NASU Predicts More Strikes In 2014

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) has predicted that the strikes witnessed in the education sector in 2013 was not the end of industrial actions in the sector, as it would be hit by a barrage of strikes in all sub-sectors in 2014.
The union however notes that the strikes can be averted if the federal government, as a matter of urgency, begins to implement all its signed agreements with the various unions in the education sector. Majority of the agreements, NASU said, are already due for re-negotiation even though the contents of the subsisting agreements have not been fully addressed by the government.
The union also noted that the government seems to be distracted with the numerous political crises caused by politicians and has therefore not been able to concentrate on the need for stability and industrial peace.
Speaking to Thisday in an interview, General Secretary of NASU, Mr. Peters Adeyemi, said the events in the education sector in the out-gone year demonstrated the inability of the federal government to give effect to its own commitments and in several instances has gone back on its own words.
This, he added, resulted in the strikes that cut across the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), NASU, and unions in the research institutes and others.
The six-month ASUU strike, according to Adeyemi, could have been averted as the same steps that were taken to end the strike ought to have been taken before the commencement of the strike, such as the eventual deposit of the N200 billion intervention fund into a dedicated account and the payment of earned allowances.
He noted that Polytechnics have also been on strike for several months with Non-Academic Staff in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education also currently on strike, and nothing seems to be in the works to end the strikes.
“NASU in the polytechnics have been on strike for more than two months and the irony is that nobody has talked to any of the unions,” he said.
“NASU in the Colleges of Education has been on strike for more than one month, nobody is talking to us, not even to acknowledge the receipt of our letter, just recently, the lecturers in the Colleges of Education also started their own strike.”
“All these are pointers that government is clearly very insensitive and I think we are going to be out for even worse situation in 2014, unless government can very speedily address the issues that are contentious,” Adeyemi said.
“It looks to me as if because government appears to be pre-occupied with numerous crises; political crises generated by politicians, they are not able to concentrate on the need for stability and industrial peace. I do not see how they can manage both together, if they cannot ensure that there is industrial stability in the various institutions, the government is likely to be faced with barrage of negative comments even from the opposition to say that they are incapable of managing the government” he warned.
“Government should devise a system by which they can speedily look at all the issues that are outstanding right now with the unions and address them without necessarily waiting until strikes go into several months. Government needs to act fast in 2014; the strikes are not good for our country, and not good for the image of this government, a government that wants to be one of the world’s biggest economies by 2020.
“If you do not address and make sure education runs well, how do you attain that objective? When you talk about technological advancement and breakthrough, if your schools are not working, how do you get that? And if we wait until when Mr. President would now begin to hold 14 hours meeting, five hours meeting…how many Presidents devote such hours to meeting with unions and resolving crises? Why don’t we do what we need to do first?” he added

EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan In Telephone Conversation With Obasanjo, Pleads With Ex-President To Rethink Decision On Quitting PDP [PREMIUM TIMES]

In what maybe considered as a major step towards mending the fence of their broken relationship, Information Nigeria has learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan has telephoned former President Olusegun Obasanjo to dissuade him from going ahead with his decision to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), just as he reportedly denied responsibility for elevating a controversial member of the party and subject of Obasanjo’s latest grouse, Prince Buruji Kashamu, as an influential party leader in the south-west geo-political zone.

