APC warns DSS against arrest of its Borno Chairman

Alhaji Lai Mohammed: commends Gov. Ibikunle Amosun

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly warned against the plan by the DSS, acting at the behest of some politicians, to arrest its Chairman in Borno State Honourable Ali Abubakar Dalori on trumped-up charges, saying it is capable of precipitating a crisis in an already-volatile environment.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the situation in Borno was already very dire and sensitive, hence no one should add “fuel to a raging fire simply because of scorched-earth politics”.
It also warned the DSS to resist the growing temptation to dabble into politics, even while it is becoming increasingly glaring that the agency is being compromised under the present political dispensation.
“The careless and clearly partisan statements being made by DSS Spokesperson Marilyn Ogar have shown all discerning Nigerians the direction in which the agency is leaning. However, it must still exercise great caution in order not to spark a needless crisis in Borno.
“We have it on good authority that with the recent movement of Ali Modu Sheriff to the PDP, attempts are being made to destabilize the APC in Borno, using agencies of state like the DSS. The take-off point is the arrest of our chairman in the state on trumped-up charges.
“Let those who are seeking to trigger a crisis in Borno know that the people of the state are resolute in their determination to ensure a level playing field in the run-up to the 2015 election. It is curious that the DSS has suddenly unearth supposed offences committed by Hon Ali Abubakar Dalori to warrant his arrest, now that Sheriff has defected to the PDP.
“Again, we are compelled to warn the DSS that, as an organ of state, it cannot afford to be partisan. An agency being sustained by the taxpayers cannot turn around to hunt the same taxpayers. An agency that is supposed to protect the people of Nigeria cannot be the same agency being used to witch-hunt the opposition.
“Unless the DSS turns a new leaf and stop making itself a tool in the hands of politicians, the agency will ridicule itself and weaken its capacity to function effectively,” APC said.
The party urged the DSS and other security agencies to concentrate their efforts on arresting the daily carnage being perpetrated in Borno and other states by Boko Haram, instead of allowing those who helped to precipitate the carnage in the first instance to further destabilize the state.

Military did not commit war crimes, DHQ blasts UK newspaper

DHQ spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has faulted a British Newspaper report that Nigerian government committed war crimes by terrorising some of its citizens in the war against insurgency.
A statement posted on the website of the Defence Headquarters read: “The report credited to the British Newspaper, Daily Independent, UK, in which it claimed that Nigerian government `committed war crimes by terrorising some of its citizens in the war against insurgency”.
“Is to say the least, unduly judgmental and quite consistent with the disdain and bias with which a section of the western media reports Africa,” the statement read.
The DHQ said that the newspaper did not lay claim to any sense of professionalism in coming out with grossly unsubstantiated and bogus allegations against the Nigerian government.
“No credible independent source or government official was contacted to ascertain the veracity of those wild claims yet the sanctimonious and all-knowing newspaper could not exercise any restraint to be sure of its story.
“Is it not preposterous to even suggest that ’4000 people have died in military custody…’ when it is on record that suspected terrorists are held in various facilities while being processed for prosecution?
“At what point then did 4000 people die in military custody? This ludicrous report did not come as a surprise to anybody since this biased mindset against Nigerian government has always characterised this newspaper even before the commencement of the ongoing counter-terrorist operation,” it lamented.
The statement said that the newspaper and its ilk should be reminded that the Nigerian military and by extension the government cannot be intimidated by this patterned bias and supremacist mindset in reporting Africa.
It said having adopted this kind of judgmental posture it will not be surprised by any “phantom video they will release to support their wild claim”.
“We therefore urge the general public to discountenance this obviously jaundiced report or whatever phantom video as it is all aimed at tarnishing the image of Nigerian military. The preposterous interrogative posture of Daily Independent since the inception of the war on terror in Nigeria clearly questions the integrity of the said documentary.
“And is therefore an indication of frantic effort at tarnishing the Nigerian military and ultimately the Nigerian nation. The so called documentary should therefore be taken with a pinch of the salt,” the statement said.

Missing Ebola patients found in Liberia

A quarantine team for Ebola

Liberia said Tuesday it had found 17 Ebola patients who had fled an attack on their clinic, sparking a panicked manhunt across a city in the throes of a seemingly unstoppable epidemic.
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, said the tropical virus had killed 84 people in just three days, a surge that has pushed the overall death toll from the west African outbreak to 1,229.
Liberia’s Information Minister Lewis Brown announced the return of the infected patients who had gone missing on Saturday after club-wielding youths raided a medical facility in a Monrovia slum.
Their disappearance had raised fears of a nightmare scenario of people with the highly contagious disease wandering the city where unburied corpses have lain abandoned in the streets.
“All 17 patients who fled the Ebola centre have been accounted for,” Brown told AFP.
WHO statistics showed that Liberia bore the brunt of the latest surge in fatalities, with 53 deaths, while there were 17 in Sierra Leone and 14 in Guinea.
But in a glimmer of possible good news, Brown said eight medical workers including two doctors who had been given experimental US-made drug ZMapp were responding to the treatment.
Overall, the UN health agency has tallied 2,240 cases of confirmed, probable and suspect Ebola infection since the outbreak began early this year, making it the deadliest since the discovery of the disease in the former Zaire in the 1970s.
From Guinea, where the current outbreak began, it has spread to three other states, overwhelming inadequate public health services already battling with common deadly diseases such as malaria.
Guinea has recorded a total of 543 cases and 394 deaths, Sierra Leone 848 cases and 365 deaths and Liberia 834 cases and 466 deaths.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has 15 cases and four fatalities, according to WHO data.
Efforts to contain the spread across west Africa have run up against local distrust of outside doctors, and fears that aid workers may carry infection with them.
“At first people thought that when they got here, they were going to have all their blood removed and they would die,” Nallo, being treated at an Ebola clinic this week in Sierra Leone, told AFP.
And in Monrovia, Ebola has sown panic and irrational violence.
Youths raided the medical facility in the West Point slum in Monrovia on Saturday, sending the 17 Ebola patients fleeing for their lives — and potentially spreading more of the lethal virus across the city.
- ‘Encouraging signs’ of control -
But WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib noted “encouraging signs” in Nigeria and Guinea, where prevention measures were starting to take effect.
“What’s encouraging there is that there’s been just one identified chain of transmission. That is very good news,” she said.
The Nigerian outbreak has been traced to a sole foreigner, a Liberian-American who died in late July in Lagos. All subsequent Nigerian victims had had direct contact with him.
“All the measures taken by the Nigerian authorities have shown a positive impact,” said Chaib, adding that Guinea was also making some halting progress.
- Food aid for quarantine zones -
The last days of an Ebola victim can be horrific, with agonising muscular pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhaging as vital organs break down.
No cure or vaccine is currently available for the disease, which is spread by close contact with body fluids, meaning patients must be isolated.
But given the extent of the crisis, the WHO has authorised largely untested treatments — including ZMapp and the Canadian-made VSV-EBOV vaccine, both barely tested drugs with unknown effects on humans.
In the absence of an effective vaccine, countries have thrown up quarantine cordons in infected areas such as Gueckedou in Guinea, Kenema and Kailahun in Sierra Leone and Foya in Liberia.
Around one million people live in the zones, Chaib said, adding that while they helped rein in transmission, residents could struggle to obtain basic needs.
“It is essential that people in those zones have access to food, water, good sanitation and other basic supplies,” she added.
The WHO is working with the World Food Programme to get regular food and other non-medical supplies to the zones.
- Porous border -
While the WHO does not recommend international air travel restrictions, it has created a task force with global airline and tourism groups to try to contain the spread, and several nations in west Africa have closed their borders to affected countries.
Countries beyond Africa are also on high alert.
On Tuesday, medical authorities in Spain said a man who returned from Sierra Leone had been placed in an isolation ward after coming down with a fever.

