alleged fuel subsidy fraud.

The duo was Mahmud Tukur, son of PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, Nasamu Ali, son of the party’s former National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali and others, including Christian Taylor, a foreigner.

But, Abdullahi Arisekola, son of Ibadan frontline businessman Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, arraigned for two sets of charges before two judges, was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till Wednesday when his bail application will be heard.

These PDP leaders’ sons were among the 20 supects who allegedly defraud the treasury of N13 billion.

“The Nation” reported that Tukur was arraigned alongside Alao, Ochonogor Alex and Eternal Oil and Gas Plc. before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

The accused persons are facing a nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.

EFCC prosecutor Mr Rotimi Jacobs, alleged that they had between January and April, last year in Lagos, fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.8 billion from the Federal Government.

He alleged that the accused persons obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

The accused persons were also alleged to have forged a Bill of lading dated April 28, 2011, which they used in facilitating the fraud.

Jacobs said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

According to him, they also contravene Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Onigbanjo, ruling on the bail applications filed by their counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Olawale Akoni, granted them bail in the sum of N20 million each with two sureties in like sum.

The judge said one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the accused with a landed property in Lagos worth not less than N100 million, also with a verifiable title document.

He added: “The other surety must be a level 16 officer in the Lagos State or Federal Civil Service.

“The sureties must produce three years tax clearance and they must be verified by the chief registrar of the high court.

“The accused persons are to deposit their international passports with the EFCC, which must not be released without the express permission of the court”.

Justice Onigbanjo adjourned the matter till November 13 for trial.

Ali, Taylor and Nasaman Oil Services were arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo on a three-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.

Jacobs alleged that the accused persons between January and April 2012, fraudulently obtained N4.4 billion from the Federal Government.

He said the money was obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail on the same terms earlier granted to the other accused persons.

The matter was adjourned to October 30 for trial.
Alao, alongside his company, Axenergy Ltd., was also arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru on another seven-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.

He is accused of fraudulently obtaining N2.6 billion in December 2010 from the Federal Government as subsidy payments for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of PMS from Ex-MT Gavros and Ex-MT Nippon Princess.

The prosecution alleged that Alao forged a bill of lading dated October 13, 2011, which he allegedly used in perpetrating the fraud.

According to Jacobs, Alao’s alleged offences contravene Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

He said it also contravened Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the judge ordered him to be remanded in EFCC custody, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application on August 1.

The court also fixed Aug. 1 for the arraignment of Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi, Ezekiel Ejidele and Ontario Oil and Gas Plc.

The matter was adjourned following the absence of Wagbatsoma in court. His lawyer, Mr Babajide Koku (SAN), promised to produce him in court at the next adjournment date.

Koku said: “We have spoken to him and he’s making arrangment to appear in court to defend the charges against him.

“He would have been here this morning but he has problem with his flight but he promised to get a connecting flight and should be back by Monday.”

Counsel for Ugo-Ngadi, Ebenezer and Ejide, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), Abimbola Odeyemi and James Ogunyemi objected to the request on the grounds that it would delay the liberty of their clients.

They urged the court to allow separate trials for the defendants so that they could argue bail terms for their clients.

The judge rejected their request, describing it as premature.

Justice Abiru granted the request of Mr. Koku, counsel to the 1st and 5th defendants, for an adjournment.
He ordered that all the other defendants be remanded in EFCC custody, pending when they will be properly arraigned on August 1.

FG orders payment of subsidy arrears to marketers

2012-07-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government on Thursday moved to avert a nationwide fuel scarcity as it directed the Debt Management Office to pay marketers all subsidy claims that had been verified.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the claims would be paid as soon as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency provided the supporting Sovereign Debt Notes.

She, however, did not disclose the total amount to be paid to the marketers.

The oil marketers, operating under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association, had threatened to go on strike if their claims were not paid by Thursday.

Specifically, they vowed to suspend fuel loading at the depots in Lagos and other parts of the country.

But the minister, in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Mr. Paul Nwabuiku, on Thursday, said there was no need for the marketers to go on strike since the government was already addressing the subsidy payment issue.

The statement reads, “The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has directed the Debt Management Office to pay marketers with verified claims as soon as supporting Sovereign Debt Notes are provided by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency.

“The directive is to reinforce the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that there is no disruption in fuel supplies across the country.”

The statement recalled that payments based on verified claims resumed after a meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocations Committee in June this year, and payments totalling N17bn were made.

