EFCC clamps down on Fayose

Plans by the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to return to power in 2011 have met stiff opposition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency is now making frantic efforts to resuscitate the corruption charges brought against the former governor since 2006 and, yesterday, sealed off Mr Fayose’s property in Ibadan.

Although the EFCC insists that its latest actions are in no way related to Mr. Fayose’s renewed interests in the Ekiti state government house, the anti-graft agency’s actions seem in line with recent statements by Farida Waziri, the head of the EFCC, who has vowed to deflate the political ambitions of all persons indicted by her agency.

Mr Fayose however condemned the EFCC action, saying no political harassment could stop him from contesting in 2011. He also warned the EFCC not to trample on the integrity of the Court that is handling his case corruption case..

Briefing journalists on how a team of from the commission invaded his Ibadan residence in the early hours of Wednesday and harassed members of his family while he was away in Abuja, the former governor said there was no order of court mandating the EFCC to invade his home or paste notices on his property, as its officers did.

Story By Elor Nkereuwem and Samuel Oluwalana

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I can whip IBB, Jonathan, says Okotie

Pastor of Household of God Church and Founder of Fresh Democratic Party, Reverend Chris Okotie has dismissed the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections, saying PDP leadership has failed Nigerians woefully in the last 10 years.

Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party will be holding its convention today in Lagos.
In an interview with Daily Sun, the cleric turned politician advanced reasons why neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor General Ibrahim Babangida is fit for the nation’s top job, asserting that none of them is needed by Nigeria at this time.
The former pop star said: “The PDP has demonstrated itself as a party that is characterised by perfidy and mendacity.

There is no integrity, no moral perpendicularity that would constrain them to submit themselves to a code of conduct.” Okotie, who described his party as the most popular in the country, said he would easily defeat any other presidential aspirant in a free and fair contest.

His words: “They know what Okotie represents. If you go on the street and you ask them, who would you like to be your president, they will say Okotie. But the next thing they will say is, but will they let him? That’s what they will tell you.”
He also spoke on other issues.

Story By TOPE ADEBOBOYE

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No sane investor can source funds at 22% interest –Okolo, NACCIMA president

Dr. Simon Chukwuemeka Okolo, the National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is one man who believes the only way to move the Nigerian economy forward is for government to liberalize participation by the private sector in the running of the economy.
He says the Nigerian Private sector is currently faced with a plethora of challenges which have put the profitability and sustainability of many businesses in jeopardy.

“The problems are not new but they have persisted in the economic and investment space as the major burden inhibiting private sector growth”, he affirmed. According to him, The biggest burden of the Nigerian economy is the power sector. Our per capital energy consumption is one of the lowest in the world. This is the greatest obstacle to our economic development. The government needs to do something urgently about the power sector. Our energy sources need urgent diversification.

“Excessive concentration on gas powered stations poses a major risk to power sector and the economy. We should begin to quickly focus on other sources such as coal, solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy sources,” he explained. He expressed a strong conviction that if the right political will, good governance, integrity, commitment to the ideals of the private sector led economy is encouraged; the nation’s socio-economic vision would be realized sooner than later.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, he reiterated earlier calls that politics should not be allowed to crowd out the economy, especially as we approach the election year, adding “a critical pillar of any democracy is a strong economy”, He spoke on Nigeria’s economic development for the past 50 years, Nigeria’s leadership debacle, late release of the budget, security crisis, possible remedy and other related matters.
Excerpts:

Story By CHARLES NWAOGUJI

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Don King congratulates Nigeria at 50

Don King, foremost boxing promoter has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians on the country's Golden Jubilee anniversary, adding that Nigeria would continue to be a leading light in Africa and the world in general.

As Nigeria celebrates her independence tomorrow, Don King said he's optimistic that Nigeria would in due course meet the expectations of its founding fathers even as he drums up support for the government of President Jonathan.

“Glory be to God that Nigeria is celebrating her 50 years anniversary tomorrow and I'm very happy for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan because this anniversary is the celebration of freedom, liberty for the Nigerian people and I'm very happy indeed,” Don King, the 79-year-old renowned promoter said in a statement.

“Nigeria is a shining light in Africa and it's great that the country has been there this past 50 years in good times and bad times. I'm so happy that this anniversary is happening under a democratic setting because it means that Nigeria is on the move...on the upward mobility and total reforms, and progress in healthcare, education under President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Speaking further, Don King said that Nigeria can ride on the goodwill of President Jonathan to attain lofty dreams, promising that he's ready to offer any assistance anytime, anyway. “Goodluck would bring good luck to Nigeria. Under Good luck, I trust one man; one vote would count because he said so much about this recently at the United Nations Assembly.

story By Our reporter


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Keshi dreams Nations Cup with Eagles

Former Super Eagles’ skipper, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has explained that his desire to make the national soccer team great again informed his applying to coach the team.

Speaking with Daily Sunsports from his base in the United States of America on phone, Keshi, who confirmed submitting his application and CV to the NFA last week, said that he had the Midas touch to turn around the fortunes of the Super Eagles that had remained static for years now.

“I have what it takes to transform the Eagles that is why I have applied for the job and I hope I get it soon. What I have done for order countries, I want to do for my country. Nigeria unlike these other countries have better talented footballers and I believe what they require from me is the managerial expertise to forge ahead.

“The last time the Eagles won the Nations Cup was in 1994 in Tunisia and that was my last year as a player of the national team. I want to win the Nations Cup again as a coach and I believe we have the players who can win the next African Nations Cup if properly blended.

“I have never been in charge of the Super Eagles since I started coaching, the only stint I had with the senior national team was as an assistant to Bonfere Jo and later Amodu Shaibu. I want Nigerians to give me a chance and see if I would not deliver. I have strong conviction that the Eagles will not only win the Nations Cup, but qualify for the World Cup and reach the semi finals.

story By Richard Jideaka, Abuja

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Jonathan has nothing to offer Nigerians —Inuwa Bawa, ex-MILAD

Former military administrator of Ondo and Kebbi states, Col Inuwa Bawa (rtd), has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has nothing to offer Nigerians in his second coming. He described his recent declaration to contest the 2011 presidential election as a charade. He spoke more on this and other issues. Excerpts:

Jonathan’s declaration
The declaration by Jonathan can best be described as the triumphant of sycophancy over decency. Even though a mammoth crowd tuned out for it, but I believe that 80 percent of those people were there for money and nothing else. The governors who were climbing the podium one after the other to declare their support cannot be blamed either because they have no alternative but to attend the ceremony. They are all in PDP and have to show some semblance of unity. It is a survival strategy on their part. They have to do it to get their own second term ticket.