According to sources close to the former president, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Mr. Obasanjo was travelling in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, at the time of the conversation with Mr. Jonathan.
It was gathered from usually reliable presidency sources that Mr. Jonathan hurriedly called the former president on Thursday shortly after he received the former president’s latest letter informing him and the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, that he was suspending participation in party activities for as long as the ruling party continued to treat Mr. Kashamu, who he described as a “known habitual criminal” and fugitive of the law abroad, with reverence.
The sources said during the telephone conversation, President Jonathan pleaded with Mr. Obasanjo to reconsider his decision to suspend himself from the party, assuring him that he would personally prevail on Tukur to stop fraternizing with Mr. Kashamu and foisting him on the South-West PDP as a rallying point.
The president, the sources further adds, told the former president that he had never met Mr. Kashamu in person and had never instructed anyone to accord the controversial politician, considered to be the sole-financier of PDP in Ogun  State, a special or preferential treatment in the party.
According to the sources, Jonathan was quoted as saying, “Baba, believe me, I don’t know Kashamu… I think it is the chairman (Tukur) that knows him. Personally, I have nothing with him. But I will ask chairman.
“Kindly consider your decision again. The PDP belongs to us all and we need to correct whatever is wrong together”.
The president then promised to “hear from” Mr Tukur, and to “do something” about the matter, those in the known of the discussion said.
In his response, Mr. Obasanjo is said to have explained to the president his pain at explaining to world leaders how an alleged criminal, wanted by the United States authorities, ended up as a leader of Nigeria’s ruling party.
He reportedly also told the president that his assurance of action might not count much as he believed not much could be done as of now.
As at the time of compiling this report, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati could not be reached for comment as calls put through to his phone was not connecting.
But three separate presidential aides, who pleaded anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, however, confirmed details of the conversation between both leaders.
When contacted to get his reaction to the story, the spokesperson for the former president, Tunde Oladunjoye, said he had no permission from his boss to speak on details of his conversation with anyone.
An aide of the former president however confirmed the exchanges.
It would be recalled that in a letter dated January 7 and addressed to the PDP national chairman with a copy sent to the president, Mr. Obasanjo said he found “unsavoury”, the elevation of Kashamu as a political leader in what he called “a respectable and wholesome nation-building political party” as the PDP and informed them of his decision to withdraw his activity with the party at all levels “until the anomalous and shameful situation is corrected”.

Police Deny Shooting Sen. Abe

The Rivers Police Command on Sunday denied allegations that its personnel shot and wounded a member of the National Assembly, Sen. Magnus Abe.
Its spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the police did not dispense any bullet while dispersing a rally by Save Rivers Movement on Sunday.
He said the group was at the state College of Arts and Science for the rally when they were dispersed because they did not obtain a police permit.
“I can confirm to you that Sen. Magnus Abe was not shot. The police did not expend any single bullet while dispersing the crowd.
“It is not true. The police did not shoot the senator, we only used minimum force to disperse the crowd at the venue of the rally,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Rivers Government has alleged that Abe was shot by the police at the venue of the rally.
Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner for information and Communications, made the accusation in a statement on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
“Today’s attack on members of the Save Rivers Movement, a non governmental association, at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and especially the unprovoked shooting of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, is cause for worry and an indication of the length that the PDP is willing to go to silence opposing views.
“Rivers State Government therefore reiterates its call for the re-deployment of CP Mbu from Rivers State before he turns the state into a graveyard because of his intolerance and unprofessional behaviour,’’ she said.
The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to protect the interest of the people at all times.
“We appeal to our people to remain law abiding and not to take the laws into their own hands as we promise to continue to use all legitimate and legal means to guarantee the safety of our people and their rights to exist in Nigeria,’’ she said.
The Press Secretary to Sen. Abe, Mr Honour Sirawoo, said a rubber bullet hit Abe on the chest and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He said Abe had gone to supervise the preparations for the rally when the incident occurred at about 9.00 am on Sunday.
Dr Mckay Anyanwu, Medical Director of Krisany Hospital, where Abe was rushed to for treatment, told newsmen that the senator was brought to the hospital in a state of shock caused by low blood pressure.
“He was unable to talk or eat, and he was feeling restless as a result of traumatic shock.
“The implication is that there is haemorrhage; this is a blood trauma, it is not a sharp one,’’ he said. [NAN]

Police Kill 2 Bank Robbers, Arrest 2 Others In Kogi

Two armed robbers who carried out violent attacks on two commercial banks in Kabba, Kogi State on Friday have paid with their lives as they were shot dead by a crack team of police men.

