News: Opeifa Says Okada Is Not restrict On All The Road

A trip to the National Orthopedic hospital, Igbobi, Lagos will reveal a pathetic situation of victims of Okada accidents. Destinies altered as many on clutches cried in pain as a result of severe orthopedic injuries, while others with spinal cord injuries groan helplessly  on wheel chairs.
Before the October 20 government restriction of Okada on highways in Lagos, about 65-70 percent of accident victims who have varying degrees of bone injuries were said to have been caused by Okada accidents.
Many also believe that the fly-on attitude of the operators especially on the highways constitute grave danger to the lives of other road users just as they were seen to flout traffic rules at every point.
But not many see the decision of government to restrict the operations of Okada especially on the highways as a welcome development.

Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transport and Gov Fashola

While some argue that it will further compound the problem of movement of people from one point to another bearing in mind the inadequate public transportation system especially when commuting from the highways to the hinterlands; others opined that it will further worsen the problem of unemployment as many of them will be thrown out of jobs. Others on the other hand see the government approach from the perspective of ensuring safety and sanity on the roads.
Reacting to some of these views, the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa said the decision was taken by the people of Lagos. “Everyday, the traffic situation in Lagos keep rising and we all the time stressed the security facilities in the state.
The people of the state keep telling us that the traffic and safety situation are not getting any better with the Okadas still on the road. On September 5, after the signing the traffic bill into law, we had an agreement with the unions of Okada where they requested for three things. One, that we should delay the implementation time, a review of some of the roads; and a request to meet the Governor.”
He explained that the roads on which Okada have been restricted are all major highways, the dual carriage roads and some single lane roads in the list of the 475 roads. According to him, “these are the roads we have adequate transport system.
Some were added by the Local government authorities. So, it is not that the executive sat and took the decision, it was in collaboration with the CDAs, the Local Government authorities, and when it got to the House of Assembly, they also took out some and added some.
So, what we have is a collective agreement of the views of the people of Lagos. We also indicated that in all these roads, should there be a situation, where there is lack of public transportation, the Hon Commissioner should review,” he stated.
Opeifa opined that Okada has since remained unregulated simply because it had never been part of the public transportation system. “It arose as a result of social economic issues. It started with Babangida administration and since then it remained unregulated. Akwa Ibom state tried to regulate it, designing helmets, jackets, but they later stopped it.”
Contrary to the claim of outright ban of Okada in Lagos, the transport Commissioner stated that it was not an outright ban, it was a restriction. “We have not banned motorcycle out rightly; we have only restricted them on 475 out of 9,100 roads.
It means it is just about 6 per cent of roads in Lagos are restricted. These are dual carriage roads, major roads and other roads we have public transportation system. Reeling out some of the roads, he noted that Ikorodu road, Mile 12, Ojota, Mobalaji Bank Anthony, Awolowo road, Ogunlana drive, Adeniran Ogunsanya, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, are unsafe for Okada operations. “…aside the fact that there is public transportation on these roads, they are not safe for a vehicle that is not protected.
Motorcycle is not protected. If somebody touches you while on motion, you may fall and that may be fatal. We don’t want any more deaths on our roads. If we can prevent it, why not do that,” he explained.
Harping on safety, he said: “I doubt if there is any family who has not had injury as a result of Okada or any one whose friend or acquaintance has not had Okada accident.”
One of the arguments by the Okada operators is that they were used for the election and dumped thereafter, distributing helmets to them before the April 2011 election.
Reacting to this, the commissioner said: “Giving helmet is what we hold as a social responsibility and there are a lot of companies that we have encouraged to give them helmet. It is meant towards ensuring that they are safe when operating. And that is what section 3 of this law says.
So, we have not done anything strange in January to April 2011. So, if you need to do the business, you must be encouraged to operate safely,” he stated.
He wondered why the hullabaloo on the government step towards ensuring safety of people in the state when some other states have tried it and outrightly banned it. “Some states like Kwara, Delta, Rivers state including FCT, have all done it.
While these states were banning them, they came down to Lagos and we did not say,’ no, don’t operate. What we said is that there must have to be restriction. We have not banned okada but we have only restricted their operations.
I know no one will like to have his child on motor bike on the highway. It is unsafe and unreliable,” he noted.
On the problem of inadequate public transportation which could have assuaged the pains of movement from one place to another, the Commissioner analysed thus: “We have over 7000 yellow buses on Lagos roads, we also have 1500 Bus Rapid Transport, by our calculation, they pick about 1.5million people moving at a time.
This occurs at the rush hour between 7am and 9am, after then, many of them go to Ojuelegba, Oshodi, Ojota to park. So, we don’t have to keep increasing the number of buses. It depends on the demand and supply theory.
And even in the rush hour, people move in one direction and vehicle most times will not want to come back empty. So, we have to apply what is called special redistribution of resources.
You will not get to equilibrium. Let me give you this analysis, if you leave for Marina, through the busiest road in Lagos which is 3rd Mainland bridge, because it moves, it takes you about one hour from Ikeja to Victorial Island. When you are coming back  around 4:45pm, it will take you about 45 minutes.
You will go through traffic at four points and spend about 5 minutes at each point and to you it looks like three hours. I have tried it several times. Each time I tried it, I call the traffic radio. The issue is that we are too much in a hurry.”
He agrees that lack of training is part of the reasons why Okada operators consistently flout traffic rules. He insisted that the manufacturers of the okada never intended it for passenger movement, adding: “regardless of the training they had, the urge to make more money set in, so, they become aggressive.
That is why you always see them always in a hurry.” and that is why on some of the busiest roads like Allen, we have restricted them.
They requested for an extension of time for them to fully comply with the law. The second thing they asked for was a review of the road, asking to be allowed on single carriage roads, (inside the neighbourhood) pending the time they will finally find their way out; while their third request was that they wanted to see the governor.
On the issue of extension, on September 5, we meet every Friday, until October 20 and on the roads, we asked them to go and study the roads and pick the ones they want and come back to us. So far only the Alimosho branch signaled interest asking for Abaranje and Iliyasu roads.
They also requested to meet with the governor, and they all met him except one of them, ANACOWA. And the rest said they were more convinced why they should leave the road.
The organised Okada group was not involved. There are two unions – Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, (RETREAN) and NURTW. There are other ones who are not recognised and yet they collect dues. You cannot collect dues when you are not a trade union under the Trade Union Act.
So, some of them stayed away out of power struggle. The one led by one Aliyu, ANACOWA is not recognised, he is not known in Lagos, he is not even known in Abuja where he claims he has authority to operate in Lagos.”
“When the governor met with them, we gave them the option of agriculture where we train graduates for one year, and at the end of the training, we provide them land and we give them money.
The third session training is currently going on. We also gave them the option of skill acquisition. We have 17 skill acquisition centres in Lagos.
Then the third option is the micro finance, we have gotten some few ones who have shown interest already. We told them to go back to their union, and introduce these things and come back with the list of interested persons, we will train them and set them up,” he explained.
On the enforcement of the law and seized bikes, he said, it is not true that bikes seized were crushed. “That is not true, no bike was crushed. The law is clear on this matter and we are going to do what the law says.”