What of that of the former EFCC boss?
The declaration by, Nuhu Ribadu is kind of funny. I was amazed by his decision. This is somebody with no pedigree of political inclination; and for him to wake up one day and to say he wants to contest the presidential seat. Let him start in his state and see how far he can go before aspiring to be a president. It is improper for him to come out now. Anyway he is just about to join the ACN and not even a member yet. Let us see how far he can go after joining.

Retirement of the Service Chiefs.
The tenure of service chief has to be for a given number of years, which could be renewable at the instance of the president. The recent purge of the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) could ordinarily be taken as a routine event.

The alleged importation of arms may not be true because governance is divided into many segments. The President cannot, and should not claim to know every nitty gritty of government and that is why he has so many lieutenants. The procurement of arms is the prerogative of the Ministry of Defence. The services do not do that directly. There is no way any arm of the armed forces could on its own bring in arms into this country. If you are talking of individuals sourcing for arms, that could be possible. It is just not possible for the Service Chiefs to begin to import arms. I am not being naïve but that is the way I know it to be. Once the Ministry of Defence is in the know then the president is in the know of it. So let us dismiss that allegation.

The issue of coup should also be discarded because nobody in his right mind would think about it now because it is out of fashion. It is an aberration. The former officers should be praised. The time a coup could have been staged was when Yar’Adua was incapacitated and there was a lot of wranglings here and there. But the armed forces kept their cool. It is to the credit of the former service chiefs. They should be praised for that. There is no inkling of any coup right now. The only draw-back I see in this purge is the timing. It is ill-timed and not well planned, considering the fact that we are just about four months away from general election.

story by Mariam Aleshinloye Agboola, JOS

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Jonathan can’t be trusted –Atiku

Former vice president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has stated that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was present at the December 2, 2002 enlarged caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where the agreement to share power between North and South was taken.

He said under that agreement, those in attendance, including Jonathan, then a former deputy governor of Bayelsa State, resolved after voting to rotate the presidency on the basis of eight years each between the North and South.

He expressed surprise and shock that President Jonathan was now claiming ignorance of such agreement for the sake of his ambition to contest in 2011. According to a statement by Atiku’s Campaign Organisation, the president should have been honourable and courageous enough to own up to his participation in the formulation of a major party power sharing formula.
“The ambition to rule at all costs should not make us abandon the path of honour by denying a decision that has enthroned stability and unity in our body politic,” he said.

The PDP presidential aspirant said it was surprising that despite existing and verifiable minutes of the landmark agreement, the president was pretending that no such pact was ever reached. Atiku said the highpoint of the minutes of the meeting as read and adopted by the enlarged caucus was that “the national caucus generally decided that the 1998 zoning of the positions of the president, vice president, senate president, speaker, party chairman, party secretary, etc, should remain as it would stabilise the party...”

story By Our reporter

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Kebbi guber 2011 Fight to the finish:.. As Aliero, Argungu jostle for ANPP’s soul From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna

It is no longer news that immediate past Kebbi State governor, and former Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero and Governor Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, are not the best of friends.

What is, however, new is that the same platform, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Aliero and his supporters abandoned three years ago, to join what they then referred to as “mainstream” politics, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the same party, they are again making “contacts and frantic efforts,” to return to, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal.

But in a swift reaction, Aliero’s two close confidants said on phone that even though pressure was on their benefactor by his supporters to dump the PDP, Aliero is yet to decide on that as he was still “talking” to the officials of the PDP in Abuja to step in and resolve the lingering crisis amicably.

In the beginning
Aliero, while serving his second term in office, led discussion on behalf of other ANPP chieftains, within the North-West zone, on the need to dump the party for the PDP. Aliero and his group were of the view that the zone would be better off under a party that was controlling the central government than had been in the opposition. But former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, refused to buy into Aliero’s game plan.

Aliero succeeded in convincing Saminu Turaki, former Jigawa State governor and Aliyu Wamakko, former Sokoto State deputy governor, to come along with him to the PDP. He was handed the party’s platform in Kebbi State. He produced the governor, just as the party’s ticket in Sokoto was snatched away from former Water Resources Minister, Muktar Shagari, and handed to Wamakko, who eventually emerged the governor, while Shagari became his deputy.

However, one man who resisted Aliero’s onslaught then is former deputy governor, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, who, it was learnt, told Aliero then that he may be poor, but his “integrity and creditability” were certainly “not for sale,” as he was willing to remain in the ANPP. Argungu voluntarily resigned in February, barely two months to the April polls, to “keep the ANPP together.” A decision many described as “courageous and brave.”

Argungu later emerged as the running mate to Senator Faruk Bello, the standard bearer of the ANPP, during the 2007 governorship polls in the state. Argungu, later led another group within the ANPP, called the Integrity Group, at the national level, to oust the leadership of the Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He also emerged as the National Organizing Secretary of the new executive.

story by ISMAIL OMIPIDAN

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Nigeria, from tomorrow henceforth

COME tomorrow, October 1, 2010, Nigeria clocks 50. It is the Golden Jubilee of the independence of the most populous all-Black nation on earth, even though the country is actually 96 years old. Forty six of those years were spent under British colonial rule.

I have yet to come across a Nigerian who is happy and proud of our achievement as a nation at 50. But government is rolling out the red carpet to justify over N16 billion which the National Assembly appropriated for a needless jamboree.

About 50 years ago, three countries that had just emerged from colonial rule were marked down for greatness in the near future. These were India, Brazil and Nigeria.

These three countries shared a lot in common. They had massive, well-watered territories, large populations of great ethno-cultural diversities, whose emerging local elites had performed very well in the preparations to take over from the colonialists.

But, what do we have today? India has met the expectations of the world. As the former colonial powers of Europe are burning out their fuels of greatness like dying stars in the solar system, India is on the ascendancy. Indian companies are buying up British conglomerates even in Britain. The same applies to Brazil, the fastest rising economy in the two American continents.

What about Nigeria? Fifty years down the line, Nigeria is on the brink of failure as a state. We have been told by several prognostications (the latest being that of a former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Campbell) that the coming elections of 2011 might mark the end of the Nigerian experiment if we get it wrong once again.

Story By Ochereome Nnanna

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Battle To Save Education: ASUU strike paralyses S’Éast varsities

By Emmanuel Edukugho
For over three months now, universities in the five South-East States have been closed down as striking staff and lecturers are embroiled in a wage dispute with governments of the geo-political zone.

More than two hundred thousands students were thrown out from the various campuses, most of them roaming about hopelessly, staying at home idle or straying into crime and prostitution as their future seemed truncated.

While parents and some other stakeholders are worried and lamenting over the current impasse, the state governments who owned the universities are fiddling and playing games, revealing their lack of direction, foresight as can be seen by the governors who are so conceited, selfish and narrow minded that they hardly think or see beyond their immediate parochial interests.

These governors are unconcerned about the public calamities that their brazen incompetence and inability to meet the fundamental needs of the people have caused.

