Nigeria/S-Africa face-off: Reps insist on ‘fire for fire’

THE Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mrs Nnena Elendu-Ukeje,Tuesday asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Gbenga Ashiru to invoke the tenets of reciprocity in tackling the present face-off between Nigeria and South Africa.

The House Committee had on Monday summoned the Minister to appear before it and explain the relationship between Nigeria and other African Countries over the repatriation of 125 Nigerians aboard South Africa Airline and Arik Air, a Nigerian carrier.

Mrs Elendu-Ukeje did not mince words when she told the Minister that “the whole thing has turned into an affront and the tenets of reciprocity that is the thrust of our diplomatic policy should be invoked in tackling the situation because it was an illegal deportation.”

The Nigerian Embassy was not informed before such an act was perpetuated on Nigerians so it was illegal and should be seen from that purview, Elendu-Ukeje said.

In his response, Ashiru said, “I share the same view with you on the issue but the bi-national Commission headed by both Vice Presidents of both countries had already started discussions on the issue.

“SA does not have a monopoly of deportation as they should not take our friendly business environment for granted.”

“We are going to make sure that we convey the next session of the international commission. I want to make one thing clear, African countries including South Africa should not think Nigeria’s maturity and the friendliness of our people to foreigners for granted.

Also they should not take the friendly business environment we have in Nigeria whereby companies are making more profits from Nigeria than in South Africa for granted. I believe as we go on these are the issues we’ll bring to the table and sort out. I believe that the present administration is determined to ensure the dignity of Nigerians anywhere. When you deport two Nigerians from a country, there will be appropriate reaction. It may not be retaliation but we will know that we are responding one way or the other.

He said “the National Transitional Commission, NTC was not the cause. The issue of NTC is not the problem that gave rise to the deportation that we were faced with. The underlying problem has to do with the attitude of the ordinary South African to Nigerians.

They have a xenophobic attitude towards Nigerians. We have to address this under the international commission between the two countries. Others on immigration procedure, deportation of Nigerians, police harassment, attitude to Nigerians, will be covered under the meeting.

Ashiru said, “We will demand an apology for the act and it will be measure for measure on issues like this.

“South Africa immigration authorities and officials do not have the monopoly of deporting travellers, I’m sure you also saw the newspapers today. So we will get to the root of the problem. South Africa will know that we are very serious on this matter and henceforth any deportation of any Nigeria we will meet it with equal reciprocal measure, we will not let it go ‘”unreciprocated”, that you can take from me, and we intend to do that.”

The Minister further explained that “I was not informed and that’s why we were shocked because for a brotherly country, South Africa should have followed normal diplomatic procedure. You don’t just deport our nationals and deport them back, it’s not done. In fact before they do it, they are supposed to invite our own officials in Jo’burg to come over so that they will parley. But I believe that the immigration officials in South Africa are hostile. “

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FEAR OF DIVISION? Nigerians move for creation of more states.

The National Assembly has received 45 memoranda requesting the creation of new states from the existing 36 states of the federation.

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who stated this at a public lecture organised by a group of lawyers of the South East extraction in Lagos on Friday, said the requests were presented to the National Assembly by various groups from different parts of the country.

Speaking on 'Constitution Amendment and State Creation,' Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the Senate's Constitution Review Committee, said about 34 of such memoranda were intra-state demands, seven interstate, while four cut across geopolitical zones.

According to him, minority fears, search for equity, speedy development and quest for political empires and influence by the elite are some of the key factors responsible for the proliferation of states and the agitations for more since independence.

He noted that Nigeria would therefore become a federation of 81 states should all the requests be granted.

Raising fundamental questions on the state creation debate, Ekweremadu stated, “Has the creation of more states allayed the fears of minorities and the feelings of marginalisation and domination?

“Has it resulted in good governance and speedier development at state levels than we had before?

“If it is meant to bring governance closer to the people, what then is the essence of the local government areas? Importantly too, is the proliferation of states and even the extant ones viable and self-sustainable?

“Again, at a time the global trend is aggressively moving towards the contraction of the size of government and cost of governance and at a time the nation is already sweating profusely under the yoke of unwieldy size of government at the federal, state, and local levels, can we really sustain the status-quo let alone create new burdens?”

