Great Nigeria

What Is Wrong In Naija? Has Akunyili Lost It?

2010-11-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

What Is Wrong In Naija? Has Akunyili Lost It?
Posted: November 23, 2010 - 15:11

Dr. Kenneth Ngwoke- Queen's University Belfast,UK

I have never met her but like many Nigerians, I admired her to heavens. The closest I have come to her was during a conference where she presented a paper on behalf of the then PCN Chairperson.

She was a ‘nobody’ but her presentation was characteristically personalised even though she was deputising for someone. Her strong personality and independence was etched in every letter of each word she uttered. However, as an active member of the PSN, she made a strong case against drug counterfeiting which was the theme of the conference. Akunyili was part of the delegation sent to Obasanjo to request that the next NAFDAC chairman should be a pharmacist. She was later to become the next NAFDAC chairperson. Naively, I thought as at then that her appointment was due to the strong and articulate presentation she made against counterfeiting. I was later to find out she was recommended by someone who she worked with at PTF. The recommendation according to reports was based on the claim that she returned £12,000 out of £13,000 to the government after a surgical operation she was meant to undergo was ruled out as not necessary. Even this revelation would have forced her enemies into admiration. I was already a fan so you will understand if I told you that I was turned from a fan to a fan-atic of ‘Akunyili will never go wrong’.

Do I need to tell you what she did as the NAFDAC boss?I don’t think so and if you do not know, I cannot help you with this write-up. However the summary of her reign is that she was a dreaded name among the counterfeiters and terror to their accomplices. Her courage was inspiring and her fight against drug counterfeiting exemplary and unprecedented. Her fierce and fearless head-on collision with those rogues and the visible success she achieved carved a niche for her in the international community as well as at home.

The goodwill she enjoyed from all Nigerians with the exception of drug counterfeiters and the likes of the late Godfather of Ibadan politics was phenomenal. Akunyili was synonymous with integrity.

The chess masters in the late Yar’Adua’s administration saw the goodwill she enjoyed and decided to tap into her good name to spice up the sour and illegitimate dish called the Yar’Adua Government because they were desperate to add an element of credibility to a government that had none. She was appointed the information minister to the dismay of many Nigerians –well except the doctors.

I thought like the Akunyili I knew, she would reject the position and head back to UNEC because it was like putting a square peg in a round hole. She happily accepted the position. Remember I was a fan-atic so, I said alright, she could do no wrong. I found a way to excuse her saying she is never a quitter and a resignation is not always the best option after all I had once advised a VP of PANS to resign in protest, an action which I later regretted. I do not mean that she would have listened to me even if I had advised her ;)

The first major test on her integrity as the information was the election saga and the disappearance of INEC commissioner in Ekiti state where Akunyili, functioned effectively as the mouthpiece of an illegitimate government by spewing fallacy. To add salt to injury, she even went as far as threatening the woman involved. I can’t remember if I was able to close my mouth when I first read the story. It was long time ago sha and growing old so I am allowed to forget.

However, when the issue of foreign presidency in Nigeria came up late last year, she spoke up and I thought, maybe she has not lost her mojo after all. Others said she was trying to redeem her battered image while senator Bello and the likes thought she was merely selfish. Unfortunately the little excitement

I had was killed prematurely by subsequent happenings.

Akunyilli was talking to the press without thinking and her manner of press interviews were far removed from the articulate, intelligent and authoritative presentation I listened to in 2001. I excused her for not being a ‘politician’ but how long can I excuse my Idol.

What on earth was she thinking when she condemned the use of Naija by Nigerians to refer to themselves and Nigerian issues? That is a personal issue which should not be made a national issue in the name of rebranding just because one has access to the press.

Nigeria is a name given to this contraption by an alien. Does she mean that we have no right to call our self what we like? Is it the same mentality of everything foreign is superior? The interpretation of her utterance will mean that any local name will remove the class bestowed upon us by wealth grabbing and selfish colonial masters? May be that’s why my Dora was defending the importation of waste bins from UK when we have the likes of GP in the country. In 2001, Dora would kick against that. In fact in 2008 she would have fought against the proposition. Otherwise how could one explain the high registration tariff or outright ban she imposed on importation of OTC drugs that could be produced adequately in Nigeria while she was the NAFDAC boss? Prof., did you just remember that made -in -Nigeria goods and names are not classy? What class are we even talking about anyway?

Is it the class of a politician who finds nothing wrong in embezzling the fund meant to build a road leading to his father’s house while he derives comfort in riding on SUVs through chains of potholes connected by gullies from where he looks down with scorn on the poverty stricken villagers whose money he has stolen or the class of a ten year old who at such a tender age thinks it is right to steal N1bn if he is elected into a position of authority in order to build a gigantic giant-in-the-cemetery like house like our present public office holders? Shall we talk about the class of a mother who thinks it is right to promote her nursery school child even when the baby failed or the class of a father who will pay for her child to sit for WAEC exam in a special centre whilst he is fully in the know of the implication? May be she was referring to the class of a house of rep members that blatantly refused to pass the freedom of information bill for fear of being exposed for they really are or better still the class of an undergraduate student who cannot string a sentence together nor possess any employable, entrepreneurial or innovative skill but wants to own a private jet overnight with no dint of hard work?

A systematically classless society where the thought process has been maligned by the desire for immediate gratification and wealth accumulation by all means, a country where the sense of achievement is judged by how much money one can accumulate through stealing, robbery and fraud that starts from the presidency down to the Yahoo boys and a people that have inadvertently assumed a false identity synonymous with corruption eagerly needs the help of a NAFDAC-BOSS-like madam minister of information. Ma, the word Naija gives us an identity, pride, a sense of belonging and oneness which patches the crack occasioned by ethnicity. Have you heard of the phrase ‘ you be naija?’ before? A yes answer is given by a northerner as well as a southerner and that is priceless.

Madam Akunyili, our minds not nomenculature need reformation and rebirth and the last time I checked, the duty of national orientation lies under your ministry. Remember the jingles of your NAFDAC days madam (saying this with Anambra assent) and the wonders they did. Engage the youths and change their thought process. Engage the public and change their perception about voting and wealth. Tell them to make their vote count. Let them know that they can demand accountability from elected officers and appointees such as yourself. Pharm Akunyili, we need a national rebirth and that rebirth process will be conceived in your board room and the public mind will be the labour room. Professor, these will keep you busy and will make your desire to rebrand a reality. You do not rebrand by criticizing a name that unites and gives a sense of belonging. You rebrand by repairing and rejuvenating a warped and corrupt thought process to make it straight and positive. The durability of a building is derived from the quality of the building blocks and the strength of the foundation and not from the paint colour. Ihe nkapi ji esi isi di ya n’ahu.

I be Naija, everybody say Naija!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say Yes Naijaaaaaaaaa.

Culled from Sahara reporters : http://www.saharareporters.com/article/what-wrong-naija-has-akunyili-lost-it?nocache=1#comment-146255

Happy New year in May!

2010-05-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last updated this blog. I do apologise to you for my absence. Hopefully, I will make time more often to tell you what I think about the episodes in Nigeria.

Thank God we have recovered from Turai-asis and cabal-sis. Let us see if Jonathan will give us any respite now that he has been enthroned. That is if he has the balls to call the bluff when he needs to. The romance between him and the Ota farmer appears however to be very strong. If he allows the latter who described elections in Nigeria as a do or die affair then I am afraid the crude politics and the corruption of the past will still reign supreme.

I do wish Dr GEJ will grow some balls and be the president he is and not a man pushed about by greedy and power hungry Godfathers and governors.
We need a new Nigeria!

The position of Shell BP on gas flaring ,environmental degradation and other issues in Niger Delta: A web chat with Shell BP

2009-07-23T12:01:00.001-07:00

• Presubmitted Question
Hello,
I have to questions for consideration, for the dialogue tomorrow:
1. How are you managing the local content requirements in Nigeria? (meeting your staffing requirements while satisfying the Nigerian government and local communities that you are providing employment to local people)
2. How is Shell working with the academic community in Nigeria to increase the supply of young people who can join the energy industry in the years to come?
Bet regards,
Edouard de Guitaut
Director & Co-Founder, energy-future.com
Posted at 13:42
•
Olav Ljosne
This answer is for Edouard de Guitaut's question:

1.Local content covers staff and products/services. The majority of Shell staff are Nigerian. However, we also have a number of expatriates working in the Shell operations in the country, a number which to a large extent is balanced with the Nigerians that have been given assignment in other Shell companies worldwide. This enable cross learning and development in a very effective way.
On products and services we are much aware that local production and local contractors are best places to support our business. With local content we both have Nigerian and Niger Delta in mind. Our objective is to contribute to the economic development of Nigeria through sustainable growth in the Nigeria content of our business by encouraging and supporting the development of manpower, acquisition of technology by Nigerian businesses and maximizing opportunities for the participation of Nigerian businesses in our operations.
2.Skills and capacity building are key. We have for years been supporting Nigerian universities through different means, we are sponsoring chairs at the universities, and we have a major scholarship programme for students at Nigerian universities. Between 3,500 an 4,000 students are presently receiving scholarships from Shell.
The Shell cooperation with univestities covers:
Þ Shell Professorial Chairs
Þ Research & Development Projects
Þ Sabbatical Attachments
Þ Research Internships
Þ Graduate Awareness (Attraction) Program
Þ Shell Guest Lectureship and Summer Schools
Þ Shell Assessed Internship
Þ Release of non-proprietary data to University based researchers
Þ Book and equipment donation/laboratory upgrade
Posted at 13:50
•
Shell team member 1
Hello everyone, and welcome to this Shell Dialogues session. In total, 445 people have registered to take part in this chat. We'll give you more updated information about participation as the chat progresses.
Thanks to those of you who have pre-submitted questions. We received a lot of those and our team has already started answering them. They will be posted very soon on your screen.
Some of the questions already received are very specific, and we do expect a lot more questions during this session given the interest for the subject. We may not be able to answer all of them in the allotted time, particularly those relating to specifc issues, but we will do our best.

As always, all registrants will receive an email from us when the transcript with the questions and answers is posted on Shell Dialogues.
Posted at 13:54
• Presubmitted Question
Dear Bjorn

I would like to discuss the following question

How often do you remind your majority partner in Nigeria to honour its commitments to “mitigate any negative inputs from your joint activities” (Shell Business Principle 6)?

I look forward to the discussion this afternoon

Regards Peter Murry

Bjorn Edlund
Thanks for your question, Peter - this principle is present and alive in all our activities and discussions in the joint venture. Why would a company want to cause "negative inputs"? And if you do, inadvertantly, they should be mitigated.
Posted at 13:58
• Presubmitted Question
This is a presubmitted question from Ayodeji Adebola

I live in Nigeria and I have been to the Niger Delta which is where Shell carries out the majority of its operations. It is very hard for me to reconcile the touting of Shell as an environmental friendly company and the degradation I see there.

Now, my questions are these: (i) why is Shell still flaring gas in defiance of the Government's strong warnings? (ii) Why lose $2.5 billion annually when the gas can be harnessed? (iii) Is Shell not taking the easy way out, instead of investing in technologies to prevent gas flaring?

Nick Wood
Ayodeji, thanks for your question. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria wants to put out the flares and has achieved a lot. So far, more than $3 billion has been invested on gas gathering facilities and the amount of gas flared is 60% lower today than it was in 2002 - this includes the impact of lower production due to security issues. There are plans to collect the gas that is still continuously flared but these have been delayed by security problems, that have meant it is just not safe for staff to work, and by funding shortfalls by the majority partner in the joint venture, the government. Completing the gas gathering programme will cost more than another $3 billion.
Posted at 14:01
• Fiona
Does Shell plan to integrate assessment of human rights impacts into its assessment processes in the Niger Delta, following the piloting of this approach in Oman? If so, when will this happen?

Richard Dion
Thanks for your question.
We do incorporate human rights issues when making business decisions and have increasingly been looking at human rights in our impact assessment processes. We have used the Danish Institute for Human Rights tools in this work. We have undertaken an internal project on integrating human rights into our project cycle which will see the insertion of human rights references in project guides. Regarding specific assessments in Nigeria, all projects look at environment, social and health impact assessments, which include aspects of human rights.
Posted at 14:01
• Presubmitted Question
As a Shell customer, I would like to ask you a question regarding the welfare of the localities (people and environment) of the oil fields and processing areas for your products. Do you take or intend to take full responsibility for leaving these places better than or at least in as good condition as you found them? If so how will you do this?
Yours sincerely,
Louise Brookes

Nick Wood
Louise, the principles we follow in our operations or projects anywhere in the world are to protect the environment and find ways for people affected by our operations to benefit. In Nigeria that happens in a number of different ways. Shell contributed $82 million last year to community development in the Niger Delta. In total, including the contribution of all our partners in the joint venture, that came to about $240 million. In addition we look to maximise the contribution of local people and companies to the business through employment and contracts. 95% of our staff are Nigerian. Last year 90% of contracts were awarded by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to Nigerian companies.
Posted at 14:04
• RON EDEMA
Greetings,
Posted at 14:04
• Presubmitted Question
First of all, thank you for accepting this web chat about doing business in Nigeria, challenges and questions.

I have always wondered : have you ever thought of the consequences of some of your activities, like polluting the living place of thousands of people?
Like the example given in the montly journal of June of Amnesty International France :
burning gas => air pollution => acid rains => health problems + deterioration of soils for agriculture.
Don't you think it is YOUR responsability?

Sincerely,
Mel V

Bjorn Edlund
Mel - We always want to be available for dialogue.

As for your question - of course we think about the consequences of our business activities. You raise the bigger issue about fossil fuels. The energy system that the world has built still depends on fossil fuels, and it looks like this will continue to be the case for decades to come. Now, with the climate change debate and the coming Copenhagen summit, we also see how the world tries to respond - finding ways to cap emissions and progress other forms of energy. We play a role as a company, that's for sure. And we take this responsibility seriously.
Posted at 14:08
• Presubmitted Question
In November 2005,a high court sitting in Benin city Nigeria, delivered a landmark judgement in a case between Shell and Jonah of Iwherekhan community in Delta state, against continuous flaring of gas in Nigeria. Why has Shell continued to flare gas even when this judgement has never been challenged? Also on Thursday, 2nd July, 2009, Nigerian Senate passed a bill that ends gas flaring by December 2009, what is your comment on this?
Among the many demands of the Ogoni people in Nigeria, was that Shell pays for what they call "35 years of oil theft" from their land. In one of his many speeches, Ken Saro-Wiwa urged the Ogonis to demand for this money as precondition for commencing further oil exploitation in Ogoni. When will Shell pay this money?
AkpoBari Celestine
Ogoni-Nigeria

Alice Ajeh
Celestine,
In the November 2005 case,the High Court has granted Shell's motion for a stay of execution of the ruling,pending the hearing of the apppeal filed by Shell.
On the Senate Bill, Shell acts in accordance with applicable laws of the country. We are as concerned as you to see continuous flaring stopped. In SPDC operations, flaring has dropped by 30% due to the associated gas gathering projects we have embarked on. Including the reduction due to shut in production due to the security situation, flares have gone down by 60% between 2002-2008.
Shell pays royalties and taxes to the Federal Government as required by law.
Posted at 14:08
• Peter Murray
But Bjorn, could you tell us how often you have the dialogue with your local partners - daily weekly once in a blue moon?

Bjorn Edlund
Peter - We have weekly and monthly more formal and organised meetings, but we work alongside our partners at many levels every day.
Posted at 14:10
•
Shell team member 1
We're getting a few off-subject questions on fuels, on Shell activities in European countries, etc. We'll not respond to those now, but will pass them on to our appropriate colleagues so they can get back to you.
Posted at 14:10
• aggy
Shell has said that their data on gas flaring showed ‘no huge overriding concerns’. What does this mean? Can we see the data?

Nick Wood
Aggy, thanks for the question. The World Bank has reported that the environmental and health significance of glas flaring in the Niger Delta was low. Any negative effects of flaring are confined to the immediate vicinity of the flare and will have little or no impact on the health of the local populations.

To add some more perspective, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria has fewer than 110 flares in an area the size of Portugal.
Posted at 14:10
• Presubmitted Question
I was stuck by this sentence in the ‘Independent’ on 1 July:
“Independent auditors estimate that up to 13 million barrels of oil
have been spilt in the Delta, an amount equivalent to an Exxon Valdez
disaster every year for 40 years”. What steps are Shell taking to
clean up the environmental pollution caused by what seem to be lower
working standards than those that operate in the UK?

For example: An oil spill occurred at Kira Tai in Ogoniland on 12 May
2007. What steps have been taken to clean up the pollution caused and
have the communities adversely affected received any form of
compensation? Why has Shell ignored the investigation’s finding that
corrosion was the cause of this spill?

Phil Adams

Olav Ljosne
Thanks Phil,
We are as concerned about oil spills as you are. Remember that the majority of spills follows attacks at our installations, cutting into pipelines or spills that follows the oil theft which is a major problem.
To be able to assess damages and clean up as speedy as we want to, it require safe access for our staff. This is not always the case in the Niger Delta, and our handling of the spills get an unfortunate delay. Following access we stop leaks and make an assessment together with authorities and community what clean up is required. Irrespective of reasons for the pollution, we are cleaning up.
We are not producing oil in Ogoniland, and left in 1993 because of the safety of our staff. We are anyway cleaning up where leaks appear, and all information about reasons for the spill is handled very carefully by our teams.
Posted at 14:12
• Kal-El
What percentage of your workforce in Nigeria are from local communities? Do you have training practises in place to train local work forces rather than gathering people from outside the country.

Bjorn Edlund
In the staff workforce, some 60 percent of the workforce come from local communities. In the affiliate workforce (contractors), the percentage is much higher.
Posted at 14:13
• Presubmitted Question
From Fiona McLaren: Will Shell commit to stopping all gas flaring in the Niger Delta?
Will Shell commit to conducting reports into the human rights impact
of their work in the Niger Delta and ensure this is made available to
local and international communities?
Will Shell commit to acting to stop all oil spills in the Niger Delta
promptly, followed by a swift and thorough clean up?

Thanks

Basil E. Omiyi
Shell has continued to express her commitment to ending routine gas flaring in the Niger Delta, demonstrated by the US$3.0 billion so spent on the programme and and achieved reduction of some 60% since year 2000 levels. It will require some US$ 3.0 billion additional investment to complete the programme. As you can imagine, how fast we progress this depends on resolving the industry funding challenge( hopefully to be resolved by the Govt.proposed industry restructuring) as well as the security situation in the Delta.
Shell has been committed to achieve best pratice in oil spill mitigation through improved asset integriy programme. But you must be aware that in 2008 , some 85% of the volumes of oil spilled was caused action of criminal gangs involved in crude oil theft or wilful damage to pipelines by militants. This needs to be addressed by the government security agencies.
Shell by her Business Principles and signatory to the Volunary Principles on Human rights approach these matters responsibly.
Posted at 14:14
• Presubmitted Question
Dear Shell Dialogues,
Thank you for allowing this opportunity at e-dialogue. My questions: what do you propose to do about gas flaring?
Many thanks,
Phil Moore

Alice Ajeh
Phil,
Thank you for your question.
We acknowledge your concern as well as that expressed by many at the continued flaring in Nigeria - we share those concerns and want to stop flaring. Between 2002-2008 the SPDC operated joint venture has reduced associated gas flaring by more than 30% by the investment of over $3 bln in gas gathering projects such as gas gathering plants and an extensive pipeline network to collect gas from more than 1,000 wells scattered across the Niger Delta. Including the impact of reduced production because of the security situation, flaring has reduced by 60% in this period. This gas is now harnessed for domestic use and for LNG supply.
More than $3bln further investment is needed to complete the gas projects as we plan- but that will need improvements in security and funding solutions - the government partner had been unable to fund its share of the projects.
We are committed to working with government on this important issue. SPDC and the rest of the industry in Nigeria continues to discuss actively with government the necessary steps to eliminate flaring as well as the regulatory regime associated with gas flaring.
Posted at 14:17
• tyc
A comment at the conclusion of the discussion: Good job, Shell, for inviting and answering these candid questions. Whether everyone agrees, or not, with activities, your willingness for dialogue is appreciated and sets a model for other companies.
Posted at 14:17
• ifufu
Hello,
The Nig Govt recently announced that the licence for Shell's Ogoni fields have been revoked and Ogoni community leaders have said they do not want Shell to return to Ogoni. Questions are:1. Is Shell ready to accept the decision of the Nigerian Government and Ogoni people and leave Ogoni land?
2. Does Shell believe it can still operate in Ogoni land? If the answer to this is no, what are the qualifications of the new company that you will like to see succeed Shell in
Ogoni? If yes how soon do you think Shell will be able to return to Ogoni?
3. Why did Shell settle the Wiwa case out of court? Was it partly to compensate the victims of the military oppression in Ogoni so as to enable Shell to return to Ogoni land?or was it to avoid the rendering of a guilty verdict on Shell's role in the Ogoni crisis?

Thanks.