News: 3yrs-old Girl Found Dead In School Toilet

A three-year old girl identified as Imiefan Omokaro was on Thursday afternoon found dead in the toilet of her school, known as Kingdom Heritage Model School along Sapele road in Benin City.
She was said to have fallen into a bucket half filled with water.
A source said a teacher who found the little girl at the toilet raised alarm and the girl was taken to the Winners Chapel Church, owners of the school, where pastors engaged in marathon prayers to revive the girl.
It was learnt that when the mother of the child came to the school to pick her daughter, the teacher said they were looking for the child.
The source said it was after two hours that the child was taken to a hospital where a nurse on duty confirmed her dead.
Father of the girl who gave his name as Omokaro Jolly said he dropped his daughter at school hale and healthy and was surprised that the school authorities could not tell him what happened to his daughter.
He said his wife called him at about 3:45 to inform him that their daughter was missing and when he got to the school, he was asked to go to the hospital where he saw his child stone dead.
.According to him, “When I dropped my daughter in school, she said I should come and pick her up so that I can buy her chocolate but I can’t see my daughter now.”
The matter was reported at the Etete Police Station and it was learnt that the class teacher and two nannies have been arrested.
”I can’t brought a baby to school  and they expect me to collect a lifeless baby. It is their responsibility to tell me what happened to my baby”.
The wife, Mrs. Osarogue who was in tears said, “I went to the school and asked where is my love. Nobody answered me. I asked the aunty, she told that my daughter went to the toilet.”
The matter was reported at the Etete Police Station and it was learnt that the class teacher and two nannies have been arrested.

Sports: Great Footballer Messi Is Now A Father.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi announced Friday the birth of his first child, Thiago, although the club say he will still play on Saturday .
Messi’s partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, delivered their son at the Dexeus hospital about 700 metres (less than half a mile) from Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.
“Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift! Thanks to my family for the support! A hug to everyone,” the 25-year-old Argentine said on his Facebook page.
Messi had permission to miss football training in the morning “for a personal matter” on the eve of Barcelona’s home game against Celta de Vigo, Barcelona said in an online statement.
But coach Tito Vilanova said the Argentine is still expected to play at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
“In principle he will be there for the game. It does not change anything that he has not trained for one day, it’s not important,” Vilanova told a news conference.
In an interview published this week, Messi said he will not be pushing Thiago to lace up his football boots as a career.
“He should be whatever he wants to be,” Messi told Spain’s top selling daily Marca.
“When he grows up he will get to know what he wants and what he chooses will be fine for me, for his mother and for everyone.”
Thiago’s arrival caps and no doubt overwhelms a string of good news for Messi in the past week.
The football wonder picked up the Golden Boot award on Monday for scoring 50 goals last season and he is favoured this year to win his fourth Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best footballer.
Last weekend he also scored his 300th career goal.

News: Dangote Has Been Rated The 62nd Richest Man In The World

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group of Companies, Mr. Aliko Dangote has been rated  the 62nd richest man in the world with a net worth of $13.5 billion.
According to a report by Bloomberg tagged, ‘The World’s 200 Richest People,’ Dangote is said to be richer than Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, Rupert Murdoch, CEO and founder of News Corporation, Giorgio Armani, founder of Armani designs who were stated as having net worths of $10.7 billion, $10.4 billion and $7.8 billion respectively.

Dangote

In the report, Mexico’s Carlos Slim, Chairman, America Movil SAB Emeritus, emerged the richest, with a net worth of $77.5 billion,  followed by the founder of Microsoft Company Bill Gates who has a net worth of $64.4 billion, while the chairman of Inditex SA, Amancio Ortega, with a net worth of $53.6 billion made the third position.
Others on the top ten list include: Warren Buffett with a net worth of $48.4 billion; Ingvar Kamprad $41.8 billion; Charles Koch, $38.6 billion; David Koch, $38.6 billion; Larry Ellison, $37.2 billion; Christy Walton, $30.5 billion, and Jim Walton with a net worth of $29.3 billion.
However the founder of Facebook Zuckerberg, is ranked 88th on the list, while the owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, is ranked 51 with a Net worth of $14.7 billion and Sunil Mittal the owner of Bharti Airtel with a net worth of $6.2 billion is ranked 182nd on the list.
On the bottom list are: Walter Faria with a Net worth of $6.1 billion; Leonid Fedun, with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Terry Gou with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Richard LeFrak with a net worth of$6.0 billion; Miuccia Prada Bianchi with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Ivan Glasenberg with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Silvio Berlusconi with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Jeffery Hildebrand with a net worth of $6.0 billion; Shiv Nadar with a net worth of $5.9 billion; Steve Schwarzman with a net worth of $5.8 billion and John Sall with a net worth of $5.8 billion.
Alhaji  Dangote, MFR, GCON, born 10th April 1957 in  Kano, Nigeria, is a self-made business magnate of the Dangote Group, with an estimated net worth of $13.5 billion.
Born into a wealthy Hausa-Muslim family, his mother Mariya Sanusi Dantata was the granddaughter of legendary Hausa businessman Alhassan Dantata, and his father Mohammed Dangote was Dantata’s business associate.
Dangote had an early interest in business: “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets [sugar boxes] and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time.” he said during an interview.
He attended the Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt where he studied business,and later returned to Nigeria to work with his uncle Sanusi Abdulkadir Dantata who eventually gave him a business loan of N500,000 when he was just 21 years old.
The Dangote Group, originally a small trading firm founded in 1977, is now a multi-trillion naira conglomerate with operations in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.
Dangote’s businesses include food processing, cement manufacturing, and freight. The Dangote Group dominates the sugar market in Nigeria: it is the major sugar supplier to the country’s soft drink companies, breweries, and confectioners.
Dangote Group has moved from being a trading company to Nigeria’s largest industrial group including: Dangote Sugar Refinery,, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour amongst others.
Today, Dangote Group dominates the sugar market in Nigeria and Dangote Sugar Refinery is the main supplier (70 per cent of the market) to the country’s soft drinks companies, breweries and confectioners.
It is the largest refinery in Africa and the third largest in the world producing 800,000 tonnes of sugar annually. Dangote Group also owns salt factories and flour mills and is a major importer of rice, fish, pasta, cement and fertilizer. The company also exports cotton, cashew nuts, cocoa, sesame seed and ginger to several countries.
Dangote Group also has major investments in real estate, banking, transport, textiles and oil and gas. It employs over 11,000 people and is the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa.

News: New Airtel Nigeria, CEO Is Now Segun Ogunsanya.

Nairobi-Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced the appointment of Segun Ogunsanya as the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Networks Ltd, Nigeria (“Airtel Nigeria”).
Mr. Ogunsanya, who will be responsible for defining and delivering the business strategy and providing overall leadership for Airtel Nigeria, will report to Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint MD, Bharti Airtel. The appointment is effective November 26, 2012.
He takes over from Rajan Swaroop, who has successfully led operations at Airtel Nigeria for the past two years. Rajan will be appointed as Non-Executive Director on the Board of Airtel Nigeria following the completion of the transition process and will continue to work closely with the Airtel Nigeria leadership team.
Dr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Airtel Nigeria, said of the appointment:  “I am pleased at the appointment of Mr. Ogunsanya as the Chief Executive Officer and look forward to working with him towards making Airtel the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians. It is our resolve to continue building a robust pipeline of local talents in Nigeria as part of Bharti Airtel’s Africa Leadership Initiative. I have been impressed by the outstanding leadership qualities of Mr. Swaroop who has laid a solid foundation, during his tenure, for the long term growth of our business.  I wish him success as he moves on in the Group.”
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Manoj Kohli, said, “I am delighted to have Segun on board and am confident that his rich and diverse experience will add immense value to our operations in Nigeria. Segun’s appointment underlines Bharti Airtel’s commitment to promoting African talent and building a world-class leadership team. I wish him the very best in his new role and would also thank Rajan for his immense contribution to Airtel Nigeria.”
Mr. Ogunsanya brings with him over 24 years of rich industry experience across multiple geographies, organisations and diverse sectors such as Coca Cola, Banking and Arthur Anderson. His last assignment was with The Coca-Cola Company, where he started his career in Finance and gradually transitioned into senior leadership roles with the various bottling operations of The Coca-Cola Company across diverse markets and countries in Africa. In his last stint, as the Managing Director and CEO of Nigerian Bottling Company, he was responsible for over $1bn revenue operations.
A Chartered Accountant, he holds a Bachelors of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from University of Ife, Nigeria.