It also said, “To prevent overpayments, verification of claims is a cornerstone of the procedures adopted by the Federal Ministry of Finance for managing fuel subsidy payments.

“The minister clarified that following the report of the Presidential Committee headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, it is clear that some marketers also owe government significant sums of money and that government expects that these will be paid.”

The minister also said that the review had produced a lot of useful details on what went wrong with the system and what needed to be done to ensure improvement.

The review process started in February when the Ministry of Finance and other relevant government agencies held a meeting with bankers and marketers at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was followed by a session with the accounting and auditing firms to re-evaluate their work.

It said, based on the review, the services of the two audit and accounting firms responsible for certifying the documents and claims of the marketers before payment were terminated.

Subsequently, a committee was set up to verify oil subsidy claims, it added.

The Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payment, in its report, which was submitted on Monday, revealed that 21 companies that participated in subsidy payments were found culpable of fraudulent claims.

The report said that N21bn was cleared leaving N382bn as the sum in contention, the basis for which the committee recommended the process of recovery.

Olympics: Games start today

2012-07-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

IOC president Jacques Rogge
| credits: bbc.co.uk

The eyes of the world will be on London for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games today with Nigeria taking part in the event.

The ceremony will provide an opportunity for the world to view the culture of the host city and the UK and that of all participating countries including Nigeria.

Certain elements must feature in every Olympic opening ceremony, as outlined in the International Olympic Committee charter and today in London, there is expectation that the hosts will go beyond what the world witnessed in Beijing.

For the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, Her Majesty the Queen will be greeted by Jacques Rogge, President of IOC.

A procession of the participating teams will follow which will be done in alphabetical order, after which speeches will be delivered. The session ends with the invitation of the Queen to officially declare the Games open.

A total of 15,000 people will perform in the London 2012 opening ceremony, which will be watched by an estimated audience of four billion.

The Team Nigeria ended its preparation for the ceremony on Thursday with the position of flag bearer changing hands. Instead of Usman Maryam, Boltic Sinivie – a 96kg freestyle wrestler-will carry Nigerian flag later today.

The change came after a meeting held Thursday afternoon at the Games Village. Deputy Chef de Mission for the country, Al-Hassan Yakmut, said the change became necessary after Maryam’s coach suggested that she was better off not playing that role in view of her early competition on Saturday following the opening event .

Yakmut said, “The opening ceremony is going to stretch into the early morning of Saturday and Maryam will be fighting soon after the ceremony. It is for strategic reasons. We don’t want to wear her out in the ceremonies.

“Boltic is not new to events like this. He has been around and has won several medals for Nigeria at international events’’ he said.

The change is limited to that of the flag bearer for the march past. Team Captain remains the same as the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist, Chika Chukwumerije.

Enyimba suspend Eguavoen

2012-07-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

The management of former African champions, Enyimba of Aba has suspended the club’s technical adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, indefinitely for poor performance and anti-club activities.

Chairman of the club, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, in a statement said the former Super Eagles coach has displayed unprofessional attitude since the team was eliminated from the Federation Cup in Ibadan by Prime of Osogbo.

According to Anyansi-Agwu, since the team returned to Aba after the Federation Cup elimination, Eguavoen has refused to return to work and his action negates the contract agreement he signed with the club.

“I am confirming that Eguavoen has been placed on an indefinite suspension with immediate effect. He has flouted our contractual agreement by refusing to work and we have no option than to suspend him pending the conclusion of our investigation on his anti-club activities”, the chairman said.

Google unveils ultrafast Internet-TV

2012-07-26T23:23:00.003-07:00

Google Inc made its foray into the market for bundled Internet and television services on Thursday, promising access speeds more than 100 times faster than those of traditional U.S. cable and telecommunications companies.

The Web search leader unveiled its ultra-high speed Google Fiber service in Kansas City, Missouri, and could start installations in September, executives said. Google hopes to roll out the service to other cities later.

“Access is the next frontier that needs to be opened,” Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said. “We’re going to do it profitably. That is our plan.”

“We are at a crossroad,” he added, noting that Internet speeds had leveled out for broadband since around 2000. “We at Google we believe there is no need to wait.”

Google Fiber’s ultra high-speed connections and television offerings are aimed at surpassing those of current providers, allowing users to search live channels, Netflix, YouTube, recorded shows and tens of thousands of hours of on-demand programming. However, no phone service is available.