Basil E. Omiyi
The Government did not revoke Shell's Licence in Ogoniland. Government has expressed preference for another party in the Joint Venture to operate the Ogoni oil fields. The party they would like to hand the operatorship to is the operating arm of NNPC who is the majority partner in the joint venture.
Shell fully accepts this and it is line with the Joint Venture's Joint Operating agreement (JOA) which states that any of the four partners can operate the fields.
Posted at 14:22
•
Shell team member 1
We're getting the same question many times repeatedly, so please check whether the question you're asking has already been answered before submitting. This will allow us to cover as many subjects as possible. Thank you.
Posted at 14:22
• Vero
Hello

Why is Shell not disclosing the information they have related to assessment of the environmental, social and human rights impacts of all oil and gas projects in non-technical language?

Olav Ljosne
Hello Vero
Thanks for your good question which basically is a comment. We are an oil and gas company and our language tend to reflect so,- and sometimes too much in our communications. I am very open to have concrete comments as we try to be as informative to as many stakeholders as possible.
Olav
Posted at 14:22
• maryella
In resource rich countries, there is a long history of tendencies toward corrupt practices between extractors and governments due to the immensity of the wealth being generated. In Nigeria, this history has been long documented, and the government continues to have a strong reputation for corruption. What is Shell doing to move toward more transparency and accountability? Are you supporting the EITI in Nigeria, and if so, what steps are you taking to comply?

Richard Dion
Maryella, thanks for your question. We have been involved with EITI from the very beginning, drafting some of its earlier principles and working with governments in Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroon specifically regarding implementation. We were the first company to publish what we paid to the Nigerian government. Shell is also represented on the Board as well as on the Stakeholder Committee in NEITI.
Posted at 14:24
• Becky
Hello, I have a couple of questions: i) Will Shell support an independent assessment of the environmental and social impacts of its operations in the Delta, including the provision of access to all relevant reports and studies since (and before) it began its operations in the Niger Delta? ii) Shell states its commitment to contribute to sustainable development through its decision-making; and in its business principles Shell states that “We continually look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, products and services”. Is Shell willing to adjust its Business Principles to take this further by committing to also rehabilitate all its sites to their previous condition, or better, where a negative impact on communities and the environment has occurred as a result of its operations? Thanks, Becky

Nick Wood
Becky. We regularly work in partnership with NGOs and other organisations in our community development work which involves assessments of the impacts and needs of people and the environment.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) is supporting an independent assessment of the impact of oil spills on the environment in Ogoni land, being led by the United National Environment Programme.

SPDC does restore operational sites and sites where there have been spills. We report information related to this at http://www.shell.com/home/content/nigeria/news_and_library/publications/dir_briefing_notes.html
Posted at 14:24
• christopher
Hello,
I will like to ask this question to Bjorn Edlund. Examining the overall Corporate Governance Policy of Shell, There is a focus on corporate social performance (CSP). How is this CSP institutionalised to benefit the Nigerian society especially the niger delta where Shell is operating?

Bjorn Edlund
You will find a lot of information on the Shell Nigeria website. Let me pick out a few facts - in 2008, Shell-run companies in Nigeria awarded contracts worth more than 900 million dollars to Nigerian companies. We employ some 6,000 people in Nigeria - both direct staff and contractors. Shell contributed 58 million dollars to the Niger Delta Development Commission in 2008, as required by law. So there are many ways we institutionalise the benefit to local society, as you phrase it. The main benefit of course is our economic contribution. Our Nigerian company SPDC contributed more than 34 billion dollars to the federal government between 2005 and 2008.
Posted at 14:25
• Fred
Shell's EA crude blend production in Nigeria resumed on July 2 after being halted for more than 3 years. What level of production are you at currently and when do you expect to reach the level prior to the outage, which was I believe 150,000b/d? Also, when do you expect the force majeure clause on EA exports to be lifted? Regards, Fred

Olav Ljosne
Hello Fred,
Thanks for your question, and I can confirm that we are back in production from the EA field. We never publish daily production figures. The production level before shut in after militant attack in February 2006 was 115,000 barrels of oil a day.
Olav
Posted at 14:27
• Fiona
Does Shell believe that pollution and environmental damage associated with the oil industry (including oil spills, gas flaring, waste disposal, river dredging) over the past five decades has contributed to poverty and conflict in the Niger Delta?

Basil E. Omiyi
Yes, but even more so is the baseline demand of the people of the region for the Federal Govt. to grant them greater share of the oil proceeds( a political matter), as well as corruption, criminality, and general poor governance.
Posted at 14:27
• charlessheridan
Has Shell been able to look at my question about modifying refineries to use co2 as a feedstock? Charles Sheridan

Shell team member 1
Hello Charlessheridan,
We are exclusively focusing today's discussion about our operations in Nigeria, but we will pass your question on to our colleagues in the appropriate department and ask them to get back to you.
Posted at 14:28
• inroads
How much money is made as profit from Nigerian Oil? How much of it stays in Nigeria? thank you, Louise

Bjorn Edlund
Luoise - Nigeria depends on oil for about 80 percent of government revenue. As I said in a previous answer, our Nigerian company SPDC contributed more than 34 billion dollars to the government 2005-2008. The government receives some 95 percent of the revenue after costs from our onshore production, which is managed by SPDC.
Posted at 14:30
• PaulAtJustmeans
Bjorn, I am sure Shell conducts tests etc to ascertain what the effects to the total environment (waterways, seas, air, human etc) might be or have been regarding the business activities, are there any reports available that we can see?

Bjorn Edlund
Paul - you can look for the answers in the Shell Sustainability Report, which is available on our website.
Posted at 14:32
• joatham
How does Shell enforce the commitments it makes to not engage in any bribery or corruption, including not accepting a bribe, facilitation payment or kickback? Are you really able to stop your employees from engaging in such behaviour?

Richard Dion
Joatham, thanks for your question.

Before we enter any country, we ensure that we can comply with Shell's General Business Principles. Principle 3 regarding business integrity makes it explicit regarding bribes and facilitation payments. It has happened that we have had to terminate contracts for violation of business principles and we report on this publicly in our annual Sustainability Report. Several years back, we established an Ethics and Compliance Office which I think demonstrates our commitment in this area.
These habits are part of society, no company can be entirely immune, but that's why we have a clear policy, backed up by an enforcement programme, with terminations.
Corruption is bad for business, and can have financial as well as legal implications.
Posted at 14:35
• Dawn
Security reports rank the security situation in Delta and Rivers States as "stable" and "medium". However, it appears that there recently has been a measurable increase in attacks on oil companies in these areas. Due to a pipeline attack, Chevron had to stop production. At what point would Shell decide that it simply isn't possible to continue operating in Delta and Rivers States?

Olav Ljosne
Hello Dawn,
Thanks for your question. Not sure what reports you are referring to, but you are right that we have had an increase in attacks against installations and kidnapping recently . We are producing oil and gas in several states in the Niger delta, and staff safety is our prime focus. Where installations and pipelines are attacked we stop the production.
Olav
Posted at 14:35
•
Shell team member 1
Quite a lot of questions have just come in. All the team members here are working to get as many as possible answered in the next half hour. You can still send new questions for the next 15 minutes.
Posted at 14:35
• Veen1966
Hello,

will Shell stay in Nigeria regarding the attacks on oilpipelines?

Alice Ajeh
Hi,
Although the situation is challenging,Shell is in Nigeria for the long haul. We have been in Nigeria through a very difficult time in her history-the civil war. We have a genuine desire to work with the communities and the government to find solutions to the problems faced in the country. As a Nigerian myself, I'm proud of the contributions we make. In the past four years for instance, SPDC has contributed more than $34b to the government. About 95% of the revenue after costs from our onshore operations in Nigeria are paid to the government in taxes and royalties. Shell employs about 6,000 staff and contractor staff, 95% Nigerian

The position of Shell BP on gas flaring ,environmental degradation and other issues in Niger Delta: A web chat with Shell BP(contd)

2009-07-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

Posted at 14:36
• Emybrad
Hi Nick, Just wondering. If shell contributed $82 million dollars for community development last year, why then do Shell still has issues with the community?

Nick Wood
In any country in the world the government has primary responsibility for the development of its people and this is true of Nigeria . . . . and the Niger Delta communities. The contribution that Shell makes anywhere it operates is intended to supplement this.

Most of the 30 million people living in the Niger Delta remain poor despite oil production. Unrest has grown. Frustrated by the lack of benefits from oil production, communities have targeted the operations of energy companies including Shell. They demand better public services and a greater share of government revenues.

The funds we contribute in our social investment will not solve the problem but we do our best to make a difference.

Our greatest contribution are through the taxes and royalties we pay. The federal government receives about 95% of the revenue after costs from oil and gas production in the Niger Delta.
Posted at 14:36
• RON EDEMA
I would like to know cooperate social responsibility(CSR) strategy put in place to give Peace to the region?

Bjorn Edlund
Peace is the one thing we am for morethan anything else. We are working with local, state and federal authorities as well as local communities in several ways to try and find solutions to the tensions and conflicts in the region. Our strategy is to be a positive contributor in any way we can. We cooperate with NGOs and other development partners to find practical ways to contribute to peace. Much of the situation in the Niger Delta is totally outside our "control" of course, and peace will depend of others, like the militants, coming to the table with better intentions than in the past.
Posted at 14:37
• Presubmitted Question
At present, what is the proposed structure of the Kiisi Trust (to which the recent settlement money will be directed)? Is there a model for this kind of undertaking in Nigeria? How will progress be measured?

Shell’s purpose includes the statement: “We aim to work closely with our customers, partners, and policy-makers to advance more efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources.” Was it a conscious decision not to include other stakeholder groups (employees, communities, etc.) in this statement?

Aside from the settlement money, how much of Shell’s community development contribution ($240 million in total, $82 million from Shell in 2008) has directly benefitted the Ogoni? What programs have been implemented?

Is the continued use of Ogoni land for pipelines a point of contention with the Ogoni? Does Shell directly compensate the Ogoni for this right to operate?

Sustainable economic growth in Nigeria depends on economic diversification (promoting manufactured exports and supporting agricultural development). Shell can’t necessarily set Nigerian economic policy, but it has already contributed millions to small businesses and job training. Has Shell considered increased investment in cleaner biofuels and green technology in the Delta?

jonathan feinstein project coordinator, CSR

Olav Ljosne
Hello Jonathan,
The trust fund is handled by an independent board of trustees appointed by the plaintiffs so you need to raise this with the board.
Shell stopped operations in Ogoni-land in 1993 because for security reasons. We have anyway been running important community programmes within Ogoni.
We have a leading portfolio of biofuels technologies, these are located mainly in North America and Europe - please find out more on www.shell.com/biofuels - and also invest in a range of CO2 technologies such as Carbon Capture & Sequestration. In the Niger Delta we focus on operating our assets efficiently and safely, and also work to mitigate environmental impacts, however you will be aware that the security situation in the Niger Delta has a major impact here.
Olav
Posted at 14:38
• Michael Persson
We know that you pay royalties and taxes to the central government. Do youthink a fair deal of this money is redirected to the regions where you operate?

Bjorn Edlund
Michael - that is a big problem, that the money doesn't seem to be spent on creating real benefits in the communities.
Posted at 14:40
• Daubenton
What would be the likely consequences on Shell and on Nigeria as a country, if Shell simply stopped all operations in Nigeria.

Olav Ljosne
Hello Daubenton,
Shell has never considered to stop our operations in Nigeria so your question is hypothetical,
We have no intention to leave Nigeria where we have operated for over 50 years.
Olav
Posted at 14:41
• alagss
Hi, how do we ensure we get a true sustainable development for Nigerian Oil producing communities and what are our own grouse about the current petroleum Industry Bill before the National assembly?

Basil E. Omiyi
You may be aware that the most crisis impacted parts of the Delta is the marine and riverine part completely devoid of Government's social and economic infrastructure. This has hampered development. The little there is is what Oil companies have provided. But given that this an area the size of England the oil companies can help but really it is for Government to do. In summary, the solution is for Government to integrate the region with the rest of the Nigerian economy through infrastructure investments and businesses will move in there to creat jobs and livelihoods.
There are many good things about the PIB and many areas that need improvements so that Nigeria will continue to attract FD investment dollars in a competitive capital short world. We Share Goverment's aspiration for oil and gas growth, higher revenue and domestic gas and power urgency.
Posted at 14:42
• Paul
Thanks for that comment, Richard Dion. Are there any available human rights assessments or can you point me to an environmental and social impact assessment that includes analysis of human rights? I have been trying to understand how these are currently conducted. Paul Lawrence

Richard Dion
Paul, Fiona,

I'll answer this jointly as you asked similar questions. We have published impact assessments in other countries, such as the Sakhalin Energy project in Russia's Far East. The publication of impact assessments was one recommendation coming out of the recent Amnesty International report and this is something that we are studying.
Posted at 14:42
• Dill
Dear Nick, If Shell have spent all these millions on community development and put so much effort in sustaining the environment, how do you explain the levels of contamination that affect both the health and the livelihoods of so many of the local people, particularly in Ogoniland, as reported by Amnesty International.

Nick Wood
Dill, this is a very generic question. As far as livelihoods go, the oil industry generates employment. 95% of Shell Petroleum Development Company 9SPDC) staff are Nigerians, many from the Niger Delta. There are are approximately another 20,000 people employed by contractors working for SPDC. 90% of contracts let by Shell last year were to Nigerian companies.

In terms of health you will have to be specific but we built hospitals for communities in the Niger Delta, run malaria programmes and an AIDs programme that won an international award in New York last month. Our work is all about improving health.
Posted at 14:42
• DUMLETAM
Why does Shell fear committing to adhering to international standards, example, standards that require the conduct of Social Impact Assessment Studies(SIAS) Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EIAS) and Economic Impact Assessment Studies (ECIAS), especially when it comes to doing business in the Niger Delta?

Bjorn Edlund
I don't know where you get the idea from that we're afraid to adhere to international standards.
Posted at 14:43
• aggy
How can you say that gas flaring has no significant impact on people's health - but still claim a desire to stop it? Why would you bother if it had no negative impact? Shell clearly recognises that flaring has negative health impacts but is trying to brush over it on this chat.

Nick Wood
Aggy, I was quoting an independent report on flaring and health. We want to stop continuous flaring because we recognise it is a waste of resources and is a source of CO2 emmissions which we are committed to reducing as muchas possible. We have made progress on reducing flaring - but I have already covered this.
Posted at 14:45
• akirraboo
please excuse the inevitable cynicism that emanates from this question - but given the information at hand i find it difficult to accept the 'rose couloured' picture being painted here. i would, however, find it far easier to see Shell emerging from its past recklessness (of which all petroleum companies are guilty) if certain materials were made public - obviously that includes certain studies and data (as requested by Amnesty) but on a PR level, perhaps some evidence of the millions of dollars spent in the Niger Delta region rebuilding the community and addressing environmental issues. Clear records identifying where money went, how it was used and by whom, and media records of the 'benefits' now being enjoyed by local communities. i would find such information so much more convincing then just this Q&A format (though i appreciate this dialogue) and certainly better then the 'we're so green' marketing adds. i sincerely thank you all for your time, alison.

Bjorn Edlund
Alison - we report on these aspects in our sustainability report, and on the Shell Nigeria website.
Posted at 14:46
• charlessheridan
Would Shell look at helping to solve two problems at once? Would Shell look at the possibility of building skid mounted bottling plants that would draw on the gas stream going to flares? This gas would be part of a community program to provide jobs and income by donating bottled gas to the local community. Charles Sheridan

Alice Ajeh
Dear Charles,
Thanks for your concern and interest. We would like nothing better than to see the flares put to good use(as we are doing with the gas gathering projects currently on-going). We are also interested in options to benefit the communities and are working on options with NGOs and other agencies with like ideas which will be sustainable.
Posted at 14:46
• isaac boro
Olav Ljosne, re Phil's question, can you prove most spills are caused by attacks to your installations? Shell's infrastructure is over 40 years old in many areas, well beyond the normal lifespan of pipelines. In that case, it would seem most spills are caused by company neglegence.

Why do community leaders repeatedly claim Shell is unresponsive to their pleas to clean up spills?

Olav Ljosne
Thanks isaac,
We have a proper assessment of each spill through a joint investigation team composed of representatives from the authorities, the community and Shell. Based on their reports we know the reasons for the spills. Shell is maintaining the infrastructure and your indication that spills happens because of negligence is wrong. Shell is giving all spills immediate attention, but where we are denied access to the spill sites we get delayed.
Olav
Posted at 14:47
• Caroline Rees
Dear Bjorn, Thanks for hosting this webchat. I look forward to learning from the exchanges. I would be interested in knowing what systems or mechanisms Shell has in place to handle concerns/complaints/grievances/disputes from communities around its operations and how these work.

Basil E. Omiyi
Shell has an open door policy for concerned persons or organisation to express their views on our operations. We have published complaints hotlines but in country and out of country to give options to people who wish to use them.
Posted at 14:47
• Michael Persson
We've seen a lot of activity of the MEND lately. Are you trying to negotiate with them or do you leave that to the government?

Nick Wood
Michael, this is government matter.
Posted at 14:50
• julia
It is reported in Amnesty International's report ‘Petroleum, pollution and poverty in the Niger Delta’ (see p 59) that Shell’s former Head of environmental studies told reporters in 1995 that that Shell ‘were not meeting their own standards; they were not meeting international standards. Any Shell site that I saw was polluted. Any terminal that I saw was polluted. It was clear to me that Shell was devastating the area’.

What are your comments on this?

Bjorn Edlund
There were problems in the Niger Delta in the 1990s and the industry affected the environment there. We have always recognised that. But the facts are the real damage since that time has been caused by oil theft and sabotage of our installations. In 2008, 85 percent of the oil spills in the Delta were the result of sabotage.
Posted at 14:51
• christtuk
Also, between 2003 and 2005, Shell established a Pipeline Integrity Management System in the Niger Delta and carried out an asset integrity review (which examined the condition of Shell’s pipelines). Why has Shell not made the full results of the asset integrity review public?

Basil E. Omiyi
Maintaining Asset integrity is a continuing business activity with parts of the organisation fully devoted to this. The biggest challenge today is not about reports but about stopping the contnuing criminal willful damage to oil and gas assets especially pipelines.
Posted at 14:54
• Desiree Abrahams
Thanks for the opportunity to post a couple of questions. It's good to hear that you have been considering human rights issues in your impact assessment processes. Do you feel that the process you've adopted has adequately met Shell's needs? Are there any lessons learned you can share?

Richard Dion
Desiree,

Thanks for your question.

Throughout the last number of years, we have learned a great deal from projects and regularly carry out reviews which look at how we can perform better in future projects. We are continuously learning - we haven't gotten it right always, but we have improved in a number of ways with regards to potential environment, social, health and human rights impacts of our operations. Equally so, we are continually learning how to maximise the positive from our presence on the ground. We have shared some of these learnings informally in various industry associations where we consider issues related to our industry.
We closely follow societal developments in terms of the expectations for companies to respect amongst others things human rights, and keep under review whether we have in place policies and procedures to properly address the needs.

Posted at 14:54
• geertritsema
Dear Mrs Alice Ajeh, I am referring back to your anwser to the question posed by AkpoBari Celstine from Nigeria. I am sorry to say, but I think you are avoiding his key question: will Shell stop gasflaring in Nigeria by December 2009 ? Apparently stopping gasflaring by the end of this year is required by the Nigerian Senate. Furthermore, Shell Nigeria itself has promised in its annual report in 2006 that it 'intends to shut production at oil fields in 2009 where no solution has been found to gather gas.' So I repeat the question: "Will Shell stop the flaring of gas in Nigeria by the end of 2009, as required by the Nigerian Senate and as promised by Shell Nigeria in 2006" Please a clear "yes" or "no". Thanks in advance for your anwser, Kind regards, Geert Ritsema Friends of the Earth Netherlands Amsterdam Can you please anwser this

Alice Ajeh
Dear Geert,
The Senate proposed stop date for flaring is December, 2010. However, all Oil and producers in Nigeria including SPDC have been advised by the Federal Ministry of Energy to maintain the status quo with respect to the flares until further explicit government directives on the issue. It is simply not up to Shell to act unilaterally against the express wishes of the government. As you know, flaring is a waste of resources and we are equally anxious to complete our programmes to harness the gas.
Posted at 14:56
• rathfern
Why does Shell find it impossible to admit it is one of the principal contributors to pollution and human rights abuse in the Niger Delta?

Bjorn Edlund
Because it simply isn't true. First of all we recognise and take action where we can to remedy pollution, whether it is caused by our operations directly or by sabotage. And it is simply wrong to say Shell abuses human rights.
Posted at 14:56
• beclo
Does Shell believe that pollution and environmental damage associated with the oil industry (including oil spills, gas flaring, waste disposal, river dredging) over the past five decades has contributed to poverty and conflict in the Niger Delta?

