Jonathan Faults World Bank Report Placing Nigeria Among Poorest Countries

Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world, President Goodluck Jonathan explained that Nigeria's challenge is not poverty, but redistribution of wealth.

According to The Nation, the country leader stated this at the May Day rally held yesterday in Abuja. Rebutting the claim about poverty, he said that Nigerians are "the most travelled people", that Nigeria's GDP was growing approximately by 7 % and that "if you talk about ownership of private jets, Nigeria will be among the first 10 countries".

"Some of you will experience that there is an amount of money you will give to a Nigerian who needs help and will not even regard it and thank you but if you travel to other countries and give such an amount, the person will celebrate."

Speaking about the issue of money distribution, which President considers the real core of the problem, Jonathan said his administration is working on providing more Nigerians with access to financial resources. According to the country head, they are also actively developing agricultural programmes to make this field a good source of wealth creation.

Jonathan faulted the international rating saying:

"They looked at Nigeria and we gave explanations and they could not see any convincing reason but to downgrade our economy, they left us as BB minus. They said elections are coming, politicians are shouting at themselves, it may affect their economy, we will no longer give you stable outlook but give you negative outlook, which is same BB minus. When so many countries have been downgraded, they said Nigeria is one of the five poorest countries."

In conclusion Jonathan stated that Nigerians and the authorities were capable of collectively overcoming the current challenges and moving Nigeria "to where we want to go".

Army Concludes Plan To Invade Sambisa Forest

About four battalions of the Nigerian Army would invade Sambisa forest this weekend to rescue the 276 abducted school girls of the Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State.



A source within the military who made this known on Thursday night, said that a little more than a Brigade of the Nigerian Army had been moved to the forest where the girls are believed to have been held captive.

He said that the forest shares borders with towns in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Cameroon, adding that the different battalions would each launch their offensive from these locations, because of the high caliber nature of the arms and explosives in the hands of the terrorists. 

"Let me tell you that fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force as well as police surveillance helicopters have been mobilised and are waiting for the command to begin the joint security operations for rescue efforts of the abducted schoolgirls" the source said. "Due to the dangerous nature of the operation which will result in soldiers and security agencies encountering booby traps, land mines, ambush and other unknown traps from the side of the terrorists, Air Force fighter aircraft, helicopter gunships and Police surveillance helicopters would carry out round the clock missions to ensure the success of the operation". 

Speaking further, the top officer said that the armed forces battalions that will storm Sambisa forest are taking positions around all the access routes into the notorious forest.

He further revealed that the battalions comprised all formations of the Army- those from Signals Corps, Armoured Corps, Ordinance Corps, Intelligence Corps, Infantry Corps, Artillery Corps, Military Police Corps and the Medical Corps.

According to him, the battalions have been positioned in the North, South, East and West of the Sambisa forest so that when the troops move in from all the angles, there will be no escape route for the terrorists.

Aircraft and land equipment including air ambulances, vehicles with mobile medical facilities and a considerable number of medical personnel, are said to have been deployed for the operation to ensure that casualties, if any, are quickly attended to when necessary.

He said that the Federal Government had made available to the security forces night vision equipment, and that specially trained counter terrorist units, anti bomb discovery units, the K 9 Dog units of the Army and the Police, the landmines unit of the army and other specialised units of other security agencies are all involved in the operation.

Woman Drops Dead After Drinking Holy Water In Abuja

A lady died on Monday after drinking power water allegedly given to her by a pastor at Ajegunle area of  Mpape, Abuja.

According to a resident of the area, the deceased and her friend had gone to the house of the pastor who is known to be able to cure many diseases with his power water that morning. When they got there, the pastor gave them the power water to drink. The deceased drank first and then gave the remaining to her friend who also drank.

"As soon as she drank, her eyes started bulging; she started vomiting blood and died instantly," the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Mpape Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent Abayomi Surajudeen said the case has been transferred to FCT criminal investigation department.

At the FCT criminal department, Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent Hyelhira Altine Daniel, said it is true that a lady died after drinking holy water popularly known as power water given to her by the pastor but added that it cannot be ascertained that the lady actually died from drinking the water because her friend also drank the same water and she's still alive.