“The phone is really a 1940s thing. Why have a landline? It’s sitting there, you use it once every two weeks,” Pichette said.

Google said it also intends to roll out product packages for businesses, but would not provide details.

Google Fiber includes more than 100 networks and costs $120 a month for a package of TV, 1 gigabyte per second Internet speeds and 1 terabyte of cloud storage.

The package includes popular networks owned by major media companies such as Comcast Corp’s NBC Universal, Discovery Communications and Viacom Inc. Premium movie networks are available from Liberty Media’s Starz for an extra fee.

But it excludes several major TV names, such as News Corp’s Fox cable channels; Time Warner networks like CNN, TNT and TBS, as well as Walt Disney Co cable channels like ESPN and Disney children networks.

Google executives said the company is still in negotiations to add more content.

“They need to be able to offer something that is everything people have now and more,” said Ben Schachter, an analyst with Macquarie Research.

“People are going to have high expectations for this. The worst thing they can do is come out and disappoint.”

Google is also offering an Internet-only package priced at $70 a month. The download speeds would be around 1 gigabyte a second, according to Google executives.

Google is charging a $300 installation fee, saying consumers should treat it as a “home improvement” cost.

The initial service area includes central Kansas City, Missouri and all of the city of neighboring Kansas City, Kansas.

This market is dominated by Time Warner Cable Inc, which charges $99.95 for its fastest Internet-only service there. Google Fiber would be 20 times faster.

Time Warner spokesman Justin Venech said the second largest U.S. cable operator had a “robust and adaptable network” and welcomed the competition.

FEATURES AND FREEBIE

Google Fiber includes such features as the ability to record eight TV shows at a time and store up to 500 hours of high definition programming. Users can choose to use a tablet or smartphone as a voice-activated remote control.

Google is offering its Nexus 7 tablet with the Google TV app to early users of the service.

Google said it is setting up a 6-week “rally” for consumers to vote on where the first fiber communities, or “fiberhoods,” should be installed in the Kansas City area.

Consumers must pay $10 to register their household online for service. About 50 “neighbors” will need to register in order for their area to be eligible for installation services, according to Google executives.

Whether or not consumers will embrace the new offerings remains to be seen. But officials said they are confident Kansas City will be a showcase of success for a larger rollout.

“Google is a very different company,” said Kevin Lo, general manager of Google Access. “And this is not a short-term project.”

Army donates anti-bomb equipment to churches, mosques

2012-07-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Army on Thursday donated vehicle stoppers to churches and mosques as part of measures to protect places of worship against terrorist attacks, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Army Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen.Bitus Kwaji, while handing over the equipment to some churches and mosques leaders in Abuja, said the gesture was part of Army’s corporate social responsibility.

Kwaji said the equipment could stop vehicles that come in contact with it from any direction, saying, “the innovation is simple and effective’’.

He said the Army produced 18 of the equipment to be distributed to places of worship within the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “It has been discovered that most attacks by suicide bombers are carried out with vehicles loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices.

“This mode of operation is simple as a suicide bomber drives his vehicle straight into his target and explosion occurs.

“In order to stop bombers from reaching their targets, this invention comes in handy as it forcibly stops any vehicle that comes in contact with it at whatever speed.”

He said the equipment was designed in response to the challenge by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika.

Kwaji regretted the security challenges facing the country had continued to hinder its progress.

Army Director of Policy, Maj-Gen. Richard Chioba, said the equipment had been “tested in other countries and it worked”.

He said corporate bodies interested in the device were free to mass produce it to secure their organisations.

Chioba said the donation of the equipment was to ensure that lives and property of the citizens were protected.

The Executive Secretary of the Abuja National Mosque Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, expressed joy at the development.

Also, Rev. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo of the Methodist Diocese of Nyanya said the gesture had indicated that the Federal Government and the Army were bothered by the situation.

He said, “We believe that with this and other devices revealed to us, there will be peace and security of lives in the nation.’’

D'Banj, Tuface, MI, Others Thrill at Star Re-Launch Party

2012-07-25T03:19:00.000-07:00

Marketing Director Mr. Walter Drenth, Managing Director Mr. Nicolas Vervelde, Sales Director Mr. Hubert Eze and HR Director Mr. Victor Famuyibo, all of Nigerian Breweries Plc during the re-launch of STAR Lager beer in Lagos.

