“Today I received 21 dear daughters. They have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best.”

–          President Muhammadu Buhari says, while receiving the 21 Chibok girls released by the Boko Haram terrorists (Source: Twitter)

“The one thing you have over me is experience. But it’s bad experience.”

–          Republican candidate, Donald Trump, tells his rival, Hilary Clinton of the Democratic party, during the last U.S presidential debate (Source: NBC News)

“He (President Goodluck Jonathan) said he had talked to all the leaders in Ondo State and that if PDP lost the election, it would be because of me. Then I asked Jonathan, ‘What if you lose in the whole of Nigeria? Would that still be because of me?’ That was the end of our conversation.”

–          Jimoh Ibrahim, PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, blaming the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, for the defeat of Jonathan in the state during the 2015 presidential election (Source: The Punch)

“If we could defeat military despots, no civilian dictator will be tolerated by the Nigerian people. I don’t believe in the assertion that the arrest of a few judges is an indication that the state has become fascistic. There is nothing dictatorial in arresting criminal suspects accused of corrupt practices.”

–          Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, on the recent arrest of some judges by the State Security Services (Source: The Punch)

“I move as a former head of state to offer the nation’s profound regrets and my personal apology to the good people of Oloibiri with the prayers to the present and future government at all levels in the land to work towards redressing the wrongs of the past to these people.”

–          Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former military Head of State, after seeing a movie titled ‘Oloibiri’, apologized to the people of Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, for the devastation oil exploration has brought to the community and how it has been neglected by successive government. (Source: The Cable)

“If any party fields Aisha Buhari as a Presidential candidate in 2019, I would be tempted to not only vote for her but to campaign for her!”

–          Reno Omokri, social commentator and critic of President Muhammadu Buhari (Source: Twitter)

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria wishes to state in clear terms that the ‘sting’ operations carried out by the DSS on 07 and 08 October 2016 was certainly an assault on the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.”

–          Chief Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed (Source: The Nation)

“The agitations and counter agitations are ill-timed. We have been together for over 100 years and it is very difficult for us to part ways.”

–          Former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, on the call for the restructuring of Nigeria (Source: The Nation)

“We (the Igbos) should destroy this idea of victimhood; we are not the only people who have suffered and are still suffering ‘to keep Nigeria one’. Even if we don’t forget we must forgive.”

–          Chido Onumah, Nigerian journalist and author, on the agitation for the independent state of Biafra.  Mr. Onumah was speaking at the 2016 National Convention of the Anambra State Association (ASA-USA), Dallas, Texas, USA (Source: Osun Defender)

“It is horrific. The country of Madiba (Nelson Mandela’s South Africa) is being run like a spaza shop.”

–          A retired South African judge, Johan Kriegler, opposing the fraud charges against South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, accused of fraudulently approving an early retirement package of about $720,000 for a former employee at the tax agency about a decade ago (Source: Time Live newspaper)
SOURCE: Premiumtimesng

Delta community holds SSG hostage over herdsmen’s attack

Osissa community in the Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State are currently protesting and holding the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Festus Ovie Agas, and his convoy hostage over the alleged killing of three members of the community by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The protesters numbering over one thousand intercepted the convoy of the SSG who was traveling to Asaba after spending the weekend with his family in Ughelli at about 6:55am along the Ughelli-Asaba express on Monday.

Sources told our correspondent that other travelers including those going to Onitsha market in Anambra State were also trapped in the protest.

Two members of the rampaging herdsmen who invaded the community with their cattle were nabbed by officers from the Ashaka Police Station.

Our correspondent gathered on Monday morning that the situation took another turn Sunday evening when the herdsmen allegedly attacked again killing at least three persons in the community.

The protesters who thronged the road blocking both lanes demanded that Fulani herdsmen vacate their land and the killers prosecuted.

At about 8:30am on Monday, the protesters had not been dispersed despite heavy presence of security men including the military.