Olav Ljosne
Hello Belco,
The challenges facing the Niger Delta are complex and covers poverty, unemployment, growing population, governance and several other issues. Handling of these issues are for the State and Federal government and for the communities to handle. The oil industry's footprint is impacting on small parts of the delta. Something you will know if you have been in the area with the size of Portugal. Environmental impact is according to the World Bank mainly from local industrialization and population growth. We are handling environmental issues linked to our operations.
Olav
Posted at 14:57
• charlessheridan
Thank You, panelists, for fielding my questions! Charles Sheridan
Posted at 14:57
• mjc
is Shell acting in an ethical way?

Richard Dion
MJC - thanks for your question.

Our core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people as well as our Business Principles and Code of Conduct require that we act ethically. Our staff and stakeholders want us to behave ethically. Our business is not a short-term business. We have not been around for over a century by cutting corners and acting unethically. That's not to say that we are perfect.

All companies like other institutions frequently have to deal with dilemmas and our principles help us reach decisions. It simply doesn't pay to act unethically when you are in business for the long term.

Posted at 14:58
• H_Shaw
Has Shell done any studies or data gathering on the impact of oil operations and oil pollution on fisheries or agriculture in the Niger Delta? If so, will Shell publish them?

Olav Ljosne
Thanks, and I am sure you are referring to the Niger Delta Environmental Survey that has been done for all the oil companies operating in Nigeria. We have been of the opinion that this should be published, and we will raise that with the other companies behind this study.

Olav
Posted at 15:00
• mostmodern
The loss of civilian lives in the recent military offensive in the Niger Delta is a cause for grave concern. The offensive indicates that the Nigerian military is more interested in protecting oil company facilities than it is protecting its people. Is it in line with Shell's business principles to operate behind a military shield in the Niger Delta? What is the consequence for human rights in the region?

Bjorn Edlund
We regret any use of violence. Of course it is not in line with our principles to operate behind a military shield. In the Niger Delta, we've seen violence escalate in recent years, as armed militants have attacked oil installations. It is hard to make sure that our staff and operations are safe, in this situation -and as you know we have shut down parts of our operations since 2006.
Posted at 15:05
•
Shell team member 1
As you'll have noticed, we have received a lot of questions, and the team is still answering as many as we can.
We may not be able to answer all of them before closing the session, but we are doing our best and will continue to work offline after the session closes.
Again, all participants will receive an email from us soon announcing that the transcript with the questions and answers is on Shell Dialogues.
Posted at 15:05
• angelo de souza
hello. i would like to ask: is shell optmist about peace in delta (end of militancy, vandalisation, kidnapping and so) as a result of the amnesty proposed by the govt?

Basil E. Omiyi
Given the fact that the political demand by the people in the Niger Delta for a greater share of the oil income is the main cause of the crisis in the region ( as every person in the region will tell you) and not pollution or other secondary issues, I believe that the current dialogue between the Federal Govt and the people of the region if approached honestly and generously will lead to a solution.
Oil in itself is not the issue and it infact a blessing. It is how the blessing is managed to meet the needs of the local communities and host goverment as well as how it is used for the needs of thw world.
Posted at 15:06
• inroads
If the government and criminal gangs are the obstacle to much of your work cleaning and re-greening, how are you addressing solving these problems? Thank you Louise

Nick Wood
Louise, I dont see the government as an obstacle but a partner and we all need to work together with other parts of civil society to find solutions to the problems the Niger Delta faces.
Posted at 15:08
• AYOOLA
What is the overall impact of the drastic reduction in Shell production in Nigeria on the long-term sustainability of Shell business in Nigeria?

Would it be right to conclude that in the face of the prevailing security situation, incessant attacks on production facilities and infrastructure, constantly declining production and restricted access to field locations; doing business in Nigeria would become unprofitable for Shell?

What is being done to ensure that Shell does not get to this point?

Olav Ljosne
Hello Ayoola,
Shell has been in Nigeria for around 70 years and have produced oil for over 50 years. You are right that the situation is challenging. But Shell is important to Nigeria and Nigeria is important to Shell. The main focus is safe operations and as little impact on the environment as possible. Security is a responsibility of the government. Several initiatives have been taken, and I am convinced that we will operate in Nigeria for long time ahead.
Olav
Posted at 15:08
• Segun
Are we working on how to mitigate the impact of the PIB if passed as is?

Basil E. Omiyi
Yes indeed.
Posted at 15:09
• wmsimon
17. The Niger Delta Environment Survey (NDES) was initiated by Shell in the mid-1990s and reportedly cost several million dollars to carry out. It was subsequently established as an independent entity. It looked at a wide range of environmental issues and impacts, including human health and pollution, and is reported to comprise 53 volumes. It has never been released. Can Shell explain what it is doing to get this data released?

Olav Ljosne
Please see my previous answer on the same issue,
Olav
Posted at 15:10
• Charles
Hi Nick, You said in your answer to Beck's question that SPDC does restore operational sites to its original situation before operating in it. How true is this statement considering that facts and pictures of what has been resported in the news media.

Nick Wood
Charles, if you are talking about oil spills, we are committed to cleaning up and restoring the sites not matter what the cause. Most of the oil spilled is due to sabotage which creates an enormous environmental problem.
Posted at 15:11
• ibukun
Hi,

It is obvious that the crisis in the Niger Delta has affected Shell greatly as an organisation. How does Shell hope to ensure that the Nigerian Government meets the needs of the people in this region, so as to be free to continue business with support from the people in the Niger Delta?

Regards

Basil E. Omiyi
We ensure we are on the table where solutions are being discussed and play our legitimete business role in being part of the solution. We continue to advocate that a people centered and development led solution is what will be sustainable. This is the heart of our Business Principle and Corporate Values.
Posted at 15:14
• aggy
Does Shell think that government failure to protect rights does not absolve Shell from responsibility for their actions?

Richard Dion
WM Simon and Aggy,

You've asked the same question, thus a joint answer.
You of course are referring to the mandate of Professor John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, where his framework discusses the state duty to protect human rights, businesses to respect human rights and providing access to remedies. We have been following the Ruggie mandate closely as well as working closely with the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Institute for Human Rights and Business as well as governments where we operate to help us in clarifying our obligations on the ground.
We cannot replace the state and its role in protecting human rights. We can however play our role in respecting human rights and ensuring that we carry out business in a responsible way. Even when there are difficulties related to government fulfilment of protecting human rights, we are committed to running our business ethically and respo
Posted at 15:15
• mostmodern
Dear Bjorn, Your colleague Basil Omiyi admitted minutes ago that oil industry pollution was driving the conflict. Isn't gas flaring a violation of human right to clean air water, livelihood and dignity?

Bjorn Edlund
Thanks for the question - as you know, we aim to stop flaring as soon as we can. If you want to know more, please visit here. This is a high priority.
Posted at 15:15
• ifufu
Hi,

I have just read in one of your answers what looks like Shell talking point - amount spent on community dev. One of the major criticisms against oil companies in Nigeria is that despite the huge amount of money they ve spent, sometimes it does not show in the lives of the people or their communities in terms of infrastructure.
How will Shell ensure that all the millions of dollars they disburse actually get to the people that need it and that it reflects on the infratructure in the oil communities?

Olav Ljosne
Hello,
We are as concerned as you ensuring that the money is used as planned and agreed with the communities. General development of the Niger delta will anyway be a responsibility for the State and Federal government. What we do will come in addition and support some social, infrastructure and educational in community around our operations, beside thousands of scholarships to high school and university students.
Olav
Posted at 15:16
• tundebello
As far as I am concerned the need for re-orientation of people of the Niger Delta and the desecration of its environment are the major problems. What is Shell doing to galvanise investment in human capital and socio-transformation of the people of the Niger Delta and tackle the environmental challenge once and for all?

Alice Ajeh
Tunde,
Shell recognises that human capital development is key to the development of the Niger Delta. From the earliest days, Shell was involved in secondary and Tertiary level scholarships. SPDC has several Youth training schemes to develop technical and entrepreneural skills as well as training for the oil and gas industry called the Shell Intensive Training Programmes(SITP) for graduates and non-graduates. Shell also works with Universities to provide work experience for Engineering and geosciences students. We also support entrepreneurs through micro credit schemes.
Posted at 15:17
• Vero
If Nigeria depends on oil for about 80 percent of government revenue. How much Shell is controlling / or can influence easily Nigeria?

Nick Wood
Vero, Shell is one of a number international companies operating in Nigeria. We do not get involved in politics. We don't control the government. The government is a majority partner in the joint venture which is operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria in the Niger Delta. SPDC makes its position known on matters affecting the industry, for example the Petroleum Industry Bill now being debated in the Senate and House of Representatives. The government decides.
Posted at 15:18
• Your question has now been submitted
Posted at 15:18
• Michael Persson
We know that you pay royalties and taxes to the central government. Do youthink a fair deal of this money is redirected to the regions where you operate?

Basil E. Omiyi
It is very difficult to agree on what is fair and we leave that to Nigerian people and their Government to decide. We do know that the needs on the ground in the Delta are currently not being met. This could mean the region does not get enough or that what they get is not properly applied for all sort of reasons..
Posted at 15:19
• Fiona
If you are blaming the Nigerian government for many of the problems in Nigeria, then why do you continue to supply them with 80% of their revenue. Do you not think this money could instead be distributed to local communities, so improvements can be made from a grass root level up?

Richard Dion
Fiona,

Issues around revenue transparency and distribution have been centred around Nigeria for a number of years. The government did recognise a number of years ago that there was a problem regarding transparency and took leadership in supporting the EITI from the beginning. We also took leadership and became the first company to publish in Nigeria.

The government has allocated more money towards the producing states over the last several years, which has addressed some of the local population's concerns. We realise that there are still some debate regarding continual allocation and we look forward to working with government should they require our assistance in addressing outstanding concerns.
Posted at 15:25
• inroads
Hi, please could you tell me as a shell customer about how you address your responsibilities regarding the welfare of the people and the environment in Nigeria, thank you

Alice Ajeh
Hi,
We consider ourselves corporate citizens of the communities we operate in. Apart from statutory contribution to the government developmental agency(NDDC),we currently work with the communities,using development partners to advise them. In 2008, Shell spent $25.2m for communitydevelopment programmes including health, agricultural development,economic empowerment9micro credit) and human resources development, etc.
Posted at 15:28
•
Bjorn Edlund
Hi - thanks for taking part in this dialogue session. I would be surprised if we did manage to respond to all of your questions to the satisfaction of each and everyone of you. But I expect you will also understand that we will be firm if we disagree with the tone and content of a question. We look forward to the next engagement.
Posted at 15:29

Andy Uba is in Court Again: Is he that despearate?

2009-07-01T07:41:00.001-07:00

The prolonged governorship tussle in Anambra State is far from being over as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 14, 2007 election, Dr. Andy Uba, has filed a fresh lawsuit at the Court of Appeal in Enugu seeking an order directing that he was duly “elected” governor by virtue of the gubernatorial election of April 2007.

He is also requesting that the court direct that he take over from Mr. Peter Obi on March 17, 2010, when the tenure of incumbent governor is due to lapse.

The Supreme Court had penultimate week declared as null and void Uba's election as governor at the April 2007 poll. The apex court also berated Uba's lawyers for bringing an already decided case to the court.

But undaunted, Uba, through his lawyers led by Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), is seeking a motion barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a fresh election into the office of governor pending the determination of the new suit. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

However, a source told THISDAY last night that the appellant is seeking a declaratory order of the court on an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, Enugu.

"We are seeking a declaratory order on an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, Enugu, the apex court on gubernatorial election disputes that Dr. Andy Uba remains the duly elected governor of Anambra in the April 14, 2007 election," the source said.

He said the appellant wants an order of the court to pronounce him as the elected governor of Anambra State having won and been declared winner by INEC in the April 14, 2007 election.

The Supreme Court had penultimate week terminated the struggle by Uba to reclaim what he called his mandate on account of the 2007 governorship election as the court said the matter was closed.

The court also came down heavily on his lawyer, J.B. Dawodu (SAN), for bringing the application even when Uba's previous lawyer knew that the action was wrong.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legho Kutigi, who presided on the application for a judicial review, said that the court carefully considered the arguments of parties through their lawyers and came to the conclusion that it was a gross abuse of judicial process.

He said that the court could not re-open the case that had come to the court three times and had been decided on merit, adding that it is a trite law that there must be an end to litigation.

The Supreme Court had on June 14, 2007 in what could be termed a locus classicus in law restored Obi as Governor of Anambra State and ordered Uba to vacate the Government House as according to it, the tenure of Obi would lapse on March 17, 2010.

The apex court in the unanimous decision of seven justices of the court held that INEC erred when despite the pendency of the matter went ahead to conduct elections into the office of the governor of Anambra State when the said seat was not vacant.

The court in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Iyorger Kastina-Alu held that “there being no dispute that Governor Obi took his oath of office on March 17, 2006, his tenure of office shall expire on March 17, 2010.”

INEC admitted that it was aware of the pendency of the suit and still went ahead to conduct an election into an office that is not vacant.

“The office of the Governor of Anambra State was not vacant as at the time of the elections, Andy Uba should immediately vacate the office for Peter Obi to complete his term of office,” he added.

Citing the provision of Section 180 (2) of the 1999 Constitution Kastina-Alu held that a governor’s term of office begins to run from the day he took the oath of office.

Section 180 (1) of the 1999 Constitution reads, “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold the office of Governor of a State until - (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date when-in the case of a person first elected as Governor under this constitution, he took the oath of allegiance and oath of office.”

The court mainatained that since Obi took the oath of office on 17th March 2006 he could not be said to have completed his four years in office as governor.

Andy Uba is in Court Again: Is he that despearate?

2009-07-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

More on Halliburton Scandal:the involvement of Julius Berger.

2009-06-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

ABUJA — AS investigations into the $190 million Halliburton bribe money continued, it has emerged that principal character in the saga, Mr. Jeffery Tessler, a lawyer, allegedly used construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to distribute the sum of $11 million to two former Heads of State, a former chairman, Board of Trustees of a political party; a frontline political party and a former Deputy Senate President.

Contacted, spokesman of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Clement Iloba simply said: “We are not involved,” and declined further comments.

The two former Heads of State and a former Vice President benefited to the tune of millions of dollars while a former security helmsman and brother of a head of state were also implicated of having played critical roles in the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money.While one of the former Heads of State allegedly got a total $6 million in three installments through one of his aides who is presently in detention, the former Board of Trustees chairman got $2 million and the former Deputy Senate President got $1 million. The frontline political party was said to have been paid $3 million.Already, it was gathered that following the revelations, two Executive Directors of Julius Berger Nigeria, were invited by the panel and quizzed on the roles the construction company played in the disbursement of the bribe money. They were however left to go after interrogation.

During the interrogation over the Halliburton money, Vanguard was told that more shocking revelations of how Julius Berger had facilitated and assisted many prominent Nigerians including the two former Heads of State, to collect millions of dollars settlement money from abroad, were discovered. The source refused to give further details as the mandate of the panel did not include such.

Meanwhile, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki was again invited by the panel last weekend to shed more light on certain distribution of millions of dollars of the Halliburton money which he was said to have facilitated.

When Vanguard ran into him after the interrogation, Gaius-Obaseki told Vanguard not to believe all what the panel was saying about him or alleged roles he played in the scam. He said his spokesman during his tenure at NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, will furnish Vanguard with the true position.

However, our sources disclosed that Obaseki’s confession and those of others earlier interrogated have been found to be true but added that the trip by the panel members to Switzerland and UK will concretize further discoveries that would lead to the invitation and interrogation of the named former Heads of State and other prominent Nigerians.

Vanguard had reported exclusively last month, that two former Heads of State were implicated of partaking and supervising the sharing of the bribe money while new findings have shown that the total bribe money shared was $190 million as against $180 million earlier thought.

The two former Heads of State and a former Vice President benefited to the tune of millions of dollars while a former security helmsman and brother of a head of state were also implicated of having played critical roles in the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money.

On how the former leaders were implicated, a source had told Vanguard that one of the Heads of State whose account was credited severally with various sums of money withdrew $2.9 million in one fell swoop, adding that this was what gave him out.

In the case of the other former Head of State, it was discovered, based on the interrogation of some of those arrested, that he used several companies of his cronies and friends as fronts into whose accounts several millions of dollars were deposited.

Consequently, the source said the panel would invite these prominent Nigerians to answer all they know about the payment and disbursement of the $190million Halliburton bribe money provided Mr. President gave the Okiro panel powers to do so considering their standing in the society.

On how the bribe money initially put at $180million got to $190million, the source said that since the company was desperate to get the contract for the construction of the $1.9 billion Liquefied Natural Gas project, it went about settling all those it thought could stand in its way and that based on a list collated and supplied it by Jeffery Tessler, the British Lawyer who it has been discovered has dealings with most of these persons, the money jacked up to $190million.

A former Inspector-General of Police, the heir to the throne of a Northern emirate and a former MD of a second generation bank had been invited based on evidence before the Okiro panel.
Vanguard online

Madoff sentenced to 150yrs-if he was a Nigerian . .,...

2009-06-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bernard Madoff who is probably one of the biggest fraudsters in the history of mankind has been sentenced to 150 years in prison. When I read the story, what came to my mind was what if he was a Nigerian in Nigeria?
With the amount of money available to this man to play with, do you think he would have even be convicted let alone being sentenced? I answered myself and my answer to my question was NO and no one will blame me for answering NO.

Why, you do not need to think much to remember that Lucky Igbinedion the former governor of Edo State was convicted of misappropriation of funds and money laundering etc. The court even agreed that he stole billions of naira meant for Edo people. With such knowledge of how much he stole from the poor masses, all the just judge could do was to fine Igbinedion N3million. Wouldn't he pay that from his bedroom? After all recently a governors butler was reported to have been able to steal as much as N400m from his Oga's bed room without his oga noticing. you can imagine how much is inside the house. Therefore I think a fine of meagre 3 million naira is an insult to the masses whose wealth has been looted.

Madoff had all the money to buy the judges like Igbinedion but the judges in the US are not for sale. He has to face the punishment due to him. A good case of the law is no respecter of persons.

And who does not know James Ibori and how much he has stolen. But Jamie walks in and out of Aso Rock like a man walks in and out of his toilet. His name has been struck out of the list of corrupt past governors. And you would not expect Uncle Musa to do otherwise when Jamie bankrolled his election. Sam Egwu and most other governors who were in the corruption list have been elevated as ministers and various other public positions. Which other better way can someone glorify more than what Uncle Musa is doing? These are people who have made more people poor than maddoff did to Americans. These governors stole from the public where which 70% live below poverty line. Do they not deserve more than 150 years sentence. Maddoff victims were mostly the rich. If Madoff were to be a Nigerian, I bet he would not even pay a dime, he have been rewarded with encomiums and public appointments. In some parts of the country, he would get chieftancy titles from the traditional ruler if only he will part with N50 000 or even less.
How long will it take before we rescue ourselves? Nigerians rise up to the occasion. Our destiny is in our hands. These cabals are individuals. They cannot defeat 140 million people. It only takes the silence of the righteous to pertuate the injustice of the wicked.

FG plans N50bn amnesty package: Will that solve the problem in Niger Delta?

2009-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

LAGOS — A TOTAL N50 billion (fifty billion naira) has been proposed by the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta to make peace in the Niger delta region, Vanguard can reveal authoritatively.

Of this amount, the sum of N402 million (Four Hundred and Two million Naira) is immediately required as take-off grant, should the proposals of the Presidential Panel be adopted by the National Council of State which meets on Thursday, June 25. The panel submitted its report on Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe (left); Captain of MV Yenagoa, Mr. Graham Egbegi (middle); Chief Engineer, Mr. Davis Akpoguma (right) and others at a reception organised for the 10 Nigerian Seamen kidnapped in August 2008 by Somali pirates as they arrived at the Ministers' Quarters, Mabushi, Abuja after their release, last weekend. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
The panel’s 63-page report (with 38 pages of main report and 25 pages of annexure), made it clear that:

“No counter-insurgency effort which culminated in Amnesty anywhere in the world has been a cheap venture.

The Panel is also conscious of the overall desire of the government to channel all financial resources towards the accelerated development of the Niger Delta region. However, some money must be spent in the course of restoration of law and order to give room for construction machines to move in.

“The projected sum of N50,000,000,000 (Fifty billion naira) as envisaged would go a long way in the peace making effort. Future financial challenges will be addressed as they arise.

“The C-in-C is invited to note this modest estimate in the course of deliberations with the governors and other stakeholders.

“In the interim and in order to carry out pre-proclamation activities, the sum of N402,000,000 (four hundred and two million naira) is requested for release to the implementation bodies as a take-off grant”.

The panel also proposed that “for effectiveness, the amnesty proposed by the Federal Government should take the form of a Presidential broadcast whereby details of the reprieve would be proclaimed to the public, including the militants and the international community.”

The Panel further said “due to the complex nature of the Niger Delta militancy, it is recommended that the broadcast/proclamation should give to the militants a period not exceeding seventy-five (75) days but not less than sixty (60) days within which to renounce militancy and subscribe to the oath of renunciation. The renunciation and subscription to the oath should be done publicly at designated centres.”

Terms of reference

The Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta had a three-pronged term of reference. In the panel’s report, letters from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), with ref numbers SGF.

