Boko Haram can't frustrate Nigeria, says Jonathan

 

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared that the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram or any other group cannot frustrate Nigeria.

Speaking at the 53rd Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja, he condemned the killing of 21 Agriculture students in Yobe State yesterday.

According to him, the challenges and obstacles Nigeria is going through are transient and the country will soon get over them.

JTF arrests 29 oil thieves in four states

...127 illegal refineries destroyed

The military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta said it has nabbed 29 oil thieves and destroyed 127 illegal oil refineries in various locations in the area.

The Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the suspects were caught during operations between September 16 and 28.

Hearing on Petroleum Industry Bill to reusme - Senate

 

Senate said it will resume another round of public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on October 9 amid allegations key parties to the proposed law were excluded during initial hearings.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), among others, had alleged that many parties were prevented from participating in reforms of the oil sector.

Four Senate Standing Committees: Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Gas and Judiciary, Legal and Human Rights were mandated to conduct the hearing.

End Boko Haram’s bloody campaign - Northern Governors demand

 

Governors of the 19 northern states on Sunday, charged security agencies to do all within their powers to halt the killing of defenceless citizens, and attacks on places of worship and educational facilities especially in the North East, by members of extremist sect, Boko Haram.

The Northern States Governors Forum, through its chairman, Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, said its members were seriously concerned at renewed attacks on innocent people, following Sunday’s killing of about 38 students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State, as well as the killing of 15 persons in Zangang community in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

40 students killed in Yobe by suspected Boko Haram

No fewer than 40 students of Gujba College of Agriculture in Yobe State were on Sunday morning killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

 

The corpses of the students have been deposited at the General Sanni Abacha Specialist Hospital and more are still been expected at press time.

Deportation: Fashola was wrong to apologize to Igbos, says Fani-Kayode

Femi Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation has lashed out at Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the Lagos State Governor, over the latter’s decision to apologize to the Igbos following the deportation of beggars and destitute people to Anambra State.

Femi Fani-Kayode, on Friday, said that the only redeeming factor is that the apology was designed to calm “frayed nerves.”

Only APC can rescue Nigeria from its challenges, says Al-Makura

Nasarawa Governor vows to end ethnic crises in the state

The Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, said on Friday, that only the All Progressives Congress, APC, could rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.

The governor, who disclosed this at the end of a closed-door meeting between the APC governors and federal lawmakers, held at Lagos House, Abuja, said it was no longer in doubt that the party, which was a merger of some opposition parties, had come to stay.

Amazing story of a rich Island whose people need help

It is regarded as the richest Island in the country. It hosts the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Mobil Producing Unlimited and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). But, OLUKOREDE YISHAU, who has been to the Island three times, writes that the richness of the Island has benefited the government and a few individuals more than the people. It is feared if the community does not get the help it needs, it will pose future threats.

It has a place in global history. Its name rings bell far and wide. It takes some three hours to access it by water. By air, it is slightly more than 20 minutes. Its soils are swarmed by resources that bring money. But they can’t bring money unless technology beyond the reach of the people are deployed, leaving the Island in no position to tap the resources. So blessed is it that it has no rival in the Niger Delta. One of the three companies operating on its soil has paid dividends of no less than $9 billion to the Federal Government since it began operation some years ago. The others have also paid several billions from what they have earned operating there. Other government agencies have also collected billions of dollars as dues, levies and what have you over the years.

Kelvin of Kokori: The man who terrorised Delta

 
On Wednesday, September 18, Delta State’s most wanted criminal, Kelvin Ibruvwe, made a surprise return to his Kokori hometown in Ethiope East Local Government Area. It marked the beginning of his end. Shola O’NEIL and Aiwerie Okungbowa chronicle the criminal career of the man known as Kelvin of Kokori

Since his criminal escapades propelled him into the top list of Niger Delta’s most wanted criminal, Kelvin Ibruvwe, has become a mystery of sort. He is so popular that he is known simply by his first name. He is diminutive, wealthy and impudent.