The affected institutions are:
* Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki
* Abia State University, (ABSU), Uturu
* Anambra State University (ANSU) Uli
* Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT)
* Evan Enwerem University (EEU) Owerri

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New constitution, electoral law ready in one month—NASS

By Ben Agande, Inalegwu Shuaibu, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Gbenga Akanmu
ABUJA—CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, said, yesterday, that the process of amendments of the constitution and the Electoral Act to accommodate the request of the Independent National Electoral Commission for an extension of time for the elections would be concluded within one month.

Ayogu who was addressing National Assembly correspondents, said all relevant stakeholders, including governors, speakers of state houses of assemblies as well as members of the National Assembly met Tuesday night and agreed on the need to fast track the amendment process.

He said the National Assembly had already started the framework to ensure that everybody was brought on board because the situation was almost like a national emergency.

He said: “We are attacking it like an emergency. That is why the President pulled in the governors, the Speakers, the leadership of the National Assembly and members of the relevant Committees. There was a dialogue on that last night and the whole idea is that whatever emerges from here let it get the same speedy treatment that we are going to give it here.

The process is already beginning and we assure you that it won’t last more than a week or two in the National Assembly. And we are ready to play out the ball, and we hope that the State Assemblies will do their part and return it. Luckily we do not need to start calling stakeholders any more because the stakeholders have met even before this decision was arrived at.

The stakeholders have also met with Mr. President, it is going to be easy and we believe that this will be done expeditiously.”

Senator Ayogu reiterated that the new process was not going to be another alteration, but the Second Alteration Act, adding: “We are doing it because we represent the people of Nigeria and there seems to us that there is unanimity of opinion that we need a process that will produce election that will be less contentious, that will produce credible voters register which is the foundation for a credible and free and fair elections.

“And that is why we are obliging INEC, saying that whatever we need to do we will do it. When they came with the request for money, we broke our holiday and we said whatever Nigerians want, the commonwealth belong to Nigerians and they have decided that one single most important item in the political diet of Nigerians today is to produce a credible voters register.

“The INEC chairman has assured us that he is going to abide by the procurement act and follow all the financial regulations. We don’t have a position to question him except through oversight after the contracts have been signed and awarded and we go in and find out whether the process has really been transparent.

So we believe that the National Assembly has done its job, and we have been very responsive to the needs of our people. We are not angry that we are being criticised, we are elected to be told what to do and these criticisms are inputs to what we do here.”

Elections date, no consensus yet

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly said there was no consensus yet as to when the 2011 general election would hold, as the meeting President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors, conference of Speakers and members of the National Assembly could not agree on a fixed date for the election .

Ikuforiji told newsmen, Tuesday night, that though they were summoned to Abuja to deliberate on the postponement of the elections, there was a sharp disagreement as to when the elections should hold .

He said that some governors were disposed to the elections holding in April, but many kicked against that because it would not give room for filing of petitions at the tribunals and conducting re-run elections, if there was the need for it .

Ikuforiji noted that a suggestion was made by the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that issues that pertain to timing of elections should be expunged from the constitution, so that, amendment should not be sought every time there would be elections.

The Shame In Owerri

DICTATORSHIP often rears its ugly head in highly disguised manners. When we are under the illusion that we are in a democracy, it is easy to ignore the traces of authoritarian rule that creep into our affairs.

A good example is what happened in Owerri on Monday. The Igbo Summit was meant to discuss the affairs of Ndigbo. It was an open meeting which was advertised and those who were to attend were known. The venue was not a secret either.

Three days to the event, it was becoming clear that some people would not want the meeting to hold. They started by blackmailing those who were to attend, raking up allegations against them and accusing them of supporting one presidential candidate, instead of the other.

Both those who accused and the people they accused had their rights protected by our Constitution which in Section 39. (1) states, “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.

When the gathering assembled at a venue it had paid for, the doors were shut. The security people who prevented the meeting from holding claimed to be acting “on orders from above”, the opaque way of describing acting on behalf of the people in power.

Only a few weeks ago, a meeting in Enugu openly endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections. Nobody disrupted the meeting, in fact it was a carnival of sorts to celebrate the Goodluck candidacy.

Again, those who met in Enugu had their rights protected by the Constitution. In Section 40, there are provisions. “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”

The provisions are for every person. Those who met freely in Enugu enjoyed this right.

Why were others denied the same right in Owerri? These matters are supposed to make Nigerians ponder again, on the eve of independence whether 11 straight years of civilian rule has in any way made the Nigerian politician more democratic, more law abiding and more inclined to give others space to operate.

Who gave the orders to stop Ndigbo from meeting? Is this treatment meant only for Ndigbo? Do Nigerians from other geo-political zones consider themselves safe if one zone could be denied its fundamental rights?

Those who gathered in Owerri were not trouble makers. They were not frivolous people. Among them were former Ministers, former Governors. Former Vice President Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who is said to support President Goodluck, was there.

When did it become an offence for people to discuss their place in Nigeria ? What was the offence, except the suspicion that the meeting could turn out a communiqué that might be unfavourable to one of the parties?

Every candidate in the election has pledged to play by the rules. The President has said he would work for a level playing ground. So on whose orders were the security people acting?

There is a big lesson for Ndigbo in this. They have given themselves so freely to all manners of characters under all types of conditions that they can be taken for granted. If Ndigbo cannot hold a meeting in Igbo land – the Constitution allows Nigerians to reside anywhere they like in the country – where in Nigeria can they meet? What does the shame in Owerri portend for the 2011 elections?

If people cannot be allowed to meet to discuss their affairs, would they be allowed to vote freely, whether at the party primaries or in the main elections?

Nigerians should understand that this affront is on everyone, it is not on Ndigbo alone. After the shame in Owerri where would be the next venue of similar assault on the right of Nigerians?

We salute the courage of those who gathered in Owerri. They confronted authoritarian rule by carrying on with the meeting on the lawns of the hotel, under the blazing sun.

Anti-democratic forces need to be confronted not dodged. The meeting in Owerri confronted dictatorship, Nigerians should be watchful, if a repeat of the event in Owerri is to be avoided.

here goes the rest

President Barack Obama has Lil Wayne on iPod

Speaking to Rolling Stone Magazine he said: "Jay-Z used to be sort of what predominated, but now I've got a little Nas and a little Lil Wayne."

Whilst he admitted to being "no expert" he credited his aide Reggie Love, saying with his help "my rap palate has greatly improved". Children's tastes

He also gave credit to his daughters for developing his musical tastes.

"[Malia and Sasha are] now getting old enough to where they start hipping me to things," he said.

"Music is still a great source of joy and occasional solace in the midst of what can be some difficult days."

The president said his listening habits were wide-ranging and included Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones, as well as jazz and opera.

He also talked about the visits of Bob Dylan and Sir Paul McCartney to the White House, describing the former Beatle as "incredible" and a "very gracious guy".