News: About 40 Men Killed In Maiduguri by JTF Say Residents

Nigerian soldiers shot dead dozens of young men in an embattled northeastern city during raids in four areas considered strongholds of a radical Islamist group, residents and a morgue attendant told AFP Friday.
Residents of Maiduguri, the home base of Boko Haram Islamists, said the troops who swarmed late Thursday ordered males in their teens and early 20s to separate from others in the neighbourhood.
In the Kalari area, they told the young men “to lie face down on the ground,” then asked the rest to look away.
“All we heard were gunshots. They shot them on the spot,” said the elderly resident, who did not want to be named.
“They did the same in three other neighbourhoods. We went to the morgue to collect the bodies and we found 48 in all.”
A resident of the city’s Gwange area told AFP that the alleged massacre was “like a movie scene.”
The troops “picked young men from their homes and were shooting them dead before everyone and took the bodies away to the hospital. I have never seen something like this,” he said, also requesting that his name be withheld.
The Sabon Lamba and Gomboru neighbourhoods were also said to have been raided.
A morgue attendant at the Maiduguri General Hospital said they “received 39 bodies yesterday which were brought in by soldiers. They all have fresh gunshot wounds.”
A military source declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by AFP, saying only that if such killings had taken place, they were “unjustified”.
Maiduguri is the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency which is estimated to have left 2,800 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.
Amnesty International has charged Nigeria’s security forces with committing massive rights violations, including summary executions, in the campaign to crush the Islamists.
In its report released Thursday, the rights group documented a series of alleged extra-judicial killings by the military and police in Maiduguri.
The military dismissed Amnesty’s allegations and has consistently denied similar reports in the past, but residents have on several occasions accused soldiers of firing indiscriminately on unarmed people, often following attacks on its personnel.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with an estimated 160 million people, where most in the north are Muslim. The south is predominately Christian.
Boko Haram has struck most often in the northeast, but its attacks have stretched across the broader north and down to central Nigeria.
In addition to the security forces, Christians, government officials, and other symbols of authority have been targetted.

News: A Retired Nigerian General Killed By Gunmen

A retired Nigerian general, Mohammed Shuwa, who was a key figure in the 1960s civil war, was on Friday shot dead by unknown gunmen at his home in the restive northeastern city of Maiduguri, the military said.

Mohammed Shuwa

“Four men initially thought to be his visitors… entered his house and opened fire on the general and his guests.
One of the guests died on the spot while the general died on the way” to the hospital, said Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa.
In an interview at his home in May, Shuwa told AFP that he could potentially be targetted by Boko Haram Islamists who have carried out scores of attacks in the city, which is considered their home base.
It was not clear who killed the general, but the shooting resembled those previously carried out by the Islamists who have repeatedly targetted prominent local figures.
Residents and a morgue official said soldiers killed dozens of young men late Thursday during operations in four Maiduguri neighbourhoods, including Shuwa’s home area of Gwange.
Boko Haram has previously carried out targetted killings following military raids.
Shuwa, 79, was a top adviser to Yakubu Gowon, the former military head of state who led Nigeria during the 1967-70 Biafra civil war that left more than one million dead, including many from starvation.
He also served as a senior leader in the 1975-76 junta of Murtala Mohammed.

Nollywood actor Leg Amputated due to illness.

This is extremely sad news coming from the home of veteran actor, Pete Eneh.According to Linda Ikeji`s blog, doctors at Parklane Hospital Enugu had no choice but to amputate one of his legs in order to save his life.

The veteran actor was said to have sustained some kind of injury last year, and because he didn't take proper care of it, it led to serious infection that became hard to treat. The injury was said to have degenerated to a sore and because Mr Eneh was diabetic, it refused to heal. He spent three months at the hospital before he was advised to amputate the leg before the infection spread to other parts of his body.

The amputation took place on Wednesday October 24th after all efforts to save the leg was unsuccessful. Pete Eneh is said to be dealing with it well.

News: two policemen killed by Gunmen.

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be armed robbers driving in a jeep allegedly opened fire on three policemen killing two of them along  Azikoro-Agbura road in the outskirts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The third policeman was seriously injured and rushed to the Federal Medical Centre where doctors are battling to save his life.
We learnt that the slain policemen, a corporal and a sergeant were until their death serving with the state command.
Though details of the incident which occurred Wednesday night were sketch, sources told Vanguard that the policemen on sighting the reckless manner the driver of the jeep was driving decided to stop it.
The driver of the jeep was said to have slowed down when its occupants opened fire on the policemen who died on the spot before speeding off through the Ogbia road.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relation Officer, Fidelis Odunna, DSP, confirmed the incident.
He said the assailant operating in a black jeep opened fire on the unsuspecting officers at the Agbura roundabout Wednesday night.
The police image maker said the command will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the perpetrators of the dastardly act just as a serious manhunt had began.
Odunna said: “The police is on the trail of the robbers and would track them down,” and urged members of the public not to panic as the command was on top of the situation.”

News: First Bank Plc seals By Edo Board of Internal Revenue.

HUNDREDS of customers of First Bank Plc in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday went home disappointed as they could not access their accounts, following the sealing of the bank’s branches  by  Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, over alleged tax default.
Vanguard gathered that virtually all branches of the bank in Benin metropolis were affected as those at Ugbowo, Uselu, Ring Road, Akpakpava, Ikpoba Slope, Ikpoba Hill and Agbor Road were all sealed off on the order of the State Board of Internal Revenue.
Workers of the bank were seen gathered in groups at their various branches discussing the matter, just as they declined to entertain questions from newsmen on the issue.
However, customers in one of the branches who could not make withdrawal or savings ,vented their anger on the workers.
At press time, the bank’s alleged indebtedness to the state government could not be ascertained as calls made to the mobile phone of  Executive Director of the Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, for confirmation were unanswered.

News: New York subway rolls again.

The toll of death and suffering from superstorm Sandy mounted on Thursday even as New York struggled back to life, with the first subway trains rolling in four days.
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sandy killed at least 37 people in the city and the number was likely to mount. At least 85 people have now been reported dead across the 15 states hit by the hurricane on Monday night.
Fuel shortages led to long lines of cars at filling stations in many states and the country faced a storm bill of tens of billions of dollars.
More bodies are being found as police and fire-fighters continue “their lifesaving mission, going block-by-block and door-to-door in the areas devastated by the hurricane,” Bloomberg said.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 01: People exit a Metro-North train arriving in Grand Central Terminal during the morning rush on November 1, 2012 in New York City. Some trains are back up and running into Grand Central following shutdowns in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Subway train service in the city is back in a limited capacity, but with much of lower Manhattan still with out power, trains are not running there and busses are replacing them. AFP