It has not happened for a long time where you will see some of the best artistes Nigeria parades at a single event to honour a brand, but that was exactly what happened when Star lager beer paraded Tuface Idibia, D’banj, MI, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage at the Star re-launch party. The Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites where the event held was filled to capacity with more than 6,000 consumers’ of Star.

The first performance of the evening was from MI. He thrilled the audience with his hit songs, ‘African rapper’ and ‘Action film.’ that made them request for more. The second performance was from the rave of the moment music act, Wizkid who thrilled audience with songs like “Holla at your Boy”, “Love my baby,” ‘I love my baby’ among other acts. Tiwa Salvage, a female act with MARVIN records was not left out as she hit the stage with her Azonto dancing steps that got applauds of the audience. She followed it with her popular hit track, ‘Kele kele love.’

MI and D'banj

The audience was ecstatic when Tuface came on stage with ‘Above and beyond’ which saw the award winning act mixing freely with the crowd. As the audience kept on asking for more, Tuface dished out two of his popular tracks, ‘Implication’ and ‘As you see me so.’ His act showed why he is a popular artiste.

Just when the audience thought they have seen it all and the curtain would soon fall, D’banj who made his first public appearance after his issue with his former partner, Don Jazzy. D’banj appeared from the midst of the crowd against the expectation of the audience who thought he’ll appear like others from the stage. For close to an hour he held the audience spelt bound with entertaining acts and songs that are ever green from his collections. They include, ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘Scape goat.’

2face and D'banj

D'banj

2face

DJ Humility

Wizkid and Tiwa Savage

A special new song titled “Let’s get the Party Started” composed by the five artiste for Star lager beer sent the crowd screaming and was followed by the highlight of the night, the unveiling of Star lager beer new look by D’banj, Wizkid, Tiwa Salvage and MI. The new payoff of Star lager beer, “shine on” was what was on the lips of fun lovers as they savour the occasion with consumption of chilled bottles of star lager beer. The new look Star now comes in a 3D authenticity logo watermarked with tiny stars, it also has a re-designed back label with revised brand message and new crown cork with upgraded 3Dlogo and logo ring, blue body label and neck foil.

Speaking at the star studded event which attracted more than 6,000 select consumers’ Mr Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries plc said there is no doubt that Star lager beer is a distinct market leader that will always be there. “Star did not start to shine now; it has always led the market. It was renewed in 1956 and in 1974 it became the first beer brand to introduce neck label and in 2007, it took a bold innovative stride by introducing packaging in Cans, so star has always been with Nigeria.”

Walter Drenth, Marketing Director of NB plc, who also spoke at the epoch making event said superior product quality has been the driving force of Star; he added that consumers have come to trust the brand because of its consistent quality over the years. The brand has the heritage of being brewed under strict quality standards since 1949 and the consumer promise remains uncompromised. Another factor is the strong distribution network. The brand has a very strong distribution footprint which spans the length and breadth of Nigeria. It is therefore not by accident that the ever refreshing Star is widely distributed and readily available across the country and is within the reach of consumers. The Star brand, right from when it was initiated, has maintained a constant message of bringing “brightness” to its consumers. This is always reflected in all its marketing campaigns.

Drenth stressed that another factor that adds to Star’s equity is the fact that it has one of the best communications across all media. This Communication has been consistent over the years. Again, this does not happen by accident. It is a well thought out process that has made the brand young and fresh despite the fact that it has been around for 63 years. Star is one of the best run brands to come out of Nigeria.

Innovation, he pointed out, also plays a fundamental part in the development of the Star brand over the years. Another factor any discerned brand analyst can identify is that Star has been noted for churning out adverts which has consistently projected the superior quality of the brand over the years. Right from the beginning, the brand made a strong statement, from the first campaign slogan of “Ah! Star – Beer at its best” introduced in 1949 through the “Brightness” campaign of the 1970s/80s, to the “Turn to Star – The ideal brew” campaign, unveiled in 1989, to the “Live the Brighter Life In Style – Star Ahead on Taste” campaign of the 1990’s and then to the campaigns of “Never A Dull Moment with Star”, “Share the Brighter Life”, “Shine Shine Bobo” and “Let’s get the party STARted”, it is clear that the advertising campaign development history of Star has been consistent in creating a mythical halo for the brand. The rave-making campaign that heralded the STAR Bottle change in 2000 is still fresh in the mind of consumers. The ‘Star Dance’ and Shine Shine Bobo are equally award winning materials.