Nigerian town Aba shuts down after school kidnap

Schools, banks and markets are refusing to open in Nigeria's south-eastern town of Aba where 15 children were kidnapped on their way to school on Monday.

Residents told the BBC they feared further attacks by gang leaders notorious for demanding large ransoms.

Police say the gunmen holding the children have demanded $130,000 (£81,500) for their release.

There has been a rise in hostage-taking in Abia state, where many middle class Nigerians travel with armed escorts.

Abia state is on the fringes of the Niger Delta, where gunmen used to target oil workers for a ransom.

But in recent years, they have been kidnapping prominent Nigerians and their relatives, rather than foreign oil workers, whose security has been improved.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna told the BBC that efforts had been intensified to find the whereabouts of the children.

They were on their way to the Abayi International School in Aba, the state's commercial capital, when a vehicle blocked the path of their school bus.

He said the children, of nursery and primary school age, came from wealthy Nigerian families.

Most hostages are released unharmed after a ransom is paid.

President Goodluck Jonathan described Monday's kidnapping as "callous and cruel".

"President Jonathan has ordered the inspector general of police and heads of other security agencies to take all necessary steps to rescue the abducted children and return them safely to their parents," his spokesman Ima Niboro said.

A banker, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, said he would not return to work until security was improved, and he was keeping his children at home.

Correspondents said that on Wednesday morning market keepers were also seen closing down, as rumours of an attack spread.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos said Abia state was awash with guns and in recent months it had become a by-word for kidnapping and armed robbery.

In recent weeks the governor of Abia state offered the gang leaders an amnesty in return for giving up weapons.

That offer has been rejected, as intermediaries for the criminal godfathers said they did not believe the governor was serious, our reporter said.

Kidnappings in Nigeria's south-east are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom, but also by armed groups demanding a fairer distribution of oil revenue in a country flowing with oil but where most people live on less than $1 a day.

An amnesty that came into effect in the Delta last year has reduced unrest in the region - though three French oil workers were abducted in a raid on an offshore drilling ship last week.

Nigeria's parliament is considering a bill which would impose the death penalty on convicted kidnappers in a bid to deter would-be hostage-takers.

The day oil was discovered in Nigeria

Chief Sunday Inengite remembers the day the foreigners who had come to his village in Nigeria's Niger Delta struck oil.
"They made us be happy and clap like fools, dance as if we were trained monkeys," he says.Years later, the 74-year-old now looks back on his youthful enthusiasm with sour regret.

Nigeria has become Africa's biggest oil producer, but the people of Oloibiri complain they have not seen much of the money made in the 52 years of oil production.

"It smacks of wickedness, hard-heartedness," he says.

Inquisitive

Mr Inengite was 19 years old when the foreign engineers came looking for oil in 1953.

An inquisitive young man, he made friends with the British, German and Dutch engineers during the years they were exploring the area around Oloibiri, now in Bayelsa State.

"I was trying to know why they were all here, going into the forests and into the swamps."

The village elders thought they were looking for palm oil - a valuable edible oil that had been exported from West Africa since the first European traders arrived hundreds of years before.

"It wasn't until we saw what they called the oil - the black stuff - that we knew they were after something different," Mr Inengite said.

The explorers threw a party at their house-boat and invited everyone from the village to see samples of the oil they had been looking for.

"You can imagine the jubilation, after all they had been looking for oil in commercial quantities for years."

But now he says the environment has been damaged, affecting fish catches, and the small plots of land where people had grown crops are polluted by oil spills and gas flares.

"You see fish floating on the surface of the water, something we didn't know before."

"It may be difficult to make a catch that will be enough for your family for one day."

Government corruption

But the problem is not caused just by the oil companies.

The government gets tax and royalties on the oil the companies produce.

The government is also a majority shareholder in Nigeria's oil industry and has made over $1.6trillion in revenue over the last 50 years, according to analysts at Standard Bank.

"I don't only blame the whites that came here, what about the government?" Mr Ingenite says.

"People in the government get nearly all the money from the economy."

When the BBC visited the first oil well a few kilometres down the road, we were approached by men working as commercial motorcycle taxis.

They all insisted oil companies, especially Royal Dutch Shell, should give them money as compensation for taking the oil.

But as we spoke, a local government official drove up in his brand new luxury four-wheel-drive car, an expensive gold watch dangling on his wrist.

Why don't people ask their leaders where their money is?

"They have hearts as black as coal, they are evil people - what would be the point?" said Julius Esam, 27.

'Oil museum'

A nearby mosquito infested swamp was being cleared to build a 300-bed hotel and conference centre with an oil "museum".

The contractor told the BBC the project was costing the state government 90billion naira ($592million, £298million.)

Dimeari Von Kemedi, in charge of scrutinising contracts made by the Bayelsa state government said he would stop the project.

"But it's very difficult to prevent every badly conceived or corrupt contract going through," he said.

The access to corrupt money allowed by political office in the Niger Delta is also responsible for the emergence of violent groups in the area.

Groups of "boys" were armed by government during the 2003 elections.

Their job was to ensure the ruling People's Democratic Party held onto power and therefore the oil money.

These groups later got involved in oil theft, stealing tens of thousands of barrels a day for powerful syndicates, kidnapping and extortion.

Although groups like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) use their contacts with journalists to promote a political agenda, most armed groups are criminal gangs who want their own share of the money being divided among the powerful.

Mr Ingenite says in his old age, he now understands what the militancy wants.

"We frowned at violence because we are very hospitable to those that come," he said.

"But it can't be so today, and if they act the way they do, you can't blame them, because their blood is hot, not like old men's that is cool."

Lil Wayne Says He's 'Jealous' of Nicki Minaj, Drake in New Jail Letter

A day after celebrating his 28th birthday behind bars and releasing his new "I Am Not a Human Being" EP,Lil wayne issued a new letter on his Weezy Thanx You.Com website today (Sept. 28) to show fans his gratitude for their "endless love and support." The rapper also shouts out New York radio stations WBLS and KISS-FM, addresses his children and describes how he is "awaiting freedom patiently" before his November release from Rikers Island.

"Honestly, I can't fxckin' wait!" Wayne writes of leaving prison. "I'm still playing UNO. Still doing pushups and such, by the way, please don't expect me to come out looking any different. I'm the same little 'ol me. Also, I've been trying to get as much rest as I can because I know I won't when I'm out of here."

Wayne also tells fans that his "I Am Not a Human Being" release is "great, like every one of you." He also tells fellow Young Money stars Nicki Minaj and Drake , "I am jealous of you... but it's cool! I miss you all and keep killin' 'em."

After pleading guilty to a weapons charge last March, Lil Wayne is set to leave Rikers Island on Nov. 5, four months before the end of his sentence. "Right Above It," the lead single off "Human Being" featuring Drake, is currently at No. 31 on the Hot 100.