Two of their accomplices were also arrested. Announcing the cheery news at the headquarters of the Kogi State Police Command yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Saidu Madawaki stated that the police engaged the robbers in a fierce battle before two of them bowed to the superior firepower of the police.
He, however, said a police constable, Mr Tanko Paul was shot dead when the banks were robbed.
Madawaki gave the names of those arrested as Rasaki Bello and Bayo Femi who he said are currently assisting the police in their investigations.
Explaining how the incident happened, Madawaki said that at about 13.30 hours, some unidentified gunmen numbering about 25 attacked the two banks simultaneously with improvised explosive devices and heavy gunfire.
He noted that the police on duty at the Kabba Divisional Police Headquarters resisted the armed robbers from advancing toward the police station, pointing out that as a result of the fierce encounter with the police, the robbers were unable to succeed at one of the banks but were able to cart away unspecified amount of money from the other bank branch.
The Police Commissioner also disclosed that some of the robbers were able to flee with the corpse of one of their gangsters killed by the police.
One civilian was killed while three policemen were shot, with two of them sustaining serious gunshot injuries.
He also said the police recovered a Toyota Camry car with registration number ‘Lagos BS 612 AKD’ riddled with bullets holes from the fleeing robbers, and noted that many of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds. Two motorcycles were recovered at the scene of the incident.

World Cup: NFF Asks Keshi To Submit 40-man List

The Nigeria Football Federation has demanded a 40-man list from Stephen Keshi preparatory to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

MTNFootball.com gathered that the NFF technical committee asked Keshi to make available a list of players from which he will pick his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in June.
“We expect the coach to send through this list at the latest after the CHAN,” a member of the committee informed MTNFootball.com
It is expected that the core of this 40-man squad will come from the bulk of the players who featured at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and also qualified the country to a fifth World Cup.
It is left to be seen if Keshi will recall skipper Joseph Yobo, who has seen limited action at Turkish club Fenerbache after he fell down the pecking order, and England-based striker Osaze Odemwingie.
Osaze had a major fallout with Keshi after he was sensationally overlooked for the 2013 AFCON. It would also be interesting to see some of the other players Keshi is now considering for the tournament.
Ukraine-based midfielder Lukman Haruna, Chinedu Obasi, Raheem Lawal and Joel Obi are believed to be among those that will be given a chance to fight for a place on the flight to Brazil.