With about 650,000 people still without power in New York, Bloomberg said the city would start handing out food and water and that National Guard and police would go into high-rise buildings to help the elderly.
The Con-Edison power company said that some New Yorkers would have to wait until November 11 before electricity is restored.
National Guard troops helped rescue people trapped in flooded homes across the Hudson River from New York in Hoboken. They had rescued 2,000 people in New Jersey in two days, Defense Department spokesman George Little said.
Hoboken authorities estimated on Wednesday that 20,000 people were stuck in their homes and high-wheel military trucks were brought in to reach stricken houses and apartment blocks.
The floodwaters receded slowly, leaving behind desolation. A yacht, thrown up by the storm, blocked one street near the Hoboken ferry terminal.
New Jersey, which President Barack Obama visited on Wednesday, emerged as the state with the most widespread destruction.
At least 12 people were reported dead in the state, and many isolated districts were still being searched.
Some 1.8 million people in New Jersey were still without electricity three days after the storm and fuel shortages were becoming critical, with huge queues of cars at the rare gas stations open in the state.
About half of gas stations in New Jersey and the New York region had closed down becasue of power cuts or fuel shortages, officials said.
But the first subway trains brought some cheer to New York City.
A skeleton service started just before dawn and trains were quickly packed. Trains were to be free on Thursday and Friday. “It is not comfortable but it is a huge relief to get moving again,” said commuter Dave Stetman.
On Wednesday, in a bid to avoid gridlock, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that until Friday cars entering Manhattan must carry at least three people. Police set up checkpoints at bridges and turned back hundreds of cars.
Con Edison said that more than 200,000 Manhattan customers blacked out by an explosion at a sub-station would have power by Saturday morning.
But it said 100,000 cases of trees and other objects bringing down power lines had been reported, so full city-wide electricity restoration would take until November 11.
Some heartbreaking stories have emerged from the storm.
Two brothers, aged two and four, were swept from their mother’s arms in the floods as the family tried to escape the rising seas in Staten Island in the New York suburbs.
Glenda Moore’s car became stuck in the water and she was carrying the boys to seek help when they were swept away, the New York Post said. Police said they were still looking for the boys, Connor aged four and Brandon aged two.
Others victims were electrocuted or drowned in flooded basements. A growing number of people were killed by poisoning from the fumes given off by diesel generators put into use since the storm.
The Shell oil company said that Sandy triggered an oil spill in the waters off New York and said clean up efforts were under way.
The US Coast Guard, which is overseeing the clean-up, said refinery operator Motiva had estimated up to 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel had leaked from the plant at Sewaren, New Jersey.
Hurricane Sandy brought devastation throughout the Caribbean before hitting the United States and Canada. The overall death is now at least 157.

News: finish race vantage Obama

The U.S. presidential race remains a dead heat five days to  Election Day but most Americans think President Barack Obama will defeat Republican Mitt Romney, according to a Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Tuesday.
Obama leads Romney among likely voters by 47 percent to 46 percent, a statistically insignificant margin, the online survey found. Neither candidate has held a clear lead since early October.
But 53 percent of all registered voters predicted Obama would win the November 6 election, while only 29 percent said Romney would be the victor. A majority also said that they expected Obama to win their state.A new New York Times/CBS News poll indicates that Obama and Romney are headed for one of the tightest and most unpredictable presidential poll finishes of all time. It indicates Obama has 48% and Romney 47%. But another poll, this time by ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll gives it to Romney 48% and Obama 47%.
Most political pundits insist that in the light of this tightness, the so-called “swing states” (states that are not conclusively for either candidates) such as Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Oregon, would need close monitoring, as justified by last-minute campaign stampede efforts by both camps in these states.
These were the latest polls for the Swing States published on Tuesday, October 30th 2012:
Colorado: Obama, 48%; Romney 45% (Project New America)
Florida: Romney, 48%; Obama 47% (Newsmax/Zogby)
Florida: Obama, 47%; Romney 47% (Survey USA)
North Carolina: Romney 50%; Obama 45% (Survey USA)
Ohio: Obama, 50%; Romney (Newsmax/Zogby)
Ohio: Obama 49%; Romney 46% (Survey USA)
Ohio: Obama 48%; Romney 45% (Project New America)
Virginia: Obama, 48%; Romney 47% (Newsmax/Zogby
Oregon: Obama, 47%, Romney 41% (Elway).
*Blogger, Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire summarises the emerging trend and observes as follows:
“Greg Sergent ran through the latest polling averages and finds President Obama leading in Ohio, Wisconsin, Nevada and Iowa, while Mitt Romney leads in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. The race is essentially tied in Colorado and New Hampshire.
“For the sake of argument, let us give the tied states to Romney. Here’s the basic state of things: if you give Romney all the states where he is leading or tied in the averages – Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and New Hampshire, he is still short of 270 (electoral votes). Meanwhile if you give Obama just the states where he leads in the averages he wins re-election”.

News: A dead baby was found abandoned.

A dead baby was found abandoned by an unknown person behind the Medical Students Hostel on Moore Road Calabar near the Office of the Wife of Cross River State Governor.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Health/ NGO and Special Projects, Dr. Regina Ejemot-Nwadiaro, said her attention was drawn to the incident by an anonymous caller and when she got to the scene and confirmed the story, she immediately called the Calabar Urban Development Authority, CUDA, who quickly responded to the call and subsequently alerted the Police.
She condemned the perpetrator(s) of the dastardly act which she described as callous, inhuman and outright wickedness.
She intimated that for the past five years the wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, has been championing  the stamping out of teenage pregnancy and child abandonment in the state through her project, Mothers Against Child Abandonment, MACA. “It is thus, disheartening that in spite of the consistent efforts by Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke and the MACA team, people could still dump babies,” she wondered.
The Dr. Ejemot-Nwadiaro stated that the main goal of MACA is to prevent teenage pregnancy and child abandonment and ultimately to save lives. She called on the public to avail themselves of the services MACA provides and reiterated that MACA’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, especially as it concerns child and maternal mortality.
She stated that Mrs. Imoke also initiated the Calabar Carnival Queen, CCQ, as the face of MACA which goes on advocacy/sensitization visits to secondary schools the state, preaching abstinence from pre-marital sex and building their confidence.  MACA also has trained counselors and a 24-hour helpline for people that may wish to make further enquires, give information or obtain assistance.
The Executive Secretary of CUDA, Gabriel Egari confirmed the incident and promised to incident the case with the Police as well as get clearance before his office could evacuate and bury the dead baby.

News: Spate Of Bombings By Boko Haram can't intimidate me says Kaduna Governor.

Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on Thursday said that he would not resign his position because of the spate of bombings by Boko Haram sect in the state.
Yakowa said this at the PDP National Headquarters in  Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen.
The governor said that the state government was on top of the situation, adding, “let me say to you out rightly that I will not resign. There is absolutely no reason for me to resign.’’
“We are on top of the security challenges we are facing in Kaduna State,’’ the governor stressed.
He said that the state government was working with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure the security of the state.
Yakowa, who visited the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said that there was no part of the world that was not faced with security challenges.
He said that he was at the party`s headquarters to interact and consult with the party`s leadership as a loyal party member.
He said that his visit to the headquarters was to enable him understand of the party`s rules and regulations to ensure proper implementation of such.
“You can only do that if you regularly come to the party’s headquarters and interact with the leadership.
“I can say to you that I have benefited tremendously from the visit and I will come more often,’’ Yakowa said.
Earlier, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, who also visited the leadership of the party, said that PDP governors were not at war with the leadership as was being insinuated in some quarters. (NAN)