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FG to confiscate collapsed building sites

The Federal Government has said that, henceforth, the site of any collapsed building across the country will be confiscated, irrespective of who owns the piece of land. Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Felix Atume, disclosed this recently, during the inauguration of the Engineering Regulation Monitoring Inspectorate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Atume stated that this has become necessary, due to the incessant cases of collapsed building across the country, saying that the action would also act as a deterrent to other erring property developers.

Atume pointed out that the COREN tribunal was specifically set up to try any engineer found culpable in approving a shoddy job.

According to Atume, “if at the end, it is discovered that an engineer is indicted, the council will not hesitate to de-register and bar such engineer from practising.”

Atume further affirmed that at the point of receiving approval, there must be an undertaking from the developer who will in turn, ensure that such an undertaking is signed by an engineer, which empowers him to also supervise the project.

The COREN registrar, who argued that this would enable the engineer to ensure that what was designed was what was put on ground, also observed that there had been serious abuses in the implementation of the expatriate’s quota, despite a directive by the Federal Executive Council during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, that COREN should be consulted before foreign engineers were given jobs.

Atume expressed shock that in spite of the huge amount of money being spent on infrastructure, there was still unemployment among young engineers. In his remark, one of the newly inaugurated inspectors and the Special Adviser to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Engineer Etido Inyang, re-stated that the state government’s desire, is to always engage the engineers in all its developmental projects.

The Engineering Regulation and Monitoring Inspectorate is entrusted with the task of ensuring that engineering is practiced in Nigeria in accordance with the relevant codes of engineering practice.

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Subsidy Removal: Jonathan Summons Emergency FEC Session

Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which adjourned till January 11, 2012, after its last meeting in December, have been summoned to attend an emergency meeting of the council slated for this morning Wednesday Jan 4, at the Presidential Villa, to discuss issues relating to the fuel subsidy removal and the nationwide anger and protests that have followed the fuel hike.

Labour leaders and activitist have said they will ground the economy if the decision is not reversed.

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Jonathan declares state of emergency in Borno, others

President Goodluck Jonathan , Saturday, held a national broadcast on the menace of Boko Haram and terrorism in the country as he announced some new security measures.

The President declared state of emergency in the troubled areas in the four states, in his broadcast, Saturday afternoon.

Below are the local government areas where the state of emergency will be enforced:

Borno State

Maiduguri Metropolitan LGA, Gamboru Ngala LGA, Banki Bama LGA, Biu LGA and Jere LGA.

Yobe State

Damaturu LGA, Geidam LGA, Potiskum LGA, Buniyadi-Gujba LGA and Gasua-Bade LGA

Plateau State

Jos North LGA, Jos South LGA, Barkin-Ladi LGA and Riyom LGA.

Niger State

Suleja LGA

Details later.

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War Against Boko Haram: Pres Jonathan Approve N5 Billion Robotic Bomb Detectors

To protect the presidential villa and its environs, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the sum of N5billion for the purchase of robotic bomb detectors for Aso Rock.

They are protecting themselve leaving the masses to expose to insecurity.

What do you think about this act?

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Nigeria Needs N106 Billion To Settle ASUU - Education Minister

Minister of Education, Professor Ruquyyatu Rufai, has said that about N106billion is needed to meet the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which she said could not be sourced now.

The minister, who announced this while answering questions from newsmen in Minna, Niger State yesterday, said though there was an agreement between government and ASUU in 2009, both parties did not agree on where the fund would be sourced from.

She said: “The initial agreement was that the money to offset the allowances as demanded by ASUU was supposed to come from the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, from all the universities across the country.

“But the IGR of all these universities put together is just about N25 billiion and we are looking for N106 billion.

’’Even if we do not touch the IGR from these universities, we cannot meet up; so we have to find a way of sourcing for this money,” the minister remarked.

The minister who was in Minna for the commissioning of the N56 million new Zonal office of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, said that as at now, government had implemented nine of the demands of the union.

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EFCC Official Impregnates Female Detainee In Cell

The custody of EFCC while Farida Waziri was at the of affairs turned to a baby making factory when one of the officials of the commission (name withheld) allegedly impregnated a detainee and covered it up from the glare of the public.

In a petition written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke by one Eprahim Emeka Ugwuonye of 310 Watkins Pond Boulevard, Rockville MD, dated November 16 2011, disclosed that a woman was arrested sometime in July 2009 by operatives of EFCC and detained at the Okotie-Eboh, Lagos office of the agency.