Chris Brown 'Deuces' Remix Features T.I., Drake, Kanye, Andre 3000, Fab

Chris brown took to his Ustream channel yesterday (Sept. 27) to announce that the remix to his chart-topping hit "Deuces," now off his upcoming album "F.A.M.E.," will be released in coming weeks and that it features none other than hip-hop heavyhitters T.I,Drake,Kanye west,Fabolous and Andre 3000.
"Imma let ya'll know a little secret. We got the 'Deuces' remix coming," he said via the clip. "'Deuces' remix features myself, Fabolous, T.I., Drake, Kanye West and Andre 3000. I'm actually supposed to be getting Kanye's verse any minute now.

"I got everybody else's very ready, so we're waiting right now," he continued. "We're gonna put it together and have it to ya'll either by next week or this week, probably Friday… the video's gonna be sick!"

In addition, Breezy told viewers an accompanying video for the remix will be shot as well and that he is considering including the "Deuces" remix on the album as a bonus track.

Brown also gave fans a listen to his much-buzzed about song "Calypso," which may also appear on the forthcoming album. "I feel like it's a great album. It's going to show a lot more growth and a lot more fun in music," he said of the set. "It isn't going to be as depressing, so to speak."

Why Mercy Johnson’s marriage didn’t hold

She is one of the ingenious innards in the Nollywood, the theatrical and delectable damsel from Kogi State. Mercy Johnson reportedly sounded very angry recently. Her anger spanned across the peddled gossip that one Emeka Duru who happened to be the Production Manager in a film she acted in, titled, “The Maid”, was going everywhere selling her integrity that he was the first to give her the first job – “The Maid”.

But vigorously, she denied him, saying that he didn’t give her the first job and had not given her any before. Mercy distanced Duru, saying that he wasn’t the owner of “The Maid” and didn’t own “The Maid” and had no decision in the crew that chosed who acted in the movie and not. “The Made”, she said, was Kenneth Nnebue’s film, a film that not less than 480 girls participated in the audition.

Like many people who are intensely fearful of poverty, this Nollywood ingénue said that she loves money so much, because she likes and wants to be comfortable. But, she has a strong different view about money in a relationship. To her, true love should come first in a relationship. But, she swiftly reiterated that relationship should not be all about dating.

It is a known issue today that many Nigerian girls, but most especially, Nollywood actresses see dating as one of those world’s enterprise. To them, it is no finance, no romance. But, Mercy though had agreed that dating should not be everything, but money shouldn’t of course be the basis of everything. Sounding clerically like a maddened Pentecostal clergy, she admonished that it is time people began to appreciate their dates: by valuing the ‘person’ in their partners, their charisma, innate qualities and allow their spirits to accept the person first, and should stop concluding first with their imaginations.

What many interviewees had shied away from, Mercy Johnson did not. She revealed how she met her fiancé: Odi. She said that it was at a salon; he came to wait for her at the salon he was intimated that she usually goes to. She said that Odi is not the first who had made advances to her; she had received more than enough text messages on her cell phone from men. Buttressing her point, one of the text messages reads: “Oh! I just had a dream and Jesus Christ said you are my wife”.

She confessed that as a celeb, it’s very difficult to pick a partner when admirers send such text message, but she has find solace in Odi. She said that her fiancé never told her that he saw “Jesus” that moved him to her, but she likened everything that has brought them together to God.

This is coming from Mercy Johnson now that many Nollywood actresses allow make-belief things run into their heads instead of allowing the reality. Many of the actresses are sacrificing love on the altar for money and hardly fall in love. Mercy is not comfortable with that belief, because out there, she said; there are a host of lovers out to showcase their loves. She lengthened her point, saying that she came to realise that everyone has a lover one day that she was driving and saw a blind woman that’s pregnant; what she saw convinced her that there is true love. It is not easy for any successful person to tell the world the source of his or her power, but Mercy did. Mercy said that the Baba who does her “Juju” in Nollywood will never fail her and fade. She confessed that the Baba will always be with her for as far as she lives and that she is not going anywhere.

Hear her: “Yes o! (I use Juju). There is Baba somewhere. The only Baba that me, I know, is up there and you know he says when He begins to bless somebody people will begin to ask what is happening. My Baba’s own (Juju) will not fade o!”

The lovely Mercy loves her Odi more than words could possibly say, but not that she goes around telling people about him, she said, she only mentions him when she wants to prove a point in a discourse about relationship. Mercy that has grown thick skin about people’s allegation that she sleeps with men in the Nollywood to get roles, said that she now wore this skin because her fiancé is not complaining; the unbridled mouths could have caused her nervesquake if her Odi is complaining; but since he has blinded his eyes, people don’t bother her anymore. On a thought, Mercy said that if people are saying that she’s sleeping with all the big boys in the Nollywood to get roles that, is she as well sleeping with all her fans to buy her films? Though, she didn’t deny the fact that she gets scripts a lot, but disagreed that she is the ‘number one’ in the Nollywood, because she hadn’t got to where she’s walking to.

Against that backdrop, since she is still ‘walking’, an observer was keen to understand if she has walked out of her purported marriage as was awash on media, and, she said: “Nobody walked away. I heard about the August 17th gist and the August 27th gist and it’s funny. I know that I mentioned that I am engaged, but I didn’t give a date.”

Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Author and Media Consultant, is the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State.

Ribadu to run for presidency on ACN's platform

Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, has declared that he will contest for president on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria. Mr Ribadu stated this today at his campaign office in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He also announced that he will register with the ACN in his ward at Yola, the Adamawa State capital, "once the Action Congress of Nigeria begins official registrations of new members next week."

Jonathan asks Senate, Reps to amend constitution

ABUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, asked the Senate to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act to accommodate the new dates requested by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2011 polls.

President Jonathan in letter to the Senate read by Senator David Mark, urged the Senate to fast track the amendments noting that he was in agreement with INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, that the January date for 2011 general elections was not tenable.

The letter reads: “I am in receipt of a letter from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the above subject matter.

Planning and procurement

“According to the Chairman, the request is predicated on the inability of INEC to implement its detailed Action Plan with regards to planning, procurement and deployment for registration of voters and elections, within the time-lines in the context of the Electoral Act. It is noteworthy that the leadership of all the political parties endorsed the request in a recent retreat.

“While I agree with INEC on the validity of the request and the need to address the apparent difficulties, I shall propose an amendment of the relevant laws by inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011.”

Meanwhile, the President has asked the Senate to expedite action on the amendment of 2010 Electoral Act to pave way for the extension of election from January to April.

He told the Senate in another letter: “I wish to refer to my letter notifying you of the letter by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, regarding its apprehension of the implementation of the Electoral Calendar.

“In this regard, I hereby propose the amendment of the relevant laws as attached through the inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011. It is my hope that the distinguished senators will consider and pass the amendments in their usual expeditious manner.”