A traveler, Akpodhoma Mikoko, who is also trapped in the situation, told our correspondent that about 800 vehicles were being held in the gridlock.

SOURCE:punchng

“Oloibiri, A Manifestation Of Negligence And Failure Of Leadership” – Gowon

Former military Head of State of Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon, has apologised to Niger Delta communities for the neglect they have suffered in the hands of successive governments.

Gowon was the special guest of honour at the premiere of Oloibiri, a movie about the Niger Delta. He urged government at all levels, to be humble enough to dialogue with aggrieved people.

“Watching through the movie, I cannot help but feel with the plight of Oloibori and all other oil producing communities and their people in the land. I agree that the movie mirrors a clear manifestation of the collective negligence and failure of leadership in successive governments in our country”, Gowon said.

“Looking back today, I must confess here that the people of Oloibiri have felt badly neglected and of course, they are hurt.

“We must, however, acknowledge as a nation and as a people that along the way, we have made mistakes, clearly Oloibiri community has not been treated fairly, they deserve our sympathy, consideration, and collective resolve to develop this once vibrant community.”

He also urged government to seek ways of redressing the wrongs of the past.

“I move as a former head of state to offer the nation’s profound regrets and my personal apology to the good people of Oloibiri with the prayers to the present and future government at all levels in the land to work towards redressing the wrongs of the past to these people.

“I also request the people of Oloibiri to forgive the oversight and mistakes of the government and the corporate government of Nigeria.”

“I have great faith in our youth in the Delta region. The future is yours if you keep it whole, you will be able to build a better country than we would leave to you today. It is up to you to love your country, defend it whether good or bad but try to make it right.

“In the Delta region, do not go on destroying all these facilities that you would need to develop, for God’s sake, stop doing that because you are hurting yourself and you are hurting the nation as a whole.”

In attendance were dignitaries and legends of the movie industry in Nigeria such as  Onyeka Onwenu, Chris Anyaoku, Olu Jacobs and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, among others. The event was held on Thursday at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

SOURCE: Thebreakingtimes.

Nigerians forced to flee Boko Haram now face another risk — starvation

After being forced to flee their homes, witnessing brutal violence and the destruction of their communities, many in northeastern Nigeria are now facing another pressing risk — severe malnutrition and even starvation.

It's estimated that some 2.6 million people have been made homeless by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, as they waged their seven-year long insurgency. People forced to flee headed in whichever direction was safe at the time.  

Some two million have fled internally within Nigeria, moving to bigger cities in the northeast such as Maiduguri in Borno state or Yola in Adamawa state. Some fled south, or across borders into neighbouring countries.

Most crammed in with family, friends or distant relatives. 

About 10 per cent, including the many unaccompanied children who saw their families slaughtered, have sought refuge in official and unofficial camps for the internally displaced.

Warnings have coming for months, with one aid agency after another expressing concern about the scale of this crisis and looming famine. 

Millions of people in Nigeria need food assistance, the UN says. In Borno state alone, more than 240,000 children under the age of five are facing severe acute malnutrition.

For 65,000 people in the hard-hit north the risk is even greater — famine-like conditions and the risk of death.

Need 'will only increase'

Ghilda Chrabieh, director of humanitarian programs for Mercy Corps in Nigeria, says the situation could be particularly dire in places yet unreachable due to ongoing fighting and insecurity.

"We are projecting that the numbers of people in need will only increase as we start to access those areas."

President Muhammadu Buhari — who didn't mention the looming famine his country faces in a recent speech for Nigeria's Independence Day celebrations —  recently spoke about the scope of the problem that comes with such a massive displacement of people, including many women and children.

"It is weighing heavily on government," Buhari said in a statement, noting that many of the children displaced by conflict and crises don't know their parents or where they come from.

The statement came after a meeting with Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Maurer has described the situation in Nigeria and neighbouring Niger as "a forgotten crisis."