He said it would be unfair to accuse the pastor for the death as the lady left the pastor's house hale and hearty, only to get home and start complaining of stomach ache and she died before she could be rushed to the hospital.

According to him, the ladies may have branched somewhere and eaten something else while returning from the pastor’s house.

He however said they are investigating the allegation and that the findings would be made public when concluded.

Mob Set Three Suspected kidnappers Ablaze In Ogun

Three suspected kidnappers were on Wednesday Burnt To death by angry mob at Gas Line Bus Stop, Sango Ota, Ogun State. 



A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the suspects, who kidnapped four people, killed one the victims before the other three were rescued by a group of commercial motorcyclists, who chased after the suspects vehicle.

He said that the body of one of the murdered victim was discovered inside the suspects vehicle well packed in a polythene bag. 

According to him, the shouting of the victims, who were trapped in the vehicle, attracted the commercial motorcyclists.

He said the mob defied police officers, who initially came to take the suspects into custody, by setting them (Suspects) ablaze, adding that two died on the spot while the other ran to Olaotan Bus Stop, where he eventually slumped and died.

He further revealed that the abducted victims were later taken to Sango Ota divisional police station, expressing believe that investigations into the incident had commenced.  

Another  witness, who gave his as Ade, said "the okada people saw them at Sango but the kidnappers drove away". 

He added that "the people caught up with them at this place and after they rescued the victims and spoke with them, they set the kidnappers on fire".

He revealed that the suspects admitted they were kidnappers, and that they intended to use their victims for rituals. 

U.S. Agrees To Help In Searching For Abducted Students

The United States Government on Thursday agreed to help Nigeria in search of the 276 abducted students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.


* Marie Harf, Spokeswoman for State Department.

This was made known on Thursday by the spokeswoman for State Department, Marie Harf.  

"We have been engaged with the Nigerian government in discussions on what we might do to help support their efforts to find and free these young women" she said. "We will continue to have those discussions and help in any way we can".

Harf, who declined to expatiate on the kind of assistance Washington is offering, said: "We know Boko Haram is active in the area and we have worked very closely with the Nigerian government to build their capacity to fight this threat". 

The spokeswoman recalled that in 2012 fiscal year, the United States gave the sum of $20 million to Nigeria for security assistance, she said part of the money was meant to be earmarked on building the nation's military, boost its capacity to investigate terrorist attacks as well as enhance government's forensic capabilities. 

Government Hospital Sacks Two Nurses For Wearing Hijab To Work

National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) has sacked two female nurses for wearing hijab while on duty.

The nurses Mrs Fasilat Olayinka Lawal and Miss Sekinat Sanusi, relied on the prescription of their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria which says nurses should either wear nurse cap or shoulder length hijab as contained in a circular dated February 11, 2002 (reference number N&MCN/CMF/721/1/3).

The circular which was signed by P. N. Ndatsu, Secretary General/Registrar was said to have been sent to all Directors of Nursing and their deputies, chief Medical Directors, chief Executives, and Principals.

In anticipation of the action of the hospital management, the victims approached the court to obtain injunction against further actions by the management of the NOHIL, But this did not deter the hospital management as the two nurses were sacked a few days ago.

Narrating how it happened, Mrs Lawal said she accepted the offer based on the circular of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria prescribing a shoulder length hijab which she expected the hospital to comply with.

When Vanguard contacted the Medical Director, NOHIL, Dr. O.Odunibi on phone for comments, he declined saying “the matter is already in court and we have been told not to comment on the matter.”

A senior Muslim nurse in the hospital who crave anonimity told Vanguard that they were not wearing hijab merely because no circular was given to them to that effect. She maintained that the development was an eye-opener to other Muslim nurses in the hospital.

“I assumed duty on February 25, 2014, at the commencement of the one month orientation, I was told to remove my hijab but I insisted presenting a copy of a circular from Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to the head of Nursing Department, Mrs Adebowale, hence I was allowed to do the orientation wearing hijab,” Mrs Lawal said.