The petitioner stated that while she was in detention, the official of the agency was having carnal knowledge of the woman and by the end of November of that year, she was pregnant and informed the authority about the shameful attitude of the official.

But no punitive measure was taken against the EFCC official. Instead, to cover the shame that it was going to bring to the agency, the woman was charged to court and was made to be remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons. Excerpts of the petition are reproduced hereunder:

Petiton from Ephraim

Emeka Ugwuonye, Esq. 310 Watkins Pond Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850, November 16, 2011.

TO

Mohammed Adoke, SAN, The Honorable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Federal Republic of Nigeria, Central Business District, Abuja

.

Petition against Mrs. Farida Waziri and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): The Dark Secrets of the EFCC.

Dear Attorney-General,

I hereby bring to your attention a crime, and cover up committed by the officials of the EFCC with the active connivance of the Chairman of the EFCC, and I request that the incident, and series of events surrounding it be investigated by your office.

There was a woman who was arrested by the EFCC around July 2009, and was detained at the Okotie-Eboh detention facility. While in detention in the custody of the EFCC, the woman was impregnated by an official of the EFCC. By the end of November and early December of 2009, the lady reported the incident to the officials of the EFCC.

She disclosed the identity of the operative responsible for the pregnancy. She revealed also the details of how she got pregnant. According to her revelations, the EFCC official would come to the cell each night and would take her to the EFCC offices where he would have unprotected s*x with her against her consent.

After about two months of this pattern of activity, the lady got pregnant while still in custody. EFCC conducted test on her and determined that she was indeed pregnant and that she got pregnant while in its custody.

To cover up this incident, the EFCC quickly filed a charge against the woman and arraigned her in court. During arraignment, the EFCC lawyers on instruction from the EFCC leadership requested that the lady be remanded in Kirikiri instead of continuing to be remanded in the EFCC cell.

Once the woman was remanded at Kirikiri, the EFCC successfully covered up the incident. The officer involved is still working in the EFCC. No disciplinary action was taken against the officer. The officer in question is known.

He has injury on one eye and wears glasses. The reason Mrs. Waziri and her top officers chose to cover up the incident was because they felt it would attract adverse publicity to the EFCC under her watch. She would rather continue with the false and well massaged image of a well-run and well-functioning organization.

Dear Sir, the issues involved in the case of this woman are of fundamental significance for your duties as the chief law officer of this country. It is your duty to ensure that all agencies of Government comply with the law and constitution. And where there is credible or investigatable theory

of crime or a credible complaint of a systemic violation of the constitution or an official cover-up, you have the duty to act.

In this instance, even though I am not able to provide you yet the name of either the detainee in question or the particular EFCC officer involved, you do have sufficient information to request a reaction from the EFCC. Such information, now at your disposal will enable you to ask the

following questions:

1] Looking at the list of EFCC detainees between July and December of 2009, was there an inmate that got pregnant in custody? The mere fact that a detainee got pregnant while in custody is enough to trigger an investigation.

2] There is an EFCC detective with bad eye, and who wears glasses. He worked in, or had continued access to the Okotie-Eboh cell between July and December of 2009.

3] There was a pregnant detainee who spent five months in detention at Okotie-Eboh cell, who got charged in December 2009, and was remanded in Kirikiri prison after it was known that she was pregnant.

4] Please, ask for the list of detainees who tested positive for pregnancy during the time they were in the custody of the EFCC.

The Honourable Attorney-General, I understand that this petition raises grave issues, and should have been disclosed with specificity

the identities of the victim and the officer that perpetrated the crime of rape. But this incident involves a massive cover-up by the EFCC. In that

situation, it is through hard work and diligent effort that so much information as I have disclosed herein could be possible. It will require an officer in your position to conduct the kind of inquiries that could bring out the facts that have been so carefully suppressed by the EFCC officials.

The significance of the incident in question must not be lost upon your office. As is well known in law enforcement circles, cover-up

and obstruction of justice are worse than the substantive violation of the law.

If the EFCC covered up a case in which its officer raped and impregnated a detainee in the custody of EFCC, there ought to be an investigation and appropriate measures or prosecution.