I Stepped On Powerful Toes – Oduah

In a session in Lagos, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, took us through her two-year old administration of the aviation sector. She spoke on the rot she met on her assumption of office, the reforms she introduced to make our skies safer, and the airports’ remodelling she initiated as part of the efforts to key into the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Opinions differ about the situation on ground in the aviation sector when you came in as minister in 2011. Some people claim the situation was bad. Others say it was not so bad. What exactly was the situation?
The first thing I did upon my appointment as Minister of Aviation on July 2, 2011, was to take a comprehensive assessment tour of all airports, all agencies and parastatals as well as their facilities and installations across the country. I found that safety and security-critical equipment and installations were obsolete, unserviceable or unavailable. Infrastructure all round-airport terminals were dilapidated and derelict. Airport facilities and services such as air conditioning, toilets, trolleys, elevators, directional signage, power generators, etc were unserviceable, unreliable, unavailable or not user-friendly. Security screening equipment at airports was obsolete and mostly unreliable.
Airport fire stations and fire fighting equipment were in poor condition, with fire hydrants unserviceable and firemen and women had gone without proper kits for years. Working condition of staff in airport offices was terrible and unsafe (i.e. leaking roofs, broken floors, no power supply, etc.). Working condition for air traffic controllers in the control towers was poor with serious safety risks for the industry. Several control tower upgrade projects spread across the country, about 154, had been abandoned. Several runways were without lighting. The Aviation Training College in Zaria had lost its ability to train students and lacked adequate equipment and facilities. There was massive leakage of agencies revenue due to manipulation of manual revenue collection processes while there was further loss of agencies’ revenue due to several lopsided so-called ‘concession’ agreements that were skewed against the government and the public interest.
We had poor management structures and weak corporate governance frameworks in agencies and parastatals which made accountability difficult, if not impossible. There were extremely unhealthy domestic airlines and a business model that made government interventions wasteful and of no positive effect. Domestic airlines were withholding money that did not belong to them, and falling to pay their bills as and when due. There was apathy by the entire industry to basic customer service responsibilities. Complete neglect of economic regulation was seriously compromising overall safety and proper economic development of the domestic airline sector.
We had a general aviation sector that was almost completely unregulated creating a huge safety gap in the industry and an obsolescent national aviation policy. There was total lack of planning in the entire industry. We have at least three major airports namely Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt which one would have expected the aviation authorities to take adequate care of, not only because of the high traffic that passes through them but also because of what they represent: The symbols of aviation in Nigeria.
In what state were they? Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the nation’s main gateway, had been left to rot and decay massively to the point that it had become unbefitting of our country. Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA) had a domestic terminal better described as unfit for purpose. The international terminal of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (MAKIA) was a very sad tale to tell. Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) was by far the worst of all the airports.
So what was the impact of the sorry state of affairs of our aviation infrastructure? In terms of safety and security, the industry was in retrogression, generally lagging far behind the rest of the world. Economically, the industry had become a net liability to government and the national economy. The industry had established for itself a negative image and thus had become a very poor symbol of our national identity. Several intervention funds injected into the industry resulted in no identifiable, tangible benefits. The country’s aviation industry was clearly behind the rest of the world and Africa in all material aspects. As a result, the industry was not positioned to play the pivotal role that aviation plays in other countries and that it ought to have been playing in Nigeria for years.
To cap it all, the aviation industry that we inherited was moving fast in the opposite direction of the rest of the progressive world. It was the perfect example of how not to run a national industry. The situation was depressing and disgraceful to this country.
The picture you have painted looks pretty bad and sure to discourage the lily livered. Any action you would have taken also had the capacity to pit you against players who were benefitting from the rot. What did you do?
We invited IOS PARTNERS, international aviation consultants from the United States who had carried out a World Bank Study of the Nigerian aviation industry in 2006, to brief me comprehensively on their findings. We also invited an international consultancy to do a study on all the parastatals and agencies under the ministry to clarify the state of their financial affairs.
A human resources consultancy was also invited to do a study on the human resources status and practices in all the parastatals and agencies under the ministry. Armed with what we found on the ground, the reports from the three studies commissioned, coupled with my years of business experience, I appointed a competent team of CEOs and DGs for all the parastatals and agencies under the ministry. Together we spent two months brainstorming and developing an Aviation Master Plan and Road Map to turn around Nigeria’s aviation industry. The Aviation Master Plan and Road Map were approved by Mr.President in January 2012 and, since then, all our actions have followed the Road Map.