“I completed the orientation on March 23, 2014 and resumed duty fully in uniform on Monday March 24, 2014 and I was told that I was not properly dressed as I was using hijab and not a nurse cap.

“On April 8, 2014, I wrote a letter of protest to the Medical Director copying Minister for Health, Minister for State for Health and Board Chairman, National Orthopeadic Hospital Igbobi Lagos and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.”

“On April 9, 2014, I was given a query dated April 8, 2014 to explain why disciplinary action should not be instituted against me for insubordination by not wearing Nurse uniform which I replied with a letter dated April 9, 2014 and since April 10, 2014 I have not been allowed to work or even sign the attendance register, we were told to stay outside the Director of Administrator’s office by the Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwife (NANNM).

“On April 11, 2014, we were given two letters, one from the Director of Administration summoning us to a disciplinary committee on Monday April 14, 2014 and another from the Assistant Director of Nursing calling our attention to some so called facts.

“On the April 14, 2014, we were at the panel/ disciplinary committee and was told to have a rethink of removing our hijab within 24hrs and get back to the committee the following day at 10:00am to avoid a disciplinary action taken against us.”

“We immediately sort a legal advice since we were determined not to remove our hijab and decided to proceed to court to stop any diciplinary actions taken against us and also seek redress on the violation on our fundamental human rights and be allowed to work and wear our hijabs without hindrance as permitted by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the only body permitted by law to regulate the Nursing Profession in Nigeria.

“We were further prevented from entering the ward and carrying out our official duty, we wrote another letter to the Medical Director in the afternoon of April 15, 2014 notifying him of the situation.”

“On April 17, 2014, a letter was written to the Medical Director by our Lawyer informing him of the implication of their actions of not allowing us to work and if the situation persists a contempt proceeding would be commenced against them. The situation continued that way without been allowed to work until April 23, 2014 when we were given a memo to appear before the Hospital Management Board by 10:00am.”

“We met with the board and was told that by not removing our hijab we have committed an act of insurbodination and disobedience which is punishable by the law of public service.

“We were asked if we were ready to retrace our steps by removing our hijab and we responded that we can not remove our hijab and moreso the matter is in court and we cannot take any further step without informing our lawyer.

“Later that day (April 23, 2014) we were issued a letter of termination of service,” she narrated.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, MULAN, has described the termination of employment of the two muslim nurses as ‘wrongful dismissal’.

The Chairman of the association, Barrister Musadiq Adunni Sanni said the nurses have right to complain and also have the right to institute legal action if their fundamental human rights were infringed upon.

“It is wrongful dismissal. What I think they should have done is to wait on the court before taking a decision.”

“This is a labour matter and if the institution allows it, then the court will have to decide who is wrong.”

“I also think they don’t have respect for the rule of law and we are not happy that a Federal Institution like that would go that way.”

Speaking on a similar case of hijab involving a student who was punished because she wore hijab while in school, Barrister Sanni stated that although there is a proposal for out of court settlement, the condition was not favourable to the Muslims.

“Just last Tuesday, the state maintained that it only limited the use of hijab to the Mosque on Fridays during Jumat and also during Zhur and Asr prayers, but we are not happy with that; our interest is total use of hijab. We are still on it and we are going to argue our case insha-Allah,” he stressed. 

Chibok Abduction: Four More Girls Escape Boko Haram Stronghold

Four more girls surfaced, Wednesday, after escaping from their Boko Haram abductors.

Wednesday’s escape brings the list of the girls that have gained their freedom to 48, with 230 schoolgirls believed to still be held hostage by the terrorist group.

The new escapees were said to have been sighted around Monguno in the northern part of Borno State.

Despite the promise made by Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh that the military was committed to rescuing the abducted girls, four more of the abducted girls were reported to have surfaced yesterday after escaping from their captors without the intervention of the military.

A credible source, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said the girls were rescued by some good Samaritans in a village near Monguno Council Area last Sunday, before they were handed over to security operatives in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, also confirmed this while speaking on the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Maiduguri. He revealed that the girls were hale and hearty.

According to Moro, the girls are now in the custody of security forces and would be handed over to their parents.