I realize that your office has made several efforts to regulate the activities of the EFCC. Your testimonies during your confirmation

hearing by the Senate eloquently explained the frustration you have suffered in your dealings with EFCC under the leadership of Mrs. Waziri. However the situation may be, you remain the Attorney-General of Nigeria. You have certain duties and responsibilities that go with your office. Do not sweep this petition under the carpet.

Thank you kindly.

Sincerely yours."

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Anti-Gay Bill: Obama Dares Nigerian Senate, Issues Presidential Memo

Just a week after the Nigerian Senate passed the anti-gay s*x bill, US president Barrack Obama issued a presidential memorandum directing 'all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.

The full text of Obama's Memo, which was released yesterday Dec 6, from the Office of the White House Press Secretary, when you continue....

Half the time I don't understand homos*xuality, how anyone can be attracted to the same s*x amazes me...but that doesn't give me the right to wish them death or imprisonment. I like to talk about this here 'cos a lot of you seem extremely passionate about the topic...all the comments! So continue to read and let's know what you think of Obama's memo...

“FACT SHEET: Working to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bis*xual, and Transgender (LGBT) Persons Globally.

“The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bis*xual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights.”

--President Obama, December 6, 2011

Since taking office, President Obama has demonstrated that his vision for a brighter future includes greater equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bis*xual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans. The President and this Administration are dedicated to eliminating barriers to equality, fighting discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity, and engaging LGBT communities across the country.

The Administration’s dedication to LGBT rights does not stop at our borders, as the President made clear at the United Nations in September of this year when he said: “no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.”

Today, President Obama issued a Presidential memorandum that directs all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons. Under the Obama Administration, agencies have already begun taking action to promote the fundamental human rights of LGBT persons everywhere. And now, following an interagency process coordinated by the National Security Staff, this memorandum directs the first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad.

Today’s memorandum applies to the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.

The memorandum directs agencies to:

*Combat the criminalization of LGBT status or conduct abroad.

*Protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers.

*Leverage foreign assistance to protect human rights and advance nondiscrimination.

*Ensure swift and meaningful U.S. responses to human rights abuses of LGBT persons abroad.

*Engage International Organizations in the fight against LGBT discrimination.

Report on progress.

Even before today’s memo, U.S. agencies have been working to protect and promote the rights of LBGT persons around the world. Since January 2009, Secretary Clinton has directed the Department of State to champion a comprehensive human rights agenda—one that includes the protection of LGBT people.

Around the world, the State Department is:

*Engaging bilaterally and regionally in conjunction with U.S. embassies, civil society, and multilateral agencies to encourage countries to repeal or reform laws that criminalize LGBT conduct or status.

*Reinforcing the human rights of LGBT people in multilateral fora, such as the UN Human Rights Council. In June 2011, the United States joined South Africa and a cross-regional group of co-sponsors in passing the first-ever UN Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights of LGBT persons.

*Promoting human rights worldwide. U.S. embassies are declaring the United States’ support for the human rights of LGBT people through innovative public diplomacy. Ambassadors and embassies have hosted public discussions and private roundtables, published op-eds and supported Pride events.

*Supporting LGBT human rights defenders and civil society groups, with programmatic and financial assistance, including efforts to document human rights violations; build advocacy skills; provide advocates with legal representation; and, when necessary, relocation support.

*Reporting on the conditions of human rights of LGBT people in each of its annual, country-specific Human Rights Reports.

*Strengthening the Department’s personnel and consular policies. The Secretary extended the range of legally available benefits and allowances to same-s8x domestic partners of foreign service staff serving abroad. The United States also incorporated gender identity into federal equal employment opportunity policies in 2010.

*Protecting LGBT refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants through a protection strategy developed with other U.S. Government agencies, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs.”

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Gay Pastor Dares Nigerian Government, Recruits Members

Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay, the gay minister who founded House Of Rainbow Fellowship, is leading a serious comeback into Nigeria, sources have disclosed. Reverend Roland not too long ago appeared on Cable Network News, CNN, where he proudly talked about his church of gays. [How come Nigerians supporting gay people - directly and indirectly - always get a space on CNN?]

"Religion is a backbone to life in Nigeria, so we all want to go to church. But we don’t want to lie to God about who we are. Any negative effect on the anti-gay bill will have detrimental effect on the work and mission of House Of Rainbow in Nigeria.