The transformation of the aviation industry could not begin without making very fundamental changes. This meant that a number of tough decisions had to be taken, including exiting from various lopsided ‘concessions’ entered into previously. These decisions adversely affected several powerful interests benefitting from the arrangements to the detriment of the industry and the national interest, who have continued to fight and distort public perceptions of the actions which my team and I continue to take to transform the aviation industry. The aviation authorities have spoken passionately about the reforms in the sector.
What they do entail? Our reforms began with an ambitious Aviation Master Plan – this was the first ever such plan for the Nigerian aviation industry. The Master Plan included a Road Map for institutional changes, infrastructure development, human capacity development, the strengthening of domestic carriers, the establishment of a national carrier, the development of regional hubs and perishable cargo handling facilities, free trade zones and Aerotropoli. The paradigm shift required a review of the existing Civil Aviation Policy, resulting in a new and robust National Civil Aviation Policy. Emphasis of the Master Plan and Road Map is to reposition Nigeria’s aviation industry as pivotal to the economic growth of Nigeria, in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda.
What is the net effect of the reforms on safety and security in the aviation sector because the impression ultimately created by critics is like nothing to cheer about is happening in the sector? The critics are even querying your airport remodelling initiative on the grounds that beautiful airports without crucial aviation facilities amount to nothing. It is unfair to query the remodelling initiative in so far as the terminals are the windows to the airports. And I make bold to say that the initiative is already yielding five brand new terminals viz: Lagos-five million passenger capacity now expanded to eight million, Abuja – two million passenger capacity, Port-Harcourt – two million passenger capacity, Kano – one million passenger capacity and Enugu – one million passenger capacity.
All terminals are being remodeled and upgraded, including air conditioning, stand-by power systems, baggage belt systems, lifts, escalators and travelators as well as the general ambience of all our airport terminals. Now, to the nitty-gritty of the reforms. NIMET’s weather forecasts are now more accurate and timely and meet world standard. Windshear is a major weather hazard that contributed to many aircraft accidents in the past. By means of LLWAS, the occurrence of low level windshear can now be detected and early warning relayed to pilots via the ATC before take -off or landing. With Doppler weather RADAR, NIMET can now detect and track hazardous weather systems on real-time basis.
Calibrated meteorological instruments guarantee reliability and ensure weather data reliability. Measurements and observations meet the ICAO standards. Pilots now obtain accurate and reliable weather information prior to every flight out of a Nigerian airport. We are now able to download, extract, decode and analyse aircraft accident data from the CVR and FDR (Black Boxes) right here in Abuja, thus saving time and money, speeding up the investigation process and upgrading the skills of our aircraft accident investigators. With the public release of all nine outstanding accident investigation reports from previous years, critical safety information in the form of 36 safety recommendations have been pushed out for implementation by the NCAA to aid in further enhancing the safety net.
The new air traffic management systems deployed under the TRACON project has improved the safety of the Nigerian airspace exponentially. The TRACON and Safe Tower projects have significantly increased airspace capacity for the industry. TRACON has helped us to introduce terminal radar control in addition to the en-route phases of flight, resulting in Reduced Separation Minima for aircraft, helping airlines save on flight times and fuel consumption and thus significantly reducing their operational costs. Effective Search and Rescue through real-time radar playback is now available to Nigeria through TRACON. The National College of Aviation Technology has been reaccredited to train industry professionals in accordance with international standards.
Several aircraft and aircraft engines lying unserviceable have been overhauled and back in operation, significantly increasing training capacity for the college. A new aircraft simulator, helicopter simulator, gas turbine engine simulator as well as a high tech 360 degree 3-D control tower simulator have been procured and installed in the college for the first time ever. The college that had been all but grounded and extinct has been revived and is fast playing its rightful role of developing high quality professionals for the country’s aviation industry. The NCAA is being restructured to become a more proactive safety regulator, by emphasizing surveillance and co-operation with industry players, rather than a passive and reactive regulator. A new cadre of inspectors has been recruited and are being trained to reflect this focus on effective surveillance.
The NCAA is addressing the shortage of properly qualified flight inspectors by recruiting vastly experienced but recently retired training Captains, to use as external examiners and to beef up its flight inspectorate. With the restructuring of the NCAA, Nigeria will have an affective, proactive aviation safety regulator similar to what is found in advanced countries of the world. We are now fully compliant with ICAO standards for fire fighting and rescue operations, in terms of equipment as well as personal protective clothing for fire men and women. We have procedure and deployed hi-tech, 3-in-1 (liquids, metals and explosive detection) screening equipment at all FAAN’s airports, bringing Nigeria in line with internal standards and best practices. So your position is that contrary to what critics say, our skies are much safer than they were in the past.
The aviation industry is now safer and more compliant with ICAO standards and international best practices. Our consistent improvements in safety standards have resulted in ICAO classifying Nigeria as above global average in the implementation of ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs). Given the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and her parastatals and agencies over last two years, it is completely false to suggest the aviation industry is less safe than it was two years ago. In fact, the opposite is the case.