LUTH resident doctors protest over suspension

Protesting resident doctors

The Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH-ARD) Chapter, Idi-Araba, on Monday protested the suspension of residency training in all the federal teaching hospitals by the Federal Government.
NAN reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, had on 13 August, issued a directive terminating the residency training for doctors until further notice.
The Vice President of the Association, Dr Afolabi Akinkunmi, said the protest was in response to the Federal Government’s decision to sack 16, 000 resident doctors nationwide.
“The decision to terminate residency training is a draconian move designed by the government to end the strike without having to enter further negotiation with the doctors about the strike.
“We are asking government to come back to the negotiation table, because a lot of the demands are genuine and should be resolved once and for all.
“The doctors themselves are tired of the incessant strikes but they have persisted in this strike so that when these issues are resolved, there would be no cause for another strike down the line,” he said.
On the Ebola Virus Disease, he said that the strike and the Ebola outbreak were two separate issues which the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had already considered and resolved.
“You cannot treat Ebola in teaching hospitals; it should be treated in an investigation or isolation centre.
“That is the international best practice that is being used in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“The NMA has a committee that has ensured that the resident doctors who specialise in infectious diseases have made themselves available to treat the Ebola patients during the strike.
“Some of them were at work, when they received the news that they had been sacked; this is unfair,” he said.
Akinkunmi feared that over 50 per cent of resident doctors in the country would lose their positions with the suspension.
“According to Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC), there are 26,000 registered doctors in Nigeria and now the government wants to sack 16,000.
“Where is the government going to find replacements for these doctors?
“Although Nigeria has a lot of doctors in the Diaspora, until conditions improve, patriotism will not be enough to persuade them to return to care for the country’s patients,” he said.
He said that resident doctors in LUTH were hoping the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Prof. Akin Oshibogun, would relay the appeal to the minister and the president.
“We have presented a letter to the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Akin Osibogun,” he said.
In her reaction, Mrs Hope Nwalolo, Public Relations Officer of LUTH, said that the suspension of the residency training was a national directive and the management had no say in the matter.

Jonathan condoles Urhobos’ over Aziza’s death

Late Gen. Patrick Aziza

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commiserated with the Urhobo people of Delta on the death of the President-General of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), Major-General Patrick Aziza (rtd).
Aziza, who was the first Military Administrator of Kebbi state between 1991 and 1992, died on Saturday at the age of 67.
Jonathan’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja.
The statement also extended the president’s condolences to the Aziza family, the government and people of Delta as well as the late General’s friends, associates and former military colleagues.
“The President joins them in mourning the passage of the former minister and one-time military governor of Kebbi.
“Aziza selflessly dedicated himself to the service of his people and community after retiring from a distinguished career in the nation’s armed forces.
“As they grieve over his death, Jonathan urges members of the Aziza family, the UPU, his friends and former colleagues in the Nigerian Army to accept the will of God Almighty.
“They should be comforted by the knowledge that Aziza served his people and country to the best of his God-given abilities while he lived.’’
NAN reports that the late Aziza, who hailed from Okpe Local Government Area in Delta Central, served as Minister of Communications in the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha.
He was also Minister of Commerce and Tourism during the transitional regime of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Fallout Of Osun Gov Election: 50 APC Members Still In Detention

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said at least 50 of its members are still in detention more than one week after the governorship election in the state.

The chairman of the party, Adelowo Adebiyi, who disclosed this to online news portal, PREMIUM TIMES, on telephone Monday, said it would head for court later in the week with a view to securing their freedom.

Also on Monday, the Osun State Government confirmed plans to file a lawsuit against the Federal Government over alleged abuses committed by security personnel deployed in the state during the election.

The Nigerian government had massively deployed security personnel comprising the police, soldiers, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, in Osun to maintain order during the election.

Although the actual figure of the security personnel deployed could not be ascertained, media reports put it at over 65,000.

President Goodluck Jonathan explained that the heavy security presence was meant to ensure the election was not manipulated.

The acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, also said the heavy deployment was informed by allegations that thugs were being recruited and armed to foment trouble during the poll.

Among the APC leaders detained was the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed. He was, however, freed the following morning.

The incumbent governor and candidate of the APC, Rauf Aregbesola, won the election conducted on Saturday, 9 August.

Mr. Adebiyi said apart from Mr. Mohammed, about 200 members of the ruling party in the state were arrested and detained before and during the election and that the police released about 150 of them leaving the remaining 50 in detention.

“Some have been released from detention, but not all,” he said. “About 200 of our members were arrested and detained, but about 150 of them have so far been released,” he said in a telephone interview. “We are planning to go to court this week to enforce their release.”

Also speaking in a telephone interview, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maishanu said he could not ascertain if there were members of the APC still in detention.

He, however, promised to provide the information as soon as possible.

The SSS spokesperson, Marylyn Ogar could not be reached for comments as she did not answer or return calls made to her mobile telephone. She did not also respond to a text message sent to her.

The Director of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Osun State Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said the state government was already preparing to file a suit in deference to an advice by the European Union Election Monitoring Group.

The EU group, led by Paul Edwards, had during a meeting with Mr. Aregbesola in Osogbo, the state capital, advised the governor to use the courts to seek redress rather than resorting to self help.