19/S.105/9 of 4 May, 2009 and SGF.19/S.105/15 of 5 May conveyed the approval of Mr. President in constituting the Panel, which was tasked to address the following as its Terms of reference:

*To prepare a step-by-step framework for amnesty and complete Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration in Niger Delta with appropriate time-lines.

*To ensure that those with criminal records do not take advantage of the amnesty;
*To work out the cost to Government of disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration of the militants”.

The Panel’s report concludes with a ten-point recommendation thus:
“The grant of Amnesty to Niger Delta militants is perhaps the boldest decision the Federal Government has taken towards resolving the intractable problems of the region.

This golden opportunity must be seized and maximized. Government must act fast to enhance the minimum of confidence already being engendered by the initiative.”

Summary of Major Recommendations

The summary of the major recommendations are as follows:
“That the declaration of the Amnesty should be by a Presidential Proclamation;
“That all militants who respond positively to the Amnesty should by that act receive presidential pardon and thus become immune from criminal prosecution on account of any acts they might have committed as militants;

“That all those who thus become free and blameless citizens should be fully integrated and rehabilitated at Government expense;

“That the entire programme should be driven by massive multi-media publicity blitz before, during and after the proclamation of Amnesty;

“All tiers of government, security agencies civil society groups and other stakeholders should fully participate in achieving the goal of general amnesty and integration for the ex-militants and the establishment of a lasting peace in the Niger Delta region;

“Amnesty should be pursued pari-passu with effective anti-bunkering measures because of the close correlation between illegal oil bunkering and armed conflict in the Niger delta region;

“The local population, the nation at large and the international community should be carried along through appropriate perception management strategies both to win their support and to counter any negative propaganda that may be mounted by renegades;

“The economic aspects of re-integrating the ex-militants in terms of job creation, professional development and micro-credit facilities, would require appropriate collaboration with NDE, NAPEP, NDDC, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, PTDF as well as the oil majors;

“Qualified ex-militants could be considered for employment by Private security firms (in) the Niger Delta region to perform surveillance duties on oil pipelines and installations; and

“A take-off grant of N402 million would be required for the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration (DDR) programme”

Panel members and sub-committees

The Presidential Panel, which initially had 18 original members, with Minister of Interior, Major-General Godwin O. Abbe (rtd) CFR, as Chairman, co-opted seven other members into the panel, because the “panel was allowed to invite any person or group of persons that could assist in the execution of its mandate.”

Therefore, the report discloses, “the panel invited representatives of the Governors of Edo and Cross River states and co-opted a retired military officer with requisite experience and expertise in Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration matters in the capacity of Staff Adviser.

The membership of the panel is as follows:

Maj-Gen G. O. Abbe (rtd) Chairman; Elder G. Orubebe, member; Air Chief Marshal P. Dike, Chief of defence Staff, member; Mr. Mike Okiro, Inspector-general of Police, member; Mr. Azubuko Udah, AIG, member; Mrs. G. E. Odegbaro, member; Alhaji Mustapha Sani, member; Alhaji Y.M. Bichi, member; Dr. Bukhari Bello, member; Dr. T. Koripamo-Agary, member; Barr. M. J. Eyo (Akwa Ibom) member; Barr. O.J. Oworibo (Bayelsa) member; Mr. Bassey Okim (Cross River) member; Hon. Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) (Delta) member; Mr. E.O. Odiai (Edo), member; Mr. W.R. Olamide (Ondo) member; Barr. Bestman Nnwoka (Rivers) member; Alhaji B.U. Maitambari, member/Secretary.

The seven co-opted members include Col. O. Majoyeogbe (rtd), member/staff adviser to the panel; Cdre T.O. Awoyemi; Brig-Gen F.U. Atele; Col. S. Abdulkadir; Capt (NN) A. Akirinade; Mr. Godwin Igbinosa and Mr. P. K. Emefiele.

Sub-committees and costs

An authoritative source in the Presidency disclosed to Vanguard that the committee divided itself into four sub-committees with respective terms of reference.

The sub-committees are Amnesty, headed by Mr. Mike Okiro, IGP; Disarmament and Demobilisation, headed by Air Chief Marshal P. Dike; Publicity and Liaison, headed by Dr. T. Koripamo-Agary; and Rehabilitation and Reintegration, headed by Chief G. Orubebe.

The work of the Amnesty sub-committee, headed by Okiro, according to the report is to cost “N966,000,000:00, after the deduction of the proposed take-off grant.”

The financial requirement for the Disarmament and Demobilisation is estimated to cost N19,109,746,700: 00 (Nineteen Billion, One Hundred and Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira) and is further broken into 16 sub-components as follows:

*Requirement for Establishing Coordinating Centres — N48,520,000:00
*Vehicle and Generator Requirement for Coordinating Centres — N6,987,787,500:00
*Security for Coordinating Centre — N1,500,000:00

*Sanitation, Medical and Recreational Facilities — N517,343,100:00
*Operational Allowance for

*Troops at Collection Point — N242,550,000:00
*Operational Allowance for Troops at Screening Point — N242,550,000:00
*Operational Allowance for Trrops at Holding Camp — N242,550,000:00
*Feeding Arrangements, Reception Centre — N93,712,500:00
* Feeding Arrangement Screening Centre/Feeding Arrangement Holding Centre — N281,137,500:00

*Medical Care and Feeding for Each ex-militant for 75 Days — N189,500: 00 multiplied by number of militants.

*Subsistence Allowance for Each Ex-militant for 75 Days — N37,500:00 multiplied by number of militants.
*Other Requirements for the Holding Camps, Collection and Screening Points — N197,020,000:00

*Running of the Secretariat — N822,000:00
*Provision of Accommodation for Troops — N290,276,000:00
*Communication Equipment — N737,107,500:00
T O T A L: N 19,109,746,700: 00

According to the report, “the projected cost of the Publicity and Liaison sub-committee is N1,040,200,000:00 (One billion, forty million, two hundred thousand naira) having taken into consideration the intended release of the sum of N75,000,000:00 (seventy five million naira) as take-off grant”. For the Re-integration sub-committee, the report states:

“In view of the massive activities of the sub-committee, it is projected that the sum of N3,833,500.00 (three million, eight hundred and thirty-three thousand, five hundred naira) will be required having been given a take-off grant of N109, 000,000:00 (one hundred and nine million naira)”.

It is expected that the National Council of State would deliberate on the proposals in the report of the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmanent of Militants in the Niger Delta on Thursday.
Vanguard Nigeria.

Andy Uba: Supreme court throws out a re-appeal!

2009-06-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

The Supreme Court on Thursday nailed the coffin on the fresh moves by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 2007 election in Anambra State, Chief Andy Uba to unseat Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State by throwing out his appeal, which was described as a thorough abuse of the court process.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Idris Kutigi who delivered the unanimous ruling of the court lashed out at Uba for attempting to drag the integrity of the judiciary into the mud to satisfy his unquenchable political ambition.

Specifically, the apex court was irked by the conduct of the appellant who was shuttling from one court to another to achieve his political ambition.

Describing the conduct as an abuse of the court process, Justice Kutigi said there must be an end to litigation.
Kutigi who condemned the desperate moves by politicians to get into power also lamented that very senior members of the legal profession allowed themselves to be used as tools in the hands of those politicians.Complete artricle ---> Update column

An Igbo adage says 'if an old woman falls twice, the content of her basket will be enumerated
Andy has fallen more than four times. That's enough to know the content of his brain, heart and intestine put together. I can confidently enumerate his content. They include: mischief, avarice, greed, evil, lust for money and power, self contempt,violence, thuggery, selfishness. ... you fit add your own put. Also, I can enumerate what is not there- intelligence, service, desire to serve, selflessness, self respect, integrity and respect for rule of law.

Andy Uba thinks he can always have his way or may be he has forgotten that Uncle shege is no longer calling the shots.

Few weeks ago I was jubilant that Andy withdrew his appeal at the supreme court. I ran an article praising him for doing the right thing for once. I believed that he might have been advised correctly by some who actually loved him. However to my utter dismay, Andy was in court the following day to file a new appeal. I lost it and I forgot to update you guys. I am sorry about that. Well I guess it is all good though assuming you did not read it elsewhere. Forward ever!

I hope by this final verdict, Andy Uba would know that the Supreme court is not Andy Uba's errand boy. The justices are respectable individuals who would not want their legacies tarnished for crying out loud. To the justices, I say well done for doing the right thing.

What is best for Andy now is to rally up his support base if he feels that he has anything for the people of Anambra. There is still enough time between now and 2010 if he must be in Awka. But I am afraid Andy knows he has problem with popularity. In fact he is even afraid that he is no longer popular with the rigger. The master riggers have probably lost faith in him. This could be why he has been trying to enter through the other back door. Unfortunately, the judges have plugged the holes.
But if I were him, I would give this a break. But trust Andy, he would come up with another stunt soon.

The judgement is once again good for democracy. However, the problem with Anambra state is hydra headed if the rumours dripping through is true. Some Internet reporter has accused the cat with 9 lives , Mr Peter Obi of money laundering. The story has it that his boys were caught with a whooping sum of N250m by the lagos police. Is that true? I do not know. But anything is possible with the present crop of politicians. However, I do find it hard to believe that Obi who claims to be totally against fraud should be wearing a big shoe. One of his mantras whenever he had problem with the house was always' the problem is that they want the state money to be shared'

If Obi wears a big shoe, he is playing into the hands of his 'enemies' and he will be promptly thrown away as he will not be able to maintain his ground.

Having said that, I would not be surprised if Andy or any other person who wants to run for office against him has sponsored this show of shame. I hope the police could let us know the truth.

Shell pays $16m to settle Nigeria rights case

2009-06-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

Oil giant Shell has agreed to pay a $15.5 million (£9.6m) settlement to end a lawsuit alleging the firm was complicit in the execution of civilians by Nigeria's former military regime. But Europe's largest oil company has acknowledged no wrongdoing and said it agreed to the payment to aid the "process of reconciliation".

The lawsuit claimed that in the 1990s, Shell officials helped provide Nigerian police with weapons, participated in security sweeps of the oil-rich Niger Delta, and asked government troops to shoot villagers protesting against a new pipeline.

The plaintiffs also alleged that Shell helped the government capture and hang six civilians in 1995, including the poet Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Mr Saro-Wiwa, leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, led rallies against Shell and blamed the company for oil spills and gas fires in the Ogoni region.

Shell has consistently maintained it never advocated violence and even lobbied Nigerian officials to grant Saro-Wiwa clemency.

In a written statement, Shell's executive director of exploration and production Malcolm Brinded said the gesture acknowledged that "even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered."

The settlement will have a negligible affect on Shell's shareholders, amounting to less than one-hundredth of a percent of Shell's annual revenue.
The lawsuit, brought by the relatives of the hanged men, was heard in the US District Court in New York under a federal law which lets US courts hear human rights cases brought by foreign nationals over actions that take place overseas.

As well as compensating the families, the money from Shell will pay for years of legal fees.

Mr Saro-Wiwa's 40-year-old son, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, said he thought his father would be happy with the settlement and said it sent a strong message to multinationals operating in developing countries.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090609/twl-shell-pays-16m-to-settle-nigeria-rig-41f21e0.html

Halliburton Bribery Scandal: Names have been Named.

2009-06-05T03:48:00.000-07:00

The names of the major players involved in the high profile Halliburton Scandal have been made public. Six men involved in the scandal who have faced interrogation includes a former head of state, general Abdusalami Abubakar. Others are expectedly former individuals who headed the NNPC at various times in the past and they include Chife Gaius Obaseki, Chief Dan Etete, Don Etiebet and Funso Kopolokun. The sixth person who was also interrogated was Alhaji Umaro Shinkafi a former director general of Nigeria Security organisation.

Out of the six people interrogated, only Gaius-Obaseki and Etete were detained after interrogation. The police is supposedly collaborating with the US, the UK and some Asian countries who might have supplied them with the necessary information required to nail the culprits.

If this process is completed and the the culprits brought to book, I think it will be a good step in the right direction assuming this is not just window dressing after all Ibori walks into the Aso Rock at will without harassment.

If they are successfully prosecuted, then it might make us believe that Uncle Musa would have been serious about fighting corruption if not for the manner in which he came into governance that has been hounding him.

No one is above the law. The earlier we know this, the better for us.

Before I forget, tell Okiro that he should not forget the minor players also. The minor players are as important as the major players in any corruption scheme.

It is even possible that some major players will be excluded as minor because some money has exchanged hands. So we wouldn't mind the full list of those indicted Mr IG. Nigerians, abi no be so?
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/4/703.html

Niger Delta: How FG made Tompolo • The OBJ connection • JTF destroys militants’ camp in Rivers

2009-06-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

A fresh insight into the reported wealth of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpomupolo (Tompolo) emerged at the weekend.
Details of the revelations contradict the widely held belief that the wanted militant leader made his fortune from illegal bunkering operations alone. Contents of minutes of meetings between representatives of the militant leader and oil companies as well as working agreements, including those reportedly brokered by the Federal Government, are to the effect that Tompolo indeed had an understanding with the Federal Government prior to 2007.

Nigerian Tribune can report authoritatively that former President Olusegun Obasanjo directed most of such meetings where healthy relationships between Tompolo and oil concerns operating in the region were allegedly consummated. A highly placed security source told the Nigerian Tribune that Tompolo’s source of wealth could not be restricted to illegal oil bunkering.

This development is coming as the South-South Youth Conference has raised a fresh alarm that the elite class in the Niger Delta region, particularly politicians, may take an undue advantage of the current face-off between the JTF and the militants in the region.“At a point the boy was becoming very stubborn and the reason given by his men each time they met with some of us was that the indigenes were left out even in the lowest level of services required by the oil companies.

Read the rest in the update column.
There is an Igbo adage which says' 'onye mu na ya na-chu muo, tughariri si m na ukwu di m ka nke ndi muo' meaning literally someone who I was pursuing a spirit turned and said that my legs are like that of the spirits.
They go behind the door to make the militants, give them all the empowerment to unleash terror then come out to tell us they are criminals. More like the case of Osama bin Laden and the US.
We know that both the FG and the so called freedom fighters are insincere. Both of them are interested in how they will protect the source of their loot. It is no longer news that the federal govt has failed in her responsibility to the Niger delta indigenes. It is only the federal govt of Nigeria that will allow her citizens to be exposed to such toxic atmosphere as they are. They are treated lower than animals because if such happens to animals in any other part of the world, the animal right activists will not sleep until it is sorted out. But in Nigeria, the officials of the government will receive money and look the other while foreign nationals treat their citizens like dirt. They subject the citizens to sub-animal conditions. It is only in Nigeria that human beings are expected to live in an environment where even fishes and snakes find too toxic to live in. The federal government will look the other way. The reps will pocket $314, 000(N20,000, 000) every four months for doing nothing excluding under the table bags of money which come from oil companies that are looking for juicy contracts or from Aso Rock for God knows what. The federal government has failed in her responsibility.

The FG apart, what about the leaders from the region who used this boys for their selfish ambition? It is no longer news that the first weapon used by most of this militants were the ones bought for them by politicians who used them to rig elections and later refused to fulfil the terms of their agreement. The militants then being opportunist when they could not get their bargain capitalised on the state of the region to unleash mayhem on the people they claim to fight? Isn't that ridiculous? That is sheer hypocrisy. The so called freedom fighters are only fighting for their pockets. In an interview, Asari ones said that Ateke was tired of fighting; that he wants to come to town and enjoy his money. Which money? How did he make the money? Kidnapping, bunkering ..? Yes they are criminals but they were made by the government. This is one case of lab experiment gone out of control. The monster they created has come out to hunt them. It is pathetic that two elephants are fighting and the grasses are bearing the brunt. We can say no to this injustice. It happens every state in the country. It is only a matter of time before the whole country will be on fire. God forbid you will say? That is only if you forbid!

I know that without proper structure on ground, even the so called resource control will not solve the issue as it will pitch the communities against themselves.
Our leaders have failed us.
Give them what is their due. Use sincere diplomacy and plug all loopholes.
Nigeria will rise some day!

'Reps earn N20m every four months'

2009-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

SOURCE: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article10//indexn3_html?pdate=010609&ptitle='Reps earn N20m every four months'&cpdate=010609

A FORMER member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Farouk Adamu Aliyu, has queried the rationale for expending over 80 per cent of Nigeria's income on the public service.

Aliyu said if the expenditure is not curtailed, it would be difficult to address the problem of poor infrastructure in the country.

He disclosed that each serving member of the Lower House now collects over N20 million every quarterly as against the N9 million he earned within the same period during his tenure from 2003 to 2007.

This, he said, is a tip of what both elected and top officials of the government receive at the three tiers of the government in the country.

The former lawmaker, who spoke at a forum organised by Kano Youth Movement for Good Governance held at the weekend at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Kano, enjoined Nigerians to explore a viable means of checking the trend.

Agreeing that 10 years of uninterrupted civil rule was worth celebrating, Aliyu however said that it was unfortunate that the basic tenet of democracy to ensure free and fair election was yet to be adhered to by the leaders.

Aliyu, who aspired for the governorship of Jigawa State on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) in the last poll, enjoined the youth to show interest in politics and determine those who represent them at various levels of governance.

He further charged the youth to make leaders render account of their stewardship.

"I am very much aware of the fact that there are members of the House who do not know the difference between a bill and a motion but somehow they managed to get to the House due to undemocratic practices in the country. If a governor says he is constructing a road or borehole for you, don't make him feel he is doing you a favour because he is not doing it with his hard-earned money. Demand for the cost of the project, find out whether it is viable and whether it would be beneficial to you," he said.

Punchonline no longer free

2009-06-01T03:27:00.000-07:00

I opened the punch website this morning ready to read some news after doing the same on Thisdayonline. A click on a headline brought me to a surprise message 'Effective from May 29th 2009, access to read news stories on our website will be by subscription. The subscription amount of N1,500 per month gives access to your authoritative news on:

Punch website (www.punchontheweb.com) Punch Mobile (Read news on your mobile phone)ePaper (Your favourite newspaper exactly as it appears in print)

Payment for subscription can be done through

Debit card (Interswitch) Visa card (including Visa electron) Purchase of scratch cards at designated Punch offices nationwideCash at any First Bank Branch

Thank you.

The Punch Online team
That means that punch has little or no online presence. Do I see them succeeding with this? I am not very sure because there are other news websites that carry juicy information. Except other websites decide to restrict viewing to subscribed members, Punch will surely revert back to the free view status they were in. I am sure that the new policy will generate more money than they would have got from increased traffic.
The truth is that most of those who read online news are not ready to subscribe for a view. This is the first news website that I know which has introduced this kind of subscription fee. Do they think Punch is an academic journal.
Mr. Punch, there are many ways to make money from your online presence without having to ask for subscription fee. I hope you will not regret this.
Good luck Mr. Punch but do not say I did not warn you.

I was offered $15m bribe by ex-governor - Ribadu

2009-05-22T01:08:00.000-07:00

From Punch Nigeria:
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20090521453778

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday, told the Financial Services Committee of the United States' House of Representatives, how he was offered $15m by a governor in the Niger Delta to drop corruption charges against him.

Ribadu, whose dismissal from the Nigerian Police Force was still being challenged in the court, is a visiting fellow of the St. Anthony's College, University of Oxford. He was at the US House on invitation by the committee.

The former EFCC boss who insisted that the Niger Delta problem was being compounded by corruption, stated that the commission, under his leadership also made efforts to help tackle the problem.

He revealed that an unnamed former state governor from the oil-rich region had offered him $15m in cash to stop an investigation against him, adding that the commission still went ahead to charge the governor for the plundering of his state resources as well as the bribe offer.

He however lamented that the said governor was today a free man in Nigeria, where he wields power in the Peoples Democratic Party-led government and in the country as a whole.

He said that such instances of treating some corrupt state officials with kids gloves, by the current administration, was responsible for the dwindling success of the anti-graft crusade.

Ribadu said, "Indeed, one of the governors of the Delta that we investigated offered me $15m in cash to stop the investigation against him.

"We charged him both for the theft of state revenues and for the bribery attempt. Sadly today, he is still one of the most powerful political figures in both the ruling party and the country.

"This clearly highlights the problem of the Delta - money meant to have gone for development has gone to very few hands and is used for negative ends.Â

"In 2003/4, almost 100,000 barrels of oil was stolen daily; by 2005/6, we had managed to reduce this to 10,000 barrels per day. We also secured convictions for kidnappers in the Delta, who were driving the cycle of violence and bribery with the private oil companies.Â

Ribadu, who lauded the political will of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to pursue anti-corruption war, said that the current administration only paid lip service to the crusade.

He said, "But the policy today in Nigeria is to use all the right rhetoric - speaking of the need for rule of law and the fight against corruption - to cover-up their real campaign to completely undo the reform efforts of the previous government and so thoroughly confuse corruption and anti-corruption that no one can sort out which is which any longer.