Also yesterday, President Jonathan also asked the Senate to repeal the Community Banks Act of 2004, stressing: “I hereby introduce for formal repeal by the Senate the above named bill, while I hope that the bill will receive the usual prompt attention of the distinguished members of the Senate.”

Bubbling Under | Yemi Alade – Fi Mi Sile ft. Eldee

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Check out this up and coming RnB Artist, Yemi Alade, and her joint Fi Mi Sile with Eldee Tha Don. These days it seems that Eldee is the approval stamp for some artists. Once he touches the track, it’s bound to be a hit. Here is a little bio about her, and her video below. Track is added to Jaguda music player…Check it out:

Being born to do music is a cliché that can be associated with most singers. Singer and song-writer, Yemi Alade no less, and yet she seems to break the norm innocuously in a way that is truly hers’. According to her, music is something that comes as naturally to her as breathing; she says “I’ve been doing music since I was old enough to string a melody together.”

She began to professionally do music 5 years ago on the prodding of family and friends. She moved from just humming melodies with her daily chores to actually sitting to write songs from deep within her soul. Singing in the choir from the age of 12, helped her develop a method and structure to her singing as well as songwriting.

“I don’t know what I’d be doing if I weren’t doing music. It is the very essence of my being” she says, with passion burning deep in her eyes. She sees singing as her very own outlet for the urgent need to express herself. For her, the stories her songs tell are from her personal experiences and those of people around her.

Her biggest milestone so far, has been winning the Peak Talent Show. She describes the process as an invigorating one that gave her the required impetus to truly want to pursue a career in music actively.

Kidnappers abducted 15 students in Aba

Kidnapping has gone to a different level now, apparently Fifteen students of Abayi International School, Aba, were on Monday morning abducted in their school bus in Abia State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the driver of the bus had picked the children at designated points and was on the way to school when the suspected kidnappers struck. NAN learnt that a Toyota Camry saloon car blocked the bus and the occupants, and men brandishing guns alighted and ordered it to stop.

“As the driver came down, the hoodlums collected his cell phone and ordered him to lie face down while they drove off with the pupils towards Etche in Rivers (State),” an eyewitness told NAN.
Most of the abducted students are said to be mostly nursery and primary school pupils.

Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Abia State Police Command spokesperson, told NAN that he was yet to get any report on the incidence as at press time.
The kidnappers are said to be demanding N20 million as ransom.

The Abia State Government, last week, gave kidnappers in the State two weeks ultimatum to surrender their weapons and be rehabilitated by in an amnesty programme.

Banks shun N200bn SME Credit Guarantee scheme , CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that five months after unveiling the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS), for which N200 billion was set aside to promote easy access to credit by SMEs in Nigeria, it is yet to receive any application from any bank for the fund.

sanusiDirector, Development Finance Department, CBN, Mr. Joe Alegieuno, disclosed this last week, in Lagos, during a technical session for participating banks in the Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF) established by the apex bank. He said that the CBN has called for dialogue with the banks to find out the reason behind their apathy towards the scheme.

He recalled that the CBN set aside a total of N500 billion as intervention fund to fast-track certain aspects of the real sector, with N200 billion going to SMEs and manufacturing, and the remaining N300 billion for the Power and Aviation sectors. “And what we expect is that the Fund will be accessed by operators in the sectors with a view to developing them,” he added.

Alegieuno further stated: “The SMECGS and the power and aviation intervention fund (PAIF) are meant to compliment each other.

The Credit Guarantee is supposed to be for fresh facilities to entrepreneurs whereas PAIF is for existing facilities. This is meant to help those who are already in business but are finding it difficult, to do it in an easier framework, and environment, especially in terms of tenor and rates.

“But in the case of Credit Guarantee, it is for those who want to take fresh facilities. For which we are saying that ‘banks give them and we will guarantee 80 percent of any amount that you give them’. But we haven’t seen any of them come forward. So we want to ask them what the problem is, why they are not coming forward.”

As part of its developmental role, the CBN established the SMECGS for promoting access to credit by SMEs in Nigeria, with a fund of N200 billion to be wholly financed by the apex bank

The objectives of the scheme are to: Fast_track the development of the manufacturing SME sector of the Nigerian economy by providing guarantee for credit from banks to SMEs and manufacturers; Set the pace for industrialization of the Nigerian economy; Increase the access to credit by promoters of SMEs and manufacturers; Increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis.

The activities to be covered under the Scheme are: Manufacturing; Agricultural Value Chain, Educational Institutions and; Any other activity as may be specified by the Managing Agent (CBN) from time to time.

According to the guidelines released for the scheme by the CBN, “For the purpose of this Scheme, a Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME) is an enterprise that has asset base (excluding land) of between N5million _N500 million and labour force of between 11 and 300. All Deposit Money Banks and Development Finance Institutions (DFIS) shall be eligible to be participating banks (PBs).

“A borrower shall meet the following criteria to be eligible: Any entity falling within the definition of an SME; A wholly-owned and managed Nigerian private limited company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990; A legal business operated as a sole proprietorship;

A start-up company with satisfactory cash flows indicating a Fixed Asset cover ratio of 100: 150; A Franchise; Have no non-performing or delinquent loans with any financial institution; Be a member of the Organised Private Sector; Bodies/Associations such as Nigerian Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN), etc.; Have a clear business plan; Provide up-to-date records on business operations, if any; Satisfy all requirements specified by a Participating Bank. A Borrower shall have one loan under the Scheme at any point in time.

Maximum Loan amount is N100 million which can be in the form of Working Capital, Term Loans for refurbishment/equipment upgrade/expansion, overdrafts, etc.
“The guarantee cover shall be 80 percent of principal and interest and shall be valid up to the maturity date of the loan with a maximum tenure of 7 years inclusive of a 2-year moratorium. The Guarantee shall be executed at the point of the loan disbursement by the Bank to the customer and shall be redeemed when the facility becomes non-performing and classified under the loss category of the Prudential Guidelines.

“In the event of recoveries after payment of claims by the CBN, such recoveries shall be shared in the ratio of 80:20 for CBN and Participating Banks respectively. The lending rate under this Scheme shall be at Prime Lending Rate (PLR) of the participating Banks. The security to be offered to a bank for the purpose of any loan under the Scheme shall be one realizable and acceptable to the participating bank(s). Loans shall have a maximum tenor of seven (7) years and/or working capital facility of one year with provision for roll over. The scheme allows for moratorium in the loan repayment schedule.”
The responsibilities of stakeholders in the scheme were also stated in the guidelines.