European Union Delegates Visit Aregbesola

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, European Union Election Monitoring Coordinator, Paul Edwards, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo

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Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, European Union Election Monitoring Coordinator, Paul Edwards, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, European Union Election Monitoring Coordinator, Mr Paul Edwards and Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr John Groffen

L-R: European Union Election Monitoring Coordinator, Mr Paul Edwards; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr John c.m Groffen during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo

R-L: Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and European Union Election Monitoring Coordinator, Mr Paul Edwards, during a courtesy visit at the Government House, Osogbo

In Pictures: Jonathan, governors meet over Ebola Virus

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WATCHES GOVERNOR BABATUNDE FASHOLA OF LAGOS STATE AS HE SANITIZES HIS HANDS BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF A MEETING ON EBOLA VIRUS AT THE STATE HOUSE IN ABUJA ON 13 AUGUST 2014

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PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WATCHES
GOVERNOR BABATUNDE FASHOLA OF LAGOS STATE AS HE SANITIZES HIS HANDS
BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF A MEETING ON EBOLA VIRUS AT THE STATE HOUSE
IN ABUJA ON 13 AUGUST 2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN SANITIZING HIS HAND BEFORE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF HIS MEETING WITH THE STATE GOVERNORS AND THEIR HEALTH
COMMISSIONERS AT THE STATE HOUSE IN ABUJA TODAY, WITH MINISTER
OF HEALTH, PROF. ONYEBUCHI CHUKWU AND MINISTER OF STATE, HEALTH,
HALIRU AL-HASSAN LOOKING ON

GOVERNOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN OF OGUN STATE WITH HIS NASARAWA STATE
COUNTERPART, GOVERNOR TANKO AL-MAKURA DURING A MEETING ON EBOLA VIRUS BETWEEN
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN , STATE GOVERNORS AND THEIR HEALTH
COMMISSIONERS ON 13 AUGUST AT THE STATE HOUSE IN ABUJA

Lagos PMAN Advises Members On Ebola

The Lagos State chapter of Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has cautioned its members to be mindful of the deadly Ebora virus in the day-to-day activities.
The Governor-General, Sir Kareem Ayinde Olomide Osoba a.k.a. Kabiyesi, gave the advice during a stakeholders’ meeting of the musicians’ body held in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos on Tuesday.
Osoba urged the members to adhere strictly to the state government’s directives on prevention of the disease following report of a couple of cases of Ebola in Lagos.
The PMAN chief disclosed further that the association had set up a special committee to educate and sensitise members on the prevention and management of the virus.
The committee, according to him, comprised of zonal chairmen and some executive council members saddled with the responsibility of briefing members in the their respective areas about the measures already taken by government to ensure that the virus does not spread in the state.
He disclosed further that a motorised rally would soon be staged by the association to further educate and sensitise members of the general public on prevention and management of the disease.
He urged members to maintain personal hygiene and to regularly wash their hands with soap and other cleansing chemicals including hand sanitisers.
On the stakeholders’ meeting, Osoba said it was called to iron out some pressing challenges facing the association and ways to further move the Nigerian music industry forward.

How To Make Friends

A lot of people are trapped in the claws of loneliness probably because they feel no one cares for them enough to be their friend. Not to worry, just be yourself; don’t be afraid to express your opinions. If someone insults you, just ignore them – they have no idea what they’re talking about! Show yourself friendly and you attract more friends than you could ever imagine.

Be Optimistic. Even if you are feeling really down, remember that there’s always something out there to smile about. A positive outlook will make people want to be around you more.

Crack a joke. Having a sense of humour is important, but don’t get too carried away, there are some things you have to be serious about.

Smile as much as you can. Signs of encouragement let people know you care about what they are saying.

Share interesting/silly ideas. Your thoughts can open up many doors that can lead to friendship.

Listen more than you talk. Instead of nodding and smiling and occasionally wiping the drool off your face, try to take what the person says and run with it. Add your own thoughts into the mix – but don’t hijack the conversation.

Start by doing little things if you are very reserved. For example, every time you go to school, work, or wherever, say hello to one person and have a one-on-one conversation with them.

Say “hello” to those that don’t talk much. Share something about yourself, such as where you’re going or why you’re there.

Don’t expect perfection out of anyone, especially yourself. Entering relationship with too much expectation could lead to anxiety on one hand and frustration on the other. Make room for human weakness and error; be ready to pick up bits and pieces; continue building till you have a strong friendship.

Be Patient. If you are still among strangers, the apprehension of a conversation may cause a delay in comments. Don’t worry, that will go away in short order.

Talk to older people, maybe even your own folks. They will be less likely to ridicule you, therefore making it easier to learn to talk well.

Place importance on making social contacts. The people who are considered popular may not be the sharpest tacks in the box, but they are acquainting with important people who may contribute to their future careers. It is never too late to feel that being popular is important. If your work environment allows for it, host a party, organize a sports game, etc.

Love yourself. It is difficult to like others when you do not appreciate yourself for who you are. Try exercise to improve your self-esteem. Start your journey to “self-discovery.”

Be loyal. Little things count. If you make an appointment, be on time. If you’re in a group, show up early, and stay late (even if you don’t have anything to say at the moment).

Be nice to others. Always give compliments, but don’t try too hard. If you are shy, take a deep breath and risk it – you never know what might happen. Also, crack a joke every once in a while. Again, if you are shy on the outside but a little crazy on the inside, let it out once in a while. Wear your hair up high and spin around or dance. Others will laugh and find you fun and funny to be with.

Stand up for your rights. When someone is being too hard on you or perhaps showing signs of prejudice, speak up! Let it out in the open: “Is there any reason to make you prejudiced?”

Be honest. Lying will make people not want to be your friend any more.

. Outstanding Ways To Spice Up Relationship

Only people who are sincere will admit they still have some work to do on their relationships. Denial, as it were does not rule out the fact that the problem is in existence and staring you in the face for that matter.

For whatever reasons, we are deceived by the “old wife’s tale” that some people are not meant to love; their emotions are usually bottled up; even at the point of death there is no place for self expression. Now tell me, why should some people not express themselves like the others? Is there a different blood flowing in their veins or could it even be ‘water’ instead of blood? There is definitely no ground for this assertion as human beings are basically made to love relationships.

Yes I know you would put me to task if I forget to mention that culture plays a vital role in the behaviour, attitude and values of people. But I’m of the opinion that what is good is simply good; we all have a fair idea of fairness and rudeness.

For the purpose of this publication, we would be considering certain things lovers can do to improve upon the structure of their relationship. These are:

Say it; what you say to other people about your relationship has a way of getting back to your spouse. People might not be able to come out openly and tell your love that you said certain things about them but it will definitely show in the way they relate, respond and generally treat him/her. Just in case your spouse happens to hear your exact words about him/her it will go a long way to condition reactions. Now that we know this, what a great gain will it be if we concentrate our effort saying nice things just to make our partners feel good?