"This is why today, many of the law enforcement agencies that used to work hand-in-hand with the EFCC are no longer willing to partner with the EFCC or the Nigerian Justice Department. The issue of integrity is paramount in such relationships.Â

"Corruption makes democracy impossible because it subverts the will of the people. A select few, with so much money and authority, continue to steal elections and make a mockery of the notion of government by the people or for the people.

"The unholy alliance between local political elites and western financial institutions has been the foundation of this narrative of shame. The best illustration yet is the now famous Halliburton/KBR scandal where, as a Nigerian newspaper recently reported, our leaders received "stacks of US dollar bills in briefcases and sometimes in bullion vans" until some $185m had been exchanged for a contract to build a liquefied natural gas plant.

"The other famous case is the Siemens scandal. According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Siemens made approximately $12.7m in "suspicious payments" for Nigerian projects, including to government customers for four telecommunications projects. The total value of the four contracts was approximately $130m. There are many other instances.

Lagos Business School’s Africa’s Second Best – FT

2009-05-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Lagos Business School, Pan-African University, has again retained its position among world leaders in executive education, as its ranked second best in Africa.
This was disclosed on Monday in the Financial Times’ 2009 Executive Education open-enrolment rankings published in London, according to information on the institution’s website.
Considered to be the pre-eminent international executive education ranking, the FT ranking is very competitive. The top school is Harvard Business School, followed by Darden School of Business, University of Virginia both in the USA. Only three African business schools were included in the FT rankings, with Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria in South Africa coming first.
The Financial Times’ rankings are compiled from responses to questionnaires administered to participants on open-enrolment programmes, as well as a survey of the schools. The questionnaires measure qualities such as the relevance of new skills and the degree to which participants’ expectations were met.
“Meeting participants’ expectations and being relevant to industry is important to us here at LBS”, said Dean of Lagos Business School, Prof. Juan Elegido, while reacting to the outcome of the FT ranking. “Our faculty strive to remain up-to-date and help participants develop the skills they need to deal with business challenges in an emerging economy like Nigeria’s”, he added.
The challenges created by the global economic crisis further underline the urgent need for man-power development, especially in Africa , to support public and private sector growth. With improved scope for innovation and new technologies, business schools in the developing world in particular, need to develop high-quality talent pools to take advantage of opportunities and lead their economies to recovery.
Expressing satisfaction with the achievements of the School, Elegido said LBS was created to meet the need for executive training in Nigeria and aims to have a significant impact on the practice of management.
“So far, with the support of the business community in Nigeria and alumni of the School, we have achieved some great results. We wish to use this opportunity to thank all our partners for their support over the years”, he added.
LBS is the only Nigerian business school included in the FT rankings, and this is also the third time that the school has been featured since 2007.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=143248

What The Average Nigerian thinks about 419ners: A feedback from a reader

2009-05-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

After the earlier post on the above topic, I got some verbal spanking from some other guys. I could not resist sharing this particular one with you guys. Enjoy! It appears 419 is legitimate means of livelihood for some people. Read!

'You have a "yahoo yahoo is beneath me and i can do no wrong" attitude.Your view of 419 makes it look like the worst crime ever.Talking about 419, there are two kinds.The local and international.I take it you are referring more to the international.Let me ask you a question.If yahoo yahoo becomes a capital offense in this country and the perpetrators are forced to carry arms and rob, would that make life easier for you to bear?Do you know how many families are dependent on these "yahoo boys"?Do you know how many graduates have come out of institutions due to the blessings of yahoo?Trust me, i am not a yahoo activist but if yahoo goes away, it will be replaced by something else.Why?Coz the country would still be in the same shambled state.Yahoo is not something for illiterates.To make money out of it, you have to have some decent level of education and most of the successful perpetrators are graduates.Do you think anybody would be happy committing fraud?If you have a decent job, better opportunities or maybe living abroad, well thank the good lord but dint come on here with your "holier than thou" attitude.If you have ever been really hungry and without a clue where your life was headed, maybe you and other careless talkers on here wouldn't be talking so freely.

If you watched the movie "Oasis", you will understand what i mean.The passengers of the plane were forced to eat themselves to survive.That is how Nigeria is today.Tens of thousands of graduates keep pouring out yearly with no jobs for them.After 2-5 years of sitting down at home doing nothing, they have to survive somehow.Now, what do you expect them to do?To weave baskets?To get into hand crafts?If that is what you are doing, i don't think you will be able to afford Internet browsing unless you are deceiving yourself and that's exactly what a lot of Nigerians do.They believe they are better whilst having skeletons in the cupboards,under their beds and the booths of the cars.'

I wonder if he also thinks of the other family that the perpetrator is depriving of livelihood. Another family somewhere trying to eke out a living without defrauding no one is suffering from the handiwork of a lazy mind who is looking for an easy way to get out of poverty.
There is no excuse for fraud. In as much as I blame some category of victims, such people who are greedy and would fall for a simple prank, it is still evil. If they had not received an e-mail soliciting for help and money in return, they may not be victims. Assuming I am to condemn such people, what about the innocent whose credit card details are stolen without their consent?

Talking about them being jobless graduate, the reason why the graduates come out of school with nothing to do is because they went through school with fraud. They cheat and bribe to get through. If your claim that most of them are graduates, then the quality of the letters they send are a good evidence of their intellectual poverty. I think they are able to get their likes to fall for them without having to hack.
You do not have to wait for the government to get you a job. Yahoo yahoo is not the last option. There are better options my friend.

Another friend confronted me with a story that may seem to nullify the jobless graduate theory of the above poster. This is a story of two guys who were raised by an orphanage. The orphanage sent them to the university when they turned 18 only for these guys to join Yahoo Yahoo when they were in second year. The orphanage is known to send her people to international schools. This implies that they were well catered for. I wonder if these guys joined 419 due to lack. If you ask me, I will tell you no. There is no morality behind duping people.

You have got hands and brains to be productive and not to deprive.

Farrakhan and Mike Wallace on Nigeria

2009-05-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Update on Andy Uba's supreme Court Drama: Appeal withdrawn

2009-05-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Lawyer to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 2007 election in Anambra State, Chief Andy Uba, yesterday withdrew the appeal at the Supreme Court which asked the apex court to overrule its earlier judgment which ousted Uba as the governor of the state.
But a spokesman for Uba told THISDAY last night that the action would not mark the end of the matter which seeks Uba being declared as “governor-in-waiting”.
In a notice of withdrawal of appeal dated May 6, 2009 and filed at the registry of the Supreme Court on May 7, 2009, the appellant claimed he would like to discontinue with the prosecution of the appeal.
The withdrawal notice signed by Mr. Taiwo Obe, counsel to Uba, stated inter alia: “Take notice that the appellants (PDP and Uba) herein do not intend to further prosecute this appeal and accordingly withdraw same.
“The effects of the notice of withdrawal of appeal according to order 8 rule 6 which deals with the withdrawal of an appeal at the Supreme Court is that an appellant may at any time before the appeal is called for service on the parties in the appeal and file at the registry of the apex court a notice to that effect that he does not intend to prosecute the appeal; and by order 8 rule 6[5] an appeal which has been withdrawn under this rule shall be deemed to have been dismissed.”
Reacting to the withdrawal of the appeal, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, hailed the decision as a sound one that would go a long way in preserving the sanctity of the Supreme Court.
He said: “We welcome the development. The withdrawal of the appeal by Andy Uba will go a long way to restore the sanctity of the apex court.”
The Supreme Court had, at the last adjourned date, ruled that it would constitute a full panel that would hear and determine the appeal brought by Uba in which he asked the court to set aside its earlier judgment that ousted him as governor of Anambra State.
The decision of the court to constitute a full panel was based on the request by all the parties who agreed that the best way to deal with the issue in the appeal once and for all was to have a full house of the court sitting.
Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, who presided during the last sitting of the Supreme Court, said there was no point wasting time on hearing the appeal piecemeal and that since parties to the suit already indicated readiness to have a full court, their request was granted.
On the panel that heard the constitutional interpretation of the appellant’s suit were Justices Aloysius Katsina-Alu, Dahiru Musdapher, Muktar Coomasie, Olufunmilola Adekeye.
Taiwo Abe represented the appellant; Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for the 1st respondent, which is the Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; D.C. Awaleum for the 2nd respondent; and Orji Nwafor Orizu for the 4th respondent.
On his part, Ikpeazu said the appellant had filed a preliminary objection and wished it could be taken distinctly, adding that whereby it was not taken before the appeal itself, the 1st respondent would be asking for the constitution of the full court to take the constitutional matter.
According to him, "the present action by the appellant is a surreptitious request for the setting aside of the decision of the court taken in a full court."
However, counsel to the appellant, Abe, said that the 1st respondent had already finished his objection by not putting it in the brief he had filed and that it would be incompetent to bring up issue not contained in the respondent’s brief.
In his argument of the preliminary objection, Ikpeazu said the 1st respondent contended four grounds viz: that the court of appeal erred in not entertaining an application brought to set aside the notice and grounds of appeal said to be filed in the court on the 18th of April 2007.
He said that the propriety of filing the same notice was raised and sustained by the Supreme Court and the apex court had declined the invitation to set aside its judgment based on the same facts put forward by the appellant.
According to him, the court had the absolute authority to prevent the abuse of its process or scandalise its rules and having decided on the case, the appellant c ould not return to the court asking that the judgment of the court of appeal’s decision be reversed.
He said that there could be no other determination of any court including the Supreme Court based on the notice of the appeal, adding that the appeal was out to abuse the process and embarrass the court.
He referred to the ruling of the court where it was stated that the court had already given its final judgment in the issue being canvassed by the appellant thinking that he has another joker, stressing that they only reproduced the same application that had been decided.
Ikpeazu submitted that the objection struck at the very roots of the case and it was an invitation by the appellant for the court to overrule itself. He urged the court in the interest of justice and the country to strike out the appeal.
Justice Katsina-Alu then said that since all parties in appeal were dispossed to having a full court, it shall be constituted for it to be heard once and for all.
The Supreme Court had on June 14, 2007 in what could be termed a locus classicus in law reinstated Mr. Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra State and ordered Uba to vacate the Government House as, according to it, the tenure of Obi would lapse on March 17, 2010.
The court also berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for going ahead to conduct election into the office of the state governor when it was aware of the pending suit.
The apex court in the unanimous decision of seven justices of the court stated that INEC erred when despite the pendency of the matter went ahead to conduct elections into the office of the governor of the state when the said seat was not vacant.
The court in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Kastina-Alu held that “there has been no dispute that Governor Obi took his oath of office on March 17, 2006, his tenure of office shall expire on March 17, 2010. INEC admitted that it was aware of the pendency of the suit and still went ahead to conduct an election into an office that is not vacant.
“The office of the Governor of Anambra State was not vacant as at the time of the elections, Andy Uba should immediately vacate the office for Peter Obi to complete his term of office,” he added.
Citing the provision of Section 180 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Kastina-Alu held that a governor’s term of office begins to run from the day he took the oath of office.
Section 180 (1) of the 1999 Constitution reads, “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold the office of Governor of a State until (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date when-in the case of a person first elected into as Governor under this constitution, he took the oath of allegiance and oath of office.”
The court maintained that since Obi took the oath of office on 17th March 2006, he could not be said to have completed his four years in office as governor. Therefore the seat of the the state governor was not vacant as at 14th April 2007 when INEC went ahead to conduct election in the state.
According to him, “the plaintiff/appellant brought his case to invoke the powers of the court and noted that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter as according to his the matter predates the elections.”
On his part, Justice George Oguntade stated that, “much as I sympathize with people that spent huge resources to contest an election into an office that is not vacant, we are bound by the provisions of the Constitution; I agree with the lead judgment and order Andy Uba to vacate the office for Obi to take over immediately.”
Obi had gone to the Federal High Court in Enugu for the following declarations:
• A declaration that the four- year tenure of office of the Plaintiff as the Governor of Anambra State began to run from the date he took the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office being the 17th day of March, 2006.
• A declaration that the Federal Government through the defendant being its agent cannot lawfully conduct any Governorship Election in Anambra State in 2007 in so far as the Plaintiff as the incumbent Governor has not served his four -year tenure of office commencing from when he took the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on 17th March, 2006.
• An order of injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies or howsoever from in anyway conducting any regular election for the Governorship of Anambra State until the expiration of a period of 4 (four) years from the 17th day of March, 2006 when the Plaintiffs tenure of office will expire.
Obi lost both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu. Not satisfied with the decision of the two courts, he consequently filed an appeal at the Supreme Court where he raised the following issues for determination:
• Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were correct when they upheld the decision of the Federal High Court declining jurisdiction and held that the prayers in the Appellant’s originating summons were election tribunal.
• Whether having regard to the proper appreciation of the Appellant’s prayers in the originating summons the Court of Appeal was right in not invoking the powers under Section 16 of the Court of Appeal Act.
After considering the appeal of Obi, the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision on June 14, 2007 ordered Uba to immediately vacate the Anambra governorship seat for Obi whose tenure as governor was expected to lapse on March 17, 2010.
Dissatisfied with the apex court's ruling, Uba went back to the Supreme Court asking it to review its decision and return him back to office as Anambra Governor as, according to him, the notice of appeal was not filed at the registry of the Federal High Court, Enugu but at the registry of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division which he contended was an error in law and vitiates the judgment of the court.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=142891

Nigerian Wins Internship for US Congress; More to come!

2009-05-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

19-year-old Nigerian student in the United States, Miss Mma Okafor, has won a scholarship with three other American students to learn and work in Washington D.C under a new university-established congressional internship programme.
Okafor of Northern Illinois University (NIU) will be attached to Congressman Daniel Lipinski, an Illinois congressman of the Third District and report to work for more than 40 hours per week and complete the internship by August.
The other winners are Hunter Huffman and Matthew Venaas and each will be given $5,000 to defray the costs associated with the internships. The three NIU students will live in houses provided by George Washington University, located in the centre of Washington, D.C., just a short walk from the Capitol.
Okafor hopes to return to Nigeria one day and contribute to political developments.
Her words: ““I am interested in politics in Nigeria. I hope to return home and change the political system through grassroots involvement in politics just like President Obama has done here. But also on a broader scale, my goal is to advocate for development in Africa as a whole, through microfinance and other similar programmes.”
She added: “The focal point of my life, having come from humble means myself, is centred on giving back to the poor.”
Huffman will intern with U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo (16th District); and Venaas with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (14th District). Each of the students will report to work on May 25.
“At NIU, we value experiential learning,” a statement from the university quoted President John Peters, who is a political scientist by training, specializing in studies of public policy and Congress as saying: “These scholarships will allow some of our top students to work in the halls of Congress, network with our nation’s movers and shakers and participate in the inner workings of our democracy.”
NIU Political Scientist Matthew Streb and Department Chair Christopher Jones worked with President Peters and Vice-President for External Affairs Kathryn Buettner to establish the scholarship programme.
“This is simply an opportunity that we can’t provide in the classroom,” Streb said. “I can teach the theories of Congress, but I can’t show students the experience. And, from the point of view of members of Congress, it’s a great programme because we're giving them top-notch interns.”
“We’re hoping to expand the programme a year from now,” Streb added. “We already have lawmakers lined up.”
The scholarships are competitive. More than 20 highly qualified students applied for the three internships this summer.
Each of the scholarship winners is not only a top student but also is highly involved in university and service activities.
Born in Minnesota and raised in Nigeria, Okafor is a junior honors student (she started at NIU at age 16), majoring in political science with a minor in economics. She is a member of the NIU debate team and has been active in tutoring and peer advisory.

What The Average Nigerian thinks about 419ners.

2009-05-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

An online discussion featuring Nigerians was asked if they would turn in a relative of a friend who is a fraudster. Sixty-two people participated in the discussion that featured 178 replies. We had 178 replies because some participants submitted more than one replies in other to support their positions. A poll attached to the discussion with 52 voters indicated that 68% would not while 31% would. My data came from the replies of participants not the poll.Out of the 62 participants, 71% said they would never turn in a 419ner. 21% said they would while 8% were undecided. Majority of those who said they would not blamed the economic condition which was occasioned by bad leadership for the emergence of internet fraud in Nigeria. They also believed that the leaders are fraudsters and should be turned in first before the yahoo yahoo boys. Also some of them argued that it is a futile effort turning in a fraudster to a fraudster stating that EFCC and the police are made up of thieves and fraudsters. They were of the opinion that it would be dangerous to do so because sooner than later, the fraudster who is a relative that you turned in will bribe his way out of detention and will never be tried. Worse still they said that the police or EFCC will also make sure that the fraudster knows who reported him to them, a situation which they pointed out as being dangerous. The naysayers think it is stupid and people around would look at you as being jealous rather being patriotic. The mindset amongst them is that an average Nigerian is a fraudster and it is therefore an exercise in futility to turn in a thief to a fraudster. If 71% of Nigerians think that an average Nigerian is a fraudster and therefore it is not illegal to defraud, then the future is bleak. It is distressing to see some respondents saying that the act of 419 is a talent. Ask them how they think Nigeria will progress with such mindset, they would say that they would pray for miracles. Why will we be praying for a miracle to come out of a situation which we walked ourselves into? At the slightest chance, they would call for the heads of the leaders who they claim are the cause of their woes. When they are told the leaders were once like them and believed that Nigeria is corrupt; that a corrupt populace can never throw up good leaders; they would say it is unfair to go after the small thieves(yahoo yahoo boys) while the big thieves(the leaders) are allowed to move around. That seems to logical however, it should not be forgotten that the society has what it takes to prevent the creation of the big thief. If the average Nigerian who thinks it is normal to be fraudulent changes his mindset, when he is eventually elected into office, he will go there with the mindset that corruption is evil and that it destroys the image and fabric of the society and that it prevents foreign investment and cooperation and leads to underdevelopment.
Nigeria a country with vast human and material resources is still neck deep in poverty and infrastural decay, erratic power and import based economy because the societal value is such that recognition is based on how much you have in your bank account not minding how such money got there. It is so bad that any individual who comes out of a public office with out amassing wealth is looked upon as an idiot. That led to the saying of a late politician who say in Igbo 'Onye ube ruru ya racha' meaning whoever the pear gets to let him eat all. Better put, it could be interpreted as the winner takes all.

The leaders knowing this go ahead to loot the public treasury dry. The leaders were once like you and I. They know they have the subtle support of a majority who will flock to their side to get the crumbs from their table. Why would they not feel free to loot when they know and feel the common man on the street does not care. in fact he will willingly lend himself as an instrument of looting. They leaders are from the society and they know the feeling. That is why we are where we are. if the leaders are aware that the society from which they come from do not tolerate double standard and looting, they would be careful on how the intend to loot. But as it stands now, it only a man of conscience who would want to serve the people he was 'elected' to serve. How many are they that still have conscience? It could be you tomorrow. Can you make a difference?
For the discussion, see the link below
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-268128.160.html#top

The actress in EKITI REC: Mrs Adebayo

2009-05-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

After the Ekiti state re-run election that took place on the 25th of April 2009, the mood in Ekiti environs was tense especially after the violence that greeted the process. The election result was being awaited. A day after the the election while the results were still being awaited, thev resident elctoral commissioner(REC)went missing. After another day, we recieved a purported letter of resignation from the missing REC. In the letter the 'honorable' woman stated that the conduct of the state election was too much for her to stomach.Aww! what a virtuous woman we all shouted. She became an instant heroine when rumour filtered in that her reason for resignation was due to the result from Ido-Osi which had been allegedly cooked up to favour the PDP.
Like a film stunt from a Nollywood movie(not Hollywood because it was badly rehearsed and the production was rubbish), after a little threat from Dora and Okiro, the heroine of the moment resurfaced and was chauffeur-driven to Aso Rock where God knows what transpired between her and Uncle Musa.
Sola came out to declare she was still part of INEC family refusing to acknowledge or refuse the ownership of the resignation letter. That was when keen observers noted that so much water has passed under the bridge.
It appears a different script written in Aso rock was handed to her for interpretation. I do not know the content of the script but I can guess one of the lines correctly. The line said, 'accept the Ido-Osi result as it is . . .... I do not know what completed it and do not ask me for the missing part.
Madam Sola from then forgot her christian faith. How fast things change? This probably gave credence to the lack of faith the Afenifere who earlier called for her resignation had in her. The story we have heard is that the once rejected result has been accepted by the religious REC. What has changed madam REC? How is it now acceptable to your christian faith?

It is even unfortunate that CAN started issuing a statement asking for her safety to be guarantee while she was probably busy re-negotiating her price. It is obvious that this woman resigned when neither PDP not AC were willing to meet her demand and i wonder what she is still looking for at 74.Isn't integrity the best legacy?
It is amazing how the FG that was threatening arrest can now say she acted according to her conscience. How things change? Nigeria we hail thee!

Anyway,it is a pity that she could end the episode the way she did. It came with the hype that preceeds a normal Nollywood advert only to find a 50 minutes movie divided into two 30 and 20 minutes parts. Her episode was very short like a part one or part 2 of a nollywood movie and more over it was not appealing to the audience. It was badly acted and we would ask the actress to spare us this kind of hype in the future if she was not ready for a thriller.
She should ask Fayose or Alams for tips.