“For the effective implementation of the scheme and for it to achieve the desired objectives, the responsibilities of the stake- holders states that: The Central Bank of Nigeria shall: Provide Fund for the Scheme; Act as the Managing Agent of the Fund; Determine the limits of guarantee of the Scheme; Carry out verification/monitoring of projects under the Scheme; Process Applications for guarantee from Participating Banks within 21 days of receipt of such application; Request PB(s) to render periodic returns as may be specified from time to time. The Organised Private Sector Associations shall: Accredit would-be beneficiaries of the Scheme; Ensure prompt repayment of loans by members.

“The Participating Banks (PBs): Grant credit facilities to SME Promoters at prime lending rate; Approve loan requests under the Scheme based on normal business consideration exercising appropriate due diligence; Render periodic returns under the Scheme as may be specified by the CBN from time to time; and Monitor the projects during the loan period.

“The borrower shall: Utilise the funds for the purpose for which it was granted; Insure the charged assets being financed; Adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of the Scheme; Make the project and records available for inspection/verification by the CBN.
“Whenever a credit is repaid or the facility is otherwise discontinued, the PB shall advise the CBN immediately, giving particulars of the credit facility.

Nigeria at 50: Milestones in healthcare

First description of Lassa fever – as an acute viral haemorrhagic fever was in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State.

• Eradication of smallpox in 1970 in line with the rest of the world.

• Establishment of health policy with Federal charater by Nigerian Constitution which prescribes responsibility for three tiers of Government on Health Care services.

• Marked improvement in diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable disorders (NCDs)

• Development of a mechanism of drug production, procurement and distribution and remarkable improvement in regulation of food, drugs and other regulated products through the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) set up by Decree No. 15 of 1993)

• Former Minister of Health Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti enabled official acceptance of Policy document on Primary Health Care by FG in 1988

• Establishment of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in 1992 to support the Primary Healthcare level of care.

• Federal Government is responsible for Tertiary Health Institutions such as Federal Medical Centres and University Teaching Hospitals which serve as referrals.

• Realisation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This is a programme that enables civil servants to access Healthcare services in easily through identified Health Care Providers

• Setting up of NIPRID, NIMR, FIRRO and other research centres and institutes that are concentrating on better ways of managing diseases and promoting healthcare

• Development of Niprisan for management of sickle cell disease

• Pioneering discovery of anti-snake venom from local sources

• Establishment of a National Tertiary Healthcare Commission and national Startegic Health Development Plan

• Federal government supported initiative to State governments in providing free antenatal care free treatment to children less than five years through the NHIS.

• Introduction of Midwife Service Scheme in pursuit of attainment of owards achieving health related Millennium Development Goals. Through the scheme Federal Government employs midwives, trains them and posts them to the rural areas to assist in handling pregnant women and providing skilled care to women in labour.

• Initiation of a national malaria control programme which facilitates purchase and distribution of insecticide treated nets, provides ACT for treatment

• Engagement of traditional rulers to successfully aid fight against polio, and facilitate reduction of polio cases by over 99 percent interruption of the wild polio virus

• Widespread acknowledgement of this landmark achievement.

• Notable pesonalities including Mr Bill Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Dr. Bruce Alywald of the WHO Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and WHO Regional Director, Dr. Margaret Chan.

• Modernisation and upgrading of nine Federal Tertiary Health institutions through VAMED Project with state-of- the–art facilities

• Recorded zero case of guinea worm for the last 20months – a feat which puts the nation on the path of certification as a guineaworm free nation by WHO if the zero case status is sustained for 36 months

• Increased attention to cancer control. through partnering with Nollywood to create awareness and offer of free cancer screening to women.

Also modern equipments are available at our Tertiary Health facilities to treat cancer patient

• Integration of maternal and and newborn child health strategy (IMNCH)

• Establishment of a National Blood Transfusion Service

• Setting up of an effective HIV & AIDS Control Agency

We are below the UN standard, says Dr. Chukwunweike Ojeh

Talking about how we have fared, I would not know how to start. In terms of what we have achieved and using the United Nations standard, we are very much below par. What the health budget is in Nigeria is nothing to right home about. When the UN said every nation should allocate 15 percent of its annual budget to health, Nigeria is allocating 5 percent. How can we expect much with one third of the expected budget and the issue of brain drain, every now and then, strike for the well fare of those working in the health sector.

We’ve not done badly, but…, says Dr. Olurotimi Akanbi Olojede,National President-elect, Nigeria Dental Association (NDA)

• Success in halting the spread of the wild polio virus through immunisation is one of the significant milestones in Nigeria’s health history since independence.

The health sector has done so well even though it could be better and for that, I want to appeal to all authorities concern to ensure that the maximise their resources no matter how little to the barest minium, that would indeed, increase and elevate and make our health sector to be what it ought to be.

Rome was not built in a day. I wouldn’t expect to get all the advancements and all that we need to get there in a day. But if each government had done its bit, by now we should be far ahead by now.

We need to sit up and put things in the right perspective, so that the dividends of democracy would be felt among the Nigerian public.

Nigeria has not fared well, says TEMIYE
*Dr. Edamisan Temiye, Chairman Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch

Nigeria has not fared very well as regards the healthcare delivery system in the country in the past 50 years. At independence, there was a lot of hope for as regards healthcare delivery. We started having teaching hospitals and at that time, government was voting money for specialist training. Today no money is voted for specialist training again. This is creating problem.

At that time, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was one of the best hospitals in the world.Today if you list 2,000 hospitals in the world, you will not find one in Nigeria. We have depreciated terribly. Most doctors trained here are now outside the country.

In terms of healthcare indices, we have moved away from the expected to a far low level. Our mortality rate is between 90-100 per ,1000 births. Today, we still have cholera outbreak in Nigeria. in many countries they only read about tetanus but in Nigeria babies are still suffering from tetanus and dying from it.

Nigeria is today one of the five countries that are still being ravaged by polio. To me, the reason for all these is because we have have government that has never taken healthcare serious, rather they want people to take care of their health themselves. I can tell you government has no health programme. There is no primary healthcare in Nigeria. The system has been completely destroyed. No local government in this country has a health plan and primary healthcare that is the pivot has collapsed.

If a child develops cancer today, that child would most likely die because there is no plan by government to take care of the disorder. How many people can afford N3-5 million to treat cancer in their children? But in many other countries treatment for cancer is free. Children under 18 years get free health treatment. The way forward is political reorientation. People should be made to hold political position with trust.

Kufeji calls for change in medical education

To meet the challenges of advancement in health care delivery globally, President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Dr. Leonard Idowu Kufeji has called for a paradigm shift in the country’s medical education, saying as medical education should change as knowledge base changes

Speaking during the 2010 Train- The-Trainers’ workshop last week in Lagos Kufeji said “Ideally, medical education should change as knowledge base changes and as perceived needs of patients, medical practitioners, society and new disease change.”

He said it is time trainers in the various medical schools in Nigeria set an enviable standard for trainees to ensure that Nigerian doctors have very good overall standards of practice to be able to define good clinical care, make explicit expectations about clinical judgement and patent’s rights to be treated even if they post a risk to the doctor amongst others.