On his part, Sampson Oloche, Senior Brand Manager Star added that “As a brand with mass appeal, there is a need to constantly engage with consumers in a bid to meeting their needs and understanding their aspirations. Star relies on different media and stakeholder touch points in order to reach its target audience. Our consumer engagement platforms are some of the most robust in the country today. From Star Quest to Star Trek to Star Mega Jam it is always meeting the consumer where he is and always responding to his need to have a brighter life always. In fact, consumers are charged with the responsibility of picking the foreign act they want to have for the popular Star Mega Jam”.

Oloche added that the platforms that the brand provides have been a veritable avenue for younger adults to express themselves and showcase their talents. The brand is thus seen as giving back to the society by empowering the youths, most of whom may never have had the opportunity to know they even have hidden talents. “You remember KC Presh? They were the first winners of Star Quest and they are still a force to be reckoned with in Nigerian music today in their individual capacities. So the activation provides a good platform for aspiring musical artistes seeking to make impact in the industry.

On the onslaught of competition, he said “We will always be steps ahead of competition because we have vibrant marketing support which enables us to consistently rejuvenate the brand in all consumer touch points i.e. packaging, communication, promotions and advertising to ensure its relevance and authority. In arriving at this we rely on consumer and market insight which in turn drives and leads to constant consumer-led innovations. You have your winning formula when you have an effective distribution network.”

Jonathan mourns Atta Mills’ death

2012-07-24T15:08:00.002-07:00

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday condoled with the government and people of Ghana over the death of their president, John Atta Mills.
In a press statement signed by the Special Adviser to the president of Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, Mr Jonathan said he “received with shock and immense sadness news of the sudden death of President John Atta Mills of Ghana.”
The statement said that Mr Jonathan on behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, “extends sincere condolences to late President Mill’s family as well as the government and people of Ghana.
“The President assures the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana.”
Mr Jonathan said that he expects that “the excellent relationship which existed between Nigeria and Ghana during President Mill’s tenure will continue to be strengthened under the new leadership in Ghana in the mutual interest of both countries.”
A statement from the Ghanian president’s office on Tuesday announced the death of President Mills
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.
Mills died at the age of 68, a few hours after he fell ill and was rushed to a Military Hospital.

Ritualists kill seven year old boy in Nasarawa

2012-07-24T15:06:00.001-07:00

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the State Security Service (SSS) has paraded two men who allegedly killed a seven year old boy in Nasarawa state for ritual purpose.
Assistant Director, Operations of the Service, Mister Ibrahim Halilu said the two men, John Yakubu and Ishaya Dakulung were arrested on Sunday afternoon in the Asokoro district of the FCT with the fresh human head while they were looking for a buyer.
Mister Halilu who said the suspects will soon be charged to court, warned parents to closely monitor the movement of their children during the holiday period in order to forestall the activities of evil minded persons.
One of the suspect, John Yakubu who spoke in Hausa said the victim who is an only child of his parents was lured to a river side in New Karshi, Nasarawa state, before severing his head from his body while his partner, Ishaya Dakulung claimed that he was only helping his friend to get a buyer with a promise of being paid N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand naira).

Patience Jonathan, Turai Yar’Adua to settle land dispute out of court

2012-07-24T14:57:00.002-07:00

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Sitting in Bwari Area Council has ordered Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, wife of late President Yar’Adua and the current First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to report back to court over the out of court settlement on a disputed 1.84 hectares of land in Abuja.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister Of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, had informed the presiding judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen, that the Federal Government has made arrangement for an out of court settlement.
The disputed land, plot no. 1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT, was initially allocated to Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) while Mrs. Yar’adua was First Lady.
The Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed revoked the allocation for what he described as “overriding public interest” and reallocated the same land to Mrs. Jonathan for the building of African First Lady Peace Mission Headquarters on the 2nd of November, 2011.
Mrs. Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on 19 February 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs. Jonathan and got a court order dated 5 March 2012 restraining the defendants from affecting WAYEF title and interest over the land.
Those joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Minister of FCT, Federal Capital Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).
Reacting to the plea for an out of court settlement, Mr. Lagi Innocent, Counsel to WAYEF confirmed to the court that his clients have been approached for an out of court settlement but added that this was not the first time the defendants were making such moves.
He mentioned that WAYEF had already began the process of notice of committal to prison on the defendants by filing forms 48 and 49 adding that it was unfortunate that people could no longer trust the government in the country.
While adjourning the case to 24 September 2012 for report of settlement, Justice Affen “advised parties that the nature of the case is such that if parties can reach amicable settlement it would be better for all sides.”