"The lives of LGBTI people and their friends, families and allies will be further frustrated with fear and prejudice. We need to pray and stand up against injustice.

"My Church is a voice of the younger generation of citizens, activists, and diaspora, and our collective belief in a more progressive Nigeria. They are afraid of our growing influence as we gather allies not just from the West, a people that are not afraid but powerful and resilient."

Right now, they are spreading their tentacles to every village, town and city around the world. The Church is also calling on faithful and dedicated local leaders who believe in homos*xuality and lesbianism...

At the moment, Rev. Rowland is in a self-imposed exile in London where he is presently running his gay church - House Of Rainbow Fellowship - and planning a come back into the Nigerian society.

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Do You Think Ojukwu Was a National Hero In Nigeria?

THE Senate, on Thursday, opposed a proposal for state burial for the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arguing that the former Biafran leader did not fall in the category of those who should be so honoured.

They, however, advised the South-East governors to come together and give him a befitting burial.

While paying glowing tribute to the former Biafran warlord, the Senate urged the Federal Government to immortalise him by naming a prominent establishment after him.

It also observed a minute silence in his honour and agreed to send a delegation to commiserate with his family, the people and government of Anambra State.

A motion moved by Senator Andy Uba and 50 others had noted that Ojukwu was a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to know him, as he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression.

He disclosed that after Biafra,“his efforts helped to lay the foundation for national integration, equality and equity, championing Nigeria as one indivisible unit true to the words in our National Anthem.”

According to him, “Ojukwu seceded South-Eastern Nigeria from the rest of the country and proclaimed the area a sovereign state with the name Republic of Biafra, on January 9, 1970” before running away from Nigeria.

Uba informed that he was granted a full state pardon by the Shehu Shagari civilian administration and returned to the country in 1982, noting that “as an astute politician, he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was a member of the 1995 Constitutional Conference that midwived the fourth republic.”

Thereafter, members in turn eulogised him. Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who worked with him closely, described his death as the end of an era and the beginning of another one, adding that Ojukwu as a soldier was courageous and fearless.

According to him, he was a soldier who later became a democrat, fearless, a great man, patriotic, loved by his people. “Definitely, Lagos would miss him and Nigeria would equally miss him.”

Senator Abdul Ningi, in his contribution, said Ojukwu was brought up with silver spoon but decided on his own to associate with the underprivileged and through that he had committed suicide on his own.

He said when “he came back from Cote d’ Ivoire, he informed that he would still fight again, but for the unity of Nigeria. He died a nationalist and as an Igbo leader.”

Senator Smart Adeyemi described him as a courageous and intelligent person with strong strength of character, narrating that “when we were young in the village, anytime we heard about Ojukwu, we thought he was a spirit, because of his courage and intelligence. He was destined to sacrifice for the greatness of the country.”

The Senate president, Mr David Mark, after the debate, described him as a great Nigerian, noting that when he joined the Nigerian Army, “it was only great patriots that could join and they were very few in view of his educational attainment and very few of them are alive today.”

According to him, “when you have a nationalist with radical and revolutionary idea, then Nigerians should see his positive side rather than the other side. You cannot mention Ojukwu without mentioning Gowon, Adebayo and Hassan Katsina.

“People who worked with him learnt a lot from him and some of the disagreement was based on his principle. History would be kind to him,” he said.

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FG to get N80b loan from Chinese Govt for Abuja Light Rail

Abuja – The Federal Government plans to obtain a soft loan of about fifty million dollars (N80 billion) from the Chinese Government to complete the Abuja Light Rail Project.

Mr Ahmed Wadada, the Senior Special Assistant on Project Monitoring and National Assembly Matters to the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, disclosed the plan in Abuja while speaking with newsmen.

Wadada said the rail project was important to the FCT administration, adding that the loan was part of the contractual agreement that would better the lives of Nigerian through the execution of projects.

He said that the problem of funding had been taken care of, as fund would come from Nigeria. The remaining is a soft loan from the Chinese Government and the process would soon be concluded.

The senior special assistant said the fund would soon be made available, adding that both governments had concluded the process concerning the soft loan.

Also speaking, the Project Manager of the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, Mr Charles Chang, gave the assurance that the company was committed to executing the job as expected by the Nigerian Government.