Independence: Leaders have failed Nigeria – Senate

 

The Senate on Thursday lamented the plight of the nation in view of the upcoming 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration.

Most of the Senators spoke while contributing to a motion entitled: “Congratulations to Nigeria and Nigerians on her 53rd Independence Anniversary.”

While some blamed the lack of development on corruption, other attributed the slow pace of development to sentimental and parochial inclination of the nation’s leaders both past and present.

ASUU Strike: Students give FG one week ultimatum

Students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on Thursday in Kano gave the Federal Government one week ultimatum to meet all the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or face wrath of Nigerian students.

The students, who staged a peaceful protest under the auspices of a Student Union Government (SUG), BUK chapter, urged the Federal Government to respect and implement the 2009 ASUU/FG agreement, insisting that the two parties should come to the negotiation table and settle their scores for the interest of Nigerian students.

Deportation saga: Fashola apologises to Igbos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday offered an unreserved apology for the misunderstanding generated by the alleged deportation of some destitutes to Onitsha, Anambra State.

The state government was accused of dumping 70 beggars at Onitsha Bridge on July 24, a situation that generated public outcry and bad blood.

You have case to answer on N10.9bn fraud – Court to ex –Kogi Gov

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja presided by Justice Olukayode A. Adeniyi on Tuesday 24 September 2013 dismissed a case of no submission brought by the former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu and a former Director General of the Directorate of Rural Development in his administration, Alfa Ibn Mustapha.

 

The duo who were first arraigned on Monday March 18, 2013 south had asked the court to quash the 36 count charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of  N10,965,837,040  (Ten Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Eighty Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Forty Kobo)

Anambra election: 23 governorship candidates' released by INEC

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday, refused to clear the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the November 16 governorship election, Tony Nwoye, who emerged winner of the party’s primary election held on August 24.

The commission, which released a list of 23 governorship candidates and 18 deputy governorship candidates to fly the flags of their parties, recognised Nicholas Ukachukwu as the PDP candidate.

Students: We are tired of staying at home

 From THE NATION newspaper:

With no end in sight to the over two months old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), some Nigerian students spoke to The Nation on the effect of the strike and why the Federal Government should respond to the demands of ASUU with a view to making them return to the classroom.

119 awaiting trial prison inmates released by Lagos CJ

 

The Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, Wednesday released 119 awaiting trial inmates from the Maximum and Medium Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos.

At least 99 inmates secured freedom from the medium security prison while 20 were released from the maximum security prison.

They included inmates believed to be brothers – Dare and Dada Egbebunmi.

The released inmates were believed to be on awaiting trial list for over 13 years.

INEC: Poor funding threatens operations – Jega

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday decried under-funding of the commission, saying it was a big threat to its operations.

He made the statement at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

Jega said that in spite of its enormous responsibility to the nation, the commission was not getting adequate funding.

Senate postpones debate on 2014 MTEF

 

The Senate on Wednesday postponed the debate on the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

The fiscal document which is considered crucial for the preparation and formulation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill was sent to the Senate last week by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kelvin Ibruvwe, Delta most wanted kidnapper arrested

Niger Delta most wanted criminal and kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Ibruvwe, was on Wednesday morning captured by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The notorious kidnap suspect was nabbed seven days after he issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to develop Urhobo areas of Delta State in order to avert unprecedented attack on oil facility.

Petrol subsidy reduced to N971bn – Okonjo-Iweala

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The Federal Government said on Monday that it reduced debts owed marketers on oil subsidy from N2.2 trillion in 2011 to N971 billion in 2012.

The information is contained in a statement issued from the office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in Abuja.

$25,000 bribery scandal: My story - Sacked Emodi

Sacked Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, has reacted to speculations making the rounds on the reasons for her sack.

Irked by reports that her sack was not unconnected with the bribe-for-impeachment drama that allegedly rocked the House of Representatives recently, Emodi denied