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Saturday 12 March 2016

FG apologises to Nigerians over the poor power supply nationwide

The federal government has apologised to Nigerians for the recent drop in power supply Nationwide. In a statement issued in Abuja by Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to the Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, the Federal government ‎blamed gas pipeline vandalism and sabotage on the poor power situation.
“The vandalisation of the Forcados export pipelines forced oil companies to shut down, making it impossible for them to produce gas.
Then, workers at the Ikeja DISCOS, who were protesting the disengagement of some of their colleagues after they failed the company’s competency test, apparently colluded with the National Transmission Station in Osogbo to shut down transmission. Finally, the unfortunate strike by the unions at the NNPC, over the restructuring of the corporation, shut down the Itarogun power station, the biggest in the country. Due to these factors, only 13 out of the 24 power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and subjected Nigerians to untold hardship. The bitter truth is that for as long as these groups of Nigerians continue to sabotage the power infrastructure, Nigerians cannot enjoy a decent level of power supply. We therefore admonish all Nigerians who may be agitating for their rights in whatever form to refrain from any action that will further hurt the same people they claim to be protecting,” he said.‎
The statement adds that the power situation will improve this week.
"There will be a decent improvement in the power situation from this weekend, thanks to ongoing remedial efforts that will double the current power supply to 4,000WM. Getting back to the 5,074MW all-time high that was reached earlier will take a few more weeks".


LIB

Friday 11 March 2016

The road lies in wait by Reuben Abati

“May we never walk when the road waits, famished” – Wole Soyinka, The Road
 Two major road accidents in the last week brought to the fore again the dangers that lie in wait on Nigerian roads.  The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi, SAN, his wife and son lost their lives in a vehicle accident that occurred on the Kaduna- Abuja road, when their Lexus SUV vehicle somersaulted, following a burst tyre and the driver’s loss of control.
There was also the death on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road of Major-General Yasha’u Abubakar of the Training and Operations Department of the Nigerian Army. Both accidents have been a source of enormous grief, perhaps because of the status of the persons involved, but the truth is that Nigerian roads are treacherous and deceitful, marked as they are everyday, by a harvest of deaths and sorrow.

To report that the state of the roads is bad is to proclaim the notoriously obvious, and to say that more people die every minute on our roads is to iterate that the road in Nigeria is no respecter of persons or class. In its annual reports, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has tried to identify the primary and secondary causes of road accidents, and in the current Ocholi case, it has offered a preliminary report, which reinforces the notion about every death being in the long run, a revelatory comment on man’s existential crisis.

The regret is that the death that occurs on Nigerian roads, is more often than not, man-made, regretfully self-invited and for that reason, mostly avoidable.  Anyone who has ever travelled on Nigerian roads would readily admit that going onto those roads is like taking a risk and no man can call himself safe until he returns home in one piece at the end of the day. Many of our roads are pothole-ridden, bumpy and poorly maintained. Before the ad hoc resurfacing of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from the Lagos end, there were uneven portions, which always made it seem as if the road was struggling with the driver to seize control of the steering wheel.

One moment of distraction, you could find yourself careering off the road. From the Ibadan end of the Expressway, there were hidden, deep potholes. Many motorists found themselves suddenly landing into those potholes only to lose their tyres or lives. So bad is this dilemma that many motorists require prior knowledge of the state of the road to be able to drive on it; that knowledge means knowing where the potholes are at what point and where dangerous contours need to be avoided. Years of neglect and lack of maintenance have reproduced this pattern across the country. It takes repeated and costly accidents before the appropriate authorities would rush to mend the roads. And this is not just on the highways; even inner city roads are problematic. When it rains in most Nigerian towns and cities, life grinds to a halt, because the roads are transformed into streams, overflowing with water, due to poor drainage, and from struggling to turn the vehicle into a boat and avoid unseen potholes, the worst may happen. We are almost in that season again, and soon the stories will be told, of accidents caused by slippery, water-logged and dangerous roads.

This fact of administrative and official failure is an important footnote to the FRSC report in the Ocholi case which draws attention to the driver’s negligence, over-speeding, his criminal conduct -driving without a licence (but note that he is a government driver!- who on earth assigned him to drive an official vehicle without a licence (?) and then, the non-use of seat belt by the deceased persons, who in the event of the accident were flung out of the vehicle, in addition to the wrong orientation of the vehicle’s tyres. The revelations by the FRSC Investigation Team should serve as necessary warning to drivers, passengers, vehicle owners and all road users, indeed all of us.  Too many Nigerian road users behave as if life has a duplicate. I have seen drivers who insist “Oga don’t worry”. When you remind them about speed limits, their standard response is “Oga don’t worry”.  Every Oga who sits in the owner’s corner should worry.  There is no guarantee that accidents won’t occur. Reckless driving is the bane of the Nigerian road.