There was a case of a woman who had serious problems with her husband simply because he never took time to say how much he appreciated her. This made her live in self condemnation and pity but there came a day she met with someone (a fellow woman) at a birthday party which changed her impression of her hubby. At the peak of eating and drinking, behold Emma (a young and trendy babe) worked up to Mrs. Lawson (the woman who has been complaining about her husband) and extended a hand of fellowship. Though surprised, Mrs. Lawson responded well but demanded to know who the lady (Emma) was. She then introduced herself in a humble manner but ended up with the information that she was in charge of the Human Resources unit of Mr. Lawson’s office. She (Emma) went ahead to disclose that Mr. Lawson has been saying very nice things about her (the wife). This was the best thing Mrs. Lawson had heard since she got married and also the “pill” that healed her marriage from the problems of many years.

Learn about your lover’s interest; Taking pains to learn about your

Spouse’s interest is a clear indication that you desire to please him/her despite your differences. Once this is established, a greater part of your marital problem is solved. Almost everyone knows that football is not naturally a woman’s game but for me to remain happily married to Mr. Thomas, I had to become anArsenal fan. Can you imagine that? Sometimes I watch the match not because I want to but because I need to gist with my love at the close of work- you know for conversation to flow, it must be in your area of interest. This does not in any way suggest that football is the only thing we discuss at home but it is away from my interest; I do it for my love. Should I tell you how much this adjustment has paid off? Oh no, it’s meant for me alone, just take the lesson and leave the rest.

Be adventurous; I’m sure at the mention of the word adventure, your mind quickly scrolled to discovering things like an island or embarking on some kind of journey no one had attempted before now. Well, if that is the way you want to look at it, you should be the only one who discovers, knows and does what keeps your spouse’s head spinning. But ideally, what I mean by being adventurous is going out of your way to find out what your ‘love’ would enjoy in the true sense of the word. There is everything wrong with a relationship that is still the way it started some five years ago. Take it or leave it, if new things are not introduced to the relationship, there is every possibility that couples would be bored. Try out some new ideas, go to some novel places and map out things that appeal to you as a person and see how it goes. I must not forget to say it here that some of your ‘fantastic’ ideas might not work and when this happens, you should not be discouraged. Rather, take it as a call to more adventurous moves.

Lend a helping hand; with apologies to the overtly independent fellows, I propose that your help to your spouse is simply indispensable. Saying that you do not need your spouse to help out in some issues is just like saying he/she is not relevant to your existence-why? We need each other for life to go on well. Have you ever heard of sayings like “no man is an island” “a tree cannot make a forest” etc. the world would indeed be a better place if we could work together as one.

Apart from what we can do to help relief the burden of others, asking or allowing your spouse to be of help to you in some way also make you feel  needed in the relationship.

Priority; when your relationship takes a good order on your priority list, you will be moved to do things that would in most cases work for its interest. People who place their relationship at a disadvantaged position end up regretting in most cases.

Time; for every venture to grow, the owner should allocate adequate time for it. You must learn to find and spend time with your love. If it is not practicable within the confines of your home, please take a trip either within or outside the country just to be alone and enjoy the serenity of your love.

Be full of pleasant surprises; A little gift of love can go a long way to improve the quality of your relationship. Did you hear me say relationship is based on what you can give? No I only encourage people to give as an expression of love. Love gives.

Appreciate; is it a big deal to tell the other person what he/she is doing well? Tell your partner he/she looks good and mean it-no flatteries please. Remember to say ‘thank you’ when an act of kindness is extended.

Talk to each other about your feelings

Let ‘care’ become a frequent gesture between you.

Maigari Tips Falconets For U-20 Women’s World Cup Final

Falconets
Photo: Getty Images

President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari on Tuesday inspired players of the U-20 women national team, Falconets, with words of courage, saying he has confidence in them to reach Sunday’s final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Following their easy 4-1 dismissal of New Zealand in the quarter final on Sunday, the Falconets clash with pacy North Korea at the Moncton Stadium, Moncton on Wednesday evening, in the first semi final.
“I have watched all the matches played by the girls since the championship started, and I am greatly delighted at the manner with which they approach each of the games.

NFF President, Aminu Maigari

“The North Koreans are a leading powerhouse in women’s football but so are our girls. This tournament has shown the prowess and skills of our girls. I am truly impressed and I know they have what it takes to reach the final.”
Four years ago, Maigari was with the Falconets in Germany as they reached the final, before losing 0-2 to the host nation to finish with silver medals.
“I believe that this time, our girls will not be content with reaching the final. Yes, they still have the semi final to play, but I know that once they conquer the Koreans, their eyes will be on the trophy.”
Victory over the North Koreans on Wednesday will reward the Falconets with a final against either Germany or France, at Montreal’s all-cover Olympic Stadium, on Sunday.

IG Orders Transfer Of Lagos Airport Bomb Suspect

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered the Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos Airport Command, Waheed Salau, to immediately transfer the suspect arrested with an improvised explosive device, IED, at the Lagos airport to the Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The order is coming after the suspect allegedly confessed that he and two others now at large were sent to bomb the airport and other highly populated areas in Lagos State.

IGP Suleiman Abbabba

According to a police source at Airport Command, the signal came from Abuja Tuesday morning after Salau, the Police Commissioner in charge of the Lagos Airport Command, sent a preliminary report on the alleged confession of the suspect to Abba.

The suspect was arrested at the airport by security operatives while he was about to bomb the Centrex Unit of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency along Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The 22-year old physically challenged suspect confessed to the security operatives that they were three that were sent to bomb the airport and other parts of the city of Lagos.

When P.M.NEWS reporter visited the Airport Police Command Tuesday morning, officers were seen discussing the incident.

They declined to speak with our reporter and referred him to the international  airport to meet the spokesman. The PPRO was not in the office when our reporter visited and his phone rang but he did not pick the call.

Standard Chartered fined $300 mn over laundering controls

Standard Chartered

New York’s banking regulator hit Standard Chartered Bank with a $300 million fine and restrictions on its dollar-clearing business Tuesday for inadequate controls on money laundering.
The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) said the British bank’s internal compliance systems had failed to detect or act on a large number of “potentially high-risk transactions” mostly originating from Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
The new punishment came two years after the bank paid US regulators $667 million to settle charges it violated US sanctions by handling thousands of money transactions involving Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan.
A DFS monitor appointed in 2012 to keep an eye on the bank discovered that it had not detected the allegedly high-risk transactions from Hong Kong and the UAE and reported them as it should have, the department said.
“If a bank fails to live up to its commitments, there should be consequences. That is particularly true in an area as serious as anti-money-laundering compliance, which is vital to helping prevent terrorism and vile human rights abuses,” said DFS head Benjamin Lawsky.
The department did not give any information on the nature of the transactions, or whether they proved to involve laundering or not.
In a settlement agreed with the bank, DFS ordered Standard Chartered to halt dollar-clearing operations for unnamed “high-risk retail business clients” of its Hong Kong unit.
The bank is already cutting business with high-risk clients in UAE, but will also not be able to process dollar funds through the United States for them.
Its New York branch also is forbidden to take on any clearing or deposit accounts from new customers without the approval of Lawsky’s office.
The action taken against Standard Chartered is part of an ongoing crackdown by New York state and federal authorities on banks, particularly foreign banks with New York branches, for handling money transfers from countries and individuals blacklisted by Washington for political reasons or for their involvement in criminal activities.
In the largest case, French bank BNP Paribas agreed to pay $8.9 billion in July to settle charges that for years it knowingly violated US sanctions on Iran and Sudan.
BNP Paribas and other banks fined for similar reasons were ordered to implement stringent compliance regimes to ensure they do not break US rules in their dollar-clearing businesses.