Microfinance Banks, Soludo’s Greatest Legacy, Says Ogbeh

2009-05-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said weekend that the issuance of licenses for the establishment of microfinance banks was the best legacy of Professor Chukwuma Soludo as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said the initiative had already impacted positively on the well being of peasants across the country.
Chief Ogbeh made this known at the commissioning of one of the microfinance banks, Mega Microfinance Bank in Abuja. He maintained that microfinance banking remained the bed rock for the development of the Nigerian economy as its primary aim was to give loan and credit facility to small scale businesses which according to him constitute over 70% of the real economic sector of the country.
“The conventional banks to some extent does not cater for the less privileged of the society, therefore, the microfinance policy is about the only policy of this administration targeted at eleminating the sufferings of the poor and has given hope to the peasant man and woman who had no place to go in the past and no body to tell their stories, now can access loans through the microfinance banks”, he said.
Chief Ogbeh, who is also the Chairman of the Mega Microfinance Bank advocated the creation of more microfinance banks in remote area of the country, especially in the volatile Niger Delta region to reach the very poor and to provide loans to some of the restive youths who may be willing to start micro business.
That way, he said, the violence and restiveness in the area could be reduced .
Earlier, the Managing Director of Mega Microfinance Bank, Mrs Dorathy Uko, in her remarks said microfinance banking was the solution to Nigeria’s ailing economy since a larger population of the country was poor and and involved in small scale business.
She, however, maintained that the bank in its short period of operation was able to give out N200 million micro loans to small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Abuja and that the bank already had about 5000 customers.
She further stated that the little fund raised by shareholders could not cater for all their customers who were in genuine need of fund for their businesses.

She therefore called on government and corporate bodies to make more funds available to microfinance houses for onward disbursement to small scale entrepreneurs .
Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Biodun Olujimi , one of the dignitaries at the commissioning described microfinance banks as the financial pillar of the poor and the center point of economic development of any country .
She commend Mrs Dorathy Uko for the initiative , saying that the bank would enhance the well being of the very deprived poor Nigerians as they now have hope of resuscitating their small businesses .

Swine flu: Nigeria listed among countries with capacity to diagnose infection(something positive)

2009-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

The World Health Organisation has listed Nigeria as one of the countries with capacity in place to diagnose the Influenza A infections in humans.

Although Nigeria, like many countries on the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network, does not have enough National Influenza Centres, the world body said the country fulfilled certain criteria necessary to detect the influenza.

The criteria include countries that have scored 100 per cent in the last two or more of the WHO external quality assurance programme panels, and countries with a history of consistent correct results for earlier panels.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Health signed by the Special Assistant (Communication) to the Minister, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, the Asokoro District Hospital National Diagnostic Laboratory in Abuja is one of the facilities recognised as having satisfied the prescribed criteria.

WHO had changed the name of the new influenza virus hitherto called Swine Flu to Influenza A last Thursday to avoid any misunderstanding of the nature of the influenza as it relates to pigs and pork meat. The A influenza is usually transmitted from humans to humans. But as at Sunday, there was no reported case of the infection in Nigeria.

The health ministry said there was no risk of infection of the virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

It, therefore, advised people to regularly wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

However, the ministry has advised people who are ill to delay international travels, asking those who may develop symptoms after international travels to seek medical attention immediately.

As at Sunday, 17 countries had officially reported 787 cases of influenza infection. Mexico has recorded 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200905041565790

Africa’s Genetic Secrets Unlocked:This is interesting!

2009-05-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

A genetic map of Africa - the continent from which all modern humans originate - has provided information about its huge diversity of language and culture.
It is the result of the largest African genetic study ever undertaken.
The work revealed the continent to be the most genetically diverse place on earth, and identified descendents of our earliest human ancestors.
The international team of scientists describe their 10-year study in the journal science.
The team, led by Sarah Tishkoff from University of Pennsylvania, studied genetic material from 121 African populations.
They collected over 3,000 samples, and identified 14 “ancestral population clusters.” These are groups of populations with common genetic ancestry, who share ethnicity and similarities in both their culture and the properties of their languages.
“This is a spectacular insight into the history of African populations and therefore the history of mankind,” said Muntaser Ibrahim, a researcher from University of Khartoum, who was also involved in the study.
The team looked at individual ancestry, or genetic similarities in their samples, by comparing the frequencies of more than 1,000 DNA markers - sections of the DNA code that are known to reveal common genetic heritage.
"In the past, [geneticists] studied just a few Africans, and suggested they were representative of the continent, but we've found that no population is representative of all of this diversity," said Dr Tishkoff.

"Our goal has been to do research that will benefit Africans," she said. "I hope this will set the stage for future genomics research there, and future biomedical research." The completion of the study could enable such research, allowing the link between genes and disease to be properly studied. "The genetic variants we've identified may play a role in disease susceptibility and the different ways in which people respond to drugs," Dr Tishkoff explained. Her team had to gather genetic samples from some of the continent's most remote communities. To extract the important information from blood samples, they have to be "spun down", using a centrifuge to produce a pellet containing the DNA. "In the most remote areas, we used a centrifuge that plugged into a car battery," Dr Tishkoff recalled. Largely as a result of these difficulties, a large amount of the group's data comes from populations that have never previously been studied genetically. This is the first time we have had the genetic data to reconstruct migration events Sarah Tishkoff University of Pennsylvania This allows the map to provide an entirely new link between biology, and existing anthropology and linguistic information. The research also located the origin of modern human migration in south-western Africa, near the coastal border of Namibia and Angola. This is based on the widely-accepted theory that the highest level of genetic diversity is in the oldest population - the one that has had the longest to evolve. The site is the homeland of the indigenous San communities, Dr Tishkoff explained.

"It's not surprising but it's a very neat finding because the San have already been shown to have the oldest genetic lineages, suggesting they may be descendents of a population ancestral to all modern humans."

The data has revealed a great deal about the history of the continent. "This is the first time we have had the genetic data to reconstruct migration events," Dr Tishkoff commented.

Her team, which represented an variety of academic disciplines, showed how genetic and linguistic diversity have co-evolved. This analysis revealed some surprises.

"The Masai people [in Kenya], for example, have maintained their traditional language and pastoral lifestyle, but genetically they've mixed a lot with populations from Ethiopia [who speak a different language]," said Dr Tishkoff.

The researchers also took samples from four African American populations, and traced their African ancestry. This was, as expected, mostly pinned down to West Africa.

Mark Thomas from the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at UCL praised the study, and said that the level of diversity discovered was "broadly what we would expect". He added that because the origins of African American ancestry can be seen "all the way from Senegal down to Angola, it will be a long time before a DNA test will be able to identify someone's ancestral origin. "That's despite the ridiculous claims of some of these DNA testing companies." http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=142332

Africans when you begin to study yourselves?

Group prays S’Court to uphold Andy Uba’s appeal:In Nigeria Due Process and Rule of Law probably stand for corruption

2009-04-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

A human rights organization, Campaigners for Democracy, Due Process and Rule of Law (CDDRL) had faulted the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on the fresh suit filed by former Governor Andy Uba of Anambra State before the Supreme Court.

Dr Uba had gone back to the apex court, seeking among others, a judicial pronouncement to set aside the court’s earlier decision that brought his administration to an abrupt end.
The group, in a joint statement, signed by Barristers Oladele Agoyun and Victor Anyanwu, chairman and general secretary respectively, advised the APGA chieftain, Chief Victor Umeh, not to bring politics into judicial matters, saying the Supreme Court, had on several occasions been reversing its judgment.

The learned justices of the Supreme Court are men of integrity. Before this particular case, they had on several occasions reversed their judgments. Moreover, in Uba’s case, the Supreme Court did not declare the votes cast for Ubah as unlawful and unconstitutional.

It, therefore, appealed to the apex court, to let justice prevail and reverse its decision to enable Ubah enjoy the mandate given to him by the people of Anambra State.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Sun on the issue on whether or not the Supreme Court can reverse its judgment, a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Chief Fred Agbaje, said: “Yes, only God is final but constitutionally, our Supreme Court decision is final, adding that the apex court can reverse its decision......” Read more under the news update column.
Yap! yap! yap! Another masquerade in town. Campaigenrs for gini...?

The slogan of this present administration has been due process and rule of law but instead of due process and rule of law, all we have got is undue process and unlawful rule. It was under the cloak of due process and rule of law that the first attack at Ribadu was launched by Chief Andoakaa before the full scale assault as planned by Ibori was unveiled.

The AFC saga and investigation of Soludo which was a fault finding mission meant to give the a dog a name and hang him was blamed on due process. We are yet to see the report of the investigation. The project which was reported to have started yielding some dividends in the form interest was killed and the money invested was recovered probably for sharing among the dupes otherwise what is their grouse. let us share everything and leave nothing behind. Strong foreign reserve for Nigeria is meaningless to them since they are yet to have strong enough foreign reserves in all the countries including our famous Switzerland. How pathetic?

Under the umbrella of due process and rule of law, the freedom of information bill which would have enable the fight corruption has been swept under the carpet. The honourable or dishonourable reps kept citing one process or rule that has been breached to avoid debating or voting on the bill.

Yet again under the umbrella of due process and his cousin rule of law Andoakaa has refused to sanction the trial of one of the greatest fraud in the past and present administration chief Ibori in London.

Under the same Umbrella, Igbinedion another fraud of the past administration was let of with a slap on the wrist fine.

Under the umbrella of due process and rule of law, the report of the power probe which would have roped in some of the untouchables was allowed to rot. Uncle Musa claims he does not want to interfere with the affairs of the house citing rule of law. I wish it has always been like that.

Under the umbrella of rule of law and due process ... ... How far will this administration go to blackmail due process and rule of law before they are satisfied?

Poor things, rule of law and due process would be grieving where ever they are.

Now a human right organisation has called itself Campaigners for Democracy, Due Process and Rule of Law (CDDRL). The can as well call themselves cinderalla for all I care but it is not difficult for any one to know who is behind the masquerade? Who will not know the kind of human rights they will campaign for? Just like they have started campaigning for a terrorist in Anambra state, they will stop at nothing to destroy the rights of all humans in Nigeria. That is if we have rights in the first place. Otherwise the lawful votes of millions of Nigerians would have been allowed to count in all election processes.
Did they say democracy? A group that call themselves a campaign for democracy, due process and rule of law is supporting a man know for rigging election?

Where were they whe he was rigging election? Even though the election has been declared null and void.

Where were they when Andy was sponsoring mayhem against his own people or is that what they mean by democracy or demo-crazy?? Kidnapping a sitting governor and destruction of public property? Is that what we call democracy? Kidding me right?
We know who the human rights organisation is. We know the campaigners. We know them that will not let peace reign. Andy Uba, how much will be enough for you?
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/apr/28/national-28-04-2009-04.htm

Malaria: W’Bank Gives Additional $300m to Nigeria,What next?

2009-04-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

The World Bank has unveiled plans to provide an additional US$300 million in International Development Association (IDA) funding to expand Nigeria's efforts to control malaria.
Combined with Nigeria's initial ‘Malaria Plus’ package of US$180 million (approved in 2006), the bank’s support to Nigeria is expected to approach US$500 million, which would make it the largest single-country malaria control investment in the bank's history.
According to a news release made available to PANA, the global financial group’s Managing Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, made the announcement Saturday at the One World against Malaria Summit in Washington DC.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'adu Abubakar; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, capital city, John Onaiyekan; Minister of Health, Babatunde Osotimehin; and National Malaria Control Programme Coordinator, T.O. Sofola, also participated in the launch......

This is a very good development. May be we should start jumping up and shouting alleluia. Not very fast guys wait a minute! I say make you wait jare make I yarn!I wish to applaud the world bank for its initiative and its good natured programme that aims to make live better for the less priviledged. The article said that this $300m will bring up to $500m the amount they have released for this programme in Nigeria.That is quite impressive and commendable. However, it will be interesting to know that it is not only the World bank that have been donating towards the eradication and control of malaria in Nigeria. Companies like AstraZeneca have done their bit in areas of drug donations.Co-artem was donated by them and I think they still do. The chinese government had also in the past donated some drugs like Cotecxin.
Kudos to all of them. I just mentioned these other people to tell my jubilating friends that it is not yet uhuru. More than that has been spent in the past and it does not appear like there is any in road. The burden is still much and many die every minute. The surface is yet be scratched. The reason why we are wearing the expensive clothing and are still naked is that just as the announcement of the donation is made, the thieves in high places have done their mind calculation as to how much they would steal from the whole fund. Which means at the end of the day, the % of the fund that will get to the end users may be less that 20.
Let me give you an insight of what I mean. In a particular hospital, a large quantity of cotecxin was delivered to the hospital for free dispensing. First of all the amount of drugs which was supposed to be delivered was reduced and there was no explanations for that. Then when hospital had dispensed the half of the avalaible drugs, the remaining half disappeared to where they are sold at a price at which the poor people it is meant for cannot afford to buy. The hospital instituted a probe panel which did a nice job but the person indicted was given a slap on the wrist punishment and was let off.
This is exactly the way it happens from top to bottom. Those who are supposed to be the custodian of goodwill have turned to be the harbingers of evil just because of greed and avarice. When will these end? Some of them are hoarded by the men who are supposed to disbute them until they are expired if they are immediately convertible into money. Is this not wickedness?

The problem is that this thieves in high places are mentally poor and no matter how big the account balance is, they are always willing to steal more. There is no mercy in their hearts. People will be dying and their hard hearts will never condemn them. To them money is everything.
Why should we jubilate?

These monies stolen are used to fund campaigns and buy up arms and amunition with which to steal votes and kill those who resist. The issue of ecological fund which found its way from Plateau Sate to OBJ/Atiku campaign fund account easily comes to mind. We only heard about it because the wife refused her husband sex at night.

I am ashamed that a country as rich as Nigeria is still relying on western aid to tackle most of its internal problems and the leaders are not ashamed of that.

I am ashamed that it seems that even the so called intellectuals are caught up in the evil cycle of corruption violance. Does it mean that no one is willing to stand up for the masses? must everybody be selfish?
I am sure that there is not wrong with black race but I am still waiting for the present leaders to prove Lord Lugard wrong.

In 1926 he said of Nigerian or African '....He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility ...'
Even though his views may be seen as supremacist then and now, I am yet to see why what he said is wrong as it applies to Nigeria. He has been proved wrong in Ghana at least in part if not as a whole but not yet in Nigeria.
Successive governmets in Nigeria have failed to organise and manage but they like the exercise power. As a result they can do anything to gain power or remain in power. They can deep their hands into monies meant for the welfare of the less privilegded and will not be ashamed to stand up and say they are fighting malaria. The accumulate the money in other to be worshiped yet they are still men and they grow poorer mentally.

Just look at the recent election in ekiti state. To think that Ekiti has a large number of the most educated people in south west makes one wonder what hope the entity Nigeria holds. A little rerun of election is not possible with up 10 thousand security men as claimed by INEC. Ghana is there conducting free and fair election and allowing opposition to win. In Nigeria, one can only dream of such.

No wonder the Nigerian goverment has refused to condem Mugabe. I feel sick that even the $300m will not cure me. The only thing that could cure me is if justice allowed to walk freely around among this elite thieves, the shameless pen robbers and hypcrites. It is only when justice is punishement is served them the way they deserve that my heart will be at rest. I know you reading could be an instrument. wake up and be counted.
Nigeria will be better if only you say noooooooooo! If only you can ask questions!
The cries of the babies and people who die of preventable sicknesses will never let them including you reading if you are involved enjoy the money meant for their prevention.

Hey! bro do you still wanna jump up? Go ahead and i beat the drum for you.

S’Court to Constitute Full Panel on Uba’s Case:Andy Uba's Supreme Court?

2009-04-24T04:19:00.000-07:00

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that it would constitute a full panel to hear and determine the appeal brought by Chief Andy Uba asking the apex court to set aside its earlier judgment that ousted him as governor of Anambra State.
The incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, however said the issue in the appeal has been foreclosed, adding that any attempt to relitigate on the appeal is a mere abuse and a ploy to embarrass the court and the nation.
The decision of the court to constitute a full panel was based on the request by all the parties to the case who agreed that the best way to deal with the issue in the appeal was to have a full house of the court sitting.
Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu who presided over yesterday's sitting said there was no point wasting time on hearing the appeal piecemeal and that since parties already indicated readiness to have a full court, their request was granted.
On the panel that heard the constitutional.... The rest on the News update column

I am probably the least qualified to comment on the goings-on of our dear supreme court. However, the recent macabre dance which the Andy Uba has subjected the honourable justices of the supreme is bearing so much on my sanity. I have to say my mind as a layman not as a 'learned' man.
I was made to understand that the decision of a supreme court is final in any case. I have also observed that this has always been the case even outside Nigeria. I have not heard of a situation where the supreme court was forced to reverse itself. When that is done, it means that the supremacy of the 'supreme' is now questionable. it implies that no should expect a case to end just because the s'court has ruled. That is an invitation to unending litigation.

The council to the defendant in this appeal to me rightly pointed out that appealing to a supreme court is an abuse of court process and an embarrassment to the dignified institution. But who am I to say that the presiding justice was wrong by saying that no process has been abused.

It seems to me that someone is trying to talk from both sides of the mouth. I could remember that when this case of an appeal to set aside the the supreme court ruling was brought up about a year ago, the sitting justices promptly dismissed it as an affront to the presiding jury for alluding that their decision was flawed.(http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442&Itemid=47) They insisted that Andy's council should have objected initially not after the ruling. I am wondering what has changed? I want to believe that so much water has not passed under the bridge because I still hold the S'court judges to high esteem. However, it appears to me that the reverse rule of law tantrum which the Federal government has adopted recently with the help of the rogue who parades himself as the chief justice of the federation is closing in on this particular case.

I am thinking that PDP have assumed they will not be able to wrestle Anambra from AC or APGA and have resorted to rule by all means by an alternative and illegal means which will bring this nation to ridicule? Not as if we have not been ridiculed before by their spurious actions.

This present action also suggests that Yar'Adua may have regreted allowing the removal of Uba from Anambra.

The people of Anambra state do not want Andy Uba, why impose him on them? Why the desperation to rule those who do not appreciate you? Andy Uba has subjected and is still subjecting Anambara state people to avoidable hardship due his carefully ochestrated incidences of terror which has he unleashed on the indigenes. He does not care about them he cares about himself.

Andy let Anambra people be. You have stolen enough.

Nairaland!

2009-04-24T00:26:00.002-07:00

I was searching the web for a Nigerian forum sometime about 2 years ago when I came across the nairaland stuff. It was actually a topic 'Nigerians in the UK are so stingy' that I stumbled on.
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-62827.160.html. I registered and started posting. Before then, I had seen other Nigerian websites but they were not as exciting as nairaland. Besides, those ones appeared more like regional forums meant for people in the US. It was easy to be ignored on coming on. My romance with those never lasted. I also think that Seun's base in Nigeria has helped him alot in fashioning what we need. It goes a long way to show that more effort is required from those at home than abroad to move Nigeria forward.

I changed my username after I gave it out to a friend who refused to make hers available. She was probably older than I was in the forum and was sending topics to me which i enjoyed reading. It was a great way to reconnect with naija which I was missing. That could have been a probably one of the reasons why nairaland is as successful as it is today. It serves as a meeting point for all Nigerians home and abroad. Seun welldone.
I have learnt so much about many things and about the character of Nigerians because of my membership of nairaland community.
The positive among them is the willingness with which people volunteer information and services that would cost dearly if one is to source for it from the professionals. The services are given by the professionals and they demand no payment. A glaring example is the thread, Doctor in the house:free medical advice http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3465.0.html
Another one is the katikethi thread which has been awesome
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-104493.0.html

In the computer section, IT experts are there solving everyday problems for members and non members alike who eavesdrop through the window.Many people sell and buy in nairaland market place

Then in the romance section there are many naughty guys who ply their trade in the sexuality subsection. Guys like tumufulu a.k.a i_laugh have a field day in irritating all the sisters. The ultimate brash seems to have changed his ways. As at press time I was still evaluating the born again claim by chamotex who I baptised chamosex. The likes of sistawoman, rubbie and and tope 'including plus' amebo.no1 the hypermutant keep the romance section very lively. We have incurable flirts in the likes of daphoenx, tope and toyinrayo who would latch on every good looking bloke that passes by nairaland.
It is good to know that some real life pairing has actually taken off from all these virtual flirtation.
Then in the fashion section spikecylinderwoman stamps her authority. Her style is something to behold. The thief of hearts also holds sway in the fashion section though she is versatile. In the past, she was always found where there was trouble. It seems that the withdrawal of her catalyst (militia)another supermutant in her time from nairaland has reduced the temperature in her chambers.

In the tribalism section, some peeps hold sway! 'not gonna mention any name. However such thread has shown us the depth and the gravity of fragmentations that is pulling our dear country apart because nairaland is a microcosym of Nigeria.

In the religious section we have the athiests like huxley and mazaje probing into what they think they know. The testimony of the likes of pilgrim is also remarkable and revealing but that has only fanned the embers of hatred between the christians and the moslems just like we have in the real world.