Job Vacancies: Samuel Adegboyega University

Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State is a private University founded by The Apostolic Church (TAC), LAWNA Territoiy, Nigeria. The University is named after Pastor Samuel Adegboyega, who was the first LAWN A Territorial Chairman and one of the founding fathers of TAC, Nigeria. The institution is licenced by the Federal Government ofNigeria through the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 7 March, 2011. The University, in 2011 admitted its first set of students that have completed the 2011/2012 academic session while the second set of students for 2012/2013 academic session resumed on 14 October, 2012.
Samuel Adegboyega University is recruiting to fill the below position:
Job Title: Vice- Chancellor
Job Location: Ogwa, Esan West , Edo State
The School:
Samuel Adegboyega University operates a Collegiate system with three take-off Colleges namely:
College of Basic and Applied Sciences (COLBAS);
College of Humanities (COLHUM); and
College of Management and Social Sciences (COLMASS).
Each College has three Departments and in all have a total of eighteen (18) programmes.
Our Vision:
The University’s Vision is to be a world class University, excellent in academic traditions and exceptional in providing University education which empowers the graduates to act with professional competence and ethical steadfastness in ftilfihling their obligation.
Our Mision:
To provide wholesome and comprehensive education for intelectual and spiritual development of her students in preparation for leadership roles and service to the society.
Job descriptions:
The Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Academic and Executive Officer of the University, Chairman of Senate and a member of the Governing Council.
He shall exercise general supervision over the University and shall have direct responsibility to the University Governing Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University.
It shall be the duty of the Vice- Chancellor to see that the provisions of the Law, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University are observed.
Qualifications:
The candidate for the post must be a distinguished scholar of the rank of Professor for not less than 10 years with the ability to provide academic and administrative leadership for the University. Holding similar post would bean added advantage.
The candidate must have a track record of academic excellence in terms of quality publications and teaching, credible community service, and must be proficient in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He must command respect of both the national and international academic communities.
The candidate should posses considerable administrative experience within the university system and must show demonstrable ability to attract funds to the University and strengthen linkages with other universities, national and international.
The candidate must possess the ability to strengthen relationships among students, staff pnd other members of the University community. and the general population and host community.
The candidate must have high moral standards, impecable character, and proven integrity with commitment to best practices in corporate governance with particular utilization of emphasis on accountability, transparency and probity, and must ensure judicious utilization of scarce resources for optimum public good.
The candidate must enjoy very good physical and mental health.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for five (5) years on such terms and conditions as specified in the letter of appointment. The remuneration and other conditions of service are competitive within the industry and as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council. On behalf of the Proprietor of the University.
Deadline: 19th November, 2012
Method Of applications:
Interested candidates, who meet the requirements stated above, should submit 10 copies of the application and comprehensive current curriculum vitae, duly signed and dated.
The CV must include the candidate’s name in full, place and date of birth, marital status, number and ages of children, nationality, academic and professional qualifications, membership of academic and professional bodies, scholarly publications, postgraduate supervision, extra curricula activities, community service, and names and addresses of three referees, one of whom must be in the candidate’s field of study.
The application must include 10 copies of a statement of the candidate’s vision for the University.
Candidates must request their referees to forward references on them directly to the Registrar and Secretary to Council. Such referees should be able to attest to high academic and managerial capabilities as well as the moral uprightness of the candidates. The referees’ reports should be in sealed envelopes marked “SAU VC: Referee’s Report”.
Applications are to be submitted by courier service under confidential cover in envelopes marked “SAU Vice-Chancellor”  to reach the Registrar, Samuel Adegboyega University, PMB 001, Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria,

News: Anti-smoking Bill in Lagos Assembly.

A bill towards prohibiting smoking in designated places for connected purposes yesterday scaled through the first reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The bill, which is a private member bill sponsored by member representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2, Mr. Gbolahan Yishawu, was read on the floor by the Acting Clerk of the House, Segun Abiru.
The bill if passed into law, will prohibit people from smoking tobacco, or anything, which contains tobacco, or any other substance in any place designated as ‘No Smoking Area’.
From the commencement of the law, it shall be an offence to smoke in the presence of a child under the age of 15 years in any vehicle or location listed or not listed.

Job Vancacies: Dangote Cement Plc

Dangote Cement Plc is the biggest quoted company in West Africa and the only Nigerian company listed among Forbes Global 2000 Companies. The company currently has several cement production plants in Nigeria in addition to presence in 13 African Countries.
To consolidate its current strategic expansion drive, Dangote Cement Plc is seeking to recruit seasoned candidates for the following positions that are vacant in the Internal Audit, Finance and Legal divisions:
INTERNAL AUDIT – DIVISION
1.) Deputy General Managers
2.) Assistant General Managers
3.) Managers
4.) Deputy Managers
5.) Assistant Managers
6.) Senior Internal Control/Audit Officers Qualification for Internal Audit:
ACA, ACCA, CISA or CFE
Job Experience:
Minimum of three years experience in public accounting firm or multinational corporations.
The ideal candidate must possess unquestionable character, good analytical skills, strong interpersonal and team skills, good oral and written communications skills.
Knowledge of SAP/IFRS would be an added advantage.
FINANCE – DIVISION
7.) General Managers
8. ) Deputy General Managers
9.) Assistant General Managers
10.) Managers
11.) Deputy Managers
12.) Assistant Managers Qualification For Finance Division:
ACA, ACCA, ACMA, CPA
Job Experience:
10 to 25 years post qualification experience in a reputable industry.
LEGAL – DIVISION
13.) Assistant General Managers
14.) Managers
15.) Assistant Managers
16.) Legal Officers Qualification For Legal Division:
Llb/Llm
Job Experience:
10 to 25 years experience in a reputable industry or law firm, with sound experience in corporate law and/or commercial law.
Good experience in FIDIC Contracts and fluency in French would be an added advantage.
REMUNERATION
The compensation package would be quite attractive and there would be excellent opportunities for training, development and career growth.
Persons without the expected qualifications and experience would not be considered.
Deadline: 5th November, 2012
How to Apply:
Please send your application with a detailed C.V., along with photocopies of educational qualifications and testimonials establishing your experience, passport size photograph and phone number, by e-mail, to: hr@dangotecement.com

News: Okada ban in Delta by Commissioner

Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa, has said there was no going back on the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, as the ban takes effect today. He made it clear that the restriction would begin today in Warri, Asaba and Effurun, warning that the ban did not exclude private motorcycle users.
He said: ”Anybody who may claim to be using his or her motorcycle for private purposes or haulage should construct a carriage at the back signifying that it is not a passenger motorcycle.
“With the transport arrangements already on ground, we can move as much as 21,000 passengers at a time. So there is no going back on the November 1 take off date for the restriction order because the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been magnanimous enough.”
Governor Uduaghan had extended the ban by one month to enable a better take off of the system.
Already, the presence of tricycles on the streets of Asaba has become prominent in the last couple of days.
While some passengers that usually patronized Okada told our reporter that they were not comfortable with the ban as the tricycles would not be able to go into rough terrains, others heaved a sigh of relief over the ban.
Commissioning 1,250 tricycles to be used in place of motorcycles, the governor had warned politicians not to interfere with the distribution of the tricycles as it was exclusively reserved for commercial motorcycle operators.
The governor, who subsidized the cost of the tricycles up to 70 per cent, from N400,000 to N150,000, warned operators of the tricycles to restrict themselves to routes approved for them.
He noted that the introduction of the tricycles was to replace and gradually phase out commercial motorcycles as part of measures to ensure safety in the transport sector and promote security in the state.

PHOTOS: Venus and Serena Williams Land in Lagos

History was made again in Lagos on Tuesday as one of the Williams’ sisters and tennis icon, Venus Williams, finally arrived in Lagos, as widely reported in the local and international media. 

Venus, the older of the two world's renowned tennis icons, arrived in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital about 3:35pm, aboard a Delta Airline flight. She was welcomed to the hands of officials of Connect Marketing Services Ltd and scores of journalists, who had waited anxiously outside of the arrival lounge of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

                   

Her sister, Serena, who has just clinched the WTA title which just ended in Istanbul, Turkey, arrived in Lagos at 9pm local time, on Tuesday.

From the airport, Venus was led straight to a waiting convoy of vehicles and driven to Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island where another group of Journalists had also assembled to receive the tennis queen.

Looking visibly excited about her coming to Lagos, she was accompanied by her managers, who however, did not allow her to entertain any questions from the journalists saying, Venus and Serena will speak to the media elaborately on the purpose of their visit during a Media Conference scheduled to hold on Wednesday 31, October 2012 in Lagos. 

Both Serena and Venus Williams are in Lagos as part of the Nigerian leg of a planned tour of two African countries, namely Nigeria and South Africa.

They are here on the platform of Breaking The Mould (BTM) campaign, a women's empowerment programme put together by Octagon and its West Africa affiliate, Connect Marketing Services Ltd.

While in Lagos, they will participate in a number of supporting initiatives such as a tennis clinic, school visit, exhibition match and gala dinner among others.