The industry is now much safer, much more compliant to ICAO standards and international best practices and is getting better as we continue to execute our Road Map. We shall constantly improve on aviation safety standards and implement international best practices as we continue to execute the Aviation Master Plan and Road Map. The facts are the general aviation is the highest growth area in the industry and growth had been largely unregulated thus far. We established this year for the first time, a new division in the NCAA, dedicated to the regulation of this industry sector, headed by a seasoned industry professional.
The purpose of this division is to develop and enforce standards, systems, procedures and program plans for general aviation. Certification of airports was introduced as an added measure by ICAO in 2005 to equalize airport standards globally. Every country’s CAA was required to adopt the standard and to begin to apply them in certifying airports. The requirements for certification have been met at all Nigeria’s international airports with respect to airfield maneuvering areas, including navigational and visual aids, airfield markings and signage, fire and rescue services, as well as apron markings, signage and operations.
A prerequisite for certification is the requirement for complete perimeter fencing and operational fencing of an airport. For Nigeria’s airports, which we inherited without these fences, this requires a huge capital outlay. To fulfil the airport fencing requirement, 333 kilometres of concrete perimeter fencing as well as 200kilometers of wire gauze operational fencing will be needed for an estimated sum of N40.8 billion. The Federal Ministry of Aviation is currently actively seeking to secure this funding as an urgent and important intervention.
Meanwhile, effective counter measures have been put in place to ameliorate the associated risks. MMA, Lagos and NAIA Abuja are scheduled for certification in the first quarter of 2014, in accordance with the ministry’s program. The fact is Nigeria’s airports are safe. The US Federal Aviation Authority granted Nigeria Category 1 Status. In 2013, ICAO classified Nigeria as above global average in the implementation of ICAO’s standards. The irony in your position that our skies are much safer than they were is the claim in some quarters that foreign airlines are abandoning Nigeria. The facts are clear: More and more foreign airlines are coming into Nigeria and indicating their interests to come to Nigeria.
The airlines that already fly into Nigeria are continuously requesting for additional frequencies. Nigeria is the country in the region with the most attractive airline market size and dynamics. We are building the infrastructure to leverage off these natural advantages.
How do you respond to the allegation that there is vendetta on the part of the aviation authorities against some airlines? The safety regulator, the NCAA, works with rules and regulations. When they perceive a trend that suggests closer scrutiny, they have a safety responsibility to take necessary actions to promote safety. Every action the NCAA has taken is purely safety driven and nothing else. Nigerians must have confidence that the NCAA is an industry capable regulator and headed by a 43-year veteran of the industry who is one of the country’s most experienced pilots and aircraft engineers.
The aviation industry is a system. All the parts must act in accordance with the rules as mistakes or deliberate non-compliance is usually costly. Shared responsibility includes all involved-from the Ministry of Aviation, to the service providers, to the professionals, to the aircraft owners and operators, to everybody who flies. If everyone responsibly plays his part, then our industry will grow even safer. Many people don’t seem to know the economic impact of aviation.
You want to educate us? Nigerian registered airlines directly employ 7,000 people and support through their supply chains a further 33,000 jobs (ground handlers, aviation fuel suppliers, catering service providers, etc). The industry as a whole directly contributes around N110 billion to the Nigerian economy (GDP) and indirectly another N67 billion. A further N21 billion comes from the spending of the employees of the industry and their suppliers. Overall, the aviation industry contributes over N200 billion to the Nigerian economy annually and supports more than 70,000 jobs in Nigeria. We project that by the time that the Aerotropolis project is completed, additional 80,000 – 100,000 job opportunities would have been created. We projected that the aviation industry will contribute an additional N300 billion to the Nigerian economy (GDP) directly and indirectly. This will come from additional investments, construction of the infrastructure and FDI inflows into the industry.
Overall, we project that the aviation industry will in future make a net GDP contribution of over N500 billion to the Nigerian economy annually and will support more than 200,000 jobs in Nigeria.
You just spoke about the Aerotropolis project. What is this is about? The project stemmed out of the basic need to provide a safe, secure, comfortable, dignified and respectable air travel experience for Nigerians and visitors alike. There is also the critical need to exploit Nigeria’s clear advantages population, economy, geographical position, size and diversity of market. For more than 30 years, these opportunities were lost until 2011. Aerotropolis Nigeria is a key element of the National Aviation Transformation Road Map for the industry.
It represents our determination to ensure that our airports impact significantly, not just on the host communities but also on the national economy. Though at the preliminary stage, we are developing land use plans for Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano to guide the Aerotropolis developments.
Let’s leave the issue of achievements aside, the issue of the BMW cars remain? Gentlemen, you’re living witnesses to my presentation before the respected House of Representatives Committee that investigated. We followed due process as I’ve maintained.No car was bought in my name.I specifically asked that the needful be done.The vehicles were on lease. The cars do not belong to the minister.