Commercial drivers are drunk most of the time, or they are under some kind of influence including the metaphysical which induces them to tell you that the vehicle is covered by the “blood of Jesus”, or that ‘No weapon fashioned against them shall prosper.”  The more traditional ones insist that they have killed a dog for Ogun, the god of iron and so, Ogun will not forsake his own. As the FRSC has indicated, there are thousands behind the wheels on Nigerian roads who have never bothered to undergo a driving test, and these include persons working as official drivers.  There is also the problem of vehicle maintenance.  Half of the vehicles on our roads are either not roadworthy or they are poorly maintained.  Have you not heard the drivers who are fond of saying: “we can manage Oga; I fit manage am”. The tyres are worn out, the wheel balancing and alignment are bad, but the Nigerian driver will rather “manage”. Even when the brakes begin to fail, the natural response is to “manage.”  We don’t “worry” enough about safety;  we cut corners and procrastinate, when the vehicle gives warning signs, we ignore, when the road breaks down, we look the other way.

It is this mentality that has made many of the employed drivers corrupt. When you give them money to buy fuel, they short-change you; when the vehicle is to be taken for repairs, they undercut you; when anything goes wrong, they refuse to inform you until it is too late. And yet, there are too many big men in Nigeria relying on drivers and not paying enough attention. It is a sign of status and class, to employ a driver or to be assigned one, but very few big men and women bother to monitor the men into whose hands their lives are entrusted.

The point about seat belt deserves to be properly underlined.  Following the accidents under reference, there has been much talk about the importance of seat belts.  According to the FRSC, “the ejection of the minister and his son, who occupied the rear seat, confirmed the fact that their rear seat belts were not in use and on the contrary, the driver and the orderly survived because the front seat belts were in use”. It is sad that many big men don’t worry about using seat belts. It is considered too much of an effort for a man to own a vehicle, or be big enough to be driven by another, only for him to tie himself down in the back seat. The widespread assumption is that the space called owner’s corner is meant for sprawling; it is regarded as a place of comfort from where the master backs orders at the assistants in the front seat! This owner’s corner syndrome has caused the death of many “big men and women”, there must be a vigorous campaign launched at all levels by the FRSC, civil society groups and other agencies to remind everyone that it is better to be a big man or woman alive than to ignore a simple safety task and lose one’s life.

The FRSC is threatening to prosecute late Minister Ocholi’s driver as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.  But the FRSC must see in this experience, further justification for it to be more vigilant and assertive with its vehicle accident prevention strategies. It must launch a fresh and vigorous campaign against reckless driving, set clear speed limits, acquire the relevant technology to determine the abuse of those limits and raise its organizational capacity to prevent motorists from willfully committing suicide or killing others, by apprehending the reckless and enforcing the relevant laws. This should include descending heavily on persons who use the phone while driving. I can’t count the number of times other motorists nearly drove into a vehicle or constituted pure nuisance, just because they are busy driving with one hand and using the other hand to wield a phone while chatting heartily as if they are in their living rooms. When you call such persons to order, they have no qualms telling you to get lost or mind your own business!   

The FRSC used to have many volunteers, otherwise known as Special Marshals, who effected citizen arrest or helped to make the roads saner either by controlling traffic or checking the excesses of other motorists. That volunteer corps should be re-energized. And anyone who does not have a driver’s licence should be sanctioned. The current penalties appear cheap, and so motorists are tempted to do as they wish. Speed violation attracts only a fine of N3, 000, driving under the influence - N5, 000, vehicle license violation -N3, 000, driving without seat belt – N2, 000; use of phone while driving- N4, 000; only dangerous driving attracts a fine as high as N50, 000, but of course by the time that N50, 000 is paid, lives may have been lost! These fines and penalties should be reviewed. Nigerians often choose which laws to respect or not and damn the consequences, particularly if they can easily pay a fine and walk away.
The various tributes on late Minister Ocholi have been touching, the story is sad, and may the Lord grant him, his wife, and son, peaceful repose, but after all the tears have been shed and the tributes delivered, what must be done is not to walk away until another tragedy occurs, but to take concrete steps to prevent similar accidents in the future, especially for the sake of the many unknown victims who die daily on our roads, and whose tragedy is unreported and unmourned. At the level of policy and action, note this: the first step is to separate the all-important task of making our roads safe and motorable from corrosive, partisan politics, itself a principal stumbling block.