The criticism of the decadence called Nigerian leadership in the politics section is something interesting and thought provoking. Some good ideas have spun off from the constructive and destructive argument that fly from pillar to post. The Nigerian developement movement which is a budding NGO was conceived in nairaland.com

The almighty auto section where the likes of Viperman,Inspired.m, Carshopper, babeisme etc hold sway is a full bloon automarket which has enabled many guys to own a car of their choices with a reasonable level of transparency. With the mandatory Vin number disclosure introduced by Seun, peeps can at least have an idea of the car they wanted to buy. Siena with his immense knowledge of automobiles like many others has blessed many with his contributions. Busy_body is a woman among men in the auto section I will not forget her(her gender is still a subject of controversy).

Then comes the sports section where the suppoters of the big 4 in the English premiership are locked up in the fight for supremacy with their keyboards. While the real job takes place in the respective stadia 2 times a week, the sports war in nairaland goes on indefinitely. If Sauron is not tauting the gunners, debosky will be seeking the scalps of bluediva. Cristalz (miss Manu) on the other hand is always on everybody's neck as long as they are not OT worshippers.You can never beat the euphoria these generate. Talk about the armchair analyst that flood the section.
This is a spectacle!

The joke section with Sam milla, romade the earthworm, iteun and many others is a site to behold. You cannot go there and come back with a frowned face even if you have not had sex for 2 years!
When these activities, all of which i cannot narrate here are put together, it gives birth to the positive nairaland, a beehive of activity and fun, a fun joint made in the internet by Seun.

However, there is the other side of it which is not totally bad. The constant bickering, fighting and name calling which at times degenerates to cursing ones parents is undesirable. But who says everything has to be desirable in a society.If that happens, I guess the world will be boring.

Seun was very authocatic. He hates criticism but I guess that he has softened a bit with age. Two years can make a lot of difference. He has also learnt alot. But i must admire his fighting spirit and his business sense. He is an achiever and goes for what he wants not minding whose ox is gored. He has banned me twice but who cares? agaba123 is still agabaI23. can you spot the difference?

Thumbs down for Yar'Adua! Telling us what we know!

2009-04-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

The British All Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria has expressed fear over the country’s capability to be among the top twenty world economies by 2020.
This was contained in a damning report made available to Daily Sun on Wednesday.

The report is based on the principal findings of an investigation by the group’s lawmakers who toured the country recently.
The report blamed the leadership of the country for the poverty pervading the country. Curiously, it also blamed some Nigeria’s international partners even as it stopped short of mentioning names.

It stressed the need to shift government accountability from oil revenue to the people just as it called for the implementation of electoral reforms and the commencement of voter registration without further delay.

It expressed fear over the success of 2011 general elections due to “corruption” and “mismanagement” – considered as twin factors corroding the fabrics of the nation’s socio-economic structure. Also, it called for “faster reform of the Nigeria Police Force with great training and better equipment.” For the rest of the news, check out the news update column

The British All Party Parliamentarian Group on Nigeria (BAPPGN) are telling us what we all know which we probably have failed to admit. If we have admitted that, then it may mean we have decided not to do anything about it. But come o, do we have to wait for an outsider to tell us that our house is on fire? Are we not feeling the heat?
Look at their list ills
1.Lack of accountability and tranparency -Abi we no know?
2.Human rights violation- full berekete
3.Non steady power supply- who no know?
4.Political manipulation- you may be one of the machinaries
5.Dependence on oil revenue.- old story

The verdict: All these anormaly were blamed on bad leadership. Abi we no know?
We all know about these. But tell me bros, who is transparent in Nigeria? In as much as the 'gbese' lies squarely on the doorstep of the federal, state and local government, I think the society that produced the occupant of such position will have some questions to answer.
There a saying that a mango tree cannot produce an apple. A rotten society cannot throw up righteous leaders over night.

A church leader for instance is shouting alleluia with his mind set on the size of the offertory collection.
A leader of a village student group is only interested in how he would embezzle the money he will generate during his tenure. In the universities where the cream of youths are trained for leadership, the student leaders are out to ammass wealth at the expense of the student organisation. A guy who served as the president of my faculty student body embezzled so much money and was not smart enough to conseal all his path. The student body moved for impeachment, but after a big wig of the faculty who is also may have compromised came and spoke to the students, everybody except one person backed down. The report of the probe panel which I was member of was shelved. Everyone walked like there was no problem because noone wanted the wahala of the faculty godfather. I refused to backdown but one man's vote cannot do anything. The university is a microcsym of the society and I am not surprised that the same episode plays out in the general polity. Anyone can do anything and get free as long as he or knows those that matter. How do we move forward when we have people who are above the law? Where are the brave men of our time who can stand up for justice and fair play? Have they all intimidated all of us?

This guys (BAPPGN) are crying about the already rigged 2011 election. Many of us are not away that the rigging has started. But they cannot rigg these election without our consent. We sell our mandate for a bag of salt of may be a token and pay for it all our lives. Which one is better? Some have actually adopted the 'I do not care' attitude but can it help? They say that it takes only the silence of the goodman for evil to flourish. Many of us complain when the corruption does not favour us only to look the other when they are given an appointment. That is why I said that the society is already sick. The orientation is about money. There is selfishness, greed and avarice that is why everyone is devising his own method to outwit the other. Those who cannot take up arm and rub the innocent in broad daylight.

Look at the civil servant who comes to work at 8am, leaves office at 9am for his personal business only to come back at 3:30pm and stay in office till 6pm to claim over time. Files that are passed to his office that requires a his attention will be there for over 2 months waiting for the owner of the file to come and bribe him to do his work. Is it not unfair? How will the system work? At the end of the month he is paid. Is he not a rubber ripping where he has not sowed?

The NEPA people give constant power when they about to share bill only to relapse after 3 days. They will then engage in indicriminate disconection of people's lines. In other to collect reconnection fees. In a certain South eastern state, i learnt that the regional manager would tell them that he needs like N4m from each state. This N4m is not the revenue going into company accoun., No it is the one that they will share. Sometimes they raise the amount. How do they do that? They give estimation bills to those who even have functional meters.
80% of the money so generated goes into private account of the GM while the remaining is sharwed for the boys. How can we have steady power supply when the operators only care about themselves. The NEPA staff most often do not live on their salaries. They live on bribe money. Unfortunately the public applaud them and people scramble to get employed in NEPA so that they will do the same. At a particular point in time, I wanted to object to the status quo but the ordinary Nigerian who would always take it as God's will and pray did not see any reason for that. I had no support and I backed out. So much money is generated by NEPA but non is used to maintain services. Is that how to live? Nigerians are existing not living.

No body can change Nigeria for us. Not even the international bodies can. We can only do that if want.

It is we that can demand accountability from our leaders.
It is we that can ensure credidle election
It we that will refuse to be bullied
It is we that will refuse to bribe or be bribed
It is we that will look for alternative source of income instead of waiting for God and govt. We have a brain that can do wonders but have refused to use it.
No other person can do this but we- You and I

Commercialisation of research Findings!

2009-04-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

As the oil industry continues to crash, the global economic meltdown persist and Nigeria still depends heavily on importation of almost everything it needed to run its economy, its vision to become one the most vibrant global economies by 2020 can best be described as ‘moonlight tales’ except it begins to take the issue of industrialization seriously.

The first step would be to look inwards and pick up products of research by local scientist and commercialize them. Not commercializing means that we are importing everything we need: clothing, furniture, electronics etc but the one that is even taking more money is that the few industries doing some form of production imports all machines they require and this is valued at hundreds of millions in foreign exchange every year. Just think of generators as an example.

All the generators that are used in this country are all imported, all the grinding mills, think of any equipment. Some of these are simple equipments that our researchers can work on and produce locally. If they are produced locally it means you can buy them locally and the producer can employ more people so attacking unemployment problem and creating wealth because they can make more money and invest in other areas and most importantly ..... Please read the rest in the news update cloumn

Probably their is someone who has some free mind to spare in Uncle Musa's govt. This one probably has decided not to use all his brain to plot how to loot the nation. I am assuming he is sincere in what he has said. The saying Joseph Schumpeter that innvation is the motor of devlopment regarding the role of technical progress in the economic growth of a nation cannot be ignored if Nigeria is to move forward. During the world economic forum in Davos 2008, the Intel chief said, ' Everywhere I go, I have always seen the same thing: a corelation between innovation, new ideas and success of the economy'
This is the koko of the ministers interview abi na article is this: 'Cann’t Nigeria put something on the global table? Must we remain a nation that just consumes what others have produced? Now that the oil industry is crashing do we still have the money to sustain the huge importation? But Nigeria will gain a lot if it commercializes some of the products of local research and innovation'.

That question in italics should be answered by the educational institutions. Assuming this guy is serious, I am sure he will be disappointed if he wants to look inside for some commercialisable research findings. Not that he may not find any but he may be dismayed that majority of what is called research are cooked up results. Sorry to say this but I learnt authoritatively of a lecturer who copied the work of another researcher and published word for word in a journal. When the orinal author complained to the head of department, he was told to let it be. I cannot laugh!

When will the lecturers engage in research when most of them are busy chasing after their female students and victimising those who refused their advances? When they are not doing that they are busy copying other peoples work without referencing and go ahead to publish them as their book which ofcourse are sellable only in their faculties? They sell these to students at cut throat prices. It is all about money forgeting that genuine research spins money as well. How can they can have time for research?

Where will the research work to commercialise come from? I went for an update lecture in my field and which was mandatory in order to renew my professional registration in 2006. One of the courses which was tagged 'recent advances in ....' was quoting methods which were in use in the 70s. The course teacher was refering to methods which are about being faced out in europe as still being developed for future use. As at 2006, the most recent reference in the paper she wrote was a paper written in 1989.

How will such a lectuer who cannot even update herself update the attendants. such are the people the honourable minister will be looking up to for some some commercialisbale research findings! oops!

And to even think that most of the present students in our secondary and higher institution of learning glorify 'expo' makes one wondetr who will do the researches in the first place. Research findings I am sure do not come from lazy students who are aided by their parents to obtain exam papers in advance and cheat. They come from curious students who want to find out something new. It is all about interest. At the moment the interst is in money, stealing and making it big! No body is against making it big but make it the right way. Nigeria needs a pride of place in the world. Like the minister, I say, can't we put anything on the global table?

I was looking at a thread in nairaland where participants of most recent JAMB exams were boasting of how they saw the exam questions days before the exam day. And even at that one will wonder why only one person could score up to 310.
It is very crazy. God save Nigeria. There is need for a re-orientation

It will be unfair if I group all the academics as money and women mongers. There are some few exceptions who are trying to make a difference. Talk about Prof Okey Esimone whose research prowress has endeared him to the western world. He is presently undertaking a research project which is meant to be commercilaised in the US. he developed the research in Nigeria. He is based in Nigeria. The likes of Prof. M. U. Adikwu is one of a kind. His ability to make things out of nothing has given him many international awards. He is presently working under this honourable minister. 'Just mentioned the few I know. You might want to mention some in the comment column lets take a stock and see what we have in Nigeria not outside.

It is high time research in our unuversities is given its due place. Let the lecturers and the VCs stop embezlling funds meant for research. Those funds are meant for masters and PhD scholarships. I was talking with a friend from Ghana and she was surprised that unlike in Ghana Phd students mostly sponsor themsevles in Nigeria. I do not know for sure but she made me believe that in ghana there is sponsorship for PhD. I do not know of anything like that in Nigeria that is functional. How do one expect a student to perform at his best when he is struggling to pay his school fee, buy his laboratory chemicals and what have you and possibly take care of his family. Even the best cannot perform optimaly in such an arrangment. And the worst of it all is that when they present seminars they are expected to entertain the audience from their pockets. They are also expected to give some money to the examinars both internal and external. What an aberation. I can go on. Some have been made to buy fuel for their superbvisors just for them to come and see their work which at the end of the day it is the lecteurers that publish using their names as the main authors.

Mr minister, there is a long way to go but we will get there if you are sincere!

Yar'Adua and fruitless probes!

2009-04-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

In a renewed onslaught against graft, President Umaru Yar’Adua may have approved the investigation of the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Somo Wyo, and officials of the Ministry of Power, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Universities Com-mission (NUC), and Nati-onal Office of Technology Acquisition (NOTAP) for violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the alleged breach of due process. Sources, however, said he has been released and ordered to continue to report to the commissionRead more under the update column

This sounds familiar. Doesn't it? It has always been from one probe to another since June 2007. How many convictions? The power project has been probed, no indictments yet. Infact the final report ran into some troubled water. Ribadu was probed, Soludo probed, ElRufai probed.

Apart from the present kangaro probe, one thing is common with all those probed. They were all from the past administration. The projects that were probed were also from past administration.
Probably some of those in the present list would have been appointed during OBJ's regime. I guess one thing is for sure, this govt knows it is not performing. At least the past govt is far better than the present. The cabals in Aso Rock know that for sure. In stead of them trying to perform to at least the same standard, they have decided to rubbish the little achievements of the past administration by attacking the focal points of it accomplishments and also destroying the reputations of the shining stars of that regime. How pathetic?

I am even suspecting that the Northern Oligarchy who feels short changed are embarking on this present 30-man probe to sack people and thereby create chances that will be filled up by their cronies.
Do not get me wrong, if there is anybody found guilty of corruption, let him be prosecuted. I am only skeptical because it is only the falsified reports meant to tarnish the images of performers that are made public. A regime that abhors achievers! This probe party has been going on for 2 years with no clear indictments. Do you blame me for being skeptical?
Come to think of it, the fact that the likes of Ibori are still holding reigns in this present government still calls into question the moral behind the so called probes.
Yar'Adua Upgrade!

NCC and Chinese pirating firm!

2009-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

A week after the Nigerian Copyright Commission carried out a night raid on three optic disc plants in Lagos, its Zonal Manager, Lagos Operational Office, Mr. Emeka Ogbonna, has given details of the experience the team had at Akina Music International Limited, caught in the process of illegal mass production of suspected pirated products.
Three people, including the Managing Director, Mr. Sook Allen, a Chinese national from Hong Kong were arrested at the company formerly called Benrit Outlook Ltd, Ogbonna said.

According to the NCC official, the team had a tough time before it could gain entry into Akina’s premises in the course of the raid carried out with mobile policemen between 11 pm and 5am.

“We were refused entry for over one hour,” Ogbonna said. “But because we knew work was going on in the factory, we stood our ground in front of the gate.Please read the full story on the news update column

They move into Nigeria in droves. They come with their kits and kings. It is easy for them to get Visa into Nigeria because they are 'expats'. They were expats working in farms and at the worst conditions possible to humans. Some were factory workers. But when they come into Nigeria they are celebrated. Their government on the other hand is raping the national for a mere pat on the back. They decide what the government gives them and they also decide what they give back.

What a sorry state? I am not against international relation but these guys are screwing the corruption hole in the high places to rip off the country while we have nothing to show for it.
Recently we were told that the satellite which they launched for Nigeria went missing. Then we were made to understand that they would replace it at no cost due to insurance cover. Few weeks later we read that the Nigerian govt has agreed to co-fund the replacement to a tune of several billions.
What happened to the insurance? Do we not deserve to be told what has gone wrong? May be the chinese government which is known to be autocratic has intimidated Yar'Adua to accepting or sharing responsibility. They would have put up one funny explanation to the politicians who know nothing about the project since uncle Musa has preferred to use politicians in place of technocrats.

I will not be surprised if this so called Akina guy is let off without any charge.
Even if he was charged, he would surely know some palms to grease who will let him go without being punished.
Sometime ago it was reported that the $8bn railway project contracted to a chinese firm was discovered to be fraud. The government's suspension of the project did not go down well with the Chinese authority not minding the corruption tag on the contract. Who cares as long as they get some money out of it. You may want to see these as neo-colonialism. It is clear that some Nigerians are benefiting from this scam just like it was during the slave trade. But why should the rest fold their arms and watch the house burn to ashes?
An Indian business man representing one pharmaceutical company one time told us that he likes doing business in Nigeria because it only takes a little money changing hands and on will be allowed to do what one wants.

I wait to see when this will end. I hope it will in my lifetime!

Yar'Adua, do not sell Nigeria to the chinese and chinese government. We are a sovereign country for crying out loud.

How football Came to Africa and Nigeria- History you may want to know!

2009-04-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

FOR the third year running three English sides have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
English football dominance at club level is so great that world ruling body Fifa wants to rewrite EU employment laws to limit how many foreigners can be on a team.
When Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal kick off in the semis it would be hard to pick 11 English players from ALL the starting line-ups. We've tried it.

But it was English sailors, soldiers, railway engineers and academics of Victorian England who took football around the world.

That’s why there are clubs called RIVER PLATE and Boca JUNIORS in Argentina and GRASSHOPPERS and YOUNG BOYS in Switzerland.
After the FA issued its first laws of the game in 1863, English railway workmen took a set to Argentina. They formed Buenos Aires FC in 1865.
River Plate was formed in 1901 after a founder saw English players having a kickabout using crates marked The River Plate as goalposts. Boca Juniors set up in 1905. In 1882 Uruguay got its first club, set up in capital Montevideo by an English lecturer.

Top teams were River Plate, Albion FC, Montevideo Wanderers and Liverpool FC. The last two still play.

English sailors played in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1887. The local Petrograd team lost to English residents team Ostrov. The footballing empire also stretched from Brazil to Ghana, Iran, India, China and Japan.
In 1872 the first French club started in Le Havre after locals saw our sailors playing. German universities took it in 1875 via students from Oxford. Grasshopper-Club Zurich was formed in Switzerland in 1886 by English student Tom Griffith.

In Spain, Huelva was formed in 1889 by British miners and Real Madrid was started in 1897 by graduates from Cambridge and Oxford.

FC Barcelona was set up in 1899 with English founders. In Turin, Italy, Juventus began in 1897 and changed strip to match Notts County’s six years later.

And Inter Milan — formed in 1908 — have even worn the cross of St George on their strip.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/article2381423.ece
SOURCE:

3 Nigerian Banks Named among World’s Biggest

2009-04-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Three Nigerian banks – First Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Intercontinental Bank Plc – have made the Forbes list of top 2000 world biggest companies.
The trio, according to Forbes Magazine, are joining 248 other companies around the world to displace same number of companies that featured on the list in the 2008 ranking.
For Nigeria, the listing of these banks on the current Global 2000 is a cause for cheers. First Bank Plc is ranked at 1,375, while the UBA comes on the list at number 1,560. Intercontinental Bank Plc completes Nigeria’s showing at 1,798.
Explaining the methodology adopted in arriving at the final compilation of the 2000 biggest companies, Forbes said that companies must have a publicity traded stock in order to qualify for the Global 2000..... please read the rest in the news update column

This is positive. We hope more will make it next year. This is probably one of the benefits of the consolidation at least for UBA and IBPLC. I am not sure if FB merged with any bank. They have always been solid. But they all benefited from the out come of consolidation as the new generation banks gave them a run for their money which made them change their old business attitude. More products were available for sale and so on and more marketers rolled out. I once asked a first bank staff why I was no longer seeing him in the office and he told me that this new generation bank have made it impossible for them to just sit down there. They had to market their bank. I was like wow!

I want to believe that they were able to break into the list because of the effect of credit crunch on some international companies. Which means that the level of exposure of probably was less in Nigeria than it is elsewhere if the oil price did not go downhill.

What about intercontinental bank and the rumour of it going under? It appears it was all about de-marketing which is very unfortunate.

Kudos to IBPLC. I could remember it was the only bank that its shares kept rising when others were already biting the dust until it could not hold on any longer. Although they have got their on share of the panic in the market, it held its own for a long time that I ones wondered why its candlestick pattern remained green when there were blood every where around it.
Nigeria will do well. Tell Yar'Adua to face the business now! he should stop the damage he is doing to our economy.
Where are the patriots?

Why foreign varsities are in love with Nigerians – Mr Cullen's marketing Gimics

2009-04-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

The International Director, University of Essex, United Kingdom, Mr. Paul Cullen, has said that the international perspective Nigerians bring to research and the uncommon brilliance they display are some of the reasons foreign universities desire to have them in their institutions.

Cullen, who said this while addressing the press during his education tour to Nigeria, said Nigerian students in the university and the Whittle College, UK, had proved to be a force to reckon with.

He, however, called on the Nigerian government to diversity the nation‘s economy by giving priority to agricultural development. Read the rest please on the date line column

I think this is another round of deception from mr Cullen. They will go to Asia and tell them the same. Your students introduce international dimension bla bla. Other international students probably introduce local dimension I guess.
Mr Cullen, we do not need you to tell us we are brilliant.
We need you to reduce the heavy decrapancy between the home fee and the foreign fees.