Meet Mikel Obi’s Russian Girlfriend, Olga Diyachenko

Seriously i know this post is going to get a lot of females angry, especially Naija girls, LOL!!!
A trait common among most successful black men, after making a very comfortable pile of money; they always choose to settle for a white woman.
Nigerian Super Eagles midfielder who also plays for Chelsea FC has shown off his beautiful blonde lady.
Her name is Olga Diyachenko!
See photos below: -

CBN Governor Sanusi Accuses Pastor Adeboye Of Aiding Corrupt Rogue Banker Akingbola To Evade Justice

The governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has accused the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, of playing a role in shielding Erasmus Akingbola, the corrupt former Chief Executive Officer of InterContinental Bank PLC, from serious prosecution.

Nigerian authorities asserted that the rogue former banking executive siphoned over N200 billion from the commercial bank he ran. Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also accused Mr. Akingbola of using his loot to buy swanky properties in Europe and other parts of the world. The former InterContinental Bank chief also reportedly manipulated his bank’s stocks in insider trading deals.
Mr. Akingbola fled to the UK as soon as Nigerian authorities indicated their desire to try him. He was later forced to return to Nigeria, but his prosecution soon fizzled in what EFCC sources privately confided to be a deal hatched at the highest levels to let him walk free.
Mr. Sanusi hinted at Pastor’s Adeboye’s involvement in the deal in a widely circulated TEDX talk he gave in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. In the video, the CBN governor relates his encounters with vested interests in the banking sector.
Although Mr. Sanusi did not expressly mention Pastor Adeboye by name, SaharaReporters was able to confirm from two sources that the Redeemed Church leader was involved in the deals that led to the obstruction of Mr. Akingbola’s trial.
Justice Habeeb Abiru, who was handling Mr. Akingbola’s trial, was suddenly promoted to the Court of Appeals after Pastor Adeboye intervened on behalf of the rogue banker with President Goodluck Jonathan, one of the sources told SaharaReporters. Mr. Akingbola’s case has since stalled in a maze of judicial manipulations and is currently being tried by a third judge in Lagos.
In the video, the Central Bank Governor also makes a crucial retreat from the position he took during the fuel price hike protests of January 2012. Mr. Sanusi had publicly and forcefully defended the case for increasing the price of fuel and other gasoline products. But in the TED talk, he admits that Nigerians who revolted in the “Occupy Nigeria” protests after the Goodluck Jonathan administration unveiled higher fuel prices were right. Mr. Sanusi disclosed that most of the fuel subsidy funds had been stolen by highly connected individuals who continue to evade justice.

Akpabio Cries Out, “I’m Not Nursing Any Presidential, VP Ambition”

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio has denied rumors making the rounds that he is nursing an ambition to become president or vice-president of the country in 2015, saying there is no iota of truth in the allegations and described them as an “invidious campaign of calumny and blackmail”.

Following reports in a section of the media that he was spearheading the campaign to remove Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akpabio was said to have toed this political path as part of his plot to pull the rug from under President Goodluck Jonathan’s feet ahead of next year’s general elections.
But in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the state government said the smear campaign, which had been on in the print, electronic and social media as well as internet and bulk SMS, was part of a grand conspiracy to misrepresent Akpabio with the intention of causing tension in the polity.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state in clear and unambiguous terms that Governor Godswill Akpabio is not interested in, and is not nursing any presidential or vice-presidential ambition,” the statement said, adding that Akpabio had been known as “The Promise Keeper” because he was known to always keep his words and he had expressed it several times that he had no presidential or vice-presidential ambition.
The statement, therefore, urged the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Patience; the Governors’ Forum; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigerians to “discountenance the evil conspiracy and campaign of lies and falsehood”.

TOP TEN HOTTEST CELEBRITIES IN NAIJA.

                                                  


Let’s check out the Nigerian celebrity couples we absolutely love, and why you love them too.. by Somto Monanu
10. Tonto Dike And Micheal Awolaja

The newest couple in town! Micheal Awojala Is CEO Of Malivehood, he has on several occasions showered tonto dikeh with very expensive gadgets and tonto dikeh  recently shared with the world pictures of their exotic Date and they recently got Engaged!
9. Naeto C and Nicole
Naeto C got married to Nicole in 2012 and they have a lovely baby boy together now. Their relationship has stayed private for the most part, and with the exception of public events, they stay away from social media PDA.

8. Toolz & Tunde
Toolz and EME Record exec Tunde Demuren had been keeping the status of their relationship private, but have shared with the world pictures of their exotic trip to Zanzibar and birthday celebration together. It seems like now that most people know they are more comfortable putting their relationship out there.


7. Tiwa Savage & Tee Billz
Tiwa Savage and her business partner Tunji Balogun after a long term “secret” relationship tied the knot ending of last year. Their wedding was attended by all the big names in Nigerian entertainment, and they are also not afraid to display their affection on social media. We don’t mind looking either.