EFCC arrests 2 bank managers, 4 others over N167.5m scamblished on August 19, 2014

EFCC operatives

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Monday that it had arrested two bank managers and four others in connection with a N167.5 million scam.
The spokesman for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Lagos.
He said four employees of an old generation bank were being held for allegedly stealing N5.1 million from a customer’s account.
According to him, the suspects conspired and issued an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to an accomplice in the name of a bank customer in Bayelsa.
“The man used the ATM to withdraw N5.1million from account.”
Uwujaren alleged that the manager gave out loans to himself using several names and accounts of some customers of the bank with whom he shared the money.
“The manager was arrested while trying to flee the country after the management of the bank detected the fraud.
“Disbursement of the loans showed that he granted a total sum of N57. 9 million to Onezh Oil and Gas Ltd, N11.3 million to Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11.7 million to Ogochukwu Amanda.”
Uwujaren said the suspects, who were being interrogated at the Kano Zonal office of the EFCC, would soon be charged to court.

Fire Razes 5 Houses In Lagos

Fire has razed five bungalows, 100 make-shift shops and a sawmill at Oko-Baba area of Ebute Meta, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

The fire started at about 10:30 p.m. and raged for hours until it was quelled by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who responded with three water tankers, each containing 10,000 litres of water.

Fire servicemen who stormed the scene to put out the fire were allegedly attacked by hoodlums who shattered the windscreen of one of the water trucks, says Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe.

•Victims of Oko Baba fire disaster in Ebute Meta this morning at the scene of the incident which occurred last night. PHOTO: IDOWU OGUNLEYE

According to him, the hoodlums broke the windscreen of the third vehicle bringing water to fight the fire, describing the act as unfortunate.

Fadipe explained that one of the vehicles had accessed the fire scene through Coates Street, while another got to the scene through Kadara Street, and the third vehicle which took another street was the one that was attacked by the hoodlums.

He said the fire service responded promptly when it got a distress call that the place was on fire, adding that the fire consumed five houses, 100 multiple bolt-up buildings and a sawmill.

Fadipe stated that the fire servicemen were able to save several other properties from being consumed by the inferno, saying that the fire was caused by a faulty electricity generator.

Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said there was no casualty and that his men could not count the number of structures affected as they were temporary structures built with planks.

“Except the residents give the number of buildings affected, one cannot estimate the number. The people struggled to take control of the fire fighting themselves, thus endangering their lives after they resisted and they turned against the fire men,” he said.

Speaking about another incident, Fadipe said fire consumed a 3-bedroom flat in a 2-storey building at 14, Ayoade Street, Bajulaye, Shomolu last night.

He appealed to the public to be careful in handling electrical appliances and learn to quickly send alert if there was an emergency.

The Spelling Bee Competition Goes National

 As The Spelling Bee, a competition targeted at students between ages 8 and 14 overseas, enters its second season in Nigeria, the organisers have extended participation in the competition to more states across Nigeria, P.M.NEWS has learnt.

The new season will open in Nigeria in November with a call for enrollment of schools.

Eugenia Tachie-Menson

Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director, Young Educators Foundation, organisers of The Spelling Bee competition, said with the successful implementation of the educational programme in Osun State, they are now very pleased to extend the opportunity to every other student across Nigeria.

In its debut, 120 pupils from 40 schools were at the finals where 12 year-old Zainab Olawale emerged the eventual winner of the keenly contested competition.

Zainab, a Junior Secondary 2 pupil of Unity Middle School, Osogbo, Osun State, was rewarded with an all expense-paid trip to the 87th Scripps National Spelling Bee of the USA.

Tachie-Menson expressed gratitude to the State of Osun and the office of SCARF for welcoming the programme.

She said the maximum number of schools per state that could participate would be 25, while selected teachers from these schools will undergo a one-week training to be led by Linguistics trained officials from Ghana.  After this, the teachers are expected to impart their acquired skills in their students.

Emmanuel Afful, Linguistics Certified and Lead Trainer of The Spelling Bee, said the major objectives of The Spelling Bee in Nigeria includes encouraging students to improve on their knowledge and application of the rules guiding the use of English Language.

The national competition will come up in April 2015 with all state finalists converging on Calabar to compete for the enviable title of best speller in Nigeria.

The winners will be rewarded with an all-expense paid trip to the 88th Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC, USA as a guest, plus a scholarship for the overall winner, while an all-expense paid trip to Oxford University Press, United Kingdom and a scholarship will be received by the first runner up.

The Spelling Bee is a competition designed to inculcate the basic imperatives of effective communication, ultimately impacting improved spelling skills, development of poise, increase students’ vocabulary, pronunciation and accurate word usage.

It is a competition run by Young Educators Foundation, an NGO that promotes literacy and education, and franchise holders of Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA for Ghana.  Ghana is the only African country to participate in Scripps National Spelling National Bee in partnership with PDR Media Service Nigeria and Business Interactive Consulting

NIMASA, Air Force showcases aircraft to monitor crime-infested waters

Nigerian Airforce ATR 42-500 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

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A Nigerian Airforce pilots sit to monitor vessels from ATR 42-500 Maritime Patrol Aircraft acquired to fight maritime crime

Nigeria’s military on Tuesday took the wraps off a new aircraft to tackle high-seas pirates off the country’s coast, as well as maritime hijackers and oil thieves.
The high-tech plane is one of seven to be operated by the state-run Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force.
It includes sensors, radar and Electro-Optic Surveillance and Tracking (EOST) equipment, which houses three cameras to monitor ships in Nigerian waters, said Sergeant Sunday Olalekan Omotosho.
“When fully operational, no vessel can escape our coverage,” he told reporters before a demonstration flight from Lagos to Escravos in the Niger Delta and over offshore platforms in the oil-producing southeast.
The 20-seat plane can fly as low as 200 feet (60 metres) above the sea and passes on information about maritime traffic to the navy, who can intervene with fast-attack craft if necessary, he added.
“Our aim is to fight all manner of maritime crimes in the country. With this aircraft, we can spot any vessel hundreds of kilometres (miles) away,” said Air Group Captain Enobong Eneh Effiom.