Through these initiatives, they will be motivating, inspiring and mentoring diverse audiences in particular women and young persons as well as other categories of people to be the best they can be, regardless of obstacles on their way.

Serena and Venus Williams are considered fit as “Mould Breakers” as the story of their lives exemplifies how determination, passion, hard work and self-belief can turn dreams into reality, despite obstacles.

ENTERTAINMENT: Heavily pregnant Mercy Johnson still shooting movies.

Mercy Johnson is about seven months pregnant but that hasn't slowed her down one bit as she's said to be moving from one movie location to another. What movie producers and marketers now do is write scripts that suit her condition - that of a pregnant woman.

She recently finished shooting a movie in Delta state and has embarked on another one titled Baby Oku in America which I hear some parts will be shot in the US while she's there to give birth.

Entertainment: World'sHotesst Woman Not Ready To Have a Baby.

American actress and reality TV star, Nicole Natalie Marrow (nee Austin) popularly known as Coco has revealed what may be a major plot point of this season of “Ice Loves Coco,” saying she is thinking about preserving her eggs for the future.

Coco who is married to rapper-actor Ice-T told Fox News: “Do I really say screw it, let’s have a baby right now and then put everything on hold? No, I still feel like I’m young. Let’s do everything I want to do and then have the baby.”

Coco is 33 and happy with Ice-T who she’s been married to since December 31, 2001, but she just isn’t ready to settle down and have a family.

On February 29, 2012, ESPNRadio 1000 in Chicago rated Coco the hottest woman on the planet. Maybe she thinks making babies would change that.

News: More State Needed

SENATE President David Bonaventure Alechenu Mark makes sure he says things importantly. States would be created, he said. It sounds like a fait accompli. He must have figured it out, the States and added the political cost of creating them.
“Creation of additional States can only make government closer to the people contrary to the view in certain quarters that we do not need additional States in the federation,” Mark said in Ijebu-Ode, where he was attending a festival.
His thesis is wrong. States do not make governments closer to the people. Governments are not close to the people even in the state capitals where governments are located. Are the local governments close to the people? Closeness of governments to the people derives from a decision of those in charge to relate to their people, notice their challenges and tackle them. It is not an issue related to number of States. If 774 local governments are not close to the people what difference would more States make?
Many governors and legislators (even in the local governments) live in Abuja. They occasionally visit their States. Members of the National Assembly ignore their constituency offices in the States. Everyone thinks of operating from Abuja, as if the people and their challenges must be shunned.
How would the creation of new States solve these problems? How would it address marginalisation, when new States throw up new minorities?  Most importantly, would creation of States consider the increasing costs of governments?
New States come with new capitals, bureaucracies that replicate poverty of the former State, new layers of wastes. Are they affordable? For an economy in distress, how would new States enhance its recovery?
Politicians are wonderful people. They have answers without the questions. If they need States, they would create them to satisfy prospective governors, new godfathers and expand the political sphere for appointments and elections. New States would serve the interests of politicians, who are anxious about their future.
There are implications from new States. Cost of governance would rise at the National Assembly which could see increase in membership to reflect the circumstances. We are complaining of too many Ministers, we would have to appoint more, since each State should have a Minister. We may have to create more Ministries to accommodate them. There would be senior special assistants and ministerial aides. The contest for power at the centre would become more unwieldy.
There were more than 66 requests for States. How many would be created to make governments closer to the people?
State creation would be an expensive decision. There are better options, before the National Assembly, which it should explore.

Job Vancacy: UNDP For Team Leader, Poverty Reduction And Economics Management

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Location :	Abuja, NIGERIA
Application Deadline :	05-Nov-12
Type of Contract :	FTA Local
Post Level :	NO-C
Languages Required :	English

Required Skills and Experience

Education:   Master’s Degree or equivalent in International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration and other social science and/or related discipline. Experience:   At least 10 years experience in poverty reduction, development and planning at national level with focus on inclusive growth of asset base of the poor. Preference for those with direct experience of working on poverty reduction and/or economic management programmes. Demonstrated ability to engage at the highest levels with donors and development agencies, government officials and UN Agencies. Knowledge of international best practices and policies in the fields of poverty reduction and pro-poor development strategies. Proven capacity development experience. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural setting. Strong team working experience, particularly at leadership level. High-level computing skills in word processing, spreadsheets, power point, and preferably web pages; Language Requirements:    Excellent command of written and spoken English and at least one Nigerian language  Apply Now

Job Vacancy: KCA Deutag For Drillers

Our aim is to be the preferred drilling contractor through measurable performance improvement.

We are committed to conducting our business in a way that promotes a positive, constructive and consistent KCA DEUTAG culture, with standards and methods of work that support this culture.  “The KCA DEUTAG Way” defines the kind of company that we are and will continue to strive to be for the sake of our employees, our clients, the environment, and the society in which we operate.

Core Values

Our efforts will demonstrate respect for our people, the environment, the communities in which we operate, and ethical business practice as expressed by our commitment to our five core values:

Health and Safety

Valuing All People

Business Ethics

Environmental Stewardship

Performance Improvement

We are known in our industry as an Employer of Choice – we know our employees and work hard to meet individual career aspirations.  We invest in employee training and development, and provide competitive remuneration and benefit packages to attract new people to our business and retain our valued employees.

The Position

We are currently looking for two high calibre experienced Driller to join our Land Rig Operations operating in Nigeria. 

Valid IWCF or IADC certificate is essential.

Only applicants with relevant experience as Driller need apply.

Next Steps

If you are passionate about safety, can relate to our core values and believe you can support our commitment to delivering Safe, Effective and Trouble-Free Operationsthen we want to hear from you.

The “Apply Now” link below will allow you to register your details on our database and upload your current CV along with a covering letter.

For further information about our worldwide operations, rig fleet and other career opportunities with KCA DEUTAG, please refer to the Operations, Rigs and Career sections of our website www.kcadeutag.com

Location: Nigeria

Application deadline: 24 November 2012

[ APPLY NOW ]

 

Jov Vancancies: Astoyk Limited For Marketing Executives

We are a one stop Company for Clearing and Freight Forwarding Services. We handle every aspect involved in the importation of Cargos/Machinery into the country; from foreign bills  payment, to advisory/consultancy services(best practices  employ in shipment process like advices, ports/ terminals to be used, addressing of Bill of laden etc, handling insurance, CCVO, RAR or any other needed but missing documents required for clearing Cargos/ Goods from the Ports(seaport/airport).
We also own Trucks for Haulage of Containers to Cargos/Goods destination (delivery 2 your doorstep)

Job Title: Marketing Executive

JOB DESCRIPTION:
We are currently recruiting female graduates for the role of Marketing Executives.
They will be expected to manage existing client base and also generate new ones in order to generate more income for the organisation.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Interested Candidates are expected to have at least 1year work experience and a minimum a HND degree.
BSc degree holder may be given more preference unless HND holder has more MARKETING experience.
Bank marketing experience is also an added advantage and possesion of good clientele base from prior marketing experience
MUST be Female.

TO APPLY
Send Your CV To Our Email Address: careers@astoyklimited.com

Deadline: 5th November, 2012.

Entertainment: I'm Back And Better.

Top Nollywood actress,Grace Amah, who has been missing on screen for some time now may have finalised plans to stage a comeback to her first love-acting.

Amah took a break early last year in order  to have her son abroad. Since then, she has been missing on screen.

*Grace and son

The Actress was spotted at a celebrity event last week in Lagos, where  she announced return to acting after months of disappearing from the screen.

“I stayed off the screen all these months to be able to nurture my baby. But now, I’m back  again in full force. At the moment, I have featured in two movies which are yet to be released.”Amah said.

News: N4.24 billion paid to the Federal Government, and nobody is sure who has the money.