9 reasons Buhari’s body language has gone foul

No doubt, there is growing discontent in the country presently, what with the non-availability of fuel, and electricity, plus the economy taking a dive owing to the fall in value of the naira.
The optimism that heralded the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be fast disappearing, giving way to gloom.
Immediately after swearing in, Nigerians attributed every little improvement in services in the country to the ‘body language’ of Mr President while every form of dissent or criticism was attributed to the ‘wailing wailers’.
What happened to the ‘body language’?
As months went by, the miraculous body language of Mr President started losing steam as the situation of Nigeria and Nigerians started taking a turn for the worse. His speeches and actions started to flip flop; denying promises made, trying to explain why it can’t be feasible, or either making a turnaround from statements that had been credited to his administration.
Here are nine flip flops the Buhari administration and his party, the APC, has exhibited since taking over governance:

1.Many believe the APC was eager for power, but unready for it. The party and its leadership had stayed for too long in the opposition that they became more like activists who were properly primed for critical opposition rather than the finesse and tact needed of leaders of a complex nation like Nigeria.
An example of these is the fact that the APC government has continued to see and blame the opposition PDP, for virtually everything. Things may have been done badly before now, but Buhari was elected because he promised change, not to identify problems and lay blames.


http://www.ripples.com.ng/9-reasons-buharis-body-language-has-gone-foul/

Thursday 10 March 2016

Exposed: Names, addresses, family details of 22,000 ISIS members plus date of birth and next of kin

As culled from LIB, In what could be the biggest breakthrough in the fight against Terrorism, a cache of documents containing the personal information of 22,000 ISIS jihadists in Syria and Iraq has been retrieved by U.K intelligence chiefs after a disgruntled recruit stole the memory card of ISIS' leader.
In the documents, names, nationalities, addresses, telephone numbers, family contacts and even blood type of 22,000 recruits are found and also contains the details of at least 16 British fighters, including Birmingham hacker Junaid Hussain and Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan and British rapper Abdel Bary, a 26-year-old from London who joined ISIS in 2013 after visiting Libya, Egypt and Turkey.
 Intelligence experts believe this is the biggest ISIS intelligence haul uncovered since the war against the terrorist group started.
http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/03/leaked-names-addresses-family-details.html?m=1

Impeached Ondo State Female Speaker Has Been Reinstated

Barely 24 hours after she was impeached in a questionable manner, the first female Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele has been reinstated. The reinstatement came after a 5 hour meeting with the Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
 Akindele and her Deputy, Fatai Olotu, were impeached by 18 out of the 26 lawmakers at one of the lawmakers quarters in Akure, the Ondo state capital at about 10pm yesterday March 8th.


LIB

Switzerland 'Embassy' Reopens in Nigeria After 55 Years of Closure


The Swiss Government has inaugurated its new Consulate-General’s Office in Lagos, 55 years after it was closed, Vanguard reports.
 Switzerland’s Federal Counsellor and Head of Foreign Affairs, Mr Didier Burkhalter, before declaring the office officially opened on Tuesday said that it was currently Switzerland's second Consulate-General’s Office in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Switzerland is officially returning to the place where its long-standing friendship with Nigeria started 55 years ago: the exciting city of Lagos!
“Ever since the opening of our embassy, Nigeria has been at the heart of our foreign policy on Africa,’’ he said. According to him, the economic significance of Nigeria could not be “overstated’’, adding that it was “one of the main reasons’’ that the Consulate-General had been reopened.
“As the biggest economy in the continent, Nigeria not only plays a major role in shaping developments in Africa, this position also enables Nigeria to contribute to economic growth worldwide," he said.

  nigeriabulletin

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Buhari unbundles NNPC into 7 units, names new heads

President Buhari has approved the immediate unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, into seven independent operational units. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, made this known today March 8th. According to Kachiukwu, the new units are Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts.
He said each of the units would be headed by chief executive officers, namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (downstream); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power), Babatunde Adeniran (Ventures), Isiaka Abdulrasaq Finance & Accounting and Isa Inuwa ‎Executive Head, Corporate Planning and Services.
 All appointments take immediate effect.
LIB

Tuesday 8 March 2016

Oil prices rise to $39, beat budget benchmark of $38

Global crude oil prices finally surpassed Nigeria’s budgetary benchmark, yesterday, trading above $39 per barrels. File Pho Crude Crude Oil This came as experts on the economy have cautioned the Federal Government to be frugal with the revenue accruing from the rise in oil price, so as to steer the country from the current economic downturn. The price of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose to an all-year high of $39.50 on yesterday, from $27.10 on January 20, the lowest for Brent in 2016. The price of Nigeria’s crude has not been quoted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but sources say the price may surge to the budget benchmark region of $38. Nigeria’s 2016 budget was benchmarked at $38 per barrel against major criticism across the nation, following December 2015 prices of about $34 per barrel.
 Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/oil-prices-rise-to-39-beat-budget-benchmark-of-38/