Nigerian Airforce ATR 42-500 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

The aircraft is inscribed with the words: “Vigilance over the ocean.”
Piracy off the western coast of Africa has been rising in recent years, with attackers targeting ships playing a key role in the region’s thriving oil industry.
Early this month, global maritime watchdog the International Maritime Bureau said West African piracy made up 19 percent of attacks worldwide last year.
Nigerian pirates accounted for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks — the most since 2008.

Three petroleum smugglers burnt to death

File Photo: A bus accident

Three petrol smugglers were roasted alive Tuesday at Temitope axis of Idiroko border town of Ogun State, western Nigeria, following an accident involving two vehicles.
The incident happened when two vehicles being used to smuggle petroleum products collided before catching fire. The smugglers engaged in illegal transportation of petroleum products between the Idiroko Nigerian border and the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
The victims, one of whom was simply identified as Fatai, his younger brother and a woman believed to be a customer were all burnt alive following the collision.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the trio were returning from one of their petroleum black market trips to a smuggling base between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin when their Nissan Sunny car marked (LAGOS) AKD 194 BS collided with an unmarked Ford bus loaded with fuel and the vehicles caught fire.
It was further gathered that the unmarked Ford bus, laden with 200 units of 50-litres jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was heading to the “beebe” Petroleum black market for onward movement to Republic of Benin when the accident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said it was while trying to avoid being arrested by security operatives, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) patrol team, that the Ford bus collided with the Nissan Sunny car right in front of FARIWARD Petroleum filling station located at Temitope area around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.
There was weeping among residents of Idiroko and other sympathisers who watched helplessly as Fatai’s family members from Idologun village, a satellite town in Idiroko thronged the scene of the accident to pack the remains of their children.
Police officers from Idiroko Divisional Headquarters arrived the scene later this morning and towed away the carcass of the two burnt vehicles to their station.

Funmi Iyanda marks her birthday with dance steps that will blow you away

Gorgeous: For a minute, dance choreographers like Kaffi will feel threatened by Funmi Iyanda's dance steps as she celebrates her birthday in London

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This is the closest you’ll see broadcaster Funmi Iyanda dance. And she managed to do it rather seamlessly. Watch the pictures and enjoy.

Gorgeous: For a minute, dance choreographers like Kaffi will feel threatened by Funmi Iyanda’s dance steps as she celebrates her birthday in London

Iyanda shows that she’s got the midas touch as she thrills her friends and family at a in-house birthday bash organised in London

Maigari Returns To Office As NFF Boss

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, returned to the Secretariat of the NFF on Monday and pledged to work together with the entire Nigerian football family ahead of the coming elections into the NFF Executive Committee.

“There is no victor and no vanquished. We must all come together in the interest of the game. We are all adults and we must have differences, but I am happy that those differences are now in the past and we are now of the same accord,” Maigari said as he settled into his chair.

Maigari was on Thursday last week restored to office by the world football governing body, FIFA, after weeks of uncertainty at the Glass House, during which his members of Executive Committee said they had impeached him based on sundry allegations.

Maigari

Last Friday, the Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, asked Maigari to go back to office, and the 58 –year old former school teacher arrived at the NFF Secretariat  before noon on Monday.

He met Chief Mike Umeh, Shehu Adamu and Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, some of his board members, in the office, and after hours of deliberation, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the board had come together once more and that the interest of Nigerian football had prevailed.

“We are one big family, as we have always been. There were disagreements and misunderstanding for a number of weeks, but FIFA has cleared the air and the government has weighed in on the side of FIFA.

“In the interest of the game in Nigeria, we have all resolved to bury our differences and rather work towards evolving a roadmap for the coming elections. There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, 19 August,” Inyama said.

What is most likely to be on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting is the issue of Super Eagles’ Head Coach, as the minutes tick speedily toward the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

Real better than last season, says Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his side will be even stronger this campaign than the one which won the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.
Madrid have added World Cup stars James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas at an expense of over 100 million euros as they aim to lift a potential six trophies this season.
They already have one to their name after defeating Sevilla 2-0 to win the European Super Cup in Cardiff last week and will face Atletico Madrid in a repeat of the Champions League final over two legs on Tuesday and Friday in the Spanish Super Cup.
“I think we have a better team than last season because we have signed three players that add quality to the team,” Ancelotti said on Monday.
Whilst Rodriguez and Kroos went straight into the starting line-up for the victory over Sevilla, Navas has had to wait to make his competitive debut and Ancelotti confirmed that Iker Casillas will once again start in goal.
Argentinean midfielder Angel di Maria also didn’t feature in Cardiff amidst reports that he could be sold before the end of the transfer window with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly interested.
However, Ancelotti dismissed comparisons with Mesut Ozil this time last year before his deadline day move to Arsenal.
“Di Maria is available like all the other players. It could be that he starts and has his chance, but he is just like the other players. Tomorrow one team will play and on Friday a different team will play.
“I don’t remember the Ozil situation and I am not going to start talking about that topic because I will lose my concentration on tomorrow’s game.
“I don’t know what Di Maria has decided. He is ready and it could be that he can help us. Until August 31 that is the line we will take. Whether he stays or goes, after that everything will return to normal.”
Atletico have also been busy in the transfer market as they have brought in nine players to help replace Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa who have all moved to Chelsea.
However, despite ending the dominance of Real and Barcelona to win La Liga last season, coach Diego Simeone has played down expectations ahead of the new campaign.
“We need to look at Sevilla, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao. We will try to fight with them for the Champions League places,” said the Argentine.
“With 95 million euros we have signed nine players, Real Madrid have signed two players for 95 million. That is the difference.”
Atletico will hand debuts to their star signings Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic in attack.
However, Arda Tura misses out with a hamstring injury and new goalkeeper Jan Oblak will start on the bench as he lacks match fitness after suffering a hip injury in pre-season.

U-20 Women’s World Cup: North Korea Will Fall

Falconets coach Peter Dedevbo is upbeat his team can go all the way to the final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at the expense of North Korea on Wednesday.

On Sunday night, the Nigeria U-20 women’s team thrashed New Zealand 4-1 to book a semi-final confrontation against North Korea at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

“My team have played against the Koreans twice in 2010 and 2012 U-17 World Cups in which Nigeria lost, but this time around it will be a different ball game,” promised Dedevbo.

The Falconets reached the final of the 2010 edition of this tournament and lost out in the semi-finals two years ago.

•STRUGGLE…Ebere Okoye of Nigeria (right) fights for the ball with Evie Millynn of New Zealand during the FIFA Women’s U-20 quarter final game at Moncton Stadium yesterday in Moncton, Canada. Nigeria won 4-1. PHOTO: AFP.