As if to say the extra £7000 paid is not enough, foreign students are now required to pay immigration tax. It is unfair!
I once applied for a PhD position in a certain university. The contact person sent a mail which he also copied me to the HOD.
In the mail he was trying to convince him to accept me for the project as the money I would pay will contribute to a certain fund. He did not think it matter if I knew.
Ok UK has a scholarship programme for China, Japan, India and some other Asian countries. Why not one with Nigeria? The so called commonwealth Scholarship will soon be faced if it has not been faced out yet. If we are that important to them, why will they not have a package for nigeria students?
Very soon if it sells through the home fees will increased and so will be the foreign fees. I heard that the little £1K bursary may also be faced out. Not sure how true these are but nothing is impossible. Schools are credible businesses and they should not deceive us with all these praise. Anyway the eggheads that steal our money will always fall for them and ship our money to them instead of building a formidable school system.

Nigeria shall rise again. We have the brains, we have the materials. We only need a leader!

Sexual harrassment of Randy Reps?

2009-04-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

What is sexual harassment? Who is a culprit and which of the sexes harasses the other?
Before now, in Nigeria as in many other Third World countries, there was the common assumption that only men, particularly those in positions of authority, were confirmed suspects of sexual harassment of women. But with the economic situation biting harder, what used to be the norm is fast giving way.
However, Sunday Sun investigation revealed that one of the institutions witnessing high profile sexual harassment in today’s Nigeria is the National Assembly. It is now a common practice for many male legislators in both the upper and lowers chambers of the federal legislature to seek protection from sexual harassment from all kinds of ladies that throng their offices and at “inconvenient” times.

Although the National Assembly is not like the executive arm of government where ministries and agencies dole out contracts that would attract business-minded people, the way ladies of no fixed addresses troop there has become alarming.
The situation was initially not helped by the lack of official residential accommodation for Senators and members of the House of Representatives due to the government’s monetization policy. A lot of the legislators had to seek temporary abodes in hotels without their families, thereby exposing some of them to women of little or no virtue. read more at News update column

I am just wondering if these so called women would be there if the senators do not look for them? No one plies his trade where there is no business? I agree that there are some men of integrity who would want nothing to do with them but I do not think it is cheaper to stay in a hotel than rent a house. Initial lack of accomodation is no excuse!

Paying to get phone numbers? Desparate moves! Why did the senator bother to invite her to his office? he wanted to find out how she got his number. Tell that to . . .
And he parted with some money . . .hehe story for another day.
I guess is P-square that is playing out here! Do me I do you, man no go vex.
Let them stop complaining. They are the ones that led the way in the first placeeeee.

EFCC: Executive Friends of Condemned Criminals

2009-04-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

The word EFCC used to send shivers down the spines of all and sundry except those with no skeletons in there cupboards. The Internet fraudsters dreaded the name like death. The civil servants thought they were monsters while politicians except those in Uncle sege's inner circle avoided them like the plague. Such was the veracity and the passion with which the Economic and financial crime commission EFCC went after criminals both in low and high place. ( I remember they also witch hunted some enemies of Uncle Sege )
EFCC was such a terror to the fraudsters and government thieves that even when Ribadu was no longer the Chairman, his presence at a certain government office in the North disorganised the day's work. The staff of that establishment ran helter skelter such that it took the intervention of the masquerade himself who assured them he was there for only an academic exercise and not to arrest anyone to calm the frayed nerves of the employees.

In one occasion I had to pass the night in a cybercafe to do night browsing. Before I was admitted, the operators hesitated because I was not a regular face. They sized me up before accepting my payment. It was later in the night that I realised why they were sceptical about me because the cybercafe was filled up with 419ners.

EFCC then at least elicited fear in the mind of the fraudsters.
But not anymore, the present EFCC which I think stands for Executive friends of Condemned criminals, does not have such swagger. The common criminal understands that presently, the operatives are as docile as the lamband as bendable as hot iron. Such aura which drove most 419 operators out of business or to Togo, Ghana and Ivory coast has disappeared. I feel that most of them when the sense that the coast is clear will come back. Which way Nigeria?

Politicians are having a free day because the once ferocious lion has been tamed.
Uncle rule of law how could you allow this transformation?

Ibori the untouchable! The Unfolding drama

2009-04-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

Corruption: EFCC removes Ibori from list of ex-governors on trial
There are strong indications that the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might have tactically discontinued the corruption trial of a former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

Presidency sources said that Ibori‘s name did not appear on the list of former governors still being tried by the EFCC for corruption while in office.

But the names of former governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Orji Kalu (Abia) Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Sani Ahmed (Zamfara), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo), Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State were still on the list.

Also, it was gathered that the EFCC had appealed the ruling of the Federal High Court Enugu, on a former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

The court had slammed a fine of N3, 579,524.16 on Igbinedion for his failure to declare the said amount found in his Guaranty Trust Bank account. read more on news update column.

Few days ago I talked about the many sins of uncle Musa. In that commentary, I alluded to some corrupt governors who were supposed to be under docks but are now wining and dining with Aso because they bankrolled Uncle Musa's election. Chief amongst them is Chief Ibori the mafia lord!
It is no longer news that was the major hand behind the ordeals of Ribadu who dared to bring him to book for all the money he stole from Delta state.
Now the story is, his name is no longer in the list of governors under trial. Reports had it that over a year ago outlined the following strategies for the ultimate humiliation of Ribadu for hounding and arresting him.
1.Remove him from EFCC
2. Demote him
3. Sack him from the police
4. Jail him
Out of the 4, only the last one has not been actualised. This report came out immediately after he was forced to Jos.
Ibori's hatchet men are everywhere in the country such that one report has it that the effectiveness and spread of his security network is better than that of the SS and the NIA put together.
Which way Nigeria?
A country where rogues are knighted. Just like a scene in the movie casino that starred De Niro and Sharon stone.
De Niro was given an award for his evil and heartless casino business in Vegas and he quipped, 'here I am receiving awards for a job which I would be in jail for doing back home'

This unfolding drama is sure an ill wind that blows no one any good. Aso Rock stop this madness!
Uncle Rule of law what a shame!

Vindictive Politics

2009-04-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Atiku’s security escorts withdrawn
The face-off between ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has snowballed into the presidency’s withdrawal of security escorts attached to the former number two citizen.

A press statement issued by the Media Assistant to Atiku, Garba Shehu drew a link between the security details’ recall and the former vice president’s recent criticism of government’s handling of the electoral reform and the perceived near absence of governance in the country. See News update for full gist!

Commentary!
I was thinking that the vindictive politics played by OBJ left Aso rock with him. The present action attributed to Uncle Musa reminded me that the witch hunt politics which ran the likes of Ribadu ragged was not a flash in the pan. I was so wrong to think Uncle Musa is not power hungry. How wrong can we all be to have believed he was reluctant to run as president?
Now I know that it was not only OBJ who is averse to dissenting voices but the whole the PDP Mafia is. These are people who can even kill their mothers to remain in power.
What a shame to Nigeria? I am not sure if it is not legal for a former vice-president to have a security detail. If it is not legal, why did they give him a security cover in the first place? If it is not illegal, why is Uncle rule of law breaking the law he swore to protect?
It is unfair. Atiku may be a criminal but he is innocent until he is convicted. Give him the respect due to him as a former vice president of our great nation. Restore his details!

Saraki: PDP Govs Back Yar’Adua for Second Term (on what basis?)

2009-04-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

A big boost has come for President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s second term as it has emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have thrown their weight behind the alleged bid.
Chairman of the Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki confirmed the PDP governors’ support for the President’s second term in an interview with THISDAY on Tuesday night in Abuja.
Saraki also denied that he was nursing a plan to contest the 2011 presidential election. To read more, check the link on news update

The question here is on what basis are they supporting him for a second tenure?
What has Yar'Adua achieved to earn a unianimous endorsement from the governors if that is true? I was not happy with OBJ because of his vindictivenes but at least he was able to get some things done. He had some visible passion to move the nation forward even if his own greed and avarice was pulling him back. He got some things done. That I cannot say of of uncle Musa. Although I will blame Obj for imposing Musa on us, I will blame Musa for deciding to be a figure head and a subject to his subjects. Yar'Adua has allowed the corrupt officers he surrounded himself with to run the affairs of the country at the detriment of the masses. For instance,
Yar'adua stopped the integrated power project despite the amount of money that has been plunged into it without a replacemnet.
Yar'adua has reveresed almost all the economic gains made under OBJ. Although someone may blame the global economic downturn on the present woes of Nigerians, it would have been the same in the abscence of it. Even OBJ in his characteristic way alluded to the fact that Yar'adua has not performed in a BBC program hadtalk technically refusing to accept the blame for his imposition of Yar'Adua on Nigerians. According him, it takes more than being good to govern well.
Under Yar'Adua, the hunter has become the hunted because those who were hunted due to their criminal offences now dine and wine with the president. Some of them helped in bankrolling his election into power. Therefore they are now untouchables.
The shining stars who illuminated OBJ's cabinet are those who have been marked for slaughter. What do they intend to achieve? Only one thing comes to mind and that is to maintain the status quo where corruption reigns supreme and one's ability to loot attracts honours.
He promised a credible election, but turned down the recommendations that will lead to one. Who says we have democracy yet?
The next presidential election is about 2 years away but the governors have decided on who to nominate? Where does that leave other presidential hopefuls in the same party.A bill for internal democracy was proposed and PDP killed it.
By the way why won't the governors endorse him since his enorsement will also mean their endorsement and the looting continues.
Which way Nigeria? It baffles me that this selected thieves who pride themselves as our leaders are so much at home with the state of the nation that all they care about is how much they can steal. They care not what happnens to the entity Nigeria.
Which way Nigeria?
Nigerians rise up! This is your country! You either make it work or the cabals will ruin it for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-05T16:52:00.001-07:00

Custom Search

2009-04-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is the spectacle from which the name of the Nigeria's seat of power was derived.

2009-04-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

2009-04-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

Guys I love this guys! This is Nigeria at work. We are good at what we do!
Up Naijaboyz

We are doing well

2009-03-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

There is never a day without something good about Nigeria.

You gotta love the country

Students record technological breakthroughs at Zaria Academy

2009-03-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

The current clamour in the country is the replacement of theoretical learning in schools with functional education that will make students self-reliant and wealth creators rather than mere job seekers. Today, most schools are far from meeting this expectation.
But what students are doing at Zaria Academy, Kaduna State definitely beams a ray of hope on the beleaguered education sector.

At the secondary school, students are not just learning introductory technology, physics and the sciences theoretically, they are actually using their knowledge of the subjects to make various technological inventions, using available local materials.

Useni Musa Salisu, a sixteen year-old JSS 3 student, is one of the students of the school who has made a technological breakthrough by inventing an Inverter which is used to generate power. The device, which uses a rechargeable battery, can power a fan, a television sets, globes as well as a boiling ring.

Interestingly, this is not the only project Useni is involved in. Currently, he is working on a radio transmitter which will be in use within Zaria Academy when completed.

Useni’s best subject is Introducing Technology and he intends to study Electrical/Electronics Engineering in the University or Polytechnic.

Useni, who hails from Bukure Local Government Area of Kano State, does not come from an affllient family. Infact, he is one of the 30 indigent students who are enjoying the scholarship that was introduced by the institution’s proprietor, Dr Haroun Adamu.

A sum of N500,000 is spent on each of the scholarship awardees per year which takes care of their tuition, transportation, feeding, books and uniform.

Similarly, fifteen year-old Hammed Ibrahim, an SS 1 student teamed up with Hassan Hubu, a 16 year-old SS2 student, to invent an automatic water purifying system.

Also, sixteen year-old Al-Amin Halliru, who hails from Katsina State invented the automatic time keeper which the school uses in announcing its various activities to students.

Al-Amin’s best subject is physics, and like Useni, he also wants to study Electrical/Electronics Engineering after his secondary school education. Solar system is also being used to teach geography and geophysics in the college.

The students also proved to be on top of Technical Drawing as a school subject given the drawings of building plans they did which are architectural master pieces.

These students are carrying out these feats because of the support and the conducive environment provided for them by the school. While all the components of the students’ projects are provided by the school, electronics workshop, technical drawing workshop, science and computer laboratories are well equipped, with modern facilities.

All these have contributed to the high academic standard for which the school is known.
According to the Principal of the school, Mr Ungbo Wuyahku, “six pioneer students of the Academy have graduated from Malaysian Universities and are currently pursuing their post-graduate studies in Britain and America.

Reports from other alumni show that they are doing very well in the various universities, both at home and abroad. The 2006/2007 set recorded a 92.5% pass in SSCE and performed excellently in UME. Academy students participated in NNPC and STAN - organised competitions and they were rated overall 3rd best nationwide.

The Academy has been made a centre to present candidates for Cambridge International Examination (CIE). In the same vein, JAMB has also included the Academy on the list of its examination centres.”

The attainment of these academic feats is however made possible by the strict enforcement of discipline among staff and students.

According to the headteacher’ the use of mobile phones by students are prohibited to enable them concentrate in classrooms, to prevent them from communicating with people outside the school premises and to prevent the use of handsets in perpetrating examination fraud, adding that no fewer than nine students were expelled from the school last year for illegal possession of handsets.

In spite of these giant strides, the Academy is also set to introduce the abacus mental arithmetic to its students, a method which helps in the development of the mental faculty of the child.

Mr. Emmanuel Udoh, the school’s mathematics teacher, just returned from Malaysia where he had gone to learn the technique of teaching Mental Arithmetic which in which is vogue among over 40 countries of the world.

He is to train other teachers on the use of the abacus calculation method which is to be test-run first at the Academy before inaugurating it at the national level.

Udoh speaks on what he experienced in Malaysia: “Mental arithmetic is a tool being used to develop the child as it develops his or her power of thinking, power of observation and power of memory.”

Mr. Wuyahku, who also visited Malaysia, says of the tremendous advantages of teaching the mental arithmetic in Nigeria: “It is a universal concept of arithmetic. It develops children memorization ability, exposes them to brain development, gives them photographic memory and it removes the phobia of learning arithmetic as a subject.”

Zaria Academy was established in 1998 as a boys’ secondary school. But, the construction of a girls’ section of the school is on-going and the first set of girls is to be admitted in September this year.

This move, according to Dr Adamu, was informed by the need to expand access to education of girls in the north.
Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/31339/79/

Nigerian Scientist is admitted to the Board of Global Health Research

2009-03-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

"For wise men nothing that exists, remains unseen; only the artists, not the fool Discovers that which nature hides.’’ — Filippo Brunelleschi, seminal figure of the Renaissance.
“I work for the BBC World Service Radio programme, Outlook. We’re a daily human interest programme with a 42 million audience spread around the globe.

•Professor Cyril EnwonwuI’m putting together a piece about Noma, and was wondering if I might be able to have a chat with you about Noma, today or tomorrow.’’
—Alex Mansfield, BBC World Service, 805 CB Bush House, Strand, London.

“Oro- facial noma, often referred to simply as noma, is the disease known as the ‘cancrum oris’. Noma from the Greek verb, which means ‘to devour’, is a facial gangrene that develops inside the mouth and spreads rapidly to the surface of the face. Victims appear as though their faces are literally being eaten from the inside out.’’
—Professor Cyril Enwonwu, DDS, ScD, Phd, to America Mi Dream, on his return from his Sokoto field study, Summer, 2005.

“Noma is a dreaded scourge that devours the faces of its young victims, particularly in developing countries but is easily preventable with proper nourishment and oral health care.

Often called the ‘Face of Poverty’, it typifies diseases that result from complex interactions of malnutrition, infections, compromised immunity and inflammation.

Enwonwu’s work on diseases from malnutrition is beneficial to extremely impoverished people in sub - Saharan Africa, Asia , South Africa and the Caribbeans.’’ — The Voice, University of Maryland Magazine.

The British Press was livid and would not put up with it. It was enough pain for any Blackman in1956, to walk into the Buckingham Palace and be readily accepted by the blue eyes and the blue of blood. More than enough angst, when the upstart with all audacity, requested Her Royal Majesty to be his guest.

What! The Queen of England, the Empress that owned the waves, the lands that saw no sunset, was considering an invitation to honor a plebeian with her Royal presence? That would be the end of the world!

The Royal family had little options. Whether the British Press was going to fry in envy, or nod in reverence, the artist was not the type that grazed in common. For Ben Enwonwu like Picasso, Filippo Brunelleschi were iconic artists, born with exceptional gifts, who impacted their era, creating their own universe next to God.

Without gravitas, Africa’s greatest sculptor and woodpecker insisted, that the Queen of England broke Royal protocol. Ben Enwonwu’s private invitation would be the first to be honored by the Royal Family to any Blackman!

Her Majesty would arrive his Hampstead, London studios. He would sit her down and she would show her legs.

Her Royal Majesty would be reproduced, and cast on iron and bracelets. That beautiful work which was displayed in front of the old colonial Lagos Parliament, would add to the memorable and numerous masterpieces of the avatar.

While, the late Ben Enwonwu mingled with royalty and shared a common garden with the US Ambassador’s residence in Ikoyi, his nephew and protege, Professor Cyril Enwonwu made the laboratory his second home.

Cyril Enwonwu may be to the pure sciences what his uncle was to the arts. One of the few scientists to bag a Doctor of Science after a PhD at MIT, [others, include mathematician, Chike Obi, Physicist, and former Edo State University VC at Ekpoma, Prof. Awele Maduemezia] will not only mingle with the rich and mighty, he will from now, assume greater influence as he labors to save the poor from one of the world’s ugly and disfiguring diseases still on the rampage in Sub -Sahara Africa.

A well published scientist, this professor of Dental Medicine will combine his proficient knowledge in Medicine, Biochemical Nutrition to tackle the disease, which has for centuries worsted humanity.

With his recent selection to join the Paul Rogers Board of Global Research, he has the influence to persuade and lobby for more US and the likes of Bill and the Melinder Gates Foundation funds for disease control in Africa. Preparing for a Congressional invitation of which he is slated to meet with Senator Barbara Mikulski and other members of the US Congress, Professor Cyril Enwonwu disclosed to our correspondent that he is going to the Senate to advise the Congress to increase funding for health projects in Africa.

“The Obama administration has some encouraging increase for Africa health issues, but we are pressing for more funds, as the African situation requires emergency intervention if the diseases in that continent, mainly caused by malnutrition will be contained.’’ He stressed that most of the diseases afflicting the African masses can be traced to excessive malnutrition.

Breaking down the categories, Dr. Enwonwu observed that the major diseases of Malaria, Measles, Tuberculosis, etc, have tended to explode to epidemic proportions, when the the victims are the uneducated, low income, and when the area under attack are peopled by a lot of minorities.

He argued “how many children of Nigerian entrepreneurs, politicians, doctors and lawyers suffer from malaria, measles and tuberculosis?’

He is alarmed that “a new two pronged health problem is about to hit the continent.’’ Dr Enwonwu stated that “while we are battling malnutrition as a result of excess deficiency of nutrients, there is a lurking danger in the horizon. In the urban areas and the major cities of Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and Benin City, there is little or no difference between men and women.’’

He declared, there is a nutrition transition from the west to Africa. Suddenly we are observing a situation of “too much to eat’’ and this obesity epidemic is prevalent in the urban areas, right now, he observed that,’’ men are like their wives and are walking around pregnant.’’

This a dangerous crossroad, he warned. Dr. Enwonwu explained, “this uneducated very rich class, eat the foreign food, drink all sorts of rubbish, with a lot of chemicals, but have no gyms, and do not exercise like their western counterparts.’’

The tragedy, according to the health scientist is that ‘’our people regard the pregnant man as very healthy individual.’’

Observing, that we have more men dying within this urban rising class, Dr. Enwonwu noted that these class of urban dwellers are discarding their African food and way of life while at the same time, embracing the lifestyle changes of the west.

We had in 2005, accosted him on his return from the hot desert temperatures of Sokoto, and learned of his passion and his dedication to fighting, and possibly wiping out the scourge of Noma from the faces of the afflicted, very poor population of Nigeria’s far north. He explained that Noma “is the disease that strikes the very youngest, most vulnerable members of a population.

The disease progresses quickly from an intraoral inflammation to a grotesque oro-facial gangrene. Victims, who range in age, from infancy to 6 years, mostly do not survive.

The disease has a 70- 90 percent mortality rate, if not treated promptly with antibiotics and oral antiseptic. Much of the research and international attention given to the disease emanated from studies and publications by Professor Cyril Enwonwu who is a professor and researcher in the University of Maryland Department of Biomedical Sciences.

He told our correspondent that, he led the investigations, collaborating with scientists from the World Health Organization and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Lagos, ‘’when the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research initiated, a four year grant to study the causes, treatment and prevention of the disease.’’ His research collaborators include, William A. Falkler Jr. MS, PhD., Christine Ferrell, DDS, and Reshma Phillips, PhD.

Falkler, who lectures in the Department of Biomedical Science, has been working for nearly 30 years on oral microorganisms that are involved in fusospirochetal diseases such as noma.

Historically, noma was found in Europe and parts of the United States many generations ago. However, improved standards of hygiene and nutrition eradicated the disease.

The last known cases in Europe were seen in concentration camps during World War11. Today, it is predominantly a disease of sub-Saharan Africa, and annual infection rates for noma reach estimates of over 100,000
Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/31349/136/

Nigeria is good.

2009-03-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

We are 100 times better than we are bad. Nigeria is not evil.
What society is entirely made up of good people? What society does not have bad eggs?
Nigeria is cool.