SOME things are better not said. Nigeria’s attitude to accountability casts slurs on any efforts to fight corruption and the criminalities it sustains.
How can $26.5 million (about N4.24 billion) be paid to the Federal Government, and nobody is sure who has the money? Why would it take America’s prompting for government to act on the matter?
A $180 million scam involving Halliburton has seen people jailed abroad, others fined, including the construction company, Julius Berger, but in Nigeria, instead of those alleged to be involved to be prosecuted, it is the fine of $26.5 million Berger paid that is missing.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s instruction to the Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke to recover the money is instructive. There are conflicting statements from Berger, the police and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the money.
One account said the money was with the Accountant General of the Federation. Another said it was with the Attorney General. How would government be unable to trace the money, which Berger paid for a plea bargain?
Nigeria has not investigated the scam in a satisfactory manner. The refusal to try those indicted could be part of the inattentiveness in the matter that made it possible for $26.5 million that should have been recovered to be missing.
Mr. Jeffery Tesler, a Halliburton official, jailed for the scam, listed Nigerian officials who benefitted from bribes paid to them to gain favourable considerations in LNG contracts. Tesler said he used Berger as a conduit for the money which was used to bribe top government functionaries and some prominent Nigerians.
Only a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo was charged to court. The case instituted in 2010 is still on.
The new scandal became public two weeks ago, when the US government, in response to Nigeria’s request to release the balance of the bribe money held up in a US bank asked Nigeria to account for the plea bargain money.
The additional condition the US gave for releasing the money is prosecution of those involved in the scam.
Our concerns centre on the lax application of accountability in government affairs. The Halliburton money may be only an instance.
There are many cases of money the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recovered that nobody knows where the money is. What would make government ask for accounts of the money?
Governments should be worried about their accounting standards. The standards have been lowered so much they invite insult from the likes of the US government.
Halliburton money is not missing, we simply have a scandal within a scandal.

Sport: John Utaka Promised 120% Effort If He Is Picked For Next Year's AFCON.

John Utaka has promised a 120% effort for Nigeria if he is picked for next year’s AFCON in South Africa.
The striker, who made a goal-scoring return for French champions Montpellier at the weekend against Nice after he was sidelined by a groin injury, told MTNFootball.com his commitment to Nigeria is not negotiable.
“It’s the coach who decides who to invite, but for me any time I am given the chance, I will give a 120% for my country, said Utaka, who started two qualifiers under Stephen Keshi in June.
Utaka started 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Malawi and was then dropped for the 2013 AFCON qualifier at home against Rwanda after he fired blank in both games.
He said Nigeria have the quality to win a third Nations Cup trophy in South Africa because Keshi has made remarkable progress with the team since he took charge last year.
“We have what it takes to win the Nations Cup in South Africa,” he said.
“Coach Keshi has been doing a great job and anyone who is following the work of the coach will admit that huge progress has been made.”
However, he warned that a first round group that pitches the Eagles against defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia ought not to be taken lightly.
“I have seen our group and I must confess that no team in that group is easy. Africa football is a different ball game and you know that any country that files out against Nigeria wants to make history by beating Nigeria,” he warned.

Sport: Super Falcons Commended By NFA.

The Nigeria Football Association on Monday lauded the Senior Women National Team, the Super Falcons and the U-17 National Team, the Golden Eaglets, over their brilliant performances.
The Falcons on Monday in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, edged Cameroon’s Lionesses 2-1 to pick up three vital points in their opening match of Group B at the 8th African Women Championship.
The Eaglets had on Sunday thrashed their Guinean counterparts 4-0 in Conakry in the second leg of their 2013 African U-17 Championship, to qualify for the final round of qualification series on a 7-0 aggregate.
Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of the NFA Media and Publicity Committee, said the performances of both teams came on the heels of excellent outings by the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles who qualified for next year’s African championships.
“The NFA is delighted that our National Teams are now giving their all in important games and we will continue to ensure the teams prepare well for major championships within the limits of our resources.
“The Eaglets, in a way, avenged the defeat of the Super Eagles in Conakry during the qualifying series for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
“The Falcons on the other hand have now paid the Cameroonians back for that penalty shoot-out blot that stopped our girls from the London 2012 Olympics,” Inyama said.
NFA flew the Falcons to Ghana for a one-week final training camp before the tournament and also hiked the team’s win-bonus to 3,000 dollars per player.
Musa Amadu, the NFA General Secretary, assured that the Association would give every support to the Falcons in their next match against Ethiopia on Thursday and for the Eaglets in their final round of qualifiers against Mali.
“We are already putting arrangements in place for the Eaglets to return to Calabar immediately they come back from Guinea on Tuesday,” Amadu said.
“This is for them to start preparation for the first leg match against Mali, which comes up on Nov.18.
“Gov. Liyel Imoke and the wonderful people of Cross River State have been very supportive and we appreciate them.
“As for the Falcons, we are putting heads together to see how we can further motivate them to fire from all cylinders against Ethiopia, as a win in that match will guarantee our semi final place even before the clash with Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday

News: President Goodluck Jonathan Approves Posting of Permanent Secretaries.

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the posting of five new permanent secretaries recently sworn into office and the redeployment of some of serving permanent secretaries.
The approval is contained in a statement signed by Mr Tope Ajakaiye, the Deputy Director (Press & Public Relations) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The new permanent secretaries are Mr Alhassan Gana, who has been posted to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Cabinet Secretariat) and Mr Sunday Jegede, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Political Affairs/Economic Affairs).
Others are Dr James N. Obiegbu, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Career Management Office) and Amb. Sani Bala, Federal Civil Service Commission and Mrs Folasade  Yemi-Esan, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Establishment & Records Office)
According to the statement, Dr A. Muhammad was redeployed from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Cabinet Secretariat) to the Ministry of Works, while Alhaji Bukar Aji moves from the Ministry of Works to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Common Services Office).
Alhaji Mohammed Bashar moves from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Common Services Office) to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Similarly, Mr Charles Bonat moves from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Establishment & Records Office) to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (General Services Office).
The statement said Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala was moved from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Ecological Funds) to the Ministry of Education.
It said that Alhaji Salisu Gusau was moved from the Ministry of Information to Police Service Commission, while Amb. Abdulkadir Musa was moved from the Federal Civil Service Commission to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Similarly, it said that Mrs Kehinde Ajoni was moved from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Career Management Office) to the Ministry of Information.
According to the statement, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila was moved from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Political Affairs/Economic Affairs) to the Ministry of Police Affairs.
It said that Sheik Goni Musa was moved from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Instructor.
The statement said that all handing and taking over formalities should be completed on or before Nov. 7.

News: Nigerian ‘witchcraft’ sex trafficker Jails For 20-Years In UK.

A Nigerian sex trafficker who used witchcraft rituals to silence the teenage girls he smuggled into Britain for prostitution was jailed for 20 years on Monday.
Osezua Osolase, 42, tricked three impoverished Nigerian orphans into travelling to Britain before attempting to sell them to gangs in Europe for prostitution.
The recycling plant worker, who lived in Kent, southeast England, used west African juju rituals to instill terror in the three girls, aged 14, 16 and 17.
“You are undoubtedly a very, very dishonest man,” said judge Adele Williams as she sentenced him at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent.
“You are arrogant and manipulative; you are devoid of conscience, devoid of any compassion to your victims.”
Osolase, who has HIV, was found guilty after a six-week trial on Friday of five counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation, one count of rape and one of sexual activity with a child.
The fact that he had raped one girl knowing that he has HIV was a “seriously aggravating” factor, Williams said.
It was recommended that Osolase be deported once he has served his sentence.
He had convinced the girls to travel to Britain with fake Nigerian passports by promising them an education and modelling careers, the court heard.
He was stopped at Stansted Airport, north of London, in April last year while attempting to board a plane.
His 16-year-old victim told police that he had performed a juju ritual on her in Nigeria in which blood was taken from her and hair was cut from her head and genitals.
She was then made to swear an oath of silence.
Police believe there were at least 25 victims of Osolase’s trafficking ring, which smuggled girls into Britain before passing them on to gangs in countries including Italy and Spain.