Dedevbo, who has previously failed to guide the Nigeria U-17 female team beyond the quarterfinals of the World Cup, said getting to the last four of Canada 2014 was personal vindication.

“I have been called a failure, a coach who never got beyond quarterfinals and many more. My critics said I cannot exceed quarter finals citing my outing with the Flamingoes (Nigeria U-17 team), it has not been easy, but I thank God,” he said.

“I have proved them wrong, that’s why at full time I fell down and rolled on the pitch. Today is a memorable day.”

On Sunday at Moncton Stadium, the Falconets opened the scores 31 seconds after kick-off through Asisat Oshoala, who headed home a cross from Ugo Njoku. Oshoala netted another goal 12 minutes later to put scores at 2-0.

Uchechi Sunday then came from the bench to get a goal for the Falconets six minutes to full time.

But almost immediately, New Zealand pulled a goal back through Emma Rolston, before Uchechi wrapped up the big win for Nigeria.

Asisat Oshoala was picked as the most valuable player of the match for the second time.

“I must commend my coach for giving me the opportunity to play up front. That gave me the chance to showcase my skills. This match is the beginning of our road to victory,” she said.

She now has three goals, Uchechi Sunday has scored two goals, while Courtney Dike, Loveth Ayinla and Chinwendu Ihezuo have each netted once.

The Falconets have scored a total of nine goals in four matches.

Ribadu’s defection won’t unsettle us – APC

Malam Nuhu Ribadu

The All Progressives Congress (APC), said on Sunday in Yola that the defection of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not affect the fortunes of the party in Adamawa.
APC Secretary in Adamawa, Alhaji Abdullahi Bakari, who stated this in an interview with NAN, said the defection would not affect the party’s chances at the 11 October governorship bye-election.
Ribadu, former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was also the presidential candidate of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria for the 2011 Presidential Election.
“We are not happy that Ribadu has left us, but one thing that is clear now is that his movement has created more problems for PDP in the state.
“The party in Adamawa is healthy and vibrant, what we are working on now is to have a formidable candidate for the Oct. 11 bye-election to recover our mandate,” Bakari said.
On its part, The PDP in Adamwa said Ribadu’s defection was a welcome development.
The State Secretary of PDP, Mr Tahir Shehu, told the NAN that the doors of the party were open, not only to Ribadu but also for anyone wishing to join it.
Meanwhile, a visit to Ribadu’s governorship campaign office in Jimeta area of Yola, showed that it is wearing a new look with PDP flags hoisted there.

GOtv Extends Signals To Ilesa, Ede, Iseyin

GOtv Decoder

During its recent launch in Abeokuta, Ogun State, GOtv announced that it will be embarking on a rapid roll-out across Nigeria in readiness for the digital migration.
Living up to this promise, the company on Monday 11 August, switched on its signals in Ilesa and Ede in Osun State, and Iseyin, Oyo State, further deepening its penetration in those South West States.
“With GOtv now live in Ilesa, Ede and Iseyin, TV lovers in 24 major cities across Nigeria now have a trusted partner in GOtv to enable them join in the digital TV revolution. Using the latest DVB-T2 technology, GOtv delivers digital quality sound and a crystal clear picture, enhancing viewing,” said Elizabeth Amkpa, general manager GOtv.
GOtv is a digital pay television offering on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform with its services provided by the subscriber management company MultiChoice.

Ebola: We have it under control – Fashola

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state said the state government has curbed the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that has so far killed four people.
In a state broadcast on 17 August, Fashola assured residents that the state had the capacity to contain the spread of the disease. He said the disease is “perhaps our biggest challenge to public health and the safety of human lives.”
The governor admitted that Ebola poses a threat to the primary purpose of our government which is to save lives and has been tackled with utmost urgency.
“This address has become necessary to respond to a series of text messages, e-mails and telephone calls that I have received in order to reiterate some of what you may already know, to share information about what you may not know, and to keep everybody safe.
“This has become the moreso in the light of allegations that are making the rounds, either that victims are being neglected, or that a useful drug or vaccine is being rejected or that there is a shortage of funds.
“I wish to state very categorically that none of these is true. What is true is that we should perhaps never have been in this situation, but we are now in it. What is true is that the Ebola virus did not break out from within Nigeria, it was imported into Nigeria,” he explained.
“What is true is that we have followed all the contacts that we know who have had primary and secondary contacts with the patient who imported the virus into our state, or with people who had contact with him. Because we had to react to an unexpected situation, we had to react in a proper and methodical way, according to acceptable global health standards.”
He said that the state have been working very closely with international health body to understand the dynamism of the disease. “I can now tell you that in the last one week, with the help and advice of our technical partners, such as the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control and the Medecins Sans Frontiers, who have tracked this virus and studied it for decades, our response is a lot better than when the news first broke; and our capacity is increasing daily.”
“Although we have suffered very painful losses of lives, I think it is fair to say that we are not yet at an epidemic stage and we are determined to do everything not to get to that stage; because of the grave consequences to the safety of human lives.
“We have provided information to the public on all state-owned media, while the private media have commendably joined in this effort. There is also information available on the social media platform.
“Since Monday last week, precisely on the 11 August, I commenced meetings on an almost daily basis with stakeholders in our society, religious leaders, traditional rulers, market men and women, community development associations, to brief them of the risk, to re-assure them that we are daily gaining control, to advise them and all of you to be cautious but not to panic.

LASU Fees Slash: Students To Get N840m

Following the reversal of students’ school fees, the authorities of the Lagos State University, LASU, are making arrangements to refund over N840 million to  students who had paid the new fees before it was slashed.

Vice Chancellor of he University, Prof. John Obafunwa disclosed this in an interview at the weekend.

Governor Babatunde Fashola announced the reversal of the fees to the old rate of N25,000 during the last convocation of the school in Lagos, western Nigeria.

“We have already calculated the excess paid by the students. Don’t forget that even before the reversal, a lot of them had already paid for this session We have calculated over N840 million. It will only be for this session. The reversal does not mean LASU will go back to where it used to be and the problems of the past. You cannot go beyond the available infrastructure. You cannot take more than what you can’t admit. I don’t see any disadvantage in the reduction of the fees,” he said.

Obafunwa said the reversal of the fees was not completely a decision of the university’s management, saying “don’t forget there is still the governing council and government equally being involved. It is a joint decision. Be that as it may, it is a welcome decision in a way, depending on who is looking at it or commenting.”

•Cross section of jubilant students of Lagos State University shortly after Governor Babatunde Fashola announced a return to the university’s old school fees structure during the 19th Convocation Ceremony of the university 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos, recently

He, however, stated that the reversal of the fees would have both good and bad side, but noted that the reversal did not mean there would be a reduction in the expenditure of the school.