Kufeji stated that trainers and trainees should maintain good medical practice and performance, set out conditions for good relationship with patients in the areas of consent, trust and confidentiality.

“We have 37 teaching hospitals and there is obviously no uniformity in the works of these directors/chairmen, residency training. We have evaluated what had been on ground and found the need to review our methods of training. Medical educator have professional and ethical obligation to meet the needs of their learners, patients and society and they should be held accountable for the outcome of their interventions.”

He explained that the workshop which was attended by over 350 medical professionals from all fields was to deliberate on new modern methods of training and examination.

“We want to highlight what we expect from the trainers in the areas of assessing research proposals, assessing the residents amongst others. All these affect the quality of training and the products of the college. We need to examine areas of the college is in marketing its products, responding to inquiries, amongst others.”

Continuing, the president who stressed the need for continuing medical education for fellows and indeed for different levels of doctors in the private and public sector noted that the public need to be confident that award of fellowship indicates that a fellow has completed training to a satisfactory and programmed standard.

The profession has the duty to ensure that each specialities’s portfolio contains unequivocal evidence of this and t develop training structure that supports the doctor in completing his or her training. we should therefore not allow extraneous factors to influence the training programme.”

Stillbirth coverage still low, says NPHCDA

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has directed all Chief Medical Directors in the States to hand over official ambulances to appropriate channels for hospital usage, even as Director, Primary Health Care System Development, Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi noted during a two weeks training at Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, Abuja, that stillbirth coverage is low in the country.

Abdullahi said Federal government is determined to continue with positive movement to improve the survival of women and children in order to safeguard the human capital of Nigeria. “We have noticed that still birth is still very low in the country and we need to seriously do something about it, we have also sent some ambulances to some States not just that but we have also hard that most of this ambulances are been use by the chief medical directors in the states.

He saidover 2800 midwives have been deployed to various general primary health care centres in the States and we are also calling on doctors and midwives to join hands in making maternal and mortality rate a success “All hands must be on deck to ensure maternal survival is maximized in our country we are committed to doing that.”

I want to show Chelsea what I can do , Taiwo

Nigeria and Olympique Marseille free-scoring wing back, Taiye Taiwo is excited to meet Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League group game at Stamford Bridge.

Eagles

Speaking on today’s clash with Chelsea, Taiwo who is among the Super Eagles player invited by Austin Eguavoen for the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea next week said, “I’m so excited.

I’ve been waiting so long for this opportunity to play at Stamford Bridge, against Chelsea and show them what I can do, and maybe at the end of the season if Ashley Cole is leaving, then they’ll be thinking of who can replace him and hopefully they’ll think of me.”

He would not allow his desire for a move to the English Premier League to wreck his ambition for Europe’s biggest club silverware with Marseille.

Said he, “But first and foremost, I’m heading to Stamford Bridge to play a good game, make myself happy, my family happy and all Nigerians happy. We know it’s going to be very difficult because Chelsea are a great team that everyone knows all about.

They have good players all over the park and they work so hard. Whenever you lose the ball, you have to stay compact, but at the same time, you can’t go there to defend either.”

He regretted their loss at home to Lokomotiv Moscow penultimate week, but insisted there was still a lot to play for. “We lost, it’s behind us now, we’re not going to dwell on a defeat, we know we’ve got plenty more games left in the group stage and we’re 100 per cent concentrating on Chelsea. Hopefully Chelsea will think of me…’

Dele Momodu Presidential Campaign Videos

The presidential race is taking shape and with that comes all the campaigning, and of course campaign videos and slogans et al. It’s no secret that Dele Momodu CEO of Ovation magazine, has his eye on the presidency, and it’s very official now. Check out these 2 videos for his campaign. Vote!! Vote!! Vote!!! Let [...]

J MARTINS DISSAPOINTS FANS IN BELGIUM AND AMSTERDAM

While some people are working frantically to sanitize the fast-rising entertainment industry off all sort of dirty menaces, J Martins, one of the top artistes in Nigeria, we recently scooped, has dented the good image of Nigerians abroad rendering the good people, good nation's work of the Communication Minister, Dr. Dora Akunyili useless.

In Canada not too long ago, the Onitsha, Anambra state born artiste, J Martins was said to have highly disappointed his fans with poor performance and while he's yet to clear the air on his dented image in Canada, information is reaching us now that J Martins has involved in another dubious character which has now turned to chaos between his promoter, an Amsterdam artiste popularly called Juju, the sponsors and lot of people who thronged to the hall to watch J Martins Live in Belgium.

J Martins, the Oyoyo crooner, a few weeks before now, information gathered by www.Nigeriafilms.com in the city of Belgium reveals that he was chauffer-driven by his promoter in and out of the city in preparation for his show in Belgium. While he got to Belgium, on the eventful day, J Martins, we were told, complained that he wasn't too comfortable with the hotel they got for him that was around 11pm. While fans were all expecting J Martins to perform his songs, he allegedly said to have vehemently declined to stay in that hotel before the organizer could get another hotel for him, it was already 3am

This insolent act, information reveals, infuriated the promoters and they called the person dealing directly to him to settle whatever the problem they were having with him, the person, we were told, said every commitment had been met. After sometime, that was around 3am, J martins walked aimlessly out of the hotel to storm the venue for the show but unknowingly some aggressive fans had already laid siege so while he was trying to enter into the car, they started throwing him stones, plastic water bottles etc and before he got attacked, he was whiskered away, we learnt.

In a an effort to pacify the aggressive fans who have already bought their tickets for the musical concert, the show was rescheduled to hold in Amsterdam today and J Martins was even said to have promised to make it up only for him to have woefully disappointed them claiming that he missed his flight in Lagos whereas, information has reached them in Amsterdam that, J Martins is actually playing a double-shuffle games as he's said to be currently performing in Nigeria as you are reading this today.

In a telephone conversation with one of the people who have thrown their weight behind the Belgium event, a top restaurant owner called Obalade Delicious whose exclusive but very exotic place is at Amsterdam ZO Biljmer, he said he was so disappointed in J Martins because “he actually thinks the Belgium fans he disappointed the last time will storm the Amsterdam show today and deal with him, meanwhile, that would have been an avenue of settling the scores with them because we would have intervened in their matter and amicably settle the whole saga.

Same thing he did in Belgium has repeated itself today and Right now, the tension is so high; we don't even know how to control the anger and aggressions of these people any longer. He needs to apologise to these fans that have already purchased their tickets to watch a Naija artiste live.

The most painful aspect of the whole scenario is that, it's not only Naija residing in these places that bought the tickets, Australians, Jamaicans, people from all walks of life have all thronged in to enjoy the show not knowing that he would disappoint them. It's really sad, because this act of him may affect any future concert to be organized by a Nigerian again.”