He said that out of a total of 96 culverts needed to be constructed on the rail right of way, only 26 were ready while 35 kilometres track was completed out of the 64 kilometre track.

He said that the construction of the sleepers had reached an advanced stage, adding that coaches, as well as five bridges for the project were ready. (NAN)

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FG of Nigeria deports 25 Chinese men

Federal Government has deported 25 Chinese from the country as it emerged that 300,000 foreigners living in Nigeria were registered by the Nigerian Immigration Service

Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, who said this during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, however, lamented that Nigeria had become less attractive for foreign investors.

She told the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led committee that less foreign investment was coming into the country, compared to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya.

She said: “You have heard so much about Chinese staying illegally in Nigeria, we do remove Chinese regularly. If we discover them, we remove them. Last week, we removed 25 Chinese, we deport those who commit crimes.

“I am not saying that you cannot find one or two foreigners who are not living here on irregular immigration status. But again, there is no country in the world where you cannot find such people,” she added.

“Seeing foreigners on the streets of Nigeria does not mean that they are of irregular status. Most of them are legal residents. Distinguished Senators, there are not many foreigners in Nigeria. We have well over just 300,000 legally resident in Nigeria, in a population of over 160 million people.

“Those of us who travel, when you are coming back to Nigeria, I am sure you can count the number of foreigners in the aircraft. Nigeria is not yet a destination of choice. You see foreigners in Senegal, there are more in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya and other places, you see a lot of tourists there.”

The comptroller-general, who also responded to the senators on the rising incidences of human trafficking in Nigeria, said the NIS was encumbered by inadequate staff and finance to tackle the menace.

She said with only about 23,000 staff, the NIS could not properly man the nation’s land borders, but added that the international airports have been properly upgraded to combat any attempt at trafficking.

“We have secured our international airports; it is very difficult for those people to go through the airport. But our land borders still remain porous. The strength of any security outfit depends on the strength men and logistics. If you secure the international airports, they will go through the land borders,” she said.

A member of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, in his closing remarks, commended the NIS but added that the committee would ensure that the service adhered strictly to federal character principles.

This, he said, will create a sense of belonging amongst all Nigerian, adding that it was not the intention of the committee that merits and standard should be traded for federal character principle.

His words: “Because of the crucial nature of your assignment, we do not want efficiency to be sacrifice for efficacy of federal character, if we are not efficient in our borders, will be in trouble.”

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Goodluck Jonathan's Aide Tries To Rape Hotel Waitress In Australian

An envoy on President Jonathan's commonwealth tour is being accused by an aussie hotel staff of trying to have s*x with her.

The incident took place at the meeting of the Commonwealth Head of Government in Australia this week. The offended woman reported the incident to senior staff at the hotel and the Nigerian delegate was sidelined for the week from official duties.

The suspected rutting dog was not identified although his CHOGM accreditation was reportedly revoked.

A CHOGM 2011 Taskforce spokesman said organisers were aware of the allegations. ``We are aware that a complaint was made by a staff member at Hyatt Regency Perth,'' he said.

``We understand that the matter has been resolved.''

Authorities

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Jonathan blames low rating of nation’s varsities on poor research

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan weekend blamed the poor international rating of Nigerian universities on lack of proper attention to research by the authorities of the institutions.

This came as former head of interim government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and the Ondo State governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko were awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the University

President Jonathan who spoke at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, during its 23rd convocation, said quality manpower and impactful research were necessary ingredients to boost the nation’s march towards economic growth and development.

Speaking through the Executive Secretary, Nigerian University Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, President Jonathan said “Our education administrators need to urgently address the importance of research, which is one reason our universities perform poorly in international ratings.

We must upgrade our curricula to ensure the provision of quality education. Learning at tertiary levels should produce graduates that are self-reliant. We must equip our students with knowledge that will make them active contributors to national development.

We also expect to see research products that will improve our lives. Nigerians want a total break from the grapple of diseases, poverty and hunger. Our farmers want improved seedlings and need storage technology for their yields, while our artisans want simple tools and implements to aid their work.”

President Jonathan urged administrators of universities to focus attention to courses that could make graduates, creators of jobs rather than joining the pool of unemployed youths in the labour market, saying “We now need graduates who are problem-solvers and job creators, and whose characters will be enviable and unimpeachable at all times.”