“There are always good and bad sides of everything. You reduce the school fees, but that does not mean a reduction in the expenditure of the school. It will still remain the same. Whether you like it or not, someone will have to pick up the bills.

“We thank the Lagos State Government and House of Assembly. Nothing is going to happen to all the capital projects going on in the university. The students have a role to play, they should take advantage of the fee reduction, pay attention to their studies and they need to be more serious,” he added.

Obafunwa said the institution anticipated other ripple effect from the reduction, saying it might lead to a rush for LASU admission since the fees has been brought back to the normal rate.

“You can be sure that next year, you will have lots of people applying to come to LASU. You must have the necessary infrastructure in place to accommodate any number. If you have more people applying to LASU, it gives you the opportunity to pick from the best. We are preparing our minds for those things; we expect parents to educate their children to maintain a very high standard,” he stated.

The vice chancellor said it was unfortunate that the school had to go through a phase in the history of the university, saying that now that things were in shape, the current interest of parents, university administration and students would be to make progress as regards the academic calendar.

“And that is what we are focussing on now and I can tell you that we have had meeting with students union. The students have paid their fees. We reopened the portal after making adjustment to the new fees. The focus right now is on the calendar and we are going to have examinations as at when due,” he said.

Obafunwa said government had given the school assurance that the reversal would not affect the ongoing projects in the institution as government had requested from the State House of Assembly to approve some money for the school, saying that the school’s management had also asked for increase in the subvention to the school to take care of its needs, assuring that a positive response was expected from the government.

Lagos Pirates Feast On Half Of A Yellow Sun Moviev

Pirates in Lagos, western Nigeria, have started feasting on multi-million dollar Half of A Yellow Sun, a film that has been described as a landmark in the evolution of the Nigerian film industry.

The movie still showing at Nigerian cinemas has been pirated with thousands of its bootleg DVD copies already being hawked and sold for as low as N150 (about $1) a copy on the streets of Lagos.

P.M.NEWS correspondents observed that the pirated DVD copies of the acclaimed movie are being brazenly hawked in the traffic in Lekki; Maryland; Agidingbi, Ikeja and other major Lagos streets.

“It is tragic that such a film with huge investment could be subjected to such barbaric act in its home country. This is a serious breach of our copyright and it is very sad not for us alone but the Nigerian movie industry as a whole,” Moses Babatope, an executive with The Film One Distribution, the sole distributor of Half of A Yellow Sun in Nigeria, told P.M.NEWS.

A scene from Half Of A Yellow Sun

According to Babatope, “we have already taken steps to deal with this issue by forwarding our petition to the Inspector General of Police and the Censors Board so as to take action and even criminalise it should anyone be caught with the pirated copy.”

Half of A Yellow Sun, is the most expensive Nigerian film since the emergence of the phenomenal Nollywood. Its production gulped over $10 million (N1.6 billion) and was largely financed by private funds raised by Yewande Sadiku, CEO, Stanbic-IBTC Capital Limited, who also doubles as the film’s executive producer.

The investment banker, P.M.NEWS learnt, also got a loan from the $200 million Entertainment Intervention Fund of the Nigerian Creative and Entertainment Industry Stimulation Loan Scheme, NCEILS, run by the Bank of Industry in Nigeria, before the movie could be completed.

It was premiered at the 38th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2013. The film also screened at other international film festivals with both public and private premieres in the UK and Nigeria, followed by commercial screenings at cinemas in the UK and other few western countries.

The film was also released on DVD for UK market after its cinema screening was closed in the country.

The public screening was controversially delayed for months in Nigeria by the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB until mid-July when it got the much awaited approval among 77 movies and rated “18”.

But following months of delays by Nigeria’s Censors Board, the movie illegally found its way into the internet when it was posted on YouTube and later dubbed into CD and DVD copies by pirates who are now hawking them on streets of Lagos.

This has fuelled fears that the producers may not recoup their investment. But Babatope allayed the fears, saying “Half of A Yellow Sun’ is doing well right now at the cinemas. While I will not want to reveal to you the figure, it is very encouraging as the film is topping the box office record. And it’s on its third week,” he said.

Babatope thus called on Nigerians to shun the pirates and troop out to the cinemas to see the movie so as to encourage more investment in the film industry.

“The Nigerian film industry has been grappling with the issue of piracy for years but to now have such an important film like Half of A Yellow Sun considered the most expensive Nigerian film ever made, fall victim to piracy before its even released properly in Nigeria, is another harsh reminder of the size of the piracy problem in Nollywood. The issue may be so widespread now that it will be difficult to imagine any real positive progress in the short term,” he said

Half of a Yellow Sun is an adaption of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning international novel of the same title. The movie set in the Biafran war era in Nigeria, focuses on love, lust, jealousy, greed and brings to light the effects of war on the lives of everyone it touches.

Written and directed by Biyi Bandele, Half of a Yellow features Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, O.C. Ukeje and Zack Orji.

Edo Inaugurates Ebola Control Committee

Edo State Rapid Response Committee on Ebola outbreak was inaugurated Monday morning by the State Commissioner for Health.

In her address, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga, said the committee is one of the largest committees ever set up by the state government, an indication of the seriousness and importance attached to preventing the spread of Ebola in the state.

“You will agree with me that since the unfortunate importation of the deadly Ebola virus disease by the American/Liberian, Dr. Patrick Sawyer on 20 July, 2014, the disease has been declared a serious national emergency requiring all hands to be on the deck to prevent, control and isolate those our unfortunate brothers and sisters that come down with the illness. This committee is a critical step in the prevention, control, isolation and treatment of cases of the disease.”

A quarantine team for Ebola

She said membership of the committee was carefully chosen to reflect the diversity in unity and strength to tackle the enormous challenge posed by Ebola disease, adding that the committee was set up to create awareness on the seriousness and the contagious nature of the deadly disease.

The committee is made up of representatives from the state Ministries of Health, Environment, Women Affairs, Local Government, Education, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Medical Association, the state Traditional Medicine Board, the DSS and others.

Terms of reference of the committee include review and approve the epidemic preparedness and response plan, mobilise resources for epidemic prevention and control, coordinate and monitor control activities during outbreaks, including information dissemination to the public and media, and others.

 Earlier, the state Commissioner for information, Louis Odion, solicited for collaboration by the media in dissemination of accurate information to members of the public.

“Ebola is not a death sentence. We don’t have any Ebola  case in the state, but the governor insisted that we set up this committee to be on the safe side,” he said.

Also in his presentation, the Director, Edo State  Hospital Service, Dr. Osamwuyi Irowa, said the inauguration of the committee was apt, in view of the strategic location of the state and the hospitable nature of the people of the state.