Monday 7 March 2016

Robots playing more roles in surgeries

Robots are becoming part of our daily lives so don’t be surprised if you find one knocking at your door to deliver a package in the not-too-distant future.
But robots could be of better use especially in the medical field and Dr. Umamaheswar Duvvuri Macedonia’s border with Greece as scores of refugees remain stuck in limbo.
 can testify to that fact as he has used a snake-like robot to perform more than a half dozen throat surgeries over the past month. Simply put, the robot is more accurate than Duvvuri could hope to be.
 The Flex Robotic System is so easy to use, Duvvuri said even medical students can learn to use it with proficiency within three tries.
http://www.ripples.com.ng/robots-playing-roles-surgeries/

Saraki: In the eyes of the storm

THE recent Supreme Court judgement which pontificated that the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT has the requisite jurisdiction to try the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on allegations of false asset declaration has effectively positioned the Kwara-born politician in the eyes of the storm. The apex court panel of seven Justices unanimously dismissed an appeal by Saraki challenging his trial by the tribunal. In the lead judgment, Justice Walter Onnoghen held that the Tribunal had quasi criminal jurisdiction to ensure public probity and accountability of public officers, a position the tribunal had maintained all the while.
 Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/saraki-in-the-eyes-of-the-storm/

Sunday 6 March 2016

Check out the full list of winners at 2016 AMVCA

The 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos last night. After the cut is the full list of winners…



BEST TELEVISION SERIES
 WINNER: ARIYIKE OLADIPO – DADDY’S GIRLS
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/TV SERIES)   
 WINNER: FOLARIN FALANA – JENIFA’S DIARY
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES)
 WINNER: DANIEL K. DANIEL – A SOLDIER’S STORY
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/TV SERIES)
 WINNER: FUNKE AKINDELE – JENIFA’S DIARY
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES)
 WINNER: ADESUA ETOMI – FALLING
BEST MOVIE – SOUTHERN AFRICA
 WINNER: JOYCE MHANGO CHAVULA – LILONGWE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR  
 WINNER: SAMBASSA NZERIBE – A SOLDIER’S STORY
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MOVIE/TV SERIES) 
 WINNER: TUNBOSUN AIYEDIHIN – BEFORE 30
BEST SHORTFILM OR ONLINE VIDEO
 WINNER: OLUSEYI AMUWA – A DAY WITH DEATH
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – YORUBA
 WINNER: ABIODUN JIMOH AND JUMOKE ODETOLA – BINTA OFEGE
BEST MOVIE – WEST AFRICA (DRAMA/COMEDY)
 WINNER: CHINNY ONWUGBENU, GENVIEVE NNAJI, CHICHI NWOKO – ROAD TO YESTERDAY
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES- IGBO
 WINNER: PAUL IGWE – USEKWU IGBO
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – HAUSA
 WINNER: SALISU BALARABE – DADIN KOWA
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – SWAHILI 
 WINNER: JOSEPHAT LUKAZA – KITENDAWALI
BEST MOVIE – EAST AFRICA
 WINNER: ELIZABETH MICHAEL – MAPENZI
BEST OVERALL MOVE
 WINNER: STEPHANIE LINUS – DRY
BEST WRITER OF A MOVIE / TV SERIES
 WINNER: TRISH MALONE – AYANDA
BEST COSTUME
 WINNER: UCHE NANCY – DRY
BEST MAKEUP
 WINNER: LOUIZA CAROLE – AYANDA
BEST LIGHTING
 WINNER: STANLEY OHIKHUARE – COMMON MAN
BEST DIRECTOR
 WINNER: AKIN OMOTOSHO – TELL ME SWEET SOMETHING
BEST PICTURE EDITOR
 WINNER: SHIRLEY FRIMPONG – MANSO
BEST DOCUMENTARY
 WINNER: REMI VAUGHAN – RICHARDS
BEST ART DIRECTOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES)
 WINNER: FRANK RAJA ARASE – THE REFUGEES
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
 WINNER: PAUL MICHAELSON – TELL ME SOMETHING
BEST SOUND EDITOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES)
 WINNER: MARQUEX JOSE GUILLERMO – DRY
Merit Award
 WINNER: Bukky Ajayi