Speaking in an ICRC video released via social media, he said this is "despite the fact that it is one of the largest ICRC operations in the world," adding that "people outside of Niger, outside of the Lake Chad region do not really offer the attention which this conflict deserves."

'Catastrophic' situation for many

The Mercy Corps director says organizations know that "people will need life-saving aid," with food and medical care to deal with malnutrition as a first priority.

"Based on the conditions we've seen as we've gained access, and based on many reports from agencies in locations like Bama, Banki, Konduga and Monguno, we know the situation is catastrophic," Chrabieh says.

Mercy Corps has been working in the town of Damboa, which was repeatedly hit by Boko Haram attacks. In 2014, there were reports that 95 per cent of the town had been destroyed, with burnt bodies left littering the charred remains of the marketplace.

The U.S.-based charity said 97 per cent of people they interviewed in Damboa reported that they were unable to afford to buy any food for the past four weeks.

The Nigerian government continues to tell people who fled the violence that they should return home to liberated towns and villages and rebuild their lives, but Boko Haram is still active in some areas and a feeling of insecurity has kept many away.

And so, hundreds of thousands of displaced people continue to lean on host families, or pour into makeshift camps for the displaced — and resources are being stretched to their limits.  

Basic services such as health care, clean water and sanitation are already poor and there are concerns about the spread of disease.  

Nigeria had gone two years without any reported polio cases but three have now been confirmed in Borno state and with poor drainage and stagnant water during rainy season deaths from malaria and cholera have risen.

This crisis though is not just affecting northeast Nigeria.  Across the borders into Chad, Niger and Cameroon the same scenarios of hunger are being witnessed.

Some aid agencies like UNICEF have already warned that this crisis is now too big for one single government or charity to deal with alone.  

As the country director of Mercy Corps Iveta Ouvry said: "This is not a crisis that will be solved with one silver-bullet solution … Put simply, the world cannot afford to wait another moment to take action."

SOURCE:cbc.ca

47 airlines shut down operations in Nigeria due to harsh environment – Operators

Airline operators have bemoaned the unfavourable operating environment in the country, which they said have led to the folding up of 47 airlines in the last 30 years.

They told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation yesterday that the harsh business environment is responsible for the dwindling fortunes of some airlines.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Secretary-General of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Capt. Mohammed Joji attributed the development to “policy formulation, policy deviation and policy contradictions on the part of the executive arm of government.”

“Forty-seven airlines have gone under due to policy somersault and high operating costs,” he stated.

Joji disclosed that the Federal Government tried to address the situation in 2006 through the Presidential Task Force set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He, however, noted that there had been no remarkable change in the way government agencies in the aviation sector churned out policies because the report of the task force was not implemented.

Joji said, “These include high operation costs, leading to unstable operating environment such as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency charging dollars for domestic operators flying within the Nigerian airspace.

“It was for that reason the Presidential Task Force set up by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo submitted its report in March 2006. The published white paper approved among other things the following: government accepted the recommendation to grant zero tariff and Value Added Tax on aircraft, aircraft spare parts and ground equipment.

“Government also approved the removal of the five per cent VAT on ticket sales and cargo charges. The task force also noted that VAT is never charged on transportation in any part of the world because transportation is a basic service, which drives the economy. The task force’s recommendation can be collaborated by the VAT Decree No. 102 of 1993.”

The operators also complained that foreign airlines were enjoying certain incentives that were denied local carriers.

One of such is the approval of multiple destinations to foreign airlines, which they said had adversely affected their own operations.

Joji explained, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority policy of levying operators flying on scheduled flights out of Nigeria is a punitive measure devoid of any economic sense to the airlines.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria charges the most expensive land rate in the world at N60,000 per square metre. That is more expensive than choice land in Victoria Island, Lagos, and Asokoro in Abuja.”

The Managing Director, Medview Airline, Mr. Olanrewaju Lukman, told the committee that Joji’s presentation adequately captured the feelings of the operators.