He added that federal government would soon establish a special mechanism to rate each university in the country based on the quality of their products, particularly in terms of the quality of their graduates and research outputs.

In his in his remarks, Chief Shonekan said many universities in the country had conducted series of researches that could turn around the nation’s fortunes, but lamented that “it is regrettable to note that many of such researches are yet to be turned to the private sector for actualization. is therefore a need for a technology incubation centre in the universities where new technological inventions can be commercialized”

On his part, Governor Mimiko stressed the need to encourage skill acquisition through the introduction of entrepreneurial courses, which would be of tremendous advantage in the diversification of employment possibilities after graduation.

He said “The Ondo State government is using both Agriculture and Information Communication Technology as intervention mediums to mop up a significant number of productive hands from the unemployment market.”

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UK Breached BASA Agreement, FG Insists

Lagos — The Federal Government yesterday insisted that the United Kingdom (UK) government breached the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) it entered into with Nigeria.

The Media Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi, in a statement yesterday said the UK government must respect the sanctity of the agreement, saying the current controversy had nothing to do with Arik Air.

"While the Minister of Aviation maintains that Arik Air, a Nigerian flag carrier has not been fairly treated by the sudden denial of its slots from Abuja into London Heathrow, the main issue at stake here is not about Arik Air but about the need to respect the spirit and letter of BASA agreement which is predicated on the principles of equity, fairness and reciprocity.

The federal government recently issued an ultimatum to the British authorities to restore the slot denied Arik air into London Heathrow recently, or risk a reprisal treatment on its carrier, British Airways.

"Those who argued that the fate of Arik Air with regard to the loss of its slots into London Heathrow was a consequence of purely independent, commercial decisions by ACL which is in charge of slot allocation into Heathrow are missing the point, if not being entirely mischievous,"Mr Obi argued.

He said British authorities are under obligation as far as BASA is concerned to ensure that whatever 'independent' and 'commercial' decisions are taken by its corporate citizens do not infringe on bilateral agreements, "otherwise, business concerns in the UK, and indeed other countries around the world would, as has happened with ACL, resort to unfair practices to edge out competition with its indigenous companies ostensibly on the excuse that they act independent of the authorities concerned."

It added that the Ministry of Aviation under the present dispensation will not stand idly while Nigerian flag carriers are unfairly treated when BASA agreements clearly state otherwise.

The statement explained that if this is allowed to happen, an undesirable precedent would have been set whereby the rights and privileges of Nigerian airlines would blatantly be violated by apparently independent business concerns in other countries other that the UK.

"We regret to note that the letter and spirit of BASA has not been respected as far as the treatment of Arik Air is concerned.

But it is Arik Air today and it could as well be another Nigerian flag carrier tomorrow. Our position is that whether it is Arik Air or any other Nigerian airline, the reciprocal cornerstone of BASA must be maintained and the Nigerian government is not about to shirk its responsibility to protect its corporate citizens whose rights under BASA are surreptitiously being violated under different guises," the statement said.

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Boko Haram: Nigeria’s wining the war – FG

ABUJA—IN the wake of mounting threats of bomb attacks in the country by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the Federal Government Wednesday maintained that it is able to contain the threats because Nigeria’s security agencies are some of the best in the world.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who was reacting to insinuations that government was losing the war against terror, told newsmen that several covert measures against the terrorists have been successful without making too much noise about them.

He said: “A lot is going on, deployments are being made, arrests are being made, and there is a man hunt for all those involved. So, if the President calls on Nigerians to pray, it is not because actions are not taking place but the truth of the matter is that we also need prayers. Everything is being done to bring this dispensation we have come into under control.”

Asked if the President was losing the fight against Boko Haram and how long Nigerians will continue in this condition, Maku said: “Let me say it very clearly here that sometimes, we pick comments out of context. The President is the Commander-in-Chief and President of Nigeria, the chief security officer of this federation.



All of us in this hall should be familiar with the fact that in the last couple of months since the president was sworn in, in May, nothing has taken the attention of government more than the issue of insecurity in the country. That is brought about mainly by anti-state groups that have continued to attack innocent citizens.”