Photo: Rita Dominic With Sister.

Rita Dominic was recently spotted with her sister, Nse. Both looking pretty

Photo: Stunning Pictures Of Miss Peace Nigeria.

Current Miss Peace Nigeria, Ify Concepta unveils stunning pictures....More hot pictures when you continue:

Entertainment: "I Love The Pains Of Tattoo" Says Tonto Dikeh.

Controversial Nollywood Actress, “Tonto Dikeh” put this up on instagram page saying ” I love the painz of Tattoo #POKO# ”
The picture above is obviously the making of her famous back tattoo, we know a fact that Tonto Dikeh has a thing for Tatoos, she is on record as having stated that she has 58 tattoos. The tattoo, which takes up most of her upper back, is of an enigmatic long haired woman with a flower in her hair, who seems to be holding a bruised and battered heart.
See the end product below.


Like or Dislike?

Entertainment: Jim Iyke host his own TV reality show.

Controversial Nollywood actor Jim Iyke is set to host his own TV reality show which he won’t be calling Keeping up with Jim Iyke , sadly, just like the Kardashians on American entertainment TV network E!.
Jim Iyke’s reality show called Jim Iyke Unscripted promises to show a side of the bad boy actor never known before.

*Jim Iyke

Unscripted is a joint production of Africa Magic and Oh Africa TV and like a thorough reality TV show will have cameras and lights  shadowing Jim Iyke’ s every move in almost every area of his life.
Reports say the reality show was sealed by Jim’s UK-based management company, Greyology Inc.
Jim Iyke has started production so Unscripted should hit the screens very soon.
In your own opinion, however, do you think this is a show that will go beyond the first season? Hit us with your comments.

News: killing in Jos local bar.

Four persons were shot dead on Sunday night by suspected Fulani herdsmen at a local drinking spot in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
About seven others were injured and are now receiving treatment at Plateau Specialist Hospital during the attack on the drinking joint for local brew called ‘burukutu’ at Gindin Akwati village in Gashish district of the local government area.
It was alleged that the gunmen numbering about 20 and armed with sophisticated guns stormed the bar on Sunday night and opened fire on patrons of the relaxation spot. A source said the four people killed where friends who went to the local bar for relaxation.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abuh Emmanuel  said one Ali Iliya of Ex Land village lodged a report at the police station at Barkin Ladi that there was an attack in a drinking spot and men of the State Police Command swung into action  but the assailants had escaped before they got there.
He, however said only one person was killed and four injured adding that investigation had commenced into the incident but no arrest had been made at the time of this report.
An eyewitness who barely survived the attack Istifanus Zhi told explained that the gunmen who wore masks and black dresses sneaked into the village in their large number and attacked the drinking joint where people were relaxing.
He said the attackers communicated in Fulani language throughout of the operation which lasted for about 30 minutes before escaping into the surrounding hills.
It would be recalled that Barkin Ladi Local Government Area is a crises-prone area where attacks on villages had continued despite efforts to end it.

Entertainment: P-Square, Aki n Paw Paw, Bracket In A Private Jet.

It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words. So on Picture guess this week, we ask: What are these celebrities up to?

*Celeb of pairs

Let’s have your feedback.

Entatainment: PHOTOS of Kim Kardashian Dresses as Mermaid at Halloween Party With Kanye West.

This is what the reality star wore for yesterday's Halloween festivities. Her boo, Kanye, came as 'captain'. You like?

Entertainment: '' The most unanticipated and hated song became the most talked about".

It's no longer a story that Tonto Dikeh's song has become a topic of discussion recently. The Nollywood diva who recently had a chat with a female blogger confessed that though she loves her acting career, she is not in any way going to jump into music full time. ''I love my acting career and I don't see myself jumping into full time music. I am however shooting the musical video of my songs,I will not let the hating stop me, '' she said.
Tonto also said that despite the critics and bad belle syndrome, her song has received a thumb up from youtube withing a week for 5.2m downloads. '' The most unanticipated and hated song became the most talked about,most controversial,most downloaded and of course the most listened song. I feel great, no regrets.!''
You have heard it all, Tonto seems not deterred by whatever anyone says about her incursion into music world. Despite the monstrous negative response, this is what the delectable actress said '' I love music and I wanted to do my own thing, to contribute my own music. I listened to my songs over and over again and I told myself I did well. In all, I see only the positivity in it, I made History. People's opinion of how my music was has further strengthened my belief that dreams die when you let the next man's opinion get to you and I am using now to pass a message to everyone out there, if you can just do it. Don't let anyone's opinion kill whatever dream you have or try to stop you from taking the next step. ''

Sport: Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 victory against nine-man Chelsea.

Javier Hernandez’s controversial winning goal gave Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 victory against nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The result ensured Alex Ferguson’s side reduced the gap on Roberto Di Matteo’s Premier League leaders to just one point, but the Blues were left fuming at the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg.
Chelsea had recovered from falling behind to a David Luiz own goal and a Robin van Persie strike to level through goals from Juan Mata and Ramires when Branislav Ivanovic was sent off for a 63rd-minute foul on Ashley Young.
More contentious, though, was the second yellow card shown to Fernando Torres five minutes later, after the referee had decided the striker dived following a challenge by Jonny Evans.
Replays suggested there had been contact between the two players and the decision sparked fury on the Chelsea bench that led to a touchline altercation between Ferguson and Di Matteo’s staff.
Worse was to come for the home side, with substitute Hernandez clinching victory in the 75th minute with a close-range finish from what appeared to be an offside position.
The events of the final half hour ensured the match ended in controversy but before that it had already been a thrilling encounter.
The pre-match handshake between Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole, together with the absence of John Terry — who is serving a four-match ban for racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother, Anton — removed a potential flashpoint.
But the subsequent 90 minutes more than made up for it.
It was United who started the game with the greater urgency and were clearly driven by the motivation to keep Di Matteo’s side within their sights at the head of the table.
While United quickly got into their stride, attacking fluently down their right-hand flank, Chelsea’s defence looked disjointed and nervous, and the absence of Terry was telling.
Petr Cech was called into action after less than three minutes when van Persie drilled in a stinging left-foot shot from outside the area.
But the home goalkeeper had no chance of preventing United taking the lead 60 seconds later after Wayne Rooney had worked his way to the byline and pulled back for van Persie, whose shot crashed off the post and into the net via the back of Luiz.
The second came just eight minutes later after another lightning move down the United right.
Goalkeeper David De Gea started the move by rolling the ball out to Ferdinand and it ended with van Persie sweeping the ball home from Antonio Valencia’s low cross.
Chelsea looked in desperate trouble, while United were rampant.
Slowly, though, the home side worked their way back into the game and when they were finally able to play to their strengths in the attacking third, the momentum of the game shifted dramatically.
Suddenly it was De Gea who was the busier of the two keepers and the young Spaniard kept his side in it before Mata eventually halved the deficit shortly before the interval.
Rooney fouled Eden Hazard on the edge of the United area, allowing Mata to curl a precise free-kick around the wall and beyond the reach of De Gea.
Di Matteo’s side continued where they had left off after the break and were level eight minutes into the second period when Ramires headed home from Oscar’s cross.
At that point the game was perfectly poised, before an incident-packed five-minute spell left Chelsea with nine men and United poised for victory.
Ivanovic was first to see red in the 63rd minute when he tripped Young as the United winger was bearing down on goal after being played in by van Persie.
And when Torres followed five minutes later, it was always going to be an enormous task for Chelsea to hold on.
But their sense of injustice was further fuelled by Hernandez’s strike after the Mexico forward turned home Rafael’s drilled cross.