He said while the government’s plan to concede four major airports to private operators might sound appealing, it could be distorted if the process was not made transparent.

“If anything meaningful must be achieved in the proposed plan to rescue the aviation sector, then transparency must be the watchword,” he argued.

Emirates, one of the biggest foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, has said it is stopping flight operations  to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with effect from October 22, 2016.

In another development, East African carrier Kenya Airways, has also announced that it will suspend flights to Abuja with effect from November 15, 2016 as part of its restructuring and loss saving efforts.

SOURCE: Dailypostng

FACE OF SOUL MATE 2016

Register Now... as the search is on!!! If you are ready to be shot into prominence and join the list of most celebrated beauty queens in the world, with a thriving career as a brand ambassador to a strong brand "FACE OF SOULMATE HAIR COSMETICS"

Forms available now at #5,000 only. You can pay online ( https://voguepay.com/pay/bnl/58007cf625363 ) or pay into the designated bank account below and instantly you get a gift pack from soulmate.

Account Name - DELAQUINE SERVICES
Account No - 0055358645
DIAMOND BANK NIGERIA

Forward Payment Details to +2348093177343 OR +2348131570120 for Confirmation, and you will receive a code to login into the event website www.beyondrunway.com to complete your registration.

See flier for other registration options and also visit the social media pages below.

FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/beyondrunway
TWITTER & INSTAGRAM - @beyondrunway
Also at event, there will be the following:
- Fashion Show
- Exhibition & Awards
- Purple & Black Carpet
- Music & Comedy
- Celebrity Connect
& lots more........

For Partnership/Sponsorship call  Dabinchi Global Entertainment
Hotline: +2348093177343 +2348131570120

#BeyondRunway

Police Recover N2.7m Bribe Money From Assistant Commissioner of Police

The Nigeria Police Force Complaint Response Unit (CRU) said it had recovered N2.7 million bribe money from an Assistant Commissioner of Police (name withheld) serving in one of the state commands.

This is contained in the third quarter report of the unit signed by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Abayomi Shogunle, Head of CRU in Abuja.

The report said the recovery followed a complaint made to the CRU through a telephone call.

Shogunle said that necessary disciplinary procedures were ongoing against the officer involved in the misconduct.

He also said that the suspect arrested in respect of the case had since been handed over to the relevant agency for prosecution.

“The bribe money was recovered from the ACP after the case was referred to the X-Squad for necessary action in line with the directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, that X-Squad be included as part of CRU responding agents,’’ he said.

Shogunle said that the inclusion of state provost marshals, OC SIB, Control-Room demonstrated the I-G’s resolve to ensuring more effective response to cases of alleged police professional misconduct nationwide.

He said that the unit had resolved 324 cases out of the 405 it received from members of the public against the police between July and September.

He said 51 of the cases reported during the period under review were found to be false, while 30 cases were still pending.

Shogunle said the Rivers Police Command topped the state ranking with a total of 78 cases, followed by Lagos with 72 and FCT with 48 cases.

“The Q3 report shows that over half of the complaints against the police came from four state commands – Rivers, Lagos, FCT and Anambra, which accounts for 55.06 per cent of complaints during the period under review,“he said

He said no single complaint was reported against the police in six state commands, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Osun and Sokoto.

The CRU head said Kebbi remained the only command with no complaint made against the police since the inception of the unit in Nov. 2015.

He noted that Professional misconduct topped the complaint distribution category with 154 entries, followed by demanding money for bail with 144 entries.

“More complaints were received via phone call – 294 cases, WhatsApp – 55, Twitter – 20, email – 19, Facebook – 6, SMS – 2, BBM – 1 and 8 cases reported via others (petition letters, media publications),“he said

He said that the sharp reduction in complaints against the police during the period under review was linked to the fact that Nigerian Police officers were becoming more professional.

Shogunle said that the Inspector-General of Police had ensured strict adherence to the CRU Motto of “No to Impunity”. (NAN)


SOURCE: Leadershipng