“Information reaching me from the area indicates that four more girls escaped from captivity and they are healthy. Security forces are presently trying to identify their parents so that they can be reunited with them,” he said.

The minister faulted the claims that the federal government was not doing enough to rescue the girls, describing the allegation as baseless.

“Government is doing everything within its powers to ensure that the girls are freed unhurt. People should realise that security agents need more time to do the job and they have to be cautious so as not to endanger the lives of the girls in the process of the rescue operation,” he explained

‘Abducted School Girls Will End Boko Haram Activities’ – Sheikh Gumi Reveals

A renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi has said that the abduction of school girls from Chibok, Borno will bring an end to the dreaded Boko Haram activities.

In a statement in Kaduna, Gumi said the abductors are for the first time confined in a space, the Sambisa forest, therefore security agents should grab this opportunity, encircle the all outlets from the forest and use aerial surveillance that would lead to the capture of the insurgents.

“This abduction is an end game for whoever is responsible for the killings, bombings and terror all over in general. The abductors whoever they may be are confined in space and time for the first time. The abducted girls are known, therefore, lies will have to end. The abductors must be identified. These girls hold the answers to all the melodrama that is called war against Boko Haram.

“Therefore, I see this is the end game of the saga called Boko Haram. There will be surprises definitely!” he said.

According to Gumi, the girls when freed will talk and nobody in the system wants free flow of information on the true nature of things, adding that he was surprised there’s been no free interviews with the ones who escaped.

He criticised the government for not taking responsibility or honourably resigning for more responsible officials to clear the mess

He wondered why the military has not used the drone developed and manufactured by the Nigeria Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna or sought help from the United states.

Gumi however prayed for Allah to ease their release and protect the nation from criminals and irresponsible officials.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has concluded plans to storm Sambisa Forest with about four battalions this weekend in ordere to secure the release of the abducted 234 students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State.

Full Details On Nyanya Bomb Blast: How It Happened – NEMA

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Sanni Sidi disclosed that yesterday’s bomb blast happened when a parked car with explosives exploded.

Sidi, who spoke to journalists at the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja, noted that the blast was not as intense as the previous one, stressing that yesterday’s blast happened fifty metres away from the last one, but the same Nyanya, outskirts of Abuja.

Also speaking with Journalists at hospital, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Senator Bala Mohammed described the incident as unfortunate especially coming barely some weeks after the last one. He however assured residents of the territory of government’s readiness to provide security as well as protect lives and property, adding that it was early to give numbers of casualties as he was at the hospital to assess the level of services being rendered by his staff.

Giving the number of injured persons at the various hospitals, Secretary, Health and Human Services, Ademola Onakomaiya disclosed that the total number of those who sustained injuries at Asokoro, Maitama General Hospitals and National Hospital were 41 with 30 at Asokoro, 2 in Maitama and 9 at National Hospital, adding that arrangements have been put in place as 20 bed spaces have been created in three hospitals where those at Asokoro would be taken to.

BREAKING NEWS: Another Bomb Explodes in Nyanya Abuja.

Aanother bomb has just exploded in Nyanya, Abuja this evening, Opposite the same park that was under attack last month. The number of casualties has not been ascertain at the time of this report. more updates will come up shortly. 

45-year-old Man Defiles Daughter In Ibadan

A 45-year-old man has been remanded in prison by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s court, Ibadan, after allegedly defiling and impregnating his daughter.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Durosaro-Tijani, gave the order pending the duplication of the case file by the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP.
She, therefore, adjourned the case till May 11.
Prosecutor Oluyemi Eyiaromi told the court that the accused unlawfully had carnal knowledge of his 16-year-old daughter.
Eyiaromi said that the girl was carrying a three-month old pregnancy for her father, Ahmed Akintola, who resides in a one-room apartment with her mother and other siblings.
He told the court that the girl said her father always come down from bed to r*pe her on the mat on several occasions.
She said she complained to her mother’s family but no help was forthcoming.
Eyiaromi said the offence contravened Sections 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code of Oyo State 2000.
Akintola is to remain in Agodi prison till the court reconvenes on the matter on May 11.