Ghana’s president John Atta Mills dies at 68

2012-07-24T14:50:00.002-07:00

Ghanaian president, John Atta Mills is dead a statement from the president’s office announced on Tuesday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.
Mills died at the age of 68, a few hours after he fell ill and was rushed to a Military Hospital.
The statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the president, Mr John Henry Newman, stated that Mr Mills passed away at the 37 Military Hospital, Tuesday afternoon.
A presidential aide, who asked not to be named, said the president had complained of pains on Monday evening and died early on Tuesday afternoon when his condition worsened.
Previous rumours about Mills’s possible ill health had swirled in the last few weeks and he travelled last month to the United States for medical treatment.
On that occasion, he had joked with reporters on his departure from the capital Accra about rumours of his death, asking them: “Are you seeing a person who has died?”
Mr Mills was inaugurated as Ghana’s leader on the platform of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on 7 January 2009, defeating the ruling party’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election.
He served as Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings.
Trained as a lawyer and taxation expert, Mills had overseen Ghana’s emergence as one of Africa’s newest oil producers as the West African country started pumping crude oil two years ago.
The late president was expected to run for a second term in the forthcoming presidential election in December.
Ghana’s election commission said December’s presidential and parliamentary elections would go ahead as planned.
“The election calendar remains unchanged – it’s purely a party matter,” election chief Kwadwo Afari-Gyan told Reuters, explaining that it was up to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to find a candidate to replace Mills.
He is survived by his wife Ernestina Naadu Mills, and their son, Sam Kofi Atta Mills.
Ghana’s Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama is to be sworn in as the new president, Tuesday evening.
According to the country’s constitution, Mahama will complete Mills’s term.

Impeachment threat not over Lawan, contracts – Reps

2012-07-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

THE House of Representatives on Monday said the ultimatum given to President Goodluck Jonathan to either achieve 100 per cent budget performance by September or face impeachment procedures, was borne out of genuine desire to move the country forward.
The lawmakers condemned insinuations that the impeachment threat had to do with their desire for contracts and the fight to protect Farouk Lawan, a Rep currently involved a $620,000 bribery scandal.
Spokesman for the House, Zakari Mohammed, on Monday said such insinuations were wicked and a ploy to intimidate the lawmakers out of their genuine concern for the nation’s economy.
Mohammed said, “The 7th Assembly has distanced itself from the Hon. Farouk (Lawan) and (Femi) Otedola case as evident in the bold steps we took in suspending him (Lawan) as chairman of both the committees on fuel subsidy and education in addition to encouraging the law enforcement agencies to do their work according to the dictates of the law.
“To now conclude that our resolution for Thursday is borne out of selfish motives is terribly out of place.”
Otedola, a billionaire oil marketer, had recently blown the lid over an alleged $3m bribery deal between himself and Lawan. He said the deal was made in order to remove the name of his firm, Zenon Oil and Gas Limited, from the list of firms indicted in the N1.7tn short-changing of government during the fuel subsidy regime.
He confessed to have given Lawan $620,000 as part-payment but refused to pay the balance because, according to him, the lawmaker forced him into the deal. After initial denials, Lawan had also confessed that he collected the money but not as a bribe but as evidence that Otedola had tried to influence him unduly.
Mohammed said any attempt to connect the ultimatum given to Jonathan to the Lawan/Otedola case already under investigation would fail. He said the lawmakers would refuse to be intimidated.
According to him, lawmakers have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the Executive takes the right decisions that will improve the lives of Nigerians.
He stated, “We will continue to raise our voices to the highest ebb where we sight injustice or impunity.
“No amount of blackmail or intimidation will cow us to abdicate our constitutional responsibility, which we signed with our employers (the Nigerian people) to stand firm and protect their interest.”
Mohammed said that the House moved against Jonathan because in spite of the impressive revenue posted by revenue-generating agencies, there was no commensurate performance of the budget in terms of the execution of capital projects.
He added, “We are aware that all revenue generating agencies have surpassed their annual targets by June this year.The House is worried that this positive development did not reflect the implementation of the budget for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
“This trend, if not arrested, will worsen the already fragile state of the nation, hence the need for our quick intervention.”
He denied that the impeachment ultimatum had anything to do with “pressure from a political party” or anger over constituency project contracts.
The House spokesman stated that the role of lawmakers in constituency projects was to nominate the projects, while it was the duty of the Executive to select and award the contracts.
Mohammed also denied that members were unhappy with the manner the Lawan bribery case was handled.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Monday said it should be counted out of the impeachment threat against the President.
Senate spokesman, Senator Eyinnanya Abaribe, told one of our correspondents in a telephone interview on Monday that the Senate never took any decision to join the House in the call on the President to implement the budget.
He said reports linking the Senate with the agitation in the House were false.
Alaribe said, “We never took any decision to join the House of Reps, the reports are false.
“If we have to take any decision it will be at plenary, but the Senate has gone on recess and no such decision was taken.”
Although senators have not threatened the President with impeachment, they had at different times criticised the executive for poor implementation of the various Appropriation Acts.