Maku pointed out that “almost every week the President has held meetings with security chiefs. And let me also say here that the recent attack in Yobe and Borno, the NSA (National Security Adviser) addressed the press and as at yesterday, not only has there been counter offensive but that arrests have been made and those under arrest are in detention for proper investigation. This also has been made available by the security agencies to the media.”

He said: “There have been ongoing security operations in the North-East, particularly in Borno and surrounding states. Also in Yobe, there have been security deployments, this also has been done and the media is also aware of these developments.

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Toll gates return in 2012 – FG

Seven years after toll gates were scrapped on federal highways across the country, the Federal Government said yesterday that it would re-introduce toll gates on federal highways in 2012.

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolomemen announced the plan at an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Works yesterday.

Onolomemen explained to the Senator Ayogu Eze-led committee that the move was part of plans to reverse the deplorable state of federal roads across the country.
“The future of the road sector cannot be shouldered by the Federal Government alone. We will soon start work on some of these roads. By 2012, we will introduce toll gate policy to rehabilitate our roads. Beyond this, we need a major reform of the sector.

“We need an enabling framework for the collation of all fines collected on the roads so that it can be channelled to road maintenance. We are going to raise a bill to introduce a policy that would gradually lead to the rehabilitation of our roads because it is one of the ways we can guarantee sustainable development of our road network.”

The minister told the committee that some federal highways had been specifically targeted for intervention by the ministry. “We selected a number of roads that need immediate attention. They are: Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Shagamu-Ore, Onitsha-Enugu, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Maiduguri, Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja and Sokoto Expressway.”
In his remarks, Senator Eze reiterated that the Senate might be compelled to declare a state of emergency on Nigerian roads soon.

The former president Olusegun Obasanjo administration had, seven years ago, abolished toll gates in the country following its planned removal of fuel subsidy. The administration then had felt that removing fuel subsidy while still retaining toll gates would have sparked mass protests across the country. It therefore scrapped toll collection from motorists on the nation’s highways with the intention of devising other means of raising funds for the rehabilitation of federal highways.

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National Assembly ready for 2nd National Prayer Breakfast.

The National Assembly is to host the second edition of the National Prayer Breakfast, an event geared toward calling on God for divine intervention. 

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Sen. Ita Enang said the theme for this year’s event is; `Unity through transformation`. Enang said the purpose of the event was to acknowledge the place of God in a nation’s development and establish the universality of Christ in the everyday life of His people.

“It is to use the instrument of our faith to ensure a complete national transformation and to enthrone Him as our king and Lord while we consciously begin to dismantle all the works of darkness in our national life,” he said. 

A member of the group, Rep. Sekonte Davies (PDP-Rivers) explained that this year’s theme was chosen in line with the fact that transformation was a difficult task to achieve without unity. According to Davies, Nigeria at 51 should be at a level where tribe, ethnicity or even state is not a dividing factor. 

“The theme, `unity through transformation’ is timely and relevant because the period of transformation is usually very challenging and painful and if people are not united, they will not be able to bear these pains and face the challenges. 

“So, since we all know that we need transformation in this country, there must be a unity of purpose so that while we are transforming, we are also uniting, ’’ Davies emphasised. The event which will hold on Thursday in Abuja will be attended by the President, the leadership of the National Assembly, former Presidents and Heads of State. 

The keynote address will be delivered by the former President of Burundi, Dr Pierre Buyoya. The `National Prayer Breakfast’ hosted by national parliaments started in the United States in 1953, it was viewed as a `Presidential breakfast’ and was later observed as a `National breakfast’.

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DIMEJI BANKOLE BOUGHT OFFICIAL RESIDENCE FOR N45M RENTS IT TO NEW SPEAKER FOR N40 MILLION

The House of Representatives faced a critical decision a few days ago,though instead of taking a decision,they decided to postpone the evil day. 

The issue was the sale of the official residence of the Speaker and his deputy.The House was informed how the building,which was renovated by Dimeji Bankole to the tune of 200 million Naira was sold to the same former Speaker at 45 million naira.

Tambuwal informed the House that the buyer of the House has kindly volunteered to let out the same building at a sum of 40 million naira a year.

Not a few members showed their displeasure over the issue and they have decided that the issue would come up again in their subsequent sitting. The FCT Ministry was alleged to have sold the Speaker’s official home in Apo to the former Speaker based on the principle that the occupant must be given the right of first refusal.

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