6. Dbanj & Genevieve
Are they or are they not? That has been the question everyone is asking. They are seen together a lot and if you ask me they look good in each other’s arms. Word is that they might be marriage talk for later this year, and maybe even kids, but we’ll believe it when we see it. Still a hot couple.

5. Dr Sid & Simi Osomo
Dr Sid and Simi had their introduction late last year, and as she said it is their “beginning of forever”. These two really just look good on each other.

4. Peter Okoye & Lola Omotayo
Remember the buzz last year when Peter of PSquare proposed to his baby mama with a range rover sport? Well if you haven’t been keeping tabs, they are now married and have 2 kids together. This is another case of love standing the test of time. They were together for almost 5 years (and had 2 kids) before they finally got married.

3. Joke Silva & Olu Jacobs
They are the epitome of what a good relationship is, they have been married for 25+ years. Joke & Olu are certainly a couple to look up to. Both in entertainment it’s easy to fall into the marry and divorce trend that grips a lot of our stars, but not these two. They renewed their vows 3 years ago, and committed the rest of their lives to each other again.

2. Jim Iyke & Nadia Buari
These two love to travel together, and just a couple of months ago Jim Iyke took Nadia to tour Europe for her birthday. Rumors have been going around that we will hear wedding bells in the near future but Iyke denies it… so I guess we will just have to wait and see, but there’s no denying that this couple love to show their affection to the world.

1. Tuface & Annie
Love stands the test of time right? TuFace is what I like to call the “baby daddy of all time” lol but he finally settled down and got married to his long time sweet heart Annie in Dubia last year. And since they have been happily married with 2 kids now.

                                                                              

CHIDI LLOYDE ARRESTED.

The Rivers State Police Command said it had arrested the Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, for the alleged murder of his kinsman, Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo and a police sergeant, Urang Obediah.A statement made on Thursday night indicated that Lloyd was purportedly arrested on his way to join the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in his private jet in order to escape justice. The statement sent via e-mail by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, specified that Lloyd knocked down Obediah while pursuing Ejeuo, identified to be his political opponent.
Lloyd, who was still standing trial for his involvement in the fracas that took place in the State House on July 9, 2013, was said to have rammed into Ejeuo’s Passat car with a bulletproof vehicle and killed him (Ejeo).
The police command pointed out that it had initially thought it was an auto accident until Lloyd relocated to another hospital, “conscious of what he did.”
“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Hon. Chidi Llyod of the Rivers State House of Assembly for murder of police Sgt. Urang Obediah and Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, his kinsman and arch political opponent.
“He was arrested on his way to join Governor Amaechi Rotimi in his private jet at the Airforce base to escape justice.
“Hon. Chidi Lloyd on December 30, 2013 while pursing his political opponent, knocked down Sgt. Urang Obediah, in spite of his effort to stop him, rammed and killed him and went ahead to crush the Passat car of Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo was driving and killed him.
“Initially the Police thought that it was a mere accident, which ought to have been a manslaughter. The Commissioner of Police directed ACP Aliyu Garba, the Area Commander Metro, to visit him in his hospital bed and commiserate with him, conscious of what he did, Chidi Lloyd relocated to another hospital.
“Facts emerged that Chidi Lloyd drove a bullet-proof vehicle while pursuing his political opponent, late Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, and he (Lloyd) knocked down Sgt. Urang Obediah, who died on the spot and (Lloyd) moved ahead to smash a political opponent in his Passat car who equally died instantly,” the statement reads.
The statement added that late Ejeuo, who hailed from the same place with Lloyd was believed to be in the PDP camp led by Elder Felix Obuah.
The statement also indicated that the Leader of the House allegedly escaped from the hospital where he was being guarded by four policemen.
However, a top government official told our correspondent that the claim by the police that Lloyd tried to join Amaechi in his (Amaechi) private jet in order to escape justice was a blatant lie.
It will be recalled that Lloyd, who presented himself to the Nigeria Police after a video clip showed him hitting a member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Chinda, with a mace on the head, was charged to court on a six-count charge, including attempted murder.
Lloyd was later granted bail in order to receive medical attention after sustaining injury during the July 9, 2013 free-for-all in the chambers of the State House of Assembly.