Incessant strikes, bane of Nigerian varsities – Obasanjo

2012-07-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Incessant and protracted strikes are major factors militating against the development of the university system in Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Monday in Lagos.

Obasanjo made the comments at the presentation of a book, From Excellence to Distinction: The University of Lagos on World’s Intellectual Map, written by Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.

Obasanjo, who was the special guest of honour, noted that strikes by both students and university staff had affected the rapid growth and improved standard of academics in Nigerian universities over the past years.

He stressed the need for university administrators to be proactive in their quest to attain excellence by ensuring a stable academic calendar.

He said, “We, as a nation, have what it takes, both human and natural resources, to make our universities rank among the best in the world.

“In any institution, those who are at the helm of affairs must strive to do their work and administer without fear or favour.

“There must be discipline in the use of every thing at their disposal in order to achieve their set goals.”

He said every one must be prepared to improve the ratings of Nigerian universities in global ranking.

Obasanjo said, “After all, we now have a Nigerian who is amongst the 51 best in the world, in terms of economic standing.

“We must try to develop and encourage what we have for us to be able to achieve our collective goal as a nation.”

He noted that the country had succeeded in making the University of Lagos to be amongst the best 1,000 in the world, but that it could only get better.

Obasanjo commended the vision and contributions of Ibidapo-Obe, to the development of the university system.

While describing the messages in his book as “words on marble”, Obasanjo noted that some of the issues raised in the book were relevant to every sector of Nigeria’s economy.

“I remember how he fought hard to minimise strikes amongst students and staff in the university during his era as vice-chancellor,” he said.

In his remarks, acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Rahman Bello, said the university was the first to be ranked as one of the best in the country during the tenure of the author as vice-chancellor.

He assured that the institution would build on what the author left behind.

Earlier in his welcome address, Ibidapo-Obe had said the book took him five and a half years to conclude.

He stressed the need to showcase the achievements of the university, which he said should move from its current excellent stage to that of distinction.

The reviewer of the book, Prof. Niyi Akinnaso, described the book as “well written, interesting and educative”.

Pension dispute: FG deploys more soldiers in PHCN HQ

2012-07-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government on Monday deployed more troops in the headquarters of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Abuja. It warned that the soldiers would remain on the premises if the threat by the workers continued.

Soldiers and policemen were on Friday deployed in the Abuja head office of the PHCN over the workers’ dispute with the Federal Government on their pension and gratuities.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said the soldiers and the policemen would not be withdrawn for now.
The Chairman of the National Union of Electricity Employees, FCT Chapter, Mr. Wisdom Nwachukwu, had on Friday condemned the government over the deployment and threatened that the workers would not resume until the last soldier had been withdrawn from the office complex.
But Nnaji said on Monday that the government was justified given that the workers had started behaving in a disruptive manner “and we had to take steps to secure government property and installations.”
The minister said, “We required them to sign an undertaken of good behaviour before they could enter the complex.
“We spoke with their General Secretary and we agreed that they could enter the office as long as they conducted themselves in an orderly manner. Given the security situation in the country, we cannot allow the breakdown of law and order in any government establishment.”
Meanwhile, the PHCN workers resumed at the headquarters on Monday in spite of the presence of securitymen.
The workers insisted that they should be allowed into their offices and worked without disturbance.
The Federal Government and electricity workers are in disagreement over the workers’ terminal benefits subsequent to moving to successor companies that would soon be sold to private sector operators.
While the workers had insisted that they should benefit from the scheme that had been in place at PHCN before the Pension Reform Act of 2004, the government said it would not revert to the old pension scheme.
Explaining the government’s position on Monday, Nnaji said negotiations with workers broke down after eight sessions.
He added that a meeting would be held with the workers’ representatives later on Monday. The outcome of the promised meeting was not known to The PUNCH on Monday.
“We will not go outside the law. We will not budge on that. To us, that is not a disagreement. We are a government and we cannot go outside the law,” the minister said.
He explained that while the government had accepted to bear the entire 15 per cent of the contributory pension fund, the workers were insisting on 25 per cent contrary to the provision of the law.
He added that the government had made sufficient provision to cater for the terminal benefits of the workers according to the Pension Reform Act of 2004.
Meanwhile, there were indications on Monday that the National Assembly had waded into the dispute between the government and the PHCN workers.
Nwachukwu told our correspondent on the telephone that the workers would decide the next line of action after the outcome of the intervention by the National Assembly and a meeting with the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, and Nnaji.
He however expressed shock that rather than withdrawing the soldiers from the PHCN facility with the intervention of the National Assembly, more soldiers were deployed in the place.
He said that the soldiers took over the gate and allowed the workers access to the premises only when national officials of NUEE came in from Lagos to intervene.
The leadership of the NUEE led by its Secretary General, Mr. Joe Ajaero, on Monday reportedly met with a Senate team.
Nwachukwu also said that a meeting of NUEE, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the ministers of Power, and Labour was scheduled to take place later in the day.
He said, “The NLC wrote to the President, the National Assembly and the minister to withdraw the soldiers.
“Rather than withdrawing the soldiers, they deployed more troops in our office and the soldiers took over the gate and directed our people to stay 100 meters away from the office. But we said no and insisted that we must work in our offices.
“As we are talking, the soldiers are still on the premises we are working with soldiers inside our complex and you can imagine the effect of that on the workers. The workers are really apprehensive about this situation.”

3,100 corps members redeployed from Kano, Plateau, Gombe

2012-07-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

THE total of 3,100 corps members were redeployed from violence-prone Kano, Gombe and Plateau states, the National Youth Service Corps said as the 2012 Batch ‘B’ orientation camp closing ceremonies took place across the country on Monday.

One thousand three hundred of the 2,560 corps members posted to Kano sought redeloyment while no fewer than 1,000 of the 1,687 deployed in Gombe, and 802 of the 1,750 in Plateau were redeployed to other states.
The posting of some southerners to the troubled North was greeted by protests, but it took the new graduates security guarantees by the Federal Government to accept their posting.
Speaking in Kano, the state NYSC Coordinator Alhaji Salisu Yakasai, said the corps members insisted on redeployment, despite the heavy security presence in the camp during the three-week orientation programme.
But Rabiu Kwankwaso said he was happy that the corps members who stayed back enjoyed the programme.
Coordinator of the scheme in Plateau, Mr. Maram Mafulul, said in Jos the 802 that sought redeployment included married women, pregnant, nursing mothers and the sick.
He however said 30 of them later opted to serve in the state.
Governor Jonah Jang represented by the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Lohfa Bako, at the closing ceremony, assured the corps members in the state of protection.
In Gombe, the Coordinator of the scheme, Mr. Igyuse Teryima, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview after the passing out ceremony that the affected members applied for redeployment.
Speaking in Asaya-Kabba, Kogi State Governor Idris Wada urged corps members to embrace self-reliance as a tool for socio-economic development of the nation.
Wada, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Mr Isah Aliu, said the orientation was to equip corps member with practical, social and leadership skills to face future challenges.
His Kwara State counterpart, Abdulfatah Ahmed, said his administration had put adequate security measures in place to protect corps members in the state.
In her remarks, the state Coordinator of the scheme, Mrs. Ezinne Ezekwe, commended the governor for contributing N1.8m to the feeding as well as providing two tankers, an ambulance and the giving the former North Central I Area Office to the NYSC.
On her part, the Minister of State for FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, in Abuja urged corps members to serve as role models and be patriotic in the course of the service year.
Akinjide, who was represented by the Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, called on corps members to be selfless and patriotic during the service as “many emerging developing nations are driven by the energies of their youths”.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has advised new NYSC members in the state to use the martial arts skills imbibed during their orientation course for self-defence only.
Speaking in Iseyin, Ajimobi said martial arts skills should not encourage fighting in public.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, also directed all the 33 local governments in the state to provide adequate security for corps members.
Taraba Coordinator, NYSC Mrs. Zainab Isah, urged corps members to use skills acquired during the orientation course to create jobs in their host communities.